2012 - Year of Thanks Giving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.                                                                                      (Psalm 100:4)

Yesterday, when Pastor asked Ani to thank GOD, for two blessings in 2012, before the whole church, she had a tough time to prioritize it from the extremely big list we had. For a normal person, she might have looked like a crowd fearing lady (Those who know her will not be having this impression anyway). But I was happy to see her confused and, I really knew why. 

That is the reason why I gave this post heading as ‘2012 – Year of Thanks Giving’. Spiritually / personally / financially / Professionally, HE gave us a great year, betterment in all areas of our life. It will be a great wrong part, if I am not glorifying HIS blessings now. 

I’ve been in between a large number of people, who had their own views about life. I had a view about myself. But realized that it’s not our views that makes the life a blessing, but aligning with Jesus views, makes that big difference. Learned that golden fact that I cannot go with the rule of the world, but with the rule of God’s kingdom, which are quite opposite (and strange) what the world has. That was the greatest blessing for me this year.

There happened an interesting instance last week, which helped to realize one of HIS blessings. Now it is the time for proof submissions for tax benefits. We were discussing in office, about different ways to avail tax benefits and I saw one of my colleagues with much happiness on his face when it came to the medical bills. Why because he had a huge medical bill to submit this year (He survived from a major accident). 

I did not have any medical bills. But my heart was so happy to give all the tax to the government, because my LORD protected me & my family from those kind of situations. Is that the tax you save makes you happy or the blessings? For me it’s surely his love & care…

Beautiful fellowships / relationships, promotions, recognition's  cars, international trip, forgiveness, support and for whole lot of other reasons that I cannot even count, I THANK MY LORD JESUS for a wonderful 2012…

A note for my dear ones:

If I have hurt you some way, knowingly or unknowingly, I ask for your forgiveness. God forgave me a lot of times. I would have done the same to my dear ones…

Have a blessed & fantastic year ahead!

- Anoop

The Highway Tea Stall

Yesterday we completed the 7th trip (Bangalore > Kerala, Kerala > Bangalore) in our car. 5 months and it   carried us 10,000+ kilometers. 

It takes 10 hours (if the traffic doesn't come in between) for one side journey. 80-100 kmph is my speed. I cannot go (I don't want to) beyond 100 kmph, as I have a highly efficient speed control system inside the car, which is even better than Meru cabs have implemented till date - that's MY WIFE. Screams badly when the needle goes a bit beyond hundred :)

As I have to drive continuously for hours, it makes me bit sleepy at times, which calls for a 5 minute stop to relax and have a tea. 

This time, the stop was at a small tea shop (somewhere) in Tamil Nadu. There was a good space to park the car safely and a good scenery on the other side of the road, mountains :)

The Tea Shop Owner

There is a specialty which I like about these kind of shops. There will not be any waiting time after placing the order. They are tea making professionals. Just give them the requirements (Ultra strong, medium sugar and burning hot...) and by the time you close the mouth, you will have it. Drink it and jump on to the driving seat and soar to 100 kmph.

Clicked this pic, when I took the cam out to capture the mountain landscape on the other side. His mother was eagerly looking on to the camera, that I clicked this pic and showed to her. Would have seen the happiness on her face. And the boy was with all smiles. 

Was that the reason the tea tasted special? :) 

It was indeed a refreshing stop. Both the tea & the smiles...

Western Ghats - When stories take Life

There is something called an experience along with learning. If you are able to see what you learn from the text books, then there is a larger chance to remember it, with out much pain.

I learned about Western Ghats, when I was in the 6th or 7th standard (If I am not wrong), in Geography class. For me those chain of mountains was only a picture from the school text books. I just learned it. Never believed that it brought rain to Kerala and it runs to a distance of 1600 km, through the coastal line of Kerala, was like a fairy tale chapter. In-fact, I never believed its existence. 

For me, in school days, never got a chance to travel outside Kerala. And so even Palakkad was an American state for me. 

But as the days went on, I started travelling and all those fairy tale chapters started getting its life. Most prominent one is the live knowledge about the Western Ghats.

Now each and every journey with Ani, in car, from Thrissur to Bangalore (NH 47), is like running through my geography text books.

