Japan Pop Festival in Bkk

Hi all, just wanted to let you know I'm still alive and all. I've been teaching full time in an English program here in Bangkok, 25 periods per week. So I've been quite busy to update the blog. I've got a huge backlog of posts to catch up on...  ＿φ( °-°)/

Nearby, there was a small shopping center hosting a week long Japanese pop event. So Patri and I decided to check it out a couple of nights when there was performances and have a look around.

Sum 41 Live in Bangkok

In early March we got a call from one of my bf's friends here that Sum 41 was playing in the city. Just finishing up the end of their Asia tour, Bangkok was the last stop. 

MOSQUITOES LOVE ME!

One of the major problems I've faced since coming to Thailand (well, not really a life problem, but it's been significantly annoying none the less) has been dealing with the mosquitoes! I don't remember reading about this in any Thailand travel journals! Other than beware of malaria and dengue fever when doing jungle treks. ( I would expect mosquitoes in the jungle, wouldn't you?) Although, I do remember getting bit a lot on my last trip here. It seems like they LOVE to bite foreigners.

First real Thailand Entry; Getting settled in and Interesting Tasties

Hey again, or Sawasdee ka, I should say.

The first couple of weeks here in Thailand have consisted mostly of getting settled and trying to figure out exactly what it is I'm going to do while I'm here. Pat has wasted no time in meeting with people and booking interviews. I'm still wondering around a bit. I've been here 3 weeks and just started applying last week or so. I had one interview but nothing has turned anything up so far. I've applied to several places trying to avoid assigning myself to only teaching ESL. I'm just trying to avoid getting myself locked into a contract for the next year. Its my understanding that an international school will not accept you without a 12 month contract tenuring you to them. So I'm trying for language and tutoring schools. I do have another interview next Monday so wish me luck.

After getting my cell phone connected with access to Facebook and Twitter again, I've had a bit of fun showing off different tastes of snacks and desserts here. Thai people like their food flavors to be strong, sour, sweet or spicy. Some flavors I love, like tom yum soup and curries. Others make me cringe a little, but I have an adventurous spirit and like to try most anything. And if I don't really like it, Pat will finish the rest. （￣ー￣）

I take pics and share online because I love to see the responses some of my friends have to stuff here compared to what were used to back in Canada. Like these Lays chips bags I snapped from 7/11.

These grab bag size chips are 25 baht, about .80 cents CAD. In Canada I've seen the same size bag run from $1.25 up to $2.00 in some places.

I think it's safe to say that Nori Seaweed and Hot Chili Squid are not typical Lays chips flavors in Canada.

Also caught this gem on the cover of a menu, although I couldn't bring myself to try it.

Cream corn on icecream... yum? X_x;

Strange, strange desserts. Cream corn topping on ice cream.. Whats wrong with a little hot fudge. I don't know, maybe it's delicious? lol Although I have tried a couple of desserts purchased at a stall on our street that are pretty tasty. This orange stringy dried cookie/thing is called Som-o.

Som-o Orange cookie(?)

The word "Som" is Thai for orange. I don't know what the 'o' stands for. It has the consistency of a macaroon, but no coconut taste really. I also picked up these, which happen to be one of Pat's favorites.

Kanom-Ping

They're not unlike sugar cookies in texture, but taste like campfire marshmallows. The word Kanom means dessert.

One kanom ping cookie.

Although I found them to be too rich after I had a few of them, we somehow still ate the whole container. I've eaten so much new food I can't even begin to describe. I did take some pictures of my supper this evening though to share. 

Patri's Coconut milk drink on soft crushed ice 

My Pineapple juice drink/soft crushed ice 

Dim Sum to start, I love the cream filled buns!

look at the tasty insides

My rice noodle soup with assorted fish balls

Pat had roasted duck soup

I have also found a favorite lunch spot. I really like Black Canyon coffee shops here. They have a coffee house atmosphere with good prices (cheaper than Tim Horton's back home). I love the coffee but I also really like eating there. 

Pat's iced cappuccino and my Thai Iced Tea Frappe

I was missing N.American type food so I got a club sandwich. They have a good mix of Thai and American style foods.

Club sandwich

We shared some green curry as well.

I think I invented a new thing while there because I dipped a sandwich quarter in green curry on my spoon and it was delicious. I ate it all this way. New Thai green curry-club sandwich fusion recipe coming soon? lol I don't know if it would sell but I really liked it.

