Open Road

Shanghai!

2010-05-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

Mom always says, 'Start with a full tummy!'

My very first visit to Shanghai and hopefully it would not be my last. Here are a few pictures I managed to take of this facinating city. My story has yet to be written so for now just enjoy the photographs - these should speak more than a thousand words!

Yup, the famous Siew Long Pao!

I'll break tradition and add a few pictures in colour simply because Shanghai nights is so vibrant!

Street scene close to my hotel

Shanghai version of the 'tuk-tuk' that speeds equally as any in Bangkok.

A very fashionable part of the city

Brussels: Important, unimposing, beautiful, small, lively.

2010-01-23T23:58:00.000-08:00

Just thinking about Belgian chocolates and one can easily forget about dieting

Window display

Fries, anyone?

Steeple at a different angle

Professional courtesy

Murals at a train station

A day in Mumbai.

2010-01-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

The majestic Gateway

Mumbai? Wow! isn't quite enough to express how I felt when I visited the city. Had a great day roaming about and I found myself wishing I had more time.

The mega city and her trees

The die hard, original Fiat and Ambassador taxis continues to whisk the commutor retro-style

Hello Androids!

2010-01-21T12:00:00.001-08:00

First, a few pictures of my old trusted:

Before I begin my story about my Android phone, I'd like to say how much I enjoyed using my Palm Treo 750. It was a truly 'smart' phone which never left my side on any given day. It has travelled with me, through thick and thin, through places near and afar, crossing vast oceans and up many mountains - even to the peak of Titlis.

By a way side restaurant in down town Bangkok; some might even call it a poor man's nightclub. The food served is of excellent quality, and clean. Here, you can see my Treo, beside the local fare - Singha Beer, Tom Yum Fish soup and a ready plate. I was drooling while this picture was being taken.

My Palm Treo, enjoying the cool and crisp

late autumn sun in Brussels, next to my pipe.

I just couldn't resist taking this picture. We were sat along the pavemet in front of the restaurant and while waiting for our food to arrive, I had already begun taking pictures. First, my Palm Treo (a ritual I never fail to forget), followed by the company that I was with. Then comes along this gentleman: tall, composed, very bookish. He captured my attention because he was absolutely absorbed in his reading. I even thought to myself if he was submerged in a Dan Brown.

Author's message:

I'm sorry I did not ask permission from the subject of my photograph. You made this picture so interesting, I just couldn't help myself from taking your portrait. Please let me know if you would like me to remove it from my blog but in all honesty, I'd be very happy if you allowed me to have it here. Thank you, kind sir.

And now...the Android!

HTC Hero and Palm Treo 750

It would be unfair to make a comparison between the two as technology is never at a standstill. Again, my only concern is my inability to master the capacitive screen. I find it a daunting task to key in the text in spite of all the gizmo they have packed into this little wonder. The touch screen has a neat feature where one can run his/her fingers along the QWERTY keypad screen and once the correct alphabet or numeral is found, by simply lifting the figure, the input is complete. However, I find that even this takes longer than simply keying in from the conventional keypad.

Apps and widgets? Here the Android excells! One can easily download apps through thin air and have it running in no time. Freebies galore! Just remember to compliment the programmer if you like the app.

Time passes by and with all good things in life, there comes a moment when changes take place. Mine came to me when my 3.5 mm audio jack failed to function. No, not because HTC Hero made a poor phone but because I had short-circuited the device accidentially out of sheer ignorance. By then the much talked about Nokia 97 Mini had just entered the market and as much as I'd love to be the proud owner of one, I decided against it for the simple reason that it was way over my budget. I went for the 'business-look' - the Nokia E72. This phone was also touted as a must have, for power users and the business community in general. I wanted to look smart, focused, no-dilly-dally but just here, now and for biz only.

It was a wonderful work phone and Nokia had brilliantly packed in more whistles and bangs than I could ever imagin. Now notice the use of the past tense. Even before I could blog about it or take a photograph of it, I had lost it and without a clue as to how.

(For the record, I was completely satisfied with my Nokia E72.)

Without my sleek "communicator" (oh, how I missed the first Nokia Communicators launched so many years ago!), I felt I was half dressed. Admittedly, I had two wonderful days of peace and quiet without having to answer the phone nor call anyone. The tranquility was short-lived. On the third day, I work up with a start only to realize that it was a Monday! Without the right gear, I was doomed. My first three hours of the day was spent restlessly. A part of me was missing and I was not even registered on the grid!

(To be continued....)

Morning stroll with my sister along the streets of Bangrak.

2009-12-06T03:04:00.000-08:00

Cactus on my window sill. I thought this was such a lovely picture to remember my mother by. She is lovingly remembered as the pillar of strength in our family and carried all of our faults and limitations and simply loved us for what we are

We met at our usual rendez-vous, by the peer behind the Bangrak market. 22nd November. A date we will always remember - our mom's birthday - and how much we miss her. She passed away two years ago at a grand age of 92. Now, we make it a family tradition - all three of us (our middle sister is out of town so she was unable to join us although we know how much she would have loved to be here) - to purchase fish from the market and set them free by the Chao Phraya River. This was what mummy always did, on both happy and solemn occasions - be it a memorial of one of our ancestors, a birthday or even a lucky win at the lottery. She always has the right reasons for making merit and saying a prayer. We were there to do the same.

