JJ Market

No trip to Bangkok would be complete without at least one trip to Chatuchak (JJ) Market.

Located north of the city, this "Weekend" (only) Market is a city in itself. Everything you can imagine (except electronics) can be found here at a very low price.



The weather has been the "coldest" in decades, so I decided to make my first of what I expect will be a number of visits to this metropolis for shoppers. This time I just wanted to explore. Usually it is so hot I only go to what I want to buy and then leave, drenched and almost ill. This time I toured a bit.



There is of course food - everywhere in Bangkok, there are food stalls. Eating cooked food from the street vendors is usually safe - and it is always so delicious.






And this stall was serving sweet drinks. I am not sure what the "green things are"









but the "black things" I believe are Grass Jelly. A Tofu like gelatin.

And there is the more traditional "Roasted Chestnuts"

Did I mention JJ also sells pets? Seeing these little dogs made me homesick for Lucy and Sophie.

I had a "Puppy Fix" moment then set out to find my favorite shop.

JJ Market is so large there are maps for sale as there are maps for the city. I left my map at the office in Kansas City. So I was going on instinct, past the many shops selling everything a tourist or resident could possibly want.

And what do you know - I found it. "Pita Kitchen Ware". This is the place I purchased my "Klok" - the 20 lb Mortar and Pestle that I carried on the airplane back to KC, a couple of years ago. And the Thai butcher knife and carving knives - all are here at Pita Kitchen Ware.

After a couple of hours walking around, I decided to take the bus (MRT) back to town. It is 1/2 the price of the Skytrain. A bit longer, but a lot cooler.

BTW: Phone is still not working. The "Engineers" where in my room for 30 min, then decided "phone not work". I think by the time I leave here, everyone in Bangkok will eventually come to my room and discover "phone not work".

Having problems with the telephone

For the past few days when I try to dial out from my apartment I hear a busy signal. Finally tonight I called the front desk. I was told "You can't use the Internet and the Telephone at the same time" Honestly, I was at a loss for words. Did this person think I was stupid? Maybe he didn't know the technology himself. I'll give him that. Meanwhile a couple of men showed up at my apartment and tried to get the phone to work and failed. I'll have to wait until tomorrow. They will call the "Engineer". I felt 'satisfied' simply by the title "Engineer". Now I feel stupid again.

I share this only to point out - when you pick up the receiver, hear a dial tone, dial the number and hear a voice at the other end - consider yourself lucky. I can't do that right now and it bothers me.

My lesson for today: What is so important that I have to talk to someone RIGHT NOW?

Lunch with the Ladies and K'Chai

I've been eating only one meal a day - lunch. And actually I don't miss dinner at all, but usually I can't wait for lunch. I've been eating with various associates and today it was me, the ladies and Chai. We tried to get into a street-side outdoor resturant but it was too crowed. So we ate at a small resturant located next to the Japanese Language School. The two people at the far end of the table were not in our parth. So, starting with K'Chai on the righ and moving counter clockwise there is K'Nud then across on the left is K'Muay, K'Yui and K'Rung.

One of my favorite Thai dishes is Grapow Gai (Spicy Basil Chicken). I try to make it myself, but it is never as good as when it is cooked by the Thais. This may not look like enough food to last all day, but after two weeks of eating just one meal a day, I think my stomach has shrunk a bit. This much satisfies me until the next morning when I awake and being to start thinking about lunch again. The fried egg on top of the rice is quite a treat. The egg and a little Nam Pla (Fish sauce) with hot Thai chilies added to the rice and I was all set. It was delicious ! Or as they say in Thai Aroy Dii

More about Thai Language

Today I was quite impressed with myself. I heard numbers being said and I understood most of them. I asked my Thai friends to say numbers in Thai and I attempted to translate into English. I got most of them right. My Thai friends are very patient with me and they don't laugh (too much) when I mispronounce a word.

My Thai friends begin studying English when they are in what would be Grade-School for USA. I can only imagine it is like going to school to study Spanish or French in the USA. In America, outside of class, there is no need to speak Spanish or French - unless of course one lives in California, Arizona, Texas, or in Michigan where there is association with the French speaking Canadians. Thais however continue to learn English and desire to speak it. I'm very impressed. And not just Thais who are in professional positions. The most reclusive Thai will generally try to accommodate English. I am impressed and very appreciative.

