Weekend Trip to the Forest

Our destination approaches. We took an unplanned nature trip after mass today for a change of environment. Forest and waterfalls were good choices.

This landmark guided us to the forest and the waterfalls. The air around us was cool and fresh after many days of rain. We hiked the way to our destination uphill. Everything there was beautiful !

JM standing beside an old tree.

JM at the forest.

JM and dad pose beside the creek.

Visitors enjoy the cool and clean water from the waterfalls.

Boulders line the downhill flow of water from the waterfalls.

This shade uphill to the waterfalls is a temporary shelter from the rains and the Sun and a resting place for weary travelers.

All around us was green and fresh during these rainy, cool days.

Dark, heavy clouds met us on the way home.

Trip to the Mangrove Forest

This afternoon, we took a trip to a mangrove forest in the province of Samutsakhon. It was good to take a walk, the weather was sunny, but not so hot because of the rains. The experience proved to be educational and interesting to JM as this is first trip ever to a mangrove forest. The sign above tells us that the place is not only for educational purpose but for recreation as well. Materials about mangrove forests are available in this government office.

Not so far from the office, I found seedlings of mangrove trees planted in a nearby pond of salt water.

JM poses in front of the Mangrove Office Learning and Development Center.

The mangrove forest

We found the inland waters dry because of low tide, but mangrove trees grow abundantly on the seashore. Crabs with a variety of metallic colors came out of the holes they dug on the mud. Mudskippers also abound the nearly dried mud. And yes, flies abound this forest and they bite.

A scenic view of the mangrove area. The background is mud, not sea water.Birds from Europe, the Arctic region and Australia stops by in this place to feed on crab and mubskippers at certain time of the year.

JM and dad rests on a bench after reaching the end of the bridge that connected the moist and muddy trail to the sea.

JM on the mud trail.

This bridge connects the muddy trail and the seashore. Notice the mangrove trees on both sides of the bridge.

JM and dad heading back to the mudtrail.

Grade 5 CCD Class 2009

Mrs. Ruby Hoskin with her grade 5 CCD class pose for a souvenir photo after this mornings farewell party. Clockwise, Mrs. Hoskin, Erin, Olivia, Ashley, Stephani, Migo, JM, Harry, Zachary, Irwin, Cris, Sofia, Eri and Mickey.

JM during this mornings farewell party.

Farewell Summer

Driving along a road lined with Fire trees on a cool and cloudy Sunday afternoon with an impending rain in sight.

Cat Fish

Hundreds and thousands of them went up the water to feed on bread and fish food thrown in by local tourists. A common sight one will find in Thai Buddhist temples located along canals all over the country, these giant cat fish are owned and taken care of by the Thai temples.

Orchids Plant Shopping

We went to this orchid farm and supermarket today to shop for orchid plants.


While looking around for new orchid plants, we noticed this beautiful orchid garden located adjacent to the supermarket. JM obliged to pose in several spots of the garden for souvenir photos.

He loved this spot with garden furnitures !

We took home the sweet pink Burana Pearl dendrobium (topmost orchid photo) and the classic dendrobium Sonia (photo above).

Happy Birthday Dad !

Wishing you happiness on this special day and always ! We love you !

The Month of Mary

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Bang Pakong River

This video of Bang Pakong River was taken at the pier of Saint Pauls's Catholic Church Chachoengsao, Thailand , April 19, 2009.

Old Church, New Church

One of the places we dropped by during our visit to Chacheongsao, Thailand is a centuries old church called Saint Paul's Catholic Church. What was left of the church was its facade because the entire structure was demolished. The reason why it was demolished will forever be a mystery to me because the history of the church was written in Thai and I always have a problem reading Thai. Photo above shows my son JM making faces while I took a photo of the facade of the church.

The sign at the church door.

The tower above is a landmark leading to the pier. The end of this alley is a pier located on the banks of the Bang Pakong River where people take a boat ride to cross the other side of the river.

