As I already mentioned in Part I & Part II of this camera kit series.  I have settled on the Nikon D700 and since purchasing it around 4 months ago I have not read a single review of any cameras or even inquired about Nikon’s newest models and the likely replacement for the D700.  I am 100% happy with my D700 and the camera gear I have kept for my kit which I travel with although I am often unhappy with my photography but that’s what learning and improving your skills is all about.

On a side note:  Even though I am happy with the D700 I am anxiously awaiting the replacement that Nikon has yet to announce.  Nikon just announced the D7000 which is a lower end model replacing the ever popular and great D90 and it looks fabulous.  The features and specs on the Nikon D7000 are any indication the future Nikon D800, D700x, D700s or whatever they decide to call it is going to be a must buy investment.

D700 with (optional) Battery Grip

D700 Digital SLR

As mentioned before I have chose the D700 and love it.  Although for me, the D90 was a slightly “funner” camera the D700 is a better piece of serious equipment which requires a little bit more know-how to get the most out of it.  Since I have upgraded to the D700 I have found the learning curve has caused me to miss more shots than the D90 but the more I use the D700 the easier and more fun it gets to use as well.  Not to mention the quality of my photos is increasing dramatically in the process.

My Current Lenses

Nikon Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8

When I first test shot this lens in the camera store on a D700 I knew immediately I wanted to buy it.  In addition to taking crystal clear photos this lens allows you to get very close to your subjects which lets you take photos from unique perspectives.  Especially while taking tourism photos, I would estimate 95% out there who are taking photos with point and shoots and SLRs would not be able to get.  I find the drawbacks to using this lens are minimal.  Even though the lens is heavy it balances perfectly with the D700 which has even allowed me to get some great shots holding the camera with 1 hand.

Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

This enormous lens is a lens I love to hate.  While it’s one the best lenses and an absolute delight to use it is by far the worst lens to have when you’re not using it.  When I first started using this lens I would use it solely for far off objects while I used my super-wide for most other things.  I have slowly started using the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR for more of a wide variety of photos, especially controlling depth of field which gives the photos a very professional look.  The VR works flawlessly and has allowed me to get ultra sharp shots even while being sloppy and not holding the camera steady.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D

In the first few months of owning this ultra compact lens I barely used it.  Leaving my camera bag behind numerous times and missing out on the opportunity to get some fabulous shots has caused me to appreciate this lens a lot more.  Now instead of leaving my entire camera bag at home or the hotel, I bring just the D700 & this lens.  I don’t have a point-and-shoot other than my cell phone camera but the D700 along with this lens allows me to get far superior shots in low light than any point and shoot although during the day the advantage is lessened, especially for shots of landscapes.

Nikon Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5

A lens I essentially got for free this is my only “non-professional” lens in my camera bag.  The focal range is handy for numerous situations and it is light enough to be a “walking around” lens.  Even though this lens is perfect for walking around while touring new places during the day I tend to only use it for its ‘macro’ ability (close up photography).   I also use it for nighttime cityscapes in which I am stuck in a location and cannot get the right shot w/ my 12-24mm ultra wide or my 70-200mm telephoto.  While the shots look great when attached to a tripod, I prefer not to use this lens handheld at night as I would have to crank up the ISO which would yield noisy shots.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro

At the moment I haven’t decided if I want to lug around this 1+ pound lens in my camera bag because macro photography is not my #1 passion.  That says nothing about the quality of this lens which is absolutely superb.  The photos are very sharp and the colors seem better than most other lenses.  I purchased the lens with the thought it would make my macro shots a lot better but the truth is the lens has really just shown me how very difficult macro photography is.  Taking photos of flowers is one thing but if you want to get a shot of a honey bee’s eyeball like I do, there is much more to it than simply pointing and shooting.

My Essential Accessories

Nikon MB-10 Battery Grip

I was hesitant to buy this as I had just spent a lot of money on the D700 body and Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.  I was considering a knock-off battery grip but figured I may as well get the Nikon quality version and I’m glad I did.  It took me a while to finally use the battery grip but once I started, I almost never take it off.  In addition to the ability to use another battery, Nikon’s professional powerful battery, and a bunch of AA batteries, the battery grip allows you to get 8fps (frames per second) during continuous shooting with AA or Nikon’s pro battery.  Even though the aforementioned perks are nice, they are not the reason why I recommend a Nikon battery grip to anyone who owns a digital SLR.  The second shutter release and navigation button make shooting a lot more efficient and comfortable.  Switching from landscape (horizontal) to portrait (vertical) is seamless and allows you to frame portraits perfectly almost every time.

