Chiang Mae…..

Chiang Mae…..

Today we checked out of the hotel and flew with Airasia to Chiang Mae. We ordered a taxi which cost 453 baht (around £10), not a bad price for a 45 minute journey.

Relaxing at the airport before the flight
Jan 5, 2013 12:40 PM

Check in and security was straight forward and the flight took an hour

At Chiang Mae
Jan 5, 2013 3:03 PM

Outside Chiang Mae airport
Jan 5, 2013 3:08 PM

The place we are staying at sent a courtesy bus to pick us up
Jan 5, 2013 3:09 PM

On the way
Jan 5, 2013 3:09 PM
Jan 5, 2013 3:10 PM

Arriving at the hotel
Jan 5, 2013 3:38 PM
Secret Garden – Bungalows & Cooking
54/1 Moo 5, T. Mae Kue, A. Doi Saket
Chiang Mai 50220, Thailand
T: + 66 53 339 502
F: + 66 53 338 901
Skype: borsang
E: [email protected]

We were expecting Chiang Mae to be cooler then 31 degrees C it has been in Bangkok. I was pleased to say it was the same temperature. Sangeet was looking forward to cooler temperatures!

The hotel is around 25 minutes (12km) away from a Chiang Mae, in a small village called Doing Saket. Bo Sang, a larger village is close by. We arrived at the Secret Garden a little before 4pm. The place is tucked away in a very quiet area, mainly farmland and local residences.

Our bungalow
Jan 5, 2013 3:43 PM
Jan 5, 2013 3:40 PM
Jan 5, 2013 3:41 PM
Jan 5, 2013 5:36 PM

The resort is a family business, Peter and Pai have done a fantastic job of building the guesthouse from what used to be rice fields. They show so much kindness and a lot of passion for the business.

Jan 5, 2013 4:22 PM

We debated whether to go into Chiang Mai at around 5pm and decided against it and relaxed at the resort instead. We got talking to Peter, from Germany, who runs the place with his wife Pai. The resort is a family business, Peter and Pai have done a fantastic job of building the guesthouse from what used to be rice fields. They show so much kindness and a lot of passion for the business. In the evening Pai made a fantastic vegan dinner just for Sangeet and I whilst the other guests ate in the buffet.

A great and very relaxed day…..

Sunset…..

Sunset…..

Most of the day was spent researching and organising the trip.

In the evening we caught the boat to the sky train station where we saw the sunset.

Jan 3, 2013 6:08 PM
Jan 3, 2013 6:08 PM
Jan 3, 2013 6:09 PM
Jan 3, 2013 6:11 PM
Jan 3, 2013 6:18 PM
Jan 3, 2013 6:21 PM
Jan 3, 2013 6:22 PM

Afterwards to took the sky train to MBK where we had dinner, yes you guessed it at

Big PAPA – MBK 444 Phayathai Rd,
Mah Boon Krong,
5th floor food court,
Bangkok,
Thailand

Also there is a juice bar there
Jan 3, 2013 7:06 PM

Back to the hotel
Jan 3, 2013 7:44 PM
Jan 3, 2013 8:03 PM
Jan 3, 2013 8:08 PM
Jan 3, 2013 8:11 PM

Another boat on the river
Jan 3, 2013 8:50 PM

Our boat
Jan 3, 2013 8:53 PM

A wander…..

A wander…..

Today we had a late checkout (3pm) so we packed and researched hotels, flights for the next leg of the travels. Then got a taxi to

Millennium Hilton Bangkok Hotel
123 Charoennakorn Road
Klongsan
Bangkok
10600
Thailand
T: +66-2-442-2000

I was missing staying at the Hilton! The taxi cost 93 Thai Baht.

Waiting for the taxi
Jan 2, 2013 3:22 PM

The hotel is situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Hilton have a regular boat service which takes one to the skytrain station or to the mall.

Arriving at Hilton
Jan 2, 2013 3:55 PM

View from the hotel room
Jan 2, 2013 4:04 PM
Jan 2, 2013 4:05 PM

View from the top floor of the hotel
Jan 2, 2013 4:56 PM
Jan 2, 2013 4:57 PM
Jan 2, 2013 4:57 PM
Jan 2, 2013 4:58 PM

Most business an private homes have a shrine, this is the hotel shrine
Jan 2, 2013 5:41 PM

We got the boat to the mall and walked to the Gurdwara. It took an hour to walk to the Gurdwara, which passes through China Town. Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district is home to Bangkok’s Chinatown, which is centred on Sam Pheng Lane Chinatown’s Sam Peng Market is an old business centre noted for a post-WW II visit by the young king Ananda Mahidol. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods. It has been the main centre for trading by the Chinese community since they moved from their old site some 200 years ago. Nearby Phahurat or Indian market. Yaowarat Road is also famous for many varieties of food, and it becomes a “food street” at night.

Hotel boat
Jan 2, 2013 5:44 PM
Jan 2, 2013 5:47 PM

A view of the hotel from the river
Jan 2, 2013 5:49 PM

Walking towards China Town
Jan 2, 2013 6:11 PM

Chinatown Gate is a Chinese style gate at Odean Circle on the east end of Yaowarat Road, the main road through Samphathawong, the Chinatown district of Bangkok. The gate is often called Odean Gate after the Odean cinema which used to stand nearby. It was built as part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol Adulyadejs 72s birthday. The words on the gate says “Sheng Shou Wu Jiang”, which translate as “Long Live the King”.
Jan 2, 2013 6:11 PM

Some random shop we liked the look of
Jan 2, 2013 6:12 PM

Temple in a hospital complex
Jan 2, 2013 6:14 PM

Chinatown
Jan 2, 2013 6:21 PM
Jan 2, 2013 6:26 PM
Jan 2, 2013 6:25 PM
Jan 2, 2013 6:29 PM

At the Gurdwara there were a hand full of people. The sukhason of Guru Granth Sahib had already been done. I found it strange that you could sill visit where the Guru Granth Sahib in sachkhand.

Entrance to the Gurdwara
Jan 2, 2013 6:41 PM

Afterwards we went for dinnner, I asked a Sikh guy on the street for directions to the nearest vegetarian restaurant. As we were in a mainly Indian area you can expect to find many Indian vegetarian restaurants. Unfortunately they are lacking in basic cleanliness!!! What is it about Indians are they allergic to basic hygiene standards!!!

Sangeet ate at

Saravana Bhavan
92 10 11 Soi Putha Osot Sreepaya,
Bangkok
T: +66-87-3316741

I did not like the look of this restaurant so did not eat here, Sangeet ordered a dosa. Afterwards we walked back to the pier where the Hilton boat picked us up……

By now I am desperate to have my clothes washed so I created a washing machine

For email subscribers
Self Made Washing Machine

Walking…..

Walking…..

This morning I had a very informative breakfast…..in the lounge there was only the waitress and myself so we got chatting, I asked her what the Thai’s think of Indian’s. She said “they are very rude and obnoxious people also they are very dirty and leave the area a mess”. Seems like the Indians are not liked! Now it makes sense why taxi drivers did not want to pick us up. She has, in my opinion got a valid point.

Afterwards, it was time to find a laundry. Now in England most businesses are closed on January 1st. For some reason I was expecting it to be open here! I searched for a couple of hours, whilst Sangeet was relaxing at the hotel. I could not find any open, looks like it is back to hand washing the clothes.

Bangkok is not a city I enjoy. In fact I hate this place, I cannot put a finger on why I hate it so much, just has not got a good vibe.

Back at the hotel, Sangeet needed to get some contact lenses. We walked to one of the many malls in Bangkok called MBK, the walk took about an hour. MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong, is a large shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. At eight stories high, the center contains around 2,000 shops, restaurants and service outlets, including the 4-story Tokyu department store.
The MBK Center management reports daily visitor numbers of more than 100,000, half of whom are young Thai people and a third foreign visitors.
The MBK Center is popular with tourists, although the majority of shoppers are Bangkok residents. Knockoff items can be found in abundance at this shopping complex, but prices are much higher than one would expect. Many stores selling authentic merchandise are also available. MBK Center is connected to the Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon shopping mall by elevated walkways, both of which are more upscale and have only authentic goods.

Walking towards the mall
Jan 1, 2013 5:07 PM

Another one of the many malls
Jan 1, 2013 5:07 PM

Bangkok sky train
Jan 1, 2013 5:08 PM

Bangkok skywalk
Jan 1, 2013 5:14 PM

Bangkok, always busy
Jan 1, 2013 7:34 PM

The skywalk is an elevated footpath or walkway which has been built under the skytrain in the areas where many of the shopping malls are close together. The Skywalk means it is very easy to walk from Central Chidlom to MBK without having to step foot on the regular pavement / sidewalk.

