obiterdictum

Some from a BA009 LHR - BKK - LHR BA0010. Service on the return route was excellent, prefer the timings of routes like the LHR - SIN (23:00 departure) though, it's a shame they brought forwards the flight time to 3:40 for the outbound (changed a year or two ago I think?)

First time in Bangkok, so it's a very clichéd touristy set! This is more of a photographic rather than text based TR.

We stayed in the Millennium Hilton, which was far nicer than expected - although the pool area was starting to wear a little. Couldn't really fault the rooms or the views.

It was very quiet too, a lot of tourists were scared off due because of the coup d'etat.

There was a noticeable military presence, but all seemed peaceful.

The only downside was a 10pm curfew - annoying but I wasn't going to let it ruin the trip.

Got to start it off with a typical LHR waiting plane shot!

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#1

From the 85th floor of the Baiyoke II tower. I'd really recommend visiting here if in Bangkok! It was cheap and gives you access to an indoor 360 viewing area, around 60/70 floors up, and then a revolving outdoor section up on the 85th floor.

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Chao Phraya at Night - Taken from our hotel room

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Bangkok Traffic





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Wat Arun - One of the more famous temples in Bangkok

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I had a bit of time to kill in the room, so thought I'd had a play with the telephoto from the window.

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View from the Baiyoke Sky Hotel

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Weather Approaching Bangkok

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Glass

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Chao Phraya at Dusk

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View from the Baiyoke Sky Hotel

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Chao Phraya River Dwellers

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Market from Above

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Chao Phraya River Dwellers

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A couple of buildings within the Bang Pa-in Summer Palace complex located in the 'old' capital city of Thailand (Ayutthaya). Around one hours drive from Bangkok.

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The 'Bridge over the River Kwai' - we visited this after a couple of war cemeteries for allied troops. A moving experience.

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Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
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Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

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Wat Benchamabophit. Another temple, this one is located in Bangkok.


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Wat Maha That. A UNESCO world heritage site dating back to the 13th century. It was mid-day at the light was (unfortunately) incredibly harsh.


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Wat Maha That

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Budda Head Wrapped in Tree Roots

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Wat Maha That

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Headless Buddas

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POV shot from Damnoen Saduak floating market. An interesting experience - however, there is a lack of control (to a degree) of what stalls you visit! It was my partner and I with a 'paddler' taking us around. The stall holders would literally use a hook and drag you into thier stall!

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Not a place for those that are fussy about food health and safety!

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Coconuts!

As someone that likes shooting (photographically) animals, there was a distinct lack given the city enviroment. However, we (our driver ) made the three hour (each way) trip via the River Kwai to go and see some.

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Water Buffalo

Now a couple of Tiger cub shots. (In hindsight, I have oversharpened them a bit)

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My partner and I were with the four cubs for around an hour, it was just the two of us (plus four staff members, one per cub) so we didn't disturb them, and let them come to us as not to be intimidating. They livened up and we began playing (although it was hard to photograph them when they were jumping all over you!) coup d'etat

To finish it off, a few assorted people ones:

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The End!

Thank you to anyone that managed to scroll through and look at them all!

My next post will be more concise!

More reports in my signature for anyone that's interested.

xenole

Happy woman in #26

Where were the tiger cubs at? My father would love to do that!

Champagne please

Lovely pics. I love some of the angles you get down to to take the shots, also some of the symmetry, for example in the boat waiting to be hooked, and the train track on the bridge.
Nice job!

aceman

Great photos, makes me want to go back!

I also like the millennium hilton. A special mention goes to the orange juice which I found to be the most amazing I'd ever tasted, on 2 separate trips..!

Where did you do the tigers? I went to one place in what appeared to be an old rock quarry, paid a little extra and got a few quick shots with full grown tigers, nothing like the time you had

prolixindec

Sawatdee khrap!

Great pictures. Thailand is a riot of colors. Good on you for posting so many pictures.

The guy in #37 looks like he's from Hong Kong... HK is full of people pulling stacks of stuff on trolleys.

obiterdictum

She was in a bus with no air conditioning, I think I would have looked like her if was in a baking hot bus!! So say it was warm at the time is an understatement.

And have put some info re the tiger cubs below.

Thank you Champagne please, I appreciate the kind comments. I do try and pay attention to the composition when framing the photographs.

Thanks aceman, a very interesting comment re the orange juice. My partner and I commented specifically on how it was rather odd tasting compared to the fresh orange juice we are used to back in the UK!

The tigers were at the infamous Tiger Temple. They had the whole adult walk the tiger thing as well which was good - it was the private time with cubs that made it special, I'd recommend it next time you're back out there.

Thank you prolixindec, I'm yet to go to HK, it's on my to do list though! I'm glad you enjoyed the photos.

BA5E

Thanks for sharing with us, and what amazing photos you put through, and loved the ones with the tiger cubs, how old were they,

Jet'Dillo

I loved the Water Buffalo picture. That was a really neat angle/position to catch it at

DanielW

Awesome captures, obiterdictum!

What telephoto did you use?

Did you get to cuddle with the bigger Tigers too? Or were they not in the mood?

restlessinRNO

Great photos, obiterdictum!

injian

Amazing photos. Heart the tiger cubs

Annalisa12

Reminds me of my Bangkok trip. You saw so many things I did. I loved playing with the tiger cubs, feeding them and watching them drift off to sleep almost immediately.

A special purpose of the trip was to see the Burma Railway and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Amazingly in your photo there is nobody walking down the rail line.

Thanks for posting. Your pictures are stunning.

obiterdictum

Thank you BA5E the cubs were around 3 months old, and were apparently two sets of twins. I will say that when playing with them, their strength vs their size is simply unbelievable.

Thanks Jet'Dillo, I got absolutely filthy taking the picture as I was lying flat on my front so I'm glad you appreciate the angle!

Thank you DanielW, funnily enough I didn't hug them! I did however give some of them pats / strokes on the back and (rather bizarrely) walked an adult one on a lead (when I say walked, it was the tiger leading me rather than the other way round, I was most definitely not in control!)

Although we were flanked by several staff when around the adults in case the tiger took a swipe, I'm sceptical whether they could have intervened quickly enough should it have attacked. The disclaimer against death you sign at the start is also a little unnerving!

Thanks injian, it's hard not to fall in love with the little things.

Thank you Annalisa, yes I did stick to the touristy activities and hired a driver and guide to take me around to the popular destinations, there was so much to see that I thought this would be the most time efficient way to manage the trip!

R.e the tiger cubs, yes it was very amusing, they are an odd mix in-between puppies and kittens when you look at their mannerisms.

The cemetery and bridge were indeed very thought provoking, I'm glad I went there and paid my respects.

As for the empty bridge, luckily the train had just passed though and cleared everyone out of the way!

deemkaa

Those pictures really make me want to book a trip to bkk, thanks for sharing

ctrlf

thanks! more please :-)