Another trip that I almost get to join with Hans and Heather. I just received this via Email from Hans, the view outside of his window in Lisbon. Enjoy the trip! If you still can, would you try Pastry de Nata and Bolas de Berlim and tell me how does it taste like, or even better if you could go learn how to bake one! Thank you very much!
Enjoy the trip ^_^
A lot more to go! And that’s look like a load of driving!
There I was, resting after my very first friendly pre-wedding photo. The Mall that we took the photo, unfortunately I couldn’t remember the name of the place, is opposite of the Crystal Park, Bangkok. Here, I felt as if I were in the U.S.A. again because, to be more exact, it’s reminded me of the Arcadia shopping mall, Arcadia, CA.
But anyway, what I love the most about this shopping center is… the light-up wall and semi transparent wall. It’s reminded me of SCI_Arc, Southern California Institute of Architecture, administration office and the design of the place is quite simple and modern. Make me want to start designing again, but perhaps not yet.
For now, taking it easy… slowly but surely, for once 
Less is more… a phrase that I first heard it in 2006 at SCI_Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) during a weekly lecture on Wednesday night. We were like, please not another cliche phrase, I guess the idea of less is more doesn’t really make sense at first in the state where everything get “super size” and that “more is better”!
Not until the class of Philosophy of Technology did I start to agree with the once thought of silly phrase, less is more. The class was offered at SCI_Arc during a summer by Marcos Sanchez, an amazing professor, that brought up the topic of hot media and cold media by Marshall McLuhan
Hot and cold media For McLuhan there are two different kinds of media: hot and cold media. The hot media are those, which have a large influence on humans and its sensous perception. According to McLuhan these media even possess a “destructive strength” (for example “stone axes” see the point “the medium is the message”). The pioneer of the media ranks the writing, the phon-etic alphabet, the book, the photography and also the radio among this kind of medium. These ob-jects of communication place much data and de-tailed informations at the users disposal, which are mainly concentrate on one sense of the recipient.
It is affected by this, but remains rather passive in the behavior. The cold media have a small influence strength on humans. The reason for this is, that they offer little details and information, and are not optically delightful for humans. To use and understand these media humans must actively deal with these media. McLuhan calls the televi-sion, the telephone or the caricature as example for it. Finally we mention the fact that a medium is not only hot or cold, but must be regarded always standing in a relationship to another medium.
To my understanding, the cold media is the one that is “LESS” informative but allow for “MORE” interactivity with the media. I guess that is why I choose to do the black and white version for this photo, to allow interactive with the moment, the space and the time that the picture was taken rather than the hundreds of colors that were in the picture.
Less…
is more…
that’s interesting!
Who would have known that this roughly built, patched together wooden bridge would be able to withstand the load of people that walk on it, the wind that blows thru or the storms that come crashing upon it from time to time. I guess we just can’t simply judge its capabilities simply from the way it looks. It looks like a bridge and works like a bridge with its purpose to transport one from one side to the other of this path by crossing the obstacle below… therefore it is a bridge.
It is common for some to doubt the capabilities of the bridge because it does not look trustworthy, but for those who believe in it… get to walk and board the boat that take them to many amazing places that those who choose to stay behind would have never experienced!
I was simply trying to metaphor this with the idea of “LOVE” between 2 persons. Having love as a bridge for the couple to walk; it is important for them to TRUST in the LOVE so that both can surpass any obstacle that would get in the way to finally board the love boat where they get to share their life together.
So it seems that the most important part of this journey is that… one must TRUST in the bridge in order to find a bit of happiness. There is no way that we can test the stability of the bridge; even if we do… we won’t have the time to because the boat is leaving.
Trust is a matter of CHOICE.
Without trust… we stand still
By simply TRUSTING in that LOVE… we, then, start walking,
… one step at a time
Shall we?
The answer to the previous post…
…the entrance to The InterContinental Bangkok.
Welcome to the InterContinental Bangkok!
Today is a very important day, at least for me because it is the last day of my training BUT… yes there is a BUT…. but it is not the last day that I will be coming to the hotel.
