Today Kara and Julie arrive. That's right, our first visitors. And guess what. We are not even in our apartment yet.
APARTMENT UPDATE: Dateline Bangkok. The lease has been signed by the bank and will be in the hands of the landlord by Monday.
Hold it. Monday. Monday is the 1st. We kinda thought we would move casually over the weekend. Now we have to negotiate an additional days stay here at the Somerset! This might give you some indication that things are just a little laid back here in Thailand. No rushing around trying to get things done a week early to get some extra revemue. So it looks like we won't be in the apartment until at leastTuesday. We have all our own new sheets and pillows, comforters. So beds will need to be made and of course we still have to get all our dishes and pots, etc out of customs/storage before we can think about having our first sleep in the place.
So here's hoping we are in the apartment by Wednesday. I guess we will have to play this a little by ear.
So our first visitors. Kara and Julie arrive tonight at 6. Deeds will meet them at the airport express train that comes into downtown. It only takes 15 minutes from the airport and hooks up with both of the major mass transit systems that are running through BKK. Takes a lot longer by car and so is the preferred method of getting out of the airport, trust me. So expect to be taking the train when you come to BKK and we will meet you at the train station or at the airport and accompany you on the train into the city. So much easier for all!.
The hotel/apartment we have is a two bedroom so we should be able to cope with our guests. Not much living space or kitchen space here but they are only in town for two sleeps. Out to Phuket first thing Sunday morning. Their VB tournament starts on Wendnesday. Go to this link to follow Kara and Julie http://web.me.com/volleyocity/Dream_BIGG_1/Home.html
We should get into some site seeing or assistance to same with K & J on Saturday. Not sure how they feel. Julie was a little under the weather a few days ago, hopefully better now.
I will be skooting down to Phuket myself on Thursday to take in a bit of the action, fly back on Saturday. Kara is sticking around in Thailand for a few days and will be stopping with us again. Hopefully this time it will be in the apartment.
To all the regular followers I sent out a bunch of photos of our Wat tour. Hope you enjoyed those. Pics of the apartment will obviously have to wait until we are in the place.
Keep enjoying
Sawadee Krup
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Boycott LA Music
Hey, you have a blog, you blog about stuff, or as my American poolside buddy says, aboot stuff! Hahaha, Huh?
Anyway, I have to tell you the story of Lena's keyboard case. You may know that Shelly and Carolyn were nice enough to cart Lena's keyboard to Halifax for her. Lena loves the piano and years ago she talked aboot how hard it would be to leave her piano when she went off to school, wouldn't it be cool ma and pa if I had a keyboard so I could take that with me to school and keep on playin! So we did buy her a keyboard. The mother of all. An 88. Just like a real piano. So it is huge. Not just the kinda thing you strap on your back and go hikin with. When it came time to think about transporting this thing, if you don't have a van (like Shelly and Carolyn did) you will need to fly with it. Thus the need to buy a keyboard case.
(NOTE: Lena playing the piano is one of the things Deeds and I miss the most, hearing her play when she first walks in the door from anywhere, or just in the evening. It is part of what makes our house a home. Miss it!)
You know like the Rolling Stones have. Silver rim, black bullet proof vinyl, various handles and wheels.
I searched all round and finally ended up getting a decent price and free shipping at LA Music down on the Lakeshore. I have bought drums there, now in the custody of Scott, guitar that Lena has at home and now I ordered a piano case from them.
I placed the order just before leaving for BKK.
Piano then Lena had safely arrived in Halifax. LA promised free shipping on items over 100 bucks so I was good. I ordered the case on September 7. Two weeks delivery I was told. Perfect (see Deeds doing that arm swing right there, Perfect!). I told Lena to expect a call from a delivery type person and left for BKK all happy like.
By the end of the month I was Skype calling LA Music. Wassup! Daughter says no piano case. "Yeah well it has been ordered should be shipped to Mississauga and we will turn it right around to Halifax, one to two weeks, tops". Skyped again two weeks later. Order still shows up on the internet as processing. Finally got some email addresses and started bombing them (James Ricci) with emails. Well they apparently don't like to look at emails and certainly not to answer emails at LA. Seems to offend their artistic abilities. Maybe break a nail or something.
So you gotta phone, on Skype thank goodness or it would have cost me a fortune. Got the same run around, so finally I had enough and on Tuesday morning, Monday night October 25 in Canada, I sent an email saying I wanted my money back. Cancel the order.
Lena then lets me know that LA finally called her that same week. Turns out the case I ordered is no longer manufactured. The manager or whoever who finally twigged to this was upset according to Lena. It took them 7 weeks before they realized that the product I had paid for was not available!!!! Imagine how I feel!
What a group of nimwitted bolt headed bozos do they have working there? How can you order something from a supplies that they no longer supply. And how do you keep telling a customer it's on its way??????
Got some great advice for ya folks. Don't ever eat seafood that has flown farther than you have and DO NOT SHOP OR BUY ANYTHING EVER FROM LA music. They are awful.
Sawadee Krup
Anyway, I have to tell you the story of Lena's keyboard case. You may know that Shelly and Carolyn were nice enough to cart Lena's keyboard to Halifax for her. Lena loves the piano and years ago she talked aboot how hard it would be to leave her piano when she went off to school, wouldn't it be cool ma and pa if I had a keyboard so I could take that with me to school and keep on playin! So we did buy her a keyboard. The mother of all. An 88. Just like a real piano. So it is huge. Not just the kinda thing you strap on your back and go hikin with. When it came time to think about transporting this thing, if you don't have a van (like Shelly and Carolyn did) you will need to fly with it. Thus the need to buy a keyboard case.
(NOTE: Lena playing the piano is one of the things Deeds and I miss the most, hearing her play when she first walks in the door from anywhere, or just in the evening. It is part of what makes our house a home. Miss it!)
You know like the Rolling Stones have. Silver rim, black bullet proof vinyl, various handles and wheels.
I searched all round and finally ended up getting a decent price and free shipping at LA Music down on the Lakeshore. I have bought drums there, now in the custody of Scott, guitar that Lena has at home and now I ordered a piano case from them.
I placed the order just before leaving for BKK.
Piano then Lena had safely arrived in Halifax. LA promised free shipping on items over 100 bucks so I was good. I ordered the case on September 7. Two weeks delivery I was told. Perfect (see Deeds doing that arm swing right there, Perfect!). I told Lena to expect a call from a delivery type person and left for BKK all happy like.
By the end of the month I was Skype calling LA Music. Wassup! Daughter says no piano case. "Yeah well it has been ordered should be shipped to Mississauga and we will turn it right around to Halifax, one to two weeks, tops". Skyped again two weeks later. Order still shows up on the internet as processing. Finally got some email addresses and started bombing them (James Ricci) with emails. Well they apparently don't like to look at emails and certainly not to answer emails at LA. Seems to offend their artistic abilities. Maybe break a nail or something.
So you gotta phone, on Skype thank goodness or it would have cost me a fortune. Got the same run around, so finally I had enough and on Tuesday morning, Monday night October 25 in Canada, I sent an email saying I wanted my money back. Cancel the order.
Lena then lets me know that LA finally called her that same week. Turns out the case I ordered is no longer manufactured. The manager or whoever who finally twigged to this was upset according to Lena. It took them 7 weeks before they realized that the product I had paid for was not available!!!! Imagine how I feel!
What a group of nimwitted bolt headed bozos do they have working there? How can you order something from a supplies that they no longer supply. And how do you keep telling a customer it's on its way??????
Got some great advice for ya folks. Don't ever eat seafood that has flown farther than you have and DO NOT SHOP OR BUY ANYTHING EVER FROM LA music. They are awful.
Sawadee Krup
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Wat Tour
I changed the background. Lets you see the pictures a little better than the dark one I had before, hope is ok.
So on Monday morning at 8 am we were wisked away in a large Toyota van, just Deeds and I to go on a tour of three famous Buddhist temples (Wat) in Bangkok.
The temples are in order: Wat Traimit - The Temple of the Golden Buddha, Wat Pho - The Temple of the Reclining Buddha and Wat Phra Kaew - The Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Phra Kaew is on the grounds of the Royal Palace and so a walk around of these structures was also included on our half day tour.
I have included as many of the photos as I could here without making this a pic blog rather than a word blog. For those who are into Facebook, I have an album there.
It was a gorgeous day, sun was beaming down on us as we ventured in to see the Golden Buddha.
The story is that the Buddha image was kept from invaders for centuries because it was covered with plaster, appearing to be a normal plaster buddha. One day when the image was being moved it was dropped and workers discovered a shiny surface inside. They discovered a buddha image of 5.5 tons of solid gold.
You can see the wall behind the buddha. The walls are hand painted. Amazing work and detail all around the temple.
Our next visit to Wat Pho was equally amazing. The temple of the reclinging buddha holds an image that is 46 metres long.
The image is covered in gold leaf. Again the detail of the walls, roof -which is always painted red in temples, and even the bed the buddha is on is extremely intricate. The feet of the reclining buddha has inlaid mother of pearl depicting 108 different pictures.
Foot to head view here, with some view of the mother of pearl inlays.
This view shows the size of the feet and the intricate inlay of mother of pearl. Amazing stuff.
Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan or Wat Pho as the Thais call it is also home to more than 1000 buddha images, the most any wat in Bangkok holds. The wat is also home to a bodhi tree which claimed to be a cutting of the original tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting enlightening.
Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions and there are plaques all around the walls of a school building showing the methods to traditional thai massage from hundreds of years ago.
Wat Pho is part of a working monastery and there are monks coming and going. Here is the temple where prayers are held twice daily.
From here it was off to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Which by the way is not emerald at all. Wat Phra Kaew means Temple of the Holy Jewel and it houses the holiest of the buddha images in Thailand. This temple is the most sacred place for Thais. Full pants must be worn out of respect and no one gets in without, including yours truly. Deeds had a beautiful wrap over her shorts. And as I had mentioned off the top it was a beautiful sunny day. Which in Bangkok only means one thing. It was brutally hot and the sweat was rolling down my back. Then I had to put another pair of pants on overtop of my shorts. Sweat! Enough said.
