Bangkok 2016 - away from home

This is my 2nd last back dated post for 2016 that I only post in 2017.  But the last of 2016, which is our family Japan trip, is miles away from even being started...

 

I will always remember this trip as one being over a public holiday - National day, Tuesday 9 Aug 16 - being a public holiday that I spent with friends instead of my family.  I was struggling when making the decision as to whether this is appropriate.   There were discussions on this topic with WK, which I am very glad that took place.  He made some trips back in 2014-2015 that took place over public holiday, which I don't mind, but the problem is he doesn't realize it.  So the year 2016 turned out to be a year of communication and discovery.  Eventually, I found a lot of pride, love and respect for myself by the end of this eventful year.  Here's a post, dedicated to one of my BFF, for (unknowingly) being a catalyst for change. 

 

Lili frequent Bangkok, so she made all the arrangements.  She likes to try new stuff, so we try Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri.  The room comes with Kitchenette and washing machine, which seems to be common for Bangkok hotel according to what I hear from Lili.  I love several aspect of the hotel stay, including the room and it's facilities, the gym, the breakfast (place and food).  There is a library in the hotel; I borrowed a book there, Dan Brown's Da Vinci code, and liked what I read.  So when I came back to Singapore, I bought 3 Ibooks in that series.

 

Since the main purpose of this trip is to relax, we didn 't chiong on shopping thus didn't buy tonnes of stuff.  Instead, we did late lunches at recommended restaurants, one afternoon tea, massage, nails, and good dinners. 

 

I think the pictures below shows it, how we truly enjoyed the "nuaing", and how rested we were. 

The library and the meeting rooms are beautifully furnished. 

The facilities are very well maintained

 

Day 1 dinner.  We had a lot to catch up, so I thought we will talk a lot in bed like we did at Malacca.  Instead, we talked over dinner.  I poured out my hearts to her once again..

A restaurant recommended by my youngster friend.  We were given free condom after the meal, which we didn't take, in case our hubbies think we did something funny, haha!!

This outlet is not too bad, consider how badly run some outlets in some countries are. 

 

Another famous dessert (After You) place recommended by my youngster friend. 

Dinner, wine, and nails..

Day 5 morning, we watched replays of Joseph Schooling get Olympic Gold medal.  Took some selfies at Bangkok airport.  And picture of Lynn wearing kitty ear hairband that I got from her from Bangkok. 

Space out (Malacca Jul/Aug 15)

It was a girls-weekend-getaway trip, mainly to eat, shop, and space-out...

Traffic was great, custom was a breeze.  The tour bus was less spacious than we expected.

Hatten hotel is full of Singaporean. It is clean, new and efficient.  15 mins walk to jonker street.

My most happy expenditure is my manicure, makes me feel pretty the whole week :); it cost RM 40.

On the first day, Ginny and I chatted for an hour at a cafe, while waiting for the other 2 to complete their foot reflexology. It had been a long time since I had such a heart to heart talk with her. 

Here are some photos. 

We spent almost 2 hours at this shop, where Lili got a nonya baju. She tried on many, and finally choose the purple top and tailor-make the skirt. 

On our way back from jonker, we were treated to firework display.

We made a reservation at Teo Soon Lee (teochew food) for Friday dinner, but got carried away by shopping, so we rescheduled to Sat lunch. Some dishes were good, others so-so.

We got the pool cum jonker view room.

Relaxing in the pool on Sat morn.

Joc and I failed to remember that it is Ginny's birthday on 6 August, so we didn't celebrate for her in the first 2 days. I only remembered on day2 night. On Sunday morn, joc and Ginny wanted to laze in the room, while me and Lili went for last min shopping. We got Ginny a card, and gave cash as bd gift. Ginny sent us pic of the card after getting back to sg. Wish her good health and happiness. May our friendship be strong and lasting.

Count down!

During the work week of 27-30 Jul, I was counting down to my Malacca trip with Lili, Joc and Ginny on the weekend.  I sent them teasers from Tuesday, all the way to Friday morning before we were to meet for breakfast at 8 am.

Hope this brighten your mood too:

28 Jul

29 Jul

30 Jul

31 Jul

我是好汉

During some of WK's business trips, he took the opportunities to travel to place of interest.  I have always been "jealous" of 2 of such trips, which were Niagara falls and and Great-wall of China.  Finally I was able to experience the Great-wall this year May.

A colleague offer to bring us there.  He's a Singaporean, who has live in China for close to 20 years.  He brought us to 慕田峪, which has lesser tourist.

It was a very hot day, but unlike humid Singapore, it felt less tiring in the dry heat of Beijing.  We  can start tracking from station 9, but opt to take the cable car to a higher entrance.  This is a shot from the cable car.

A group photo outside station 14 (after alighting the cable car, before our climb).

Entrance to the wall.  Here we met a 92 year old woman being carried down this flight of stairs.  We do not know how much she walked, but everyone's still impressed and clapped for her.

It was a good day, with very little people.  Even got this shot:

My aim is the top station at the middle of this photo.  The end of this route is a few more stations away, on the left hand side of this photo.

A beautiful pic of the side of the wall

I wonder, if there is incarnation, who were people like Roy N and Amos Y in the Qing dynasty?  Freedom fighter?  Dictator hater?

After an hour or more, finally I'm near my aim.  A photo of the view downwards:

My colleague Shawn (Malaysian) taking a rest before our final flight of stairs.  Here's for the record: when going up that flight of stairs, I'm actually on all fours!  It's very ver steep.

Finally!

I didn't read this, but took a picture for remembrance seek.

One down!

Update (10) -Taipei trip 2014

I can't remember how and when Lili, Joc, and I decided to go Bangkok in the last week of May and early June.  It's dream come true for me to be able to travel with my 2 best friends that I got to know from different time/places.

 

Due to the political turmoil in Bangkok, we changed destination to Taipei 2 weeks before we were due to depart.

 

In the first 2 days in Taipei, it was mainly “买东西， 吃东西”. On day 3, we traveled to 北投. This is my first time here (unlike Taipei which I have been to twice before).

 

One interesting encounter during this day was that of a street vendor of chinese calligraphy. We saw a crowd, and we went up to take a look at what the street vendor was performing or selling. I was extremely shocked to see that the guy writing beautiful words with 毛笔 is doing so without hands/fingers.  He is a middle age, soft spoken man with stumps for hands. He had a donation box in front of him, and quite a few completed scrolls on display. We read all of them, and I fell in love with one of it that says 为学持之以恒”. Both Lili and myself were interested in getting a scroll. We had already donated, and we stood there for quite some time, wondering if he sells his work.

 

Finally I went up to him to ask the price, and he said "随意”。We were still unsure how much is appropriate, and I commented a bit too loudly that "随意是多少呢？”. A Taiwanese thought that we didnt understand the meaning, so she said to us that it means up to us, ha!

 

We continued to stand there for some more time, undecided as to what to do. Then a tall Taiwanese guy went up, placed a 100 NTD into the box, and started reading every scrolls before finally selecting one that says "好心有善报”.  He spinned around, walked to us and said to me "送给你们”.

I was so shocked that I almost forgot to thank him. When he walked far away, I told them "But.. this is not what I want.."

 

Eventually I walked up, placed another 100 in the box, and told the writer that I am going to exchange the one I am holding for the one that I like.  Now the scroll is placed at my office cubicle.

 

That night, we ate dinner at 鱼人码头, took many photos (selfies), listened to the performances of quite a few street/pub singers, watched the sunset, and enjoyed the company of long time friends on the final night of our holiday. Hopefully our US trip next year will materialize!!

Here are some pic:

Selfie at Changi Airport while waiting for boarding

 

 

Day 1 supper, Ice Mango

 

Day 2 lunch, 滷肉飯

  

Day 3 noon, selfies at the train station

Roaming the touristy streets, we came across this pro independence parade

 

 

Hello Kitty shop!
 

 

His name is  袁熊

 

淡水漁人碼頭