Photo Trip to Thailand 2005 #2

For the 3 Days in Bangkok, our plan was to explore Bangkok on Day 2 and then Ayutthaya on Day 3, when on Day 4 we would be returning to Singapore. We decided to drop off at the "Marble Temple". To go to the place, we instructed the driver to drop us off at King Chulalongkorn Statue, which was located near to the temple. When we reached there, we saw a statue in the middle of the road, with people paying their respect with flowers, with police around ushering the people to leave once they are done. It seems that it was the King's birthday, according to another fellow tourist.

After the area around the King's statue, we headed off for lunch at Siam Square area and headed to the Grand Palace. Actually the Grand Palace is in the same compound as the Wat Phra Kheow. The above is the Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn. The entrance fee was a whopping 250THB. Thai speaking individual who can pass off as locals could have gotten in for free! The sky was finally blue, better than Phuket, but still not as blue as I wish that it would be. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Oh yes, before we entered the Grand Palace, there was this flock of pigeons outside. Imagine the BirdFlu scare lingering around SEAat that point of time. "See bird, shoot bird". Well, of course we did shoot birds. Not with firearms, but with you-know-what. Really shoot and run. There were actually people there trying to sell bird feeds to us. Obviously we declined. Kodak Tmax 400

Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

This was taken in the same compound as the Grand Palace. The slight vignetting at the corner is due to shooting at 24mm, with Cokin P ND Gradx8 filter attached, I think. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Finally, we reached the Grand Palace itself. It was under renovation!!! To think that we paid 250THB each to get in. To make the visit worth it, I decided to try multiple exposure. Made three shots on the same frame with people timed to walk at particular parts of the picture. Too bad the buildings are bit blur. But I still quite like this pic. Maybe it's time to change tripod? Exposure wise, I did 3 shots of -2, -1.5, -1.5 exposure. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

The Grand Palace was basically the last potential photo shooting opportunity in the compound. As we were walking out, there was this two gigantic, towering doors. 1 side of which looked like it would crumble just in front of us. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

After the Grand Palace, we wanted to go visit Wat Arun, which was just across Chao Phraya River, or known as Menong Chao Phraya. This was when the tuk tuk drivers became a pest. Our driver took us for a spin. Particularly dropping of places where I believe he would benefit. Not much pain for us, no gain either. Only time was sacrifice. In any case, we managed to reach the pier opposite Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn, though ironically it looks better at night. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

I shot a lot of this Wat Arun. The boat across the river was only 3THB per trip per person! So decided to jump on the one which is leaving, even though not sure of what is over the other side or how to come back. I noticed that changing the exposure time produces slightly different colours of the temple. In any case, it made the temple lited at night to look like it's made of gold! Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Another close up view of the Temple of Dawn. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

This is the Temple of Dawn shot from across the river. Fuji Provia 100F