Bangkok 2008 Day 86-88: Hanging Out

It's a long weekend, Monday being Wesak day and it's celebrated here as well. Supposed to head out with the girls and with the Thai colleagues to this Pagoda for the wesak day event, but decided to skip it this time.

Day 86 (Evening)

We had dinner at this newly opened Italian restaurant located on Soi 20. Basilico Pizzeria.

It's interesting you see, because just a month back the restaurant was something else... I cannot remember. It could be a bar/pub. Then just in a few weeks, they tore down the place, rebuilt the exterior, then came the interior decorations and voila, a marvel piece of work done. The restaurant was ready for business. Architecture-wise it's pretty eye-catchy.

I was hesitant to go there yesterday due to well... and also unusual bowel movement (*paiseh*), but decided to do so anyway.

The pizza makers. I like the wood burning oven. It's got a big clay rotator (Think microwave oven) to do the baking.

Overall it was so-so. There were a number of main courses ordered, sampled and I only enjoyed 1 of them. The baked pasta. The other dishes were not to my liking simply because one was too bland (Cabonara spaghetti dish), and the other 2 too salty (tuna + anchovy pizza, some bacon like pizza). The price was off the roof. It wasn't worthed it at all. However, I do commend on the excellent service.

Hightlight was, we got to witness a pizza maker flippin the dough with considerable skills.



Ho-humm...

Day 87

Originally wanted to head for the office. But decided against it at the last minute. Going there alone isn't exactly very cost effective. I would have to shell out a total of 40 smackers going and returning. Anyway, work can wait... even if it's urgent.

Instead, colleague and I headed for MBK mall. I wanted to try out my luck in getting the gamecube fixed. I was betting that it's just the adapter that bit the dust, not the machine itself. After patroning many stalls, thank God for one that provides servicing. Immediately he knew what my predicament was, and being a foreigner, he shelled out a pretty unreasonable price tag for getting it fixed. I was hard headed on getting it done so I agreed.

On a lighter note, he told me I could get it back in 3 hours.

For the next few hours I just wandered aimlessly in MBK, exploring every nook and corner, killing time until my colleague was done with her activity.

We met up for lunch, and proceeded with the next activity on the itenary: Jim Thompson's house.

Jim Thompson's house is actually just a few minutes walk from MBK. We arrived an hour before closing time and managed to hitched a tour going on. In short, Jim Thompson was a founder of Thai Silk, or rather, he marketed the fabric in a grand scale back when he was alive. Click on the link above to learn more.



























































We were in a way deprived of any sightseeing places and this one came the closes. As the pictures above attest, the place has got a very nice, lushed floral garden, which I related to very very well. I just love to be surrounded by thick greens, it emits a nice feeling inside.

The artifacts we found inside the house (pictures not taken due to restrictions) are actually collections of various past eras and locations (china, thailand, burma, etc...). Some dated as long back as the 16th century.

We left the place at 4.30pm. Overall it was quite nice, and at only 100 Baht. We could hang out as long as we wanted.

Later that evening, we headed to Emporium. Before that I wasn't informed and was dressed extremely casually... donned in my sorta... pajamas. When I was aware it had been too late.

The moment I stepped into Emporium I was so ashamed by the way I looked... I fled to the departmental store and got myself a set of clothes... You can see the before and after below. =P




The process of getting the right clothes took a little longer than expected, also from the looks of the various sales girls attending to my needs... well you could really tell. Alas, I did find matching ones that I like, with great help from my 2 gal colleagues aka image consultant. Paid quite a sum for them too 3500 baht altogether... -.-", but it was worthed it. Wore it straight away. =P

Day 88

Nothing much went on today. Just accompanied colleague to the hospital to see a skin specialist. Then it was back to MBK to collect the cube. Pretty much it.

Day 89

It's raining hard now, and at about 2.14pm. They've just left for the pagoda. I chose a quiet day today to sort out some stuffz.

Anyways, it's work from hence forth. Hope to see you guys soon.