Peter Nitsch is an international award winning photographer and designer who has split his life between Munich, Germany and Thailand over the past decade.

His latest exhibition is called Shophouses 4×8 m Bangkok, where he explores the relationship between business and home of Bangkok residents through photographs. This is definitely something as a photographer I am very interested in as the little shops scattered around Bangkok and all over Thailand are a treat to photograph.

Peter’s work speaks for itself as just last year this same exhibit won honorable mention at the Los Angles International Photography Awards. I had a chance to pick Peter’s brain a little about his work and the upcoming exhibition in Bangkok.

Talen: How long have you been a photographer?

Peter Nitsch: As a professional photographer since 1999/2000. But I have been taking photographs just for fun since I have been a Teenager, well, now almost 20 years ago. Gee, I can’t believe that time has rushed that quickly …

Talen: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

Peter Nitsch: Some years ago I started focusing on strictly so called art photography in the urban environment.

Talen: As an amateur photographer I am always interested in what other photographers are using. What gear do you use and did you use anything special when working on the shophouse photos?

Peter Nitsch: I like to keep it simple: Analogue – One old Hasselblad V system with 100 and 50 mm objective, Gitzo Titanium tripod (superlight and super expensive, but worth when traveling a lot, because it’s so light), Digital – One Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 1D Mark II, fixed lenses 100 and 50 mm. I really don’t use any other wide-angle or superzoom. Further a small point and shoot Canon G5 and since one year I like to take snippets with my iPhone just for fun. In a few months I will set up a section on my website showing every week a new iPhone photo …

Talen: Many of us have fallen in love with Thailand and visit often or live there, what drew you to Thailand?

Peter Nitsch: My wife, she’s from Bangkok and I met her back in 2000 in Munich/Germany, while working on a design project. She’s a industrial designer. Through her eyes I travelled to Thailand the first time and immediately fell in love with Thailand her family and now I’m positively glued to Thailand like Sticky Rice with Mango. Way back in the old school days I have been enthused to Chinese kung-fu films and Asia in general. I think I’m more Asian than European …

Talen: Living between Germany and Thailand must be a great joy. What are some of the upsides and downsides of this dual lifestyle?

Peter Nitsch: I love to live and work in both countries. For me there’s nothing real up and down, as far as I can say up to now.

Talen: You have won international awards as both a designer and a photographer, has either of these fields pushed you harder to excell more in the other or do they both exist in harmony for you?

Peter Nitsch: For my kind of work it’s a perfect symbiosis, like left and right hand. You both use them for different things, one more than the other, and sometimes you use them together as one to grab things more tightly.

Talen: You have a show coming up in Bangkok in early August called Shophouses, what was the inspiration behind this series of photographs?

Peter Nitsch: To show arrangements that have developed from the necessities of everyday life and work on just 4 x 8 metres, the dimension of an average Bangkok shophouse, which is mostly crammed full to the last centimeter. I like that! A quote of the German Author Regina Moths describes it more detailed than I can do: “In Peter Nitsch’s photos, the visual appearance creates an almost physical sensation of constriction, which is followed by an ever-present awareness of improvisation.

One bumps one’s western elbows against the seamless transitions between the breadwinning, commercial or service providing products and our own carefully preserved sphere of personal privacy … Thus, Peter Nitsch manages to keep a balance of intimacy and behind the curtain views, which tell a thousand enchanting tales, yet he simultaneously insists on maintaining a distance in order to preserve everyone’s dignity:  Both the observer and the observed.”

Talen: Can you tell us a little about the gallery where your exhibition will be taking place and what dates the show will be on?

Peter Nitsch:  It´s a perfect coincidence, the images will be shown in the Kathmandu Gallery (87 Pan Road, Silom, 10500 Bangkok, Thailand, www.kathmandu-bkk.com) which is itself wonderfully-restored old pre-war Shophouse and is located near the Indian (Sri Mariamma) Temple in Bangkok’s financial district.

One could say SHOPHOUSES in a Shophouse. The owner, a Thai photo-artist Manit Sriwanichpoom, is a wonderful photography artist himself! For the exhibition I want to thank Miss Elke Tiedt and Marco Merten from the German Embassy Bangkok, who have been willing to support the exhibition.