The Bangkok Skywalk doesn’t run the length of the Skytrain system but it is being extended gradually. The skywalk is clean, even and wide which allows for many people to walk between malls without getting jammed up or bumping into each other.

Opening Hours

It might seem strange, but the Bangkok Skywalk has opening hours:

06:00 – 24:00
These times coincide with the times of the BTS Skytrain opening hours. The other reason for an opening and closing time is to stop homeless people using it at night as a place of shelter. In fact, you will see no beggars, homeless people or hawkers on the Skywalk system. It is kept clean of all people except those walking from one place to the next. It is also a very clean area and kept spotless. It’s a sign of what Bangkok can achieve when it wants to.

Bangkok’s streets are not for use by people wishing to walk on them. Legally they are, but the law isn’t really concerned about that and so at any given time the sidewalks are occupied by motorbikes either parked or being driven, hawkers selling anything at all and food stalls / noodle shops.
Bangkok’s streets are a mess. Just take a walk along Silom road or convent road and you will soon realise that it’s faster to walk on the road than to walk on the pavements. It’s also safer.

Don’t Wear High Heels

It’s unlikely you’d wear high heels if shopping, but you’d almost certainly break your ankle if trying to walk on Bangkok’s normal sidewalks in high heels as they are the worst sidewalks of any developed city. There are holes, uneven slabs and any number of obstacles which making walking a trial.

The Skywalk is not the same. It is flat, even and very easy and comfortable to walk on, but the Skywalk doesn’t go everywhere and there might be times when you’ll have to venture onto Bangkok’s regular sidewalks.

Opening hours for skywalk are 06:00 – 00:00
Skywalk signs are clear and in English

How Far Does The Skywalk Go?

At the moment, the main Skywalk area is from Central Chidlom all the way to Siam Paragon. The Skywalk stops at Siam BTS station but you can re-join the Skywalk by walking through Siam Paragon and by going through Siam Center and Siam Discovery. The Skywalk starts again at Siam Center and goes through to MBK and National Stadium BTS station

The Skywalk covers the main shopping section of Bangkok and connects places such as Central Chidlom, Gaysorn Plaza, Amarin Plaza, Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, Central World, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery & MBK

Other sections are being added and most department stores down the Sukhumvit road are being joined to the Skywalk or BTS Stations. However, there could come a time when the skywalk extends all the way down Sukhumvit road and this would be a very good idea.

The Bangkok Skywalk Rises Above The Fumes & The Traffic,. Stretching Off Into The Distance

For some reason, perhaps because of the pollution, heat and humidity, Bangkok just tires us out!

Jan 1, 2013 5:19 PM

Finally arriving at MBK
Jan 1, 2013 5:33 PM
Jan 1, 2013 5:36 PM

Inside MBK
Jan 1, 2013 5:43 PM
Jan 1, 2013 5:41 PM
Jan 1, 2013 5:40 PM

Sangeet bought the contact lenses, we then went to the fifth floor where Sangeet had dinner at

Big PAPA – MBK
444 Phayathai Rd,
Mah Boon Krong,
5th floor food court,
Bangkok, Thailand
Jan 1, 2013 6:33 PM
Jan 1, 2013 6:34 PM
Jan 1, 2013 6:36 PM

The food is fresh and made in front of you. I was still full from a big breakfast, well people do say eat breakfast like a king!

Fifth Food Avenue has a great variety of kiosks in a spacious setting, with chefs preparing the foods in open kitchens. Options include Arabic, Vietnamese, Hainese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Italian. There is also a vegetarian section with a good, all-natural, MSG-free menu, called the Tamarind Cafe.

Then there’s the ‘Signature Dessert’ bar, with the most exquisitely presented delicacies. The strawberry pavlova is sensational; two layers of meringue sandwiched with whipped cream, fresh strawberry and kiwi. And so too the trio of vanilla, caramel and dark chocolate creme brulee. This is a good place to have a filling meal in an appetizing environment.

