Arn In Town Once More

Photos taken yesterday at North Beach's Washington Square and some in my flat. Arn came by around noon; came by Caltrain then was on board bus number 30; walked past Union and buzzed in while I was making wheat bread! Surprised, I was delighted to hear her speak on the intercom! She was here with us for lunch then left shortly at past 3 PM to catch the Caltrain back to her hotel/school/dorm where she is for about a week doing her MA in art therapy. She is still jetlagging and was yawning in between her tell-tale moments. Poor Arn! But hey, thanks for passing by!!!

Hair Bum- Part 2 (a.k.a. HAIR DISASTER FOR THE NEW YEAR)

Last month, I was at Walgreens to purchase a travel pillow for my husband. I found one in deep purple. I thought it was nice. It felt good on my hands and was terrific on my neck. I thought,

“Wow, this could ease up his ordeal going through long-haul journey with me!”

In brief seconds, I grabbed it, glided into the cashier line, paid my bill, and then sauntered back to the nearby isle. Next, I walked along the rows of hair care products; looked around then finally settled for a highlighter for my hair. By the cashier, I queued for the second time around; paid my bill then breezed through the door. In a few moments’ time, I was home again and free. Inside, I went straight to the loo and deposited my purchase. At the cupboard under the sink, I squeezed the box right at the bottom end of it. Once concealed from all the rest of the stuff inside it I left the bathroom and closed the door.

Last Monday, at half past nine in the morning, I decided I was going to be out from my zombie zone. Coming home from an overseas trip always drags me down. However, the jetlag I had this time was horrific. May be because my international flights have not been as frequent as when I was still single. Back then I traveled like 4X a year in the summer, during my spring break, winter break and whatever holidays we had at school plus the host country's holidays.

Being married and a stay-at-home wife had set a difference in my body clock, time zone flexibility and many more. Anyhow, it seems like my body could not cope with the opposite period I have in San Francisco. Our trip in MNL and BKK last Yuletide and New Year was terrific but our transitions time-wise had been tough.

I for one had a rough time dealing with it. My eyes were dry from oversleeping and I have puffy eyes- what a sight! Ngeek! My eyes wanted more time to sleep~ but my body did not want to. How is that? Horrible! Besides, I could not be like a cocaine freak who is perennially asleep then would wake up in the middle of the night, when all the world is asleep and dreaming!

Finally, after being dazed for almost two weeks now, I decided the day has come for me to deal with it (sigh).So...

At half past nine in the morning, I went to the bathroom; opened the cupboard and got my highlighter box. Inside, I found the ensemble of the small mascara look-alike brush; plastic bowl (for mixing chemicals); bleaching powder and developer. There, all was set to start my hair day experiment.

At the loo, I glanced at the mirror in front of me and imagined things on how I would look later. Would I be prettier? Ha!Ha! I had a good quiet laugh. May be I would be like a beach blonde-haired woman? Who knows?

[To continue this soliloquy...]

I did the prep work of my hair-day experiment and put on the gloves; mixed the bleach and developer all at the same time. Once blended, I stopped momentarily to check out the instructions.

"Hm, all is well."

Next, I started to gather thin streaks of hair from my scalp (to brush them with the chemicals I just worked on). After a while, my hair was covered with the liquefied bleach.

Reading the label gave me a lot of hope that my streaks would look terrific. And after fifteen minutes of struggling with the painting style of the bleach thank goodness-I was done!

Inside the bathroom, I cleaned my mess then went to take a breather. I sat on the loveseat in our sitting room. Our flat is small but cozy and the loveseat is my nook for some solitary times. There, I worked with the laptop on my lap and began reading my emails. I thought,

“I could shoot two birds with one stone: read emails and wait for my hair to develop. Now, that isn't too bad, right?”

Did I do the right thing?

Hm...you had better follow me through this.

Since I am the creative type, once my creativity is triggered, I am focused and nothing could kick me off that state of mind. Then, in the midst of my editing work, I got so glued to it.

I love reading and writing is my passion. While editing my work for international publication (on international art education), I got so engrossed. Then, TING! I realized I was totally out of the loop as far as the time frame for my hair to develop. Then, BANG! I felt the hair in my body was standing. Yikes! I had goose bumps, Gee-whiz! I realized I was silly enough to have been carried away with my writing!

Then, something went wrong...

So, I rushed to the loo and checked out my hair. In the mirror, it looked awful. My highlight (copper tone) had turned into big time BLOND!!! Wahhhhhhhhhhh! Omigod!OMG! What must I do?

My mind was reeling...my heart was drumming; my skin- was sweaty, my sex appeal- gone! This is the story of my life. Wahhh! I was in a delirious spell. Shit, this could not be happening to me! I am not Caucasain and my skin is brown (or pale tan). How could I be blond?

Now, I am so dumb since I am now a blond (*crying out loud*)!

In a fast groove, I took off my clothes; hopped into the cold tub; turned on the shower and let the water ran lose. I was running wild like a drunken duck, disfigured by panic and misery. I had washed off the bleach that stuck in my hair. Then my conscience haunted me:

"If you only listened to your spouse and went straight to your hairdresser at MACY'S this crazy thing would have not happened!"