It was interesting fact for me to know that the Palakkad Gap, which I have seen only in text books really exist and we travel through that gap to Coimbatore en-route to Bangalore. Palakkad Gap acts as a corridor between the two States by linking Palakkad District of Kerala with Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, and has served as a vital part of the important trade route between the East and West coasts of peninsular India since ancient times.

Even I did not realize the importance of Palakkad Fort until last year. While I was working in Palakkad, I thought, it was built to show the power of the king, who ruled that area. But it was not. Palakkad Fort, stands as a reminder of the strategic importance the gap once had as a gateway to Kerala for would be invaders from the other side of the Ghats.

And rest of the stories, each and every child know - How it brings monsoon and all.

Never captured that mountain chain before. But this time, I decided to get help from Ani this time. And she clicked some snaps and it found a way to my blog below.

Few more clicks of mountains on the way. But am less sure about their geographical existence, but the views were stunning.  

A wonderful design of GOD.

Kodak Six 20 Brownie D

Never noticed this antique piece before. This time Ani took it out and daddy demonstrated how to take a pic in it. The camera film is not (Kodak 620 roll, Box roll film) available now, but daddy has kept a wax paper  on the film mount, which projects the image, when clicked.

Unlike this age cameras, the functionality is very simple. I was amazed by the technological improvement while looking at that camera. A small box will a couple of lens and view finders. And there is an option to adjust the ISO for night and day. That was really amazing. Can take six pics from a roll of film.

The top view finder is to take vertical pictures, while the right side one for horizontal layout. 

Then Ani's grandma told me that grandpa was very much interested in photography. There was even a dark room in that house. He clicks and wash the film. 

There's an album with all the pics he clicked on those days. Must say he is too awesome to be a photographer.

Below are few pics I clicked:

Front View

With the Film Case out

Back View

And when searched for this model in Google, I got some interesting facts about it.

Manual Shot 1

Manual Shot 2

The Cherai Beach

Cherai beach - It is a place of wonderful college memories.

I remember, during college days, visiting this place with my college friends, at 2 in the morning.  In four bikes we travelled from CUSAT campus, and rested on the newly constructed foot path, listening to the voice of the waves. Luckily, the patrolling police did not find us. Other wise we would have been caught for suspicious gathering. Thank God. 

I used to share these college days stories with Ani and she wanted to visit this place. In-fact,  I never taken her to Cochin before. 

We went for the morning service to Corner Stone church, Vytilla. After the service we went to Marin Drive Cochin. Had an ice cream from a shop there and we strolled for sometime through the walkway. Old memories came into my mind like a soft breeze. I shared some with Ani and laughed over those incidents. It was a wonderful moment.

Our next destination was +Seematti Silks. It was one of the places we had in our travel plan. Spent some time in shopping there and started off to Mattanchery and then we realized that our plan will not workout due to heavy traffic. And it's pathetic than Bangalore. Cochi changed a lot.

We shifted our directions to cherai beach then.

Cherai area was flooded with people than we expected. There was some inauguration ceremony going to happen and whole are was occupied by tourists and police. Vehicles were heavily clogged that we couldn't take the main road back home and we were forced to take the Munambam route. But that became a blessing route for us. 

The route was awesome. As we moved on we could find calm and quite place where we could get down and click a couple of snaps.

In between the pine trees

Ani's Hand. A Macro Shot

Munambam has various home stays. For foreigners, that would be a heaven, to indulge in the local culture and delicacies. And few kilometers down the bridge, we could see Chinese fishing nets ready for action. And the view of docked fishing boats were a real visual treat for the eyes.

It is around 5 and half years since I visited Cochin. It has changed a lot, but the memories remains the same...

Enchanting Kerala

Kerala, never been a major subject in my blog yet. But this time, let me try to capture certain moments from Kerala. Lush green vegetation, country side road trip, cycling on the shore of backwaters...Plate full of plans.

My camera is charged and ready to open its lens to the beauty around...

All set to start a Christmas vacation journey to my home town. Ani is all set for the navigator role, as usual. And our Dzire is all set to clock 10,000 kms in 4 months.

