Thailand Travel Blog

Thailand Royal Palaces

2013-04-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

Must sees in Bangkok, Thailand

2013-04-16T23:48:00.001-07:00

If you have a day in Bangkok to plan a robust cultural excursion, this page will help. These pages contain photo compilations of the very best destinations in Oldtown Bangkok, which will give a full flavor of the culture that has developed into the Thailand we know today.

Songkran 2013

2013-04-16T19:18:00.001-07:00

Songkran 2013, a set on Flickr.

The water festival came and went this year again. The Thais celebrate their New Year in no small way. The photos in this blog are of Silom Road in downtown Bangkok, which shuts down for three days during this holiday. There are a few other areas like this in Bangkok, including Khao San Road in old town area and Siam Square near Paragon.

Thailand Photo Compilations

2013-04-09T20:19:00.001-07:00

Bangkok Temples Travel Planner

2013-04-04T23:57:00.001-07:00

I am developing a notebook style Thailand Travel Planner to assist in your planning your trip to Thailand. Each of the notebooks below contains links to Google Maps as well as informational links on each destination.

To find these wonderful places used to Google map link below:

View Bangkok Temples in a larger map

Dragonflies on Parade

2013-03-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

I enjoy photographing insects... Odd I know.. Do to their activity, a lot of my photos are wasted on air. But sometimes i am fortunate to catch something special.

Craggy coastline tree

2013-03-11T20:08:00.003-07:00

I thought I would share with you this photo of a craggy coastline tree on the Island of Koh Larn in the Thai Gulf. I hope you like.

View Koh Larn in a larger map

Intense Blue

2013-03-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

Buying a Condo in Thailand

2012-12-27T02:26:00.001-08:00

Bangkok's Land Office

Buying a Condo in Thailand is stressful to say the least especially for a foreigner living and working in Thailand. If you're like me, and like to do things on your own, you find out quickly you can not completely do it yourself, mostly due to the language barrier. Finding a Condo is difficult enough. The new condominiums are nice but way too small for my liking. I wanted more space for my money and looked for a condo that was a bit older, pre-owned and recently renovated. I finally found what I was interested in and the process began.

One requirement is the condo building needs to be over 51 percent Thai owned and verify ownership. You have to ask about the percentage Thai and take their word for it, but this is verified by the land office. You can have a lawyer perform a deed search and verify Thai occupancy, for a fee of course. I did not, of course, adding to my stress.

Of course, initially there is some negotiation on price and who will pay the required real estate taxes. Once that is done, an agreement is written up and may include a down payment and other things you may negotiate and signed by both parties. I did this without a lawyer, which is risky I know but I like it that way. I learned more about the process but the transaction was probably more stressful in the final stages.

As a foreigner in Thailand you need proof of where your money comes from. As I live and work here, I needed a letter from the bank documenting source of the money. In my case, it was quite straight forward for I have a permanent job with valid work permit in Thailand.

On the day of the transfer, yes I woke quite nervous. And finding the clerks at the land office only speaks Thai didn't help. I needed to sign at least 25 papers all in Thai and I had a friend tell me quickly what I was signing, needless to say very stressful. In the end, I walked away with my title deed in hand and all went well.

After I left the land office I went straight to the local electric company to have my name placed on their account. Then off to have my name added to the phone line. A few more stops to change my address all in different parts of the city and it took the greater part of the day.

I had broken down at one point and asked advice from a friend who practises law in Thailand. His informal advice went like this:

The transaction should be straightforward and requires the following paperwork from both vendor and purchaser:

Purchaser:
1. Bank certificate showing proof of source of fund used in the purchase of the condominium. You may need to consult with your bank to obtain this document. It is a prescribed form of general commercial banks. 2. Passport 3. Workpermit

Vendor:
1. Title deed to be transferred to you. You may need to carefully verify that the owner/ developer actually has legal ownership over the property. This is a due diligence matter.
2. A certificate issued by the project owner/ developer to certify that the foreign holding percentage in the project has not yet exceeded 49 percent. This is a critical evidence to be required from the vendor as no ownership can be transferred to you should the foreign limit in the project has already exceeded 49 percent as prescribed under the Land Code.

I hope this helps people who want to buy their own space in Thailand. It really is a great place to visit and a wonderful place to live.

Words to live by: (I saw this quote on my travels today and in seemed appropriate)

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he that does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Nelson Mandela

I wrote this blog almost entirely while I was waiting in the various lines during this experience. It kept me sane during the experience.

