Update: NDP 2008 (SIN) & Jim Thompson House (BKK)

Here is some more news from South-East Asia, quickly summarised:

-Tom attended the "National Day Parade" in Singapore: after weeks of preparations and previews (see previous blogs), Saturday 9 August had finally arrived and the young state of Singapore (celebrating its 43rd birthday this year) gave quite a show. The Huntsman office in Singapore was opened for the occasion and the view from the 37th floor was quite good to catch the air display (helicopters with an enormous flag -see photo, fighter jets and fireworks). The ground show could be followed on TV. 

-Last weekend, we were both in Bangkok and decided to start doing some cultural sightseeing (so far, the sights of Bangkok were mainly places to eat and have a drink ;-). The Sunday trip took us to the Jim Thompson house (www.jimthompsonhouse.com), a Thai house in the middle of Bangkok, built in the mid-20th century by an American who revived the Thai silk trade. The house is a compilation of different old Thai houses brought from all over Thailand and integrated into one complex with a nice garden. Mr Thompson disappeared without a trace in Malaysia in 1967, apparently a year predicted to be dangerous for him by a Thai astrologer... Some pictures of this very nice and quiet place are attached.

More news later.

Thailand pictures

As promised, here are some more Thailand pictures.

Singapore pics & funnies

Some more pictures (from Singapore) as requested by some people. Last weekend, there were yet again rehearsals for the National Day Parade which will take place this weekend (9 August). This time, we could see the acrobatic fighter jets from a distance forming figures in the sky (picture 1). There were also again fireworks at the end. Singapore clearly has enough money to organise its national day! The city is now also full of flags and posters.

The picture below the "sky heart" (photo 2) is an interesting item we say in a supermarket: "Driving Handgloves". Not sure what they are for, probably to keep your arms out of the sun? Funny people, these Singaporeans. 

The 3rd picture was taken in an MRT (Singapore metro/underground). No durians (smelly spiky fruit) allowed! Singapore has a lot of fines: repeat littering 1000S$ (about 500€), not flushing the toilet (!) 500S$, etc.

There are a number of Belgian restaurants in Singapore and they are quite successful! "Oosters" (photo 4) has 2 outlets and a nice beer selection and typical brasserie food. Another great place is "Brussels Sprouts" (with modern Tintin/Kuifje decoration on the walls) where they have a very impressive (Belgian) beer list, even for Belgian standards (www.brusselssprouts.com.sg). One of the top European French-cuisine restaurants in Singapore is "Saint-Pierre", owned and run by Brussels-trained chef Emmanuel Stroobant (www.saintpierre.com.sg), who has also set up Brussels Sprouts. There are a few other places and Belgian beer is making inroads. Stella and Hoegaarden are available almost everywhere.

Finally, a picture of the income of the famous Raffles Hotel, with the somewhat colonial doorman, reminding British rule in the region.

Next time some more Thailand pictures.

Last weekend of July: Bangkok - Pattaya

Apologies for the delay in putting a new post online. Life has been busy. Nirmala is again in Singapore, she was here for work last week as a -lucky- matter of coincidence. Here are some pictures from last weekend: Friday night in Bangkok (Breeze), Saturday night in Pattaya (beach town 2h away from Bangkok). The beach resort is an affiliate of the famous "Cabbages & Condoms" restaurant in Bangkok, but that is another story.