Rattanaburi 2010 Summer II: Bang Fai (Rocket) Festival

Every year of summer, just right before the raining season, the Ilsan (Northeast) people will be celebrating the Bang Fai, or Rocket Festival.

Shooting to the sky

Flying high

Smaller rocket (ten thousand grade)

Bigger Rocket (hundred thousand grade)

Into the blue sky

Smallest Rocket

The remaining of the rocket, or in Thai "Hang" (the tail) - the game is simple, whose tail takes the longest time in returning to the ground win. Like any other game, bang fai is always come with gambling.

Taking off

Rattanaburi 2010 Summer I: Animals

Angsila II อ่างศิลา 昂西拉

After a month long chaos, peace finally restored in Thailand thanks to the government's heavy handed crack down.

Having spent most of my time stayed at home during this unusual period, I decided to take a short trip, looking for some fresh air at the not-so-far away Angsila and of course, some long awaited seafood. Yes, curfew is still in place, but it's not an obstacle.

The market - all kinds of seafood with a good bargain

The Jetty - this is where all the fishing boats return with their catches

Another view of the jetty

Market is not so busy as weather is ultra hot

Red-shirts are down, so are the red crabs (Sakura crab)

My favorite "Pla Tu (ปลาทู) Pok", or deep fried kelonged Mackerel.

หอยตลับผัดใบกะเพรา Fried clam with basil leave 蛤炒羅勒叶

Grilled Thai Escargot หอยหวานเผา 烤东风螺 (泰国田螺)

Baked Salted Sea Prawn กุ้งทะเลอบเกลือ 盐烤虾

Grilled Squid ปลาหมึกไข่ย่าง 烤鱿鱼

See the small promfet 斗底鲳

Horseshoe king crab

Mantis prawn

Small pineapple

Thai Durian

Have a cup of thai coffee

PART IV Lido: Red Shirts Riot 2010 - เสื้อแดง2010 - 2010年红衫军暴动

The famous legendary Lido Cinema burned to the ground. It is one of the oldest and most memorable venue for older Bangkokians.

Taken from the nearby skytrain station

Looking beyond the protection screen

This is the end of the 4 parts series on the red shirt report. In fact there were far more burning sites that I didn't have a chance to record the history, among them are Channel 3 headquarter.

No photo on the actual site, but I did manage to snap the final second before it returns to air. (The channel was unable to broadcast due to fire)

PART III Central World: Red Shirts Riot 2010 - เสื้อแดง2010 - 2010年红衫军暴动

The worst hit area - Rachaprasong Intersection: This is the stronghold of red shirts on the few months long demonstration.

One of the biggest shopping mall in SEA was burnt down by a network of gas cylinder installed inside the building. It was not an accident or an act of anger but a well planned crime.

A police post near the intersection

A closer look

Nothing left except the mess

Central World Tower

Central World Shopping Mall - a lost of almost 15 billions baht

The damages - almost resemble those of by Al-Qaeda

Moment of silence

Serious of explosion brought down even the strongest structure

Used to be a cinema

The nearby Big C hypermarket - another collateral damage (?)

A moral support to the peacekeeping army