Bangkok Week 471

July 6, 2017

The week the walls -- I mean ceiling -- came down.

The week the ceilings came down.

Recognize the ground floor anymore?

The upstairs ceiling removed as well - except for the skylight over the stairs.

In other news, we now have a bakery as a neighbor.

Got this paper order form with a flyer from the largest retail conglomerate in Thailand. For a second, I thought we were in 2017.

Decisions, decisions!

Trying another new Thai brew - this one in partnership with an Australian brewery.

The next night: trying a "cider".

A different plant makes an appearance in my office.

Trying out the new iToy for something useful, for once.

Bangkok Week 470

June 29, 2017

A short week this time.

Friday afternoon storm's coming!

And surprisingly quickly, it's gone!

Would you like to buy some Not Delicious Refund? On sale, today only.

A dramatic evening sky over Ari.

A Korean beer, believe it or not!

Gourmet Gorilla Cheese for dinner.

And a mid-week Isaan feast.

Bangkok Week 469

June 22, 2017

Someone got his much-belated birthday present!

Look at this! Someone still uses the printed airline timetable!

BTS Security Dog taking a long-deserved rest.

IHOP has come to Bangkok! In Paragon. The poshest IHOP on earth.

Dinner at "Veganerie" - also at Paragon. Is it any good?

Not bad!

Checking out the house, before the ceilings come down.

Checking out House of Lucie in the new neighborhood.

Part of the Lucie Foundation, which honors master photographers.

True 'dat.

New Isaan restaurant in Ari...

... which despite the cozy decor ...

... turned out to be deadly!

At long last, the much-belated birthday present!

Pretty in pink!

Testing out all the new sketching and paint tools stuffed inside the iPad.

And a nifty logo design app - to make stylistic icons like this.

Quick jaunt down to KL!

Selamat datang.

Bangkok Week 468

June 15, 2017

Chantaburi, Trat, and Julia's last 24 hours in Bangkok!

Finally a beautiful Friday sky outside my window.

Practically twins - another piece by Jean Jullien.

We made it to the ordination in Chantaburi, just in time for lunch.

This is the boring lunch corner.

Posing with the new monk. I forgot to not smile.

Everyone looks thrilled!

Maruay is happy to see me... I think.

He thought we were going on a simple road trip into town...

... little did he know what was in store.

This fatso lives at the vet.

Caught red handed, when we returned from town.

Stuck up here now!

Namwan chooses to lounge someplace more comfortable.

Someone doesn't want to take his medicine!

Namwan knows food when she sees it ... even when it's disguised as a weapon.

A picture-perfect cut.

The finished product. Mmm.

Another home-made feast.

Trying out my matching new pajama pants.

The next morning, we found Namtan hanging out on another car.

And here he is, trying to help wash the car. Notice a pattern?

In front of the house, there's a graton graveyard.

Looking through photos from Julia's visit.

The mangosteen in the back yard isn't quite ripe yet.

Neither are the rambutan. Next visit!

When did this papaya tree get so tall?

The shrimp are growing!

Top demonstrates his brute-force method for removing mangoes from trees.

A farewell hug for Maruay.

Twins, right?

What a grand send-off party!

Spotted on the way back to Bangkok: giant jack fruit!

My office got a plant!

Julia's back for one last Fruit Feast!

Farewell dinner at Cantina.

Not very Thai, but oh well!

Four weeks on the road, and still traveling impressively light!

Bon voyage, Julia! Have fun in China, Japan and Calgary!

Bangkok Week 467

June 8, 2017

A quick pop down under!

For once, a dry Friday sunset over Bangkok!

Time to choose materials!

The next-door neighbor is curious what all the fuss is about.

Spotted at Ari: a very scary 'doo.

Saturday night feast - partially home-made.

Spotted at the airport: someone's going on a trip!

Why hello there, Sydney. It's been a while!

Can still manage to take the train, even while mostly asleep.

A dry endorsement of public transport.

The same humorists are enthusiastic about subway etiquette as well.

Hey, remember this view!?

I was treated to the first gloomy day in over a month!

Largely wet and grey, but still Sydney!

Town Hall looks much the same.

And it doesn't seem like they've made much progress at all on the Light Rail construction in front of the Queen Victoria Building.

Bye-bye, Sydney. You've been brief!

See you next time!

Didn't realize the pilots have to check in, too. I guess it's because of the 70kg of luggage they're each bringing back!

Rainy to the last minute.

We had to wait in time-out until the weather above the aerodrome was flight-worthy.

Rainy down below, but purrrty from above.

Clearing up as we move north of of Sydney.

Sun sets early in winter.

Nice lighting.

Good bye, my colorful Oz.

And hello, Bangkok. Hey, aren't we supposed to be landing at that airport?

Bangkok Week 466

June 1, 2017

We get Julia back for another weekend! Stormy weather, bring it on!

It's Friday morning! And here comes the Friday morning rain!

What they fed us for lunch on Friday.

Even Ari experienced some flooding.

Julia made it back! To re-welcome her, a late Friday night dinner (my fault!) at Nara in Paragon. Who knew they had a whole veggie menu.

The next morning, we take on the pending rains and head to Chinatown anyway.

Iconic Chinatown... and ominous skies.

Spotted this product -- perfect for all you lazy iPad users out there.

Roasted chestnuts, anyone?

About to jump right into the hustle and bustle.

Lots of people were calling the rain's bluff!

Lots of novel new snacks to try here.

Can't find this one outside of Chinatown.

A very patriotic shop house.

And... that was the end of our luck! Stuck in a true monsoon rain! Our umbrellas didn't do much to help.

As Julia said, it was like we were in a water park!

Ankle-deep water, and no where to hide.

We finally found a taxi, who took our sopping souls back to MBK. Where we bought dry clothes and some long-awaited lunch!

Someone trying to get in from the rains.

There's a great exhibit on at CentralWorld by French artist Jean Jullien.

His art is quite amusing.

Then we stumbled onto the Original Thailand Amazing Durian Fruit Fest!!!

The Durian lovers were excited!

I thought these mangosteen cakes were pretty cute. And lifelike.

For THB 499, you had access to an all-you-can-eat fruit buffet for a 90 minute sitting.

Durian as far as the eye could see!

Also many, many kinds of mangoes - these were more my speed.

We finally made it home; we finally had dried. And now it's time for a warm meal.

Trying another new fruit - salak, or "snake fruit". Or bum fruit?

Julia very thoughtfully bought and cut up fresh mangoes for breakfast the next morning.

And then, as something different, we went to the gym! You see, it's not *only* about snacking in Thailand.

Still standing! But we'll be sore tomorrow.

Imagining ourselves in our alternate career paths.

No visit to Bangkok is incomplete without a stop at After You, Bangkok's famous dessert haven.

This was dinner!

One last round of new fruit before Julia's departure.

And she's off to Bali, at 3:50 in the morning! Safe travels, Julia!

Meanwhile, I didn't realize I was selling electronics accessories!

The week ends as it began -- with continued rains and flooded streets.

Bangkok Week 465

May 25, 2017

In only two days, we somehow manage to cover all the interesting Bangkok day trips!

Julia has her first encounter with Bangkok's famed lizard.

A relaxing Friday night dinner at our favorite Greyhound.

It's an early start the next morning. First stop on our Market Tour: Maeklong Market - famous for its train!

Time to try a fresh coconut.

Sellers know exactly how high and how close to the tracks their wares can safely be.

The market continues, as if nothing is amiss.

Train's coming!

Don't stand too close!

Nonchalant; just another day.

Train!!

An enterprising dog earns some extra cash at the market, too.

This smart cat knows how to stay cool!

At our Second Stop on the Market Tour -- Amphawa floating market -- the canine residents are nice and proper.

Traditional homes built along the canals.

There goes a floating store, off to the market.

Motorist, making a hard right turn.

Lots of homes and homestays along the canals. Quite touristy now!

Sellers chatting before the day gets busy.

A pad thai seller paddling her way to the market.

We decided to charter a boat!

The two 'locals'.

Pad thai lady made it to her spot!

Beautiful house at the intersection of the canal and the river.

Blue seas ahead!

Quick stop at a temple on the other side of the river.

Learning how to 'make merit' the Thai way.

Applying gold foil to a Buddha -- not something typically done with a life jacket on!

Heading back to the canal.

We beat the crowds - lucky!

Freshly grilled, fresh sea food!

How colorful!

Enjoying the direct sun.

Are those real fish? Or pillows?

Back to Bangkok for lunch. Spicy salads!

A quick pop-in to the office, for the view (and to pick up the food I forgot the night before).

Having an impromptu meeting in my new office.

Our loot from the train market. So many types of fruit!

Julia's in heaven.

Next stop on our market tour: Chatuchak weekend market! Where Julia finds 39 baht sunglasses!

You can buy coins at more-than-face-value!

Egg shoes!

Trying a 5-baht popsicle.

And treating ourselves to a short foot massage, after so many markets.

Last stop on the Market Tour: JJ Green Night Market!

Here we are... but it's time to go home!

Not sure what to make of these mangosteens.

Learning how to peel them like a local.

The next day, it's up to Ayutthaya. First stop: Bang Pa-in royal palace.

Saphakhan Ratchaprayun: one of the many beautiful buildings on the well-kept palace grounds.

Here's how a turtle hoists himself out of the water, when in pursuit of...

... birds and their bread!

Looks like a faux-backdrop... but it's not!

That's Phra Thi Nang Aisawan Thiphya-art: a copy of the one at the Grand Palace.

Who? Where?

Saovarod Bridge - a discreet passageway.

One of the many mohawk-headed locals.

Phra Thi Nang Uthayan Phumisathian - the favorite residence of King Chulalongkorn.

The observatory.

From inside the observatory.

Up up up we go!

Great views, refreshing breeze.

You're supposed to be able to see the surrounding countryside!

The very red Phra Thi Nang Wehart Chamrun - built by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1889.

Crossing back over the Saovarod Bridge.

Practicing our ram Thai - traditional dance moves.

Just kidding - it's the mandatory dress code for women to enter Phra Thi Nan Warophat Phiman - still in use by the current Royal Family.

No photos allowed inside - so we took one outside instead.

We deserve popsicles after that hot visit!

Next stop, at the same location: Wat Niwet Thammaprawat...

... a temple that you have to access by cable car!!

Here we go!

So cool!

Some kind of really giant fruit!

It's a Buddhist temple, even though the architecture mimics that of a European church.

The wat was commissioned by King Chulalongkorn in 1876

Even the inside looks like a church!

Stained glass and everything.

Speed boats zip up the busy Chao Phraya river.

As do these slightly less nimble tug boats.

Our next stop is lunch at a made-for-Instagram restaurant on the river.

Everything about the place screams Instagram and Selfie.

Social media-ready lunch.

Unnatural? Not at all!

Hello, Mr. Cameraman.

Next stop on the Ayutthaya tour: Wat Mahathat.

The Wat is famous for the Buddha head, around which tree roots have grown.

Looks like we were the only visitors -- but that's far from reality.

Three more hot heads.

The Wat was built in the 14th century, but now only the skeleton remains.

The main Prang, which collapsed for the last time in 1911.

Spot the monk!

Three pagodas.

Something I didn't expect to do that day!

This poor Buddha has been baking in the sun for centuries.

The temple's one chedi (stupa).

Enjoying the shade!

Well-framed photo.

Single-handedly making sure no more of the wat collapses!

Our next stop on the Ayutthaya tour was closed for renovation! Someone didn't seem too upset.

No trip to Ayutthaya is complete without "grandma's hair pancakes".

Final stop: the reclining Buddha!

Again we made it LOOK like we were the only ones there...

Two long-lost red cousins.

Back in Bangkok and all freshened up: it's time to make dinner!

What a feast! (Almost) all home-made!

There's exactly room for dinner for 3 at our table.

And trying the famous Ayutthaya dessert.

Delish!

Bangkok Week 464

May 18, 2017

Our much-anticipated, long-awaited guest arrives in Bangkok!

A very localised storm over Bangkok.

Friday night 'escape hunt' activity with my team.

Ending the weekend on a high note: home-made dinner.

And a beautiful sky.

Official welcome party to greet our VIP guest.

Here she is!

Heading to dinner on the skytrain - jumping right in.

Dinner at Ariyasom Villa - welcome to Bangkok, Julia!

Giant, UFO-style storm cloud descends over Bangkok. (Whoops, is Julia out exploring?)

Fruity cargo spotted on my way to the airport.

Meanwhile, back in Ari: our guest tries the King of Fruit, Durian!

Good morning, Singapore!

What a picturesque view.

SQ took delivery of Airbus's... wait.. for.. it... 10,000th aircraft!

Let there be light (over Singapore).

Cargo ships getting sucked into the engine.

Meanwhile, back in Bangkok... Julia tries her hand at rambutan!

What's this on the way to dinner? A giant snail?

Dinner at our neighbourhood fave - Baan Peung Chom.

Mango sticky rice! Eat up!

Bangkok Week 463

May 11, 2017

The final days of our visitors' trip! Till next year!

My new view! Don't I feel like a VIP now.

Three great vegetarian dishes - all for me! The office spoils me.

We wanted to have dinner at Nadimos, but it wasn't there! So we tried this place instead.

On Saturday, couch browsing. Testing the nap-worthiness of this Japanese one.

And the gentlemen test out the chat-worthiness of this dining set.

Onward and upward, to Chatuchak, where we came to check out the art of Somyut.

Trying the KFC ice cream ball, while waiting out the rain.

And coffees at Onion, our future neighborhood coffee joint.

Hot and tired after a day on the town.

Somewhat annual dinner at Seven Spoons. Bon appetit.

Enjoying the fresh morning smell of Durian from the fridge.

Final outings on the Last Day.

Exciting drone race and obstacle course at EmQuartier.

What's up there?

Colorful smoothies for Brunch at Quince.

The last Brunch.

Visiting the new TCDC at the old Bangkok Central Post Office.

Enjoying the fresh fan... and spritzer!

Very cool Thai letterform relationship map by font designer (and button accordionist) Prin Roj.

View from the rooftop garden of the new TCDC.

Group shot with our Garuda friend.

Local artist enjoying people-watching during opening weekend.

Is there more space in the new TCDC?

The lobby of the old post office. Seems like it should be great for functions!

It's finally arrived: the Last Supper.

Bidding our guests a teary farewell at the base of the escalators to heaven. I mean, security.

Anyone in there?

Farewell and safe trip!

Bangkok Week 462

May 4, 2017

The annual family get-together in Trat. This year, welcoming the newest family member and partner-in-crime: Namtan.

It looks like rainy season has come early to Bangkok this year!

Friday night dinner at our favorite (and perhaps the most genuine) Italian restaurant: Sfizio.

Excited about his lava cake!

The next morning, our departure to Trat was too early for their taste.

Saying hello to the newest member of the Trat family: Namtan!

Maruay wasted no time invading our personal space.

"Hello, Naomi! Long time no see!"

Body slam.

This dainty dog was overseeing the parking situation at a new lunch place in Laem Sok.

View from Uncle Ti's restaurant. Looking across the water to the mountains of Cambodia.

First of many seafood meals!

Offering Maruay the hand-made cookies from Erika.

Namwan waits in line for her turn to see the renderings of the house, too.

On the annual fruit walk, Mum spots the not-quite-ripe mangosteens.

And some green rambutan.

Hanging out with my new surfer friend.

Despite being the slowest dog in the land, Maruay is too fast for photos!

Scenic sunset over Trat.

On the over-sized golf cart, heading to the Trat Institution: Baan Tiwtara.

This restaurant is getting too popular!

Another year, another meal here. What surprises will it hold next year?

Heading back to the parking lot by golf cart.

Look! Namtan is as big as Maruay.

What a lively play toy!

The next morning, it's Destination Chantaburi.

Stopping at a scenic view point.

Very scenic; very sunny!

Our destination: the Chanthaburi Royal Development Study Center. This was a very funny fish. Square body, no tail.

And here's Mister Teeth.

And someone who went overboard with the makeup this morning.

This school all went to the same tattoo artist.

Enjoying the show.

Bling bling! What a shiny fish.

They even had a giant walk-through aquarium.

Lunch at the edge of the sea.

Mum tries to pick these low-hanging fruit.

Lots of kids playing in the water, despite the sun overhead.

This heat calls for some ice cream.

And since we're in Chantaburi: an impromptu family reunion!

The gang -- and more -- are all here.

How shrimps get dried.

Back at home, trying my hand at durian dissection. Not so successfully, I might add.

Someone's enjoying the fruits of our labor.

This guy's just a little ashamed of his current look.

No trip to Trat is complete without sampling the local DQ.

The next day, Maruay innocently lumbers back from his morning stroll.

Overloaded? Not in the least.

It's fruit season!!

Namtan waits patiently for a piece of river prawn.

Hair brushing time for Maruay before we head back.

"Ahh. That's really nice... keep going..."

Trat food for dinner the next night!

Finally trying out Khua Kling & Pak Sod, at the bottom of our soi. Not bad!

Browning control - is that politically correct?

Aww, my cute little promotion cake. Thank you, my dear hubby!

Bangkok Week 461

April 27, 2017

A sunny, sunny weekend in Hua Hin!

This is my favorite soi dog - he has personality, manners, and discipline. And he's cute.

Next stop on our Thailand tour: Hua Hin! This little rascal wasted no time greeting us.

Here we are at Wat Khao Takiab - the wat on top of 'chopstick mountain'.

Great view north toward Hua Hin from above.

Almost too sunny to smile.

Spying on the fishing village down below.

Heading back down to parking lot level, parasols in hand.

Did we mention that this mountain is home to many vegetarian rascals?

Don't mind me - just munching on my corn.

Some serious wrestling going on. "Is that a toe in my eye?"

"Can't ... get ... out ... of ... bed."

The grand patriarch of the family.

Living life on the edge [of the cliff].

One of these things is not like the others!

Surely that's considered rude - using Buddha as a ladder down.

Just chillaxing, enjoying a beer and taking in the view.

Speaking of the view!

This poor cat wonders how she got there, and how she's going to escape.

That's the mountain we just came from.

Who knew that horses were such avid beach-goers.

Lunch at "J Khiaw" - a famous seafood joint.

They made delicious veg tom yum soup!

No real meal is complete without mango sticky rice.

What services do you think Chicken Freelancers provide?

During our visit to Hua Hin station, we were lucky enough to greet a train arriving from the south.

Lots of passengers getting off... and on.

The well-preserved Hua Hin station, and its iconic sign.

The timetable and departures board are updated manually!

All aboard to Bangkok!

And our last stop on the town tour - hand churned ice cream, made daily.

Deliciously refreshing.

Back at the Air BnB, dad does laps in the record-breaking 300m pool.

All in the water!

Okay, we have to practice holding our breath for photos.

Ahh! The air is cold!

Group shot at the pool!

Group shot on the beach.

Hello, camera!

Last stop for the evening: the famed cicada market.

Cute, personalized knick-knacks for cheap.

A great booth for children.

Pooped after the long day!

The next morning, we do another full tour of the property.

The ambling 300m pool looks great.

The beach is shallow at (relatively) high tide in the morning.

Sun is still low - must be early!

There goes another of Hua Hin's native horses.

Team shot!

Check out this funky flower we found.

Rubber Ducky is going for a ride this morning!

Stopping on the side of the road for some fresh fruit!

LOOK AT THE CUTE BABY PINEAPPLE!

Cute cute cute.

Here's what we've come to see: the jaggedy profile of '300 peaks national park'.

Mum found some friends at a bus stop where we pulled over to take photos.

Another colorful fishing village.

How picturesque.

Can you spot who's sleeping under the golden crab?

The beach! Great limestone cliffs all around.

Another sunny group shot.

One of the uber-cute restaurant employees at our lunch stop.

And his partner-in-crime.

ME BETTER BE HUNGRY!

Last meal in Hua Hin!

Last stop on the way back to Bangkok: Tao Hong Tai ceramics factory.

No shortage of color here either!

Spot the lady in the mug!

Pots as far as the eye can see.

Did I mention? They had a lot of pots.

A slightly different take on the traditional dragon pot.

A spy was watching me in the bathroom!

Pot heads.

Back in Bangkok - it's Joha Korean for dinner!

Fast-forward to Wednesday: it's Shanghai!

The Oriental Pearl Tower at night.

The skyline the next morning - THIS is a big city!

More Oriental Pearl Tower, and boats on their morning commute.

What a geometric street below!

Let's go back to Shanghai for a long-weekend one time!

On the way to the airport, one last hulking Chinese structure.

Bangkok Week 460

April 20, 2017

A short week back in Bangkok - the end of Songkran and the start of the heat heat heat!

Our Songkran treat - for each, a chilly DQ treat.

Dad looks natural trying out this IKEA sofa.

Family portrait?

On another IKEA sofa, back at Noble Re:D. Looking through a great cartoon book!

Aree station at night lights up the neighborhood!

In heaven at his favorite Indian restaurant.

It's 7-Eleven lunch at the office on a public holiday.

Annual dinner at Suankularb with Yai.

Cheers. It's beers!

Our ironing board buffet - eat up!

Cheers!

Through the looking glass. I mean, looking through the glass.

A great sunset over northern Bangkok.

Our local cafe - Greyhound!

Lucky taxi ceiling.

You can't tell, but the taxi driver has Karaoke lyrics on his dash board and is belting out the words.

Welcome to Fat Bird, Aree.

Six days in Seoul

April 15, 2017

A non-stop six days in Seoul. Not enough time to see it all; better come again soon!

We're here and ready to go! Where's that Asiana plane?

Settling in for the long train ride into Seoul.

View from our beautiful Westin hotel - thank you, SPG.

Heading out into the world, now that we're all coffee'd up.

First stop is Seoul City Hall - which was reborn into the funky modern building in 2012.

Luscious green wall inside.

An impressive balloon sculpture. (Shh! They're really plastic.)

And funky "duct work" spiraling everywhere.

City Hall from the side.

The Spring Sculpture marks the start of the Cheonggyecheon canal.

The start of the 10.9-km-long newly renovated canal.

The guardians of the water.

Lunch and sun at the edge of the canal.

Excited by the stepping stones!

Ladies lunching on the shore.

Lovely spring day on the canal!

All the men, looking at the fish!

Their love is still alive.

Depicted on tiles: the ceremonial parade-of-women-in-lampshades.

A dense lunch spot!

Donut in the sky! Also the Samsung Jongno Tower.

First of many many many Korean meals!

Aww - cute socks.

Brushes outside a calligraphy neighborhood.

Shop owners enjoy their lunch on the side of the road in Insadong.

Insadong hopping on a Monday afternoon.

Getting some navigational help from his local friends.

I, too, can pose for Instagram.

The blossoms are out! A hint of what's to come.

A paper lantern festival - not sure what for, but really colorful!

Colorful eye candy!

Spot the tree thru the lanterns?

We made it to dinner after a much-needed rest. Now, where are we?

Another tasty Korean dinner!

Mum's new pink friend. They speak the same language: style.

The fourth and final birthday cake of the season, courtesy of Westin Chosun.

Enjoying the beautiful Westin Chosun breakfast buffet.

Major intersection; major buildings.

Making new acquaintances in every city he visits.

These firemen must've been in a hurry to pee!

Taking the "elevator" up the base of the Namsan mountain.

Namsan mountain, here we come!

A very emotive tree trunk!

The blossoms were in full bloom all around the perimeter of Namsan Mountain.

Some small flower beds were also in bloom.

Pretty blossoms and blue sky!

We could be in Japan!

The cinematographer, hard at work.

That's our destination! N-Seoul Tower!

The view from mid-hill. Already picturesque!

By the way we're dressed, you'd think it's still winter.

Many colors - not just whites and pinks.

Uh oh...

More beautiful views. Too bad it doesn't look like this year-round. We came at exactly the right time!

Did you know? The Koreans take archery very seriously! And find it acceptable to practice right in the middle of the public park.

The first signs of the Seoul City Wall.

We made it up the tower! The views aren't too shabby.

That's where we walked. Can you spot the roads?

The city literally fades off into the mountains.

The shorter Itaewon area - which we'll visit on Saturday.

More blossom-lined roads.

Group shot in heaven.

Even the bathrooms have world-class views.

The perils of sitting on a crooked bench.

Heading back down the mountain - a little faster than we came!

Stopping for some more scenic shots.

Like this north-westerly view.

More Seoul City Wall - built and re-built over several dynasties.

What a happy car park.

A Buddhist temple.

Namdaemun Market! Much more bustling than when we were here in mid-December.

Freshly made sugar donuts! Can't be beat!

We found one of the food alleys.

Serve your own kimchi.

Delicious bibimbap!

And this is spicy fish soup alley.

I can only guess that that's the spicy fish soup!

Finishing off our visit to Namdeun with a stop at Sungnyemun, the south gate of the Seoul City Wall. Just in time for the changing of the guards!

Here are the colorful guards!

Said South Gate - one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul.

Ornate, but somewhat cartooney, dragons in the interior ceiling of the gate.

The guards - just starting their shift.

Well, at least one person knows how to smile for the camera.

Interesting sign on the sidewalk!

The official countdown until the PyeongChong Olympic Games!

An old photo of Seoul Plaza filled with football fans - pre-new-City Hall.

Lending a helping hand to take a photo inside the public library.

The guard at the entrance to Deoksugung Palace - another guy thrilled with his job.

The Cucumber Club - select snacks only.

Just in time for another changing of the guard ceremony!

The costumes are very colorful indeed!

What's in the box?

Baring his teeth for all the world to see.

Old meets new in downtown Seoul.

Ornate wooden detailing on the ceiling of the main palace building.

The famous moon and sun imagery.

Taking a rest on some slightly more modern stairs.

Why does *he* always get asked to take the photos?

No shortage of color!

Group shot. We got our $1 entry fee worth!

Japanese maples and blossoms side-by-each.

Dinner at the bustling Gwangjang Market.

Famous for its mung bean pancakes and tempura.

These two tried the fried chicken instead.

Seafood and kimchi!

Speaking of kimchi - making her own!

Chewy rice noodles!

Looks a little dodgy? Eating under a bridge at night.

Cheongyecheon canal at night - nicely lit.

And the famous Dongdaemun Design Plaza - lit nicely at night.

All ready for our morning at Changdeokgung Palace.

Many well-restored gates and buildings.

One of our favorite locks.

Beautiful roofs and ceilings.

Paper doors and wooden floors.

A courtyard and a nice old tree.

Very graphic warning sign.

Group shot in front of the main palace building.

No shortage of school kids on day trips!

Just resting our feet for a while.

Another ornate interior - with iconic mountain image.

Apparently, the only blue palace roof.

Just browsing.

Just two goofballs posing together.

They left some parts of the palace complex unpainted to create a visual differentiation between "work" and "home".

Gardens visible only during the Secret Garden tour.

Walking around during the guided tour - apparently this area is significant in Korean scholastic history.

The happy couple.

Standing in the doorway that represents longevity.

More (secret) garden in bloom.

Resting some legs at the end of the lengthy walking tour.

My new handbag? Or a really big lock?

A skyline of traditional rooftops.

More old meets new.

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Another cool lock!

Spot the tourists!

Twins!

Trendy, hilly Seoul.

Heading down the slopes.

Hey, I've got some "happy pills" - wanna buy them?

Traditional dress - ready for a photo shoot!

Peeking into Gyeongbokgung Palace - which we visited when we were here in 2013.

The historians at work.

Walking around Tongin - a very local neighborhood to the west of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

A staircase of onions - yum.

Want to have your hair done here?

That's a little creepy.

The streets were beautifully lined with blossoms.

A famous little book store.

And a very local coffee roaster.

Another local market.

Fresh lentils for you?

Fresh strawberries! We had to try 'em!

A really cute - and clever - kids top.

Trying said strawberries!

Banpo Bridge - would you believe, it's the world's longest bridge fountain in the Guinness Book of World Records!

The music-light-water show is novel for the first 1 minute.

After a rather unbelievable adventure, we land up at a Mexican restaurant for dinner in Seorae Village - a "tiny bit of France in Seoul".

Next morning: day trip to Heyri village, an artist's village perilously close to North Korea.

It also has lots of modern buildings.

Like this one.

Heyri surely also has the highest cafe:resident ratio. 10:1 perhaps?

Grizzly husky guarding his home.

My favorite building there - and also a really nice gallery.

Very neat handmade paper art.

In a very bright gallery space.

Blending in with the birch trees.

More modern buildings.

Three gentlemen - all surprised by what they see!

I also particularly liked this building.

A really nice Italian lunch before leaving Heyri.

Ever seen an inflatable toilet seat before? Now you have.

Trying out a truly high chair.

Ceramic roses.

A round-about footbridge.

And a very twisted hot dog!

Next stop: Yeouido island!

We stumbled upon a very entertaining street performer.

He was featuring a kid from the audience.

Very good with those diablo sticks.

I Seoul U - seems to be the city's slogan? Not sure which grammatical rules they follow.

Interesting take on topiary sculptures! Giant gekkos?

I have to say, the skyline is... underwhelming.

All rivers have river cruises.

Nothing like an afternoon picnic in the park.

Socializing? Or social media-ing?

Trying my hand at a funky playground apparatus.

Tandem bikes abound!

Lots of blossoms at this park, too.

Group shot!

A Korean blue bird.

What are these swans queuing up for, anyway?

Another long queue.

More blossoms. Would have been a nice park to bike around! (In fact, one can bike around the whole island.)

Many bridges, more skyline - and the park in the foreground... pretty!

A clever playground for kids.

And nighttime in Hongdae - the hip young hangout around Hongik University.

No shortage of shopping here.

Cotton candy and a fluffy dog. What's the link?

I think this is a dog cafe!

After many nights of quiet neighborhoods, we finally found the crowds.

That's a funky dinner place.

Ashamed to be seen with the fashion icon.

On Friday, we were privileged enough to have our own personal guide - Prof. Kun Mo Lee.

This is the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

And a famous statue of King Sejong, who made the Korean written language accessible to all.

That's the alphabet there, ladies and gents.

We stop with the guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace...

... who were getting ready to change guard ...

... on our way to our first stop: The National Palace Museum of Korea.

Next stop after that: the National Folk Museum of Korea. (Aren't these names a bit redundant?)

A true representation of the Korean ways: giant daikon in the front yard.

A delicious lunch at a traditional Korean restaurant.

Apparently the fish was delish!

And afternoon tea at a traditional tea house.

I forget exactly what kind of herbal tea I tried.

And for the final evening of the trip: Myeongdong!

A hotbed of activity for the cinematographer.

No shortage of street food options here.

Fresh fruit smoothies - even signature strawberry.

Cheese on a stick!

And a tornado potato!

Dinner was at a famous noodle restaurant. I've never had anything quite like this!

Tasty!

This must be where all of Seoul comes on a Friday night.

Giant dumplings!

Ran into my colleague, Grace, also from Bangkok!

Our final day in Seoul: visiting the Itaewon neighborhood.

Itaweon is full of all things foreign: foreign restaurants, people, clothing - you name it!

And some cute street art.

The Canucks finally found their home in Seoul!

Clothing for fat foreigners!

This should be a fun place to come at night.

We found the long-lost cattle of Seoul.

How about dripping cheese for a store-front awning?

Small alleys - how can those trucks even fit?

More small alleys.

Sign says it all.

This Turkish ice cream vendor was really having fun with this customer!

The Samsung Museum of Art - a worthwhile stop.

The property and building are quite fascinating as well.

Looking up the central atrium. It was stunning from the top.

Peak-a-boo, says the stealth but larger-than-life dog.

One of our last subway rides!

Back out to Mangwon - another fun local neighborhood.

We finally figured out where Seoul locals buy their fresh fruits and vegetables.

Too bad we were already in our final hours. Otherwise, would've gotten some.

Our destination: Zero per Zero, artists and map makers.

And back on Asiana, bound for Bangkok. So long, Seoul - it's been fun!

Bangkok Week 459

April 9, 2017

Our guests have a whirlwind intro to Bangkok, before we set off on our Songkran escapades.

Celebrating Friday night, and the start of the Songkran break, with welcome dinner (number two) at Cantina.

The next morning, it's a nautical excursion across the river to Koh Kred.

First stop: the leaning Chedi of Wat Poramaiyikawas.

View from the edge of the Wat, upstream. The river now flows two ways around the (artificial) island.

Not clear when the Chedi started to lean. The Wat itself dates back to the ~1720s.

Who's that hiding in the bushes?

Checking out the views from one of the many piers.

Longtail boats used to shuttle people (express) to and from the island.

Deep-fried flowers: one of the local specialties.

One of the Buddha images in Wat Poramaiyikawas - the facial features are distinct.

And this Buddha image has very unique hair.

Posing with the reclining Buddha.

Unlike at Wat Po, the head piece fits comfortably inside this room.

Bling bling.

Nice lighting. But the sky looks a bit ominous.

A final Buddha image - Mon style?

A brilliant pink tree in front of a slightly overgrown school.

Very cool rig to pour water on the Chedi for Songkran!

Use pulleys to hoist the water to the top!

Creative way to sell pomelo!

Really brightly colored desserts!

Which ones shall we try?

One of each!

We think this sign was encouraging purchases... not just photos.

Looking hot yet?

A great view of the giant Buddha at Wat Bangchak across the river.

Lots of fish surrounding the dock, though!!

Did I mention LOTS of fish!?!

Trying the local tempura!

Small sois.

The island is also famous for its pottery. This is the last kiln on the island.

Applying a coating of some kind to these bowls.

A pot of pots. Just like that.

How ornate!

How very, very ornate! Too precious to buy!

Beautifully plated Pad Thai for lunch.

Group shot on the river side.

Fast-forward to afternoon tea - where we're trying our sweet purchases from earlier in the afternoon.

A meringue mushroom!

Uh oh! He's about to eat a chili!

Cheers!

To Mum's 6Xth birthday!

Group shot!

Her annual birthday special!

Shall we go have drinks at PP Beer Bar? Or just get a PP Massage?

Matching adventure costumes the next morning.

Aww. All squished together nicely on the train.

Heading to the top floor of Central Embassy to check out...

... the brand new "Open House" space!

The space is intended to be "fit-for-all" -- eating, bookshop, "co-thinking", art, design, "playground"... and more.

Giant book! Bigger than our coffee table!

Nice dining area, with tasteful furniture.

View from above; great selection of photography books.

Great place from which to play "i spy".

The tower in the middle is the "art tower" - a gallery space. Which we failed to visit.

Nice view of Wireless Road!

And great view of the Okura Prestige.

Resting up, before our long trek to Nana...

... where we had a dynamic lunch with Jasmine Chay and her family.

Interesting marketing campaign at Siam Discovery to promote DJI (the leading drone brand).

It's DQ! The trip to Thailand has officially begun!

Sporting the souvenir that Jasmine Chay kindly brought.

Bangkok Week 458

April 6, 2017

The guests arrive!

MBK is getting ready for Songkran!

A healthy dinner of pancakes and syrup.

Tasty khao soi lunch at MBK!!

Giant egg salad sandwiches for dinner. Eat up!

Did I say giant?

And Then There Were None! A fond farewell to my fellow PLs!

The guests are here! The guests are here!

And we've immediately jumped to dinner with them!

Delicious food at Baan Peung Chom - an Ari institution.

Welcome to Bangkok!

And Happy Belated Birthday Naomi / Mum / BMIL!

Cool scarf, eh?

Bangkok Week 457

March 30, 2017

Bright evening lights, new eats, and some serious mug shots.

On Friday night, they were testing The Egg's dynamic lighting!

Very bright! Very phallic!

Creative seat cover in this taxi.

Want to make sure we document these precious tiles before they go under the knife.

Saturday evening traffic outside Central World.

Our destination: a large food festival with vendors from throughout Thailand.

Not *too* crowded actually. It'll continue thru April 9th.

Some serious tea pouring skillz.

Alas, we ended up eating at the veggie stall in the Central World food court.

Lunch the next day, at the *new* veggie stall in MBK.

Great view from Habitat, the posh furniture store in Siam Discovery.

For reference: a very neat set of drawers.

The photos I had to re-take for my China visa. Only thugs allowed to apply. (I had to ask the store to photoshop out my earrings!)

Bangkok Week 456

March 23, 2017

A weekend with the furry siblings in Trat. Guess who sells ice cream now!?

We start this update with the thinnest storm cloud in Bangkok history.

Celebrating Friday night with a tasty extravagance.

Another (small) milestone with our little red car.

Time for a tire replacement in Trat.

Guess what store got an ice cream freezer today!

Even Namwan, who needed to be on a diet 10 kg ago, got to try some ice cream!

Looking through photos of The House.

Time for Namtan's dinner!

A teeny tiny lizard, who managed to escape Namtan's watch (because he was too busy eating dinner!)

Jazz in the jungle.

Maruay enjoying the cool of the drinks fridge.

Delicious dinner!

Even Namtan has a special spot!

The two brothers resting together.

"What's that?"

All three of my pals.

Yes, Maruay?

Bloomin' bush!

Chillaxin' at the store before it gets too hot.

Spa time! Gotta get that hair that's coming out in chunks!

So much fur!

"Mmm, that feels nice."

Maruay doesn't want to face the reality.

Did we mention that Top is raising shrimp now?

This one was particularly personable.

A mumma shrimp.

Namwan was spending quality time with her brother before he headed back to Bangkok.

Don't drive in front of, or behind, this collector's item.

Celebrating 9 years of tolerance and bad jokes! Cheers!

Bangkok Week 455

March 16, 2017

Running around Bangkok to get ideas for the new house!

Serves you right for parking in the middle of Ari!

Had a guardian angel watching over my shoulder all ride.

On Saturday, we went to the much-hyped Thailand International Furniture Fair... just to get ideas.

Nice all-teak table - seats 10!

Another nice minimalist table design.

More nice tables!

And some clever couch designs, too.

This company exports to Japan.

On Sunday, drove over to Ekamai to make sure the car fits!

It does, but it's a close brush with the ground on the way in and out!

Clever fence and gate concept at a neighbor's house.

But wait, what's this?

A hi-tech new parking tower that's gone up a bit down the road!

The Ari Egg glows in the setting sun.

Home-cooked Sunday feast.

Look how hopping National Stadium is at night!

Bangkok Week 454

March 9, 2017

The week in which we converted our hard-earned cash into a small slice of Bangkok.

Finished last week in KL, where blue skies and condos dot the horizon.

The CN Tower - I mean, KL Tower - in the background.

Pizza in the pool! (If you look closely.)

Farewell, KL. Is that a geometric housing development down below?

Saturday afternoon, we're at The Commons, a funky new "community mall" that's a 10-min walk from the house in Ekkamai.

They were hosting an artsy-fartsy market.

Nice space - nicer when not so crowded!

And a classic way to fix wires in Bangkok - by leaning on them. At least in this case, the guys were cancelling out each other's force vectors...

A new veggie stall in MBK! And it's our favorite restaurant from Ekkamai, Khun Churn.

Trying their tasty "Khao Soi" noodles.

Dinner with surprise guests to Bangkok, Adil & Martha.

There was also a Hua Hin-themed market (and beach party?) outside MBK.

Quite hopping!

Bidding farewell to our cash!

And this land deed is what we get in return!

Celebrating the big purchase with some Japanese ramen.

Bangkok Week 453

March 2, 2017

What a busy week! Town-house-browsing, and a short trip to India.

The completed mural on BACC in honor of HM the King.

A very cute use of rebar and paper!

Celebrating Friday night at the new restaurant in Siam Discovery.

Sipping my evening tea.

It wasn't clear what this market was about.

Enjoying lunch at our favorite Khun Churn veggie restaurant in Ekamai.

Visiting this recently renovated shop house in Ekamai 22.

Very new, but bare-bones inside.

Nice loft-style stair case.

Really nice balcony space on the second floor.

The master bedroom on the second floor.

View from the third-floor balcony.

Next stop: the unique house in Soi 12!

There's a place to park your car.

The interior has been recently renovated... for business tenants.

There's a bar!

And a bit of a spooky kitchen.

Stairs heading up.

Master bedroom.

Still more master bedroom.

The best bathroom in town!

Second bedroom - with bathroom in back corner.

Alternate view of the second bedroom.

Balcony overlooking the street.

The neighbors.

The street.

Not far behind is a nursery school for one of the Singaporean international schools.

Here's a nice modern house!

The main street anchoring the neighborhood.

A cafe and bakery around the corner.

Another popular cafe.

This man has more guts than I do!

Coming back in the evening to check out the neighborhood. It's quiet!!

Is it haunted?

The shops along Ekamai are still alive at night.

Another meal at our favorite Veggie friends.

Pomelo salad! Haven't had it in a while!

The editor of Thai's Sawasdee Magazine was in an awfully punny mood this past month!

Arrived safely in Kolkata! Although they have one honker of a visa stamp!

Making my way into the city from the airport. These Hindustan Ambassador taxis are still everywhere!

What classy taxis!

Some new experiences at breakfast. For example, 6 types of flaky cereal. (One looked decidedly spiced!)

And six types of yoghurt and "curd".

Some cutesy butter?

It is great - every food item is labeled veg or non-veg! (Although to them, egg counts as non-veg.)

Selling snacks out of the back of a truck.

Literal bumper-to-bumper parking.

Three colorful vehicles in a row.

A blurry shot of the Victoria Memorial as we zoomed by...

... opposite the road to which were several gilded horse-drawn carriages.

A fountain in the road.

Everyone hangs their laundry out to dry!

More laundry.

The buses are very colorful indeed! They compete with Bangkok's on age.

Gupta Sweets -- *all* sweet and snack items! All of them!

Ornate balconies!

Women shielding themselves from the sun... and some stray dogs. There were *LOTS* of stray dogs!

That's a serious bunch of coconuts!

Covering the motorcycles to shield from the dust? Does it work?

Men standing around ... rickshaws ... street stalls ... could be SEA!

Just waiting for the bus.

Another rickshaw zipping by.

The road is torn up because of construction of an elevated train.

The tuk-tuks are painted exactly like Bangkok's private taxis!

Nice old trees.

Perhaps really waiting for a bus.

And this lovely immigration queue was waiting to bid me a fond farewell. Good-bye for now, India!

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