Category: Hobbying

Hobbies and extracurricular activities

2008 Awards

Drinking Buddy of the Year: Dave the New Guy

Well, at this point, Dave is not new any more.  Since Celeste has left the company, Dave has stepped up to be the man to call on for a little happy hour action.  As a matter of fact, Dave led the pack to the fun night in West Hollywood a few months back with Nik, Erin and I in tow.  That was quite a night.

Bar of the Year: Suede Bar, Downtown LA

Oh, how have we survived the hard day of work before Suede?  Suede opens up in the Bonaventure across from our office.  Pretty much the closest bar in our vicinity and therefore leaving any other bar in the dust.  The vibe suits us just fine.  The comfy seating suits us even better.  And their special $4 drinks and appetizers from 4 p.m – 7 p.m. also suits us extremely well.

Newcomer Award: Thrill the World LA Gang

I’ve got to work with really cool people at Thrill the World LA this year.  Mahdroo and Amanda, the two spearheads. Ines, the creator of the whole movement.  And Babette, the producing goddess.  I am very proud of my decision that one day to get out to the beach on my own for their practice.  We are going to rock in 2009, I am sure of it!

High Point of the Year: Being with my dad on Father’s Day

Originally, I was going to leave Bangkok on December 4, the day before Thailand’s Father’s Day.  Because of the airport closure, I actually got to be with my dad.  I have not been home for Father’s Day before.

My brothers were nowhere in sight that day because we had agreed to do a Father’s Day dinner at my oldest brother’s condo on Sunday.  My dad was disappointed at that.  However, I was home.  We went together to get our haircut and we went shopping.  I was going to cook dinner but it was so late that we decided to eat out instead.  And after that, leaving Brandon at home, dad and I took to the streets of Bangkok to look at the lights lining the streets in the King’s honor.  We didn’t quite go far but it was quality time spent.

Low Point of the Year: The Aliens in My Nose/Eye

Good god, starting with the one in Hawaii and a few more occurrences during the year of the skin infection in my nostrils.  AND one in my tear duct.  I practically lived 2008 on antibiotics.  It wasn’t pretty.  Not at all.

Best Holiday: Halloween

Halloween 2008 (22)

Halloween this year was spent with friends and their kids.  Jim and Karen’s clan struck again with the entire family of Batman characters. Adorable!  The best yet is Dresden as Yoda.  Paul and Lupe opened their home to us and I believe started a new Halloween tradition.

Song of 2007: Everything, Michael Buble

Okay it’s not a 2007 song technically, but I get it stuck in my head and I love everything about it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioaPk5bdTkA]

Movie of 2008: Iron Man

Not even a question.  Iron Man wins my summer super hero fight.  I agree that Dark Knight was a better movie, but I don’t crave to see it more than once.  Iron Man, I watched twice in theater and the DVD will get played many more times to come.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT4bL3T9TP4]

Surprise Movie of 2008: Run, Fat Boy, Run

I just finished watching that.  Totally a surprise.  The film has heart and humor.  And even gross humor.  The blend of everything turns out perfect.  Michael Ian Black, Simon Pegg, and David Schwimmer created a fantastic movie.  Who knew!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcTNIAWetRI]

Halloween Costume of 2008: Princess Leia – zombie and regular.

TTWLA Halloween 2008 (33)

Restaurant of the Year: East Third Steakhouse

I ate at East Third many times this year at first because we had to test it out as a potential spot for my office’s holiday party.  But the food is so fabulous that I am actually hooked.  Oh god, the thought of Imperial (short) Ribs makes me hungry.  The vibe is great there too.  But my god, THE FOOD!

Book of the Year: Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain

Reading Kitchen Confidential felt like watching Bourdain doing one of his shows.  It’s just happened to be his life instead of the countries and restaurants he visits.  Very funny indeed, and it does give me a good look at the restaurant business.  Writing this entry, I have come to realize that I really didn’t read much this year. Damn television!

The few I read are Bill Buford’s “Heat”, Khaled Hosseini’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns” (prepare your hankies!), Paul Yeager’s “Literally, the Best Language Book Ever” (which is intriguing at first but, ironically, the worst book I’ve ever read. Please remind me to pick up Eat Shoots and Leaves and burn this one), Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” (Make sure you have something sunshiney and happy to read afterward), and finally, I’m half way through Daniel Wallace’s “Ray in Reverse” and am quickly losing interests.

TV Show of the Year: Life / Avatar: The Last Airbender

NBC’s Life caught my attention one day.  I started with the first episode of the second season and was hooked.  I rented the first season and got Brandon hooked at well.  The chemistry between Damien Lewis and Sarah Shahi as LAPD partners Charlie Crews and Dani Reese is magic.  Actually, everyone’s chemistry is magic.

As for Avatar: The Last Airbender, now that’s a discovery and a half.  Brandon’s nieces were watching it on Nickelodeon while he was out in New Mexico.  He got hooked.  We started renting them and I got hooked.  I am not the proud owner of all 3 box sets.  They just don’t make light hearted cartoon like this any more.  I mean, it has action and humor that adults and kids will understand with moral lesson and enough drama to keep you hooked. It teaches good lesson about life in not a froo-froo way.  You are responsible for your actions, that not everyone has a perfect life, that love and kindness is powerful.  It’s awesome.

Biggest Change of the Year: Taking dance lessons at Moondance Studio

My friend Debi opens Moondance, a small dance studio in Long Beach, this year.  Very intimate spot and it is as casual and friendly as it gets.  I have been doing a class a week for a few months before I took a 2-month break for the gala and for our Thailand trip.  It was good to dance again for both health and for my being happy.

Plans for 2009

We are sure about a few things.  First, we are heading to Miami in May for Irena and Danny’s wedding.  Then we are going to visit Brandon’s parents either in July or September.  And if everything goes as planned, February 2010, we’ll be in Thailand again for a visit to Koh Samui.

Personal goals are flexible.  I hope to find a kung-fu/wu-shu lesson and give that a shot.  You know, dance one day a week and kick-ass another day a week, that would be interesting.  I also hope that the Fresh & Easy store will really materialized in Cypress so I can actualy bike there without killing myself in traffic and/or going up two huge bridges.  Brandon and I plan to start hiking, having bought new shoes for ourselves recently.  We also want to take a trip up to Hearst Castle sometime this year.

What’ve you done this year?  And what is your plan for the next?  Spill!

Repost: Stuck in Bangkok – Best and Worst

Repost from my Thai-Blogs.com entry.

We finally are leaving Thailand tomorrow. Out of Suvarnabhumi, to my father’s relief. Getting up at 4 a.m. to go to Bitec check-in point for U-tapao would be torturous for the poor man.

My planned 2-week vacation was extended to 19 days of bliss laced with frustration, thanks to the airport closures. However, it’s always good to be home. Things are always changing around here in the Land of Smiles. For better or worse.

So here’s my best/worst list of my recent trip home.

Best: Extended vacation.

Worst: Brandon’s extra week of time off he actually didn’t really have…and therefore eating into the time I was to spend alone with my family and not having to worry about him. It was fun, nonetheless.

Best: Tony Jaa’s action and fight choreography in Ong-Bak 2.

Worst: Ong-Bak 2 as a movie. Seriously. It sucked as a movie but awesome action sequence clips. The story of the last heir, lost in the jungle, seeking revenge, had potential but it was not well developed nor well told. Oh, and digital blood? That was fun to spot too.

Best: Fusion massage at Angsana Spa at Sheraton Grand Laguna Phuket. The best massage I’ve ever gotten in my whole life. (Ask for the therapist named “Cherry”. She’s awesome!) I mean, I was a little jetlag still that afternoon, but I fell asleep so hard she tried to wake me up a few times to flip over.

Worst: The price. Let’s just say that for the amount I paid, I could’ve gotten 10 traditional Thai massage on the beach or 5-7 “oil massage” elsewhere. It was still worth it to me.

Best: Food. Oh my god the food. Not just Thai food but everything else too. I can’t possibly tell you of all the places we’ve eaten so, I’ll break it down gently here.

First, the two standards. We had Thai at my friend’s Kinnaree Gourmet Thai in Sukhumvit Soi 8–always an excellent place with creative and spectacular cocktails. We had to go back twice to Greyhound Cafe for the bacon and egg fried rice, prawns and soba salad, and their Pink Cooler blended juice blend, once at the Emporium and another at Central Chidlom.

We had Vietnamese at Thang Long at the end of Soi Langsuan–mediocre food with exception of a few items.

We had Italian at Torlente, also at the end of Langsuan–old staff and chef of now defunct Pan Pan, delicious but nothing to write home about.

We had a barrage of Japanese grilled goodness at Kuu at Central World–place was packed but the bitty skewers were really good with impressive sake list.

We had hand-cut, freshly made ramen at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at the Erawan’s Urban Kitchen on the corner of Rajdamri and Ploenchit–yummy noodles, bleh service.

We had the best of Thai and Western food at Thai Airways Catering out by Don Muang Airport, close to Jay Leng outlet–this is what they serve first class passengers and all VIP at their lounges, wonderful food and desserts. Ladies, make your way here. The waiters are sooo gorgeous! (Word is their general manager picked the good looking ones…)

We had French fusion at Angelina at Central Chidlom–a bit pricey, hit-or-miss with the food, but oh so right and oh so French-tastic with dessert and pommes frites and garlic aioli.

We had German brats and sausages, pork legs, and saurkraut and potatoes at the Goethe Institute off of Sathorn Road. I must say the German style pork leg tossed in Thai “yum” spices was better than the original.

We had popcorn at the Central World movie theater. I was perplexed when the attendant asked “What flavor of popcorn would you like?” Apparently, you can get it in salty (plain + salt), sour cream, caramel, and barbecue. American popcorn is better despite the variety of flavors, I have to say.

Off the boats at the Damneun Saduak Floating Market, we had egg rolls, young coconut water, coconut pancakes, pork noodle soup, and Kanom Bueang aka Thai dessert tacos.

We also had food on the side of the road to Khao Yai National Park. Not sure exactly where we were, but the place is famous for their ham and ham steaks. They fry up their ribs + steak to crispy goodness and..a;lskjd;o; Sorry. I had to wipe the drool of the keyboard there for a second…

Worst: Our stomachs just aren’t big enough to eat everything.

Best: Hanging out with my mom’s best friends and served as my late mother’s proxy on a few of the essential trips. They missed her on their excursions and having me there seemed to fill a little bit of the void. The Aunties took us out for lunch at the aforementioned Goethe Institute. Then to do some shopping for silk at The Old Siam. And finally, they took us on a day trip to Khao Yai National Park.

Worst: Having to hold our tongues the whole time as the Aunties tell stories of joining the “mobs” and all other yellow-shirted tid bits. Endearing, but frustrating at times.

Best: Got to see Khao Yai National Park at its greenest. Gorgeous jungle covered mountains and valleys. Roads owned by monkeys. Braking for deer and screaming inside the van for the other car to stop for the deer. (Poor Brandon and our driver possibly lost their hearing for the next hour after that incident.)

Worst: Shelling out for Brandon’s entry fee of 400 baht, ten times of the local entry fee of 40. One of the aunties said we could’ve stuffed him in the back of the van, and nobody would’ve known.

Best: We were pulled over for allegedly speeding up to the tollway booth. As our driver discreetly offer him money, the officer said, “Thai police these days don’t take any bribe.” The van full of aunties exploded in applause.

Partly, our driver mentioned that he works for a “Madame Or”–which is the nickname of Thaksin’s now ex-wife–which is not really a lie as my aunty is also named Or. Haha! Partly, as the aunties believe, is because Brandon was up front with the driver and the cops don’t want to make bad impression. Obviously, none of us believe the officer was truly “honest”. It is sad how we’ve become so jaded.

Worst: Spotting more check points coming back from Khao Yai through Saraburi. Agricultural trucks were being pulled over. Our driver told us that the cops pulled those guys over, inspect the cargo, and ask for their produce instead of money, or sometimes in addition to.

And finally…

Best: My postponed return date allowed me spend Father’s Day and weekend with my dad. We went shopping, had dinner, and saw Ong-Bak 2, something he would probably wouldn’t have done on his own. Now THAT was the best part of the trip.

Worst: Because we were staying at my house, we didn’t get to enjoy the 2,000 baht a day stipend other stranded tourists get at their hotels. Oh well.

Last Weekend

The long weekend is winding down.  So much had happened in our two weeks here in Thailand, the entire country can use a little break.  Seriously, the political scenes seem to have quieted just enough to get through the weekend.

The tourists can certainly use the break.  Suvarnabhumi is open again.  Those of us who need to go/come home now can, and those who are coming/leaving here on holiday can too.

On Thursday, Brandon and I took a little bit of an early start on the long weekend by taking a day road trip with 4 of my mom’s best friends to Khao Yai National Park, 3-hour drive northeast of Bangkok.

The aunties wanted to do this for me, and I wanted to see Aunty Or’s new home being built at the foot of the glorious mountains.  Brandon would also appreciate getting out of town for a while and see the real jungle.

Above all, I was proxy for my mother.  Her friends miss her so dearly.  My mom used go on these trips with them all the time.  Even the house that is being built right now, Aunty Or has my mom in mind and designed it to include wheel chair ramps for future “old ladies expedition”.

I have chronicled all that we ate along the way here.  The part not mentioned will be explained later when I have the pictures.  Let’s just say, after we paid the ridiculous amount of “foreigner fee” for Brandon at 400 Baht while all of us paid 40 Baht each, we did get our money’s worth.  All the monkeys that came rushing to the car everytime we pulled over or slowed down, and all the other monkeys lounging around the highway as if they own the road (probably because they do!), some deer and fawns, and tons of butterflies.

Friday was the King’s Birthday and Father’s Day.  We let dad did his thing and when we was right and ready, we set out for a fun evening.  Dad got a hair cut and so did I.  I was going to make dinner but we were so hungry that we ended up eating at Angelina, a little French cafe in Central Chidlom.  (Review later.)

Dad and I left on our own later to go check out decorations over in Old Town Bangkok for the King’s Birthday.  Being a Friday night and no alcohol was sold (in honor of the King), everybody in town seemed to have the same idea.  We faught traffic out to catch just a little glimpse of it and came home.  But it was a fun father-daughter activity as dad kept pulling over illegally parked so I can run out for a shot, or slowed down in the middle of moving traffic so I could hung out the window for one.

Today was a lot like yesterday in a sense that we took it easy and just hung out with my dad.

We went to see Ong Bak 2 and let me tell you that martial arts and action buff should see this for the action AND THE ACTION ALONE.  Okay maybe for the costumes too.  The story is good but it just wasn’t told well.  Anyway, we came out laughing at the plot but did appreciate the fight choreography.

Dad took us to dinner, Japanese smorgasbord of yumminess.  Across the street was a Thai massage/foot massage place so I suggested we all get an hour of foot rub.  And we did.  And it was soooooo good.

Tomorrow is our last full day here.  We’ll be kicking it here at home and packing.  One final family meal at my brother’s condo.  And tomorrow, we’re off.

What an ordeal it has been!

Half Way There

Hello from Taipei Airport!  Brandon and I have 3 hours to kill to board the plane to Bangkok.

We walked the airport end to end to kill time and, well, stretch our legs out.  We found Hello Kitty playground and daycare.  It is 5 a.m. and nobody else made it out this way from their flights yet.  I was very tempted to go play on the slide thingy.  Haha.  Obviously nothing is open so we finally had to settle down at our gate.

However, I must say that life in the transit lounge is so much better with a laptop and internet connection.

The flight across the Pacific was fine.  Not sure what new plane we were on but my god was there ceiling room in this thing!  With many days of odd sleep pattern and stress, after the shot of wine they served with dinner, I was out like a light.  Oh, a good travel pillow (aka my beloved commuter pillow) makes a LOT of difference too.

So far, I’ve watched “Wanted”, bizarre and over the top but a lot of fun…the ending, however, kind of crappy, then”Mama Mia!” which I’m sure is a hell of a lot better on stage than on screen, and finally, “Wall-E”.

Now the decision becomes “Tropic Thunder” or “Dark Knight” on the next flight.

How are y’all doing?

Explore This

*SQUEAL*

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeUjIfrfq3g]

Zach Quinto is *this* close from dethroning the reigning Celebrity Boyfriend Brad Pitt after the recent episode of Heroes.  Hellooooo shirtless…and the moment with Elle.  Steamy. Hot. Sexiness. Massive. Droolage.

And now the man is a Vulcan.  A hot Vulcan.  Okay. A hot half Vulcan.  Still, I mean, I have never seen a hot Vulcan until now.  Have you?

OMG. Geekgasm.

It’s going

I woke up on my birthday morning to Bond, James Bond.  First thing on the agenda this morning, even before getting any food into our systems, Brandon and I headed out to the theater for Quantum of Solace.

My car, and everything else, was covered in ashes.  Norther sky is but orange brown smoke while it’s bright blue out South, toward the beaches.  As we headed up the 605 North, it felt like we were driving INTO the fire.

Its snowing ashes in oc Driving to cerritos its like the fire is right here! Sunny socal...kinda

We weren’t close to action, but we just got literally only a sniff of what folks are experiencing out there.

The afternoon went on with a little shopping, laundry, and more work on the Big Gala.  All while alternating humming the new James Bond them “Another Way to Die” (I must admit, it’s quite catchy. I hated it at first, coupled with the music video. But now that I’ve heard it a few more times, I actually like this song!) and the classic James Bond theme.  No martini here, however.  Too much to do and not a lot of time to do it.

I packed my bag and laid out things to pack for Thailand trip while Brandon went out chasing the sunset.  He came home empty handed as this time of year the sun doesn’t set where he thinks it was.

Topping off the evening, we went to dinner at Joe’s Sushi in Lakewood.  All you can eat, baby!  14 of us ate and ordered and ate and ordered and ate.  Beer and sake was flowing all around.  At some point we were so stuffed and food was still coming, we had to ask them to stop.  Also, the entire restaurant sang me happy birthday over complimentary fried green tea ice cream.  I shared the loot with my friends and went back to a few more bites of sushi and swigs of sake.

With belly full of food, blood nicely infused with alcohol, and a big, warm heart from good time spent with friends, I came home to a phone call from my dad and brother Onk to wish me a happy birthday.  Here I was, having gone all day thinking they’ve forgotten about me.

Even the small mountain of laundry waiting for me to put away couldn’t dampen my spirit.

The Oak-pocalypse it may be out there, but in here, it’s been a great day.