I traveled in Bangkok, Thailand from late September to early October 2019. I was excited about it because it was for the first time in 10 years to travel there. The last time I went, I took my trusty GR21 with me, but not this time because it was broken and there was no way to fix it (I sent it to RICOH once but was returned).

The GR III was with me this time. As I mentioned before, it’s been always with me ever since I got it.

But, it does not mean I completely switched to digital- I use both film and digital (I had a different film camera in Bangkok as a matter of fact).

You know, I’m one of those fools who still hope that RICOH will manufacture film cameras again because some analog cameras are insanely popular worldwide (insanely expensive too!) and I think there is a chance RICOH can benefit from it (but please don’t get it wrong- this is just my personal hope and RICOH has no plan for it. I’m just a GRist photographer and not a RICOH employee, JFYI).

Anyway, it was fascinating to travel in Thailand- the land of smiles- with the GR III.

The Chao Phraya river flows through the giant city of Bangkok. It has the express boat going back and forth connecting the north and south. Although the city has public trains and more people drive cars nowadays, they still take the express boat, which is cheap and free from trafic jams. I love being on it and seeing the city from above the water.

When I first visited Bangkok about 30 years ago, I took it so often and became friends with the crew that they let me get on it for free at the end! I don’t have any photos from that time because I wasn’t interested in photography at all back then.

Well, have a look and find out how much joy I had snapshooting around the river this time.

(Robert)