I met Ms. Saigon 1970

This is my last weekend in Bangkok until May. So I decided to re-visit Xuan Mai Restaurant (see previous blog entry for details). And there she was. Ms Saigon 1970 and ex-FBI Agent.

http://www.xuanmairestaurant.com/

The restaurant was busy so we didn't have much time to talk. I shared with her that I had heard about her story and her restaurant while listening to NPR in Kansas City MO, USA. It was my plan to visit while I was in Bangkok. Hopefully I would meet her in person.

I didn't have reservations (Something to keep in mind for my next visit). So I was moved from table to table a couple of times. I ended up sitting with a couple from Germany. They where about my age. It turned out to be a wonderful dinner.

Note to wife: If you can make it to Bangkok, this is definitely one place we have to experience together.

Best Wings and as far from Buffalo as you can get

Ya'll know Buffalo Wings were invented by a lady in Buffalo NY. Thus the name. I'd had the benefit of being in that area some 20 years ago and I can tell you most people away from that area have no idea what true original Buffalo Wings taste like. There are a number knockoffs, KFC, Pizza Hut etc. But nothing beats the original.

So here I was at the Hyderabad airport tired, and facing a 2.5hr wait for a 3.5hr flight back to Bangkok. Then I spot Hard Rock Bar. I stopped in thinking I'd get something to eat. Then I remembered I was still on a diet and would have a meal on the plane, but I was starving. The menu was typical Hard Rock fare. So I tried the Buffalo Wings. My arteries had had enough healthy food for the past three months.

Trust me, they were as close to what I remember the original in NY State. I don't usually take pictures of 1/2 eaten food, but this plate deserved to be in my blog.

During the meal the Chef stopped by and asked how I liked the wings. I told him it was the best I've eaten since I was in upstate NY some 20+ years ago. He asked if there was anything else that could make it 'more authentic'. He added 'I try to match the original recipe'. The only thing I could think of was rather than carrot sticks serve celery and the blue cheese needs to be chunky. That explains why there are two bowls of blue cheese dressing in the pic. He brought me more and it was perfect.

So if ever find yourself at the Hyderabad Airport and are hungry, stop by the Hard Rock Bar - located at the end of the terminal. Say "Hi" to the chef - or "Namaste" if you feel inclined to speak Hindu. That's him in the pic to the right.

Short visit to India

I changed the title of this blog to include India. I was not sure I was going there during this stint, but I was fortunate to make a two day visit. The pic on the right is the view from my hotel room balcony. This is looking east. In the morning, pigeons would roost on the ledge and make their "cooo" sound. It was a gentle alarm-clock. Of course there was the 6AM train that sounded earlier than the pigeons. And in the evenings I could hear the Adhan - the Muslim Call to Prayer. It was surrealistic.


The pic on the left is a small shot of the hotel room. Yes, that is a 50" Plasma TV. I felt at home, except I had a King size Bed in front of the TV instead of a couch shared with 1 wife and 2 dogs.

I miss the couch - but this was refreshing.

When I arrived at the office I was met with open handshakes and a bouquet of flowers. Pictures were taken and on the internal company WWW site (Intranet) there was an announcement of my arrival along with pictures of me with flowers. Embarrassing in a way.

The best part of my trip was the opportunity to see my friends in Hyderabad. All had come to KC in the past and now I was visiting them in their country. My time was too short to spend a lot of time visiting, and no time to be together outside working hours. I hope to do so the next visit.

Lumpini Park

One of the best places to visit in Bangkok is Lumpini Park. (pronounced Lum PiNeee- stress on the Neeee). The name references the birthplace of The Buddha, in India. Every morning starting around 6AM it fills up with people doing all sorts of physical exercise, especially Tai Chi. Entire "Tai Chi Clubs" setup with boom-box playing Chinese Tai Chi Music. There are even open air stages where couples practice ballroom dancing, sometimes to US Country Western Music (of all things). Joggers, coffee-club groups, on Saturdays there are school brass-bands practicing. And today there was a free Blood Pressure checking stations at the south entrance.

I hope you enjoy the photos.