Skip to main content

Weekend Snapshot: One day in Bangkok

The only view I see every morning when I wake up is out my porch. It displays the usual aura of a bustling metropolis, i.e. construction of buildings here and there. Condominiums in the Bangna area have been mushrooming recently. I wonder who are buying or renting real estate these many during the recession.

It takes me about 3 minutes to walk to work. Ground lilies used to bloom abundant in that space where the residential property with a V atop its brown windows stands. In place of that plastic-draped condo behind those empty market stalls (roofs, lower portion) were once trees and a small vegetable garden. Now nature is all wiped out and I have to endure such a dull sight of urbanization on my way to work every day. Big Yellow Taxi automatically plays in my head, "...they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." I love the countryside. I'd rather have cows grazing or hills zooming in the sunrise before my eyes than buildings that look already comatose before they are even occupied. But well... this is where I work and this is my routine view:


But one Friday I woke up to find something different. At first I thought I got up too early. I could hardly see anything. Fog?... in Bangkok? I never saw fog the entire twelve years I lived in this capital. But well, yes, it is fog! When it comes to capturing things, I can be classified as a slowpoke: I spent a weekend in Kuala Lumpur early last year, went up the Petronas Towers and flew back to Bangkok without a single shot of Malaysia's landmark. I can't believe my camera was sitting pretty in my purse completely unused the whole time I was there. But the rarity of this fog made me dash to the drawer for my camera. I'm glad I captured it:

For a split second I thought I was dreaming Goliath uprooted those godforsaken buildings. But as I came fully awake, I began to mutter, "what is going on?..." and when I realized I was looking at something that doesn't appear everyday, I pinched myself, "the Petronas will not disappear, this one will so the clicking better start."


Here's a page of google search results related to this phenomenon .

Comments

Juliana said…
hmmm...i have never been to Bangkok before. thanks for ur sharing

My entry for WS post this week: in HERE. I hope that you can stop by as well. Thanks
Unknown said…
wow, fog in bangkok? amazing! are you sure it's not smog?:D
Anonymous said…
Great photos, Zel!

I played too.
Hazel said…
luna miranda, i did research before specifying that it's fog :D
Indrani said…
Climate is changing in various other regions too. You have taken some great shots!
Kero said…
Hello Hazel. Thank you soo much for the visit. I love the song too Big Yellow Taxi. Thank you too for giving us a peek of Thailand.
MommaWannabe said…
I'd like to go to Bangkok too - they said it's a shopping haven;)
Anonymous said…
Another case of progress vs. preservation? It's the same thing in the Philippines. Every corner I turn to, a condominium is being constructed.
Anonymous said…
nice historical shot. hehe. thanks for visiting my WS!
SandyCarlson said…
That's an interesting fog to be in!
maiylah said…
whoa .... that's one huge fog!
Anonymous said…
nice shot. thanks for visiting my WS!
Marites said…
fog or smog? :) We have the same sentiments. I'd be happy to see more trees than buildings. Progress has its price.
Hazel said…
Marites, there were some reported flight diversions attributed to the fog that day. I'm not sure if smog could divert flights like a fog could. Ok, I'll paste up some links on this entry to end the uncertainties, lol....
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It's very lovely one. I love to read it and do hope to read your next story.

Popular posts from this blog

Regency delight and love language

Friday's Fave Five: Regency Period Cake Please scroll down for Mommy Moments Ambience of Banana Leaf Restaurant dinners continue to be the trend for us this week. Rustic charm has always been a big hit to me and Banana Leaf's got it. Buckets of real wheat, garlic and pumpkin hang adorning the wall. Plus the sweet and sour fish and chicken with cashew nuts and mushroom are a real pleasure. J Lo Live This was a gift to me two years ago. Cj is too young to be choosy with scents. He smiles playfully when I spray it on him and I laugh inwardly thinking he is a boy wearing a girl's perfume. This week we both smell the same :) Cyberbanking I finally dragged documents and myself down K Bank to register for online financial transactions. Spending only what I earn suits me best as I avoid debts and the convenience of sorting expenses any time of day in familiar surrounding is always welcome. Music in the air Whatever happened to the PA system at work? An old song was coming off it t...

Whisper your wishes

Cross-cultural misunderstandings are rife among gestures of beckonings and farewells in different parts of our planet. For example, the American gesture for "come here" could mean "good-bye" to Italians. Axtell (1998) observes, "the way people beckon one another around the world can be almost as diverse as the way we greet and bid farewell to one another." Today we look into popular hand gestures to signal farewells and to beckon. 1. In the United States , common gesture for getting someone's attention, as when calling a waiter is to raise a hand about head high with the index finger raised (exactly the girl's hand gesture on Samulli's header ) If an American used that gesture to a waiter in Germany , saying "Water please," the German waiter would bring two glasses of water In Japan it is rude; pointing a finger at anyone is considered impolite 2. Italians and Greeks will often wave goodbye with the arm extended, palm up,...

Sunday Stealing: The Mud Meme

Today we ripped this meme off a blogger named Miranda from the blog The Times of Miranda . She thanks to Mud for prodding some fodder her way, in the way of a meme. But, it was probably stolen at that blog as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Cheers to us all thieves! Join the fun . 1. What are your current obsessions? travelling and quaint cottages 2. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often? my old maid work uniform 3. What's for dinner? eating out by and by at a restaurant called Banana Leaf 4. Last thing you bought? food 5. What are you listening to? Dobby speaking to Harry (son is watching HP2 a few inches away) 6. If you were a god/goddess who would you be? Isis 7. Favorite holiday spots? beach and mountain resorts 8. Reading right now? RD, December 2006 9. 4 words to describe yourself. bored, resolute, robot, hopeful 10. Guilty pleasure? unplanned shopping; it happens once in a blue moon...