December in Bangkok, Part III
After Part II
December 22-31, 2005
The current location (*) of THOCBDC:
(*) Three dimensional! Yes, the porch is just about 65 feet above sea level.
At the intersection of Rama IV and Sathorn Road ... on the southwest corner of Lumpini Park ... the people who monitor our air have erected a machine that not only measures what we are breathing but 'broadcasts' the results as well.
It measures:
In the five minutes that we sat at the red traffic light the ozone, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide lights showed 'dashes' (---): meaning either that their sniffers weren't working or that they were telling us that we could inhale their clients to our lungs' delight. However, the particulate testing nostril went from --- to 99 to 124 in that same period. Lockstep, time wise, the carbon monoxide readings jumped from 19 to 43 to 86.
To the right of each of these ...(to the layman, meaningless) ... numbers were rows of lamps. Presumably the one closest to the number indicator was the one our bodies would be happiest with when lit; the one on the far right probably being something akin to America's "Bright-Red, Ultra-Elevated, Got-To-Worry-For-Sure" Homeland Security alert. The particulates fret lamp reached an alarming 75% while we waited for the green light. The others said "Not to worry."
By the way, this device is located in one of the greenest areas of Bangkok ... at the edge of the city's largest park.
PS: Another missed beach bunny:
PPS: But ...
Here are some additional construction photos of the Athenee Residence; this time the photographer apparently took them from an elevated site to the west.
Last night Watcharee and I took Pom and Golf to the Shangri La hotel for Peking Duck.
Tonight Watcharee and I are going to meet Alex and his girl friend, Nuy, at The Oriental for a Christmas eve dinner.
Christmas eve at The Oriental:
Today tens of thousands of cars clog Bangkok's shopping streets as Buddhists rush to department stores to return wrong-size Christmas gifts. The slightly fuzzy picture was shot through my inside rear view mirror. The over-the-steering-wheel photo was ... well, you guessed it.
PS: Our River Garden was not part of the PC holiday controversy. Or, if it was it came down on the 'other' side.
Yes, I am religious. I went to a shrine this afternoon in search of direction (*).
(*) The GPS I wanted was on back order.
It's the gap week: the time between Christmas and New Year's Day. The great Thai language dailies can indulge their reader's thirst for blood without having to give up valuable front page acreage to Santa Claus stories or pictures of fireworks.
My favorite rag, Thai Rhat:
Today's edition featured a suicide jumper who on the way down lost an arm on an outreaching railing.
Another guy just had a bloody fight. It is not clear who won. The bloody fellow looks happy ... maybe it is not his blood all over him.
PS: This is so depressing:
"At one point in our life we shall all reach the stage when we walk into a Walgreens and ask in a loud voice: 'On what aisle to you keep the stool softeners?'" — Anon.
Barge operators on the Chao Phraya river keep their driver's compartment, living quarters and the loo/shower rooms far apart.
Well, they do have a lot of linear acreage to work with.
But, it must be halting on the deck if they have to take a pee at 2 AM.
PS: Someone writes: "Alf, it is just water."
It's the end of the week; time to visit the car wash girls.
Hey, what is this? Is this the final builder's stroke to a long overdue architectural real-life? Yes! The Hilton is almost here. How many of you remember when THOCBDC visited it after it had been abandoned by the Sofitel? Back when it was haunted by ghosts ... shortly before it was the temporary headquarters of The Patpong Corkscrew Club.
"Bloganoma? Blogitis? Sounds bad, Alf", a concerned reader writes.
The Oriental (Sala Rim Naam side) and The Peninsula are doing the last minute bits and pieces before the first guests are due to arrive.
Tonight we are going to celebrate the New Year at The Oriental (at the Riverside Terrace). Watcharee's aunt (Patchara), her husband (Suchao), and their two children (Bo and Beam) will see this display for the first time. Alex and Golf will be repeaters. Stay tuned ....
Next: 2006!
