Group photowalk: Chinatown at night

Photography, for me,  is a lonely endeavour most of the times, yet sometimes it's fun to do it with others. That's why being part of a collective or photo group in your city or region is a very good idea, because it lets you socialise and share your passion with other like-minded people and it allows you to break the pattern and go out to take pictures accompanied by other photographers every now and then.

Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Offerings I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Offerings II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

I'm part of a photography group myself, namely the Bangkok Photographers Group and, despite not being a particularly active member in it, I have slowly developed bonds with some other members and it's always a nice occasion for me to join them in their regular photowalks around the city.

Yaowarat Road I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Yaowarat Road II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Yaowarat Road III, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Last August they had such a gathering: an evening walk in Chinatown. It had been ages since I last went to that lively part of the city, and it's not often that I go out photographing in the evening and at night, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to try something different from my usual routine. Besides, it was exactly a year ago that we had our group photo exhibition and I hadn't met most of them since them, so I felt like it was about time to remedy that as well.

Chinese restaurant I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Chinese restaurant II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Chinese restaurant III, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

The walk started in Hualampong Train Station just before sunset, and as we walked towards Yaowarat Road, night slowly covered the city, and the hundreds of lights that abound in this busy area started to lit up, filling everything with colour and glitter.

Street food I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Street food II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Street food III, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Street food IV, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

These group photowalks always follow the same structure for me; it's not something I consciously chase, but it usually ends up being something like this: we all start as a big, compact group at the starting point, and as the walk progresses the mass of photographers (that sometimes is unmanageable for the small communities we tend to visit, having numbers close to a hundred at times) starts to drift away, and smaller groups continue the walk in slightly separate ways.

The glance, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

The flame, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Up and down, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Orange man, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

As for me, at some point I always find myself completely alone, for I like to stray off the beaten path and explore smaller alleys or surrounding areas and, without noticing, I'm left alone. Usually I end up regrouping with some other castaways as the walk advances, but more often than not what started as a group activity becomes another solitary dialogue between me and the environment. But that's the way I enjoy it: going with the flow, no fixed itineraries or rules to follow that could constrain my vision or creativity, just following my own intuition.

Former cinema, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Family dinner, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Protrusion, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Sometimes I meet by chance some other stragglers right at the end, when the walk has supposedly already finished, but generally I finish completely on my own, I grab something to eat in a small restaurant of the neighbourhood I'm in, and I head home full of small new experiences and a bit of welcomed exercise in my legs.

Hualampong Station at night I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Hualampong Station at night II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

King's birthday celebration arch I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

King's birthday celebration arch II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk @ Bangkok

Since I discovered the pleasure of group photowalks a couple of months ago, it seems lots of opportunities are arousing lately to enjoy more of these informal gathering, walking around different areas of the city accompanied by fellow photographers and sharing experiences, advice and casual talk. Today, to celebrate the 6th annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk, a group of roughly 30 photographers met again, ready to spend the late afternoon taking pictures at an environment that is always exciting yet I hadn't explored properly so far: Chinatown.

Family flavors, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm 

Uncolonial & unthai, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

The first half of the walk was spent walking a very interesting road parallel to Chao Phraya River, Song Wat Road; being near the river, the road is full of small warehouses, workshops and stores, all of them run by Chinese and Thai people who give this area a very special, busy vibe that I found really appealing, emphasized even more by the presence of some unusual and characteristic European style architecture. It was late afternoon when we walked this street and, as such, the activity was not at its peak (I guess mornings are much livelier), but it was a happening road nevertheless.

The gathering I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm 

The gathering II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Many shops were about to close or closed already at the time of our walk, but we could still spot enough faces and peek inside several stores to get an idea of what this quarters are all about, which is business, talk, discussion, trade, negotiation, and hard work. Slightly before sunset, all that remained was small groups of people clearing the numbers of the long day, having a closing chat or simply waiting for some latecomers before calling it a day.

Basic needs, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Time for oneself, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Just when the sun was about to disappear, and lost in a labyrinth of narrow back alleys, we suddenly ended up in the middle of a Chinese temple that was lighting up for a special celebration, and so a completely different stage in our photowalk started: after the monochrome street pictures of the previous hour, we witnessed a explosion of color here.

Preparations, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

Colors and lines, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

What a lucky fate we had today: what could have simply been one more of the numerous temples spread around Bangkok, turned out to be a festival of lights and colors, faces, masks and costumes. The local Chinese community was gathering inside the temple, sitting in chairs that had been carefully arranged in front of a generous stage, and just meters from the crowd, in the back of the stage, bordering the mighty Chao Phraya River but completely open and unconcerned, a Chinese Opera company was preparing to start the show.