This is Deeds at the Grand Palace grounds. The shrine is in the background, check out the cute little parousel she bought outside. Had to have it, the sun was that hot.
This is a shot of the interior of the shrine. The large gold dome houses relics of the buddha.
And below is the picture of the emerald buddha I acquired on the internet.
My shot is over on the right.
This Buddha image is small, just over 2 feet tall, made of green jasper or perhaps jadeite ("emerald" refers to the intense green color, not the specific stone) and since no pictures can be taken inside the temple the shot I got from outside is very tiny. Next time I will bring my telephoto! So the pic I have here is procured from places unknown and hopefully not illegal to reproduce.
There is a library on site that houses the buddhist scripture, one is on gold and the only version that sits in the library.
All through this tour we were taking pictures on our phones and sending to Lena in Halifax. Kinda like she was right there with us, kinda! Was way cool though, when you think about it. Technology is soooo cooool!
There were many more cool things at this place. Definitely I will go again to see this. I took many pics of all kinds of things, way too many to put up on the blog at this time. This last one here is of the Palace. It is only used now to host special events, when foreign dignitaries come to town, that sort of thing. This building was commissioned by Rama V. He had travelled extensively in Europe and brought western architecture to Thailand. They call this building europe with a thai hat!
So that was a hot a very interesting day for us. Wow, lots of cultural stuff, wetted your appetite about buddhism. Cool day. We were glad to get home and hit the pool to cool off. Actually brought a couple of cold ones with us and had a beer pool side. Nice! Enjoy
Sawadee Krup
So on Monday morning at 8 am we were wisked away in a large Toyota van, just Deeds and I to go on a tour of three famous Buddhist temples (Wat) in Bangkok.
The temples are in order: Wat Traimit - The Temple of the Golden Buddha, Wat Pho - The Temple of the Reclining Buddha and Wat Phra Kaew - The Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Phra Kaew is on the grounds of the Royal Palace and so a walk around of these structures was also included on our half day tour.
I have included as many of the photos as I could here without making this a pic blog rather than a word blog. For those who are into Facebook, I have an album there.
It was a gorgeous day, sun was beaming down on us as we ventured in to see the Golden Buddha.
The story is that the Buddha image was kept from invaders for centuries because it was covered with plaster, appearing to be a normal plaster buddha. One day when the image was being moved it was dropped and workers discovered a shiny surface inside. They discovered a buddha image of 5.5 tons of solid gold.
You can see the wall behind the buddha. The walls are hand painted. Amazing work and detail all around the temple.
Our next visit to Wat Pho was equally amazing. The temple of the reclinging buddha holds an image that is 46 metres long.
The image is covered in gold leaf. Again the detail of the walls, roof -which is always painted red in temples, and even the bed the buddha is on is extremely intricate. The feet of the reclining buddha has inlaid mother of pearl depicting 108 different pictures.
Foot to head view here, with some view of the mother of pearl inlays.
This view shows the size of the feet and the intricate inlay of mother of pearl. Amazing stuff.
Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan or Wat Pho as the Thais call it is also home to more than 1000 buddha images, the most any wat in Bangkok holds. The wat is also home to a bodhi tree which claimed to be a cutting of the original tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting enlightening.
Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions and there are plaques all around the walls of a school building showing the methods to traditional thai massage from hundreds of years ago.
Wat Pho is part of a working monastery and there are monks coming and going. Here is the temple where prayers are held twice daily.
From here it was off to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Which by the way is not emerald at all. Wat Phra Kaew means Temple of the Holy Jewel and it houses the holiest of the buddha images in Thailand. This temple is the most sacred place for Thais. Full pants must be worn out of respect and no one gets in without, including yours truly. Deeds had a beautiful wrap over her shorts. And as I had mentioned off the top it was a beautiful sunny day. Which in Bangkok only means one thing. It was brutally hot and the sweat was rolling down my back. Then I had to put another pair of pants on overtop of my shorts. Sweat! Enough said.
This is Deeds at the Grand Palace grounds. The shrine is in the background, check out the cute little parousel she bought outside. Had to have it, the sun was that hot.
This is a shot of the interior of the shrine. The large gold dome houses relics of the buddha.
And below is the picture of the emerald buddha I acquired on the internet.
My shot is over on the right.
This Buddha image is small, just over 2 feet tall, made of green jasper or perhaps jadeite ("emerald" refers to the intense green color, not the specific stone) and since no pictures can be taken inside the temple the shot I got from outside is very tiny. Next time I will bring my telephoto! So the pic I have here is procured from places unknown and hopefully not illegal to reproduce.
There is a library on site that houses the buddhist scripture, one is on gold and the only version that sits in the library.
All through this tour we were taking pictures on our phones and sending to Lena in Halifax. Kinda like she was right there with us, kinda! Was way cool though, when you think about it. Technology is soooo cooool!
There were many more cool things at this place. Definitely I will go again to see this. I took many pics of all kinds of things, way too many to put up on the blog at this time. This last one here is of the Palace. It is only used now to host special events, when foreign dignitaries come to town, that sort of thing. This building was commissioned by Rama V. He had travelled extensively in Europe and brought western architecture to Thailand. They call this building europe with a thai hat!
So that was a hot a very interesting day for us. Wow, lots of cultural stuff, wetted your appetite about buddhism. Cool day. We were glad to get home and hit the pool to cool off. Actually brought a couple of cold ones with us and had a beer pool side. Nice! Enjoy
Sawadee Krup
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Loooong Weekend
Hey guys. We just came off a long weekend in BKK. Very relaxing. Deeds is back to work this morn and I am doing stuff around the house, getting dinner ready. Grilled tuna steak with basmati rice/carrots/grilled street corn and baby asparagus. Mmmm mmm!
Surprise of the day for my honey when she comes home will be vodka soda with lime. A very relaxing hot summer drink. Since it is hot and summery here all the time why not. I turned down a cold Chang this afternoon knowing I was going to have a vodka this evening. Mine is with tonic. A Vonic with lime. Woo hoo!
So you heard I played my first Thailand golf game on Saturday. Not the best score I have ever shot, 92. But I will take it. Let me tell ya about BKK golf. #1. It is expensive. We got the Chairman of Thanachart best rate and it still set us back $60 per. Imagine what a normal mortal pays. Something like $140. Can't do that. My average game back in TO costs me about $33. And I figure to play here more than at home so I would hope for the ol economy of scale thingie to kick in and get golf for $24 per game. We'll see how this pans out.
The course was awesome. Maybe one of the best BKK experiences according to other players in the group. The course just opened to the public on October 1. Beautiful. One of the marketing guys tells me they are already in talks with the LPGA for a tournament next spring. Didn't bring my phone out so no pics for this blog but I will go back and pics are guaranteed.
#2. Golf in Thailand is the quietest game ever. You are assigned a caddy and she drives the cart. So there are four carts per group. You actually onlly talk to your playing partners on the tee box and a little at the green. (We are amateurs so we are not likely to be beside each other after tee shots! Only meet up again at the green and tee box!) And of course these caddies do not speak much english, actually they only speak golf. So it is awfully quiet and lonely on the ride to your next shot. Not great for the kibitzing that normally goes on during a round of golf.
This doesn't bother me that much. Me being the ultimate single golfer and all. I like to just play the game. There are other people out there with me most of the time but the intersection of them and me is casual and very loose flowing. It will be interesting to see if that mannerism or method will work here as well as it does back home. The aloofness will be amplified by the language issues.
I suspect when I play during the week by myself I will end up playing with Thai, Japanese, German, etc. So the small intersection of our limited language knowledge will draw down the discussions that take place. Really confining it to the three classics. Nice shot, Great shot and either of these with Aw or Oh in front!!
Of course you can short form when you are 48 yards away on the other side of the fairway by just saying -- Shot as you turn to address your ball. The other player adds his own Nice or Great implied! It is an easy game after all.
Saturday night was laid back and just the two of us for dinner. Yeah Deeds got away from me but not for long!
Sunday we did some pool time and then decided to trek out to Chatuchak Market. This is the monster market I talked about in an earlier blog. We figured we can get around now that we know what we are up against, right. Nope. We got lost twice and had to get help figuring out where the jello we were.
But mission accomplished. We found some great material to make lamps out of. Nice vases and stands of various kinds and the people will turn each of these into lamps for us for just an additional $15. So we figure to order up about 10 lamps for all the bed side tables and for the living room. Gotta do this because the only ligthing in the apartment is overhead or sunken lighting. It is just too harsh. Almost 95% of all lights you see here in Thailand are the small energy saving lights that a few of us use back home. Everywhere here. Electicity is very very expensive so they conserve as much as they can. We have even seen escalators that are activated by motion sensors. They are dead still and you think they are broken until you get within 20 feet or so and then magically they start up!. We have a long way to go in North America before we stop being the greedy little piggies of energy!!
I also picked up a great Chang Beer tee shirt. $3. Anyone who is an Everton supporter now knows about Chang Beer. Local Thai lager. Very tasty. I like the two elephants personally. Just think they are cool!
Well enough for now. Monday was a trip to three different Wat. Or temples as we know them. And the Royal Palace. Took about 200 pictures. I will put them up for you to view and tell you the story in tomorrows blog. Enjoy
Sawadee Krup
Surprise of the day for my honey when she comes home will be vodka soda with lime. A very relaxing hot summer drink. Since it is hot and summery here all the time why not. I turned down a cold Chang this afternoon knowing I was going to have a vodka this evening. Mine is with tonic. A Vonic with lime. Woo hoo!
So you heard I played my first Thailand golf game on Saturday. Not the best score I have ever shot, 92. But I will take it. Let me tell ya about BKK golf. #1. It is expensive. We got the Chairman of Thanachart best rate and it still set us back $60 per. Imagine what a normal mortal pays. Something like $140. Can't do that. My average game back in TO costs me about $33. And I figure to play here more than at home so I would hope for the ol economy of scale thingie to kick in and get golf for $24 per game. We'll see how this pans out.
The course was awesome. Maybe one of the best BKK experiences according to other players in the group. The course just opened to the public on October 1. Beautiful. One of the marketing guys tells me they are already in talks with the LPGA for a tournament next spring. Didn't bring my phone out so no pics for this blog but I will go back and pics are guaranteed.
#2. Golf in Thailand is the quietest game ever. You are assigned a caddy and she drives the cart. So there are four carts per group. You actually onlly talk to your playing partners on the tee box and a little at the green. (We are amateurs so we are not likely to be beside each other after tee shots! Only meet up again at the green and tee box!) And of course these caddies do not speak much english, actually they only speak golf. So it is awfully quiet and lonely on the ride to your next shot. Not great for the kibitzing that normally goes on during a round of golf.
This doesn't bother me that much. Me being the ultimate single golfer and all. I like to just play the game. There are other people out there with me most of the time but the intersection of them and me is casual and very loose flowing. It will be interesting to see if that mannerism or method will work here as well as it does back home. The aloofness will be amplified by the language issues.
I suspect when I play during the week by myself I will end up playing with Thai, Japanese, German, etc. So the small intersection of our limited language knowledge will draw down the discussions that take place. Really confining it to the three classics. Nice shot, Great shot and either of these with Aw or Oh in front!!
Of course you can short form when you are 48 yards away on the other side of the fairway by just saying -- Shot as you turn to address your ball. The other player adds his own Nice or Great implied! It is an easy game after all.
Saturday night was laid back and just the two of us for dinner. Yeah Deeds got away from me but not for long!
Sunday we did some pool time and then decided to trek out to Chatuchak Market. This is the monster market I talked about in an earlier blog. We figured we can get around now that we know what we are up against, right. Nope. We got lost twice and had to get help figuring out where the jello we were.
But mission accomplished. We found some great material to make lamps out of. Nice vases and stands of various kinds and the people will turn each of these into lamps for us for just an additional $15. So we figure to order up about 10 lamps for all the bed side tables and for the living room. Gotta do this because the only ligthing in the apartment is overhead or sunken lighting. It is just too harsh. Almost 95% of all lights you see here in Thailand are the small energy saving lights that a few of us use back home. Everywhere here. Electicity is very very expensive so they conserve as much as they can. We have even seen escalators that are activated by motion sensors. They are dead still and you think they are broken until you get within 20 feet or so and then magically they start up!. We have a long way to go in North America before we stop being the greedy little piggies of energy!!
I also picked up a great Chang Beer tee shirt. $3. Anyone who is an Everton supporter now knows about Chang Beer. Local Thai lager. Very tasty. I like the two elephants personally. Just think they are cool!
Well enough for now. Monday was a trip to three different Wat. Or temples as we know them. And the Royal Palace. Took about 200 pictures. I will put them up for you to view and tell you the story in tomorrows blog. Enjoy
Sawadee Krup
Saturday, October 23, 2010
A beautiful Saturday
Hi all......Diane here for my monthly contribution to the blog.
We are GREAT. Really enjoying Bangkok...food, people, discovering stuff, work and stupid cheap spa services. I went for a 2 hour 'traditional' thai massage today...when I left if felt as though I had stepped out of a core and stretch class....like all my muscles and joints had been oiled (hmmmm....tin man. Why do I keep referencing the wizard of oz?). 1st time that I have had a massage in the month I have been here...and loved it for many reasons, especially because they didn't slick me down with any oils. They have you put on a simple light cotton top and bottom (like pj's) and then deep massage thru the clothes. It cost 450 baht...or $15 CAD. Place was simply stunning.
Work is good....start up is my favourite time on a project....lots of things to figure out. 5 day week is hard though for this old girl...and taking some getting used to. Jerry golfed today (for the 1st time) with one of the guys I work with...so I had the morning to myself. Actually the first time I have had any time to myself and I was really looking forward to it...and enjoyed it immensely. I love Jer...but man, sometimes a girl has to have some alone-time.
I received my work permit on friday, so when we get into our new place we can have all of the stuff we had shipped over. Nov 1st is the move in date, but we are hoping to get in a few days earlier...as we already have some guests arriving. Kara & Julie are going to be in Phuket, Thailand for a (beach volley ball) competition the 1st week of November...and will spend a few days with us in Bangkok beforehand, and then a few more on their way home again. Actually, Jerry is going to go to Phuket for a couple of days (1 hour flight) to see them compete . How cool is that!!!
We are off to a night market now....looking for some lamps because furnished houses do not include them!? Will find some street-food for dinner. Last night we picked up some spring rolls from one cart, bought some bbq pork from another, and a grilled corn on the cob from yet another (total cost $100 baht or $3.30), brought it home and Jer made some awesome fried rice! Bottle of wine to accompany....$15
We are GREAT. Really enjoying Bangkok...food, people, discovering stuff, work and stupid cheap spa services. I went for a 2 hour 'traditional' thai massage today...when I left if felt as though I had stepped out of a core and stretch class....like all my muscles and joints had been oiled (hmmmm....tin man. Why do I keep referencing the wizard of oz?). 1st time that I have had a massage in the month I have been here...and loved it for many reasons, especially because they didn't slick me down with any oils. They have you put on a simple light cotton top and bottom (like pj's) and then deep massage thru the clothes. It cost 450 baht...or $15 CAD. Place was simply stunning.
Work is good....start up is my favourite time on a project....lots of things to figure out. 5 day week is hard though for this old girl...and taking some getting used to. Jerry golfed today (for the 1st time) with one of the guys I work with...so I had the morning to myself. Actually the first time I have had any time to myself and I was really looking forward to it...and enjoyed it immensely. I love Jer...but man, sometimes a girl has to have some alone-time.
I received my work permit on friday, so when we get into our new place we can have all of the stuff we had shipped over. Nov 1st is the move in date, but we are hoping to get in a few days earlier...as we already have some guests arriving. Kara & Julie are going to be in Phuket, Thailand for a (beach volley ball) competition the 1st week of November...and will spend a few days with us in Bangkok beforehand, and then a few more on their way home again. Actually, Jerry is going to go to Phuket for a couple of days (1 hour flight) to see them compete . How cool is that!!!
We are off to a night market now....looking for some lamps because furnished houses do not include them!? Will find some street-food for dinner. Last night we picked up some spring rolls from one cart, bought some bbq pork from another, and a grilled corn on the cob from yet another (total cost $100 baht or $3.30), brought it home and Jer made some awesome fried rice! Bottle of wine to accompany....$15
Friday, October 22, 2010
30 days out of Canada
Miss the hockey, miss the leaves, miss the coolness nippin at your nose. Miss my garden. And of course all the people.
But we are moving forward, no one has suggested that there are 542 sleeps before we come home, that would just be the wrong way to look at this. And that wouldn't make it an adventure either.
This weekend as you all already know is a long weekend in Thailand. We have plans for one tour into the city. One of those temple and palace tours that BKK is famous for. Have to take one before our first boatload of Canadians arrive here on Oct 29.
I also have my first golf game booked for Saturday. Yeah I know pure relief. You were all getting worried weren't you. Well now you can relax as I will finally be hitting the links again. I will borrow clubs, will need to go and look for some place to buy a box of Top Flite, Extra Long Super Soft Dead Straight GET IN THE HOLE golf balls. Shouldn't be too hard. It is BKK afterall. A shoppers paradise. Wish me well. I will hit the links with only half of my usual attire. All real golf related equipment, hats, glove, etc is still in impound down at Customs and Immigration.
You have heard about the floods here in Thailand? Well I hadn't until by the pool yesterday morning. Trying now to look on websites to see if the floods are heading towards BKK. Floods are in northern Thailand right now as far as I can figure.BKK is very flat and only abaout 10 meters or so above sea level. Kinda like New Orleans. A river Delta. The area that we are in was all rice paddies in the 60's according to one pool side resource. (Hey you get information where you can! Deeds is always askin me How do you know this stuff? There you go, resources!!)
I will go downtown to meet Deeds this afternoon to present our visa's to the Immigration Dept. Had to get six extra pictures taken in a panic last night. We have a special resource here who will pick up our visa info and go and stand in line for us down at Immigration to present the material. Our meeting is scheduled for 1. This is progress. Every little step like this gets us closer to getting our stuff out of hock and I can use my own golf equipment.
Looks like ETA for the apartment is November 1. Last discussions with the landlords rep ended in "The lease starts November 1, I would think you will move in November 1. We will try to have the place ready before that, but........."
There is a quick little update, 30 days out of Canada!
Sawadee Krup
But we are moving forward, no one has suggested that there are 542 sleeps before we come home, that would just be the wrong way to look at this. And that wouldn't make it an adventure either.
This weekend as you all already know is a long weekend in Thailand. We have plans for one tour into the city. One of those temple and palace tours that BKK is famous for. Have to take one before our first boatload of Canadians arrive here on Oct 29.
I also have my first golf game booked for Saturday. Yeah I know pure relief. You were all getting worried weren't you. Well now you can relax as I will finally be hitting the links again. I will borrow clubs, will need to go and look for some place to buy a box of Top Flite, Extra Long Super Soft Dead Straight GET IN THE HOLE golf balls. Shouldn't be too hard. It is BKK afterall. A shoppers paradise. Wish me well. I will hit the links with only half of my usual attire. All real golf related equipment, hats, glove, etc is still in impound down at Customs and Immigration.
You have heard about the floods here in Thailand? Well I hadn't until by the pool yesterday morning. Trying now to look on websites to see if the floods are heading towards BKK. Floods are in northern Thailand right now as far as I can figure.BKK is very flat and only abaout 10 meters or so above sea level. Kinda like New Orleans. A river Delta. The area that we are in was all rice paddies in the 60's according to one pool side resource. (Hey you get information where you can! Deeds is always askin me How do you know this stuff? There you go, resources!!)
I will go downtown to meet Deeds this afternoon to present our visa's to the Immigration Dept. Had to get six extra pictures taken in a panic last night. We have a special resource here who will pick up our visa info and go and stand in line for us down at Immigration to present the material. Our meeting is scheduled for 1. This is progress. Every little step like this gets us closer to getting our stuff out of hock and I can use my own golf equipment.
Looks like ETA for the apartment is November 1. Last discussions with the landlords rep ended in "The lease starts November 1, I would think you will move in November 1. We will try to have the place ready before that, but........."
There is a quick little update, 30 days out of Canada!
Sawadee Krup
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Even the locals are surprised
Yeah, how many times have ya heard that about the weather. So it is here in BKK. Clouds, everywhere and then rain too! Season is suuposed to come to an end this month but just keeps hangin on. Bummer for me. Keeps me in doors a lot.
In case you have forgotten my regular routine. After a quick call with my mom (8:45 am BKK time > 7:45 pm Lethbridge time) I usually click around on the internetz for awhile and then head downstairs to the pool. Out for lunch streetside and then off for a little walk perhaps. Although the exploring is dropped off lately, seen alot and don't want to see too much without Deeds. (Will just have to go back and see it again when she wants too!) So pretty much nothing.
Oh and of course shopping!
Yeah I pretty much do all the shopping. We are trying to eat in 3 times a week at least. Big salad takes care of one night guaranteed. After that is up to me to create. And it ain't gonna be Thai food cause the people on the street cook better than me and do it a lot cheaper!! And besides, I haven't found a Thai market yet. Hopefully I can locate one close to our new apartment. If I can buy more local stuff I might be able to cook some Thai based dishes.
(Regarding the apartment no news yet, so we wait. No golf as a result of the wait. We are running out of stuff cause we thought 2 weeks, three tops. It has now been four weeks. We actually arrived here in BKK 4 weeks ago today!)
We try to eat in three times a week even though it is hard to cook with limited utensils, kinda restricts the things you can cook. Also we don't have stuff. Simpple stuff like salt and pepper! So you have to shop to get the right stuff to put together a meal. Watch how this goes.................
I bought a bag of elaichi, looks a bit like fusili only smaller, and they attached a can of Prego sauce as a promotion of some sort. Great! Now at back at the apartment I pop the holy trinity into one of the two pots we have (diced carrots, celery, onion) let simmer for 5 minutes and then pour the sauce over top and let bubble. You all know how to make spag sauce I'm sure. In addition I have a small bag of green asparagus, it is very very thin, chopped into small pieces and dropped into the sauce for about 5 minutes before serving.
A romaine salad with some Paul Newmans own caesar dressing and a loaf of french bread.
We have found a delightful Australian cabernet called the Little Penguin. Voila. Dinner.
Don't ya wish you were here!!!
The little red haired girl! She sent me a note yesterday and all is forgiven, hopefully on both sides. Here is the story, even the ugly parts (she's a Leafs fan). Diane had in fact recieved an email from Jenny commenting about the blog and that she was loving it. My darling wife just forgot to send it to me. Oooops!
That's Jenny there on the right. The princess looking one. All is right in the universe.
So the price that I had to pay for calling Jenny out on an internationally famous blog was a plague upon my house. Well not actually she just made some reference to the fact that the Leafs have won the cup this year, already. And being a Habs fan that would put me all in a flutter.
Actually, no, not at all. I can think of a whole number of teams, well a bunch or is it a couple, well actually one team that I definitely put in front of the Laughs on the list. The hated B's
So I am OK with the fact they won the cup already. Especially since I am not in the country to see all the celebrating and vandalism on Yonge St. It's disgraceful.
What with all of this meandering I forgot to mention that today was a decent weather day. I was out at the pool at 10 am, stayed to near 1. Done nothing the rest of the day, except went shopping and writing this blog and cooking dinner. Hehehe.
Sawadee Krup
In case you have forgotten my regular routine. After a quick call with my mom (8:45 am BKK time > 7:45 pm Lethbridge time) I usually click around on the internetz for awhile and then head downstairs to the pool. Out for lunch streetside and then off for a little walk perhaps. Although the exploring is dropped off lately, seen alot and don't want to see too much without Deeds. (Will just have to go back and see it again when she wants too!) So pretty much nothing.
Oh and of course shopping!
Yeah I pretty much do all the shopping. We are trying to eat in 3 times a week at least. Big salad takes care of one night guaranteed. After that is up to me to create. And it ain't gonna be Thai food cause the people on the street cook better than me and do it a lot cheaper!! And besides, I haven't found a Thai market yet. Hopefully I can locate one close to our new apartment. If I can buy more local stuff I might be able to cook some Thai based dishes.
(Regarding the apartment no news yet, so we wait. No golf as a result of the wait. We are running out of stuff cause we thought 2 weeks, three tops. It has now been four weeks. We actually arrived here in BKK 4 weeks ago today!)
We try to eat in three times a week even though it is hard to cook with limited utensils, kinda restricts the things you can cook. Also we don't have stuff. Simpple stuff like salt and pepper! So you have to shop to get the right stuff to put together a meal. Watch how this goes.................
I bought a bag of elaichi, looks a bit like fusili only smaller, and they attached a can of Prego sauce as a promotion of some sort. Great! Now at back at the apartment I pop the holy trinity into one of the two pots we have (diced carrots, celery, onion) let simmer for 5 minutes and then pour the sauce over top and let bubble. You all know how to make spag sauce I'm sure. In addition I have a small bag of green asparagus, it is very very thin, chopped into small pieces and dropped into the sauce for about 5 minutes before serving.
A romaine salad with some Paul Newmans own caesar dressing and a loaf of french bread.
We have found a delightful Australian cabernet called the Little Penguin. Voila. Dinner.
Don't ya wish you were here!!!
The little red haired girl! She sent me a note yesterday and all is forgiven, hopefully on both sides. Here is the story, even the ugly parts (she's a Leafs fan). Diane had in fact recieved an email from Jenny commenting about the blog and that she was loving it. My darling wife just forgot to send it to me. Oooops!
That's Jenny there on the right. The princess looking one. All is right in the universe.
So the price that I had to pay for calling Jenny out on an internationally famous blog was a plague upon my house. Well not actually she just made some reference to the fact that the Leafs have won the cup this year, already. And being a Habs fan that would put me all in a flutter.
Actually, no, not at all. I can think of a whole number of teams, well a bunch or is it a couple, well actually one team that I definitely put in front of the Laughs on the list. The hated B's
So I am OK with the fact they won the cup already. Especially since I am not in the country to see all the celebrating and vandalism on Yonge St. It's disgraceful.
What with all of this meandering I forgot to mention that today was a decent weather day. I was out at the pool at 10 am, stayed to near 1. Done nothing the rest of the day, except went shopping and writing this blog and cooking dinner. Hehehe.
Sawadee Krup
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Blogging!!
Want to say hi to all and thank you to those faithful followers that have the cojones to advertise that they are actually following this blog. I am humbled. I also want to call out to some who talked about how cool it would be if I did blog. You know of these people or persons yet unnamed and that they have not visited as yet. Please encourage them to follow along and let them know that there is fun to be had by all here at "In Asia".
And finally I would like to give a shout out to that one special individual who must take a major responsibility for the creation and the inspiration to do this blog. She seems to be anonymous since the inception of In Asia. Kinda missing in action our dear little red haired friend is.
Ohh don't be thinkin you know who it is or isn't just because Jer has mentioned the infamous red haired girl.
I tread very softly on that ground (having been a Charlie Brown when it comes to red haired girls for way too long, gosh there's one story from Grade 2, ask me one day). No this is someone who urged on the writer over a few glasses of Liberty red wine up north in the Muskokas and again most every chance that was available. She was right by the way this blog is a gas, but I wonder why she has not made herself public herein and cast her vote. Me thinks that her silence is disapproval and it saddens me!!
Enough about that folly and on to what is happening hereabouts in BKK.
Well it can be summed up recently in a word. RAIN. It is the rainy season afterall. And folks it is raining. Every bloody day this week. Some days more and longer than others. I haven't had any pool time. Tan is fading fast. No not like those back in Canada, poor fools. I still have a tan, so does Deeds. That's how much tan you get here. But we do need to recharge and soon, the rain is getting just a bit boring.
Otherwise our lives are starting to fall into a bit of normal. Meaning we have some routines down pretty good. Have nailed a few necessities like, girl to do the waxing, hairdressing, threading, dry cleaning and of course you know that I found a tailor!
We are keeping our fingers crossed about our apartment. Plan was to move in round about the 15th. Hehehe, today is the 16th soooo we are waiting. Hoping next weekend cause I am really starting to get the urge to play some golf. It is actually more like the shakes!
I have not played a round of golf since mid Septmber back in TO. A month it has been and usually in October back home I would play 20 games. It's usually perfect weather, all the part timers and hackers have packed it in and it would be just the serious hackers like me still out there.
Heres hopin
Sawadee Krup
And finally I would like to give a shout out to that one special individual who must take a major responsibility for the creation and the inspiration to do this blog. She seems to be anonymous since the inception of In Asia. Kinda missing in action our dear little red haired friend is.
Ohh don't be thinkin you know who it is or isn't just because Jer has mentioned the infamous red haired girl.
I tread very softly on that ground (having been a Charlie Brown when it comes to red haired girls for way too long, gosh there's one story from Grade 2, ask me one day). No this is someone who urged on the writer over a few glasses of Liberty red wine up north in the Muskokas and again most every chance that was available. She was right by the way this blog is a gas, but I wonder why she has not made herself public herein and cast her vote. Me thinks that her silence is disapproval and it saddens me!!
Enough about that folly and on to what is happening hereabouts in BKK.
Well it can be summed up recently in a word. RAIN. It is the rainy season afterall. And folks it is raining. Every bloody day this week. Some days more and longer than others. I haven't had any pool time. Tan is fading fast. No not like those back in Canada, poor fools. I still have a tan, so does Deeds. That's how much tan you get here. But we do need to recharge and soon, the rain is getting just a bit boring.
Otherwise our lives are starting to fall into a bit of normal. Meaning we have some routines down pretty good. Have nailed a few necessities like, girl to do the waxing, hairdressing, threading, dry cleaning and of course you know that I found a tailor!
We are keeping our fingers crossed about our apartment. Plan was to move in round about the 15th. Hehehe, today is the 16th soooo we are waiting. Hoping next weekend cause I am really starting to get the urge to play some golf. It is actually more like the shakes!
I have not played a round of golf since mid Septmber back in TO. A month it has been and usually in October back home I would play 20 games. It's usually perfect weather, all the part timers and hackers have packed it in and it would be just the serious hackers like me still out there.
Heres hopin
Sawadee Krup
Thursday, October 14, 2010
It is that hot
I have to tell you that I went out and bought some anti-perspirant the other day. Now I am not a proponent of this stuff. All full of zinc and things that actually plug up your pores. That's why you don't perspire. No holes in your skin for it to come out! But I had too. I couldn't stand myself. Really. The manly, swarthy, European thing just doesn't work for me. I just do not believe that one should be aromatic if you know what I mean. I think I have told you about the perpensity here to take showers. It's part of the solution but hey I may have found another partial solution to the heat. People say you should dust up with baby powder. This is an internet tip I found. Makes sesne yes! I am going to try this is to and see if it helps. Anything to be fresh.
Just thought I would share that with you. Sorry it it's too much information.
Traffic still amazes me. Went downtown with the driver yesterday at 10 am. Took 1 hour 15 minutes. Wow. Took 12 minutes to get home at 2 pm. That is traffic folks.
Sawadee Krup
Just thought I would share that with you. Sorry it it's too much information.
Traffic still amazes me. Went downtown with the driver yesterday at 10 am. Took 1 hour 15 minutes. Wow. Took 12 minutes to get home at 2 pm. That is traffic folks.
Sawadee Krup
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Slow coupla days
Nothing much to report for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Lots of shopping, actually had dinner "at home" the last two nights. Was kinda cool just to sit down to dinner the two of us.
I had a few TV shows downloaded so we had an evening in front of the big screen. Yes that is the 19 inch lap top computer we have, though with the new GOM player I downloaded it was very easy to look at. Much better player than DIVX if anyone out there cares. Still looking for a solution to upload from the laptop to the tv screen that looks half decent. Working on it.
I have a few movies that I can cut to disc so we might even have popcorn and a movie one night soon. Just have to find a good divx converter. The player here is a DVD / DIVX so that is one bonus.
We are closing in on the apartment and will have pics of that as soon as we are in. Out to buy sheets and comforters, yes comforters. Because you have the air con blasting all the time you need to conver up or you will freeze to death. Weird huh? Getting around the air con is one of the great dilemmas around here. You dress for hot, but everywhere you go there is air con. Blasting. Cold. I actually find myself at times going outside to warm up, gotta get away from the A/C.
Haven't done a lot of pool the last three days cause of the clouds and rain. Poured last night, true tropical rain storm. Big thunder and lightning! Was a little sun today but not enough to take advantage of. So it there is any let up tomorrow I am at the pool by 10:30. Fellow needs to relax.
Sawadee Krup
I had a few TV shows downloaded so we had an evening in front of the big screen. Yes that is the 19 inch lap top computer we have, though with the new GOM player I downloaded it was very easy to look at. Much better player than DIVX if anyone out there cares. Still looking for a solution to upload from the laptop to the tv screen that looks half decent. Working on it.
I have a few movies that I can cut to disc so we might even have popcorn and a movie one night soon. Just have to find a good divx converter. The player here is a DVD / DIVX so that is one bonus.
We are closing in on the apartment and will have pics of that as soon as we are in. Out to buy sheets and comforters, yes comforters. Because you have the air con blasting all the time you need to conver up or you will freeze to death. Weird huh? Getting around the air con is one of the great dilemmas around here. You dress for hot, but everywhere you go there is air con. Blasting. Cold. I actually find myself at times going outside to warm up, gotta get away from the A/C.
Haven't done a lot of pool the last three days cause of the clouds and rain. Poured last night, true tropical rain storm. Big thunder and lightning! Was a little sun today but not enough to take advantage of. So it there is any let up tomorrow I am at the pool by 10:30. Fellow needs to relax.
Sawadee Krup
Monday, October 11, 2010
Not a holiday in BKK
I know most of you are sitting around enjoying turkery sandwiches. Sweet.
Deeds and I like ours with butter on the bread, me a little mustard on one side and don't forget to put some dressing in with that turkey breast meat. Yes that's right, ya gotta have some dressin in their too. Was the Brooks clan that taught me this one, tastes great!! No I do not put ketchup on my turkey, that distinction belongs to Beaver. He's also the one who is king at brooksin-up the ketchup bottle as well. Aahhhh, but ya gotta love em though!
So Deeds is at work today I have been tryin to get my phone unlocked so I can get a local number. Just too cheap to buy a new one. Might have to though. Tried some internet service to unlock the hold Rogers has on it and may have turned it into a brick! Will let some Thai phone wizard at it tomorrow. Here's hopein.
One development that I haven't told you about is taxi scooters. These enterd our lives as must haves this weekend. At one point you just get fed up with walkin everywhere. And as a pedestrian here you fall into the same category as squirels or racoons back home. The drivers swerve to try and miss but if not, oh well!
If you are walkin you are waitin. And sweating, did I mention it was hot here! One change of clothes to do one thing. Go shopping, come home, shower, change your clothes. Now if you take the scooter taxi, you are there in two minutes. They go fast enough that you don't break into a sweat, in fact it kinda cools you off. Like a fan, only a lot more scary. So I am now ridin the scooters. The furthest supermarket costs 30 baht to get home. Is one dollar. I'm in. Deeds even had a ride on one on Sunday from the top of our street. Two guys were kinda racing down the road. Was fun, breezy and not at all like walking and sweating. And you will notice that alot of the women here actually ride them side saddle. So they are alot safer than you think.
We do have a long weekend coming up. October 23 is actually a dual holiday. Firstly it is Wan Ok Pansa which is the celebration of the end of the rains retreat. It is held on the first day of the waning moon of the eleventh lunar month. October 23 also happens to be Chulalongkorn Day. Because these two days coincide this year Chulalongkorn Day will be celebrated with a holiday on Monday, October 25.
King Chulalongkorn the Great or Rama V, passed away on October 23rd 1910 at the age of 57. He had ruled what was then Siam, for 42 years. Chulalongkorn was educated by Thai and European tutors including Anna Leonowens who later became famous after she was portrayed in the movie ‘The King and I’. The boy prince in the story was a portrayal of Chulalongkorn. That is his picture on the back of Thailand’s 100 Baht note.
Sawadee Krup
Deeds and I like ours with butter on the bread, me a little mustard on one side and don't forget to put some dressing in with that turkey breast meat. Yes that's right, ya gotta have some dressin in their too. Was the Brooks clan that taught me this one, tastes great!! No I do not put ketchup on my turkey, that distinction belongs to Beaver. He's also the one who is king at brooksin-up the ketchup bottle as well. Aahhhh, but ya gotta love em though!
So Deeds is at work today I have been tryin to get my phone unlocked so I can get a local number. Just too cheap to buy a new one. Might have to though. Tried some internet service to unlock the hold Rogers has on it and may have turned it into a brick! Will let some Thai phone wizard at it tomorrow. Here's hopein.
One development that I haven't told you about is taxi scooters. These enterd our lives as must haves this weekend. At one point you just get fed up with walkin everywhere. And as a pedestrian here you fall into the same category as squirels or racoons back home. The drivers swerve to try and miss but if not, oh well!
If you are walkin you are waitin. And sweating, did I mention it was hot here! One change of clothes to do one thing. Go shopping, come home, shower, change your clothes. Now if you take the scooter taxi, you are there in two minutes. They go fast enough that you don't break into a sweat, in fact it kinda cools you off. Like a fan, only a lot more scary. So I am now ridin the scooters. The furthest supermarket costs 30 baht to get home. Is one dollar. I'm in. Deeds even had a ride on one on Sunday from the top of our street. Two guys were kinda racing down the road. Was fun, breezy and not at all like walking and sweating. And you will notice that alot of the women here actually ride them side saddle. So they are alot safer than you think.
We do have a long weekend coming up. October 23 is actually a dual holiday. Firstly it is Wan Ok Pansa which is the celebration of the end of the rains retreat. It is held on the first day of the waning moon of the eleventh lunar month. October 23 also happens to be Chulalongkorn Day. Because these two days coincide this year Chulalongkorn Day will be celebrated with a holiday on Monday, October 25.
King Chulalongkorn the Great or Rama V, passed away on October 23rd 1910 at the age of 57. He had ruled what was then Siam, for 42 years. Chulalongkorn was educated by Thai and European tutors including Anna Leonowens who later became famous after she was portrayed in the movie ‘The King and I’. The boy prince in the story was a portrayal of Chulalongkorn. That is his picture on the back of Thailand’s 100 Baht note.
Sawadee Krup
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Awesome Weekend
Hey again folks. Deeds and I just got back from the pool it's 4:30 in the afternoon and we might be in for a little nap before we decide whats for din din.
We have had a great, great weekend in BKK.
Friday night was laid back. We walked down the street to the Parrot Cate, had a cold Corona on their tiny little patio, did a walk around to see if we could find any shortcuts outta the holtel area to other environs. For dinner we decided on a Korean restaurant a few paces further down Soi 16 from the Parrot. It too was a taste treat and we were home by 8.
Watched a little tv, only a little as there really isn't anything of interest, some movies is all and I was off to bed earlly. Deeds hung around and read.
Satruday morn was a typical tea for two start for us. We love to have our tea in the morning, usually accompanied by the newspaper. Haven't got that going yet. My job as CIO of iDB Technologies is to hook up our ereaders to download The Star and Globe. This should happn next Sunday, we will read the Saturday versions of both of those papers on our readers. I'll let ya know how that goes.
We also had a great treat Saturday morning when we got to Skype with Honey and Tony. This is amazing technology and really keeps us connected. Don't know how people lived without this.
We had heard about TIFF not far from our residence. Ohhh yeah Thailand International Furniture Festival. Really! It opened at 11, we were there at about 5 after. Walked around and found some fantastic stuff for the new apartment, just now trying to figure out if it works somewhere back in Mississauge before we actually buy it. Left there and we were back for a little nappy before our big dinner extravaganza with fellow Thanachart Bank employees.
The event took place in the Hawaii Towers.
This will ring bells because our new place is in these same Hawaii Towers. The dinner was hosted by Ajay and Sonali. The food was truly Indian and was totally awesome. I for one ate too much. And ow my tummy vas vedie sore. I also drank too much red wine. Yes I know that comes as a surprise to alot because I have not embibbed much in the last 7 or so years. But this night I lost control. Paid the price as well, so I am back on the wagon. Til next time!!
Sunday morning we were late out of bed. Having tea, with no paper to read we started browsing the Bangkok Guide we bought in TO. We noticed that Chatuchak Market is held on the weekends and is said to be quite big and fantastic. Now Deeds and I are old hands remember. Coupla trips to Hong Kong. These are world famous markets such as Tung Choi Street (knock offs), Stanley Market (clothes and lots of other), Wan Chai............. well I could go on. And these are really great markets with negotiating (Deeds in her glory here folks look out) and walk away ploys and all that stuff. We thought we knew markets. Chatuchak or JJ Market (Jatujak) as it is also known, THIS IS A MARKET. Holy mother of pearl. The place covers 35 acres! We are talking sod farm here folks. There are over 5,000 stalls and they expect at least 200,000 people on each day it is open. There is a map of the place above and all the stalls are gathered together based on product. Took Deeds and I only 40 minutes and we were lost. But talk about great stuff, cheap. Example we bought pairs of flip flops for 59 baht/ $1.90.
You cannot do this place in a day, or two even. You need to check out the map, pick your target for the day and go. Come back for the other stuff next time. Wow! It is hot and the stalls a crammed together, with tarps for rain over top, so we are talking steam bath type heat. We will go back now that we have a clue.
Pool was great, resting now and looking forward to the event of the week. We Skype with Lena tonight. Our favourite. Hooray.
Sawadee Krup
We have had a great, great weekend in BKK.
Friday night was laid back. We walked down the street to the Parrot Cate, had a cold Corona on their tiny little patio, did a walk around to see if we could find any shortcuts outta the holtel area to other environs. For dinner we decided on a Korean restaurant a few paces further down Soi 16 from the Parrot. It too was a taste treat and we were home by 8.
Watched a little tv, only a little as there really isn't anything of interest, some movies is all and I was off to bed earlly. Deeds hung around and read.
Satruday morn was a typical tea for two start for us. We love to have our tea in the morning, usually accompanied by the newspaper. Haven't got that going yet. My job as CIO of iDB Technologies is to hook up our ereaders to download The Star and Globe. This should happn next Sunday, we will read the Saturday versions of both of those papers on our readers. I'll let ya know how that goes.
We also had a great treat Saturday morning when we got to Skype with Honey and Tony. This is amazing technology and really keeps us connected. Don't know how people lived without this.
We had heard about TIFF not far from our residence. Ohhh yeah Thailand International Furniture Festival. Really! It opened at 11, we were there at about 5 after. Walked around and found some fantastic stuff for the new apartment, just now trying to figure out if it works somewhere back in Mississauge before we actually buy it. Left there and we were back for a little nappy before our big dinner extravaganza with fellow Thanachart Bank employees.
The event took place in the Hawaii Towers.
This will ring bells because our new place is in these same Hawaii Towers. The dinner was hosted by Ajay and Sonali. The food was truly Indian and was totally awesome. I for one ate too much. And ow my tummy vas vedie sore. I also drank too much red wine. Yes I know that comes as a surprise to alot because I have not embibbed much in the last 7 or so years. But this night I lost control. Paid the price as well, so I am back on the wagon. Til next time!!
Sunday morning we were late out of bed. Having tea, with no paper to read we started browsing the Bangkok Guide we bought in TO. We noticed that Chatuchak Market is held on the weekends and is said to be quite big and fantastic. Now Deeds and I are old hands remember. Coupla trips to Hong Kong. These are world famous markets such as Tung Choi Street (knock offs), Stanley Market (clothes and lots of other), Wan Chai............. well I could go on. And these are really great markets with negotiating (Deeds in her glory here folks look out) and walk away ploys and all that stuff. We thought we knew markets. Chatuchak or JJ Market (Jatujak) as it is also known, THIS IS A MARKET. Holy mother of pearl. The place covers 35 acres! We are talking sod farm here folks. There are over 5,000 stalls and they expect at least 200,000 people on each day it is open. There is a map of the place above and all the stalls are gathered together based on product. Took Deeds and I only 40 minutes and we were lost. But talk about great stuff, cheap. Example we bought pairs of flip flops for 59 baht/ $1.90.
You cannot do this place in a day, or two even. You need to check out the map, pick your target for the day and go. Come back for the other stuff next time. Wow! It is hot and the stalls a crammed together, with tarps for rain over top, so we are talking steam bath type heat. We will go back now that we have a clue.
Pool was great, resting now and looking forward to the event of the week. We Skype with Lena tonight. Our favourite. Hooray.
Sawadee Krup
Saturday, October 9, 2010
A History of Thanksgiving in Canada
In case you didn't know here are some facts about our Thanksgiving Day holiday.
Various First Nations in Canada had long-standing traditions celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Canada's First Nations organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.
In the year 1578, Martin Frobisher who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving the long journey. Frobisher's thanksgiving was not for harvest but homecoming. He had safely returned from the search for a NorthWest Passage. He was still alive. French settlers gave thanks as early as 1604 upon arriving in the New World. Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year on various dates.
After WW1 both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Rememberance Day. To the right, soldiers celebrate a service in the bombed out Cambrai Cathedral.
Thanksgiving moved to the second Monday in October in the great year of 1959!!!
Of course today we still celebrate Thanksgiving in many ways. The CFL has a wonderful weekend planned.
Arrrrggggooooooooss have a sold out game with the Green Riders. Should be awesome!
There will be pumpkins bought, many family get togethers like we always have with the Brooks clan in one location or antoher and of course many turkey dinners with all the trimmnigs.
So Deeds and I just want to wish all our family, friends, well wishers and blog followers a very Happy Thanksgiving
Various First Nations in Canada had long-standing traditions celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Canada's First Nations organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.
In the year 1578, Martin Frobisher who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving the long journey. Frobisher's thanksgiving was not for harvest but homecoming. He had safely returned from the search for a NorthWest Passage. He was still alive. French settlers gave thanks as early as 1604 upon arriving in the New World. Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year on various dates.
After WW1 both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Rememberance Day. To the right, soldiers celebrate a service in the bombed out Cambrai Cathedral.
Thanksgiving moved to the second Monday in October in the great year of 1959!!!
Of course today we still celebrate Thanksgiving in many ways. The CFL has a wonderful weekend planned.
Arrrrggggooooooooss have a sold out game with the Green Riders. Should be awesome!
There will be pumpkins bought, many family get togethers like we always have with the Brooks clan in one location or antoher and of course many turkey dinners with all the trimmnigs.
So Deeds and I just want to wish all our family, friends, well wishers and blog followers a very Happy Thanksgiving
Friday, October 8, 2010
That one got away
So ok. I have been trying since the day we got here to establish some kind of link back to Canada. Mainly to society and all the things we cheerish most about our native land.
So you know I am talking HOCKEY.
For those who don't pay attention I am a great hockey fan. Blessed even more so because I am a Habs fan. Which means I have something to fan about, to fan over, and to be a fan because of.
It's Fantastic!
I tried valiantly to catch the Habs opener against the others from Toronto this morning. Got up at 6 and started fiddling with proxies and ordering connections. Tried to pass through a VPN (virtually private network for neophytes) to try and trick the IT boys at CBC into believeing that I am in Canada. No luck! So no problem I would just download the video off of CBC later today (I have been able to finagle this process) and watch the game in solitude tonight. Win or lose.
.
Nope. Thanks to the people who believe in the others from Toronto, you know the team WE ALL HAVE to watch lose every Saturday night, I was informed of the actual outcome of the game as it ended. Faster than the internet itself.
Well it ain't gonna be the only game we lose this year. And hopefully for the Laughs they might even win another game this year. There is more hockey to come. That is why we like it so much!
No sense going on about the MLSE (Most Losing Sports Enterprise) managment and what they have, or haven't done. It goes all the way back to Harold so the lineage is serious.
The battle is joined. We will meet again, thats the fun of it.
Makes ya sick inside if you lose to those ............
Anyway, c'est la vie. In closting.
A last laugh.
Good luck to all.
GO HABS GO, insert song here....Ole!
So you know I am talking HOCKEY.
For those who don't pay attention I am a great hockey fan. Blessed even more so because I am a Habs fan. Which means I have something to fan about, to fan over, and to be a fan because of.
It's Fantastic!
I tried valiantly to catch the Habs opener against the others from Toronto this morning. Got up at 6 and started fiddling with proxies and ordering connections. Tried to pass through a VPN (virtually private network for neophytes) to try and trick the IT boys at CBC into believeing that I am in Canada. No luck! So no problem I would just download the video off of CBC later today (I have been able to finagle this process) and watch the game in solitude tonight. Win or lose.
.
Nope. Thanks to the people who believe in the others from Toronto, you know the team WE ALL HAVE to watch lose every Saturday night, I was informed of the actual outcome of the game as it ended. Faster than the internet itself.
Well it ain't gonna be the only game we lose this year. And hopefully for the Laughs they might even win another game this year. There is more hockey to come. That is why we like it so much!
No sense going on about the MLSE (Most Losing Sports Enterprise) managment and what they have, or haven't done. It goes all the way back to Harold so the lineage is serious.
The battle is joined. We will meet again, thats the fun of it.
Makes ya sick inside if you lose to those ............
Anyway, c'est la vie. In closting.
A last laugh.
Good luck to all.
GO HABS GO, insert song here....Ole!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Hodge Podge
So we did pretty much nothin since The Ball. Sunday I believe I told you that I connected with a high school friend from Port Arthur. Yes, it was called Port Arthur, not Thunder Bay when I went to Lakevievw High School. We chatted for about 2 hours, catching up and finding out what had happened in our lives. Peter has been out here in SE Asia for 30 years or so. Has a place in Pattaya, about 2 hours by car southeast of BKK. Also has a 38' catamarran moored in the bay. Sweet. Deeds and I can't wait for the weekend invite to go down to see it. Woohoo!
Oh yes, the Ball was actually an early Thanksgiving celebration for all the Canucks here in BKK. The dinner was roast turkey with all the trimmins. Stuffing, cranberries, gravy, mashed spuds, broccoli??, punkin pie for dessert. Who woulda thunk. Look forward to next year though. How do you like my new "go to the ball special suit, tie and shirt". All tailor made.
Sunday was a walk around day for Deeds and I. Around to the new place to see what the local area looked like. Had lunch at a diner just half a block from the building. Great. There are lots of little places all around. Like any big city. We also have some local street vendors pretty much across the street that I will become a regular at. Some guys become a regular at the local pub, me I become a local street meat eater!? We took a tour of Soi Cowboy. It was early afternoon and a Sunday so it was quiet.
At the very top of our street, Sukumvit, Soi 23, there is an area called Soi Cowboy. It is a red light area and although Soi Cowboy is known for being a little more sedate than many red light districts in BKK, it makes up for it by having a more authentic, tourist-free and relaxed atmosphere. You will see more Thai faces than tourist faces on this street. Happy hour is the thing here with beer costing 50 to 100 baht. (B100 = $3.25). Not cheap when you consider a good restaurant will charge B110 for a delicious Chicken Paenang dinner. Your choice, one beer or Paenang? Bottom line is the place has a number of bars, some are a little seedy, most are bars, people play darts, drink beer, meet friends and others out for an afternoon, night or whatever.
BKK is very unpretentious, at least for us at this point. Yes there are shopping areas like the Emporium not far down Sukumvit from our place. All Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Fendi, etc. But we seem to meet normal, very friendly people here. Thai (as in Chaiwat) or other farang like us. Expats some, a lot however are people who have decided to live here, retire here. Because of the nature of Thailand, the weather, the beauty, the unjudgemental nature of the place. Whatever, it seems to affect you. Slow you down somewhat. Like you can't get pissed at people cutting in front of you in traffic like idiots do in TO. How many times have you had an 18 wheeler swerve at you when you are in the right hand lane sneaking through traffic! I have been in traffic, real traffic here and in Italy where the cars, motor bikes whatever, go whereever they have to in order to keep moving. On the sidewalk, OK. What's all the fuss. Chill people. They seem to have here. And I really hope it rubs off on me...............more
Maybe I should try a traditional Thai massage, Deeds has been buggin me to try one. But us of the fury tribe are a little shy in that area, so I did some research maybe when we are up in Chaing Mai I can get this one!!
Going to enhance that chill factor now, I'm off to the pool.
Chillin
Sawadee Krap
Oh yes, the Ball was actually an early Thanksgiving celebration for all the Canucks here in BKK. The dinner was roast turkey with all the trimmins. Stuffing, cranberries, gravy, mashed spuds, broccoli??, punkin pie for dessert. Who woulda thunk. Look forward to next year though. How do you like my new "go to the ball special suit, tie and shirt". All tailor made.
Sunday was a walk around day for Deeds and I. Around to the new place to see what the local area looked like. Had lunch at a diner just half a block from the building. Great. There are lots of little places all around. Like any big city. We also have some local street vendors pretty much across the street that I will become a regular at. Some guys become a regular at the local pub, me I become a local street meat eater!? We took a tour of Soi Cowboy. It was early afternoon and a Sunday so it was quiet.
At the very top of our street, Sukumvit, Soi 23, there is an area called Soi Cowboy. It is a red light area and although Soi Cowboy is known for being a little more sedate than many red light districts in BKK, it makes up for it by having a more authentic, tourist-free and relaxed atmosphere. You will see more Thai faces than tourist faces on this street. Happy hour is the thing here with beer costing 50 to 100 baht. (B100 = $3.25). Not cheap when you consider a good restaurant will charge B110 for a delicious Chicken Paenang dinner. Your choice, one beer or Paenang? Bottom line is the place has a number of bars, some are a little seedy, most are bars, people play darts, drink beer, meet friends and others out for an afternoon, night or whatever.
BKK is very unpretentious, at least for us at this point. Yes there are shopping areas like the Emporium not far down Sukumvit from our place. All Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Fendi, etc. But we seem to meet normal, very friendly people here. Thai (as in Chaiwat) or other farang like us. Expats some, a lot however are people who have decided to live here, retire here. Because of the nature of Thailand, the weather, the beauty, the unjudgemental nature of the place. Whatever, it seems to affect you. Slow you down somewhat. Like you can't get pissed at people cutting in front of you in traffic like idiots do in TO. How many times have you had an 18 wheeler swerve at you when you are in the right hand lane sneaking through traffic! I have been in traffic, real traffic here and in Italy where the cars, motor bikes whatever, go whereever they have to in order to keep moving. On the sidewalk, OK. What's all the fuss. Chill people. They seem to have here. And I really hope it rubs off on me...............more
Maybe I should try a traditional Thai massage, Deeds has been buggin me to try one. But us of the fury tribe are a little shy in that area, so I did some research maybe when we are up in Chaing Mai I can get this one!!
Going to enhance that chill factor now, I'm off to the pool.
Chillin
Sawadee Krap
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Ball
So ya heard all about Deeds experience on Saturday afternoon. End result we were all gussied up and ready to go. This was to be a people meeting evening. Right from the get go we met a couple that actually arrived that afternoon, and here they were attending the party, Lenny and Gordon. She the worker, he the retiree. Sound familiar!
We arrive in style, guests #4, 5, 6 and 7 into the building!! We find out a little later that Thai's arrive at least a half hour late to stated time. Is standard protocol. Live and learn. There were tons of items laid out for the silent auction. Yes my little Deedles does love a silent auction, but really, this is Thailand and we have only been here for 10 days so really what is it that she could want or think to buy? Really?
I do notice a BB Bold up for auction starting at B11,000 (B stands for Thai Baht, money like. 1 CDN $ = 33 Baht, so 11,000 = $340. Not bad for an unlocked, in the box BB)
The place starts to fill and we begin the introductions of peers and bosses. No problem for me. I have a name retention capability of an iron trap. The name goes in and is trapped. I can never get it to come out, soooo I have a tendancy to call alot of people "Buddy". Doesn't go over that well in Thai!!
One of the most interesting people we met was Chaiwat Utaiwan and his wife Narin. They are Thai locals. He just happens to be the President and CEO of Siam City Bank. This is the bank that Thanachart (Scotia 49%) purchased and essentially the reason we are here.
So we are chatting, pleasantries, etc. We find out that they were in Toronto in 1984, springish, right after they both graduated university. Oh really Diane says, and where did you go to school. Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky says Chaiwat. Uhuh, says Diane, so I chime in. So how are the Cardinals doing this year! Chaiwat looks at me and his face just beems. Yeah the Cardinals he says and gives me a high 5! Deeds nearly fell over. Here I am talkin college hoops with the CEO of Siam City Bank.Way cool.
BOYS - take note, sitting in front of the tv eatin chips just paid off!! It's actually research work we are doin!!
The rest of the night just got better. Chaiwat and Narin in true Thai fashion offer to assist us anytime we might need their help. And I am positive they mean it.
Besdies Chaiwat, also sitting at our table was Brendon King (Director and Vice Chairman of Thanachart) and his wife Sadie. Firdos (owner of the integration project and the individual who recruited Diane directly) and his wife Arzina.
There were more people of significance, too many to mention. But I think you get the drift.
Little girl from Tottenham, Ontario and rugged adventurer from Thunder Bay meet big time corporate in Bangkok, Thailand. Who woulda figured.
Oh yeah before I forget, most of you know Deeds did win auction items! Always, wins acution items. We have a weekend for two in Chiang Mai. The second largest city in Thailand. It is about 700 km north of BKK, probably go there in the summer when it is very hot down here, will be cooler into the mountains. For our new apartment we picked up a beautiful persian style rug.
Home by midnight, what a night it was!
We arrive in style, guests #4, 5, 6 and 7 into the building!! We find out a little later that Thai's arrive at least a half hour late to stated time. Is standard protocol. Live and learn. There were tons of items laid out for the silent auction. Yes my little Deedles does love a silent auction, but really, this is Thailand and we have only been here for 10 days so really what is it that she could want or think to buy? Really?
I do notice a BB Bold up for auction starting at B11,000 (B stands for Thai Baht, money like. 1 CDN $ = 33 Baht, so 11,000 = $340. Not bad for an unlocked, in the box BB)
The place starts to fill and we begin the introductions of peers and bosses. No problem for me. I have a name retention capability of an iron trap. The name goes in and is trapped. I can never get it to come out, soooo I have a tendancy to call alot of people "Buddy". Doesn't go over that well in Thai!!
One of the most interesting people we met was Chaiwat Utaiwan and his wife Narin. They are Thai locals. He just happens to be the President and CEO of Siam City Bank. This is the bank that Thanachart (Scotia 49%) purchased and essentially the reason we are here.
So we are chatting, pleasantries, etc. We find out that they were in Toronto in 1984, springish, right after they both graduated university. Oh really Diane says, and where did you go to school. Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky says Chaiwat. Uhuh, says Diane, so I chime in. So how are the Cardinals doing this year! Chaiwat looks at me and his face just beems. Yeah the Cardinals he says and gives me a high 5! Deeds nearly fell over. Here I am talkin college hoops with the CEO of Siam City Bank.Way cool.
BOYS - take note, sitting in front of the tv eatin chips just paid off!! It's actually research work we are doin!!
The rest of the night just got better. Chaiwat and Narin in true Thai fashion offer to assist us anytime we might need their help. And I am positive they mean it.
Besdies Chaiwat, also sitting at our table was Brendon King (Director and Vice Chairman of Thanachart) and his wife Sadie. Firdos (owner of the integration project and the individual who recruited Diane directly) and his wife Arzina.
There were more people of significance, too many to mention. But I think you get the drift.
