The Pattaya Days Starter Guide to Photography

Many people buy a capable camera; and then stick it in automatic mode and just go shooting. Some of their images will be OK; but their photography could be so much better, and a load more fun, if they just learned some of the basic rules about how a camera works.

So I have produced a guide for those who want to learn the basics. What’s the difference between shutter and aperture? What’s ISO and why should you care? What are the best settings to capture a building or a bouncy child? All this, and very little else, is contained in the guide.

After three years, Pattaya Days is overdue for a visual update. It’s also overdue for a content update; but you are stuck with me so that is not going to happen.

But here is the visual bit. Found a template which almost did the job; then handed it over to The Son who worked his coding magic. And after several minutes of hard labour; here it is.

Photos have more space, and if you want to avoid all the photo tech talk, just click on the “Life” menu. If you do want the photo tech, then there are options for that too; although I have not yet gone back through all the zillion posts to re-classify them.

We made two visits to the excellent Love At First Bite cake shop in Chiang Mai; and whilst throwing down vast quantities of cholesterol, we pondered whether Pattaya offered anything similar. Only one way to find out…

Our first visit was to Nice Delice next to Friendship supermarket. It’s owned by a Frenchman so I have no idea how you are supposed to pronounce the name. Thought I might find out when we walked in and maybe someone would call out “welcome to Nice Delice!” in a cheerful voice; but that didn’t happen. In fact the staff just stared at us. No smile, no greeting; and not once during our visit did their grumpy demeanour change. Maybe it’s a French thing, but it is certainly not the normal service you receive in Thailand.

We stayed in the Pak Hotel in Chiang Mai; a really friendly family-run hotel with great breakfasts (best Cinnamon rolls in the known universe). There was a corner with photos of previous guests; at night I thought it looked rather sinister, lit by a single weak light.

Just up the road from Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai is the King’s winter palace. The buildings are not open the public, but there are acres (or rai if you prefer) of most beautiful flower gardens I have encountered in Thailand. Well worth a visit; but you have to phone first to make sure they are open.

The shop is called Love At First Bite and it serves what must be the best cakes in Chiang Mai, maybe in the world.

I had lemon meringue pie. Would have returned today for another slice but they are closed on Mondays. Will be making a detour on the way to the airport tomorrow.

Another reason to live here.

Not the best of days.

Walked down the corridor to give the cats their breakfast, only to find that one of them had already eaten and vomited it back onto where I had just stood. Cleaned feet, cleaned floor, cursed cat and prepared to leave for the airport, at which point the non-vomiting cat decided to hide.

Ten minutes of further cursing and searching cupboards and the beast was found. Just hope they miss us.

Off to the airport, and off to Chiang Mai. To the Budget car rental booth, only to find that the booth had gone. Twenty minutes of searching before their rep showed up and handed us a shiny new Civic with full insurance. Resolved to wreck it.

Partially succeeded in the small sois in the old town; reversed over a kerb and ripped off a plastic mud flap. Three mud flaps and a couple of wing mirrors and we will call it even for the inconvenience.

Still, now hooked up with The Son and his girlfriend for a couple of days of tourism. So far we have just walked about and eaten. I love this place, ChiangMaiDays.com one day.

Another week, another pointless pronouncement from a public servant idiot from the Ministry of Never Does Anything. Apparently there is to be a law to enforce the wearing of seat-belts by passengers in vans. This is no doubt in response to the public outcry over the sixteen year old girl who punted a van full of university students over a barricade. Everyone in government will smile, clap each other on the back for a job well done; and go back to emptying the coffers.