(Image: Suwannabhumi Airport - Recently Built)
I was in Thailand from December 24, 06 to January 9, 07. Bangkok is not exactly the “exotic place” for me because I grew up there. However, base on a promise that I have made with Kim, the lawyer at Danielian Associates (the firm that I am working with), I have to show her some photos of Thailand. I was actually quite enjoying myself to act as a tourist in my own city.
The first moment that the plane touched the ground, I thought I was gonna go to the spa for some relaxation. But my parents said that I have to join this event of his friend, Mr. Jakkaphan Phosayakrit, who is the national famous painter. He has been deeply in love with traditional puppets. He could just keep painting and sell his works once a year and have a very comfortable life but decided to put all his fortune to create the greatest puppet productions in the history of the country.
He wrote all the script, the songs, and designed all puppets and scenes himself. He has been working on this project for 15 years. It is not done.
This “making” of the puppets production become quite a sensational subject in the art society of Thailand. Every month, Mr.Jakkaphan will open his house and welcome all the selected guests for the “rehearsal” of the production. My dad who is a close friend of him decided to take me there (I will never have a chance to see this rehearsal) right from the airtport to go to the place. These are some pictures.
The Thai Traditional Puppet Performance - The puppeteers has to know how to do the dance move of the Thai Traditional dance (I have a video file of this rehearsal if any one wants to check out)
Dance, Dance, Dance
The Elephant Puppets will be used for Battle Scene
The puppet theater scene - this is probably Burmese City Gate
All the arts company always have their Buddha statue as a spiritual item that represent good luck and pure spirit. This puppet company that has a master of design themselves as a leader has a special version of Buddha, designed by the master himself. You will not find this style of decorations anywhere.
One of the bad habit of Thai people is that we eat "snacks" all the time. This is the snack that they have while they are practicing the puppet production. It is called “Miang Kum”. The concept is like the cold version of Fajita but no meat. Only veggies, syrups, and sweet coconut, chilies etc. Also they do not use bread, they use that green leaves on the top there to wrap the items.
Lunch time, we have a grand lunch.:)
This is the old-fashioned Ice Cream making. What this man was doing was he put the ice-cream tank in the "ice" tank and "rotated" it with the rope. The ice-cream would be frozen and then you can eat it:) On that day it was the coconut milk flavor...Yummy!!
Puppet Lab
This is the star actress of the Puppet Production - "Princess Supankanlaya" - base on real character in Thai Ancient History. (The jewelry on her was "real")
Another method of public transportation in the city is using the Public "Van". It work like a bus. In this picture, the driver is relaxing and doing the foot sun bathing. You can see that the foreign tourist close by was not really enjoying that.
Thai Version of Starbucks
The recycle truck
In Thailand, the car is a luxurious item. The import tax for the car is 100% - 200%. of the MSRP. For example, Brand New Audi A4 would be priced for $100,000 or something close to that. With the income about 1/8 compare to USA, it is quite out of reach for salary workers. Therefore majority of the population use public transportation or “motorcycle”. There are about 700,000 “registered” motorcycle in Bangkok alone.
Bangkok is the city of street vendors. There are at least 150,000 vendors roaming the streets and plazas all over the places. This sign designated the area that the vendors can be operated. You might wonder “What is this thing?”. It is the old fashion vendor model made of two big baskets, tied with the rope and connected to the stick that balanced on the shoulder (It work like a balance object that has your shoulder as the rotation point). No one is using it anymore these days. But it is a sign that every one understand.
My family's old Volvo. It is still running fine. I drove this baby since I was a Freshman in College.
On the stage, there are band of Traditional Thai Instruments, behind them are the singers and chorus. These people are super wel-trained and they are all volunteer for this project.
Dance, Dance, Dance
The Elephant Puppets will be used for Battle Scene
The puppet theater scene - this is probably Burmese City Gate
All the arts company always have their Buddha statue as a spiritual item that represent good luck and pure spirit. This puppet company that has a master of design themselves as a leader has a special version of Buddha, designed by the master himself. You will not find this style of decorations anywhere.
