Sunday 14th of June 2015 and my alarm went off at 6 o'clock. Snooze 5 minutes and then I changed the alarm to 6 thirty. I didn’t felt asleep until 4 thirty this morning so I had not had any sleep at all. I started with my time lapses when I was back home from the Bangkok Cityscapes yesterday and time turned quick.
I managed to get out of bed at 6 thirty, I don't want to miss this chance to explore Bangkok by foot. Another Bangkok hidden gem and who knows when these areas disappears for ever.
Tea and oatmeal for breakfast and I left just before 8 and as it was light Sunday morning traffic I arrived to Prince Palace Hotel quarter past 8 o'clock
I could see, maybe 15 people sitting on the stairs to the entrance to the Prince Palace Hotel. I didn't recognised any of them, but as they were carrying cameras I suspected that they were members of Bangkok Photographers.
8 o'clock in the morning and it was already very hot so I went inside.
4 o'clock in the morning and the thunder and lightning started with heavy rain, so it was like a sauna when the sun came up over the horizon. Try to throw water on the hot stones next time you sit in a sauna and you will know what I mean. So it was nice to get inside. Prince Palace Hotel was full of Chinese tourists. Busses outside the hotel picked up loads of them going to where ever.
I was shocked to see the tourists. Just walk up to anyone and starting to babble in Chinese. When whoever they spoke to (hell, they even came to speak with me) didn't understood they just started to talk louder and louder.
The staff came up to me complaining. And I understand them, there was a lot of problem. And who is going abroad expecting people to speak their own language.
They could not speak a word of English or Thai. Just firing of harangue in Chinese expecting the whole world to understand. Maybe I should start speaking Skånska ONLY from now on. Will see how long this will take me.
Anyway, clock turned 8 thirty and it looked like most of the Bangkok Photographers had arrived and I went outside.
We took the group picture and we left for a quieter place as it was a lot of noise outside the hotel. We moved down the street where it was a little less noise. Our organiser explained today's photo walk. We will walk through an area that will undergo a makeover. They will hopefully restore and not tear it down. Another hidden game in Bangkok and places like this is only found when exploring Bangkok by foot.
Sala Chaloem Thani theater
Thai full name is โรงภาพยนตร์เฉลิมธานี. It is also known as Nang Loeng Cinema. Thai full name is นางเลิ้ง. It was opened in year 1918 and closed in year 1993.
The place is now used as a warehouse in a dilapidated condition. In year 2013, Philip Jablon, an independent researcher and photographer documenting the last of Southeast Asia's stand-alone cinemas, suggested the reopening of the world's oldest cinema in France should inspire Thailand to relaunch Sala Chaloem Thani theater as Asia's oldest movie theatre.
Sala Chaloem Thani theater is a two storeys wooden building. Let's cross finger that this almost centenary building can continue to escape accidental fires...
The Sala Chaloem Thani theater still features an old booth that was selling cinema tickets.
From http://www.thaiworldview.com/
We moved down the road and when we reached silence our Organiser explained where the Photo Walk would bring us. The whole area around the Prince Palace Hotel is a huge market called Bobae Market.
Early Sunday morning and the trade was in full swing even though it was Sunday. It was still noisy where we were, but we managed to have our PEP meeting and we took off after about 10 minutes.
Pep talk before taking off to discover hidden gems in Bangkok
Pep talk before taking off to discover hidden gems in Bangkok
Loading pineapples
Accommodation for 6 persons in the back of the pick-up truck
Accommodation for 6 persons in the back of the pick-up truck
Prize winning birds - For their twitter - No tape for sale
Crossing Lan Luang Road
A beautiful wood house - One of many hidden gems
Two street racers
In the middle of Bangkok
Sala Chaloem Thani theater
Sala Chaloem Thani theater
Sala Chaloem Thani theater
The square in front of the Sala Chaloem Thani theater
The square in front of the Sala Chaloem Thani theater
The market
Always heart-warming to see happy children -
But it scared the crap out of me thinking of them going out in the traffic like this
Always heart-warming to see happy children -
But it scared the crap out of me thinking of them going out in the traffic like this
Always heart-warming to see happy children -
But it scared the crap out of me thinking of them going out in the traffic like this
Always heart-warming to see happy children -
But it scared the crap out of me thinking of them going out in the traffic like this
In the middle of Bangkok
Doing the laundry
Darn! It was hot to walk around and I was happy that I only brought my small Canon PowerShot camera. We spent an hour ++ in the Nang Loeng before I left for the race track. Walking around Nang Loeng had been fun, and the Thai people are really friendly.
