Good bye ....and hello

It's that time of the year again. The year-end feeling I always get that hits me after Christmas. I feel a little bit pensive and sad that yet another year has ended. At the same time, I am filled with anticipation as to what the new year will bring.

Ever since Sean was born, every new year takes him one more step away from the innocence of childhood and one more step towards being an adult. I am ambivalent about it as on the one hand I selfishly don't want to lose my 'baby' but on the other, am looking forward to the man he'll become.

Even though I have stopped working for many years, I take stock about when I have achieved and what I would like to do in the upcoming year. I realise that when I was working, my goals were all monetary or work related. Nowadays, my aims are more about how I can improving myself or my family's life (may be have been watching too much Oprah).

As the world us changes, I reflect on what has happened in the year. I realise that I am living through history and one day my great-great-great-great grandchildren will be learning about events that happened during my lifetime.

Finally, I always look back on my life in the past year and am grateful for my family and friends who have helped create all these memories (happy, sad or otherwise) during the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY THE NEXT YEAR BRING YOU LOVE, PEACE AND HEALTH!

Northward bound.

We did it last year and had such a good time that we decided to do it again ie drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Pai. Even though we had done it before, we still found places and things that were new to us.

Fueled with coffee, we set off early from BKK. The drive itself was uneventful and pleasant. We did our stop at Tak which is a province near Chiang Mai for lunch by the river. It was a nice pit stop as the weather was cool and the food was good (and cheap!).

Things started to go wrong when we arrived in Chiang Mai and I discovered that TH had forgotten to load my trolley bag into the car! His responsibilty was to see to the luggage while I cleared up the laundry, fed, cleaned and walked the dogs before we left home. Thank goodness for overnight buses that ply the BKK-Chiang Mai route and our driver. TH called him to send my bag to the bus terminal and it went on one of those overnight buses. Tip to anyone forgets or has a forgetful spouse when it comes to luggage.

Pit stop on way to Pai.

Pai is about 1,500 m above sea level and there are 700+ curves on the road that leads to it. This means that we had to make a few stops along the way as the children felt a little carsick. Pai is a little town in the Mae Hong Son region that is gaining popularity with tourists. It is laid back and quiet and also a little artsy and bohemian. You can find a few studios there and in the night market, many artist plying their wares that range from hand painted T-shirts to postcards. I noticed that it is more crowded than last year which is good for the town's economy. At the same time, I felt a little sad as it meant it wsa getting commercialise which could spoil it's charm. Consolation is that Starbucks or MacDonald's has yet to make an appearance!

We could see this padi field from the pool. It's a real working farm and not just for show.

I refused to get into the pool, but it didn't stop the children.

We stayed at a really pretty resort that was surrounded by padi fields. There was horse riding and ATVs for the children and adults to do. The kids had a great time going for horse rides by themselves with the guide while I lounged by the pool in my sweater! It was cold, about 15C.


The area surrounding the resort. In the morning...brrrr...

At night, the biggest thing to do is to go to the night market to offload some cash from my wallet. It's a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours as there is something for adults and children. Adults-shopping or sitting outside to have a drink. Children - having banana pancake for dessert and buying kitschy things from the stores.

The night market in Pai.

On the day we were supposed to leave Pai, the men and the children decided they wanted a last ATV ride. I had to pillion Sean as he isn't big enough to handle the ATV. I wasn't big enough to handle it either! The first half hour had me go into the ditch twice. I was pretty scared when we went off-road as the ATV kept veering to the left and Sean was trying to help me steer. Problem was solved when TH changed ATVs with me as mine had a slight fault in the steering. We all came back coated with a layer of brown dust. I looked like I had heavy handedly applied tinted powder on my face!

As I was leaving Pai, I wondered what changes would bring when we visit it again next year. I love the peace and serenity of the place. That is why when we arrived in Chiang Mai, it felt noisy and crowded.

Traditionally, the 'yipeng' lanterns are released during Loy Krathong. They were selling them in the night market and we decided to buy a few and release them for luck (hey, I'm Chinese, anything that hints at bringing me luck, I'll do it...within reason of course.)

Aahhhh... Chiang Mai, it has to be my favourite holiday destination in Thailand. I see the changes in CM compared to when I first visited it eight years ago. We have made it a point to go there every year and this is our eighth visit. I love the food there (foodie that I am), the shopping (many of the factories that produce saa paper products, silver, ceramic etc come from CM) and the many quaint hotels and eateries that sprout up.
I love the colour of this shop. I wasn't the only one who
stopped just to take a pic.


Once again we managed to have a trip that catered to the interests of the adults and children. We all had a great time and hope to do it again next year (crossing our fingers that we will still be in Thailand and not leave !)


Note: This blog is a bit belated as I got sidetracked with the Christmas feasting that has been going on since I returned from Chiang Mai.

I've been tagged

It seems I have been tagged by petite fleur. This is the first time I am experiencing being tagged, but apparently I have to write 6 random/useless bits of information about myself. This is hard as I've got to really think!

Here goes:

1) When I was younger, my head used to be like a magnet for things to fall on. The biggest thing to all on my head was a netball pole. It happened while I was playing a match. So many other girls around and it hit me! I heard a loud 'boing' and something bounce off my head. I was not knocked out nor did I get a concussion. I was lucky to just have a cut on my head. Since I was a real chicken and refused to let the doctors stitch, I have a slightly bald spot on one side. Actually this just shows that I have a real thick skull!

2) I know it's not cool to admit it, but I love songs by ABBA and Barry Manilow. 'Dancing Queen' always gets me going and actually make it to the dance floor. I call it my happy song.

3) I don't smoke or drink at all. Tried smoking, but didn't like it. Am severly allergic to alcohol. I remember drinking a glass of gin when I was younger. My neck was red with rashes for a whole week! I looked like I was wearing a red scarf. I don't even drink cocktails because even though the alcohol content is low, I'll get itchy and sleepy. This is good for TH as he drinks. I'm always the one that drives us home after a night out.

4) I once arranged a male stripper for a friend's hen party. This was in Singapore many years ago. We had a blast. Hmmm...wonder if she still has the g-string she took as a souvenir?

5) I am a hopeless, hopeless dancer. No rhythm, no co-ordination and stiff as a board. I took ballet when I was child. It's cute when you are 3 and flapping around. Not so when you are an adult and your arms and legs are going all over the place! I found that out when I took up ballet again a few years ago.

6) I hated my height when I was young. I reached my full height of 176cm when I was 14. I wanted to be short. Clothes were hard to come by. Those were the days before inernational brands were found in Singapore. I had to buy pants from the boy's department, and my school uniforms had to be tailored.

It is only when I entered Pre-U that I appreciated being tall. It does have many advantages. I very seldom need a ladder and it is very useful when I'm in a crowd and need to look for people or vice versa.

OK. These are the 6 useless bits of information about me. Hey, it was actually quite fun! Thanks petite fleur! I am now returning the favour and tagging momlim (Of kids and Education) and Gerard Lim . Tell us 6 random things about yourself!

Of things unexplained

The ring was completely round the sun!

I don't know how many of you saw the 'smiling' moon that was in the sky last week. I missed it and only read about it in the papers. But here is something unusual that I did see a while back.

I was in Chatujak market when I realised that many people had stopped and were staring at the sky. I looked up and saw this. I know I am a movie addict when the first thought that popped into my mind was 'Independence Day'. Remember the scene when all the people were on the building waiting for the space ship and were blown to smittereens because they were standing and waiting? Well....let's just say that I snapped a quick pic and got out of there, FAST!

I found out later that such incidences occur when ice crystals have formed round in the clouds. There goes my 'X-files' theory!

Home is where the heart is

View from my bedroom.

Since coming to BKK, we have moved 5 times in 6 years! Our first place was out in the padi fields. Literally. It was about any hour away from the city and the nearest 'happening' place was a Big C hyper mart that was 40 minutes away.

Subsequently, we have moved closer to the city. Now, we live in an area that has everything that I would need. Banks, supermarkets (2 big ones) and most importantly, tonnes of good restaurants all around. So when the traffic gets really bad (like on pay days) we don't have to venture out to the main Sukhumvit area, we jut pick somewhere near.

Since this area has many Japanese expats living here, there are many restaurants catering to them. So we get ramen, char grill, sushi etc. Really spoilt for choice.

Our home is in an estate or 'moo baan'. It is a small estate of 20 units and half of the people living here are foreigners. The neighbours are generally friendly and we have block BBQ outside where the children run around and adults eat and drink the night away. It is quiet. Important for me because the last place I lived at was near some pubs. Everynight, we would be treated to the music that these pubs were playing. not fun when you are trying to get some sleep at midnight.

Sean can run out and play in the evenings with the rest of the children. It's safe as there is a guard and only 1 way in or out. It's nice to hear their shouts and laughter in the evenings.

I have space in the house. Lots of space. We have had many cook-ins where friends pop in for dinner. Typical Singaporeans that we are, we have Singpaore food cook-ins. Last week, a friend came and cooked his Hokkien mee (yummy) and char kway teow (slurp). Many a night has been spent with friends and family over food and drinks. Last year, we had a Christmas Eve party for 30 adults and 20 children!

After so many moves, I can finally say that 'I'm home!'
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree....