My Thailand-Singapore Tour : Photo Blog I

                                         By Dr. Narasinha Kamath

(Author’s Note: Please CLICK above PLAY button to listen to a Tune played by me on Mouth Organ for the offbeat song “Hum Aur Tum Aur Ye Sama” from the Film : College Girl (1960) which is a romantic song composed by Jaikishen of (Shankar-Jaikishen Duo). This is my wife’s and mine one of the most favorite songs. At the end of mouth organ tune, I have played a short piece of the same song on my Flute. This song s not to be confused with Dil Deke Dekho  (1959) Song : “Hum Aur Tum Aur Ye Sama”. Both are different songs. Since I always like to play College Girl song on Mouth Organ, I entertained our co-passengers in the bus by playing this song on my Mouth Organ many times while touring Thailand and Singapore. You may listen to this Tune while reading the blog).

Last year, I and wife were lucky to get a booking at last minute for one week tour of Pattaya-Bangkok (Thailand) and Singapore by Kesari Travels and Tours of Mumbai. The owner of this Travel Company Kesari Bhau is our family friend.  Kesari Tours and Travels always take very good care of their passengers. All the tours by Kesari Travels are conducted very efficiently to make sure that every customer is satisfied. With this hospitable approach, Kesari Travels is a respectable company in Travel businesses of Mumbai.

Lots of Indians take pleasure trips to Thailand and Singapore since it is only 5 hours one way from say Mumbai City. Most of the higher middle class families in India can easily afford this type of tour.

All of the travelers in our Kesari Tour were Maharashtrians. There were 6 newly married couples on their honeymoon. They probably preferred to take Kesari Tour rather than going independently on their own.

In our tour, we first arrived Bangkok by Cathay Pacific Airlines from Mumbai. Bangkok’s latest Suvarna Bhoomi Airport which was completed just one year ago is a marvel of Civil Engineering and Architectural design. This is one of the most modern airports in the world.

From Bangkok, we traveled to Pattaya by a Luxury bus. Pattaya is about 100 miles from Bangkok. Pattaya is famous for serene and beautiful beaches, Pattaya is also famous for Coral Island.

Pattaya (Thailand) : On first day in Thailand (Feb 15^th, 2007), we saw spectacular Alcazar Show at night. Our tour guide did not tell us any details about this show except that he said it is a ‘must see’ show. The dances by female artists were really very spectacular, the choreography was just fabulous. After the end of the show, outside the hall, all the female (?) artists posed for photos with the anyone interested. Lots of tourists took pictures with these artists. After the photo session, we returned back to our bus which would take us to our hotel. During bus travel, our Tour broke the silence on the secret about those female artists of Alcazar Show. He said that all those female dancers of the show were not females but were Eunuchs. Everybody was taken by surprise after they came to know the facts. But those female dancers looked exactly like females. Even after knowing the fact, nobody would believe it. Some tourists regretted for taking pictures with Eunuchs. Never mind, all of them looked like females and unless told nobody would suspect them to be Eunuchs.

On Feb 17^th, 2007, we did parasailing. It was my first experience of doing breathtaking

Parasailing. At first, I and my wife were scared to do it. But after we saw couple of tourists taking it, both of us got confidence to do parasailing. It was once in lifetime experience to glide at a high altitude using parachutes. Ropes of parachutes were of course tied securely to a boat down below.

Later, we took an underwater dive in a coral island were we saw coral reefs deep down in the water. This underwater dive was scary, but both of us took it anyway.

Feb. 17^th, 2007 happened to be a Chinese New Year. What surprised us was in Thailand which is a Buddhist Country, for Prashad in front of Buddha’s statue, they had kept fish, chicken, soft drinks and various fruits. This is a Thai tradition. Thai people who are mainly Buddhists believe that whatever human beings consume in their day to day life is suitable as offerings to God. So it did not matter even if meant non-vegetarian items.

In Buddhist Thailand, at every corner, I could see small Temples dedicated to Buddha and Hindu God Lord Vishnu. There is lots of influence of Hinduism on Thai culture. Many places I also saw Lord Ganesha’s statue long with Buddha’s statue.

In Pattaya we also took speed boat ride which was lots of fun. On one of the speed boats, we took a ride to one of the beaches of Pattaya. Beaches are maintained very clean since they are major tourist’s attraction.

After completing sightseeing of Pattaya, next day, we visited a Jade Factory where they manufacture lots of Jade items. You see Green, Green and lots of Green Jades. We also visited Nong Nooch Village near Pattaya.

Singapore : Next and morning, we returned back to Bangkok by bus. And same day, we flew to Singapore from Bangkok. We arrived at Changi International Airport of Singapore around noon time. Changi Airport is very clean and very well designed.

Everyone knows that Singapore is a very clean city and law enforcement is very strict in Singapore. You are not supposed to litter anywhere. Police is very watchful to enforce fine just in case if somebody violates the law against littering.

Next day we took a boat tour of Singapore River which is about 2 hours ride and you can enjoy the spectacular skyline of Singapore with beautiful view of Parliament Building, Head Quarters of Major Banks and Supreme Court Building. Below pictures will speak for the beautiful view alongside Singapore River. Needless to mention that I enjoyed playing my Flute while taking the boat ride.

Next day, in Singapore we took that that famous breathtaking Cable Car Ride to Santosa Island from Mount Saber. The view from the Tram Car is just spectacular. See below pictures of the view from the Cable Car. At Santosa Island, we visited underwater world and saw the rare species of marine world.

I have numbered below photos. Let me know through your comment which photos you liked the most.

(Author’s Note : This is end of Photo Blog Part I,  TO BE CONTINUED).

                    The Speed Boat Ride at Pattaya (Photo 1)

Pattaya Beach (Photo 2)

At Pattaya Beach ( Photo 3)

At Pattaya Beach (Photo 4)

After Parasailing in Pattaya (Photo 5)


Alongside Singapore River Bank (Photo 6)



Various Bank Headquarters and Parliament Building along Singapore River (Photo7) 



Me and my wife at the Banks of Singapore River (Photo 8)



Another photo alongside Singapore River (Photo 9) 



At Singapore River Bank (Photo 10) 

                            Me and my Tour Director (Photo 11)

A View while riding a Cable Car to Santosa Island in Singapore (Photo 12)



Photo of a Newly Married Couple who while riding the Cable Car to Santosa Island . Above couple were traveling with our Kesari Travel Tour. (Photo 13)



Photo of my wife Lalita with Mrs and Mr. Kesari Bhau Patil taken at his New Residence in Bandra, Mumbai.  Currently, Kesari Bhau Patil is the CEO of Kesari Travels. Kesari Bhau Patil is our family friend and is extremely successful in his Travel Business. Kesari Patil's hard work for 20 years braught up his company to A-Class level.