Trip to Bangkok - The Rest of It

Warning: One Long Entry.... Lots of photos too, if you don't feel like reading on..

On day 2, we went down for for the hotel's breakfast at 8.30am. I've stayed in Pathuwan Princess twice before and if my memory didn't fail me, the breakfast wasn't this sumptuous before. For once, I actually enjoyed eating hotel's breakfast! Even Tara ate a lot and she was so happy to see cornflakes on the buffet table!

After breakfast, we went to the Four Face Buddha (is that how you call it?) and pray. After that, we went to Chinatown's wholesale market. I went once before, with my gang last year and led by the Bangkok guru, Jaime. I had to call her for the exact location of the market because I just can't remember where it is. In the end, we got off at the wrong side of the market where there's nothing to buy. There were loads of shoes, but they are selling wholesale where you have to buy 6 pairs at the same design and same size.

We took a long route before we ended up at the right market. There, I found all the shops that I went last year. I came out of the market with 9 bags for myself, 1 watch, many hair clips, 3 necklaces and some other random stuff I can't remember. The bags were selling at wholesale price of 150 baht (about S$7) a piece. It was so hard not to buy everything! And I bought a pretty pink watch with a big pink butterfly and lots of bling. Totally love it that I willing part 270 baht for it.

On the BTS to Chinatown

Wherever Bob goes to Chinatown, he must stop by the shops there for shark's fin and bird's nest. The other family wasn't so keen on the delicacies so we ended up eating shark's fin only. When we were about to finish, it started to rain and we had to wait in the restaurant for it to stop. After waiting for about 15 mins, I decided to make a dash to the market to get us umbrellas, so off I went and bought 2 umbrellas at 80 baht each.

At Chinatown, outside the restaurant.

After Chinatown, we went back to the hotel for a rest before meeting Bob's Thai friend for dinner. I had 1 hour to spare before dinner so I went to Siam Square alone to shop for my stuff. It was so easy shopping alone! Within 30 mins, I managed to get a few tops, 1 dress, 1 skirt and 1 pair fo shorts for myself.

Bob's friend brought us out for dinner at a nice riverside Thai restaurant where I was the feast of several mosquitoes. I seemed to be the only target for the damn mozzies that night! And I regretted not bringing the insect repellent cream my Dad gave me before the trip. The restaurant's ambience was really nice and one side of it was a pub. And the food was great too.

Outside the restaurant. With the restauran'ts own tuk tuk, which only takes the guest out to the entrance for them to get taxis.

We started the next day with breakfast at the hotel too, I ate the same foods as the day before. I just couldn't get enough of the fresh greens at the salad bar and the baked tomatoes with cheese!

After breakfast, we made our way to the BTS station and our destination was Platinum fashion mall. I remembered the mall was at the Pratunam area but the friend's wife's boss said it's was near Chatuchak. So we took the train all the way to the other end only to find out from the staff there that we are supposed to go to Ratchatewi only, which was just one stop away from where we started. So we took the train back again. We spent the whole day there, where I grabbed more tops, more necklaces, several earrings and 5 watches at 95 baht (S$4 plus) a piece. Bob told me not to get anymore bags since I have 9 already but for me, it will never be enough! We also bought 3 sets of PJs for Tara.

At the BTS station, waiting for train to go Pratunam.

We went back to the hotel for a dip in the pool where Tara had so much fun with her Dad.


That night, we had our steamboat dinner at MK restaurant, where I didn't get much chance to eat. Tara was always up to some mischief and kept me very busy. She broke a glass and we all had to shift out from the booth seats while the staff clear up the mess. Then she dropped a ladle, dropped a pen, refused to eat her food, insisted on scooping the steaming hot food out from the pot, wanted to pee, and not long after, wanted to poo.. It was endless! When the rest were already 90% full, I haven't even started on much! Bob had to feed me while I fed Tara.

The next day started out the same too. Breakfast at the hotel and yeah, the same food again. It was a pretty healthy trip for me, considering the amount of greens I ate every morning!

We had to split up with the other family and went shopping by ourselves as they are returning on an earlier flight and had to do rush some last minute shopping. We went to Siam Square again, as said, my favourite haunt and I tried to find the one long stretch of shops I chanced upon on my lone shopping trip the other day, but no matter how, I just couldn't find it! It was one stretch of really nice shops which I didn't get to explore fully due to time contraint that day. After a while, we gave up. I still did not managed to find any shoes and only went back with some small items meant for my colleagues. It was quite depressing and I just felt like a lot of time was wasted this trip.

We went back to the hotel for some nice Korean charcoal grill lunch before we went back to our room for a rest and shower before we headed off to the airport.

Absolute yummy charcoal grilled meat

Bob sent us there and both of us sat down for coffee as it was still pretty early, and Tara was taking her afternoon nap. I gave him every single baht that I have, since he would still be in Thailand. And after coffee, off me and Tara went into the customs area.