MBK Food Centre on the sixth floor is much cheaper and the food on offer ranges from pre-packaged sushi sets, to deli-style salad and noodle outlets. Here you can either sit down for a quick bite or take home a neatly-wrapped item from the bakery, or something from the fruit or dessert stall. There is a dining area called ‘Kou Asian’ with an interesting menu, which includes vegetarian fare. It differs from Fifth Food Avenue in that it is right in the hustle and bustle of the main shopping area.

Jan 1, 2013 7:05 PM

The mall is outside a sky train station, so we decided to take the sky train back to Wireless Road, where we walked to the hotel.

Jan 1, 2013 7:20 PM

McDonalds written in Thai
Jan 1, 2013 7:12 PM

Sky train station entrance
Jan 1, 2013 7:25 PM

Jan 1, 2013 7:23 PM

The sky train
Jan 1, 2013 7:53 PM

Information on Bangkok:

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and the most populous city in the country. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in Central Thailand, and has a population of over eight million, or 12.6 percent of the country’s population. Over fourteen million people (22.2 percent) live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region, making Bangkok an extreme primate city, dwarfing Thailand’s other urban centres in terms of importance.
Bangkok traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century, which eventually grew in size and became the site of two capital cities: Thonburi in 1768 and Rattanakosin in 1782. Bangkok was at the heart of Siam’s (as Thailand used to be known) modernization during the later nineteenth century, as the country faced pressures from the West. The city was the centre stage of Thailand’s political struggles throughout the twentieth century, as the country abolished absolute monarchy and underwent numerous coups and uprisings. The city grew rapidly during the 1960s through the 1980s and now exerts a significant impact among Thailand’s politics, economy, education, media and modern society.
The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a major regional force in finance and business. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and is emerging as a regional centre for the arts, fashion and entertainment. The city’s vibrant street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its notorious red-light districts, have given it an exotic appeal. The historic Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the nightlife scenes of Khaosan Road and Patpong. Bangkok is among the world’s top tourist destinations. It is ranked third after London and Paris in MasterCard’s Global Destination Cities Index, and has been named “World’s Best City” for three consecutive years by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Bangkok’s rapid growth amidst little urban planning and regulation has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure systems. Limited roads, despite an extensive expressway network, together with substantial private car usage, have resulted in chronic and crippling traffic congestion. This in turn caused severe air pollution in the 1990s. The city has since turned to public transport in an attempt to solve this major problem. Four rapid transit lines are now in operation, with more systems under construction or planned by the national government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Goodbye Lao, we are going to miss you…..!

Goodbye Lao, we are going to miss you…..!

Today we had an early morning flight to Bangkok, Thailand. The flight departed at 07:30 via Lao airlines. Usual airport quite especially at that time in the morning!

Whilst we were at the hotel at 5am you can hear the drums. This is alms giving, in Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the secular society. The act of alms giving assists in connecting the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents.
As the Buddha has stated:
Householders & the homeless or charity [monastics]
in mutual dependence
both reach the true Dhamma….
—Itivuttaka 4.7

Dec 31, 2012 5:07 AM
Dec 31, 2012 5:37 AM

At the airport in Vientiane
Dec 31, 2012 6:20 AM

Goodbye Vientiane, we are going to miss you!
Dec 31, 2012 7:03 AM

Dec 31, 2012 7:23 AM

Welcome to Bangkok
Dec 31, 2012 8:39 AM

As British passport holders we do not require an entry visa, on arrival by air we are allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is around 30 km from the city, we decided on taking the cheap option to get to the city centre which is by the city train. The Airport Link’s City Line runs every 15 minutes and the Express Line every 30 minutes. Both lines operate from 6am to midnight. The trains have a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour. The City Line will make eight stops across the capital, starting at Phaya Thai, before heading to the airport. The trains take 30 minutes from Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi. Passengers using the City Line pay between 15 baht to 45 baht, depending on the distance travelled.

