What I remember most - the heat. Traffic. Food. The heat. Shopping. People. Did I mention the heat? Oh I did. And Tuk-tuks.
Ray and I enjoyed our rides on the Tuk-tuks very much, and it's my regret that I didn't manage to get a good shot of one or other of us in one.
Unfortunately, because Ruvie was just not well enough, we spent a lot of time in our hotel room, either trying to get him to sleep or waiting for him to wake up from his nap. He wouldn't eat at all, not even his favourite sausages and bacon, and nursed occasionally, so I got pretty worried. In fact, he's noticeably lighter and thinner now. But his appetite seems better.
We did consider taking turns to go shopping, and I did manage to cover quite a bit on our 3rd day, with Ray in tow. We went all over Baiyoke Sky (to find they had nothing we wanted), then we headed over to Indra Square, and got a headstart on real shopping, all within 2 hrs.
I need to go look for this OTHER wholesale centre Lynn was talking about, seems they have lots of hair accessories, real cheap. Wonder when I'll get a chance to go again? Especially since I'd much rather get to Taiwan.
THE UNIVERSE IS LISTENING.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Our son almost lost his leg in BKK
It was time to head for the airport for our return flight home. We found a taxi and HL got the luggage into the boot while I got the kids into the back seat. I was guiding Ruvie on how to climb up into the taxi and he had one foot in, when suddenly the taxi took off.
Horrors! I shouted "Hey stop!" and the cabbie braked about half a metre's displacement away. Ruvie had fallen onto his back and his foot just avoided being crushed by the cab's rear wheel. The cabbie then had the nerve to REVERSE. Gosh! What if he had really gone over him this time??
All this happened within a few seconds and I only managed to grab Ruvie up after that. We moved well away from the taxi, he was crying and I was just holding him close. Everyone rushed over and the cabbie apologised and insisted he thought all was clear because HL, who was sitting in the front seat, had shut his door. WTF?? You should check that EVERYONE is in and ALL doors are closed before you hit the gas!
We know that Bangkok drivers are very good at manoeuvreing through the traffic, but now I've come to add another word - CARELESS. I dread to think what would've happened if I hadn't shouted for him to step on the brake. Even now my mind keeps going over the whole scenario like a nightmare that keeps replaying.
I'm only thankful that Ruvie's ok, other than the shock.
Horrors! I shouted "Hey stop!" and the cabbie braked about half a metre's displacement away. Ruvie had fallen onto his back and his foot just avoided being crushed by the cab's rear wheel. The cabbie then had the nerve to REVERSE. Gosh! What if he had really gone over him this time??
All this happened within a few seconds and I only managed to grab Ruvie up after that. We moved well away from the taxi, he was crying and I was just holding him close. Everyone rushed over and the cabbie apologised and insisted he thought all was clear because HL, who was sitting in the front seat, had shut his door. WTF?? You should check that EVERYONE is in and ALL doors are closed before you hit the gas!
We know that Bangkok drivers are very good at manoeuvreing through the traffic, but now I've come to add another word - CARELESS. I dread to think what would've happened if I hadn't shouted for him to step on the brake. Even now my mind keeps going over the whole scenario like a nightmare that keeps replaying.
I'm only thankful that Ruvie's ok, other than the shock.
Walking in a circle
I spent the last night (or what was left of it after the kids went to bed at 12mn) setting up my Flickr account and synchronising everything, just so I can upload photos to my blog (again). Why? Because the "Done" button is missing on my Add Image popup window, so although I can select photos for uploading, I can't get them onto the blog itself! And I've just reinstalled the latest version of Firefox!!! Someone PLEASE tell me why, when I never had this problem before I reinstalled Firefox.
It's so troublesome to have to go a whole circle just to get this done.
1. Upload photo to blog via email through Flickr.
2. Edit post, with image in it, via Blogger.
And to make things worse, my Blogger Compose page has gone wacko with the Enter key. I keep finding return carriages in places where they don't belong, making words and sentences attentuated in weird places.
Blogger Help is no use and I couldn't get beyond the first few pages of Google's Blogger Help Group.
It's so troublesome to have to go a whole circle just to get this done.
1. Upload photo to blog via email through Flickr.
2. Edit post, with image in it, via Blogger.
And to make things worse, my Blogger Compose page has gone wacko with the Enter key. I keep finding return carriages in places where they don't belong, making words and sentences attentuated in weird places.
Blogger Help is no use and I couldn't get beyond the first few pages of Google's Blogger Help Group.
New wheels
Our Honda Fit 1.3, arrived 2 weeks ago. Love the pickup! The Chevrolet Aveo couldn't hit 60km/hr without going past the 3000rev mark. But I feel rather short in it though. And the reception for the radio is not as good as the Aveo's.
