Musings

Funny how annual leave ends so quickly. It’s a 2-week leave, long time in my books. The first week passed not so quickly although 4 days in Bangkok did whisper past. I finally found Thai food that “hit the spot” in the hotel. Yes Siplathai – that’s the name of the restaurant – in the ShangriLa hotel was more expensive than what you can get in the air-con food courts, the food was good. So was the service. Yes, it was expensive for 3 dishes, 1 dessert and a beer – 1400 baht about S$60. But I enjoyed myself, ultimately that’s the most important, especially when I’m on holiday.

My friend Graham who has lived in Bangkok for 20 years didn’t know of any Thai restaurant. He usually buys his meals – when he’s not making potato salad at home or a sandwich at home – from the hawkers. You do get a good spread – different curries, vegetables, grilled fish etc. But I don’t think my tummy is iron-clad. So I declined to eat at the hawkers. It’s cheap, about 50-60 baht for 2-3 dishes.

We went to an Apple shop in Central World which is a mega mall. Plenty of students around and again lots of sushi, sashimi and ramen places. So are cafes serving cakes and coffee. Smattering of Thai food in menus here and there. The Apple shop was like all the other shops I’ve visited in San Francisco and London. The accessories are slightly different. I found cute plastic cup-like things that hold wires together. Haven’t seen them here but Graham and I agreed that tape would hold wires just as well. Saved a few bahts there.

I took Tiger Airways, cheap but the fuel surcharge made it rather pricey and same price as Silkair and SQ. In Singapore, the queues were orderly. In Bangkok, it was less than orderly. Although our e-tickets said passengers had to turn up 2 hours before flight, the counters didn’t open until 90 minutes before flight. Which made a few passengers annoyed. More so because they saw the staff lounging behind the counter, sipping coffee and taking naps!

I’ve a few more days of leave left. Funny, how time flies when I take it easy. Don’t try to rush to gym in the mornings, or rush to an appointment. Yet, the day just passes so quickly. And I still have all those books and magazines I bought which I haven’t read yet. Time for speed reading now.

• iPhone 3GSIth
• Sichuan Kitchen, Las Vegas, Embracadero
• In Bangkok for 48 hours but no thai food yet
• Chinese super pianist
• Bonding with dogs