World Map

I want a world map.

January is Ending!

Yes I'm happy about this.

But time really does fly.

Also looking forward to my trip to Hanoi next weekend!

Going to eat at an Indian restaurant in Nana tonight and perhaps off to Long Table?

Can't wait to see Chieng some time this week also! I'm really happy that he's here.

Thinking if I should go look at a condo tomorrow at Sukhumvit 50.

Going to grandma's tomorrow. Hopefully I can bring Ginger along... I get so worried that she doesn't have a chance to run around too much in my mom's small house. Hopefully I'll get some ang pao (red envelopes) too from her :P

Random Updates

Haven't really felt like updating in a while. Feeling quite blank these days.

Been sleeping really early like 8 or 9 PM sometimes. I think it's coz I've been going to the gym almost everyday and working out like crazy. My body feels so tired.

Yes, Jane, I think you're right. Those were cat's paw prints and not dogs. Silly me! Nick called me that day and said, "You know they could be from cats..." I didn't even think about it!

Discovered a really good Thai restaurant right near my apartment. You wouldn't think it's good at all from the outside but I'm so impressed by the food. I have a feeling I'll be eating there quite often.

Watched Sliding Doors last night. I love Irish accents. They're so interesting.

Met Clare, Man Ling and some other RIS people last Friday at Londoners. It's great to see them. I haven't seen Man Ling since high school graduation!

Bumped into Teerapong yesterday at the gym.

I can't wait for Vietnam next month. I feel like I just need to get away from Thailand and January as a whole.

I want a cactus. Three actually.

Chieng is coming back this Friday. Can't wait to see him again! I'm happy he's coming back more often now.

I want to bake.

I think I've gone back to "save the money", or in other words "stingy" mode. I was spending all of my money the past 3-4 months and haven't really saved anything at all. I've decided to save 3/4 of my salary this year and will probably put a limit to how much I spend each month.

Dogs Running Over My Car

There are small paw prints on my car's windshield!!!

How'd it get there?

Work Updates

I was feeling a bit more relieved yesterday since I ran into my boss who asked me about my contract. Since my contract is ending February I've been stressing out about how long my contract will be extended for because I've been hearing all these different things from different people. Anyway, if my boss doesn't change his mind I think my contract will be extended for another 5 months and then I'll have to take a 1 month break (I know, it's weird but their rule regulates that because I'm a consultant I have to take a 1 month break once I've worked for 11 months before I continue again). Then my contract will have to be extended again for the third time. So looks like I'll be having a month off in July or August. Not sure what I'll be doing but I guess I'll go travel somewhere. It seems like my role at work will also increase and include gender issues too (apart from early childhood development). I'm pretty excited about this.

France

I haven't really updated properly in a while. I guess a lot of things have been happening in January. I've gotta say though, I don't think January's been one of my best months. I don't know. Sometimes I feel an air of depression around me but this time I actually feel it around others as well.

I also haven't really talked much about my trip in France. I really enjoyed Paris. My favorite place in Paris was this area call Montmartre, which is an area in the north and is very hilly. On top is a Cathedral with the name such as the Sacred Heart. Just hearing the name makes me like it already. My favorite area is next to it in the Artist’s Village. Here, many artists come and paint and sell their paintings. And I’ve also got to mention that these artists produce such beautiful works. I really wanted a painting but it was expensive and I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to haul it all over France as I was going to many places. A lot of famous artists like Salvador Dali, Picasso and Van Gogh all used to have studios and lived there. Pictures can be found on my Facebook.

The South of France was also very pretty. It’s got all these small villages perched on a cliff that makes it look so heavenly. My favorite village was St. Paul, which is near Nice. It’s got these small streets and ateliers (workshops) lining it. My favorite word in French right now is atelier. I think it’s got to do with this game I wanted to play when I was a kid called Atelier Iris. I always thought atelier meant light but I guess not. I think I’ve managed to visit a lot of cities in the South, thanks to Nick and his family, I went to Manosque (Nick’s hometown and where the L’Occitane factory is located), neighboring Aix en Provence (another nice town with a lot of universities and meandering streets full of shops), Marseille (the third largest city in France, I didn’t really like it though), Avignon (sounds like something from King Arthur so I really liked the city. I visited the Palace of the Pope, which was really nice and crossed the bridge over the river Rhine), Nice (a very pretty beach town with too many traffic lights. Loved the houses there though, very beautiful architecture), Monaco (I got there at night so didn’t really get to see much, had some bad Italian food), St. Paul (my favorite!), passed through Gorde (another village). We also visited Versaille while we were in Paris. It was a bit too upscale for my taste though although very impressive. The Provence area that I went to is also known for their lavender fields but it was too bad that none of it was growing when I went there because it was winter.

When we were traveling to all these places I felt like I was in an RPG game because the towns really look like the ones in the games (with the church, blacksmith, workshops, fountains, cobblestone walkways, hotels). It was just really cute.

I also love the houses in France. It’s really colorful (tones of peach, purple, pink, orange) and has that rugged look. I also love the medieval-looking doors, painted wooden windows and balconies. I guess if I was to have a house in Thailand I’d like to build it like that.

The food was also great. I always kind of wondered what French food was, and I’m probably still wondering what it is because I can’t really describe it. But I do love the French onion soups, their pastries, spreads (they’ve got so many yummy ones!), saucissons, and pate d’amande (almond paste rolled into fruit-shapes). I think the French take just as much time into food presentation just like the Japanese people do with their food. I also ate a lot of nuts, figs and dates while I was there. I think I turned into a squirrel.

I also liked the French subway system in Paris. It was so convenient as it went everywhere and it wasn’t confusing at all.

It was a good thing I guess that Nick was there because whenever I spoke French most people kind of just ignored me and talked to Nick instead. I’m not really sure what to think of that.

Feeling Stressed

January, and I'm feeling the stress already. And I thought this month was suppose to be slow and relaxing for me. My contract for work is ending at the end of February and I have no clue how long it'll be extended for. Two months? Three? Six? I never realized how important job security was until now. If it gets extended for a short period, I'm not so much worried about finding a new job because I'm sure I'll find SOMETHING, but I know it's going to be frustrating finding a job that I like.

That being said, I'm pretty certain that I'm going to stop going to my guitar class. I hate saying that I don't have time to practice but I'm pretty much putting all of my time into other things (like going to the gym). I should start saving more too.