The Shophouse exhibition will be on the following dates:

PRE-OPENING
Speech by German Ambassador Dr. Hanns Schumacher
07/08/2010 (from 6.30 – 9 pm)

EXHIBITION
07/08/2010 – 26/09/2010

Talen: Will you have photographs or prints available for purchase?

Peter Nitsch: Yes, there are 37 photographs available for purchase. In the exhibition I will show 13 images as prints, the biggest one will be 180 x 180 cm, twelve of them in 70 x 70 cm and the other ones will be smaller sizes.

Talen: What does the future hold for Peter Nitsch, will there be more Bangkok exhibitions?

Peter Nitsch: I’m not sure, but there will be some upcoming exhibitions in Europe next year, with a new topic. And I’m planing to expand my website and some special projects exclusively available for the iPhone and iPad.

I’d like to thank Peter for letting me pick his brain and if you would like more information on Peter’s work you can visit his web site at  http://www.peternitsch.com/.

For more information on the upcoming exhibition and the Kathmandu Gallery itself  you can visit http://www.kathmandu-bkk.com/.

I’ll definitely be checking this exhibition out in September…

The second annual Bangkok Motorbike Festival will be taking place January 28th through the 31st at Central World Center in Bangkok. The first 7 floors of Central World will feature all sorts of displays and merchants selling gear as well as some very cool bikes. Vendors on display will include a who’s who of the bike world such as Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Ducati, BMW, Sachs, Can-Am, Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki. The front entrance to Central World will also be transformed into a large motorcycle pit stop where even more bikes will be on display.

As well as showcasing the latest models available enthusiasts will also be able to see and purchase the latest in bike accessories, apparel and safety gear. The show isn’t all about the merchants  though there will also be stunt shows, interviews with leaders in the industry, live concerts and even a fashion show.

The exhibition is hoping to explain, and draw attention to, why people ride motorcycles for fun in Thailand and let people in on the great touring possibilities Thailand has to offer. To further this goal a caravan of riders will start a scenic journey in northern Thailand and bring it all the way to Bangkok where they will be escorted to the grand opening of the show.

Thailand has a long history with it’s motorcycles from as early as 1967 when Honda built it’s first plant just outside Bangkok to today with Thailand exporting over 1.4 million motorcycles a year including the famous British brand Triumph.

Last years exhibition was a big hit and this year it’s expected to be even bigger with an estimated 150, ooo people attending. Below is a schedule of events for the 4 day exhibition and if you click on the banner above or below it will take you to the festivals web site where you can get even more info.

Bangkok Motorbike festival 2010 Schedule of Events:

Thursday January 28th, 2010

10.00 : BMF 2nd is open
15.00 : Arrival of Northern Trip Caravan
16.00 : The opening ceremony of the 2nd Bangkok Motorbike Festival 2010
17.00 : Stunt Show/BMF Beer Garden is ready to serve
18.00 : Talk Show : Mr. Pariya Manomaiphibul (Khun Pong), Market Development Manager of Tiger Motor Co., Ltd and Manging Director of Bikecare International Co., Ltd.
19.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show : Mr. Rath Wijitraphongsa (EPAP) from KSR
21.00 : Live Band from
22.00 : Indoor activities close
23.00 : BMF Beer Garden close

Friday January 29th, 2010

10.00 : BMF 2nd is open
16.00 : Talk Show :
17.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show :
18.00 : Talk Show :
19.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show: Mr. Dom Hetrakul, Managing Director of Britbike Co., Ltd. and actor
20.00 : Talk Show: Mr. Mana Chaiwan (Khun Gai) and Mr. Patima Gongpetch (Khun Tom) from Strom Rider Club
21.00 : Live Band
22.00 : Indoor activities close
23.00 : BMF Beer Garden close

Saturday January 30th, 2010

10.00 : BMF 2nd is open
15.00 : Talk Show : Mr. Somchai Khemklad
16.00 : Talk Show : Mr. Pisit Kunananantakul (Khun Ae), Managing Direstor of Kunka Corporation Co., Ltd.
17.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show :
18.00 : Talk Show :
19.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show : Mr. Teera Pudpong (Khun Morris) from Scooter Rider Group
21.00 : Live Band
22.00 : Indoor activities close
23.00 : BMF Beer Garden close

Sunday January 31st, 2010

10.00 : The last day of BMF 2nd is open
15.00 : Talk Show : Mr. Wikrom Montrichok (Khun Gai)
16.00 : Talk Show : Mr. Pornsak Kanchanapa (Khun Toi)
17.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show :
18.00 : Talk Show : Mr. Chantap Pongpatinan (Khun Aek) From Eka’s Extreme
19.00 : Stunt Show/Talk Show :
21.00 : Live Band
22.00 : Indoor activities close
23.00 : BMF Beer Garden close

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Wat Phra Kaew,  also known as the temple of the Emerald Buddha,  resides within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok and is considered the most revered Buddhist shine in all of Thailand. The Emerald Buddha itself is actually carved of jadeite, stands 26 inches tall and sits atop a large gold alter in the center of the temple.

Only the King of Thailand is allowed close to the Emerald Buddha when the seasonal gold costume it wears is changed three times a year. The summer costume consists of a crown and jewelry, the winter costume is a golden shawl and the costume worn during Buddhist Lent is a gilt robe and headdress. The costume change is an important Thai ritual performed by the King who will also sprinkles water over the gathered monks and the faithful to bring good luck during the upcoming season. The other two costumes are on display in the nearby Pavillion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Thai Coins while not in use.

According to popular belief the Emerald Buddha started it’s journey in Sri Lanka but modern historians have discounted most of the Buddha statues early history and are confident that the Buddha image was carved sometime during the late 14th century to the mid 15th century in Northern Thailand. Although,  the statue is carved in the style and attitude of  Buddha images found in Southern India or Sri Lanka with the Buddha in a meditation pose. The meditation pose has never been prominent in Thailand which may have lead early historians to assign an alternate history to the Emerald Buddha.

The history from this era says that the Buddha was once hidden in a Chedi  in the Chiang Rai province, but a lightening storm in 1434 damaged that Chedi exposing a stucco likeness of the Buddha. Upon closer inspection the stucco was falling off exposing the Jadeite Buddha below. Being such a beautiful dark green it was confused as being made of emerald at first, giving the statue it’s name The Emerald Buddha.

The King of Chiang Mai at the time heard of this wonderful discovery and decided that the statue must reside within his province. Three times he sent an elephant to Chiang Rai to retrieve the Buddha and three times the elephant stopped at a crossroads while returning with the Buddha. This was seen as a sign from Buddha himself and a temple was constructed in Lampang where the Emerald Buddha stayed for 32 years.

The next king of Chiang Mai decided the Emerald Buddha should be housed in his province as well and this time the Emerald Buddha was successfully moved from Lampang to Chiang Mai where it resided in a temple until 1552 when invaders from Laos stole the emerald Buddha. The statue remained in Laos for the next 214 years until General Chakri, who would later become King Rama I, brought the statue back to the capital at Thonburi after a successful war with Laos.

In 1784 When King Rama I moved the capital across the river to Bangkok he had the ordinance hall built where the stature still resides to this day. The ordinance hall was a plain stucco structure when it was first constructed but King Rama III would change all of that.

Large stucco moldings were installed and the whole hall was gilded and adorned with glass mosaics.  A pair of Khmer lions, believed to be from the Khmer Bayon period of the 13th century, guard each of the six entrances. At the base of the ordination hall is a row of golden Garuda’s each holding a Naga in each hand. The Garuda is the King of all birds and the mount of Vishnu the great Hindu god, the Naga is the king of all serpents and the enemy of Garuda. The Garuda holding the Naga is believed to be a very powerful image to chase away evil spirits.

