Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.......

My Elvis had a good laugh watching this clip after Subuh tadi. Enjoy...

May the blessings of Allah shower on you...

As the crescent moon is sighted, and the holy month of Ramadhan begins....

May the blessings of Allah shower on you...

A few more shots...

I’ve wanted to properly update my entry and continue with my tales of Thailand, but last week I was so busy conducting workshop to train colleagues at my work place. Not only that, my third son, who is in a boarding school in Kajang got his left middle finger slammed by the door (caused by the wind) at the mosque in his school.

The nail which was causing excruciating pain to him has to be pulled out. As a result, I had to take him home and the whole of last week he had to be taken to the clinic almost every day for dressing. He is now back in school, but I still have to visit him every other day to send him for dressing. Luckily the school is only in Kajang which is only half an hour’s drive away from home.

To continue with my tale, one of the places I visited in Bangkok was Jim Thompson’s house. This intriguing American came to Bangkok in 1945 and three years later, founded the Thai Silk Company before setting about the mammoth task of dismantling six teak houses from other parts of Thailand and reassembling them in their current location.

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any photos inside the house itself.




Another classic northern-style teak house that I saw was Baan Kamthieng which was originally constructed in Chiang Mai more than 200 years ago and donated to Siam Society by its owners and reconstructed right in the middle of the city of Bangkok.

Displayed are items traditionally used by Thai farmers and fishermen. Unfortunately again, we were not allowed to take any photographs inside the house itself. A very large variety of Thai flora and fauna can be seen in the garden of the house. The following is just a sample:


Both Jim Thompson’s house and Baan Kamthieng is open daily, except Sunday and Monday from 9:00 A.M.-12 noon and 1 P.M. - 5 P.M. An admission fee of 100 Baht, is charged to help maintain the property and grounds. It is located on 131 Soi Asoke (Soi 21), Sukhumvit Road.

It is located on 131 Soi Asoke (Soi 21), Sukhumvit Road.

A Belated Anniversary Wish…..

Dear Ikelah and DITH,
It’s wonderful to see love strengthen and grow through the ups and downs of life.
I only hope that ALL of us will find that kind of love, commitment and passion in our lives.

Happy Anniversary guys. I know now that you had your special 'makan-makan' at the Lemon Tree, so the above song is specially dedicated to you...Better late than never. ;)

Goodbye to you, my yellow brickroad........

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

When are you gonna come down
When are you going to land
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man

You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

What do you think you'll do then
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again

Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground

Tak kan naik 'sky train' aje...

Besides the sky train, Bangkok offers an array of colourful taxis, a total of 9 colours we were told, and they are all mostly Toyota cars.

Bangkok taxis all have meters and thus would be a good way to travel around. They bear the legend 'Taxi Meter' on the roof. The price starts at 35 bahts (about Rm3.50) for the first two kilometres and approximately 5 bahts per kilometre thereafter.
(The ladies would look pretty in pink taxis)
There is no need to tip although it is appreciated. To call a taxi phone 02 319 9911 and will cost 20 bahts extra. Make sure the meter is switched on as you move off. If the driver refuses, leave that taxi.
(A metallic saga-red taxi)

For long distance destinations such as the airport the price can be negotiated but it is normally cheaper to use the meter.

(Tuk-tuks in a row)

Tuk-tuks (that’s the correct spelling, Ayumi) are those charismatic little three-wheelers with a padded bench for two in the semi-open rear. They are two-stroke vehicles, named for the sound made by their engines, which belch out at high volume noxious fumes to pollute even further a city already swimming in carbon monoxide. Fares in tuk-tuks are negotiable, which is not to be misinterpreted as meaning that they are cheap. I remember once taking the tuk-tuk back to my hotel, and I was charged 50 bahts, whereas when I took a metered taxi, I had to only pay 350 bahts for the same distance.

Since customers seem to prefer the comfort and fixed fares of metered taxis these days, it has become even harder to bargain for a reasonable price in a tuk-tuk. The shortest journeys will cost about Bt30, and that will cover only about two kilometres. In general they are no cheaper than metered taxis, although more colourful. If using one, be careful with possessions. Since the rear is only partially enclosed, anything on the extremity of the seat is vulnerable to the hand of a passing motor-cyclist, for example.

Much as a ride on the tuk-tuk is an experience not to be missed in Thailand and much as you would also enjoy taking a ride in all those colourful, wonderful metered-taxis, for Pycno, it was nothing less than this to take him round Bangkok in style….he…he…..

(Oh yes, keep on dreaming Pycno....)

A Thai Song to spice up my Thai entry...