250 Lao Kip= 1 Thai Baht

So what can currency exchange do to a miser in Thailand like me when I go to Laos? A millionnaire! Kip millionnaire, that is.  Since 1 Thai Baht = 250 Laos Kip, I have 1,500,000 kip in my pocket. It's nice for me to know that I have the money....in millions but I pay my hotel room for 75,000 kip for one night!

Holiday in Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi (Moon city) is such a nice place in the northeast of Thailand. There, Rissa and I went for Mothers' Day holiday on August 11-13. We enjoyed every second of our trip though it was so tiring. We took some pictures which we wanted to share.

A Buddhist Temple in Chanthaburi

Rissa @ King Taksin Park

Thais believe that rabbits inhabit the moon. Since Chanthaburi means "Moon City, rabbits dominate the logos of official boards aside from the abundance of fruits as symbol of the city. Chanthaburi also boasts of its worldwide re-known production of fruits, especially durian. The city is also known as the "Gem Center" in the region.

Even the lamppost carries a rabbit that seems to enjoy its unlikely place.

The Church of Our Immaculate Conception

What Does Bangkok Mean?

Bangkok (Krungthep) as the capital city of Thailand is recorded to be among the longest place names in the world- in Thai, of course. But the transliteration of the original name of the city makes it so.

The original name is:
Krungthepmahanakonbowornratanakosinmahintarayudya
mahadiloponoparatanarajthaniburiromudomrajniwes
mahasatarnamornpimarnavatarsatitsakattiyavisanukamphrasit

When in Thailand, one often hears Krungthep and not Bangkok, among the natives. I just later realized the symbol (the sign that looks like "7") attached after Krungthep which means that it was cut short or that there is something following the word. It can be deduced therefore that the next words to Krungthep are: mahanakonbowornratanakosinmahintarayudya
mahadiloponoparatanarajthaniburiromudomrajniwesmahasatar
namornpimarnavatarsatitsakattiyavisanukamphrasit

The translated meaning of the full name is given below:

The land of angels, the great city of

immortality, various of devine gems,

the great angelic land unconquerable,

land of nine noble gems, the royal city, the pleasant capital,

place of the grand royal palace,

forever land of angels and reincarnated spirits,

predestined and created by the highest devas.

Attribution: http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/rbeard/name.html