Life in MY - Jementah 2011

Jementah is the third largest town in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia.

Strategically located 16 km from Segamat, this little, peace and calm town is located at high territory and surronded by mountain. Luxury rain forrest and the fresh air here will give you a unforgettable journey.







My handsome model of the day:P

Life in MY - Port Dickson

This images was taken sometime back in Dec 2010, where I and a friend drove up to Kluang for a day biz trip.

A very last minutes decision to stop by at Port Dickson for sunset. Well, as you can see from the images, mainly BW, no lucky for a colorful sunset.






After that we drove to a nearby malay seafood restaurant. Had a wonderful dinner and then started our long drive back to Singapore.

Life in TH - Glory of the Past, Ayutthaya (Part V)

Early morning, woke up and found that the sky was misty, felt very disappointed. Slowly took my time for breakfast waiting for the mist to clear. However, the sky looked the same through out the day:( . The morning plan was to visit 2 temple nearby.



Wat Mahathat
Perhaps the most striking of all of the temples in Ayutthaya and is located the very heart of the city

Wat Mahathat is typical of the Ayutthaya ruins: large crumbling stupas surrounded by low laterite walls and rows of headless Buddhas. One Buddha-head is in a tree trunk.


Rows of headless buddhas



This Buddha head encased in a Banyan Tree (Strangler Fig) is probably one of the most photographed artifacts in Thailand outside Bangkok



The temple's prang, at 46 m (150 ft) high, is one of the old city's most impressive edifices. With its picturesquely ruined stupas, Wat Mahathat is a great place to be at sunset.






New life growing out from the massive pile of rocks

Opening: 07:30 - 18:30 Daily
Admission: 50Baht




Wat Ratchaburana
erected by King Boromracha II (1424-48) in memory of his elder brothers Ay and Yi, killed in a duel over the succession to the throne. Columns and walls of the wiharn still stand, as do some ruined chedis around the prang and also parts of the surrounding walls complete with lancet gateways. The large prang with its fine figured stucco, portraying nagas supporting garudas, is exceptionally well preserved.


A pigeon walking on a burnt down headless buddha's leg



In 1767 it was burnt down by the Burmese army and remained undisturbed until treasure hunters excavated the treasure room under the prang



In September of 1957 A.D. looter dug into a two-level crypt inside the main prang (Khmer type tower) and stole a great quantity of valuable material. Police arrested some of these looters. The Fine Arts Department proceeded to excavate the site and found Buddha images and many artifacts made of gold. Among these were a large number of votive tablets made of gold and lead. In 1958 A.D. the Fine Arts Department built a stairway so that one could go down into the crypt and look at the mural paintings which were also found there.


The entrance


Look up, and might need a touch light here.


Inside temple building looked out to the street

Openning: 07:30 - 18:30 Daily
Admission: 50Baht

Thanks for viewing my adventure in Ayutthaya, hope that some of the information will help you in your future visit to the glory of past, Ayutthaya.


Lastly, not to forget this friendly and beautiful hotel receptionist at Ayutthaya Hotel... cheers

Life in TH - Glory of the Past, Ayutthaya (Part IV)

Wat Chaiwatthanaram

An enchancing architecture is similar to that of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A main prang and four lesser prangs are still remained, all were created on the same base and surrounded by eight small prangs.



The Burmese besieged this temple in 1767 for an army camp while attempting to invade the main island. As a result, this temple was damaged during battle. Evidence of cannon balls and cannon fragments were found here during excavation. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was promptly abandoned after the fall of Ayutthaya. It was looted for decades. The heads of Buddha images were sold to foreign markets and the buildings were taken apart to sell as bricks. The Fine Arts Department heavily renovated it between 1987 and 1992.




Met Mr Marcello from Italy, yet another sunglasses reflection image. :P



Well this was it, the sunset of the day in Ayutthaya during my visit... It was worth it to wait for the light up at this place.



Some people said this temple is most beautiful when seen around sunset from the Chao Phraya River.



After this, I continued following my tuk tuk driver to show me around others light up location... in which most of them I could only shoot from outside...

Had lots of walking and shooting in a day and I still had more adventure coming up the next day...

Life in TH - Glory of the Past, Ayutthaya (Part III)

Meet Mr Elephant at The Royal Kraal.

I could go up close and even touched the elephants. With Thai mahouts (elephant trainers) around this huge animals can do many funny tricks like bow, kiss, play hullahoop etc

Visitor can paid a fees to travel around the ancient city by the friendly and big elephant dressing in colourful clothes.



I walked slowly to the nearby Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit.

I met few monks whom came from Changmai, to my surprise one of them can speak very well english, I had a short chat and took some photos of them as well.


Always remember not to wear shoe inside the wat


Afternoon sun shining through the back gate of Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit


School kids queuing up to go into Wat Phra Si San Phet, its free for them

Within a short walking distance The Ancient Palace - Wat Phra Si San Phet were in my eyesight

Built in the reign of King Boromtrilokanath, Wat Phra Sri San Phet was the biggest temple in the area at its peak and is historically very significant.

