Sawadee Khrap

Visiting Jomtien or Pattaya, maybe you live here – I recommend you try  Ocean Dental Center, Dr. Ruangpeerakul.  Check them out for you dental needs.  Great service, and workmanship.  Works for me (and I hate dentist – actually just drilling – and with only 2 teeth left that is almost in the past. haha )        pricing is right.

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Did a quick visit to “The Sanctuary of Truth” and got some prelim shots.  A little pricy, 500 Baht, but worth a visit – quite the carvings  - the entire place is covered with them and and new ones are being prepared to fill in the empty spots.  I will need to go back and do some real HDR work to properly photograph the place.

Make sure you have sufficient time as the slideshow is 133 photos.

******* SLIDESHOW ********

But don’t miss it when you are here – worth the time and money.

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Just got back from “The Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm”.   I went to check it out and take some quick shots to see if it was a good place to do future shoots.   Nice.   But, today was very hot and I got back soaked with sweat – so the shots were just from the hip and not centering in on any specific subject. – next time when it’s cooler I’ll go again and take someone with me to model.  but at least I’ll know where to go.

*******SLIDESHOW*******

I did like the group of young monks that were there and here is a panorama of the entrance path.  You’ll

Sawadee Khrap

Thanks Nicky for the link and update --- Again I didn’t check out all the information available on the web about the place – I didn’t realize that the place had this much history –

“Batman disco off Sukhumvit was the one of Pattaya’s hottest in the 90s. Spotlights casting batman logos arced across the night sky. The young clientèle crowded the four floors. Police staged a raid on the dance club and closed the premises for drugs and under-age drinking”

I would have loved to seen the spotlight in action and been there to see the crowd – pretty tame now here in low season.

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

I went to Sunee Plaza last night and see that “C.…Boys Live Café Bar”  has closed and I understand that  Dave is searching for a new location near the Tucom area – just up the Soi from Sunee.

I will post the new location as soon as I find out and can get there to take some images.  I believe that problems with the landlord and rental charges were the reason he had to leave.

Good Luck Dave finding a new location.   See you soon.

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Thanks Kevin for pointing out this excellent video:

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Went down to visit and grab some photos of Dave’s new C…Boys LIVE Bar in Sunee Plaza.   In addition to our friend “Nut”, standing right in white shirt with logo – there are other cute boys to greet you at the door.  Mod, F, Aon, You and Pom, get to work about 8:30 each evening  - Stop by, have a drink and say hello.

Of course the place is really bright for the photos, but usually it's much darker and more relaxing.  After this, I sauntered through Sunee to see what was happening – it was 8:30 and nothing started yet – just setting up, but the lights were on

Sawadee Khrap

Just took a short trip about 40 KM North from Pattaya to Bang Saen Beach area to visit my friend, Don, in his new digs.   Great beach, clean, little or no farangs there, and so the locals are very friendly.  This family style beach is normally used by the folks from Bangkok, rather than going down to the Pattaya (sex) area, and by the students from the local schools and University.

***** SLIDESHOW *****

As you can see in the slideshow there are some great walking only areas and tandem bicycle  rental places there.  Food everywhere and the vendors area is not in your face.  Ample chairs and huge long beach to wander about.

Looks like a wonderful beach to go to and relax --

From here we went to visit the “Monkey Mountain”  actually Khaoi Sam Muk and San Chao Mae Temple.

Sawadee Khrap

My God, I’m sorry for not doing more checking before I posted the video about the “Railroad Market” –  “POST #  Vegetable Market in India”     just used the info I received.

And many thanks to  Moses from “Bangkok Tours” for pointing it out.  The world’s Most Dangerous Market

 IT IS IN  MAE KLONG - near BANGKOK, THAILAND  !!!!

I am also amazed that they picked this up so fast and sent me a comment to correct my posting … Thanks Moses.

Make sure you check out their website and services – “Gay Tours” are included and sound wonderful.  I don’t know anyone there and I haven’t taken any tours yet but their website is very professional and offers a great array of adventures  (Gay Adventures) too .

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

Just went to the “Venue Christmas Show” – little darker than usual and the new LED background display is really bright and causes some problems for the camera.  But still I think I got some good representative shots of all of the acts.    Always something.

******* SLIDESHOW  *********

This is big slideshow – 307 photos

Sawadee Khrap

Went to dinner with Jerry at Ken’s Little Mango Restaurant last night.  Below is Ken (owner-middle), Potter (his brother-right), Bell (staff team-left)   Great food, service and staff.  Just up from Sunee Plaza area on Soi VC.  If your in the area make sure you stop by and say hello to Ken and his guys and have a delicious meal before heading to Sunee or Boyztown for the evening.  I think, with out a doubt, the best restaurant in the area.

Speaking of Sunee, the Sawadee has closed down and has been replaced with a beer bar/pool place – and I also captured a great shot of

Sawadee Khrap

A friend, Ton,  was in Pattaya to celebrate his birthday, and as a gift I took him to Nong Nooch to see the Garden and Culture Show. We arrived about 10AM but I’d forgot about it being a Saturday and the place was well packed. – buses of tourist already there.  We went and got some drinks and at 10:30 went to the 10:45 Culture show, by that time the bleachers were filled and only a place high and in the back was available.   Oh well – next time down front.   I’m very glad I always carry the  200 mm lens on the camera – regular camera’s would take such tiny photos you would have difficulty seeing what was going on.  I did have to shoot about ISO 5000+  so there is a lot of grain in the shots but I think you

Sawadee Khrap

Just got back from exploring “Art In Paradise” a 3-D art gallery designed so people can become part of the art. Amazing place and great paintings and illusions. The museum features ten galleries – the Camouflage Room, Under the Ocean Room, Wildlife Room, Classical Art Room, Civilization Room, Surrealism Room, Dinosaur Room, Waterfall Room and the Scenery Room.  Tickets are reasonable and no pushing to speed you out.

I didn’t take any time to adjust for lens distortion or perspective – just ran in, got some samples, and out.

*******SLIDESHOW******

For example – these two people (photo #2) just happened to be trying out this scene – I was on the second floor looking down so the illusion is not the same but you can get the idea – would look natural in the shot below - What possibilities are possible, especially when I can combine Photoshop to replace the models with more erotic and personal poses in the studio that could not have been done at the

Sawadee Khrap

Here would be the best 400 Baht membership you can get in Pattaya.   The Pattaya City Expats Club.  They meet every Sunday – 11:00 AM. at the Amari “Tavern by the Sea”.    Membership only 400 Baht/yr  - member benefits 20% off many restaurants, special discounts at local hospitals, special insurance programs too.  Breakfast buffet offered first at 9:30 or so, great value at 220 Baht, and excellent, favorable, and always fresh items.  Each week new featured speaker on topics worth the trip.

They are starting a photographic group and I will probably offer to do some minor classes on Lightroom and Photoshop.  

If your in Pattaya, be sure and stop by and check out a meeting

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

I didn’t realize what a great photographer’s venue this is, I see what Victor was talking about in his comment on the last Nong Nooch post.  Pat and I went in the morning and concentrated just on the area as you drive in.      Here is the lower entrance gate with the ants – and then the lower orchid area and clay pot sculptures and the tigers area, they wanted 100 Baht for a photo with them – we passed this up and went on to eat at the lower restaurant – great cooks and food – prices were also very affordable.