Vist your sister at work day

House hunting brought me over to Soi 49 which made it possible for me to visit my sister at her work. Alas, when I arrived, she just left. It was fine with me because it gave some time to take pictures around the area- the area of the house,both inside and outside.

The bakery shop is known for it egg tarts, and this particular branch, it fried dough. One can get these fried dough, mostly in the morning and usually from a vendor in the marketplace. Most of the time, the vendor probably re-used the oil that dough iwas fried in, so it is not so healthy. However, it very tasty.

Since tis a high-class joint, they made an executive decision to fried dough late morning into the afternoon. Still suits the crowd well because they are women of leisure and lunches. And living up to the 'hi-so' superlatives, they do not re-use the oil. 'Fried with fresh vegetable oil daily' is probably their by-line. 5555

Well, I wasn't there for the fried dough. I was there because I want the low-down on the sale of the house from my sister. But, alas, she wasn't there.

Since I have lots of time in my hands, I whip out my camera and took photos of the shop and the area round it. Here are just some pictures from today.

So I explore outside and upstairs. The area upstairs is not used and its like their storage area. I love to explore places where I haven't been in a while. The last time I was there, must be two Novembers ago. Gee, I really don;t get out much do I?

So discovered some old toys and balloons. Looks like discards of an children's party. The balloon reminds me of 'Alice in Wonderland'. My favorite quote:
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing wax—
Of cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings.”

Well, the lantern upoin the red background reminds of 'danger' entering the red light district. In olden days, a red lantern hung outside a house means its a house of ill-reputes.

Then the view of the chandelier from above. Looks lie a dandelilion in space. The view from downstairs, upwards, makes the dandelion look like a chandelier. Go figure.

360 view of a head

There is an outdoor sculpture exhibition at Paragon. Some really nice sculptures, from 'realism' to the 'sublime'. The fact that its held in a space outdoor between two malls makes the environment part of the sculpture, I think.













The four corners of this head, showing different vantage point of the head. I really like the last photo. It almost like one could see the fleeing thought in the head. I like it so much I entered it in the photo contest and guess what, I got a vote.

It was the evening, and the sun was about to set. The lighting would be different if it was taken at midday. Nevertheless, it's a very different point of view.

Out of my Comfort Zone

Usually I would either go to my favorite Starbucks and read or goto Yoga before I went home. This evening, I didn't my yoga gear and I didn't go to want to go to Starbucks. So went my colleagues invited me to Central Ladproa to go shopping, I tagged along.

On the way to our destination, my colleagues, who always known to to be eater, were thinking of dinner. One was saying that she wants to eat light like vegetables. The one wanted something
spicy like Thai. Easy enough, there are plenty of places where both desires could be fulfilled. However, it didn't stop there, they continued on and on about which restaurant they would like to eat and what they would eat. After a few rounds of bantering, back and forth between the two of them, the vegetables were gone and spicy seafood came into play. They turned to me and asked if I would mind eating in a hole in the wall. I guess they don't know me well enough.

Before we can eat, we went shopping. That was the sole purpose of come to this place. These are some photos of outside area where are some kiosks where everything is sold. Here are some T-shirt with funny sayings that my colleagues seem to enamored with. Then inside, they were selling shoes, trainers for half price. In the past I would jump at it because of aerobics but now I do yoga, so no trainers necessary.

Women and sales do mix. Before we can shop, we have to get lost first. They have no idea to find store they want to visited - "Lyn". even though I don't frequent this shopping mall, I remember that its on the ground floor not far from where we were. But the girls didn't trust me, probably logically so, but I found ther store without asking for information. One
point for me.

And shopping and window shopping we did. Most of the time was spent waiting and window shopping for my colleagues. It just re-enforces my ambivalent feeling about going back to the US. I'll go and shop, shop, and shjop.

In varying degree of damage to the pocketbook, I did the least. Even though Jaeb didn't get anything but a couple of T-shirts, she did lend here credit card to Note to buy her coveted sunglasses. Doesn't she look beautiful in her sunglasses.

She was so proud of her new sunglasses that she wanted to wear it to sleep. At any rate, she was off the next day and planned to go to her mother's because they were going to take a trip to Cambodia. She was so proud of her sunglasses that when she went to her mother's place, she forgot her wallet at home. 55555

The Fountain

Dancing fountain on the CW grounds would make an interesting series if I knew how to work my camera properly. I tried.