Waiting for the Airport Link
Dec 31, 2012 9:17 AM
Dec 31, 2012 9:43 AM

We got off at Makkasan, unfortunately this was the wrong stop, therefore we took the MRT to Lumphini. Luckily the Airport Link and the MRT are air conditioned. The Metropolitan Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in Thailand. The first section of the Blue Line between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue opened in 2004 as Bangkok’s second public transit system. The MRT is operated by the Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMPCL) under a concession granted by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Along with the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS, also called the Skytrain), and the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the MRT is part of Bangkok’s rail transportation infrastructure.
The MRT serves more than 240,000 passengers each day. It has 18 operational stations along 27 kilometres (16 mi) of underground track. The Blue Line, officially the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line, is the only line currently in operation. As of 2011, two extensions of the Blue Line are under construction. When completed, the Blue Line will become a loop line around the centre of Bangkok, with an extension to Bang Khae on its western side. The MRT Purple Line is also under construction. It will connect Bang Sue with Nonthaburi in the north-west, and will be the first public transit line outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
The MRT line is officially known in Thai as rotfaifa mahanakhon or “metropolitan electric train”, but it is more commonly called rotfai taidin, literally, “underground train”. The metro has a fleet of 19 trains; the 19th train entered service in October 2007 after a major accident. The hotel offered airport pickup for 1400baht we managed to get to the city centre for 63baht!

On the MRT
Dec 31, 2012 10:26 AM

This took us to the bottom of Wireless Road….a VERY long road, as we later found out! Now fully loaded with our backpacks and in 31 degrees C we walked from the bottom end of Wireless Road to the top of Wireless Road a distance of around 2.5KM but with the very heavy backpacks it felt a lot further!

Start of the long walk up Wireless Road
Dec 31, 2012 10:50 AM

A very hot and tiring walk
Dec 31, 2012 10:38 AM

As we were both shattered I stopped a tuk tuk driver and asked him the price to the hotel, he said 50 baht I tried to bargain with him and said 30baht, he just drove off!!!!

Wall outside the US embassy
Dec 31, 2012 11:07 AM

Finally arrived at the hotel
Dec 31, 2012 11:37 AM

Swissotel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
2 Wireless Road
Bangkok 10330
Thailand.
T: +66 2 253 0123
F: +66 2 253 6509
E: [email protected]

Dec 31, 2012 11:40 AM

As we checked in early the hotel did not have a room available, therefore we popped out for lunch.

Walking the streets of Bangkok
Dec 31, 2012 1:14 PM
Dec 31, 2012 1:04 PM

A safety hazard?!
Dec 31, 2012 1:15 PM

Dec 31, 2012 1:22 PM

Dec 31, 2012 1:23 PM

From the web we found a vegetarian restaurant called Navrattan. On entering the restaurant your feet stick to the floor! Sangeet opened the menu to find a insect walking out of it….I think it was also trying to escape the restaurant!

We then went to Bombay Palace which advertises that it is vegetarian, turns out they also do meat and fish!

We ended up finding an Indian vegetarian restaurant where we ordered Dosa. We were both very hungry and it tasted very nice……the second one we ordered was not as nice…..funny, how when you are hungry, the food always tastes very nice………you could say that when you go to some bodies house…..I must have been hungry because that tasted nice!!!!

Dec 31, 2012 3:01 PM
Dec 31, 2012 2:47 PM

We got back to the hotel around 3pm the room was still not ready so I complained. At the hotel we had booked the basic room, we got upgrade to the business room, which gives you access to the lounge and free breakfast. Also we got two free drinks from the bar and one free use of the hotel car.

In the evening we got ready to go to the Gurdwara

Thai Sikh Organization (Thailand)
Siri Guru Singh Sabha Bangkok
565 Chakraphet Road,
Pra Nakorn 565
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
T: +66 (0) 2221 1011
F: +66 (0) 2224 8095
E: [email protected]
W: www.thaisikh.org

By the year 1911, many Sikh families had settled in Thailand. Bangkok was indeed the centre of migrant Sikhs. During that time there was no Gurdwara, so religious prayers were held in the homes of the Sikhs in rotation on every Sunday, Sangran and all the Gurpurab days.

The population of the Sikh community was on the rise, therefore in the year 1912, the Sikhs decided to establish a Gurdwara. A wooden house was rented in the vicinity of Baan Moh, a well known business area.
Thereafter, the place was decorated so that prayers could commence at this new Gurdwara. However, due to certain inconveniences, prayers and other religious duties were conducted only once a week.
In the year 1913 (or the year 2456 according to the Buddhist calendar), with the increasing rise of the Sikh community in Bangkok, a new larger wooden house was leased for a long term at the corner of Phaurat and Chakraphet road. After considerable renovation and decoration, the Guru Granth Sahib was installed and religious prayers were conducted on a daily basis.