This is a large site, visitors can wander through to get a genuine feel for the Ayutthaya’s historic past. Quiet and in a pleasant environment, Wat Phra Si San Phet and the Ancient Palace are well worth spending a bit of time looking over. There will be light up around this site... however I can only shoot from outside.






The design of the temple inspired the design of the Emerald Buddha Chapel in Bangkok and holds three large Chedi containing the ashes of three Ayutthayan kings. These Chedis have come to symbolize the essential qualities of Ayutthayan-period architecture and are much published images.



And I met my new made friends again!

Opening: 8.00 - 17.30 Daily
Admission: 50 Baht

Well, it was time to get ready for my next destination, this place is good to shoot for sunset...

Life in TH - Glory of the Past, Ayutthaya (Part II)

After lunch, my 1st stop was Wat Thammikarat

This is a working wat, but also contains the ruins of a large chedi and a huge wiharn which has a large tree growing picturesquely out of the side of one wall. Here, I met this little monk boy and we had little fun while taking his photos.



Admission: Free



The next stop was the nearby Wat Na Phra Men.

The Temple is located across the river north of the palace. The must see in this temple is the bronze presidion Buddha image in the attitude of subduing evil.

According to legend, the Burmese king himself was firing one canon when it blew up, mortally wounding him. When the Burmese returned to finally take Ayutthaya in 1767, they left the temple alone out of superstition about what had happened to their king the last time.

Inside, the columns are painted a very dark red with gold decorations. The coffered ceiling is also intricately decorated in red and gold. On the dais at one end of the ubosot is a crowned Buddha image with a rather sour face.


A monk reading

Openning: 8.00 - 17.00 Daily
Admission: 20 Baht


Temple of the Reclining Buddha is one of the most famous landmarks of Ayutthaya.

Wat Lokayasutharam

The highlight of this temple is, obviously, the gigantic yet graceful reclining Buddha image, known locally as Phra Bhudhsaiyart. This reclining Buddha was constructed of bricks and cement in the Middle Ayutthaya Period and is 37 meters long and 8 meters high. As the head is resting on a lotus, the legs overlap squarely to show the equalized toes

This wat was important and you can still see many vestiges around the reclining Buddha.




Back to the nest


Resting under the tree enjoying the wind, water and the view, I felt great especially under the hot sun.


Opening: 24hrs
Admission: Free

At around 3.30pm Thailand time, we travelled to the new location... the Elephant Palace.

Life in TH - Glory of the Past, Ayutthaya (Part I)

Ayutthaya was founded around A.D.1350 by a Prince of U-Thong.It used to be one of the richest cities in Asia by the 1600s, exporting rice, animal skins, ivory, etc. In 1767 the city was completely burned during the war.

I took BTS to Victory Monument in Bangkok and took a mini van that cost 60baht. The whole journey took around one and a half hours depending on the traffic in Bangkok. The final stop point is at the central of Ayutthaya.

I hired a tuk tuk to bring me around for 10hrs @ 1000baht, well it was good because I was bringing lot of stuffs, other alternatives are renting a bicycle or motorbike which will be cheaper.

I planned my route with my 'private' tuk tuk driver, starting from the southeast corner in the morning and traveled anti clockwise in the afternoon and sunset @ Wat Chaiwatthanaram follow by light up tour at night.

Well, let start the adventure:


The enormous Buddha 'Luang Po To'

Wat Phanan Choeng

The main wiharn is just barely big enough to house the colossal 19 meter (63 feet) high Buddha image. On special days, there can barely be enough room to squeeze past people praying in front the image in order to see the entire space. Press on through, because its worth it.


A friendly monk was preparing for a praying in a smaller hall beside the entrance

Admission: Free


Outdoor White Reclining Buddha in Wat Yai Chaimongkhon

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon

I reached here, before noon time while the hot sun already burning my head.

This monastery, contructed during the reign of King Uthong, is located outside the city to the southest in the same direction as the railway station. I can see its large pagoda from far away.




Hot burning steps leading up to top


Top view down

Opening: 08.00 -18.00 daily
Admission: 20Baht


This masterful mural in ordination hall of Wat Suwandararam, Ayutthaya, shows the brave King Naresuan on elephant back defeating the Burmese Crown Prince (Phra Mahauparacha) in 1592

Wat Suwandararam

Wat Suwandararam is located in the southeast corner of Ayutthaya old town, off U-Thong Road. The temple was originally built during the Ayutthaya era, and then extended and restored several times by the Chakri kings.

Within the viharn is a masterpiece painting illustrating the bravery of Naresuan the Great, the king who secured Ayutthaya's independence from the Burmese in 1584.





Admission: Free

Headed back to the central for lunch, the driver brought me to an airconed restaurant. It is located right opposite of Wat Mahathat...