There was a group of people don't know from which country queuing right behind me. And they were queueing too close to me and it felt so uncomfortable. The last straw came when one of the guy rested his hand onto Tara's stroller. I tugged the stroller, pushed it front a little, positioned myself behind it so he couldn't his stupid hand can't reach. Then I turned around and glowered at them. I just don't understand why they have to stand so close!

And when we reached the inside, Tara finally woke up from her nap and asked for milk. Since I don't have a single baht with me, I thought of finding an atm to withdraw some money for her milk. After searching for a while, I checked with the lady at the currency exchange counter and she told me there isn't any atm machine in the departure area, so I asked her what is the minimum amount I can exchange and she told me S$2. I changed S$10 for about 220 baht and spent 40 baht for a cup of steamed milk from the cafe.

I'm aware that the restriction of liquid onboard does not apply for formula milk. But since the milk I bought wasn't under that category, I had to make Tara finished it fast as our flight was on last call (thanks to the queue at the customs and the search for the atm). We were both just outside the security check point and I was anxiously getting Tara to finish the half cup of milk, after a while, a lady officer walked to me and asked if Tara was drinking milk, I told her yes, and she said it was okay to bring in the milk. Hey, I didn't know steamed milk in a coffee cup was okay onboard!

We finally got on the plane just in time and more gifts came in Tara's way. The flight back wasn't as bad as I've thought. Minor issues like Tara refusing to eat a morsel of her meal, asked to go to the toilet 3 times, kept changing VCDs on her portable player were all that made the flight eventful. I had a bad case of bloated stomach and a little nausea. My meal was literally untouched too. But I think the Japanese guy sitting beside Tara had a worse flight. The pressure build up in his ears was causing him agony and he looked quite bad. An attendant speaking fluent Jap had to bring him hot towels to cover his ears to relieve the pain.

Little girl with her portable player

Bored Mummy trying to get both of us into the frame, without sucess..

I bought a new bottle of fragrance from the DFS when we reached the airport. At the luggage pick up area, one airport staff saw me loading one big luggage, one big bag of my loot, one handcarry bag, one big bag of snacks and one stroller on the trolley and asked if I would be okay alone and with the kid. It was fortunate that Bob got his brother to pick us up or else I don't think I can carry that much stuff when I'm back home.

Even though Bob didn't came home with me, it felt so good to be home, and I was totally drained from the trip. I guess bringing a kid to a shopping trip isn't a good idea. And going with a family with 2 more kids was worse! I told Bob he shouldn't have asked the family to come along, knowing fully well that I only do shopping when I go Bangkok. The other wife wasn't that much a shopper didn't help either. Imagine I had to lug 3 kids and 3 adults with me when I shopped? It was so tiring, and so depressing. Depressing because I couldn't cover the areas which my gang and I went last year. Previous trips to Bangkok, I always need to withdraw more cash and sign credit for my departmental purchases. But this trip, I can't even finished the cash I've brought, which just means one thing, the shopping wasn't enough. Even before I came back to Singapore, I was already thinking when I can go back. And I've already made plans with my Sis and Jaime to go in March, I'm so looking forward to it.

Tara's Progress Report

On Monday, on our way back home after dinner, Bob passed me Tara's progress report from school. I was like, ooh, nice. It kind of feel like getting the report books after the exams and I was pretty excited to see how Tara has "fared" in school.



I flipped open the booklet and was greeted with all the Bs and Ds and the first thought that came into mind was, oh man, no As???



I slowly looked through the report. Tara got Bs for almost everything except for rhythm which she got D. And I thought, ooh, her rhythm was that bad??

The remarks about Tara:
Tara is a cheerful girl and gets along well with her peers. She enjoys singing, reciting rhymes and playing with her peers. She often offers to help her friends and teacher.

I was feeling pretty satisfied with the remarks and was really glad to know that she got along well with her friends.

After reading through every single detail of Tara's progress. I flipped to page 1 of the booklet and finally saw these:

B - Beginner
D - Developing

And I finally got it. This is a report of her progress, not a grade of the skills she display. Silly typical kiasu mummy.

The Bangkok Trip - Going There

This is the 2nd time I brought Tara to Bangkok, and this time, we have another family to join us. Bob's long time secondary school friend brought his wife and 2 kids along.

Bob was already in Bangkok for training and I had to make the trip there with Tara (and the other family). I had wanted to take the mrt to the airport because our flight was in the morning and taking cab from Jurong to Changi is crazy! Not only is the fare going to be ridiculous, I reckoned we will also be stuck in the crazy morning traffic. Then came a heroine in the form of my future SIL (yeah, my bro getting ROM in Dec!). She lived near me and she worked in Changi, so she came in the wee hours of the morning, actually 6.45am lah, and drove me and Tara all the way to her work place! We had a quick breakfast at her workplace and took the cab to the airport. She couldn't send us straight to the airport as she starts work at 8am and will be super late if she did send us.

This trip, I was especially worried. Tara wasn't in her best behavious for 2 weeks, in fact, she became the most incorrigible kid all of a sudden! So I was worried about how she will behaved in the 2 hour flight.

Before we board the plane, we shopped around the duty free shops and I bought myself a bottle of SKII "miracle water", I just had to find out how miraculous it is. Besides, I do need some miracle for my dull complexion and patchy skin. I also bought a cup of steamed milk from coffee bean for Tara when she complained of hunger.

I have pre-selected the aisle seats instead of the window ones so that it's easier for me and Tara to move around. It went pretty well the whole trip. She actually dozed off when the plane was taxi-ing out to the runway and by the time the plane took off, the little girl was already sound asleep.

When the cabin crew served the children meals, I tried waking her up but she was just too tired, having woken up 5 plus in the morning. So I thought I will leave her alone and enjoy my meal and my movie (The Ghost Rider) in peace. But being a mother, I was worried that the little one will be hungry, so I tried to wake her again. What came after was a cute sight. She opened her eyes dreamily and saw a packet of chocolate milk right in front of her, she opened her eyes wide and quickly sat up straight, took the milk packet and grinned. But besides the dessert, the chocolate milk and the biscuits with chocolate dip, she wasn't interested in anything else. It was quite a waste actually and the fish fingers was literally untouched.

Prior to taking off, the cabin crew gave Tara some freebies. A Dora watch, stuff toy and a Dora activity pack which helped to keep the little one entertained throughout. We managed to "survived" the whole trip. The caucasian man who sat beside Tara was really nice, he offered his pillow to us when he saw me trying to prop the little one into a comfy position to sleep. And when Tara dropped her biscuits, he helped to picked them up. Even when Tara kept bumping into him, he was totally cool about it. He even offered to hold my meal tray when I needed to pick yet another item that Tara had dropped. And at the end of the flight, he actually told me that Tara behaved really well. I was like.. huh? But I politely thank him for his nice comments.


Tara eating her meal and watching "Meet the Robinsons"

We reached the new Bangkok airport. I had thought it to be spanking, high class new but the airport turned out to be way below my expectation. The long queue at the customs did not make things better either. We stood in a queue that barely moved 1 inch for 15mins and Tara asked to go toilet. I had to carry the girl to quite a distance away before we can find one. I'm just glad Tara can control her bladder well. And when I'm finally back in the queue, I saw still, the same group of people in the queue! The friend called me on my mobile and said there was a counter by the side that catered for families with young children.

The trip to the hotel took about 1 hour and I had to whipped out the portable DVD to entertain the kids. When we reached the hotel, Bob was already waiting for us. While checking in, he said he got a good news and a bad news for me. I shall not say what is the good news. I asked for the bad news first and he said he cannot go back to Singapore with me as he had work schedules in the south of Thailand a day after we were to return home. The worst thing is, the other family had booked an earlier flight home and I can only return home alone with Tara, truly alone.

We went MBK for lunch and after that to Siam Square for shopping. I went to my favourite Boots pharmacy to stock up my beauty products. Siam Square, one of my favourite shopping area, but I only managed to get only 1 pair of shoes. Guess the Thai girls don't have big feet like me.

We didn't go anywhere else after that as all of us (except Bob) were too tired after the morning flight. We had a short rest before dinner and Bob brought us to this nice Thai restaurant by the river side. I was too tired to enjoy the dinner and besides, little Tara was sleeping in my arms and I couldn't eat properly. We all went back to the hotel for an early night after that.


Very tired Tara sleeping during dinner.


Very fresh oysters eaten only with a dash of lime, some fried onions, parsley and red chilli sauce.

Here ends my long entry for day 1 alone.

Dengue Fever

The dreaded dengue has hit my family. Both my Dad and my Sis got it and this morning, both were admitted to hospital together. And they need to stay for observations for 3 days at least.

I'm not so worried about the 2 of them, since they have professional care now. I'm more worried about my mum. She wasn't feeling that well either, guess she got the flu, but had to take care of my sis' kids. She had a mild stroke before, I'm just worried she might not be able to take all these stress. Worst thing is, I won't be able to take leave to help her out since I just taken a few days off for the Bangkok trip and the department is pretty shorthanded at this moment.

Now, I just hope that everyone gets well soon and the damn aedes mosquitoes won't target on the rest of my family.

Back from Bangkok

I went for a short trip to Bangkok last Friday. Just came back last night. Bob was there early last week and my plan was to join him end of the week, have a short vacation with Tara in tow and come back together on Monday.

But things didn't turned out as planned. I will update on my trip once I have sorted out the still unpacked luggage, my mountain load of office work, and the physically-drained me.

Conversation between a 35 year old & a 2.5 year old

The conversation happened this morning, I better write it down before I forget!

Daddy: Tara, 你还不去穿裤，穿鞋。不然迟到了就没有早餐吃了啊！

Tara: 你讲我，我不支持你啊！

Daddy: 我又没参加大选，不需要你支持我啦！

Tara: 你坏蛋，我不跟你share糖！

Daddy: 我自己会去买，不用你跟我share!

For a minute, I thought there were 2 kids! Very funny..

我没有碗！

Yesterday morning, I overslept and woke up at about 8am. By the time the little one reached school, it was already 5 minutes to 9. Breakfast ended at 8.45am and although the aunties will drag the time a little, we were still too late to get any food for Tara.

I was writing the medicine slip next to her class area when Tara came to me, after washing her hands, and crying, "我没有碗! 我没有碗!". She was really upset to see that there was nothing on the breakfast table. Her Dad always makes sure his little one gets to eat breakfast in school every morning and Tara was already very used to the routine. That's why she was so upset.

I brought her to the indoor playground where the rest of her class were and she was crying throughout. When Auntie Yang came forward and brought her away, I heard her crying for Daddy.

This morning, I make a point to wake up earlier and Tara got her breakfast. Even though it's a small piece of cake, it made her really happy. I guess the little one is a breakfast person!

I won the race!

I just realized I haven't been updating for the past 2 weeks. TIME FLIES, MAN!! 2 weeks just gone by in a flash! It seem like not too long ago that I participated in the Amazing Loft Race.

And as you can see from my heading, I won the race!! It was such an achievement for me especially the last clue was a difficult one and I managed to do it on time!

Here are my LOs:

Clue 5



We have to scraplift for this clue. Meaning to take layout from another scrapbooker (in this case, a well-known one) and scrap from there. As in copy the ideas lah. This was a very last minute done LO. I was out the whole Sunday and when I reached home at 8.30pm, I checked the forum and realized I need to submit by 10pm! So it was a rush against time, very hectic. I still had to shower the little girl, prepared her milk before I can sit down to do this LO. Fortunately, the works of the famous scrapper (I can't remember the name) are rather simple, so I did a simple one too. I just ensured I follow the basic rules that's all. It's my first time doing an A4 size LO. Anyway, as expected, I don't like this LO nor the size either. Gotta have to redo!

Clue 6



The "firsts" I've done here are creating my own pattern paper (the white piece of paper), limiting myself to only 3 colours for the LO (not including photo), and journaling on the photo. A personal first is scrapping with my PILs photo. I enjoyed doing this one. It just tells me that I can actually create a pattern paper myself, to save money. Hehe.

Clue 7



My last clue. And this one has many, many firsts lah. Basically, we gotta put in a lot of stuff and it has to be exact! For example, journaling has to be exactly 20 words and buttons has to be exactly 18 pcs. After putting in my embellishments, I counted and re-counted to ensure that everything is in order. And the funniest part was my journaling, I actually put in a sentence that don't make sense at all, it was an as-long-as-it's-20-words mentality at that time.

Bob was really sweet that day. He knew I was rushing for my last LO, and I was one of the last 4 that made it to the last clue, and he voluntarily helped to shower Tara, brought my dinner to my scrap table and entertained my brother and future SIL when they came to my house. I was so busy scrapping that I have no time to speak to them. And Bob, who usually hid in his room when they come over, actually made the effort to keep them company! I was so touched. I really got to thank him for making such effort!

The Win
We were supposed to upload our last LO at 11.59pm EXACTLY! And I managed to be the first one to do it. What I didn't expect was the link of the photos to go haywire and didn't appear on the post at all! I was already so nervous when I was getting ready to click "send", and my hands were cold and shivering when I did the amendments. Imagine that kind of nervous I had!!

The lady "Phil" (aka the host of the race) couldn't log in to the forum due to some problems and didn't annouce the winner till the next day. And when she finally did after a long wait, and annouced I was the winner, I was ecstatic!!

My prizes.



My consolation prize from the first clue and my overall win prize! When I told Bob of the total value of the prizes, he gave me a "Cheh!" and said for all the effort, he thought I should be winning lots of cash money! I admit that participating in a race over 7 days, rushing and working overnight was pretty tough, but I was actually happier to have completed the race. That was a major achievement for me, on top of that, I realised I can work out of my comfort zone, pushing myself out of my boundaries. The prizes might not cost a lot but that does not matter at all, I actually felt that it was a bonus for me rather than the motivation to finish the race.

And another bonus, I managed to finish 7 LOs in one week. It was like finishing 7 months work! Considering I only can do about 1 LO a month, that's excluding the altered projects (i.e. photo frames) that I do. That is one major bonus lah.