20 December 2005

happy birthday .... two ewes

03 December ... I FINALLY turned the big Three-O ... I never would have imagined that I would be living in Tokyo and celebrating the day in Bangkok!



Upon returning from our trip, I found a large parcel from my mother. Walnuts! From her orchards!

I don't know what enthralled me more... the fact that she had sent me another orchard package or that it was walnuts or that I'd simply received something in the mail. Thank you!!!!! You made my MONTH!





AND a package from my dearest friend Michelle!!!!

Microwave popcorn - right up there with diamonds in my book!
Silly-shoe addict-girlie books!!
And sparkly silver stockings!



sigh. what more could a girl WANT? (and YES!... at 30, I AM still a girl!)

lost in translation

Stephen took me on a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River. It was absolutely lovely!



Below is the brochure for the event... LOST IN TRANSLATION...


Welcome aboard the Chao Phraya Princess with the relaxation and memorable 2 hour on board. Feel luxury and touchable with Romantic Dinner to your romantic partner that you forget.



The exciting and magical atmosphere will start when you stop on Chao Pharaya Princess with us. The first step fell great dining along the Chao Phraya River opening on the luxury 300-seater with 2 levels of deck cruiser. All atmosphere of cruiser make you will feel return in the past of decorate of special carve and sculpture on cruiser. On Chao Pharaya Princess divided for separate past for you to fell different for the first deck is providing you with the fully air conditioned and on the second floor, you will feel like touching the natural blow of wind on the open air deck. Our reception will provide guest to the special dinner succulent international buffer with the romantic on the fully perfect white seat cover. While you feel fully eating of providing special dinner the another special trip that will never miss of enjoying dancing song or romantic song by our singers and saxophone and also we can glide the past stunning, historic riverside dwellings and attractions, Including the Grand Palace and the Temple of Dawn.

You will fell a warm welcoming to our services that we prepare to all and every guesses.


The Emerald Buddha is in reality carved from a large piece of green jade. According to the reliable, lightning struck a chedi in Chiengrai in north Thailand and a Buddha statue covered with stucco was found inside. The image was brought into the abbot’s residence and one ay he notice that the stucco on the nose flake and the image inside was green. He removed all the stucco and found the Emerald Buddha!

The Rama 8 Architecture River Bridge is the 13 Chaophraya River bridge in Bangkok. It is join together out of the bound of Queen Sirikit sky-high that cross the river of Thonburi. The Rama 8 has the range of 475 metres and also has the highest bridges a king of the steep slope. The special remarkable has decorate on the Rama 8 bridge is to tighten only one essential pillar on Thonburi and the another pillar can hold only one River. There help to reduce the problem travel ad also help to reduce a system of ecology in river ruining very good and together with release the crash against establishment of parade of royalty a state of ceremony on the Chao Phraya River.

The Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, is one of Bangkok’s best landmark known. It stands on the west bank of Chao Phraya River in Thon Buri. It is best seen opposite bank rivers; it glistens in the sinlight during the day and stands dark noble at dawn or dust. A visit to the beautiful, peaceful monastery complex surrounding the familiar towers is very worth-while. These towers, the Phra Prang, although best known, the only part of Wat Arun. It also contains narrows lanes; elegant old white buildings; shrines, pools of turtles; and two fine giants, Yuk Wat Jaeng, mortal enemies of the Yuk Wat Poo across the river.

19 December 2005

No Strawberries for us

Looks like strawberries are very popular at this time of year in Japan, but at approx $9 (£4.50) for 12, yes that's tweleve small ones, I don't think there will be any in the fruit bowl at home this year.

-smele Posted by Picasa

18 December 2005

Bangkok Transportation


Transportation is very interesting in Bangkok. Apart from the usual scooters, cars and buses there are also a lot of water boats. These take the traditional form of a long wooden boat that has been made in this area for years. The Thai people being a resourceful lot decided that rowing with a paddle was not longer going to cut it and decided that an engine would be needed to really get ahead in the world. Not being able to afford boats with engines or even a conventional outboard motor, they simply strapped on an old car engine to the back of the boat and stuck a propeller on the drive shaft, while fashinoning a mechanism for balancing the engine on the back of the boat. Sort of Red-Green/Scrapheap Challenge/Monster Garage fashion/ I know a certain Eric Noble that would be most impressed by this, expect to see something in a similar fashion Puget Sound next summer.


Then of course there is the Tuk Tuk's. Small three wheeled motorized death traps. Not that they are really that dangerous, top speed is probably only 25MPH, but the old two-stroke engine that the maniac driver sits on puts out more pollution than you can possibly imagine. You would be better off inhaling the fumes of a sewage farm. Coupled with the fact that these three wheeled chariots of smoke and noise are really only for tourists and you are going to get either ripped off or taken to a selection of shops on your way, I would recommend that you stay clear of them. Unfortunately, the little lady enjoyed whizzing around Bangkok on back of this poor cousin to the Robin Reliant. Maybe I should buy one, could be handy in Tokyo I suppose.


Press play to watch the video.



-smele

11 December 2005

Less is more... or is it... More is less...???

Shopping is serious stuff! Here I am waiting for the Sky Train to take us to the next market centre. Stephen thought that I needed to relax more. And made me get a Thai Massage... ah... I really got addicted to these! For Yen 600, you could get a superb 1 hour thai massage... I miss them already!!

Sukumvit Station Bangkok Skytrain

Stephen has begun to look like a pot-smokin' hippie... Seriously! He was so in need of a haircut, I was ready to buy him a plaid flannel shirt and some drum sticks. He really was looking like a member of a Seattle Grunge Band!!!

So, one afternoon... in between shopping sprees... we popped into a hotel for a pint. I noticed that they had a spa/salon... I booked up for a pedicure and booked Stephen in for a hair trim.

What we didn't realize... is that in Thailand... what you ask the Salon staff to do... is merely a suggestion... and they will go about doing what ever they want to do to you.... I walked out with red toes...with a white spray of flowers across each toe...

And Stephen's "just take a little bit off" turned into a military doo.... It is definitely NOT a Juni haircut...


500 Baht Hair cut

...but doesn't he look CUTE?!!

One Stop Shopping

We were sitting by the canal having cold beers, when I spotted this shoppe. 200baht and you too could be this multi-talented...




Law. Translation. Marriage for Aliens (?!!). Work permits. Taxation. Company Registration. Detective Services....



Mr. Ben.
Stephen said that when he was young, he used to watch a Mr Ben -a character in a show about a multi-talented chap....hmmmmm...

10 December 2005

One Night in Bangkok...

Stephen took me to Thailand for a very long weekend to celebrate my (21st) birthday.

It was gorgeous warm! So relaxing and exotic. blah blah blah. THE SHOPPING!!!!

Bangkok. A heaven for a handbag and shoe addict. Even an addict with Champers tastes on a beer budget... those "designer" labels are SO cheap they are almost free! But, Stephen said that I had reached my beer budget limit at 10 handbags and 20-or so (ok 24) pairs of shoes....


Bangkok even has shopping on the river!!!



Bangkok is simply unbearable for a couture fashion designer on a T-shirt budget ...Gorgeous silks and cheap labour... I could have max'ed out (Stephen's) credit card!

Bangkok even has shopping into the wee hours of the morning!!



...Apparently the maximum number of shoes & handbags that you can take out of Thailand... is 75.... Luckily, that is Per Person... the ladies at the Thai airport think that Stephen is gay...with a handbag fetish.
-rebekah