Bangkok Week 124

November 11, 2010

A fun weekend, with few photos to show for it.

A bit of free time to create some baked goods. A nice familiar feeling.

We bought some donuts from Mister Donut ... who shows considerably less care when chucking his donuts into a box.

At least they were tasty, if not a bit mangled.

MBK's coupons are all decked out for the holidays... are you?

The number one dessert, yes, but its price here detracts a bit from the refreshing goodness.

There was a neat little "SME" arts and crafts fair outside MBK... complete with entertainers...

... and inflatable Santa decorations.

Mesmerizing earrings.

The most delicate candles ever made! How do you even stand them upright to burn?

Really neat furniture that we will someday own.

An exhibit of kids' art, which related to some kind of health- or kidney-theme.

Lots of colorful kids' art. Not for sale.

Bangkok Week 123

November 4, 2010

BCG's annual Southeast Asia get-together was held in Phuket this year, at a lovely new resort. The weather held out... but the H1N1 did not.

An especially low-hanging cloud stands out as we descend into Phuket International Airport (HKT).

I would love to stand on this beach to get shots of planes approaching the runway!

We were a huge group -- over 200 in all -- and we stayed at a newly-opened resort on the northern end of the island.

The resort, like most beach-front resorts, was long and skinny -- to fit within the sliver-shaped plot of land.

I shared a room with a colleague from Singapore. Unfortunately, they'd run out of 2-bed rooms! So one of us slept in the bathtub.

This whole window-into-the-bathroom style is quite popular these days. Dunno if I like it...

I don't know what these wax-like flowers are... but I haven't seen them in Bangkok.

Rows of rooms... the resort opened officially on October 1st.

Near the beach, they have an "infinity pool" and plenty of loungers.

In this sun, these chairs look more like baking sheets though.

It was really odd: the beach was lined with pine trees.

We were at Mai Khao (White Wood) Beach on the north-western tip of the island... one of the least-developed beaches.

Beautiful water, but too hot to stay outside for long!

There were lovely areas of grass in front of the beach... perfect for tossing the frisbee! Did I mention the pine trees?

The resort also had beach front villas ... with an appropriately chubby price tag.

The sky is as blue as the ocean (and the infinity pool). But too hot to swim during the peak of the day.

The resort was landscaped with a mix of sand, steams and ponds.

They had a pricey cafe that I only walked past.

The comfortable open-air lobby, in which I spent much time using the free wifi.

As the sun set, the more athletic of the group played a game of beach football -- made particularly challenging by the steep slope of the sand.

Most of us were just spectators.

Colleagues from Jakarta, Singapore and Bangkok.

Lovely sunset. Time to head back in for dinner.

Lots of little shells mixed in with the sand. And maybe that's the white wood after which the beach is named.

The 3 other vegetarians and I got exiled to the corner of this restaurant... with little more to eat than plain noodles and chili sauce.

What's inside? A blind toilet?

Ouch. Hurts just looking at this sign.

Another picturesque beach sunset; another pine tree.

How lovely.

The water blends into the sky.

Another lovely sunset. Actually, the same one.

Somewhere out there, there's a ship captain in deep doo-doo.

Phuket town: could be any town in Thailand.

Cute decorations at the culminating dinner / performance show.

Someone made this crazy chart, which links everyone in the Southeast Asia system to everyone else.

Not sure what these crazy people from Jakarta were up to.

My brave Bangkok colleagues represent our office with a heartfelt rendition of the Asia-craze Wonder Girls.

Oh no! Stiff competition by Jakarta's spoof on the Wonder Girls: the Wonder Boys!

BCG Idol is down to the top 2 offices: Lady and Mister Gaga represent Bangkok and Jakarta respectively.

The courageous performers from Bangkok (all of whom subsequently contracted H1N1).

Over-the-top? Never!

Early-morning fishing for this Phuket local. He actually caught one in my presence.

Drowsy from the night before, the Bangkok office assembles itself for the flight back north.

A Monday night dinner with old Brown friends... at an Irish pub?

It's just like being in Ireland... but safer.

Bangkok Week 122

October 28, 2010

A short time in Bangkok, and 3 days in Singapore -- both work and intense sight-seeing in the evenings.

A plate of Japanese-style French pastries as a breakfast treat.

Ahh! Cute! (The first Smart Car we've seen in Bangkok!)

My new "Samsonite" suitcase.

An exciting Indian dinner at a vegetarian place on sketchy Sukhumvit road.

Welcome to Singapore. Here's a view from my hotel window, looking south-west-ish across the bay to the financial district.

My office is visible in that cluster in the background -- so it's close enough to walk, right?

The first morning was a bit rainy. Everyone who walks uses the underground mall / walkways. No one walks above-ground!

A look along Esplanade Drive, toward the financial district (and the famous Merlion fountain).

A look back toward my hotel. The Durian on the left is a performing arts center; the wheel on the right is the Singapore Flyer.

Close-up of the financial district, with the historic Fullerton Hotel (formerly a post office) in the foreground.

The famous Merlion statue, appropriately situated at Merlion Park.

He's a popular tourist attraction. Apparently there are 4 other Merlion statues elsewhere in Singapore, too, but this guy's the most well-known.

The colorful seats are at the "Youth Olympic Stadium", part of Singapore's bid for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

The newly-constructed Marina Bay Sands resort and casino -- billed as the world's most expensive stand-alone casino property.

The famous Fullerton Hotel, lit up elegantly at night.

Another shot of the CBD at night.

Plenty of beautiful harbor-front shots at night.

The skyline, including the hotel cluster, the Singapore flyer, and the new arts center under construction.

There are lots of water-front restaurants -- it's also a nice place to stroll at night. With Thai monks.

No shortage of people out to visit Mr Merlion at night.

They light up the Esplanade Bridge in a politically-sensitive color at night.

Our friend stands out against the dark city skyline.

See, I really was there too.

The durian is lit up at night - and hopping with performances, too.

I found where the city's youth hang out : they practice their B-Boy moves in the A/C'd underground walkways.

A poster on a bus stop indicates what shows are clearly popular here, too.

Outside my hotel, some interesting architecture / art.

Hotel at night.

"East Coast Parkway" that crosses over to the marina side of the city.

Found the entrance to the Flyer. Too bad it's 30 bucks to ride!

I wonder if accidents have been caused by this sign.

Another shot of the Flyer at night. The cars looked to be as big as those on the London Eye. There are also dining cars. This wheel is 30m taller than the London Eye.

A river-side walkway illustrates how incredibly clean the city is.

This footbridge is called the Double Helix. Can you guess why?

A view of the CBD lit up at night. In the foreground, an artsy new building is going up -- although I can't find any information on what it will be.

Construction was going on into the night. They're not kidding when they talk about the fast pace of development in this city.

Crowds flock toward the Marina Bay Sands casino... so I flocked, too.

The next morning, another walking tour of the city on my way to work. Here, Saint Andrew's Cathedral.

Coming at the CBD from a different angle today.

The former supreme court building, which is now being converted into a museum to house Singapore's national art collection.

How supreme the court must have been!

Another historic building was home to the Parliament from 1965 to 1999, and is now a multi-disciplinary arts venue.

The juxtaposition of western architecture in a tropical landscape was unusual.

A giant bud outside the arts building?

A view of the riverside and all its historic shop houses.

The city actively works to conserve the old shop houses, as they are the one bit of "historical" architecture left in Singapore.

You can see how the CBD is wedged into a small slice of land that juts into the water.

Singapore's current parliament house.

I don't know what this building is, but it was very appealing to the eye.

One of the many colorfully-preserved shop houses along the river.

They are now all home to restaurants and pubs (that I imagine are very touristy)... but they were all foreign cuisine -- Thai, Indian, Irish. I guess there isn't much "local" cuisine.

Back at the CBD, there's a nice sitting area at the riverside, for all the businesspeople who care for some fresh air during lunch.

This humorous statue, called "Bird", is by a Colombian artist.

Looking toward the marina, another small bridge, the Fullerton Hotel, and in the background, the area in which I was staying.

The lovely view from our 44th-floor office.

There are a ridiculous number of ships that dock permanently just offshore. Singapore is one of the 5 busiest ports in the world.

On this unusually clear day, land on the other side of the Singapore Strait was visible -- a first for many people in the office! (It's Indonesia.)

Looking west-ish toward Chinatown.

Riding the subway at rush hour -- a tight experience!

The uber-clean, uber-organized subway platform. No pushing and shoving here!

But no shortage of riders at rush hour, either!

Bangkok needs these on its doors for the commuting-challenged.

Welcome to Little India -- an extremely ethnic neighborhood in the middle of downtown Singapore.

Deepavali -- or Diwali -- the festival of lights is coming up. There's quite a festive atmosphere throughout Little India.

The street was decked out for Diwali like Western cities would get set for Christmas.

The shophouses along the main road were all 2-stories, unlike the 3- and 4-story shophouses further downtown.

All the gold shops that are run by the Chinese in Bangkok belong to the Indians in Singapore!

A famous Indian temple that is listed on all tourists' itineraries.

The architecture is very similar to the Indian temples in Bangkok. I've just never been in one before.

It's an interesting contrast to all the Thai temples I'm used to. Less gold, more colors, and different images.

Interesting creatures and characters -- different than what I'm used to!

These offerings look familiar.

It must have been evening prayer time when I was there.

Know this chubby guy?

Lots of people were sitting around. The temple was serving food in the back.

Another view of the festive street.

A tour group passes by. They should really be wearing helmets!

This man was making some kind of crispy bread. And boy, was he enjoying it.

All familiar snacks -- but the coconuts do indeed seem to be on steroids.

Familiar! But here, provided by the Indian population instead.

Little India even takes on the responsibility of hosting the typically-Chinatown cheap souvenir shops.

A very famous South Indian Vegetarian restaurant, at which I was recommended to have dinner.

A very local place. I was soon accompanied by 3 Indian ladies who sat directly opposite me, and watched in silence as I dined.

My huge, fresh dosa. I was the only one in the restaurant whom they gave a fork and spoon!

A soda vending machine... served in cups??

Found the local vegetable shops, which apparently sell into the night.

We don't have these funny little purple eggplants in Thailand! They're like a cross between western and asian ones.

Special Diwali sales were going on in one sidestreet.

These colorful things would give traditional Mexican decorations a run for their money!

My eyes were sore after walking through here!

Lots of elephants throughout their decorations.

Barring the "Diwali" sign, don't they look like they could be Mexican?

Fire crackers galore! Better get out of here quick...

A sweet shop ... and a man standing on the counter. Sanitary!

Looking for your long-lost antique? It's probably here!

The entrance to a Chatuchak-like market that continues into the night.

Yeah, this looks funny no matter how you view it.

We see all these products in Bangkok -- for less. Nothing novel.

Even this old neighborhood has been turned into a mall!

More preserved old shophouses. They are quite pretty, actually.

This fountain claims to be the world's largest. Its circumference is 66m; its height is 13.8m.

I really did visit! Although apparently you're supposed to walk around it 3 times for good luck. Whoops...

Lunch the next day -- pure vegetarian! And also, the cheapest food I found in Singapore.

It's different -- milder -- than Thai food, but the concept is the same.

Mr Merlion's visitors continue to flock to his side! I'll see him next trip. Bye-bye, Singapore.

Bangkok Week 121

October 21, 2010

In celebration of the end of the vegetarian festival, we spend the whole week eating.

Mystery snacks from China. I think it's sesame-seaweed cookies. No English anywhere, but they looked good.

Last day of the vegetarian festival. Going out with a bang at another Japanese restaurant.

Unlike the last one, this is a pretty ubiquitous trying-to-be-classy chain.

Fake salmon and ... squid? Eel?

Mmm, big noodles!

Last night of J-week! Boooo.

The next day at MBK, our normal vegetarian people had gone on holiday!! Must've been a crazy week. So, we were left scrambling for veggie food.

Found his long-lost Thai cousin.

Really, really sad (borderline constipated) because it's the last night of vegetarian leftovers!

Veggie buns from 7-11: pumpkin and red bean.

A visiting professor from France brought this as a gift. Perfect for Bangkok winters.

Bangkok Week 120

October 14, 2010

Great J food, an iPod and Daddy Dough. What the heck more could I ask for on my birthday weekend???

Can you figure out which is the new iPod?

So small, I can't even find it!

Birthday Daddy Dough! A new tradition?

Birthday greats courtesy of this guy!

The new iPod nano -- no earbuds required!

The first weekend of J-week... the BTS was holding a festival all weekend. Free vegetarian food!

Instead, we took lunch at a Japanese place with a special vegetarian menu!

Vegetarian curry bowls with tempura and Japanese rice.

Even vegetarian miso soup! What a great week!

Woah! Torso-only!

Really cute alphabet t-shirts made by a local artist.

A huge concert in one of the alleys of Siam Square. Must've been someone famous, the crowds were going wild.

Someone got a little too wild with their Benz!

Buying dinner at one of the many veggie sellers on the street this week.

What a great birthday dinner! Too bad my head wasn't on straight that night.

Lunch the next day at Hong Kong Noodle, where we'd normally never be able to dine otherwise.