At the tub, my feet were covered with bleach. The scent of was awful. I thought I wanted to puke, as the odor was strong and suffocating me. I rinsed my hair as fast as I could. Then, I felt this sudden change in the texture of my hair.

"WTF is happening to me? Now my naturally freezy hair has gone for the worse! Call it over cooking, over baking, call it whatever you wanna call. Aw! It is horrific!"

I wanted to kill someone! But who? Me? I have no idea that I made a fool out of me. Poor me! The ad said,

"YOU WANNA LOOK PRETTY? Try this product!"

Gathering back my logic took a good 60 seconds (sigh). I needed to move fast. I needed a lot of shampoo plus the conditioner I need is massive. Perhaps, I could resolve this fiasco or I would be the pariah of this neighborhood. No, no, no!!!

At the bathroom, my immaculate white tub started to look like rust. It was a mess getting rid of the dye. At long ast, the bleach scent was out but the color is still on.

After drying my hair, I finally had the guts to see myself and face the mirror. There, I saw this silly petite woman in her 40s who is now officially is a BLOND as in Marilyn Monroe blond, take note. *HELLO?*

Up next...

What must I do? I needed to think fast but my mind was in suspended animation!

Shivering and cursing, I combed my hair fast, put on my make-up, dressed up immediately in my winter apparel. Finally, I found myself getting out of my flat. I paced towards the nearby chemist at Chinatown, at Walgreens. There, with my wet hair dripping all over me, I found my turf *SIGH.*. I felt somewhat secured I was there. It was the place that brought me all this yoyo kind of feeling: Happy then in fury; pretty then ugly. Oh, I tell you, I could kill a cat!MEOW!

Inside Walgreens, I was able to camouflage my blond hair with the huge pink spring hat I wore. There, I walked slowly and went straight to the isle where the hair colors were sold. In that isle, I was happy to take note that no single soul was present. That was a consolation. There, I thought of purchasing the darkest shade ever of any branded hair dye available. I needed something that could fully cover the blond streaks in my hair (sigh) that turned into a big time blond! Finally, I saw two boxes of dark mahogany red hair dye. I grabbed them fast and easy. Beyond sorrow and in deep repose, I thought,

"This is perfect."

My vendetta has arrived- *TING*! I know would feel better in a short while! I grabbed those two boxes of hair color and breezed through the cashier. There, I was delighted and astonished~ I was the lone costumer in line. Lucky me! After the payment was done, I went back to the shelving to where the mirrors were sold. Finally, I gathered enough guts to see myself in the mirror~ if only to check out the way I look that time. Holy Cow! My family would disown me! I wanted to cry but I could not cry!

My heart was pumping all sorts of rhythm! My chest was expanding like it was ready to explode!

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! I look so pathetic! Huhu!

Coming home, I wanted to do the transformation of my hair color as fast as I could!

In the bathroom, I undressed all at once then wrapped myself with a beach towel; covered myself with the plastic apron to protect me from being stained any further. I had this regalia adorning my self as I started applying the hair color from the roots to the ends of my mane that reaches up to my waist. After the work was done under a short span, I made a bun and enveloped my hair with a disposable shower cap, courtesy of Ritz Carlton in Vegas when Little Boy Blue (LBB) and I went there last October.

This time, to check out my hair, I watched the minutes passed by. I was vigilant! No way I was going to make the same mistake the second time around. No way!

Thirty-five minutes later, I took a shower, got rid of the chemicals, and washed off the dye completely. After a long journey to hell, I was done at last! Ayyyyyyyy.....!

In front of the mirror, I could only smile to comfort to myself.

The blond hair is gone and is now dark mahogany red. I am resurrected from purgatory!

In consolation, I put on my make up, perfumed myself and dressed in my warm winter apparel. Finally, I had this winning smile. Ooh-lah-lah, I am beautiful again, cha-ran!

Minutes later, husband buzzed in.

"I am home..yoohoo!"

In a blink of an eye lash, he was up by the door, smiling, teasing and seducing...

I asked,

"How are you? How did the day go?"

“Fine. I am just tired. There was so much to do at the office.” He replied.

At that moment,- I looked straight into his deep blue eyes [translation: I wonder if he even noticed my hair dye?"]

“ How do I look?”

I asked him in my monosyllabic tone.

I was in the verge of breaking down, you know that moment when you swallow deep into your throat because you are afraid you were going to be laughed at?

That's how I felt.

“ What?” He asked in disbelief.

I repeated it once more.

“NOW, TELL ME HONESTLY~HOW- DO- I- LOOK?”

“You look marvelous! You look great as always and quite delicious looking, too!”

He responded in candor. Well, may be perhaps. Who knows?

“REALLY?” I asked sincerely. I almost choked.

[Translation: He did not notice the residue of my blond hair!"].

The next day when he was out of bed, he asked about my nightmare. I asked him about what thisnightmare he was referring about.

He said I was screaming in my sleep. He spoke in his usual fashion: calm, comforting, and serene.

Soon enough, I told him about my travails with my hair color experience. And then he said,

“You should have taken a photograph of yourself with your blond hair, baby.”

He teased me non-stop. I pinched him, kicked him like a baby then I counterpointed him:

“And what- chronicle my stupidity? No way! NO WAY!”

Later, we hugged, kissed, and smiled.

He was right, I should have gone to my salon in MACY's.

GEEZ.

It was a great day after all~ that Tuesday we embraced. Not so very much like the Monday I had when I struggled to be back on my feet again. (*Wink* *wink*).

~THE END~

Hair Bum

Monday this week was a lazy day for me. All I did was nibble some grapes, munch some cheese and tinker my hair. Talking about my hair, I feel wonderful about it. It is almost reaching my waist. When it is wet, it dangles like feather when it touches my breast. The sensation tickles me like a mermaid. One who sings at night and dances in the moonlight skies? When I walk around my flat or elsewhere outside, it glides with me. When the wind blows, it follows me. It’s just marvelous, you see, having a long hair like mine. When it is cold and chilly, it swindles like shawl and it keeps me warm when the cool air reams through me. When it is hot and humid, I just tie it in a bun or a phony then I am sane and sound once more.

Having a long hair in the tropics could be distressing for me. When tiny beats of sweat do spring in my scalp, my body heat would stride then I would be sweaty, wet and cranky. This agony would spin like forever. So then I wished my hair were short. But then again, I am thankful it was long. It is just an exigent thought that comes like the winds of change in my life. My hair nightmare commenced my new year's resolution this year: THOU' SHALL NOT HIGHLIGHT YOUR OWN HAIR!

Last Monday, I was in illusion. I was a princess. I was beautiful. My long frizzy hair enveloped me like a handsome man would be doing to me, in my fancy. My hair cascaded like waves in the sea. In revelry, I tiptoed like a muse. In silence, I danced like a goddess. In my sweet remembrance of things, I was in exultation. Yet, in a blink of an eyelash, all these wondrous scenarios would change (sigh). And in a short while, I would be panic stricken on how to save my hair for the worst of time. Yikes!

This Blog Hits #4 in the Top 1000 Blogs in the USA (Family)

According to webstats4u dated January 23, 2007- this is the good news! My blog is doing well. Now that is something for a hobby to be noticed that way. Cheers!

City Living Inspiration: Mini Garden In My Veranda

What I miss about living in the suburbs is the space. Where we where before (in Ripon), there was a large yard that I had. It enabled me to do a lot of gardening all year-round, especially during spring time, when the buds start to grow. Here in the city, I barely have space, except for the ones I have in our veranda. Today, despite its minimal measurement, I am able to make my veranda quite functional. The nice touch I have for fine green milieu makes it all worthwhile~ to sit by the piano, play my prelude and fugue then gladly look by my veranda. It's all so inspiring to see what I have from my vantage point!


Last Yuletide, husband and I were away (we were overseas) for 25 days. Nourishment of my plants relied heavily on the drip system he had installed just the day before we left last December 22nd. When we came home in the evening of January 15th this week, I was delighted to see the rope lights on (husband set the timer for this). Well,my plants look happy and healthy. In fact, there are more green and yellow leaves sprouting like mana from heaven! They look so nice and makes it all so wonderful to be back to our little home sweet home in San Francisco.

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Does this work now? The fonts dramatically changed to BOLD! Will seek help and technical support to those who know how to fix this error, help! It's hard to read when all the fonts are in BOLD letters. Hellllllllllpppppp!

Child Artist In Focus: "MURIEL" (also known as "SUGAR PIE")

Her sculptures are sooo small, you'd wonder how she does them! She uses different kinds of cutters with very fine blades.

Muriel, a.k.a. "Sugar Pie" to her extended family, sells her sculptures at school and keeps the money she earns for safekeeping. A real enterpreneaur at heart, she knows on how to make money and works hard for it!

Sugar Pie is just 11-years old and goes to Montessori School in the Philippines. Her elder brother Paco like her, is an accomplished child artist who also works in clay, acrylic and pencil. Both kids were featured in Philippine television three years ago regarding their artistic and creative abilities in visual arts. Born from parents who are both professional artists, the two kids during their toddler years have already displayed and manifested  the characteristics of passionate artists: driven, focused, prolific, and excellent at drawing their subjects from memory.

Many people could draw and or copy from photographs (to illustrate or paint a subject or two). Others may use models within the sanctuary of their milieu but for young kids to be able draw, paint or sculpt from memory? Wow, now that is quite impressive! And this tells me~ "hey, these kids are naturally gifted and quite creative, as a matter of fact!"

I, as an adult, could hardly "draw from memory" and visualize its composition and perspective (hm....would it be in bird's eye view? worm's eye view? man's eye view?) but these kids can!!!  Sugar Pie draws, paints and sculpts with ease, and Paco as well!!! What is worth observing is, like her brother Paco, she remains to be this quite unassuming and humble kid despite  of all her talents. She has maintained a good balance between her academic life and her art.

Muriel, in pensive mood, working on her art. She is great with "miniature sculptures."

