A line of Tuk Tuks

These iconic Thai taxis are possibly dying off with the rise of Uber and Grab. Persoanlly I hope they can integrate the tuk tuks into the service as they are usually colorful. These ones were shot in the rain in Udon Thani, on the way back to Chiang Mai from a visa run to Laos.

Tuk tuk styles vary across the country with these being from the north east of Thailand.

Here is a typical Chiang Mai style tuk tuk with a driver taking a break. I am unsure if he is doing the "OK" sign or looking through the hole in his fingers as he saw me photographing him. He was certainly chilling out in the shade, which was fair enough on a boiling hot June day in Chiang Mai.

Loy Krathong Lanna Festival Yi Peng Lanterns Chiang Mai

At the full moon every 12th Thai month, you can witness amazing scenes such as these lanterns floating into the sky. Literally, thousands of lanterns are let off across the city. Many around Buddhist temples with monks participating in ceremonies to celebrate Loy Krathong.

An old photo so excuse the quality, but I just had to share this amazing sight from the Yee Peng event at festival time. Breathtaking!

This year (2017) this event may not be happening although it is always very hush hush. There is a tourist event which is similar to the south of Chiang Mai. Once is enough however, as the crowds are unbelievable and it is very easy to lose your companions.

This year the festivals take place between the 2nd and 5th of November. The place to be should be along the River Ping for candles in the water and lanterns being let off into the air. It is a thrilling sight and the concept behind the letting off of the lanterns and water candles is well worth reading about.

Basically, the floating water candles are your worries flowing away and you can make a wish for a better future for others and yourself. The lanterns are for making "merit" and it is best that you read up on this subject to understand it better: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi_Krathong .

I highly recommend learning about the Thai religious traditions which make far more sense to me, compared to the medieval and ancient religions of other parts of the world. Buddhism is less of a religion and more of a philosophy; a logical way to lead a better life through compassion and understanding the truths of life.

The elderly are respected and rightly so for being wiser. Whereas in the west we tend to have a more arrogant outlook as youths, leading to more mistakes and lack of progress mentally. Buddhism is a religion which can work in harmony with science, unlike most others who contradict it.

The events take place when there is a full moon. There will be street processions and beauty contests, plus dancing and many more traditional activities to celebrate. But more importantly, the festival is about celebrating the beauty of Thai Buddhist culture and learning how to improve yours and others lives by letting negativity go and positivity in. I shall be sure to post many photographs in early November and fingers crossed I will be able to capture a relaxing video or two for Uscenes too.

Lovely Young Lady Posing with the Pigeons at Tha Phae Gate

I experimented with a vintage filter in my photo editing software, there is a normal version below. Tha Phae Gate (often called Thapae Gate) is always a hub of activity in Chiang Mai. It is a gate into the old city with scenic views of the moat and hundreds of pigeons to pose with.

I am used to editing photos manually so here is my edit. I like both. Do you have a preference?

Old Guy on a Scooter in Santitham, Chiang Mai

I love eccentric characters and this guy is certainly playing the part dressed all in blue on his vintage blue scooter. Santitham is an area with some used electronics shops, most of which have some cameras and lenses. The top one is a dedicated used camera shop called NN Camera on Santitham Road, opposite Tesco Lotus. Which is approximately where I was stood when I shot this photograph.

Man and lady at a small market in Chiang Mai Old City

This photo was taken at the little market in the north east corner of the Old City. There seems to be a community of elderly people. I love seeing people smile like this, especially if it as at me. The lady has a nice contented look on her face too. Classic Chiang Mai characters 😊

Mature ladies sat outside their shop in the Old City of Chiang Mai

These lovely elderly ladies are in the north east corner of Chiang Mai's Old City, inside the moat. Characters like this are what makes me love street photography.

4K Lake Nature Window - at Chiang Mai University

This peaceful setting is a relaxation video for the Uscenes website. We make simple "nature windows" and "virtual aquarium" videos to use on any screen. This is the reservoir at CMU, a lovely place to chill out for a while.