We are in Bangkok Again

Clear white clouds above Bangkok

This time hubbys friend booked us at a hotel nearer Chatuchak Market.I dont know why he booked us in a hotel quite further away from the airport and main shopping areas. Maybe Narongsak(Tonys business partner) was thinking of me. Last month I spent 2 entire days just roaming around Chatuchak. Unfortunately today is only Wednesday and Chatuchak opens on Saturday which is our departure date.

Hubby retrieving our luggage

Now we know how to avoid the long queue at immigrations. We went to the other end of the immigrations building(the part where there are less passengers). In merely 30 minutes we were already out of the airport and on the way to our hotel.

Welcome note and fruits from our hotel

On the way to the hotel,we were joking with our taxi driver. We told him that we are the advance party of Thaksin since Thaksin is arriving tomorrow at 9 am after a long exile overseas. Tonight all the TV stations are monitoring his arrival tomorrow. I cannot understand the news since its in Thai but I guess they were showing and discussing the implications of Thaksins arrival tomorrow.

The hotel internet is not free but Tony was able to log on since we saw some wi fi sites and we are using one now.

Our room

Tomorrow I will try to explore the Sukhumbit area and the shopping area in Pratunam . Before we go back I will go to the Flower Market to buy some orchids for Saturdays visit of Mama Mary to our home.

Capuccino nightcap

Tomorrow is an exciting day...I will be by myself again exploring Bangkok.Tony is working while I go shopping. Todays rate of S$1 is BHT 22.59.

Why Pilipinos are Always Happy

We love to Sing and dance.Maybe that is one of the reasons why we are happy as a nation despite hardships we meet in life...we all still manage to smile.

See even the US Ambassador is fast catching up with our Happy Fever.

My favorite 1960 song!!!

I used to sing this song over and over again when I was still in grade school......
Here's one of my favorite songs.

American Idol 7 Girls-My Top Picks

Again based on my criteria of voice,charisma and song choice I have to say that all the girls had the VOICE so my choice for the top 3 was basically based on charisma and song choice.

However, despite AI 7 having the largest number of pretty girls, it seems that charisma is lacking in some of them.

Here is my top 3 picks in last nights performance show:

RAMIELE MALUBAY- I like her for three reasons: she did not scream the song(she sang like Regine Velasquez), she is cute and classy and she is a Filipina(but of course).


Amanda Overmyer- I didnt understand any words in her song but among the girls for me she has a lot of character and charisma which will make her sail through to the top ten.


Carly Smithson- She definitely has the voice although charisma can be improved.I like her version of "the Shadow of Your Smile" However it wont beat Astrud Gilberto's version ,the best for me specially if you want mellow romantic music on a rainy sleepy night.

I dont have a bottom 3 for the girls but I think if there will be one to be eliminated because of song choice it will be Amy Davis who sang "Where the Boys Are".

My Top 3 Male American Idol 7 favorites

American Idol has just started and I already have my early Male favorites !

My choice was based on : voice, charisma and song choice.

And here are my top 3 male favorites:

Michael Johns- I think this guy is versatile enough to last until the top 5. He has the rock idol image.

And here is what the tabloids say about him(remember what they say about showbiz its better to be talked about rather to be forgotten)..

An Australian import, he was formerly the lead singer of a band called The Rising and a band called Film. He also changed his name from Michael Lee. Michael was signed to Maverick Records with Film, and they were supposed to release a debut album in 2003. But according to one of the group members, Michael allegedly screwed over Film by leaving the band and stealing their songs, claiming he wrote them.

Robbie Carrico I like his total package- his appearance and his song choice was excellent. His voice never faltered and again he is one of my favorites. For me,he has that "IT" factor.

A little chismis about Robbie..

Robbie Carrico is a failed singer from the pop group Boyz N Girlz United . The band opened for Britney Spears and LFO before disbanding, and he was even one of Britney's first boyfriends. Robbie now fronts the band Missing Picket that rocks just about as hard as Daughtryback. NO WONDER!!!!


David Cook I liked him in tonights performance.His song choice was very good and it fits him. But he may not be my top 3 next time since there are also other good singers in the group.

Care to know who are my bottom 3?

Do you agree with me? Who are your top 3 ad Bottom 3?

Its Valentines Day

Today is the day of hearts. I received a lot of sweets as gifts from clients and friends this week.

My client gifted me the other day with Belgian chocolates and when I went home yesterday there was a bagful of sweets from my next door neighbor from his Chinese New Year party.

I guess its OK but its ruining my cleansing regimen. I am almost completing a week of drinky Simply Nature, a cleansing supplement that I take every night before bed. The first time I drank it, it tasted like seaweed but now it tastes better something like seaweed with lemon juice.

What does it do? Well I have noticed that everytime I over eat, i usually unload everything in the toilet after a few hours. Everything I eat doesnt get retained in my body.

What I am waiting to go on sale in Singapore is Coke Zero. I first saw a can of this new drink in 7-eleven in Bangkok. So far we only have light and Diet Coke in Singapore.

Coke Zero is sugarfree which is good for a Coke addict like me. I hope it arrives soon .

S'pore is world's 7th most expensive office location

I know that.My office rent has risen by 120%. The rent/lease in Tanglin Shopping Centre where my office is located is now at $80/square foot.

It doesnt help that the new St Regis Hotel is beside my office building and there is a news of an ongoing enbloc sale among the owners of the office spaces in this building.

With the office space rising and insurance for maids rising, our profit margins have been reduced drastically.See below:
2008 ranking (2007 ranking) City Total occupancy cost US$ per sq ft per year
1 (1) London 311.58
2 (3) Hong Kong 238.58
3 (2) Tokyo 210.12
4 (5) Mumbai 166.04
5 (7) Moscow 158.72
6 (4) Paris 141.57
7 (17) Singapore 130.48
8 (10) Dubai 126.01
9 (6) Dublin 112.54
10 (9) New York 100.28
*Rents form the largest part of occupancy costs

Chinese New Year

Tomorrow almost half of Singapore will be trooping overseas(a national pastime is travelling) to celebrate Chinese New Year all over Asia (due to the 5 day and for some week long holiday).

The other half of the chinese population in Singapore will be at home celebrating the traditional family reunion dinners and playing mahjong.

Almost all shops in Singapore(except Malay and indian stores) will be closed for two to three days which means you cannot buy anything during this period which tends to make prices go up.

We were supposed to vacation just like the rest of Singapore overseas. I have already booked our ferry tickets to Bintan but despite a two week lead time I cant book a room not even a tent along the beach. So we had to postpone our beach holiday in March for the school holidays.

Aside from the oranges and ang pows , Chinese New year this year will again be a quiet holiday for us.Xin Nian Kuai Le