Most of the Bangalore based Kearla people will be familiar with the route map below, as driving would be the best option than battling to book the tickets or night bus journey.

It says 8hr 18mins to reach the destination. For me it will take 10hrs for sure. There are some crazy guys who can reach there in 6hrs

Christmas Friend

Do you like surprises? I do not, but Ani loves it a lot. But you will do what you like right?

And so what happens is that, there will not be any surprises from my side to Ani and for me, everything will be with surprise from her. Anyway we both learned to cope up with that situation.

It is the Christmas time and the love, peace and gifts are on air. I have something on my desk. 

It was announced yesterday that you will get the chits with your Xmas friend name. I have not received mine yet, as I was connected from home for couple of days. But someone has got my name. And he / she has started their job.

Yesterday, there was one Christmas cap on my desk with a chocolate. And today there are three more chocolates on my desk.

Who is that? Who are you? Questions are boiling inside and I hate surprises :)

Come out buddy, come out :)

Blessed Man Of God

That was all our love and care for him. Many Many Happy Returns of the day Pastor!!!

Meetup at Brigade Road

I did not expect this meetup at Brigade Road today. When Prasad called me, I really wanted to meet him as he is a person, who is blessed with a second life. He survived a major accident, not his fault, but again he has gone through a tough situation in life.

So happy to meet Nadheem, Arun and Manoj. 

There is a specialty I notice every time while meeting the CUSAT team. We have  a lot of  college days humor to share and laugh. Still lively and funny that we laugh our hearts out. And it happened today too. Wonderful moments.

Thailand Cuisine: When Stomach Calls

The First Taste:
The first Thai food taste gripped on my taste buds when we were on-board of Thai Airways. I instantly got the secret behind the taste. Being from Kerala, my taste buds are in line with spicy and highly masala flavored dishes. And Thai cuisine is all about sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. Spice got no role over there. But yes you can get it on request. I did not have any problems with that but my wife did.

Who likes the non-spicy food?
 I have seen my directors from US / Europe, when they are in India for business visits, very much concerned about the spicy food. By mistake if they have it; end of their taste buds and their face will change its color. They can't stand that pain. And so they will love the Thai food. Perfect blend for them. I think the whole Thai cuisine evolved to entertain the visitors from those countries, who are the major tourist out there. No wonder when heard that the number of Thai restaurants went up from four in 1970s London to between two and three hundred in less than 25 years. And Thai cuisines has the top ranks in the World's 50 most delicious foods, compiled by CNN.

Rice matters:

As far as I am concerned about the food, rice is a kind of 'must' part for me. I love Kerala "Bullet Rice" and ready to travel any distance for it (My North Indian friends can't even swallow it). And rice got a place in Thai cuisine, while it can be surrounded by the varieties. Soups got a prominent place in the menu too

Usually eats with fork & spoon, you will get chopsticks almost everywhere. I even tried using it, but failed terribly. 

Sauce & Pastes:

On the second day at Pattaya, when looking around for a spicy sauce, I came across a variety. When asked the chef, he told its Fish Sauce, a very aromatic and strong tasting fish sauce. Took a couple of spoons and went well with mashed potato and beans.

When Ani was looking out for something spicy, I discovered the paste variety nearby. The Thai Chilli pastes. And saw two types of it - Thick and watery. The thick one will goes well with the marinated salads.

When we started to have the soup, it didn't have the spice in it and I helped Ani by pouring the entire paste in to her soup and must say that: "She blasted me". When I tasted the soup up on her blasting request, I realized the mistake. It almost burned my stomach line.

Kerala Style Prawns Chammanthi (Paste):

Saw one paste made with dried prawns. It almost tasted like the one which my mother makes. And must say it was fantastic with the rice.

There was a Chinese family next to us in the restaurant and I was watching their chop stick skills. Wow, that was wonderful. Like Ani, they too did not like the Thai cuisine I believe. They had a couple of boxes with packed side dish. No idea whats the reason, but they were using a lot of soy sauce. 

The sweet encounter:

I have mentioned about a sticky rice dish in this post. Sticky rice is a unique variety of rice that contains an unusual balance of the starches present in all rice, causing it to cook up to a sticky texture. Might be the cooking style made it looks transparent. Mango as a side dish, it was sooooo good with thick coconut milk. While we were having the buffet dinner at a famous grill on the Pattaya beach, I came across this dish for the first time. They've kept it 

Noodles:

On the first day, Ani decided to try the Thai noodles and it wasn't of the kind that's usually seen in south India  It was so thin, like white hair. Ani loved the dish, with squid.

You can get the varieties of it.Stir-Fried Rice Noodles (Phad Thai), Fried Rice Noodles Topped With Thick Sauce (Raad Naa), Noodles With Meat Or Fish Stock, Pork Or Beef Noodles (Gu-Tiaw Rua), Noodle Soup With Fermented Red Soy Beans & the list goes on & on...

No Durians?
When we were in Bangkok, in our hotel, we noticed a strange warning. Durians not allowed. It looked like a fruit, but had no idea why they did not allow it.

It looks like jack fruit tree. But cut open it is completely different. The unusual flavor and odor of the fruit have prompted many people to express diverse and passionate views ranging from deep appreciation to intense disgust. 

So I got to know the answer I was looking for. The smell of the fruit is so intense and it will remain in the air for a long time. So think about the areas that are air conditioned. It will be a real disgust for people. 

Poor fruit. But I saw great lovers of it buying tons of it on their truck. It was also  strange at that moment to know that Thailand each year holds the World Durian Festival in early May.

Fried Insect Stalls?ehh:

The most afraid part did not happen and I am so happy for that. The Fried Insects stalls. While watching it on Youtube, I almost puked a couple of times. And so I did not even try to raise that as a question.

Here comes my favorite dish. Tom Yam Goong.

That's a dish name. But before that, it represented me the martial arts hero: Tony Jaa. Even there's a movie with that name. But there is also a dish in that name there :) While researching before the trip, I thought it will be available in some ultra star hotels. But I could see that in a sea food hotel near to the hotel we stayed in Pattaya. The main taste maker was a giant shrimp. Delicious.

The journey in a nutshell:

I tried almost 30-35 varieties. And Ani tried her level best to control my food run. 

Here is the thump rule. Do not have that mindset that you will be getting the best dishes in the 5 star hotel. Yes, that's right. At the same time you can also get the same in the long chain sea food hotels all through the streets.

The street wonders:

I must say, it was a kind of food festival for me. There was a street near to the Bangkok Palace Hotel, which is the way to the Indira Market and various other shopping streets. Around a kilometer and I couldn't resist the delicacies around. If you are eager about the names of the dishes; then have a notebook with you. 90% of the time, you will not get what they tell you and even if you understand the name will be of a mile long. I forgot most of the names.

Ask & You Will Recieve:

If you want to make sure what you eat, then have your queries short: Pork? Fish? Chicken? Beef? either they will say yes or will echo the same word in a completely different name. In a couple of places me and the shopkeeper had a disagreement on the same name: Chicken.

If you are worried about the ambiance part, not liking the crowded area, then try the shopping malls. Siam Paragon or Central World. The only concern is the time you might take to go through the menu. It will take hours and even if you are in success in it: you will be confused. Because food is the only thing in this world which a human being deny once he is full.

You have to take the food court coupon for purchasing. So make your items ready and sum it up to take the food coupon and enjoy the creativity.

Our guide was sweet enough to provide us several thai special fruits on commute. Thank you Kitty :)

Obsessed with Indian food?

People who are very specific about Indian food in Thailand: do not worry, you got a lot of Indian restaurants there. For pure veg people: Jain food will be the best option and a safe bet.

I was not at all bound to Indian food and so I could enjoy the Thai cuisines. Food was Indian, but the price was international. For a Sivasagar masaladosa, the cost was around INR 260. But there was no option for the India food lovers.

Bubble Tea or Boba tea:

The shopkeeper spelled something similar : Oh what was that. I instantly fell in love with it. I had milk flavored bubble tea while Ani tried fruit flavored one. In Thai climate it was the best drink I had. And the black balls inside it was Tapioca Balls or they call it pearls.