"the Big Wheel" comes to Asiatique Night Market

2012-12-22T20:20:00.001-08:00

I went to Asiatique last night and found that is completely open and they have added a huge ferris wheel. Bangkok has transformed the old dock area along the Chao Phraya River into a fantastic night spot. Asiatique is officially a night market and a great place to have dinner with a great view of Bangkok's great Chao Phraya River. The Ferris wheel, called “the Big Wheel”, not only gives a great view of the riverfront area while taking the ride but gives the riverfront a great new look.

There is even a free ferry from Bangkok's Central Pier, under the Taksin Bridge to make it easy to get to in your evening travels.

The photos below were taken last night. An awesaom night on the river!

Asiatique and the Big Wheel, a set on Flickr.

Here is the Google Map location to help you on your travels:

View Asiatique Night Market in a larger map

A Backpacking Adventure in Thailand

2012-12-01T22:24:00.001-08:00

Tim Kaun is a 21 year old student from Germany studying media design and production in Offenburg in Southern Germany. Tim loves to travel to other countries to see nature, people and taking photographs and videos. This summer Tim visited Thailand with three friends on recommendation from a good friend and he wasn't disappointed.

Tim was in Thailand for three weeks and got to see Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket. In those three weeks Tim got to meet many different people and learned it is very easy to backpack in Thailand. Tim’s biggest hobby is photography/videography and Tim found Thailand was the perfect place for this. The Video presented in this blog is an awesome presentation of his experiences created by Tim to let many people experience Thailand through his eyes.

Tim sent me this video on my Facebook page "Thailand Travel Blog" and I thought he did a great job so I wanted to showcase his work here too. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I have.

Halloween in Bangkok 2012

2012-11-01T00:08:00.003-07:00

I like to go to Khao San Road in Bangkok for Halloween to see some interesting costumes. The photo set attached to this blog shows you some of these creative people in Thailand. Let me know what you think…

Halloween in Bangkok 2012, a set on Flickr.

Eating Fish in Thailand

2012-10-28T22:21:00.002-07:00

Eating fish in Thailand is always delicious. I thought I would show you what good fish looks like after it's eaten. This fish was a tasty grouper (in Thai called "Pla Gao"), big and meaty.

The meat of the groupers cheek is tastiest. I had this meal for breakfast. Who would have thought you could get something this tasty at that hour. But I arrived at the beach late just taking a day trip and was hungry the next morning.

Christmas 2012 begins in Bangkok!

2012-10-27T03:05:00.002-07:00

Updated Photo set 2012!

Christmas in Thailand 2012, a set on Flickr.

CentralWorld Christmas Tree - before and after

Christmas is already coming to Bangkok. Here it is not even Halloween and the giant Christmas tree is going up at CentralWorld. I am not sure but if you ask me it looks like it might be bigger this year that last. We will have wait and see! I do have to tell you the season does seem to be changing here in Bangkok, with the rains coming less frequently and the air seems drier.

Just as in the rest of the world, Christmas in the city means big business. Although rather late by Western standards, Bangkok stores and shopping malls will begin putting up their decorations during the end of October. By December, the Christmas festivities will be in full swing and the entire city will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Every building, bridge and street light will be positively festooned in colorful, twinkling lights and decorations; the tuk-tuk drivers will be sporting Santa hats and at the bigger stores Santa Claus himself will be greeting Christmas shoppers with his palms pressed together in a wai, the traditional Thai greeting.

The CentralWorld Christmas tree location is shown below:

View CentralWorld Christmas Tree in a larger map

Here are some Thailand Christmas Photos from previous years in Bangkok:

Christmas in Bangkok 2010, a set on Flickr.

I will be adding to my collection of Christmas in Thailand 2012 Photos as we get closer to Christmas an Thailand brings Christmas to life!

Free outdoor concert at CentralWorld

2012-10-25T05:11:00.001-07:00

Fun for all was had...

Din Tai Fung - Specialist is the Chinese Dumpling - Bangkok Restaurants Part 1

2012-10-23T23:35:00.002-07:00

Din Tai Fung, located on the 6th floor of CentralWorld Mall, is truly a specialist is the Chinese dumpling. The dumplings are hand made and explode with flavorful soup juices when they are eaten. I recommend this restaurant when you get hungry while shopping in CentralWorld Mall.You can watch them making the dumplings while you wait for a seat, which you will likely, for the restaurant is very popular.

CentralWorld location

View Din Tai Fung - Bangkok Restaurants Part 1 in a larger map

Beans & Booze - a classy new bar in Bangkok

2012-10-20T21:41:00.001-07:00

Beans & Booze, a set on Flickr.

