Bangkok Boot Camp

Every Monday and Wednesday I go to boot camp on the track behind my school. An hour of push-ups, lunges, sprints, tricep dips, and mountain climbers in 95 degree weather with 90% humidity. No matter where I go in the world after this, my body will never again produce this amount of sweat. It's absurd.

Shipment Arrives!! Thanks Asian Tigers!!

It's totally surreal to see all of my Portland possessions in Bangkok. I don't understand Thai very well, but I'm pretty sure the movers were commenting on the fact that I have way too many plates and glasses for a spinster American lady...

I learned how to say guest room, bed room, and kitchen today as I directed the movers to each room:

Guest Room: Hong Gat
Master Bedroom: Hong Naawn
Kitchen: Hong Krua

It's official, I live in Bangkok and so does all my stuff.

Poop

I pass this sign every day on my walk home from work. I've never seen a sign like this outside of the compound where I live. In fact, last night as I walked through the streets of downtown Bangkok in a torrential rain storm, I saw 3 dogs relieving themselves on the sidewalk. Nobody following with a plastic bag over their hand to pick up the remnants. No $15 fine.

Lucy will be here in a few weeks if all goes smoothly. All I can give her is a walk around a man-made lake, humidity, and the promise that her poop will get picked up. Oh, and I guess some new knee ligaments.

Vegan Cooking Class

We spent the afternoon cooking and eating amazing and healthy Thai food. The school is near Khao San Road. It's called May Kaidee's Thai Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant and Cooking School. (maykaidee.com). We made 14 recipes. Sap, Sap Sap! Yummy, yummy, yummy.




If you are vegan living in Thailand, you should know this word. It's pronounced "Jay" or "chay' or something like that..





Our Kru May. She doesn't just cook, she dances too!!

Art Imitates Life

An old friend from Bend, Oregon was in town tonight. Julia Lyon (cooking club queen) is here doing a story for Johns Hopkins on the Burmese refugees of Thailand. I took this photo at the hotel she is staying at. www.phranakorn-nornlen.com . My favorite little oasis in BKK yet. I miss the creativity of Portland and the art scene. This hotel reminds me of Portland. I loved everything about it. If you are ever here for a night, this is the place to stay. Art, massage, coffee, travelers, a collection of old rotary phones, and a display of Thai comics covering the walls. This one reminds me of the men I saw about an hour after I took this photo sitting at a bar on Khao San Rd. drooling over women that could be their granddaughters...

¿Cómo eres tú?

I love photo booth!

Hello Doctor Chittaphon

Third time here since I arrived in July and no boobs to show for it. Probably the only foreigner in there not getting something implanted. FYI... never come to hot and humid Bangkok with athlete's foot. Fungus and moisture sitting in a tree... My fungus is so happy that I moved here.

$1 dinner

Koh Samed Trip: Thursday-Sunday

Quiz Night @ Breeze

Aromatherapy

Most of what I know about Thai's, I've learned while in a taxi. This works best if you can take a taxi alone. Being alone is vital to good observation.

Ah, the Thai taxi... never a dull moment. One night I took a cab that had a karaoke machine, flashing lights on the ceiling, and music videos emanating from the dash. I'm not sure, but there may have been a disco ball in there somewhere too. Tonight, as I took a cab home I observed this phenomenon:




The first time I saw a taxista do this, I cracked a window and got out a wet nap. Thought the poor guy was sick. Then, a pattern developed- ALL cab drivers were sick.

So, I went to my authority on popular culture:



Apparently, "Yaa dom" is the most common Thai accessory. Nasal inhalers are hip. In a climate like Bangkok, a minty zing in the nose might be just what people need. It's cooling and smells good. I believe it's for that same reason that people here don't smoke much. Why would you want to put a burning stick to your mouth when you and everyone around you are literally in an inferno? I wonder if these nasal inhalers are partly responsible for the horrid and pungent stench in the city, nobody fixes it because everybody is content in their scent-controlled nostrils...

When in Rome... Yaa dom here I come.

Monday Evening Sky

Caught the sunset as I walked home from school today. Took this photo while listening to the call to prayer. Peaceful end to yet another hectic school day.

Beautiful Kao Yai Thailand

We spent the weekend in this beautiful part of Thailand planting trees and playing flip cup! Two worthy causes!


On Friday, we met Jok. Jok fed us Tom Kha at his street stall restaurant. He might be the cutest man alive.

La Rana Va a la Escuela

Party Gifts

Lugged these paintings home from Susi's pizza party in the pouring down monsoon rains. Luckily, they survived. Love these. I vote Susi best party host ever for giving local art as party gifts and if that weren't enough she had a tray of vodka shots ready for us as we arrived.

Hi-So meet Hi-Se

I went on a run around the lake and attempted to count the security guard stations in Nichada. I lost track. There are more guards here in Nichada than portraits of the King... and that's quite an accomplishment in Thailand. When the guards spot me passing by they enthusiastically yell out, "sawat dii ka' while clicking their shiny black heels together and saluting me with a stiff and swift hand to the forehead.. I love when they do that. I feel like a super star.

Pink

On my way to Susi Pucci's for a pizza party I saw this pink bike.



I have always liked the color pink. Luckily, I now live in a country that loves pink too. Every Tuesday is pink day here in Thailand for the Mars god Phra angkarn. For example, I went to the government office today to sign for my Thai work permit and all of the employees there were wearing pink shirts. Tomorrow, Wednesday, they will be wearing green. Days are color coded in Thailand.

Here is a survival guide to the week:

Monday is yellow
Tuesday is pink
Wednesday is green
Thursday is orange
Friday is sky blue
Saturday is violet
Sunday is red

There is an eighth day as well... Wednesday night is ruled by the color black for the god of the eclipses, Phra Rahu.

I love this idea. Anything that helps me make a decision at 5:30am in the morning is my friend.

Medical Tourism in BKK-9

I saw these Mah's snoozing away on the steps of the corner 7-11 on my way to dinner tonight. When I got home, I opened up iphoto and watched a slide show of Lucy and got a little teary eyed. She'll be an international traveler sooner than expected. Seems that she needs a little surgery called ACL on both back legs. Up to $5,00 per leg in the US... even US dogs enjoy the benefits of our healthmare system. I called Thonglor Veterinary Hospital in Bangkok and found out the same surgery costs $300-$600 per leg in Thailand. This means I'll have money left over to get her that boob job and the butt implants she's always wanted.

I Can Read this Sign!

Saturday Walk

Friday Night at my Baan

Juice, not Coffee

This is right outside of the 'gated community' of Nichada (where I live). This is the real Thailand. Nichada's main attractions are a man-made lake and a Starbucks. The town where I grew up in the US has a man-made lake and a Starbucks. Always felt a bit trapped there... some things never change.

Kru Laura

Thai Class

Every Wednesday night, four other teachers at ISB and I meet for dinner, wine, and a little Thai conversation with our charming teacher, Khun Nikom Ninchawee.

Tonight we learned how to say:
"Does new silk burn?" Mây mày mây máy.
And:
"New silk doesn't burn". Mãy mày mây mây.

Yeah, I'm pretty much screwed. Mai dii kha. Mai pen rai.

En la clase de Español...

Taken today during my 3rd grade class.