Noodle Shop

Around the corner from my factory is the Noodle Shop. It is a rectangular shop house that only sells noodles. I spend entirely too much time there, but it's convenient, clean, and the service is great - and the noodles are yummy.

My friend/ co-worker Stewart can attest to that.

The place is owned by a family that lives on the 2 floors above the shop. The youngest son takes care of everything - cooking, cleaning, serving. I don't have a picture of him because he moves too fast. I've never seen anything like it in Thailand. He's always barefoot and flying around the shop. As soon as you lift your glass to drink, he's there to wipe the condensation off the table with one hand and refill your glass with the other. I want to give him a job at my factory.

His mother on the other hand always looks like she just woke up. A nice old lady, who just yesterday told me that at 35 it's time for me to have kids. I should have one boy and one girl - that's the best. Besides taking an occasional order that's the first time she's ever spoken to me.

When she sleeps, her arm always hangs over the side of the sofa. I have no idea why.

I should add that the rear of the noodle shop is also their living room.

Every evening around 8pm the "Rod Di" man and his daughter come along. "Rod Di" is an Indian desert - basically, a bread pancake with lots of sugar and lots of sweetened condensed milk, then it's fried in pure butter the color of velveeta cheese.

Here's a picture of his mobile restaurant - a motorcycle with a sidecar/ kitchen.

Breakfast of Champions

If I've learned anything from being married, it's that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. More than eating vegetables, remembering to take my medicine, or driving home safely, my mother-in-law, who treats me like a second son, takes every opportunity to remind me of the importance of the first meal of the day.

Below is a picture of a pot of "Cow Tom"


When in Korat, where the aches and pains of a developing country surround you and daily existence is considerably more spartan compared to the luxuries of Bangkok, this is my morning meal.

Prepared by the cooks at the factory, it's basically boiled rice with some seasonings and 2 fish heads. At 5 baht a bowl (about 15 cents) you can't complain. Add some garlic, onions, and salty fish sauce and I'm ready to face the day. Most importantly, I relieve myself of any guilt for missing the day's most important meal.

McRat

On the way between Korat and Bangkok, vendors along the side of the road are selling "Nu Yang" or grilled field rat and a strange root/ nut thing called "gra-jab". It's shaped just like the black drawing in the picture. I think they're hanging in the plastic bags beneath the umbrella. Then again, those could be the rats.


In my Peace Corps days, I may have stopped for a nibble. I've tried grilled rat before, and it's actually pretty tasty - as long as you don't mind the pointy little feet and toes hanging off the end of your rat "drumstick".

Vote for Me

After a bloodless coup last September, Democracy will once again be restored in Thailand with an election on December 23rd.

The propaganda machines are in full-swing and the littering of Bangkok streets and sidewalks with campaign posters has begun.

With the opportunity to bring back stability and rebuild the nation, politicians are especially enthusiastic about this year's election. Thailand's poor are also enthusiastic about the upcoming elections because as the politicians are busy rebuilding the nation, they can repair and rebuild their shanty homes with discarded campaign posters. Every one's a winner!!!

Kao San Night

Kao San Rd. is the backpacker hub of Bangkok and possibly Southeast Asia. 10 years ago when I first came to Thailand, it was a bit shady - reminded me of the bar scene on Tatoonie (sp?) in the first Star Wars movie. Over time, it's given itself successive make-overs and is more high-end, but still maintains its backpacker edge.

Whenever there's a question as to how to waste an evening, Kao San is always an option. Food is cheap and good, there are lots of pubs and music, and travellers from all corners of the earth provide the ever-changing, never disappointing scenery. Here are some pics from a few nights back.

Here's Nuch. We just had dinner and drinks at the Roof Pub.

This "Taxi" is a Kao San Icon. I wish I had a picture of the driver - he's even more decked-out, and he's also got a little poodle that rides with him.


Contraband!!! DVDs just $3 a movie.

Electric Wires outside one of the pubs. The picture is not clear, but there must be a thousand wires running through there. To me this exemplifies Bangkok - It shouldn't work, but it does and everyone has a great time.



Kao San Lights. This picture doesn't do it justice. I need to work on my photo-taking skills.



After a late night, we're walking through the back alley on the way to the parking lot. This is how it actually looked to me.

What I Do

I don't actually make leather furniture - just the leather covers that are stuffed with foam and then, put on a wooden frame. A simple reason for this is that the labor content of sewing is extremely high, as is the cost of shipping a fully-upholstered sofa.

So, as it is, what I see going out the factory door usually resembles a large leather purse, luggage or duffel bag.

On a recent trip to the UK, I finally got to see in person what becomes of our leather baggage.

Not bad.

Post-op Pre-test

Here's a test for anyone planning to visit Thailand.

This is a picture of Nuch's make-up and hairdressing team and was taken at 4am on the morning of our wedding.

Okay, after our wedding, I can personally guarantee that Nuch is a genuine woman. That being said... of the remaining 4 people in this picture only 1 was born a woman. Can you pick her out?

Warning to unwary travellers: In Thailand, beer-goggles can carry much greater repercussions than in most societies.

"Jet-setter"

One of the reasons I studied international management was the "lure" of international business travel. Jet-setting around the world, visiting exotic places, eating strange foods, meeting new and interesting people....

Below are a few pictures of me "jet-setting" on a recent trip to the UK. When business was done and we weren't driving between the 4 corners of England, we did find some time to do some sightseeing.

This is a picture of Stonehenge.

Unfortunately, it had closed just as we arrived. 5,000 years of history, 5,000 miles of travel and we missed it by 5 minutes.

Fortunately, we discovered the lesser-known Woodhenge, which is just around the corner.

