Extended Forecast

I have been counting down the days and I don't think there is anything sweeter to me right now than being able to see the 10 day extended forecast for Fairfax, Virginia and know that we will soon be home. 

The forecast for our arrival next Monday is looking pretty good...a bit warmer than I would like but still cooler than here in Bangkok.

Fairfax, VA (22033) Weather

MonJun 24

90°

71°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF RAIN:

10%

 

WIND:

SW at 7 mph

Details

We returned from Vietnam late this morning. I am still sorting through my thoughts on what we did & saw and what I thought of Vietnam overall and I will report back tomorrow. 

I was worried that a cat or snake would get into the birds' nest while we were gone but both birds were alive and well when we returned. They grew so much during the five days we were gone - they now have feathers and their eyes are wide open. Given how much they have grown (they will be two weeks old on Friday), it looks likely that they will be very close to leaving the nest by the time we leave next Monday. 

 

Have a great Tuesday!

Say What?!?

The photo made me laugh a little, especially after a conversation Kevin and I had last night...

Our living room the day we moved in, almost 2 years ago.

Our living room this morning.

Last night as we were going up to bed, Kevin turns to me and, I kid you not, asks me if that is the same furniture we have always had in the house. He does know how to make me laugh. And, it isn't always intentional.

I am busy packing again today but, for a change, I am packing suitcases and not boxes! We are flying to Hanoi, Vietnam tomorrow for five days. Vietnam is the last "must see" on our list and we are just barely managing to squeeze this trip in. We arrive in Vietnam very early Friday morning and plan to spend the rest of Friday exploring the markets in the Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake, both of which are very close to our hotel. Saturday's itinerary  includes a visit to the Hanoi Hilton, a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater and  (at Caitlynne's specific request) seeing the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. 

Early Sunday morning, we are driving about 4 hours east of Hanoi to Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise on a junk boat in the Bay. 

(photo courtesy of Disdero)

We will return to Hanoi Monday afternoon and return to Bangkok Tuesday morning. 

While I need a trip to Vietnam right now like I need a hole in the head, it will be a nice break for us to get out of Nichada and Bangkok before our move to the U.S. The house is empty and, since most of the kids' friends have left for vacations, there is very little for us to do. I am *almost* envious that Kevin gets to go to work every day and do something productive. I have tried to cook a few meals here and there but we have been ordering a lot of "to go" dinners. The cookware (aluminium!) the Embassy provided in our "Survival Kit" is horrible and, coupled with the stove (two temperatures - extremely hot and off), it is a struggle to put something edible on the table. Last night we had to wait for the smoke to clear before sitting down to eat.

The rainy season is definitely here - if you are moving to or visiting Bangkok soon, make sure you bring an umbrella and a rain poncho with you. It was raining when I woke up yesterday morning but it wasn't heavy enough to stop me from getting out with Sonder for a short walk. About 3 pm, the skies turned black and the wind started to pick up - Caitlynne and I were racing driving home in the golf cart and beat the downpour by just a few seconds. There is one section of the street between our home and ISB that floods pretty badly when it rains heavily and I did not want to get caught on the "wrong" side of the flooding in the storm. I checked the rain gauge this morning and that storm dumped almost 2.5 inches of rain on us! 

Have a great Thursday!

Growing

The babies have stayed in the nest since Saturday and they are growing so much each day.  

Yesterday morning...

 This morning...

Looking for breakfast...

Spectacular engineering with twist ties!

In the photo below, you can see just how lightly the nest is attached to the branches of the palm tree. Not only is the nest pretty small but, as the babies grow, there is no way that little bit of attachment is going to hold any amount of weight. I am trying to think of how to best add some more support. This might be a job for duct tape or a bungee cord. 

We are going to Vietnam early Friday morning but PeePorn will be here off and on over the weekend to check on the house and keep an eye on the birds. At the rate they are growing, I think they will be out of the nest before we move. 

