Sawasdee Ka! Temples and Buddhas everywhere in Thailand

There's an ongoing Bangkok photo contest on Facebook and I was planning to enter one of my photos but as usual, I was sidetracked by memories of our trip last year. Take me back to the land of shopping, pad Thai, temples, and elephants, please?

And because I never got to blog about our 5 day trip last 2010, here are some pictures from the Land of Smiles! Most our tour was actually all temples, temples, and more temples! We went to Ayutthaya to explore the ancient temples filled with gold statues of Buddha. It was a couple of hours from Bangkok by car. We were sick of temples and Buddhas at the end of the day but it was awesome nonetheless. 

Golden Buddha! There was an ongoing worship going on and about fifty people were chanting, bowing and pulling the HUGE orange cloth around the buddha and around themselves. It was an awesome thing to experience.

Because I have a thing for elephants--here's an offering to buddha. You have to respect these offerings so be careful not to move or touch them.

I'm THIS small standing beside the gold-flecked feet of the reclining buddha.

Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho!

We then went to a complex where there are ancient crumbling temples filled with buddhas. 

I ran up to the top like crazy, and my legs were shaking on my way down that I almost fell twice. My reward, though, was seeing the lone monk manning the place of worship on the top-most part of the dome. People seemed to worship him.

Ancient temples at Ayutthaya.

And yes, the Sleeping Buddha!

And Pou, our tour guide/driver told me these were the oldest buddha statues in Thailand. I swear, Thailand is amazing. 

Unicorns and Cupcakes

I woke up with a killer headache this morning, no thanks to my period. I was way beyond late for work and while on my way up the stairs, I tripped and the whole sole of my gladiators fell off. Great way to start your day, yes?

So I've been trying to perk myself up and have been zen-ing my brain with things that make me happy. Hence, the following:

 

Welcome to my weird, immature mind.

Photos from Unicornsandcupcakes

Romulo Cafe with the motherlies

It's a late post but I'm craving Romulo so here are a couple of scenes from Mother's Day 2011 lunch with my mom and my ever so lovely lola. I reserved a table for the four of us, including my bratty sister, at Romulo Cafe because my lola wanted to try it after hearing me rave on and on about the food every time Jake and I eat there on dates. Also, it should be on the record that it was my treat. Haha! I rarely foot the bill (yes yes, my mom has long since complained I'm a useless daughter) so this was a significant moment for me. Hey, it was Mother's Day after all.

It was raining that day and our driver managed to get lost trying to find Scout Dr. Lazcano, the residential corner which Romulo Cafe occupies. The place was still packed when we got there past 2pm, as per usual with Romulo.

On the table: tinapa rolls, Vigan longganisa wraps, Tito Greg's kare-kare, tamarind chicken, and flying tilapia. Romulo Cafe never fails to make me full and happy!

Scariest-looking food I've ever encountered but it was perfect! Crispy and tasty especially with the three sauces, this was my Lola Mely's favorite--the Flying Tilapia!

And because it was Mother's Day, they were giving out free sorbetes to all the moms!

With my lovely Lola!

Mom and I took a tour of the upstairs function rooms and I asked her to pose with the I am a Filipino mural, it's tradition when you eat at Romulo.

 

We finished late and here's my sister outside one of the dining areas. I've never seen Romulo without the usual crowds and I'm loving the minimalist design outside. Since it's a converted house, eating there gives off a homey ambiance vibe. I'll always keep coming back to this place, it really serves the yummiest Pinoy food in the Metro!