I told two old ladies selling food that I was here to look for a girlfriend. Yes, they see a foreigner in the area and the interrogation starts. What am I doing here? Of course I told them that I was here to look for a girlfriend. And of course, they started to spread the word around.
It was like coming in to a small village in the middle of Bangkok, a beautiful area. But darn! Again, what about all the garbage laying around? And this area was far better than the other areas I have been to.
Imagine this place cleaned up, living in a nice wooden house in this area. Would have been a dream come through.
We were going to meet at the market at 10 thirty and then we would move to the race track and as it is Sunday there will be a horse race today. This could turn out to be interesting and I was looking forward to this.
The Royal Turf Club
was first established in Thailand in December in B.E. 2440 (116 Rattanakosin Era or 1897 A.D.). In that time, King Rama V of Siam (the first king of Thailand who visited Europe countries) had just returned from his trip to Europe, the bureaucrat therefore organized a celebration event to respectfully welcome the king.
The Royal celebration held a joyful assembly, giant feast, and traditional game performances for entertainment of the king. Each of the bureaucrats had to bring one thing to the Royal party, so they gathered together, and decided to set up horse racing as an offering to please King Rama V. H.R.H Prince KrommakhunPiyalappruettitada was a chairman. Initially, ThungPhra Men (or SanamLuang nowadays) was temporarily used as a race track. This was the first time horse racing (in Western style) took place in Thailand.
Later, PhyaPradipatpubarn and PhyaUttaprasit made an official letter to King Mongkut for permission to establish the Royal Horse Racing Club for breeding horses by using the land belonged to the Royal Horse Department. The king granted. He gave the name “the Royal Turf Club” and took it under his Patronage. The income from horse race was taken into horse nurture. The full name of the club was Royal Turf Club of Thailand under the Royal Patronage or “Sanam Ma Nang Loeng” as people call it nowadays.
At present, the club manages horse racing, does the registration of horses, the owners, and related personnel. The race is biweekly held, alternating with The Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC). Moreover, the club also provides many facilities, such as golf courses, tennis court, badminton court, swimming pool, including restaurants, and dining room for welcoming guests as well.
For those who are interested, the Royal Turf Club is located on 183 Pissnanulok Road, SuanChitlada, Dusit District, Bangkok. The transportation is convenient, just take the BTS to Ratchathewi. Then, take the bus no.16, it will arrive at Sanam Ma Nang Loeng right away.
From www.tourismthailand.org
But it was darn hot and I was very tired as I only had had one and a half to two hours of sleep during the night. And at 10 thirty there was no sign of us moving along so I left the market and I started to walk towards The Royal Turf Club.
I knew that The Royal Turf Club should be on the other side of the Canal, but where. What do they call a race track in Thai? I have no clue.
But I asked where the horses where running. Or at least I hope so, dog is the same as a horse in Thai. Well, a slight difference in the tone. And by the way, come is also the same as dog and horse, and yet again, with a slight difference in the tone. For them it is the same difference as between BLACK and WHITE. But for me it is all the same.
OK, we understand the meaning in the context, but the FAR AWAY and CLOSE is also the same and this can easily lead to misunderstanding.
Chris Spedding ran in to the very same misunderstanding a “few” years back. And if I understood it right they were both speaking English.
So now imagine speaking Thai in a disco with the music blasting on full blast. Well, OK, if the music is good. But anyway, FAR AWAY or CLOSE? A drama you can live without!
Well, anyway, I found The Royal Turf Club. I could see vendors selling binoculars and race program outside The Royal Turf Club. I entered the area and I arrived as the horses arrived on trucks. I asked a few people when the race would start and I got three different answers.