One of the bad habit of Thai people is that we eat "snacks" all the time. This is the snack that they have while they are practicing the puppet production. It is called “Miang Kum”. The concept is like the cold version of Fajita but no meat. Only veggies, syrups, and sweet coconut, chilies etc. Also they do not use bread, they use that green leaves on the top there to wrap the items.
Lunch time, we have a grand lunch.:)
This is the old-fashioned Ice Cream making. What this man was doing was he put the ice-cream tank in the "ice" tank and "rotated" it with the rope. The ice-cream would be frozen and then you can eat it:) On that day it was the coconut milk flavor...Yummy!!
Puppet Lab
This is the star actress of the Puppet Production - "Princess Supankanlaya" - base on real character in Thai Ancient History. (The jewelry on her was "real")
Another method of public transportation in the city is using the Public "Van". It work like a bus. In this picture, the driver is relaxing and doing the foot sun bathing. You can see that the foreign tourist close by was not really enjoying that.
Thai Version of Starbucks
The recycle truck
In Thailand, the car is a luxurious item. The import tax for the car is 100% - 200%. of the MSRP. For example, Brand New Audi A4 would be priced for $100,000 or something close to that. With the income about 1/8 compare to USA, it is quite out of reach for salary workers. Therefore majority of the population use public transportation or “motorcycle”. There are about 700,000 “registered” motorcycle in Bangkok alone. 
Bangkok is the city of street vendors. There are at least 150,000 vendors roaming the streets and plazas all over the places. This sign designated the area that the vendors can be operated. You might wonder “What is this thing?”. It is the old fashion vendor model made of two big baskets, tied with the rope and connected to the stick that balanced on the shoulder (It work like a balance object that has your shoulder as the rotation point). No one is using it anymore these days. But it is a sign that every one understand.
My family's old Volvo. It is still running fine. I drove this baby since I was a Freshman in College. (AFTER THIS --> I GET IN THE CAR. MY DAD WOULD BE DRIVING AND I AM WITH MY CAMERA. THE FOLLOWING IMAGES WERE TAKEN FROM THIS CAR) :
Thailand in 2007 is the time for great celebration. His Majesty King Rama IX has been in the Throne for the 60 years. All over the country, people decorated their offices, houses and streets to honor him. This gate was one of the major temporary structure for this celebration.
Ananta Samakhom Palace - The Place where Royal Family welcome the VIP guests
United Nations office
The King Celebration Gate
Former office of the Department of Construction - Today it is King Rama VII Museum (He decided to give up his throne and gave the power back to his people in order to start democratic state. His decision also prevented the potential bloody civil war between the Royalist and the Democrats)
Statue of Democracy, in memorial of 1932 bloodless revolution that overthrown the absolute monarchy system and changed to Democracy
The Art Deco Building Style was introduced in 1930s – the military dictator government at the time (which has the leader graduated from France) has built this street, Rachadamnern, copied the plan from Champs Ely sees.
National Theater
The King Celebration Gateway
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense
The street near Grand Palace
Temple of Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace
Grand Palace: The most visited tourist spot in the country
Grand Palace Wall
Grand Palace Wall
Grand Palace Balcony. This is where the Royal Family wave to their people.
Army Reserved Archives - All male citizens have to be in the service. This is where they keep my military record.
"Wat Poe" - the Place of Origin for Traditional Thai Massage
Thai Police Truck - They do not need a high speed petrol car in the city because the traffic is bad 24x7. They use Motorcycle to go after bad guys.
Oldest Police Station in the Country
There are many cool looking small bridges in Old City Grid.
The old Shophouse - The way people live in the city (open business or retail on ground level and live on second level)
Bangkok was named by foreign traders in early 1800 as “Venice of the East” because there are many canals. The canal system were the main transportation network of the city back then. In the modern age, it was used as a public sewage. Only recently, when the country’s economy depends highly on tourism, that the city tried hard to clean it up. This is how it look like today after years of sewage function.
Royal Mausoleum
Many people know Thailand as a land of Buddhism. 95% of the Population are Buddhists. However, in spiritual practice, there are also influences of Hinduism and Brahman. This large structure is a “swing” which were used for Brahman Ceremony. The ceremony were performed every year until late 1800 that the person who use the swing fall from it and died. The Royal Family believed that it was bad luck and decided to stop the ceremony forever. Today, it is more like a city landmark. In his picture, the Swing is currently under the process of restoration.
