I just realised. All my life, I have just been waiting to read something good like Oscar Wilde.

I've found him.

Whoa! Just watched the movie adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest on Channel I and I absolutely love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow... truly a wonderful piece of satire on society's trivalities and pretence. Bloody... I can't take all this wit and humor anymore.. the play on being Earnest is just so classic! The play ends with Jack telling Lady Bracknell that he has realised for the first time in his life, the importance of being earnest. While he thought all along he was lying, he actually was telling an unknown truth and the importance of being ernest/earnest earned him a wife. It's ironic also how he had intended to "kill off" Ernest- a ficticious character he had invented that now it is important to be the "Ernest".

I know it's hard to follow what I am saying, I can't put it across well enough anyway.

I simply love the absurdity and trivality. Lady Bracknell insists that Jack's name be Ernest before she marries her daughter, Gwendolyn to him. Hmm... like for what!?!? Then finally, Gwendolyn and Cecily who wanted to marry "Ernest" cuz he was "Earnest" married their respective "Ernests"- Jack and Algy who took on the false name of Ernest and therefore were not Earnest at all! So confusing ah! Bet you don't know what I am talking about but this play has so many twists and turns and pun and fun you gotta read/watch it to really feel it in you!

Well to someone who is often engaged in the trivalities of life, this line is a perfect articulation of my mood for a long time.

JACK. I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people.The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.

Whoa... this quote is simply timeless. Long live trivialities- the important things in my life that deserve a bloggin' mention. Have I ever displayed a wee sense of boredom in meeting clever people in my blog. Yes, meeting them makes me shut my petals up, whiters my blossoming and reduces me to a bud. I hate to say anything clever and feel sore not being able to say it when I need to. Yes my high sense of self esteem. That's why my preoccupation with trivalities.  Losing the battle and running away from life.

xxx

I think Lady Bracknell is CLASSIC (comic).... Like the part she opposes Cecily (Jack's ward) and Algy (Lady Brack's nephew)'s union but changes her mind once she hears of her fortune. The play's take on marriage as a social tool to climb relations hmm.. not the first time we see that- in Pride & Prejudice it occurs once. Seems pretty prevalent in British Classics, and therefore the reality it reflects of British Victorian society.

I don't have anything else to say about this cuz I can't say it properly. If you've got the chance. Please get hold of the vcd with my fav British Actor of all time (not Hugh Grant) but Colin Firth. Alternatively catch it in the theatre, if it ever comes out.

I'd like to try a dry martini cuz that would fit perfectly well with my obsession with dry, British wit.

I've been waiting for a Oscar Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Gray shall be next after I finish my Tess of D'ubervilles by Thomas Hardy.

Well, quote-worthy moments apart from the many others I have quoted on my blog before. Classic Quotes here goes:

ALGERNON. All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.
JACK. Is that clever?
ALGERNON. It is perfectly phrased! and quite as true as any observation in civilised life should be.
JACK. I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people.The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.

The next time you change a template on Blogspot. Remember to copy your Friendly Links before you do so, or you'll end up a silly ass like me.

Bowls, Plates, Namecard Holders and a NEW RING! Hehe

There are some places that you've been to and want to go back there again.

There are some places that you've been to and don't feel like coming home.

There are some places that you've been to, and you tell yourself, "I'm not coming back here in at least the next 20 years"

Bangkok, is one of them. If permits, I hope not to step foot on Bangkok tar in at least the next 20 years. Surprising huh. Guess I am the one out of 100000000000000000 to feel this way about Amazing Bangkok. Ha. Even I am personally surprised about my disapppointment. Here are some legendary facts about Bangkok that I agree or disagree with.

1) Bangkok is polluted.
Absolutely.

2) Bangkok's air is heavily polluted.
Absolutely.

3) Bangkok's air pollution index ranks no.1 among all sorts of pollution in the city.
Disputable. According to an anonymous expert's take on this, noise pollution is fast overtaking air pollution as the no. 1 irritant in the city. A reading on The Michemeter suggests that noise pollution vies with FOGEYS WHO LEAN ON POLES ON MRT TRAINS (see previous post) for the top spot on this reliable and valid scale.

Noise pollution is the main cause of illnesses such as sore throat, hearing problems and also causing diseases such as communication breakdowns.

4) Bangkok is shopping paradise
True. So many shops and bazaars and shopping complexs.