Sugar Pie plays classical guitar (she is multi-talented) and takes regular classical guitar lessons on Saturdays at the Philippine Women's University's College of Music along Taft Avenue, Manila. Sugar Pie maintains her excellent mark in school that makes her a brilliant student, indeed as hailed by her teachers. As a teacher, my thought is- "Isn't she wonderful? Wouldn't you love to have one like her in your class?"

What is surprising is her teachers thought her artworks were done by her parents and not by her. Isn't that pathetic to think that way for these teachers to be insanely biased on this kid, my beautiful niece? Eventually, they discovered that she really does it herself and that she is gifted, infact.Well, that's the trouble with some teachers, they have cultural biases and when they encounter students with "multiple-intelligence " like Muriel, they are ambiguous because it is hard for them to believe it. And instead of giving these talented bunch of kids with more developmental skills exercise routine, their norm is to be in doubt. They are almost like a bigot.

NOTE: Muriel has expressed this disappointment  she has with her teachers and shared this to her mom (early on during the academic year 2006-2007). Finally, during her mid-term at school, her teachers realized that she is indeed a "very creative and gifted child." 

The author is in red on the extreme right at the back*

Yes, I know, sometimes teachers think that way. They are one-track-minded. I worked with some of them and I never like nor tolerated their kind of attitude. I was always the spokesman for the underdog. I hate whenever there is in justice! That's it. To be fair is human. 

Well, for one, I taught art in international schools in different countries (under the accreditation of the Europeacn Council of International Schools or ECIS). Hence, I know a talented student when I see one. Over all, they do exhibit this "silent confidence" that is omni-present in them. And when talent is there-  it just speaks for itself. And this kid's talent speaks volume!

FLASHBACK~~~

When Sugar Pie was little, she started out a daily visual diary that features her impressions of her surroundings in 2-D. This amazes me and my family immensely. In her illustrations, she is able to capture her subjects in free-form, in different perspectives and with great details which is quite amazing for a young child her age. To this day, she still carries on that pact, of drawing whatever fancies her at the moment. Here in North Beach I kept the one illustration she did of me when I was taking a nap. It was funny because in it she was able to capture me in different moods while I was sleeping!

Below are some more pieces of Sugar Pie's works in clay in progression.

SO...HOW DO YOU DO YOUR SCUPTURES, MURIEL?

These are the things she had to say:

1. "I still have to place them in an oven then after they dry out, I paint them with acrylic. Once done, I sell them to my classmates in school." (I must say that she is a good enterpreneaur!)

2. "I package them neatly and put on a price tag. Whatever sells best, I make it a point to create them again because I know they'd sell fast!" (Wow, she knows her market! She'd do well in advertising field!!!)

3. "Some of my classmates order with specific details in mind. I do them as they like them to be."  (She really knows the demand of her clients, impressive!!!)

4. "But when they don't have yet the money, I don't give them the sculptures."(Good strategy! She knows the demands and supply ofher market! I adore this child!!!)
Well, that's it folks. As you like it, you may leave your  comments at the bottom of this feature and hit send. Thanks a bunch!

Updates- as of 02/02/2018- Friday, San Francisco Time*

Eleven years ago, I wrote this article on Muriel, a.k.a. Sugar Pie, and presently as Ella. She is an adult now and graduated in college, cumlaude with a multi-media degree from the De La Salle University in Manila (Philippines). Today, she works as an advertising creative director (entry level because she is so good!) in one of the advertising firms in Makati (financial district), Philippines. Below is a screen shot I found online about her works on "Behance." I hope she doesn't kill me for doing so. LOL! Am just proud of her! She is so gifted! Click the image to enlarge*

Last Stop Before Flying Back To The U.S.A.: Driving Through The Mall Of Asia in Roxas Boulevard, Manila

Just before we went to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for our travel back to the USA, we ate at the Blue Wave's Japanese restaurant along the Cultural Center of the Philipines Tito and Cel hosted this lunch for us. It was a nice day for us, seeing Fort Santiago then having a fine meal for lunch with our siblings and family driver, Jumbo. On our way out, we drove along the SM Mall of Asia then headed for the airport.

The SM Mall of Asia is the largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the 3rd largest shopping mall in the world. In terms of gross floor size, it is next to the Golden Resources Mall and the South Dongguan Mall, both in China. It opened on May 21, 2006[1].

It is owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings, under the management of Henry Sy, a Chinese-Filipino business tycoon — regarded as one of the wealthiest men in Asia. (Forbes 2006 ranks him as the 14th richest person in southeast Asia, and "Henry Sy and family" as 74th richest person in the "Asia and Australia" region)

The Mall of Asia was constructed within the reclamation area, west of Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, aptly nicknamed "Bay City". It is built on 19.5 hectares of reclaimed land and has a gross floor area of 386,224 square meters.

Fort Santiago, Manila, Philippines: Jan. 15, 2007

A few hours before we drove to the airport,  Tito and Celia
brought us to Fort Santiago
for a side trip for husband to see the "walled city" located in  Intramuros otherwise known as the old Manila. Here's a bit of information about it:

Fort Santiago (Fuerza de Santiago) is a defence fortress built for Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi. The fort is part of the structures of the walled city of Intramuros, in Manila, Philippines.