After releasing the fish (this time it was 2 eels and 6 catfish) back into the river and watched them swim away merrily, we decided to have breakfast in the tradition that mom used to enjoy - Jok (congee or rice porridge)! The little establishment has been standing in this tiny soi (lane) since forever! The three ladies minding the store move about briskly, taking orders, serving dishes, cooking the jok. All tables had been taken when we got there and a queue had already been formed. Lucky us, they were waiting for their 'take-away' so we didn't have to wait too long before we were seated. And the long wait began. It was after we gobbled up 4 pairs of 'pa-tong-go' or Chinese donuts that our jok finally appeared on the table. Throughout all that while, we sat waiting patiently and so did the rest of the patrons. It was protocol to be patient for what was being cooked was done just for each individual...it was personalized cooking in its puriest form in spite of the humble surroundings.

Probably the finest 'Jok' joint in Bangrak district

Meal time. We ate and scraped our bowls clean and wanted more but upon seeing so many still waiting in queue we decided to return to the peer and sip hot coffee - a la style of Bangkokians! Along the way, we stopped at familiar stalls where mom used to take us to: a Thai desert/confectionary shop, a 'kao-gaeng' street stall selling food that is just for 'take-away', a shop selling goods we offer to monks in worship, the old lottery stall....the list is goes on.

Some of the nicest Thai sweets/confectionary around town

Necessities a monk would need

Irresistible to my sister and most ladies

There was a cool spell that morning and we both wished that the gentle breeze would last. Bangkok is loveliest during the cool season, from late November through to February. We laughed a lot along the way, all the way and in between the laughter I could hear my sister sing the songs we had grown up with - the happy songs that sounded melancholy because we were no longer the young and wild we used to be.

Only a cabbie will tell you..

2009-10-29T05:23:00.000-07:00

Caption: Dim Sum anyone?

Where to eat,what to do,where to go...at prices just about anyone can afford! (I haven't a clue how I can arrange/group together my suggestions under a subject heading so please excuse me for being disorganized...well...you're expected to expect nothing, remember?)

Where to spend almost nothing on a Saturday night (unless you choose to take possession of some of the curio you happen to chance upon)?

Caption: Typical Saturday crownd looking for bargains. A must visit destination when visiting the Big Mango!

My choice would be a stroll around the Central Hospital (Rong Payabarn Klang), Bangkok.   Need to check for the correct name of this specific area.   From early evening each Friday and right through to late afternoon of every Sunday, vendors, hawkers, collectors, connoiseurs of collectables converge.   Bring a torch with you as the street lamps are too dim for most of us to be able to scrutinize collectable objects - from old trinkets, out of vogue spectacles to abacuses, faded magazines to opaque vases.   A myraid of goodies await the curious.

Noodles for lunch
Most people in my town grab a bowl noodles for lunch.   They are easy to come by, they are delicious and nutritious and costs under 35 Baht.   Noodles are very affordable, hence, my search for the yummiest noodles about town!

Pracha -utit Raod, from Si Yak Meng Jai: This single shop house offers some of the yummiest noodles yet.   The proprietor specializes in the 'bahmee' or yellow noodles and serves them with a choice of roasted pork 'moo daeng', roasted duck 'ped yang' or crab.   Go for it!   If you happen to be heading towards the Rangkamhaeng Road coming from Si Yak Meng Jai, you'll find it on your left as you walk/drive down the first little bridge that you come across.   Then post me your comments.

Past,present and the future entwined...

2009-10-28T11:21:00.001-07:00

Caption: Spirals in a tumbler

If our lives are guided by destiny; if what we have experienced, are experiencing and will experience have already been written in the stars, is there any hope for us to change our course? While every action will always have a reaction and karmic deeds will always have outcomes, if destiny has already been pre-defined, how are we able to break away to set a new course?

Pictures from my 10 mega pixel digital camera

2009-10-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

Caption:'Rowing home'

After I rediscovered the joys of taking snap-shots with my built-in camera/mobile phone, I took another leap of faith; bought myself a 'discounted & discontinued' 10 mega pixel Samsung NV10. It is now my pride and joy! I carry it with me whenever I leave home and the devise has yet to fail me. Oh, I did have to purchase a spare battery for it, though. Howeever, it's very user friendly functions seem to drain the power supply at a very alarming rate. Guess that's the only draw back to this fine gem of a camera. Must also mention the crisp Schneider-KREUZNACH lenses too. I'm far from being a photographer so expect nothing. I would like to share what I consider beautiful, interesting or memorable. Please feel free to share your photographs with your comments.

Caption: Straight lines and shadows

I thoroughly enjoy bicycling during my free time. This healthy and 'costs-nothing' mode of transport has given me access to some very interesting spots in busy Bangkok. Pictures below is my steady steed.

Caption: Water stop for the old panting peddler

Caption: Just right of where my bicycle was parkied

Photographs from my digital pinhole camera

2009-10-28T05:17:00.001-07:00

The amazing little mobile phones that are equiped with a digital camera has allowed me to pursue a childhood dream of being able to capture interesting images - in black and white. In the past, it was virtually impossible for me to take up this hobby as costs were very inhibitive. Now, I can just click away (sound included) at no extra costs other than the mobile phone/camera itself. So, here are a few snap shots I was able to capture.

Caption: Old town

This snap-shot was taken last October during one of my trips to Southern Germany. The picture below was also taken on the same afternoon. I just thought the pumpkins looked very interesting - they are much larger than those we have in my home.

Caption: Baskin' pumpkins

Caption: Autumn awaits by the front porch

Please note that I will be changing the pictures periodically so stop by whenever you're in this space. Better yet, post some of your snap-shots and if you happen to have something in black and white, it would fit into my theme perfectly. And to those techies out there, my tiny pinhole can take snaps with resolutions of up to 1.3 mega pixels.