The White Elephant City

Hi, it's me again...

How's your day...?

Hope you enjoy the day, just like me...

This is the last week of my college holidays. next week I've started to learn in the new semester.

Glad I could spend last week with friend from my previous office (Donna) to visit the White Elephant city, Bangkok, Thailand.
March 1, 2014, at 5 am, had reached the Soeta airport. Our plane has Take off at 7:20 am, and landed at the Don Muaeng airport at 12:00 noon ... Then we were picked up by our guide who had earlier reserved in Indonesia.

First Day

Wat Pho

Wat Pho is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho shrine

Wat Pho shrine

The large shrines was set inside a large room and before we could enter we had to remove our shoes and put them in a shoe shelf near the doorway. A “guard’ at the entrance checked people over and turned away those who didn’t have their shoulders covered or were wearing short skirts.

The shrine was an enormous golden platform atop which sat a giant glowing-gold Buddha. The base of the shrine overflowed with offerings–glass-encased Buddha statues, ornate porcelain bottles, flowers, and candles—and the shrine’s walls were covered in what looked like hand-painted wallpaper.

With Mba Donna

in front of one of the shrine

Reclining Buddha

Reclining Buddha
This giant, gold-plated Buddha is one of the largest image of Buddha in the world and was created during the Rama III restoration of the temple in the 1800s. The Reclining Buddha is 151 feet long and 49 feet high.

The Reclining Buddha's mother-of-pearl feet

Pretty impressive. The soles of the Buddha’s feet are inlayed with mother-of- pearl depictions of Buddha’s 108 characteristics.

Welcome To Wat Pho

Wat Arun

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun, "Temple of Dawn" is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II.

crossing the Chao Phraya River by boat

A view of Wat Arun from the Chao Phraya river boat

Wat Arun

steep road to the top of the shrine

Ayey , finally reached the top

View from the top

Dinner

Tom Yam, Chicken Thai Souce, Baby Kaylan

Yummy... Yummy...

Fiuuhhh,, fisrt day done,, Let's check in to the Hotel...

Atrium Bangkok

Rating: 4.0 stars

1880 New Petchburi Road

Bangkok, TH

10310

Our Room - 1038

The Window

Mini Bar

Cupboard

 

Shelf

Bath Room

In Front of My Room Door

Second Day

 

let's start the day... Get down through this elevator

GEMS Gallery - Manufacturers & Diamond Shop

GEMS Gallery

Here we see the diamonds and other precious stones. Can also see directly the diamond craftsmen work. If we are interested in buying a ring or other jewelry, they will make the size and shape according to our wishes, immediately after we pay, just wait for 20 minutes for their make the jewelry.

Manufacturer & store goods made ​​from stingray skin

Stringray Skin Stuff Collection

There is a lot of stuff made ​​from stingray skin here as purses, handbags, belts etc.. Besides that's Not me, these items are also expensive. So there is nothing that I bought there.

6 Ours arround Chatuchac Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Map

Chatuchak (or Jatujak) weekend market in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand and the world's largest weekend market. Frequently called J.J., it covers over 35 acres (0.14 km²) and contains upwards of 15,000 stalls. It is estimated that the market receives 200,000 visitors each day. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays though Jatujak Plaza, the western section is open daily. In the north west corner is the J.J. Mall, with three floors of assorted oddments as well as eateries.

The market offers a wide variety of products including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, collectables, foods, and live animals. For tourists, there are a number of onsite companies who will send purchases abroad. Tourists also find Chatuchak a prominent place to find skilled Thai iced tea makers practicing their trade.

Its sheer size and diverse collections of merchandise will bring any seasoned shoppers to their knees – this is where you can literally shop ‘till you drop’.

Inside of Chatuchak

 At 01.00 noon, break in JJ Mall for lunch : McD Thai-style

Chicken Thai Souce and Chicken roasted with Thai herbs, spicy sour taste

Desert : Bangkok Durian. Great flesh and small seed, very satisfying my tongue, yummy...

  Further shopping, still in Chatuchak.

Inside of Chatuchak

 

Inside of Chatuchak

 

Brightly colored taxi around the streets next to Chatuchak

This is our hunt result for 6 hours in the Chatuchak market

Third Day - Last Day

in the hotel lobby, already checked out, waiting picked up by our guide

Next we go to Honey Farms

Thepprasit Honey

Explain the benefits of honey

And I bought this honey

Platinum Fashion Mall

 

The Platinum Fashion Mall is a 5 billion baht (100 million euro) shopping mall in Pratunam, Bangkok Thailand, which specializes in fashion clothes and accessories retail and wholesale. It is a six-storey complex with an 11-storey condominium building above the complex.

 Mah Boon Krong (MBK)Mall

MBK Center

MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong, is a large shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. At eight stories high, the center contains around 2,000 shops, restaurants and service outlets, including the 4-story Tokyu department store.

And finally, our adventure had ended in the city of Bangkok this time. At 3:30 we were picked up by our guide and escorted to the Don Muaeng Airport.

Our plane was delayed for 45 minutes, the original schedule at 20:15 becomes 20:55. We waited quite long at Gate 22.
 

Although our feet feels "cenat-cenut" and sore, but we were pleased with the experience in this White Elephant city.

Next, my prayer and dream is hopefully I can persuade my parents to the Holy Land of Mecca, Amin...

Not Fat but Fit

Most people think that you can tell if someone's fit, active and healthy just by looking at them. It's not true! Fit, healthy people come in all sizes and shapes. The same is true of unhealthy people. I know several thin people who are unfit and have serious health problems. Weight Isn't Everything.

 

How is it possible to be fat and fit?
Quite simple. You may have the genetic predisposition to be "stocky," yet you engage in regular exercise.

Interesting finding:
Many people classified as obese by current standards actually have a good health profile. We see that as many as 40% of obese individuals have normal cholesterol and blood pressure, do not smoke and are physically fit. Anyone who struggles with their weight should take this as good news.

My recommendation is to focus on good health habits, no matter what number you see on the scale. Give fruits, vegetables and whole grains a major place in your daily diet. Be moderate about fat and alcohol. Don't smoke.Work on managing stress. Perhaps most important, get out of your chair and start moving for at least 30 minutes every day.

And I'm always thankful for what God has given to me.

Alhamdulillah ...