As for every ending… a new journey begins.
I’ll Be BaCk! (imitating the voice of Arnold from Terminator) which reminded me of a scene in the movie. Check the youtube.
He came back alright… with a BANG! And soon, will I… perhaps not the exact same way he did 
After months of walking past what I thought was just a decorative statue, I came to realize that this is no ordinary simple statue. The realization came when I noticed people paying respect by “wai” to the statue
“The wai is the Thai greeting and show of respect, indicated by pressing your palms together near your chest and bowing…
The wai is a unique, graceful action practiced throughout Thailand. It plays a very important part in showing respect and is central to Thai etiquette. For the most part Thais do not want to touch your sweaty, grubby little hands, so it’s a good idea to learn how to wai. The European kiss-on-each-cheek-greeting will certainly alarm a Thai, especially if you are a man doing this to a woman who isn’t your wife or girlfriend!”
After much curiosity about this statue that everyone wai to every time they walk by, I asked around to find out that the statue is Narayana on garuda, aka Pra Narai Song Suban.
I have yet to find out about the historical significant of Pra Narai Song Suban, however, I will update with more details after a bit more research.
Guess where the Pra Narai Song Suban is located…?
Answer? Follow me on the next post ^_^
an assert from Wikipedia.
“The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand is the supreme law of Thailand. Since the change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional democracy in 1932,
…
1932 Constitution of Thailand
The People’s Party, facing an internal power struggle and opposition from the King, promulgated a permanent constitution in 10 December 1932 that gave the monarchy a significant increase in authority compared to the temporary charter. The day is currently celebrated as Constitution Day.
The constitution continued to state that sovereign power belonged to the people of Siam. However, unlike the temporary charter, the monarchy would now be the direct exerciser of that power, rather than the branches of government. This royal power would be exercised by and with the advise and consent of the People’s Assembly, the State Council (the cabinet), and the Courts. However, the monarchy lacked any say in the composition of any of the branches of government and the royal veto could still be overruled. The monarchy was also made “sacred and inviolable”, in contrast to the temporary charter.”
(wiki)
Picture at Madrid El Escorial Archway…
From the outside of the El Escorial, all we see is the stone, cold, and harsh walls; but it has a totally different feel once we made it thru the wall. A very warm welcoming is waiting patiently for the residents to come home.
*architecture 101: A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air. (wiki)
There are many times in life that… I just can’t seem to find words, pictures, nor paintings to describe what I want to say. Today is one of those days, a day that is best expressed by Debussy – Clair de Lune (moonlight).
A moonlight, that I’ll never forget.
In this world you tried,
Not leaving me alone behind.
There’s no other way,
I pray to the gods let him stay.
The memories ease the pain inside,
And now I know why.
All of my memories keep you near.
In silent moments,
Imagine you being here.
All of my memories keep you near,
In silent whispers, silent tears
Made me promise I’d try,
To find my way back in this life.
Hope there is a way,
To give me a sign you’re okay.
Reminds me again it’s worth it all,
So I can go home.
All of my memories keep you near.
In silent moments,
Imagine you being here.
All of my memories keep you near.
In silent whispers, silent tears.
Together in all these memories,
I see your smile.
All of the memories I hold dear.
Darling you know I’ll love you,
Til the end of time.
All of my memories keep you near
In silent moments,
Imagine you being here.
All of my memories keep you near,
In silent whispers, silent tears.
All of my memories..
By simply looking at this photo, I am reminded of the moment I was taking the picture. Grabbing onto the rail while leaning out to the side just so that I can take this picture. Just to think about it, gives me the chills and I get weak in the knees! This was taken at Wat Rat Burana, Ayutthaya, Thailand. I came up to this location by the stepping stone outside of the temple. I was hoping to find another way down that perhaps would be less scary than on the way up. This stair way was my option, no thank you!
In case you missed it, it was this temple.
.
According to this gigantic Christmas tree in front of the Zen mall (aka Central World, Bangkok) that is across the street from my wor place, apparently, Christmas is here already… Even thought I don’t get to see the sunset, I am able to enjoy the night simply enough with only 5 minutes walking. Listening to music and just relaxing at the water fountain was a very pleasing experience and peaceful.
Well, better start getting your hands on the tree… or it won’t be ready and nicely decorated, as if it wasn’t enough time, by Christmas!
Get busy!
Amazing… that’s all I got to say for the great Chedi! I am always amazed by how the local people hundreds of years ago could build a structure this big that last for hundreds of years!
Simply amazing!
As much as I love taking aerial photos, one of the problem could be the height issue, as I really don’t like hanging out at the edge of a step to snap a photo at all but it wasn’t to the extents of Acrophobia, as someone might believe. Walking up the Chedi was fine, but walking down was a very scary experience. After 2 steps of walking down facing out, I realized that it would be wiser for me to turn around and climb down one step at a time with me facing into structure and grab on to those steps, hoping I won’t fall off! Slowly but surely I arrive safely on the ground. Phewwww. I made it!
After all those light-headed sensations that day, I think it was all worth it to have finally explored the city, Ayutthaya, which once upon a time was the capital of Thailand.
This security guard has 4 legs and fur plus fangs but it was very tame and friendly. So much that she just laid there chilling by the entrance to the temple. At first, it wasn’t sitting there, instead it was sleeping near the door keeper. But once I took out the camera and start taking pictures at the temple, she suddenly woke up… walked to the entrance steps… and just laid there. I didn’t want to have to vaccinate due to rabies so I kept my distance from her and just snap away the pictures, quietly.
Woof woof… WHO LET THE DOG OUT!
Memories are like leaves going thru different seasons
Spring to Winter…
Winter to Fall…
Fall to Summer…
Summer to Spring…
*repeat —
opse… that sequence only happen in my world where everything going opposite direction!
But normally it would be
Winter to Spring…
Spring to Summer…
Summer to Fall…
Fall to Winter…
*repeat—
Some leaves may fell before the other,
Some may lasted thru out the seasons change,
But eventually… all leaves would fall
So that the tree itself could survive the cold winter night…
So that it could fight another year ahead…
And eventually… spring would come
… to sprung the New Leaves
A fresh start…
Thousands of leaves may fall…
But the tree will stand…
Pomelos, I used to think that it was a giant orange when I was a kid. But it does look and taste very similar to an orange and I do still believe that it is a giant orange! One thing I love about Thailand is the convenience in finding fruit anywhere you go either by the street or even by the river! The fruits are fresh unlike like those we have in the States where most of the tropical fruits are frozen for transportation to (try to) preserve its freshness.
Pomelo from Nakorn Prathom, a province north-west with an hour drive from Bangkok, is well known for it sweetness that they registered their special pomelo as “copyright” knowledge by the local. After months of staying in Thailand, I have yet to try a pomelo from Nakorn Prathom but when I do… I’ll be sure to update with its flavor, taste and texture.
Ohh, about the picture… this was taken at the Pattaya Floating market. They said that there is a real floating market call “Aum Pha Wa” that is south-west with an hour drive from Bangkok. Hopefully I have sometime to visit and to take pictures sometime this month because the weather is so nice.
The winter is here butI wonder how long would the winter would last in Bangkok!
Somewhere to belong…
… to hang on to
Somewhere with stability… consistency… security…
… to grow slowly… strongly…
One season at a time
I sure love spending time watching the sunset because I can’t wake up in time to watch the sunrise, right… Last weekend was the first time in month that I got to see the sunset and to see how fast the sun drops out of the horizon.
This picture was taken from the balcony of the Great Chedi Chaya Mongkhol at the temple.
The Great Chedi Chaya Mongkhol was built by the command of King Naresuan the Great, to commemorate his decisive victory over the Burmese invasion in A.D. 1592. The event was climaxed in the momentous elephant combat between the King and the Burmese crown prince Maha Uparaja, in the province of Suparnburi the renown of King Naresuan was such that there was no more outside invasion for the following two hundred years.