5) You can shop till you drop in Bangkok.
True. You can shop till you drop and still can't find anything that fits you in Bangkok. I can't be bothered to show you the blood clot I have on my left foot's big toe. A patch of blue black. I hope my nail doesn't drop. That'll be the worst thing that can happen to me. Being nail-ness. Eeks... I cringe just by writing it.

In Bangkok, I can walk past 50 shops and only one or two things in the 51st catch my eye. I used to tell my companions 10 shops, then I corrected to 20, but now the most accurate is probably 50. No overestimation or exaggeration. The reason why is simple. Just look at the Thai ladies you see on the streets and then look at me. I hardly saw any slimming centers and you know where slimming centers sprout? Where they are either many RICH or many OBESE people. Singapore isn't an OBESE country but our waistlines, armlines, thighlines, (and of course our pockets) are fat enough to need a trip to a slimming center. Most of the clothes there are Free Size. Being Free Size in Bangkok means S Size. S for SMALL and SLIM. McDonalds don't seem to have any adverse effect on the Thais.

 

Chatuchak Weekend Market: A Massive lot of little shops. Took one hour to complete one lengthy "lane". Was there early. Pretty serene not much people then. Had great time walking through the narrow lanes fit only for a single file. By noon, it was clogged with merchants, asians and caucasians. My feet was crying out in pain, feeling sore that I didn't manage to get anything much unique or nice enough. At least bought 2 bowls. Hehe. Left by Half past Twelve, Four hours earlier than initially planned. Headed for Siam Square.

 

Siam Square: Expected a better lot of shopping. But really, not worth a bloggin mention here.

 

Siam Discovery Center and Siam Shopping Center: no comments.

 

MBK otherwise known as MahBoonKrong: "7 levels" of shopping. Let me set you right.
Ground Level: Couple of eateries, Top Supermart, couple of shops selling clothes/accessories/shoes
Level 2: Wacoal Shop(MUST GO), Bags and shoes
Level 3: Clothes
Level 4: Should also be clothes but cant remember
Level 5: Furniture
Level 6: Food Court & Marked up miniature of Chatuchak
Level 7: Cinema (Which I was so tempted to go cuz they were showing Mean Girls in Bangkok)

Absolutely b-o-r-i-n-g. Must I repeat that Free Size means S Size in Thailand? Food court is decent though. Have to buy coupons to eat. Think that's quite a good idea cuz having hawkers handle coupons is better than handling money. Wonder if hygiene is the rationale behind it. If so, it can get quite ironic. Ermm..............

Surprisingly, the Thais find it safe to leave their belongings at foodcourt tables to 'chop' seats. When I say belongings, I mean their BAGS, not tissue paper or Umbrella. It's not a single occurence but I saw it a couple of times I ate there.

 

Sampeng: Wholesale Center. Selling what you would find in a wholesale center. If you sell ordinary stuff, get your stuff here. Great. Expect soft toys, stationery, silver accessories but not shawls, bowls or any other 'exotic' stuff. Don't need to bargain also. No point. Bought some stuff for my bazaar stall... which I don't know when it will open shop. Better be soon.... Meanwhile, I need to get more goods/stocks.

 

Khao San Rd: This is the place I strongly recommend cuz it reminds me of the Night Bazaar that got me crazy when I went to Chiangmai in '02. Initially not in the itinery, but a stroke of luck brought me there. Went to meet up with Shawn(JP's boyfriend) and his friend, Yao Hua, who were on a stopover to Vietnam or Myanmar from Laos. Having 30 days of fun in SEA i think... that was their 10th day only.

 

Central Chidlom: Taka of Thailand. More Up-class. Level 3 "Zeen Corner" got me crazy. I bought like 2 notebooks for myself, yeah these two! 1 notebook for Mingli, 2 Mouse-pad cum Notepad for me and brother. Wow... Also bought a top... for a whoopie... S$29. I spent more money here than the previous few if I didn't count wrongly.

 

Shawls: Urgh.. Sorry Cheok, didn't buy, not that I didn't have money, but all the shawls were really ordinary and you know what, you can get a cheaper one in Singapore than Thailand! Thai Silk isn't exactly the nicest, and I didn't know if you wanted a big or small one, or pashmina or Thai Silk, SMS you, you didn't reply.... Only the scarfs were 150Baht... Didn't manage to get one for myself also.. I wanted to get a White/Cream shawl also!!!!! hahaha. Guess I'll go over to Clarke Quay to get one instead. Hehehe.

 

Temples. Visited two. Wat Pho and Grand Palace. (Grand Palace isn't exactly a temple, there is a temple that houses a lengendary Emerald Buddha that traces its history and roots to CHiang Mai but anyway, here are some pictures.

