Drink Myself Under the Table at Fillets Bangkok

OakMonster.com - Fillets Bangkok - Sakura Martini

I didn’t think I would find craft cocktails in Bangkok. I mean, American-style mixology and thoughtful craft cocktails; not the frou frou, tourist-trap, shaker-throwing type stuff the city hotels were known for. And I found it at Fillets on the third floor of The Portico Langsuan. (31 Soi Langsuan, Bangkok. +66 92 879 6882) Even two years ago when I was last in Bangkok, I could only find Jameson as an alternative to Johnny Walker and Gray Goose instead of Smirnoff.  And here at Fillets, sitting pretty on the shelves is a variety of bourbon, whiskey, gin, and tequila that...
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Goodbye House

OakMonster - Langsuan House - Bangkok - Thailand - 2014

As far as I am concern, there is only one house that I can really call mine. The house in Bangkok that I grew up in. Designed by my dad, this brick town home was way ahead of its time. It’s the house that launched several other brick town homes around the city. The first town home (on the right in this picture) was share between the household kitchen and living quarter for our cook and driver on the ground floor. (Yes, we were very Downton Abbey in that sense). Princess Grandmother’s quarter was on the second floor, and dad’s...
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Day 20: Taste of Home

OakMonster.com - Tsaoshin

5 Thoughts You know you’re still sick when you turned down cake. Seriously. Worse yet when you look at a picture of bacon and your mind says meh. And all I wanted to eat today was crunchy, crispy, salty things. And tea or warm things to drink. I didn’t think I would be able to eat dinner either when I went to dinner with my aunt’s family. But being around family in front of plates of Thai food, that kind of changes things. 3 servings of rice, Tom Yum broth, and Thai omelet with Sriraja Panich (aka the REAL Sriracha)...
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I don’t take compliment well

OakMonster.com - Disapproving Asian Father

It definitely is an Asian thing to ALWAYS be humble. Humble even though the other side of the humble facade is the push to be the best at everything. Get straight A’s. Excel in music. Be the best at dance. Win all the medals. But NEVER tell anyone that you’re the best or agree with anyone else who tells you that you are the best. Your parents and teachers always tell you that you’re good but not THAT good, and that you need to do better.  All at the same time, be humble about how good you are. Even if...
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Five for Friday: Vanity Sizing, Caro Emerald, and White Screen of Death

Five for Friday is a weekly series about the five new things I learned each week. It could be anything from a new recipe, new skills, or a new life lesson. Caro Emerald I heard her on XM. Now I can’t get enough. This song, especially, does NOT get old for me. Vanity Sizing Reality Check I haven’t really paid much attention to “vanity sizing“.  Sure, I know that a size M dress at Forever 21 is a tad loose but a pair of size zero petite pants at Ann Taylor Loft will fit like a dream. But I don’t...
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One Year Shy of Three Cycles

The TARDIS

In the western world, you celebrate Sweet 16, your becoming legal at 18, your legally drinking age at 21, and then when you turn 30, 35, 40, 45 and what not. Us Thais, we traditionally celebrate every 12 years.  It’s a complete cycle in the Chinese zodiac. These years are supposed to be your milestones in life. At 12, you’re not little kid any more–you’re becoming a teenager.  At 24, you’re now becoming a responsible adult. At 36, you’ve got stuff to show for now that you’ve been an adult awhile. At 48 and onward, you’re just celebrating having been...
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