For that alone, have an obligation to study the Thai language.

I'm grateful to my Thai friends who help me. I am always impressed with their English and their ability to switch between Thai and English not only in speech, but in typing.




My Thai Language Instructor, Khun Noi. A patient soul.

Thai Lessons

I took my 1st official Thai lesson today. What did I learn? Pronunciation of consonants and vowels. There are 44 consonants but only 20 sounds. And there are 21 vowels and 32 sounds. And vowels are long and short. There are sounds which have no comparison in English and are nearly impossible for a native English speaker to master. But I'll try my best.

I also learned numbers and how to ask for phone numbers. The only number I'll need to know is the hospital if I even think of asking for anything else. 555

It is a difficult language. 5 tones to manage. Same word said with rising, falling, low, high and middle tones can all mean different things. Sort of like the word "perfect" in English. Same word can be a adjective or a verb depending upon the accent and pronunciation. But that is only 2. Then again think of the word two, too and to. Same sound different meaning and use. So every language has its "exceptions" and difficulties.

So here it is:

Ber thohrasap khun ber arai krap

Literal translation: Number telephone you number what krap.

Krap (said quickly with a rolling r and a soft a like ah) - is a polite word used by males. Females use Ka. Ka is drawn out, with a bit of a nasel tone at times.

The letter "r" is not pronounced at the end of a word. Therefore Ber sounds like the BE in numBEr - but drawn out.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to converse even a little in this language - but it is fun to try and my Thai friends do so much to learn English. I owe it to them to try to learn their language. Even if they give me a "deer in the headlights look" when I try to speak to them in Thai! 555


BTW: In Thai the number 5 is pronounced Ha (falling tone). So 555 means Ha Ha Ha.

Cold Snap in Thailand

For the first time in more than 10 years, Thailand is experiencing a cold winter. The normal average temperature for January is 25C (77F). But this year it is running 15C (59F). The effect is dramatic. Food and flower crops are suffering. If the weather does not improve, many farmers will go into debt.

And the Thai people are suffering as well. Reports of deaths from exposure have been reported from outside the city of Bangkok - especially in the north around Chaing Mai. The government is providing clothing (coats, hats, gloves) for those in need.

This all seems strange for those of us who are used to 4 seasons.

I have to remind myself Thailand used to a year long summer and a hot one at that.

Where is 'Global Warming?"

The Office

Here are a few pictures of the office.



New Years in Thailand includes western New Years and Chinese New Years .
Sunday night marks the Chinese "New Years Eve."







I don't know if I'll have the opportunity to experience Chinese New Year first hand in China Town.

I would be a bit concerned to go there alone. But the temptation to experience a true Chinese New Year Celebration in Asia is calling me.







A couple of associates saw me taking pictures and decided to hide behind this post. I found them !




AWD is the name of our Division, and the product we sell.

Upgraded my iNet Connection Speed

I am now at 1MB. Yeah ! I won't be so frustrated when I need to upload pics.

Went to Villa Market purchased ground beef and ground chicken and zip lock bags to divide up the meat into small meals. Both types of meat run ~ 1.44 @ lb. Meats are a bit high compared to other items in Thailand. If I have the nerve, I'll go back an buy a chicken at Klong Toei Market. I like to prepare Laab Gai which is a spicy chicken dish and Beef Basil, both require the meat be finely ground. I also picked up my stash of Red Bull. It costs a mere $0.25 a bottle here in Bangkok - and it is a bit stronger than what is sold in the USA. Red Bull was invented in Bangkok. There are a couple of 'knock offs' of course. I prefer the original.

I then stopped at Boots Pharmacy and talked to the lady pharmacist about my back. She prescribed me 3 days of muscle-relaxer (Myonal) and anti-inflammatory (Cataflam). I'm not sure Myonal is available in the US, but if it is I'm sure it requires a script. Same for Cataflam which according to the Thai pharmacist is better than Ibuprofen. Cost? A mere < $5.00 for both. We will see how good it works.

Weather is starting to warm up - not hot, but warmer than last week. I'm not looking forward to the change.