At Wat Pho, it is famous for a massive and magnificent Reclining Buddha, who looks very serene. Thanks to a not-so-great photographer, you get a little glimpse of the Reclining Buddha.

Next, the Grand Palace, which really is a Palace.. Like royal grounds, wow Can't imagine the idea of receiving people at massive halls when delegates come to visit and that the grounds that I was stepping on were built by Rama I, II, III, IV Mongkuk, V Chulalongkorn, legends that only appeared in History Six Notes. The live of a monarch. Hmm. This Grand Palace was built by Rama I who aptly, being an extravagant and spendtrift person spent money lavishly on huge palaces and buildings that become money spinning places for generations later. Each architecture aptly reflects the mentality of the people of their times, Mongkut and Chulalongkorn, drivers of modernisation, built Western style buildings to receive delegates. Some of them are still in use btw. Queen Victoria, Margaret Tatcher and Michelle Chan all set foot on them. In representation of the reign of Rama I, II, III whom I can't remember their names, Mongkut and Chulalongkorn, these 'things' were erected. I didn't take a photo of those that represented Mongkut and his son, but here's it. Quite a nice picture huh :)

The one in the middle is for Rama I. Rama II and III flanks it, and IV and V are out of view from this picture. The lamp post is such a spoiler but too lazy to attempt in a photo-shop adventure to photo shop it away. Blame the lousy photographer who takes lousy photographs.

Somehow, everytime I visit temples, they strike me as MASSIVE, EXTRAVAGANT and SPECTACULAR whenever I visit them, but then when I go home, I kinda forget what they are... the only thing regretful is we didn't get a tour guide to explain the things. But hey, being very well-conversed in the history of temples, they command a high fee. The more people in the group, the higher they charge. Hmm. Don't get the logic but certainly a good way of charging if I were a tour guide. So, the trip to Wat Pho was kinda not that meaningful. As for Grand Palace, every visitor who pays 200baht to get through gets one booklet. Well, mark my words. ONLY one. Well.... Ok. We don't need two each anyway...

I like this close-up picture I took also. Had to pull the chains down to take the pic... It was at the foot of a stairs. Well, you can see the effects of weathering (or vandalism?) on this. Cool huh. Imagine it at the foot of the stairs.

The chimes also made a lot of nice sounds at the temple. Here's a look at them:

 

Well, so much about Pollution, Shopping, Temples. Seems like something's missing. Something big about Bangkok the City. Yeah. Being a very well-read person, yes, you would know it's the Bangkok Jam.

Famous for the Jams during peak hours, (and non-peak) well, won't be surprising if I had the chance to experience one. With 5 people not including the cab driver squeezed in a Toyota Corolla Sedan Cab.. Well, the Jam can get exceedingly excruciatingly long. From Khao San all the way to Mahboonkrong say the distance from Tanglin Mall to City Hall?... Yao Hua said he noticed an Ang Moh couple walking along the streets at the start of the cab ride at Khao San... One traffic light away from Mah Boon Krong, he said they just took over the cab. And JP didn't believe Shawn earlier on when he said that he can run faster than the vehicles. At that time, the Hulk in me was picturing me smashing up the cars ahead. (Hmm ok, not that EVIL, maybe like lifting them and placing the cars on the side like playing LEGO? You know it never jams on Legoland? Erps... stop talking rubbish and anyway)

Being stuck in a jam, people always find things to amuse themselves with. JP, YH and Shawn were talking about NUS stuff and people and internship stuff and some big things about Shell Recruitment Drive and Oil Prices. Mum was... Dunno what she was thinking in her mind. I, being a near-bimbo (except that physically I can never qualify) was looking out at the streets, staring blankly, looking for amusement, finally chanced upon some other people, who also like me, find amusement for themselves in a jam.

You see a boy 'sleeping' there? Actually he wasn't fast asleep. Every few seconds, his brother (i assume) would climb over him and they would exchange places. This ritual continued throughout the journey. 


Well, actually Bangkok isn't that bad after all, after writing about it.... Maybe it's time to talk abit about the plane ride. Which, is quite silly to blog here cuz I risk sounding like a sua-ku who hasn't taken a plane before. The truth is I haven't taken a plane for quite a long time or rather hasn't taken SIA for a long time enough for me not to know that even economy class seats come with your personal screens, though now vaguely, I seem to remember they have it on Silk Air and Cathay a couple of years back. Pardon my rambling.

A few things happened to me, that I wouldn't imagine happening to me on a plane.

Well, to put things into perspective, for the first time, I sat beside the service counter- you know where air stewardess and air stewards prepare the food and get you your blankets from? Yeah. I don't know what it was called but let's call it service counter.

For one, it was damn GROSS sitting there cuz for one you can smell fish in the air, and you know fish is one of the main ingredients in the menu.

For two, you can hear the air steward "M" and the air stewardess "F" engaged in brainless banter while working.

F: Aey... what happened to you just now ah?..... Zao Keng...... (drops something on the floor and exclaims) Wah biang

M: No la, my shirt too short.....

F: Oh, I thought they have the new shirts you didn't go and take ah.............

M: I'm wearing the new shirt!

F: Hahahaha. ... Wait can see your underwear.

M: No la, I did not wear. Hahaha.

F: Tsk!!!!!!

M: (Quickly in a disclaimer mode) No la. I got la.

F: Yeah admit it you didn't right.... I know you all guys ah................... (can't really catch word for word what happened here) keep it dry right..........

M: (Quickly in a disclaimer mode, sounding very very juvenile) I got my own method la. Hahaha

I don't really get what these two people are talking about, ie the content, but the splendid peppering of LAs and LOs add much crass on top of their topic.

JUVENILE is the word to describe the air steward. He looked extremly out of place in his air steward blue suit, cuz he looks so much like a small boy, even the silver straps of his watch look out of place. haha.

Nothing can get worst than................ him spilling orange juice on me. Alamak.. I was holding up my juice for him to collect back. There wasn't even turbulence or anything at that time, but I think he cannot hold a cup properly. I was holding it close to the top and he can be clever enough to take it from the top. So, the juice spilled on my hands, some on the seat handle, and some on the seat. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lucky him I wasn't wearing a million dollar dress. (Hmm okie, i won't wear a million dollar dress anyway) The last thing you would expect is for a flight attendant to spill drink. Even more so, a SIA flight attendant! ARGH.

Finally, when we were leaving, I got up to get our luggage from the overhead storage. Well, cuz our bags were heavy and all deeply pushed in, and being vertically challenged, I couldn't reach my luggage. Mr Air Steward just stood there and didn't bother to help!!!!!!! Mum had to ask Mr Tall Guy standing behind me who looked too tired for nuts to help. Thanks Yah Mr Tall Guy. Phew. Then there was a human bottleneck in front and I stood right beside Mr Air Steward. Haha And YOU KNOW WHAT?!?!?!!? MR AIR STEWARD started to chat with me and mum! ERPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Jp was commenting that he was trying to act serious and professional and trying to talk properly when he spoke to us. Maybe he could sense that I was laughing at him. The first time I laugh at a cute guy....... Erpssssssssssss. Ok. The truth is, I thought he was pretty cute when I first saw him. A bit pan-eurasian albeit pint size and juvenile looking. And he also has a nice chinese name......  Erm. that's not the point. But as always, I am always able to separate looks and the REST-OF-THE-QUALITIES apart. So Mr A.S is not local cuz I asked him, and well, the rest are not worth a bloggin mention lest it gets embarrased skar-ley somebody who knows him reads my blog and worst so. He reads the blog but it probably won't happen huh. ERPS. Who knows just play safe. Hahamuahaha.

Ok I've been blogging for WOW...... Thanks to this new feature on Blogspot I get to see right here on this screen what time I start blogging!!!! It's been................ 2 and Half hours of Blogging, Checking Mail and ICQ!!! (And hmm......... still counting..............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Hahaha.... I think the best part of the trip is where I get to ignore phone calls and sms. Everytime StarHub sends me a message saying "You have a missed call from XXXXXXXX" Whoa. That makes my day!!!!!!! Hahaha. Ignore all the messages and phone calls. I didn't switch on my handphone more than half the time. Although I brought my hp charger. Actually I wanted to charge my handphone, but I thought it was a two pin, and I forgot to bring a two pin plug. I only realised it was not a two pin when I got home and started to unpack. I put the charger in a plastic bag you see.. and didn't take it out. But I'd say it's a blessing in disguise!!!! Cuz I would be so tempted to check my phone every now and then. It's great to leave the torture of sms all behind for 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snigger.

Ok. After putting in all the pictures, i've officially spent 3.5 hrs blogging/sending emails, and icq-ing. DISGUSTING!!!!

Just one last slice of humor from Bangkok. Taken at Mister Donut at Siam Discovery Center (a shopping centre. DUH)

 

ラベル: Travel