Where Rafael Nadal vacationed and 25 reasons why Thailand is amazing
WILL SOON FLOURISH By Wilson Lee Flores (The Philippine Star) Updated June 26, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)
Traditional teak wood villas at Rose Garden Riverside Resort
| Zoom
There are so many beautiful parts of the world... Thailand, Italy, the south of France. — Robin Williams
On every visit to Thailand — especially this latest seven-day trip to attend the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2011 — I realize it is world-famous not just because it is a beautiful and safe tourist destination. Thailand is an enchanting experience for all our five senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing plus our sixth sense of the spiritual.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Suraphon Svetasreni said: “According to Mastercard Worldwide Index of Global Destination Cities, Thailand currently ranks as the third most popular destination in the world and is first among Asian cities… Thailand is also a logical gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region or that region sharing the Mekong River such as China’s Yunnan province, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.”
Based on my latest trip with a group of six travel agents and another journalist arranged by Dave de Jesus of the TAT Philippine office and accompanied by Inthira Vuttisomboon of TAT Singapore Office, here are 25 reasons why I believe touring Thailand is simply amazing:
1. Suvarnabhumi Airport. The first and last impressions tourists and foreign investors get of a country is its international airport. Thailand has a modern airport designed by top German-American architect Helmut Jahn, with the world’s third largest single-building airport terminal. It is so efficient, despite being Asia’s sixth busiest airport serving 42.7 million passengers in 2010. Airports of Thailand (AOT) senior executive vice-president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said capacity will expand to 60 million passengers by July 2016.
The eight kings of the Chakri Dynasty, including the ancestors, father and late brother of the present king, at the Thai Human Imagery Museum. Photos by Liza Y. Licudine
2. Thai orchids and flowers. Beautiful flowers are everywhere and cheap. Pak Khlong Talad Market becomes the city’s biggest depot for wholesale flowers every night, with so many fragrant roses, lotuses, daisies, orchids and other blossoms. Visit, and bring cameras!
3. Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. I was impressed with the 94.5-hectare royal complex of palaces and temples, in the center of which is Thailand’s most sacred Emerald Buddha. It was taken to Laos for over 200 years but retrieved in the reign of ethnic Chinese King Taksin in 1778 for his capital Thonburi. It was later moved by King Chakri to the new dynasty’s capital Bangkok. Shorts or sleeveless clothes not allowed!
4. Thai massage and spas. Don’t miss being blissfully pounded and stretched via Thai massage with herbal treatment in countless spas of varied prices. TAT arranged for a wonderful massage at high-end Rarinjinda Wellness Spa owned by Prasert Jiravanstit (also owner of the affordable Let’s Relax spas). Cebu travel agency owner Ricky Tio suggested Indara Spa where I paid 450 baht for two hours of relaxing rubbing by a senior masseuse (regular masseuse is 380 baht), while Ever Bilena’s Khristine Gabriel tweeted me to try the affordable massage at Lean On Tree Spa & Resto (across Rembrandt Hotel) owned by Thai Airways’ former Manila head Nivat Chantarachoti.
5. Rose Garden Riverside resort. Our group had a delicious Thai lunch buffet here beside a lake. This resort along Ta Chine River was created 49 years ago by an ethnic Chinese who was the first governor of Bangkok city named Chamnan Yuvaboon and it’s now run by grandson Arrut Navaraj with his brother. It’s 70 acres of lush tropical gardens with 10 acres devoted to organic farming. It has an 18-hole golf course, a hotel plus seven antique Thai teak houses beside a lake. The Thai general manager Krisada Promsarin told me he is a graduate of the former Gregorio Araneta University of Malabon in the Marcos era.
Traditional teak wood villas at Rose Garden Riverside Resort
6. Thai wines and vineyards. One delightful afternoon tour in Hua Hin brought us to the grape vineyards of Siam Winery established by the son of the Red Bull taipan. We tasted various delicious “Monsoon Valley” brand red and white wines in the elegant resto.
7. Conventions and exhibits. At the huge IMPACT Arena, Exhibition & Convention Center (with 14 hectares of indoor space!), we attended the successful Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2011. This is just one of many local and international events hosted by this country. Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) President Akapol Sorasuchart said his country will bid to host the World Expo, which was last hosted by Shanghai. He added a new high-speed train from China to Singapore will be finished in three years, passing through Thailand and expected to bring more tourists.
8. Thai hotels. There are so many kinds of Thai hotels and prices. We stayed at Siam City Hotel (founded by jazz singer Madame Kamala Sukosol who gifted us with her two CDs and her daughter-in-law Melanie Giles-Clapp told me they’re soon opening The Siam boutique hotel) and the prime location Amari Watergate Hotel.
9. Hua Hin royal beach resort. One highlight of our tour was staying at the exquisite beachfront InterContinental Hua Hin Resort where the world’s top tennis player Rafael Nadal was among its first VIP guests when it opened last year, where every room has butler service, and the 119 rooms are impeccably serviced by 270 staff. The five-mile Hua Hin beach is a favorite of royalty and the Thai elite.
Boats with traders of fruits and vegetables at a floating market
10. Thai foods. Tangy, tongue-teasing and spicy Thai cuisine is one compelling reason to visit here. We ate sumptuous Thai buffets at the riverside Oriental Hotel, the Grand Hyatt Hotel Erawan and other gourmet restos. My friends, the young tycoons of the Thai Young Entrepreneurs Association (TYEA), also invited me to great lunch at posh Sukhothai Hotel’s La Scala resto. On my own, I savored exotic Thai street foods at midnight, such as one 79-year-old eatery in Pratuman Road with very delicious Hainanese chicken and sate barbecues but with no English name, just signs in Chinese and Thai.
11. Kanom Thai desserts. I couldn’t resist colorful and delectable Thai sweets at the end of each meal, or in street stalls. My secret to eating it all? I take only half portions of each dessert from the buffet but taste each one, whether made of sticky rice, pandan, coconut milk, boiled taro, mung-bean starch, tapioca, tropical fruits and others.
12. Thai beer. Singha beer is very good, and I also tried Chang and Leo.
13. Nightlife. For those who don’t wish to sleep early, there’s a dizzying array of pubs, bars, clubs, cabarets and other places. Nightclubs are (thankfully!) no-smoking areas.
14. Thai fruits. There are so many colorful, exotic-looking and delicious tropical fruits.
Thai fruits now in season
15. Siam Miramit. This elaborate show with hundreds of costumes and dazzling special effects — complete with flowing river waters and monsoon rains on stage! — retells seven centuries of Thai history. There is buffet Thai dinner before the show starts at 8 p.m.
16. Wax museums. Bangkok has a wax museum by the world-famous Madame Tussaud. Enjoy having your photos taken beside world leaders or Hollywood celebrities. Cagayan de Oro’s Sunbee Tours owner Liza Licudine said she was star-struck upon seeing her crush Brad Pitt. An older wax museum just outside the city called Thai Human Imagery Museum is different and no less impressive, with Traders Travel’s sale director August Ong impressed at how life-like the statues of the famous Buddhist monks were.
17. Thai malls. They have affordable malls all the way to the very high-end Siam Paragon, with luxury showrooms selling Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Ferraris and Porsches on the second floor and Bangkok’s biggest English-language bookstore Kinokuniya on the fifth floor.
18. Siam Ocean World. This Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium at the basement of Siam Paragon is awesome and educational for people of all ages. I enjoyed riding the glass-bottom boat to see big sharks and rays. It’s relaxing to even just sit and watch the aquatic life in the eight-meter-high aquariums or study the fishes in glass-tunnel walkways.
Woman with Thailand’s famous orchids in the Rose Garden Riverside Resort
19. Museum of Siam. When our group visited this fun museum, there were two groups of cute kindergarten kids that I had photos taken with. This museum on the history of Thailand is interactive and has games for kids and teens to enjoy while learning.
20. Chao Phraya River cruise. I now understand why Bangkok was once called “Venice of the East,” after taking a fun boat ride across this clean river. If you have time, go on a romantic dinner cruise.
21. Phra Nakhon Khiri. This simple mountain residence of a former king of the Chakri Dynasty has gardens, monkeys freely running around the grounds and panoramic views of the city. Visit here by riding the cable car up and prepare for lots of healthy walking.
22. Thai elephants. Marvel at these humongous and cute animals. Try to ride one, too!
23. Open-air market. Despite the glitz of air-conditioned malls, I still like the steamy, crowded yet fun markets where one can haggle for the best bargains. Go to Jatujak (Chatuchak) weekend market for a whole day; also Pratunam Market, which is Bangkok’s biggest wholesale clothing market, and other markets.
Thai herbs for treatment during Thai massage
24. Floating markets. I enjoyed our visit to Amphawa to see and experience the traditional floating markets filled with lively multi-colored trading goods and delicious eateries on wooden canoes. If you have time, also visit Damnoen Saduak or Don Wai.
25. Thai people. Last but definitely not the least, one truly great reason tourists love to visit this country is the charming, hospitable, kind and cheerful nature of the Thai people.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
A musicians point
"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down "happy". They told me I didn’t understand the assignment.
I told them they didn’t understand life."
— John Lennon
I told them they didn’t understand life."
— John Lennon
Friday, June 10, 2011
DALLAS – Everything promises to be sheer torture now, the worst basketball nightmare of LeBron James(notes) unfolding one mocking, ridiculing jeer stacked upon another until the world comes crashing down Sunday night. Biggest game of my life, James proclaimed, and the final minutes of Game 5, the final score, still belonged to someone else. Beyond failure, this felt so much like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Biggest game of his life, James proclaimed, and his good was unacceptable again. Greatness is demanded for a global icon. Greatness is the burden. Back to the brink for LeBron James, back to the dizzying, dumbfounding edge of his chaotic, careening planet.
More From Adrian Wojnarowski
Pacers look for help for Vogel Jun 9, 2011
Pistons to interview Sampson for coach job Jun 9, 2011
All hell crashed down upon James and the Miami Heat in a confounding 112-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, an avalanche of Mavericks 3-pointers conspiring with one more pedestrian performance from James in the fourth quarter. From Dirk Nowitzki(notes) to Jason Terry(notes), the Mavericks humiliated him in the clutch and moved within a victory of an NBA championship. Nothing out of James in the fourth quarter, nothing to honor and validate a talent that ought to be controlling these Finals.
These Dallas Mavericks go to great lengths to mess with him, hurling insults and insinuations with regularity that they never would’ve dared with different superstars. Why? Because they believe it messes with his mind. They believe the words will fester within him, keep him thinking when he ought to be reacting. Terry says James can’t guard him, and so far he’s been right. DeShawn Stevenson(notes) essentially called him a quitter in Game 4. Shawn Marion(notes) appeared to call him much worse on the floor, too.
James won’t get mad, and James won’t get even and make people pay a price. When opposing players hear people insist they ought to be respectful of James out of fear of retribution – be careful they don’t stir him with words – they privately giggle.
“Different guys are different,” Stevenson told Yahoo! Sports in a corner of the Mavericks’ locker room Thursday night. “Kobe Bryant feeds off stuff like that. He looks for it every time. LeBron’s a different kind of person. Obviously he’s a freak of nature, able to do a lot of things, but everybody in this league is built different.”
Built differently. Translated: Where’s the killer within? Where’s the best player in basketball, the prodigious talent that left the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics crumpled messes back in the Eastern Conference? Where’s the cold-bloodedness?
Where is this guy?
Deep down, James has to still see the opportunity tangled within the disheartening defeat. He goes home, and gets a chance to fight back and take that championship. The opportunity is historic. Down 2-3 in the series, James has a chance to manufacture the most dramatic narrative in Finals history.
The ultimate frontrunner could still craft the ultimate comeback story.
Maybe going home makes the difference for him. Maybe this was just too much for him in Dallas. After all, James has lost the desire to drive to the basket and get to the free-throw line. He’s lost the touch on his jump shot. He’s lost the fourth quarters of these Finals, totaling just 11 points in all five of them.
Still, LeBron James hasn’t lost these Finals. He hasn’t lost this series. Now, winning could be bigger than ever. He’s set himself up for one of the great, great victories in NBA history or one of the biggest flops ever seen. Never in-between with him, never halfway.
When the game was over, someone asked Chris Bosh(notes) how James had played. Bosh stared blankly for a moment, because James’ performance was statistically sound and perfectly forgettable. Finally, Bosh looked down at the stat sheet and managed to spit out, “Triple-double.”
Yes, triple-double: 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. In the final five minutes, 59 seconds, James missed two of his three shots, had no assists, no rebounds and a turnover.
As Game 5 slipped away, James missed an open 3-pointer with the Heat trailing 102-100. He was called for a charge on the baseline. And he let Terry beat him on the biggest 3-pointer of the night. No one had talked more trash at James, and no one backed it up with such brilliant shot-making. For nearly the entire fourth quarter, James went without a basket – and don’t dare count a layup inside the final minute once the Heat were far gone. This was A-Rod with a ninth inning solo shot to make it 7-2.
Eventually, James is going to do this. He’s going to win a title. Once again, the Heat need to win Games 6 and 7, or the Year of LeBron becomes one big bust. These days, he is a one-man, 24-hour news cycle. When James is done talking between games in these playoffs, half-baked reports on his personal life are flying and innocent bystanders are ducking shrapnel, forced to publicly deny cyber gossip. He’s the deepest, darkest swirling vortex of insanity that modern sports has ever seen.
Just Thursday morning at the Heat’s shootaround, someone asked James how he had been spending his time since a costly and dreadful eight-point debacle in Game 4. Why, he had been reading everyone’s columns on the Internet. This inspired a good laugh, but he probably wasn’t joking. From his mid-teens, he’s always seen himself from the outside looking in, as a spectacle within a spectacle. Reality is a fuzzy place for a child prodigy raised, empowered and enabled by the sneaker industry.
As a product of that environment, the need for James to validate his brand with unforgettable performances, with clutch play in championship games, is monumental. And perhaps paralyzing. He had a good game on Thursday night, but it doesn’t matter that James plays with Dwyane Wade(notes) and Bosh. Good isn’t good enough for him. No one’s even sure great covers it for him.
By design, James and his crackerjack marketers wanted the feeding frenzies, wanted the residual of “The Decision” to be the dawning of a generational, global sports icon. Well, global icons take over fourth quarters. They find a way to will their teams – will themselves – to victory. LeBron James still has his chance. He still has Games 6 and 7 in Miami. All cheers, all adulation for him. He needs it, craves it, because he isn’t so hot with hostility.
The next 72 hours promise to be the most torturous for James, because the world will keep closing on him, keep parsing and replaying and re-engaging everything about his Finals failures. He can’t help himself, because so much of the way he sees himself, the way he built himself, was through the prism of this basketball “Truman Show.”
From the edge of disaster, from the brink, James can still do the unthinkable. After running off to play with Wade and Bosh, the ultimate frontrunner can still craft the ultimate comeback. Between now and then, the biggest job for James will be to spare himself combustion from ingesting everything that’s coming for him now. These Mavericks don’t seem to believe this is all fuel for James. They don’t believe he gets angry and narrow, but shaken and obtuse. They aren’t alone, and that’s the burden on James now.
All these months, all about him, and good isn’t enough now. Greatness is demanded, dominance. James gets his chance again. All that noise, all that static, and those 72 hours between Games 5 and 6 promise to raise the volume, raise the stakes on a man who sometimes can be so easily distracted, easily disturbed. Back to the brink for James, back to that combative, spinning place where his basketball career, his life, has long existed. Seventy-two hours of poring over everything – what the world’s saying, thinking and wishing – could be crippling. Biggest game of his life, all over again.
Here comes Game 6 for LeBron James, here come the walls, the chances, the mayhem of everything he’s created, real and illusionary. Here comes LeBron James, the contradiction of contradictions: the frontrunner chasing a comeback story.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiHFeGHKwHjt2o_RYpn.FD.8vLYF?slug=aw-wojnarowski_lebron_james_nba_finals_game5_061011
Biggest game of his life, James proclaimed, and his good was unacceptable again. Greatness is demanded for a global icon. Greatness is the burden. Back to the brink for LeBron James, back to the dizzying, dumbfounding edge of his chaotic, careening planet.
More From Adrian Wojnarowski
Pacers look for help for Vogel Jun 9, 2011
Pistons to interview Sampson for coach job Jun 9, 2011
All hell crashed down upon James and the Miami Heat in a confounding 112-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, an avalanche of Mavericks 3-pointers conspiring with one more pedestrian performance from James in the fourth quarter. From Dirk Nowitzki(notes) to Jason Terry(notes), the Mavericks humiliated him in the clutch and moved within a victory of an NBA championship. Nothing out of James in the fourth quarter, nothing to honor and validate a talent that ought to be controlling these Finals.