Pressure on your wallet:

If you ask about the cost: it varies from 5 Baht to infinity. Seafood starts from 300 Bahts or INR 600 & up.

So if you are heading Thailand; get ready to celebrate with your taste buds.

The Grass Root Shots

These pictures are taken at Mini Siam. Was just trying, on the floor shot for these two buildings and I believe it has turned out to be good.

Mini Siam had been started to research the project in 1985, and had been constructed in 1986 with more 29 Rais which separated to be Mini Siam, and Mini Europe. For the rest area, there are the Booking Halls, the Souvenir Shops for lease, and the Parking Lots. The Democracy Monument in Bangkok was the first model to build.

We came to know about this place bit late. But didn't want to miss this for any reason. We immediately rented a tuk-tuk and headed towards the place and enjoyed the evening, gazing at the wonders of this place.

The Night Ride

I am a person who enjoys the feelings around a particular situation. There is something of that sort which makes our life either happy / sad. Leave the sad part and fill the life with joy, is what I follow.

Being on a foreign land, is always a different feeling. You don't know the streets, the people or how to travel.

Even they will feel like you are an alien in their land :)

I've heard about tuk-tuk from the first day we planned for the Thailand trip. Added that to the list as one of the things to try.

We hired a tuk-tuk from the Pattya beach after a delicious grill buffet. And only we four in it (another couple from Hyderabad whom we met at Thailand) and we had all the freedom to shout and whistle with joy.

Ani was looking around the lively places, which were filled with tourist, even at that time.

But what I did is to go to the back side of the tuk-tuk and stood on a small platform, which was bit extended outside.  If you do that in Bangalore, you will get a fine notice for sure :)

There's a similar journey I want to try - Travel a long distance in the last compartment of the train. The last compartment means, where the person with a white uniform stands and juggle with the red / green flag. Right there :)

I must say that feeling was fantastic :) Wanted to have another ride in it, through that lively street :)

The Super Tuk-Tuk

We went for a walk around the streets and on the way back we hired a Tuk-Tuk. Initially I thought that am on a super bike. The silencer behaved like one. 

And he gave the feeling that he's all set to do a wheelie...When the signal goes green, he pumps the accelerator that you will really feel the torque :)

Wonderful Journey.

Ocean World and Siam Paragon

Ocean World -  This place was there in our bucket list, since the college days. Have seen few videos of it then and wanted to experience live. And we must thank GOD at this moment for blessing us with that opportunity. 

Never seen those large collection of FISH species before. Have only seen in pictures, but to see them live was an experience. 

When you watch the above video, you will really enjoy the view.

Large tanks with the best fishes in the world. The tanks are so huge that you will really feel like you are under the ocean.

This experience will be on cloud 9 once you enter the ocean tunnel view. What was that? Breathtaking view of marine life.

Siam Paragon:

One of the biggest malls in the world. I couldn't believe the rank it has until I saw the place. Really fantastic.

Now I feel like the malls in Bangalore as very tiny :)

Couldn't walk around and see the food court even. So big that you will lose your directions in between.

And had a wonderful lunch near to a fish tank attached seat. 

WATCH THE LIVE & EAT THE FRIED :)

Didn't want to go out of that mall. Even in Bangalore, I love walking around the malls and visiting the shops. Ani hates it. 

And the best part was that the whole place was in a Christmas mood. I really wanted to experience that moment in a foreign land and I got it.

Bird Show at Safari World

Did not know that the birds can do these kind of amazing acts. The sequence in which they came out to greet the viewers, the discipline in their walk and the skills they poses...Really amazing view it was.

There were birds in the group who responds to specific acts if the right currency is given to them. Me and Ani loved it a lot, then think about the kids who were there. The sheer excitement on their face was wonderful to watch.

Must recommended show in Safari World. In fact all the shows are recommended :)

Dolphin Show and Sky War Stunt Show

This show had a lot of school students as viewers. And there were special songs dedicated for them. I believe it was in Thai language.It appeared for me as devotional songs. But loved the music in it and the tune. And the students were so excited for being there.

Dolphin show amazed us with their human coordination  You will understand once you watch this video. So responsive and trained. 

