Moto Taxi days

Uh~ French food ^_^
Last night we had French food! wooo~!! Thanks to JB for awesome dinner :-) Yum Yum~ Anyway, as usual, nobody could pronounce the name of what he ate.. ha ha.. it's as long as a line of traffic in Siam Square at 6 PM :-P JB also pampered us with big bowl of apple dessert. Sophisticated dinner :-D

Sergej arrived in Bangkok yesterday too, Didn't see him for months. I just knew that he hosted people in Koh Chang as well (wow, no excuse not to go to surf his couch!!)

Thai Cheesy movies
Drank some beers, talk talk talk. Tried to convince James to play that CD with a title "Hot Babes" (Filipinas!) But he didn't let me!! LOL what's wrong with this guy. Anyway, I don't think it can't be cheesier than B (or even "C") graded Thai films that we call it "Nang Paen" which means the CD movies.. coz they never made it to cinemas.. too cheesy and too risky to deal with the "KOR-BOR-WOR" (some authority who bans everything against "morality" like.. putting up the mosaic on images of whiskey bottles, guns, cigarettes, etc.. on TV!!! while in the real world. You walk outside 10 minutes to Pak Soi. You might see everything that ban on TV for real.. Amazing Thailand)

Anyway, it was such a big talk of the town last week. About this girl who wore this killing little black dress to some Thai Films Award night. People were wondering who she is, what her name is. Nobody knows. Just saw that she came almost naked. (Guys, I know u wanna see that, Photo on the left.. LOL) Well, anyway, cut the story short ... she's now banned from the big boss (Producer).. warned by her university.

This girl was in one of low-graded Thai VCD movies. Story is about a girl who's like.. living in the forest (like in the Jungle Book. You know) AND he doesn't like to wear clothes. One day, a Bangkok dude found her and brought her to the city.. blah blah.. crap like that, u see what I mean .. LOL (And you might have guessed. It's a market for that anyway..)

Motobike rides at 1 AM
We finished dinner, beers, Zac left for the airport going back to Beijing. His backpack is full of books!
I shared a taxi with Sergej as he's staying on Khaosan anyway. When I arrived home I just realized that I forgot my mobile phone at James' flat!!! gaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh~~!!!

Actually I could have gone back by taxi too. But I don't know why I took a moto taxi. Going there and coming back was 150 Baht (which is still OK.. pretty much same for taxi) But it's more fun :-P Arrived home VERY late ..still. Went to bed VERY late too and as expected.. next morning .. I turned my mobile phone off when it was alarming! raahhh~!! so typical.

Moto again at 10:30 AM
I was late for a meeting already. But I did sent SMS to Dan that I just didn't get up.. (well, at least I was honest) LOL... Traffic was HORRIBLE I'm supposed to get used to it already but still.. I just can't. So many cars on the roads. Every intersection is blocked with cars..cars...cars.......cars!! If I took a taxi it would take it at least 1 Hour for sure. But with a moto.. I made it to Sukhumvit in 25 minutes. My hair looked just great. Looked just like I just jumped in food mixer.

Just feels like working fulltime
I spent WHOLE DAY at my client's office. Changing the layouts of flyers. Took longer than I thought. I stayed until 5 PM!! ouch! When I got out of the building. There was a lot of "office" people waiting for the buses already. I'm sure the BTS is packed now. So I took the bus instead. 8 Baht, savy! It's like a flash back to when I was working full time again. Shitty life. Start working at 9. (had to be on the bus already at 7-8), stuck 1 hour on the road. End of the day.. everybody is almost killing each other for a room on the crowded bus. Yikes!!!~~

Lido saved my life
After that I really needed some entertainment NOW!. Went straight to Lido to see "Dreamgirls". I liked it. But a couple next to me laughed quite many times when the characters sang expressing their feelings That woman was giggling like crazy, talking to her bf that "Why are they singing!?" (well, it's a Musical! That's what they do.. they SING) I don't know what's wrong with her. Some people just aren't supposed to go to watch movies in cinemas.

Sergej called earlier asking about movie. First he asked for Thai one. Then Chinese. And then asked what's the difference.. (hm.. one is Thai.. one is Chinese.. quite different..to me?) :-P Ended up he went to see Japanese film!

