Paradise...Lost??

Ko Samui has a tiny place in my heart. I was introduced to this island many years back by a good friend and have been going back ever since, on a yearly basis. At first it was a large group outing with like-minded beach bums to soak in the hedonistic nature of the island and to partake in it's world renowned Full Moon Party. Since a couple years back, our numbers have dwindled and only 4 (plus a toddler) made the trip this year. The activities are more sedentary, and road trips to the outskirts of the island was not possible with my lack of driving skills. Still it was a good break from city life.

I feel though, that Samui is almost losing it's charm. I see too many upmarket restaurants/pubs sprouting up across the humble local provision store, the noodle stand charges different prices between tourists and locals, and the shopkeepers with their mountainous merchandise don't give you a hoot when you walk in to their stores. Most prices have gone up by maybe, 30%.

Still there's the beach. With it's white, hot sand and warm water, it's always a good bet if one wanna escape the hustle and bustle of Chaweng street. One can quite literally stay on the beach the whole day, with some small change for the food peddlers that go up and down, and a large bottle of suntan lotion. In fact I had a friend who once went with the shirt on his back! Talk about traveling light!

Beach..Nice. Commercialism...Bad!!

Leaving on a Boeing 717

Well today's it.

I'm off to Ko Samui for a week.

Will try to post some updates here from time to time.

Be good till I come back ya?!

Chok Dee Krup!!

I am looking forward to mid-April. That's when I go on my annual trip to Ko Samui, a favourite island for many sun-loving people off Thailand. Why keep going back to the same place year after year(it's my 5th time)? Cuz it has good beaches, friendly and colorful people, food's cheap and good, and I can idle there with a Singha without having to worry about flight schedules, fussy passengers, and nasty colleagues.

I will be making this trip with my Dear Mickey. I'm sure she'll come to love it after the first few days of taking in the rays, and trying the delicious Tum Yang Koong. My good friend Clarrdy will be there with family in tow. No more hedonistic mis-adventures like before when we went as a group of young punks, but will be enjoyable nonetheless.

Though I make a living jetting from place to place, I still look forward to my holidays, if I do make plans to go on one. I always envy passengers who make numerous trips to destinations that I dreamt of when I was a li'l Ahtiong. How they must've read up about the place, made numerous enquiries, planned their itenary, saved up their bonuses, to be flown in a hunk of metal with bad air for a week or so of R&R. It's so Chan Brothers, ya?

If there's one place I would really like to go, it's Ibiza. I'm so enamoured of that party island since I started cheonging Velvet in my younger days. Imagine, all one does is eat, drink, and party! No bundling on a tour bus to go sightseeing, no cramming into a restaurant for some set lunch/dinner menu, no early wake up calls just so you can wait for the late comers at the hotel lobby.


Eat. Drink. Party. That's all one does on Ibiza.

I've told myself I'll go there one day, one way or another.

For now though, Ko Samui beckons!!

W!LD RICE Theatre Company :: Production :: Current

W!LD RICE Theatre Company :: Production :: Current

Maybe this is a good idea instead of a regular movie?

Goto get some culture in from time to time la

Swede balls of Fire

Right before you read on, go around your place and count out how many pieces of furniture, furnishings, l'il brick braks you have from Ikea. At last count, I have no less than a dozen pieces from the Swede furniture company. Talk about support!!

My weakness for these flat-packed thingamajigs stems from my very young days when I visited other people's home, where the owners will proudly declare where they bought that nice rug or simple yet functional shoe rack from. It's like a badge of honour to mention that yes, it was put together by their own 2 hands. At that time there was a branch just off Katong, before one turns into Marine Parade. I used to take a bus to go there just to gawk at their line of products. I always tried to get my hands on their catalogue, circling out things that I'd like to be able to afford and imagining where I can place them in my own place when I grow up.

Fast forward 15 yrs. Everywhere you turn at my home, there's a Swede designed, 3rd world country made piece of furniture. In fact,I'm writing this on a PC table(2nd one) that was put together, taken apart cuz we got a piece wrong, and put together again in the space of an afternoon. Next to it is a toiletry trolley that I've converted into a mini bar for my copious amounts of fine spirits. Next to THAT is a small folding dining table with 2 black foldable chairs.

My entertainment room, which I recently put together for EPL nights, looks like it's been lifted straight out of the catalogue itself! I feel though, that the pièces de ré·sis·tance has to be the Malm bed in white that I put together on my own, with some help from my Bro. I remembered when I told the sales counter that I didn't need the delivery guys to assemble it for me. He gave me that,"What! You crazy, man!" look as I calmy made my purchase. My Bro and Mum thought the same too when they saw the amount of boxes that it came in, then watched in horror as the men left without as much as cutting the boxes open. I confidently told them that it was part of the experience, putting the bed together, when one makes a purchase at the Alexandra Road main store. They left me to my own devices, and I got down to work.

Work stalled after just 20 mins. I'd put in a screw the wrong way, and that took me almost an hour to get out. From there it was pure ego that kept me going. With some help from my bro, I got to lie down on my new self-assembled bed that night. Ahh..a mini triumph for me that day!

I have since added 2 Malm side tables, a new sofa and a small coffee table to my "showroom". There's still some moving around I need to do before, maybe, organising a popiah party over here. Watch this space...