My Travel Blog

Sunny and Hot!

shoppingmum — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:59:23 +0000

The weather is getting unbearable here. It’s so sunny and hot, I feel like melting when I’m out in the afternoon. The roller blinds can seem to block the rays as well, so I’m staying away from the windows.

My only wish this summer holiday is to bring my kids back to their home town. I want them to be attached to their families back home, and remember their country well, instead of growing up as Thai. That’s the confusing part of expat kids, I guess.

Map Of Possible Bangkok Trouble Spots For This Weekend (Areas to avoid)

shoppingmum — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:55:45 +0000

There is another riot coming up tomorrow, by the Reds. So, if you are happened to be in Bangkok, check out this news by Thaivisa.com about Map Of Possible Bangkok Trouble Spots For This Weekend.

Try to avoid the hot spots for at least 3 days, start from tomorrow. Some routes are closed too, so plan your itinerary well.

Here’s the spots to avoid:
POSSIBLE DANGEROUS SPOTS

“33 dangerous spots” that was posted by a member in the 2bangkok.com forum who frequently seems to have political insight.

1 Supreme Court
2 Criminal Court in Ratchadaphisek ring
3 Bangkok Bank HQ at Silom
4 Bangkok Bank – Nana Branch
5 Kasikorn Thai Bank – Nana Branch
6 Siam Commercial Bank – Ratchayothin HQ and Phetburi HQ
7 Grand Place – Now UDD men are going to burn down Grand Palace to pacve the way to turn Thailand to Republcian regime!
8 Siriraj Hospital to Commit Regicide against His majesty.
9 Major Ratchayothin
10 Big C rat Boorana – Southern terminal of Chao Phraya express
11 Central World – Main target for looting
12 Central Lad Phrao – Main target for looting
13 Phrannok Market
14 Minburi Market
15 Dao Khanong Market
16 Patthmawikorn Intersection
17 Arun Amarin Intersection
18 Rom Klao intrersection – clowed to Motorway and SUvannabhum
19 Kaset – Nawamin
20 Kaset – Nawamin – Crossing Lad Pla Khao
21 Kaset – Nawamin – Crossing Pradit Manootham road.
22 Nawamin Intesection
23 Sathon Intersection (Narathiwat crossing Siom) – Chong Nonsee
24 Saladaeng Intersection to storm Chulalongkorn Hospital
25 Saphan Kwai Intersection
26 Klogn Toei Intersection
27 Ram Khamhaeng road – form Lam Salee to Suwinthawongse
28 Minburi Intersection (Ram Indra road crossign Suwinthawongse)
29 BMA Office at Giant Swing and Dindaeng
30 Lumphini Park
31 Pathumwan Princess Hotel – MBK
32 Pathumwan Vocation School – MBK
33 Uthenthawai Vocation school – certainly cstormgin Chulalongkorn U. and holdign lots of hostages

Best still, don’t come to Bangkok these few days, until the situation is confirmed over wise. Being an expat here for almost 2 years, I’ve got “numb” with the riots, but will stay away from the hot spots and try not to wear any red or yellow during this period of time. Oh well, Orlando vacation packages will seem to be a better choice than a holiday in Bangkok!

Summer Swimming Class

shoppingmum — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:14:40 +0000

It’s so sunny and hot here in Bangkok, I can’t even remember the last time it rains. With the kids rotting at home during the weekends, I plan to send my boy to summer swimming class if I can find an instructor. Hopefully, the public pool has uv pond filter and it’s not dirty.

So far, I haven’t go the feedback from the instructor. Sigh…

So, how else can I keep my kids occupied?

Summer Holiday in Thailand

shoppingmum — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:12:16 +0000

My kids are enjoying their summer holiday now, but the poor kids are not going anywhere because the parents are tied up with work. Worse still, we have to save up for their next school fees payments for the new school year, so it’s best not to spend much on vacations nor life insurance rates.

Our plan to fly back might not come through either due to our work load. It’s all about work and make money now!

Hua Hin Beach

shoppingmum — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:08:58 +0000

I quite like Hua Hin. It’s not as crowded as Pattaya, and the waves are quite gentle, so it’s great for kids.

The only disadvantage will be the smell. Horse riding are available here, but the horses poo and pee as they please, so the sand is quite stink some times. But it doesn’t seem to bother the kids, who refused to spend time at the entertainment centers, but on the beach and in the pool mostly.

That’s why I wanted to try other resorts with private beach next time. It should be a better vacation.

Should We Fly Home?

shoppingmum — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:05:23 +0000

It’s summer holiday again after next week, and my kids will have a 10 weeks break. It’s quite a long holiday so we are enrolling them for a month of summer camp at school, and we are still thinking if we should send them home for holiday in April. I know that their grandparents would love to see them again soon, but I can’t be home for too long.

I haven’t checked the price of the flight tickets here, and with the epson receipt printer at home, I can’t print out the itinerary too. I will discuss with hubby again, and see if we will book the flight next week.

Gifts

shoppingmum — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:58:29 +0000

I can’t wait for hubby to be back tomorrow night. He bought some toys for the kids again, and I know that he won’t be getting me anything. Sigh…after years of marriage, he has stopped giving me gifts!

I’m so jealous with other husbands who still shower their wives with surprises, but my hubby, he has never been romantic. But anyway, as long as he’s not getting me a testosterone cream or any lousy gift, I don’t mind if he can just get me a little token of love. Perhaps some chocolate?

Chom View Hotel, Hua Hin

shoppingmum — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:52:30 +0000

We went to Hua Hin during CNY, and SIL booked 2 family units and a deluxe room at Chom View Hotel. It’s not any 5 star hotel, but it is a lovely and affordable hotel for families. Not all units have the same design furniture. The other unit we booked had a queen bed, instead of the single bed in the 2nd bedroom. But anyway, it’s good enough for 15 of us, and my parents-in-law took the deluxe room at another building.

Here are some shots taken in our room:

The pantry area

The bed on the lower floor.

The master bedroom

The other bedroom

The pool is great for the kids, and the hotel is situated by the beach.

The pool

The cafe by the pool

The lovely Hua Hin beach

I love this shot. It shows the blue of the pool, the sea and the sky.

It’s a nice stay at Chom View Hotel, but I won’t stay here again on my future trips to Hua Hin. There are a lot of hotels and villas in Hua Hin, so I want to check them out too.

Praying

shoppingmum — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:27:54 +0000

I hope that everything is going to be fine tomorrow, since it’s the day when they will announce the verdict on Taksin’s seized assets. I don’t want to go through another political turbulence here, where it kills the stability of the country and its economy. I can finally see some improvement in our biz, so please let it continue to grow. We’ve lost our only salesman this month, he won’t take any extended service plan, and it’s going to be very challenging for us.

I want to make more money so that we can afford to travel more.

Going to Australia?

shoppingmum — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:48:45 +0000

SIL suggested that we go to Australia this August, but I’m not sure if we can make it. My first concern is always the kids school fees, if we have extra money, then it should not be a problem. Hubby is not too keen to travel abroad, at least not this recent years.

We have been controlling our expenditure well, no more fancy meals, no more Murray Feiss, no big cars and etc, just to make our business work and pay for the kids schooling.

I hope that this year will be a better one for us, then traveling to Australia will be possible.