Ever wonder what it feels like to eat like the blind? Fumbling around with your fork and guessing what is on your plate. That's exactly what we did when we joined this new restaurant in Bangkok - Dine in the Dark.
Mmm... yumm... the fancy desert!
The experience was something really unique. It was interesting that without sight, we can "taste" food differently - what I thought was pork, turned out to be duck. Shows how reliant on sight we are, even for tasting. Maybe somehow we have learnt to use all our senses together, sort of integrated together - like you cant taste things if you have a cold.
But overall, the food was really yummy! And it looked even yummier once we were out and could see what we were served. It was also kinda weird that some of us thought the amount was not enough, though looking at the portions at exit, it was the usual amount that one would have for dinner.
Karynn also posted her view of the dinner on her blog.
Oh, they still have their offer on - 1 free bottle of wine for every 4 guests. Go like their FB page.
A day in March is the Makha Bucha Day. But this year is a special year, marking the 2,600th anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment day. So, there were a series of alms giving ceremonies around Bangkok. On March 24th, I went to witness the one in Chinatown where there were estimated about 30,000 monks gathered to receive alms from Buddhists. Had to wake up early as it starts at 6.30 am, but it was worth it. Here are some pictures.
Medical tourism is a big thing in Bangkok. So, you get a lot of posh hospitals around. Bangkok Hospital is one of them.
A fountain greets you when you arrive at the hospital. And you go straight to the International reception where they speak all sorts of language. And there’s even special section that caters for foreigners – like the whole Japanese section (even the TV is playing Japanese shows).
Bell boys help you to carry your luggage.
If you don’t have enough cash, don’t worry, ATMs are available everywhere.
Cafeteria never looked so good.
And if you don’t like cafeteria food, no worries. There’s Starbucks.
Its so big, you may need a tour to see the place.
And if you’re still bored, there’s always other things – museums, art gallery, or even live entertainment!
And if that doesn’t suit you, maybe you can do some exercise and count how many calories you’ve burnt.
If you enter into Wat Po, there’s a little counter where you can donate money and write your name/wish/message on a tile that they would use for renovating this temple.
You write it down with pencil that they provide on the table.
But then, you walk a little bit, around the tree, and you see this guy doing this…
Uh huh! He’s washing the tiles so that they can use it again! Seesh, at least take some effort to hide it somewhere further away from the table lah. But that aside, Wat Po is still worth visiting.
The red shirts are doing a rally around Bangkok today.
Map taken from here.
Part of the route passes by near where I live. Rallies in Thailand are normally peaceful (even attended by kids). So, I thought this would be an interesting event to watch and photograph.
There are still many supporters of the red shirts. People rushing to the streets, dressed in red or carrying a red handkerchief to wave to the passing rally.
People of all ages were at the rally. Its sort of like a family outing. Even foreigners and dogs joined.
The train station had to close temporarily.
Police were around, of course.
Some people even take advantage of this to make some money.
More photos of the rally:
But, though it is a lot of people, just go back one alley and things feel normal again.
Its been 2 years since I started working in Bangkok. Being back in KL after that time, even when I’m back every few months, there are certain changes that I noticed.
In an earlier trip back home, while queuing up at the duty free in the airport (LCCT), the lady behind me produced this stack of money to pay. At first I thought she was trying to pay in Chinese Yuan. But after a close look, what do you know, we now have new RM 50 notes!
Other things I noticed is that there are lots of developments in the outskirts areas. New shopping malls, new housing estates, new high-rises, new highways. So many new ‘happening’ places that I have not heard before. Even familiar places becomes a bit alien. Imagine me telling people, “yes, I know that place”, but after further details I realise I know none of the new landmarks, buildings or roads (except for “Bali” – apparently that reference is still used even if that place has been burnt down 10 years ago). The city is growing - where did all these extra people come from?!?!
Road rage is definitely more prominent than ever. It is becoming a norm that people describe incidences of violence on the road and how drivers try to pull over other drivers to give them a piece of their mind. I always say that Malaysians have split personality while driving (me included), even the most docile person will turn into a foul swearing monster behind the wheel. Nothing much is being done to upgrade our public transport, so more and more people are forced to drive their cars, even with the escalating price of petrol. And KL is definitely more jam than ever (and I forget how stressful it is until I am stuck in one!). Is it really surprising that there is road rage?
More people are speaking English – Malay, Chinese, Indians – more people in KL are just speaking better English these days.
Inflation is horrible. All prices go up. I realise a simple lunch costing more than RM 5 is normal these days (before I left, RM 5 was a bit extravagant). While in Bangkok the prices remain about the same despite the global economic crisis, simple lunch there still costs not more than RM 3. Our currency is being devalued, but does your salary remain the same?? Another thing, I know that the 1 sen coin has been discontinued, but I was surprised when nobody now cares to return your 5 sen change anymore. What is happening to the value of the Ringgit?
Politics – ah, how to summarise this? After the GE 08, each time I read the news its like one of those HK drama series. You never know how the plot twists and you’re always looking forward to the next episode to know what happened. At least people are now more questioning.
Anyway, I’m now back in the land where the switches are terbalik.
Left side is on, right side is off. Confusing huh? (I still am after 2 years!)
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