The location of Fort Santiago was also once the site of the palace and kingdom of Rajah Suliman, chieftain of Manila of pre-Spanish era. It was destroyed by the conquistadors upon arriving in 1570, encountering several bloody battles with the Muslims and native Tagalogs.The Spaniards destroyed the native settlements and erected Fuerza de Santiago in 1571.

The first fort was made out of log structures and earth. Most of it was destroyed in the Spanish-Chinese War of (1574-1575), by invaders of ethnic Chinese pirates who besieged the area. The Spaniards fought a bloody conflict and eventually drove the pirates out. In 1589 the fort was constructed by hard stone and finished in 1592. It became the main fort for travels and spice trade to the Americas and Europe for 333 years. The famous Manila Galleon trade to Acapulco, Mexico started sailing from Fuerza de Santiago.

The fort is shielded by 22 metres high walls, with a thickness of 8 metres and an entrance measuring 40 metres high. It is located at the mouth of the Pasig River and it was once the premier defence fortress of the Spanish Government in the Philippines. During World War II it was captured by the Japanese, and sustained heavy damage from American bombs during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. It was later restored by the Intramuros Administration during the 1980's. Today the fort serves as a museum which houses well-preserved legacies of the Spanish Government, Jose Rizal (which is called the Plaza de Armas), Rizal Shrine, and the prison dungeons for criminals used by the Spanish Officials.

José Rizal, the country's national hero, was imprisoned here before his execution in 1896.

January 14, 2007: Visiting My Sister In Her Residenza Place

My sister had surgery a few days before we flew back to the US. We visited her at the Manila Doctors Hospital. The night prior to our return to SFO, we paid her a visit. She had a special nurse who came home with her to care for her for a few days. She is recuperating well and have lost a lot of weight. But we hope she'd get well soonest! Here's a toast to your good health and long life, sisterette! Cheers!

Philippine Connection: Party at Tito and Celia's House~ January 11, 2007

We arrived from at 5:30 AM on January 11 and then in the evening there was a party in our honor, hosted by brother Tito and his wife Celia at their lovely residence in Cavite. We came by and saw again this beautiful home, surrounded by plants, flowers and trees. Lily came by with her daughter Niki; Monchet with Carol, Kit and Irene. There were also our driver Jumbo plus Mel and Philip; Tercy and son. Altogether, it was a quiet evening filled with great camaraderie and fun times. The food was delicious, as personally prepared by my brother Tito. We surely enjoyed it!

Jan. 13, 2007: Celebrating My Birthday With My Fellow Capricorn Gals Who Are All My First Cousins

We are all January born: moi, Mel, Lily, Gay and Ningning!

During our recent trip to Manila, we decided to have a joint party at the residence of Mel and Philip. There, we brought in our share of potluck to share with our first cousins and their respective families. The party started at 7 PM and did not end until around half past two in the morning the next day which was the 14th of January. We were almost falling asleep waiting for Gay and Ningning to arrive. They were trapped in the midst of traffic for 6 hours along Roxas Boulevard because of the fireworks competition that evening. Considering their efforts in joining us celebrate our birthdays together, every one of us decided to hang out for as long as we could if only to see them manifest in 3-D right between our eyes.


Kids posed animatedly in front of the camera while waiting for the other guests to arrive.

At the party, the kids were almost falling asleep but they were nice and stayed up~ played some board games, watched DVD and or played their guitars. As for us, the adults, we were continually chatting and nibbling our food. The men were at the back garden enjoying their San Miguel beer.

Finally at a little past 12 MN, Gay and Ningning came by with Ningning's daughters. At long last, the birthday song was sang; the candles were lit and our wishes were spoken with great hopes for a prosperous and happier new year! After a few more hours of tete-a-tete, drinking gallore and eating time (of our favorite Filipino and Italian delicacies), we bid goodbye and went home.

Boy Blue left at 1 AM and got a ride from my cousin Irma who brought in her owner jeep. It was Little Boy's first hand experience to ride this vehicle Philippine style~with a bunch of 7 or so people inside it- comprising of nieces and nephews plus cousins on my mother's side. All went well.

I was home by 3 AM and moi husband was fast asleep. Our birthday party was memorable as it brought a re-connection among the clan who now live in distant places away from each other.


To my fellow Capricorn gals, cheers!

Belated happy birthday greetings to my friend EMILY PUTNAM of Jacksonville, Florida. Thanks for the birthday card you sent by snail mail!

Leaving the New Bkk International Airport

We left Bangkok for Manila, midnight of January 11, 2007. At the airport, we were immensely impressed by its architectural design. There are talks though- about the anomalies involved in the construction of this massive architectural icon of Thailand but who knows about the truth?

This airport opened a few months ago prior to our visit two weeks ago. One thing that is quite impressive about this airport is its highlight on Thai art and culture as part of its structural design. Here, one gets to see bits and pieces of Thailand in a capsule before one leaves Thailand.

