jocrossing

mood: accomplished

WIth the holiday getting more hectic (trying to hit too many sites) we decide to take it slow starting with a late morning breakfast at 10am at the recommended place selling traditonal breakfast  fare. (many breakfast places close ~10.30am)

 

Huashan Market is located on top of the SHANDAO TEMPLE STATION (exit 5) On  the second floor, you can find FU HONG DOU JIANG!


FU HONG DOU JIANG
  
The pastries and fried dough are so-so esp since I am spoilt by YONG HE in Singapore and Shanghai. But the DOU JIANG, both the salty and sweet concoctions are delicious!

 
Our next stop is the mandatory wholesale market of WUFENPU. Mandatory because this is the best place to get clothes at a bargain, Taipei being quite expensive to shop in, quite alike Singapore.
How to get here:
(1) Train alight at SONGSHAN RAILWAY STATION (from TAIPEI MAIN STATION) and walk 5 minutes (you can get a preview of TAIPEI 101 in the distance!)
(2) MRT alight at blue line HOUSHANPI and walk down YONGJI Road towards YONGCHUN STATION

WUFENPU is not a complex but a labyrinth of shops clustered together, the size of a couple of blocks.

As we are pretty early (guide book says operating hours to be 9-5pm, but it is acyuallly 2pm till late) so we spent an hour eating at FORMOSA CHANG, a chain of braised pork rice stall not unlike YOSHINOYA (with table service). A driver told us they serve the best braised meat rice but i would beg to differ. AH SUI SHI is so much better!
 
  
WU FEN PU, you cant really bargain at most shops unless you buy in bulk but you can try. My mother-in-law manages just that!

Next stop TAIPEI 101

 
The Damper Baby n entrance upon exit from shuttle bus

We took the MRT to Taipei CITY HALL and follow the sign to a free shuttle bus service to 101. The journey is short.
From the 5th floor, we bought tickets at NT400 each (concessions are for locals only, but some places like Taiwan Storyland allows concessions for tourists too so ask!) and took the speedy elevator to the 89th storey to the indoor observatory.

Here, you can pick up a free rental audio guide which is not very informative; the view is pretty nice even on a day as grey as this one. I like the art exhibits thou...
   

 
Pretty divine ah! Thanks to my canon IXUS
  
 
Pretty boy and me at the outdoor observatory on the 91 st floor. I manage to catch some eye-shut in the small theatre showing marketing clips of the majestic of the building, a mammoth of an engineering achievement....zzz

 

At night we took a cap to TAIPEI CHENGSHI WU TAI at BADE Road to catch the latest offering by PINGFUNG Theatre group. Though expensive, it is a memorable experience always to catch a professional performance abroad.
 
and we encountered half a ZEBRA at the crossing hiking to the nearest MRT station abt 20 minutes brisk walking away... COOL!

location: Bangkok

mood: bouncy

 
Alice, Dana and Betty on the tuk-tuk

The sunglass becomes a necessity, and so is the hat yet the trip is enjoyable on many levels, the most obvious being the renowned thai hospitality, not to mention the irresistible thai cuisine.

  
me and Dana; the girls enjoying the highly simulating and visual street scene of Pratunam!

 
One of the first things I learn in Thai is 'Mai Om Fai' meaning no fried shallots!
We had yummy fried chicken with rice at Chatuchak (near the TMB ARM entrance) on plastic plate
Dish costs abt 30 Baht
The Earthern pot version near the MRT (super crowded) is not as good! Papaya salad has a fishy taste.

 
street food that i dare not try

 
my fav thai sweets made from green bean (at Old Siam Plaza- closer to Little India than Chinatown sells a wide array of Thai sweets); crispy prata drenched in condensed milk (near Phahurat Market)

We stayed in Pratunam, in the Best Western Mayfair Suite which is charming but a little far out, making commuting by cab or tuk tuk a must rather than a luxury. It is literally a 10-15minutes walk in, up Phetburi Soi 13 (pronounced as 'soy-sip-sum'), past shops and massage parlors, some construction sites and residences. When it rains, you can see people walking almost knee deep in the pool of rain water.

  
front-desk at the chic Best Western Mayfair suite that costs abt S$50 per room per night; as you can see, service is impeccable

 
(Left) Scene outside the hotel lobby (Right) On the ride out to the main shopping street. Fortunately after the rain stops, water recedes rather quickly.

Day one Saturday- Landed in Suvarnabhumi (pronouced as Su-wan-na-poom)  Airport in the afternoon after some delay on Air Asia. It was a madhouse queuing up to check-in in Changi Airport, meaning they would most definately lose me as a customer. There wasn't a queue system and too many uncivilised passengers took it as a grand opportunity to jump queue. We were still boarding rather slowly when we are due to have taken off!

After checking in, we decide to brave the rain with a tuk tuk ride out to Partunam to shop in the spanking new Platinum Mall. It is indoor, air-conditioned and sell a wide array of wares. Can get good discounts if buying 3 items or above.

   
note: shops close early, abt 8pm in Bangkok! (except night markets, obviously) and the Thai people adores their King! Our cab driver told us that the 84 year old king was hospitalised and he hopes that the King makes a speedy recovery!

  
Central World Plaza- on the 5th floor outside the MK Restaurant you can see stalls covering the circumferance of the railing. Creative students with their makeshift stalls selling their creations from crochet items, notebooks, keychain pouches to clothes! And rather cheaply too! A customised Mr. Ronald McDonalds standing at Old Siam Plaza outlet!

Day two Sunday- Chatuchak. Best shopping experience in Bangkok! The only way to distact one from the heat is to stay focused on the shopping, which aint hard at all! I suck at bargaining and ended up buying only one top and some gifts. It doesnt help that most clothes are made for the petite! By six, Dana and I had wolfed down 2 coconut ice-cream and copious litres of coconut juice. (best to enter near the MRT station, and shops closer to the train stations are atas and you get more quality = pricey ware)

It is advisable to get a map (available at multiple points) to orientate yourself to the clock tower before you start.

Cabbed there, under 100 Baht

     
pretty beaded bracelets are aplenty here, ONLY SUGAR is one of the prettiest stores here, fancy tiny clothes for size 6 and below, MRT station at Chatuchak (look out for the thai tea and ice-cream sold right outside the station!)

     
You can also see very a wide range of art pieces, from the erotic to the contemporary and a tired dog serving as muse to the artist

  
the only top i bought in Bangkok (from ONLY SUGAR) and Coconut ice-cream served with a plastic cup of coconut juice. Scrumptious and refreshing on a hot humid day! (15Baht)

Day three- Wat Pho and massage. Reclining Buddha temple seated next to the Grand Palace. The visit ended with a keen and effective kneading session by the professionals that felt oh so gooooodddd.

You enter the massage centre within the grounds of Wat Pho, and after making payment, will be directed to change into their garb. They are rows of queen size mattresses on elevated platforms, one for each customer all in air-con comfort. The session ends with herbal compression and unsweetened tea.

Entrance fee to Wat Pho: 50 Baht
Thai Herbal Massage (1 hr): 480 Baht

  
Mural art in Wat Pho, Foot of the Reclining Buddha.

 
Gorgeous stupas; Alice watching the artisans/craftsman repairing the roof of the temple

The sacred experience is followed by a not so enjoyable trip to Yaowaran/ Chinatown. The Sampeng Lane wholesale market is an endless alley of shops, make-shift stores, hawkers selling food with charcoal burners on their push-carts making their way through the crowds.

  
It is like a green house inside the endless alleys of Chinatown markets. Here you get a discount only if you buy in bulk, at least 3-12 items.

 
some cute displays
 

Dined at food loft on the 7th fl of Central Chitlom that evening, a much needed respite from the heat and the crowds; which serves pricey but really delicious food. Worth every baht. (100-200 Baht per dish). I had Vietnamese noodles,  shared sago with black beans and chocolate banana bread pudding drenched in chocolate sauce. There is also a supermarket on level one.

Day four- Floating Market and Ayuthaya. It costs a total of 250Baht excluding tips to be ferried by cab to and fro 2 destinations and back to the hotel. The floating market, abt 10km outside Bangkok is an obvious tourist trap but a highly enjoyable one. Had really yummy thai style carrot cake (sweet and cooked with bean sprouts) and soupy pork noodles sitting on a boat!

  
tourist enjoying the sun?



I would like to think that we are doing our part keeping the floating market 'alive'. Really liked this 'theme-park' experience!!!
One and a half hour boat ride costs 400 Baht per person

 

Pork noodles 25-30 Baht
Carrot Cake 40 Baht
Coconut costs 20Baht

 

This is my second trip to Ayuthaya and the experience remains both enthralling and enchanting to walk among the ruins of the empire, imagining the glorious days and the battlefields. The world heritage site is a must for any visitor. 

entrance to each site: 50 Baht, free for Wat Phananchoeng. Legend has it that the tallest gilded Buddha in Thailand was encrusted with cement during the war to prevent it from being stolen by the enemies plundering the city.
Wat Phananchoeng is dedicated to Zheng He who visited Ayuthaya in 1407.

   
Wat Phra Si Sanphet- The Grand Palace (background- chedis built to house the royal dead), signs posted to educate visitors on proper etiquette when visiting the monuments, and Wat Mahathat

  
the beheaded Buddhas- remnants of the with the historical battles with Burma, wandering through the ruins

     
 
  
the famous Buddha head supported by the roots of the fig tree near the entrance of Wat Mahathat
 

Day ended with a walk in Silom- Patpong. It is still a thrill to see girls cladded in not much and pimps pestering you to see ping-pong shows! The bad air is getting to me by then, my eyes tired and irritated all day. We pretty much walked past the pubs, peeped in to see what's free and take a cab back to the hotel, calling it a night!

Society progresses yet it continues to reaffirm the pivotal position of the sex industry in Thailand. It is perhaps idealistic to think prostitution reduces as a society evolves- people from the lower income bracket, poorer countries merely jumps in to fill the demand. It is common to hear people shouting 'a-go-go',' free show' up and down the main stretch of the market. 

Day Five- Erawan Shrine in front of Grand Hyatt Erawan, Tuptim Shrine at Swissotel Nai Lerk, and 3D movie experience in Siam Paragon!

 
Erawan Shrine- a Brahman shrine where 30Baht gets you joss sticks, a yellow candle and 4 garlands of flowers as offering to the world famous shrine. You can pay for dancers to peform to the deities.

 
Tucked in a corner behind the pool beyond the car park in Swissotel Nai Lerk is the fertility shrine of Goddess Tubtim

 
You see phallus of all shapes, colours and sizes here. You also see shrines of idols and figurines.

 
Siam Paragon movie experience. The Thai anthem is played before every screening and everyone is expected to be on their feet
Movie ticket: 220 Baht

At the airport, we walk from the boarding gate into the waiting bus, into the rain, up the ramp into the plane. At that moment I was home sick for a full-fledge carrier, like SQ.

My Travel Tips:

1. Never take a tuk tuk on a hot day. That plus the pollution from the traffic will shorten your life span!
2. Dress decent for temples visit thou covered shoes are not necessary since you have to go in barefoot.
3. Shops in malls close early, about 8pm. Time to hit the night markets like Suan Lam or Patpong...
4. Cabs- always ask if they charge by meter before entering. Fare starts from 35 Baht. Cabbies tend to drive more recklessly if they charge a flat fee! Always have change else they will round up the fare and not give you your change back.
5. Tuk Tuk- they always start with 100-200 Baht. Bargain down to 50Baht if distance is not too far.
6. Good Thai massage starts from abt 200 Baht
7. If you are lost in Pratunam area, go to the concierge counter at the Gaysorn Plaza (near Chitlom BTJ/ sky train) they speak English and provides decent tourist maps for free!

  
Recycling bin for batteries at MBK. Skip the eatery on level 5. The famous MBK Food court is on level 6!
The essential Thai snacks- pork floss, freeze-dried durian and mango and tom yum instant noodles!
Toilets are pretty decent in Bangkok, fyi.

One more week to Taipei!!!
 

location: USA

mood: complacent

These are precarious moments - the travelling, these in between places we have to be in, in order to be where we want to be. 
The blankness and fatigue and the insatiable desire for good movies and good airline food while trapped inside a compressed cabin flying over great spans of space. I left Singapore at 11pm and reach New York the very next morning at 10am local time,flying over twenty one hours, as if the plane has managed to bend time! Trapped inside a fancy little box, the magical experience starts when the door reopens at a pre-appointed time. Oh hi there! Welcome to the United States!

It is SO easy to overeat when I seem so tiny there esp when away when the big fancy cities. Food greasy and generously portioned, just the way I lovee it. As the towns we are visiting are rather out of the way, we have to take many connecting flights, spend hours resting in airport lounges and taking trains and greyhound buses....zzzz



LaGuardia Airport, Groundhound buses and an Amish man smoking while holding the hand of his son

It is truly a dream to travel for days and still be within the domain of one's own country. One can simply, quite like what some characters did, pack a small bag and bolt. To lead a different life, as if in a witness protection program, to buffer us from the failings of our past and be insured of a more self directed & possibly equally tragic future of hope.

St Louis Union Station's very own 9 and three quarter...

The sister of a relative did exactly that. After a failed marriage, she packed her bag, left her young son with her parents to be a waitress in New York City. Is she wrong to want an alternative to her doomed life, as she sees it? I always wondered, never quite wanting to know.





Scenes of the America landscape taken during the many bus rides


My fellow traveller and brother Cliff enjoying a good meal in Narita Airport after a long journey. Almost home now...

The idea of chicago, the sprawling city in the midwest, of blues and jazz, of George clooney famed CHICAGO HOPE and Michael Jordan famous slams...as compared to NYC, buildings are more spaced out, the air is cleaner and more crisp, and the winds, legendary. A pretty city by the Machigan Rivers, it serves the best goddamed pizza pie ever tasted in the form of PIZZA UNO just a few blocks from the RED ROOF INN where I stayed budget style and still incredibly close to CHICAGO's top touristy spots such as the MAGNIFICENT MILE (for shopping), Red Head Bar (jazz, very popular and no sneakers allowed) and many popular dining places such as HEAVEN on SEVEN (a cajun food outlet opposite Harley Davidson clothing store).

My favourite spot in the city as I see it? The CHICAGO INSTITUTE OF ARTS, not far from the river and a nice walk from the Buckingham Fountain.

location: NYC, USA

mood: cheerful

Street fair outside Central Park- candied apple and home made superman.

   

Central Park- serene and cool, families playing and tourists on carriages.

 

Metropolitan Meseum- selected pieces
 
   
 
A couple enjoying an intimate moment at Brooklyn Bridge subway station

 

A walk along Brooklyn Bridge

 

An artist's impression of Coney Island,a mere hour's ride away fr lower Manhatten

 

Ground zero- reconstruction

 
 
art in shopping mall

 
Wall Street- New York Stock Exchange and George Washington

 
NYPD

 

The Cathedral of St John the Divine

 

just another tourist trap in NYC, expect nothing less
 
 

location: Manhatten, USA

mood: creative

music: Jazz

Aint this grand? I will choose Brooklyn Bridge over Empire State Building anyday.

 

location: Manhatten, USA

mood: hungry

music: jazzy

A short walk south of Central Park main entrance sees us wailing at the soup stand of SEINFELD famed Soup Nazi, was. The banner is still there but the place is closed, moved, plainly gone for good.

 

A cake store in Grand Central Terminal. Big cakes. Didnt quite like the food, the crowd and the ambience great thou.

Do you remember this scene from Will Smith's I AM LEGEND? We saw him in person in TIME SQUARE filming!!!

I ordered a jumbo dog (two sausages) with plenty of ketchup and mustard while queuing to board the ferry. Waiting took up at least THREE HOURS! 

Early Chinese immigrants, have called the statue of liberty their 'Kuan Yin', i can see why, with her standing so tall and magnificent after months of journey-ing across the oceans.

You may not know this yet but food on the island is pretty decent. 

Please buy the tickets online (getting the tickets with specific dates will cut queuing time to almost nothing) and apply for the monument pass. That is your only way to step into the statue when on the island. Only 3000 passes are allocated each day. 

If you are a shrimp lover, you must then pay a visit to Bubba Gump, just next to the Hard Rock Cafe in Time Square.

 


And follow up a good meal with a hearty laugh in CAROLINES on BROADWAY comedy club. 

With Seinfeld and Woody ALLEN so quinessentially NY and entrenched in people's minds as its representations, you cant leave the island without a huge dose of this long standing tradition. Enjoy.