A pork noodle soup.

I had a kind of dumpling soup that I've only ever looked at before.

For cake!

Here are cakes!

Even the made-to-order place is only making vegetarian food this week.

Another night, more exciting dishes.

A big enough tofu stew for you?

We give this lady regular business these days.

Voila. Another delectable J meal!

What beautiful presentation. Even came with candles!

One of said candles. How cute!

"Mika," you claim it's your birthday. Suuuure.

Shanghai 4 days

October 14, 2010

A whirlwind 4-day trip to the impressive city of Shanghai. No time for tourism, and too much to see! But really pleasantly surprised by what little I did see. Will be going back for sure.

My compact, but nice, hotel room with a stunning view and perfect location.

A small detail adds a cute touch in the bathroom.

No one spoke English at this dinner joint, but I managed to score a vegetarian hot pot anyway.

Nanjing Road Walking Street is hopping from dawn till 11pm, after the shops have closed.

It's wide, clean, and closed to wheeled trafic. Like Times Square on steroids.

Lots of European-inspired architecture. Not sure how much is authentic, and how much is replicas.

Lots of upscale foreign brands mixed in with local Chinese brands.

More beautiful buildings. The lighting made everything look great at night.

A cluster of modern hotels.

Can you guess what this restaurant is?

One of the police men / security guards left his vehicle unattended.

Most of the buses run on cables, which must do wonders to reduce the pollution.

This is the only store that looked even remotely like a stereotypical "Chinatown" joint.

Lots of beautiful, old Western-influenced buildings line the Huangpu River in the Bund area of the city.

Huge numbers of people come to the riverside -- almost all are Chinese tourists.

The famous view of Pudong, across the river.

Even the edge of the viewing area is detailed to look nice from the other side, especially for the river cruises.

Yup, no shortage of people out at night!

One of many dinner cruises that floated by, although this one was especially funny-looking.

Self-portrait proof that I was there!

Pedestrian crossing at 5th-floor level.

No trumpets!

A famous statue at the far end of the walking street. On my way to the river, it was totally blocked by tourists.

Choo choo! These annoying tourist trains WERE still allowed to drive down the middle of the walking street.

The view from my hotel room in the morning. Tall buildings dot the city, as far as the eye can see. (Which is not actually that far....)

And facing west, overlooking the famous People's Square. My office was just across the park.

Heading to the office, on foot! How hard can it be?

Old and new mix throughout the city.

Yes, these signs helped me find my way.

Even the locals are puzzled by the modern art.

Busy (modern) subway system!

Cute little Western-style cafe in our office building, at which I took a late lunch.

The office is directly across the street from the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

My extremely Chinese lunch -- falafel spinach wrap.

The Shanghai Grand Theatre Gallery looked interesting, but I didn't have time to stop on my way home.

More funky buildings. No two are alike.

This was a cute little museum shop.

Another Grand Theatre. This one's a little more retro.

Look, people actually formed a line to wait for the bus!

That giant glass building behind the peacock is my hotel.

I would guess this means you're supposed to stop. Or, beware of open manhole ahead.

The main entrance to the People's Square, on a rainy Thursday morning.

The square was actually a large public park. I was very impressed by the size, tidiness, and diversity of plants.

The requisite pond area.

The village men must come here every morning to gossip... and go fishing.

Weeping willows, sad because of all the tall buildings that have gone up around them.

Look! Thai-style stepping stone lily pads!

The Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai is in the middle of the park.

There was a piece made of lawn chairs outside the museum.

This giant bamboo sculpture was neat to look at, but I have no idea what it was.

There was a super-stylin' Granny playing badminton with the museum wall for the whole time I was there.

Requisite pagoda-in-an-Asian-park.

They also had an amusement park in there, complete with little dragon roller coaster.

This was advertised as the exercise area of the park.

But all the locals seemed to be there to sit and chat (on a really high bench -- note how their legs all dangle).

Green in the city -- it's nice that they've kept some!

Are they making fun of fat westerners?

Okay, found at least one guy out doing some exercises. I think.

Welcome again! Maybe we mean, please come again!

You're such an Oriental Tart!

The city bustles as people head to work.

Shanghai's take on the London phone booth?

People walk to work along... the Walking Street!

A long-winded, cryptic way of saying Starbucks.

Quick stop to pick up some Chinese souvenirs. Hope I got the kind without melamine.

A view from the hotel lounge of the Pudong side of the city. You can also see the walking street as it heads to the river.

The hotel lounge, in which we spent too much time during the trip.

That's the Expo!!! I swear...

And back at the airport, after a whirlwind trip. Will definitely go back, without work strings attached.

Bangkok Week 119

October 7, 2010

No donuts for us. But shoes and spooks instead!

And this is why the new laptop battery was needed!

Special Saturday morning pastries... including a giant green frisbee.

I heard there's a new Krispy Kreme in town. So did this queue of people.

The queue went out the door of Paragon, and tripled back on itself outside the shopfront.

The maze of queue ribbon continued inside the mall, too. Couldn't even get close enough to read the menu.

Excited for his new cereal spoon, straight from the box.

Finally, work being done to demolish the charred remains of the Siam Theater.

An exhibit at TCDC about spirits and their role in Thai society.

These masks are part of a festival in the North Eastern part of the country.

For once, my teeth are small by comparison.

The head of a giant Chinese dragon ... the kind that takes 5 people to wear and dance around in.

Traditionally, Thai-Chinese burn paper tokens at funerals for good luck in the next life. But now, the paper is now becoming more ornate. Gucci shoes, wallets, cell phones...

... even paper passport, bank books, and tickets "To Heaven".

The average Bangkok resident visits a fortune teller over 3 times per year. It's a 2.5 billion baht industry!

This legendary spirit is approximately 20m tall. Apparently.

Satellite dishes look like rooftop berry bunches.

J-week is coming! A vegetarian red pork bun from 7-11!

Finally, my custom-made shoes are ready! Even the box is swanky.

The finished product. They fit surprisingly well, I was impressed.

Another view.

They even survived a day at the office.

Bangkok Week 118

September 30, 2010

A food theme this week, apparently.

Exponentially smaller blondie slices for the Women's Initiative potluck dinner on Friday night.

The beautiful new condo of one of my colleagues. Words cannot describe its luxury.

Too beautiful to eat!

The side exterior of her condo, from the poolside lounge (where we ate).

The building is reputed to be the most high-end condo in Bangkok.

3 fellow Associates. (Yes, what's the guy doing at the Women's Initiative?)

Thank goodness for leftover blondies!

Like our giant jug of maple syrup?

Mmm, frozen (home-made) waffles for breakfast.

