Bangkok, Thailand I

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The minute we stepped outside in Bangkok, it was a hot sauna... and it was 9pm in the evening on a December night. We caught a bumpy, noisy tuk-tuk (a local 3-wheeler taxi or rickshaw) to our hotel. I thought it was just our luck to get a wild driver on our first night in this city, only to learn later that they all drive the same. The roads seem to have no rules, and the lanes seem to be invisible to the drivers.  Bangkok has crazy traffic, crowded sidewalks, and many dirty streets, but it has an energy and a culture that's captivating and hard to describe. 

Bangkok is the city of street food. Literally every street was lined with street food vendors that sell snacks like skewers of meat, cooked noodles, or sliced fruit. Along side the vendors, people are selling clothes, trinkets, worship items, and everything in between. We walked so much in this city, and we always found something new. Besides walking, we took tuk-tuks, taxis, water taxis (boats), the sky train, the underground metro... the public transportation is pretty well covered. 

I loved all the gold details in buildings and the beautiful Thai letters on signs and buildings. 

I'm so excited to share the Grand Palace with you this week. Looking back at the photos now, I can't believe I was there... it looks like something from a dream. 

- Julia

Sooo many mopeds on the streets, some carrying families of four. Looks fun at first glance, but not everyday. I'm sure they'd rather have a car.
Buying a mango.
A tuk-tuk is a 3-wheel taxi (aka rickshaw) that's a common way to get around. 
So many people do their business out on the sidewalks.
A line-up of taxis-- the colors of the rainbow!
Our first tuk-tuk ride... these things are speedier than they appear.
Our hotel in Bangkok was simple and perfect.
Pink accent walls are a nice touch!

24 comments :

  1. Pictures with so much colors! love it :)

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  2. amazing place! amazing pics! really!!!! ;)
    I love your blog!! ;)


    http://traveloguewithlove.blogspot.com/

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  3. such wonderful pictures! I have been to Bangkok quite often, it is one of my favorite places and I am so looking forward to my next time there. You have captured it so beautlfully, especially the people, great portraits shots, as usual!! :)

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  4. amazing photos!

    I always get the feeling that the people you photograph are people you know personally; it's like they trust you completely.

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  5. Beautiful! This post just got me even more excited to go to Thailand at the end of this year!

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  6. This is my favourite blog, you're pictures are soooooo beautiful, and I am so happy you just posted about Thailand, because I am going there on Hollidays in August and I can't wait to get out of Europe for the first time :))))))
    Lots of love from bcn and thanks for sharing this amazing experiences and amazing pictures with the world.

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  7. Bangkok sounds like a hoot! I think my eyes would get so tired looking around this city. Can't wait to see all the other goodies you two have to share.

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  8. Oh these are gorgeous, Julia! So happy that you posted again :) You two are so dang good!

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  9. Love the pictures! I can't wait to visit Bangkok myself :)

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  10. Bangkok is an amazing quirky place isn't it? I can't get enough of all your travel photos, especially those portraits you took.

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  11. I stayed at the same place in Bangkok. It's so nice there and the staff are so sweet. Loved seeing your photos of the city!

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  12. Hey ! thanks for this post..am planning to visit Bangkok sometime soon... looks really fun !

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  13. i LOVE your blog ! these pics are amazing and i got a sudden urge to travel to thailand!

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  14. Julia and Yuri, reading your post and seeing those gorgeous images that you two took are making me revive some gorgeous moments from our honeymoon in Bangkok :)

    xo

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  15. what a colorful and exciting city. I am getting so hungry looking at all the street food vendors.

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  16. I've always wanted to go to Thailand, thanks for giving me a glimpse of what it's like. Just as beautiful as I imagined!

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  17. You two are way cool. I hope I can travel like that one day too! I will be following all your adventures for sure! And Julia thanks for the advice! I truly appreciate your time.

    ZG

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  18. Hi! I came from the Green tea fields's link. I'm so glad I click on the link to check out your photos! I just came back from Bangkok too but your photos are so interesting!!

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  19. Julia! Thank you for the sneaker info, and it's set I'm going to South Korea for a year to work so hopefully I'll get up the guts to blog in some form or fashion. :) Furthermore, you two take the most interesting photos! They're always so clear and bright and exactly what I hope to see when I'm trying to get a glimpse of the world. For these particular photos did you use the D700 with 50mm lens, or the Canon 4000?

    Could you point me in the direction of any photos you've taken with your Canon on your blog? I'd like to buy something better than I have when I go overseas, something that would give me similar quality to photos on your blog, but unfortunately my budget is nowhere near SLR friendly..
    Any suggestions?

    Thank you, and I really can't tell you how much I enjoy reading your posts. Out of all the travel blogs I've encountered, this one is one of the most fulfilling and personal. Thanks again. :)

    CR

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  20. LatteLisa - Your comment was really amazing to read! Thank you.

    Miss MW - Thank you! Such perfect timing... you will love Thailand.. There is so much to do.

    Carrie - Thank you so much for the nice words. In this particular post, all photos are with the D700, a few were taken with the 85mm and 24mm, but about 80% are with the 50mm. We've never posted a lot of photos from our compact camera... you probably see them most often on food photos (sometimes we go out to dinner and don't feel like bringing the bulky SLR). If you can't buy an SLR, I would suggest getting a compact camera that has manual controls (ours doesn't.. we will be replacing it soon).

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  21. Lovely photos. We were in Bangkok for about 48 hours and felt it was just enough before fleeing to the coasts. Enjoying your blog.

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