Nikon SB -600 Speedlight

I bought it used from Craigslist.org for $200 as opposed to buying the newer and more power SB-900.  While it has the same ability to be used remotely as the SB-900 it has less range and a slower recharge rate.  Like the expensive SB-900 the SB-600 can be used attached to the D700’s hot shoe as well as remotely on a stand.  Since I bought the SB-600 speedlight I have only used it a handful of times and look forward to learning more about flash photography in the future.

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight

Even though I have not been using flash very much as most of my subjects are landscapes and cityscapes, I wasn’t quite satisfied with the rate at which the SB-600 recharged its flash and I really want to get into portrait photography more so I decided to plunk down another few hundred bucks to get Nikon’s flagship flash.  At the time of this writing I haven’t really used the flash much but I will tell you if the instruction manual of 200+ pages is one indication, the flash is very complicated to the untrained photographer.  I have found the built in white bounce card to be very useful so far.  Using the SB-900 in combination with the 105mm Macro lens has produced very satisfying results and has made handheld macro photography a lot more fun but I’m still learning.

Lens Pen & Cleaning Kit

Anyone that owns an SLR knows the frustration of not having the right cleaning supplies to clean their equipment.  Camera equipment is very expensive and should be taken care of properly and I carry a standard lens cleaning kit with lens paper and cleaning solution, a bulb blower and a couple microfiber cloths.  I also have a lens pen which has a brush on one end, and a wet sponge-like cleaning pad on the other.  The lens pen is a must have for anyone with a digital SLR in my opinion.

Kata 123-Go-30 Camera Backpack/sling

The first camera bag I had was a compact, quick release shoulder sling which went over one shoulder.  While I liked the style the constant weight bearing on a single shoulder was causing pretty bad shoulder pain.  I found myself at Funan It Mall in Singapore where I saw a good selection of camera bags.  What attracted me to this bag was the versatility of being to switch from a right or left shoulder sling to a backpack as well as being able to fit all my gear.  The bag is built nice and is comfortable but it is lacking a couple things.  Although there is plenty of room for the aforementioned equipment, there is no way to attach a tripod or a compartment for even a small laptop computer.

Digipod BH-55Q Tripod

After spending thousands of dollars on lenses and camera equipment I really didn’t want to spend too much on a tripod.  I ended up going to Power Buy a retail electronic store chain in Thailand and buying a Fancier tripod which was on sale for 2000 baht.  The tripod was actually very good and although it worked okay it wasn’t designed for a heavy camera/lens combo.  On the first day of a Hong Kong trip, I ended up going tripod shopping.  Although I tested out many tripods ranging from Nikon to Manfrotto I settled on the Digipod based on the recommendation from the knowledgeable guy at the camera shop.  The things I like about the Digipod tripod is the twisting leg adjustments which allow you to quickly extend the entire leg with a single turn.  The coin tightening, sliding medal plate is also far superior at attaching to the camera body than the finger twisting quick release plates of other tripods.  This allows me to shoot portrait orientated long exposures without the weight of the camera/lens moving under its own weight ruining the shot.

One of the Few Mistake-Free Shots I've Taken

General Photography Tips:  Learn from my Mistakes

Just because I’m not a “professional photographer” doesn’t mean you can’t learn some helpful tips from the numerous mistakes I have made.  If you are just starting out with a digital SLR you will initially make mistakes but if you keep these basic ideas in mind, you can minimize your mistakes and be taking cool travel photos soon.

Always Take the Shot

Your camera does no good if it is sitting in your camera bag or hanging around your neck.  Whether you are tired from a whole day of tourism and taking photos or simply aren’t 100% sure if the shot will be cool, there is no point to not taking the shot.   When I say “take the shot” what I really mean is “take a bunch of shots.”  Take a few shots of each subject from different angles and vantage points so you increase the likelihood of getting a pleasing photo.

If people are involved don’t be timid.  If it really bothers you, ask the subject if they are okay with being photographed.  Owning an SLR gives you the advantage of being able to take hundreds if not thousands of shots so don’t be afraid to use them.  Sure, there will be some that you will not use, in fact I would probably say 90% of your shots will end up in the recycle bin on your desktop but if you never take the shot, you will never know whether or not it was good and you will not learn from experience.

Keep Going

This tip goes along with the above “take the shot” tip.  When taking photos of landscapes and cityscapes there is no worse a feeling that getting home and realizing that you should have walked a little further down the street or hiked a little further up the hill to get the shot you want.  If you want to use your DSLR to its maximum potential and be completely satisfied with the photos you take go as far as you can go when trying to get a shot.  Whether this is leaning a little further over the edge of the cliff, climbing up a few more flights of stairs or simply walking around, trying to find a better vantage point, keep going while shooting photos until you hit the proverbial brick wall and you will be happy with your photo shoot.