The alley from the old church leads to the pier.

An antique house made of wood where the parish priest lives.

A cart and a statue of an animal show us what kind of transport system people used that time.

The facade of the ancient church (or what was left of it).

The new Saint Paul's Catholic Church.

Earth Day 2009

Go to this link for Earth Day 2009 arts, crafts, projects and fun activities.

City Fort

During last Sunday's trip to Chachoengsao we passed by a place called Chachoengsao City Fort which was built during the reign of King Rama III to protect the city against enemies. During the reign of King Rama V, the fort was used against Chinese opium traders. The front of the fort was developed to a park to enable tourists to get a better view of the Bang Pakong River. At the back of the wall are canons ,which are remnants of the past.

Back to Work

I'm back to work after a week long holiday. I have to face once more the noise in the classroom, the long teaching hours and the summer heat. Thank God for air-conditioning which makes my life comfortable during these hot and humid summer months. I always have second thoughts about going on short trips to 7-Eleven during my free time because the heat in the Land of Smiles is getting more and more unbearable each day. Anyway, I have another two weeks vacation to look forward to, my last this sumer. For the meantime, I have to complete my remaining two weeks of teaching this summer and wait until the weather gets more comfortable next month when the rains come.

Divine Mercy Sunday

"I want this image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that day, the depths of My Mercy will be open to all. Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not enjoy peace until it returns to My Mercy."

- The message of Jesus to Sister Faustina.

Wat Sothon

This Sunday, after morning mass, we decided to take JM for a tour of the nearby province of Chacheongsao. I have to go back to work tomorrow and summer school reopens after our week long holiday.

Wat Sothon is a temple in Chachoengsao province , Thailand situated on the west bank of the Bang Pakong River. Enshrined in a new gigantic hall is Phra Phutthasothon, or "Luang Pho Sothon" regarded as one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand. Two annual fairs celebrating the image fall in the 5th and the 12th lunar months (around April and November).

A closer view of the temple's steeple. Note that the entire structure does not resemble the traditional Thai style temple.

One of the two white elephants guarding the entrance to the temple.

The Bang Pakong River as seen at the back of the temple.

The monk's house.

A Chinese temple in the Buddhist Temple grounds.

Bats

A giant bat statue located in a temple ground at the foot of Khao Chong Phran Hill.

Khao Chong Phran hill is located in Tambon Tao Pun, Amphoe Photharam, 17 kms. north of Ratchaburi along the Khao Ngu-Boek Phrai route (Route No. 3089). The roadside hill has 2 interesting caves; Tham Phra Won housing more than 100 Buddha images and Tham Khangkhao or Bat Cave, which is home to some three million bats. As the sun sets over the horizon, they all disperse on their search for food and the mountain looks like a volcano disgorging thick black smoke.

More Photos

I decided to post additional photos of our trip to Ratchaburi, Thailand last Songkran holiday. Enjoy them. The twosome candidly pose with a breathtaking view of the lowlands of Ratchaburi as their background.

JM enjoys the breeze on the terrace of a Chinese temple nestled on top of a mountain.

Father and son on the platform where those who dare cross the cliff on suspended wires start their journey.

After having been fed with bananas and corn, this monkey seeks shelter under a bougainvilla plant from the intense summer heat.

Nature Photos

A view of the lowlands from a Chinese temple on top of a mountain.

JM and dad on top of a cliff located in Khao Ngu (Dwelling of Snakes), Ratchaburi. There are no snakes in this place anymore. The mountain is populated by monkeys.

A view from top of a cliff.

This is what we came here for. They are all over the mountain, waiting for tourists to come for their regular feed of bananas and corn on a cob.

Every visitor loves to take photos of this engraving of Buddha on the side of the mountain which is the entry point to Khao Ngu.

* Photos were taken on Khao Ngu and on a Chinese temple located at the top of a mountain in the province of Ratchaburi, Thailand.