What is in Siam Paragon?

Got FWD mail from friend last week. It's a scoop from women magazine doing some experimental by sending one girl, who's no name model to shop in Siam Paragon. First day she goes in very casual look. Well, let say, very "cheap" look. Wearing flip-flops, baggy shirt, blue jeans, hair tied up with cheap rubber band. Her mission is to walk in brand named stores to try on some shoes, make up, expensive handbags and finally she should try to apply for a credit card.

She went to random shops in Siam Paragon. All most all of sale persons in those shops looked at her as if she's an alien. Didn't really want to show her any products in their stores. Manager asked a staff to take a "close look" on her as if they afraid that she would steal something.

She saw a pair of shoes she'd like to try on. And the price was 15,000 Baht!! she wanted to try on but sale person didn't even ask her what size she is.

At beauty counter. She was browsing some make up product. And asked the girl at the counter what it is. That girl told her with her back turning to her "By the way, that costs 790 Baht!" and turned back to what she was doing. She decided to buy that make up with her credit card. A cashier checked her credit card again and again to make sure it's hers. Not stolen one.

She went to the bank to ask for information about credit cards. The guy smiled and told her "Oh, you MUST have income at least 15,000 Baht. Then you can apply for one" So she asked what about Platinum card? He almost laughed and said "Oh, that.. You MUST earn at least 250,000.- Baht per MONTH"

Surprisingly. A guy at BMW showroom treated her nicely. He saw her was looking at the car. He came to ask her is she wanted to try to sit inside. This is only one showroom in that day that treated her well.

3 Days later. She went back to all those shops again. With new look, expensive brand name dress, nice make up. They couldn't recognize her at all. A sale person at shoes store brought a pair of shoes that cost 50,000 Baht to her so she could try on! She even helped her trying them. When she said she didn't really like the style. She asked "Do you want me to keep them for you, miss?"

Same counter she bought a make up product. This time she treated her completely different. She even asked "Did you do your own make up?", "Well,No, a stylist did that for me", "I thought so!"

And credit card man told her "Oh, you'd like to apply for a credit card? Let me show you Platinum card. "only" you have 250,000 Baht a month. You can easily get one"

Mwwwha ha ha ha :-D

Oh well, let's move on to a supermarket


Imported grapes at 326 Baht!!!

crocodile buns (29 Baht) Too cute to eat

Dragon Fruits.

Mango Chutney (imported)

Strange color jack fruits

Fruit Fruit Fruit!

Beautiful Mango. Only with extra sticker said "Gourmet Market" by Siam Paragon. They can sell it more expensive :-)

And Chili sauce that I was not allowed to take pictures. Crazy :-P

Brand New "I love Siam" condo.

Traffic jam as usual

And Thaksin said. Like it or not. We have to go on with Capitalism. Yeah right..

Boys, Bei Otto and buying coffins

I went to meet Toenk and Nut last night without planning. First I thought I would go out to meet up with Poe (Girl from CS. Who's going to stay with my friend in Kolkata for couple of days) But.. well.. you might have guessed. I'm tooooooo lazy to go out.

Plus it was Friday night 6:30 PM. Worst time to be on the road in Bangkok. Instead of catching a taxi straight to Sukhumvit. I got off at Rajthevi station and took BTS to Asoke. The restaurant is in Sukhumvit 20 just right opposite Windsor Hotel.

Again, it's Bei Otto. A German restaurant Toenk took me and Bert for dinner there last time. No offense to Germans.. But I hate food there. Only Beer is worth ordering. Food is too expensive ( 3 people, bill came 2,200 Baht) It's not THAT expensive but compared to the food that I don't even like.. It's not very tempting.

Since it was Nut's Birthday (25th) he turned 28! woo~hoouuw~! We just used it as excuse to meet up and have some beers.

Teonk called another guy named "Ohm" to join. I learned from Toenk that he's a lawyer. Pi Ohm arrived 15 minutes later in blue shirt. Looked like he came straight from office but I'm sure he had been drinking before he came :-)

We shared a Bavarian platter. (Don't ask me what I think about food) Boys had beers. One glass each (Toenk took two! and he's going to drive!) They started to talk about the girls. Past, Present and Future. Tips, Techniques, whatever you can think about. I felt like I was a bit out of place.

They started to laugh louder. Next table ( 2 farangs, grumpy looking) glanced at our table. Gave us a look which obviously said "When are you going to shut the f**k up?" Toenk doesn't like it. So he said "What the f**k r u looking at!?" to them in Thai. (Toenk's English is excellent. But I'm glad he didn't use it then) :-P

Looks like it's time to leave! (-_-") Ohm was trying to get the boys to SLIM at RCA
"Are you boys up for hunting? or just observing tonight?" (No, He wasn't just joking) So I told them that I would go home and get some work done.
"Looks like a Boys night" I told them and looking for a cab. But Toenk didn't feel like going for "hunting" tonight. So, he came with me.. followed with Nut.

Had a cup of coffee at Windsor lobby. Crap.. 100 Baht And what's with that singer next to that grand piano? Not sure if she was Katoey.

Toenk drove super fast through Sukhumvit. Passing WAT HUA LAMPONG where you can donate money to buy coffins for the bodies those they can't find any relatives. Simply write donation form, put some money (any amount), people at the temple write your name on the receipt, you bring that donation form (with your name on it), use the glue to glue it on the coffins. Done.


Toenk wanted to see how it looks like inside. So we opened it just to peek. Hmm.. well.. Doesn't look very comfortable.. no :-P

Dropped Nut at his house in China Town. Toenk stopped by at Saint Gabriels College (his old school) as it's School day. Some Alumnus came in posh expensive cars (not surprising for Saint Gabriels students) and their tradition is to drive around "the block" in front of their school as "Salute!"