Here is a montage I made. I am sure you'd be captivated by it. Sawat-dee-ka (Hello and welcome)!

Click all photos in this blog to enlarge*

The Golden Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand

We came here earlier before our tour of the Grand Palace a few days after we arrived in Thailand on January 3, 2007. Unfortunately, our camera didn't recharge the night before so we had to get back to the hotel and re-charge it for about an hour. Later, when the traffic going to this Golden Buddha became unbearable, we just decided to cancel our second trip there. Our limousine driver was happy he didn't have to go there twice! (Ah, well~we rented a limousine at the hotel which BTW was costly- we should have rented out elsewhere and not in the hotel. We lost our common sense due to jetlag. Mamamia!)

NOTE: The photograph here was downloaded from the on-line information site of the tourism authority of Thailand.

~~~~~~~~~~
At one end of Chinatown, in the otherwise unremarkable temple of Wat Traimit, is hidden the world's largest solid gold Buddha image. Weighing in at five and a half tons, the 15-foot tall seated image is worth in the neighborhood of US$14 Million. That's some neighborhood!

The Golden Buddha was cast sometime in the 13th century and is an excellent example of the gracious Sukhothai style that is still very much in favor to this day. At some point, it was covered in plaster, most likely in an attempt to hide the valuable icon from thieves or looters.

The disguise was so good that everyone apparently forgot about what was hidden beneath. King Rama III had the statue moved to Bangkok and installed in a temple near where the Oriental Hotel is today. That temple fell into disuse and was completely abandoned around 1931.

The true nature of the Golden Buddha wasn't discovered until it was moved to its present location at Wat Traimit in 1955. When the image was being prepared for its move, some of the plaster was chipped off, revealing the gold underneath. Bits of the plaster can be seen in a case to the left of the statue.

The statue sits in a plain building just barely big enough to hold it within the temple compound. On the terrace outside of the room housing the Golden Buddha are some interesting fortune-telling machines. You drop a coin in the slot and a sequence of lights indicating numbers flash around in a circle, wheel of fortune style, eventually stopping on a number. You can retrieve your fortune from the marked boxes below the machine. The fortune slips are in English as well as Thai and Chinese.

More Photos Later

So now, am finished with my Bangkok entry in this blog and would deal with the last four days we had left in Manila from January 11 to 15 prior to our return here to California last Monday, January 15th. I'd write again later when the mood hits me. Meanwhile this is Pizzicatto, reporting for CNN San Francisco. Ciao! Gotta go back to the grind.

Jan. 11, 2007- Our Last Night In Bkk: "Dinner Date with my French friend Olivier and his mom Christianne"

They came to meet us in our Baiyoke Sky Hotel in Bangkok. Husband invited them for a buffet dinner on the 76th floor. It was a wonderful time for us to see once more Olivier, from his last date with us in SFO in October 2005. Together with his mom, they made our last few hours in Thailand to be indelible with fond memories to live by. After meals, we hopped in a cab and went straight to the airport for our midnight flight back to Manila. To Olivier and Christianne, thank you! Here we are at the revolving tower on the 78th floor.

Jan. 10, 2007: Shopping at Pratunam Marketplace for Clothes

This is the place to shop for reasonably priced clothes to take home with you when you leave Thailand. This is were I got all my purchase for my gifts back to my family in the Philippines when we flew in there from Thailand last January 11, 2007.

Jan. 9, 2007: One More Time With Daisy & JohnJohn @ Hotel Athanee

Our last dinner together was spent at Bangkok's 5-star hotel, hosted by my good friend Daisy. Here is our photograph of this date. Click to enlarge*

January 8, 2007: Patpong in Silom, Bkk: "Red Light District"

Reclining Buddha in Bkk: Jan. 8, 2007

Wat Pho - The Temple of the Reclining Buddha-Bangkok

Wat Pho (or Wat Phra Chetuphon as it is known locally) is famed for the massive ‘Reclining Buddha’ it houses. At 46 meters long and 15 meters high, this gold-plated Buddha image depicts the Buddha’s passing into Nirvana. It’s highly ornate and a genuine spectacle – genuinely worth seeing. The Buddha image’s eyes and feet are decorated with mother-of-pearl and carvings in the feet depict the ‘108’ characteristics of Buddha.

Wat Pho has considerable historical significance. Covering an area of around 20 acres, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok, and built two centuries before Bangkok became the capital, it is also the oldest. The Wat was rebuilt by King Rama I when Bangkok became the country’s capital. The temple is also regarded as being Thailand’s first university, being the first institution to provide education to the public.


One of the biggest attractions of Wat Pho is the fact it is a centre of Thai traditional medicine, particularly, traditional Thai massage.

It is possible to receive a rejuvenating massage here – a regular massage costs 250 Baht an hour, and a massage where herbal medicines and hot compresses are applied to the body costs 350 Baht an hour. However, with the current interest in ‘holistic’ medicines and practice, many people study Thai traditional massage at Wat Pho. A 30-hour course over a 10 to 15-day period costs in the region of 4,500 Baht.