My Mini-Travel Guide to Bangkok
Places to visit/shop:
1. Centralworld - the newest mall in Bangkok. Large, spacious, clean, it reminds us of the best malls along Orchard Rd, except it's not as crowded. Food in poshy restaurant costing only as much as that from food courts in Sg, quality excellent! We had dinner at a restaurant called Kobune. There are lots of Jap restaurants here, and Kinokuniya, probably because as we say in Mandarin, "the Japanese wind is blowing at the moment". But everything in ToysRus is more ex than in Sg. We know, we checked it out.
2. MBK - probably the most famous mall in BKK? I got a few bags from a shop here - Udom Age.
2. Indra Square - an older, more neighbourhood mall in the Pratunam area where our hotel was. Kind of like Peninsular Plaza, and Pearl Centre. Practically everything you can find at MBK, you can get almost at half price here, plus it's nearer to our hotel.
We stayed at the Eastin Bangkok Hotel, booked online via Agoda. Thanks to Lynn for the recommendation! There's a roadside stall just across the road (outside 7-11) selling the best chicken/pork satay we've ever tasted, and for only 5 baht per stick. Good business round the clock. We wanted to get more on our last day but it wasn't open.
1. Centralworld - the newest mall in Bangkok. Large, spacious, clean, it reminds us of the best malls along Orchard Rd, except it's not as crowded. Food in poshy restaurant costing only as much as that from food courts in Sg, quality excellent! We had dinner at a restaurant called Kobune. There are lots of Jap restaurants here, and Kinokuniya, probably because as we say in Mandarin, "the Japanese wind is blowing at the moment". But everything in ToysRus is more ex than in Sg. We know, we checked it out.
2. MBK - probably the most famous mall in BKK? I got a few bags from a shop here - Udom Age.
2. Indra Square - an older, more neighbourhood mall in the Pratunam area where our hotel was. Kind of like Peninsular Plaza, and Pearl Centre. Practically everything you can find at MBK, you can get almost at half price here, plus it's nearer to our hotel.
We stayed at the Eastin Bangkok Hotel, booked online via Agoda. Thanks to Lynn for the recommendation! There's a roadside stall just across the road (outside 7-11) selling the best chicken/pork satay we've ever tasted, and for only 5 baht per stick. Good business round the clock. We wanted to get more on our last day but it wasn't open.
23 April 2007 - MN or thereabouts
Bangkok.
A city that never sleeps. There seem as many cars whizzing by on the highway below our window now as in the day when we first arrived.
It is our first night in BKK. The 2 hour plane ride was gruelling as Ruvie hadn't had enough sleep the night before and isn't fully recovered from his flu. He really made life miserable for many of the passengers around us. As it is, we are dreading the return flight.
Despite my fatigue, I can't sleep. Overtired, unfamiliar surroundings, I am so envious of those 3 who can enter Dreamland within 1 min from closing their eyes. Two shots of prolactin don't work either. I think I need to pray.
A city that never sleeps. There seem as many cars whizzing by on the highway below our window now as in the day when we first arrived.
It is our first night in BKK. The 2 hour plane ride was gruelling as Ruvie hadn't had enough sleep the night before and isn't fully recovered from his flu. He really made life miserable for many of the passengers around us. As it is, we are dreading the return flight.
Despite my fatigue, I can't sleep. Overtired, unfamiliar surroundings, I am so envious of those 3 who can enter Dreamland within 1 min from closing their eyes. Two shots of prolactin don't work either. I think I need to pray.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Finally, a vacation!
The last time we went for a break was when I was 5 mths pg with Ruvie. I loved the food in Penang, the famous char kway teow, cendul, Penang laksa... eh, what else ah? But I'll never buy a Slurpee from their Seven Eleven stores again, tasted really weird, like chemicals.
We're heading to Bangkok for 4D3N, our first time there as a family. I've been there when I was very young, maybe 10? Don't remember much of it, except that I had gastric pains the last few days of the trip, and food poisoning immediately when we got home. HL was there during his NS days, but never got around. So this will be our "virgin" trip I guess. Just some light sightseeing, eating, and heavy shopping, haha. I'm looking for a bag and HL's got his mind set on boots. Disney Princesses bag and other stuff for Ray (to prepare for her P1 next year), and Ruvie... well, whatever catches my fancy. Ah yes! If I can find it, Wacoal bras d:)
We're heading to Bangkok for 4D3N, our first time there as a family. I've been there when I was very young, maybe 10? Don't remember much of it, except that I had gastric pains the last few days of the trip, and food poisoning immediately when we got home. HL was there during his NS days, but never got around. So this will be our "virgin" trip I guess. Just some light sightseeing, eating, and heavy shopping, haha. I'm looking for a bag and HL's got his mind set on boots. Disney Princesses bag and other stuff for Ray (to prepare for her P1 next year), and Ruvie... well, whatever catches my fancy. Ah yes! If I can find it, Wacoal bras d:)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
It's the now
I was watching my son tonight. He was flipping through an IKEA catalogue by himself, pointing at things and talking...
"This Mommy this Ah Zai (himself)... where's Daddy and JieJie... There he is!... And that one and that one... Yoohoo!... This one!... Round and round and round and... Wheeeee!... That one!..." Went on for quite some time.
He does this pretty often, while playing with toys or flipping through some book or magazine. I guess it's got a lot to do with Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues. Funny how when he mutters it's in English and not Cantonese. And he does seem more rough than Ray was at this age. Ray was very sweet and gentle-voiced when playing with her toys (still is). Time to go get a copy of Raising Boys.
I gotta remind myself to take more time watching and playing with the kids, especially Rayzel, before they grow too old to want my attention anymore. Business can wait (for a little while), entertainment can wait as well (I altogether spend too much time at the computer).
Just watching them can be such a joy, well maybe till the point when they start to fight over something.
"This Mommy this Ah Zai (himself)... where's Daddy and JieJie... There he is!... And that one and that one... Yoohoo!... This one!... Round and round and round and... Wheeeee!... That one!..." Went on for quite some time.
He does this pretty often, while playing with toys or flipping through some book or magazine. I guess it's got a lot to do with Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues. Funny how when he mutters it's in English and not Cantonese. And he does seem more rough than Ray was at this age. Ray was very sweet and gentle-voiced when playing with her toys (still is). Time to go get a copy of Raising Boys.
I gotta remind myself to take more time watching and playing with the kids, especially Rayzel, before they grow too old to want my attention anymore. Business can wait (for a little while), entertainment can wait as well (I altogether spend too much time at the computer).
Just watching them can be such a joy, well maybe till the point when they start to fight over something.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Rain No Game
We were waiting for the membership to a certain club to arrive so we could go swimming. In the meantime we got Ray a new suit (her hand-me-down was just a little too thin, besides I prefer her to have one that covers her shoulders and thighs).
Now everything's ready, but the rains are back! What terrible timing. Ray's so disappointed.
Now everything's ready, but the rains are back! What terrible timing. Ray's so disappointed.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Japanese Ala Carte Buffet Restaurant!
Since we "lost" Igen at East Coast Road (next to the Thai Express at Siglap), we've been looking out for another. Last week HL went to Elias Mall for lunch with his colleagues and discovered a JACBR at the Pasir Ris Elias Community Club, so we went to try it out yesterday.
Decor was so-so, definitely not as posh as Igen, but at least it's more spacious, and I prefer the service here. We loved the food. Softshell crab was crisp but not oily (good fire control, as the Chinese put it), sashimi was fresh, plentiful and attractive (we ordered 4 plates of Moriwase in total, sampled Kajiki Toro, Sake, Maguro, fresh sweet Scallop, Tai, Ika which I dislike, whatever the chef gives but you can specify your preference so we told them no more Ika please), and they had Ikura (flying fish roe) sushi too! As much as you like! But this being the first time we're trying this, we discovered we cannot eat too much, maybe max 2 pieces each, as the taste is a little too strong for us. Loved their Temaki too. Chawanmushi was fresh, soft and yummy, it took some time coming so we knew it was made to order. I guess it helped that we were the first customers of the evening. Nobody else came in the whole hour we were there.
Name: Hi Sshou Japanese Restaurant
Address: Pasir Ris Elias Community Club, Pasir Ris Dr 3, next to Elias mall
Cost: Adults $29.90++, Children (5-11) $14.90++, kids below 5 dine free
Dinner hours: 6pm to... er... not sure
They open for lunch too but I didn't pay attention to the time.
People in the East must try!! I'm not too keen on visiting Sakura frequently. Next time I think I shall gather up some courage to try the Nattou. Heard it stinks, but taste?
Decor was so-so, definitely not as posh as Igen, but at least it's more spacious, and I prefer the service here. We loved the food. Softshell crab was crisp but not oily (good fire control, as the Chinese put it), sashimi was fresh, plentiful and attractive (we ordered 4 plates of Moriwase in total, sampled Kajiki Toro, Sake, Maguro, fresh sweet Scallop, Tai, Ika which I dislike, whatever the chef gives but you can specify your preference so we told them no more Ika please), and they had Ikura (flying fish roe) sushi too! As much as you like! But this being the first time we're trying this, we discovered we cannot eat too much, maybe max 2 pieces each, as the taste is a little too strong for us. Loved their Temaki too. Chawanmushi was fresh, soft and yummy, it took some time coming so we knew it was made to order. I guess it helped that we were the first customers of the evening. Nobody else came in the whole hour we were there.
Name: Hi Sshou Japanese Restaurant
Address: Pasir Ris Elias Community Club, Pasir Ris Dr 3, next to Elias mall
Cost: Adults $29.90++, Children (5-11) $14.90++, kids below 5 dine free
Dinner hours: 6pm to... er... not sure
They open for lunch too but I didn't pay attention to the time.
People in the East must try!! I'm not too keen on visiting Sakura frequently. Next time I think I shall gather up some courage to try the Nattou. Heard it stinks, but taste?
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