Monday, May 28, 2007

Donut Factory - The Factory With A Long Queue

Just mention Donut Factory and i guess everyone will think of two things. One, how delicious it is, especially its double chocolate and two, how long the queue is. And boy, both are equally contraditing, one a pull factor (away from buying), the other a push factor. 

I have eaten it twice and i love it!! Since im happily jobless and full of time, i decided to join this queueing crusade and spend my time reading this newly acquired book called Ugly by Constance Briscoe.

I reached at 11.30 even though the shop opened at 12.30pm. I tot i was smart but apparently, im "outsmart-ed" by the 50+ people queueing in front of me!!! 50+!!! Nevermind, with a maximum of 2 dozens donuts that can be bought by a person, it should not be tat long, i tot.

Sighz..... Im ignorant again. Becoz all the donuts are bloody made on the spot!!! Guess how long i waited? FREAKING 3 and a half hours!!! GOSH!!!! Luckily i finished half of the book and the only complain i had was that i had to stand so long!

The Queue When i Reached

After almost 3 Hours of Wait, The "Light" was FINALLY Clear

The Triumphant Moment

Once i reached home, after going to the nearby library to borrow comic books (For Better or For Worse), i happily placed the two boxes of donuts on the table. The next thing i know, ants were swarming my precious!!! Luckily all saved!

The Rescued Donuts without the Ants!

I tried one donut (since i had diarrhea these few days) called Double Chocolate. ITS FABULOUS!! With the thin layer of white chocolate spread onto a chocolate filled donut, it gave my sensitive teeth a slight jolt when the chocolate smeared itself all over the place.

One Word
Heavenly.....................

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Summer Cleaning - The Terror of My Storeroom

 The Cluttered, Skyscraper Styled Storeroom

I was free that my mum assigned me to the task of her previous job - housewife. Since im not working, i decided to take on this "impossible task"! And one of the undertaken was to clear the storeroom in my house, which was a total mess!! As you can see above. I opened the door, took my things, and closed the door. NO BLOODY FREAKING WAY TO MANOEUVER!!!

A small percentage of the total packages i pulled out

My Baby Potrait!! The Blurred Look. Hahaha

Its a really fun thing to do, especially when i managed to find my long-time-tot-to-be-lost toys. I also managed to find my baby photo, a full set of camping materials, with mat, tent, a bbq pit and even basketball, volleyballs!! Something was ringing in my head! To my unfortunate friends, be prepared to join me in some senseless activities! Hahaha.

A Few Smurf Figures!! My Gosh!!

Beside my mum's endless collection of cooking utensils (i found two sets of juicer, 2 cookers, a lot of bowls, 3 sets of tea set, 1 toaster, 2 pans, alot of rattan baskets, 40 male/female bags and alot of clothes!), i also realised i have those Mcdonalds Collectibles (below), !! *bulb shining!* Can sell off........ Since im jobless, penniless!

Mcdonald's Hong Bao Dragons!

Mcdonald's Hong Bao Puppies!

 Mcdonlds Bears

Mcdonald Disney Beanies!

Mcdonald's Snoopy Internationalities!

My Favourites MCdonalds Hello Kitty Full Set! I still remember the furoe that happens.

After a search at ebay and major auction websites, the bloody Hello Kitty was only worth 5 bucks!! And i bought one of it (male astronaut) at 50!!! ARGH!!!!!!

Friday, May 18, 2007

Bangkok Sequel - Weird Stuff

I was supposed to do an entry on my summer cleaning but my elder sister had conveniently borrowed the digicam with the memory card. I was really amazed by the "skeletons" i managed to drag out from my store room. Haha. I will leave it for another day.

Weird Stuff in Bangkok... Hm... Okay, we can always called it weird, strange, different or even a culture shock. But tats what i like when im in other countries. Its those things that make it worth to visit. Throw me a haunted house, a few weirdos and i think its even more worth it! Today's entry will be photo based, more interactive and lesser of my long windedness. lol.

(UP) The way the king is revered is amazing! I dun see our Mr President Nathan's pictures anywhere on the main street or anywhere as big as the one so frequently seen of the Thai King in Bangkok.

(UP) There must be some mention of Tuk Tuk! I heard that Tuk Tuk in Bangkok is smaller than the one in Hatyai. And from the look of it, im amazed that 3 of us are able to squeeze into it. The ride was fabulous and the tuk tuk can go faster than my Toyota Vios!

(UP) They have really interesting T-Shirts. I especially like the Good Bush, Bad Bush.

(UP) Dogs are plentiful in the pet section Chatuchak! Not only were they cute, sweet but the hard-to-believe part was that unlike the dog farms in Singapore, the smell exuded there were minimal even though the conditions looked appalling! And forget about buying things for your dogs there. Nothing interests me except for the canines.

 
(UP) In Siam Ocean World (a must go for first timers), they put fishes in microwave oven, washing machine and even a car! And personally, for the price, i think its much much more interesting to go to Siam Ocean World than our Underwater World, which charges exorbitant prices and non as interactive as Siam Ocean.

(UP) This is the token used to take e MRT in Bangkok! It works like the Ez-Link we are so familiar about. Tap it and the gate opens. But when u exited, u have to drop it like using a piggy bank.

(UP) They have a Sylvannian Shop - Cafe!!! Only one word to describe it. Cute!


(UP) I took this from one of the beauty shops. I din know so much classifications about breasts! Mine is definitely bigger than the Bee-Stings and Cranberries. Definitely not Balloons.

 
And yes, they called Ghost "Pi" in Thai.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Bangkok - The City of Temples [Wat Phra Kaeo (Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun (Dawn), Wat Saket (Golden Mount) and Erawan Shrine]

FINALLY!! I visited this much touted city after so many Singaporeans have thronged it for their food, shopping and temples! And yes, i have quitted my job!!

Another FINALLY!!! Hahahaha.

Anyway, one thing about Bangkok, it is always temples, wats, temples, wats.. (Wat is the thai name for temple). I was so besieged by the numerous temples that seriously, unless it's some really different, great temple, every wat looked the same!

Of course, the first temple i saw was amazing, majestic, great, big ..... after that, same same same same, and unfortunately, i dunno enough Thai (written or spoken) to even vaguely understand what the temples are for! There are some great temples though; those that i will bring family and friends along the next time!!

A few things to note about temples in Thailand:

For the popular ones, there are always an entrance fee, ranging from 10-20 Baht (S$0.50-$1.00). You may squeeze some waiver if you can show that you are Thai, which is by either SPEAKING like one or LOOKING like one. If you are lucky enough to go in during some of the Thai holidays (like us), you get a full waiver too.

Secondly, out of respect, in temples like Wat Phra Kaeo (dun ever ever ask me to pronounce it), no sleeveless, no shorts, no slippers. Even if weather is shit out there, no exemption will be given.

An Acceptable Shoes (i think)

But Must Wear Covered Trousers or Pants or Anything to COVER the HAIRS!!
(The legs looked sexy right? They are mine)

Thirdly, there will always be WAYS for you to spend more money! Like buying coins to put into those alms bowls or stucking money onto a wooden lotus stick that you sticked into a styrofoam or buying bells where you write the names and blessings you wan. I dunno if it worked, but the optimistic mentality is telling me, no harm in trying? Haha.

The Alms Bowls Mentioned. You have to pay to get the cups of coins, of which you put one in every bowl. Total Bowls if im not wrong is around 100+

The Wooden Lotus Sticks. Notice the Notes fluttering! Lucky their 20 Bahts come in notes!

The Blessing Bells from the Three of Us

Lastly, you will always conincidentally meet some friendly locals in the temples who will tell you that gems in Thailand are really cheap and which temples are revered with Lucky Buddha and only opened once every month (or once every week, or once every year).

Being SKEPTICAL yet CURIOUS, we tried it out and i realised that those lucky temples that are supposedly opened so infrequently had only us as visitors, and those tuks tuks that sent us kept asking us to go to those wholesale gems shop or shirts shop so that they can get diesel coupons (or maybe commission). Until i got back to Singapore, i read that Thailand is famous for having fake gems or selling low quality gems even though they are one of the largest gems providers in the world. I sure hope that my zircon is of a good quality (it still shimmers brightly). Despite the above mentioned, just go and try it out if you have time!

Temples!

1) Wat Phra Kaeo (Emerald Buddha)Located within the grand palace, it is an fabulous place that is full of unique architecture. I personally did not know that there is a temple there until i went into e temple hall entrance itself where the Emerald Buddha is situated.

Unforunately, the hall is closed for renovations and i can only get a small glimpse of the statue, after much jostling. I am amazed that such a small statue can have the claim of being Thailand most sacred statue! Beside being the most revered in the country, its history is full of legends and first surfacing in 1434!

2) Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha)
I remember long time ago when every relative's trip to Thailand will come back with pictures of this half sleeping buddha and now i know why. Beside being the largest in Bangkok @35m long (the world largest is at Burma at 70m) , its feet are layered with mother of pearl! I have no idea how much mother of pearls cost but being the mother of pearls, it is like the equivalent of mother to me, and which in personal term, means priceless!!

3) Wat Arun (Dawn)
When i reached this temple via a 3 baht boat trip (S$0.15) and paying a 10 baht entrance fee, i am in awe. Seeing such a monumental historical temple (the temple is built more than 300 years ago, the main tower or prang was completed around 1851), the feeling exuded was of a peaceful mind, one that was at ease, without any worries.

4) Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
This temple is interesting, because it is situated on higher grounds and you have to work really hard to climb the 318 steps to reach the top. The view on top is worth the climb! You can have a 4 sided views of the city! It cannot be compared to the view at Baiyoke Tower but at least you pay lesser!

5) Erawan Shrine
I cannot finish this entry without paying a tribute to the ever popular Erawan Shrine (aka Four Faced Buddha). Even though Thailand is Buddhism based, many of its temples have influences from Hinduism. Erawan itself is a great example, because the Buddha is actually a Hindu God. Surprise Surprise. However, with so many wishes granted, it has been the top favourite place for Singaporeans to visit for luck. The location helps as well, since its at a crossroads and easily accessible from the shopping belts (another S'porean fav)

I shall talk about the other part of Bkk another time!! Ciao~~~~~~~~

GREAT SINGAPORE SALE IS COMING!!!