Forbidden Cities | Travel, Photography and Product Reviews

The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm in Pattaya, Thailand

2011-07-17T21:19:00.002+07:00

The Million Years Stone Park: there are so many types of stones in different shapes and forms, overall some pretty amazing views can be found here.

This is in the crocodile show hall. They do different shows with crocodiles every day here.

The bear can do different tricks.

Sitting all high and mighty in chains.

The naughty jumping tiger.

A normal sized crocodile

Crocodiles getting food (chicken) from visitors.

Fast and furious moves are what they got.

This tiger is watching those tourists feeding the crocodiles.

Crocodiles are categorized in different areas like this, even the ill ones.

There are many camels here too.

Million years stone park

Tuk Tuk Limousine at MBK Center, Bangkok

2011-07-17T17:30:00.000+07:00

Tuk Tuk is the way Thais and visitors in Thailand call the auto-rickshaw which is easy to find anywhere in Thailand for hire. The locals also call it 'Sam Lor' (meaning three-wheeler). The fare is negotiable and usually more expensive than the standard taxis.

For hobbyists and artists, Tuk tuk is also an object to implement their artistic ideas. I have seen a Tuk tuk with many thousands of jewels and crystals. This is a limo/stretched version. I'm not sure if it is usable in reality though.

Mini Siam in Pattaya - The Miniature World

2011-07-17T11:21:00.010+07:00

Pattaya has quite a number of attractions for visitors to discover: The Million Years Stone Park, Pattaya Crocodile Farm, Mini Siam & Mini Europe, Cabarets, Ripley's Believe it or not Museum, Siracha Tiger Zoo, Underwater World, etc.

The project of Mini Siam started in 1985, and was constructed in 1986 with more than 29 Rais separated into Mini Siam zone and Mini Europe zone. For the rest of the area, there are the Booking Halls, the Souvenir Shops for lease, Go Cart field, and the Parking Lot. The Democracy Monument in Bangkok was the first model to build. Here are some photos at Mini Siam I took:

The Mini Siam zone has a lot of Thailand's popular monuments and attractions: WAT PHRA KAEO in Bangkok, PHANOM RUNG HISTORICAL PARK in BURIRUM, WAT ARUN (TEMPLE OF THE DAWN) in BANGKO, WAT PHRA SRISUNPETCH : AYUTTHAYA, and many more.

The Mini Europe Zone is also not bad with: THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE, Eiffel Tower, CATHEDRAL GROUP OF PISA, ABUSIMBEL, ANGKOR WAT, COLOSSEUM, Liberty Statue, etc...

Photos were taken by Canon Powershot A1200.

Marantz UD5005 & UD7005 Review - Universal Networked Blu-ray Players (3D Ready)

2011-07-10T13:20:00.004+07:00

In order to replace the 2 Blu-ray Universal media players Marantz BD 5004 and BD7004, Marantz now has 2 new Blu-ray players, modeled UD5005 and UD7005.

First, about the look, I have to admit that the design is simple and rock-solid, but it is also very stylish, sleek and uncluttered, so the 2 players possibly would fit in any decor which is already a plus.

The 2 universal media players are Blu-ray 3D ready, and also are able to read many other formats, CD, DVD, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SA-CD), DivX files, AVCHD, and normal Blu-ray discs.

The 2 players are also prepared with DAC 24 and 32 bit - converting digital sound to analog, with HDMI 1.4a output and many other electronic supports to recreate a multi-channel analog system. Besides that, Netflix and YouTube are additional features for more entertainment values to the players with network streaming. With the network support of DLNA 1.5 standard, the UD5005 and UD7005 are not going to fall behind anytime soon.

This means Marantz is enhancing its products with not only superior quality, universal compatibility, but also more entertainment values and networking streaming ability to ensure its future-readiness. These products will be a big bang for the buck and the game-changers in the market.

Check them out on Amazon.com here.

KEF Q700 Speaker Review - Awesome Mid-end Floor-Standing Speaker

2011-07-03T21:21:00.019+07:00

One of the top speaker producers from the U.K has introduced KEF Q700 in their new Q series with Q500 and Q900. Q700 is at mid-end level. I've tested for long enough and there is no doubt that this handsome floor standing speaker can serve you and your family well, for both your home cinema and music appreciation purposes.

The speaker has a bunch of new technologies from KEF as well as a contemporary look with different choices of the finish. At the height of 92 cm and only 17.2 kilograms, the KEF Q700 may not be comparable to the high-end series in size, but the building and the result of this handsome speaker still impressed me so much when I tested with my audiophile CDs and digital music for hours (Jazz and classical), using a Harman/kardon receiver.

The KEF Q700 loud speaker system is equipped with multiple speaker drivers with different missions, but well combined to give me a true and lively sound.

Uni-Q Speaker Driver

The Uni-Q is highlighted as a special driver from KEF with a 6.5 inch aluminium cone and a small 1 inch dome High Frequency tweeter in the middle. This is a special and a ground-breaking combination in 1 speaker driver.

The 6.5 inch woofer/bass driver is also cooler with a 50mm spider. This avoids situations when the heat affects the frequencies that the driver is supposed to respond.

Everything else is heat-proof. Also, instead of having a release hole on the cabinet, the Q700 uses a 'fake bass driver', not connecting and not receiving any signal, but it rather works by being supported from the real woofer. According to KEF, it creates a deeper bass, powerful but also in control. I'm not really sure about this to comment but the result is overall very good - I mean the bass sounds solid but truly musical to me.

The cabinet is solid and very well built; the matrix is well designed so the KEF Q700 system can minimize all side-effects and it also increases 30% of the cabinet space for better bass performance (in comparison with the iQ series in the past).

Another good news is there are different finishes for the Q700: black oak, cherry, walnut, etc... so it won't be too tough to match them with your living room's interior. You can buy the KEF Q700 here on Amazon.com for the best price. Also, you should check out the Q500 and Q900 as well, since their prices don't differ too much.

Technical Specifications of the KEF Q700 Floor-standing Speaker:

• Two and a half-way bass reflex
• 6.5" aluminum Uni-Q driver
• 6.5" aluminum LF driver
• 1" vented aluminum dome HF
• Two 6.5" aluminum ABR
• Frequency response: 36Hz - 40kHz
• Amp requirements: 15-150W
• Measurements: 36.2" x 8.3" x 11.9"
• Finishes Available: Black Oak, European Walnut & English Cherry

Some videos:

Image from magma.fr

Sushi night at Taketei Japanese Restaurant

2011-07-03T19:35:00.009+07:00

Pretty good sashimi here. I had 3 plates like this.

Beefsteak in Japanese style is tasty too!

Well it's a buffet deal so eat all you can. The good thing about this Taketei Restaurant in Silom is that each portion is smaller than those in a la carte so you can taste many different things without getting your stomach exploded. Only 449 Thai Baht Net per person, everyday of the week. So how could you say no to that?

By the way, they have pretty good Japanese plum wine (made in Thailand though) for a reasonable price as well. There's another post from my phone last month with its picture, you can click here to view it.

HUA LAMPONG RAILWAY STATION BANGKOK

2011-06-25T23:22:00.002+07:00

The platform is always packed at Hua Lampong train station.

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Transformer at Queen Sirikit Convention Center

2011-06-12T23:01:00.003+07:00

The cell phone top-up and bill paying machine that has a transformer's design. Photo taken at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

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Japanese Plum wine

2011-06-02T23:36:00.003+07:00

Japanese plum wine at Taketei Japanese restaurant at Silom street Bangkok.

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Canon Powershot A1200 User Review

2011-05-15T16:58:00.010+07:00

My Canon A1200 unboxed

The purpose of getting this Canon Powershot A1200 is because I just cannot carry my DSLRs around all the time. Smart-phones' cameras are usable but still got a very long way to catch up with a true camera. Hence I decided to buy a new compact camera for convenience and here is my review on the Canon A1200.

I actually neither gave much thoughts nor read a lot of reviews on compact cameras because I use DSLRs most of the time. But this baby here is a big bang for the buck which makes me super, super happy.

After looking at several brands and tested some shots, I decided to go with Canon as overall I like its colors, depth of field and interface. There are quite a few options here. I wouldn't go for the expensive ones because the overall quality of them is about the same. The differences lie in the functions, design, features, 14MP or 16MP which are not my focus here. All I care is a decent machine with an okay lens (max aperture around F2.8 - F3.0) and a not-so-stupid interface in my standard.

So what's so cool about this Canon A1200 that I have to blog on it? Here are the reasons:

- Well-built, not too small so I don't have to worry about dropping it. The black camera is not shiny black so there is no issue with nasty finger print.

- It has an optical view.

- The camera has a turning wheel to change the shooting modes. I really hate touch screen or a menu where you have to dig into menu layers to change the shooting mode.

- 12 Megapixels is more than enough to me, I wouldn't need a 14 or 16 MP compact camera. I prefer quality.

- Maximum aperture: F2.8 - F5.9 (pretty good quality with low-light, see below samples).

- Nice image quality, beautiful colors and the DOF doesn't suck as my previous compact cameras.

- 1280x720p video recording, 24fps.

- Fast response.

- The camera uses 2 AA batteries and SD card. These 2 things I can get anywhere on earth.

Just the above alone already convinced me. The price is also among the lowest prices of Canon compact cameras so it's a no-brainer. When I got home, I start playing with it. A bunch of surprises I find:

- Low light mode automatically reduces the amount of pixels to focus on quality.

- I can change ISO, White Balance, color settings in the Program mode.

- The camera allows me to set aspect ratio as well. And of course I use 16:9.

- There are so many preset modes that work perfectly: fish-eye effect, toy camera, monochrome, miniature (blurs top and bottom), poster effect, kids&pets, etc...

