What is in your cup?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Congratulations on the new apartment, Stitchawl! You won't even have to go out for exercise if it's raining - just take the stairs instead of the lift!

Just finished a coke zero. Iced water for the rest of the day.

Originally Posted by orlok

Sounds fantastic Stitchawl. Crossed my mind about walking up all those flights of stairs too, if the lift's not working, but then you'd probably enjoy that . And all the mod cons too? Brilliant!

Get ready for this.... Thai elevators, although modern, are very small. 4 westerners fit without too much discomfort, but that's about it. And there usually isn't a 'service' elevator. This means... any and all deliveries of larger goods; furniture, appliances, BOXES OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS THAT ARE SHIPPED, etc., etc., have to get CARRIED UP ALL THOSE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS by the delivery people... and they think nothing of it.... Another very different culture.

And this boy has been walking all over town!! At least 10-20 kilometers every day! Today was cloudy and a bit drizzly, so no pictures yet, but I'll move from the hotel into the new house on Friday, so there should be some time when the sun shines, even though it's the rainy season now. That only means there is a torrential downpour every afternoon for about an hour or two, but all the water in the world seems to come down during that time! Even most of the cars stop moving for it.

But it's 5pm... Time for a late afternoon tea and an hour's read! Then it's off to the 'Night Bazaar' for dinner!


Stitchawl

[ProfCrash]

Enjoy the new place, it sounds great.

Working on some Sencha tea right now. It has taken nearly a year but I have acquired the skill of sleeping while baby boy is crying in his crib. As long as I know he is feed, not sick, and his diaper is changed I have figured out how to go to sleep regardless of his tears.

I don't know if I shoul dbe happy or sad about that....

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

That only means there is a torrential downpour every afternoon for about an hour or two, but all the water in the world seems to come down during that time! Even most of the cars stop moving for it.

I know the experience well, having lived in Africa. The rain is so heavy there's no point in trying to drive. You just have to pull over and wait it out.

Black coffee. What else?

[Stitchawl]

Found a wonderful tea shop in the Night Bazaar. Greens, Oolongs, Pu Erhs, some (not enough) blacks, and a delightful owner who insists that you sit and sample several of her teas that she brews for you while you wait!

It's go really good thing I'm doing so much walking every day, cuz Thai food is gooooood.
But I'm drinking bottled water right now. Can't drink the tap water anywhere in Thailand or Malaysia. Only Singapore's water system is safe in 'Indochina.'

Stitchawl

[ProfCrash]

Awesome! Enjoy

[dreams]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Friday - 5/24 - Emailed Bunn with a 7 year old coffee machine that was leaking, they said mail it in and they would replace it for $50. (I had no recite/etc). Keep in mind this is a $400-$500 commercial grade coffee machine. <snip>

Fantastic result.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

<snip>But it's 5pm... Time for a late afternoon tea and an hour's read! Then it's off to the 'Night Bazaar' for dinner!

It sounds like you are really happy with the move there and everything is turning out great. I hope it all continues to be just as great.

Fresh coffee in my cup and craving a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I may just have to give in and go make.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Found a wonderful tea shop in the Night Bazaar. Greens, Oolongs, Pu Erhs, some (not enough) blacks, and a delightful owner who insists that you sit and sample several of her teas that she brews for you while you wait!

It's go really good thing I'm doing so much walking every day, cuz Thai food is gooooood.
But I'm drinking bottled water right now. Can't drink the tap water anywhere in Thailand or Malaysia. Only Singapore's water system is safe in 'Indochina.'

Stitchawl

How are you managing language-wise?

[cromag]

Continued good luck in settling in, Stitchawl!

Be glad (and moderately) well-rested, ProfCrash!

Mug o' tea #1, to be followed by foam cups of coffee on the road.

[ProfCrash]

Get yourself a steri pen and carry it with you to be safe

[Stitchawl]

June is bustin' out all over
All over the meadow and the hill!
Buds're bustin' outa bushes
And the rompin' river pushes
Ev'ry little wheel that wheels beside the mill!

June is bustin' out all over
The feelin' is gettin' so intense,
That the young Virginia creepers
Hev been huggin' the bejeepers
Outa all the mornin' glories on the fence!
Because it's June...

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k611nq8hLhk)

....or because it's Thailand! Flowers are EVERYWHERE!!!

Good morning, everyone! It's two hours earlier than I used to post, but I seem to have already adjusted to the Time Zone difference. My clock says it's 7am, my body feels like to too. The blisters on my feet are starting to harden. (Wearing Teva Sandals and walking 10-15k after years of just motorcycle boots will take some getting used to....)

Only a few simple chores to do today while the cleaning and maintainence people ready the condo. I might just rent a motorcycle and see how much the outer reaches have changed... on the other hand, the weather report is for a lot of rain today... Maybe just a good day to visit old friends.

Originally Posted by dreams

Fantastic result.
It sounds like you are really happy with the move there and everything is turning out great. I hope it all continues to be just as great.

Thanks! It's still all moving along smoothly. I screwed up my money conversion scheme (by using Travelers Checks) but only lost about $25 out of several thousand, so really can't cry too loudly. I've lost that much betting on cockroach races....

Originally Posted by orlok

How are you managing language-wise?

I'm not having any problems, though the Thais that I speak to seem to...
Actually, quite a lot is coming back faster than I thought it would, especially 'hearing' the numbers when bargaining. And you have to bargain for everything here except in supermarkets or department stores. I brought back a big bag of goodies from the Night Bazaar last night, getting much better prices than fellow 'tourist' shoppers. I bought a little Bluetooth/wired speaker for my iPhone or laptop... Asking price was 1200 baht (about $35 USD,) the tourists ahead of me paid bargained it down to 1100 baht and were pleased. But have some language skills, I paid 700 baht. I was happy and the vendor still probably made 400 baht profit. 30%-50% off is the normal target in the street markets. 50%-70% down is the target with the 'tuk-tuks.' I'm still unable to get the tones of the language right, (there are 5 different tones for each word, giving 5 different meanings) but I never could get the right before, even with my hearing aids. Fortunately the Thais are smart enough to figure out what we foreigners are trying to say, just by the context.

Originally Posted by cromag

Continued good luck in settling in, Stitchawl!

Thanks. Thursday and Friday I'll start feathering the nest.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Get yourself a steri pen and carry it with you to be safe

They are a good device, but the bottled water is so cheap here, and can be found sold in several different stores on every block, there's no need. I can buy (and will have delivered to my condo each week) the big 25 liter water cooler bottles for less than a dollar a bottle. As long as you don't buy your water from some of the street vendors (who refill empty bottles from the tap and buy a package of snap-on 'sealed tops') there is little problem.

And now... my first English Breakfast tea of the day is waiting for me downstairs.... along with a plate of roti canai, and some fresh lychees and mangosteens!

Stitchawl

[cromag]

Half a bottle of Diet Coke, leftover from my road trip.

[dreams]

Waiting for a fresh cup of coffee and just realized that I am all out of M&M's. Not good when I am home and don't want to get back in the car to go to the store.

I hate it when I am craving something and nothing else sounds good.

[5thWiggle]

Mmmmm, coffee and M&M's.

Apparently, Meatloaf and M&M's go together as well...

[ProfCrash]

Working on pot two of Dayi Gongtuo Tuocha. I think it was astra in this thread who turned me on to Pu Erhs. I raise my tea mug to him and hope that he is doing well.

[hidari]

Stich...enjoy the heat.... Im on my seicomart wine.. G7 from Chile

5 USD for a bottle...not bad...