Unlike Stonehenge, Woodhenge does not close and is open to visitors at all hours. Also unlike Stonehenge, Woodhenge was made of wood instead of stone, so there's nothing left except some concrete stumps that were put in place to represent where the wood would have been.

If you don't believe me....

This is a picture of Siruay, our Sr. Quality Engineer in Korat, and Silv, the Sr. Quality Inspector for one of our customers. She was rejecting everything and was the main reason we made the trip to England.

Exotic places, interesting people, and finally some strange foods. When in Chippenham, I highly recommend the Shepherd's Pie at the Jolly Huntsman.

Day at the Office

Ummm..... already running out of things to blog about. So, here's a day in the life - Monday morning. Wake up get out of bed.... and start my hour-long commute through Bangkok's dreaded gridlock.

This is my car in front of Nuch's house in Bangkok

These 2 pics are on the way to my office. A temple (with bridge in background) and congestion on the Rama 8 bridge

Below is a series of pictures taken from my office window. Not exactly, my office, but I can see this window from my office, if I stand at the door and look around the corner.

My office building is on the northside of Bangkok just South of the old airport. In the first picture you can see the main highway that leads in and out of Bangkok. This road takes you to Korat where my factory is located (250 km Northeast). In the 2nd picture you can see "Deuk Chang" or elephant building. In the 3rd picture you can see edges of the Bangkok skyline, as well as the Thai Air building in the forefront.




In future blogs, I'll try to provide some more scenic views.

Only in Thailand

4 Blog posts and I'm starting to feel adventurous. I will now attempt to upload a video. Wish me luck.

Sometimes videos are worth more than a 1,000 words and this particular video says so much about Thailand. Enjoy

My Cold-blooded Friend

For the past several months a little gecko lizard has been scaring the be-jesus out of me every morning as I brush my teeth.

My morning routine in Korat starts after several 15-minute snoozes and a cold shower. I, then, lumber downstairs to get dressed and brush my teeth. I must still be in a daze because it's always a shock to see this little lizard staring down at me from the bathroom window.

But have no fear, although it has penetrated the steel safety bars, I am safely separated from it by a lizard-proof screen.

I took this picture several weeks ago, and I am sorry to report that my little cold-blooded friend has left me for a more private and intimate residence. I'm afraid I was testing my my digital camera and the succession of 15 flashes likely frightened him off. Even worse, this is the best picture I could get.

This Car is Blue

Well, it's not actually blue. In fact, it's gold, but spiritually, it's definitely blue.

On the top-right hand corner of the tailgate it says, "rot can nee see nam ngeun" or "this car is blue". I have seen this type of thing for years and finally got a picture of it along with an explanation.

Colors hold a special significance in Thailand. Depending on which day you were born, you will have a special color. For example, the King of Thailand was born on a Monday and the color of Monday is yellow. So, to honor him Thais (almost all or over 90%) will wear yellow shirts on Mondays.

Quite often when someone is going to purchase a new car, house or something expensive they will consult a fortune teller as to what color the purchase should be to bring the best luck. Unfortunately, there are times when the lucky color is not a color you like or is not the color of the car or house that may have been given to you. Imagine getting a nice red corvette on your 16th birthday only to find out that your lucky color is pink! Do you not accept the car or pay to have it painted? Not in Thailand - writing on the car (in a position discreet, yet visible) that the car is your lucky color is a completely acceptable solution.

Initially, I added this to my (long) list of things that I will never understand about Thailand. However, after some thought, the Thais may not be so far off. I mean, Thais obviously don't believe that by saying the car is blue that it magically becomes blue.

The best example that comes to mind is a tattoo. A man gets a tattoo of a tiger on his arm or a Superman "S" on his chest. He nor anyone else would believe that this makes him a lion or Superman, but it would be assumed that this represents some aspect of his character. Similarly, for this Thai driver, he may be driving a car that it is gold, but with a "verbal-tattoo", if you will, on his tailgate, he can reassure himself and express to all others driving too close behind that his truck possesses the good fortune of the lucky color blue.

"... and They Were All Yellow"

What I wouldn't give to be a supplier of yellow dye.

Since the end of 2005, Thais have been wearing yellow shirts on Monday to honor the King of Thailand . (The King was born on a Monday and yellow is the color associated with Monday) I thought it was just a fad and would slowly fade away.... never underestimate the Thais' love for their King.


Here are a few pics taken last week near my office in Bangkok.

Crocodile Hunter

I have no business starting a blog. I am admittedly too lazy to contribute on a regular basis. However, I regularly come across interesting articles that help paint a picture of my life in Thailand.

Here's the first edition:

It doesn't matter where you are in the world, I'm sure farmers have the same two complaints - either it's too dry, or too wet. This year, in Thailand, it was too wet. With a rainy season that started early and lasted late into October, there was considerable flooding throughout Isaan (Northeast Thailand), including Korat. However, the one thing farmers everywhere probably don't need to complain about is crocodiles getting loose from the local crocodile farm.

Police armed with assault rifles searched for 36 crocodiles that escaped from a farm in northeastern Thailand (Where I work) when their pens were flooded after heavy rains, an official said Friday.Search parties shot and killed eight of the animals as they slithered through the flooded district Friday morning, said Chin Konjohor, chief of the area's municipal office.

Police and village volunteers have been scouring the Nonsoong district of Nakhon Ratchasima province by boat, day and night, since the crocodiles escaped on Tuesday, he said.Chin said nighttime searches were often the most successful because crocodiles eyes glowed in the dark.

Heavy rains have inundated several northeastern provinces for days. Parts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Bangkok, were among the hardest hit."The entire town is under water," Chin said. "We're working hard to catch the crocodiles before they bite someone."

I'll have to ask for some crocodile tail at my local restaurant.

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