60

 

人生的下半场

做一个简单的人

少与人纠缠 多看大自然

在路上见世界 在途中寻自己

知山高水阔 故云淡风轻

名山还可平 故风雨兼程

以如常为安 以如愿为喜

往后的日子除了开心健康

其次 ，还是其次

@jatgorr

CHOCOLATES FOR BREAKFAST

Overnight rain.  A chilly morning.

Woke up to a large box of chocolates to indulge with hot coffee.

Thanks, Arvind!

ALMOST CIABATTA

No time to make ciabatta at home?  Here's an easy no-knead bread recipe that makes an almost-ciabatta. 

Depending on how you shape the dough, you can also make a cheat's sourdough using the same technique. (Links updated 28 Dec 2025)

Chilli Crab Kitchen on IG

BANGKOK - SHORT BREAK

Spent 4 nights (Oct 7 - 11) in Bangkok, just for the fun of it.  I'm claiming the airfare as part of my staff welfare entitlement.

The Thai Airways flight was punctual.  It was raining cats and dogs when I arrived.  Fortunately, I had ordered a hotel car to meet me at the airport.  Even then, due to heavy rain and even heavier traffic, it took almost 3 hours to arrive at the hotel.  

View from hotel window

View from hotel window

View from hotel window

View from hotel window

Because it was raining so heavily on the day that I arrived, I bought a pair of clogs from Charles & Keith.

Just snacks

Thai milk tea from ChaTraMue

A vending machine that dispenses durian pudding.  Sadly, it wasn't in operation when I tried.

Dim sum from 7-11.  Very tasty.

Happy Chicken Rice 240 Banthat Thong Rd Pathumwan

Unpretentious little place.  They serve up the bestest Thai chicken rice, in my opinion.  EVERYONE should go support it!

Warm beancurd in ginger soup from Tao Huai Jae Noi (Little Sister Tau Huay)

Bought a very good braised duck from Tang Sui Heng on Banthat Thong Rd Pathumwan.  They've been around for more than 50 years.  I'm especially impressed by how thinly the duck meat is sliced. #功夫

My Thai friend, Kai, suggested I stayed at the Mercure Bangkok Siam.  So I did.  It is located right next to the National Stadium Station, walking distance to MBK shopping mall, and just one stop to Siam Station.  I spent a lot of time exploring the malls because of the heavy rains.  I'm not complaining because there's a lot to see.  Remember, I haven't visited Bangkok in 10 years!  

Visited Central World, of course.  Picked up several items from Puthawan.  Love the aromatic bookmarks from Karmakamet - such a gorgeous shop!  The perfect time and place to start my Christmas shopping.

Oh, and went by to Big C supermarket to watch customers buy stuff in cartons.  Hmmm ... I only bought Mama Instant Noodles, and dried tang hoon.  

Enjoyed a superb buffet breakfast at Siam@Siam Design Hotel Bangkok on my second morning.  I also tried some sort of pork burger from McDs but it wasn't great.  

The highlight of the trip was a day out with Kai, whom I haven't seen in 10 years!  More on this in my other post.

xx

BANGKOK - DAY OUT WITH KAI

I am in Bangkok for a short break.  Went out with Kai yesterday.  Started the day with awesome weatther.  Visited two Wats (temples) that were built during the Ayuttya Period.  We did many things.

Lunch in Talat Phlu.   Tut-tut to Iconsiam shopping mall.  Ferry to Sathorn.  Bought pork jerky, and pork floss from a 60+ year old shop on Charoen Krung Road, followed by dinner in a local coffee shop.

Then it started to downpour.  The beginning of true adventure.

By the time the rain subsided, the water outdoors had risen to almost knee-deep, making it impossible for us to wade to the skytrain station.

"What to do?" 

We were standing in front of a 7-11 contemplating next steps and as luck would have it a public bus had opened its doors directly in front of us.  Kai, the ever-quick thinker barked, "Get on the bus - NOW."  We stepped on without getting our feet wet.

In Singapore, the bus would be deemed old-fashioned.  It came with natural ventilation.  And accompanied by a Conductor from whom Kai bought tickets.

The bus driver drove like a mad man - speeding away from Charoen Krung Road and knee-deep waters.  Within minutes we found ourselves back in Central World, where the ground was drier and the rain had came to a drizzle.

Thanks for taking care of me, Kai.  It was really great seeing you and know you are keeping well.  I hope we don't wait another 10 years to meet again.

view from Iconsiam

View from Iconsiam

View from Iconsiam

Hopping on to a free ferry from Iconsiam to Sathorn Pier

Maneuvering the alleyways in a tut-tut

Lunch in Talat Phulu.  We ate Khao Kha Moo (Thai braised pig trotters).

On a bus, travelling with the wind in my hair.

bus ticket

Kai baked brownies!  Look, I bought a plate!