Xmas 2011

Christmas felt more special this year. A happy butterfly fairy princess pranced around in her pjs all morning. Happy holidays!

Paris

Back from four days in Paris. It was a lovely break from the chaos of home, and I reveled in the time that was mine to squander, a near-forgotten luxury. (When I wasn't pining for baby, that is.) On my first day, Bastille Day, I got in pretty early and took the RER train into the city. It was chilly and grey; by mid-day, the sun was out and temperatures dropped. Yet I was still cold (I have been in Thailand too long).

After dropping my bag off at the small hotel near the arch, I saw some of the military parade down the Champs Elysees, with fighter jets zooming overhead. Then went to the Egyptian and Roman galleries in the Louvre, and walked around in the Carrousel de Louvre. I was pretty tired by mid-afternoon so I headed back for a nap. The room was tiny and fairly clean, but the hotel's pet friendly policy had me eying each stain on the carpet. Nevertheless, I had a good snooze.

That evening, I noshed on delicious yogurt and banana (labeled from Martinique, kind of far for a banana, no?) from the convenience store nearby. Then walked to Parc Monceau. Sat by the carousel for awhile, watching parents load toddlers and kids on the wooden rides. I was missing Nisa, and sending messages back and forth with Mai. The days seem so long without her: good for short trips but not so great during moments like these.

The next morning, I set out early for a walk. It was drizzling but not as cold as the previous day. Ended up at Pont Neuf but decided against going to Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame. Guess I just wanted to refresh my memory about the area from previous Paris visits. I haven't been following the news and was a bit sad to see La Samaritaine boarded up (it closed in 2005) as I had a nice meal at its rooftop cafe. Then went back to the subway and got off at Concorde. Vaguely recall driving by the obelisk (in 1993 or so) and wanted to take another look. So...yes, it was still there, amid some construction, glowing as the blinding sunlight reflected off its shaft. Kind of uneventful.

Feeling sheepish, I walked into the Tuileries garden nearby. Thanks to one of the Apps Mai loaded onto my phone, I located the Musee de l'Orangerie, a cute little museum dedicated to huge paintings of Monet's water lilies. The galleries were filled with Chinese tourists but once they left, a welcome solitude, augmented by the murals and diffused lighting, descended. Other paintings on display were by modern masters: Picasso, Gauguin, Cezanne, Rousseau, Modigliani...and others whose names I've forgotten. Very enjoyable at a snail's pace, without the ever present din of the Louvre.

Walked towards Madeline next, browsing among the shops. Got Nisa a pair of (somewhat pricey) Camper shoes and Mai a (slightly cheaper) coffee pot. Also indulged in six La Duree macaroons, unabashedly snacking on one as I walked back to the metro. Then headed to Les Olympiades, the last stop on the purple line, seeking a proper meal in Chinatown. I probably didn't hit the main stretch because I didn't find any cluster of restaurants or stores with that 'Chinatown' vibe (neon restaurant signs, elderly Asians loaded with grocery bags, curio stores...). Hmm. Ended up at a 'Chinese' place run by very nice Cambodians. Despite the mediocre fare, it was good to be in a more mellow residential neighborhood with an interesting mix of people.

Then it was back to the hotel for a nap before meeting up with Jen and her brood, who were renting an apartment on the next block. My last two days consisted of hanging out with Jen and her family and attending the two kids' baptism as her daughter's godmother. The latter was held in a floating church (on a barge) in a suburb; on the drive back to Paris, with me wedged between two car seats, we rear-ended another car driven by Jen and Raf's nephew. The tuckered out babies woke upon impact with piercing screams, jangling every one's nerves. Luckily the crash wasn't too bad. We were still able to rush back to the apartment so I could gather my stuff and grab a taxi to the airport. After these activity-packed days, the 11-hour flight allowed for breathing room, time to pause before diving back into hectic home life.

Happy Holidays!

(Taken at Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, 12/07; this year we stay in Bangkok, which is very quiet at the moment...)

All lit up

The city has been decked out since November. But the Visa tree failed to make an appearance this year. Boooo! What's Xmas without the stunning monument dedicated to spending (on credit)?!

Here's a pic of a gigantic, corporate sponsor-less tree instead.

Safe, happy holidays to all!

80th Birthday

One striking aspect of life in Thailand is the deep-seated reverence for H.M. the King. This is probably the only thing Thais from all walks of life have in common.

As the King turns 80 today, celebrations abound for the world's longest-reigning and by far, the most loved monarch. Yellow-clad citizens flock to Ratanakosin (the above photo is of the marquee at Rajdamnoen boxing stadium) for a glimpse of the motorcade. Some are overwhelmed with emotion. Fireworks, special events and exhibits will continue for several days.

The King has always been a force above all else. His prestige has been maintained by the virtue of his persona, including his preference for living simply and his exercise of authority to ease political crises, when necessary.

The Grinch that Stole Loy Krathong

Just when I started to miss Tofurkey (remember that tofu turkey?) day in the US, Loy Krathong rolls around, officially kicking off the festive season. X-mas decorations have already cropped up around shopping malls, and I've been hearing carols at work since July.

I have no pics of krathongs to offer, since I have no intention of floating one myself, and didn't want to annoy the krathong seller in Asoke by snapping photos without purchasing anything. The idea is nice and all, and it's fun for kids, but I'm over it. And the only water around here is the infamously malodorous klong that certainly does not need more banana tree parts rotting in the water. Yes, it's better than styrofoam, but it's still garbage in the end. Bah, humbug.

Happy Chinese New Year

Best wishes for a rotund Year of the Pig!
May your wallets be corpulent.
May your Fu be upside down.
May your investments bulge with tax-free prosperity.
May every single god in the heavens (and on earth) shower you with fortune.
(Ka-ching! Ka-ching!)
And may you encounter only the best in the company you keep, in your health, and on your plate.

Happy Holidays!

The VISA tree (?) is back with a vengeance. This year's appears to be an angel, surrounded by flying cherubs and impaled with credit cards. How nice. Much improved from last year's trees.

Consume, consume, I mean, happy holidays! Have a joyful, safe season and if you're coming to Bangkok, see you soon!

Happy Halloween!

Happy New Year (again)

lunar rotation
bringing canine tidings
of ingots from god

Ancestors, oranges, red envelopes, pyrotechnics... wishing you luck and fortune in the (Chinese) New Year!

Happy New Year

with love from Bangkok! Wishing everyone a fabulous 2006, filled with good cheer, adventures, friends, food... all the good stuff.

(Here are some shots depicting the city's christmas spirit, brought to us by the generous people at VISA, without whom such poignant displays would not be possible.)