1/30/2007 ~ Bangkok: Coconut Plantation

On the Rio: Kingfish ~ Jump For Joy

On Monday I did a day trip outside of Bangkok proper. The first stop was a Coconut Plantation.

Here is a "ladder" to climb up to get the coconuts. I remember when we went to Hawaii to the Cultural Center and they climbed the trees by shimmying up. This seems much easier and practical.

Here they are making brown sugar from the coconut oil by boiling it down.

And a close up of the concoction. The coconuts are rubbed against the "tongue" of the rabbit to shred, and then it is squeezed into the tin cup for the milk. Coconut milk is quite popular in Thai cooking.

The oil is also "processed" to be sold "for sunbath and hair treatment".

Here are the discarded coconuts.

My guide explained these are "fighting fish". Neighbors will place bets, the fish are put into the same glass aquarium, and will display their fins and fight until one runs away. A lot of gambling goes on with these fish. My guide said it is as popular as cock fights and betting on Thai boxing matches. Cardboard must be placed between the bottles to prevent the fish from "attacking".

Here is one flower I thought particularly pretty.

This skull was on display but not for sale.

Here are some items that were on display and for sale. But I didn't buy anything from here.

1/29/2007 ~ Bangkok: Chao Phraya River

On the Rio: Kenny Wayne Shepherd ~ I Don't Live Today

I came to Bangkok, Thailand, for a short holiday and to meet my Chinese 30 day visa requirement. I arrived on Sunday, took a walk around the neighborhood, enjoying the tropical weather of 88 degrees.

Bangkok is a city of approximately 10 million people. It is quite a "hip" town, lots of clubs, restaurants, bars, and several red light districts. Sort of an Asian Amsterdam.

Of course I tried the local, popular beer, Singha.

For my evening entertainment I went on a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River - River of Kings. While waiting to embark on my boat, I watched the scene along the river. This is a water taxi.

This is the dinner boat.

There were only enough people to sit on the top deck. The cruise was 2.5 hours, and we were served really delicious Thai food: stir fried rice with shrimp; spring rolls, green curry, a chicken satay, a seafood salad, a really spicy cucumber salad (almost too hot for me to eat), a pasta dish, lots of fruit, and ice cream.

We had some entertainment of traditional Thai dance.

My table neighbors were from Hungary. There were lots of eastern Europeans and Russians on the cruise. Everyone was dancing and having a good time.

We passed several attractions along the way. This is Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). It consists of a massive elongated prang (Khmer-style tower), and is surrounded by four smaller prangs. The prang is described by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as 104m high. It is decorated by bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China, a hallmark of the reign of King Rama III.

We also passed by the Grand Palace. There will be more on that later, but here is the dome at night.

A very good first day in Bangkok!

1/25/2007 ~ No Spitting Zone

On the Rio: Electric Light Orchestra ~ Mr. Blue Sky

I may have already mentioned that spitting on the streets is quite common. (Not really just spitting, but hacking up goobers so large they are visible on the sidewalk to be avoided like dog doo.) So I just had to share this recent Op Ed from the Shanghai Daily Newspaper.


Don't give spit bags to taxi drivers
By Patricia Mahar 2007-1-24

SHANGHAI Daily's front page article on January 18 describes Shanghai's solution to the unhealthy and dangerous habit of public spitting by cabdrivers. The solution: To provide cabdrivers with paper bags (suitable for hanging within the cab) so they can spit INSIDE their taxis rather than outside.

This solution is a recipe for disaster.

Consider hanging paper bags of spit swaying inside taxis, filling the enclosed space with the malodorous aroma of spit.

Consider paper bags of spit overturning and spilling onto seats, dashboards and floors.

Consider paper bags of spit being tossed out the cab windows, littering the streets of Shanghai.

Consider the spewing forth of germs, released with an energetic and loud spitting episode, in the confined air space of a cab.

Consider the magnification of the pre-spitting sound when directed inward rather than out of an open window.

Consider exchanging money with someone holding a paper bag of spit.

If Shanghai's health promoters are truly interested in "keeping a good image for Shanghai" and helping cabdrivers "kick the spitting habit," they should make it unacceptable for drivers to spit.

A much better use of paper would be paper signs posted in every cab asking passengers (in both Chinese and English) to report spitting by drivers. Perhaps this, combined with diligent re-education efforts regarding the evils of spitting, and commendations for cabdrivers with non-spitting lifestyles, might actually result in a change of behavior and accomplishment of the Shanghai Health Promotion Committee's stated goals.

1/24/2007 ~ Shanghai Sights

On the Rio: The Beatles ~ Glass Onion

I went to Huaihai Park on Sunday afternoon. I was looking for the sculpture center that has a Rodin exhibit, but I couldn't find it.

The park was quite busy. Lots of folks playing card games, badminton, doing tai chi, or using the "exercise equipment".

The trees even have coats on, its gotten so cold here.

There was an area full of bird cages, I'd estimate almost 25 (no, I'm not exaggerating). Some were covered with blue or white blankets.Some were open and the birds were chirping away.

On my return home, I decided to take a few more pictures of my neighborhood, Xujiahui (pronounced 'shoe-jah-way'). This is the bus stop.

This shows the bike and moped lane, although at this time of day it wasn't nearly as busy as usual. The first Best Buy in all of China opened this month. I have not yet been inside.

The decorations for Chinese New Year are starting to appear everywhere. The red "lantern" is quite typical.

1/23/2007 ~ Odds and Ends

On the Rio: Pink Floyd ~ Echoes

Winter in Shanghai is not fun. There isn't any snow, but it is always cloudy and sprinkles most days. I don't think I've seen the sun in over 2 weeks. The temperature averages 40-45 F. So I spend a lot more time indoors, which allowed me set a new record in completing a puzzle (usually it has been taking me 3 months, this one took me 3 weeks).

So, how about those Wizards? Currently they are in first place in the Eastern Conference. The sports channel here usually shows 1 or 2 games every weekend live, so I get to enjoy basketball over coffee and breakfast. Otherwise I try to listen to the Wizards games on the internet during work, but sometimes meetings get in the way. Oh, and I'm in first place in our fantasy basketball league. Go Shanghai China Cats!

I try to get out on the weekends when it isn't raining. Recently I went to Nanjing Pedestrian street while looking for the concert ticket office. Nanjing Road was the first commercial road in Shanghai. In the early 20th century, there were only four department stores along this stretch. Today, it has become the number one place for shopping in the city. Open-air bars, sculptures, and lingering sounds from street musicians enhance the stroll, but the hawkers for watches, fake hand-bags, roller-blades, and whatnot, take away the charm. Plus you must always be on the alert for the pedestrian train that zigzags its way from one end to the other.

Here are 3 pictures I took there.

This is a typical newspaper/magazine stand. I noticed this one because it held 3 bird cages on the top.

Here's a close up of the birds.

1/21/2007 ~ Eric Clapton in Shanghai

On the Rio: Joan Baez ~ Satisfied Mind

I saw Eric Clapton play last night. Phenomenal concert. I was in row 16. Here is the stadium, which holds around 8000 people.

The stadium was only a 20 minute walk from my apartment.

Despite the warnings, most people were taking pictures.

There isn't much security in general. No one checks your bags at the gate, and I was able to walk in with a 7-up bottle (spiced with a little rum). They only sell iced tea, coke and popcorn inside.

Here is the view from my seat.

Here's a picture of Eric on the big screen.

And here's the entire stage.

I did take a few very short video clips with my Canon as well, but they are too large to email or post, but the sound quality is OK. Remind me when we get together to show them.

1/20/2007 ~ Zorro

On the Rio: Grateful Dead ~ It Must Have Been The Roses


It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow I must report that our beloved lovebird Zorro will chirp no more. But we will remember Zorro for all the fun moments he gave us.

We brought Zorro home on April 14, 2002. And from the beginning he was a funny bird. He loved water and we built him a birdbath. Here he is drying in the sun.



He loved to eat with us. Popcorn was his favorite, and he'd sit at the edge of the bowl and almost fall in getting the kernels, and then had crumbs all over his beak. We celebrated his first birthday with pie and ice cream, and it was so funny when Zorro flew over the candle and "blew" it out.

Zorro also loved to spend time with us in the kitchen. He'd instigate chasing games, bob his head and dance to tunes, and pretend to protect his territory.



It's just amazing how such a little creature could have such a big personality. We will miss him.

1/13/2007 ~ Chinese Wedding

On the Rio: Jerry Garcia ~ I'll Be With Thee

I attended my co-workers wedding reception in December.

There is a welcome reception line to greet the bride and groom.

Each guest writes a marriage wish on the sparkling blue tree. Later in the reception the couple picks a random wish, reads it out loud, and has to guess which guest wrote it. The guest then wins a gag gift. Well, I ended up winning -- it wasn't too hard for them to guess it was me, as it was the only wish written in English. I won a fuzzy hand that makes a noise (I'll post a picture later.) I had to get up on stage and talk, and my boss Eric translated. It was quite humerous, especially after lots of drinking.

The most common wedding gift is money presented in a red envelope. I had spent part of the afternoon finding the right envelope and making sure I knew what it said.

I verified on the internet that the symbol on the envolope was correct in that it represented "double happiness". I also wanted to say something in Chinese to the happy couple, so I found a toast on the internet as well to say something like, "May your happiness last 100 years", and my colleague showed me how to write it, and I was so happy when they could actually could read it!

An MC hosted the event. The fathers of the bride and groom gave a toast. The speech is followed by a cake cutting ceremony, and the opening of champagne to create a fountain. The glasses turn colors as the champagne flows into them. The long tubes coming out of the cake are sparklers which are lit by the couple.

Chinese brides often change outfits at least three times during the reception. This is outfit 2, when they came in holding a lit sword to light sparklers on each reception table.

Here is the dinner table.

They also follow the tradition of throwing the bouquet, but not a garter.

Here is the couple in entering in the bride's third dress.

1/11/2007 ~ My Chinese Name

On the Rio: Kate Bush ~ Breathing


My team has given me a Chinese name, Bo Xin Rei, based somewhat on my current name and perceived personality.


Bo, because it's close to Boke, Xin means 'happy' and Rei means 'lucky'.


What do you think? I like it. And even better, I can pronounce it. They laughed when I mentioned some family members already refer to me as "lucky laurie".


Without internet at the apartment (which now they say may not be restored before the end of the month) I have some time to study Chinese. I might be able to put a meaningful sentence together soon.


Grocery shopping is funny here, as the locals always "peek" into your grocery basket to see what the lǎo wài (foreigner) is buying. But last night the girls in the check out line behind me actually picked up and examined my "strange" purchases. And what were these strange purchases I was making? A can of peas and chicken broth. I almost felt like touching their puchases right back, but just smiled at them instead.


Here's a picture of me last month from the hairy crab excursion at a tea house.

1/8/2007 ~ Happy New Year!

On the Rio: Grace Jones ~ My Jamaican Guy

Our team was quite successful recently in that 2 more markets went live on PeopleSoft. Long hours and stressful moments, but all in all, I am very proud of the team.

The weather is cold in Shanghai - only in the 30s.

I do not have internet/phone currently in my apartment. The earthquake that shook Taiwan in late December severed the undersea telecommunication lines knocking out almost all internet. So I will be unable to post much until it is repaired (I'm posting this from work).