Not much else is going on around here. The kids have been enjoying some time with their few friends that haven't already left for vacation. Nichada is pretty empty and I expect it will be a ghost town by the time we return from Vietnam next Tuesday. I think I have three more boxes to pack and mail out - anything else will have to fit in our suitcases! 

Have a great Wednesday!

Baby Birds and More Nichada Info

Yes, we now have TWO baby birds! 

After finding both babies on the ground yet again yesterday afternoon, I used some twist ties to level the branches and give more support to the nest. I thought the mother might have pushed them out but the babies squirm around so much and, with the nest being at such an angle, I think they just rolled out. The mother returned to the nest the minute I left and is busy mothering them. I am keeping a vigilant watch to make sure there are no more roll outs. Such drama!

On to more important information about moving to Nichada and/or Bangkok and/or Thailand...

Golf Cart Repairs 

We use Weera (telephone at 085 922 0511). I don't know if Weera is his name or the name of the company (or maybe neither) but if you call or text him, 9 times out of 10 he is at the house within 30 minutes. Fabulous service, good rates and he does speak decent English. There is another company that sells and repairs golf carts in Nichada. I think they are called Marshall and are located next to the 4 Legs pet groomers near the Expressway gate. However, I have not used them nor do I know anyone who has.

Churches 

There is a non-denominational Christian Community Church located within Nichada. It is very well attended and (I believe) has youth groups for middle and high school students, all kinds of bible study groups, child care during services and I do know they do a lot of community service work in the Nonthaburi area. 

There is a Catholic church, Our Lady of Holy Rosary, about 15 minutes north of Nichada. They have an English speaking Mass on Sunday afternoons and offer religious education classes. We attend Holy Redeemer which is, literally, right out the back door of the US Embassy on Ruam Rudi. They have several English masses. There is also Assumption Cathedral which is located downtown near the Chao Phraya river, Mandarin Oriental hotel and the French Embassy. I think all of these Catholic churches have websites where you can find Mass times, directions, etc. 

There is a large Mormon community in Nichada and they have a newly constructed worship center very close to Nichada on Changwattana. I believe there is a youth prayer group held at a home in Nichada on weekday mornings but the family that has hosted is moving and I don't know if, when and where it will continue.

Car Repairs 

Good luck with that! Getting the car repaired has probably been one of the most frustrating (and expensive) experiences for me in Thailand. This information really only applies if you are bringing your American car or importing a car from Japan or another country. Most of the corporate employers here (Chevron, Ford, Exxon) either provide a car and driver or a vehicle allowance and manage the maintenance work internally and at their cost. 

There are all kinds of car dealers (Toyota, Ford, Volvo, Nissan, etc.) near Nichada and very easy to get to. I know a few people take their cars to private mechanics and you can ask around for recommendations.  The big problem is that there is little to no English spoken in many of these places so communicating what you need repaired is next to impossible. I took PeePorn with me to the Toyota dealer the first I went and she helped translate but it wasn't, by any means, perfect. The last time we needed the car maintained, we hired a friend's driver who speaks excellent English (and whom we trust) to take it to a mechanic and have all of the work done. It was one of our better ideas for sure! 

Be prepared for long delays if parts need to be ordered. In mid-December 2011, I took the car in and was told it needed part X which had to be ordered from Japan. Fortunately, I was able to continue to drive the car because part X arrived in mid-March 2012! My neighbor was not so lucky - she took her car in for electrical repair work and I think it was almost 2 weeks before she had her car back! 

If you bring your American car with you, you might need to order the parts on-line (the mechanic will tell you exactly what parts to order) and then he will complete the repairs after you receive them from the U.S. or Japan.

Propane Tank Refill 

Unfortunately, when I sold our barbecue grill, I gave the new owner all of the information I had for it, which included the telephone number for the man who delivered the refills for its propane tank. He transports about 10 propane tanks at a time on the back of his motorcycle (!) and usually responds to service requests within a couple of hours. If you bring a grill from the US, it will need to have a special adapter installed and he can do that for you as well. 

Bicycle Sales and Service

There is a small bike shop on Samakee Road, west of Nichada. He sells bikes and also does repair work. I think his prices are good. The only "cons" are that the shop is not reachable by golf cart and the parking lot is minuscule. In addition, you must back out of the parking lot on to Samakee Road which can be quite busy. He might offer a pick-up and delivery service but I never thought to ask. 

Miscellaneous

If you are without a car or golf cart for a few weeks, the Villa Market does make deliveries (not sure if there is a fee or not). You can open an account there as well for your maid/kids to charge items to.

There is a milk/egg/other miscellaneous grocery products service that delivers in Nichada Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I don't know how you contact them but you will see them driving around the neighborhoods (tan pick up truck) and they will most likely make contact with new residents. You can schedule weekly or bi-weekly deliveries with them as well. 

There is also a gourmet bakery/food service, Urban Pantry, that delivers to Nichada once a week. I can only find the link to their page on facebook. However, if you can somehow get added to their email distribution list, every Monday you will receive the menu for that week and information on how to order. I think their prices are a little high but the food is good quality and since there are no other convenient alternatives, it is worth the splurge once in a while.

Wine by Vinum Lector delivers wines to Nichada (and downtown) on Thursday afternoons. Delivery is free is you order 6 or more bottles. Contact Mari at winebyvl@gmail.com to be added to the email distribution list for the list of available wines for sale. I think their selection is amazing and the prices are very good.

The Expressway is a toll road. I would suggest purchasing an EZ Pass upon your arrival as it will certainly speed your trip downtown. 

That is all I can remember for now!

Have a great Sunday!

And Then There Were Two!

I had a lot of bird drama yesterday afternoon. Over the last few days, I noticed the mother bird was sitting on her nest a little bit differently. I thought the egg might have hatched so, when she was "out" early this afternoon, I took a little peek. 

Presenting...Baby Bird Egg No. 2!

With the movers here several days last week and the painters here several days this week, there has been a lot of foot traffic in and out through the front door. When people come and go, the mother bird either sits tight in the nest or flies to the branch of a nearby tree and keeps watch from there. 

Yesterday afternoon about 2 hours after I took the above photograph, for some strange reason, I thought to go check on the nest. The mother bird wasn't around and I peeked and only saw one egg. The nest is not well attached to the branches of the palm tree and is, in fact, listing at an angle to the ground so I assumed the egg must have fallen out. I looked on the ground and in the pot to see where it landed but couldn't find anything. Then, upon closer inspection, I saw a tiny, tiny baby bird (less than 2" long!) that was literally newborn and had somehow fallen out of the nest. It was a light pinkish color with no feathers and blended in perfectly with the tiles on the entry step. I thought for sure it was dead so I went inside to get something to dispose of it with. 

When I came back out, I noticed the baby bird was still breathing and even moving around so I carefully scooped it onto a paper towel (being careful not to touch it with my hands) and placed it back in the nest. In order to give the mother bird some undisturbed time with the baby, I posted signs on the house so no one goes near the front door. I checked early this morning and the mother is still sitting on the nest, the baby is still breathing and the other egg is still there. Fingers crossed that all continues to go well!

The house is now painted back to the original boring white. I plan to write a post on that very frustrating experience but, for now, I am just glad that I am able to check another item off of my "to do" list.

Look at the jungle outside those windows!

 

The middle school had set up a large poster board for departing students to write their names and where they were moving to...

  

Caitlynne participated in the 8th Grade "Moving Up" Ceremony on Thursday and yesterday was the last day of school for both of them. This year went by so fast! They have their report cards and final transcripts in hand and we can now register them in Fairfax County as soon as we return. 

I do have some more information to post about services/shops near Nichada and hope to get it all put together and published tomorrow.

Have a great Saturday! 

Information Overload - Around Nichada

I have gotten quite a few emails from families who are moving to Nichada this summer and thought I would put together a post of local restaurants/shops/info that might be useful for when you first arrive. Please remember the following is based only my opinions, thoughts, experiences, etc. I am, by no means, an expert and there are many other restaurants, shops, etc. that are located near Nichada and might provide the same or better services. As we all know, different people have different preferences so what appeals to me might not even matter to you! 

As you will soon learn if you are moving to Thailand, things can and will change with no advance notice and for no logical nor apparent reason. So, be prepared to just roll with it! In general, a wealth of patience and the ability to find humor in the situations you are sure to find yourself in will make your time spent in Thailand so much more enjoyable. 

These are just a few things and places that I can think of off the top of my head and that I know something about or have frequented during our time here.

1. Your first order of business should be to make sure the home that you lease in Nichada includes membership to the Clarke Hatch gym. While the gym is certainly nice, the real benefit of this membership is that you get a card/sticker for your car that allows you the "shortcut" entry and exit from the "Expressway gate". Having this access to enter and exit Nichada will save you a minimum of 20 minutes each time you need to get on or off the Expressway. If the rental does not include this membership, negotiate it with the landlord (obviously before you sign the lease). It is that important. I believe all of the Embassy homes come with this membership so I am not sure what the initiation fee is but we pay about $200 per year to maintain it. 

2.  Restaurants. 
Unless otherwise noted, all of the restaurants I have listed below are easily reachable by golf cart from Nichada. In fact, for most of them, parking is on-street and/or very limited so driving a golf cart is recommended.

Almost all of these restaurants will deliver for free or for a nominal fee (30 baht or $1 USD). With the exception of Olive, I think they are all closed on Mondays. My plan was to take photos of each of the places I wrote about in this post but the list got too long and it has been raining (or threatening to rain) for the last few days so that idea went out the window.

Que Pasa (located outside the front gate of Nichada). Mexican. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Western and Thai foods. Great margaritas. Best guacamole and salsa although the chips could be a little less greasy. Great  tortilla soup and chili cheese fries!  

 

Milano's (located outside the front gate of Nichada at the Pro Golf Club). Italian restaurant. Live entertainment (music, comedy) on the weekends, nice outdoor seating area if you can stand the heat, mosquitoes or if it isn't raining. There is also indoor seating available. 

Slider Shack (located outside the front gate of Nichada - across from 7-11). Great sliders, burgers, quesadillas, etc. Small eat-in area so most people use delivery.

NY Diner (located next to the Slider Shack). Western food - pasta, burgers, and chicken. Serves American breakfasts (pancakes, waffles, etc.). I have only eaten there twice but I know several families in Nichada that are regulars.

Aubergine (outside the front gate - adjacent to the Phoenix Muay Thai boxing facility). This is a very new restaurant and I think the owner is still trying to find his vision as this is the third time he has changed course since he opened about 6 months ago. There is a lot of potential (the food I had was really good) but there are many details that need to be worked out. As of Wednesday evening, fresh fish and Doner tacos are served dressed with condiments you chose from the fresh salsa bar. Alcohol and drinks are available but it is a "serve yourself" arrangement (that you might or might not be told about!) from a dorm sized refrigerator. Ask for silverware or anything else that you might need to complete your dining experience. 

Le Bouchon (located outside Nichada via the Seechaitong gate). Nicer French-Italian restaurant. Good pasta, fresh seafood, soups and a great caesar salad. Wood fired pizza. Covered outdoor seating area near the pizza oven. Extensive wine collection (also sells retail). 

Sudathai (located outside Nichada via the Seechaitong gate). Local Thai restaurant. Very little English is spoken. If you want something not listed on the menu, communicate it to them (somehow) and they will make it.

Olive (located within Nichada at the entrance to Premier Place 1 near the expressway gate).  Mediterranean menu. Great hummus, tzatziki and baba ghanoush. Everything else though seems to be hit or miss. Portions are small for the prices. The restaurant is located adjacent to a 25 metre pool and there is poolside food/drink service. 

Breezes (located outside Nichada via the Seechaitong gate). British pub food. I think there is outdoor seating only. We have eaten here only a few times and haven't been thrilled but I know some friends who are very happy regulars. 