Details: Admission is 20 Baht and the temple is open from 08:00 to 17:00 (but closed for one hour from 12.00 to 13.00). For history buffs, it is possible to hire the services of a certified guide for 150 Baht per person (discounts are available for groups) which can be booked at the temple entrance.

Grand Palace in Bkk: Jan. 8, 2006

Click photo to enlarge*

Grand Palace in Bkk: Jan. 8, 2006

Click photos to enlarge*


The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. It served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol in the Baromphiman Palace, King Bhumibol moved the official royal residence to Chitralada Palace. Construction of the palace complex began in 1782, during the reign of Rama I.

The palace complex sits on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The other approaches to the palace are protected by a defensive wall of 1,900 metres in length, which encloses an area of 218,400 square metres. Further out from the wall is a canal, which was also created for defensive purposes, making the area surrounding the palace an island, known as Rattana Kosin.

Prominent parts of the Grand Palace:

Wat Phra Kaew, the temple containing the Emerald Buddha
Chakri Mahaprasad Hall, a building in a style influenced by the Italian Renaissance

Shoes and sandals are not worn inside the temples (wat). This is to give respect to the Thais' religious place of worship. Shorts, sleeveless shirts and baseballcaps are not acceptable wardrobe ensemble when entering a Thai temple. Tourists are advised to dress appropriately or they are given "sarong/malong" (wrap-around-textile) to use to cover themselves when visiting wats (temples).

Party Time With Daisy in Bkk: January 6, 2007

Husband and I had great time partying at Daisy's place- dancing, drinking, eating, and bonding with friends we have there. It was a night of fun. Husband did his magic trick with a responsive audience. Paolo, Daisy's elder son, spoke passionately about his business venture on garments; JohnJohn was in tow with his pal Jonathan; Mama Mercy remains to be the surrogate mom of the gang. Over all, our time with them was lovely. Daisy remains to be one of my closest friends along side with Carmen, Brenda, Olivier and Emily.

Am Blogging Amid Jetlagging While The Blues Keep Me Tired And Sleep-Deprived

We arrived last Monday, January 15th from Manila~ touching down at San Francisco International Airport a little later than the 6:05 P.M. landing time we were promised in our e-ticket. Honestly, we were not very pleased with our flight from Manila to San Francisco aboard China Airlines as the temperature inside the aircraft was almost hot, not just warm...goodness gracious! Is it the global warming affecting us all even inside the airplane? Mamamia, I hope not!

At the airport here in SFO, I declared the food we brought in. Ah, well~ just my favorite Edam Cheese from Holland was all we had. But to ease our way out of customs, I declared it; went through the process of having our 2 XXL Samsonite luggage and 2 carry-on luggage~to go through another set of X-ray. Well, after a moment of interrogation regarding the food we brought in from Manila, we were easily given the go-signal. Alas, we were free. Whoah!

WHERE'S THE CAB?

Waiting for a cab at the airport took us quite a bit of a time. City living has enabled us to minimize and to downsize. Our life style has changed dramatically and this includes getting rid of our van in favor of minimizing the use of space and the outrageous cost of monthly parking rates. But at times like this~ like coming home from a long haul journey from overseas could be dead tiring waiting for a cab! Yeah! I just wish we still had our van(sigh). Wahhhhhhh! (Boy Blue still keeps his work van, BTW, at the parking lot he rents monthly located two blocks from our alley).

Getting rid of our private vehicle was a choice we had made seven months ago akin to our transition here from suburban living. In SFO, we rely wholly on public transport for mobility and this is not really a hassle (or a big deal here in San Francisco) since buses come in frequency every ten minutes. And most people go on foot, if not by bus~ to be at places around town. As for us, when necessary, we do take the public bus and occasionally, we hop at the cable car passing by as well. But I tell you, using this transport facility is much more expensive than the bus. Why? It's the novelty behind it that makes it all costly to take it for a regular ride.

~Our SFO taxi driver vs. our Bangkok cab driver- a world of a difference~

As for our taxi driver from the airport to our flat in Little Italy, he was really good and quite polite, in fact. A far cry from the taxi drivers in Bangkok who were mostly hustlers, hustling tourists like us. Geez, those who are posted in the Pratunam area are barracudas. If you don't notice that the meter is on, they'd drive fronto style and would say the astronomical price in Thai. Ngeek! And once the price of the cab ride had been said it's supposed to be a done deal. Not with me! Oy!

In Thailand, I was able to brush up with my knowledge of the Thai language once more~ it was like going down memory lane: the language came to me fast and easy in crescendo, like the sun rising in the skies at dawn. I was able to make a deal with the taxi drivers when needed. I was able to haggle, too! Ha! Husband was in silent mode as I raised hell laughs)with the Thai drivers in Bangkok. Can't believe I was still my old self there: self-reliant, independent, courageous and vigilant. When I am in this mode, sometimes I forget am already married with a husband near by to protect me! As for that idiot of a cab driver in Bangkok, I won the argument! He was not able to loot me with extra dough from my pocket with the amount he wanted me to pay in Thai baht! I gave him what I thought was the right amount.