Try not to Fall Victim to the ‘All or None Principle’

One reason for the popularity of point-and-shoots is because carrying around a camera bag is often a burden.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve complained to myself or friends about carrying around my camera bag while profusely sweating in the extreme heat and humidity of Southeast Asia.

There have been times I wish I had a point and shoot and there are times I wished I’ve had my digital SLR gear but I can honestly say EVERY time I was without a camera I felt like I was missing out.  Whether you leave your bulky digital SLR at home and pack your point-and-shoot it is always better to have your camera than none.  My thinking in the past was “all or none” meaning if I didn’t bring my whole camera bag I would bring nothing.  Just because you have a whole camera kit doesn’t mean you have to bring your entire set of lenses everywhere you go.  Taking a small prime lens such as a 50mm f/1.4 out will significantly lighten your load as well as force you to be more creative which will improve your skills as a photographer.

Always Reset Camera to Default Settings

About an hour before writing this I was served a painful reminder of this.  I had my D700 with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 d lens hanging out my Bangkok taxi’s window on the way to the airport to fly to Phuket and took a few shots of a large group of a few hundred Thai soldiers before they were to invade a fortified protester encampment.  What I didn’t realize is I had my ISO set on 200 which caused all the photos to be blurry and I had to delete them.  If I had did what I’m recommending I would have had some once in a lifetime shots.  Every time you change the settings on your camera most importantly ISO and exposure compensation make sure you reset them back to your desired default settings so you don’t miss an important, once in a lifetime shot.

Conclusion

I will reiterate.  If you’re not a professional photographer who gets paid for your work you likely don’t need a Nikon D700 or even any digital SLR.  Most casual photographers probably don’t want a digital SLR as point-and-shoots and even cell phone cameras get better every generation and are far more convenient.  Those of you who obsess about taking the very best photos and are constantly looking for that perfect shot can rest assured the Nikon D700 is one of the best digital SLRs in its price range.

View a Stream of my Most Popular & Interesting Photos (according to Flickr) on Flickriver

Pick your Location

I had watched Muay Thai at both of the 2 primary Muay Thai stadiums in Bangkok when I had visited for the first time over 5 years ago.  I remember having a great time at Lumpini (often spelled Lumpinee) Stadium which had exciting fights and even a Muay Boran demonstration.  Muay Boran (Muay means ‘boxing’ & boran means ‘ancient’) is the ancient style of Thai boxing in which competitors wore ropes around their fists instead of gloves.  I also remember my night of Muay Thai at Rajadamnern stadium not being as fun so obviously I wanted to go to Lumpini Stadium.

It turns out picking the location to watch Muay Thai in Bangkok really depends on the day you wish to view it.  Lumpini Stadium has the fights on Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays while Rajadamnern stadium holds the Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday fights.  On a side note, there are also Wednesday night Muay Thai which is free, often has women fights and is located at the MBK shopping center.  The major stadiums do not have women fights and women are not even permitted in the ring.

2 Girls Duking it Out at MBK's Muay Thai Fight Night

Getting There & Buying Tickets

I knew that Lumini Stadium had the fights on Friday night so I planned to go there after my trip to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho I planned to take a taxi all the way from the old section of Bangkok to Silom during rush hour to catch the Muay Thai event that started at 6pm.  I told the taxi driver to take me to “Sanam Lumpini” (sanam means ‘stadium in Thai) and he told me there was no boxing there that night and I would have to go to Rajadamnern Stadium which was very close to the Grand Palace where I had just been.

I thought the driver had a commission arrangement w/ Rajadamnern Stadium or something so I continued to argue until I realized that it was Thurdsay and not Friday.  The taxi drivers are usually more than happy to take you to a Muay Thai event which suggest they get a commission.  Most farang (Caucasian foreigners in Thai) are offered the front row seats at a price of 2000 baht ($60 USD).  I had planned to sit as close as possible to get some photos with my Nikon D700 and assorted lenses so paying for the “better” seats was no problem.

Orono Wor Petchpun - Famous Muay Thai Great

The Event

It turns out that the ringside seats were not really great at all for taking photos as every shot had the ring ropes in the way.  You can view on the slideshow on the bottom of this post.   Rajadamnern Stadium has 3 main levels of seating (refer to the photo at the top of the post).  The floor level has seats mostly foreigners, boxes for the judges and standing room for the fighter’s crew.  The secondary level of seating has mostly Thai people from what I saw.  This is where the people place bets on each fight with hand signals like the New York Stock Exchange.  Then there is a top row of seating which is inside a chain linked fence.

One side of the 2nd level is completely devoid of people as it holds the TV cameras.  Other than being able to put the camera through the ring ropes, like the paid event photographers, this middle section which is elevated over the ring ropes would probably be the best place to take photos.  I am not sure how much it costs or even if non-gambling foreigners are allowed.  The event had mostly young kids with the exception of  a Muay Thai boxer I had heard of by the name of Orono Wor Petchpun (Muay Thai fighter’s last names are actually the names of their gym) who is one of Thailand’s best boxers.  He has 2 KO wins over the great Yodsanklai Fairtex and 2 decision wins over the K1-Max  international superstar Buakaw Por. Pramuk.  Check out this YouTube clip with him in action.

To me, most of the fights were pretty boring.  I remember the first time I went to Lumpini Stadium the fights were all exciting which makes me want to go back there and check it out again.  Not a single fight had a KO and there was a LOT of clinching.  I’m not sure what the exact rules are or how to score the fights, but it seemed that clinching and throwing was happening more than striking.  The event got lively for what I believe was the main event.

The championship fight pitting what appeared to be a couple 13 year-olds got lively when both entered the stadium with their entourages.  One was dressed with a pointy medal hat (see in slide show) while the other had a whole “hype crew” of a painted face guy, a huge fat guy waving a flag and of course, a Chinese-style dragon dancer!  The crowd was especially rambunctious for this fight but it ended with one being crowned champion, and of course, like all the other fights that night, I had no idea who was going to win the judges decision.

Scenes from the Championship Fight

Overall Impression

While I didn’t have the best time at this Thursday night event at Rajadamnern Stadium I still would highly recommend anyone who is visiting Thailand to check out a night of fights.  Like I stated before, I remember having a better experience at Lumpini Stadium but any place you watch Muay Thai in Thailand you will see a different side of Thai people.  People who are generally reserved and quiet are going crazy in a raucous crowd which had a few scuffles amongst fans likely over gambling.

For tourists, also keep in mind that Rajadamnern Stadium is very close to Khao San Road, Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, some of Thailand’s major tourist attractions.  For those who live in Thailand and have never been to Muay Thai it is worth going as well.  I would be willing to bet a night of the real championships would be a very fun night to attend Muay Thai fights at Rajadamnern Stadium.  For those who don’t care to see fighting and especially don’t want to pay 2000 baht to do so, head to MBK shopping center on Wednesday evenings and you can see what Muay Thai is all about for free.

Nikon D700 Full Frame Digital SLR Camera Body

Even though I was completely happy with my Nikon D90 and lens collection I decided to make the investment and go for the D700.  For me, the decision was made because I simply had to do something about my obsessing over my camera so I decided to get what was the very best option I could afford.

The primary models I was considering in the relatively new full frame digital SLR were the Nikon D700 and the Canon 5D Mark II.  I literally read dozens of reviews of both cameras and found no clear-cut winner.  The primary arguments for the Canon is it trounces the Nikon with overall resolution which can make the final cropped image more useful and of course, has full 1080p HD (High Definition) video capabilities.

The primary advantage of the Nikon D700 was its high ISO ability and build quality.  It was the latter which led me to finally make a decision.  While some reviews explained how the Nikon “fits in your hand better” it is no excuse for going in and actually testing the camera.  I could tell when I first picked up the D700 it was perfect for me.  It really feels like it belongs in your hands and everything is placed exactly where it should be.

In hindsight holding the D90 for long periods of shooting, my fingers were always sore while after using the heavier D700 for just as long I have never felt a single pain in my fingers!  Picking up the Canon felt a lot lighter and the interface didn’t seem right.  It could have been due to my previous use of the Nikon D90 more than anything but in my case, the D700 was a clear-cut winner.

Nikon vs. Canon:  Making Your Choice

Nobody can take away from the quality of Nikon and Canon digital SLRs as they both are capable of taking great photos.  Like all sensible online reviews stated, your primary choice may be a predetermined one.  If you already have lenses for Canon or Nikon it would be a wise and less expensive choice to get a digital SLR body which uses your current lens collection.

On a side note to this story, there does exist an adaptor which allows Canon digital SLRs to use Nikon Lenses although I did not read much about them.  I’m not sure if Canon has any adaptor which allows use of Nikon lenses on their cameras.  From what I read, one of the primary reasons for this adaptor is the first lens I bought for the Nikon D700.

Nikon vs. Canon is not the only battle you should be aware of.  Multiple brands make competitively priced Digital SLRs that have the image quality that rivals anything Nikon or Canon makes.  Brands such as Sony, Pentax, Samsung, Olympus DSLRs are a viable option.  Even though 3rd party companies such as Sigma and Tamron make lenses that fit most camera brand mounts, with long running optics companies like Nikon and Canon you have a wide variety of lenses at your disposal especially with the D700s full frame sensor.

The Lenses I have used with Nikon D700

Full frame lenses are both an advantage and disadvantage of using full frame cameras.  The advantage is you are able to use a wider array of lenses dating back to all 35mm film cameras.  This means you can pick up lenses for very cheap online and even at your local garage sales for use on your Nikon D700.

You can also use all the lenses for Nikon’s DX lenses, the 1^st generation of digital SLR cameras although a crop factor of 1.5 will be factored in.  If you use ‘DX’ mode you will be shooting at less than 50% of the camera’s resolution which is stupid when you think you just paid over $2000 USD for the new full frame sensor.

The disadvantages of owning a full frame camera is if you want to buy one of the new lenses from Nikon & other third party manufacturers which were specifically designed for use on full frame digital SLRs you’re going to be paying a premium price.  Nikon’s new lineup of lenses branded with a big gold ‘N’ which signifies a special “nano crystal” coat which supposedly reduces lens aberrations are all very expensive.

Nikon Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8

The physically impressive Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 super-wide angle lens was raved about by almost everyone who reviewed it online.  Since I was already in love with super wide angle shots, this lens was a no brainer and I bought it along with my D700.  The lens is remarkably sharp, does not distort very much and works well in low light.  The only drawbacks to the lens are its inability to use filters and its size.  The inability to use filters is important for protection and creative control of exposure.  If you treat your equipment like bumper cars, this lens may not be a good idea because one bump of the bulbous front element and you could be looking at an expensive repair from Nikon or an even more expensive replacement.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D

The 50mm f/1.4 D is about 3x as expensive as the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D and differs little.  The obvious better f/1.4 low light performance is the only reason to own a f/1.4 over a f/1.8 so unless you shoot in the dark a lot, the f/1.8 will do just fine.  I used the 50mm f/1.8 D on both the 1.5 cropped D90 and the full frame D700 and found very little differences in their performance.  I actually prefer the 50mm f/1.8 D because it’s lighter and seems to focus better.  Overall, depending on your budget and shooting needs, almost all pros recommend carrying a 50mm prime lens.

Nikon Nikkor 70-210 f/4-5.6 D

A friend of mine in San Francisco had this lens with an old film camera.  It was almost in brand new condition and he lent it to me for a couple weeks of shooting.  The lens was the first push-pull model I used.  The first few shots I took with this lens and the D700 I noticed the photos taken in broad daylight were very sharp and had nice colors.  The lens became almost useless as the day grew longer.  Anything handheld not shot at a very high ISO had the effects of dreaded camera shake as the lens was without either VR (Vibration Reduction) or a low maximum aperature.  I would recommend this lens for anyone who wants a cheap lens for shooting during the daytime or solely on a tripod at night.

Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/2.0

The friend that lent me the aforementioned lens from his old Nikon film camera also had this 35mm f/2.0 prime lens.  As with the majority of prime lenses (fixed focal length) this lens was very sharp.  I actually liked 35mm focal length a lot.  It seemed as if 35mm was around the same focal range as your own eyes which is good for scenery but not as good for portraits and other applications.  Since I already had the 24mm of my 14-24 f/2.8 for scenery I felt that I would’t use a 35mm prime lens very much although I do recommend the lens for anyone who likes to shoot a mixture of scenery and portraits and likes a light, fast lens.

Nikon Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8

I purchased a copy of this old professional mid-range zoom from Amazon for around $250.  At the time of purchasing I didn’t realize 2 things:  1.  It was a push-pull lens and 2.   it was not the D lens.  While I have read multiple reviews downplaying the importance of Nikon’s ‘D’ distinction which has to do with the lens sending distance information to the camera I found this lens was very poor at autofocusing, especially in low light.  The focal range I believe is more for studio work or portraits when the subject is almost always to be within a 3-15 feet away.  Although this lens would also serve well for people who enjoy shooting scenery I would recommend it (as well as lenses with the similar mid-range focal ranges) only to people who shoot events such as weddings, parties and family get togethers.  When there was enough light, this lens was as sharp as they come with very little distortion.

Nikon Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5

This older Nikon mid-range do-it-all zoom was the biggest surprise out of all the lenses I have ever owned.  It surprised me likely because I bought a flawless copy of it off craigslist.org in San Francisco for almost free!  I bought 3 lenses for $60 which I ended up selling the other 2 for $115 so I essentially got this gem for -$55!  What makes this interesting is I originally considered purchasing this lens in a camera store in Bangkok which they wanted over $200USD!  The lens is a light weight, plastic feeling versatile lens.  My most favorite thing about it is its close focusing ability which allows you to literally put the end of the lens a couple of inches away from the object you are photographing.  Close focusing requires you flip a switch to “macro” mode after the focal range goes past 70 which is a minor inconvenience but does not take away from the value of this lens.  The lens is also great for scenery and is sharp when taking my favorite shots which happen to be low light night shots.  I would recommend this lens to anyone who can get their hands on one and who hasn’t spent a ton of money on more expensive Nikkor lenses.

Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

This is the beast of Nikon’s common lenses which is used by most professional photographers.  The lens is literally “built like a tank” with solid steel construction with no external moving parts on the outside during zooming.  The lens is big, bulky and heavy but the photos you take with it speak for itself as they are very sharp and allow you to control depth of field with precision which creates very pleasing bokeh (the out of focus area).

The telephoto zoom focal range is great for capturing a wide variety of images especially animals, sports competitors, portraits, far off scenery as well as being one of the journalist’s favorite lenses.  Although it has been replaced with the VRII version which has Nikon’s ‘N’ Nano crystal coat and costs a whopping $2200+ USD it still holds its own as one of the very best lenses money can buy.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro

Before I was to leave San Francisco for Bangkok I decided to take advantage of the plentiful supply of photography equipment on the SF Bay Area Craigslist one more time.  While I had fun with the 28-1055 (above) with macro capabilities, I wanted to see how a “real” macro lens would fare.  I had to choose between a popular 90mm Tamron macro lens but the fact that the lens barrel extended and retracted during focusing, had me choose the Nikkor although it was over 2-3x as expensive.  I searched Craigslist every day and it took 3 weeks before I found one of these Nikkors for sale and I snatched it right up.  I had the idea that I would sell it if it didn’t ‘blow my socks off’ and after using it a few times I still haven’t decided.  There is not doubt that for someone interested in macro shots this is a great lens.  The problem for me is while I like macro photography, to get the shots I really like (bug’s eyes) it takes more than just a macro lens.  Since I have started using the bounce flash of the Nikon  SB-900 speedlight my results have gotten a lot better but again I have only used this lens a few times so I can’t really say much about it.

Developing a Camera Kit – Part III:  The Winners; My current Camera Kit

The 3 Headed Elephant

I saw photos on Flickr of amazing looking interiors and I had to check it out.   It turns out the Viriyaphant family, the same family responsible for creating The Ancient City (Ancient Siam) created the Erawan Museum.   Erawan is the Thai name for the Airavata which is a white elephant who carries the Hindu god Indra.  Upon arriving the unique appearance of the museum is apparent.

Exterior of the Erawan Museum

Getting to the Erawan Museum

The Erawan Museum is technically not located in the city or province of Bangkok but it is very close.  Like Ancient Siam (Muang Boran) the Erawan Museum is located in Samut Prakan which is right next to Bangkok.  It is actually located right off Sukhumvit Road.  I hailed a taxi from my apartment at Sukhumvit Soi 13 and he charged me 200 baht ($6USD) plus 40 baht ($1.20 USD) for the expressway toll to get to the Erawan Museum but this is not the best way.

The best way for anyone to get to the Erawan Museum is to take the BTS as far east as possible (currently On Nut Station) then hail a cab from there as the Sukhumvit Road traffic is almost always completely congested in greater Bangkok.  On the way back from Samut Prakan which was around 30 minutes with good traffic the driver actually used the meter which totaled to be around 170 baht.  Just like going anywhere in Bangkok, if you want to spend the least amount of money, make sure you only get in a cab once they agree to use the meter.

Traditional Thai Dancers performing in front of Erawan Museum

Exploring In & Around the Erawan Museum

The museum is only a portion of the experience you will get when going there.  Assuming you are “politely dressed” i.e. no tank tops, shorts, bikini tops or minskirts you pay the entrance fee of 150 baht ($4.50 USD) and are allowed to roam freely in the large gated area which amounts to a nice garden and park with a couple temples and more.  I chose to go directly in the museum to see if it was free of people for some good photos.  Upon entering the main museum I was ushered to the bottom where I was told no photos and entered the air-conditioned basement museum.  This basement museum had mostly old Chinese and Thai pottery as well as a bunch of information.  I spent around 15 minutes walking around looking then I decided to go into the main museum.

After taking off my shoes I walked into the main museum which was a site to behold (see photo at top of post).  It is difficult to describe but one word that comes to mind is breathtaking.  There are many various sculptures and staircases which are a work of art themselves (you can see more of the sights in the slideshow at the bottom of this post).  The main hall was not air conditioned so after taking my fair share of photos I made my way to the top of the stairs where I found the (air conditioned) spiral staircase which leads up to the belly of the elephant.