These Dallas Mavericks go to great lengths to mess with him, hurling insults and insinuations with regularity that they never would’ve dared with different superstars. Why? Because they believe it messes with his mind. They believe the words will fester within him, keep him thinking when he ought to be reacting. Terry says James can’t guard him, and so far he’s been right. DeShawn Stevenson(notes) essentially called him a quitter in Game 4. Shawn Marion(notes) appeared to call him much worse on the floor, too.
James won’t get mad, and James won’t get even and make people pay a price. When opposing players hear people insist they ought to be respectful of James out of fear of retribution – be careful they don’t stir him with words – they privately giggle.
“Different guys are different,” Stevenson told Yahoo! Sports in a corner of the Mavericks’ locker room Thursday night. “Kobe Bryant feeds off stuff like that. He looks for it every time. LeBron’s a different kind of person. Obviously he’s a freak of nature, able to do a lot of things, but everybody in this league is built different.”
Built differently. Translated: Where’s the killer within? Where’s the best player in basketball, the prodigious talent that left the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics crumpled messes back in the Eastern Conference? Where’s the cold-bloodedness?
Where is this guy?
Deep down, James has to still see the opportunity tangled within the disheartening defeat. He goes home, and gets a chance to fight back and take that championship. The opportunity is historic. Down 2-3 in the series, James has a chance to manufacture the most dramatic narrative in Finals history.
The ultimate frontrunner could still craft the ultimate comeback story.
Maybe going home makes the difference for him. Maybe this was just too much for him in Dallas. After all, James has lost the desire to drive to the basket and get to the free-throw line. He’s lost the touch on his jump shot. He’s lost the fourth quarters of these Finals, totaling just 11 points in all five of them.
Still, LeBron James hasn’t lost these Finals. He hasn’t lost this series. Now, winning could be bigger than ever. He’s set himself up for one of the great, great victories in NBA history or one of the biggest flops ever seen. Never in-between with him, never halfway.
When the game was over, someone asked Chris Bosh(notes) how James had played. Bosh stared blankly for a moment, because James’ performance was statistically sound and perfectly forgettable. Finally, Bosh looked down at the stat sheet and managed to spit out, “Triple-double.”
Yes, triple-double: 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. In the final five minutes, 59 seconds, James missed two of his three shots, had no assists, no rebounds and a turnover.
As Game 5 slipped away, James missed an open 3-pointer with the Heat trailing 102-100. He was called for a charge on the baseline. And he let Terry beat him on the biggest 3-pointer of the night. No one had talked more trash at James, and no one backed it up with such brilliant shot-making. For nearly the entire fourth quarter, James went without a basket – and don’t dare count a layup inside the final minute once the Heat were far gone. This was A-Rod with a ninth inning solo shot to make it 7-2.
Eventually, James is going to do this. He’s going to win a title. Once again, the Heat need to win Games 6 and 7, or the Year of LeBron becomes one big bust. These days, he is a one-man, 24-hour news cycle. When James is done talking between games in these playoffs, half-baked reports on his personal life are flying and innocent bystanders are ducking shrapnel, forced to publicly deny cyber gossip. He’s the deepest, darkest swirling vortex of insanity that modern sports has ever seen.
Just Thursday morning at the Heat’s shootaround, someone asked James how he had been spending his time since a costly and dreadful eight-point debacle in Game 4. Why, he had been reading everyone’s columns on the Internet. This inspired a good laugh, but he probably wasn’t joking. From his mid-teens, he’s always seen himself from the outside looking in, as a spectacle within a spectacle. Reality is a fuzzy place for a child prodigy raised, empowered and enabled by the sneaker industry.
As a product of that environment, the need for James to validate his brand with unforgettable performances, with clutch play in championship games, is monumental. And perhaps paralyzing. He had a good game on Thursday night, but it doesn’t matter that James plays with Dwyane Wade(notes) and Bosh. Good isn’t good enough for him. No one’s even sure great covers it for him.
By design, James and his crackerjack marketers wanted the feeding frenzies, wanted the residual of “The Decision” to be the dawning of a generational, global sports icon. Well, global icons take over fourth quarters. They find a way to will their teams – will themselves – to victory. LeBron James still has his chance. He still has Games 6 and 7 in Miami. All cheers, all adulation for him. He needs it, craves it, because he isn’t so hot with hostility.
The next 72 hours promise to be the most torturous for James, because the world will keep closing on him, keep parsing and replaying and re-engaging everything about his Finals failures. He can’t help himself, because so much of the way he sees himself, the way he built himself, was through the prism of this basketball “Truman Show.”
From the edge of disaster, from the brink, James can still do the unthinkable. After running off to play with Wade and Bosh, the ultimate frontrunner can still craft the ultimate comeback. Between now and then, the biggest job for James will be to spare himself combustion from ingesting everything that’s coming for him now. These Mavericks don’t seem to believe this is all fuel for James. They don’t believe he gets angry and narrow, but shaken and obtuse. They aren’t alone, and that’s the burden on James now.
All these months, all about him, and good isn’t enough now. Greatness is demanded, dominance. James gets his chance again. All that noise, all that static, and those 72 hours between Games 5 and 6 promise to raise the volume, raise the stakes on a man who sometimes can be so easily distracted, easily disturbed. Back to the brink for James, back to that combative, spinning place where his basketball career, his life, has long existed. Seventy-two hours of poring over everything – what the world’s saying, thinking and wishing – could be crippling. Biggest game of his life, all over again.
