Foodfest 2008

My mom has seen just about every temple in Thailand, as well as most of the beaches, tourists attractions, and shopping malls. So, to keep ourselves busy during her recent visit, we did one of two things: sit by the pool or eat. Any time in between was usually spent deciding when or where we would do the other activitiy. In typical Moody fashion we took pictures of most meals. So, here they are.

My mom's first full day in Thailand started at Trader Vic's Sunday brunch.

My mom and Nuch's mom in the Marriott garden after brunch.

Carl and Emily joined us, as well.

On Songkran day we had dinner at Pier 61 next to the river. Here is my mom and Nuch paying respect to restaurant's Buddha image on the way in.

These three girls were the Songkran welcoming committee. They were kind enough not to douse us with water before our meal.

One of my mom's last nights in Bangkok we ate at Good View Restaurant with Nuch and her parents.

Her cousin, Note, joined us, later in the evening. He was the MC at our wedding along with my friend, Carl. In case you're curious, I was too afraid to ask him what a "Kahlua Hummer" is.

Here I am demonstrating my special technique for pouring egg into our vegetable Suki.

One night my mom and I joined Nuch and her dad at a local restaurant along a Bangkok canal.

Relaxed/ local atmosphere and great seafood. Nuch and I end up there a couple times each month.

For dinner one night I had a monster burger that had to be eaten like a steak...

and my mom had Pad Thai cooked in thin omelet wraps.

The view from the 3rd floor of the Marriott atrium looks down on the Market restaurant.



Flat Josie joined us at Trader Vic's on my mom's last evening in Thailand.

To finish the trip and last meal off, we had a little dessert - chocolate covered ice cream balls shrouded in a cool mist.

Marriott River Taxi

Last week, I picked up my mom at the hotel and we took the Marriott's river taxi to downtown Bangkok.

Some of the other river taxis parked at the hotel.

and a view of the hotel from the river.

The sun rising over some riverside condominiums.

A tub pulling rice or sand barges.

The little boat above was pulling 4 of these huge, fully-loaded barges

This is the pier where the river taxi meets the Bangkok Sky Train.

and some long-tailed boats if you need to go up river in a hurry.

Pre-Songkran Pics

It's the hottest time of the year in Thailand and also the time for Thai New Year or Songkran. So, in preparation for the annual nationwide water fight, I'm going to post some pics form Songkrans past.

This is in front of my factory at our yearly Songkran Ceremony, where the staff gets to pour water on the bosses.

My friend Ron and I on Kao San. Pardon his shirt, he's from Tennessee.

No one is safe on Songkran Day

One of these guys really enjoys Heineken beer and the other guy is really gay. Can you guess who's who?


Some random pics from the Songkran water festival at Kao San Rd.

Just some filler, as I haven't blogged in about a week. I'll have more pics from my mom's trip and this year's Songkran Festival early next week.

Welcome to Thailand

My mom arrived at 2:30 am and 9 hours later we were at Trader Vic's for brunch. Nuch's family was able to join us along with my friends Tim and Carl and his wife and daughter.

Trader Vic's is an international buffet with a leaning towards seafood. I tend to fill up on the salmon and grilled lobster. The cheeses are nice, too. As are the desserts, breads, soups, and Italian hors d'oeuvres and meats.

Here are some pics from the afternoon (it's almost midnight, and I have to get up at 5:30, so these are in no particular order).

My mom and I. You can't see it, but I cut myself three times shaving that morning. I blame the 4 hours of sleep the night before.

Tim enjoying a view of the river.


Here's Nok and Emily. Everybody came to see my mom, but I'm afraid Emily stole the spotlight - even when she's eating mushroom bruschetta.

Emily and Carl



Tim selecting cheese.

Nuch and my mom.

I think this is a yawn. We were up until 5 am.

Here is dessert.

Strange fish carving next to the seafood grill.

Looks like Nuch's wearing a plate.

On the way out, Tim got a quick lecture on something from Nuch's dad.

Moms in the garden next to Trader Vic's.

Nuch talking to my mom and it looks like her brother, Pat, in the background flirting with the hotel intern.


After brunch, we took a walk around the hotel grounds.

Then, my mom, Tim, and I got a much deserved foot massage.



Towards the end of the day, after everyone had gone home, my mom and I relaxed next to the pool.




Last but not least - flat Josie on the Trader Vic's mascot.

The Pond

I've been chronicling the status of the pond next to my factory for the last couple years.

A few months ago it was covered and sealed by an alien, lime-green fungus. The winter months apparently killed it off, and it disappeared, as the temperature dropped below 70.

Just weeks ago, I caught some guy actually fishing there. My hopes that the pond would once again be bountiful with fish were renewed.

That was until the other day...

Sadly, I think the current state of the pond is at a new low, as it has been partially drained and turned into a trash dump.