The ordination hall also contains two other interesting Buddha statues. Both ten foot tall statues are cast in bronze and stand crowned at either side of the Emerald Buddha. These statues were commissioned by King Rama III in dedication to King Rama I and King Rama II.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Thailand,  and rightly so. The attention to detail inside as well as outside the ordination hall is stunning. The compound surrounding the ordination hall is equally as stunning with the various monuments and buildings glinting in the midday sun.

Getting a picture of the famous Emerald Buddha is sometimes easier said than done though. No pictures are allowed inside the ordinance hall which leaves you only two vantage points to get your photo. The first is through the open doorway at the front of the hall and the second is through a small open window cut into the front wall of the hall.

Wat Phra Kaew is absolutely a must see while in Bangkok and it is sure to give you memories that will last a lifetime.

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The other day I wrote about Bangkok’s famous flower market, Pat Klong Talat and I referenced Tien market which is close by. So, I thought I would share this little cultural icon today.

Tien market isn’t much more than a small neighborhood market,  situated in a very fortuitous place. If you take the river taxi up the Chao Phraya river to stop #8,  which is the Tien pier,  then you can’t help strolling through this little market on your way to Wat Pho ( Temple of the Reclining Buddha ). This is also the pier you will use to take the ferry across the Chao Phraya river to Wat Arun.

Although small,  this neighborhood market has a lot of old world character and charm. As you come off the river taxi you’ll first be greeted by a restaurant that looks a little run down but I can guarantee you that they have very good food and more than a few cats around. I can confidently rate this as a 3 cat restaurant, which is very good as the Land of Smiles restaurant guide only goes up to 5 cats.

As you pass through the the restaurant there are a few trinket shops on either side before you come off the pier into the main market area. Although you can find some trinket and food shops the majority of merchants here are fish mongers, and mongers of the dried variety at that. To say that the air is pungent with fish might be an understatement.

While the majority of tourists passing through this small market may never realize it’s name they will remember the sights, sounds and smells Tien market brings back to them as they look through pictures they are sure to take.

I wouldn’t say Tien market is a Bangkok must see but seeing that those taking the Chao Phraya river to see attractions such as Wat Pho or Wat Arun will be passing through it,  the market has assured it is a must see whether you like it or not.

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Pat Klong Talat is best known as Bangkok’s 24 hour wholesale flower market that resides just off the Chayo Phraya river, it’s name literally means market by the mouth of the canal. It’s not so much that it’s hidden but a lot of tourists tend to forgo it’s beauty for other attractions around Bangkok.

If you take the Chao Phraya river taxi  up river to the Memorial Bridge pier (stop #6) you can pretty much smell your way to Chak Phet road and  Bangkok’s largest wholesale produce and flower market. At one time, over a hundred years ago, this area was the site of a floating market. During the reign of King Rama V it was changed into a fish market which stood for 60 years and eventually gave way to the produce and flower market it is today. The fish market is said to have been closed due to pollution problems and bad smells. One only needs to hang out for a bit at the Tien Market,  only a short walk away,  to  get an inkling of how the fish market may have smelled, all sorts of dried fish can be found here.

You won’t have to worry about fishy smells here anymore though as that has all been replaced by the sweet smell of  roses, jasmine, carnations, orchids and many other species of flowers delivered from all over Thailand to the market daily. While this is definitely a wholesale market and is very busy late at night and in the early morning, the market is also open to the public.

Westerners are likely to be shocked by the prices of the wholesale flowers. A dozen roses in America retail for $30  on a normal day while valentines day sees that price jump to $100. One newspaper wrapped bundle of 50 roses here will set you back 40-50 baht, just a little more than  than $1.00. Or if you like you can have an orchid for 20 baht. The sellers may not make much money off the tourist trade but you can bet they have a smile on their face working under such beautifully fragrant conditions.

I meant to spend an evening here last trip watching the hustle and bustle of the market but plans always have a way of changing in Thailand. I did get a chance to spend a little time at the market the day before I left for Pattaya and I’m very happy I did, although I didn’t get nearly as many pictures as I wanted.

Pak Klong Talat market is truly a feast for the eyes as well as your nose and with all the succulent produce and the beautiful tapestry of vivid colors provided by the flowers of Thailand you can get lost here for some time and be very happy about it. This belongs on your list of sights to see while in Bangkok so make sure you add it because it will definitely make for a memorable day and many beautiful pictures.

