Bangkok/Kanchanaburi/River Kwai/Ayutthaya Day 2 (Morning)

Floating market at Damnemsaduak

23 Nov 2005. After breakfast, we left Bangkok for Kanchanaburi/River Kwai. Enroute, we visited the Floating Market at Damnemsaduak. The guide brought us to the jetty and we took a 10 minuute boat ride to reach the market. The place was buzzing and colourful. It was completely different from the one in Bangkok. Products sold ranges from local tropical fruits, vegetables and accessories like slippers, hat, etc.

Pra Pathom Chedi

Our next destination was Pra Pathom Chedi at Nakhon Pathom. The 127 metre tall pagoda is believed to be the world biggest and tallest. We circled clockwise around the pagoda for good luck. Imagine, it took us about 10 minutes to complete the walk.

Bangkok/Kanchanaburi/River Kwai/Ayutthaya Day 1

22 Nov 2007. Well, it was our first time travelling on a budget air-bus. Actually, it was economical and okay except that the space between the rows of seat were tight. Anyway, the two hour flight was tolerable. Drinks were sold @ $5 per can and noodles @ $8 per cup on board. Haha! What a joke!
We arrived in the evening and were greeted by the Thai tour guide. It took about half an hour drive from the airport to our hotel at Silom Road. Upon checking in, we went out to look for dinner. We found this Thai restaurant which was reasonable and good. After having our stomachs filled, we went for a stroll around the area before calling it a day.


Narai hotel


A Thai restaurant


This dinner cost S$30 (tax inclusive)

A Short Vacation

We are taking a short vacation from 22 Nov 2007 t0 27 Nov 2007. This blog resumes on 28 nov 2007.

It's a make or break for the England football team tonight. They need at least a draw with Croatia to be in the finals of the European Cup next year. With so many star players (Rooney, Heskey, Owen, just to name a few) injured, England fans will have to keep their fingers crossed and hope for the best. No doubt I am not one of them but I still pray for their qualification. The reason is simple. They add spice to the competition.

We are ready for our trip to Bangkok. Money changed. Luggage packed. Read enough of Kanchanaburi, River Kwai and Ayutthaya. Yes, we are celebrating Loy Krathong there which falls on 24 Nov 2007. Coincidentally, Jessie is leaving tomorrow for Cambodia with her church group too. Bon Voyage!!!

Asia Pacific Food Fair 2007

Asia Pacific Food Fair 2007

English Premier League is having a break this weekend. The next best thing to do is to turn to food. Right, the Asia Pacific Food Fair is now on at Singapore Expo. In fact, we treated it as a family outing with Sheryl joining us. As usual, the hall is packed. Yo, we are talking about food.
Most of the stalls are generous with their food sampling which includes coffee, soft drink, BBQ pork, chicken nugget, saba fish, etc. There are others like yam paste, shark fin soup, nasi nemak, satay, etc which required us to pay. The funny thing was when we were eating our paid satay at the stall's corner, the crowd thought our plate was meant for sampling. We had to tell them off. Haha....
In the end, me, Margaret and Fyn were quite full but I am not sure of Smily and Sheryl. As for those of you who have nothing much to do this weekend, why not tuck in and Check It Out!!!


We bought these drinks.

What's the buzz....15 Nov 2007

Musicians at work

Okay..... we are returning to the Land of Thousand Smiles, Thailand from the 22 Nov 2007 to the 27 Nov 2007 for a short holiday. We will be travelling to Kanchanaburi, River Kwai and Ayutthaya before spending the another 2 days in Bangkok. Sadly, Smily have to miss this trip for he returns to work on Monday 19 nov 2007 after a 4 weeks of medical leave. I was talking to Lee Hoon this morning and she jokingly told me that 'Ayutthaya' should be read as ' are you tired?' LOL.

Managed to catch up with a few friends last few days. But the surprise came this evening at the Orchard MRT Station. I met my long lost secondary school ex-classmate, Mr Ho Cheok Cheow. He was the one who introduced Mad Magazine to us. I lost track of him for more than 30 years. Guess it's our lucky day and we had a good chat and exchanged contacts. Gosh........

Arsenal tee

Me and Margaret happened to pass by a departmental store this evening. In a promotion corner, there was a Nike bazaar. We were not keen to shop especially on a Monday evening. Somehow we joined in the crowd. Much to my surprise, I found an Arsenal tee in one of the trays. My favourite football club, Arsenal! It was fitting after I tried it in the changing room. Looking at the price tag, I realised that it was about $10 cheaper than the usual price. Paid at the cashier and went off excitedly and happily. Ole...ole ole ole.........


Me and my Arsenal tee

Tattoo's Day

Fyn with her new look

Fyn has been complaining that she is bored recently. So we decided to bring her to Johore Bahru for a change. The last time we went in was more than a month ago. Brought her to a salon to have her trimmed and she came out looking fresh and younger.
She was surprised when I agreed to her request to have a tattoo on her hand. I am dead against tattoo for I was inculcated that it was associated with secret scoiety. Today, we are talking about Arts. Anyway, these are temperory tattoos which will fade away within a week or two. Probably it would not harm her to have some fun in this manner. What a joke! Margaret joined in the fun by having one too. Haha....