Thank Buddha I arrived home safely :-) He wasn't took drunk..

No random "School Pens" for "Developing countries" please!!

I thought it was only me and another handful of people I know who think giving school pens for "gifts" or "candy" randomly to kids anywhere you travel is such a BAD and STUPID idea.

Do you have any ideas how many times I was asked for "School pen" while I was traveling in India?? Not because they really need the school pen.. Not because they can't afford it or anything. But some silly tourists keep giving them pens and candies, assuming that they're helping the "developing" countries AKA : Third World countries. WRONG. giving things randomly to the kids on the street is encouraging them to beg!!

Why you shouldn't buy food to feed elephants on the streets?

Same problem with elephants in Bangkok. They're wandering around Bangkok, the place they're not supposed to be. Why?

"Ohhh look at that poor elephant, They must be hungry and tired"

Imagine a bunch of tourists sitting at Starbucks Siam Sqaure or wherever as posh.
"Let's buy them some bananas, how much is it? 20 Baht?" And after feeding poor elephant. They managed to take a few pictures with digital camera.

And another 20 Baht goes to the elephant mafia. Some of them might think how cruel we are. Thai people don't help elephants at all they don't even glance that the poor beast. You know why? Because we know that the money keeps them coming back. It's ILLEGAL to bring elephants in the city. But with money they can bribe whoever in charge. Because they still make profits!


If you really wanna help. There're many organizations you may like to donate some money to help for REAL.

• Treasure Our Elephants-
  Foundation for the Conservation of Northern Elephants
  www.treasurethaielephants.org
  
  
• Elephant Help Project
  http://www.elephanthelp.org/
  
  
• http://www.welcome-to.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/elep-nationalday.htm

• National Elephant Institute
  (Thai Elephant Conservation Center)
  www.thailandelephant.org

• Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand
  www.aeft.org

• Friends of the Asian Elephant
  www.elephant.tnet.co.th

• Elephant Help Project
  www.elephanthelp.org

I want to help poor Asian children out of perverty, What's wrong with it!?

I've come acrossed many people from "developed" countries backpacking around South East Asia. Those they think they're "helping" by giving pen, pencils, chocolates to children along the way they're traveling. This is abusing in my opinion. They're children, not beggars. They didn't even know they could get these things from tourists before they started to offer to them.. for no reasons, Just try to be nice. But too bad it's a wrong way. I'll come back to post about "What's the developing, third world countries" later when I have time. this is one of topics that got me quite upset everytime I hear.

I just stumbled upon a European girl. Who planned to do "backpacking" around Asia to help children. OK, sounds good. To keep long story short. She couldn't find any organizations whatsoever. So she ended up giving "School pens" and notebooks to some school in Vietnam randomly. That school was so surprised.

It looks like a good thing to give things to poorer people. But I still believe that there're many ways to help.

You give a fish to them now they can eat it only for one day. But if you teach them how to fish. Then they will be able to live on their own. That's a real "HELPING" to me.

A few weeks later. The same girl. She went shopping at most expensive mall in Bangkok. Bought simple small purse for a few thousands Baht. (only) And once she complained that a taxi from Khaosan to Siam Center is too costly (70 Baht!! that's less than 2 euro!)

Can you tell me what's wrong with this people?

Doesn't matter how lovely they look!
I found a good article on Couchsurfing.
"Giving pens and sweets to children encourages them to beg. Doesn't matter how lovely they look, if you don't know a child well, avoid giving them anything material. But you might think of giving them drawings of yours and sending them pictures you took of them. Ask for their address. This is not only true for children, if you take somebody's portrait try to send it to them. It is about respect.



It is often better not to give money on the brisk of a moment, but think of it and do some research when you are back home. Find a charity you trust in the country you are thinking of and help them. If you have some medicines you want to give away, give them to a local doctor (they are always welcome), not to families. They might be used the wrong way and beside they could go against local practices and knowledge. Similarly, you might want to give pens and notebooks directly to local schools.."

Ouch, and I'm back to Thailand.. ha ha!

I will post travel blog somewhere else, will upload that later. Now I'm back to (almost) normal life in beloved BKK!

First thing which is obvious. Traffic is still jam as usual but nobody is honking. And all the cars are in their own lanes. Oh wow! Horn OK Please!
Very Bangkok. Don't know if they're trying to be funny. The sign says "Please don't throw away any garbage here" (yeah right) This one is taken near the Prasumen Fort
And I'm back to "Pad Ka Praw"(minced pork or chicken fried with sweet basil leaves+chilli) AKA : no-brain-needed menu. Because it's most common menu when you go to "Ahan tam sang" (Whatever you order, if we have it, we cook it) resto in Thailand. Awwww.. smell of home
Mini balcony over the "klong" (canal) Good that the Klong these days is not that stinky as before. Phew~!
Adorable Muslim kids taking a ferry after school. One of the left just dropped her ice-cream.. he he and one in red fancy pants never stops talking. You can see his mate is not very interested in whatever he's talking about :-D

Relaxing afternoon at the park near my house. Some people come for picnic. Some come for exercise. Foreigners come for napping. If they're crazy enough they'll come for Sun Bathing. ( FYI : Not that everyone here is crazy about 'whitening' products. But we, Thais, think that sun bathing is crazy no matter where you do it. It's easiest and quickest way to get a skin cancer. Afternoon sun light is way TOO STRONG for skins, really. So, be careful)
You know what I mean?
Stray dogs, good old mates in Bangkok. Can't live without them. (as long as they don't pee on my paintings)
School kid waiting for her parents to come to pick her up. Near the school.

Wedding photo shooting! "Baby, what do you think about picture of us with the ugly bridge?"