Later in the year 1932 (the year 2475 according to the Buddhist calendar), the Sikhs community gathered some funds and purchased a piece of land for 16,200 baht and paid and additional 25,000 baht for the three and a half storey building plan. The new permanent Gurdwara was completed in the year 1933 was named “Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha”. It took about five and a half months to construct it. On completion this Gurdwara became the centre for the Sikh devotees and the Thai people who followed the Sikh faith.
A few years later, during the World War II, the Allied Air Forces targeted to knock out the metropolitan powerhouse and the memorial bridge (Saphan Phut), which are quite adjacent to the Gurdwara. The Allied forces dropped 2 bombs, each weighing about 1,000 pounds, which went off target and fell upon the roof top of the Gurdwara. The bombs, being really heavy penetrated the roof and fell right through the building till the ground floor. At that time several hundreds of Sikhs were taking shelter at the Gurdwara under the Holy grace of Guru Granth Sahib and to everyone’s surprise both the bombs (fallen on the ground) didn’t explode. Miraculously no one was injured.
However, due to the vibrations caused by one of the bombs that had exploded in the vicinity area behind the metropolitan powerhouse, made many cracks to the building and damaged part of the Gurdwara; thus making it impossible to continue the prayers at the Gurdwara. Prayers were stopped, while arrangements were being made to move the Gurdwara to a new location. A temporary wooden house was constructed and used as a Gurdwara. Shortly, the Gurdwara was repaired and prayers continued.
As time passed, in the year 1979, decision was made to renovate the Gurdwara and make it bigger to accommodate the increasing number of Sikhs. Together the committee of Siri Guru Singh Sabha and the other Thai-Sikhs asked for the blessing and permission from the Guru Granth Sahib to construct a new Gurdwara at the same location. The foundation stone was laid down by the Panj Piare, the Five Beloved Ones. The new Gurdwara was completed after two years in the year 1981.

The Gurdwara now technically had five floors plus a matinee floor. But however, people refer to the matinee floor as the third floor, thus making the Gurdwara having 6 floors. It was now a concrete building and was constructed on an area of total 1,440 square meters (360 “tarang wah”).

The ground floor is entrance hall which is width enough. There are three ways to enter the Gurdwara. The first way is a walk through a 3 meter wide lane, straight from the Chakraphet road. The second way is an entry from the door facing the Italian lane on Phaurat road. The third way is through the Jindamanee lane, allowing motorbikes to park at the entrance of the main gate of the Gurdwara. A fourth entrance could not be made because it was stuck to a department store, namely ATM. (Usually a Gurdwara will have entry doors on all four sides).
Towards the left side of the entrance hall, is a room, where religious books, tapes, CDs and cloth to cover the Guru Granth Sahib are sold. Any Sikh is permitted to either borrow or buy these items. Towards the right, is the clinic, namely “Sukshala Nanak Mission”. Needy patients are given free treatment irrespective of caster, creed or religion. This clinic was setup under the patronage of Siri Guru Singh Sabha and has been in service for more than 45 years. Right next to the clinic is the dining hall for the Granthi and Ragis of the Gurdwara and also for pilgrims who come from abroad and stay temporarily at the Gurdwara. Next to are the toilets for both men and women. As there is a strict rule in every Gurdwara, disallowing any person from wearing shoes to the upper floors, there is service provide on the ground floor for keeping your shoes. Left hand side for men and the right hand side for women. On the extreme left, there is the office of the Siri Guru Singh Sabha committee. A small meeting room is also present on the matinee floor above the office.

Facing the front but towards the end of the entrance hall, there are three elevators, leading to various floors of the Gurdwara. At the same time on either side of the elevators are the staircases, about 3 meters wide each and has to total of 84 steps from the ground floor to the main prayer hall where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed. Surprising the number of staircases here is exactly equal to the number of staircases in the Baoli Gurdwara, located at Goindwal. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, which was constructed by Guru Amar Das Ji (the third Sikh Guru), is the first Sikh centre pilgrimage. Moreover, the number, 84, also indicates the total amount of re-incarnations (8.4 million births and deaths), which a human being has to go through. This is to remind us to only do good deeds and mediate in the name of Waheguru as well as provide service to the community and help the needy people. Life as a human being is considered the last step before realizing God.
On the second floor, is a big hall used as the Langar Hall (Guru-Ka-Langar) and many other kinds of different activities, such as arranging a dinner party during the wedding ceremony. This hall is also often used as a lecture hall by different people invited by the committee. During religious days and weekends, this hall is usually converted into a Langar Hall.

