stranded, no more

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said last night it had contacted over 600 Singaporeans in Bangkok, and helped about 490 of them get out. The latest group left Bangkok for Phuket last night to catch a flight home.
About 120 Singaporeans are now left in Bangkok, including those 'who have decided to remain for various reasons', the spokesman said. "

An abstract from

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_309710.html

But I had exams.....

พระจันทร์ยิ้ม

This is what I saw at around 7pm. Well, if it wasn't for today, I wouldn't realise that I seldom look at the sky at all. I first saw many people with their camera looking towards the direction of the sky and so I looked up too.

The moon smiles tonight

The science behind it (which I am unable to explain)

I found this picture on the internet..The 3rd picture dates 29nov-2dec 2008 where you can see the "smiley face" (:

And then some guy was trying to explain to me the myth behind this occurrence but I couldn't really understand him.. Only knew he said something about someone smiling because the 2 someone are now reunited, etc etc. With my limited thai knowledge, I tried to look it up the Internet by typing เรื่องพระจันทร์ยิ้ม (the story of พระจันทร์ยิ้ม) but I couldn't find anything. haha

Adventure Ari

I decided not to spend my Saturday afternoon at home (again, no one's out because exams are next week) because I won't have much time left to tour Bangkok. I searched on the internet for some places I could visit. I was deciding between taking the river cruise to visit the grand palace and temples or to go to Soi Ari but I decided to go to Soi Ari because I will go to the grand palace when my family comes while I have no other reasons to go to Soi Ari again..

Anway, Soi Ari is at an area out of the city of Bangkok, towards Chaktucak market. At about 430pm, I took the skytrain from Victory Monument to Ari. This is what I saw when I got there..

There was a small contemporary looking shopping mall with was an outdoor dining area + life music, very modern cafes and a supermarket. This place kinda reminds me of holland v. And it feels very homely too.

Then I crossed the road to the other side of Ari and started to explore. I didn't know where I should walk, wanted to venture new places and eventaully got out of the trail. I even reached Samsen railway train station, which is one stop after Bangkok's Hualampong railway station. This is the map of my big walk.. I probably took about 1.5hrs walking until I boarded the bus at about 620pm ( It was already very dark in Thailand..)

It's a pity the map is so smalll... I dunoe how to enlarge it:(

I did not manage to find my way back to Ari skytrain station but I found a bus stop and since it was getting dark, I took a bus back to victory monument. I was surprised to find a direct bus back to victory monument as I thought I was lost really far away.. (:

The bus journey which was quite direct..

Well, my journey didn't end here. Because I didn't shop today, I decided not to get off the bus at Victory Monument but at Pratunum. Then I went to Central World shopping centre and the night market nearby..

safe admist rising political tensions

I would have been completely ignorant about the political tension in Bangkok if my friends and family from Singapore haven't been asking me about my safety. There indeed has been large scale disruption in certain areas of Thailand but I could say that the daily life of an average person living in Bangkok isn't so much affect. At least not at all for me.

I think the PAD wouldn't be succesful in their protest campaigns if they were to disrupt the lives of their people. Because it's the people that they are 'fighting' for, fighting for months to make the new cabinet step down (remember: for the good of the people), so they go to the government house, go to the parliment house, go to Suvarnabhumi airport, **** the government because they hate them, **** the tourist maybe because they don't care and then, keep the rest out. Maybe it's not as if I say they haven't **** much of the lives of the people living in Thailand. Mentally, maybe.

So, mum (to tell dad and ahma+gua ma) and the rest of my family, relatives, friends, lovers, strangers, I am very (quite) safe here in my own world of oblivion. And it's still fun. wheeeee!

A night out at Sirocco Sky Bar

Last night, I finally went to the Sirocco Sky Bar that all my friends have been talking about. It is an open air bar on the 64th floor of the state tower. I have also been to the Baiyoke sky hotel is much higher (80th floor?) but the view and ambiance at sirocco is way superior. Also, glass panel until waist level borders the skybar instead of metal grills that cage you up like the ones at Baiyoke. It was windy and chilly last night, a stark contrast to the pollution and humidity of Bangkok on ground level. I am usually not afraid of heights but I took a while before getting used to the height://
We only had drinks (for about 320baht each) but you could also dine there for at least 700baht for a main course. I suppose a large part of the cost goes to their very attentive service (ed told me that they would go to you with a lighter if they see you holding your cigarette.. but I didn't see that happen last night). There was also dessert buffet(:

The good thing about this place is that entrance is free and so if you are on a tight budget, you could just enter for a breathtaking view of Bangkok, of the Chao Praya River and to take some pictures too. I highly reccomend this place for all! families, couples, friends or even if you're alone!

