Archive for 200743 results found.Happy Holidays… coming up… 2008!
Christmas is traditionally a time for celebrating the birth of Christ (aka Jesus) in the Christian religion, but it somehow has turned into a big consumerism festival. My … Read more → My blood is sweet-as
With a combination of Thai national holidays, we decided to head down south to a beach. Just to sum up, it was a nice change to get away from Bangkok… I think it’s the first time I had left Bangkok and traveled somewhere relatively far-ish in Thailand. The country surprises me everytime I get a chance to get out … Read more → Natural Hazard Risks in Asia-Pacific
Developed an A1-size poster for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) to highlight the office’s work, as well as to showcase the hazard and risk mapping the organization was involved in. It was made as an educational piece to support the office’s work on emergency preparedness and hazard risk in the Asia and Pacific region. Nasty… Gremlins
Is it me or do people always have something to complain about? Why is it that people tend to focus on the negative and not on the positive? It’s like people would rather wallow in why … Read more → Taking time to enjoy life in SG
Spent last week in Singapore and it was a welcome break. The four-day trip was overall relaxed and what I expected, although a few more days would’ve been nice to basically do nothing. But I guess spending time on the beach doing nothing would be better … Read more → Now the fun begins.
Given that I spent most of the past month stressing and working hard on my assignments, a nice getaway was definitely due. But where to go after spending the past 4 … Read more → Completely complete
This past Monday was the END… I can’t believe it’s taken 2 years to finish this degree, but I’m soooo glad it’s done. As the marks and grades slowly trickle in, I’m crossing my fingers in hopes of passing all my courses (not like the scare I had last year when I almost failed my urban design course). … Read more → 4th time around
Fourth time around to Ayutthaya… almost feels like a I live there. This time around it was to take a day trip from Bangkok to visit the ruins of Thailand’s former capital with my cousins who were visiting from Canada via Hong Kong. I met up with them on Sunday … Read more → Consumer power and Burma
Some people have asked me about what they can do to affect what is going on in Burma. Even though governments around the world have imposed economic sanctions on the country, it is unlikely to deter the continuing harassment, arrest and killing by the Burmese military government. Instead, what people can do is use their consumer power … Read more → Free Burma!
Free Burma! Burma struggles to be free
If you haven’t heard, Myanmar, or the country common known as Burma, is on the verge of a revolution by the people or crack down by the military government. It is a serious issue that is finally gaining attention in the media…. probably because of a reported 100,000 people in Yangon, the capital city, coming out the protest a few days ago. If you want a sense of what is going on in the … Read more → Your car needs a "time-out"
September 22 is WORLD CARFREE DAY… For one day out of the year, do you think you can keep your car in the garage or parked at home? Are you up for the challenge? This day is a reminder that we don't have to accept car-dominated societies, cities, or personal lives. Since its earliest incarnations in the 1970s and ‘80s, WORLD CARFREE DAY has grown into a massive global celebration … Read more → Finally, some decent shows on TV
TV shows in English are pretty hard to come by in Bangkok. But, I’ve been watching the show HEROES for the past couple of weeks and its amazing. Yes, I’m a little slow in the series (it’s going into its third season), but I’ve finally been able to embrace my inner-geek. People with super … Read more → YOUTUBE is back in Thailand!
In case you didn't know, YOUTUBE is back in … Read more → Two years ago…
Two years ago, Misha came into our family, I was back in Canada after 5 months in the Balkans, unemployed and starting my Masters program through a university in Australia. Two years later, Misha is big, I am back in Thailand after 9 months in Canada, working two jobs, and finishing my Masters… where will I be in two more years? 'Conga-fying'(TED is a really interesting website with lots of creative and innovative people giving talks about different issues. Here’s a short clip of Stewart Brand speaking about “Why squatter cities are a good thing”) Suggestion: If you're going to go fast, why not have a bit of Gloria Estefan playing? Yesterday I took a van from work to head back home. It most cases, I'd be freaked about the driver going a million miles a second. But with my trusty MP3 … Read more → Is there any better place than 'home'?
Spent most of the day at home trying to get caught up with work and school. It's been pretty quiet and not much to update on, unless you really want to hear about what I'm studying. But of course you do, since I know get TONS of people reading my blog. So just in case you're that much in need of knowing what … Read more → Personal Logo
As a personal project, I wanted to see the kind of concepts for a personal logo. The main issue was to utilize the initials of my name or variations of letters in my name. I used the logos for my resume for a few months, but decided that the logo was better as a concept than for implementation (for now). Streetside fried chicken rules!
Not sure if I can trust Apple/Mac as much as I use to because two things happened this month – 1) my Mac Mini died on me when I came back from … Read more → The beginning of the end (or of the beginning)
School finally started this past week and it'll be a crazy ride for the next few months… but so far I think I've found a rhythm which will keep me sane and help me through till November. Not much to report except that I got a little sick again from eating. … Read more → Bumming on the beach
I finally am able to sit down to share my last weekend in photos. We made a decision to get out of Bangkok for the weekend and it was definitely worth it. Leaving at 7am, we arrived in Hua Hin, a beach town/resort area for Thais and tourists, at about 11am – … Read more → I want to stay home and watch a DVD
My Thai friend graduated with a Masters in Nursing today and so I went to take photos. I don't remember what it's like back in Canada, but it was crazy how many photos all the graduating students wanted. There were people infront of signs, trees, other people, banners… all with smiling faces (I must be in the land of smiles). I didn't … Read more → Giving and Going
2 weeks went by so fast, I almost missed it. Everything went according to plan: spent one week working on my paper (I hope I pass), then spent about 4 days in a row with family, and spent this past week running around trying to meet people and get a … Read more → On the road again…
It's nice to be back in Vancouver again. Weather is cooler and there seems to be less people around, but its quiet, the air is clean, and things are less chaotic than Bangkok. But it's funny how the cities are so different… sometimes I … Read more → If I had hair, it would be frizzy
The countdown is on… one paper to finish for a course, then its back to Vancouver for a couple of weeks, where I'll also be finishing another paper and visiting friends … Read more → The Return of "Hong Kong Foot"
Nothing much to say except that I'm still recovering from France and juggling my schedule… I need to get a whole bunch of stuff done (i.e. moving, term papers, work projects) before I head back to Canada in June. Oh, that reminds me I have to … Read more → It's true, France is full of wine and cheese
Just got back from Paris this morning and, boy, am I tired! Haven't experienced jetlag for over a year and its a little difficult to get use to. It was a wonderful place and we were lucky to have nice weather most of the time. It's funny to think that I got more tanned in … Read more → Eye infections are itchy.
C’est Fromage
(Unwinding after 4 hours of intense salsa in a small studio at our new dance studio SalsaHacha with 5 other people) The countdown is on… just over a week and I’ll be in France! Its not what you might think… no, I’m not moving there for all you people who think I can’t settle down anywhere. It’s going to be well-deserved 10-day holiday which will include about a week in Sanary and … Read more → H20 + Powder = One big mess!
Mid-April in Thailand (and other parts of SouthEast Asia) is Songkran time, or what would be loosely translated into Thai New Year. So on top of your typical New Years celebration, its also a time for pouring ice-cold water on anyone you happen to walk cross. Yep, Songkran is one … Read more → Somebody gonna get a hurtin'…Thailand Blocks YouTubeA couple of years old, but still hillarious… This video made waves over the internet when it came out and made Russell Peters (comedian from good ol’ Canada) an instant success. At45 minutes, you might need to set aside some time to watch the whole thing. Do it if you have the time, because Peters’ humor touches on all cultural stereotypes and characteristics you can find in Canada. Some might call it racist, but he’s pointing out how diverse the … Read more → Bananas or Eggs… you decide.
I have to apologize to all the readers of my blog (…all two of you?) about not posting anything recently, but I've been really busy with work, school and life. And on top of that my portable harddrive decided it didn't like me and died on me a couple of days ago… so I've been panicking a little trying to recover all my files … Read more → You speak Thai good… jing jing
Life sure can get complicated and interesting at the same time. After having a non-stop event-filled life since early January, the next 4 months are already planned out. If I can organize myself and find some sort of routine to do everything I want to do, I might be able to head to France with Muriel … Read more → I'm yellow but that's ok.
Sitting on top of Bangkok is an amazing experience. If you’ve never been to a roof top bar, I highly recommend, if only just once. Could it be that Bangkok is a beautiful city? Going up 50+ floors to the top of the State Tower will definitely make you a believer. Ken, Takako (Muriel’s friend from Japan), Muriel … Read more → The best things in life…
Can you believe it, one more month and I'll have been in Bangkok (again!) for a year… whoa, time sure flies. I still have one more year left on my contract, and then it's that … Read more → Two worlds collide
Just in time for my cousins arrival, I was finally able to speak. It started about a week ago when i was sitting in a cozy (and very cold) meeting room at the UN for a training. Unbeknowst to me, I somehow … Read more → Sex in the United Nations (…it happens…)
Emergency Sex (and other desperate measures) gives a pretty good insight into the lives of three humanitarians / peacekeepers and the work they do towards the very holistic ideas of the United Nations. Its a book that highlights the struggles/conflicts we have in the 20th century with the real-life stories of these twenty-something peacekeepers. Full of witty comments and perspectives on the work of the United Nations, it was a book I desperately wanted to … Read more → Ooooh, yes'a masta….Asking for money is always hard to do, whether you're out on the street looking for change for a phone call or sitting in an office looking to find funds for a worthwhile cause. It seems to me people are or have been always skeptical about why they should give someone money… possible thoughts that go into their head could "what's in it for me?", "are they going to use the money to buy drugs, alcohol, etc.?) While I'm not … Read more → Organizing can be FUN or a pain in the A$$
After a suprisingly eventful January, I came back from Australia to a slight buzz in the air preparing for a conference for the Canadian organization that sent me to Thailand. Whether I’m a control freak or not, I took on the responsiblity of planning and organizing this conference, and a great experience to … Read more → Photographic review of the past month
The past month has been crazy mix of outdoor adventures, travel, food, culture, and let's not forget a healthy dose of vomiting. (For those of you … Read more → Oz-tralia
Just spent the last two weeks enjoying the sun, sand and beaches downunder… The last time I was in Oz was about 7 years ago. It was under very different circumstances this time around and I really enjoyed my time there. I visited friends … Read more → Adventures leads to happiness and vomiting
The holidays season was eventful for me. Sitting here in my cousin’s room trying to update my blog is a little bit strange. First I’m on her computer, second I just arrived in Sydney … Read more → Urban Design Plan
As part of a course on urban design for my Masters programme at RMIT University in Australia, I created the strategy and concept to redesign my neighborhood when I was living in Bangkok, Thailand. The idea was to create a greener and more pedestrian friendly environment. You can download the whole urban design plan here (3.5MB). |
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(Sunset from my balcony – Bangkok weather has been warm and humid lately… maybe the rainy season is finally over?)
(Did you know that the police control the traffic flow by standing in the middle of traffic? Not only that, but that almost every intersection in Bangkok has a police box where a police officer switches the traffic lights when he gets info from his radio. I have a feeling that the officer's switch the lights when they 'feel' like it.) 
(Oooooo… artsy picture of my cloth hanger and cloth pins) 
(Supposedly, the largest boutique store in Asia… this is Central World Plaza, or formerly the "World Trade Center", a sprawling complex that has everything you'd want so you won't get homesick… this is where I found White Spot's Triple O's)
(Who says I can't look like a Simpson's character…If you haven't tried, you can Simpsonize yourself before the Simpson Movie comes out!) 
(Reading in the pool is not a good idea, but luckily I was only posing with my book)
(Who knew a class photo would be this interesting/weird from the back) 
(Heading into downtown Vancouver. The North Shore mountains are in the background with Lions Peak covered in snow)
(2 years old and Mischa is as crazy as ever… other than sleeping and eating, she always wants to play and run around) 
(A typical Paris scene, no? This couple was basically following us around Paris makin-out… we literally bumped into them when they decided to stop in the middle of the sidewalk to start kissing and giving googly eyes at each other…) 
(Muriel and Anne enjoying the seaside just around the corner from "downtown" Sanary) 
(Sanary Sur Mer – about a 4 hour highspeed train south of Paris along the Mediteranean Sea)
A massive windstorm hit Bangkok last week… I was standing by the bus stop waiting to go home when I saw this huge dark cloud moving across the sky. On one side was clear blue skies and the other was this menacing black cloud. I was in a trance watching this thing move across the sky. At the same time, there were planes flying into the cloud, probably making their way … 
(Posing infront of a huge poster in Siam Paragon… I think all the security guards and cleaning staff around us thought we were crazy)
(Taking a snooze at some World Dance exhibition… nice shirt, eh?) 
(The bridge and platform design for the bar on the 54th floor of the State Tower)
(Hey, that's me in number 13, my old junior high school basketball number… this was us trying to plan out our strategy against Mission Hospital during a friendly basketball match between the UN's basketball club and the Hospital)
(Taking a break from cycling around Kanachaburi, about a 3 hour North-west bus ride from Bangkok. This was right before we checked out a war memorial detailing the construction of the bridge and death of POWs made famous by the movie, the Bridge of River Kwai) 
