Bangkok: Day 1

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 23:10:27 +0700

I woke up early and took the BTS Skytrain two stops. The Changchun Railway Vehicles train was clean and had announcements in Thai and English. Nearly everyone was wearing a mask.

Getting off at ชิดลม Chit Lom Station, I climbed down the steps and walked along Sukhumvit Road, named after the fifth chief of the Department of Highways, and supposedly one of the longest boulevards in the world, reaching almost to the Cambodian border.

Sukhumvit Skyline

At the busy Ratchaprasong intersection, there was a large hotel and a shrine. The Erawan Shrine, or formally, the Thao Maha Phrom Shrine (ศาลท้าวมหาพรหม), dates from the 1950s when one of the first modern hotels was being built by the state. The hotel’s construction encountered multiple difficulties: worker injuries, cost overruns, delays, a lost shipload of Italian marble. An astrologer was consulted and said that the date the hotel was constructed was an inauspicious one, and to placate the gods, there should be a shrine built on this corner.

Erawan Shrine

The shrine is dedicated to Phra Phrom (พระพรหม, Brahmā), the Hindu creator deity, but worshiped as part of the Buddhist pantheon. There were musicians and dancers, hired to thank the four-faced deity for answered prayers, and lots of marigolds. I read somewhere that incense and candles are now prohibited for the safety and welfare of worshipers.

Erawan Shrine

Prha Narai Song Suban (พระนารายณ์, Narayana) on Garuda. Suggested offerings at the shrine are nine incense sticks, two candle sticks, fresh flowers, olibanum, beverages, and fruit.

After that, it was shirt-making time with Warzone. I think he had six shirts made. The quality of fabric seemed good, service was great, and the final product looked all right. Much cheaper than a custom shirt in Japan; I think it came to about ¥5000 per shirt. Apparently Steven Seagal shopped here too.

Sikh ownership

Bangkok Scenes

NGO→BKK 🛫

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 23:04:55 +0700

For a bike/conference trip I wanted to pack light. One bag for my bicycle, 22kg. There was surprisingly a lot of space in there, so I could throw in some extras, including a pannier and rear rack for my ride. The other bag is a small hydration daypack that I use for commuting.

Packing light ultimately involved me standing outside in a short sleeve shirt in the snow, searching for a taxi I reserved but never came. A second bout with snow flurries came at Kanayama Station, where a train delay found me standing on the station platform on the coldest day of the year.

Arriving at Chūbu Centrair International Airport

Wondering if we’re going to leave on time

The flight was delayed as the runway was closed. Great blasts of hot glycol and water sprayed against the fuselage while the plows cleared the runway of snow. I’m glad that Yuka convinced me to don a fleece before going out.

Vestergaard Elephant BETA deicing a neighboring plane

Waiting to takeoff

Warmer climes

Into Bangkok. The taxi driver from Khon Kaen used Google translate to joke with me if what was in my big bike bag was a gift for a girl.

Sukhumavit Soi 11. People from all over the world, mostly Indians, Arabs, Africans, jostling for space on the crowded sidewalk. It’s a circus, it’s loud, but interesting for people watching and seems safe. Surprisingly there is not much hassle, at least when you’re not standing around. Lots of street food, bars, touts, motorcycles, music, languages.

So far, som tam (ส้มตำ sôm dtam, green papaya salad), sticky rice, and fruit.

Travel |

Bangkok: Day 1

Bangkok Scenes

NGO→BKK 🛫