To each his own, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

Concentration, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

The star, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

There was no barrier or gate separating them from the public; they were just sitting in front of their personal, portable mirrors, delicately making themselves up with great care and dedication, untroubled by the growing number of people who was filling the temple grounds to see their performance, and ignoring the sudden invasion of photographers who, without asking for any permission, were pointing numerous cameras at them, sometimes from impossible close distances, myself included.

Brush & color, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

Red powder, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

What a beautiful surprise and way to end our photowalk! I was carried away by the beauty of the unexpected discovery and couldn't stop walking around the improvised dressing rooms, observing how carefully all the actors were getting ready for their performance and how concentrated their were  even with a nosy crowd of photographers around. After a few more rounds, I suddenly realized it was dark night, they were ready to start the show, and I was completely alone: all the rest of the photographers had silently vanished. So I packed my camera and started a lonely walk back home.

Serious elegance,  GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

The last touches, GH3 + Olympus M Zuiko 45mm

A very welcomed visit from the depths of childhood

Since I live in Bangkok I have received a few visits of relatives and friends from my home country, Spain; some were in Thailand as part of a broader South-East Asia trip, others came specifically to see me, and others have been here more than once. But none yet had come here combining all those conditions at once, and then some: Pedri and Diana arrived in Bangkok after 8 months of traveling around the world. It was Thailand's turn at last!

The roof of Bangkok I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

The roof of Bangkok II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

I know Pedri since years ago, when we were both mindless teenagers in search of days that would last longer and nights that would never fade into dawn; the roots of our friendship, therefore, are firmly engraved underground, as we shared discoveries and experiences at a time when almost anything is new, and possible. Such a bond can sustain itself forever without further feeding, such is its nature. But, of course, watering the plant every now and then is a delightful exercise on melancholy, fun, and growing.

Sunset kiss I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Sunset kiss II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

When they told me about their plan of traveling together around the world for a year, I knew Thailand would be part of the route, sooner or later. Ever since they left Spain, last February (you can all follow their adventures and discoveries at their blog here) I had been looking forward to this reunion; and so, after eight months, the day finally arrived, and we met again, after a long separation. And to celebrate, we decided to visit some of Bangkok landmarks. We started at the Royal Palace.

Sanam Luang, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Evening romance, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Then we continued to Pak Klong Talad, Bangkok's biggest flower market, that spans a few streets in the old quarters of the city. This market, open 24 hours, is the main distribution hub for the flowers in the whole city, and you can find and buy any flower you want at ridiculously cheap prices. But perhaps the nicest part of the market is not the flowers themselves, as one could expect, but the vibe of the whole place, full of activity anytime of the day or the night, with people coming and going, cutting, arranging, transporting, dealing, selling and buying. 

Mobile garden, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm 

Colors and smells, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

But flowers were not the only things we could see, and smell, at the market, for wherever there are people in Bangkok (and that means mostly everywhere), there will be food; as soon as we spotted the street peddler offering insects buffet, Pedri didn't think twice: they were traveling around the world with one clear motto, after all: taste it all!

Insect supermarket, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm 

Insect-taster, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

After the protein appetizer, we strolled a bit longer in the market, seduced by the colors, smells and smiles of everyone around, but we started to grow hungry, so we decided it was time to switch to a new location where we would have a copious dinner.

Flower seller, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

The goods guard, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Chinatown received us in a very surprising and unexpected way: camera and microphone in hand, a small TV crew stopped us in the middle of the crowd, they were shooting a documentary about international travelers in Bangkok, and they wanted to interview Pedri and Diana about their experiences in the city so far.

Interview I, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm 

Interview II, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm 

Once the brief minutes of screen glory were over, we started searching for a nice place to eat, as we were quite hungry already, and the countless food carts around us didn't help things very much in this regard. We walked up and down some streets, saw a few interesting street restaurants with very long queues, and walked some more.

Thai-Chinese restaurant, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Pomegranate juice, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Finally we found a little corner with a table that was being left by the former diners, and we quickly took possession of it without any flash of hesitation. We were starving at this point, so we ordered full of greed, ate, ordered some more, and drank all along. Definitely, it was a nice dinner. And this is just the beginning, for they are staying a whole week at home with us. Let the fun begin!

Noodle soups, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm