Jan. 16- 21 Minburi (suburb of Bangkok)

Jan. 16-21, 2015

The first week will be spent at Dainty's and at school.

Jan. 16

Up and at 'em

We were up around 7:30 with fresh coffee.  Dainty went across the street to get breakfast- her Saturday fav- grilled chicken and sticky rice.  The temp was a cool 18 C .....the coolest I have ever felt in Thailand.

You can see the lady grilling across the street

Next it was time to get ready to head downtown. We were off to lunch at Coffee Beans, a cool upscale restaurant in the mall Central Embassy.  For 450 Baht, I had a mango lassi, pork tacos, and a slice of cappuccino cake as well as contributed to the birthday girl's lunch as well as the tip.  

Showing off delicious cakes- birthday girl is in the middle

Bruce went for a 90 min hot oil massage.  Then we went for a beer and Bruce had chicken and cashew as well as fried prawns.

Then we went shopping for Ahya's birthday present- she wanted Equestrian girls, Toys R Us had it all. 

Then he tried to get a SIM card for our Mexican phone.....,first wrong card, then we find out it is not compatible with the phone. Boohoo. So, tomorrow we will either unlock one of our iPhones or buy an Asian one.  We got home and had to have a nap.  Next, Bruce and Dainty headed to the pak soi to get dinner- noodles and veggies.

Jan. 18

We were up at 7:00.  We had fried pork and sticky rice for breakfast.  Next we went for a nice walk down the road and then we walked along the klong (which is a concrete path along the canal).  We saw a family of ducks and lots of flowers and plants.  We forgot our cameras, boo hoo.  Then around noon we headed to Fashion Island mall.

 Dainty and I had an hour foot massage while Bruce had a two hour massage.  Then we went and found a new phone.  Next was lunch- we had Vietnamese.

Then it was off to visit Kim, my friend from Oz.  We had a great Happy Hour- a taste of Mexican margaritas, followed by coconut rum and passion fruit liqueur.  After 'catching up' on the last couple years we headed to the restaurant.  Kim's condo is on the same grounds as a five star hotel.

Then it was off to visit my friend Kim.  We had a great cocktail hour along with Brie cheese, olives, and crackers.  A nice visit and dinner at her condo restaurant.

Jan. 19

Up and off to school at 7:00 a.m.  Saw a lot of former colleagues....  Attended Monday morning assembly which is held outside in front of the school.  Then I went and talked to Ms Sudha (she was the one who hired me last time).  The elementary principal was with her.  Neither seemed to recall getting my reume :(. So, I resent it to the principal and have an interview on Wednesday.  So, we will see!  It felt good to be at the school.  I am going back to meet Kim for lunch.  

We had chicken fried rice for 40 baht. Very good!  Then it was nap time after we split a Singha.

We went out to the 'project' for supper ( low cost government housing).  I had the shrimp pad Thai for 40 baht, Dainty and Bruce shared spicy stir fried veggies with pork.

                       My pad Thai cook

                 View of the street- many food stalls with tables and chairs

                                 Our food 

Jan. 20

We woke up at 6:30 and had coffee - just like home. After calling our parents and checking email it was time to go for a morning stroll.  My knee seems to be finally back to normal.  We decided to take the iPad with us and do the klong (canal) walk.  Many Thai people's house back onto the klong.  There is also a concrete walkway, about 30 inches wide, that people walk, bike or motorcycle on.  Here are some of the photos we took, they look like something you would expect in National Geographic.

Then on the way back we took this picture of a new gym/pool getting ready to open only .2 km from Dainty's.

Then we continued into Dainty's mooban (which means community, like Willowgrove where we live).

Note Dainty's living wall, her patio, and front door area and also her awesome

Flowers outside her gate.

Here is a picture of the community nearby where Dainty is interested in buying a lot

After lunch at school, Bruce had Butter Chicken and I had a salad with sliced chicken, we took a taxi to Big C, which is like WalMart.  We bought a new shower head for Dainty and some food and assorted toiletries. 

When Dainty and Ahya came home we headed to MK for supper.  There is an induction burner in the middle of each table.  You order platters of meat and veggies to cook in the pot of boiling water thus making soup.  You spoon what you would like in your bowl. Bruce also ordered a platter of roast duck and crispy pork.  Photos to come.  I had to keep the wrapper the chopsticks came in and photo it.

Jan 21

Woke up this morning excited to have the interview for the librarian job.  I headed over to school and watched some of the Grade 1-5 games day.

At 9, I had the interview with the principal. It went well. Next she sent me to the Head of School.  Dr. Peter is a very nice guy and the interview went well.  Then he called the Head Librarian and that interview went well too.  He said that they would confer and get back to me.  Meanwhile the principal talked to Dainty and two other former colleagues to see if they thought I would 'fit in'.