If you can't tell I'm one of those types of girls who likes to take pictures of everything before I eat it so be prepared for future foodie appreciation posts. 

Until next time!

(づ￣ ³￣)づ

When Zombie's invade Canada; it's always good to have a plan, right?

Good to know our tax dollars are going towards protecting Canadians from every 'possible threat'. 

I'm using that sentence loosely.

Video from MacleansMagazine Published on Feb. 13th, 2013 Youtube.com

As a dedicated "The Walking Dead" fan, I enjoyed this little bit of fun in the House of Commons. But then I  let my imagination start rolling and started thinking, what if there was a zombie pandemic, that's epicenter was somewhere in the United States. Open up your imagination and think about it. Where would everyone be trying to run to in running away from that center. The Canadian US border is huge and vastly covered by forest. Even if roadways were blocked and checkpoints were made, zombies would eventually make their way through.

D: 

Would our government, in honor of human rights, let people through to safety. Or by means of self preservation force them to turn back into the zombie infested unknown. 

Freaky stuff.

Geographically speaking, how would a location of said zombie epicenter effect the spread of zombies across the US and into Canada. Like say if the pandemic began in LA, I would think the west coast would be on high alert. If it was NYC, then Ontario Quebec followed closely by the east coast. If we went further north, would the cold slow the Zombies down?

I remember in high school reading a book for English class, The Chrysalids by John Wyndam (wiki info). If you ever have a chance to read this science fiction novel then I recommend it. I wasn't the most studious in high school unless I found something entertaining and this book captured my attention. Anyway, I remember my teacher explaining the reasons for the Labrador area being chosen as the locale for this story. Saying that during a nuclear apocalypse, how certain areas of the world would likely remain untouched due to low population and geographical distance to huge centers. 

This is where my mind went.

Therefore, if there is a zombie pandemic, you can find me in Newfoundland/Labrador. 

F(x_x)F

(Can you see the "zombie" in the above emoticon? That's right.)

Until next time.

Happy Be-lated New Year!

Happy New year to who-ever is reading my blog. My stats are slowly creeping up so I know someone must be reading these. Hope you had a wonderful New Years. Mine was low key, stayed at my parents with the Bf and watched Batman and blew up some fire-crackers and sparklers at midnight with my Dad. Lots of food and relaxation. As far as resolutions go, I didn't really try to specifically choose anything to work on. I've done this oftentimes before and every year by December I get all depressed to think I didn't try hard enough or something. Why add something else in your life to worry about and pressure yourself about accomplishing. I mostly just want to find happiness, live well and be a nice person. No pressure to worry about losing XX amount of weight or making $$$ or whatever other resolutions are popularly made. Besides, as of recently I've had other things to take care of and put stress on my mind...

I've been so busy that it's been difficult to update recently and there have been a lot of changes happening. I've finally finished working one of the two jobs I've been doing these past few months. And soon, I will be done this job as well. Why you might ask? Well because I'm going to be heading out of the country on a bit of an adventure for the next few months. I'm heading to Thailand, my Bf's home country, for the second time in my life to try to live, work and gain some international experience I guess. Not really sure how to wrap my head around it all. It's a big BIG change for this small town East Coast gal! The big busy BKK, hot weather, hot food (yum thai food is delicious), new job, new everything. Its a big step, but also one that I always knew I may have to take someday. Being in this kind of relationship certainly has it's challenges but it's also very rewarding. My Bf's been in Canada for both work and study for so long now and he hasn't spent more than a few months in Thailand for years. I know it must be very hard to step away from what you know and live so far from family. So it's my turn to sacrifice some time away from home and i am looking forward to the experience. 

But I do have my worries. I worry about making new friends. How I'm going to communicate. They say learning a new language is best done by throwing yourself right in. This is as in as you can get. I know basic phrases, Sawasdee Ka (Hello), Hong narm u nai? (Where is the bathroom?) Karp kun ka (Thankyou). Mai Pai lai ka. (Nevermind) and Kah Thot ka (I'm Sorry/excuse me). Don't mind my romanized-english versions, I have no idea if they are spelled right, just trying to give you an idea of the sound. 

Anyway, I will update again when I'm over there! Wish me Chok-dee ka (Goodluck)!

Please be advised that this is a late post that I had saved and forgot to publish before leaving. I've actually been in Thailand a week now and am doing well. Sorry I was so busy to update before. :)