I went to Kinokuniya. Fetched 3 more books. (One is Mon - Thai dictionary.. last one in the shop.. quite rare, I've never seen it before) I think I'm buy too many books already.. should stop it. But it's too addictive.

Had quick dinner (Expensive food court at Siam Paragon. I checked one of them.. it's like some "frozen" seafood with rice.. everything above 100 Baht.. that's nuts)

Sergej sent SMS again. Asking if it was bus no. 7 or 17 to go back to Khaosan road. I sent SMS back that it's No. 79 actually.. But when I looked up (at the bus stop) saw blonde guy with familiar backpack. That was him!! so we took the bus back together with his gf too (she just arrived today)

Finally home, dead tired. Tomorrow.. No work!!

China Town

China Town area

The Gate

Happy Year of Piggy! 新年快乐!

yeah yeah, Year of Pig. Again. Haven't blogged for a few days.

Clamshell Mac+talkative taxi+Jay from VT
Finally met Jay (from California) and his lovely gf at Sheraton hotel. Actually it would be much easier to get there by boat from where I live. But I just realized that I had to bring a laptop to the store at Pantip to get it fixed. And traffic that time is killing. Plus I had to wait quite long at the store. I could see that guy's face filled with amazement
"Wow, clamshell mac, is it still working?"
"Yeah I think so!"
"woww..w..w.." I guess last time he saw OS9 must be like.. years ago
"Can you do anything with it? Actually it's not broken. I was just wondering if you could upgrade the OS a bit"

He called another staff to take a look at pretty blue clamshell
"Is it still working?" hm.. yes, I know
"Normally, when some people brought this to us. We couldn't even boot it anymore. Totally dead. But this still looks pretty good!"

He finally agreed to upgrade it to greater OS and get its "health" checked for 1,500 Baht. He said he would call if he couldn't get it done.

Pantip is such a difficult place to get a cab. Police sucks, bad location, too many people want taxi. But I got one right in front of Indonesian Embassy. His passengers just got off.

"Sheraton?"
"Yes"
"Where is it??"
"Er, you don't know Sheraton?"
"I know it's in VERY deep Soi!"
"ehmmm.. is it?"
"I think so!"

I called hotel for direction. Actually it's not that "deep" soi as I said. I usually walk from the pier (right next to Sheraton) to main road (Chareonkrung) all the time. And he talked all the way from Pantip to Sheraton. Mainly about why taxis don't really wanna drive to airport even they'll earn at least 300 Baht (metered) to go there.
"But on the way back.. if you got no passenger back with you, you have to run empty cab! Fuel price is killing! can't do that"

Then he told me all the tips and techniques how to avoid traffic police, how to drop off passengers, how and where to get passengers, etc. Hm!! I'm expert now!

I met Jay and his gf at the lobby. Having some drinks in the lounge there before Teonk came to join 15 minutes later. Teonk was still very pissed with his debit card that he couldn't get money from ATM because the card is broken.
"I have money but I can't get it out of my own account!! can you imagine!" This explains why Teonk spent whole day in his house.

After drinks we went to Supatra River House. I've been there only once because it's usually booked. Quite hard to get seats if u don't book ahead. But Teonk called and make a reservation already. We arrived just half an hour before the kitchen closed. Awesome food. Really good taste. I really feel sorry for some backpackers that they live on their "Padthai" on Khaosan road without testing any "real" Thai food like that. In my opinion. (Good) Food is one of most important things to Thais. Can't help it. We just love to eat!

Great food, great conversations, nice atmosphere, plus a little bit more of night sight seeing. Niceeee! (Say it Borat's style!) :-D

jay, if you guys come back again. Let me know. It was great meeting you two!

