This is a trip for a group of "nong-เที่ยว" (young people who love to travel). Since it was difficult to decide on a trip outside of Bangkok and all the accommodation was already booked, we decided to explore Bangkok instead. It's actually a good thing, no traffic jams, easy to get around, and not many people (or is it?). But just meeting up for meals and sitting in cafes doesn't seem very exciting. Or maybe go for a run? Who runs during a long weekend? (Just kidding!) So, we decided that visiting temples, trying different restaurants, and taking cool photos would be a better option.

Therefore, I would like to inform you in advance that in addition to pictures of temples, places, and food, there will also be portrait pictures that I took for the gang. Because we want to show that even ordinary angles that are commonly seen can be used to take good portrait pictures.

Where are some of these travel programs? Let's go!

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, also known as Wat Jaeng or simply Wat Arun, is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple's name means "Temple of Dawn".

We started our day at this temple because we wanted the dawn of this morning to be auspicious, as the name of the temple suggests. Of course, besides making merit, the highlight of this temple is the temple's main prang, which is considered a masterpiece of art adorned with glazed tiles and Benjarong porcelain. What you need to be careful about is walking on the prang because the stairs are very high and steep. Most importantly, when you are done taking pictures, do not sit or stand at the point where the temple forbids it.


A cat joins the fun.

Half-body portrait with a beautiful background


Those who have wide lenses, try taking portraits with them. It should look beautiful, but I chose to use a general 18-135 lens, so it's like this.

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The second temple, Wat Kalyanamit Varamahavihara, or as it is often called, Wat Kalyanamit.

Accompanied by a group of close friends, we believe that these friends are good companions. Therefore, we came to make merit and pay respects to the large Luang Pho To at this temple. This temple is believed to grant wishes for safety and good friendships.


Upon arrival, we purchased a large offering set, which included 16 incense sticks (13 small and 3 large), a pair of red candles, and a garland of flowers. The temple designated 5 points for us to worship. After completing the 5 points, we proceeded to worship Luang Pho To, followed by the Buddha statue in the attitude of Palilai, which is the ordination hall located on the right-hand side of the main temple.

The first incense stick point is right at the entrance of the temple.

Inside the ubosot

We then took photos inside and outside the temple. There was one spot in particular that I found to be very classic and vintage. This spot was located at the front of the temple, just before turning right into the parking lot. In my opinion, it was a perfect spot for portrait photography. I encourage you to explore the area and find your own unique angles for capturing stunning photos.


Red gate, another entrance to the temple.

The open space in the middle of the temple is also a great place to take stylish photos.

This spot is outside the temple. It has a vintage feel, which I like.

Old but still stylish

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The Third Temple: Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram Ratchawaramahawihan, or Wat Ratchabophit for short.

Indeed, visiting this temple for prayer and merit-making aligns with its name. This is due to the belief that "worshipping the Buddha at Wat Rakang will bring popularity and fame." However, as the morning hours had passed and it was now late morning, the temple was crowded. Therefore, I could only pay my respects to the Buddha, ring the bell twice, and then leave. 555

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Intense action phase

It's time to go all out, go all out. It's just a few minutes walk from Wat Rakhang to Wang Lang Market. As for the best, it's up to you, your tongue is your tongue. But if you come here and don't buy bread with overflowing filling, it means you haven't reached Wang Lang Market yet.


Another restaurant that I recently tried after hearing rumors for a long time is Sushi Wang Lang. To be honest, it's similar to the sushi you find at a night market, but with slightly better quality. They also offer salmon sashimi. If you're not too concerned about premium quality and are more focused on affordability, Sushi Wang Lang is a good option. It's good enough to satisfy your cravings.

Let's head to the Phra Nakhon side. We have our eyes on a cool shop near Tha Tian. Of course, there are a lot of cars and it's hard to find parking. We have a suggestion for you... "Tha Maharaj" is perfect for parking your car and then going out to explore and find delicious food around the area. Or if you're tired and don't want to go anywhere, there are cool things here to keep you entertained, like restaurants, cafes, beautiful views, and nice corners for taking photos. If you want some privacy, read a book, or bring your laptop to work quietly, they also have a co-working space available. Oh! Before you think I'm getting paid to advertise, let's just skip to walking around Tha Tian. As for Tha Maharaj, I've tried the food and drinks at each shop there, so I'll take you to eat next time.

We strolled from Tha Maharaj to Tha Tien, taking about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. Our first stop was Make Me Mango, a small three-story shop with a charming interior decorated in ripe mango hues. While the shop offered numerous photo opportunities, we prioritized dining due to the bustling crowd. We opted for a table shot, respecting the privacy of other patrons.

The restaurant had many photogenic corners, but it was crowded. We decided to only take photos of our table to avoid disturbing other customers.

We started with a mango smoothie, which was deliciously sweet and refreshing, perfectly quenching our thirst after the hot weather outside.

The must-try menu item is the restaurant's signature dish, aptly named "MAKE ME MANGO." This dish features a delectable combination of sticky rice with mango, mango ice cream, custard, panna cotta with mango sauce and various toppings, and mango bingsu. Our group of five devoured it within five minutes.


MAKE ME MANGO

Mango bingsu

After finishing our visit, we wanted to continue to a nearby coffee shop in the Tha Tien area. However, all the tables were full, with people waiting outside the shop. We decided to move on to Tha Maharaj pier, where there's a cool cafe called Favour Cafe. It's decorated in a stylish loft style, and if you see a large golden retriever, you're in the right place. But guess what? The tables were full again! With the crowds today, we decided to give up and head home.

A strong Americano from Favour Cafe while waiting for a table outside the shop.

On the way back, there will be a fork in the road, one leading to "Mon Lom Sod" and the other to "Liem Lom Sod". Of course, if you choose to go to "Mon", there might not be any tables or parking spaces available. As for "Liem", we heard that it's just as crowded, but we've never been there before. So, we decided to take a chance and go to "Liem". If there's parking, we'll eat there; if not, we'll turn around. And guess what? There was parking! So we decided to give it a try. I must say, the "pang neung sangkaya" (steamed bread with custard) was absolutely delicious. As for the "pang ping" (toasted bread), I think it was pretty good. But it really depends on your personal preference. Give it a try and see for yourself!

Let's order a variety of dishes so that everyone can try something different. 555

If I were to end abruptly, it wouldn't feel like a proper "run, eat, travel" blog, would it? After all, I had eaten so much that I had to pay the price by running the next morning. Even 10 kilometers wouldn't be enough to burn off all those calories, but hey, it's better than not running at all, right? 55

I apologize for any errors or inaccuracies in the information provided. Please feel free to correct or provide additional information. I also apologize for the quality of some of the images, as they were taken with a mobile phone camera and may not be clear.

Cameras used in this review:

  • Canon 60D with lenses:
    • 50mm f/1.8 prime lens
    • 18-135mm f/3.5 zoom lens
  • Fuji X-A3 with 52mm f/1.4 prime lens
  • HUAWEI P9 Plus smartphone

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#rattanakosin island#maharaj pier#temple of dawn#wat kalyanamitr#coffee shop ☕️#restaurant#eating#travel#paying respects to buddha#photography#personal vehicle#bangkok#thailand
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