And the sky war stunt show had the Thail version of James Bond movie story line. Again stunts and explosions captured the attention of the stage.

Again there was a free bath in this show :) See the video for that moment. But it was so sad that this time many students seriously got wet.

Wonderful day at Safari world.

Oran-guttan Show, Sea Lion Show and Cow Boy Stunt Show

This video has three parts: Oran-guttan Show, Sea Lion Show and Cow Boy Stunt Show.

Must say that the Oran-guttan show was sooo funny. They were acting like us. I really wondered how they could enact us so closely. Singing songs, wrestling and many other activities. We really enjoyed that show.

Next is the sea lion show.  They mesmerized the viewers with their water skills.

And the cow boy stunt show: will like it, if you like the action. Explosions, stunts, humor...a well mix for a complete entertainment.

For all these shows, you have to really rush to get the best view of the show. There will be hundreds of people to compete with. Then this funny situation happened.

We reached pretty much early for the cow boy show and the front rows were vacant. I noticed the board with a warning says: "The first two rows may get wet". Any way we were in the third row.

The show started and people were really enjoying it. And there was two situations which gave a bath to the front row audience. First situation: we were safe. but in the second we really got wet :)

See the above video to view those moments.

And again, at the end of the show, there is a chance for photo. You can pose with Oran-gutans, Sea Lions and Cow Boy performers. You have to pay some money that't it :) 

But wonderful experience. Am so happy that Ani loved the show. She was with all smiles, through out the show.

Para-sailing over the Pattaya ocean

First time in life, flying with only a couple of strings attached, ohooo, that was a wonderful fly.

Initially I did not have the courage to go for it. But Ani gave the courage and I joined the men team to fly over the violent ocean.

Flew for five minutes over the waters. I was enjoying the light weight in the wind, at the same time afraid of the strings. 

You have to pay around 500 bahts for a trip. While you land, the boat driver will have a calculation on what speed he has to make you fly down. Might at times the wind might take the control and the drive has to take you another round. Then it's a free ride :)

While you are about to land, there will be people who are ready to catch you. You can trust them :)

The Sign Language

I would have learned this upfront :)

Thank god that our guide knew English. Otherwise it would have been a tough time to stay in Thailand.

Majority of the Thailand people don't know English. Thai is the official language. 

And the problem is that you have to learn the Sign Language. Convey what you want through actions and drawings. I must say that it is tough.

When we wanted to go to the nearest metro station and when tried to hire a tuk-tuk, that was the worst time I stumbled upon the language barrier.

It took nearly 15 minutes for me to make him understand that I want to go to the metro station. I even made the sound of the train and the hand movement to make him understand. And at the 20th minute he got angry with me and left. 

Did I look like a loser in that street. I think so.

It's like a foreigner in Kerala and asking for something to a guy who don't know English  The spectators thinks that the foreign guy is either mad or not eligible to be in Kerala :)

Best thing that works there is to have the visiting card or the picture of a location and show them. That worked for me 85% of the time.

On the way to Pattaya

Gems Gallery Bangkok

When the guide told us about this place as the biggest gem gallery in the world, I did not take it seriously. Rather all those jewellery advertisements from India were flashing through my mind, in which everyone claimed that they were the biggest :)

But the moment we entered the Gems Gallery, I was convinced about the fame it had. 

First they took us for a small train tour, where they will show the life cycle of gem creation. And how it is processed. Very impressive journey which will provide you with knowledge in that area. 

By the time we were out from it, we fell with love with the gems. Ani gave me a warning, not to purchase anything without her knowledge. She know me :)

Then they took us to the sales area where you can purchase gems jewellery. The showroom was too huge that you need a complete day to go through all the collections they have.

We rushed through the collections as we only had less time to spend there. And I had a plan in mind to buy a gift for Ani as it was our Wedding Anniversary that day. What a coincidence :)

I bought her a nice bracelet as gift and she was soo happy for it.

I recommend this place for a visit.

Wat Pho

The time the trip was confirmed, I started checking out the specialties of Thailand. And this Buddha Statue came up in all the searches. This is also called - Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

The complete name: Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan. Wat Pho is better right :)

In the premises of Wat Pho

We reached there by around 10 in the morning. Like any other places in Thailand, this place was also clogged up with tourists. Majorly from US & Russia.

We already had the tickets ready and entered the premises. 

One specialty which Ani was pointing out was the shoe bag which they provided (we can carry it with us), as we have to remove the shoes to enter the structure. She was telling that the similar practice should be here in India.

I know why she told about it. I had a couple of bad experiences of losing my favorite shoes from the church premises. It happened once that when I came out my shoes were missing. I cannot walk bare foot and so I took someone elses shoes and went home. Then I realized that, the pain of losing the shoe was a chain. One person does the mistake and it goes through others.

Fantastic and colorful structure.

Wat Pho is named after a monastery in India where Buddha is believed to have lived.[4] Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions.

Adjacent to the building housing the Reclining Buddha is 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. I clicked a picture with Ani in the canvas.

Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres), and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images of 160 ft length: the Reclining Buddha.

Ani near to one of the golden color entrance

The image of reclining Buddha is 15 m high and 43 m long with his right arm supporting the head with tight curls on two box-pillows of blue, richly encrusted with glass mosaics. The 3 m high and 4.5 m long foot of Buddha displays are inlaid with mother-of-pearl. They are divided into 108 arranged panels, displaying the auspicious symbols by which Buddha can be identified like flowers, dancers, white elephants, tigers and altar accessories. Over the statue is a seven tiered umbrella representing the authority of Thailand. There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor indicating the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. People drop coins in these bowls as it is believed to bring good fortune, and to help the monks maintain the wat. Though the reclining Buddha is not a pilgrimage centre, it remains an object of popular piety.

I was amazed by the construction of the structure and the ambiance they had for meditation. Loves a place like that where you can sit all alone away from this world.

A Tuk-Tuk outside Wat Pho

Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens

Frankly, when planned for the places to visit, this did not turn up in the list. And so we were not having an expectation about this place. But the moment we saw the way they have maintained the entrance area, we knew at that point - it is going to be a fantastic place. And really it is!

And I was telling Ani that we need to cover the whole place in few hours. That plan got teared apart when the guide told us that the village has 600 acres of sprawling landscape to walk around. We did not lose our hope.

And it was interesting to know that the garden belonged to an individual, unlike the government operated ones in India. 

Pisit and Nongnooch Tansacha purchased the 600-acre (2.4 km2) plot of land in 1954 with the intentions of developing the land as a fruit plantation. However, the owners instead decided to plant tropical flowers and plants as a wildlife conservation project. The garden opened to the public in 1980, and management was transferred to Pisit and Nongnooch's son Kampon Tansacha in 2001.

The guide took us for the cultural show area inside the village first. My mind was full of the gardens around that I did not like the cultural dance show. And that too, after Alcazar show, nothing of that kind will impress you. I wanted to go out. I was poking Ani to walk out, like many of the tourist did. But she wanted to watch.

Waited for an hour to get the show to get over and I took her hand and dragged to the garden. I was running around out of excitement. It was 20 times of Lal Bagh.

Well maintained and so colorful, that you will not allow even a grass to escape from your lens. I clicked around like a thirsty photographer.

The garden is divided into several areas. You can feel that transition clearly as you move on.

French Garden

European Garden

Stonehenge Garden

Cactus & Suculent Garden

Variegated Plants

Ant Tower

Butterfly Hill

Orchid & Bromeliad Display Garden

Flower valley

As I mentioned earlier: In addition to examining the wildlife, tourists experience religious ceremonies, martial arts demonstrations, massages, and elephant shows. There are also two restaurants, a small zoo and a hotel with a swimming pool and Thai style rental houses on the grounds.

Martial Art demonstration was like a comedy show for me. It has some real kicks and stunt styles which I enjoyed. As the stunt was staged, even when those two people were fighting and kicking each other; they had all smiles on their face (I am laughing inside now while writing this). They are used to it, that's the reason.

But it also reminded me about - Tony Jaa - who hails from Thailand. I have enjoy his martial arts and these people seemed to be his disciples.

All together, A Fantastic Journey...