Spiral Staircase Leading up to the Top Floor (Inside the Elephant)

Up to the Belly of the Beast

After climbing several flights of the spiral stairs (note:   There is a also an elevator) I made it to the top room and WOW.  The room was shaped as an beautifully painted arc which surrounded by several encased Buddhas.  The Buddhas had no photo signs so I didn’t take any shots of them.  I had a chance to take a bunch of photos as the occasional tourist or Thai would come up to pray to the main Buddha.  I literally stayed in this air conditioned room for 30 minutes shooting photos and just absorbing the ambiance.

The Final Room at the End of the Spiral Staircase

Overall Impression

I thought the Erawan Museum was Awesome with a capital A.  I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bangkok.  Erawan Museum was not at all crowded and I only saw one other western tourist there.  The visitors seemed to mostly be Thai and Chinese.  Every square inch of the museum is a site to see and once you exit there are plenty of other attractions including a temple with an Indian monk w/ dozens of doves, the aforementioned Thai dancers and I even got a chance to use my new Nikon 105mm Macro Lens to take photos of flowers, insects, birds and a frog.

If your time in Bangkok is limited, it is good to know that Erawan Museum is located within a few kilometers of Ancient Siam (Muang Boran) which is definitely a few hours worth of your time as well.  Plan a good day excursion from Bangkok and arrive at the Erawan Museum around 9-10 spend an hour or 2 there then procede to Ancient Siam for another 2-3 hours and you just had a good day of tourism to immerse yourself in the Thai culture.

Finally Inside the Grand Palace

Hopefully you already read Part I:  Getting to the Grand Palace.  At the main ticket entrance there is a guard and a bunch more people who are independent tour guides.  I had an older gentleman approach me who spoke English very well.   He asked for 300 baht ($9 USD) for around an hour tour which I took his offer.    I forgot his real name but he told me to call him, “Captain.”
Captain showed me the changing room for those who didn’t come “politely” dressed where you can buy clothes and get changed. I happened to have just bought a pair of long pants on Sukhumvit Road before I left so I had to change. After changing I proceeded to the ticket gate and paid the rather expensive (for Thailand) 350 baht ($11.30 USD) entrance fee.

Map of the Grand Palace (click to enlarge)

Touring the Grand Palace

I highly recommend getting a guide as Captain made everything a little easier as well interesting as had a extremely rich knowledge of everything in the palace.  I was there primarily for taking photos but Captain was very patient as I would stop and take photos while he was talking.

Taking photos in the palace was often times challenging due to the amount of tourists who were there posing for pictures.  I went on a weekday so I would assume it would be even more crowded on the weekends.  After entering the palace (scene at top of post) we walked around and Captain told me about the history of everything and a lot of information that I already forgot.

The first attraction was the actual temple (which I believe) the whole palace was built around named Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.   On the way to Wat Phra Kaew my guide told me about all the various temples and where the designs originated.  I was surprised to hear that many styles of structures were given to Thailand from places such as Cambodia and China.  There was even a large scale model of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

The actual Temple of the Emerald Buddha was the only place where photography was prohibited.  I took the picture of the emerald Buddha (below) from outside the main area which like all other worshiping areas required you to take off the shoes.   Wat Phra Kaew was pretty standard as far as temples in Thailand go.  It was surrounded with hundreds of gold statues.

The Emerald Buddha

Moving from Buddhism to the Monarchy

After filling my mind with a bunch of knowledge and camera with plenty photos I moved away from Wat Phra Kaew towards the south of the Grand Palace grounds.  The south part of the Grand Palace grounds contained Thai government and royal administrative buildings as well as the former residence of the King and the guest quarters.

I got a kick out of the guide’s story of the guest quarters when he told me the list of the guests who have stayed there which included a bunch of royals and oddly enough Bill Clinton.  I could only imagine how Bill Clinton would spend his night in Grand Palace guest residence.  After hearing taking some photos of the impeccable landscaping and buildings my attention was grabbed by the sounds of marching boots.

Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall

Changing of the Guard

I had taken a few photos of the guards before but I got lucky as it was time for the changing of the guard.  I missed a shot of the changing of the guard in the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Temple in Taipei so it was time to redeem myself.  The soldiers who looked as if they were all under 18 did the changing of the guard ceremony and it turned out to be a perfect end to my visit to the Grand Palace.  This section of the Grand Palace  was not as interesting as the Buddhist temple and monument section but it was a good place for people to take photos.

