The 22,000km Trip (3) Bangkok: Food, food, food

I have to say that the other best thing about going to Chinatown is the food. First of all, you see stacks of food of all kinds piled up on all kinds of ways. People say that you can never wrong with Chinese food (or maybe that's only me... it's my ultimate comfort food!); you can always count on them, no matter where in the world you are. I also always like to see how Chinese cuisine has assimilated and/or become a hybrid with the local dishes. But the best thing about Asia is the food stalls;something about people cooking in front of you under the sun with the aroma wafting in...just makes you want to buy everything! Unfortunately due to my stomach conditions worsening I was nauseous the whole time so I couldn't eat much = sadness. However in hindsight this may have been a good thing that kept me from binge eating as always!

Is it just me or do Thai people seem to love colorful sweet things? :D

Different kinds of soups, curry, and side dishes yum

Chive dumplings

Tea tea tea!

Radish pickles (I think)

Any they're quite expensive!

Lots of people can't stand durian but I don't mind..in fact I love fried durian chips!

The 22,000km Trip (2) Bangkok: Yaowarat

One place I seem to go regardless where I travel is to the local Chinatown. Part of the reason is that I grew up near one and many of my childhood friends lived in one. So it's comforting and strangely nostalgic. It's also comforting to be able to read the signs and menus in Chinese in a country where I'm illiterate.

But the best part is that I always feel the history, and richness of the community. It's invigorating to see how the Chinese enclave seems to flourish in every society, every country despite its hardships they faced in the past. The Chinese community is very well assimilated here within Thai society but nevertheless it's great to see that it continues to thrive and retain its uniqueness.

I can probably walk around for Chinatown for days and not get bored; there's so much activity (sometimes a little too much!) and a plethora of unexpected little pathways and alleys. The colors are bright and flashy. And the aroma of food, incense, and herbs waft in the air from all directions. 

My stomach was still not in perfect condition so I stopped by for the herbal tea shop

I don't even know the name of this thing but I know it's a concoction of disgusting bitter herbs that helps your digestive system!

The 22,000km Trip (1) Bangkok: The Escape

It was about time.

I needed a break, from Europe. 

I had not been out of the continent for 9 months and the travel bug inside of me had been bugging me (pun intended) for a long time. But more importantly, I needed a break, literally. The last time I had a chance to really have a worry-free/schedule-cleared vacation was when I went to Paris in Feb 2015. Since then I've been swarmed almost nonstop with classes, reports, conferences, language school, work, and then more work.

From November to January  I've been balancing work and school and then from February, I've been working constantly including weekends. Although it's not as strenuous as my banking days but with no breaks in between it had been taking a toll. I was struggling with stomach pain. In hindsight, what I really needed after my UN gig was over was to get some rest. But I needed to get away; my room was driving me crazy (I live right by the kitchen so I can hear/smell cooking frequently), lots of emotional distress, and most of all, the gloomy cold weather was driving me nuts. I needed to get away. I needed to get away to somewhere warm, hot.

Which is why my first destination had to be undoubtedly, Thailand. 

First thing's first: Whenever I go to Bangkok I have to go to the Erawan Shrine to offer my prayer and blessings as well as ask that th rest of the trip would go well. It's become a ritual every time I'm in Thailand. So off we go.

 

My host, a very gentle Italian DJ guy, told me he was so sorry he forgot to let me know how to turn on the AC in his room; I only had an electric fan for the first night. He was also a bit worried as it's the hottest seasons during March and April in Southeast Asia. Are you kidding me? I coudln't have felt any better. I rarely had AC while I was living in Cambodia anyways. Humidity? Oh please. I'd rather be drenched in sweat and scorched in the heat rather than my skin cracking and need to put lotion all over my body every hour all while shivering in the snow. 

It was just pure bliss walking around the local neighborhoods, observing people while I rode the trains.. I realized how much I missed Asia. It's good to be back. 

Buddhist ceremony in the local neighborhood

My host took me out to the local noodle shop. So incredibly good

Stuffing myself. All this for barely $3. Terminal 21 Food court in Asok is the best :)

Journey through 10,000 photos (Part IV)

This is the last of the series of my picture project. Each picture brought back so many memories it was just a blessing and pleasure to work on it. I'm working up toward the next 10k pictures.. which is actually coming pretty close. After this, I promise to put up more details from my recent trip.

(Cambodia, Oct 2013) Rice offerings at Pchum Ben festival

(Cambodia, Oct 2014) Monks are no exception to studying very hard at our English school (you'd be surprised how many of them are quite fluent) 

(Cambodia, Nov 2013) The sad thing about development is that as lives get better for people and gain from it, it loses other things too like cultural values and beautiful landscapes like these. Siem Reap has become all commercialized because of tourism but if you step out 20 min out of town, gorgeous bucolic scenes are still in tact.

(San Francisco Jan 2014, popular dim-sum take out stand. I've been coming here for decades!)

(Cambodia, Feb 2014) Chatting with the vendors at the market

(Cambodia, March 2014) Sometimes the best way to start a conversation or communication is through my camera. When I was in a local cafe in Sihanoukville, a bunch of kids were interested in my camera and they started posing. This was is my favorite. It's mischievous and sweet at the same time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Japan, May 2014) It's not so extravagant as high noon tea, but people in the north really like to take their time drinking their tea and chatting over what seems like a meal but really they're all sweet and savory snacks, potluck style. 3 of my aunts live within 300m of each other so this is a daily ordeal. Wish I could understand them a bit better since they all talk in think Tohoku accent

(Cambodia, April 2014) Purification Ceremony of the new sewing school project building

(Phnom Penh, March 2014) This is one of my favorite pictures. It's a juxtaposition of the new and old generations.

(Cambodia, March 2014) Cambodian wedding of one of my coworkers. Little did we know that we had to do an insane amount of dancing after this...

(Cambodia, March 2014) Religious rite ceremony. It's humbling to see people praying in the midst of the candle lights at dusk.