My Little Mermaid

The Acapulco Pizza

You will notice that one piece is missing from this pizza.  That's because I was in Kuala Lumpur, and did not expect this pizza to be blog-worthy.  There are great Western restaurants throughout Asia, but if the majority of the menu is local fair with just a few token foreign meals, as was the case at this restaurant, don't expect too much, and you're better off with some Tom Yam or Panang.

However, on this particular day, I had had enough curry, fried rice, and fish with their heads on, so I gave The Acapulco a shot.

Guacamole and beans on pizza may sound odd, but the cheese and crispy crust made it work - like nachos.  I'm already looking forward to my next trip back.

I Don't Drink Tea

Today is election day in Thailand.  Although you have the right to choose your leaders, you don't have the right to drink beer.  I don't know the exact reason or the history of this decision,  but on election day all alcohol sales are strictly forbidden.

However, like most things in Thailand, there are ways to get around these annoying rules.  

First The Walkman

and now, the Pancake Sandwich.  The Japanese have outdone themselves here.

I was running late for work and Nuch gave me this snack, which she had bought in Tokyo on a recent trip.

Filled with butter and maple syrup.

Safety First

I walked out to the factory this morning and saw a guy teetering on some pipes, trying to hang up a sign that says "Safety First"

 

First Trip To Korea

I was there for just over 24 hours and spent most of the time in a freezing cold factory or asleep, which is a shame because we were staying in Gangnam, Seoul of Gangnam Style fame.

The only pictures I took were of our authentic Korean barbecue dinner.  

The only fault I could find with the meal was that this particular dish was not barbecued.  It was eaten raw - as in raw egg mixed with raw meat and that's it.  I've come a long way since growing up on PB n J's and spaghetti with no sauce, so I gave it a try.  Although I preferred the cooked meat, the lion food was not too bad - as long as I don't get worms.

Once again, the cooked stuff was the winner.

It was in the 30's F while I was there, so this heat fan was much needed.  I've never seen one before, but what a great idea.

Shutdown Bangkok

Here are pics from recent visits to the protest.  Nuch and I don't hang out there, but we need to cross the barricades to get where we're going, which is usually a happy hour or spa - and of course, Nuch needs a selfie to update her Facebook.  It's really more of a street party with vendors, music, local foods, and non-stop speeches berating the current government.

This sign reads "Can you hear the people sing?"  - Les Miserables, but instead of the underprivileged trying to overthrow the wealthy aristocracy, the wealthy aristocracy is trying to overthrow the populist government.

In the daytime, the crowds are fairly sparse.

But things heat up in the evening.

This was taken two Mondays ago at the same spot as above

Food is provided to the protesters, but trash cans are not.

Some of the more flamboyant protesters.

Let's just say there's no effort to win over the hearts and minds of the poor farmers who generally support the current government.

This overpass in the middle of Bangkok was shutdown with a tarp.  I assume the government is just trying to avoid violence while waiting for the protesters to burn out

661 Silom Meet & Meat

As a side project/ hobby, my boss opened a posh new restaurant on Silom Rd. He invited me out this past Saturday to try the steak.

His goal is to have the best steaks in Bangkok.  It's pretty darn good.

I told him that his Lobster Bisque may be better than one of my favorite restaurants, Le Bouchon.  He laughed and told me that he had stolen their chef and he now works for 661 Silom.

Some pictures from their website.

Fight For Your Right

for a select group of elite minds to reform the electoral system, so the uneducated masses (and anyone voting for the current government) can’t screw up real democracy - at least, that's what the guy on stage is saying.

Here we are at the Asoke Annex of the “Shutdown Bangkok” protests.  Nuch’s hardcore.  I came for the spectacle and my favorite pub is nearby.

Random Cool Pics From The Web

Shanghai from the top of a skyscraper that's currently under construction

Thailand's train market

Dubai

The Grand Palace

Thai Advertising Stinks

I came across this advertisement at a kiosk in Mega Bangna.

It's for a fragrance company - that, apparently, can't spell fragrance. I still don't know what to think about this.  I'm reminded of Zoolander's Derelicte and Boomerang's Strangé - "It stinks so good".

Suvarnabhumi Pet Peeves

Bangkok's International airport opened in 2006 and is already overbooked.  At least half of my flights park away from the gate in the middle of the tarmac, and a bus comes to pick us up.  

It's only a short bus ride, and it drops you right next to immigration - instead of the mile-long walk you would normally take from the gate.  However, after a long flight, the last thing I want is to be crammed together with my fellow passengers in an even small tin can.  In addition, it feels like an extra and unwanted leg has been added to my trip.  It would be my #1 Suvarnabhumi pet peeve, if not for the times when the plane actually parks at the gate, but instead of simply walking through the gate and into the airport, they have you walk across and through the gate, out a back door, down a set of stairs, and onto the waiting bus.  I've asked Nuch why they do this and she's not able to explain.

Population Control

Our factory was adopted by a small family of dogs early last year.  You may remember the black dog that was hit by a motorcycle and got a fancy red cast. That dog and her sister both had litters last month, so instead of 4 dogs, we now have 15.  No one is sure who the father is - when I ask, the Thais laugh and tell me that there are many fathers.

The problem is the two litters were born within a week of each other, and they live in our relatively small parking lot.  The bigger problem is that they prefer to sleep in the shade underneath our cars.  At the last count we we're down to 10 dogs.  Our Warehouse Manager, now known as the Puppy Slayer, has crushed two already.

We were a bit slow to react, but these days before anybody goes home, you can see them on hands and knees checking for puppies sleeping against their tires.