Yo! Our daughter is a young lady now. She loves to look good and beautiful. She booked an appointment with the manicurist there. While she was having her manicure, me and Margaret had to wander the shopping centre for about 45 minutes. But it was worth the while waiting when we saw her beautifully manicured nails.




It's dinner time...........




Finally, we decided to try out this sizzling STONEGRILLE restaurant. The feedback we got from some friends were negative. So we didn't go in with high hopes but out of curosity. I ordered the salmon set while both Margaret and Fyn prefered the chicken set. We were amazed that the food were good. Margaret enjoyed the ginger marinated chicken very much. The staff there were helpful too. They indirectly taught us how to handle the stone and food. Fyi, the temperature for that stone is about 400 degrees Celsius. What an experience!

Me and my music part 1

Music was my first love.........


The guitar man brought with him peace, love and joy...........


And they say those into music are passionate people..........

Happy Deepavali

Happy Deepavali to all our Hindu friends.

My birthday 2007

My birthday cake 2007

My family celebrated my birthday 2007 this evening at Ricciotti, an Italian restaurant at Riverside next to Clarke Quay. It is a fine dining place with quality food. This year is somehow special for Smily brought Sheryl along. I am confident that Fyn will bring her partner too in the forseeable future. :) Looking at the menu, all dishes came with Italian names which were foreign to me. To cut it short, we ordered pasta, grille chicken, lamb chop and egg plant in tomato sauce. We enjoyed the dinner and upon finishing, Smily ordered a brownie cake for me. They sang me the birthday song too. Thank you very much.
P.S. I would like to thank those who sent their wishes through sms too.

Where is Santa's head?

Me and Margaret in our youth

I was flicking through the photo albums the other day and this picture caught my attention. I do not have the slightest idea of who the photographer was. Must be a stranger whom I passed my camera to, for a quick shot. It's either he did not like this Santa Claus or an act of sabotage. You would have noticed the Santa's face is missing. Though not complete, we still looked good in it. For that, we are thankful to that goondu.

All Souls Day for the Catholics falls on the 2nd November 2007. Margaret, Fyn and I went to the Holy Trinity Church in Tampines to pay our respect to Margaret's late grandmother, who was rested at the columbarium there.

That was close...

Phew! That was close, so close. Arsenal grabbed the equaliser in the dying minute. Alex Ferguson must be cursing at his defenders for lack of concentration. Overall, a thrilling match with lots of action and excitement. Final result : Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United. For your information, I watched this match with a Man U fan. Guess who??? Yes, my wife, Margaret. Luckily the match ended in a draw. So, both of us are happy and in talking term. :)

Margaret accompanied Smily to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital for his medical review yesterday. The doctor was puzzled by Smily's speedy recovery. Believe the bird nest that he frequently consumed after his surgery helps. As a good sportsman, he told me that sport's injury is part and parcel of the game and he will not disapprove his children to take up rugby in future. Son, I am proud of you.......

It's Fyn 18th birthday!!!

Happy 18th Birthday to my dearest daughter, Fyn. Mine oh mine! Legally she is allowed to watch M18 movies, go disco, have a cool beer in a pub, etc. Phew! My little girl is now a young adult. Personally, I am confident that she is in her best behavior all the time and able to differentiate between what is right and wrong. That's why me and Margaret do not worry much about her.



She celebrated with a birthday party at her maternal grandmother's place this evening with her cousins in tow. Sadly, Clarissa is missing. Celine and Clement had left her at home. However, the crowd was no smaller for Fyn had invited her good friends over.

Hong Hiao Gathering 31 Oct 2007

Pipi, Lee Hoon and Jimmy


Tuah Kiat and Winston


Koh Sing

We gathered at Charcoal which is at the junction of North Bridge Road and High Street. A cosy place with good food and a lounge corner for us after dinner. Thanks to Winston and Lee Hoon for their proposal.
I was supposed to meet Pipi at the City Hall Station and as usual, she was late. Upon arrival, they were having their appetizer. Neo and Christina did not turn up but we have Jimmy and Koh Sing there instead. We have not seen them for quite some time. Jimmy bought Home and Decor magazines for us. There is an article on his brother-in-law's garden which he and his wife from Onedesign designed. It's in Nov 2007 issue page 104. While chatting, Lee Hoon 'rediscovered' Wennifer and called her immediately for a chat. Well, it seems like everyone is doing well and for a few of us, life is a little easier for the kids have outgrown us.
After dinner, we proceeded to the lounge corner. The atmosphere was more relax and the laughter, more frequent and louder. For the record, Winston and Pipi have upgraded their handphones (with bluetooth now). LOL. Guess I was the supplier, busy sending songs to them. I did not write about Tuah Kiat earlier because I save the best for last. The whole night, we had been pairing him with Neo and he was sporting enough to join in the fun. It was so convincing that there were moments that I began to doubt his straight lifestyle. Below is a picture with his 'special pose' captured by Lee Hoon and edited at Kevwish Studio. Haha! Whatever, he is a clean and decent family man.


Juz for laugh: Do I look like one???