Here comes Game 6 for LeBron James, here come the walls, the chances, the mayhem of everything he’s created, real and illusionary. Here comes LeBron James, the contradiction of contradictions: the frontrunner chasing a comeback story.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiHFeGHKwHjt2o_RYpn.FD.8vLYF?slug=aw-wojnarowski_lebron_james_nba_finals_game5_061011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Ten Reasons Why You Should Get Your S**t Together
MAY. 30, 2011 By RYAN O'CONNELL
You’re going to look old as shit in a few years if you don’t get it together. Excessive drinking and little sleep means you’re going to be channeling Chelsea Handler’s visage very soon. It’s cute to look like shit when you’re 24 because if you just put a little bit of effort in, you can make yourself cute again. “Wow, there’s youthful and fresh skin underneath all of this grime. Who knew?” That changes as you get older. Every line, every life scar starts to stick like glue and you can no longer wash a hangover off of your face with some organic soap you bought at Whole Foods when you were high.
In case you haven’t noticed, life is expensive. There are bills for your bills. You get charged a hundred dollars for just thinking that you have a toothache. Your job at Anthropologie is fine for now. Your expenses consist of your $400 a month rent, your $600 a month alcohol habit, and your growing dependency to Chipotle but it’s time for you to think in the long-term. What can give you benefits and health coverage? What job will pay you if you happen to get hurt or sick? Not Anthro! They’ll just give you an empire waist dress, a tofu burrito and write you a get well card.
It’s fun to see yourself mature! There’s always this fear that you’ll be the last person at the party. You’ll be the guy urging people to do shots when they’re like “um, no. I have to get up at six in the morning.” Don’t be That Guy. Become the guy who’s afraid of That Guy.
Growing up means liking yourself more and more. You’ve been with yourself long enough to feel comfortable in your own skin. Self-respect can be something that’s innate but it can also develop with age. The awful things you let people do to you when you were seventeen should make you cringe. If it doesn’t, you might still be letting them do it.
You can have a real relationship with someone. Your mind can handle it. “Why aren’t we fighting every second and having mind-blowing hate sex? Oh right, because I actually like them. Weird.” When you’re younger, you equate love with mind games, manipulation, and experiencing insane highs and lows. It makes sense because that’s where your head is at when you’re young. I mean, how can you love someone for real when you’re batshit insane? Growing up, however, means letting good people into your life and letting healthy relationships happen
Once you understand that you don’t have to get wasted, sleep with a random, and vomit in a trashcan to have a successful Friday night, you can actually get the good kind of drunk and have the good kind of fun. When people had Walks of Shame in college, they were actually secretly happy about it. Shaming was seen as a good thing. “Wait, you hooked up with three guys, took E, and don’t know how you got home? Ugh, I’m so jealous. I wish I had gone out with you guys.”
You can grow up anytime you want. You can do it at 20, 25, or 40. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with age. Growing up just means deleting things and people who are bad for you. It means taking care of business, taking care of yourself, and not repeating the same mistakes. Everyone has their own growing up to do. It does not mean you have to drink Earl Grey every night, get a cat and be in bed by 11. Jesus, that would suck.
You can attract better friendships. F.Y.I. your party friends probably don’t give a shit about you. Have you ever seen them in the daylight? They’re not the people you call when stuff gets real anyway. They’re the people you call when you want to avoid everything that’s real. You want to have a fake time? Call your fake friends.
You’ll be happier. You won’t cry over something as silly as an ignored phone call, won’t walk around feeling like you could break at any moment. When you grow up, things are more steady. No more extremes. Things are just good.
You can stop worrying that you’re never going to get your shit together. You did it! You didn’t get swallowed up by the bad things. U R A 20-SOMETHING SURVIVOR.
You’re going to look old as shit in a few years if you don’t get it together. Excessive drinking and little sleep means you’re going to be channeling Chelsea Handler’s visage very soon. It’s cute to look like shit when you’re 24 because if you just put a little bit of effort in, you can make yourself cute again. “Wow, there’s youthful and fresh skin underneath all of this grime. Who knew?” That changes as you get older. Every line, every life scar starts to stick like glue and you can no longer wash a hangover off of your face with some organic soap you bought at Whole Foods when you were high.
In case you haven’t noticed, life is expensive. There are bills for your bills. You get charged a hundred dollars for just thinking that you have a toothache. Your job at Anthropologie is fine for now. Your expenses consist of your $400 a month rent, your $600 a month alcohol habit, and your growing dependency to Chipotle but it’s time for you to think in the long-term. What can give you benefits and health coverage? What job will pay you if you happen to get hurt or sick? Not Anthro! They’ll just give you an empire waist dress, a tofu burrito and write you a get well card.
It’s fun to see yourself mature! There’s always this fear that you’ll be the last person at the party. You’ll be the guy urging people to do shots when they’re like “um, no. I have to get up at six in the morning.” Don’t be That Guy. Become the guy who’s afraid of That Guy.
Growing up means liking yourself more and more. You’ve been with yourself long enough to feel comfortable in your own skin. Self-respect can be something that’s innate but it can also develop with age. The awful things you let people do to you when you were seventeen should make you cringe. If it doesn’t, you might still be letting them do it.
You can have a real relationship with someone. Your mind can handle it. “Why aren’t we fighting every second and having mind-blowing hate sex? Oh right, because I actually like them. Weird.” When you’re younger, you equate love with mind games, manipulation, and experiencing insane highs and lows. It makes sense because that’s where your head is at when you’re young. I mean, how can you love someone for real when you’re batshit insane? Growing up, however, means letting good people into your life and letting healthy relationships happen
Once you understand that you don’t have to get wasted, sleep with a random, and vomit in a trashcan to have a successful Friday night, you can actually get the good kind of drunk and have the good kind of fun. When people had Walks of Shame in college, they were actually secretly happy about it. Shaming was seen as a good thing. “Wait, you hooked up with three guys, took E, and don’t know how you got home? Ugh, I’m so jealous. I wish I had gone out with you guys.”
