TCDC

On the 7th floor of The Emporium shopping building, opposite the movie theater refreshment counter (shown on the right) sits the Thailand Creative Design Center.

It is an interesting place to visit and very quiet.

For anyone needing to do research of any type about Thailand, this is the place. I was introduced to the TCDC by a friend who is an advisor for me in X-Cultural training between Thai and the west.

I come here to visit The Kiosk which sits opposite the library and reading area. It is wide open with large screen TV, this time showing a movie with French subtitles, but no sound and a soft female jazz singer doing typical style for this sort of venue. It has free Wi-Fi and a walk up Coffee-Beer Bar. My seat is the one with the small Netbook. I happened to be chatting online to somene back in the States telling them where I was and that I'd take some pics to explain.

Like almost everywhere in Thailand there is the picture of the King and Queen. This photo of the couple many years ago. Thailand has the longest reigning monarchy - 60+ years.

Finally, just before I left Jason, the owner came to work. I asked him for a pic. He's Brittish (I believe from his accent). That may be part of the reason he wasn't smiling. The other was that the staff had failed to properly align the sofas at the front of the big-screen TV. He was obviously upset and we all knew why. And to think, in this economic situation such things happen.

If I just look at the enviroment, my table the walk-up counter, I could imagine myself anywhere in Westport or on the Plaza. But looking outside the window, or at the prices, $1.25 for a Singha Beer, I know I'm in Thaliand

แม่บ้าน

แม่บ้าน in Thai reads MaeBaan. It means Housekeeper in English. It also means Housewife, but lets not get into that one.

I saw her nearly every day when I was here earlier this year. This time since I am in a new apartment I was not sure if she was still the one to care for my room. I saw a young man cleaning my apartment one day and figured my former แม่บ้าน was not working the 8th floor. Then today I saw her coming out of the next apartment. "Khun Phil Sawatdi Ka" she said loudly, remembering my name. "Khun is a formal greeting for either gender, like Mr, Mrs". She had previously seen all my Thai School Books on my desk, the last time I was here, so she tried to help me by not speaking English. Which I think actually was easier for her than for me. I understand she is from the northern part of Thailand and came to Bangkok for work a few years ago. We exchanged greetings in Thai then I said "Ror Krap" (wait please). I went and grabbed my camera and she graciously obliged me taking her photo. She is barely taller than the cart. But one strong personality. During my problem with Water Boarding (1st apartment) she coordinated the technicians like a drill sergeant. Like Thai Chilies, the smaller they are the feistier.

The other housekeepers heard the talking and the camera click and they rushed out of the rooms they were in. They stood there looking at me. I pointed to my แม่บ้าน and said in my best Thai 'Khun Suay Maak' - "she is very pretty." It got a good laugh. I hope to see her again. She is nothing but a joy - always cordial and very good at what she does. Besides she sneaks me in free fresh water when she notices I'm running low.

I just now dawned on me I never have asked her for her name. Need to do that and come back and update this post.

Update: Her name is Aei

Tip Top

The team here has a few favorite resturants. One that seems very popular is called Tip Tip. It is directly across the street (The big street - Sukhumvit) from our office.





Getting there is a challenge. Cars in Bangkok not only run both ways, they run all ways.

The tall building in the background is Emporium. We are looking at the front side. My apartment is on the other side of the tall building. Not far by our standards, but can be far by Bangkok heat standards.

But some have a more difficult time to cross than we do.

Today it was just Muay, Piyanud and myself.

The food at Tip Top is always delicious and always inexpensive. Each dish is prepared from scratch when you order. So sometimes some dishes take longer to prepare. My Thai friends have a way to tell if I am starving and when one of their dishes arrives, and mine is still in process, they offer me a bite from their plate. In Thai culture, eating is a "shared experience". It took me a couple of trips to become comfortable sharing food from our individual plates. But after a while, it became one of the most endearing aspects of Thai culture.

My walk to the office

My walk to the office starts at my door.










My apartment is on the corner, next to the elevators







Not really a big deal, they are very quiet and so are all the people staying in this apartment complex. Most are Japanese.

I can tell how hot it is outside by walking out my door and getting into the elevator.

The apartment hallways and elevators are not air conditioned. The elevators trap the outside air. It is a good alert for me every morning.

The lobby of the apartment complex seems always like a refrigerator especially after the hot ride from the 8th to the 1st floor.

I turn the corner and face the daunting task of walking outside.

It is a short walk from the building, down the drive to the street Soi 24

Depending upon the time of day, there is a food vendor at the corner which means I have to navigate into the street quickly. This morning it was not too busy.

My goal however is to get on the other side of the street before I reach the intersection. Otherwise I'll have to wait for a long time for the light to be in my favor.

Traffic begins to bunch up as I get closer to the intersection. The addition of food vendors close to the intersection only adds so the mess.

At the intersection I turn the corner and face my daily "tread mill". It was here in previous postings that I saw the Chang (Elephant). Today I only saw the hill. Three sets of steps. 15-16-16. This is the entrance to the Skytrain. I use this to cross over the main road. Otherwise I would be waiting for an incredible amount of time.

At the top of the stairs I saw two ladies hand washing the SkyTrain facility. This is one clean system.

The Skytrain stations are like little shopping centers. This morning it was quiet . In the early morning and late evenings this place is always over crowded. This particular station also connects to the Emporium Shopping Mall. However Emporium doesn't open until 10. When it is open, I sometimes enter from Soi 24 and take the inside escalators up two stories to reach this portion of the Station.

Here is the view crossing over Sukhumvit Road looking down from Phrom Phom Station.

Just about here is an escalator bringing up passengers from Sukhumvit. On the way home I use the escalator. But on the way to work, I go down the hill again, 16-16-15 steps.

Down 1/2 way and on the right sits the morning beggar with her drugged baby.

Sukhumvit is a main road in Bangkok. Every few hundred feet there are Sois - small roads that sometimes go nowhere. This is Soi Yippun (Japan Soi). It has a number, but we all call it Soi Yippun because on this road you can find everything Japanese.

Looking down Soi Yippun.

Walking down Sukhumvit is a treat. There are so many things to see including regular street vendors and artists. Of course there are a few beggars. And there is Villa Market which is a landmark grocery story for westerners living in Bangkok.

And the flower shop that sits outside the doors of Villa Market.

Seems when the Thais see me with my camera, they stare hoping I will take their picture.

The closer I get to my office the more food vendors I find.

And more.....

Uh oh, a Lottery saleswoman asleep on the job...

More food vendors....

A few more....

Just one more....

Finally, I am at the driveway of my office building...

A quick walk, by this time I'm starting to get drenched if the weather is hot... "If the weather is hot" When it is not hot. Ok, some days hotter than others.

A left turn and there are the doors holding in all the cold air in the building.

Now comes security. If there is no one in line it is easy. But if there is a rush, I can stand there for 10 min waiting to get thru the "crowd controlling turnstiles"

These have got to be the slowest operating turnstiles ever made.

But they are not as slow as the elevators, of which there are only four to service an 18 story building. Amazing. It has litterally taken me 15 min to wait during the rush times.

There is usually a guard manning the elevator making sure they pack on as many people as humanly possible before taking off on their way. Put an American on the elevator that the max load is significally reduced by number. We occupy 3-4 times the space of a Thai.

Finally I'm at my floor

A quick walk past the kitchen area

And I'm home. Well sort of. I live here as much as I do my apartment.

Some of the team is already busy

My space...

And the ever present Thai Smile.