When we got off the cab at the new international airport in Bangkok, husband had a good laugh and quipped, "Wow, you're one feisty lady!"

Back here in SFO last Monday, our cab driver here was absolutely nice. He was an angel as opposed to the devious drivers we encountered in Thailand.

~MEMORIES~

Having been in Thailand once more brought perspective into my adult life. I am more confident about where I stand in my life now than I ever knew before. I think I am calmer and more grounded today and this has all got to do with me being married to Little Boy Blue. Today, I live a simple life sanz materialism. My life revolves around my spouse and our life together as a family, with times devoted for our daily prayers and mass at noontime for me (we live 5 minutes to Saints Peter and Paul church- we hear the church bells ring from our flat) and Sunday masses with him.

~FRIENDS WHO MAY BE FAR OR NEAR ARE FRIENDS FOR LIFE FOR ME~

In Thailand I was able to hook up with my friends for all seasons: Olivier, Carmen and her daughters, Emily, Aloha, Daisy and her sons, Fr. Travis and the nuns from the school (RIS).While in Bangkok, I was able to compare and contrast how it was when I was living there; those times I was visiting every two years or so and how it was the last time I was there last week.

Indeed, a lot of changes make up the quilt I call Bangkok.

The infrastracture is amazing; traffic is unbearable but not as bad as before. The food street is still very much alive and kicking and so is the aroma of food being cooked in the streets~ it makes me want to eat and salivate again and again as I pass by the streets where those vendors cook those gastronomical delights in their portable wares! Patpong remains to be the one-of-a-kind place to see in terms of world entertainment as far as sex shows and flea markets are concerned. Cost of commodities and services vary from one end of the alley to another. Pimps run up from glissando to staccatto if only to earn their bucks for the night. The scenic places like the Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha, Pratunam, Central and many more remain to be the tourists' favorite. But what lies still is the fact the Bangkok is the melting pot of this hemisphere where east meets the west and vice versa. No wonder Blue Boy calls it "a very international city" in the heart of Asia.

In here I end this soliloquy. *Sigh* OOps! I still got more photos to upload and slide shows to make later!

January 8, 2006: Shopping At Central World- Bangkok, Thailand

Little Boy Blue and I as we were about to eat my favorite "rum raisin ice cream" by Swensen's. I had to take my lactate medicine to refrain me from having cramps and LBM (loose bowel movement) due to my milk allergy. But it was worth it! And I didn't get sick.

At the courtyard of Central World, formerly known as the location of the World Trade Center of Bangkok, lots of giant decors could be seen.Thailand is a Budhist country but Christmas has become a part of its commercial business ad campaign~ to attract more consumers during the Christmas season to shop at their malls. So they used this motif for economic strategy.

At the entrance of Central World, it was amusing to see mi esposo to pose right through here where a mass of cars, trucks, tuktuk and people are passing by on the street across this place.

Bangkok Connection~Date With Daisy: Dinner, January 4, 2007

We met at the Intercon. I had a hard time taking a cab as most of them won't take me. All wanted a different route. Boy Blue stayed in our hotel to sleep. He was jetlagging and was tired partying early on. I was exhausted, too- but promised to meet with Daisy, so I did. I got back to my hotel at past 11 MN and I was dead tired! Here are some photos with Daisy and JohnJohn. How time flies! John2 is so tall now! He used to be shorter than I am and now I am short than him. Yikes!

Bangkok Connection~Date With Carmen: Lunch, January 4 and 7, 2007

Visiting old chums I have in Bangkok was heartwarming. Carmen and Wasinee entertained us in their beautiful home near R.I.S. We went to their place twice. The first was after our lunch date in a restaurant in Samakorn area and the second time around was during the party that was hosted by Carmen in her domicile. This time Weena (Wasinee's elder sister) was present and Pietro (their father), was there as well. Invited, too- were some nuns from the Holy Rosary congregation and Father Travis of the Redemptorist Fathers of Thailand. My former colleague in the middle school Aloha was present, too- as well as Emily and her daughters plus Beth and Flor.


On the January 4th date we had, Carmen collected us at our skyhotel in Bangkok~ Baiyoke. We were booked on the 62nd floor and Carmen was kind enough to deal with the Bangkok traffic to pick us up there in the Pratunam area. Wasinee was the chauffer. Carmen and Was came by to take us for a sumptuous lunch in a Thai restaurant in Samakorn. I almost forgot where it was only to remember I passed by it by each time I was coming home to my flat in Ramkhamhaeng Road in the mid 90s. Now that is a long time ago! The food was great! Boy Blue and I felt like an overfed elephant after our meal! Surely, we had fun reminsicing the years gone by.

I have not seen Carmen for a while but our reunion said it all~ that true friendship grows even when one is far or near~ it does not really matter, as distance is immaterial in real friendship. For the first time ever, Carmen, Weena and Wasinee met moi Little Boy Blue and they all agreed, he's a charmer and a real Valentino!

New Year's Eve 2007, Manila, Philippines

It was a great celebration for us who celebrated this event in the Philippines. 2007 was welcomed with a big bang and good cheers!