Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Bad habit... again...

I'm always like this...

If I want to do something, I'll keep thinking about it a lot and a lot... And pause what I'm doing for awhile even though it's quite important thing.

Like this time...

I start to think of traveling again... and pause doing my thesis.

Yeah, I know that my thesis is important... but I can't help! I just can't stop thinking about going somewhere again.

What a bad habit!!
I DO know that I should finish the thesis before entertain myself!!

OK... let me tell you about my plan.

Actually, I have some money and I'm planning how to spend them.


1. A watch

I get use to having something on my wrist, and it's a watch. After my favorite one's straps were torn, I couldn't find any straps that were alike. So I think it's time to get a new.

It seems hard to find a watch that fits my wrist... Well, because my wrist is small, so the watch I want has to be small, too.

Anyway, forget about watches and follow me to another choices.


2. A volunteer camp

It's "5 days 4 nights" camp. It's about teaching hill-tribed children Thai and English in the north of Thailand, Chaingrai.

The camp is managed by a Thai NGO which their purpose is to develop hill-tribe communities around the north of Thailand. I wished to join them once and I think this camp would be a good beginning.


3. An extra class

"Huh?? Say again??" That's what my mom said when she heard me told her I wanted to take a class of baby massage. Also my ex laughed when I told him that I wanted to take a Thai food class. I told them that I just want to learn something new and the class (any classes) would give me something excitement.

But finnaly, I didn't take any yet. Maybe this time would be a good chance for a class?



OK...

Forget all of those 3 choices...

The most fragrant choice is here...


V
V
V
V
V


4. Trip!!
Yeah!! I want trips!!

After my last trip to Koh Tao, I want another and another and another...

See where I wish to go...



4.1 Samui and Phuket



Samui is an island in Suratthani, a province in the south of Thailand. Also Phuket, it's a south province and the biggest island. There're long white beautiful beaches there. I want to go there since I never had any chances to visit there and I love diving and canue trip!

Going there must take several days so that I could visit all attractions. Also... high budget... which I'm not sure if I could afford. :-S


So now.. I'm trying to convince some people to go with me, so the budget would be shared and there'd be some companions so that I wouldn't be lonely like the last trip I had.

4.2 Phu Soi Dao



Phu Soi Dao is a national park in Pittsanulok, a province in the north of Thailand. The national park consists of high mountains, beautiful virgin forests and flora fields. The trip to Phu Soi Dao is kind of hiking and adventure which is my favorite!!


4.3 Chaing Khan


Credit to : http://www.tessabanchiangkhan.go.th/indexcopy.jpg



Chiang Khan is a district in Loei, a northeast province. Nothing interesting if you want shopping or hiking here. All you can do around this area is just treking, bicycling and sight seeing.
This little district is famous for its culture and lifestyle. As I said, nothing much to do here, but for a girl who loves peace and silence as myself, I can spend the whole day escaping bobbery in Bangkok, sitting by a river, breathe breezy air in while waiting for the sunset into Mae Khong river in the evening.
Going to Chiang Khan only takes about a few days with lower than 2,000 Baht budget. So if I'm impatient, I could pack my stuffs and take a bus ride there tomorrow!!


Oh uh...
I should concentrate on my thesis...
But tell me how I can do it when all of those places keep whispering into my mind...
It's saying "Come, Khwan. Come......."


Fine!
Guess I know what I'm gonna do...

I'll plan my another trip right now!!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

It's on my bday!!

Alright...



Guess my this year birthday would be more exciting than the past years ones. There'll be a partial solar eclipse here on July, 22nd.



I remember when I was 6th grade, there was a total solar eclipse in Thailand.



My family and I went to Nakhon Ratchasima, a province in the north east of Thailand to saw this natural phenomenon. We all were so excited.



At that time, I was picked by my elementary school to join the Thailand junior astronomical quiz competition. So I had little knowledge about this phenomenon (which have been totally forgotten.) I told my uncle and cousins how to make hand-made solar ecliptic glasses. I can recall that it's quite fun. We bought blackwhite film and made it sunbathed for awhile. Then we used a cardboard to make glasses and stuck the film on the paper as they're lenses, then decorated the glasses.



For astrology, this phenomenon means something bad. This belief is influenced by Hindu. People who believe in this should find black edible things (there should be 8 things -- don't ask why, I don't even know!) to make offerings to the spirit called "Pra Rahu." I recall that there're black-coloured oblations everywhere.



Pra Rahu
(Want more information, ask Mr.Wikipedia-->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahu)

Those black edible oblations could be --

black chicken

One of my favorite dessert, Chau Kuay.

It's a black sweet Chinese jelly dessert made from a plantkind.

(Picture credit to : http://www.bloggang.com/viewdiary.php?id=cojilovekimji&month=07-2008&date=01&group=10&gblog=1)

Piak Poon, Thai sweet blackened jelly
(Picture credit to : http://www.bloggang.com/mainblog.php?id=jjbd&month=24-09-2007&group=23&gblog=28)

Century eggs
(Wanna know what it is, also ask Mr.Wikipedia-->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg)


And for modern people who have this belief, it could even be...

Essence of Chicken!!


The other could be...
- black coffee
- Cola
- boiled black sticky rice
- dark red grapes (Not black?? Well... try to see them black, then!)
- black whisky
and etc...

Some people believe that if the solar eclipse takes place on anyone's birth date, that ones would be unlucky for the rest of the year.

And my this year birthday, I'll turn 25... which is not good for Thai belief. (We have many believes, don't we.) At this age, Thais believe that it's unlucky year, also include ages 35, 45 and 55.

Or... should we be called... superstitious??

So... my age 25 doesn't seem good in people's thoughts. Though I'm not one of those people. But there's a Thai expsession, "Even though you don't believe it, but don't disrespect it." So I won't do anything against these believes just for making my family to be happy.



Back to the topic -- the solar eclipse



This solar eclipse will be on 22nd July. It'll be a total eclipse in India, China, Japan and south Pacific ocean. For Thailand, this phenomenon will be just only a partial solar eclipse -- since around 7am and will last for about 2 hours through 9.20 am. In bangkok, the sun will be mostly covered about 42.2% around 8.03am.



Hope I'd be awake in time. :-P