Here are some sample images of the Canon Powershot A1200 I took:

Normal Indoor

Food - vivid colors

Fish-eye

My friend Kirk is all brain

Toy Camera

Low light

Super Low light

You can buy the Canon Powershot A1200 here on Amazon.com for just about 100 USD. It comes with 2 color options: silver and black. I am using a black one with a 4GB SD card. Overall this is a purchase that it's not just me being happy to have purchased, but it's a camera that can make many users smile.

Dinner Buffet at Centara CentralWorld

2011-05-15T13:12:00.005+07:00

A good variety of cheese

Pasta and pizza made to order

Indian stuff

I like bread

Good ham and Argentinian steak

At the World Restaurant - 24th floor at Centara Grand CentralWorld. The food is fine with Sushi, Thai, Indian, Italian, etc... The pricing is ok, close to 1,500 Baht per person with free flow of wine.

Chok chai steakhouse at sukhumvit 23

2011-05-09T14:26:00.005+07:00

Chok chai steakhouse at Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok with great dry age steak at a reasonable price. Visit their website here for more information: http://www.farmchokchai.com/en/index.html

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A rainy day in bangkok

2011-05-01T19:11:00.003+07:00

At Siam square in Bangkok

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Biore Pore Pack - Nose/Facial Cleansing Strips, Amazingly helpful

2011-05-01T09:18:00.003+07:00

Yesterday my girlfriend just bought this pack. It's called: "Biore Pore Pack". It's a KAO product from Japan. The pack contains 10 black cleansing strips. I never used it before and never trusted the cosmetic/facial stuff as I'm a guy but at the end I was pretty amazed with the result.

So I let my girlfriend lead the play. First I have to put water on my face to make sure it's wet, especially the nose area. She puts on the strip across my nose. I leave it there for about 15 minutes when the strip gets dry and solid. It becomes pretty hard but as I touch it, the surface is like fabric. During the 15 minutes, it feels like it is picking up and clogging the dirt, sucking up the oil and blackheads.

I have always had an oily face, especially in summer. I never really used any product to take care of it until my girlfriend likes to play with it.

Now I take out the strip (from outside in) and all the oil is gone, blackheads and dirt inside the skin are visible on this black strip. I have never felt my nose like that before. Trust me and try it. It's fun and it works.

Here is the strip after I pull it out. The blackheads and dirty stuff are almost gone.

You can buy it here on Amazon.com. Quite cheap :).

AKA Barbeque in Bangkok

2011-04-30T22:29:00.004+07:00

Pretty good Japanese stuff, nice beef, fish and bacon.

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Flowers in Long Beach, California

2011-04-30T00:30:00.007+07:00

Just a couple of flower photos I took in Long Beach 2010

Reds

Pinks

Purple

Long Beach Jan 2010 - After spending 1 year in this beautiful city. The city is a dominant maritime center of the U.S and was recently named "Aquatic Capital of the Nation." For more images, please go to my flickr account.

+ Music: World Order - Machine Civilization

2011-04-23T18:06:00.006+07:00

WORLD ORDER(CD+DVD)

WORLD ORDER - MACHINE CIVILIZATION

作詞:須藤元気

作曲：須藤元気/ Takashi Watanabe

The Group name is WORLD ORDER」,Music by Genki Sudo /Takashi Watanabe, Words by Genki Sudo.

Just to share with you...this video is simply awesome. Just watch and you'll be amazed. Awesome dancing, perfect timing, good music and costumes, and overall beautifully creative filming. And here's another one right on the streets of New York:

Buy the album or download mp3 here on Amazon.com

The Giant Lizards at Suan Lumpini

2011-04-20T18:26:00.001+07:00

Image of the large one (March 2011 at Lumpini Park)

Mid-size lizard at Lumpini Park in Bangkok

More images will be updated here.

+ Music: The Weeknd - What you need

2011-04-10T10:39:00.002+07:00

The Weeknd - What you need
There isn't so much info about The Weeknd. But there's this good track. Enjoy and I guess you'll like it too.

Hotel Room at Trident Bandra Kurla

2011-04-08T14:51:00.008+07:00

The room at Trident Bandra Kurla hotel in Bombay (Mumbai), INDIA that I stayed. Pretty fine, plus the buffet breakfast is not bad at all.

By the way, I prefer calling the city Bombay to Mumbai. You know why... the city's name was changed in 1995 and the British left India in 1947. Come on, just give me a break ...

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Hat collection on the go

2011-04-06T22:05:00.004+07:00

My 1 Indian meal in Mumbai

2011-04-06T21:59:00.004+07:00

1 Indian meal in Mumbai at Trident Hotel Mumbai Bandra Kurla on my business trip: Chicken curry, lamb, yogurt & nan. Pretty thick stuff!

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Donation machine in Bangkok

2011-03-27T22:02:00.005+07:00

At Ekamai BTS Station in Bangkok.

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Isn't Thailand sweet enough?

2011-03-22T19:34:00.009+07:00

At Tops supermarket in Bangkok - purchases of sugar (1kg) are now limited to 1 package/family until further notice.
Is Thailand running out of sugar?
Will there be actually a further notice?

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Doggy Model in Suan Lumpini

2011-03-12T09:51:00.002+07:00

A dog in Lumpini Park in Bangkok posing in front of my cam (strange that there are "no-dogs-allowed" signs every where here)

Triplets Bistro in Thonglor - French Cooking in Bangkok

2010-09-26T22:26:00.007+07:00

Triplets Bistro is a cozy place for a decent meal with global cuisines cooked in French techniques, some wine, and nice deserts. This is where you can spend time talking with friends or family and enjoy dinner. Triplets French Bistro is a simple restaurant with a simple concept, cooking local ingredients in French ways in front of your own eyes although the decoration is somehow city-loft like, but cozy.

People here are very friendly and the cute little funny looking poodle called Barbie at the entrance always welcomes you.

I personally like how the food menu changes according to seasons. The variety of the food is reasonable and to me it's just such a good place to chill out with friends sometimes after work. The drink list contains a variety of wine and Thai beverages.

For more information, visit: Triplets Bistro on Facebook

Facebook Photo Contest by Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

2010-08-14T12:35:00.001+07:00

Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square is opening a Photo contest on Facebook:

Join photo contest to win 2 dinners, send your photo while you are eating under theme "The most delicious bite or The most delicious dish" which photo gets the most comments, gets prized. From today till August 25, 2010. Tag us your photo now!!

ประกวดภาพถ่าย รับรางวัลอาหารค่ำ 2 ที่ ภายใต้หัวข้อ "ท่ากินที่อร่อยที่สุด หรือ อาหารที่อร่อยที่สุด" รูปใครโดนเม้นท์มากที่สุดก็ชนะไปเลย เริ่มตั้งแต่วันนี้ ถึง 25 สิงหาคมนี้เท่านั้น แท็กรูปมาหาเราได้เลยนะคะ

Please click here to post your photo and win:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143426549010764

Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

WOW Hot Liquid - California WOW Xperience

2010-08-07T09:58:00.001+07:00

Liquid Dance in Bangkok
http://twitter.com/cawowxperience
http://facebook.com/californiawow.xperience

XXX Pole Dance - California WOW Xperience

2010-08-05T13:56:00.000+07:00

XXX Pole Dance Class - California WOW Xperience
http://www.twitter.com/cawowxperience
http://facebook.com/californiawow.xperience

Peaceful moments in Pattaya

2010-06-25T12:44:00.003+07:00

Pattaya - May 2010

Miss Maxim 2010 @ Concept CM2 - Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

2010-06-21T21:31:00.003+07:00

This was a super sexy night with 20 Maxim Thailand girls joining a contest of Miss Maxim Thailand 2010. The event took place at Concept CM2 - Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square.

+ Music: Gil Scott-Heron - New York is killing me

2010-03-12T12:01:00.002+07:00

It's a new good track

+ Music: The Morning Benders - Excuses

2010-03-12T11:52:00.001+07:00

What a name for a band!

- Thailand: Elephant paints a beautiful picture

2009-12-07T12:25:00.005+07:00

This elephant is in Thailand, watch how she paints a very beautiful and colorful picture of an elephant holding a flower. This show is taken place in Thailand for tourists, normally with other elephant shows, like elephants playing soccer.

Elephants are smart and have good memories like human. In the video, we also see how the mahout talks to the elephant throughout the painting process as his gentle touch gives her confidence. She focuses on her work and seems to enjoy the approval of the audience and, of course, the sugar cane and banana treats. All of her training has been reward based.

+ Technology: Crazy Gadget for Noodle Lovers

2009-11-24T07:01:00.007+07:00

A battery powered fan attached to a chopstick.

+ Lifestyle: The amazing and yet dangerous power of cosmetics

2009-11-14T06:12:00.007+07:00

Now we can see how amazing and dangerous cosmetics can be!!!

+ Visual Art: Can you draw with both hands at the same time?

2009-11-13T05:20:00.003+07:00

This is some unique drawing skills: drawing two different portraits with both hands simultaneously. Those are the portrait of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, two main actors of the great movie: 'The Shawshank Redemption' in 1994.

+ Technology: Bladeless Fan - The Dyson Air Multiplier

2009-11-09T03:48:00.007+07:00

Dyson Air Multiplier - Bladeless Fan

A table fan that quietly and effectively cools an entire room without any blades? Introducing the Dyson Air Multiplier, which works differently from conventional fans. The Air Multiplier uses an airfoil-shaped ramp to amplify the airflow 15 to 18 times to create a cool blast of smooth air without the unpleasant buffeting caused by spinning blades. The energy-efficient motor draws in more than 5 gallons of air per second using the same technologies used in jet engines. The air passes over the airfoil-shaped ramp, which channels its direction. Air behind and around the machine is also drawn into the airflow, amplifying it at least 15 times for a quiet, cool breeze that will let you relax. With no blades or grille to get in the way, the Air Multiplier is safe around kids and pets, and it’s easy to clean too. The touch-tilt feature pivots on its own center of gravity, letting it stay put without clamping. You can also adjust the airflow to get as much as you want. There’s no “high,” “medium,” or “low”; the dimmer switch lets you set the exact power level you want. The Air Multiplier oscillates with a touch up to 90 degrees to cover a whole room. Includes base, loop amplifier, and operating manual. 2-year warranty.

The bladeless fan is an invention by James Dyson. The product comes in different shapes and sizes for different usage need.

Here are some of the videos as well to explain the product:

Here's an explanation of how the Dyson Air Multiplier works:

Dyson Air Multiplier Table Fan, 10 Inches, Blue at $299

- Long Beach: Halloween Party 2009

2009-11-04T09:59:00.003+07:00

Some photos of my Halloween Party 2009 in downtown Long Beach, CA. We ended up at a house party with about a hundred people. It was a lot of fun.

+ Video: Incredible Machine

2009-10-20T10:30:00.003+07:00

Look at these Japanese games. Some of them are really amazing. When I was a kid I used to invent a lot of things like this.

+ Music: The Soul of John Black

2009-10-11T11:36:00.005+07:00

The Soul of John Black is a new band but it recalls the modern R&B (not the contemporary R&B). What I like about them is that the natural talent John Bigham is the back bone of the band. John Bigham started out as a percussionist in Miles Davis' band, and then spent many years with the guitar and keyboard and worked with Dr. Dre, Eminem, etc...

The music of The Soul of John Black is modern R&B, sometimes mixed with funk and other things. But overall very potential. Enjoys some songs below in their debut album Black John.

+ Videos: French humor

2009-10-08T14:55:00.003+07:00

I don't know how to explain but to me this is just so French. Can somebody help me explain why it's so French? Not because the people in the clip are French.

+ Videos: Funny dog

2009-10-08T12:02:00.004+07:00

This is the doggy version of Dr. Strangelove:

And of course, Dr Strangelove himself (nobody should ever miss this movie):

- Long Beach: Some random pictures of my area

2009-10-04T07:40:00.011+07:00

Here are some random photos of where I am right now and its surroundings. There are my friends in the photos as well.

It's a pretty quiet and peaceful city, which I'm not very used to since I've been living in big noisy busy dirty cities for ages.

+ Movies: Inglourious Basterds - A quick review

2009-09-02T09:12:00.006+07:00

So going to watch Inglourious Basterds 2009 wasn't a bad decision for me although honestly I'm not that interested in the WWII stories. By far I think this is one of the best movies of Quentin Tarantino, next to Pulp Fiction, of course.

- I am actually fed up with the topic of WWII. And this movie is about WWII, killing and revenge. So the plot does not amaze me at all. However, aside from the WWII story that does not interest me, everything else in this movie is worth to watch. The interesting part is that although the movie is a small story, it is presented in the very Quentin Tarantino way. It is divided in different chapters, with gangster-like soldiers, ruthless killings and also funny parts.

- One of the best and most intriguing things about this movie is the filming technique. Besides creating full effects of graphics, lighting, colors and compositions, the filming drives people crazy with all kinds of camera angles and really good music. And that's why it succeeds.

- All actors are just great and each of them contributes so much in the success of Inglourious Basterds. The dialogues are so interesting (still very Tarantino) that you don't want to miss a word while you're watching. The conflicts and tensions created by different languages, cultures, sick minds, and strategies are quite amazingly viewed and described.

Overall being a writer, Quentin Tarantino developed even better with Inglourious Basterds. However this movie can only be number 1 if there are not many people who are fed up with the topic of WWII.

+ Photos: My Latest Abstract Painting

2009-07-11T14:45:00.004+07:00

I painted this abstract months ago but I forgot to post it up here. Please enjoy!

The Devil - Truong Tung Nguyen

- Hanoi: Le and Igor's wedding

2009-06-16T22:57:00.012+07:00

I was the MC at my friends' wedding and I felt it was a great night because of very good organization: great decoration, nice ceremony, good wedding reception, jazz band and nice guests.

Because the two friends of mine are a very cool couple so I'm glad this was their night. The wedding took place at the Intercontinental Hotel Hanoi.

The Ceremonial Room

Beautiful Roses

Table Setting 1

Table Setting 2

Wedding Reception Room

The Bridesmaid and the Best man

The Spanish Groom and The Vietnamese Bride

Throwing the Rice

Cutting the Cake

I'm on the right hand side

The bride's sister and me were on stage

Bangkok Boutique Condominium For Rent

2009-05-26T13:52:00.005+07:00

Bangkok Boutique Condominium For Rent, Close to Ekamai BTS only 200 m.
The Address Sukhumvit 42

* So Ready to Move In!!! *

Room Details

This Fully furnished room is situated in building A, 5th floor in size of 45.30 sqm. This room has 1 bedroom 1 bathroom (with bathtub), living room carpet, kitchen with full set of kitchen (fork, plate, glass, bowl, cooking pan and pot, glasses), bed size suite with King size 6 feet, sleeping pillow, bolster, bed quilt – all dust mite proof.

Direct telephone line, Hi-speed Internet, Air Condition in Bedroom and Living room. All necessary home appliances also included such as, LCD TV 32 inch, Compact DVD, UBC Cable TV, Refrigerator, Microwave and Electronic Washer and Dryer All-in-one.

*** Perfect Decorations, Everything is New***

Amenities and Facilities

This condominium project has 2 buildings, each building has 8 floors with independent facilities such as swimming pool, garden terrace, fitness room, sauna, security guard 24 hours, Key card, secure parking lot and laundry service.

Good Location – 5-10 minutes walk to BTS Ekamai

This condo is located in Soi Barbose 1, Sukhumvit 42 with just only 200 meters away from BTS Ekamai or 5-10 minutes walking distance.

There are also other places nearby such as a restaurant, Major Cineplex Sukhumvit. Also newly opened Nusasiri Medical Center Complex and shopping Mall is also at the corner of Sukhumvit 42. This Medical center has their private connecting way on 2^nd floor to BTS station which is very convenient.

Close to Express Way

If you need to use the express way, you can use Art Narong Expressway, near Bangkok University which is the nearest one. There is a shortcut soi which opposite Soi Barbose 1 that will take you to Sukhumvit 40 and out to Rama 4 right away without making a detour to Sukhumvit main road. This will takes approximately 5-10 minutes driving time only.

***** Rental price only - 35,000 Baht/month (inclusive.)

Please contact: Oum – 081-556-1644 or chirdchuen@gmail.com

Source: http://bangkokcondosukhumvit.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/3/

- Hanoi: In the bar

2009-05-21T22:39:00.011+07:00

I haven't been in any bar of club for quite a while because there's no night life in Hanoi at all. It's a big disgrace for me who has been living in Bangkok for years and now has to go out at night in Hanoi.

But, well, my friends Bow and Jean Sebastien flew from Bangkok to Hanoi to visit me and travel, so we still had to go out. Called up another friend of mine and we decided to go to this one brand-new bar in the Old Quarter area - No11B Bao Khanh Street. The bar is owned by a French guy so it's a little 'posh' with white wall, mirrors with golden frames (posh is the word another friend of mine Ben said). However it's petite so I guess that's why they used the bright colors to decorate the place.

We met some other Vietnamese teenage girls who are friends of my local friend. So it was really a fun night. Aside from Mojito, Bloody Mary, beer, Malibu, etc, each of us had at least 7 shots of tequila. However, the main purpose of this post is just me posting some fun photos I captured with a Canon on the bar and the girls.

Nobody's here

The alien Jean Sebastien

Isn't he happy?

Linh - the cutie

The three teenagers

Oh yeah

I just like the lighting here

Umm who doesn't like that?

She's called Trang

Some sexy one at the DJ

No comment here

Photos by Nguyen Truong Tung - Vietnam Hotel Travel

-Vietnam: It's turning summer in Hanoi

2009-05-14T19:58:00.006+07:00

Okay... You can all see I have skipped blogging for a while since I've been having a super busy time. On top of that, I couldn't even believe I would stay in Hanoi this long (almost 10 months now). However things are good and getting better everyday. I am still working very hard to launch the new version of the Vivisit - Vietnam Travel Portal as soon as possible.

It's really not fun being in Hanoi since I am more used to living in Bangkok, the city that is awake 24/7. But at least here summer is coming. I love summer. I love the simple clothes. I love the beach. And I feel comfortable to go out and travel in summer.

So in Hanoi, if you talk about summer you gotta talk about Bia Hoi. The cheap beer restaurants that kind of cool down the heat of summer in Hanoi. All the local people just fill up most of the Bia Hoi restaurants in Hanoi after work during this season. I myself had Bia Hoi almost everyday last week.

If the rains don't come so soon, I might also go to the surroundings of Hanoi for some photo trips, such as the pottery village Bat Trang, or the silk village Van Phuc, etc...

The last two plans right now are going to eat snake in Le Mat village and acting as an MC for my friends' wedding.

Video by: Asher

+ Photos: Colors of the night

2009-04-23T22:32:00.006+07:00

I'm not very fond of botanical photography but still, it's fun to take pictures of everything you see. I used Picasa to adjust this image a little bit. Hope you guys enjoy the vivid colors.

By: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom) on Vietnam Travel Portal

+ Photos: The Colorful Outfit

2009-03-12T15:55:00.005+07:00

My family and I were on the way to Central Vietnam, we stopped the car by the temple and met this kid playing with some dirt in front of his parents' shop. With his impressive outfit and look, I couldn't help myself shooting a portrait for him.

+ Video: My friend is in a Thai pop music video

2009-03-02T10:23:00.009+07:00

I was pretty surprised a few days ago when my friend Cherry sent me this video. I really didn't recognize her in the beginning because she never put on any makeup before. So I guess it's time I promoted my friend for a bit. :)

Nothing special on the song (Thai pop as usual) but here is the video clip anyway:

- Vietnam: A Culture of Markets

2009-02-24T13:25:00.005+07:00

It’s almost impossible to know exactly how many markets there are in Vietnam and how many types of market there actually are.

In cities, markets are usually crowded from early morning until late night. In rural areas, markets may only be open only in the morning or only in late afternoon. In mountainous areas, markets may only be open once in a while which people wait for the opening like some kind of ceremony.

All markets in Vietnam are very crowded, noisy and somehow chaotic (especially to first-timers). But people who come here still enjoy the fun and the cheap prices. In the West, people go to the super-market once a week to buy a lot of stuff (whole week’s supply). In Vietnam, many local people spend half day or all day in the markets, they even eat and drink and enjoy the atmosphere.

Markets in different regions in Vietnam have different styles. Food markets are everywhere in Vietnam. There are all kinds of interesting seafood markets around beach towns. Highland markets have all kinds of stuff from the mountainous communities, from handicrafts to jewelries, from textiles to food, etc... In other words, each market in Vietnam is a different part of the Vietnamese culture as well as a part of the daily life.

Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi is a bit small but it has been in Hanoi for a long time and therefore become an important part of Hanoi. Ben Thanh Market in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is larger than Dong Xuan Market and it has always been the symbol of Saigon. Han Market in Danang is quite famous as well. Tay Nguyen highland has Buon Me Market. Sapa Market is the symol of North West Vietnam. Hue has the famous Dong Ba Market while Nha Trang has Dam Market. The only way to understand about these markets is to go there.

In terms of economics, markets in Vietnam have been playing a key role in daily consumptions of the people. Beyond trading and goods, Vietnamese markets have become attractions not only for the local people but also for visitors. For Vietnamese people who live abroad, going to the market is one of the first things they want to do once they are back in Vietnam. This may sound awkward but in fact, markets in Vietnam have become an example for sensationalism of the Vietnamese people.

+ Photos: My niece looks like a little Eskimo

2009-02-12T15:55:00.004+07:00

When it was cold...
Photo by: Nguyen Truong Tung
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

+ Photos: Trang tien Street

2009-02-03T23:06:00.005+07:00

Trang Tien street is the very main street in Hanoi, opposite to the Opera Theatre and right next to the Hoan Kiem Lake. It's supposed to be very nice but since new buildings and old buildings kind of mix up together with no orientation, this street upsets me with its funny and unstylish look.
Here is a photo of some old houses I got the other day. This is also an example of Hanoi's architecture nowadays. Neither any architect nor urban planner makes sense here.

Photo by: Nguyen Truong Tung.

+ Movies: American Gangster 2007

2009-01-05T00:15:00.008+07:00

American Gangster was out in 2007 but I did not have a chance to watch until a few months ago. And today I watched it again. At the first sight, I thought it was just another version of Scarface or like some people said: American Gangster is the black Scarface. There are a lot of similarities in the plot between American Gangster and Scarface. Both movies deal with drugs, mafia, gangs, women, and corruption, etc...
However, what I like about American Gangster is not just because it is similar to Scarface (I like Scarface too). There are many details at which I think this movie was successful.
The first thing that attracts me is the Vietnam War problem. This movie is very close to reality mentioning the war. Drugs is just one problem of which the war in Vietnam is a factor. But in fact, there must have been many more problems like that happening during the war.
Secondly, the character's mentality is something that Scarface does not have as much as American Gangster does. Frank Lucas (successfully played by Denzel Washington) meets a lot of difficult mental complexities when it comes to thinking, feeling, morality, loyalty, and relationships, etc... He's not heroin addicted, he's not a backstabber, he's not a crook, he's loyal, he has rules and he takes care of people. In other words, Franks Lucas has what it takes to become more than just a ruthless gangster who just knows how to shoot guns and sell drugs. Who could think that there is such a black mafia organization? At this point, I think American Gangster is very successful.
American Gangster is definitely not a movie for ordinary thrills and actions. With the Vietnam War and the situation of New York City in late '60s and '70s, the movie becomes greater when people can see the dark reality of corruption and the mafia world. I really like how the corrupted cops were put in the movie. Besides, many parts of the movie are quite unpredictable.
Those are the major things I like about American Gangster. Well still, I don't want to repeat what people said but Denzel Washington and the quality of filming/pictures definitely played important roles to make American Gangster one of the best movies of the year.

+ Photos: Kids kids kids

2009-01-03T15:20:00.006+07:00

Well I'm no expert in terms of shooting portraits, but these children in my family (my nephews and especially my niece) are just too cute. I also realized that shooting photos of kids is a very tough job. They never want to stay still for any shot so I just had to capture them while they were playing. I'll just post them randomly below for you all to have a look.

By: Nguyen Truong Tung

+ Videos: Dr. Strangelove - The War Room

2008-12-21T15:03:00.005+07:00

Dr. Strangelove's The War Room scene is one of the best scenes in the history of cinema. That's my personal opinion though. I think most people know Dr. Strangelove: How I learn to love the bomb and this scene is pretty old. But this phone conversation scene still makes me laugh everytime I watch it. Enjoy!

+ Poster: Zippo Slim

2008-12-13T11:39:00.008+07:00

My favorite Zippo slim.

+ Movies: Step Brothers 2008

2008-11-27T22:43:00.004+07:00

Step Brothers - 2008 had caught my attention a long time before it came out because of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, especially after Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) in which both of them intertwined superbly.
The fact is, in Step Brothers, both Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are still very good. They can still make people laugh from the beginning to the end.
The plot is basically interesting enough to set up a condition for Will and John to play baby. The filming is okay which virtually has nothing to be criticized.
However this movie kind of received many opposite comments.
Many people like it because of many laugh-out-loud scenes (fighting, cursing, struggling, sexing, etc). And some scenes are more like theatrical comedy with a lot of funny lines/quotes that I like.
But some people didn't really like this movie. I guess the flow of the episodes upset some audience. I also feel that the director can either make it better in some way or the plot can be changed a little bit by adding or reducing characters.
I think after Step Brothers, there will soon be a truly better movie with both Will and John.

Two spoiled grown men building bunk-beds:

+ Music: Django Reinhardt

2008-11-23T13:39:00.009+07:00

Django Reinhardt. Oh he may sound old to all of us but to me, he truly is the best, I should call him the King of the Swing Guitar. I was just watching again the movie: Sweet and Lowdown (one of my favorites too) and then I couldn't resist listening to some Django's music now.
Minor Swing was probably one of the most popular compositions that Django had left behind, especially for most Swing Guitar learners.

But aside from that composition, I'd say Django Reinhardt left some really beautiful tunes.

+ Music: Soul, Seal's New Album

2008-11-16T22:24:00.005+07:00

I just realized I should not say anything about this, since everyone knows that "Soul" is not the kind of music I'm really good at or it's not really my style. But the fact is, I always try to change and open up my mind to listen to all kinds of music (not just being obsessed with Jazz like some people say).
Seal's new album Soul has got my attention anyway. Well I was amazed because every song in this album is a classic being expressed and presented in a new way. It's not easy for me to just explain this "new way" in a few lines. The instruments, the vocals, the beats, and everything else are very good and well mixed. I listened to "Soul" over and over again to recognize interesting musical techniques which if I write down here will include many musical terminologies. But all of those techniques are very well used, such as the use of A cappella, Cavatina, or Fermata, etc...
But above all, it is the performance of Seal himself that makes Soul a very interesting album.
A few songs in the album:
I Cant Stand The Rain - Seal
Ive Been Loving You Too Long - Seal
If You Dont Know Me By Now - Seal
Stand By Me - Seal

+ Videos: Who knows where the time goes - Nina Simone

2008-11-07T00:39:00.010+07:00

Who knows where the time goes - Nina Simone

There is no doubt to say that Nina Simone is one of the best artists of all time. I think most of us have listened to many of her famous records, such as: Sinner man, Wild is the Wind, Don't explain, I put a spell on you, etc... People have called her music Jazz but she always wanted to call it Afro-American music.
Well her voice is great but what I love about Nina Simone is how she plays the piano. And above all, her style said it all; a soulful style that is very Nina Simone. This is another love song called "If you knew", recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Club in 1984 (London):

It would be a bit unfair or awkward to say that I prefer Nina Simone to other elders like Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald. Yes, Billie and Ella are superb in my eyes, but the style of Nina Simone is more interesting to me.

+ Posters: The Saké Girl

2008-10-31T15:02:00.009+07:00

Trumpet Solo - Louis Armstrong
The girl below is my Japanese friend Tomoko. It was really cool that one night she brought this nice Saké bottle to the party (in Bangkok). And this is the Saké Girl Poster I made from the photo I had taken long ago:

By Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

This would be nice if it is printed on a glass or plastic board, powered with some lights behind and hung on some bar/lounge's walls. Oh well, this Saké brand should have paid me for this one. :D.

+ Posters: Bangkok

2008-10-31T14:40:00.009+07:00

Just another day in Bangkok - Bangkok 'not-that-dangerous'.

The photo was taken in Chidlom area in Bangkok, one of the most famous corner for travelers. I used to work in this area also. Always traffic!

+ Videos: Hip hop Violin

2008-10-30T16:26:00.004+07:00

These two guys are so great that I have to steal this clip from YouTube even though it already had 2.3 million views on Youtube. The second half of the clip shows it all.

I'm always interested in creative things like this, especially in music or any other art form.

+ Photos: Another grainy photo, Cha-am, Thailand

2008-10-30T00:11:00.006+07:00

This is a grainy photo of my friend Yong and his girlfriend, Noi that I took in Cha-am, Thailand.

Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

3 of us just drove here one afternoon from Hua hin, to enjoy the fresh and cheap seafood here. I also like the Cha-am beach better than Hua hin since it's very clean and quiet.

+ Photos: Soviet Abstract Art

2008-10-20T15:00:00.005+07:00

Coarse and husky!!! That's all I can say about Soviet architecture and Soviet art in general.
Abstract art always brings in a little more creativity (this happens everywhere in the world). However, being a part of the Soviet art, Soviet abstract is still quite coarse and husky, some are ugly and some are less ugly.
I picked the best looking artworks amongst hundreds of them and took photos (all the sculptures are way bigger than human body). Comments are up to each individual.

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)
Photoblogs

+ Photos: Oriental Architecture, East Asia

2008-10-18T01:21:00.011+07:00

Once you travel to Vietnam, you will see a messy architectural style here. Nothing is clear and most of everything is horribly mixed up, especially for those private houses.
Being influenced by the Chinese for a thousand years and by the French for a few hundred years, Vietnamese architecture has become like this. Many contemporary houses are ugly with unclear design styles (not even mentioned about the Soviet Style yet).
However, older constructions seem to be quite interesting, you will see the original Chinese architectural style, Gothic or Baroque style, French colonial style, and also the very well mixed style (between French colonial and many Eastern patterns) by E. Hebrard.
In this post, I want to put some photos, that to me, are the interesting Eastern Asian Architectural impressions (Chinese actually).

Temple of Literature in Hanoi, the gate:

The popular symbol of Chinese Roof tops:

Hanoi's Ancient Stronghold:

Chan Quoc Pagoda:

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

+ Photos: Hang Vai Street, Hanoi

2008-10-15T21:28:00.007+07:00

Que nai-je? - Keren Ann

I just love this very short street with these bamboo shops, Hang Vai Street. It is one of the few streets in the Old Quarter that can somehow keep the old look of Hanoi. Hang Vai (meaning: Textile Shop) used to sell textiles, but not anymore. Now there are some really cool looking bamboo shops. And if you look at the bottom you can see that they are selling bamboo bongs to smoke the Vietnamese Tobacco.

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)
Vietnam Travel and Business Portal - Online Booking Services
Blog Flux Directory

+ Photos: Vietnamese Handicrafts

2008-10-12T14:50:00.016+07:00

You Took Advantage of Me - Compilation

I really like collecting handicrafts because of their colors and simple materials. Although Vietnamese handicrafts are not my favorite stuff, there are quite a lot of interesting things I like with special skills, especially in those lacquer wares. Photos I took at different souvenir shops in Old Quarter of Hanoi:

Lacquer Wares:

Painted Bamboo Bowls:

Wooden Key chains:

Painted Masks:

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

Everything Directory for Blogs

- Hanoi: Them Water Puppets

2008-10-12T14:12:00.006+07:00

I Know That You Know - Django Reinhardt

Vietnam, especially Hanoi is pretty famous for its water puppet shows. I only watched once when I was about 6 or 7 years old when our school took all the pupils out to watch. The stage is basically a pool of water (when I was watching the show many years ago, it was performed on a public swimming pool because we were too poor to afford any fancy theater). The puppeteers who stay behind the curtain to master the puppets are very skillful artists.

Most of the water puppet shows are generated from very old Vietnamese folk stories, running with Vietnamese traditional music. In my opinion, water puppet shows are very interesting to watch for the first time. The only obstacle is that the Vietnamese language does not allow foreigners to keep track of the show or to understand deeply what it means. However, in comparison to many other countries' folk shows, a Vietnamese water puppet show is pretty outstanding. Here are some random photos of the wooden puppets taken at a shop in Old Quarter of Hanoi.

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Hanoi Street Photos

2008-10-11T22:22:00.009+07:00

Hanoi street photos (Old Quarter):

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi

2008-10-11T12:03:00.013+07:00

Long Bien Cantilever Bridge across the Red River in Hanoi, Vietnam was originally called Doumer (after Paul Doumer, Governor General of Indochina). It was the first steel bridge across the Red River that connected two parts of Hanoi.

Designed by: Gustave Eiffel, Finished by: Daydé & Pillé, 1902.
Although it was badly bombed during the Vietnam War because of its critical function, about half of the bridge still keeps its original shape today.

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (TOM)

+ Photos: Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi

2008-10-07T16:39:00.009+07:00

Located in the heart of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem District, Hoan Kiem Lake is usually considered the pearl of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.
According to scientists, Hoan Kiem Lake is the legacy of the Red River stream after it changed the direction. A long time ago, Hoan Kiem Lake was also called the Blue Water Lake because the water always keeps the blue color. During the 15th century, the name Blue Water was changed to Hoan Kiem. Hoan Kiem (meaning: Returning the Sword) is the name that goes with the legend of the Emperor Le Thai To returning the sword to the Golden Turtle.

Photos of the Hoan Kiem Lake (English name: Sword Lake), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Afternoon:

At night:

By: Nguyen Truong Tung (TOM)

+ Photos: St. Joseph Cathedral, Hanoi, Vietnam

2008-10-07T01:04:00.007+07:00

Sax & Piano Jazz - Wynton Marsalis

A photo of the St. Joseph Cathedral (Vietnamese: Nha` Tho*` lo*'n) in Hanoi, Vietnam.

By Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Images of The Buddha

2008-10-01T22:31:00.008+07:00

Images of the Buddha - taken in Ayutthaya

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

For more pictures of Ayutthaya, please click on this link: Ayutthaya: The remains of the day

+ Photos: Hua hin Fishing Boat

2008-09-29T02:46:00.012+07:00

Hua-hin right before sunset - behind where I used to live

+ Videos: Lilly the World Map Master

2008-09-28T12:59:00.011+07:00

2nd Birthday

I took these video clips from You tube because I was amazed by a little girl who could barely talk but she is able to remember more than a hundred countries on the world map.
http://www.backlinkpower.com.ar
Free Web Directory

+ Photos: West Lake, Hanoi

2008-09-27T13:20:00.011+07:00

Hanoi is famous for its several natural lakes.
West Lake is one of the best sights in the city of Hanoi. The lake is quite large and beautiful (except there are some stupid people throwing trash in it). I myself do enjoy a coffee here in the morning.

Sunset at West Lake, Hanoi
Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Portraits of a Little Girl

2008-09-27T11:35:00.003+07:00

Crazy Rhythm - Django Reinhardt

At: Hilton Hua hin, Thailand
Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung

+ Photos: Rajamangala Stadium Bangkok

2008-09-24T00:38:00.016+07:00

Since The Last Time - Arrested Development

Although I'm definitely not a hard core sport character, not so keen on the name of this stadium ("Rajamangala" is a long name), I still went to this stadium for a soccer match to show my patriotism.
Rajamangala looks pretty old and ugly from the outside, especially when it is located right inside the city of Bangkok. Well I guess it's all the because constructiion technologies have changed so fast.
But it's a big stadium, very fully equipped, colorful, clean and nice stadium when you pass the gate (60000 people).

The old look from outside:

Inside:

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Hua hin Beach

2008-09-22T20:25:00.008+07:00

iolanda - nina simone

These are some random pictures I took at the beach behind my old place (Hin Nam Sai Suay) in Hua hin.
Hua hin beach in my opinion is not as nice as the beach in Cha-am.

This is me years ago:

Photos: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Bangkok Random

2008-09-21T23:29:00.013+07:00

Track 14 - GURU

Yeah yeah, these photos are not so great.... I know that. They were just randomly shot with no preparation.

From my apartment (afternoon):

From my apartment (evening):

Sukhumvit (Chid-lom):

Sukhumvit (Siam Paragon):

Rama 1:

From my Office looking down Sukhumvit (Siam Paragon):

Valentine's Day (right in the middle of Sukhumvit Rd, in front of Emporium):

Behind the car's window:

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung (Tom)

+ Photos: Airplane's Windows

2008-09-21T17:06:00.007+07:00

Ne Me Quitte Pas - Nina Simone

I've been on so many airplanes but it's a shame that I haven't taken many photos. Here are some crappy photos I took:
Air Asia (A320):

Landing Bangkok:

Leaving Bangkok:

Laos Airlines, I have no idea which plane it is but I drank a lot of Beer Laos on the plane and the stewardess was super pretty, so I really enjoyed the flight even though it was noisy as hell (Remember: sitting at the bottom is better in this airplane):

Landing Vientiane:

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung

- Bangkok: How about some Italian Food in Bangkok?

2008-09-14T14:44:00.013+07:00

After Youve Gone - Django Reinhardt

That's a pretty good idea looking for a good Italian restaurant in Bangkok.
As I've said many times, you can find all types of food in Bangkok. And Italian food is the most popular non-local food in Bangkok which probably has the same ranking with Japanese food.

The Pizza's Story in Thailand:
How to make Asian people get used to drinking milk and consume products made from milk?
Only one way, it takes time to introduce and let them try because of the differences in taste, the gastronomy, and the genetic condition.
It took Vietnamese people many years during the colonial period to get used to Western food, especially the consumption of milk, cheese and butter.
That's why the pizza did not have a position in the Thai dining culture until 1980 when William E. Heinecke, an entrepreneur opened the first Pizza Hut Restaurant in Bangkok. He later started his own chain called Pizza Company and formed the Minor Food Group as well as owned many big businesses in Thailand.
The Pizza Company how has hundreds of restaurants in all over Thailand with the strongest delivery network. "If you don't know about Pizza Company, then I don't believe that you've lived in Thailand."
This justifies the popularity of Italian food in Thailand nowadays.

Italian Food in Bangkok:
It's simple to notice that Italian food is one of the best food in the world. Therefore, Bangkok, a glamorous city with 24/7 services and millions of tourists of course can help make any Italian restaurant a good business.
Aside from Pizza Hut and Pizza Company (the commercial chains) which are everywhere, I've been to at least 30 Italian restaurants in Bangkok (different levels) and I have to say most of them are better than average. And of course if you want to enjoy the real Italian food, you have to go there.

1. One of the real Italian restaurants I've been to is the Basilico which now has two branches in Bangkok. One is in Sukhumvit Soi 33 (opposite side of Emporium) and the other one is in Sukhumvit Soi 20, few steps before Koi Restaurant, at the oppisite side. Both branches are well located in the tourist area (not far from each other too) and have the same cool design that makes Italian food lovers cannot just turn away. There is also one big oven (non electric) in the middle of the room and all pizzas have one size only. The menu is very concise and interesting. Pastas are amazingly good here with big portion. They also have a reasonable list of wine. Overall, Basilico is a wonderful restaurant with reasonable price and good service.
For more info: Samworthington, BrightcoveTV, Dining in Thailand

2. The other Italian restaurant I like is called Giusto which is located in Sukhumvit Soi 23. This restaurant has a different concept. It looks like a villa with parking lots, dining zone and bar zone. Everything here looks trendy, modern and colorful. The food here is so good that I enjoy mostly every dish. But what I like is the wine cellar. They have a small wine cellar where you can walk inside and look for a good bottle, just like in any nice hotels. They have a pretty good taste in wine here. I also like the bar zone which is not too huge, that you can enjoy the lounge music, taste some wine and talk to your friends. This restaurant is also less crowded than Basilico. Ah there is a nice Vietnamese girl who works there too. She's very elegant.
For more info: Dining In Thailand, Tripadvisor.

Even if you can't make time to come to either one of these two restaurants, please go to Central World Plaza, and follow the Hungry Guide. There are plenty of good food there and some very nice Italian Restaurants on the 7th floor too.

Photo: www.foodnetwork.com
Written by Nguyen Truong Tung

- Bangkok: Himali Cha Cha Restaurant, Indian-Nepalese Cuisine

2008-09-12T21:26:00.021+07:00

Thailand is a country filled with tourists, all types of food can sell. You can find good Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican food, etc. in any tourist spots in Thailand. Either in Bangkok or beach towns, you can find a good restaurant easily.

Indian-Nepalese Food is quite interesting. It's a waste not to enjoy it.

Bangkok:

I have been to many Indian Restaurants in Bangkok, mostly around Sukhumvit and Silom area (tourist areas). My favorite place should be the Himali Cha Cha Restaurant in Silom Soi 1 (Soi Convent).
Himali Cha Cha was the last work done by Cha Cha who had spent over 40 years of cooking for many famous governors in India and Laos. He died in 1996. But his son Kovit made all Cha Cha's recipes live on, in this glamorous city, Bangkok.
Himali Cha Cha is now officially called "Himali Cha Cha and Son" which has three different branches in Bangkok. One is in Sukhumvit Soi 35, one is in Charoen Krung Rd, and the other one is in Silom Soi 1 (Soi Convent). You just walk into the Soi, pass the Irish bar on the left and Himali Cha Cha is right on the right hand side.

Some people may not like it the way I do. Because when I eat Indian food, I enjoy it differently from other types of food. For most of other types of food, I can eat where it's a bit noisy or crowded. But not Indian food. While eating Indian food, I need a place that is cozy, quiet, not so crowded, a place that I can take time for gastronomy and to enjoy with friends who also know/understand and love Indian Food. That's why I vote for this Himali Cha Cha branch. There are only a few tables in the dining room, with not so many customers. You can take all the time you need to have a real dinner, to talk to friends and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere.

Normally I love these for a dinner: Aloo Ghobhi (potato and cauliflower), Chicken Masala (chicken in thick masala curry), Chicken tikka with mint (tandoor baked), Saffron Rice or Garlic Nan. After that I often help myself a salty Lassi (salty yogurt). However, there are much more to try.

For more reviews, please click here:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/bangkok/D3114.html
Virtualtourist Review
http://www.thailandsbestrestaurants.com/restaurants/himalichacha&son.html

A funny photo of my friend Sar over-enjoying Indian food (actually it's fresh cabbage):

Professor Ricardo Lucio Ortiz and students

+ Music: Let's talk a little bit about Miles Davis

2008-09-11T03:33:00.029+07:00

The Definition of Art...

Have you ever spent all the time you need to take a good look at any artwork by Pablo Picasso or Kandinsky?
Well for example, the 'Dora Maar au Chat' (1941), or 'Le s Demoiselles d'Avignon' (1907), or 'Three Musicians' (1921) by Picasso, or any work by Kandinsky. The special thing about those artworks is not Expressionism in which I can name many other expressionists.
To me it's the "style". The "Style" shows the ideology, the definition and 'all you need to know' of an artist. And I suppose art means "style". You never need to look at the name of a great artist or his signature to recognize his work.
And with this point of view, Miles Davis was inspired. He said: "For me, music and life are all about style". So this ideology became the first thing that made me very much in the agreement with Miles.

It Never Entered My Mind - Miles Davis
But why do I like Miles Davis so much?

I think I understand every note he played and somehow I can feel a better connection with him. In other words, Miles Davis was one of the guys who influenced me the most in Music just like what Picasso and Kandinsky did to me in the realm of Visual Art.
You can see Picasso and Kandinsky when you listen to Miles Davis. And in all Picasso's paintings, you can hear Miles Davis' tunes. His music is inspired from different art forms with a lot of identities, attitudes, and sentiments.
I don't admire Miles because of his fame and all his numerous Grammy Awards and his compositions. What I like about him is his ideology in terms of art always pushed him to be creative, to find a balance just like in any work by Picasso or Kandinsky.
They always found the balance in the imbalance. Miles always found the melody in an anti-melody. When he plays an anti-melody, you can hear a melody in it. When Miles had to play against the orchestra, he played over... A melody against another melody. That is the biggest creative work that you find in Miles' music. And in that he was truly the best.
Miles had too much to contribute the music world throughout his entire life. And amongst all those contributions, I think he was truly great in these realms: Bebop Jazz, quintets, the 'Kind of Blue' album,the adaption of electric instruments, Jazz funk and Jazz rock.

The ideological value...

Miles died in 1991 but not just his music, his ideas are also still very important now.
When the mass media was eating people's minds with pop music, pop culture, stupid stereotypes and repeated ideas, Miles always had his group to share different musical ideas and to play what they wanted. I think most of us are losing out styles and our independent ideas because of the media. When are we going to have more jam sessions again? When will the pop music stop fucking up our minds? When are we gonna think and create by ourselves?

Quotes:

“Don't play what's there, play what's not there.” - Miles Davis

“It's always been a gift with me, hearing music the way I do. I don't know where it comes from, it's just there and I don't question it.” - Miles Davis

“I know what I've done for music, but don't call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.” - Miles Davis

“I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning . . . Every day I find something creative to do with my life.” - Miles Davis

“I'll play it first and tell you what it is later.” - Miles Davis

Miles' Visual Artworks:

- Vietnam: Moon Festival 2008

2008-09-10T00:18:00.014+07:00

Oh yeah... the Moon Festival is coming in Vietnam, if you notice, you will see Moon Cakes are sold everywhere in Vietnam (I don't know why they sell these cakes with Red Wine though!!!).

It's a shame that I almost forgot about this festival because I haven't been back in Vietnam for a long time. Right now I'm back and wondering where I should go for some photo shooting in Hanoi!!!

Okay, some of you may not know about this Moon Festival. Many other people call it Mid-Autumn Festival/Mid-Fall Festival. It's not a Vietnamese Festival only. It's the festival in many East Asian countries. I think this festival is a tradition that came from China and spread all over East Asia. In Chinese language, people call it: "Zhong Qiu Jie" which literally means Mid-Autumn Festival. This festival actually happens for only one night. It's the full-moon night (15th day) of the 8th month in the Lunar/Chinese Calendar which happens to be around mid or the end of September in the Gregorian calendar.

Well in Vietnam, this is also called the Festival for Kids. I like the sound of that better, because autumn only comes in Northen Vietnam, not in the whole country. Plus, autumn doesn't come until October and it is not a clear season. In the meantime, kids love this festival. I used to love it when I was a little kid and lived in Vietnam with my parents.

In the Old Quarter in Hanoi, from Hang Ma street to Luong Van Can street (small center area), you will see that Moon Festival is celebrated by many thousands of people. Young people go there to buy toys and water pistols. They have been playing water pistols in this event for years. But it's not as wet as the Songkran in Thailand. Kids are also brought out to the streets to see so much fun and parents buy a lot of toys for their kids. If you come here, you can always find a variety of hand-made toys that you never find any where else. I think I will try to come here and take some photos for some other articles.

As I remember, Moon Festival also means families make parties for kids to celebrate the full-moon eve. The meaning of this is family reunion and in real life people also celebrate in their neighborhoods.
Moon Festival in Vietnam this year will fall on September 14th.

So if you are in Hanoi and you plan to stay over the September 14th, you should go to Hang Ma street and explore the event there. It'll be some incredible experience.

Nguyen Truong Tung
Photo from hanoimoi.com.vn - Unicorn Dance

- Vietnam: Hanoi or Saigon?

2008-09-09T17:16:00.022+07:00

Traveling in Vietnam, is Hanoi (North) or Saigon (South) better?

I prefer going to the South. Okay, that's just my opinion. In fact, it does depend on what you expect for your trip as well as your travel style. I know many people who love Hanoi better than Saigon!
I want to call it Saigon instead of Ho Chi Minh City because Saigon was actually the original name of Ho Chi Minh City's downtown which was called the Pearl of the Far East during the French colonial period.
Even though I like Saigon better, I will try not to be too bias in this article.
Let me put my comparison into some different categories and grade them on the 10 point scale:
1. Scenery/view:
- Hanoi: 5/10
- Saigon: 3/10
To be really fair, Hanoi is much better for photo shooting, you can go to the Old Quarter and take plenty of interesting photos. Somehow it has a touch of the French colonial period so you will feel like looking at things and trying to understand them. With 4 seasons a year and many natural lakes, Hanoi also changes its look from time to time. But in my opinion, I prefer the weather in Saigon because it is more steady and healthier.
2. People/relationships:
- Hanoi: 4/10
- Saigon: 7/10
Looking at the score, you might think Hanoian people are not good. Actually the Hanoian people are nice and cultured people but they make a small number in the total population here. I think 3 quarters of the population in Hanoi are not from Hanoi. But overall the Northen people are less open then the Southern people. Being a foreigner who only speaks English, you will find it much easier to stay in Saigon than in Hanoi. In my opinion, southern Vietnamese are more honest, fun and friendly therefore I feel more comfy with the people in Saigon. I do not like buying stuff in Hanoi because I'm always afraid that the stuff is fake and they mark up the price as if I was an idiot.
3. Traffic:
- Hanoi: 3/10
- Saigon: 3/10
Hanoi has less traffic jam than Saigon because the population per square kilometer is lower than that in Saigon. But people manage their vehicles better in Saigon. I am overwhelmed with people using horns in Hanoi. Overall, a tie. And I dislike the traffic both in Saigon and in Hanoi just like anywhere else in Vietnam.
4. Service:
- Hanoi: 2/10
- Saigon: 6/10
There is a vast difference in terms of the service industry between Hanoi and Saigon. I don't know about how other people are treated but to me it's very clear that Hanoi needs a lot of improvement vis-a-vis the service industry. The first reason is about the people's characteristics noted in the 2nd section above. The other thing is the quality of the management, the training. They may not know well or may not care about the dresscodes, about how to serve wine, how to be polite, how to talk softly, how to decorate a restaurant, how to be hygenic... So you may feel very annoyed being in Hanoi if you are a strict person or if you expect too much as if you were in Singapore or Europe... In Saigon, you will feel more comfortable being a customer and the people are more friendly, thus more professional in the service industry.
Every bar/club/restaurant has to close down early in Hanoi where as in Saigon you can still find many places to hang out until morning. That's the main reason I love Saigon because I cannot put myself to bed at midnight. That is totally not my lifestyle. So, you have to accept the fact that after midnight, being in Hanoi makes no difference from being in any bedroom because you can only lock yourself in a hotel room and probably watch some HBO.
Service cost is about the same both in Hanoi and Saigon. But since you get better service in Saigon, you can make an easy choice now.
5. To travel to other areas in Vietnam:
- Hanoi: 5/10
- Saigon: 5/10
It is both not so hard to travel to different attractions around Hanoi and Saigon.
There are as many different attractions in the North as there are in the South.
But because I prefer the Southern weather, especially the nice beaches in the South, Saigon is my choice for traveling in Vietnam.

-------------

-----
-
Total score for
- Hanoi: 19/50 = 38%
- Saigon: 24/50 = 48%

It doesn't plainly mean that Saigon is better than Hanoi. Those things above are only some judgments mostly based on my own opinion and experiences.
If you think I'm too strict to grade these two cities, then I have to say that I didn't compare them with other Asian countries. :). The fact is I looked at Vietnam from the top-end international standards that I've experienced. Here I'm not trying to be picky, I just want Vietnamese people look at it the same way so that they can see the truth, to put more improvements into action and help the country develop, especially for the Tourist/Service Industry.
And then in the end, I only hope this article is useful for you to have a look before you make a decision on your trip to Vietnam.

Go to the website of Indochina Travel Land for tour information

Nguyen Truong Tung

- Koh Samet: A Fun Weekend on the Island

2008-09-06T22:39:00.036+07:00

I haven't been to many islands in Thailand yet but I think the closest island to travel from Bangkok is Koh Samet (or Koh Samed, Koh means Island in Thai) where I had a very nice weekend with some friends.

From Bangkok, you can take a bus, either from the Ekamai Bus Station or Mo-chit Station. My friends got me a ticket of the VIP bus from Mo-chit Station to travel from Bangkok to Rayong right after I got off work (9:00 pm maybe), Friday evening. It took us roughly 3 hours to arrive. But the bus was quite comfortable with the seats that looked like airplane seats, with even more space. Each seat had a massage machine underneath too. So really no complaints about the ride.
We arrived Rayong around midnight. A friend of us picked us up from there and we went out to have some food, and went to a club there. We had to stay at a hotel that night since there is no boat that goes to the island at night because of the darkness.
We took a boat to go to the the island in the next morning. Koh Samet is really close, we only sat on a boat and got there after 30-40 minutes. We first tried to look for a place to stay. The island was quite full of tourists because it was during the weekend. But finally we found this place to stay, it's like a wooden complex on the sea (different guest rooms, a karaoke bar, a bar and a restaurant). It was overall okay for a short stay. Here it is:

After that we hired a boat to have a half day trip around the island. I think next time I better hire a speed boat, it's much faster. It's so cool when they took us around the island, to see different sides of it. Then we stopped, joined for some BBQ with a bigger boat and a bunch of Germans. After that, swimming was cool.
This is our boat:

The bigger one we joined for BBQ & the speed boat I like (10x zoomed):

Looking towards the island:

Fish Farm from afar (10x zoomed):

After a while we went fishing. I didn't catch one though. And the last thing is to stop by the fish farm, then we asked them to bring us to the side with lots of restaurants, close to our place, to eat and enjoy the sunset. They have pretty good food there too.Here is the beach:

At night we also went to a beach bar, lots fun on the beach. The nightlife on this island is not bad at all, especially in the weekends, I guess. After crushing a bottle of Jim Beam and mingling with some cuties (not me because I was busy watching the fire show), we lost a friend. Actually, he fell asleep somewhere by the beach in total darkness, it took me half an hour to find him.

We got back to our place and continued partying with another group there because a couple in that group just got married. It was good fun. Next morning we had really nice breakfast and chilled out by the beach. We headed back to Rayong at noon, and Bangkok in the evening. There the party carried on at my apartment with cocktails I made.

Overall, I think Koh Samet is really nice for about a 2 or 3 day trip. It should be more fun in the weekend with many tourists. I'd suggest you take the VIP bus because it is so comfortable with a lot of space. And don't travel at night because you don't want to stay in Rayong, there's nothing there.

Below is a good book with great information on Thailand's Islands and Beaches that you can buy from amazon.com

- Hua hin: The Sukiyaki Street Restaurant

2008-09-05T21:25:00.010+07:00

clandestino - Manu CHAO

If you want to try some street food around Hua-hin downtown, then please try the Sukiyaki Hot-pot Restaurant right on the street, near the night market. In my opinion, it is one of the best spots with a lot of customers every night.
This is not only the first street restaurant I tried in Hua-hin (2004), but also the only one place I kept coming back for so many times.
I think people call this restaurant Sukiyaki because the major menu is Hot-pot, but I don't think it's the usual Japanese Sukiyaki.
The menu has different hot-pot varieties. You can either choose seafood (fish, squid, and shrimp), or chicken, or pork, or beef, etc... Then you put them together with vegetables in a clay pot, on fire too. Normally, I always asked for some eggs, more tofu, and fish. I really love the fish here.
Besides hot-pot, this restaurant also has plenty of other good food. I don't even remember half of them. I think you should try the Thai style BBQ, the grilled fish, the simmered prawn with glass noodles, and the Thai fried rice with crab meat.
In terms of location, Sukiyaki restaurant is also a very cool place to sit at night on the street and drink beer with friends. Since Hua-hin is not hot, noisy and smoky like Bangkok, sitting at this restaurant at night is really nice.

Here is the location of the Sukiyaki Restaurant:

The crazy Vietnamese group @ the Restaurant:

Photos: Nguyen Truong Tung

- Hua hin: Hilton Hua hin Resort & Spa

2008-09-05T01:04:00.016+07:00

Sinner Man [Felix da Housecats Heavenly House Mix] - Nina Simone

Today a friend of mine just asked me about the Hilton Resort in Hua-hin, Thailand, because she was planning to have a trip there. And after looking through some pictures of it I have in my computer, I kind of missed the good old days in Hua-hin, too.
To be honest, Hilton is not the nicest resort in Hua-hin. In comparison with the Sofitel right next to it, or a bit further, the Marriott, or the Dusit in between Hua-hin and Cha-am, etc, Hilton is a bit small to be a resort.
But being pretty or fancy, or huge, may not be as important as what it has.
I like Hilton Hua-hin firstly because of its location. It has its own beach as other resorts. And it also is right in the middle of hundreds of little pubs and amazing restaurants on the walking streets. How cool is that! It takes you 2 minutes to walk to the beach. It also takes you 2 minutes to stop by any bars, internet shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, 7-Elevens, galleries. If you stay at any other resorts (except the Sofitel because it's right next to Hilton) there is no way you can do this.
The second thing I love about Hilton Hua-hin is that the service here isn't expensive. The front Restaurant has fresh seafood everyday. At night, it is also a very fun club in town. This front has the shape of a ship. The restaurant of the hotel is in the backyard, next to the swimming pool and the beach. It has very cool atmosphere all the time, except you might need some anti-mosquito incense at night if you like to sit outside. But it's no big deal.
The hotel is a high and modern designed building, not the Indochinese/colonial style like Sofitel or other resorts. That's why it is not so attractive to Westerners. But hey that's the outside. I stayed at different resorts in Hua-hin and actually when you are in the room, the view from Hilton is much better. It's panoramic.
I don't have the best pictures of the Hilton Hua hin but you can have a look:
The backyard, actually it is quite large with a lot of plants, chill-out areas, swimming pool, pool bar, iron-ball yard, etc..:

Ah yes this is Nguyen Truong Tung before getting drunk:

Looking from the lounge to the backyard:

The pool bar:

The buffet:

- Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung -

I didn't write this from the expertise of my work at Agoda Company. This is my own experience here in this hotel. I was even too drunk to go home for at least 2 times here actually (one time on my birthday party and one time on my graduation).
Nguyen Truong Tung LinkedIN Profile:

- Pathom Asoke: a Buddhist Community in Thailand

2008-09-04T02:22:00.014+07:00

There are quite a few Buddhist Communities in and outside Thailand that I know of.

However, my 2006 trip to Pathom Asoke has brought me a very fresh idea of how the original Buddhism is applied in this community.

Pathom Asoke is located in Nakhon Pathom, just about an hour drive from Bangkok. Pathom Asoke contains the Santi Asoke Temple and a Buddhist community living in the whole compound.

With many social development and conflicts in many nations in the 20th century in which people seemed to lose track with their Buddhist ways of life, the temple and the community in Pathom Asoke were born to preserve and apply the original Buddhist teachings into life. Therefore, the birth of Pathom Asoke has contributed changes in both Buddhism and Thai society at once. And also in the world with the movements made by other monks such as The Dalai Lama and the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, Socially Engaged Buddhism has become a new topic that has renewed and modernized Buddhism as well as preserved social Buddhist values in society.

The first thing I can remember of is that my three days of staying in Pathom Asoke also had to follow some restrictions which means I had to wake up earlier than other people to walk far outside of the community to buy a coffee and to smoke a cigarette. Well, that's true, but not important. Here are the facts:

About the community, all of the people living in this community have their own houses and some have families too. But all of them work not for their own money or any selfish material wealth.

They study the making of herbal medicine and produce them to serve people and to sell. Many Thai drugstores sell these medicines very well. Many other Thais also come here for that. Herbal medicine is the main product of the community and I think that's a lot of work.

They also raise anything they can, mushrooms, vegetables, etc... to support the whole community and outside.

Some other people operate trash recycling mechanism and study chemistry. They also use organic oil to run machines. Children have their own classrooms and teachers. Other children from outside can also come to study.

They have an open house for people to open meetings.

They have guest houses for people to come for a few days (separate male/female).

Besides, people here always take part in planting trees for the surrounding areas (it's a huge forest I think).

In this community, the Buddhist ideas are basically seen clearly in these spots: no selfishness, no fighting/arguing, helping the community and the surroundings, only vegetarians, and meditation is a very important activity.

I had quite a few chances to discuss with the monks here but I don't have enough space here to write.

I asked the monk: Why does everybody walk barefoot?
The monk said: To be closer to the earth, to make us more healthy too.
I asked another question: Why don't I see any incenses in our temple?
The monk said: Just like Western people shake hands and Thai people wai to each other, an incense is just a way to communicate. We believe that the original Buddhism doesn't mention that using incenses is a must. And being like this, the air is always fresh.

Now the idea of keeping original Buddhism is clearer to me. How interesting!
There are actually a lot more to talk about Pathom Asoke as well as Socially Engaged Buddhism but this page is not just for that research. Here are some photos I took at the community:

The huts for the ordained people to stay:

Preserving the nature:

A people's house in the community:

In front of the canteen (only vegetarian food for everyone, including guests, ah you can see people walk barefoot):

The Crematory:

- Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung

+ Movies: Walk Hard 2007 - A Must-watch Comedy

2008-08-30T21:47:00.016+07:00

If you are looking for a good comedy in recent time, I would strongly recommend Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - 2007. This movie is a musical comedy which just simply tells about the life story of a fictional singer (Dewey Cox) who gains all the fame and fortune, yet simultaneously messes up his life by abusing drugs.
And here are the main reasons why I keep watching it for so many times:

- The movie makes fun of everything, the best parts are about Elvis Presley, The Beatles and drugs. However, almost every minute of it is hilarious. All the dialogues are so funny that you can laugh with tears. Here's one of Elvis Presley's quotes: "It's called Karate, man. Only two kinds of people know it, The Chinese and The King. And one of them is me." - watch the clip at the bottom of the entry.
- Good acting from all characters, especially John C. Reilly as Dewey Cox and Jenna Fischer as Darlene Madison.
- The musical work is fine.
- The movie pretty much reflects accurately 2 things. The first reflection is about all the major changes in terms of culture, art forms and music in the United States through a long period of time. The second impression is how different art forms and music are related to different types of drugs that are used.
- And finally, it is very American ... it is very theatrical.

Here is one clip in the movie, of the song "Let's duet" (funny lyrics), when Dewey Cox meets Darlene Madison and finds that she can be his dream duet/soul-mate, not his current wife Edith:

And check out Jack White as Elvis in the movie:

Tim Meadows Marijuana Warning:

- Laos: The Vientiane Journey

2008-08-28T23:01:00.012+07:00

The Crave - Ennio Morricone

Well, today I just watched a movie called: Sabaidee Luang Prabang - 2008 (English: Good morning Luang Prabang). Before going any further, I want to give it a few comments first. 30 years after the new Government overthrew the King and took over the ruling power, this is the first privately funded movie ever made. Well from what I saw, Lao people can all understand Thai and have Thai channels at home, so they also have plenty of movies to watch (except from Laos). Sabaidee Luang Prabang is created in order to promote tourism in Laos.
Quality of the content: average. Quality of the main actor and actress: good. In other words, I think the movie is a little monotonous and quiet but at some point the movie is lovely. There could have been more to make the movie even more impressive but to me, it's good enough to picture the real Laos. Laos is not noisy, it's not complicated and it's not fancy...just like the movie itself. Overall: pretty good job.

I've never been to Luang Prabang before (hopefully I will soon) but the movie somehow recalled the days I was in Vientiane (also Vientienne or Vientianne) with my Lao friends there. As I perceive, the country of Laos is pretty much like that movie. It doesn't have much yet to get loud, to get so famous and impressive, but if you look at it closely, it is beautiful. Firstly, I'd say that Lao people are "real people": Friendly, Simple, and Honest. Secondly, because this country doesn't get so crazy with all the fancy trends yet, so when you come here you can always find that the nature, simplicity and the tradition are the cores of things here. There weren't so many things to explore in Vientiane during my last time there, but chilling at coffee shops (Khob Chai Der is suggested), going to the market, and drinking beer at the Mekong River can be really great for a few days of relaxation. I got lucky being taken to the river, to party and all, by many Lao friends, especially my main dude there, Ariyadeth.

The coffee shop girl at the Talat Sao (the Morning Market):

Ariyadeth @ the Morning market & maybe looking at some girls:

Some photos of my Lao friends and me:

The street:

The temple:

Photos by: Nguyen Truong Tung
INDOCHINA TRAVEL LAND

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KEF Q700 Speaker Review - Awesome Mid-end Floor-Standing Speaker

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Donation machine in Bangkok

Isn't Thailand sweet enough?

Doggy Model in Suan Lumpini

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XXX Pole Dance - California WOW Xperience

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+ Music: The Morning Benders - Excuses

- Thailand: Elephant paints a beautiful picture

+ Technology: Crazy Gadget for Noodle Lovers

+ Lifestyle: The amazing and yet dangerous power of cosmetics

+ Visual Art: Can you draw with both hands at the same time?

+ Technology: Bladeless Fan - The Dyson Air Multiplier

- Long Beach: Halloween Party 2009

+ Video: Incredible Machine

+ Music: The Soul of John Black

+ Videos: French humor

+ Videos: Funny dog

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+ Movies: Inglourious Basterds - A quick review

+ Photos: My Latest Abstract Painting

- Hanoi: Le and Igor's wedding

Bangkok Boutique Condominium For Rent

Bangkok Boutique Condominium For Rent, Close to Ekamai BTS only 200 m.The Address Sukhumvit 42

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+ Photos: Colors of the night

+ Photos: The Colorful Outfit

+ Video: My friend is in a Thai pop music video

- Vietnam: A Culture of Markets

+ Photos: My niece looks like a little Eskimo

+ Photos: Trang tien Street

+ Movies: American Gangster 2007

+ Photos: Kids kids kids

+ Videos: Dr. Strangelove - The War Room

+ Poster: Zippo Slim

+ Movies: Step Brothers 2008

+ Music: Django Reinhardt

+ Music: Soul, Seal's New Album

+ Videos: Who knows where the time goes - Nina Simone

+ Posters: The Saké Girl

+ Posters: Bangkok

+ Videos: Hip hop Violin

+ Photos: Another grainy photo, Cha-am, Thailand

+ Photos: Soviet Abstract Art

+ Photos: Oriental Architecture, East Asia

+ Photos: Hang Vai Street, Hanoi

+ Photos: Vietnamese Handicrafts

- Hanoi: Them Water Puppets

+ Photos: Hanoi Street Photos

+ Photos: Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi

+ Photos: Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi

+ Photos: St. Joseph Cathedral, Hanoi, Vietnam

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