Thailand - Bangkok - Maha Nakhon Sky Walk (1)

King Power Maha Nakhon Sky Walk, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

One of the best premium attractions at the heart of Bangkok, Combining unique view with an unmatched guest experience. Enjoy the city of angel from Thailand’s highest observation deck (read further)

Thailand - Bangkok - Maha Nakhon Sky Walk (2)

King Power Maha Nakhon Sky Walk, Bangkok.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Thailand - Bangkok - Maha Nakhon Sky Walk (3)

King Power Maha Nakhon Sky Walk, Bangkok.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Thailand - Bangkok - Maha Nakhon Sky Walk (4)

King Power Maha Nakhon Sky Walk, Bangkok.

Sent by myself to my wife during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Thailand - Bangkok - Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall

Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace in sunny day, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

The Grand Palace complex is in the heart of Bangkok. The palace was the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court, and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. It is one of Bangkok’s busiest tourist spots, so let your guide show you the best way to enjoy your visit to this often-crowded place (read further).

Thailand - Phang Nga - Koh Tapu (James Bond Island)

Koh Tapu (James Bond Island) in Phang Nga, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Khao Phing Kan (Thai: เขาพิงกัน, pronounced [kʰǎw pʰīŋ kān]) or Ko Khao Phing Kan (เกาะเขาพิงกัน, [kɔ̀ʔ kʰǎw pʰīŋ kān]), commonly known in English as James Bond Island, is an island in Thailand, in Phang Nga Bay northeast of Phuket. About 40 metres (130 ft) from the shores of Khao Phing Kan lies a 20-metre (66 ft) tall islet called Ko Ta Pu (เกาะตาปู, [kɔ̀ʔ tāː pūː]) or Ko Tapu (เกาะตะปู, [kɔ̀ʔ tā.pūː])(read further).

Thailand - Krabi - Railay Beach

A rock climber on limestone cave at sunset, Railay Beach in Krabi, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Railay (Thai: ไร่เลย์, pronounced [râj lēː]), also known as Rai Leh, is a small peninsula between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang in Thailand. It is accessible only by boat due to high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. These cliffs attract rock climbers from all over the world, but the area is also popular due to its beautiful beaches and quiet relaxing atmosphere. Accommodation ranges from bungalows and medium-priced resorts in East Railay to a collection of luxury resorts focused on West Railay, though one, Royavadee, spans both waterfronts and also has a beachfront restaurant at Ao Phra Nang. The four main areas of Railay consist of Phra Nang, West Railay, East Railay, and Ton Sai. Ton Sai caters to climbers and the backpacker set and is more rustic than the glitz of West Railay and the shops and restaurants of the East Railay boardwalk (read further).

Thailand - Chiang Mai - Mae Taman Elephant Camp

Fun time with elephants at Mae Taman Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Discover a simple beauty nature of Chiang Mai’s Countryside at Mae Taman Elephant Camp. At the camp, a total of 60 elephants, elephants’ routine and elephants’ abilities will be presented and then, enjoy an elephant ride through the lush green forest with the beautiful scenery of Mae Tang River together with experience on the ox-cart riding to one of the nearby village. The program at the camp will be ended with a traveling along Mae Tang River by the bamboo rafting in the sense of fresh air and sustainable living habitat along both sides of the river (read further).

Thailand - Bangkok - Wat Benchamabophit (The White Marble Temple)

Wat Benchamabophit (The White Marble Temple) in the sunshine, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Wat Benchamabophit (the Marble Temple) was designed by Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong. It typifies the impressive and orderly traditional Thai architecture. It is thus accepted as having the best architectural plan. The temple was built from marbles imported from Italy, and that is the reason why the temple is commonly known among foreign tourists as the Marble Temple. Significant Architectures within the Temple Phra Phuttha Chinnarat is a bronze replica of the original statue of the Sukhothai Period (1238-1438) which is still enshrined in Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok Province (read further). 

Thailand - Bangkok - Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์, pronounced [wát pʰōː]), also spelled Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan. (read further).

Thailand - Loi Krathong Yi Peng Lantern Festival

Releasing lanterns into the sky to celebrate the Lai Krathong Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are Thai festivals that involve releasing lanterns and rafts into water or sky. They are celebrated around the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. 

Thailand - Bangkok - Wat Suthat Thepwararam

The giant swing in front of Wat Suthat Thepwararam, Bangkok.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Wat Suthat Thepwararam, or Wat Suthat in short, is a first-class royal temple of the Ratchaworamahawihan type, one of only a few in Thailand. It is considered the temple of the reign of King Ananda Mahidol. It is a temple located in the inner city area and has a prominent structure, the Giant Swing, in front of the temple (read further).

Thailand - Bangkok - Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuk - Three wheels opened-air taxi, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself to my wife during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

When thinking about Thailand, one of the first images that often comes to mind is the vibrant aside from the beautiful beaches are the bustling streets filled with the sounds and sights of tuk tuks weaving through traffic. These three-wheeled vehicles are more than just a mode of transportation; they are a symbol of Thai culture similar to their magnificent temples and other cultural attractions and are also considered as an iconic part of the country’s urban landscape. With their distinct design and the unique “tuk-tuk-tuk” sound of their engines, tuk tuks offer a quintessential Thai experience that combines practicality, tradition, and a touch of adventure (read further).