Chinese New Year @ Paragon
First I thought I wouldn't go out. But ..yeah.. well, As Teonk said. We should do something to 'cheer up' ourselves on New Year right. (wait a minute.... But I'm not Chinese)

Siam Paragon (The Pride Of Bangkok.. Oh yes.. whatever they claim they are) had "Cherd Sing To" (Lions show) and Dragon show and it was on the news days before that the dragon head is made of this expensive jewelry, eyes are rubies, etc etc .. damn, so money-minded :-P

Teonk came by BTS instead of driving as usual. This guy is crazy. I think he was born on the mountain of gold :-P BTS is so convenient! So quick and easy and it's aircon.. unlike the buses.
"Look at me!" he pointed to his forehead.
"Wha..?"
"I'm sweating!"
"So..?" ( Should I pretend that I'm shocked or what - like - Oh my God, that's unbelievable. Teonk!! You are sweating!!! - )
"Because I took BTS"
"That's normal, This is hot country"
"hot !! too hot!!"

He kept mumbling about how crowded the place is. When the smoke (fire crackers) from the dragon show outside coming inside where we were standing. Teonk just ran, sealed his nose with his red shirt.

"Oh my gosh!! smokkkkeee!!!!" (I told you, this guy is not normal)

We had dinner at UCC in Siam Center. Food was alright. But I don't know why I never really liked this Café. Maybe because their waitresses are not very keen to smile that much. But this place got best location in Siam Center. It's just right in the middle of the mall. Quite .. hard to avoid :-P

Patpong? But why..?
James and folks (Frank from Berlin, Fabian from Vienna, Raffy from Italy) were there too but I couldn't find them among the crowds. But Thank Buddha they found UCC (finally!) Teonk's friend (Mimi) joined us too just for a short while before they left somewhere else. (I could see James drooling spying on Mimi's ass.. ha ha ha~) >:-P

Teonk wasn't in the mood for party that much I guess. He just didn't feel like staying home. Before he came he just ranted at his bank. (on the phone) that he should get his new debit card for FREE because it's not his fault that the card just stopped working (ATM machines couldn't read magnet tab on his card anymore)

Siam center was closing already so we had to move.

Got some beers from 7-eleven (First time I bought beer in Siam area! crazy..) :-) Hailed the cab to French guys place. (JB and Loïc! See! I got your name right! Loïc!!) They got pretty spacious apartment in such a prime area. It's quite a good deal for a rent actually. Great view from the roof top too. Should arrange a stoning party up there sometimes :-D

I can't believe that we actually went to "walk through" Patpong. Since some of us wanted to see it. Sure, why not. I'm not totally against it because I took some (close) friends to Patpong sometimes if they curious to "see".. I mean.. hey, it's not really hidden scene or anything. If they wanna see, No prob! Just..hmm yeah. Can't say that I'm so proud of Patpong either. Anyway, it's more bearable compared to Pattaya which is totally fucked up place.

Route 66, I'm getting too old for this!
Anyway, done, with Patpong. Moved on to RCA. Met Tina and her host(s) again. Seem to be good people :-)

The live band at Route 66 they're pretty good. Boozes are too expensive though (But compared to Bombay is dirt cheap in Bangkok.. Bombay would be 300 Baht for one bottle of beer in such a fancy club!) Oops, forgot to tell Raffy to visit Women rest room. It's 100 times fancier than my bedroom. With guys playing guitars in there!! I'm not kidding.

Got tired of RCA scene a bit. Way too crowded and they played way too commercial hip-hop tracks. And it's quite such a "low" feeling to see those good looking girls got drunk so badly and taken out by 2 guys. God knows what happens next. Staff in there they love to trample on your feet too especially when you wear "open" shoes.

I'll stick with my lo-so local "themed" karaoke next time, get a "Manchester United" room!! :-D haha

Bert planted his first "Prik" today :-) I wonder if it will grow.. he he.. Let's hope!

The "flute" concert +Crab noodle

I went to Daniel's office to work on brochures. Took longer than I thought but it's much easier to work with your client that way, sometimes. Coz they can tell you just there.. what they want and how they want it. Around 3:30 PM Daniel gotta go for work so I left for TCDC and had my first 'real' food of the day. Didn't eat anything since morning.

I had Stir fried white snapper with black pepper.. in clay pot. That's 60 Baht. Not bad for such a sophisticated-looking dish :-) he he he he . . .


Snapper fried with black pepper + rice (60 B.)