Next is the matinee floor. Although this floor is just half the size of other floors, it is now considered as the third floor. In the middle of this floor is a large room, which is often used for meetings or other religious activities.
The fourth floor, which is accessible either through the stairs or the elevators, is simply a big hall. This hall, excluding the side walkways, is about 15 meters in width and 37 meters in length.

There is pathway in the middle of this hall, leading to the Guru Granth Sahib. The floor is carpeted with a beautiful design and is used as a sitting place for all the Sikh devotees.
Ladies sit on the left hand side of the hall, while the men sit on the right hand side, facing the platform, on which the Guru Granth Sahib is installed. The reason for sitting separately is to maintain order and to maintain concentration in listening to the religious prayers.
In the middle of the hall is a raised platform, about one meter above the floor, with carved gold-plated pillars on all fours sides. Above the platform is gold-plated dome, in the shape of a lotus, with petals around it. The top most is covered with a piece of cloth having a gold lace at the edge around it, giving a royal symbol. Placed on the platform, is the Guru Granth Sahib.
Sitting at the platform is the Granthi or the Giani, who wihile reading from the Holy Granth also uses a Chaur or Chauri (Yak hair or manmade fiber embedded in a metal placed in a wooden handle) and waves it over the Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a symbol of respect.

Towards the right of this platform, is a slightly raised platform used for Kirtan singings and giving religious lectures.
Daily at 4:30 a.m., the Granthi brings out the Guru Granth Sahib and places it on the designated platform and begins reading the Hukam Nama for the day and then covers the still opened Guru Granth Sahib with a piece of cloth. At around 6:30 p.m. daily, after reciting the Rehras prayer, the Granthi performs the Sukh Asan ceremony (formally closing of the Guru Granth Sahib for the day) and retires the Guru Granth Sahib.

On the fifth floor is the Thai Sikh International School. This campus provides education for children up to Kindergarten 2, so that small kids need not travel far to the other campus, located at Bangna, which is for higher education. However, when a student passes from here, he/she can continue his/her education at the other campus.

This is where we saw in the new year.

For email subscribers
Kirtan at Bangkok Gurdwara

For email subscribers
Waheguru Simran

First Hukamnama of 2013

For email subscribers
First Hukamnama of 2013

Dec 31, 2012 10:05 PM
Dec 31, 2012 10:08 PM
Jan 1, 2013 12:51 AM

The darbar sahib was packed with the local sangat. Quite an amazing atmosphere.

Getting a tuk tuk or taxi home is not easy, the first tuk tuk I stopped wanted 400 baht! It seems with it being the new year, the taxis and tuk tuks can command their charges.

Waiting with fellow Sikhs for a taxi
Jan 1, 2013 1:04 AM

Negotiating the price with a tuk tuk
Jan 1, 2013 1:07 AM
He drove off!

Passing a flower stall at 1am
Jan 1, 2013 1:20 AM
Jan 1, 2013 1:22 AM

We finally managed to get a tuk tuk, on the picture you can see him on his mobile, probably calling his wife to pack the bags for a first class holiday. He charged us quite a lot!
Jan 1, 2013 2:02 AM

It was strange to see, taxi’s having no customers just ignoring us, even though they were going the same way as us.

error: Content is protected !!

Get Regular Updates and Occasionals Special Offers

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from Gaygoat.com

Great, welcome aboard. Never miss another update I will keep you posted directly to your inbox,

Get Regular Updates and Occasionals Special Offers

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from Gaygoat.com

Welcome aboard, just one more step. Confirm your email address, don't forget to check you spam.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

__________

Get regular updates sent directly to your inbox: latest blog posts, news, pictures and the occasional special offer. 

 

I hate SPAM as much as you, and promise to always keep your details safe and never sell them on. 

Thank you, just one more step. I have sent you an email to confirm your address. Click confirm and we're away... (don't forget to check you junk folder, sometimes messages end up in there!)

Subscribe for Regular Updates

Join my mailing list to receive the latest blog posts, offers and reviews to your inbox

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest