Tag Archives: Thailand

#100days, Activities and Itineraries, Family Travel, Leisure Trip

#100Days Photo 48: Winter Sunset in Chiang Mai

July 30, 2025 geralynrigor Leave a comment

In search of family-friendly activities in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we proceeded to the Chiang Mai Zoo after our visit to the elephants at the Elefin Cafe. Our timing was just right as it was not so hot, and we also saw performances from both professional entertainers and the amazing animals! In between, I took a moment to reflect on life so far—while enjoying the Chiang Mai sunset before me.

Over the mountains, orange and red hues; reminders of life wrapping up everyday, as it should and would continue to do so. Exploring a new place is always special to me, but this winter sunset in Chiang Mai while on trip with family somehow hit differently—a sight to behold for a future that continues to unfold.

Activities and Itineraries, Cities, Countries, Leisure Trip, Religion, Viahe Vlogs

9 iconic travel locations to visit after the covid-19 pandemic

June 24, 2020 geralynrigor Leave a comment

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic has affected lives all over the globe, including ours and millions of people wishing to travel and visit iconic travel locations and wonderful destinations.

While the pandemic definitely had the most devastating impact on informal economies (particularly “no work, no pay” jobs and hand-to-mouth income brackets), the global aviation and tourism industry has also taken the economic brunt.

To get us through our collective travel deprivation despair, here’s some iconic travel locations (some quite obvious and some less known) you might want to add to your post-pandemic “revenge travel” bucket list (or even “religious places to visit”, as it turns out) once we take to the skies as borders reopen and the world is safe again.

The Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral are both found in Paris, France. The French capital is also referred to as the City of Love, undoubtedly due to the romantic feeling one can experience while walking along the River Seine and looking at all the gorgeous architecture.

Continue reading →

#100days, Activities and Itineraries, Backpacking, Cities, Countries, Leisure Trip

#100Days Photo 28: Chao Phraya River and the Bhumibol Bridge, Bangkok, Thailand

Image October 22, 2014 geralynrigor Leave a comment

The Me Nam Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, even referred to as the River of Kings. On my second day in Bangkok, during my Rattanakosin Island walkabout, I ended up in a plaza across Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) where the Chao Phraya river has overflowed, swallowing most of the benches by the riverbanks. If you remember the flooding in Bangkok and Thailand in October 2011, you wouldn’t think that the overflow from the calm Chao Phraya River can be the cause for severe flooding in many of the provinces and its capital city. This photo, taken the next day when I explored Bangkok outside of Rattanakosin, was when I took the Chao Phraya Express Boat so I can have a closer look at some of the sights I have missed! Also coz I’m so cheap to buy the dinner river cruise ticket. Hehe 🙂 We passed under the towering Industrial Ring Road Bridge or officially, the Bhumibol Bridge, named after King Bhumibol Adulyadej (apparently, naming bridges after Kings is customary). By the time I left Bangkok the day after, the city was already frantic trying to prepare for the floods — communities passing and arranging sandbags, construction of 2-feet cemented walls by their homes’ doors, diversion of traffic in some areas. Although the Chao Phraya River caused misery to many Thai people, the River of Kings remain to be an important part of their daily lives — either for agriculture, trade or transport. I hope measures, by government and the communities, are being taken so that the October flooding won’t happen to Bangkok or to Thailand again.

Activities and Itineraries, Backpacking, Provinces

#100Days Photo 4: Viking Cave, Ko Phi Phi Island Group, Phuket, Thailand

Image April 6, 2014 geralynrigor Leave a comment

Phuket was my 8th city/province in my 6-county 12-city South East Asia backpacking tour of four weeks back in October 2011. Of the entire time, I’ve only actually been in the beach (as in, in the water or the islands) twice. Viking Cave was part of the one-day island hopping tour of some Ko Phi Phi (or was it Phi Phi Leh) islands in Phuket, which looked so much like El Nido in Palawan. Although we didn’t really go into the Viking Cave (we were on a BIG boat for like 90 or so people), the scene just got my attention. I actually called it shipwreck cave coz of the bamboo structure in the facade. Only while reading Matt Smith’s Blog did I learn that it’s actually a platform where the “guardian” of the cave stays during he entire month that he watches over the nests of swiftlets, the highly-valued resident birds of the cave. He also shared that it was called Viking Cave because of the painting of ships in the cave’s walls. If you want to take a word tour of Viking Cave, you should visit his site.>

Activities and Itineraries, Backpacking, Cities, Leisure Trip, Religion, Transportation

Backpacking South East Asia: Walking Around Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok

May 17, 2013 geralynrigor 1 Comment

Bangkok is known here in the Philippines, and perhaps in many other countries, as a place to do your bargain shopping. Little do people know that it is in Bangkok where they will be introduced to Buddhism, whether it was their intention or not. As for me, I think Bangkok was my first official Buddhist induction—with Khao San Road, the backpackers mecca where I stayed (well, the next street), and Rattanakosin Island (as in the tourist area) being very Wat (temple) sections of Bangkok.

Don’t worry though, as being overloaded with Buddhism and Thai architecture is something that you should look forward to. I think the Buddhism and IndoChina-rooted/based architecture, religious and cultural heritage is something that is very different from other countries, especially the Philippines. So, without further ado, I give you an overview (so as not to spoil your personal discovery) of what Bangkok is beyond shopping. These photos were selected among the hundreds I took while walking from Thanon Khao San towards the tourist sites of Rattanakosin Island.

Continue reading Backpacking South East Asia: Walking Around Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok →