Spring Cleaning

" We clean clean clean clean clean clean clean from early morn till night
We throw throw throw throw throw throw throw away useless thing in sight
We clean up diamonds by the score
A thousand rubies, sometimes more
But we don't know what we cleaning for
We clean clean clean a-clean clean

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho "

It's the time of the year where you get to throw away stuff in order to buy more for the year. Haha. Think I did a great job this year; half my wardrobe is now empty! This just means more shopping sprees for me this year, Yeah! Found some super crazy earrings that I made 2 years ago as a hobby. That’s it, I am done with this hobby. Throw!

Happy Birthday Dear Mum!

"感谢主赐给我妈                          Thanks the Lord for giving me a mother;
感谢妈煮给我吃                            Thanks my Mum who cooks for me.
感谢您安家有道                            Thanks to your tireless sacrifices,
让全家感到安乐                             that makes the family a true home.
妈,祝您生日快乐"                          Happy birthday to my beloved Mum!

Amazing Grace

Uncle passed away this afternoon. While I am fully prepared that the time would eventually arrive but when it did, I still felt a dull ache in my heart. As I was comforting my mum, I realized that there are no amount of words that would comfort us now. Only time can heal the pain while memories remain...

When it is time to leave...

I will be tendering my resignation by end of the month. As per plan for this year, my focus will be on self-development and pursuing my personal interests. I have been with the company for more than 7 years so there is a certain level of unbeliefs and the usual round of working an alternative when I preempt my director on my resignation.  But I have made up my mind; this year I will be 35 years old. I believe that the age is still not too old to try something different but is no longer young enough to wait another year. This year will mark the official change of my lifestyle.

Looking back, I have been working for the past 14 years since the day I got my diploma. While most of my classmates and friends have chosen to get a degree either part-time or full-time, I have thinking on how to earn more money. With lots of luck, I managed to get in favor with my direct supervisors and smoothly move upward to where I wanted to be. That is until now. I have a new thought. Here I am, comfortable creature of habits. Great job, good pay and enough savings to live comfortably. But where do these things lead me to? Am I really living? Or at least, am I happy?

Boring. It is the word that I would describe my life. Comfortable yet boring. But I never wanted to be a common hobbit. I craved an adventure…

Some days are blue...

My uncle who is diagnosed with last stage of liver cancer is given less than 3 months of life left by his doctor. Last week he caught up blood and was re-admitted back to hospital. It was a sad day for us as all the relatives gather together to visit him. His skin and eyes were yellow due to jaundice cause by his failing liver. Every time he summon up his strength to thank us for our support and love, we start tearing. He is only 61 years old and the youngest brother to my mother. My mother is greatly affected since she doted on this brother since young. I have to comfort my mum throughout the journey. Now he is at a hospice while we continue to pray for him.

Earlier this week, I received another shocking news. One of my colleague who is around the same age as me had found a tumour growing in her head and require an emergency operation this coming monday. I took a while to digest this piece of news. I was discussing some problems at work with her just the day before and she did not know of her tumour then. Suddenly the work problem does not seems to matter anymore; in fact everything else does not matter anymore. She could have plans over this weekend; could be to the hairstylist to do her hair before chinese new year or some errands to run. BUT all these will have to hold while she fight for her life.

In a retrospective way, can we really control our life? Can we fight for our destiny? I felt humbled by these unfortunate turns of fate yet I feel a need to remain strong in my beliefs. I will survive!

New year day on Bangkok Jan 2013

Sabai, sabai...This year, I welcomed Year 2013 in Bangkok with a group of friends. It was definitely a unique experience. Bangkok was crowded with peoples around the world at this time of the year. Wait a minute, I guess it was always this crowded since it is one of the best city for nightspots and parties! I enjoyed travelling to Bangkok since food is good and things are considerable cheaper there. This time round there is no difference, it is eating and shopping all day long. Below is a list of must-do when I visit this city.

Jasmine's Must-do List

1. Platinum Mall for whole sale shopping. Get a few friends and you can request for whole sale price if you get 3 pieces and above (can be a mix of different items).


2. Thai Massages. It is either Health land or the massage place at Heritage hotel for me.


3. Food courts. There are Pad Thai, fish maw soup, duck noodles, seafood fried maggi noodles and pig organs kway chap at any food courts of big shopping centres (Personal favourites are Platinum mall and Emporium's food courts)


4. Somboon restuarant for cheap seafood(must-try dish would be the steamed fish in spicy lime sauce. It comes with hot charcoals and you can request to top up the soup to the fish)


5. Local open market. There is one near Chong Nonsi and Taksin Saphan station


6. Supermarket. The prices for amendities are cheaper than Singapore. There are special spices and titbits you can get here. Get the tom yam flavored crisy tiny anchovies and cashew nuts. You can get sweet cut fruits like guava, jambu, pineapple and they come with spicy sugar or rojak paste dips. My Favourite supermarket are Big C opposite Central World and Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon.


7. Ice Thai tea from street cafes. Can get from any mini cafes along streets or BTS stations. Wait for the crushed ice to melt a bit before drinking else it will be too sweet.


8. Chaptuchak on weekends. Go in the morning to avoid the crowds and the super hot burning sun. You can get good aromatherapy kits and essential oils are affordable prices. I usually get my crispy spicy cuttlefish from here at 100baht for 300grams until I found a store selling much cheap at Yaraowat.


9. Central world. Remember to try the cupcakes at Cupcake Love which is super yummy, all flavors are worth a try. They have a wide selection of popular restuarants like Fuji, Coca or Mk steamboat, swenson etc. Visit Thann or Karmakamet for high end aroma oils and stuffs.


10. Tune in to the local radio. Thai singers like to coo love songs that are really soothing to the ears. Its always great to listen to the radio when caught in a jam, helps to calm you down.


11. Mango sticky rice from airport selling at 180baht per pack. My mum adores their version of this popular dessert.


12. Vat refund. Remember to bring passport when shopping in big departmental stores. Tourists are allow to claim 7% tax refund for receipts more that 2000baht. However down point is your purchases may have to be checked before check-in at the airport

Bangkok Skytrain - a great way to travel.


Asiatique the Riverfront
 

Things i bought...