Bangkok City Hall
Hindu Temple
Entrance to the First Steel Structure Bridge in the Country, "Rama I Bridge" - Built in 1920s
City Bus
Flower Market
Flower Market (What a mess ha? but that's life style here)
Thai flags and King flags are every where.
Chalermthai (Long Live Thailand) - The first movie theater in the country - Built in 1920s
Phone Booth in China Town
Grand Central Station of Bangkok, Built in early 1900
The end of Old City Grid - Entrance to New City Area
Lumpini Park - Bangkok's Central Park
Lumpini Park - Bangkok's Central Park
Entrance to American Embassy
The Tallest Reinforcing Concrete Structure in the World (Not really something Thai people need to be proud of because normally, with building this tall, they will never use such construction type. It is too inflexible which made this building dangerous)
Thailand in 2007 is the time for great celebration. His Majesty King Rama IX has been in the Throne for the 60 years. All over the country, people decorated their offices, houses and streets to honor him. This gate was one of the major temporary structure for this celebration.
Ananta Samakhom Palace - The Place where Royal Family welcome the VIP guests
United Nations office
The King Celebration Gate
Former office of the Department of Construction - Today it is King Rama VII Museum (He decided to give up his throne and gave the power back to his people in order to start democratic state. His decision also prevented the potential bloody civil war between the Royalist and the Democrats)
Statue of Democracy, in memorial of 1932 bloodless revolution that overthrown the absolute monarchy system and changed to Democracy
The Art Deco Building Style was introduced in 1930s – the military dictator government at the time (which has the leader graduated from France) has built this street, Rachadamnern, copied the plan from Champs Ely sees.
National Theater
The King Celebration Gateway
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defense
The street near Grand Palace
Temple of Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace
Grand Palace: The most visited tourist spot in the country
Grand Palace Wall
Grand Palace Wall
Grand Palace Balcony. This is where the Royal Family wave to their people.
Army Reserved Archives - All male citizens have to be in the service. This is where they keep my military record.
"Wat Poe" - the Place of Origin for Traditional Thai Massage
Thai Police Truck - They do not need a high speed petrol car in the city because the traffic is bad 24x7. They use Motorcycle to go after bad guys.
Oldest Police Station in the Country
There are many cool looking small bridges in Old City Grid.
The old Shophouse - The way people live in the city (open business or retail on ground level and live on second level)
Bangkok was named by foreign traders in early 1800 as “Venice of the East” because there are many canals. The canal system were the main transportation network of the city back then. In the modern age, it was used as a public sewage. Only recently, when the country’s economy depends highly on tourism, that the city tried hard to clean it up. This is how it look like today after years of sewage function.
Royal Mausoleum
Many people know Thailand as a land of Buddhism. 95% of the Population are Buddhists. However, in spiritual practice, there are also influences of Hinduism and Brahman. This large structure is a “swing” which were used for Brahman Ceremony. The ceremony were performed every year until late 1800 that the person who use the swing fall from it and died. The Royal Family believed that it was bad luck and decided to stop the ceremony forever. Today, it is more like a city landmark. In his picture, the Swing is currently under the process of restoration.
Bangkok City Hall
Hindu Temple
Entrance to the First Steel Structure Bridge in the Country, "Rama I Bridge" - Built in 1920s
City Bus
Flower Market
Flower Market (What a mess ha? but that's life style here)
Thai flags and King flags are every where.
Chalermthai (Long Live Thailand) - The first movie theater in the country - Built in 1920s
Phone Booth in China Town
Grand Central Station of Bangkok, Built in early 1900
The end of Old City Grid - Entrance to New City Area
Lumpini Park - Bangkok's Central Park
Lumpini Park - Bangkok's Central Park
Entrance to American Embassy
The Tallest Reinforcing Concrete Structure in the World (Not really something Thai people need to be proud of because normally, with building this tall, they will never use such construction type. It is too inflexible which made this building dangerous)