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Published: June 19th 2014
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THE KING’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ARCH
After school, every other day, I plan to go somewhere to photograph. Keith had suggested going to the Chinese Arch in China Town and catch the traffic around it with slow shutter speed. I was totally sold on the idea. All I knew about the arch is that it symbolizes the gate to China Town in Bangkok
The Chinese arch marks the beginning of the Yaowarat Road that limits China Town. It is King's Birthday Celebration Arch (ประตูจีนที่วงเวียนโอเดียน Arch Commemorating the 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary), Odeon Circle (at the intersection of Tri Mit Rd and Charoen Krung Rd). This Chinese-style ceremonial gate is located at the Odeon Circle. It was built by Thais of Chinese descent to show their loyalty to King Bhumibol, and officially revealed on his 72nd birthday on 5 December 1999. The four Chinese characters on the arch mean "Long Live The King" and are in the handwriting of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (who is fluent in Chinese).There is no charge to see the monument and I have seen it in photos and the night that Mint drove us around China Town.
I had to go and sort out
King's Birthday Celebration Arch
This monument is in my list to repeat and catch more lights but it has to be done earlier during the night a sim card for my freshly unlocked iphone 5. Story that deserves a blog post on its own and then I was debating if to go to the Chinese Arch or not. I was tired and it was getting late. I decided to go take a look otherwise I was going to regret it. I knew the Arch was on Yaowarat Road but I didn’t know extackly were. It could have been a long walk but it wasn’t it was a 5 minute walk from the Hua Lamphong MTR station. It was a good opportunity to test my gps and the map app on my phone and it worked like a champ. I walked 2 blocks and I was there. Not to busy and the streets were almost empty. I looked around and there was nowhere to take a photo from. But I was there and I had to take a shot. I looked around and nothing, then I looked up and I saw a car park with 4 floors. I walked around and everything in the ground was locked with hurrican shutters. It was a big building I was started to think that maybe people need a clicker to get in ….then I saw the entrance to the parking lot!!!. I think I could have gone inside but I decided to be polite and ask the security guard to let me in to take some phots. He looked around to make sure no one was looking at him and said: “50 THB”…I said no problem, I was happy to pay and up I went. Woot woot.
When I got up there was a hardrail I had to push my camera into creating a little vibration, the wind was moving my tripod and I could have use a wider lens. But I was Pleased with the view and it was definitely better than nothing. I tried a few shots and immediately noticed that I needed to come back earlier during the night so I could catch more traffic lights. But I did the best with what I had and here is the result.
This is an awesome image of it:
http://www.simandan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/photo-exhibition-thailand-2.jpg http://thumb1.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/700975/111032204/stock-photo-gateway-arch-odeon-circle-china-town-yaowarat-bangkok-thailand-111032204.jpg A walking tour in China Town: http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/thai_article/1917_bangkok_chinatown/bangkok_chinatown.html
Oh I forgot to say, towards the end of my time there military showed up on camouflage jeeps and armed. That made me a little nervous but at the same time I was wishing I had a tele with me!!
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Bangkok
Bangkok is an amazing city. Not sure I like the sounds of the military showing up. Be safe and enjoy yourself.