Just Kookoo: Asia... Here I come!

Saturday night, April 25, 2009 - Hank drove me to LAX. Amazingly, it was quiet and peaceful. When I checked in, I was told about my surprise... I had been upgraded to Business Class!!! Yippee!!! I felt like I'd won the lottery or something. When we all met up, we were all invited to the VIP Lounge. In case you didn't know, because I didn't know, that the VIP lounge is one of the perks that comes with Business Class and/or First Class tickets. That was quite a treat, especially since I didn't know anything about it. I don't travel much, and when I do, it's usually economy. Anyway, we were able to help ourselves to hot foods, snacks, drinks, a full bar, a wall of PCs, big screen TVs, shower stalls and lockers in the restrooms, soft cozy lounge chairs, long sofas, and many other amenities.

Catherine (my mom), Ada, myself, and Sam

Catherine, Bruce, Ada, and myself

PCs galore!

Business Class seats were quite interesting. We sit approximately at a 45 degree angle with the aisles of the plane. However, the chairs recline completely flat for sleeping, so that really helps.

Thank God we were blessed with these seats, for we have a very long 18.5 hours trip in front of us (15-hours flight from LAX to Hong Kong, 1/2 hour to change airplanes, then another 3-hours flight to Bangkok). God, you are awesome!!! You are so good to me!!!

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Monday, April 27, 2009 - We've finally arrived to Bangkok!

This statue was inside the Bangkok airport.

Here's our ride for the next 3-days of Bangkok adventures. AC is soooooo wonderful!!! It's very hot and humid here, and we came during their summer!

God is sooooo GOOD!!! We had experienced the loudest thunder we've ever heard! It shook us up, and it felt like it was thundering through us!!! Yes, it was LOUD!!! Some lighting flashed, then it POURED!!! We got to our hotel safely. Then within minutes, the rain had stopped completely. It cooled the air and dropped the temperature about 10 degrees!!! The heat and humidity was still there, but it's bearable now. PTL!!!

We were greeted by beautiful people as we entered the Sofitel Bangkok Silom Hotel. Sawasdee-kra (from the girls) and sawadee-krap (guys from the guys)! That's Thai for "aloha!"

Pretty girls came over serving us this light green melon juice. It was very yummy and refreshing way to relax as we all got checked in!

Here's our cloudy view from our room.

Our first meal was here at the Methavali Sorndaeng Thai restaurant.

Singha, Beer of Bangkok - Bruce said the rule is, you have to drink the beer made from the country in which you are visiting. He said he was already familiar with this brew, and was happy to quench his thirst.

Monday - April 27, 2009 - Buffet Dinner in The Emerald Hotel at the Yok Chinese Restaurant. (Thank you Bruce!). I just remember is how delicious the jook were, the dumpling noodle soup bar was amazing, and we watched a girl while she was carving a picture into a watermelon.

I tried to eat things that were different, and dessert was no different. They had these sweet dumplings that we can eat alone, or thrown into the hot red bean soup.

This was the build your own dumpling noodle soup bar. I've been to a lot of buffets, but I don't travel much. It was really exciting for me to see so many different Asian entrees everywhere. Even the fruits were different.

Jook or soups, I can't decide! Looks like Mom is having a hard time deciding too. We decided to taste a little bit of EVERYTHING!!! Yikes, I guess I'm going to bed with a full belly tonight! Ughhh!!!

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Tuesday - April 28, 2009 - We began each day in Bangkok with a wonderful breakfast buffet in our hotel. I really enjoyed all the fresh fruit and juices that were available. I found myself eating a ton of papaya, pineapples, mangos, jack fruit, durian, shogun oranges, and dragon fruit. I also loved the big windows that gave us a view of the world outside (I'm still afraid of heights, but I can handle the second floor).

OMG, it's a good thing I didn't have to drive! Signs all written in Thai sure looks confusing. And the traffic, it was outrageous! We were suppose to go shopping before dinner, but we were stuck in a 3 hour traffic jam, there were no accidents, just gridlocked for miles!!! So no time for shopping, and we were still late for dinner. Oh well, good thing that only happened once!

These three wheelers are called Tuk-Tuk. They got that name because that's the sound they make when you honk their horns!!! hee hee hee Pretty silly huh?

Obviously, there are no seatbelt laws here. In fact, they don't even have to sit. There were several people standing on the bumper of this fully loaded truck. Yikes!

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Tuesday - April 28, 2009 - Our tour included a visit to the Grand Palace, the home of the previous kings. Do you remember the movies, "The King and I" or "Anna and the King"? The story was about the real King #4 hiring Anna to teach English to the king's son, who grew up to be King #5. It was pretty cool to see their actual home.

Here's most of our group.

They have a very strict dress code for entering the palace ground. Also, shoes and hats must be removed before entering the temples. It's a good thing I have hair now, huh?

Men in uniform... Nice!

The Grand Palace grounds was home for The Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha. The Emerald Buddha is displayed here today in it's Summer apparel at this time of year. It also has Spring and Winter atire for the appropiate season.

A palace guard in a different uniform. They looked very nice, but sadly, they are not allowed to speak with us. And of course, I tried!!!

We are at the head of the Sleeping/Laying Buddha.

This Buddha has some really long legs!

We've finally made it to his toes. And yes, I had to count them, they were all there, none missing. Notice how that man's head is smaller than one of the toenails.

Tuk Tuk!

We "had to" eat again, so we had a family style banquet here for lunch.

Elina was here waiting for us.

Do pigs bowl? Because I've heard that pigs can fly... aka SWINE FLU (get it?!?!?) hee hee hee

ISO9002 - Shopping for the bling! According to Bruce, this is where the sharks were swarming this afternoon... and the fishes in the tanks looked nice too.

She's a life-sized bobble head doll!!!

I love these Dragon Fruits!!! I'm so glad I've discovered them. Can you believe it's white inside with little black dots?

Is anyone interested in a McCafe? Or how about a Fried Chicken Drumstick Happy Meal? Gee, I wonder what toy I would have gotten?!?!?

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Here we are, waiting for a small ferry boat to come taxi us to the larger ship. We are attending a buffet dinner cruise that evening.

The current King (#9)

Bruce couldn't say no to dancing with all of these pretty girls on board!

Hey Brian, who's that dancing with you?

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Wednesday, April 28, 2009

Can you tell this building is in the shape of an elephant? Sorry, I was only able to get the butt angle from our moving bus.

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The Floating Market:

The boat is picking up some speed...

Whoa!!! Watch the spray of that river water! Yuck and yikes!

A lady is washing her clothes.

Row row row your boat...

It must be laundry day.

Wrong again, it's bath time!!!

Idols are everywhere!

It's shopping time!

Open open open!

Wide open!

Shopping is fun on a boat!

Watch out!!! It's a traffic jam!

This is considered light traffic, I guess!

Hey, we know these folks!

Masks were hanging all over.

This coconut dessert was delicious.

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Sephran Elephant Zoo

Ada and Elina have done this before, so they'd graciously volunteered to show us how it's done. Their elephant's name is "Tik". Have fun Tik!!!

Bruce with Mom mounted up on their elephant named, "Sam"!!! Good thing Sam didn't ride on Sam!!!

Then, Sam and I got our elephant. We were so distracted from the height and the wobbling that we had forgotten to get our elephant's name. So we've made up our own name. We're calling our elephant "TUK TUK"!!!

Tuk Tuk made a few stops to eat the grass on the side of the road and take a drink of water by the waterfall. A few of those times, a few tree branches hit Sam's head. Good thing he didn't get hurt. Hey Sam, thanks for sitting on the left side! Btw, the right side was just right!!! ;-) hee hee hee

OMG, she's got her trunk around me!!! How sweet!!! I got an elephant hug!!! xoxoxo

Off to the elephant show we go...

Nice costumes!

The Warriors are coming.

It's THE END of the elephant show... Literally! ;-D

BS, PHONE HOME!!! (ET was not available).

We've made it just in time for our two hour Thai massages. I can't believe this place was big enough for our whole group. This was wonderrrfulll.

They say getting massages give you a good appetite... Yikes! I think they were right... Because here we go again!!! We're eating at The China Town Scala Shark's Fin Restaurant.

Oink oink oink!!!

Farewell Rudeewan of Bangkok!!! You're the best tour guide we've ever had! I would recommend you and Signet Tours to anyone going to Bangkok! I hope to come visit again. Perhaps next time, I could bring with the rest of my family. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/signet-tours-south-el-monte)

Farewell Bangkok!!!
SAWASDEE KRA!!! (Aloha.. Until we meet again.)
COP-KHUN!!! (Thank you!)

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On Thursday, April 30, 2009 - It's back to Hong Kong we go...

HKG airport has some good eating spots.

Hot ramen is good for the soul!

Ajisen ramen has a really cute logo.

HKG has neat looking bridges.

The view from our room at the Royal Pacific Towers.

What I love most about our hotel is that there's an entire mall underneath it... Food court, shops, in fact, it also has the port for us to take the ferry to Macau later. Now, that's convenient!!!

Uncle Kuen came to visit us.

Waiting for a taxi to go to dinner.

Elina's family was already there.

Shabu Shabu, hot and yummy!!!

Some of the people in the crowd were wearing face masks... It's a sign of the times... I commend these folks for trying to prevent the spread of the Swine Flu in their community. I don't want it either, no matter where I live or visit! Throughout Hong Kong, it was nice to see that the city has provided free hand sanitizer stands for everyone to use. They recommend to sanitize your hands every hour.

Shopping at the Night Market. They closed a few streets down, vendors galore gather to display their stuff, and a swapmeet atmosphere is created. Places to go... Things to buy... Gotta haggle...

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Friday - May 1, 2009

Today just happens to be a religious holiday here in Hong Kong to celebrate the Buddha Festival. People were off from work and school for this holiday. No wonder there were so many people everywhere!!! It was a true blessing though, because Uncle Kuen, Cousin Daisy, and Rachael were able to join us. God is good! We've decided to go see the Big Buddha in Ngong Ping. Daisy taught us how to take the train/subway before hopping in the cable car to the Big Buddha.

After traveling on the train, we've made it to Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car ride to view the Giant Buddha upclose. We had the option of getting the car with the glass bottom, but NO THANKS!!! 360 degrees is enough! I'm already afraid of getting up that high!!! Glass bottom?!?!? No way, Jose!!!

Those stairs are for true hikers! I heard it takes about 5-6 hours each way. No thanks, I'm taking the cable car!

There's the Big Buddha.

Lunch was normal with good yummy food. It wasn't all vegetarian food as I thought it would be. They had a food court with many restaurants serving Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, Italian, and Veggan. By this time, I was ready for something other than Asian. My spaghetti and meatballs were marvelous!!!

Uncle Kuen with Mom.

Bruce with Ada

Rachael and Daisy actually hiked all the way up to the Big Buddha.

While riding the cable car, we spotted a Cathay Pacific airplane at the New Hong Kong International Airport (HKX). I really don't remember the old airport from 21 years ago. I barely remember what happened yesterday! I have chemo brain and I've been mental pausing for years!!!

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Friday - May 1, 2009 - Dinner at The Jockey Club

Winnie, Berda, Nina, Gillian, Ada, Bruce, and Arthur. Here we are chilling with our cocktails in the outdoor patio.

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Saturday - May 2, 2009 - Meeting Auntie May and her family in Macau. We took the First Ferry that left from our hotel.

Auntie May and her grand-daughter.

Portuguese Egg Tarts are sooooo good!!!

Thanks for the tarts Sam! They were a big hit in our group.

Modern Cycle Rickshaws services were available.

Help, I think I'm stuck!!!

Looks like M&M to me!!!

They look like eggs on top of that building!!

We're on a mission to find Mom's special ginger candy.

Where did all these people come from?

Bakers busy baking up their own cookies daily at the Koi Kei Bakery. It was fun munching on all of the free samples too!!! Does anyone want some Lo Poah Beang or Lo Gung Beang (wife cookies or husband cookies)?????

Richard (husband), aka our Macau tour guide. Thank you so much for driving us everywhere!!!

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Sunday - May 3, 2009

Mom and Auntie hits the streets. We're following close behind because we don't know where we're going. Meeting for our farewell Dim Sum luncheon. We had another great table at the corner of the building. We were able to see the view really well.

View from windows of the restaurant.

They look like sisters to me, but they're sisters-in-law.

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Here we are, sitting and waiting in anticipation of an afternoon of shopping. Downtown Hong Kong, here we come!!! Yippee!!! Have I mentioned how much I love going shopping? ;-)

In the midst of all the shopping deals, we had stopped for a break for hot tea and hot Gee Mah Woo (hot black sesame goo). Very yummy from what I remembered. Sadly, I'm still not able to eat sesame for a while. But I'm sure I'll be able to again soon!