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

Sense and Sensibility: 200th anniversary

In 1811 Thomas Egerton of Whitehall, London published Sense and Sensibility . Quick math shows it has been two centuries since Jane Austen became a full-fledged author. Quite an anniversary, indeed. A celebration, I declare . Blogs regarding the publication anniversary of this romance novel picture Jane Austen 's engagements whilst making the final touches of her manuscript from Sloane Street. In letters to her sister Cassandra, Jane gave accounts of her shopping for muslin, the party that their brother Henry and SIL Eliza gave; mentioned several acquaintances, and referred to her book as S and S . As a fan I wonder which between sense and sensibility did JA deem more important since she portrayed both attributes equally well. I'm obliged to enthuse over my S & S reading experience. Alas, I only managed fourteen chapters before getting sidetracked by another novel, the very first that JA wrote. I will resume and complete my affair with the celebrant before 2011 end...

Thank you for blogging and happy new year!

Glitter Graphics - GlitterLive.com That's it! We are about to conclude 2009. I am thrilled to have finally begun something I have been curious about for awhile: blogging, and that it turned out to be a wonderful experience. The friends I found and the interaction with them are the highlights of my online social life this year and I intend to have the same or more next year and next.... There are beautiful bloggers to whom I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation through this given to me by Mommy Moments host Chris at the Mommy Journey: Thom, whose playground Thom's Place 4 Well Whatever is a very interesting read; for becoming my no. 1 bloggy friend, always leaving me comments that are guaranteed to put a smile on my face if not make me fall off my chair laughing Lisa of Lisa Notes for her significantly inspiring posts, always well-written and lovingly hits where it is reasonably necessary. I feel blessed every time I visit her blog Anya of KARELTJE en ikke!!! ...

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty

More at Living to Tell the Story 1. Mother’s Day . Thailand celebrates Mother’s Day on the same day as the Queen’s birthday, August 12th. My girl friend and I celebrated in a posh mall, giggled over girl talk, and ate like there was never any bulging tummy to worry about. 2. " Good things come in threes ." That's what my friend (the one in no.1) says she read or heard somewhere. She just had a family reunion, unexpectedly met someone nice and got hired to do a job where she can practise her writing hobby and at the same time work in a place that suits her medical degree. Her news about what’s happening is a ray of sunshine to my not very bright days. I am happy for her. 3. Attending Cj’s school dance . It was a presentation by kids to honor mothers, and my first time to witness my son on stage. I was thrilled. He was very shy; I didn't even get a decent capture, but I don't care. The fact that he finished dancing is enough for me and I'm proud of ...