School kids shopping for Valentine's day gifts in The Emporium (prices = not cheap)

Who invented this crappy idea. I really wanna know..
It's a survey that most of teenagers in Thailand lost their virginities on Valentine's day. Great, parents must be so proud.

Flute concert (?)
While I was enjoying my food. Toenk called..
"Where are you!"
"er.. Emporium"
"You come to concert with me tonight"
"What concert?"
"Kinda.. er.. something about flute. I don't know yet. Still gotta go get free tickets.. hehe"
"Flute? what the.. where?"
"Chula"
"In the university?"
"yeah"
"How come you got tickets?"
"Will tell you later. Anyway, I'll go to get my thumb drive I left at my friend's place ... 2years ago"
"2 years ago!! and you just getting it back now?"
"yeah, well she just found it!"
"right right..see you around 6:30 then"

Then I continued with my food. Ended up I didn't even really use any books in TCDC. Just went in there. Checking a few interior design magazines and Toenk called again..
"Sis, I'm at Siam already"
"Already??"
"Yeah I didn't go to get thumb drive. Will go later. Traffic is terrible"

Starsucks Coffee
So I met Toenk at Siam Square. He already had 4 plates of rice + duck at famous low key - restaurant next to The Bonanza mall. (Still don't know why it's so famous. In my opinion.. food there is not that great)

We thought about getting some coffee at Starbucks (which I'm not so keen.. anymore) It's too crowded these days and it's full of snobbish kids in school uniform hanging out in there with their homeworks and laptops. I wonder what the hell their parents do? Do they ever know how their kids spend money? Coffee at Starbucks costs at least 100 Baht / cup.

It just.. doesn't look like a place for school kids to hang out. And coffee there is not that great anyway. I found many other smaller cafe that make better coffee at much cheaper than less bitchy cashiers.

Cashiers at Starbucks they're really good at looking down on people who seem not to know what they wanna order. As if they wanna say "Hello? Do you know what "Guatemala Casi Cielo" is???? google it before you come to our store! you lo-so" This is reason why I stopped drinking coffee at Starbucks. They should change their staff attitude, seriously.

Well, anyway, we didn't even get a chance to reach the counter. It was way too crowded. So we just sat in there. Browsed India photos on laptop and left.

Oh, not that "flute"!
Concert was held at Chulalongkorn University's convention hall. Feeling fresh with aircon inside. But lot of mosquitoes (they don't bite though. Just seemed to be happy to fly around over people's heads)

First they (some professors) talked to the Japanese conductor about his background and why opera
"Opera?" now I got it. It's not flute concert as Toenk was murmuring about :-P It's "THE MAGIC FLUTE" opera by Mozart! (Ohhhhhhh...h..h.h.h...)

But damn.. can you keep it short? I wanna see the performance already.. Not some professors talking talking talking.. I saw some people already fell asleep.

Music was great. Opera singers they're all AMAZING! I wonder how they discovered that they can sing opera? It's really crazy voices. No offense .. but the professor who played a story teller. She's most boring part of the entire show. With her haircut like a boy in such a medieval dress (But why? I thought it's supposed to be in Egypt) it's just wrong.. oh well



100 Baht Crab noodles
We stopped by at "Sawang" noodles shop near Hua Lam Pong station. It's famous "Bamee Gam-pu" (Crab claw noodles) It's probably most expensive Bamee in Thailand. Normally bamee is 20-30 Baht / bowl but at Sawang. Their Bamee comes with crab claw and prices varied. Depends on how big the claw is.

Sometimes it goes up to 150-200 Baht / bowl. Prices listed on the board made of a part of paper box and just find some colored paper to put in the front to make it look A BIT better... (very Chinese.. no matter how expensive their food is. They don't really care so much to make their resto look too fancy.. "OK, well noodle here should be...200 Baht.. Go get some torn paper box to write down the price! quick!")

But if you don't want crab claw. You can order "normal" Bamee with only crab meat + pork too. That's 50 Baht... I don't think they ever closed their shop. But they do during Chinese new year.