Little girl from Tottenham, Ontario and rugged adventurer from Thunder Bay meet big time corporate in Bangkok, Thailand. Who woulda figured.
Oh yeah before I forget, most of you know Deeds did win auction items! Always, wins acution items. We have a weekend for two in Chiang Mai. The second largest city in Thailand. It is about 700 km north of BKK, probably go there in the summer when it is very hot down here, will be cooler into the mountains. For our new apartment we picked up a beautiful persian style rug.
Home by midnight, what a night it was!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Preparing for the Ball
Hi all, I know that you have not heard much from me. This blog thing is really Jerry's gig...and I have to say that I don't always get to check it out every day....but I do enjoy reading his 'take' on our adventure.
However today I have a story to share about preparing for the big shin-dig on Saturday night. This will most likely only interest my 'girl' friends...so feel free to skip it if you feel so inclined.
Thailand is very well know for it's spa & massage services.....these places literally can be found, 5 in a row on many, many streets. So I decide to treat myself and have a manicure & pedicure. At 9am I am at one of these tiny places, seated and offered some tea. A lovely young girl takes my hand....and another takes my foot into her lap. I'm thinking this is pretty cool (having the services performed at the same time)....I won't have to be here for 2 hours. Then the owner asks me if I would also like to have a foot massage. Now I'm feeling pretty pampered at this point...and rest my head back on the recliner chair and say....sure.
The two sweet girls work their magic and when the one giving me the pedicure finishes with my one foot, a 3rd more mature woman (with large & strong hands) pulls up a stool and has now taken that leg and started to massage. So I have one doing my manicure, one the pedicure and now one other the massage.
I am truly overwhelmed...and wished that one of my friends (you, for example) might pass by this little shop and peek in the window to see what was happening...and maybe come in and take part in this marvel. Now perhaps this brings to mind for you some hollywood movie scene .....but I can only think of the cowardly lion being primped and preened to see the Wonderful Oz. Me and the lion....quite literally being waited on hand & foot!! Jerry and I planned to just hang around the pool for a few hours in the afternoon....so before I leave the Spa it occurs to me that I might want to have my hair washed and blow-dried before the big night. It is all agreed and I return at 4pm for just that....and a very fine job they did.
Now although it might appear to you that me and the cowardly lion are at the nut of this story....the part that really needs telling is .....what this all cost. Manicure, pedicure, amazing foot & leg massage (that also included shoulders, arms, neck & head?!) and a wash & blow-dry. Are you ready for this??
The total cost was $34 Canadian (including tips to each of the 4 people who worked on me).
So, when was it again you were planning to visit??
Talk to you soon my friends, Diane
However today I have a story to share about preparing for the big shin-dig on Saturday night. This will most likely only interest my 'girl' friends...so feel free to skip it if you feel so inclined.
Thailand is very well know for it's spa & massage services.....these places literally can be found, 5 in a row on many, many streets. So I decide to treat myself and have a manicure & pedicure. At 9am I am at one of these tiny places, seated and offered some tea. A lovely young girl takes my hand....and another takes my foot into her lap. I'm thinking this is pretty cool (having the services performed at the same time)....I won't have to be here for 2 hours. Then the owner asks me if I would also like to have a foot massage. Now I'm feeling pretty pampered at this point...and rest my head back on the recliner chair and say....sure.
The two sweet girls work their magic and when the one giving me the pedicure finishes with my one foot, a 3rd more mature woman (with large & strong hands) pulls up a stool and has now taken that leg and started to massage. So I have one doing my manicure, one the pedicure and now one other the massage.
I am truly overwhelmed...and wished that one of my friends (you, for example) might pass by this little shop and peek in the window to see what was happening...and maybe come in and take part in this marvel. Now perhaps this brings to mind for you some hollywood movie scene .....but I can only think of the cowardly lion being primped and preened to see the Wonderful Oz. Me and the lion....quite literally being waited on hand & foot!! Jerry and I planned to just hang around the pool for a few hours in the afternoon....so before I leave the Spa it occurs to me that I might want to have my hair washed and blow-dried before the big night. It is all agreed and I return at 4pm for just that....and a very fine job they did.
Now although it might appear to you that me and the cowardly lion are at the nut of this story....the part that really needs telling is .....what this all cost. Manicure, pedicure, amazing foot & leg massage (that also included shoulders, arms, neck & head?!) and a wash & blow-dry. Are you ready for this??
The total cost was $34 Canadian (including tips to each of the 4 people who worked on me).
So, when was it again you were planning to visit??
Talk to you soon my friends, Diane
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Maple Leaf Ball
A peaceful day for Deeds and I this Saturday and we have it all to ourself. We spent this afternoon at the pool browning up.
We recieved word on Thursday mid day that our negotiations and offer to the landlord on our fabulous apartment were accepted. Deeds promptly submitted the lease that we had negotiated through our top notch Bangkok realestate agents Khun Nita and her daughter Khun Diane. By mid day on Friday the bank notified us that our lease was acceptable to them. We have our apartment in Bangkok!!!!!!!
I am not going to tell you all about the place here, now. But we will have a full pictorial review available shortly. Inside and out. What a place. I can tell you it is 4 bedroom, 4 bath with maids quarter and balconies all around. Every bedroom has it's own balcony. Total of 365 sq m. It is wonderful.
They are completing renovations right now so we cannot move in until Oct 15. Totally worth the wait.
So the beginning of a quite weekend. We go to the Maple Leaf Ball tonight, will tell all about that tomorrow. Sunday will be laid back. I have a breakfast with a high school best friend that I lived with and last saw in Ottawa in 1978! He lives in Pattaya on his boat and is up in Bangkok playing some golf in a mock Ryder Cup event with friends. Afterwards Deeds and I are open. Probably more pool.
Sawatdee Krup
We recieved word on Thursday mid day that our negotiations and offer to the landlord on our fabulous apartment were accepted. Deeds promptly submitted the lease that we had negotiated through our top notch Bangkok realestate agents Khun Nita and her daughter Khun Diane. By mid day on Friday the bank notified us that our lease was acceptable to them. We have our apartment in Bangkok!!!!!!!
I am not going to tell you all about the place here, now. But we will have a full pictorial review available shortly. Inside and out. What a place. I can tell you it is 4 bedroom, 4 bath with maids quarter and balconies all around. Every bedroom has it's own balcony. Total of 365 sq m. It is wonderful.
They are completing renovations right now so we cannot move in until Oct 15. Totally worth the wait.
So the beginning of a quite weekend. We go to the Maple Leaf Ball tonight, will tell all about that tomorrow. Sunday will be laid back. I have a breakfast with a high school best friend that I lived with and last saw in Ottawa in 1978! He lives in Pattaya on his boat and is up in Bangkok playing some golf in a mock Ryder Cup event with friends. Afterwards Deeds and I are open. Probably more pool.
Sawatdee Krup
Friday, October 1, 2010
First Rant
Ok, so I got my suit for the big Ball tomorrow night and everything is just fine. Picked up a little street food on the way home. This is sweet, the rant comes later. I went over to my local people, that's them to the right, they are just about a half a block up Soi 16. Normally I would get the usual chicken, or something on a stick right. Well I was totally surprised to see that it was seafood day!! Yes folks the long arm of the Catholic church has somehow reached all the way to Sukumvit Soi 16 in Bangkok. Hahaha, that is really rich don't you think. They have seafood day on Friday in Bangkok!!
I ended up with a salad. My man asks me if I want spicy, I say sure. He smiles and says "Yeah, you like to do spicy, You can do spicy?" Um Sure, I say. No problem. This was a simple little cabbage, tomatoe, carrot and other stuff with some tiny, tiny dried shrimp sprinkled over top. Brutally spicy. Not "My mouth is a volcano" hot, but a true test. Only way to make it here. Spicy street food. By the way if you are coming to visit...... one trip to the street vendor for something spicy is part of the price of admission. No ducking out or reneging on this.
The Rant.
I came back up to the room to eat my salad and a notice on my computer says ...."Watch the Ryder Cup Live Now". Yeah right, except if you are in Thailand. The cable tv guys over here make Ted Rogers look like a school kid. You need like 4 levels of Cable Package. Something like - Premium Gold Elite I think it was, and of course you have to have basic cable with a VIP package to get the first level of PGE. Holy mother of Pearl. Bottom line, no Ryder Cup on tv for Jer.
And when you log into your PC and think well I'll just stream a little video for a while and see wasssup. Nope! Get a cute little message that says not available in your area? My area! My area is all of ******* south east asia ya dweebs. What the jello is going on here. (I know this is a family blog so bear with me here) Give a sports fan a break!!
So I have to settle for an update on BBC 1, that's worth the price of admission!
I'm off to the pool. Reading Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, splash, read, you know the drill.
I ended up with a salad. My man asks me if I want spicy, I say sure. He smiles and says "Yeah, you like to do spicy, You can do spicy?" Um Sure, I say. No problem. This was a simple little cabbage, tomatoe, carrot and other stuff with some tiny, tiny dried shrimp sprinkled over top. Brutally spicy. Not "My mouth is a volcano" hot, but a true test. Only way to make it here. Spicy street food. By the way if you are coming to visit...... one trip to the street vendor for something spicy is part of the price of admission. No ducking out or reneging on this.
The Rant.
I came back up to the room to eat my salad and a notice on my computer says ...."Watch the Ryder Cup Live Now". Yeah right, except if you are in Thailand. The cable tv guys over here make Ted Rogers look like a school kid. You need like 4 levels of Cable Package. Something like - Premium Gold Elite I think it was, and of course you have to have basic cable with a VIP package to get the first level of PGE. Holy mother of Pearl. Bottom line, no Ryder Cup on tv for Jer.
And when you log into your PC and think well I'll just stream a little video for a while and see wasssup. Nope! Get a cute little message that says not available in your area? My area! My area is all of ******* south east asia ya dweebs. What the jello is going on here. (I know this is a family blog so bear with me here) Give a sports fan a break!!
So I have to settle for an update on BBC 1, that's worth the price of admission!
I'm off to the pool. Reading Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, splash, read, you know the drill.
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