beachin' good time

Weekend getaway at Koh Samet, Thailand

January 2012

Krabi preview

A couple of weeks ago, D and I went down to Krabi to iron out details for our Ultimate Party. The weather wasn't exactly beach weather but the place was still uh-mazing.

Here are some pictures from the trip.

We've got 21 days to go til The Day and I still can't believe it's finally happening!

khao yai weekend

Last weekend, D and I, together with two friends, went to Khao Yai to attend Camp Culture, an outdoor musical event featuring DJs playing mostly House, Electronic Pop and Techno music.

We headed out bright and early on Saturday morning to avoid the long weekend traffic and do some sightseeing before the event. We stopped over at Primo Posto and Palio, two places in Khao Yai that make you feel like you're in the Italian countryside. 

At Primo Posto del Khao Yai.

At Palio, or as Thais would like to call it, Little Italy.

Not bad for my first trip to Khao Yai. I'm definitely coming back!

chinatown

My apologies for the intermittent blog posts. As I've mentioned in my last post, work has held me hostage. But yesterday, D came to my rescue and dragged me out of the house. Destination: Chinatown!

It's been quite a while since we last set foot in Chinatown. The last time we trekked down there was to join the Chinese New Year festivities. But yesterday, we went there for the sheer purpose of eating duck...

...and dim sum. Glorious dim sum. 

 D and his obsession with his camera apps

 My caged panda. Ha!

And while there, we went canvassing for stuff we need for the wedding as well. Chinatown is a treasure trove of awesome finds and great bargains. I was like a kid in a candy store. I wanted it all!

I would have to admit, it's not for the faint of heart. It's hot. It's cramped. It's full of people who are not shy to shove you out of the way to get through the narrow walk path. And you'll be hurled into a world of hurt when it rains whilst navigating your way through the 2 km long shopping labyrinth. It's vicious. So take a lot of patience and tenacity to keep on with you, hold on to your bag, and beware of pickpockets while you're at it.

remembering koh phangan

It's been a while since D and I have gone away on vacation. I think it's safe to say that we both need one... badly. But for now, I would just have to make do with the memory of that awesome vacation we had in Koh Phangan in April of 2009, where we rented a motorcycle, went beach-hopping, and loaded up on fruit shakes.

I would love to go back.

golden hour

After an afternoon of heavy rain, the skies opened up and lit up with a beautiful glow.

It would be a shame not to capture this moment. Our neighbors from across our balcony seem to think so. They shouted out: "What a great idea!"

Aside from these digital shots, I took out Elvis (my Supersampler) and snapped away. I'm hoping he successfully captured the beautiful orange skies.

clean up bangkok with unity

Today brings a glimmer of hope to Thailand as hundreds gathered at the Rama VI Monument in front of Lumpini Park to meet and start cleaning the city after weeks of protests. Thais and foreigners alike volunteered for the clean up, armed with brooms and brushes to physically and symbolically reclaim the city.

I salute everyone who participated today. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to join in the fun. But it looks like there's more work to be done and the cleaning efforts will continue all week. So I still have a chance to do my part, and so do you!

Check out more pictures of the clean up here. For more info on the clean up efforts, visit bkkunite.

[Photos by Richard Barrow via My Thailand Blog]

out and about. finally.

Today, D and I finally went out after days what felt like a month of staying in at home. The violent clash between the military and the protesters left us with no choice but to succumb to hibernation. As you can imagine, the cabin fever hit an all time high.

Man, was I happy to be out or what. I savored every breath of (not-so) fresh air! I smiled at random people I saw on the street! I was extra friendly to the person behind the counter who was taking my order! I turned into one of those annoying cheerful people I secretly can't stand. But lack of human contact (and by that I mean, contact with people other than D and the man who owns the mini mart in our apartment) does that to you so I have an excuse.

ANYWAY.

Here's a couple of candid shots that D took of me at the cafe as I was geeking out on my laptop.

Just look at those dueling eyebrows. I'm not even aware I'm doing it. 

When I was growing up, my mom would always iron the crease of my brows when she caught me doing it while watching TV, reading a book, or just fixing my gaze on one object.

Now, it's D who does it.

on house arrest

In case you haven't heard, Bangkok has turned into an urban war zone. The ongoing political unrest has made a turn for the worse with Bangkok streets plagued by gun fires, bomb explosions, vehicles set on fire, barricades, and streets on lock down. I try not to think of how bad the situation is and how this will affect Thailand's progressive economy because it just makes me sad. I love Thailand and it pains me to see what it has come to. I just really hope that peace will be restored sooner than later. 

Like most Bangkok residents, D and I have opted to stay home and keep safe. On the bright side, we've been enjoying lazy days spent lounging by the pool, reading books, watching movies in the comfort of our own couch, and indulging in long afternoon naps.

D has also spent most of his free time practicing playing the guitar and ukulele. Here's a picture of him I took (using Lucy, my Colorsplash) a couple of months back.

He looks really adorable when he plays the guitar.

And doubly so when he plays the ukulele.