Ouuww.. Opera + road side Bamee.. good combination

Music in the park

I think it's already 14th "Music in the park" at Suan Lumpini. It's been a tradition here which I really enjoy. Back 10 years ago parks in Bangkok were quite scary when it gets dark. Lot of crimes, homeless people sleeping in there, prostitutes waiting for customers, etc

But it has changed now. Thank to Bangkok Metropolitan for improving the parks and arranging more activities for families, friends, older, younger.. everyone actually.. to come to use the park. It shows that not everybody in this city only likes to go to shopping malls! These days they have free exercise classes, Muay thai classes,etc. But what I like most is this Music in the park.

Last year was Jazz and this year is Symphony. It's contemporary Symphony which I think it's good because everyone can enjoy. Even they are not really into classical.

Having activities like this is great! I got to meet with online friends every now and then. As we have more stuff that we can do altogether not just going for dinner and movie. It's good for a change :-)

Next week will be last concert of this season. Will have fireworks too! wow, gotta go to check it out :-)

Frogs, French and Filipino :-)

Lot of beers

I was working at TCDC on Friday and I got SMS from James (CS member. The Filipino guy who's living here) that he was going to have dinner with his guest from Germany and 2 more CS members from France. JB and his friend who I have no clue how to spell his name, we can't even pronounce it properly :-D ha ha.. Well, Anyway! James got a solution "From now you, you're Nick! Your French name is too complicated, man" That's what he said :-)

So, we went to Suanlum Night Bazaar. Huge beer garden. Lot of choices of food and drinks. Place where once you sit down. It will be at least 5 girls from different brands of beers come to convince you to buy their brands (we call them "Dek cheer beer") But once we decided to go for "Chang" beer. We looked around. None of them selling Chang! hehehe.. that's sad. So we went to the counter and got a "tower" of Chang ourselves.. yeahhhh..German girl and I shared a bowl of Tom Yum Koong (awesome) + fried rice with shrimps + pork with black pepper in oyster sauce. Soooo good.

We were trying to pronounce "De Rue De Paris" (Name of the ferris wheel in night bazaar) in real french accent. But it just didn't work ! LOL

Buckets+Kazebo
We ended up sharing "buckets" of rum+vodka on the road side near Khaosan road. (280-300 Baht per one bucket) The bill came and I saw they wrote on the bill (in Thai) as "Bark-kerd" (บักเกิด) That's so cute :-D Total was 1000 Baht..
So for 5 people it's 200 each. Not bad.

There's new club opened near UTC. Named Kazebo. Only night club that opens until 4 AM! I don't know how they do it. But I guess they're paying a lot :-P We wend there around midnight or something. And around 2 am they light was on! police men came (in uniform) But nothing happened.

They finally turned the light off again. People were cheering. And the police sitting there having their free drinks :-P Nick kept disappearing. When we saw him again he was talking to some girl. When he went off to search for a lighter. Instead of lit his cigarette and come back. He just linger around and finally dragged a chair and sat with strangers he just met :-) That's the friendly guy of the day….Welcome to Thailand!!

Kazebo was getting crowded after 1 AM coz it's time that nightclubs around there are closing. And finally too crowded. We finished Sheesha (that's 350 Baht) and we left around 3 AM.

Dinner, Filipino Style
Yesterday again. James called said that he was cooking Filipino meals at home maybe I wanted to come to join. Actually James' place is not far from where I live. But I've been to that area probably once or twice. I took a "mini songthaew" or we call it "Rod Kapor" Kind of between TukTuk and minivan. But it's open. No Aircon. They're allowed to run only in Bangkok suburbs. Usually short routes. Fare is 5 Baht flat

Anyway, I finally got lost! (got off at wrong stop) LOL.. damnnnn.. So I took a motorbike taxi (30 Baht) to Thonburi Cafe where is in front of James' apartment. Ladyar Soi 6! Now I know :-)Food was awesome. Lots of shrimps ! Wow James can cook! His mom will be so proud ! hehehe..

James' guest from Australia she got a tube of Vegemite with her (well, She's Australian.. yeah.. ha ha) :-) Kinda new to the rest of us :-D JB goes first by trying Vegemite with rice! He seems to like it :-D James tried the same thing but he chocked! ha ha ha ha~~! damn, too bad we didn't record that as a clip! (Got one with JB coming out from toilet with Vegemite pasted on toilet paper and licked it off!That was hilarious!) LOL

I found out that James and Australian girl know Chompu. Whom I still haven't met! So we called her up and arranged our meeting at Khaosan (she was already there)

Fireworks! not sure why..

Fried frogs+insects
Before we go to KSR James managed to find some fried insects on the road side. (well, you know.. bugs, fried worms and stuff.. I know it sounds horrible but.. when they're fried. You just don't taste anything but seasoning that it's mixed in there. And they're all crunchy) Oh but this is first time I saw they had "frogs" too. Baby frogs. Very small.. like.. smaller than your thumb) DEEP FRIED :-D Aussie girl asked me how it tastes like. I told her that I think she should ask the French :-)

Thanks to JayB for photos! LOL!

We all packed in one TukTuk (5 of us, which is quite normal to Thais) heading to Khaosan road. On the way we met another group in a TukTuk aswell. But 8 of them!! Ha ha J Damn, kick-ass

Gulliver’s
Yeah yeah Gulliver’s again. It’s kinda OK place if you ignore all those “meat”. JB went to toilet and came back with horrified face said that some dude touched his ass ! ha ha :-D

Since we had bottle of wine, 4 bottles of beers at James’ place before we came. By the time at we arrived Gulliver’s we were quite drunk already. 1 AM it’s closed. We headed back to James’ apartment had another one bottle of wine (woo~ French wine) and finished it quickly. Aussie girl got another bottle in her backpack. I wonder what backpackers carry these days! Looks like they carry lot of booze even more than clothes or first aid kit J Hehehe.. (well, I did that too actually. 2 bottles of Saeng Som to India.. yeah)

So we got another bottle opened. Nick said “Well, even it’s not gonna be as good as French wine.. but.. alright … ha ha” LOL French attitude!

James passed out! I knew that he wouldn’t be able to go to church next morning. And it’s true. He didn’t go .. LOL Got hangover.

This evening there’s free concert in the park. I’m trying to get some of them joining. It’s good to do something like that apart from just cruising around shopping malls those mushroomed in Siam Square.

ฺ10 Baht Buddha Amulets

It's a topic on Pantip.com that one of game show hosts named Witawat said on his show that "... 10 Baht Buddha amulet.. which has no power of protection nor even holy.." This became a talk on topic that.. I don't know why he said so. It's quite un-buddhist. (at least to me)

But i guess he just wanted to point out that "THIS 10 Baht Buddha WHICH has no magical power.." and some people are making out of it. Buy it cheap, sell it at high price.. and lie to people that it's "original"

Well, thing is. Some fake monks were trying to make money from people by buying cheap Buddha Amulets from amulets market (probably 5-10 Baht each) and later, try to sell it at very expensive price telling them that this amulet is very powerful and sacred from this famous temple, from that famous master.. It's a scam.(and illegal of course, they went to jail)

I think still.. too many people here mistaken Buddha amulet as "an object that protects a person from trouble, accident, evil" which I don't see anything wrong with if it makes them feel better. But point is some people think that believing in power of Buddha amulets is Buddhism. I can say it here and it's not Buddhism at all.

Even on the topic. Some people replied to the thread that.. "... he's right, only 10 Baht Buddha amulet. Never been "Pluk-Sek" (blessed, make sacred or potent by some magic or incantations) how can it be holy!"

To me. Buddha amulet is just Buddha amulet. 10 Baht or 200,000 Baht Buddha.. makes no difference to me. Only one thing I get from hanging Buddha amulet around my neck, is to remind me about Buddha's teaching and the core of Buddhism. The way of living.

Besides, Buddha never taught us to believe in supernatural power. I think it's such a blind that some people are really arguing over this "10 Baht Buddha amulet has no power" stuff. It's totally opposite of what Buddha left his teaching for us.

Anyway, I believe .. that the TV show host didn't mean to say that cheap Buddha amulets are not as powerful as expensive original ones. He just meant to point out that this is a scam. I'm just quite surprised about replies from some people on the forum. Which it doesn't look like they know the difference between Buddhism and occultism at all. While it said on their Thai ID cards that they're Buddhists.

Oh well..