You can grow up anytime you want. You can do it at 20, 25, or 40. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with age. Growing up just means deleting things and people who are bad for you. It means taking care of business, taking care of yourself, and not repeating the same mistakes. Everyone has their own growing up to do. It does not mean you have to drink Earl Grey every night, get a cat and be in bed by 11. Jesus, that would suck.
You can attract better friendships. F.Y.I. your party friends probably don’t give a shit about you. Have you ever seen them in the daylight? They’re not the people you call when stuff gets real anyway. They’re the people you call when you want to avoid everything that’s real. You want to have a fake time? Call your fake friends.
You’ll be happier. You won’t cry over something as silly as an ignored phone call, won’t walk around feeling like you could break at any moment. When you grow up, things are more steady. No more extremes. Things are just good.
You can stop worrying that you’re never going to get your shit together. You did it! You didn’t get swallowed up by the bad things. U R A 20-SOMETHING SURVIVOR.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
FOod To GO
op 20 less-known hawkers
Monday May 30, 2011 02:22 am PDT
We scour the streets of Singapore to find the best hawker joints that you don't know about but should
1. Ban Mian, L32 Shou Gong Mian Stall 32, Lorong 32 Geylang, 558 Geylang Rd.
These homemade noodles have just the right thickness, and are soft and supple. The soup is light yet flavourful, and complements the fresh and slightly sweet prawns and extremely crispy-fried anchovies. But the best bit is the chili which is delightfully spicy. ($3-5.50)
2. Black Carrot Cake, Le Yi Shi Fried Carrot Cake, #01-38, 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Hawker Centre
The carrot cake here is chopped thickly, so those who prefer chunky cuts will be pleased. Fried until slightly caramelised, it's evenly coated with thick, dark soy sauce. It's not cloyingly sweet and is balanced well with the somewhat fiery and sour chili. ($2-3)
3. Briyani, Ali Nachia Briyani Dam, #02-04, Blk. 5 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
A combination of Northern and Southern Indian influences, the briyani here consists of raita, curry with eggplant and potato, mutton and achar. The rice is fragrant but not too oily, and is topped with a generous chunk of mutton that's amazingly tender when bitten into. The raita is also different from the standard, watery types, and is rich and satisfying. ($6)
4. Char Kway Teow, Heng Huat Fried Kway Teow, #01-36 Pasir Panjang Food Centre, 121 Pasir Panjang Rd.
It's surprisingly vegetable-heavy, but in a good way. Tasty yet not too oily, the crunch from the vegetables mingles well with the softness of the kway teow. ($3)
5. Chinese Rojak , Stall 11 Economic Bee Hoon-Nasi Lemak-Rojak Stall, 11 Sembawang Hill Food Centre, 590 Upper Thomson Rd.
Portions here are generous, so come prepared to eat. The fruits and veggies are chopped into large chunks and tossed with you tiao, tao pok and rojak sauce. The toasted you tiao is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a mildly-charred taste, while the tao pok is softer than the you tiao and absorbs the sauce nicely. ($3-4)
6. Fish Ball Noodles, Da Zhong Meatball, Fishball, Kway Teow Mee, #02-196 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, 116 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
The stars here are the springy and firm homemade fish balls, but fish cakes and meatballs are also all full of flavour. ($2.80)
7. Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, #01-15 Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
You'll be thrilled with this find: fluffy, fragrant rice with moist and juicy chicken flesh. Don't forget to pile on the delicious, finely-ground chili. The soup is also slurp-worthy and has a slight herbal taste. ($3)
8. Herbal Mutton Soup, New World Mutton Soup, #01-55 Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 207 New Upper Changi Rd.
We know folks who won't even go near mutton because of the smell. But they haven't tried the mutton soup here. The broth is both hearty and comforting, while the meat is not tough at all. The chili has a slight Thai-style sweet and spicy tanginess. ($4-10)
9. Hor Fun, Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty, #02-33 Mei Ling Food Centre, 159 Mei Chin Rd.
Chicken hor fun done just right. The gravy has just the right amount of salt and isn't too thick, while the chicken slices are tender. But what makes this a real winner are the large, sweet and juicy mushrooms. ($3-5)
10. Kway Chap, 138 Kway Chap & Porridge, #02-138 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, 116 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
This is a tribute to all things porcine, served with tender pork slices, pig skin and pork intestines. The mix of textures is great when eaten with the slippery noodles, salted vegetables and a braised hard-boiled egg all swimming in savory dark soy-based sauce. ($3)
11. Laksa, Wei Yi Laksa & Prawn Noodle, Stall 20 Tanglin Halt Market & Food Centre, 48A Tanglin Halt Rd.
The gravy is rich without being too thick, with just the right amount of fieriness. The serving of chicken strips, prawns and sliced fish cakes is generous too.
If you're all about heat, just throw in more of their yummy sambal. ($3-3.50)
12. Malay Chicken Rice, Lorong Limau Muslim Chicken Rice, Stall 1, 56 Kim Keat Rd.
The serving of fried chicken is generous, the batter light but very crispy, and the rice fragrant and moist. With suitably spicy chunky chili paired with fresh cucumber and lettuce to cool your mouth, we're willing to forgive the mediocrity of the soup. ($3)
13. Mee Rebus, Rahim Muslim Food, #01-02 Ah Seah Eating House, Kovan Centre, 9 Yio Chu Kang Rd.
It's the only hawker we know of that puts satay sauce on mee rebus. The thickness of the gravy is balanced with the nutty taste and slightly chunky texture of the satay sauce. ($2.80)
14. Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle, Lai Heng Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle, #01-62 Ngee Huat Eating House, 51 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
The minced pork is not too soft and has a perfectly chewy texture, while the succulent mushroom slices introduce a rich, savoury element into the dish. ($3-5)
15. Nasi Ayam Penyet, Nur Indah Kitchen, Stall 007 Bedok Corner Food Centre, 1 Bedok Rd.
The crunchy yet tender chicken is a winner, and it goes wonderfully with the rice cooked in chicken stock. The chili is both sweet and sour with a kick, but not overpowering. ($4.50)
16. Nasi Lemak, Sheikh Najib Nasi Lemak, 18 Rowell Rd.
Start with fragrant and plentiful rice, topping that with some chunky and slightly sweet sambal. The chicken drumstick and wings are fried to crisp, golden perfection. There's also omelet and ikan bilis served on a banana leaf-covered plate. ($3.50)
17. Nasi Padang, Hajjah Mona Nasi Padang, #02-166 Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre, 1 Geylang Serai
The power-packed chili padi paste is a perfect match to the ayam bakar which is especially tender with a smoky flavour. The urap - fresh, raw vegetables tossed with bean sprouts and grated coconut - is a favourite among customers, and we can certainly understand why. The crunchiness coupled with the coconut flavour is hugely addictive. ($5-6.50)
18. Or Luak, Riverside Good Food, #01-21 Zion Riverside Food Centre, 86 Zion Rd.
The omelet is fried to perfection. Its crisp, savoury exterior is a lovely contrast to the fresh, succulent oysters. It almost doesn't need the tangy chili sauce. ($4-8)
19. Roti Prata, Riyadh Muslim Food, Stall 12 Soon Soon Lai Eating House, 32 Defu Lane 10
Just slightly bigger than your palm, the prata is not too thick or thin and has a golden brown coat that is crisp. Inside, it is still soft and fluffy. Have it with full-flavoured chicken curry. ($0.70-1.30)
20. Sup Tulang, Al Kader Restaurant, #01-534, 820 Tampines St. 81
Don't let the deep red gravy put you off - this is a fabulous rendition with a strong tomato taste. The meat is tender, and unlike other sup tulangs, there's lots of marrow in the bone just waiting to be slurped. ($6-12)
Monday May 30, 2011 02:22 am PDT
We scour the streets of Singapore to find the best hawker joints that you don't know about but should
1. Ban Mian, L32 Shou Gong Mian Stall 32, Lorong 32 Geylang, 558 Geylang Rd.
These homemade noodles have just the right thickness, and are soft and supple. The soup is light yet flavourful, and complements the fresh and slightly sweet prawns and extremely crispy-fried anchovies. But the best bit is the chili which is delightfully spicy. ($3-5.50)
2. Black Carrot Cake, Le Yi Shi Fried Carrot Cake, #01-38, 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Hawker Centre
The carrot cake here is chopped thickly, so those who prefer chunky cuts will be pleased. Fried until slightly caramelised, it's evenly coated with thick, dark soy sauce. It's not cloyingly sweet and is balanced well with the somewhat fiery and sour chili. ($2-3)
3. Briyani, Ali Nachia Briyani Dam, #02-04, Blk. 5 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
A combination of Northern and Southern Indian influences, the briyani here consists of raita, curry with eggplant and potato, mutton and achar. The rice is fragrant but not too oily, and is topped with a generous chunk of mutton that's amazingly tender when bitten into. The raita is also different from the standard, watery types, and is rich and satisfying. ($6)
4. Char Kway Teow, Heng Huat Fried Kway Teow, #01-36 Pasir Panjang Food Centre, 121 Pasir Panjang Rd.
It's surprisingly vegetable-heavy, but in a good way. Tasty yet not too oily, the crunch from the vegetables mingles well with the softness of the kway teow. ($3)
5. Chinese Rojak , Stall 11 Economic Bee Hoon-Nasi Lemak-Rojak Stall, 11 Sembawang Hill Food Centre, 590 Upper Thomson Rd.
Portions here are generous, so come prepared to eat. The fruits and veggies are chopped into large chunks and tossed with you tiao, tao pok and rojak sauce. The toasted you tiao is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a mildly-charred taste, while the tao pok is softer than the you tiao and absorbs the sauce nicely. ($3-4)
6. Fish Ball Noodles, Da Zhong Meatball, Fishball, Kway Teow Mee, #02-196 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, 116 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
The stars here are the springy and firm homemade fish balls, but fish cakes and meatballs are also all full of flavour. ($2.80)
7. Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, #01-15 Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
You'll be thrilled with this find: fluffy, fragrant rice with moist and juicy chicken flesh. Don't forget to pile on the delicious, finely-ground chili. The soup is also slurp-worthy and has a slight herbal taste. ($3)
8. Herbal Mutton Soup, New World Mutton Soup, #01-55 Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 207 New Upper Changi Rd.
We know folks who won't even go near mutton because of the smell. But they haven't tried the mutton soup here. The broth is both hearty and comforting, while the meat is not tough at all. The chili has a slight Thai-style sweet and spicy tanginess. ($4-10)
9. Hor Fun, Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty, #02-33 Mei Ling Food Centre, 159 Mei Chin Rd.
Chicken hor fun done just right. The gravy has just the right amount of salt and isn't too thick, while the chicken slices are tender. But what makes this a real winner are the large, sweet and juicy mushrooms. ($3-5)
10. Kway Chap, 138 Kway Chap & Porridge, #02-138 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, 116 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
This is a tribute to all things porcine, served with tender pork slices, pig skin and pork intestines. The mix of textures is great when eaten with the slippery noodles, salted vegetables and a braised hard-boiled egg all swimming in savory dark soy-based sauce. ($3)
11. Laksa, Wei Yi Laksa & Prawn Noodle, Stall 20 Tanglin Halt Market & Food Centre, 48A Tanglin Halt Rd.
The gravy is rich without being too thick, with just the right amount of fieriness. The serving of chicken strips, prawns and sliced fish cakes is generous too.
If you're all about heat, just throw in more of their yummy sambal. ($3-3.50)
12. Malay Chicken Rice, Lorong Limau Muslim Chicken Rice, Stall 1, 56 Kim Keat Rd.
The serving of fried chicken is generous, the batter light but very crispy, and the rice fragrant and moist. With suitably spicy chunky chili paired with fresh cucumber and lettuce to cool your mouth, we're willing to forgive the mediocrity of the soup. ($3)
13. Mee Rebus, Rahim Muslim Food, #01-02 Ah Seah Eating House, Kovan Centre, 9 Yio Chu Kang Rd.
It's the only hawker we know of that puts satay sauce on mee rebus. The thickness of the gravy is balanced with the nutty taste and slightly chunky texture of the satay sauce. ($2.80)
14. Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle, Lai Heng Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle, #01-62 Ngee Huat Eating House, 51 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
The minced pork is not too soft and has a perfectly chewy texture, while the succulent mushroom slices introduce a rich, savoury element into the dish. ($3-5)
15. Nasi Ayam Penyet, Nur Indah Kitchen, Stall 007 Bedok Corner Food Centre, 1 Bedok Rd.
The crunchy yet tender chicken is a winner, and it goes wonderfully with the rice cooked in chicken stock. The chili is both sweet and sour with a kick, but not overpowering. ($4.50)
16. Nasi Lemak, Sheikh Najib Nasi Lemak, 18 Rowell Rd.
Start with fragrant and plentiful rice, topping that with some chunky and slightly sweet sambal. The chicken drumstick and wings are fried to crisp, golden perfection. There's also omelet and ikan bilis served on a banana leaf-covered plate. ($3.50)
17. Nasi Padang, Hajjah Mona Nasi Padang, #02-166 Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre, 1 Geylang Serai
The power-packed chili padi paste is a perfect match to the ayam bakar which is especially tender with a smoky flavour. The urap - fresh, raw vegetables tossed with bean sprouts and grated coconut - is a favourite among customers, and we can certainly understand why. The crunchiness coupled with the coconut flavour is hugely addictive. ($5-6.50)
18. Or Luak, Riverside Good Food, #01-21 Zion Riverside Food Centre, 86 Zion Rd.
The omelet is fried to perfection. Its crisp, savoury exterior is a lovely contrast to the fresh, succulent oysters. It almost doesn't need the tangy chili sauce. ($4-8)
19. Roti Prata, Riyadh Muslim Food, Stall 12 Soon Soon Lai Eating House, 32 Defu Lane 10
Just slightly bigger than your palm, the prata is not too thick or thin and has a golden brown coat that is crisp. Inside, it is still soft and fluffy. Have it with full-flavoured chicken curry. ($0.70-1.30)
20. Sup Tulang, Al Kader Restaurant, #01-534, 820 Tampines St. 81
Don't let the deep red gravy put you off - this is a fabulous rendition with a strong tomato taste. The meat is tender, and unlike other sup tulangs, there's lots of marrow in the bone just waiting to be slurped. ($6-12)
Must Try
Buzz: A bona fide cocktail bar that's just about two months old, co-founded by Ethan Leslie Leong and Leonard Low - yet another welcome addition to the buzzing heart of Chinatown.
Décor: With a primarily white colour scheme (the chairs, sofas, walls, curtains and even chandeliers), the vibe is chic but not stuffy. And of course, it comes complete with the requisite dim lighting.
Food & Drinks: First of all, don't expect to find any beer or wine here, although Dom does make an appearance. It's all about the art of mixology here, with a list of cocktails ($22-38) organized by flavour. Pick from drinks such as strawberry Frangelico sour, basil caipiroska or Red Ruby martini.
There's also a special flambé martini ($28). Also try the White Russian, Brandy Alexandra or chocolate.
If you're feeling peckish, bar bites include pizzas ($25 upwards), pastas ($23 upwards), chicken yakit garlic butter escargots ($28).
Music: Chill-out tunes that are undeniably groovy but not too up-tempo.
Crowd: At the moment, it's mostly yuppies working in the area and Lamborghini or Ferrari-driving types. You can help change that.
Why you'll be back: For those days after work when the only reward should be a luscious, well-mixed concoction (or several).
49/51 Kreta Ayer Rd.; 6557‑0538; Open Mondays to Thursdays from 11:30 am to 1 am, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 am to 2 am
Décor: With a primarily white colour scheme (the chairs, sofas, walls, curtains and even chandeliers), the vibe is chic but not stuffy. And of course, it comes complete with the requisite dim lighting.
Food & Drinks: First of all, don't expect to find any beer or wine here, although Dom does make an appearance. It's all about the art of mixology here, with a list of cocktails ($22-38) organized by flavour. Pick from drinks such as strawberry Frangelico sour, basil caipiroska or Red Ruby martini.
There's also a special flambé martini ($28). Also try the White Russian, Brandy Alexandra or chocolate.
If you're feeling peckish, bar bites include pizzas ($25 upwards), pastas ($23 upwards), chicken yakit garlic butter escargots ($28).
Music: Chill-out tunes that are undeniably groovy but not too up-tempo.
Crowd: At the moment, it's mostly yuppies working in the area and Lamborghini or Ferrari-driving types. You can help change that.
Why you'll be back: For those days after work when the only reward should be a luscious, well-mixed concoction (or several).
49/51 Kreta Ayer Rd.; 6557‑0538; Open Mondays to Thursdays from 11:30 am to 1 am, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 am to 2 am
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