A really delicious fried rice! Doesn't your mouth water just looking at it?

Bangkok Week 117

September 23, 2010

Around Bangkok, some slightly less usual scenes.

A university trumpet ensemble was fund-raising at MBK to attend a competition in Osaka.

The vegan canned sardines from Vietnam! Delish!

This fellow was the most uninterested member of Sunday's Red Shirt commemorative protests. No wonder it was so non-violent.

Remember Jimmy T's house? We went back to visit for the first time since Feb 09.

Fresh orchids at our table.

We were there because we had a dining voucher that was about to expire. Lovely view.

Posing à la 3rd grade school portrait.

Despite the posh locale, slim pickin's for vegetarians. So 2 stir-fried veggies it was. Can't complain for a practically free meal.

There was also an exhibit by a Thai artist, combining local natural fibers and books. That's rice you see.

It was a small, but neat exhibit.

The lighting was quite dramatic.

The centerpiece?

Two of many GIANT snails that live in the cinderblock wall that surrounds the property of the Jim Thompson library.

Did I mention we also had a gift shop voucher to spend? It wasn't enough to buy any Jimmy T silk product, but plenty for 3 boxes of gourmet cookies!

A "Chicken" "drumstick" in the instant curry I brought back from Vietnam.

Bangkok Week 116

September 16, 2010

An awesome Mexican restaurant in Bangkok, before shuttling off to Ho Chi Minh City for the balance of the week. Too bad it was all work and zero time for photos while there!

Special Saturday morning pastries. The big green monster is "green tea" with red bean filling.

Returning to our weekly lunch at Chula, after a 2-week hiatus.

Pink ice dessert is still number 1.

Some famous Thai star shows up at Chula with a bunch of fans in tow.

"Fresh milk." I didn't know fresh milk is green!

We celebrated the (long-awaited) new work permit with a dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant at the end of a dark alley.

Must be Mexican! A cactus and lots of Coronas.

Good thing we reserved a table -- there are only 5 total.

These guys were timidly hiding behind a wall, hoping to escape their fate.

An appetizer of tortilla chips and fresh pico de gallo.

A big vegetarian quesadilla.

Holy smokes, that's huge!

This "wet burrito" was basically a burrito, with the insides of another burrito plopped on top of it. Somehow we managed to finish all of it!

The ultra-thin chocolates that we brought back from Bracebridge ... from Chris?

Yup, that's ultra-thin!

Sunday lunch - fresh waffles with 100% PURE MAPLE SYRUP, baby!

He's been waiting months for this!

Finally busting open the Shreddies I brought back from Bracebridge. The CAD $3 box costs $8.40 here.

My hotel room in Ho Chi Minh City. It was located in the outskirts of the city, so we could leave easily without getting stuck in (too much) traffic.

The mini bar had Thai instant noodles. So far, and yet so close to home.

I was on the 8th floor of 10. The hotel was built around a central atrium.

The view from my window. No tall buildings in this area (yet).

This is in a small town about 1 hour outside Ho Chi Minh City. We had some time to kill before our next interview.

So we went into a grocery store to browse.

These Vietnamese-style rambutan look like Thai ones that have had a short haircut.

They just have a heap of durian for sale... but they're still green, so they look very unripe by Thai standards.

My big purchases from this trip: Dried vegetarian pork and squid meat, vegetarian hot dogs in tomato sauce, vegetarian sardines in tomato sauce, and instant vegetarian curry. Total price: $2.40.

Lunch at a local food court: real Vietnamese spring rolls, made with really fresh, really thick rice paper. I've never seen such dense ones in the west.

Another view from the hotel. It was located next to a small park. No shortage of motorbikes in this country!

During our drive out of the city on the last day. The streets are mostly filled with motorbikes. In 2008, Ho Chi Minh City had about 3 million motorbikes -- or 1 for every 2 residents of the city.

At major intersections, there's usually just a huge swarm of people driving in every-which-direction. You just have to hope you don't crash into 10 other people. We saw a handful of crashes that day.

A cafe on the outskirts of the city.

Note how the motorbikes seem to be going in all directions. In all parts of the street.

This big bridge over the Mekong just recently replaced a ferry boat service.

This very small town about 4 hours south of HCMC could have easily been a small town in Thailand.

Souvenir chocolate croissant from the HCMC airport - bigger than a BlackBerry!

Bangkok Week 115

September 9, 2010

What a sparse week!

Triple-layer cheesecake, imported directly from KL. In lieu of Krispy Kreme.

Do I remind you of someone? Dad?

Sun Chip-eque snacks come to Thailand! Whoo!

My Work Permit! This calls for a celebration!

My new baby!

KL 1 Week

September 3, 2010

An intense week of training, networking and adventure in KL.

My snazzy hotel room on the 30th floor of the Westin Kuala Lumpur.

The room had a drawer full of deluxe teas and (real!) ground coffee for my own coffee press.

The view from the top. The 2 tall buildings in the background are Berjaya Times Square, the mall / office complex with the roller coaster.

You can see the mountains in the background.

We had a group dinner the first night ...

... at a Thai restaurant! Not what I traveled 700 miles to eat!

They did have a neat tea light display though.

After the group dinner, they took us to a group bowling event at the Times Square mall visible from my window.

Super-snazzy shoe, fit for any fashionista.

I joined the Japanese gang to try my arm at bowling for the first time in some large number of years.

After 6 rounds, I had bowled a 32. I think there's some room for improvement.

Anyone Japanese here? (The American woman who's not me was one of the organizers.)

The hotel's breakfast buffet is so big that it needs a map and a diagram showing how to walk to each station.

More breakfast buffet dining. No shortage of tables.

The continental breakfast area was like its own little store.

Just like a pastry shop!

The lobby. Still not light out.

Durian vendors hang their wares in KL... what a funny way to display them. I guess you have to buy a whole fruit.

There's a street famous for its street sellers. Diners literally eat in the street.

Fellow newbies from the SE Asia system (here, Filipino + Jakarta x 4).

A larger group -- the SE Asia and Australian newbies.

Most of the street vendors sell Chinese Malaysian cuisine.

Our huge pack attacks the local meal.

Crunchy greens and Malay-style fried rice.

A stingray! Didn't know people ate them.

The Indo cohort again (plus one from Singapore).

The aftermath!

A busy kitchen.

Looks just like in Thailand!

Deceptively large chicken wings?

Fancy lights adorn the palms along a posh downtown main street. My hotel's right there.

An emergency meeting over lunch with my "case team" to resolve some issues before the afternoon session resumes.

A western dinner! Egg salad sandwich on funky crusty bread.

We ate outside the restaurant, cafe-style ... in the atrium of a mall.

First Starbucks since my Sittingbourne trip... only when I can expense it.

A street band taking a break during their evening gig.

Huge sales throughout the city, to celebrate Malaysia's independence day. In the background: Uniqlo is coming to KL.

A teamwork game we played one afternoon. Build a secret structure -- but who's the spy?

The conference room in which we spent 5 straight days. (This is half the total group.)

Colleagues from Delhi, Jakarta and Beijing puzzle over how to assemble the block structure

To play this game, you need a striped shirt!

The hotel's central breakfast / lunch buffet area from above.

On the last night, there was a group dinner at a Malaysia restaurant. Here, the vegetarian appetizers.

On the left, my case team's "coach" from the Seoul office (he just finished his MBA at MIT).

The veggie dinner. The dishes were definitely different than Thai food, but I can't put my finger on how.

Colleagues from China and Singapore.

Group shot of our dinner table... India, Indo, KL, Sing, Bangkok, China all represented.

A colleague from India, whose brother came and taught a session -- and they were indistinguishable!

Don't mess with us newbies.

The Australian table in the background.

A subset of the larger group taking the elevator up to a 33rd-floor bar downtown.

This hotel (not the one we stayed at) converts its pool area to a club at night.

It's 100% worth going for the view alone.

The big, green park at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers.

You can't buy a better view in KL!

The Blue Team after our final presentation, plus the head organizer (on the RH end).

Bangkok Week 114

September 2, 2010

A whirlwind 14-hour visit to Trad.

A turtle -- who is about to be released back into nature -- has a hard time getting his energy up for the occasion.

Releasing the turtles into a brook nearby.

No shortage of coloured lights at the funeral / cremation ceremony of a family friend who was in her 90s.

After the ceremony, the casket is wheeled to a separate area with the furnace.

The casket cart has an actual steering wheel.

Being carried up to the furnace area.

Back at the house ... bring out the mother's day present.

Shocked by the microwave!

Everyone's excited about what's in the box!

Testing out the new kitchen gadget.

Looking through the souvenirs from Canada... the famous LED garden lights!

Marouy tries one of the pig's ears that came all the way from Colby in BB.

Reading the thank-you card from Chris and Colby.

Enjoying a home-made pumpkin dessert (in my funeral attire).

Recognize it?

A new display rack for the instant noodles! It's a beauty.

And a whole new toy department at the store.

Marouy is too excited by the rawhide stick to know what to do with it!

I think he's finally figured it out.

The table runner from the Orillia farmer's market.

Bangkok Week 113

August 26, 2010

Still in Bangkok... but not for long.

This restaurant's going for the industrial look.

Good ol' mom and pop food for Friday night dinner.

And a special breakfast the next morning -- bread dipped in delicious green goo!

We found little-Tokyo nestled in a corner of Siam Square.

Green tea and milk swirl soft serve. And priced comparably to DQ. What more could you ask for?

Posing with my fat, constipated Japanese buddy.

Coming soon, to a Siam Square near you! (They built all new shops down the middle of the street adjacent to the movie theater that burnt down.)

We found a free magazine-reading zone, sponsored by the Magazine Association of Thailand.

They must have copies of every magazine published in Thailand ...

... unfortunately, they're all in Thai! So it's slow-going for me.

We stumbled upon a property decked in murals, not a block from our apartment. How did we miss this?

Seriously, how could we have never seen these before?

A big feast after a morning at the gym. Argh!

On the walkway over Siam Square, there was a We-Love-Thailand art fest.

If you wanted to contribute, you had to have lovely things to say about Thailand.

Artists lined the walk. It's not clear if their paintings were for sale, or what.

Not clear where he was going with the message in this one.

A corrupt police man, soldier, politician and scarecrow play ring-around-the-rosie.

Hmm. Is this art?

Nicer than the piece she was painting.

A mid-afternoon nap on the world's biggest pillows! Holy smokes, one would fill our apartment.

Our big investment of the month: proper wine glasses.

Even I had to have a (mini) glass to celebrate.

Looking for the legs. WHERE ARE THE LEGS???

Bangkok Week 112

August 19, 2010

Still in Bangkok!

Using a BB at a shopping mall in Siam Square. Instantly cool.

Celebrating the middle of a 4-day weekend with a Vietnamese dinner. We shared the restaurant with one look-alike couple.

Deep-fried veggie spring roll. So delish.

A funky "Saigon" salad with lots of colors.

Looking good... and half gone already.

At any time of day, there's a huge queue to eat at this cafe. How good can it possibly be? It's not cheap!

Toy Story Mania has Finally Come to Thailand!

Oh, the marketers must be in heaven promoting a kids' movie about toys.

3... in 3D!

Looking cool.

Uh oh!

A cute, skinny group of Bangkok b-boys practice their trix in Siam Square.

This new mini-mall calls itself "Aree Park" but it's not really in Ari. It's a 20-minute walk from the neighborhood!

All it has is restaurants and cafes, and a bit of green space.

What will probably become another eatery is still just open lounging space at the back of the complex.

On the walk home, we pass through a public park. And we discover where motorcycle taxi drivers go on slow afternoons!

Emergency heat-stroke rejuvenation that can only be provided by 7-11.

New desk, new view!

You can tell where easy accessibility by BTS stops. It doesn't go anywhere remotely near the river!

Lots of green, undeveloped land down there! It could fetch a pretty fortune.

The newer suit.

The older suit.

The Frankenstein Leg!

Bangkok Week 111

August 12, 2010

Still in Bangkok...

A special weekend breakfast treat: banana-yoghurt muffins, Thai style.

Super-psyched by the President's Choice CRUNCHY MAPLE ALMOND CEREAL!

Inhumane? It's a turtle race... but for babies.

Shaved ice dessert is STILL #1.

The hand-made shoulder bag that my former colleague made (and I finally picked up).

The detail (and craftsmanship) are both really nice. And, its lined with elephants.

Now I can go out in style.

The block of buildings in the foreground -- the ones that made up the heart of our neighborhood -- are about to be torn down!

Now, the neighborhood looks like it was hit by the Red Shirt looters. This was our 7-11.

This was our vegetable store.

Formerly a clothing shop.

Another clothes shop. Sale on everything in the store.

This one was "House of Beautiful Shirts". But their sign says they're moving across the street. (No shortage of maps.)

A lot of these shops seem to have found lots of dusty old goodies hiding in their back rooms.

I guess this was a clothes & shoe store.

The whole block is all boarded up. So sad.

There goes our desirable neighborhood!

These restaurants on the main street are cleaning out the finishing touches.

"Pita" is called Lebanon Bread here. This one was made locally.

Pita with Thai food. Now that's a new fusion concept.

Trying to blend in with the manequins.

Now that Smarties are made with "No Artificial Colours," they look anemic.

The beautiful view of Lumphini, the skytrain and the Royal Sports Club, as seen from my desk.

And a view toward the central business district. My old office is in the background; the Canadian Embassy is in the GPF building.

Bangkok Week 110

August 5, 2010

Thrown abruptly back into Bangkok life. Somehow, we survive.

Hoo-ray! One of the four boxes of cereal that came back with us... and would've cost 4x as much if bought here!

Last-minute shopping at my favorite farang-friendly store.

What a western dinner! Authentic western Tim Horton's muffin and airplane bagel!

The blueberry didn't fare as well as the raisin bran brick.

Excited nonetheless.

Survived Day 1 at work, even with the jetlag.

What's this? A blueberry?

Ta-daa. It's the birthday skirt from Chris. Thanks, Chris!

And it's the birthday skirt from Mum (even though you can barely see it). Thanks, M&D!

These ladies couldn't find a car to wash, so they washed part of a shrine instead.

Bracebridge Week 2

July 30, 2010

The second of two wonderful summer weeks at the cottage in Bracebridge.

The boys had to do some quick dirty work to uncover the leak in the cottage's water supply.

This one's gonna get someone in trouble.

Adeptly managing the assembly of the new charcoal barbecue.

Colby and Chris look on with interest.

When one guy quits, what's a manager to to but jump into the assembly line herself!

The finished product! What a beauty.

Colby enjoys afternoon tea with her peers.

Shucking the season's first round of fresh Ontario corn.

Lots of colorful, fresh veggies waiting to be cooked. Raw food eaters will be cringing.

The master chef tries out her new barbie. Where's the shrimp?

Colorful and succulent.

A fresh and delicious cottage dinner.

Inspecting the veggie dogs. Do they meet his standards?

Doesn't sweet corn just make you smile?

Colby has her eyes on the one remaining plate on the table.

A delicious dessert of fresh local berries and real ice cream.

The lake, as it must've looked like in the 50s.

The triumphant last year of our poor, poor dock.

All dressed for the beautiful summer weather. Too bad the temperature didn't care to match my outfit.

What a happy, colorful family.

Breakfast for lunch. Pancakes featuring fresh local blueberries.

Finally, able to tour downtown Bracebridge when it's not hiding under 5 feet of snow.

Mini Golf! He's only been waiting 30 years for this opportunity.

Lining up my first putt. Haven't played in several years. A bit rusty.

Mocking the instructor? That's an automatic 3-stroke penalty!

Half-way through the course and still having fun.

The beginning pro lines up a tricky shot.

Why the big frown? He beat his instructor by 2 shots!

Celebrating the round with ginormous cones from the ice cream shop in town.

Too big? Nah! You can never have too much mint chocolate chip.

Sitting on his high school colors with pride.

A huge selection of mid-morning treats from good ol' Mr. Tim Horton.

Single-file water-side reading is very conducive to socializing.

On-dock chair real estate is scarce.

A helicopter rests on the dock pole before resuming its flight.

A staring contest is inherently unfair if your opponent can't blink.

Another bug-eyed creature down at the dock.

The McKay Lake Synchronized Swimming Club holds its annual practice.

Don't have the funds to invest in matching uniforms yet.

Good thing Bronwyn and Andre came over. Otherwise, we'd never be coaxed into the water.

The grandstand.

Look! He went into the lake!

Artsy onions. Weep!

Big burgers and giant greens.

Just cruisin' in the Mazda 3.

Scenic Port Carling sees lots of boat traffic during the summer months.

The three ladies stand on part of the lock at Port Carlin.

A brief respite under the shaded portion of a dock in the mini-marina.

Not a shabby place for a bit of R&R.

Another shot of the gals with a beautiful Muskoka backdrop.

Imagine being able to boat into town.

Can't go out without stopping for ice cream! This flavor is Algonquin Canoe Something-or-other.

Another seasonal dinner on the (newly power-washed) deck.

Colby knows how to pick the perfect friends.

At the annual Muskoka dog show, this big carpet is in for a cleaning.

This poodle dresses fancier than my best dinner gown.

A mini-dog-show-ring showcasing each best-in-breed terrier. Maybe it's showcasing all the entrants, too!

Finally took the plunge and decided to buy the new green bag.

What's that? Another ice cream stop, you say?

The gentlemen sport their matching Bracebridge-swap-Bangkok shirts to dinner.

Our camera shows off its backlight magic tricks for this shot.

Last-but-not-least, the final two colorful diners at the corner spots.

Oh. Too full.

The sunset over Lake Muskoka's a beauty.

What a quick turn-around time -- the sun is rising already!

A glassy-calm morning on the lake. Perfect for a canoe.

Mirror, mirror in the lake ...

... a perfect reflection it doth make.

A shouting contest over breakfast. Something about pills... or peaches.

An afternoon visit to Marnie's beautiful garden rounds off our trip to Bracebridge.

Forgive me, but I really don't know any of the flowers' names.

A yellow one.

One that comes with a fly.

Globes and pink.

Red-on-purple.

The aforementioned purple.

This one I know! It's Colby, Chris and Mike.

So tiny, these little pink guys.

The master, sitting on his throne.

A complimentary juxtaposition of colors.

A bee likes her pastelles.

These fellows sit with their mouths gaping open.

Eyes wide open!

Drowning in a sea of yellow.

Another bee in the blue.

One of Marnie's many quaint displays hidden throughout the garden.

"Ooh, ahh, look at that one. And that one. And that one over there."

A chocolate cake flower.

This one's 100% natural.

This plant has lobster claws.

Another artful arrangement.

Puffy and pink.

With a bit of sunshine, you can see all its veins.

The amateur gets some quick tips from the real pro.

Chris and April share a moment. April's willing to spend some time with anyone.

Bah ha ha! I always wanted to be a conductor.

Portrait shot, strategically angled to shrink the noggin.

Enjoying a laugh in the most serene of settings.

The two girlfriends share some quality talk time together in the grass.

Looking through a home-made photo book of Marnie's garden.

Colby will kiss anyone who will let her!

Bye bye buggeroo, and bye bye Bracebridge. See you soon!

Final meal at the airport. Don't they look happy to see us go?

Sad. Not to leave, but to see how happy they are that we're leaving!

Bracebridge Week 1

July 23, 2010

The first of two wonderful summer weeks at the cottage in Bracebridge.

We were alone at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

And our captain took a rather creative flight path to Toronto.

Opening an assortment of souvenirs, from both Eastern Europe and the Far East.

He's at the cottage!

Enjoying the fresh morning lake... for the first time in at least 3 years.

The cottage, in all its summer glory (but before its new paint job).

Back in town, the gorgeous view from Chris's balcony.

She has a clear shot of the lush public park across the river.

And many beautiful pots of plants.

Colby doesn't look too pleased to have been dognapped by Aunt Naomi.

She did give me kisses though! Until she realized who I really was.

A shot with Granny, where Chris's love seat used to be.

"Help! Get me down from here!"

Relaxing on the deck... but not too close to the wasps' nest.

"Mika, would you put that camera away already?"

And that's about as deep as he'd go into the lake.

Laughing at the souvenirs from Thailand.

Gorilla Cheese!

Colby's more attuned to the goings-on at the table than is Chris.

Granny's prehistoric camera that we found behind the TV.

Mum's enjoying the view from the deck, too.

Looking through all the photos from Beijing. [See 'Beijing 1 Day']

Totally and completely pooped.

Loons! In fact, the only loon siting of the summer.

Having a relaxing nap on the deck. Think of the splinters as therapeutic acupuncture.

Delicious Dinner Dumplings.

And colorful salads to boot.

Off to afternoon tea!

On the left, we have the cover of The Economist for the week of July 10th - 16th 2010. On the right, we have a drawing that I did in Summer 2001. I daresay something fishy's going on.

A beautiful, misty morning down on McKay Lake.

The sun was out, and the mist was blowing across the glassy still water.

The lake's as reflective as a mirror.

Clouds in the lake.

Tall trees stand guard around the cottage.

We knocked, but no one was home.

One of Granny's beautiful day lilies -- that had to be cut and brought inside after it was tromped on by the painters.

Another arrangement Granny made with flowers cut from her garden.

Morning dew on a lily whose day has yet to come.

Aha! Found the missing resident from 5 photos ago. Out for a morning stroll.

More picture-perfect dew balls.

Annual lunch at Huntsville's famous fish-and-chips joint.

Apparently the local Red Hat Society enjoys the same tastes in fine dining.

Granny's gonna eat all this!

For us, the vegetarian version of fish & chips -- scrambled eggs and homefries!

Like a kid in a quaint 50s candy shop.

Three generations of smiles. Ice cream is ageless.

Some Greedy Gus just couldn't make up his mind!

Granny's serpent-like detachable jaw busts out when a cone is in sight.

The Asians, relaxing in downtown Huntsville.

Suavely posing with their gins and tonic.

Who's gonna push whom into the water first?

Perfect pillow clouds make a picturesque afternoon over the lake.

Posing in our matching water shoes. Before you think it's cute -- 3 other cottage residents bought pairs, too.

Action shot of the delectable French Toast dinner.

Colby wants to take part in the breakfast-for-dinner action, too.

Gravenhurst's lakeside farmer's market is just as picturesque as any place in Muskoka.

Fresh Ontario strawberries match the growers' corporate t-shirts.

Beautiful local blue berries -- perfect for pies and pancakes.

Green and yellow beans -- to be used in Authentic Thai Cuisine (TM) later in the week.

Part of the famers' market gang. Colby enjoyed it as much as anyone.

Colorful zucchini make a fun seasonal photo.

The ice cream gang reunites, this time enjoying ice cream made with local Muskoka flavors.

Colby's got a bout of the afternoon sleepies.

Choosing the windiest afternoon posible to take a paddle to the (other) Tomczak's cottage.

Taking a brief break after battling across one particularly windy stretch.

Peace, dude. We finally made it! (Why is their cottage at the furthest possible point from Granny's cottage?)

The brothers relax with a cola and matching leg positions.

Someone's getting tall! (And I don't mean me.)

Blue skies, blue waters and a big red canoe.

Dinner at a restaurant fit for the king on Chris's beautiful balcony.

Quite literally taking Colby for a walk, after she refused to walk down the slope herself.

The sun sets over Bracebridge's famous falls.

She's happy now that she's on flat ground (and in the hands of someone other than Mika)!

The moon is out, but the sun's not quitting yet.

Ain't much water coming over the falls this year... because it's all in McKay Lake!

Fresh bread glows in the early morning sunlight.

Suddenly transported to Grandpa's veranda!

The flowers and I intentionally coordinated our outfits.

Grandpa has a laugh at the creature from Thailand who came to visit.

Henry swung by, too. Everyone likes a sunny morning on Grandpa's front porch.

What a happy family. 3 generations and 235 years of life represented in this photo.

The Asians frame Grandpa's doorway nicely.

How come his son's head looks so much larger?

Next stop: a visit to 765 to see how the renovations are progressing.

The contractor's pup was extremely personable.

Quite novel to see the 3-D plans for the room in which you're standing!

The house has seen better days -- but it won't be recognizable come December!

Forget renovation decisions. Playing with dogs is more my speed.

Tandoori cheese at a delicious Indian lunch.

I could tell it would be delicious, even before biting in.

Lots of boats on The Lake, as we take an afternoon stroll along the lakeshore.

No shortage of seagulls in this city.

Sunbathers came out to the closest thing there is to a beach on this warm afternoon.

Lake Ontario: where the shore is straight, but the water is slanted.

The easy way to combat poison ivy.

Picturesque Grenadier Pond, even on an overcast day.

A ducky friend and his 2-D twin.

Get it?

These two picked a real romantic getaway. Enough goose poop for a whole honeymoon.

Posing with the famous maple leaf.

Spot the foreign species!

A bug local to High Park.

Stopping mid-stroll for some giant cones at The Grenadier's ice cream hut.

A black squirrel enjoys his pick of the litter.

The playground to which Grandpa used to take me. The swings have been there for generations.

A late afternoon visit with Grandma in her beautiful condo.

"Who are you?"

The Thai water buffalo makes friends with the Swedish horse.

Showing off her very long, very scenic balcony.

It's a balcony to be proud of!

Houses down below actually belong to the condo complex.

One of the many, many, many vanity plates we saw during our two weeks. This one is seasonal.

Quick dinner at Harvey's, with its ever-lasting veggie burgers.

Back in Bracebridge, Granny gives us a tour of her new home at The Villa.

A beautiful floral arrangement distinguishes her door from the rest.

Her spacious bedroom and kitchenette.

No shortage of plants or natural light.

A restaurant-like dining room that feels really homey and comfortable.

A mindbending return to Scrabble.

Here comes the Authentic Thai Cuisine (TM)!

The makings for the stir friend basil dish.

Mmm, stir fried (farmers market) green beans in a red curry paste. We haven't cooked in so many years!

"Chicken" pad grapow -- literally stir-fried basil.

And creamy green curry.

Unsuspecting diners are still happy before their meal.

Granny seems to like it! It's nothing like what they serve at The Villa, she says. Wonder why.

Beijing 1 day

July 17, 2010

A whirlwind 7-hour tour of some key sites in downtown Beijing. The Forbidden City is a HUGE complex built from 1406 to 1420. Normal citizens were forbidden from entering the complex, hence the name.

Beijing has a beautiful, modern airport built for the 2008 Olympics. It is connected to downtown Beijing by this train.

The train is above ground most of the 30-minute ride, but it does go underground at parts. The fare was 25 RMB, or about $3.60.

Our first shocking look at the outside. Anyone care for a fresh cup of haze?

Alright! We made it to the subway system. Now we just have to navigate this ticket machine -- in Chinese.

A typical subway station. Beijing's subway system is expanding rapidly, with a few new lines opening each year!

The Chinese approach to subways: if people going in and people exiting push at each other hard enough, eventually everyone will end up on the right side of the door.

Looking bright and fresh at 9 in the morning, on 2 hours of sleep and an airplane meal.

I do have to give them credit for this handy subway map, which updates the train's location in real time.

Finally, we surface at Tiananmen Square, where a vacationing monk strolls by.

But first, we're going to go visit Chairman Mao and the Forbidden City.

Just inside the first gate to the Forbidden City, cleaning crews pedal around on three-wheeled garbicyles.

The Forbidden City (please see this image: http://bit.ly/b8Owcn) is composed of many nested gates, tall walls and palace buildings.

Just follow the sign and everything will be okay!

Two kids pose with a giant door. 99.9999% of the tourists visiting the Forbidden City site were Chinese.

Entering another layer of gated walls... and we haven't even gotten to the official entrance yet.

A particularly colorful parasol. All the umbrellas made an already crowded tourist site especially packed.

A wall full of Chinese snacks. Doubtful that any are vegetarian though.

A group of police do some marching. Not totally sure what it was about.

We're both alive in China! The only group shot, since the SLR is not particularly conducive to taking them.

The tour guides cleverly stuck bright flags on top of their umbrellas.

A subtle blend of old and new.

Yes! We got our golden ticket! Finally!

Two girls are already hot and tired.

Looking ahead to the "Gate of Supreme Harmony," through which everyone must pass to enter the rest of the gated palace.

Looking back at the "Meridian Gate" through which we just entered the complex. Note the walls on either side.

The color schemes are strikingly different from both Thai and Japanese traditional architecture.

Note the ornate ceiling and giant LCD screen.

Another grand red double-door.

Did I mention that it was a huge door?

Through the gate and looking ahead to the "Hall of Supreme Harmony."

All the (original) stairs leading up to (and down from) the Halls are ornately carved... usually with dragons.

Great, the guide book is indeed correct!

A crane majestically overlooks the throngs of tourists.

A very interesting dragon turtle. They do like their dragons.

Another gold-and-red door, this one more ornate than the last.

These were actually painted tiles. Apart from these, we didn't see too many examples of ceramic wall decorations.

A beautiful golden roof. Actually, I think they were painted yellow tiles.

More detailed gold (and silver) painting. Dragons, dragons, dragons!

Slightly different decor.

Next up: the more modest "Hall of Complete Harmony."

Evidently, the emperor could come and sit here on his couch, in peace and complete harmony.

More carvings on the stairs.

Beautiful detailing on a window frame.

A girl traces her finger along the already worn trim.

A random (dangerous) place to lay your baby -- on a 4-foot ledge.

The roofs are guarded by many little armies of friends.

Another extremely ornate ceiling... and a really classy yellow sign.

Okay, even by Chinese standards, this guy was crossing a line.

More golden shingles and a mountainous backdrop.

Taking a breather before moving onto the next part of the palace.

Hiding from the glare so they can review photos and send an SMS?

A giant golden lion...

...playing with his cute little lion cub.

A raised walkway that leads to the "Gate of Heavenly Purity." Are these names getting a little much?

Another ornate staircase dragon carving.

Everyone takes this photo! Here I am, with my photo buddy.

Another funny turtle-hybrid. This one with big nostrils.

These tiles look like they belong inside a NYC subway station or something.

Time for some refreshment! Who knows what the heck it is.

A peach popsicle. That'll do. (Note: these refreshment stands were scattered all throughout the complex.)

Finally, we reach the imperial gardens... which is filled with creepy crawly trees.

Just follow the sign.

The gardens were filled with these dramatic jagged rocks. Volcanic?

More cute little friends (an assortment) guard this roof.

One of two round pagodas inside the Imperial Garden.

It's famous for its ornate roof.

Most people came in tour groups, and had to wear some kind of distinguishing article of clothing.

Scary tree!

Some room that overlooks the gardens. Not sure what exactly it was.

The palace's lone elephant makes his appearance at the very back.

More very detailed dragons.

A mini-hall (or pagoda?) sits perched atop a mound of lumpy rocks. How grand.

Another rock star lion.

The detailing on a giant lamp. Or was it an urn?

This little guy is cuter than you can believe.

Look how cute they are! You just wanna poke their little faces!

What kind of drink you want? Good thing there's corporate branding!

More golden roofs and decorative paint jobs.

Heading back toward the entrance, this time via the side paths.

Still standing!

Guarding my huge red door. That's a huge red slide bolt behind me.

"Enter at your own risk."

I really like the color scheme!

More authentic Chinese backdrops.

Did I mention that this complex is HUGE?

A little moat that meanders through the entry courtyard.

And... visit is over. How sad. And exhausting.

Huh?

Bye-bye, Mr. Mao.

After crossing under a 12-lane road, we pass the National Museum on our way to Tiananmen Square.

Now, we have to cross over that same ring road to actually get to the Square.

Voila. Tiananmen Square. That's about all there is to see, folks.

A LONG, and I mean LONG queue of people wait to visit Mao's Mausoleum.

This is just a shot of the people closest to getting in. The line wrapped all the way around the giant mausoleum property.

Turning the corner to view the next face of the queue. (This line was the most exciting thing to see in Tiananmen Square.)

Do they look bored?

At the southern end of Tiananmen Square, Zhengyangmen Gate.

A famous monument in front of Mao's Mausoleum.

And across the street, Zhengyang Gate Jianlou... whatever that means.

And a rather western looking China Railway Museum and station.

Back in the comfort of the airport now, the pushy people don't even wait their turn for water!

My blue World Expo buddy.

And another frozen friend. Doesn't he look just golden?

Pleasure to meet you, too, sir.

After our sweaty morning in the humid, smoggy city, we spent an hour cleaning off at a pay-by-the-hour airport hotel. You can imagine the looks we got when we checked in!