River Trip to The Grand Palace - Bangkok - Thailand

It was in January of this year that I last wrote a post Buddha Shops - Bangkok  about the trip David and I took to Thailand in 2011, but since then life went awry and of course I have not felt like posting about our travels together. I do know though from talking together during his convalescence in the Spring that he was very keen for me to get Travel Tales up to date as an on-line scrapbook of our adventures.  I now feel like doing this so here at last is the next instalment from Bangkok.

We were in Bangkok during October 2011 and were unfortunate enough to see and experience the flooding in the city at first hand. On the day we went to visit the Royal Palaces we took the Chao Phraya Express Boat which is used by commuters and tourists to avoid the inevitable traffic jams in the city. When we got off the ferry it was a shock to have to wade through the rising water and disturbing to see how the riverside dwellers were having to cope! So sad but in typical Thai fashion they all seemed to remain so cheerful.

What a stark contrast it was to walk across the road to the grounds of The Grand Palace which is an incredible complex of buildings.The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. I will let the photos tell the story of our visit. If you want to know about the history and details of the individual buildings I have included some links at the end of the post, also more of my photos can be viewed on My Flickr account.  As you can imagine I took far too many to share them all here. If you do get to visit this amazing place do remember that the dress code is very strict you must cover your arms and legs out of respect.

The architecture is stunningly beautiful and so intricate as hopefully you will see from these photos.

Leaving the palace behind we walked through a local market to see The Reclining Buddha that is in the same vicinity, but that visit can be the subject of my next post.

Address: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand

Hours: Tuesday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm  -  See all

Phone: +66 2 623 5500

The following website links may also be of interest.

The Grand Palace   Trip Advisor Reviews - The Grand Palace

Temple of The Emerald Buddha   

All photos are my own taken in October 2011. 

  All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection 

More photos from this trip may also be viewed individually in the collection entitled  

Asia Trip - October 2011 at  My Flickr account.

Talyllyn Lake to Ty Te Cadair Tea Room

I went out with the Walking Group this afternoon. We met at Tal-y-llyn Lake and then took a path along the far side, heading towards the Minfford Path that goes up Cader Idris. We stopped at Tŷ Te Cadair Tea Room for tea and I had a slice of delicious Bara Brith, naughty, but we did walk 4.8 miles this afternoon so I did not feel too guilty.

Tal-y-llyn Lake, also known as Talyllyn Lake, Llyn Mwyngil or Llyn Myngul is a large glacial ribbon lake formed by a post-glacial massive landslip damming up the lake within the glaciated valley.

Ystradgwyn Chapel, shown in the last photo used to be the centre of activity and social life in the beautiful secluded valley of Tal-y-llyn. It is now run as Tal-y-llyn Heritage Centre.

The final photo shows the Cader Idris Tea Room and Visitor Centre originally a cottage at the foot of Cader Idris in Meirionnydd that  has been transformed.


I hope my photos have enabled you to enjoy a virtual walk with me today.
NB: For larger view just click on individual photo.

For those planning a visit:

The following website links may also be of interest. Also with thanks to these sources for information that helped me with compiling this post.

Cader Idris Tea Room and Visitor Centre   Tal-y-llyn Heritage Centre.  Tal-y-llyn Lake

Cader Idris

If you enjoyed this virtual walk you may also enjoy the blog posts about other local walks entitled The Cascade Trail and Postman's Pass

All photos are my own taken October 2013. 

  All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection 

The full set of photos may also be viewed individually in my album entitled  

Talyllyn Lake to Ty Te Cadair Tea Room - Wales at  My Flickr account.

Postman's Pass - Abergynolwyn - Wales

Yesterday afternoon here in Wales we had glorious autumnal sunshine, a perfect day for me to join a Tywyn based walking group for the first time.  The walk was a three and a half mile round trip that started from the centre of the nearby village of Abergynolwyn.  Abergynolwyn is located at the confluence of the Nant Gwernol and Afon Dysynni and it was following the course of the rivers that our walk along the 'Postman's Pass' took us.

Parking in the car park in the centre of the village, we then walked down to the river, passing the village pub, The Railway Inn, on our right, turning right off the main road before the bridge, passing cottages on your right, then taking the path on the left, as in my first photo.

Looking back to the cottages from path.

Having crossed the river follow the paving stones across the marshy field, at the top of the hill follow the track as it opens up into a bracken covered hillside. Following the track along the riverside, take great care as the banks down to the fast flowing river below are extremely steep, although the sure footed sheep seem to cope.

                     As you round a corner this next photo is of the picturesque view that greets you in all its glory.

A little further along the path you encounter a rocky outcrop with small iron rings embedded into the rock. Curious I stopped to take photos and was told by one of my walking companions that they were put there by local farmers to tether the cows whilst they were milked and fed.

                               One of the rocks has even been chiselled out to make a feeding trough for the cattle.

I could not resist taking some photos looking back towards Abergynolwyn through the eye of one of the iron rings. I do not suppose I am the first to do so, but I am pleased with the results. 

As the river begins to widen out there are some lovely wooded areas before the trail opens up to the next valley, eventually one come across a stone house with a wall that I just had to photograph.

A little beyond here cross over the stone bridge at Pont Ystumanner, turn right on to the narrow lane and walk to the crossroads. 

Pont Ystumanner above followed by two photos taken from the bridge.

                                                  It was here we came across some friendly shire horses.

At this crossroads we turned right and followed the signs for Abergynolwyn and Tal-y-llyn, heading towards the impressive farmhouse 'Caerberllan', as the footpath passes through the farmyard I took the opportunity to take a few photos of the house and its environs. love the steps that would have been used for mounting your horse!

Soon after leaving the farmyard and heading uphill again one encounters views of Castell y Bere a Welsh built castle constructed by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s, intended to maintain his authority over the local people and to defend the south-west part of his princedom of Gwynedd. In 1282 war with Edward I of England the castle fell to English forces. Edward I expanded the castle further and established a small town beside it. In 1294 the Welsh leader Madoc ap Llywelyn mounted a major revolt and the castle was besieged and apparently burnt. Edward did not repair it and it became ruined, today it is a tourist attraction, worthy of a visit on another walk sometime I think. 

Having left the valley behind again the trail has now turned back towards Abergynolwyn and these views are now on the right hand side.

It is not long before the village once again comes into view in the distance, as one begins the descent. Finally crossing the river again, carry straight on along the road and you will find yourself back at the car park.

I hope my photos have enabled you to enjoy a virtual walk of the 'The Postman's Pass' 
NB: For larger view just click on individual photo.

For those planning a visit.
OS Grid Reference: SH 679070 ( approx start of walk - car park in centre of village)

The following website links may also be of interest. Also with thanks to these sources for information that helped me with compiling this post.

Tywyn Travel Guide  Tywyn  Abergynolwyn  Abergynolwyn Official Website  Castell y Bere


If you enjoyed this virtual walk you may also enjoy the blog post entitled The Cascade Trail

All photos are my own taken October 2013. 

  All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection 

The full set of photos may also be viewed individually in my album entitled  

Postman's Pass - Abergynolwyn - Wales at  My Flickr account.