This is an extended post from the previous one–shopfront signs–that shows the full fronted context of the shops of the same photoshoot route.
I have been fascinated by urban abstract in different cities like Mexico City and Tokyo. Contrary, it took a long time for me to properly explore and take photos of this Bangkok neighbourhood, where I have been living and spending time (on and off) in almost a decade. I guess I just took home for granted.
There are a lot more stories about it. Shopfronts and urban development are just surfaces. The communities and people are the ones that make it vibrant. That is on my pending lists to share the experience.
Yaowarat (เยาวราช), referred by locals as Chinatown, was the only place I wanted to shoot some photos this time in Bangkok. The subject has been in my interest for a while and I didn’t even scratch its surface.
Old cinema
Sin Huad
Tan Sam Year LTD Part
Yu Hua
Drinking in the alley
Future MRT subway stattion
Toilet
Rest and play
Open daily
Old market
Apartment
Dish washing
Cooking
Welcome
Riding
Of course, there were food, lots of street food and also people. Some stalls had a long line to get their services. But I was more interested in shophouse facades, one of the features that characterised cities in Thailand. Also, small alleys drawn me into them to explore deeper in the environment and its people.
Going up
It will be more interesting how a new subway station would affect this urban area.
One thing I couldn’t afford to miss when in Bangkok is the Royal Crematorium. The royal cremation ceremony was held in October 2017. The Royal Crematorium was still on display as an exhibition until December. I had an observation of people paying the last homage of the late King Bhumipol in December 2016. I was eager to see how they transformed Sanam Luang to glorify the monarch. They have done a very good job.
From the waiting area
Near sunset
Roof decoration
Reflection on the exhibition hall
Inside the exhibition hall
Sun flare on the roof
Sun flare on the roof
Kinara and Kinari (กินนร กินรี)
On a pond
Staff and rice paddy
Sobbing prayer
Top spot for photographers
Interior from afar
Garuda holding Naga pillar (เสาครุฑ)
Lord Virulhaka (ท้าววิรุฬหก)
Mobile picture
School children on mobile photos
Sunset
I don’t use a DSLR camera for a photo shoot much these days. But the day I visited Sanam Luang to take picture of it, I had so much fun. Because it was spectacular.
I arrived the place in late afternoon and the weather was perfect with overcast cloud to diffuse sunlight. It was not so busy that we needed to queue up. That gave me some rooms to take photos without bumping with the crowd.
Then, I realised that it was impossible to get deep down in details of the crematorium while photographing because of each element was created through the royal tradition with ancient Buddhist and Brahma believes. From the Funeral pyre to the surrounding pavilions converted into exhibition halls. And I didn’t do any homework on any of them what so ever.
So, yes, I was in awe and overwhelmed.
It wasn’t just the structures and the decorations that amazed me, but also the people. As the day went into dusk, the magic started to emerge—the golden hour of sunset. That was when the crowd started to form. There were some top spots for photographers stationed. But most visitors used their mobile phones or tablets to take picture considering it was a one-off event in their lifetime.
This was one of the most fun photo sessions I had for a long time. The last one I had real fun could be sunrise in Sydney I took in 2016. It reminded how much I could engage with photo shooting when the subject was astounding like this.
One of my definite to-do lists when I was back in Bangkok last December was to pay respect to the late King. The main reason wasn’t for the sake of myself paying the respect but to see the people and their activities around it.
Totally, it took about six hours that day to eventually get into the Grand Palace for ten minutes to pay the homage to HM’s body. Most of that time was just a wait in Sanam Luang, outside the Grand Palace. That would be enough for me to get a glimpse of the mourning environment.
One of the sections in the waiting area to get into the Grand Palace for paying respect HM’s body
