The H.T.M.S. Maeklong II

Father and son pose for a photo with a statue of a naval officer at the foot of the statue of King Chulalongkorn.

Rubber on concrete poles line the beach overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The background is miles and miles of mud which dried up due to the low tide.

JM had his photo taken with the statue of King Chulalongkorn at the background.

Hanging bridge.

JM rests on an antique cannon.

A huge cannon found inside the air raid shelter.

The English company which manufactured the cannons in the air raid shelter.

Seafood Galore

We went to Bangkhutian, Bangkok to eat fresh seafood. There were so many places to choose from and there was so much competition around that fresh seafood was being sold at rock bottom prices. We chose this place that offered us a 10% discount on our order and a 50 Baht fee for the cooking service. Fresh crabs anyone ?

Here's our order : crab fried rice, JM's favorite, mussels . . . . . . .

and fresh shrimps for only 20 Baht in a giant plate ! We ate as much as we can, but the order was too much for three persons, we took leftovers home for dinner. Burp !

Romaneenart Park

Close to the Giant Swing and Wat Suthat, Romaneenart Park is the only non-ceremonial park in the center of the city. The park is less that five years old, and was built on the site of the old city jail. One wall and some of the old guard towers have been retained and made part of the park. A large number of fountains help keep the park cool in the middle of the big city.The park features some basketball courts, a playground and a sort of "muscle beach" area for weight lifting. Romaneenart Park is on Siriphong Road, which runs from Wat Suthat down to Pahurat Market in Bangkok's Little India section, next to Chinatown.

The building of the old city jail.

JM taking a break during the tour of the park.

The gate of the old city jail.

An old guard tower.

The wall of the old city jail.

Their Heart is My Home

Familiar warmth greets

the moment I step into my parents heart

a nest that is always there

for me right from the start

A place where I am

embraced for who I am

where the child within me

runs care free like a little lamb

Every tear and every outbursts

of anger that I pour

is never left unheard

or shut behind the door

It is a garden where

love and unity strives

no matter the difficulty

to my calls help always

arrives

Every corner of their heart

is tender to my touch

whenever I knock upon

I'm welcomed and content

like sitting on a comfy couch

My parents heart

is where my home is

day or night far or near

there, my mind is truly at ease

Meena.S

Lunch in a Bamboo Hut

The location of our Sunday lunch is tranquil, windy and it abounds with fresh catch from the sea.

We've booked one bamboo hut to have our Sunday lunch. The table was low and we all sat on the floor.

While waiting for the food, JM and dad curiously searched for fish and mudskippers.

Our lunch of crab fried rice, tomyum seafood and shrimp fried in batter finally arrived. Todays lunch was terrific and filling !

Have a great week everyone !

Paradise at the Mall

The Mall is famous in Bangkok for its environmental theme. JM had his photo taken in a spot with waterfalls, foliages and crytal clear waters. Shopping was next in our itinerary.

We had a great time shopping and of course, growing kids get hungry all the time. A big snack at Mac Donald's satisfied his hunger pangs.

Mangrove Photos

An old bridge leading to the mangrove forest.

The river lined with mangrove trees.

The start of the trek to the mangrove forest.

A white bird resting on mangrove trees.

Temple on a Ship

On the way home after our short trip to the mangrove , we noticed this temple constructed on top of a ship.

Dad and JM explored the grounds where the ship was docked.

A view of the temple from down the ship.

The temple on a ship as viewed from afar.

* It is not surprising for the residents of this part of Bangkok to have the idea of constructing a temple on a ship. Their main source of livelihood is fishing.*

Sunday's Delight

JM was this tiger's lunch today, it was fun having his photo taken inside the beast's mouth.

A photo of the pink attired 12 year old taken in a bridge above a river surrounded by a mangrove forest.

A big CHEEZE after lunch at KFC.

JM in Today's Photos

JM at 12 has grown into a boy with varied interests, he likes Geology, swimming, computer games and other activities. He enjoys science fiction and war movies and is crazy about Shrek.

I always teach him to trust and believe in God, our source of guidance and protection. Sunday mass is a part of his schedule on weekends.

I took a photo of him in this same place more than two months ago. The land was parched and dry. When we came back today, the place has turned green and fresh, and he had a great time running around and enjoyed the clean, fresh air.

* Children grow up fast, enjoy them while they are young for they will be completely different people when they are grown up*

So Cute !

I found this old photo of JM when he turned 7 five years ago. He looks so different then and I miss it when he looks this cute !

The Greatest Man

The Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him healer. He had no army, yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He ... committed no crime, ...yet they crucified him. He was... buried in a tomb, yet he lives today.