Brit in Bangkok

I'm Painting

The plastic policeman (and Sue) outside the police station near my apartment - cool, eh?

I went out for lunch with Sue yesterday then wandered to the paint shop near our apartment building.  I bought two enormous cans of paint for only $18, enough to paint my entire apartment.  So, on New Year's Day, I'm getting the new year started right by spending the day painting.  Can't wait!

While we were in the paint shop, the daughter of the couple who owned it told us they had just finished a new apartment building 3 doors down and did we want to look?  She took us over and, oh my god, this place is beautiful.  16,000 baht (around $463) a month for a brand new enormous one bedroom apartment.  It has TWO bathrooms, a big kitchen, an enormous living room and bedroom, and is fully furnished in really beautiful new furniture.  There are two balconies with nice views (one off the living room and one off the bedroom).  There's wireless internet by TRUE (which actually works, unlike the internet in my apt. building!) in every apartment, and a huge laundry downstairs with washers and dryers.  There's a 7-11 next door and it's also next door to the Elephant Building which has a cafe, restaurants, a post office etc.  It's even on the right side of the street for getting a convenient taxi or bus, unlike my apartment now where I have to walk for 10 minutes to get there.  And, it's set back off the street, so very quiet.

I asked about taking my 4 rabbits with me (some apartments won't allow them) and she checked with her parents, then called me back that night to say "As long as they're clean, you can bring them". 

I'm very tempted.  It's absolutely gorgeous, sooooo much nicer than my present place and only 6,000 baht more, for an apartment that's twice the size.  Plus, the utilities in my current apartment are expensive because it's a Serviced Apartment.  Overall, with cheaper utilities, I'd probably only spend about $100 a month more for more convenience, a much larger place, two bathrooms, two balconies, reliable internet and a brand new building. 

It's only been open for two weeks so not many people are living there yet.  I'm going to give it a few days to think about and, if I decide to move in, I'll move in in February.

You Can EAT Rabbits Right?

One of my rabbits playing dead.  I'm thinking it might get the chance to be REALLY dead if it chews through any more wires!

In the year and a half I've had rabbits, they've destroyed practically everything I own.  This week, one of them ate through the cable on my computer speakers, even though I was sitting there at the time (geez, they're quiet when they chew!)  Today, I had to go to Carrefour in Bangkok and buy new computer speakers (and a new iron, which also went kaput last night!).  Thank God stuff in Thailand is cheap - only 490 baht (about $14) for a very nice pair of Creative computer speakers and only 390 ($11) for the iron.

I'm thinking grilled rabbit tonight, poached rabbit tomorrow with a lovely orange sauce, and roasted rabbit for New Year's Day. Yum!

Major Avenue - Amazing New Shopping/Restaurant Complex

Sue at the Italian Restaurant we had lunch at - delicious pizza, parma ham sandwiches, and lemon iced tea!

Me, Italian Restaurant - very busy restaurant, nice atmosphere, good food!

The artist's rendering of what Major Avenue should look like - pretty close.  It's beautifully designed.

One of the nice coffee shops with one of the Japanese restaurants above it.

There's a new shopping/restaurant complex that's opened near my apartment.  On the corner of Pahonyothin and Ratchayothin, it's absolutely amazing.  There are about 25 restaurants (at least 4 of them are Japanese) - where you can eat Japanese, Thai, Italian, American, etc. They also have Starbucks, a noodle restaurant, a couple of ice cream parlors, a Japanese store that sells everything for 60 baht (bought a cool knife, tea strainer, and a measuring cup - all for only 60 baht (about $1.75).

There's also a large Villa Supermarket that sells all the Western stuff, (bought American burritos, mayonnaise and some British pork pies :-), a big wine shop and numerous other stuff.

I'm so happy.  There's finally a great place to eat and to grocery shop that's within walking distance of my house!

Boycott anything from Israel - Israel should be stopped

Just like several friends of mine, I NEVER buy anything from Israel.  Yesterday, Israel bombed the hell out of Gaza again, killing more than 200 people, including women and children.  They even bombed the police station, killing the Police Chief.

Now, how is this acceptable?  The ONLY reason Israel still exists is because America backs them no matter what.  There are so many wealthy Jews now running the USA that NO American government dare say anything against Israel.  Because if anyone says anything against Israel's actions, you're labelled as anti-semitic. As noted by all the other statements by world leaders after yesterday's horrific Israeli attacks, only America said it was Hamas' fault.  Just another reason why America is so hated.  And they wonder why......

Thai Sidewalk Improvements

The 'road crew', if that's what you can call them, dug big holes four months ago, piled up bags of cement, then left - we haven't seen them since!

The enormous holes they dug in the sidewalk and the stacks of bags of cement they left behind.

You've got to love Thailand.  The sidewalks here are some of the worst in the world.  Covered in cracks, bumps, and huge holes that you can fall down if you're not careful, nothing ever gets improved.  About four months ago, it looked like this might change when a local roadworks team showed up on Pahonyothin in Bangkok, near my apartment and started to dig up the sidewalk.  "Cool," I thought.  "We might actually have a flat sidewalk".  Wrong!

They dug holes all over the sidewalk, brought in about 50 bags of cement, then left it.  Four MONTHS later, this is what it looks like.

Thai construction - you've got to love it!

My Favorite Snack

I love seaweed.  I buy loads of the stuff as it's low in calories and very high in nutritional value, very healthy for you.  What I also love about the packets of seaweed are the cool designs on the packets.  Really makes you want to buy it because it's so beautiful.  The packet of seaweed in the photo above was 5 baht (around 15 cents).

Christmas Day at The Londoner

Tua, in her hat from the Christmas cracker - yep, a BIT big :-)

We had a very nice Christmas Dinner at the Londoner in Bangkok on Christmas Day.  I went with my friends Sue and Tua.  First, we headed off to Kinokuniya bookstore where I bought three new books (used my new 10% discount card, so saved another $2.25!)  Then we had lattes at the very nice Starbucks at Emporium Mall (it overlooks the park, so is really pretty sitting in the window).  Then, across the street to The Londoner, where we had smoked salmon, salad, cauliflower soup, turkey, roast potatoes and all the trimmings, followed by Christmas Pudding, a mince pie, coffee and a plate of delicious chocolates.  One pint of Shandy, and it was a perfect Christmas dinner!

I love Christmas Day in Thailand - everything is open, so you can go shopping, have a great meal, have a coffee or a drink - unlike the US, where it's depressing because everything is closed.

The Cowboy Party - Work Christmas Party

I had a really fun time at my company's Christmas party on Wednesday night (Christmas Eve).  My company has more than 1,500 employees so they rented Bitec area in Bang Na and all of us were either bused or took cars there.  They had gone all out for their 'Cowboy Party', with staff wearing cowboy outfits, lots of party employees running around in full Indian regalia, a full Chinese table (about 8 courses of excellent Chinese food) and a full show put on by some of the employees of the company. Plus as much free beer as you wanted to drink. Really fun.

The only thing I was disappointed in was that the company had ordered 'Shark Fin Soup' as one of the courses.  As this is one of the foods that environmental groups all over the world are trying to get banned, I was shocked and disappointed that my company would actually serve this :-(

Other than that though, a fun night hanging out with all my friends.

Thai Desserts

I love Thai desserts.  They're incredibly cheap (20 baht - about 60 cents), are not too sweet, usually, and dessert stalls in Thailand have tons of choices.  I like the green 'worm' Thai dessert on this table the best.  It's made out of rice flour, slightly slimy and a bit tasteless.  But then they add ice and a syrup made out of evaporated milk - absolutely delicious.

Buying Thai

Yesterday was a holiday in Thailand, Constitution Day, so I had lunch with some friends then went to MBK shopping for Christmas gifts.  Got some great things at very good prices and decided, while I was out, that I was only buying Thai made items to help support the Thai economy.

To this end, we avoided the American-chain restaurant we were going to go to and went to a Thai restaurant instead, then avoided Starbucks and got coffee at a Thai coffee shop.  At this point, I'd much rather spend my money on Thai products as, over time, I think the Thai economy is going to really need it.

I also bought 'Spore' which I'm really excited about. Love it so far!

Life is Good

I just have to say, life is good in Thailand.  I'm making more money at my job than ever before, I have great friends, go to fabulous places, live in a great apartment, and can pretty much afford to buy anything I want.  You can't get better than that.

I love Thailand :-)

Christmas Lights

Bangkok always has some really pretty Christmas lights.  These are outside Central Chidlom department store.

Mocha

Tua with some spicy fish thing - it was actually pretty tasty!

Fried calamari - yum!

 

Could that beer be any bigger?

I went to a restaurant on Soi Langsuan tonight with my friend, Tua.  The place is called 'Mocha' and it's a really great place, with good food and pretty cheap beer.  We sat outside because the weather is so nice and just hung out and chatted.  Coming back, I took some photos of the new Christmas lights outside Central Chidlom department store.

Oh and if you're wondering why only photos of Tua?  The ones of me......fat.  Those aren't seeing the light of day :-)

Coffee

   

Sometimes, I take some of my students to a coffee shop near my office instead of having class in a classroom.  When they're outside the office, they talk more and give more opinions.  They also tell really funny stories.

This group is a great group - Tam and Oh (seated) and Pae and my friend Tua (standing).  The coffee shop is very nice too. Coffee Alley - sells great lattes and desserts and they have a lovely garden, all on a pretty quiet soi in Bangkok.

PAD Say "Still Not Leaving Airport" - Surprise, surprise.

Military-and-elite-supported terrorists, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), are still occupying Bangkok's two airports.  They have intimidated passengers, took part in violent acts against pro-government supporters, 'arrested' people they accuse of shooting at them and taken them off somewhere never to be seen again, and basically destroyed Thailand's tourist industry and exports industry.  They have now been occupying Thailand's main airports for a week and government, police and military are unwilling to do anything.  Talk about the inmates running the asylum.

But....the PAD announced last week, if the Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat and his government were kicked out of office, they would leave the airport.  A few hours ago, it was announced that Thailand's Constitutional Court (a bit of a farce court, but there ya go!) have found the Prime Minister and his government 'guilty' of election fraud and have disbanded their party.  So, Thailand no longer has a government.

But....surprise, suprise, as per usual, the PAD have announced they still have no intention of leaving the airports as they are frightened another 'Thaksini puppet' will be put in place.  This is the modus operandi of the PAD.  They say they will do something IF something else happens.  Then that thing happens but there's always another reason why they won't do what they said they would do.

Thailand WAKE UP.  You cannot trust the PAD and their leaders as far as you can throw them.  What is wrong with the Thai elite and the supposed people who 'run' this country?  You all sit there doing nothing while your country is going to hell in a handbasket.

The ones who I feel sorry for though are the 'average' Thais and not the wealthy Thais that are destroying this country and trying to take democracy away from normal people.  Meanwhile, I'm making sure that all my purchases from now on will be from market stalls as much as possible, in an attempt to support every day Thais and not these wealthy as*holes that run this country.  The less money these jokers have the better and, from now on, I'm going to make sure they get none of mine.