Hazel Ceej

The few visitors in the throne hall of King Narai's palace were leaving when I got there. Pleased with the solitude, I lingered. The quiet seemed to usher in an opportunity to commune with the spirit of the ruins, however fleeting it was. Like usual thrones this one is elevated.  Over at his palace King Narai had foreign dignitaries, those of France's King Louise XIV whose practice of wearing high heels was hypothetically due to his short height.  There must have been some influence or connection there. This is the Dusit Sawan hall. The stairs are steep. Imagine King Narai going up the steps to sit on his throne. I fancied going up. It was uncomfortable, but then I'm no king and they must have adapted some fashion of climbing steep stairs in 1666. This is a close-up of the memorial plaque by the throne. It portrays King Narai granting an audience with French ambassadors - The ruins still exuded so much character. Ambling behind the throne was like play

It's a lovely week in the chili patches. Here's celebrating moments that made it so. Dainty Dory a seafood bistro at Terminal 21 . Inside it's like finding yourself in one of those sunny seaside Greek cafes featured on TV and films Carnation cheer brightened up a dreary day in the office. Read: marking finals that never seem to end. A vase of red pink carnations is the only cheer in a sea of academic bits and pieces. I made it til sign out time by imagining tea served on the porch of an antebellum mansion. Mother's Day gift . The day for Moms has been awhile but I've been busy. This week was my only chance to take a close look at a gift a friend gave me.  Finding the perfect purchase during a routine book shopping. The friend who gave me the Body Shop Chocomania gift set (above) mentioned she and her diving buddies fancy the Great Barrier Reef next year. The Dive Sites of the Great Barrier Reef is a nice book that provides what my friend would most likely need

Fave Five: week's highlights A little note for new bloggity friends: It's been an old blogging practice of mine to keep a record of what's positive and good about the week. For several months I have been unable to do it due to a few bits and pieces both on and off line. But I am doing it again. It's quite a good exercise in gratitude and optimism . There's nothing like celebrating! So on to exactly what I'm talking about, these are some highlights, five of them, of my week: Catching up with movies Thank goodness for days off.  I managed four of them in two afternoons. Fast and Furious 6 emphasizes teamwork, Hangover III friendship; The Great Gatsby shows lengths humans are willing to go to to gain acceptance, Jurassic Park introduces DNA to pop culture. Crichton's Timeline It took me awhile but I got the reading done . I appreciate and love novels that are intelligently researched.   Overseas phone conversation with the kiddo CJ: Are you finished workin

For the first time since participating in the ABC meme , I go random for W . So without much ado here I go - Wine Republic: a wine shop in Thonglor windows of Mount Ievers Court, Co. Clara from the book Irish Houses and Castles watery wayside at work my whimsical notebook or at least that's how I call it. That's the buttercup fairy by Mary Cicely Barker. I scribble haiku on the leaves winged beans : go well with minced beef ~ ABC Wednesday ~

It's fun watching them and what they're doing these ones are wondering if their handiwork can withstand wind and these ones are adding volume to their makeshift wall Sally's Blues * Mellow Yellows * Our World * Ruby 2

Never in my life have I worn so much jewelry as I have during my wedding. Strangest sensation. There I was squatting on a wooden floor, hands clasped in prayer wondering what was going on while  nine monks chanted Pali in my clueless face for three straight hours. It was a Buddhist ceremony. The almighty (ex)Mom-in-law orchestrated the entire event. I did nothing but marry her son.  While barefoot the rest of my body was bedecked with 24K gold jewelry. Well, except the silk skirt which was heavy with hundreds of rhinestones sewn around a foot high above the hem. I don't think I will ever go through such wedding garb again. But I'm keeping the rock (ring is studded with six dots of diamond) and this- This pendant is a replica of Phra Buddha Sothorn or Luang Phor Sothorn which is the religious symbol of Chachoengsao, the city where the then husband and his family come from. In Christian countries Phra Buddha Sothorn is like a patron saint of a town or province.  Here's a d

Three cousins wrestle a mountain of clothes in the flea market. An hour or two in they proceed to the food section. It's been awhile since the girls had s omtam , or green papaya salad. So it is high on their list of dishes to have for supper. Joy is finding a vendor whose somtam combo is exactly one's taste.    xxx xxx   This is the state of the coffee table the day after- a mainly fruit breakfast to offset the effects of coke drunk during the somtam supper which cost just $4.50. And this is how fruits in the tropics are enjoyed: ten mangoes for $1.61, a kilo of rambutan for $0.60, two kilos of mangosteen for $1.30, durian for $3.25, a dozen pieces of jackfruit for $0.65. Joy is spending less for healthy food. Somtam is everywhere in Thailand and popular among locals and foreign visitors alike. The Thai variation is no. 46 on CNN Go's World's 50 Most Delicious Foods . Here's a recipe by Maangchi Kim . Visit these sites: Creative Homeacre * Inspire Me * Create it