Tuk-tuk

And thus are my travels at an end for this summer: when the old tuk-tuk driver returned my wai. A worthy end, no?

~ Tuk-tuk

Wat Traimit

Got up really early to catch a tuk-tuk to Wat Traimit. Let's just say the golden Buddha was quite a disappointment.

~ Wat Traimit

Wat Saket

Walked to Wat Saket to try my luck but it was already closed. Nonetheless, the view of the golden chedi on a hill overlooking Historic Bangkok was more than enough.

~ Wat Saket

Wat Suthat

I then walked all the way to Wat Suthat - one of those subtly beautiful wats - where I lingered for quite a while during a night prayer session. There's something about Buddhist chants which seem to mesmerize and entrance the listener. As I looked around me, it seemed that Buddha himself gazed down upon his devout followers and smiled benevolently as they cultivated the dharma loyally and faithfully.

~ Wat Suthat

Wat Arun

Crossed the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun. It looked so beautiful from across the river with its Angkor Wat-inspired Chinese porcelain spires towering high above the river and sparkling in the dazzling light of the setting sun.

~ Wat Arun

Wat Pho

Wat Pho houses the famous large reclining Buddha. I wonder if in their haste to see the reclining Buddha, tourists miss the 91 chedis so characteristic of this wat, or the four viharns dedicated to the reigns of Kings Rama I - IV or the many small classes of young students taught by resident monks.

~ Wat Pho

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo

I was awed by the majesty and grandeur of its many splendid halls. And despite its small size, I was very impressed by the Emerald Buddha which currently dons the rainy season attire. It's so close to us and yet so far and distant all at the same time. Does that not command awe and admiration?

~ Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo

Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat boasts of the largest ordination hall in Thailand. I never knew how big wats are in Thailand. I was literally lost in the place. They are practically social centres where people not only pray and worship Buddha as well as meditate and learn the dharma but also eat, drink, rest and socialize together.

~ Wat Mahathat

Cafe' de Tour

Am now at a very cool chilled out bar on the second floor of a building overlooking Khaosan Road. The live music is just perfect and the atmosphere is kicking in. This is where it's at.

~ Cafe' de Tour

Khaosan Road

So I've walked the entire length of Khaosan Road and it's rather like Pattaya's Walking Street with lots of stalls and tourists: typical backpackers' area really. Reminds me of Petaling Street.

~ Khaosan Road

Democratic Monument

I had Phat Thai for dinner which is simlar to Char Koay Teow before heading to the Democratic Monument where I shot some rather impressive photos if I may say so myself.

~ Democratic Monument

Dreamworld

Spent the morning at Dreamworld. Played with snow. Went on a few rides. Made the most out of it. Had lots of fun. I was this excited.

~ Dreamworld

Suan Lum Night Bazaar

Although I'm not one for shopping, I got so caught up in the whole fun and exciting process of bargaining that I bought all of my souvenirs at discounts of more than 50%. Well worth it!

~ Suan Lum Night Bazaar

Arawan Shrine

The atmosphere was so surreal with hundreds of devotees paying homage to the deity. A sea of people prostrate themselves before the image and the altars are laden with overflowing offerings of flowers and elephant statuettes. Songs dedicated to the idol waft through smoke from countless burning joss-sticks which veil the dancers who sing the very songs they dance to.

~ Arawan Shrine

Walking Street

That place is just choc full of bars and each bar has its own collection of women-packed bars. From the ridiculous number of women - serving drunks at the bar, looking attractice on the bar stools or enticing men on the street - it's obvious that these bars aren't as keen on selling liqour than providing 'service'.

~ Walking Street

Pattaya

Took a stroll along Central Street all the way down to the beach before walking along Beach Road. I was lucky enough to catch the sunset - so very beautiful at this part of the world.

~ Pattaya

Pattaya Park Tower

The view from up there was simply spectacular although I could only appreciate it after the initial adrenaline rush of the Flying Fox ride down.

~ Pattaya Park Tower

Wat Khao Prayai

Situated on a hill to the south of the town, the wat houses a large gold Buddha. Elaborate altars to Buddhist deities and Buddha himself as well as strict codes of conduct and etiquette at places of worship reveal the intimate relationship between Buddhism and Thai life.

~ Wat Khao Prayai

Koh Larn

The island was heavenly with its white sandy beach and clear cool water. The birds-eyet view from paragliding was simply stunning with the dazzlingly blue South China Sea spread out on one side and the chalky white buildings of Pattaya on the other.

~ Koh Larn

Pattaya Elephant Village

We rode elephants through a secondary forest. It's quite tall up there and falling down was not an impossibility.

~ Pattaya Elephant Village

Finale II

• My crazy Hong Kong wannabe friend who always encouraged me to be a Hong Kong teenager.
• His dodgy behaviour for the past fortnight has made me question his sexual orientation.
• Loves Shakira's Hips Don't Lie as much as I do.
• He has been such a cool friend to have and has given me an insight into Hong Kong life as a local.
• My workoholic camp director who is constantly reminding me to perfect my lesson plans and handouts.
• So pretty and sweet that I'd go after her if shewe
  

~ Finale II

Finale

The picture says it all.

~ Finale

Tai O Fishing Village

But what distinguished this fishing village from other fishing villages was the many stilt houses planted along the muddy banks of the river beneath the sloping green hills behind them.

~ Tai O Fishing Village

Bonham Road Government Primary School

I'll never forget the tears on Trista's face as she clung to my leg while all of us were sending off our students for the last time at the school gate. It took me everything to persuade her to follow her mum home - which she did reluctantly - after I promised to return to Hong Kong again next year to teach her.

~ Bonham Road Government Primary School

Tribeca

Yesterday was our last night of clubbing. The entire camp went to Tribeca for Ladies' Night.

~ Tribeca

Tuen Mun Town Centre

We had a really good meal of hotpot.

~ Tuen Mun Town Centre

Kowloon Walled City Park

Many pavilions overlooking small man-made lakes dot the garden around the historic almshouse. Paths wind their ways under graceful circular wall openings and pass imposing rock formations. A pleasant stroll in the calm of the evening.

~ Kowloon Walled City Park

Hebe Haven Yacht Club

One of the sponsors of OCEP invited all of us for a boat trip onboard his yacht for a whole entire day. We went onboard Club Two - a beautiful boat - and were shipped away to a beach on one of the remote islands in the vicinity. The view was spactacular - countless small uninhabited islands dotting the immeasurable South China Sea.

~ Hebe Haven Yacht Club

Macau

On retrospect, Macau is similar to Hong Kong - there's a clash of Oriental and European influences. And yet, it's not as developed and reminds one of mainland China.

~ Macau

YOT Tin Ka Ping Secondary School

I'm happy yet sad at the same time. This has been the best school yet. In the past week, we've forged such a strong bond between us that the thought of parting was really unbearable. I will definitely miss them. If anything, I'd come back to Hong Kong just to teach them again.

~ YOT Tin Ka Ping Secondary School

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

In the past two days, I've bonded really close with my students. None of us were interested in the exhibits - they were rather dull to be fair - merely cultural exhibits.

~ Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre

The 8th Ani-Com Hong Kong and 3rd Hong Kong Game Fair. It was my first anime fair: packed and crowded with obsessed fans all dressed up in their favourite character's costume.

~ Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre