Ranong, my second time in this year.

On March, 26-28th, we went to Ranong for working on the cashew nut farm belonging to the family who have been my long time friend. We stayed at Thinidee Hotel in Ranong and spent some free times wandering around the area. It was my good time, hours for a change. I intend to work permanently with this job and will always be coming to Ranong. I wonder if you are not fade up with my seasides, sunset and view pictures. They were taken under my ambition to be a good photographer.


In Ranong, there was a village pier which was popular because it was for the passengers to Son Island and connected to the fishes auction market


We went there before rains. Unfortunately, that time was dry comparing to the previous year. When rains were coming, people were glad and happy.


The main occupation of the people were fishing. Around the river, we could focus to a lot of fishing boats.


Dragon Lobsters, the big one cost us a thousand baht. Not for me, I'd rather to have some small shrimps.


Dragon Lobsters Farm on the Island. This was small in-door farm and it was still an experiment. Hoping that this could be a good profession of the villagers


We wish to be in this environment but near our convenient facitities like in the cities. Impossible.


Looked at the busy fisherman village. However, the brave men living mostly in the mid of the ocean, surrounded by wind, rains, sun and moon lights.


A couple in the sunset scenery. We have been friends for quite long. Ar rom came with us to help in the micro organism investigation


Having life here, good breathe and health. I bet people here have the healthy lives and strong. We were envious about their surrounded atmosphere.


It was getting dark soon. Day and night and day and night alternately


Beautiful picture was taken in the sunset scenery. It was the manual mode adjustment by my canon camera


Cashew nut Farm where we went before. The farm was located in Suksamran District Ranong. I'll have to come again for some times. I intend to improve this farm.


At the ocean side where Tsunami took place. We came here a few week before. There was the story about the small children and their young teacher were swept away by Tsunami sea water. One of many sad stories happening.


Up on the hill near the Tsunami area, the new beautiful school was built, our beloved Crown Princess, Somdej Pra Thep, came to visit, and promote this school. The financial support was from a Germany Institution.


This picture was taken from the school on the hill looking out to the ocean. it was quiet and far.


Sunset view at other restuarant opposite to the village pier at the second evening. We went there for accumulating the natural living in the village at the river mouth of the ocean[Andaman Sea]



Beautiful Sunset again. I like to watch sun rises and sun set. They teach us our lives are not everlasting except the sun, solar system, globe and natural circulation.
Again, this was a side view of sun set at the restuarant we were having dinner on the second day


Some one in the locality passed away, Family brought the cremation ashes to float in the middle of the ocean. It was our way by thinking that living in the ocean make us cool.


Imigration check point at the Thai border. It was always crowded whereas the people from both countries travelled back and forth. But it was still early in the picture.


Military check point. They were from the Thai Army. It was good for the brave soldiers working hard checking people getting in and out of our country.


God Statue? Son Island, Myanmar

The Land Mark in the centre of the road directed from the pier. We walk through this road to the shopping area.


The picture was taken on the road in front of the shops where the Thai tourists coming. It was on the hill in the town centre.


Other picture taken at the same place but different direction.


Son Island, local style roof of the building. This should be a Myanmar style.


Son Island, Pier which was always crowded with across-border passengers.


Heading back to Ranong from Son Island. Then we got back to Bangkok in the afternoon that day. We arrived Home about 10.30pm after stopping for dinner at Don Hoi Lord , Samutsongkram.

Macau and Hongkong, March,11th-16th.

Between March 11th-15th. Tid, Nong Bim and I went to Macau and Hongkong by Air Asia. We spent one night in Macau at Presidente Hotel, After checking in, we took a walk around the Hotel and found a local restuarant for dinner before wandering to the casinos. There were many elegant hotels and casinos such as Wynn, Lisboa Hotel, etc.


In the morning, we went to find other local restuarant for breakfast. One problem was about the communication because the people mostly could speak little English whereas our English was also limited. However, with the hand sign, we had both dinner and breakfast with the full stomach.


The cost of living there was a little high comparing to Bangkok. We ate with two food and three rice bowls, they cost us around a thousand baht.


In Casinos, customers were not too crowded. There were few tables which only dealers sitting. I guess that there were not many people coming to Macau to have fun. May be, the economic crisis.


On the way back, I met a Thai girl. She said she was coming for gambling, I had just wondered if she ever thought that gambling never gave poeple rich. Whenever the customers got money and left, there would be time they came again to paid money back.


The restuarant where we had dinner. This was popular in the locality which I noticed from the customers coming all the time even it was later than 9pm.


Old Lisboa Hotel, beautiful? It was good for walking about one or a few nights.


Polices in Macau. They looked busy for public service.


Roads and buses in front of the big hotels. This was the big junction at the new building area


In front of a casino. Tid and I.


Tricycle taxi in Macau.

Then the next day, we went to Hongkong by Terbo jet. It was convenient and the service was OK. We stayed with my brother who had been working there for many years and rent a flat at Lantau Island near the airport. Communities in Lantau were big. Therefore, there were few shopping centres, big bus station and the last underground station of Hongkong route.


My brother who was working in Hongkong

Living in Hongkong, there was the underground payment card of which we could add money by the machine standing in the underground station. This card was, not only used for underground fare, but used for many things like bus fare, Mc Donald fast food , ferry, etc. It was convenient but expensive. The ticket was deducted the value by it's machine when it was used. Unlike the undreground fare ticket for one day, three days, weekly, or monthly, in other countries, those tickets could be used unlimited with in the indicating times and payment. But they are only for the transportation.


Taking in cable car

Unfortunately, during our visit, there were thick fogs everywhere and everyday. We had no good picture taking. Particularly, on the day getting back home through Macau, Terbo jet ferry had to wait for hours before shoring. At 8.00pm, the Air Asia flight was cancelled and we had to spend one more night there which the hotel costed us more expensive. Until the next day at noon time, we could leave unsmoothly, because we had to wait at the airport for a few hours while no one knew the exact leaving time. We had to pay for this loss for about 5,000 baht, including accommodation, taxi and the driving 600 kilometre by myself to follow the important meeting in Thong pa poom because I missed the group travelling the day before. This was because of fog only.


On the way to Giant Buddha by cable car


Giant Buddha


buildiings, on the way to the Peak


The Peak


ferry


Pier


Dreaming to stay in the boat for a while. Look like fun there.


Children play ground at Star Ferry Avenue


no smoking sign


way to the smoking place


smoking place



On Sunday, we went for a walk at Nathan Road. At noon, while we were walking through the small shops like China Town, we spotted the small barbecue pork restuarant and stopped to eat. The waiter served us some cups of hot tea. Some of us were thirsty and drank these tea. But the table besides, the waiter didnot clean the table well before laying the spoon and a set of chopsticks on the table. The man there put the spoon and chopsticks in the hot tea for cleaning. In the evening, I told my brother that the man was intelligent to do so. My brother said it was a tradition here. Tea in the cup was used for cleaning not drinking. We laughed at our mistakes to drink them unknowingly.





We tried to have barbecue pork in many restuarants because we knew their reputation. Except me who eat only fishes and shrimps. However, fresh vegetable in Korean food was delicious as well. On the last day, my brother took us to have dim sum,a poular lunch in Hongkong. Not disappointed, dim sum were good and not expensive.




On this trip, we tried to save as much as possible. Air Asia offered us the very cheap tickets which we had reserved long time in advance. We reserved a 4 stars hotel through AGODA, an internet agent. In Hongkong, we stayed with my brother and bought food from a supermarket to cook for some meals. This was why we could afford the trip. If the flight back to Bangkok had not been cancelled, we would have saved a lot as plan before.





Beautiful view in the morning


Walking to the old village

On the last day in Hongkong before leaving back for Macau, my brother led us to the old resident area comparing to the new areas. I noticed that, in Hongkong, there were the walking paths and sometime along with the bike roads every where and connected to each other. We could walk anywhere and had no way to get lost. We just only learnt the direction and the maps which were located in the people standing points. There were even the walking fly over bridges between the buildings and the roads side for kilometres.


New Hongkong Residential Area


village condition


Hongkong in the past. This condition was left at the local village.


Cooperatives office for the locals


Drainage system, the ditch was quite big


Drainage ditch


Food Processing method for the local


Fish drying naturally


The place where the local people dry their clothes


Native people were exercising at their place


Lottery On line Machine at Lantau Island


Macau Airport, Departure Lounge


Wait for ticket checking at Macau Airport late the next day after the flight cancelling last night.

Good bye Hongkong and Macau, I don't know if I can come to visit again. In conclusion, it was fun for this trip. However, I wish I could have more time and money to travel aboard more often.