A classy new bar in Bangkok. Fun to hand and relax. Beans and Booze is located at 408 Sukhumvit 50 Phrakanong Klongtoey , Bangkok, Thailand 10260 (Google map: http://goo.gl/maps/qGar6).

View Beans & Booze in a larger map

Using Google Map for Thailand Travel

2012-09-20T04:04:00.001-07:00

Using Google maps for traveling can make your life very easy in these days of cloud computing. If you have an Android phone you can now very easily save a Google map using your PC to "My Places" and the map will appear on your phone within minutes the map can be accessed on you Android smart phone in the free "Maps" app. It is easy to find in the upper left hand corner of the app is a button for "Maps" which brings you to a pull down menu listing for finding local places, navigating and finding maps in "My Places". Following this link will bring you to your base of operation, the location of your home and work. Then swiping to the right several times with bring you to "My Maps" where your map saved in Google map on your PC will appear here on your phone. The screen shot shown to the left is an example of my map of "Thailand Destinations". Please feel free to use this link to find interesting places throughout Thailand - save it now!.

Screen shot of the list of 62 Thailand Destinations

Here are some more you can try:

For a Google Map view of over 70 great destinations throughout Thailand http://g.co/maps/x7v8z
For a Google map listing of awesome Buddhist Temples to Visit around Bangkok click here: http://goo.gl/maps/5mJt
Lotus Museum at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi‎ in Pathum Thani Thailand http://goo.gl/maps/P1UNB
Google Map Location of Asiatique Night Market night river market in downtown Bangkok http://goo.gl/maps/TwStv
Google map listing of great tourist destinations in Bangkok, including the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Pho, to name a few, click here: http://goo.gl/maps/7TIxX
Klong Tom Weekend Night Market Market in Chinatown http://goo.gl/maps/d0mrE
A Google Map Look at the Twin Pagodas in Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand http://g.co/maps/fbw2t
Wat Khanon home of the Nang Yai shadow puppets http://goo.gl/maps/q2UPs

Have fun with the links and I know you wont get lost so you will have more time seeing the sights of Thailand!

Get tips direct from Google for integrating your online map searches from your PC and your mobile device! Click here! A great way to plan your next Trip!

Instagramers follow me @thailandtravelblog

2012-08-30T03:20:00.001-07:00

I am getting into posting my photos with my phone now. The gallery below should update when I post new Photos. So bookmark today!

Now you can buy my photos at instacanvas.com

Bangkok Temples

2012-06-21T22:53:00.002-07:00

Wat Phra Kaew - Temple of the Emerald Buddha

I have visited many of Bangkok's temples, which there are many. Here are links to photos of a few of them but as you can see from the map link below I have been to many more...

For the complete look at all my photos of Temples in the Bangkok area click here. Feel free the use the link below when in Bangkok to help you navigate to the various temples in the Greater Bangkok area.

View Bangkok Temples in a larger map

Thailand Photo Blog

2012-06-14T21:21:00.001-07:00

Thailand Photo Blog on Flickr has over 6,000 photos and videos of Amazing Thailand... here are just some teasers... come and enjoy!

Orchid Show June 2012 - Siam Paragon

2012-06-07T03:47:00.001-07:00

This past week was the 6th annual Orchid Show at Siam Paragon. I used my Galaxy SII phone to take the photos this year and I was quite pleased. The show seemed better than last year, with lots of great shots of the Orchids. This is by far the best mobile phone camera that I have ever owned.

For a complete set of photos from the show click here...

Lumpini Park Views

2012-05-21T22:24:00.001-07:00

I realized this past weekend that I was not the only one who enjoyed the views of Bangkok from Lumpini Park. I found many people not only taking photos of the park and the views of the city but I also found people painting the views. I recommend visiting the park to anyone coming to city for any reason.

View from Silom Station - Night and Day

2012-05-04T03:39:00.002-07:00

Just sharing views of Bangkok taken on the same subject one at night and one during the day. Just thought it was interesting. This is from the the skywalk above Silom MRT Station (Subway). There were only taken a few days apart.

Butterfly at Rot Fai, Chatuchak and Queen Sirikit Parks

2012-04-30T20:12:00.003-07:00

Rot Fai, Chatuchak and Queen Sirikit Parks, a photo by Thailand Photo Blog on Flickr.

I like this forum for sharing my photos. This wonderful creature I caught on my digital media in a great inner city park in Bangkok. Gotta keep your eyes open!

Via Flickr:
Thailand Travel Pages: Rot Fai, Chatuchak and Queen Sirikit Parks

Thailand Travel Blog: Bangkok’s Butterfly Garden