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There is something absolutely amazing about ancient Thai architecture set against a spectacular Bangkok skyline. If you stand just the right way or get  the right angle on your camera you can erase a few hundred years of technology and progress  from your photos and make it feel like you are seeing Thailand as it was 300 years ago.  It must have truly been a sight to behold.

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As I said in an earlier post on Bangkok’s Giant Swing I had very little time in Bangkok last trip and many things to see. My first trip to Wat Suthat was cut short due to torrential downpours but I eventually found some time a few days later to revisit the Wat. Little did I know at the time the rich history of this particular Buddhist temple I just knew it was beautiful and I really wanted to see it. Unfortunately the weather and my camera’s memory card didn’t hold up well this day so a return trip is in order.

Wat Suthat is over 200 years old and considered to be one the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand.  The building of Wat Suthat began in the early 19th century under King Rama I and took over 30 years to complete. It is home to many beautiful Thai/Chinese bronze sculptures including one Buddha statue from the SukhoThai period that dates to over 600 years old and is 25 meters tall. This statue was floated down river over 200 years ago to become part of  the temple. Wat Suthat is also home to the ashes of King Anand Mahidol who was the brother of Thailand’s current King.

There has been ongoing restoration of the temple in past years including a joint Thai/German project to restore the wall murals and in 1999 the temple commissioned a western Mahayana Buddhist painter, Brian Barry, to design and paint the platform door paintings in the preaching hall. A first as no other time has a non Thai person been allowed to do work on a royal Thai temple.

One of the largest draws to Wat Suthst is it’s connection to Mahayana Buddhism and the Phra Kring, a Buddhist amulet that looks like a Mahayana Buddha and makes a ringing sound when shaken. The Thai people believe that this particular amulet has the power to affect ones health. These amulets can be bought at the temple and are very prized possessions by those who purchase them.

Wat Suthat is a working temple and you will see many monks as you stroll through the compound. If you have the chance to see Wat Suthat later in the day,  around 6 pm,  then you will be witness to a large gathering of monks coming to the preaching hall for their daily chants.

Wat Suthat is steeped in rich history and Buddhist lore and is easily one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. If you are heading for Bangkok then this is indeed one place that should be on your list to visit. I know I’ll be making a return visit.

More pictures can be seen of Wat Suthat and the Giant swing in the Gallery Wat Suthat.

The below video is a short look at Wat Suthat.

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In my quest to see the finer things on offer in Bangkok I was armed with a list of places to see my last trip. Knowing I would only be in Bangkok five or six days made it a mad scramble to get everything in and some days,  such as the day I visited Wat Suthat, the weather wasn’t cooperating.

You’ll know you are getting close to Wat Suthat when you see a large red arch high in the sky. This is the giant swing that is just outside the temple. Originally built in 1784 by King Rama I,  it was placed in front of the Devasathan Shrine in Bangkok. It was later rebuilt in 1920 after a lightning strike and moved to it’s current location just outside Wat Suthat. Major repair work was done again to the giant swing in 2005-2006

The giant swing is rooted in Hindu and Indian beliefs and was part of an annual Brahmin Ceremony called ” Tri-yampawai ” or swing ceremony held in the first lunar month of the Thai lunar calendar. During the ceremony men would try to swing their way to the very top using long ropes in hopes of grabbing a bag of coins placed there.

The ceremony is a representation of the epic myth in which Uma Devi makes a bet with Shiva whereby a serpent is suspended between two Putsa tress over a river and swinging back and forwards to aiming to strike Shiva to make him fall and thus signify the end of the world. Shiva stands in its path on one leg with the other crossed and when struck does not fall thus signifying that the creation of the earth was sound, secure and would remain strong.

It is believed there was a mandate at one time to have a giant swing in every major city, and while it’s certain that there were other swings erected this swing is the only known swing to still exist. In 1932 the ceremony itself was banned due to many serious and fatal accidents.

