Bangkok Week 409

April 28, 2016

A fun long-weekend in Trad, and then a whirlwind trip to Sydney -- my first of many!

Welcome to Trad! Maruay tries the home-made dog cookies straight from Erika in Toronto.

Wasting no time; enjoying the "Khao Lam" -- sweet sticky rice baked in bamboo.

Our first of many fine meals: seafood at a new restaurant, because our 'regular' go-to place was closed.

Evidence of freshly-caught fish?

Then, it was time to take our car for a quick wheel alignment.

Doing a fruit tour in the back yard. Look, a baby mangosteen!

Explorers!

Checking out the multi-colored flowers.

No trip to Trad is complete without a shop at Makro!

A dog on a bike, and men climbing out of the middle of the street.

Maruay is the evening entertainment.

Enjoying keeping a pillow lodged in his mouth.

"Now that I've got it, I can't let go."

Dinner at our favorite A/C'd Thai restaurant on the main street - with the fish leftover from lunch!

What a feast!

The next morning, saying hello to the stray cat who's taken up residence in the yard.

She's seen better days.

Off to the Black Sand Beach! Where we're greeted by lots of mudskippers and mangroves.

A bright blue-and-red crab wrestles with a half-eaten leaf.

Enjoying the walk through the mangroves -- because it's still breezy.

Trying to blend in with the mangroves.

We made it! To one of 5 black sand beaches in the world.

The tide is much lower than when we were here earlier this year.

Will the boardwalk hold up under our weight?

Promoting MIT fencing, wherever he goes.

This tourist blends in very well.

A brightly-colored fishing boat, half-way to Koh Chang.

That's our destination!

Another fishing boat -- this time, the fishermen are the brightly-colored ones.

Creepy lines in the sand... but from what exactly?

Say cheese!

Someone looks lost!

Imitating the very descriptive signs that leave no questions unanswered.

More crabs.

And more mudskippers. Did you know they have blue polkadots?

On the way back, a stop in Baan Nam Chiao, where they make the famous hats.

Found the perfect one for me!

I'll take this basket - it's a good fit.

A very tall, and rather steep, footbridge crosses the river.

Which is otherwise home to the local fishing boats.

Great view of the rooftops from up here.

And the river, which forks just up ahead.

A view to the colorful other side.

The local mosque.

Chicken rice soup. With a very cute "G" for "chicken".

Back at the house, mischievous Maruay decides it's time for a dip.

But when it's time to come back, he realized he bit off more than he can chew!

Lunch at a local resort that Top likes.

Operation Jackfruit is underway.

The result!

Time for today's lesson: how to pick a mango.

First, it requires lots of arm strength to manoeuvre the little claw at the end of the long pole.

The fruit of her labor!! Hah!

Off to dinner at our favorite dinner joint.

They've upgraded their tuk tuk since last year!

We're here before sunset this time.

And our early reservation allowed us to secure one of the best seats in the house.

Hello from the dock!

The neighbors.

Time for dinner for these red falcons - another revenue stream for this enterprising restaurant.

Time for the feast!

No dinner is complete without a DQ to wash it down.

Namwan watches her older brother play with his new "iPhone".

Maruay, my pillow.

The dogs enjoy a chat with a neighbor the next morning.

Some social time with the whole family.

Maruay knows how to give a good hug!

Excited by her souvenir from Makro Trad - Chicken Legs!

Check out the queue for visa-on-arrival!

My first-ever view of Sydney.

And the mountainous conservation area directly south of Sydney.

My taxi was being chased by an Anzac Day parade!!

St. James's Church, and the gaudy Sydney Tower in the background.

All roads closed for the imminent Anzac Day Parade!

Here it is! Marching band and all!

These kids have figured out how to get a good view

What a festive day! And great weather to top it off.

A marching band comprised entirely of veterans?

Time for some preliminary Sydney sight-seeing on my way to breakfast. Here's City Hall.

And a super-cute little cafe, with great coffee (of course).

And the regal Queen Victoria Building - the most posh shopping arcade I've ever seen!

More CBD; spot the reflection of Sydney Tower?

Town Hall at night.

And the view from the BCG Sydney office - hard to top this!

Looking down over Hyde Park.

Double-decker trains! I was expecting a subway.

They make for a comfy ride to the airport!

Qantas, Vietnam, Malaysia, Virgin - so many countries represented!

United, Air Canada - where am I?

Back in Bangkok! And a surprise dinner with Adil. I still can't get over the coincidence!

Bangkok Week 408

April 21, 2016

A short week in Bangkok, post-Perth

Back in Bangkok, and barely awake! Dinner at our local fave.

On Monday morning, seems like there's a fuss at the airport.

A star is shopping! Wow!

Time for someone's Thai haircut!

Finally, an opportunity for dinner at Mejico!

Buen provecho!

And another week-night dinner at our humble home.

Delish!

He couldn't help himself - it had been too long since his last Indian meal.

Perth and WA

April 17, 2016

A fascinating 10-day visit to Perth, Albany, and all points in between. Viva Western Australia. Also, watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/166039368

Hello, Perth!

Our home for the next 2 days: an Air BnB inside the former Salvation Army in downtown Perth.

Looks like we've lived here for years!

The living room, with its private courtyard in the rear.

The mysterious Purple Vampire blocking entrance to the top floor.

Stopping for breakfast and some much-needed coffee at a local cafe.

The quait Perth CBD.

They're big into safety here... I guess it's an influence of all the mining companies.

The Government House.

And St. George's Cathedral.

Feeding her new-found friend.

The cinematographer sets up his giant filming apparatus.

Do you have all your ducks in a row?

Kid meets Kangaroo.

A well-groomed Dr. Seuss tree.

A friendly hydrant.

A sea plane that was puttering around for a while out in the Swan River.

Standing in formation.

There goes the sea plane! Practicing its water driving.

Dolphins! Out to see what all this propeller action is all about.

A wet Elizabeth Quay experiences a refreshing downpour.

This ambitious kayaker doesn't seem to mind the rain. In fact, he seems prepared: he left all his clothes at home.

The curvy Elizabeth Quay bridge.

What's this? A cycling race?

And a Studebaker Commander testing its parking breaks on a hill.

Uniting Church in the City at the entrance to the Trinity shopping arcade.

A large selection of fresh apples at Woolies.

Clever! I've never seen gum displayed vertically using magnets before.

A nice "green" wall outside the shopping centre.

Percy Buttons' Aspiration at the Hay Street Mall.

A view of the modern Bell Tower, built to ring in the new millenium.

Downtown Perth, after the storm.

The City of Perth library in the foreground, and St. George's Cathedral in the background.

Next stop: Kings Park and Botanic Garden!

They have many beautiful trees lining Fraser Ave., the main entrance to the park.

A gorgeous view of the city down below.

The cinematographer at his finest.

Excited, tired, or in pain?

Posing with the green and the trees.

So distracted by his art that he's about to prance off the cliff.

Enjoying the view from the roof of the Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Using our new super-spy equipment to watch pedestrians and cyclists on the Elizabeth Quay bridge.

Toy cars and a toy train!

The Court of Contemplation and State War Memorial.

A bride-groom to be, taking advantage of the good weather and nice scenery for their wedding photos.

An Australian magpie, known as one of Australia's "most accomplished songbirds".

Enjoying the peaceful walk. (Someone forgot to bring his iron to Perth!)

About to head up and over the bridge.

The snaky bridge.

The Swan Brewery Co. building now contains a cafe/restaurant and function centre.

The hiding rainbow lorikeet who made our new lens purchase worth it!

Welcome to Fremantle; a.k.a. Freo.

Downtown Freo: full of hipsters and hippies.

This looks like a nice place for a late lunch.

Our late lunch is here, at a burger joint on the main street.

Excited by the prospects of his veggie burger.

Then, it's on to the Fremantle Markets, which claim to stock "Everything you could possibly imagine, plus a little bit more." I question the claim slightly.

Although they did have a piano open to the public... and the music being played was definitely more than I could imagine.

A late-afternoon pick-me-up, Aussie-style.

Man Goes where?

This seagull has taken it upon himself to watch over these parked cars.

A historic building in Fremantle.

Back in Perth, it's time for an evening jaunt. It feels like midnight, but I think it's only 6pm.

We found a Harry Potter lane...

... which is actually London Court, a cute little shopping arcade built in 1937.

Welcome to the Perth Noodle Festival 2016!

Asian "street food," done Aussie style...

The Elizabeth Quay bridge looks great lit up at night.

As does the Bell Tower.

The next morning, it's a quick stroll around our neighbourhood before heading off to Rottnest Island.

A very big tree.

St. Mary's Cathedral.

I guess it's not surprising to see it so full on a Sunday morning!

Miss Maud's Swedish Hotel - this one puzzled all of us!

On our way to the ferry, we passed this canine chauffeur.

Mum with a strange growth coming out of her chest.

The Round House, the first permanent building built in the Swan River Colony, and intended as a prison.

Looking south, over the Arthur Head Reserve.

Doesn't Fremantle look like a model toy town?

There were many beautiful historic buildings on the campus of the University of Notre Dame Australia.

The (former) Chamber of Commerce.

And here we are, at the famous Rottnest Island!

Where the party-goers are enjoying good times on some funky floats.

These girls enjoy their lunch with the gulls.

Some stressful minutes later, we're off on our bikes for a tour around the island.

The single-turbine wind "farm" that powers the island.

These trees seem to have given into the wind over the years.

Cheese! No casualties yet!

Mum, enjoying the casual cycle through the lakes in the island.

Off they go, like seasoned pros.

Red velvet cake? Or sea suds caked onto rock?

The real Wadjemup Lighthouse? Or just a toy model?

Beautiful blue waters - would be a great day for a swim!

In fact, some smarties are enjoying a dip to cool off.

Dunes and gulls ... definitely a different climate than the beaches in Thailand.

I have discovered where the Perth elite come to spend their time.

Two girls enjoy some paddle surfing.

Off we go, gravity in our favor! I hope no one misses that crucial left turn up ahead!

Decoys? Or the real deal?

Here's what we've come all this way for!! Quokkas!

Mum gets a great shot of Mr. Cutie.

Someone was partying too hard last night.

No quokkas in the general store? How discriminatory.

A bit of minor surgery needed after a confrontation with a quokka who was a little less welcoming than the others.

Late lunch = large lunch? Enjoying the view at Dome Cafe.

Whoops. This palm has seen better, stronger days.

The paparazzi has descended on Rottnest Island!

Aww! Now isn't he the cutest?

"Hello! Welcome to Rottnest!"

"This darned leaf. It's so tough. I just need to rip off one small pi--"

New BFFs! Enjoying a snack together.

This guy is a little too curious. That's probably why he has one fewer ear than all his buddies.

"Hello? What's this? An iPhone?"

"Cool camera you got there, lady! Let me see?"

We spent a bit too much time with the quokkas, I'm afraid, and started taking on some of their characteristics.

Back on the mainland, and back in Perth, it's time for some evening nosh up in the Northbridge neighborhood.

We found "Chinatown"... a row of Asian stalls (including Indian and Malaysian... so decidedly not all Chinese).

Asian it is!

A somber wall mural.

The next day, we're in the car heading south to Margaret River. We stop for lunch in Bunbury (the sister city of Chonburi, Suphanburi and Chantaburi), at the hip Cafe 140.

Turkish flatbread sandos for all!

They're telling it like it is in Bunburi.

This mural captures the essence of Western Australia.

The stubby little light house at Cape Naturaliste, the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge.

The waves were quite choppy!

But that didn't stop this father and son from taking a beach-side stroll.

Everyone's looking pretty wind-swept.

Dinner at our new home at the Acacia Chalets in Margaret River.

After many minutes of patient waiting, we spot our prey grazing in the back yard!

The next morning, we spy some Australian Ringnecks enjoying our lawn.

And some giant lemons? Or limes?

Our chalet in daylight!

I had always thought the 'roos come out around dusk. This one seems to be a rare morning-grazer.

On our way south, we drive via the picturesque Boranup Drive.

Karri Trees, as far as the eye can see.

They're tall, majestic... and make you feel like an ant on the forest floor.

Tiny people.

Finally, we make it to Cape Leeuwin, and its lighthouse -- which is considerably taller than its Cape Naturaliste counterpart.

Ahoy Matey! What do you see out there?

The lighthouse first opened in 1895 by John Forrest.

Visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for an additional fee.

Look at these three sociable tourists.

Rough waves, at the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

What a natural model.

This one less so.

We always knew that Mike was the apple of her eye.

What a family portrait.

We're *almost* as tall as the lighthouse.

All hail Australia!

What a stubby light house.

These rocks all seem to have a certain directionality to them.

Our next stop is at a vineyard!

Lunch at a well-regarded restaurant that uses its own-grown fresh fruits and veggies (and a little crazy) for its dishes.

You must be wearing white to dine at this restaurant.

Oh, apparently only if you sit on the other side of the table.

The most beautiful plate of fresh veggies I've ever seen.

Spending a comatose afternoon at the beach side: looking north toward Surfers Point.

There's a nice beachside walkway that connects Gnarabup with Surfers Point.

We arrived to Surfers Point just in time to see them packing up after the 2016 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.

This lady has seen enough!

This beach supposedly has some of the best waves in the world.

Cool move!

Riding the waves at sundown.

Looks like Mum's about to brave a storm.

This Akita wishes his owner would stop texting and start paying more attention to him!

Last stop of the day: our Kangaroo lollapalooza!

"Who, me?"

Most of the extended family was enjoying the freshness of the 18th hole... except for ol' uncle Sal, who just couldn't help himself.

"Why hello there, young one."

Posing with my friends.

The baby of the bunch.

Back at our house... we had some unannounced dinner guests!

The next morning, we continue our drive south-east, in the direction of Pemberton.

Stopping outside the Manjimup Visitor Centre, wondering exactly where we are.

Next stop: the Diamond Tree Lookout, where only crazy people go.

It's a 52m tall live Karri Tree, that anyone can climb up using pegs nailed into its sides.

If you manage to scale all 52 meters, there's a cozy wooden viewing platform waiting for you at the top.

That's about as high as I can go, thank-you-very-much. About 10 meters up.

And that's all she got!

Do I need to come down?

The short walk at the base of the Diamond Tree was much more my speed.

More giant Karri trees.

This tree doesn't look very natural!

Lunch at a local bakery famous for its pies and pasties.

We were in for a great surprise at the Pemberton Visitors Centre - this surprise visitor!

He, and some friends, were orphaned when their mums had encounters with cars.... so now they were being rehabilitated by local rangers. And volunteering part-time at the visitors' centre.

Don't they look so comfortable in these baskets?

Relaxing like he owns this place.

I've seen more comfortable beds than this...

A gang of emus... including one headless one.

A bird standing guard over the entrance to the Beedelup Falls.

He knows he's handsome!

Testing the bridge load limit?

I think these falls have seen wetter days.

Praying mantis showing off his Kung Fu (Panda) moves.

Why do I look like the only one enjoying the little walk?

And we're off for a bit of a more strenuous walk: from Heartbreak Crossing to the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree... via Blackbutt.

Enjoying the walk?

What reflective water! I guess the river's not really flowing!

Barely rippling.

The sky? Or the water?

Group shot!

Finally, a downhill!

More tall Karris.

Whoops! Someone lost his skirt!

More short people and tall trees.

Blue sky above the tall trees.

This tall one has seen stronger days.

The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, another fire lookout tree, with a lookout platform at 75m!!!

It was pegged for climbing to celebrate Australia's bicentenary in 1988, and was built to be a tourist attraction - not a fire lookout tree!

Yet again, more locals who are far more brave than any foreign tourists.

A colorful guest who is also staying at the Forest Lodge Resort.

Sunset over the resort.

Breakfast time in Pemberton!

A good reminder hanging on the wall of the breakfast cafe.

On our drive from Pemberton to Albany, our first stop is the Giant Tingle Tree.

A local snail.

Well, this is pretty funny, because I know the tree had something to do with a Butt, but I don't remember what.

Tingle trees are lumpier than their Karri cousins.

What a twisted tree!

Here's the Giant Tingle Tree!

And its slightly smaller cousin.

Next stop: the Tree Top Walk, with a very cute totem capturing all the local mammals.

Ahh! This is higher and sways more than we thought!

Starting to question why we came on this swaying walk.

The view from the top is great!

Looking down at the tall trees *down below*!

Those kids don't seem to be phased by the height or the sway.

Heart-pounding, but worth it.

A bit nervous? Nah!

Back on solid ground, we can appreciate the nobby tingle tree with a face.

Peek-a-boo!

Embracing tingles.

Our lunch stop today: the town of Denmark!

And finally, we reach Albany, our southerly destination.

A colorful butterfly is waiting to greet us.

This beach town seems to be hopping 12 months a year.

What? Pine trees on the beach?

This seagull feels it's his duty to be local lifeguard for the afternoon.

Amphitheater-style picnic benches, all facing the ocean.

Enjoying the Marine Drive Scenic Path, which connects Middleton Beach and downtown Albany.

Great clouds over Middleton Beach.

And a great boardwalk!

Our first bandicoot sighting.

And a giant ship at sea, not too far from us!

Looking into the Ataturk Entrance.

What a windy path!

A great hiding place.

More picturesque clouds.

Photo moment.

These fishermen seem to have their hands full.

That ship has probably seen better, more seaworthy days.

A saw dust plant! We could feel it in our lungs.

It's a proper half-moon tonight!

Great views from these houses along Brunswick Road.

A colorful clock at the former Town Hall.

Dinner at a "late"-night institution: Dylans.

The next morning, we're off to Torndirrup National Park.

The Natural Bridge was carved by the strong ocean waves.

Good thing we brought layers to bundle up!

The attraction was only reopened to visitors two weeks earlier.

Overlooking "The Gap" - a gap in the granite rocks, with a 25 metre sheer drop to the ocean.

Ahh. Now you can see the gap.

Looks like the waters below might be a bit choppy.

But nice and blue!

Better bring your innertube if you're going to swim around here.

For a slightly calmer next stop, it's the Blowholes... which may or may not be blowing.

Heading down the 900m path.

Waiting patiently for the blowholes to blow.

As is this father-daughter couple.

Another artsy prance by the cinematographer.

Haven't seen a lizard of this kind yet.

This area seems to have no shortage of choppy waters.

Some sun in your eyes?

Final stop for this hook: Frenchman Bay, which is sheltered enough for some calm swimming. Anyone ready for a dip?

Sailers and swimmers both can enjoy these calm waters.

Looking east toward Misery Beach - the more pleasant place to swim.

A fishing boat?

Pausing to orient ourselves...

... while the swimmer gets ready for some Southern Ocean action.

Can he do it?

Yes! Victory!

And that's all! Time to dry off.

These picnicers are enjoying the smooth rock.

Back in Albany for some shopping and lunch.

The Albany Entertainment Centre - kind of reminds you of a larger, more iconic opera house, doesn't it?

There should be a good view somewhere around here.

Taking a coffee break while dad shops for his local wines.

The University of Western Australia Albany Centre looks awfully like a train station.

Historic buildings in Albany centre.

Including this one, where we dined the night before.

Perfect timing for us: the 3 days of PUBLIC2016, an art and mural fest in Albany.

Borondo, from Spain.

Andrew Frazer, from Perth.

An exhibit of local artists, inside the former Town Hall.

A nice blue pattern - by whom?

Sleeping man with large nose by Darren Hutchins, from Fremantle.

Posing with (interrupting?) the artist himself!

A mess? By Hense from the USA.

Tools of the trade.

Chad Marwick, an Albany local.

Delicious local pizza for dinner!

The next morning, on the way out of Albany, we stop at the Saturday Farmers' Market.

It's a cute affair, with lots of fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats and more from around the region.

Local musicians liven up everyone's morning.

Fresh red capsicum.

No trip to Albany is compete without seeing Dog Rock!

Our last stop, before making the long trip back to Perth, is Porongurup National Park.

We've hiked 2.2 km up to Castle Rock.

Still standing!

Taking a breather before embarking on the final challenge of the climb.

Making our way up to the skywalk!

First, it's an act of balancing as you scramble up these rocks.

The only casualty so far was the water bottle in my back pocket.

Then, over a few more rocks.

Like this?

Stop to enjoy the strong, fresh winds.

And up a long ladder to the top!

The view is worth it!

Farmland and forest as far as the eye can see.

Glad we brought our sweaters!

Yay! Time to head back down!

This is considerably easier than the walk up!

We did it!

Enjoying a relaxing lunch of leftovers at the base picnic area.

Finally, we make it back to Perth, for one last hurrah.

And dinner at Chutney Mary's, where dad was stoked to have met Mary herself.

Cheers to Western Australia!

Bangkok Week 406

April 7, 2016

Our house guests have arrived in style!

Our guests have arrived! First Thai meal of the trip... of many more to come!

Welcome dinner at Tet et Nez -- a newcomer to the neighborhood since they were last here.

Erika's cookies made the trip safely... and deliciously.

Enjoying the new toy she got as a birthday present, before our long day trip.

First destination: the 100 year old market (again!)

Taking in the sights.

A woman rows her boat down the river. We didn't that last time.

Two boaters!

These lazy Maruay look-alikes weren't too pleased by the foreigners in town.

Amused by the Thai alphabet prints on the t-shirts.

Posing atop the rickety old bridge.

Tiny, colorful little crayfish. Are they dyed?

The well-preserved innards of one of the hundred-year-old shop houses that comprise the market.

Somewhere out there, there's a Shell station missing its logo.

Having a laugh about the provincial split atop this bridge.

All the shoppers together.

This dozy guy has found the most comfortable place to rest his head.

A collection of old Japanese match book covers.

Hay there!

This car is a Classic Giggalo. I hope they mean Gigolo!

Getting in for a macro shot...

... of tiny pineapples.

Final stop for the trip: the bat temple! He he he he.

We've been spotted!

Bats in trees -- with much more clarity than the other week.

5-in-a-row. That's better than tic-tac-toe or Connect Four!

Bat-watching and poop-patrol simultaneously.

This mum is protecting her baby... and on the lookout for paparazzi.

This one must be a baby; it has no teeth!

Another mum and baby.

Here, the baby is doing the guard duty.

Enough with the bats. It's hot! Let's go home!

Some final bats and berries.

Toasting to the birthday girl, in all her plaid glory.

A tandoori birthday to you!

Great view of the three tandoor ovens.

Surprise! And happy birthday!

Present time, before they fall asleep. (Side note: don't dad's eyes remind you of the bats'?)

Another adventure the next morning: the railway market in Samut Songkram province.

Most times of day, it's a normal wet market.

Where the vendors sell fruits, veggies, and meats, and customers stroll along the central walkway -- which happens to be a railway track.

Which type of orange would you like?

Rail-side fish?

Chilies, chilies, or chilies?

More patrons strolling the market.

Until...

... something exciting happens!

Incoming train!

Whose idea was it, anyway, to put a market on the train tracks?

There it goes. Awfully close!

In fact, it's running over the veggies! Literally.

Group shot!

Quick, impulse decision. Let's ride the train.

Who's that man? Looks like a tourist to me!

Main street Mae Klong. They don't wait long before re-opening the roads to car traffic.

The tourists wish us a fond farewell.

The expert videographer capture the scene behind us.

Market life returns to normal.

Bye bye, railway market.

Now that the fun is over, let's enjoy the train ride.

"Ooh, look! Our station just wooshed by!"

Getting off mid-station, while the entire train looks on. That pretty much defines 'embarrassing moment'!

At least it afforded us the opportunity to see local Poms being grown.

My anniversary cactus is flowering! Aww.

A late, post-outing lunch at our most reliable local joint: Lay Lao.

Knew he couldn't make it more than 3 days in Bangkok without stopping at DQ.

One day late: Mum's self-selected birthday cake.

Some of the shenanigans I missed while away in Jakarta.

A nice home meal.

Meanwhile, I have the nicest view of Singapore from my hotel desk.

Great 180-degree views of the Singapore skyline. Although they'll soon be obstructed!

Their favorite MBK food court has undergone a major face lift since last time.

The burst that made our Wednesday night more interesting than planned.

My brand new work computer! Another 27 months until this bad boy gets an upgrade.

Didn't know Basilico was so funny!

Bangkok Week 405

March 31, 2016

After 6 years away, we return to Chiang Mai for a weekend getaway!

We're off to Chiang Mai! Our snack for the 50-minute flight? An Indian vegetarian sandwich!

My doorman has helped bring my bags to the room.

Our suite!

Not too shabby!

A late dinner at the night bazaar.

A fuzzy vendor.

Enjoying the Chiang Mai haze in our snazzy suite.

An intricate gate at the entrance to a temple.

An ornate roof on a small local temple.

More gold peaking out from behind the trees.

A long caravan of tuk tuks along the edge of the moat.

The brick wall that still surrounds the center of Chiang Mai.

Posing with the main gate to old Chiang Mai. Too bad neither we nor the gate is in focus.

No squeeze!

Ducking into another small temple to view its ornate building.

We stumbled upon a group ordination for Wat Chedi Luang -- probably because it's summer break for most students.

Some of the boys don't look very thrilled to be doing this... although the monks seem to be enjoying themselves.

Unclear what the boys in fancy dress on ponies had to do with it.

A very ornate street sign!

I'm glad I'm not a telephone line repairman in Chiang Mai!

No bugles in Chiang Mai!

Interesting street art on the side of a fence.

Posing with one of many elephants outside of an elephant-themed gallery.

This durian elephant was a bit creepy though.

A hat store -- aptly named "hat" in Thai.

After several hours in the sun, it's time for lunch at a small vegetarian restaurant.

Two tasty dishes and a fried egg. Good for the rest of the day!

Riding back to home base in a semi-chartered pick-up truck.

The pool at Le Meridien is not very big, but the view is nice. Sun too hot for a swim, though.

Instead, we relax in the AC'd comfort of the business lounge.

A vespa repair shop... many of which seem in sore need of some TLC.

The Saturday afternoon walking street is in full swing.

A colorful display at a fruit smoothie seller.

Insisting your products are fashionable may not be the most effective way to do business.

More interesting street art.

Selling hill tribe-inspired hair bands and purses.

A school girl busks for money to fund her education.

Isaan sausages, anyone?

Also near the walking street: Wat Srisuphan, an entirely silver temple.

The entire building, decorative details, and buddha image, are done in silver (and aluminum), giving it a distinct feel.

Very detailed craftsmanship has gone into all the silver pieces.

I guess they're not quite done yet!

Also on the property: a massive, ornate, tiered wooden temple.

Also with reflective detailing.

The temple offers "Monk Chat". It's a service offered by many temples in Chiang Mai, that allows foreigners to ask questions about Buddhism, and allows monks to practice their English.

Later that night, it's dinner with James at a posh Thai restaurant.

It serves mostly-vegetarian, mostly-Thai food... with the occasional meat and Indian dishes mixed in as well.

The next morning, we're off on a walking tour of Northern Chiang Mai. This building is over 200 years old.

Here's the Northern Telecoms of Thailand Museum. Although we didn't go in, I can only imagine how interesting it must be!

Who knew! They still have bike-powered rickshaws in Chiang Mai!

Mr. Cool models his shades.

Visiting the flower market.

Avoiding puddles on the flower market floor. It felt like a much-scaled-down version of Chatuchak.

But with no shortage of colorful flowers.

A view of north-eastern Chiang Mai, from a foot bridge.

Locally-grown strawberries. Each pack cost about 150 baht.

An interesting way to display durian! A sneak peak into what you'll get.

400 baht per kilo for mangosteen! What a scam!

Inside Chiang Mai's largest food and clothing market.

This seller has an extensive selection of Asian teas.

From the ceiling, they've hung pictures of the market from past eras.

Looking down over diners enjoying their lunch.

No city is complete without a Chinatown!

Another ornate northern-style temple.

Check out the detailing on its outer walls.

The central chedi reminded me a bit of Wat Arun.

This short-legged tour guide greeted us at the exit to the temple.

Next stop: Wat Buppharam.

I thought this was a particularly disturbing image in the entryway.

The main attraction of this temple is the teak buddha image -- the largest of its kind in Thailand.

A well-preserved old building sandwiched in between 'newer' ones.

What punky street art.

Lunch at a vegetarian place, decorated with aptly-themed quotes. This one in particular from K.D. Lang resonated with me. I've always wondered this!

A very spicy vegetarian salad (named "3 crunchy things") for lunch.

Finally getting to try his Khao Soi -- the signature dish of Chiang Mai.

Pepper would've loved this restaurant!

Final stop of our Sunday walking tour: Wat Phra Sing... which seems to be a lot more gold than last time we were there!

They have a small Sunday market on premise.

Have to get suited up before going inside. Proper attire only!

One of the largest and most revered buddha images in Chiang Mai.

They're already getting prepared for the Songkran celebrations.

An old beetle doing a proper job of parking in the streets.

Sun shines through over smoggy Chiang Mai. Farewell for now, northern capital.

Fast forward to Hanoi, where the mist is limiting the familiar lake view.

Spotted in Hanoi: a rather niche clothing store.

They've really done wonders to the airport since I spent time here in 2014. (Granted, a brand new terminal usually helps.)

Back in Bangkok, drama's afoot!

The storm doesn't stop the new pop-up amusement park from preparing itself for opening day.

Doesn't someone look nice and shiny?

Disembodied legs sleep overnight at Suvarnabhumi.

Bangkok Week 404

March 24, 2016

A fun Saturday day-trip to Chachoengsao Province; plus a birthday dinner; plus a whirlwind trip to Singapore. Let's go!

A pulled pork sandwich at a new vegan restaurant in town.

Nice decor and not-so-subtle vegan propaganda.

Saturday road trip! Destination: Chachoengsao Province. First stop: the Khlong Suan 100-year-old market.

The market has many "proprietary" snacks. This one is a "crispy egg snack".

Pickled fruit.

Six types of mangoes! Later, we bought a kilo to bring back.

No better time of year than now to dry fish in the sun!

Leftovers from Chinese NY?

One of the well-conserved 100-year-old buildings.

Guess the water level is low at this time of the year! Not sure if that boat's going to be making it out anytime soon.

A very scary wooden footbridge.

Some of the sellers in this market appeared to be authentic from when the market first opened.

Cat brand rolling tobacco ... and all the decorations to go along with it.

Jarusin's store seems to be an original as well. The area was home to both Chinese and Muslims.

And this is the toy zone.

Why not try out luck at the scary wooden bridge?

We made it up alive!

The market continues on for as far as the eye can see.

Down we go!

Posing with the original wooden doors.

An old cafe.

Wind chimes made of drink cans.

The slowest barber shop in all of Thailand. I think he's been working on this haircut since the market opened.

Cute ducky snacks.

Brooms with fancy woven handles.

A grandpa so famous for his sausages that he has a sign!

Stopping at the market's museum to check out the tiny scale model.

Some of the long-time sellers have personal call-outs!

Is this what sexy looked like back in 1967?

The end of Samut Prakan province, and the start of Chachoengsao province. We're finally here!

My teeth hurt just looking at these lollies.

This grandpa's famous iced coffee deserves a thumbs-up!

The view back: where we've come from.

This poor guy's had a rough morning. Must've been a late night out.

Same with this Grandpa.

Next stop: Wat Sothonwararam. Lots of people come here to make merit.

Inside, they have shelves upon shelves for people to leave their offerings.

The crowds were many.

You're supposed to bring boiled eggs - lots of boiled eggs.

Putting gold on a fat happy Buddha.

I think half the province must come here daily to make merit.

This temple dog seems overwhelmed by the number of guests today!

Next stop: Wat Sai Chon Na Rangsi...

... also known as the Golden Temple.

Perhaps what happened was that the builder accidentally ordered only one color of paint.

It's very beautiful to photograph.

You'll be relieved to know that the inside is also gold!

With a bling bling chandelier.

Sunny group shot!

It's time for lunch at a floating market!

It's fairly low-key for a floating market near Bangkok.

Lots of tables lining the center of a floating pier, with boat-based vendors on either side.

Like these!

Can't decide yet what to have for the main meal... so we'll have some steamed buns while we wait.

And the verdict? Som tum it is!

This grandpa decided to practice his balancing skills.

Careful on those wobbly planks, gramps!

Can you tell what's in the trees?

Now can you tell?

Bats galore!

They are like little foxes dressed as vampires for an off-season halloween.

Maybe they like these berries?

This particular temple is home to many other animals, too.

Including tens of roosters...

...and their families.

What's everybody looking at?

Next stop: the overly-ostentatious Wat Saman Rattanaram.

There's a giant lotus floating in the river.

And giant rats giving offerings to...

... a giant reclining Ganesha.

Very detailed, even from behind.

People were whispering secrets into the ears of the rats.

This chicken was collecting donations.

Unclear why the wat also had transformers.

Very colorful!

A huge gong... this woman could barely manage!

Giant, very detailed Brahma.

It's difficult to squeeze an entire family into the photo!

And I thought my foot was big!

Posing with rainbow scales.

Pit stop for some cheap pineapples to bring back to Bangkok!

Careful when driving behind this truck!

Last stop of the long day: Wat Hong Thong, a temple at the edge of the sea.

The wat is built over the water - I imagine this used to be mangrove land.

Visitors can climb to the top of the chedi hall, for a nice view of the sea.

And beautiful views of the ornate building next door.

Taking in the evening ocean air.

The sun sets over the Gulf of Thailand.

Bells that have been hung by other visitors as merit offerings.

Farewell to Chachoengsao. Bangkok, here we come!

Sunday lunch: a bowl of warm noodle soup from the new vegetarian food court across the street.

Unsure if he likes it! The grandpa growing out of his shoulder says hello.

Finally celebrating someone's belated 36th birthday dinner at Charcoal, a new Indian tandoor restaurant.

Check out the beer mug.

Two thumbs up to the napkins -- I mean bibs -- that they give you.

An example of the type of food they serve: yoghurt-and-cheese-marinated broccoli kebabs, baked in the tandoor. YUM!

It's that time of the week again - a Tuesday night departure from Bangkok.

And back to Singapore!

Commuting to and from the office like the locals.

This is so Singaporean; I love it! Taxi stand for 2 taxis only!

Lunch time in the first world!

A peaceful place to take a riverside break.

A first world indulgence: salad bowls with fresh, healthy ingredients.

Bangkok, here I come!

A new carnival, complete with 3 roller coasters, is being assembled on the site of the old Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Can't wait!

Bangkok Week 403

March 17, 2016

A visit with my favorite dogs-in-law, and a short trip to the prosperous first-world nation of Singapore.

"Slow down" says the sign. An important caution that the truck apparently did not heed.

At the Tesco in Klaeng, they freshen the bathroom with sliced limes.

Looks like the jackfruit are coming along nicely since our last visit!

For a sense of scale.

The papaya tree is filling out as well.

Bet you thought these were limes! In fact, they're little guavas!

Ta-daa. The new microwave.

In for a minor checkup and wheel swap.

Performing an inspection.

Namwan seeks respite from the heat under a chair.

Maruay found a very comfortable place for his chin.

Sunday morning bath time!

He knows the routine.

Namwan looks less like she's enjoying it, and more like she's tolerating it.

Time to pick the ripe papaya!

Whoops! Looks like the chipmunks got to it first!

A very nice, clean shop sign at the PTT station in town.

Why does he look so sheepish?

Showing his teeth.

Back in Bangkok, check out the giant block of land that looks like it's getting ready for a massive construction project.

All suited up to play my character at the Asia-Pacific new hire training.

And it's a Wednesday morning trip to Singapore.

Guess I won't be reclining this seat!

Spotted clouds over Malaysia.

U-turning over Batam, Indonesia, before approaching Changi from the South-west.

Great view of all the ships waiting to dock!

Bangkok Week 402

March 10, 2016

Singapore, Bangkok, a trip around the world, and KL.

The sun rises over Singapore's Marina Bay area, where construction cranes shape the skyline.

Heading home after a whirlwind trip to Singapore. Look how small the trucks are compared to the A380.

Changi is preparing for a giant new terminal in the space between its 02C and 02R runways.

We've arrived in Bangkok!

Celebrating the Friday night with pizzas at Tet et Nez in Ari.

I'm impressed by the preparedness of the Honda dealership we took our car to - they had a queue card waiting for us!

A cushy passenger is waiting for a driver to come buy this car in the showroom.

Checking out the 48th Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar at Paragon, while waiting for the car to be done.

Buying some heavily discounted cereal (that's about to expire) from an importer who had a booth outside the main fair.

Another importer, this one of Canadian maple syrup and British biscuits.

Inside the main fair, embassies had booths of all sizes.

There were life guards around the perimeter, to monitor the crowds.

Sigg water bottles and Victorinox Swiss Army knives from Switzerland.

Denmark had a massive booth - and some actual Danes.

The crowd -- and the lifeguard.

Very cute olives from Greece.

Even Syria was there.

Ohhhh Canada. A bit of a lame showing.

Then again, I've never seen Captain Canuck maple syrup...

Someone from Austria thought it would be clever to sell imported Red Bull in Thailand.

Nigeria had local fabric and jewelry.

Panama brought a local musician - points for originality!

Mongolia was selling wool sweaters!

And Qatar was selling...

... cheese puffs!

I had a booth, too!

Fresh (?) salmon from Norway.

And cute little llamas from Peru.

Showing off our haul for the afternoon.

Spotted this nifty handle for plastic bags at the BTS on the way back.

Which shiny car shall we take?

Smoothie time!

Best consistency yet!

Guess what time it is?

Week-night dinner at Som Tam Bangkok in Aree Soi 3.

Spying.

Spotted in this week's issue of Time magazine.

Four pages of publicity!

Downtown KL looks like many other SEA cities!

A busy Thursday night at Suvarnabhumi.

Bangkok Week 401

March 3, 2016

My first full week in Bangkok in, like, over 2 years. Well, it was almost a full week!

On Saturday, we rode out to Ekkamai for lunch and a farmers' market.

Lunch was at Khun Churn, an all-vegetarian Thai restaurant that's been there for years, but which we'd never tried.

It was pretty good! Lots of things you can't usually find in vegetarian incarnations.

This farmer has fresh, organic fruits and vegetables from somewhere nearby.

And this guy specialized in 3 kinds of mangoes... and sweet potatoes.

Cacti have become all the rage in recent months.

There's an organization that teaches music to underprivileged kids from the Klong Toey slum. Some of those kids were there performing - very cute.

Couldn't resist these fresh baked goods.

We also stopped at a Japanese grocery chain, where they were selling individual pieces of sushi!

I'm really not sure if they meant Daily or Dairy. It's either odd, or very funny.

Saturday night date at a new Gelato place in Ari Soi 3.

Cuppa mint!

The next morning at breakfast, enjoying the pain au chocolate from yesterday's market.

Cute little organic carrots.

Sunset from the office... on a Tuesday night!

The funky new, uber-secure USB key we're required to use for work.

For dinner tonight: the "3 stinky things" dish from Baan Peung Chom up the street.

Enjoying his deep-fried banana flower.

Celebrating the week in Bangkok by trying a new Greek restaurant in town - supposedly the only one actually run by a Greek guy.

Tasted pretty good to us!

According to SQ, the number one thing to do in Perth is to go to Rottnest Island to see the quokkas!

Bangkok Week 400

February 25, 2016

Another 100 weeks have flown by! Week 500, here we come!

I witnessed a bit of a fruit spill on the way to the office on Friday. Avocados and papaya rolling around Rama 4.

Testing the lights in the latest condo in Aree 1.

At a massive homewares expo, looking for a good deal on a microwave...

... but all we got was ice cream. Can't complain!

Preparing for something big!

The big 4-0-0! (Wonder why I'm pointing? Go back to the homepage.)

400 weeks! Wow!

You'd never recognize the view from our pool anymore.

Sunday night immigration at Suvarnabhumi is looking pretty rough.

Got a cozy one-bed room this time at Changi.

Bangkok Week 227

November 1, 2012

Here and there in Bangkok.

Man on a ledge.

Street art on the abandoned railroad supports.

A reflective dinner!

A new Uniqlo opened in Paragon: several other Japanese companies sent congratulatory bouquets.

Bangkok Week 226

October 25, 2012

BCG SEA's annual outing -- this year to Ho Chi Minh City. Plus, some special visitors to Bangkok, and a new 'do.

Off to Ho Chi Minh City, by way of Don Meuang International Airport! This immigration queue took 20 minutes to clear.

In Ho Chi Minh, one of our first tasks was an all-day "amazing race." Here, my team of 10 had to take a photo with 10 locals.

At this stop, we had to peel 3 durians in 1 minute. We failed.

So we had to try to learn how to make these traditional clay sculptures instead.

We all tried our hand at a beautiful tulip ... with mediocre results.

Next stop was learning how to use Vietnamese water puppets... the professionals can really make the fish life-like as they swim around.

Then, we had to try our hands at hand-pressed tapioca cookies. I definitely wouldn't eat those.

Group shot with the cookies and the carved fruit.

If that wasn't enough, we then had to learn a traditional Vietnamese dance. Luckily, we weren't judged on grace.

Well that was an experience.

Final stop was Vietnamese calligraphy: learn a (Vietnamese) phrase in calligraphy and reproduce it from memory!

No pressure!

After a hot day of running (and driving) around the city, finally back at the hotel with all the evidence of our "achievements".

That night... the (in)famous BCG Idol! First up: Jakarta, with a full rock band doing its music.

KL had something a little funkier in mind.

Singapore brought its own PSY to the party with an energetic (but long predicted) rendition of Gangnam Style.

The only photographic evidence I've unearthed so far of our MJ dance.

These lovely Bangkok ladies were much braver than I!

A very blurry photo of our full team.

We brought the electricity to the party!

Bangkok office!

Jazz hands?

The next day, we had several hours to explore the city on our own. It's a city still dominated by bicycles and motorbikes.

This is the Saigon Opera House, built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene.

A patch of green next to the opera house.

More European architecture and city planning.

All these buildings are either designer stores or posh cafes, by the way.

A very stiff passenger.

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, which was constructed between 1863 and 1880.

The two bell towers reach a height of 58m. All the original building materials were imported from France.

It's an extremely popular place for newlyweds to come take their wedding photos.

Another 3 couples, all in one (blurry) shot.

The rear of the cathedral ... and all the traffic busily zipping around behind it.

This is the inside of the Saigon Central Post Office, which was constructed in the early 20th century in Gothic style. It was designed and constructed by Gustave Eiffel!

There were actually still working phones inside the ornate phone booths.

We stop for a break at the writing desks -- which some people were actually using to compose mail!

A very detailed map of the city is painted inside one of the arches.

Don't know what it's saying, but it looks like propaganda to me.

The city has lots of green space and tall, old trees; it's fairly pedestrian-friendly.

What flowers?

The Reunification Palace was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

A juxtaposition of old, slightly newer, and new.

Did I mention that this is still a city of motorbikes?

This seller was making a quesedilla-like snack; she scrambled quail eggs and minced vegetables directly in the bread, over the bbq.

Cotton candy to-go!

The proper way to organize the traffic flow.

I gather that something overhead is dangerous.

More colonial houses.

A truly portable coffee shop.

Lunch at a very, very local noodle shop. We're still not sure what they ate. (It wasn't Pho.)

Deadly Vietnamese iced coffee. So good. So good.

One of the restaurant employees tries to explain something to us. Pui politely listens and tries to decipher.

The street stalls have plastic stools just like in Thailand... but for midgets.

A true nest of wires and cables overhead. Scary?

A roundabout in the middle of universities and residential areas.

Our last stop was the War Remnants Museum. It used to be called the "Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression" so you can guess that it's slightly biased.

Outside, there are lots of American aircraft that were either captured or left behind.

And tanks.

That's a pretty intimidating helicopter.

Hope they've disarmed these planes.

"We would like to thank the communist parties and working class countries in the world... for their support and strong encouragement to our people's patriotic resistance against the US..."

Although blatantly one-sided, it did contain a lot of interesting photos and artifacts.

Capturing the torture imposed by the Americans on the innocent locals...

...and destruction caused by the Americans.

Recovered from throughout the country.

Meanwhile, back in Bangkok, we had some special guests!

Lunch time, from the food court across the street.

And heading out for a late-night dinner at...

... an Indian restaurant!

All smiles, despite being unsure about the meal they just ate.

Taking a tuk-tuk back from the BTS to our condo.

Breakfast the next morning, after a solid night's sleep.

And heading back to Trad. Hey wait, aren't we supposed to be on that bus?

Someone let loose with the 'vegetarian' sticker gun in the olive oil aisle!

And in the pasta aisle! In case you were wondering if pasta is vegetarian.

The weight and heat of the hair finally got to me. This hair dresser was shocked when I said, "cut it off!"

Before and after: 2012. Not so different from in 2010!

Still able to be tied! A key design requirement.

Look what they're selling at H&M Bangkok!

Bangkok Week 225

October 18, 2012

Great birthday gifts (thanks everyone) and a seat on one of the inaugural trips of THAI's first A380.

All signs indicate that vegetarian week is coming!

Would you like a pot-stewed duck bun?

A few days late, finally opening the exotic birthday presents from far away lands.

A very nice gym shirt from Chris.

Trying to guess what's inside the green from mum and dad.

It's a no-BS souvenir from the Boeing factory.

And a 3D puzzle with a twisted theme.

A very extravagant birthday cake!

A "fresh milk" chocolate mousse cake. Almost perfect, as far as cakes go.

Home-designed, hand-made replacement pins for the one I had gotten in Tokyo.

The tiniest 8GB thumb drive you've ever seen!

And Apple's swanky new EarPods. Hope they stay in!

We stumbled upon an onigiri vending machine at a shopping mall (yes, in Bangkok -- not in Tokyo).

A whole fridge of ready-to-eat frozen veggie meals at 7-11!

We were able to buy fake ground chicken from the local veggie store, since J week is so close.

A beer that was hand-carried back from Belgium.

Another tasty Saturday night dinner.

This is how one of my colleagues organizes his expenses. Note the stray cash shuffled into the receipt heaps.

Oh oh oh! What's this? My blurry ride back from Singapore to Bangkok!

The (spacious) galley areas have laminate wood floors.

The entire first floor is economy class: 3-4-3.

Each seat has its own wide-screen entertainment, which is available at all times -- including boarding, take-off and landing.

There's a disco staircase at the rear of the aircraft to access the upstairs econ class.

They're not claustrophobic -- actually fairly spacious.

This is the mini-econ section on the upper deck. It's about 8 rows of 2-4-2.

Mid-way through the section there's a bulk head row so that the upper emergency exits are accessible to both sides of the aircraft.

The hi-tech faucet allows you to very finely adjust the water temperature.

There's a camera on the tail of the plane which passengers can view at all times. Here's Changi terminal D.

THAI has made a whole new, very swanky, very hi-tech safety video to go with its new aircraft. It's entirely CG.

And we've landed (with quite a thud) back in Bangkok with its familiar airport architecture.

Bangkok Week 224

October 11, 2012

Singapore toilets and Bangkok eats. A perfect combo?

One observation: Changi Airport loves its bathroom signs.

At least they addressed my first instinctive concern about this sign just past the sinks: that the screen is sanitized hourly.

In case you're cutting it dangerously close.

Bo.Lan has a monthly organic market on the first Saturday of every month.

Farmers, food and organic product makers from around Thailand come to set up stalls. There were even sellers of organic olives, rice, beer and wine.

Breakfast for lunch: Home-made scrambled eggs, veggie sausage and toast. Yum yum.

On a busy Sunday night, we tried takeaway from the new vegetarian restaurant across the street. Heaps of food and a forest! Yikes!

Bangkok Week 223

October 4, 2012

Exciting happenings all over Bangkok!

There's a secret area at the airport where the public can plane spot.

You can see planes take off...

...and land. (That's my plane!)

How international!

It's another episode of the Krispy Kreme Effect!

At least they have the queue management down pat in this city!

The new H&M store is huge -- two stories -- and cuts a sizable chunk out of the Paragon department store.

A scrumptious lunch at Bangkok Bagel...

...just like in New York! (Kind of.)

Ahh, the BTS. Simplifying and obfuscating its new card system at the same time.

A small casualty of our top-secret dance rehearsals.

The new vegetarian restaurant across the street needs a bit of assistance from an English speaker slightly more skilled than Google.

"Pour infront the emperor." Well, they got the literal translation bang-on.

After 18 months, I got a BB upgrade!

It's significantly thinner than the old one! (Thinner than the iPhone 4s actually.)

Bangkok Week 222

September 27, 2012

Two hundred and twenty two weeks. Mwa ha ha ha!

"Car free day" seems to mean "bikes ride free on the BTS day" in Bangkok.

Just a little bit of rain on a Sunday afternoon.

My personalized power strip in Singapore!

Bangkok Week 221

September 20, 2012

A wet week in Bangkok.

A rather giant head laps up the rain in front of CentralWorld.

The new comfy Uniqlo getup.

A very heavy Thursday afternoon downpour on the roof of our district office.

The "white fog" is really a heavy downpour!

The aftermath: our soi was flooded...

And a solid line of traffic backed up all the way to the start of the street. It didn't move an inch during the time it took us to walk to the top.

This house is doing its part to flood the street!

Bangkok Week 220

September 13, 2012

A week of culinary delites.

There was a perfectly timed train delay on Friday night at rush hour.

As a result, the platform was so full that they had to stop letting people into the station.

We had dinner at a very lovely -- but relatively inexpensive -- vegetarian / seafood only restaurant

The house that the restaurant is in was designed by the "Father of Moden Thai Engineering" -- who was educated in the UK in the 1920s. He also designed Don Meuang airport in 1949.

The house was designed at the period in Thai architectural history where traditional wooden and modern cement met in house design.

These delicious Thai dumplings are usually made with shrimp -- so it's the first time I got to try them.

Have you ever seen such blue rice? (It's dyed with the color from this flower: http://bit.ly/vvUgI)

10 bonus points on your SAT if you can tell me the definition of "stanchion" without looking it up!

Thanks to a clearance sale on almost-expired Kraft Mac & Cheese, we had a solid dinner of good ol' American comfort food.

Midweek dinner at our favorite Mexican joint.

It's the hard-shell taco he's been craving for 5 years!

More words of wisdom from our building management -- trying to explain why we were awoken in the middle of the night by the fire alarm... during a black out.