The night had fallen, yet I was too excited to
end the day by merely lazying in The Pinnacle Lumpinee Hotel. Though didn't
provide excellent service, the hotel's location is superb. Located on Rama 4
Road and within walking distance to Lumpinee Subway Station.
The perfect choice would be The Erawan Shrine (The Four-faced Buddha Shrine or 四面佛殿). I was thinking of taking my historical trip to the next level. "A pilgrimage to Thailand." Sounds good, isn't it? So off I went to The Erawan Shrine. The shrine is located by the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is near the Bangkok Skytrain's Chitlom Station, which has an elevated walkway overlooking the shrine. The area has many shopping malls nearby, including Gaysorn, Central World and Amarin Plaza.
It was my second visit to the shrine. My first was in March 2008. But my luck was down this time. I was falling prey into The Erawan Shrine scam. Stepping down from my taxi, I was approached by a middle-aged auntie who sold flowers and joss sticks. I was charged THB 360 for 12 joss sticks, 4 chains of flower and 4 golden leaf packages. As much as I could recall, it was way too expensive, but bearing a pure intention to pray at the shrine, I went along with it. Later on I spotted the auntie pics in Thai Gem Scam's Photostream. She is stated as one of The Erawan Shrine Mafia Tourist. Well, as a firm believer in karma, I wish her all the best. It was a lesson learnt.
From The Erawan Shrine, I took the elevated walkway to The Central World. It was not a shopping trip, I kept reminding myself. To my surprise, I found the beautiful Dancing Fountain at Zen Central World Square. And to make it more perfect, there was a Planet Ocean Photo Exhibition by Lauren Ballesta and Pierre Descamp. A great way to wrap the night up.
The perfect choice would be The Erawan Shrine (The Four-faced Buddha Shrine or 四面佛殿). I was thinking of taking my historical trip to the next level. "A pilgrimage to Thailand." Sounds good, isn't it? So off I went to The Erawan Shrine. The shrine is located by the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is near the Bangkok Skytrain's Chitlom Station, which has an elevated walkway overlooking the shrine. The area has many shopping malls nearby, including Gaysorn, Central World and Amarin Plaza.
It was my second visit to the shrine. My first was in March 2008. But my luck was down this time. I was falling prey into The Erawan Shrine scam. Stepping down from my taxi, I was approached by a middle-aged auntie who sold flowers and joss sticks. I was charged THB 360 for 12 joss sticks, 4 chains of flower and 4 golden leaf packages. As much as I could recall, it was way too expensive, but bearing a pure intention to pray at the shrine, I went along with it. Later on I spotted the auntie pics in Thai Gem Scam's Photostream. She is stated as one of The Erawan Shrine Mafia Tourist. Well, as a firm believer in karma, I wish her all the best. It was a lesson learnt.
From The Erawan Shrine, I took the elevated walkway to The Central World. It was not a shopping trip, I kept reminding myself. To my surprise, I found the beautiful Dancing Fountain at Zen Central World Square. And to make it more perfect, there was a Planet Ocean Photo Exhibition by Lauren Ballesta and Pierre Descamp. A great way to wrap the night up.
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| Si Mian Fo |
The Erawan Shrine
At the year of 1955, The Union of Thai Hotel and Tourism Company Limited, the founder of The Erawan Hotel was told by Rear Admiral Luang Suwichanphaet who specialized in astrology that the original moment for laying the foundation stone of The Erawan Hotel was not really right auspicious moment. It must be corrected by building a shtine of The Thao Maha Brahma and a spirit house in the area of the hotel. Then a shrine with the image of the Thao Maha Brahma and a spirit house were built followed the advice.
The image was a sculpture in plaster covered with gold leaf which was designed and sculptured by Mr. Chit Phimkowit, a sculptor of The Fine Arts Department. It was brought to enshrine there since 9th November 1956 and a worship ceremony of the image has been held on the 9th November every year.
At the year of 1955, The Union of Thai Hotel and Tourism Company Limited, the founder of The Erawan Hotel was told by Rear Admiral Luang Suwichanphaet who specialized in astrology that the original moment for laying the foundation stone of The Erawan Hotel was not really right auspicious moment. It must be corrected by building a shtine of The Thao Maha Brahma and a spirit house in the area of the hotel. Then a shrine with the image of the Thao Maha Brahma and a spirit house were built followed the advice.
The image was a sculpture in plaster covered with gold leaf which was designed and sculptured by Mr. Chit Phimkowit, a sculptor of The Fine Arts Department. It was brought to enshrine there since 9th November 1956 and a worship ceremony of the image has been held on the 9th November every year.
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| Central World Dancing Fountain |
The light at Zen Central World Square was
turned off 10 pm sharp. Amazing photos from the book "Planet Ocean"
by Laurent Ballesta and Pierre Descamp stood beautifully around the fountain
square.
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Zen Central World Square |
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| Central World Dancing Fountain |
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| Central World Dancing Fountain |
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| Central World Dancing Fountain |
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| Sea Horse |
Planet Ocean Photo Exhibition
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| Sunflower Sea Star |
FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
The sunflower sea star (90cm), Pycnopodia Helianthoides, lives in Canada, depth: 22 m.
The silence, the half-light of the deep, the proximity of unexplored abysses, when diving everything is a cause of anxiety. Yet, only very few marine animals are dangerous to man... and the giant sea star certainly is not one of them! Maybe, we are just afraid of the unknown.
