Top Travel Tips and Destinations

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Chatuchak Market in Bangkok

Chatuchak. Nothing in your experience can compare to this weekend market in Bangkok. 25 years of travel to Asia and watching the development of this Bangkok market has never stopped my fascination each time I visit.

We were there a couple of days ago and I can assure you, it is even more crowded now as it was years ago when it first opened. In fact, it is like an international weekend market where people from all over the world come not just to buy but also to sell products.

The variety is with no comparison. You can buy anything from crafts, clothes, hardware, food, house wares and jewelry. The goods are not just from Thailand but from so many other countries who have found Chatuchak a much more lucrative market for their goods. What with all the tourists flocking to this market.

Bags for sale in Chatuchak

There are ATMs, post office and courier places as well as a good array of transport. The shopping infrastructure is really strong encouraging many to buy and you should see what people buy. I often wonder how they'd bring these things home.

When you plan your trip to Bangkok, make sure you have a weekend to spare in Chatuchak. Even if you don't buy, it is still a fascinating experience.

Spa Products for sale in Chatuchak

There are so many products for sale here especially spa ones. This young man deserved my support. He has tried to develop this business and young entrepreneurs need the encouragement.

Food stalls in Chatuchak

You can sit in any of these stalls and try out some of what they offer. These are delicious, freshly cooked right in front of you.

Food for sale in Chatuchak

Hats for sale in Chatuchak

60 baht is about $2. Prices vary though depending on who comes with all the overruns from factories. But there are bargains to be had in this place. Besides the fun alone is enough to make your visit.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Tour West Lake Hanoi in an Enviro-Buggy

New York's Central Park is a defining part of the city. Museums and wealth hug its edges and its cleaning power regenerates the air. Most Asian cities are missing this kind of grand central green lung and although they can boast ancient monuments and historic contexts, very few can combine the two.

Hanoi has West Lake partly filled with floating greenery, partly surrounded by hotels and restaurants, its edges dotted with temples and pagodas. West Lake is a vast cooling air conditioner in the heart of the city that can cook your toes in May and June. It's not a pond. It will take a few hours to walk around it and even the battery-driven tourist cart is an hour and a half venture.

Duong Lam, Ancient Vietnamese Village

Duong Lam, an ancient Vietnamese village about 47 kilometres from Hanoi is a gem of a place to visit. We went one weekend to see for ourselves. The market was in full swing when we arrived in the village. We parked and started to go around this typical Vietnamese rural village. But many things are not typical here in Duong Lam.

Some of the old structures, pagodas, ancestral homes, common houses, and wells date back hundreds of years. Two Vietnamese kings were also born here.

Going around the village, old doors and windows intrigued us as they often do. Then, the owners of some of these family pagodas invited us to come in and have a peek at these ancient structures. We were really impressed with how well preserved some are. The furniture were still there as well as the tools they used to polish the rice and to grind the corn. They still have their family wells and some still cook in the old kitchen.

One ancestral pagoda, about 400 years old, surprised us most especially because it was Holy Saturday. This pagoda did not have the usual statues. Instead, at the centre is the picture of Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help and around are pictures of saints in the Catholic Church. The owner's grandfather became Catholic during the French period so he has an altar in his pagoda.

Aside from this, he showed us how he makes rice wine. In fact, he made us sample some. It was sweet with a lovely smell.

We visited the 18th century Mong Phu communal house as well as the other family pagodas. The people are very friendly. We ended our visit in the Mia Pagoda and joined the locals in asking for a blessing.

Other Places to Explore in Vietnam:

West Lake, Hanoi
Perfume Pagoda

Monday, March 25, 2013

House of Mary in Ephesus

We were in Turkey last February. Upon arriving in Istanbul, we looked at some of the day trips on offer. The day trip to Ephesus got us interested. And what was the draw for me? The House of the Virgin Mary.

This intrigued me more than the Greek and Roman ruins which we have seen many of. Besides, after Turkey, we were to go to Sicily and there would be lots of these over there. The House of the Virgin Mary was worth seeing. The story around the founding of this house is quite intriguing. As if, it really wanted to be found.

Legend claims that the Virgin Mary stayed in this house when after the death of Jesus, the Apostle and Evangelist John brought her here. Jesus entrusted her to John so he must have taken cared of her. It is said that she stayed here until her Assumption. There's a community not far from here who come for pilgrimage here every Assumption Day, August 15. Said practice has been a tradition in this community for many generations so who knows maybe it started after Mary's Assumption.

Anyway, the place is now used for pilgrimage and prayer. I did light a candle for special intentions and prayed for many family members and friends.

Here are some of my pictures of the place:

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Why Visit Turkey

Turkey has now become one of my top cities to visit. As the only city to claim it's in 2 continents, Europe and Asia, it is interestingly unique. We stayed there for a week and although we stayed in Istanbul we also visited Ephesus and Cappadocia. You really must schedule these two places in your itinerary when you plan your trip to Turkey.

The mix of cultures from the locals who lived there years ago to the Greeks, Romans and the Ottomans as well as the northern Africans who also went to its shores made today's Turkey a fascinating place not just for its heritage sites but for its food, art and crafts.

I have now started reading some of the novels about this wonderful country. I just finished A Thief's Tale by the famous historical fiction writer, Turney. Often, although fiction, these novels give me a picture of life at that time.