Short (but Sweet)

I've mentioned how malls in Bangkok are a big deal, right? And they are abundant! Apparently, that's still not enough!

A couple of weeks ago, Ekamai's Gateway had its soft opening. 

Having read that it was Japanese themed, I had to go see it myself. *

We had lunch at a yummy (yup- what else?) Japanese restaurant that had a buffet Japanese style salad bar, unlimited drink refill and green tea/vanilla ice cream for dessert.  

Where there is cat(s), there is cat lady.

MEOW.

Why should you go? JAPANESE PHOTOBOOTHS. #FTW
Ever since I went to Japan, I've been obsessed with them.
The picture taking is where the fun begins, but it's the photo decorating (kawaii all the way) that really gets me hyped up. Again, I need one of these machines in my house. ASAP.

**************************************

So, if you're in Bangkok and want a little taste of Japan, hop on the BTS and get off at Ekamai. 

It's that easy!

* This is how they pull you in- every mall seems to be unique in its own way, so it's always a different experience, it doesn't matter if you walk out empty handed!

"Ya look a little ... stiff."

WAX FIGURES.

They can be fun and a little unsettling!

While this post is a little on the GPOY* side, I am here to remind you that er- taking pictures is fun?

And that if you ever become famous enough, you will be made into a wax figure for random people to delight in and photo-bomb you. C'est la vie.

Lady Di wax figures are my favourite. I am always astounded by her height! As you can see, I'm a little on the short side.

Silk & Wax

Leaving the Bangkok sights to my sister's last two weeks in Thailand, we made our way to Jim Thompson's House.

Jim Thompson was an American businessman who helped revitalize the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s -- Wikipedia

The now-Museum was where Jim Thompson lived during his years in Thailand- made up of 6 traditional Thai teak wood houses along the canal, nowadays you forget you're in modern day Bangkok!
Jim Thompson disappeared in the Malaysian jungle. He was 61.







If you'd like to see some more pictures, click HERE. Afterwards, we got our pop culture on.

Rain, Rain, Go Away.

Come again until September! (When I am no longer here)

Actually, I don't mind the rain when I have no place to go and can sit by the window and watch. The rain here certainly is spectacular, in my opinion.

The raindrops are suspended in the air and dance around, up, down, side to side, in circles, in zig zag.

The rain becomes a veil, hazing* sights that were just there a second ago. And the winds, they howl with all their might! 

It's time for a book and a cuppa tea, methinks.
Happy weekend!

* Totally verbing a noun. 

Transmission Received.

I've always had a fascination with the sky. *

Night and Day. The shift in colours, shapes of clouds. Its stillness, its movement.
The way it changes from country to country, and yet- it's still the same sky.

July 12th's Sunrise + Rainbow

To witness an Aurora Borealis is at the top of my bucket list.
A couple of days ago, I saw something I'd never seen before. A bright blotch of rainbow in the sky.

I deduced, from my google searching, that it was due to solar flares.

These were taken while I wason the highway- so it was a little hard to capture. I am glad the colours translated well into the camera!

It started out as an orb- circling a blinding light. 

Then it got wider.**

And wider.

I encourage you to look up to the skies every now and then.
You might be surprised with what you find!

You might want to tune into this as you're sky-watching.

* I've already devoted one & two posts on them, as well as a Flickr Album.

** Can you see the bear like shaped cloud that looks like it's climbing up to the light? :)

Of Dolls and Books

Hidden in the middle of the tiniest of narrow soi* sits the Bangkok Doll Museum & Factory.
Now, it's not a 'proper' museum as you and I know them. This museum is more a house showcasing a collection- but credit must be given where credit is due. The collection, not small at all, is phenomenal. From the first Bangkok Doll to "stuffed" creatures from around the world (you'll see what I mean past the cut).
It's interesting to see how dolls differ and are similar around the world and throughout the years!

Last (Last) Week in Pictures

I'm awful at posting events when they are relevant, especially if I'm in the middle of something (i.e. my Japan posts). These last two weeks I took a couple of pictures inspired by the sights, the hubbub of Bangkok.

The skies here never cease to take my breath away. The colours, the sky, how quickly it changes its mind...

My dad & I spent some quality time together and took a long-tail boat ride through the canals in the city. I've been here since February and I still had not been on one of these boats, can you believe it?
Better later than never, right?

Traveling the World in an Hour (Sort Of)

I've been in Bangkok for 3 months and a half already and there are some important malls I still have to visit.* Malls are a big deal here in Asia, I've come to realise. I feel like they are in abundance and varied: from random little stores (that, incidentally, sell really cute dresses and accessories) to brand names; you name it, they've got it!
And I won't even get started with the food stalls. Mmmmm.

Today I went to a rather well known (and relatively new) mall called Terminal 21. 

It's cray-cray (not really, but I like to over use that word)**, but the concept of it is pretty cool. 

Each floor of the mall is furbished according to different places around the world, such as London, Rome, Istanbul, Tokyo, etc... 

I feel a little foolish for not having been prepared (psh, and I call myself a photographer?***) but I plan to go there with a proper camera soon. So, sorry about the crappy photo quality.

Without further ado, here are a couple o' snaps of me in inaction! POW!

A glimpse of the 36m long escalator.

Bangkok Skies

Bangkok Skies, a set on Flickr.

I really can't get over the beautiful sunsets and skies in Bangkok.

Anyone else love sunsets or cloudspotting?

A day in the life of Bangkok Skies

April 8, 2012

7am: Bright and spotted

6pm: Nuclear cloud with a dash of orange

8pm: Bright and purple (Lightning!)

I actually love falling asleep to a thunderstorm, especially with a huge window to watch!

All pictures taken with iPod.

Siam Ocean World

FISHES! PENGUINS! And SHARKS!

Oh my!

This weekend I met up with my friend and we decided to check out Siam Ocean World.

Welcome to Bangkok, where the malls have your average shops and aquariums.

Siam Paragon is intense (it's in bold, you know it's fo'real). The mall's so big, there are 4 different Starbucks in it alone. It was an experience just being in that mall!

Siam Ocean World also has different activities you can partake in, such as: diving with the sharks, glass bottom boat ride, and "walking" on the ocean floor.

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures I took.

Tints and Hues

"One day," you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-four times!" 
And a little later you added: 
"You know--one loves the sunset, when one is so sad . . ." 
"Were you so sad, then?" I asked, "on the day of the forty-four sunsets?" 
But the little prince made no reply. 

-- The Little Prince

All photos taken with my iPod.

Sad or not, I love sunsets. Like sunrises, there's this sudden calm that settles on the city for that one moment- the sun's moment and one you share with it. 

And then, just like that, it's gone.