Paulaner's (located on the By-Pass road near Big C/Home Pro). German beer garden-type restaurant. Indoor and outdoor seating. Good food, good beer. Fun place to go with a large group. Not reachable by golf cart. 

The Boat House - (located next to Paulaner's). Relatively new restaurant. Good food but no one speaks English. It was an exercise in patience trying to get a bowl of rice one night! Not reachable by golf cart.

3. Home Improvement 
Home Pro located near Big C. Home Pro is the closest thing to Home Depot or Lowes that you will find in Thailand. Home improvement items (paint, tiles, carpets), tools, appliances, housewares, etc. Easy to get to from Nichada, covered parking. Although I have seen a few brave (?) Nichada residents drive their golf carts there, it is not advisable! 

4. Grocery stores

Villa - located within Nichada. There is also a larger Villa in The Avenue (shopping center East on Changwattana) and another on the road that runs parallel to Khlong Prapa (between Samakee and Changwattana). Villa has a good selection of Western (imported foods), wines and liquor but it is very expensive. You certainly pay for the convenience! Meat, fish and poultry are packaged (unusual in Thailand) and kept refrigerated - but look the package over carefully before you purchase. Be careful to check the expiration dates on the imported items before you buy. Beware of the fruits and vegetables here (especially those that are packaged). I have found that they are often on the verge of spoiling or rotten, infested with worms, etc. If I have to buy fruit or vegetables at Villa, my rule of thumb is to buy 3 more than what I need because there is guaranteed to be some that are spoiled or inedible. It is better to buy (or have your maid buy) fruits and veg at the market out the Seechaitong gate (near Changwattana) as they are fresher and better priced.

Tops - located in the bottom floor of the Central Mall. Full service grocery store - bakery, sushi counter, prepared foods, salad bar, etc. Small wine and liquor shop but you can't purchase until after 2 pm.

5. Central Mall - full service mall located a short distance from Nichada (via the Seechaitong gate). Golf cart parking is reserved for Nichada residents on the ground level of the parking garage. Ladies parking and Nichada residents' car parking are on the 2nd or 3rd floors (not exactly sure which one). I avoid the Mall like the plaque on the weekends. It is loud and too crowded and chaotic. The Mall does not open until 11 am during the week and 10 am on the weekends. Unlike in the U.S., you can't even enter the Mall until the opening time. 

6. Big C - the Thai version of Wal Mart. Groceries, home items, electronics, appliances, etc. Shares a parking garage/parking lot with Home Pro. Again, although I have seen a few brave (?) Nichada residents drive their golf carts there, it is not advisable! 

7. Makro (located east of Nichada on Changwattana). The Thai version of Costco. Kinda sort of. Definitely not reachable by golf cart.

8. Convenience 
7-11, Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Pizza Company, Swensons, etc. are all located around Nichada and most deliver to Nichada homes. Starbucks is within Nichada, near ISB and the Villa Market. 

There are two gas stations very convenient to Nichada. One (I think it might be BP) is on Samakee Road (outside the front gate of Nichada) and one (I believe it is Shell), is located on Changwattana (outside of Nichada via the Seechaitong gate). If you like to live life on the edge, you can drive your golf cart to the gas station on Samakee to refuel. Otherwise, I recommend buying a 5 gallon gas container and fill it up when you refuel your car. If possible, buy the gas container before you arrive because we had a very difficult time finding one here and ended up ordering through Amazon.

The gas station on Samakee also offers car wash services and they do an excellent job for only $3.00 - $6.00 USD. There is also a car wash service on the bottom level of the parking garage at Central Mall but it is very pricey.

9. Garden Supply 
The Thai Army runs a nursery on Changwattana near Nichada. 

The western side of the parking lot of Makro has a row of vendors selling all types of plants, trees, flowers, water garden supplies, pots, etc. 

There is also a plant stand on the By-Pass road on the way to Big C/Home Pro. 

A vendor at the Nichada market (held the first Saturday of every month) sells the most beautiful (and healthiest) orchids for great prices.

10. Dentist/Orthodontist - we used Denta-Joy located in The Avenue shopping center (east of Nichada on Changwattana) for Caitlynne's braces. Not reachable by golf cart. There is also a dentist located up near the Villa Market and I believe an orthodontist is there a few times a month for appointments. I used this dentist when Christopher needed emergency dental work. 

11. Doctors/Medical Services & Facilities 
Bumrungrad Hosptial has a satellite clinic located in the Villa Market area. There is an MD on-site and they provide very basic services/exams/tests (not x-rays). They will fill prescriptions from their offices or send you to the Rex Pharmacy (located directly across from the Villa market). 

The new World Medical Center just opened (located outside of Nichada via the Seechaitong gate on Changwattana). Excellent facilities and resources. Almost everyone on the staff speaks very good English. I have been very impressed with the services and treatment we have received there (Caitlynne's ankle, my stomach). There is plenty of parking in the garage on-site but, if need be, you can drive your golf cart almost to Changwattana, park and walk a very short distance to the hospital. 

Mongthongwattana Hospital is located east of Nichada on Changwattana.  It is very crowded,  there is limited parking (not reachable by golf cart), the facilities and resources aren't that great and there aren't many English-speaking staff. However, our treatments there (for Christopher's thumb) were fine. It is definitely a local hospital. 

In addition to the Rex Pharmcy across from the Villa Market, there is a pharmacy out the front gate of Nichada next to the 7-11. There is also a pharmacy outside of Nichada via the Seechaitong gate and there are several pharmacies in Central Mall. With the exception of narcotics, you can buy almost any medication over the counter here and at great prices. 

12. Banks/ATM.  
There is a bank up in the Villa Market area and there are ATMs outside of the Villa Market and RoseMarie Academy and inside ISB (near the cafeteria).

13. Vets.
I have used three vets while we have been here and have liked them all: Dr. Sayan (located immediately out the front gate of Nichada, across from 7-11 and next to Slider Shack/NY Diner), Thonglor Vet (located outside of Nichada via the Seechaitong gate on Changwattana just west of Central Mall) and Lively Pet Hospital (this is the one that is most inconvenient to Nichada - it is located on Tiawanon, north of its intersection with Changwattana). 

Dr. Sayan is assisted by his mother and it is a small set up but good for ear infections and the like. Thonglor is probably the most advanced facility as far as technology, treatments and resources are concerned. Lively is small facility owned by three women and, although small, they are quite capable and the facility is a good mix of the other two as far as resources and technology are concerned. Lively has done the best job of the three in treating Sonder's allergies. Unless it is an extreme emergency, I would recommend using a car to get to any of these vets (and a car is an absolute must if you are going to Lively). There are so many soi dogs outside of Nichada and they can be quite aggressive. In my opinion, it is just not safe to transport a pet outside of Nichada unless it is in the confines of a car. 

There are also a number of pet supply stores in the immediate area - at Central Mall, across from Sudathai restaurant and within the vets named above. 

14. Pet Care & Grooming 
We have only ever used 4 Legs (located within Nichada near the expressway gate) for both grooming and for boarding. Great service and inexpensive (compared to the US). They will do pick up and delivery of your pet from your home as well. 

15. Villa Market / Nichada Club Complex. In addition to Rex Pharmacy, Starbuck's and the Villa Market, there are other shops and services in that complex. 

I have never used the travel agent nor do I know anyone who has so I cannot comment. 

The drycleaner is quite pricey so we use a pick up and delivery service instead. They are a Japanese father & son who come to Nichada every Wednesday and Saturday, have good prices and are reliable. I use them so infrequently and need to schedule my pick ups but they will make regular stops at your home if you need them to. Ishito DryCleaning - 081 814 3128.

The florist is hit or miss as far as her selection of flowers is concerned. I usually just get cut flowers from her although I have heard she does nice arrangements. If you want a nice selection of flowers at great prices, go to the flower market in Chinatown. There is a florist out the Seechaitong gate as well but it can also be hit or miss with what she has available. 

The candle shop has a good selection of inventory but I have never purchased anything from her.

I have purchased several carpets from Pandit Carpet and have been very pleased. I think he has very good prices, his service is excellent and the quality is great. He does have semi-annual sales so if you see something you like, ask if it will be included in the sale. In fact, I was interested in one carpet about a month before the sale and he sold it to me then at the sale price. 

Panipa is a full service salon. Hair, nails, facials, waxing, etc. Great for last minute appointments but book ahead for special occasions - proms, galas, holidays, etc. If there is an event at ISB or an expat function, it is very busy! Very inexpensive manicures and pedicures (about $6.00 USD). I have had my hair cut and colored there and had no problems with the color. However, (and I think this is a common complaint), I find that the stylists do not listen to me when I explain how I want my hair cut and tend to do whatever they want. It is convenient though so I tend to go there more than I would like to. I have also used Sugar Salon (located on Soi 14, east of Nichada on Changwattana). Ask for Ladda who speaks excellent English and was trained in Canada. I was very happy with my cuts and colors but she tends to overbook/accept walk-ins and a few times her assistant (who spoke no English) ended up doing most of my service. There is also a nail salon on Samakee Road called Smile that does great manicures and pedicures. It is difficult to get an appointment there at the last minute though so book well ahead of any special events. 

Bamboo Spa (next to Starbucks) - I have never been but some of my friends are regulars and tell me that it is great for massages. A little pricier than the places outside of Nichada but a nice atmosphere. There are many options for massages out the front gate, the Seechaitong gate and at Central Mall - just a matter of what type of massage and atmosphere you are looking for. I have been to Healthland which is a very large massage facility across from Central Mall on Changwattana and have been quite happy with their services. It is very clean and professional. 

Cherry's Bakery - I have not used her at all but I have heard from several friends that she is very pricey. One of my friends told me that she paid almost $50.00 USD for 14 cupcakes! Yikes!

I have used the seamstress at Threads (next door to the dentist) a few times for minor alterations and repairs. Her prices are good but I think she tends to take a long time to turn the work around. I have used PaulJina (located outside the Seechaitong gate near Changwattana) for dressmaking services and she has been fine. Not the greatest work but inexpensive and quick. 

The Clarke Hatch gym and Nichada pool (50 metres) are on the western end of the complex. Both are very nice. The gym tends to be very busy in the mornings after school drop-off.

The Nichada Club restaurant is next door to the gym and, honestly, I don't know how they stay in business - it is always empty. They serve Thai and Western food and it is not all that bad. We often end up eating there on Mondays when every other place is closed. For some reason, I find the food is better "eat in" than "delivery". Be warned, the staff has no concept of "not spicy"!

Whew! I still have some more thoughts racing around my head but I will publish this now and then write another post for those. 

Have a great Friday!

Hello Kansas!

Pittsburg, Kansas to be exact!

1567.0 mi - "Pittsburg , KS", Crawford County

Depending on how motivated I am, I think I have about 11 or 12 runs left in Thailand. I have been stalking the weather back in Virginia and am so envious when I see the very pleasant temperatures that Kevin is enjoying. The predicted low for Wednesday in Fairfax is 55 degrees, almost 30 degrees cooler than our low here. 

Last week with our pack out and a few days of stomach issues, I managed to only run 14 miles. But, at least I am running and soon I will be running in nice weather and a nice environment. 

Kevin returns late Wednesday night, just in time to get a few hours of sleep before we go to Caitlynne's "Moving Up" ceremony at ISB. 

I know he isn't going to be happy when he reads this but... somehow PeePorn misunderstood me and thought Kevin was coming home tonight and she spent all afternoon preparing his favorite dishes for dinner. I was went out early this morning and by the time I returned late afternoon, she was finished. So, many apologies to my dear Kevin but the kids and I will have a feast this evening! 

Have a great Monday!