The original timbers of this rebuilt Swing are now housed at Bangkok National Museum. The main poles of the structure are made of teak and are over 30 meters in height and 3.5 meters in circumference. The base supporting the teak timbers are 20 meters high and 2.3 meters in circumference.

I didn’t make it into Wat Suthat this day because soon after the above picture was taken the skys opened up and it rained buckets until the sun went down. But I did make it to see the Giant swing and that was well worth getting wet for. I have to thank Martyn over at Beyond the Mango Juice for letting me know about this treasure.

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While I was in Bangkok in April I wanted to visit as many important landmarks as I could in the short time I had. At the top of the list was WatPho, better know to the Thai’s as Wat Phra Chetuphon. Everyone else will know it as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

Wat Pho is the largest and the oldest temple in Bangkok, sitting on 20 acres and predating Bangkok being named as the capital city of Thailand by 200 years. The temple not only holds the largest reclining Buddha statue in Thailand it also boasts the most Buddha images of any Wat in Thailand, having over 1000.

As a tourist attraction it is among the most impressive in the world. The gold plated statue of the reclining Buddha represents the passing of Buddha into Nirvana and measures in at an amazing 15 meters tall and 46 meters long. Aside from the gold plating the Eyes of the Buddha and the bottom of the feet are made of mother of pearl. The soles of the feet are inlaid with intricate designs showcasing the 108 characteristics of the true Buddha.

While the main Wat complex is made up of two walled compounds,  the North compound is where you will find the temple of the reclining Buddha while the Southern compound is still a working monastery. You’ll know exactly where the North compound is when you see throngs of people gathering at the entrance. The entrance fee for western visitors is 350 baht while Thai’s are alowed in for free. Before entering the temple you will remove your shoes and store them in special shoe boxes outside the temple.

Once inside the temple you basically follow the flow leading down the front side of the Buddha and then back towards the exit from the rear of the Buddha. There is no time limit so you can wait out the crowds to get the best photos. While waiting for the best shot you can take in the beauty of the wall murals finished in gold leaf.

Once you round the feet of the reclining Buddha and move towards the rear of the statue you will see a line of brass pots against the wall leading to the exit. A small desk behind the feet  is where you will get a handful of prayer coins for a 20 baht note and as you exit you place one coin in each brass pot for blessings to be bestowed upon you. This really adds to the ambiance of the temple.

This is really the one attraction not to miss when visiting Bangkok. The temple grounds are very beautiful and the statue of the reclining  Buddha is amazing in all it’s splendor. More photos can bee seen in the gallery Wat Pho-Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

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From San Francisco to Bangkok and more than 5 other cities you can see the mark of BNE almost everywhere you walk in the city. In the past two years this criminal or criminals have defaced the streets of various cities with their three letter moniker that makes sense to no one. Walk along sukhumvit in Bangkok and you are assailed with stickers and spray painted scrawlings every few feet that proclaim BNE was here.

It’s not like this graffiti is a work of art like the world renown Banksy of English fame. There is no art here at all just three letters BNE. Sometimes it’s King BNE or BNE was here but as of late it’s more stickers than anything. This phenomenon of crap apparently started in Japan and was accompanied by a symbol that means visit. Accordingly many believe that along with the symbol the BNE stands for ” Be Nowhere Else”. Nice way to leave your mark.

My many walks through the city streets of Bangkok were always accompanied by this mysterious BNE. Very few of the pictures I took of the city last trip were devoid of the vandalism. And vandalism is exactly what it is. No one knows who is responsible for the world wide attack and I suspect it’s many people thinking they are part of something special or cool.

Bangkok may not be the cleanest city in the world but it definitely has a charm all it’s own and this garbage is really starting to take a toll on it’s streets. I hope someone is caught while tagging their BNE by locals no matter where it happens in the world and they put a foot up their ass…There is nothing cool about being an asshole.

When I was an active SCUBA diver there was a motto that divers the world around went by and it’s fitting if you travel abroad even as a land lover. I modified it a little.

Take only pictures…leave only bubbles smiles

Below is an ABC news story on the havoc these idiots are wreaking around the world:

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