I guess it would make a nice, but boring video.n If I knew how to do it on video. So I need to spend some time on eht manual. Back to school again.

I took the weekend off from house hunting because I kind of had it enough. So I went to yoga, two yoga classes in fact. After, I went back to CW to get pictures of the exhibition and fountain in th I just have to spend more time, with lots of patiences, to get my desired pictures.

But these pictures are nice. I have to learn to use Photoshop so I can get
my desired picture.

The group that I joined for the photo context purposes will have to be ended soon because the founder don't have time for it. But for two weeks I entered two photographs and got two votes. that more than I expected.

Next month, if JT keeps his plan, there will be photo workshop about taking pictures around BKK. I am looking forward to it because the last time I went to the workshop, I got lost. This time I have to confirm by phone. That would be great, I just have to get my offer on the books and then get settled so I can get off my butt.

Besides I have to get off the BTS and see the world beyond the line.
I don't even go to MRT because I am not familiar. Venture off my comfort zone. I know there lots more beautiful places in BKK and Thailand to take photos. I am geting tried of taking photos of the same areas and shrines and spirit house. But I still find them as good subjects (oy vay). I wish I have the means and time to travel and do so.

Do you see any subtle changes in the photos like the level of the water, and amount of the direct sunlight? I hope you do because I see them.

Spirit House

There is a spirit house almost at every building or house in Thailand. Some are interesting,some traditional, some modern. Since I'd been taking photos, I'd been taking lots of pictures of spirit houses. This particular one is the one outside the office building.

From the sides, the spirit house is like a miniature of a traditional Thai house with small idols surround it. Well, it does depend on how active the spirit house has people who make merit to it. People put garlands of flowers or ceramic dolls for personal reasons. More of these offerings reflect the amount of people make offerings to the spirit house.

My last aunt had friend all over the world who came to visit her once in a
while. One of friends, I don't know who, came and became enamored with the spirit houses. She thought that they made good birdbath in her backyard. Well, without all the decorations, I could see how birds could be attracted to it. However, my late warned her friend that she should get a spirit house, ship it half around the world to use it as a birdbath because the Thai revered the spirit houses are sacred. Something that should not be made light of, like a birdbath.

Buyer be warned, the unknown friend went behind her back and bought a spirit house, shipped it half way around the world and to place it in her back yard. As the story goes, one morning while having coffee on, the unknown lady had a heart attack and sadly died. She died on the same
day the spirit house was delivered to her house.

I don't really know if the story is true or just made up to scare children. At any rate, as you can see from this photo, offerings abound. The offering table is filled with red soda pop because there is a belief that spirits red soda pops. Someday, you can see boiled chicken and other sweets offered to the spirits.

The next photo is a picture of the back of the spirit house. Make
photos spirit house from the front, with all the offerings, flowers, etc. But not many photos are take from behind. Some how I find it very interesting to see the spirit house from behind with all the dancing dolls .

I have many more pictures of spirit house and shrines to share. So until next time, enjoy the spirit houses.

THe view from the balcony

These are photos from the balcony of Central World about two weeks ago when the French festival was in progress. There were activities from, end to end, from entrance from the BTS walkway to Isetan. Starting with exhibition titled. "Earth From Above" which is currently showing until September. Check out www.earthfromabove.com to learn more.

I took some photos of the exhibition its and plan go back and take some more. Just like I took pictures of the flat globe that depicts
the areas where the French photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, traveled to capture the breathe taking pictures.

Taking the photographs from inside and slightly above the area gives you a different perspective of the whole exhibition. I have some interesting photos of the exhibition. I plan to go back again, very soon.

Next to the exhibition there was a concert of a local band. I have
no idea who was sing but people were hanging around listening to the music. A local band singing to the Reggae beat. If my memory serves me well, Reggae music is from the Carribean and not from France. It's all very ecceltic this festival.

Overall, the view from the balcony was interesting and surreal since its happening in the middle of Bangkok at the busiest intersection of Bangkok. But you can't see the view from down there, because its all happening about street level.

Next to the 'live exhibition' of beach chairs and people sunbathing, some in there bathies too. This is all very surreal . People sunbathing in the open - not next to the pool or the beach or even near a lawn. You can not sunbathe in the park here in Bangkok, it's against the law. But you can have an art exhibition with people sunbathing. How ironic.



To end it all, another picture of the fountain and photo exhibition. More photos on the fountain on a later date. Also, when I get sorted out with the housing situation, I will have more Bangkok photos for you.