The Photography of Dr. Jeffrey P. Harper

Prapadaeng Island, or more commonly known as 'the Green Lung of Bangkok,' is a large bend in the Chao Phraya River that, despite its close proximity to the city of Bangkok, remains surprisingly a beautiful slice of wild nature . . . mostly as mangrove swamps.

Prapadaeng is not very developed for cars, but is highly developed for bicycle riding on these elevated paths.  Not all the bike paths have these guard rails, some are quite frightening . . . but fun.

Although there are a few small roads, and a few cars around, most of Prapadaeng is still mangrove and palm swamp.

I did not go biking alone, but some of the fun-loving faculty, staff and administrators of the King Mongkut University of Science North Bangkok, where I am currently employed.

Our ride was in three parts, first we rode to a Wat to receive a blessing form the monks.

Our monk blessed us.

The small wat was very pleasant.  The monk on the left held the ancient traditional Buddhist iPhone.

The next leg of our journey was to a wonderful riverside restaurant for a tasty Thai lunch.

The restaurant gate.

We took our lunch out on a sala over the river, but they had an old house section too for eating.

Mick, an English teacher, was happy we were going to eat in the sala.

While we ate we watched several ocean going ships navigate up the river to the Port of Bangkok.

After lunch we literally rode 20 meters to a coffee and dessert shop, Treetops, next door!

The Treehouse is a beautiful place.  We ordered and enjoyed some excellent coffee and an array of desserts.

The Treehouse has several rooms for rent.  It would be nice to stay out there one night.

After lunch, coffee, and dessert, we rode along the river toward the Botanical Garden.

There was some small holding agriculture here and there . .  and the requisite spirit houses too.

Everyone commented about how wonderful it was that such pristine nature was so close to Bangkok.

There were many different kinds of plants in the Botanical Garden. Duh!

At the Botanical Garden, I climbed the observation tower to take some novelty photos . . . and ones of the wonderful nature.

The view from the tower.  Our university van picked us up at the Botanical Garden and took us home.  We had a great day out and about.

Pakkret* (variously Pak Kred or Pak Kret) is a small municipality (population 180,000) in the Thai province of Nonthaburi, 10 miles up the Chao Phayra River from the heart of Bangkok. [* The name Pakkret derives from the Thai, Ban Pak Tret Noi (บ้านปากเตร็ดน้อย), meaning village on the mouth of the lesser bypass.]

Pakkret sits on the east shore of the busy river.  Longtail boats and ferries move people across and around the river banks.

Small government ferries take shoppers headed to the big Pakkret Market . . . for 3 baht (US$0.09).

Many wooden houses on wooden pilings line the river at Pakkret.  Many of these houses sit below the river flood level and the residents vacate their home for 2-3 months of the year.

Shoppers going back across the river.

When I think of Pakkret I think of the river . . . and the two grand markets.

With Chinese New Year just a week away, the Pakkret market has taken on a festive feel.

The Pakkret market is a very visually stimulating place . . . and an olfactory stimulating place.  Wonderful smells.

A Pakkret market fish hawker.

So many still life studies everywhere I looked.

All that great tasting Thai street food has its origins in these 'wet markets.'

I am not even sure know the names of all of these interesting vegetables.  I can't remember ever eating purple green beans . . .

It was a late Saturday afternoon, so it was not a crowded as usual.

What would a Thai market be without the ubiquitous stuff-on-a-stick!

Delicious Jackfruit.

I don't normally take cat photos, but this forlorn market mouser with a recently chewed ear caught my eye.

Food is very inexpensive in Thailand.  Most markets have stalls selling these 'meals in a bag' for commuters.  Just pick one of these up on the way to or from work.

My brother-in-law from Hong Kong, and fellow photo buff, was the excuse to explore the market and riverside attractions.  We found the little Chinese temple sandwiched in an alley.

Chinese Temple detail . . .

In addition to food, the Pakkret market also has sections for [old lady] clothes.

After shopping for your restaurant or market stall, you can hire a motorcycle taxi truck to get your stuff where you want it to go.

Motorized carts for moving produce and products around the market district.

A traditional, and less expensive, means of transportation is the samlor.

The Thai markets are places of constant action and movement.

Outside the market, on the street, are even more edibles . . . steamed dim sum.

I am always amazed at the artistry of Thai artificial flowers!

We wandered around in some alleyways along the river and discovered a Buddhist Temple Supply Shop.

A back alley home cookie factory making traditional Chinese treats.

Somebody's business: crushed ice.

Down along the river . . .

Our late afternoon walk brought us to the riverside . . . and this fantasticly weathered and decaying old wooden house . . .

The high water lines of recent river flooding clearly shown on the old house.

I love the textures of deteriorating wood on old doors and windows.  This particular riverside house had absolutely scrumptious surfaces.

Yes, these are the actual colors . . . fantastic.

I think of the surface variegation on these surfaces as their histories.

This window has everything I want in a photo: dilapidation, corrugation, and decay.

This window and those above are all on the same old wooden house sitting on pilings in the Chao Phraya River.

The Thai-style gabled roof . . . showing the age of this magnificent structure.

Just as we were leaving this beautiful place, the sun came out and shown magic afternoon light on the rotting piers of the old house.

We drove north from our home about 30 minutes to a beautiful riverside restaurant, Baan Ta Nid.  The restaurant is rather hidden on a tiny lane next to this small Chinese temple and a pier for a ferry that does not operate any more.

A sweet little altar . . .

This temple had these 'fortune' sheets.  You roll a die and then choose the corresponding fortune.

Although I did leave a small donation, I did not roll the die and choose a fortune.  Just looking at these two examples, I'm sure glad I didn't roll a 8 . . . the 9 isn't all that bad though.  Imagine basing your life decisions on these!

A very red house next to the pier.

The lane to the ferry pier . . . honoring the departed King.

This is Baan Ta Nid . . . you really have to look to find this wonderful place.

Here we are . . . come on in.

You enter the old wooden Thai-style river house through an open kitchen/lobby.

Wonderful patina on the floor and ceiling planking.

View from the kitchen window out into an older Thai world.

You proceed along wooden planking through an old fashioned Thai house.

The restaurant is through this hall, out back on a pier over the Chao Phraya River.

Baan Ta Nid is also a small 'guest house' with a few small rooms.  This old space serves as the guest lounge.

Such a charming place to relax.

Another lounge and the outside . . .

A second lounge in the old river house.  Thai-style living from early last century.  The proprietress said the house was 90 years old.

A table set for a party of 10 (turned out to be an old Thai rock star and his family).

Many small nooks here and there to sit and enjoy the day.

The dining area on a dock over the river among old Thai village houses.  Very sweet.

A pleasant place for lunch . . . out of the city . . . and into the past.

A private dining sala out over the river.

The food was delicious, beautifully prepared and presented . . . and photogenic, as can be seen!

A little 1/4 inch paint and this could be liveable again . . . I still harbour the desire to live on the river . . . or any river.

The view from an upstairs window: this is Old Thailand . . . just 30 minutes up the river.

One last photo.  A still life of Old Thailand.

The son of family friends decided to enter the monkhood at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, a very sacred Wat where many former Thai Kings were ordained.

All the accoutrements for the ceremonial cutting of the hair are laid out in advance.

A special moment with your family there to support you.

Family and friends take turns snipping the young man's hair.

He is not formally a monk yet, so it's OK for a woman to touch him.

A wonderful experience for this young man.

It is both a solemn time and a fun and joyous time.

All your school friends and family come to celebrate your Big Day!

The monk with whom you will study, has the honor of shaving the head of the young nan.

As the monk shaves the boy's head, the proud parents look on.

The old monk has done this before!

The shaved hair is saved.

Finishing up.

The eyebrows are shaved as well.

After the head shaving . . . the saved hair.

At last . . . the follower of the Buddha is revealed!

Looking like a new person!

Off through the beautiful Wat to the ordination ceremony.

Three times walking around the big temple.

Wat Bowonniwet Vihara is a very famous and revered Wat.  Our young monk will have a wonderful spiritual experience here.

 Wat Bowonniwet Vihara golden chedi under repair.

A serene place.

A very well-maintained, and well-supported ancient Wat.

Temple. Monk. Stairs.

Buddha.  Window.

Wat. Monk. Door.

The living areas of the monks.

Monks personal stuff.

Around the Wat.

Such a beautiful place to study Buddhism.  Lucky boy!

An altar among the monks houses.

Yes, even in a Wat there are mundane chores that need tending.

Monks quarters.

There is a world outside the Wat . . . or so it seems.

A cat's life in the Wat.

And so, we left the young man on his spiritual journey.  We will check in once in a while for support . . .

My friend John and I decided to go out photo rambling in Bangkok and end up at the Saxophone Pub, our favorite music venue.  I took a look at GoogleMaps to see what was in walking and saw the Phaya Thai Palace and Throne Room. What are those?  Only a 10 minute walk.  Let's go see.

It was a beautiful, not too oppressively hot, late afternoon at Victory Monument when we arrived.

We walked along a broad busy avenue, lined with street vendors of all kinds.

When I say 'all kinds of street vendors' I mean all kinds.

We arrived at the Throne Hall and were surprised by a sweet, turn-of-the-last-century carpentry treasure of a building: The Throne Hall.

A closer view yielded a strange light from within the Throne Hall!

It seems we had arrived only hours before what looked like a fashion show was to begin.  There was furious activity by a crew to get the show ready for that evening . . . testing the lights and count.

Such a beautiful space.

The chairs were all lined up ready for the evening's affair . . . whatever it was going to be.

There was a beautiful old cafe, The Cafe de Norasingha, built in 1912 and has remained exactly as it was then.  A bit of old Viena right in Bangkok.

Located behind the Throne Hall and cafe was the old Phaya Thai Palace, the 'country' home of the Thai King, Rama VI.

The old palace has had several lives since Rama VI, including military barracks, and a hospital, although we could not tell if it was still a hospital or not as there was no sign of life about.

We wandered around the empty interior of the old palace and were amazed by the light, color, and shadow.

Classical European statuary could be found throughout the palace and gardens, a popular decoration at the time.

Over 100 years old and still beautiful.

There were several wonderful stairwells.

There was a beautiful cottage on a klong (canal) in the rear of the palace.

While out back photographing this beautiful cottage, I saw something move near my feet . . . .

Oh My! A four foot Asian water lizard!

The sun goes down fast in the tropics, and the moods inside the old Rama VI Palace changed too.

I have to say it got a little spooky in there . . . . with nobody around.

As it grew darker outside, the light through the windows cast wonderful light into the interior.

The old marble floors glowed with colorful reflections in the gloom.

A few lights were turned on in the passageways between the building making for wonderful geometric photos.

Amber lighting on the old royal doors . . .

We were getting thirsty and hungry, so we left the Palace and Throne hall in the last of the blue light.

View of the Throne Hall (foreground) and Phaya Thai Palace (behind) at night.

We walked back along Ratchawithi Road toward Saxophone Pub, enjoying the photographic opportunities offered by the night food hawkers.

A tourist or perhaps a local expat buying hot corn from a street vendor.

Arriving at the Saxophone Jazz and Blues Pub, Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand.