Sunday, October 28, 2018

Street Food in Bangkok



 Each week we post a link to an article in Bangkok 101 and today we are looking at a recent edition and about how popular the street-food vendors are.


“Try heaving a hot egg barbecue brazier all day on a bamboo shoulder yoke, or shoving a gas-fired cauldron of soup stock across an eight-lane road.”.



The skill that these street vendors show us every day makes them special! There are special spots all over Bangkok which are worth investigating but they may be in the strangest spots – under bridges, down the side of a building, on the outside corner of a Buddhist Wat and many more. The coffee man near our office building does a roaring trade as the people come off the river-taxi in the morning and is next to his friend who serves freshly cut fruit and another who serves a collection of fresh vegetables and tasty sauces.



Bangkok street food is something that is commonly written about by visitors and daily eaten by the local people. Here is also an App you candownload and use to find information on some popular places to visit - and a map of how to get there.



The street-food is generally quite safe and very tasty. Great photo ops too. But remember this is how these people earn their living. A tip for a photo is very considerate.



Here is  another article by Bangkok 101 about street vendors that they recommend - https://www.bangkok101.com/street-food-odyssey/


      

Monday, October 22, 2018

3 must see temples in Chiang Mai


Thailand certainly is an amazing place and has an enormous number of beautiful places to visit but the Ancient City is special. This article is by Jetsettingfools - and about 3 must-see Temples to visit if you are in Chiang Mai

Wat Phra Singh
A 14th Century Buddhist Temple with gold and copper Buddhas. Take some time here and visit the large reclining Buddha, the ‘Lion Buddha’, historic murals on the wall and the walls are decorated in the tradition gold stenciling (lai Krahn).


Wat Chiang Man (sometimes Mun)
This was apparently the first temple built in Chiang Mai and houses so much history it is a location which must be visited. Look carefully for the ‘Elephant Chedi’ (ChediChang Lom) with the stone elephants supporting a Chedi. Then visit the New Wihan, housing two very important statues.
1)     The Phra Sae Tang Khamani (sometimes called The Crystal Buddha)
This is a 10cm tall Buddha called out of clear quartz – quite mesmerizing.
2)     The Phra Sila Statue
A stone stele (statue) of a Buddha taming an elephant and it was originally from India. It is believed that the statue has rain giving powers so it features strongly in the #Songkran Festival.


Wat Chedi Luang
This was the original Wat which held the Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddah) but here was an earthquake in 1551 which demolished some of the temple so the Emerald Buddha was moved to the Royal Palace in Bangkok – a replica is here. Some of it has been reconstructed by UNESCO.


 Visit the Ancient City and stay with us at Kantary Hills.



      

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

7 unique things to do in Bangkok



#Pinterest is a place to discover things to do in Thailand - today’s post is by Wilful and hearted  and is about  7 unique things to do in Bangkok -  https://www.willfulandwildhearted.com/unique-things-to-do-in-bangkok/.

1)    Meditate at a Buddhist Monastery – if you can’t manage a ten-day course visit one for the afternoon and turn all your Social Media off?

2)    Give back to the community at Wat Hua Lamphong – https://goo.gl/maps/BUmHsPLfy3x  - this is a sanctuary for farm animals which are not killed for food – whilst you are there pray for good karma. It is also known as the ‘Coffin Temple’ because you can purchase coffins for those who are too poor to buy one.


3)    Gain Wisdom at The Prachan Amulet Market - https://goo.gl/maps/HqHVcrzLMYG2 - a wonderful place to find something special.


4)    Taste the Rainbow at Bangkok’s own Unicorn Café - https://goo.gl/maps/dGbG346VR4G2 - a place which is like a dream in technicolour for those who believe in Unicorns…


5)    Worship David Beckham at Wat Pairwat - https://goo.gl/maps/WtcGxxZGxZo - where David Beckham can be found…

6)    Test your bravery at the Sathorn Unique ‘Ghost Tower - https://goo.gl/maps/rsNpdqGdBs72

7)    Muster up the courage to nosh on a few bugs - is this the food for our future?

Enjoy any of the selection above and stay with us at Cape House Hotel

Unicorn photo courtesy of #Instagram and danielle.levyy
Wat Pairwat photo courtesy of http://www.slaq.am/arm/news/1206538/


      

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

10 exciting things to do in Phuket





 Today’s post is from the Travel Triangle and is about 10 exciting things to do in Phuket.   



1)    Enjoy a boat tour in Phang Nga Bay – the limestone rocks are a natural miracle; you could visit James Bond Island or the Phi Phi Islands – if you have more than one day then visit the Phang Nga Marine National Park.



2)    Revel in the charm of the ancient city architecture in Phuket Old Town – the mix of Chinese and colonial architecture is stunning – have dinner at Panwa House,   a Sino-Portuguese mansion next to the water. And the Phuket Walking Street Market every Sunday.

3)    Take a tour of the famous beaches in Phuket – there are a great many on Phuket, it’s a paradise for some; Freedom Beach, Kata Beach, Banana Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Bang Tao Beach – or stay with us or on the beach at Cape Panwa Hotel.

4)    Immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife of the Phuket – specifically Patong!



5)    Visit the popular Big Buddha Statue  - this 45metre tall Burmese marble is a sight to behold – please visit with respect

6)    Visit the Phuket Fantasea show.

7)    Visit Promthep Cape viewpoint – for a tremendous view, but go early because there can be a lot of people wanting that photo! https://goo.gl/maps/myMc9QR4PNv

8)    Go for a jungle safari and see the varied wildlife of Phuket – Khao Lak Park and Khao Sok National Park are worth visiting.

9)    Indulge in watersports such as Scuba diving, snorkelling & water surfing – we have some of these at Cape Panwa Hotel

10) Relax with a luxury Thai spa – we have a spa at CapePanwa Hotel.
  


Choose any of these things to do when you visit Phuket but we would like you to stay with us at Cape PanwaHotel or Kantary Bay Hotel



      

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Releasing birds in the name of Buddhism



Cape+Kantary is a magazine that you will find in all the Cape and Kantary Properties. In this edition of the magazine  (Page 80) they examine the 

misconception of freeing birds or other kinds of animals as a merit or boon to their life.” 

– quote from Khun Tirapongse Pangsrivongse – Chairman of Cape & Kantary Hotels.

The original campaign or raising awareness was started in September 2016 and we remind you here least we do not forget. As the writer Tefor Cowles wrote

-      and when the dawn is silent, you must say, “I let that happen”

At Cape and Kantary Hotels, we actively support #SOSChildrensVillages and the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. We do not serve foie gras, birds’ nest or shark’s fin in our restaurants and we also stand firmly against the exploitation of Thai elephants for commercial or entertainment purposes.