Southeast Asia - Mapcard of Upper Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia Map comprising the upper part; Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is quite surprising that Myanmar is not included here. ASEAN's stance towards Myanmar is that the consensus calls for an immediate end to violence, dialogue among all stakeholders, the appointment of a special envoy to support mediation and dialogue, allowing the delivery of humanitarian assistance from ASEAN, as well as allowing an ASEAN special envoy to visit and meet with all stakeholders in Myanmar.

I bought this postcard during my visit to Vientiane, the capital of Laos (12th - 15th January 2025). The stamp was cancelled at the Post Office (HQ) in Vientiane. All the postcards from Laos during this trip (except two Luang Prabang postcards) were brought home myself.

Note : Laos Post Office do not have variety of stamp(s). The cost for international postcard is Kip40,000.00. The Post Office only have Kip2,500.00 which value was upgraded (by red marking the stamp) to Kip40,000.00 on February 2024.

Indochina - Mapcard

I bought this postcard during my trip to Indochina countries (Vietnam and Laos) as well as Thailand on 10th - 18th January 2025 and got the stamps cancelled at the Central Post Office in Hanoi.

Mainland Southeast Asia (historically known as Indochina or the Indochinese Peninsula) is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. It includes the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Peninsular Malaysia.

The term Indochina (originally Indo-China) was coined in the early nineteenth century, emphasizing the historical cultural influence of Indian and Chinese civilizations on the area. The term was later adopted as the name of the colony of French Indochina (today's Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam). Today, the term Mainland Southeast Asia, in contrast to Maritime Southeast Asia, is more commonly referenced (read further).

Thailand - Bangkok - The Emerald

The Emerald - Bangkok - Thailand

Sent by Jirat, a postcrosser from Pranakorn Sri Ayutthaya, Thailand.

The Emerald Buddha (Thai: พระแก้วมรกต – Phra Kaeo Morakot, or official name พระพุทธมหามณีรัตนปฏิมากร – Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakon) is the palladium (Thai: ขวัญเมือง khwan mueang; colloquially มิ่งเมีอง ming mueang) of the Kingdom of Thailand, a figurine of the sitting Buddha, made of green Nephrite (rather than emerald), clothed in gold, and about 45 cm tall. It is kept in theTemple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. (read further)

Thailand - Bangkok - Wat Pho

Bangkok
Wat Pho

Sent by Nan from Bangkok, Thailand.

Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์, IPA: [wát pʰoː]), is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan (Thai: วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลารามราชวรมหาวิหาร; IPA: [wát pʰráʔ tɕʰêttupʰon wíʔmon maŋkʰlaːraːm râːttɕʰawɔːráʔmahǎːwíʔhǎːn]). The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
Wat Pho is named after a monastery in India where Buddha is believed to have lived. Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions. An enormous Buddha image from Ayuthaya's Wat Phra Si Sanphet was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767; King Rama I (1782-1809 A.D.) incorporated its fragments to build a temple to enlarge and renovate the complex. The complex underwent many changes in the next 260 years. Under King Rama III (1824-1851 A.D.), plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple. These received recognition in the Memory of the World Programme launched by UNESCO on February 21, 2008. Adjacent to the building housing the Reclining Buddha is in a small raised garden, the centrepiece being a bodhi tree which is propagated from the original tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting enlightenment. The temple was created as a restoration of an earlier temple on the same site, Wat Phodharam, with the work beginning in 1788. The temple was restored and extended in the reign of King Rama III, and was restored again in 1982. (Source)

Thailand - Bangkok - Royal Barge Anantanakraj

The Royal Barge Anantanakraj with an escorting barge.

Sent by Leela, a postcrosser from Bangkok, Thailand.

This is from Wikipedia : Thailand's Royal Barge Procession (Thai: กระบวนพยุหยาตราชลมารค; RTGS: Krabuan Phayuhayattra Chonlamak) is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has been taking place for nearly 700 years. The exquisitely crafted Royal Barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, typically coinciding with only the most significant cultural and religious events. During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spanning over 60 years, the Procession has only occurred 16 times.

The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges: 51 historical Barges, and the Royal Barge, the Narai Song Suban, which King Rama IX built in 1994. It is the only Barge built during King Bhumibol's reign. These barges are manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Po (Thai: วัดโพธิ์), and finally arrives at Wat Arun (Thai: วัดอรุณ, Temple of the Dawn).

Thailand - Young Hmong Hilltribe

Young Hmong Hilltribe, Northern Thailand.

Sent by Tanawan, a postcrosser from Bangkok, Thailand.

This is from Wikipedia : The Hmong (RPA: Hmoob/Moob, IPA: [m̥ɔ̃ŋ]), are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity (苗族) in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land.

A number of Hmong people fought against the communist Pathet Lao during the Laotian Civil War. Hmong people were singled out for retribution when the Pathet Lao took over the Laotian government in 1975, and tens of thousands fled to Thailand seeking political asylum. Thousands of these refugees have resettled in Western countries since the late 1970s, mostly the United States but also in Australia, France, French Guiana, Canada, and South America. Others have been returned to Laos under United Nations-sponsored repatriation programs. Around 8,000 Hmong refugees remain in Thailand.

Thailand - Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival in Thailand.

Sent by Thippawan, a postcrosser from Nonthaburi in Thailand.

This is from Wikipedia : The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, from Sanskrit saṃkrānti,[1] "astrological passage") is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.

The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. If they fall in the middle of the week, many Thai take off from the previous Friday until the following Monday. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then.

Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries, and is believed to have been adapted from an Indian festival. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for many to visit Thailand for immersion in another culture.