Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Expat Life

October charm

It's weekend! Time to share joys and faves: i . How I love autumn! I had so much fun putting together autumn scenes and quotes despite never actually having seen the season for real. ii . Check out my ABC chocolate - a gift from a girl friend on my birthday. It's too pretty to eat, which is good so then I avoid too much sugar. iii . Would you believe I got the ceramic plate for only 32 cents ? I imagine it would look fab with a slice of Black Forest or Red Velvet on it. Blue Monday iv . And here's Agalico - a quiet English tea room not far from where I live. It was wonderful savoring the charm while waiting for someone who joined me for tea. Weekend Reflection   v. As a fan of Japanese cuisine, I explore restaurants from time to time. It's Honmoni Sushi this week where I tried their saba in teriyake sauce . The set includes miso soup, vegetable salad, egg and tofu, and pickled zucchini. Delicious. Linking to - Fave Five , Pic

Too late and too early

Red flags. It's not easy when no one at work tells you (i.e. translate) what's going on. I knew though I was walking past an activity that was almost finished. On with the walk.  I waited a bit for this rainbow jar to gurgle. Nothing. Then I realized it wasn't evening yet. The fountain was on night duty only. At least I got a few trees and a couple buildings on her shiny wide neck. Linking to: Weekend Reflection * Water World * Our World * Ruby Tuesday Too

Chakri Naruebet

  Sepia Saturday "What is a newlywed like you doing posing in the middle of a highway?" "Look closely, Ma. I'm roving the ocean." "What ocean?" Wondering, I examined my own photo. Indeed I looked like I was standing where traffic could send my 38-kilogram frame swirling to kingdom come any minute. The sea was a blurry blue. Unrecognizable at a glance. So I explained to my mother that I wasn't spending my honeymoon risking my life on a Thai highway. I was exploring an ocean beauty docked that time in Sattahip naval base - Chakri Naruebet, or at least a part of her where visitors were allowed -     Wikipedia                                 Fast facts for HTMS Chakri Naruebet: - It is Thailand's first and only aircraft carrier, and the only one in Southeast Asia - it is the world's smallest aircraft carrier - built by Bazan, in Ferrol, Spain - ordered in 1992, launched in 1996, and commissioned into the RTN in 1

Mistaken identity

Sepia Saturday A message in my Outlook inbox on Friday directed Business Administration instructors to head over to the stadium. I thought it was just like having to watch state-run television to record credits for members of the cheer leading squad.  We did it a couple times in the past. But this week's activity turned out different.  At least to me. As I walked out the faculty office door, someone hollered, "it's a three-hour pageant!" Great. How much coursework is going to be wasted on this non-cur? Without anything I could do I idly took a snap of Snow White -- -- admired Goldilocks' curvaceous body, half expecting Little Red Riding Hood next. Where could my students be....  These are normal school pageant girls. We should all be worrying about swine flu. These contestants should wear masks. After all isn't walking around Bangkok wearing a mask now considered fashion? Cinderella... Thumbelina... Anastasia...  I vow

Birthday trip to Singapura

"I'd like to be a kid again but only because naps were insisted, twirling in circles was acceptable, and the only password I had to remember was open sesame." - Adan Burks True. It was unabashed fun posing with some childhood TV idols at Universal Studios. At first I was hesitant thinking I was too old, but reckoned what the heck. 'Today I will grin and giggle like that third grader with pigtails that I was, and be quietly thrilled as when I won that little multiplication contest in class. Period.' Touring Lion City was also officially starting a walking regimen. That's two at a time. Or three: exercising, touring, enjoying the sights. Though highly urban, the country girl in me had no complaints at a Lamborghini whisking by as we explored Marina Bay Sands. No deadlines, no meetings, no homework, just holiday bliss. Doing something unplanned and then finding out it feels wonderful should make it to my faves this week - Like walking b

Keep calm and age well

Life is full of promise There is so much it has to give, so much joy and wonder yet to be explored. You can always meet the challenge every single day you live, when you walk in faith together with the Lord Amanda Bradley's words cheered me up 15 summers ago. I was going through some tough time and a thoughtful friend gave this card to me. I kept it and never saw it again until recently while rummaging through my drawer in the office. Family over for lunch . Space is limited in my nook but I'm glad they came. Old family tales were retold. I rang overseas for Mama to join in some of the conversation. Ouch phone bill, but familiar voices are worth it. Book shopping makes me happy.  World Book's Young Scientist and The Questionary for CJ and a coffee table book for me. Pictures inside Mary Ford's Cake Decorating book are a stunning eye candy. A pretty little thing to wear to an occasion I do not yet know, is I think okay sometimes. I do l

Ice cream it is

I doubt whether the world holds for anyone a more soul stirring surprise than the first adventure with ice-cream . ~ Heywood Broun I don't think this is the kiddo's first ice cream. But I remember I bought this for him because its blue color was very attractive and I thought it would match his blue shirt and blue watch. It would also please his Grandma whose favorite color is blue. The other reason was he wanted to stay in the mall to check out the latest Ultraman dolls. I wanted to go home so I bribed him with ice cream. History repeats itself . When I was little my father would buy me ice cream and I would forget that I wanted something else which I knew he didn't want to give. When a massive coronary felled him, I made sure there were loads of ice cream on top of a catered lunch I hosted for approximately 300 family and friends. The sweet, cold, creamy dessert must have worked wonders on the sombre mood. At the reception hall I heard this exchange b

Mae Nak Prakhanong

Now I see what a ghost is. Unfinished business, that's what.  ~ Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses Ed Warren observes that the devil exists, God exists. He did not specify 'ghost' but that could well include Casper and his relatives whom I believe in but do not want to see except in films. On my way to see The Conjuring I snapped this photo from a speeding bus of the Prakhanong klong, a tributary of Chao Phrya. The water looks peaceful enough to me. If I closed my eyes to the wires and vandalized bridge, that is. Mae Nak Prakhanong, is a film I watched while traveling from Huahin to Bangkok in 1998. It portrays normal life in Prakhanong, then a village; of people rowing their boats in the klong to visit neighbors or go to the market. Scenes especially those around the water are engulfed in eerie serenity. You see Mae Nak  is a ghost. She is probably famous as I have yet to meet a Thai who has no idea who Mae Nak is. Her love story with her so

Honey, honey

Honey, honey, how he thrills me aha... This is one of those blue-sky holidays in the chili patches. We are in the sunflower fields of Thailand. The farmers there sell honey aside from sunflower seeds and sunflower wine. Drogba forsakes football for the day to bottle honey in Saraburi. A tourist blows a honey kiss. Honeycomb up close  Honey pool The sweet, therapeutic liquid in Regency Scotch. Regency : to an anglophile like me, the merchandise is sold. ~0~   ABC Wednesday * Our World * Sally's Blues * Mellow Yellows * Ruby Tuesday  

The fairy tree

Delight is a heart of pearl-white beads, a pink ribbon and satin flowers. My students gave me this token on the occasion of the Queen's birthday a couple weeks ago. Fun is buying yourself something nice though you know you won't wear it everyday. This watch will be on my wrist as I host lunch for cousins and their kids come Saturday. Joy is finding something very charming in the midst of modern technology. I call this the Fairy Tree . It sprung out in the middle of the former World Trade mall; appeals highly to the country girl in me.  Yum is a succession of crepe cheese cake, coconut ice cream, Auntie Annie pretzels with sour cream sauce and grape-blueberry juice, tiny butter and banana cupcakes, chicken salad and Pepper Lunch beef steak to fuel a series of film screenings. Anticipation is excitement over getting things ready for a little family gathering on Saturday and celebrations which are going to be spread through normal profes

Go graduate

A university president was guest speaker at g raduation rites in a neighboring school. He was fascinated by seniors in cap and gown taking their time marching to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance . When he rose to address them he recounted how they do graduations over at his university - "Our graduating students don't march. They sprint. We herd them to the stage to receive their diplomas as fast as we can like we are in a hurry to get rid of them." That was 1993. I was a member of that g raduating class who responded with a collective chuckle at that ceremony comparison. Fast forward to 2013: the memory came back when I noticed a photo background at the entrance of my playground recently - G etting ready for my next class, I g lance at g lobal warming, space tourism, export trends stuff for the day. Another batch of university kids are g oing to g raduate. God I'm old. ~0~   ABC Wednesday * Our World * Sally's Blues * Mello

Tea on the porch

I love rain . Some of my dearest moments are rainy afternoons when I get to read or just sit on the porch and watch the earth getting soaked. And I got to do that this week with a cup of hot Lady Grey . It's 'fragrant, bright and light... infused with orange, lemon and bergamot.' Tara Road by Maeve Binchy was a lovely read from all the Grishams, Crichtons and Dan Browns my nose was buried in in the past weeks. This dream of walking a tree-lined dirt road that leads to a pretty little cottage seems to have intensified in the last recent weeks. I realize it is a pipe dream, at least for now.  So I make do with a flower shop. The sight is therapeutic. Flower shop s, just like book shops are some of the happiest spots people can be in. For yesterday's brunch I ordered a salad randomly. With mind at work I just hoped it would be worth its price. It was. Some days turn so well, yummy and healthy. This has been a week filled with blessings to enjo

Five favorite fish

"Fish, not fishes?" a Thai student tries to clear up his confusion. "I know..." I wink while going through plural rules with them, "wait until the 'last leaf clings to the bough . It will get really tough .'" I love fish. It's a staple part of my diet whether at home or when dining out. But I don't know many of their names and when that is the case I identify them according to where or when I ate them. These are five of my favorite fish: Kinilaw or raw tuna chunks soaked in coconut vinegar, salt and refined sugar; and mixed with purple onion, ginger, chili and cucumber. This was during one of those summer vacations in the Philippines. Kinilaw is a native Filipino fish dish. ' Lapu-lapu escabeche or sweet and sour lapu-lapu. These are ginger, carrot and bell pepper strips. I can't find the pineapples but I think there were. The son must have eaten them already when I took this photo. Skipjack stew - co

Alone with the dragon

His buddies have all taken shelter from the raging sun. But he seems worried about the wind blowing away their props. It was the University Games the next day. xxx ~0~ Our World Mellow Yellows

Queen's birthday week

What a pleasure to wake up , realize it's a holiday and therefore... free time! Thailand's Queen Sirikit had her birthday on Monday. It was also Thai Mother's Day. After a little FB chat with a cousin we, her kids and two uncles headed to a place we used to avoid (pricy) but always wanted to see. Chocolate Ville is little Europe / America in Asia. Business is mainly dining with lots of photo opportunities. Some spots, particularly the Waterfront Glasshouse made me fancy another visit to England. niece What's a celebration without food? There were loads but my favorites are (upper, l-r) fried oysters and santol salad topped with peanuts; (lower, l-r) chocolate strawberry cake and mango chocolate mousse I never realized how beautiful a quiet moment could be by a pretty window like this until I did. It was like looking at a lovely book cover and walking right into it.  Over in the city center, Dasa Books is having their Blow-out sale - $.29ce