The reason that I love sunsets is that… it is the sign for… the day being over and that a NEW day is beginning. And for that, I get to have a fresh start tomorrow. Anything that was done wrong today, gets another chance to make it right tomorrow. There are days that the sky may be filled with rain and storm, but the sun still keeps moving forward, knowing that the very bright, clear and blue sky is waiting for it ahead…
for it… to shine, the light fills the sky with happiness and joy.
This picture was taken just hours ago while (really) visiting and (actually) exploring Ayutthaya city for the first time in years! Normally, I would only visit the city for food, Ro Tree Sai Mai – kindna like cotton candy wraped with a tortilla. Yeah, you should try that at home! haha! It’s true that I love driving to places just for “food”!
Yea, I have notice myself been quite busy that I only get the chance to upload most of the picture to Flickr but have yet to blog them here. Why so slow?… because I’m taking one “solid” step at a time. Wow, I just use my new slogan as an excuse for not being able to blog for the last few days. Well, I think it is a good reason. Don’t you?
After hours of walking at the Pattaya Floating market, we were so exhausted that a bottle of cola wouldn’t cut it! So we went on looking for food and found a small little Pad Thai shop by the pool. I was too busy on concentrating on what to eat to see the surrounding. Not until I finished my Pad Thai, a glass of coke and a glass of Lod Chong, did I see this beautiful scenery that was there all along.
I guess, sometimes or many times in our lives where we are “only focusing” on what is in front of us and keep taking and taking the thing we want that we unconsciously ignored or simply overlooked those around us to see and enjoy what’s life is all about and what it has to offer.
As Winston Churchill once said “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” And Albert Einstein has confirmed that “only a life lived for others is a life worth while.”
I mean, come on… If Einstein and Churchill said it then it better be right!
The choice is yours.
The sky was so blue, the clouds were scattered by the wind, the trees were waving along with the breeze of fresh air and I was just laying there, on the stepping stones. Letting the day drift away slowly and just simply staring at the clear blue sky wondering why… why do I think about “why” so much! And then I just kept on why”ing”.
It was then, when I captured the view while I was visiting the Retiro Park, as I laid down by the pool and waited for my friends to finishing rowing the boat.
One of the questions I had was… Who is this man?
After zooming at the picture, then googled the name… I found out that he was the King Alfonso XII of Spain reigning, from 1875 to 1885. The amazing thing is that he was born in1857 which mean that he became the king while he was only 18 years old.
One amazing King!
My car broke down. Well, it wasn’t really broken but it’s DEAD because I happened to have left the headlights on all day. Well, what can I do? TAXI!!! But the night was still young, so I spent the time walking around my work place. After 4 months of working here, with the Erawan shrine across the street, I must have passed this shrine hundreds of time but never really stop there, not until today.
At the shrine, it is full of energy vibes where people from around the world come here to pray, wishing for luck and success in business and LOVE. Once their “wishes” came true… they would come back to the shrine again to make offering (Thai Traditional dance) as a tribute to the shrine. The Legend start with an old lady asked for success in her business and promised to dance to the shrine in return if success. As time passed, her business went prosperous… so she returned and danced to the shrine.
The shrine is at the intersection of Ratchadamri Road and Ratchaprasong Road in Pathum Wan district. The nearby shopping plaza would be, Central World, Gay Sorn Plaza, Amarin Plaza… you can’t miss it!
Let’s go make a wish!
Isn’t this amazing!!! This is a “normal” sight to be seen here at Yaowarat street, Bangkok.
I AM SPEECHLESS!
But isn’t it fun to look at these cables going EVERYWHERE from roof to roof, window to window, inside to outside, ground to roof,… well, really EVERYWHERE!
This is an example of simply something that I love about Bangkok. The beauty in these mess and the ability to make use of the SPACES are just UNBELIEVABLE
This is from another perspective since the last time that I visit Sao Ching Cha (The great Giant Swing of Bangkok).
As much as I would like to type, I couldn’t due to a very irritating cough I am having these past few days that has prevented me from having a decent conversation because I have had to stop, to cough every now and then (or stop typing every now and then)
You may thought that I am blogging this at 4am because I had so much work that I had to finish (makes me look dedicated and all.) In fact, I am blogging at 4am because after hours of trying to sleep, I have failed to succeed!
Why? The cough… that’s the reason! Any suggestions for cough medicine?
Listening hasn’t been this much fun! Well, some of us probably know how I am sometimes, if not all the time. I love to talk and talk. However I couldn’t talk much because of my sore throat, which I am trying to heal with… a cough syrup, cough spray… and Vitamin C. Beside those, I am currently taking another 3 types of anti-allergy medicines! Mix all of that together… I have never ever been taking so many medication in my life. LOL… BLAMEcGLOBAL WARMING!
Wasn’t being able to talk much wasn’t a bad thing as I get to… listen to the conversations that were going on tonight at Red Sky on the rooftop of Centara Grand Bangkok. The view from the Red Sky is amazing and that I am planning to get up there again for a few pictures.
Ahh Centara Grand is the tallest building presented in the picture. The display light change from red to yellow to orange to blue to … on and on…!!! Ahh!!! It’s so hard to explain with words! I guess I’ll have to find sometime to take the picture from the Red Sky to show what I am talking about!
The night ended, too early, with me knocking for security to let me out of a building… although I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get out of the building because the security may have been sleeping LOL, but when I arrived at the door – another security had just arrived! Just in time to let me out of the building. YAH!
I figured that, as long as we believe that everything is going to be fine, then it shall be… more than fine. So let us not worry and hope for the best… knowing that HOPE achieves the IMPOSSIBLE.
Humm… Sunset!!! The moment that I haven’t experienced for a while, because I only get off work after the sun… already SET 
Oh well… I guess I won’t be seeing many sunsets for a while.
On another topic… tomorrow is going to be the first day that I’ll be shadowing the Wedding Planner!!! THE BIGGG DAY! Yup!
—
Oh oh… I got this forward email… very interesting thought on FOOD and DIET!
what do you think?? !!! I sorta agree with him!
Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good!
Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!! ….. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another bean!!! Beans are good for you. It’s the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! ’Round’ is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
‘Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘WOO HOO, What a Ride’
AND…..
For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION
Eat and drink what you like.
CHEERRS!!!!!!
Water is LIFE!!! I believe that everyone must have heard that statement before. However that statement couldn’t be more true anywhere else but in THAILAND (years ago!) where the means of transportation, food, agriculture, culture and life-style were really relying upon rivers and small canals.
It was a short visit, yesterday, at the floating market in Pattaya, Thailand where they RE-CREATE 4 regional (Northerner, Southerner, Easterner, and Westerner) Thai’s way of life. There were so many foods that I just got really filled by a little bit of this and that. Souvenir shops are at every corner that I didn’t even want to start buying because I would probably end up with a mountain load of them.
So check it out at http://www.pattayafloatingmarket.com/
Great varieties of food to eat,
Excellence view for photographing,
Simply an amazing place be.
GOOD TIME 
*Forgot to mention that… in the photo, if you are wondering… Yes the people in the rowing boat are about to go under that bridge! Everyone had to duck! Really low so that the boat can float thru! Neat huh!
Blogging has been really hard recently due to problems with the hosting server (dreamhost) that has been very unstable due to “unknown reasons” according to the DH representative. Most of the time that the problems occur, it happens just right before my bed time (the time that I normally blog)
So I end up only uploading photos to FLICKR and believe it or not… FLICKR was down the other day too, so I couldn’t upload the pictures or even blog on Flickr! Sigh…
All these uncertainties that seem to keep happening non stop are really driving me to the edge… of a river… to REST, and just fall asleep some where, with the breeze from fresh air, sounds of the chilling wind, and the soothing scent of the nearby flowers. I need a really good rest sometime these days!
Just can’t seem to find any opportunities for it yet.
How much can one man change…
How long would it take…
How far must he go…
How hard would it be…
With determination… I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE within 63 DAYS.
Success ? FAILURE ? — What would we use to measure that…. JUST DO IT!
operation: I-ONE