Photo by Laurent Ballesta from the book "Planet Ocean" (published by National Geographic)
The sunflower sea star (90cm), Pycnopodia Helianthoides, lives in Canada, depth: 22 m.
The silence, the half-light of the deep, the proximity of unexplored abysses, when diving everything is a cause of anxiety. Yet, only very few marine animals are dangerous to man... and the giant sea star certainly is not one of them! Maybe, we are just afraid of the unknown.
Photo by Laurent Ballesta from the book "Planet Ocean" (published by National Geographic)
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| Weedy Sea Dragon |
CHANCE, STRENGTH AND BEAUTY
The weedy sea dragon (45 cm), Phycodurus Eques, lives in South Australia, depth: 7 m
For 500 million years, fish have evolved in the oceans. Therefore, it is not surprising that some of them have become particularly strange. The growths on the weedy sea dragon, the result of evolutionary chance, guided by the survival of the fittest, allow it to camouflage itself perfectly in the underwater forests of Australia.
Photo by Laurent Ballesta from the book "Planet Ocean" (published by National Geographic)
The weedy sea dragon (45 cm), Phycodurus Eques, lives in South Australia, depth: 7 m
For 500 million years, fish have evolved in the oceans. Therefore, it is not surprising that some of them have become particularly strange. The growths on the weedy sea dragon, the result of evolutionary chance, guided by the survival of the fittest, allow it to camouflage itself perfectly in the underwater forests of Australia.
Photo by Laurent Ballesta from the book "Planet Ocean" (published by National Geographic)
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| Nautilus |
THE
NAUTILUS UNDER THREAT
The Nautilus (20 cm), Nautilus Pompilius, lives in New Caledonia
The nautilus is a mollusk that has hardly evolved in 400 million years. The nautilus has survived several phases of major and widespread extinctions over the course of its long history. Geologist have identified five main geological crises dating back 435 million years, 360 million, 245 million, 205 million and 65 million. These crises coincide with or follow on from major geological events such as changes in the earth's magnetic field and, time and time again, intense emissions of magma and shifts in the positions of the continents. Many scientists believe we are currently in a sixth period of biological extinction, a phase which this time is being caused by man and not by natural events. Will the nautilus weather this latest environmental storm?
The Nautilus (20 cm), Nautilus Pompilius, lives in New Caledonia
The nautilus is a mollusk that has hardly evolved in 400 million years. The nautilus has survived several phases of major and widespread extinctions over the course of its long history. Geologist have identified five main geological crises dating back 435 million years, 360 million, 245 million, 205 million and 65 million. These crises coincide with or follow on from major geological events such as changes in the earth's magnetic field and, time and time again, intense emissions of magma and shifts in the positions of the continents. Many scientists believe we are currently in a sixth period of biological extinction, a phase which this time is being caused by man and not by natural events. Will the nautilus weather this latest environmental storm?
Photo by Laurent Ballesta from the book
"Planet Ocean" (published by National Geographic)
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| Planet Ocean Photo Exhibition |
Planet Ocean: Voyage to the Heart of the
Marine Realm, by Laurent Ballesta, Pierre Descamp
Laurent Ballesta, 34, born in Montpellier, France.
A dedicated marine biologist, Laurent is the only photographer to have thrice obtained The Palme d'Or at The World Festival of Underwater Pictures at Antibes.
In 2005, Laurent co-authored the book "Planet Ocean" with Pierre Descamp, published by Michel Lafon. The fruit of 11 years of photography, gathered throughout the four corners of the planet's five oceans, this book represents the fulfillment of the two friends' common passion: that of showing, relating and explaining life in the oceans. More than 40,000 copies of "Planet Ocean" have already been sold in France and the book has been translated into 5 languages by the prestigious National Geographic. The work was awarded a Palme d'Or in 2005 during The World Festival of Underwater Pictures.
Pierre Descamp, 35 years old, born in Montpellier, France.
Marine biologist, he is co-manager, with Laurent Ballesta, of Andromede Oceanologie, specialists in marine environment expert appraisals, environmental impact assessments of coastal development projects and bionomic mapping of seabeds.
He met Laurent in 1992, at the beginning of their university studies. From then on the two companions, linked by a shared passion for marine life, remained in close contact with each other. In 2005, he co-authored the book "Planet Ocean" with Laurent, for which he wrote the texts.
Laurent Ballesta, 34, born in Montpellier, France.
A dedicated marine biologist, Laurent is the only photographer to have thrice obtained The Palme d'Or at The World Festival of Underwater Pictures at Antibes.
In 2005, Laurent co-authored the book "Planet Ocean" with Pierre Descamp, published by Michel Lafon. The fruit of 11 years of photography, gathered throughout the four corners of the planet's five oceans, this book represents the fulfillment of the two friends' common passion: that of showing, relating and explaining life in the oceans. More than 40,000 copies of "Planet Ocean" have already been sold in France and the book has been translated into 5 languages by the prestigious National Geographic. The work was awarded a Palme d'Or in 2005 during The World Festival of Underwater Pictures.
Pierre Descamp, 35 years old, born in Montpellier, France.
Marine biologist, he is co-manager, with Laurent Ballesta, of Andromede Oceanologie, specialists in marine environment expert appraisals, environmental impact assessments of coastal development projects and bionomic mapping of seabeds.
He met Laurent in 1992, at the beginning of their university studies. From then on the two companions, linked by a shared passion for marine life, remained in close contact with each other. In 2005, he co-authored the book "Planet Ocean" with Laurent, for which he wrote the texts.
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