*

You take lift to the 64th floor from behing the glass panels of The dome

then you walk down the stairs to the the skybar

*

The dome, the bar and a little bit of the view

*

17-18nov:trat province

Trat province, a small and peaceful town, located at the East of Thailand is about a 5hours bus ride from Bangkok. I traveled alone (w/ ed's camera and lonely planet) to Trat after beach-ing in Ko Samet because my tourist visa was gonna expire. From Trat, I traveled to Had Lek (1hours bus ride away), a town at the eastern border of Thailand and crossed over to Cambodia. My visa was extended for another 30days(: After 30mins in Cambodia, I crossed back to Thailand(:

I've been to Cambodia once and my second trip there affirmed my dislike towards the inhospitality of the Cambodia people. Cambodia Immigration demanded 300baht from me because I didn't stay there for at least 1 day and when I asked to see this regulation on paper, a very dumb reply i got.. "it's in Penom Phen.."

*

I stayed in Trat for 1 night and I enjoyed my stay. You probably could cover the whole town in less than an hour. People were very friendly, pace of life was slow and there isn't much activity going on. The main attractions in town are the day market and night market which closes at night (9pm..)? A handful of internet shops that close at 12am with school students playing games...

Bookshop; Main Street that is empty at 8pm; merlion?; my guesthouse for 150baht

Road and river of trat, perpetually empty

The 2nd day I woke up early intending to rent a bicycle to get to a Wat Bai Khlong that is 2km away from the town but there were no bicycles for rent all around town. Took a motorcycle taxi there instead.

Then, I was lucky because there was some street procession in the late morning where students paraded along the streets of Trat for an opening ceremony for Sports Day. And then at 1130am, I headed over to Cambodia to extend my visa(:

In Cambodia just outside Had Lek

Had Lek was beautiful too. It is whole stretch of town that is along the sea.

121108: Loy Kratong Day @ Chao Praya

We started off by taking a river cruise from sathorn pier just beside saphan taksin bts..

The boat then stopped at Wat Arun where we could loy (which means to float) our kratong

Wat Arun

Our Kratongs

We were happy with our wish made. We then set off (on foot) for loy kratong dinner at Silom. Meanwhile Jianwei bought another Krathong, so we walked Lumphini Park after dinner to loy...

I just came back from ko samet, trat and had lek.. will update about my trip soon((:

LoFt membership

I am happy((: because I did buy-without-thinking or buy-whatever-that-makes-you-happy shopping.

I just became a Loft member (by spending 1600baht) about 5 minutes ago because my accounting class was canceled. I was diligently on my way to school when my friend called to say that class is canceled. So I made my way to Au Bon Pain for breakfast (current non-thai food craving) and then I shopped at Loft discoverrrry for almost 1hr? HAHA. It's a shop that sells wayy overpriced but nice to see stationery, display items, household goods, toys, etc but they are really cute and they make me happy(:

For Thai readers

...แต่น่าโศกเศร้ายิ่งนัก ในชีวิตจริงของคนเรา โดยปกติแล้วบุคคลสามคนนี้ไม่ใช่คนๆเดียวกัน
คนที่คุณรักมากที่สุด โดยส่วนใหญ่แล้วจะไม่เลือกคุณเป็นคู่ชีวิต
คนที่รักคุณมากที่สุดจะไม่ใช่คนที่คุณรักที่สุดเสมอไ ป
คนที่ร่วมชีวิตด้วยนานที่สุดกลับไม่ใช่คนที่คุณรักที ่สุด
และคนที่รักคุณที่สุดเขาเป็นแค่คนที่ได้มาเจอกับคุณถูกที่ถูกเวลาเท่านั้น เอง

The rest of the article can be read here: http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23467 which includes abit of english translation for the other parts.

Som tum!

My current craving: Thai Papaya Salad (mai phet)

I had it for lunch and dinner yesterday and today and a few other times this week. HAHA. Just thinking about makes me real hungry again. I always order my som tum not spicy but a lot of times it is still so spicy. I love the peanuts too! It is very nice if you eat it with sticky rice-highly reccomended but i don't really do so because I think it is fattening, and with grilled fish or chicken-sometimes I do this((:

somtum w/ grilled fish

I don't think it is true that eating som tum everyday makes the thais skinny because when I see them do the som tum, they add HUGE (maybe 3 tablespoonful or more) amounts of sugar. I really hope it isn't secretly making me fat .

I also have been eating a lot of different types of thai salads this week and less of those noodles and rice. Jian Wei and I have a favourite salad- yam khai khiaw maa (thai salad with century egg)

perfect match: century egg with ginger and onions

I drove a taxi

haha. I wasn't drunk when I asked the taxi driver if I could drive home. He did let me do it.. and I thought maybe he was the drunk one! I decided not to drink any alcohol last night because I had way too much the last few days so when I left some club yesterday at around 2 am, I asked the taxi driver if he could let me drive his taxi and he did! But i only drove it for awhile at some road near my place. He was so scared and he kept saying ''baw baw'' (to ask me to step the accelerator softly) and ''yaa chon nah..'' (don't hit another car..) haha. stupid taxi driver!

so yay!! I drove a taxi in Bangkok!!

Actually this blog is kinda useless now. The reason why I decided to start blogging was so that my Mum could keep track of my activities. But I realise I talk to her almost everyday and so I am kinda lazy to write anything anymore. ://

Well, it's also that nothing much exciting happened so I haven't got more to write. But I will definitely update if I think you guys should know something...

Like maybe, urms, boonsak.... ?

Enjoy the last (picture) of my blog..for now

1 for 1baht. yummmy bean paste jellies I love so much, largely due to the presentation.. cause it actually only taste like the ang ku kueh. ThenI find myself taking a while to choose (the prettier ones of) these snacks although all of them taste exactly the same. And Jianwei says, he will choose the biggest ones. haha.

Khinlon Chomsaphan Restaurant

We celebrated Jasmine's birthday last week at Khinlon Chomsaphan Restaurant. It is an open air restaurant located along the Chao Praya River. About 5 mins drive away from Khao San.. They serve a large variety of Thai food and seafood. We sat beside the river and it was really nice because it was very breezy that night. There is a life band too that sings both English and Thai songs..
I hope I will be able to steal some pics from my friends soon to upload it here because I didn't manage to take a lot of photos as I do not how to use my camera to take night shots:( arrgh

I want to bring my family in December! (:

It has been vegetarian week for a while now and I think it will last for another 3 days..(some Buddhist festival) The wide variety of vegetarian food Thai people can come up with is amazingggg..

And yesterday was alcohol-free day because of elections today. But I felt it was more of drink-alcohol-from-white-plastic-cups day (instead of glass muggs)

Exams are around the corner

Because the mid terms are here, Jianwei and I decided to put in more effort to start studying.. by buying a lamp for our pitch dark room.

choosing a lamp is difficult. choosing a bulb is worse..

now my room is bright enough to study(:

Anyways, I'm sure I didn't forget that my main purpose here was to study (So mum, please do not worry)... 2 months of school (traveling) passed in a flash and it is time for me to start preparing for my mid terms..As busy as I am with my social life, I could still make some time for school and this is what's lined up for the next 2 weeks :((

26/09/08- Thai Economy Mid Term

28/09/08- Government and Politics of Thailand's presentation

02/10/08- Financial Accounting and Behavioral Ec Mid term

03/10/08-Economics of Legal Issues Mid term

04/10/08-Govt and Pol. Mid term, Industrial Org. Mid term

Mid Oct- 2 Behavioral Ec presentation and 1 project due

-off to mugggg like "yf and jerry (are in the library)"-

ยำไก+ข้าวเหนียว

(Most) exchange student's official fave dish in our school canteen. I am so in love with this, I eat it everytime I am in school. And when I'm out of school, I am constantly thinking about it(: The thai name fo this dish is yam kai (chicken) or plaa (fish) with khaaw niao (sticky rice).

It's actually sticky rice with fried chicken or fish or sotong and green mangoo.. oooooh. The Thais have it spicy but they serve non-spicy ones as well. yummmmmy..You will love it too. I hope my daddy (with my help) can try to cook it when I go back to Singapore.. (:

I need to go to school now......

pictures

i dont have pictures of the party because we thought it was dangerous to bring any valuables.. and so we only brought cash to buy our buckets (of drinks).. anyways, enjoy the rest of the pictures, the beauty of koh pha ngan(:

*

Our home, exotic bungalow

sunset and full moon(:

Life of the locals at koh pha ngan

full-moon party @ เกาะพะงัน

I just came back from the full moon party at Koh PhaNgan. The party was great fun. Basically, it was just drinking and dancing with friends at the beach at Haad Rin, Koh Pha Ngan, under the full moon until the sun rises, then you go to bed. The main attractions on this island are the full moon party, half moon party and the black moon party. And because these events are catered to the farangs, things were alot more expensive on this island. It was also very surprising that about 90% of the locals on this island can speak really good english. They were very friendly too!

Spent 4 days at Koh PhaNgan with a few other exchange students. We went for snorkeling and then basically slacked in the comfort of the peace and tranquility of the island for a whole 2 days.

More (probably less interesting) details on my journey to/on Koh PhaNgan.. but I want to write it down so that I won't forget it((:

We took a bus from Khao San Road, BKK to Surat Thani and then to Donsak (the harbor), for 600baht and we took about almost 12hours with some stop overs. And then the ferry ride took about 3 hours.

At the island: Taxis are for at least 100baht/person and could go up to 2000baht for 4 person when it was at about 4am (and obviously we didn't take it) Can also rent motorbike for 200baht/day.

Full moon party: entrance is free, buckets of alcohol at 150-300/bucket, and devils horns hairband for 50baht (haha.. initially was 100baht, but we bargained!)

Accommodation @ Exotic bungalows, at loy faa road: only 200baht per night((: but it was quite far from the city and high up some hill. The family runs and stays at the bungalow and they were really super duper hospitable. We spent a lot of our time just resting and chit chatting with them.

Finally, there are 2 other islands Koh Tao and Koh Samui that are near Koh PhaNgan. They are more well-known for snorkeling and diving, less touristy but really beautiful islands too.

And then, I reached Bangkok at 430am today and I went for class at 9am. -YL

123456updates

1. The rainy season has started. I wear my slippers to school and then i change to my shoes when I reach school.

2. Political tensions not subsiding yet. My thai friend says that it could get worse and then I will be able to experience more bloodshed.

3. My teacher was 1.5hrs late for class.

4. School is starting to get busy with presentations and test.. And I missed my financial accounting quiz which was supposed to be on Tuesday.

5. I am sick of being neat and tidy in my school uniform.

6.hmm.. what else..? I went shopping and then broke at chaktuchak last sunday. I didnt even have 50cents to take the bus home..

government and politics in thailand

This is one of the modules that I am taking this semester at Chula. Classes were supposed to start 2 weeks ago but the lecturer canceled both of the classes. Well, I highly suspect he has something to do with the very coincidental protest by the People's Alliance for Democracy to overthrow the government...

Witnessing the demonstrations yesterday made me realise how big a scale the 'event' was and how the planning for it was also rather detailed. There were truck loads of huge huge speakers playing loud music and broadcasting the rallies, there were security personnel, even wearing tags that state 'security', to protect the demonstrators, some on motorcycles to help interrupt and stop the traffic. haha. And at the government house, people were giving out food packages and drinks to those who camped there. Jian Wei and i wanted to buy the yellow scarf that many of them were wearing only to find out that these people bought theirs a long time ago in preparation for their big day.



Here are some pictures i took as i walked from the victory monument (at about 6pm) towards the government house. We stayed till about 9+ and then decided to head home.

At the victory monument

*

Outside the government housestudents from chula uni

EBA(:

EBA is the name for the faculty of economics (international prog).

We had a welcoming party today for the exchange students. And I got to know more thai students(: and even more European ones. haha. Then we headed to a pub after the party. What surprised me was that we were allowed to drink and go to pubs in our school uniform.

Anyways, school has been great so far. Really really slack. Today is my 5th day in school and already 3 classes were canceled. We dont even have to print our own notes. The profs also photocopy the whole text book and all reading materials for us.. Breaks during the lesson are around 10mins but most students only go back to class after 30mins.. (:

The only bad thing about class being canceled is that I will spend more $$. Class was canceled this morning so I went with Jianwei to have buffet at sabushi. My 3rd time there.

At sabushi buffet:

mad about naraya

3things i bought from naraya. Google 'naraya' online and checkout their products if you want me to get anything from you(:

shoebag(: 160baht pencil case, 40baht
pouch?, 70baht(:

lunch

I am so happy I finally had a decent lunch today. Food that is more similar to what I can find back home(:
I wanted a fitnesse body too. So I finished the whole box of cereal..I wonder if I can get a fitnesse body tmr :(

At The Trimurti Shrine <3

HAHA(: check out the link to find out more about it. I'm to shy to write about it.

http://www.tour-bangkok-legacies.com/trimurti-shrine.html

Hopeful us at the shrine

2 red candles, 9red roses and 9 red joss sticks

Roses offered by the worshippers