Changing of the Guard at the Grand Palace

Overall Impression

Not too long ago I was told by a fellow expat living in Thailand that the Grand Palace was overrated and I would agree with that sentiment.  I am definitely NOT saying it isn’t worth going to but for the price (100 baht cab ride, 350 baht entrance, 300 baht guide) it simply isn’t very much more impressive than other temples or buildings throughout Thailand.  The fact that they can charge 350 baht for admission really tells you a lot about how popular the Grand Palace is as a tourist attraction though.  I saw just as many Thais there as foreigners.   Again, I would highly recommend hiring a guide for your Grand Palace experience.  If you’re that cheap you can even bargain with the tour guides near the changing room.  I’m glad after 16 months of living in Bangkok I finally made it to the Grand Palace but I would consider it a great place to get started for anyone visiting Bangkok and Thailand.

If you plan to make it to the Grand Palace be sure not to miss Wat Pho which is one of the oldest and most impressive temples in Bangkok and is located directly behind the Grand Palace.

Wat Pho – Coming Soon

The Grand Palace

Thailand is a popular tourism destination for many reasons one being the predominantly Buddhist Thai culture which is apparent in every nook and cranny of the country.  Arguably the center of Thai culture in the whole country of Thailand lies in the Grand Palace which in old part of Bangkok.

Most first time visitors to Bangkok will see the Grand Palace at one point of their visit especially if a visit is included in a guided tour of Bangkok as any guided tour will include the crown jewel of Bangkok’s tourist attractions.

The Grand Palace is a section of land that not only holds several famous Buddhas and temples but also is the center of the Royal Thai monarchy.  As I quickly learned from my guide and the pamphlet I was given for purchasing a ticket, the Grand Palace is not just a Buddhist temple.

Without getting into too much detail about the history of the Grand Palace which you sure to learn upon your visit, the Grand Palace consists of everything from administrative buildings to the former residence of the King to Buddhist monuments as well as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

On the Outside Looking in: The Grand Palace at Night

Essential Information:  Before you Go

Entrance Fee: 350 baht

Last Ticket Sold: 3:30pm (15:30) you can remain in the Palace after 3:30pm but you must buy your ticket before then.

“Polite Dress required’: This means long pants for men and no tanktops.  Women are expected to dress rather conservatively with means extremely short shorts and miniskirts are out.

Close attractions: If you make your way to the Grand Palace you may want to plan ahead and visit the adjacent Wat Pho and Wat Arun across the river.  If you’re not staying there, Khao San Road is very close as well.

Getting to the Grand Palace

For the countless first time visitors of Bangkok who stay near the infamous backpacker’s ghetto Khao San Road, getting to the Grand Palace is as simple as a 15 minute walk or a quick tuk tuk ride.  For those who are staying in the newer areas of Bangkok (Silom & Sukhumvit) getting to the Grand Palace will not only take longer.  For anyone staying away from Khao San Road there are 2 primary ways to get to the Grand Palace.

1.  The Scenic Route

Primarily for people who are visiting Bangkok as a tourist, the scenic route is recommended as it will allow them to see more of Bangkok.  The scenic route involves a trip on the BTS Sky Train.  Catch the underground (MRT) or BTS and make your way to the Saphan Thaksin station.  Directly under the station is an obvious path towards the Chao Phraya River where there is a river taxi station.  Buy the cheap  (15 baht?) ticket and board the boat which will slowly progress North on the Chao Phraya until station N13 is reached.  Once the station is reached the Grand Palace is close enough to walk to or take a quick  taxi or tuk tuk ride to.

2.  Taxi

Taking a taxi can be the either the quickest or slowest way to get to places.  Bangkok’s traffic will determine how long it takes to get there.  My journey from my Sukhumvit Soi 13 apartment took around 40 minutes because of the traffic.  If you decide to take a taxi there make sure you know the name of the main temple of the Grand Palace as telling the driver “Grand Palace” will often result in blank stares.  If you mention the primary temple ‘Wat phra Kaew’ the driver will almost certainly know where you want to go, but once you mention it be aware of the following:

Grand Palace Rip – Offs

Since the Grand Palace is probably Bangkok’s most popular tourist attraction the likelihood of dealing with scam artists is high.  Regardless of where you are hailing the taxi, BEFORE YOU GET IN, make sure he (would put he/she but I have never seen a woman taxi driver) turns on the meter.  If they request any amount of money, decline and move on to the next taxi which will likely be directly behind the one you are talking to followed by another, and another, and another.

A common scam amongst taxi drivers (especially those who congregate in “tourist” areas) is telling people, “The Grand Palace is closed.”  Unaware tourists will take their word for it and the taxi driver will take them on a commissionable tour of various (mostly Indian owned) highly overpriced tailors, “Thai export factories” aka fake souvenir & jewelry shops and more.  In short, get the taxi driver to turn on the meter before you get in and you will get to the location but you still need to be aware of the same scam once you get there.  If you plan to visit Bangkok or live there and are concerned about scams BangkokScams.com will be a helpful site for you.

Part II:  Touring the Grand Palace