12:15, 12:00 and 12:30. OK, at least in the ball park. It was another 90 minutes before the race would start and I was seriously doubting that I would be here by then. It was VERY hot and I was tired. A bed and air condition was high on my “priority list” now. Just a few pictures of the horses and I would be off home for air condition and a power nap.
Selling binoculars, racing program and pens
Selling binoculars, racing program and pens
He looks happy, maybe he have a tip straight from the horse's mouth
Horses arriving to The Royal Turf Club in Bangkok
The horses was taken from the truck to a stable/ court where they had people walking the horses. I asked if I could come in to take pictures, no problem.
Well, I had to stay away from the stable area as they brought horses there. And if you get kicked by a horse it, it is not good. And no one needed to tell me to stay away from the horses. Back in the days when I was practicing at the Emergency Ward in one of the hospitals in Go:teborg, Sweden we had two teenage girls in bad condition coming in.
Two or three hours apart and both of them had been kicked by horses. NEVER STAY BEHIND A HORSE! NEVER! So yes, I kept an eye out and I made sure to stay well clear of any horses. Well, yet again I thought about Africa. Hippo tracks outside my tent, this I found very exciting. A spider in the shower or a few horses around and I shit myself.
I took a few pictures and one of the other Swedish members of Bangkok Photographers told me that they were going for a beer before the race.
We had to buy a ticket, 50 Baht. I asked if there was air condition at the restaurant. No, she pointed in a direction and I understood it was we had to buy a more expensive ticket at the other end of The Royal Turf Club
Confusion and mayhem, one of the members told us there was air condition at the restaurant and we went over to look for the place with our 50 Baht tickets. We asked for directions and they pointed us in a direction to a restaurant that looked. Well, like a street vendor with roof.
Then I would prefer to go back home to my bed. They left for the place and I turned around, there is for sure a place with air condition. I asked around and they pointed me in the right direction.
There was a sign for Singha beer, for sure nothing I was going to drink. But it looked like I was at the expensive part of The Royal Turf Club. Well, don't say very much if you have seen how the other part looked.
I approached the security guard with my ticket and I could pass the turnstile and I was soon in the restaurant. They had air condition, but it took me less than a second to realise that “fine dining” wasn't available. But I only wanted water and air condition. And a place to sit.
My Scooby Doo ticket
I approach with my Scooby Doo ticket
I was very welcome
I have to sit on the track (almost)
I check out the track while waiting for my food
I check out the track while waiting for my food
I take a seat at a table just a meter away from the race track. I ask if they have the fried chicken with cashew nuts. They have and I ask for a plate without the chilli and mushroom. A bottle of soda water and I go to explore the track while waiting for the food.
The food was good, and even though I had 2 bottles of soda water it was still an hour to go before the race would start when I was finished.
I can come back here another day. I'm about to fall asleep so I decided to take a taxi back home.
I was in bed by the time the race should start and I had put my alarm to go off 2 hours later. But I will be back at The Royal Turf Club another Sunday. Why not turn it in to a “How to kill a day in Bangkok?” adventure?
Well, otherwise there wasn't much excitements going down during the weekend. OK, PAP & Emblem released a new record. Utrotningshotad, well, I bought 4 of the tunes and, hmm, maybe 2 of the tunes were OK.
noll4noll with Muddy Fatique was a winner. Of course, nothing else was expected with Rocc Spotz helping out. We remember him helping to lift the tune “Skåne Staajl” a few notches.
And as the tune noll4noll is the one growing to be a favourite I downloaded the video as well for you to enjoy. FULL BLAST!!!
Pap & Emblem - noll4noll [feat. Muddy Fatique & Dj Connect] from Utrotningshotad
Time turns quick when you listen to good music, finally, Friday the 19th and time for me to go to Suvarnabhumi to catch Thai Airways Polar Express ⊂(・(ェ)・)⊃
So as soon as you're finished with Pap & Emblem - noll4noll [feat. Muddy Fatique & Dj Connect] above you just have to click HERE!
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)
noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.
ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!