A Beautiful Day in December 2022

 Bangkok, Thailand

Friday 23rd December 2022

Hi there,

It is really a beautiful day today. I felt nice cool breeze when getting up this morning and saw bright, clear blue sky outside.  It  is truly  a perfect winter day this year.  I was supposed to have two English classes according to my work schedule, but both were cancel in urgency; one student was sick and the other having a job interview. 

It has already been four months since my latest writing on this blog in September.  Over the past months I have been  busy juggling between work and other activities in my daily life. Those are tutoring English language on site and on line, writing and translating documents, doing home chores, looking after my three cats, two of which need special cares due to their different illness, and coping with whatever issues that come up on daily basis, etc. Most I just mentioned are not complicated but need a lot to be better cared in detail. And the latest is that my mother has been suffered from cellulitis at her right ankle for two weeks. 

My mother told me that at first she had felt just a slight pain at her right ankle , and she could move her ankle and foot and walk as normal. However, just the next day she felt so painful that she could not move her right foot or even stand up.  Her right ankle became red and swollen.  She also had a fever. That day I took her to see a doctor  and after her physical and blood  examinations, the doc prescribed some antibiotic medicine for treatment and told us that luckily there was no sign of  infection in the joint, which if happened, it would make the treatment much more difficult. Still, we had to wait to see if  my mom's symptoms would well respond to the medicine or not.  If not within a couple of days we had to take my mom to see a specialist in bone and joints for further investigation and treatment.

After a few days of her taking antibiotic and pain killers, my mother's symptoms have got better-- the swollen ankle was almost gone and her pain was clearly reduced.  No more fever. Yet, she still could not stand up or walk by herself and had to continue staying in bed and needed special assistance for her mobility.  After one and a half week, she could fold her knee and move her leg and ankle without pain.  She could also stand up and move slowly in a short distance by herself. That recovery truly made my mother feel  less stressed and able to sleep better at night, as she told me. 

Now I feel happy for my mother's recovery and hope to see her get back to normal very soon.  She is a very active person although in her mid-80s.  Different from many others at her age, my energetic mom does not like clinging to others even her own children. She is independent and usually loves taking care of herself. Since I remembered, she prefers cooking her own meals, working in the backyard, and going outside as she is pleased. And she rarely got sick.   As my mother and I share such characters, I knows how hard for her to just have to wait for help from others. 

Now the festive time is approaching.  I wish for the best and happiness for my old lady to be in great health.  So, she can enjoy the nice weather  and bright blue sky outdoor very soon. 

Gigi

Took a stroll in Bang Rak, Bangkok

 Bangkok, Thailand

Tuesday 20 September 2022

Good evening,

Last Saturday I went to have a late lunch with my good friend at an Indian restaurant near Bang Rak.  Located just at the entrance of Soi Silom 19, the restaurant offers Indian vegetarian dishes and beverages. I had onion rava masala dosa and mango lassi. All tasted good.  After the meal, we walked to Bang Rak, a nearby old community which has been well known for trades, business and food.  Although many shophouses are already transformed to modern styles, others remain almost the same as they were once. Some are partially renovated to serve the modern day purposes such as coffee shops, restaurants or pubs, yet the old structure of those buildings are kept and presented stylishly.  However, others are in deterioration for they appeared left unattentively. And soon the latter will be abolished and, most likely, the land they sit on will be included in a compound of some luxurious department store or opulent apartment.

  

      Anyhow, it was a fun day since I had not visited this area for a few years.  I  think of going back to enjoy some delicious food available there later. 

Gigi

    

The Grand Palace in Bangkok on a wet afternoon

Saturday 3 September 2022

Bangkok, Thailand

 Hi,

Since over two- year pandemic of Covid-19, I hadn't visited the Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha until the end of last month.  Now the situation in Thailand is getting better and like many other people, I wanted to get some air on a free day.  Thus, on that afternoon, my work schedule was free , so I simply went to catch a bus to visit one of my favourite sites in Bangkok. 

After finishing my morning home chores and routine tasks with my cats, I went to take a bus# 12 to Rajdamnoen Road near Phan Pha Bridge. During the way it passed Rama 6 Road, Vachiravut School. Wisuithikasat Road, Rajphat Dusit University, Tritosathep Temple and Bangkok Art Gallery at Phan Pha Bridge while it was raining continuously. I got off  the bus, and transferred to another bus # 59 which ended its route  shortly next to the National Museum., Bangkok. 

There were not many people on the buses or along the way because it was Wednesday afternoon, not a holiday. Most people on the streets hurried going inside the buildings to get away from the rain, but only I and a few others kept walking under the rain.  Looming over was the dark and cloudy sky and the rain was pouring like grey curtain.  Only the compact umbrella in my hand helped keeping my head and upper torso dry.

After threading through the stream of rain, I eventually arrived at the gate of the Grand Palace. And here came a part of my trip on that rainy day. 

There are many more I would love to present , but they will come later next times.

Gigi

 

 Bangkok, Thailand

Saturday 23 July 2022

Hi There,

I  stayed at home all day today because of no work in my schedule.  I spent time cooking and enjoying my homemade menus.  I had fresh red watercress that a good friend of mine recently brought for me from her own backyard. She is very good at growing vegetables, while my talent on growing any green is zero. I love plants and flowers. I wish to grow as many plants and flowers as I love to so that  I will be able to enjoy watching them around my place. But incredibly, that seems to be a tough wish for me.

Since I remembered, I  have grown several kinds of plants, but after a short while, they all died, no matter how hard I tried to save their lives. That truly discourages me but what upset me mostly is that I never want to lose any more of the green lives.  Although I never hear any of the plants cry or complain, I knew that they are living creatures, just like human.  They must have had their feelings: pain, fear, and vice versa. I feel sad every time I see plants die.  Thus, for now I just admire what others grow and  hope for their growing healthily.

Back to my kitchen today, I  cooked red water cress soup with egg tofu and steamed pork blood. I added Chinese celery and garlic to make the soup tastier.  Salt and white pepper powder were sprinkled at last before serving.   And to spice the soup a little bit, I smashed some bird chilis and mixed them with some vinegar before adding the sour mixture in the hot soup.  If  eating with rice is too heavy, you can add instant noodle into the soup instead and you will get instant noodle soup with water cress and tofu. The alternative is also delicious. 

This menu is good for my relaxing holiday. 

Gigi

Bright Sunday

Bangkok, Thailand

Sunday 13 July 2022

 

Hi There, 

I was supposed to have one afternoon class online today, yet it turned out no one but I showed up. I then  continued waiting for quite a while before giving up.  Well, I guess they might have gone somewhere for a long holiday this week.  Today is the last day of this long holiday that began on Asalha Bucha Day, an important Buddhist holiday, last Wednesday.  Many people left for holiday, especially since  they felt less afraid of covid-19 due to their having vaccination already.

According to several news reports, tourists happily flocked to several major tourist sites around the country.  They welcomed this holiday with excitement and joy since many had to keep themselves away from the crowd for months, or even years.  Not just the tourists but tourist-related businesses also looked forward to this long holiday, so their business could return healthy once again. 

The public health experts, however, warned that  while enjoying their holidays, people should continue guarding themselves by wearing masks, washing hands and avoiding crowds because new variants of corona virus are still around.  I agree with them on that warning.  Prevention is the best and it is not difficult to do that, don't you think so? 

 

Gigi

 Bangkok, Thailand

Friday 17 June 2022

Hi there,

We have just received very good news today after two-year continuous restriction of our living due to the spread of corona virus(Covid 19). The Government has finally announced today that from 1 July onwards, every province in Thailand is to be labeled as "green zone", after over the past year color zoning has been applied to classified every province around Thailand according to the incidence of Covid19-infection rates in each province. "Red zone" means the area is with high infectious cases. Moreover, wearing a mask will no longer be necessary in open space where is not crowded after people have not been able to go out side without putting on their mask. 

Such news is already good enough for me. Yet, for those night owls, there are more--pubs and bars are able to open until 2 am. and drinking alcoholic drinks are permitted at restaurant, pub and bar. 

Over the past week, people have been talking about the state to lift the restrictions since the better situation of the infection spread. The number of infectious cases has been found declining continuously before staying at considerably low figure  each day.  

Meanwhile, more people increasingly return to live their life just like before the pandemic.  One main reason is that many people might feel confident in the effectiveness of immunization that the majority of the population already got from vaccination over the past year. The other is economic reason. People need to work and get incomes while the government also needs to bring the country's economy back on feet.  

It's good to see the country and people become lively as they used to be before the covid-19 spread. Yet, in my view, we should enjoy the return of our freedom of living but with better caution. Wearing a mask when going outside or being among the crowd and washing hands are necessary for safety reason and good health. I will be one of those who keep wearing a mask when going outside or being amid the crowd. 

Gigi

Bangkok, Thailand

Thursday 17  February 2022

Hi there.

Happy late Valentine's Day. 😊  I  didn't realize that I had been away from writing here for more than a month, and now I have been in the year 2022 already! 

Blame my getting old. ^^

There are several issues I love to talk about, yet my brain today seems too cloudy. Thus, I had better not make you my readers get headache because of my confusion.

Since the beginning of this new year, there have been several stories of bad news and good news in various areas.  One of them is that Covid-19 infection continues to be with us and no one can tell when it will end, according to many news sources worldwide. Still, good news is there are fewer severe cases and a larger number of people in Thailand have got vaccination. Recently, small kids were the latest targets for vaccination following their parents' approvals and permissions.

Until today, the majority of Thai people have received at least two shots of covid-19 vaccines, and not a few already had four shots. The latter are those who are risky to a chance of getting infected easily such as medical or health-care professions. Besides, most people, although worried about the disease, adjust themselves and return to new-normal living style. Like them, I always have a bottle of alcohol spray, and a mask when going out.  I avoid crowds as possible. I won't go out if not necessary.  Once I arrive at home, I hurry to take a bath and wash my hair first. 

That is not a kind of life style I ever dreamed for, but I have to accept it for safety reason. I know it's not just me who have to embrace this "new normal". Alcohol and mask become necessity for us. I have no idea when we will be able to go out without a mask and alcohol spray. I just hope for the days I can go out with light head and lead my normal life as I once did will come again soon. 

Be in good health everyone.

Gigi