Relax!

The way we receive our castings feels very spy ish. Each day around 6 pm a fax comes in, my ears perk up, curiosity for what the following day has in store for me. Yesterday's schedule contained 2 castings both for property management. Convenient I thought, as I had just placed the copied images the Aska (thanks man) provided for me into my book. Images from the shoot from when I first arrived in Thailand, check em out.

The castings went quite well, the clients at the second one really seemed to like. Then again it's always so hard to tell with these kind of things as there were 9 other guys. Wish me luck!

After finishing the castings Kevin and I stopped by a pub across the street Durty Nelly's for a pint and some grub. I had braised beef and he had chicken. It was a very filling meal for both of us and totalled 700 TB, so somewhere around 20 bucks CAD.

I came home and completed a GSP: Rushfit Core and Ab Strength video with the Air Con cranked.

BEEP BEEP BEEP. Basil Exposition came in on the fax with the next days lineup. One casting, van pick up 9:30, casting at 11. Well its usually not that simple, but we needed to drop Kornelia off at her casting and Bangkok traffic is terrible.

The casting was a gong show to get to once we arrived at our destination. 21st floor is what we were told. Well the building we entered the elevator goes up to 5. Thats a bit of an issue, secondly asking for directions when you don't speak thai is much more difficult. My english has gone back to very simple and a great use of hand gestures. Eventually we arrive at the casting and all is well.

Waiting for the van to pick us up we wandered around to a 7-11 to buy a top up for my phone. Turns out the initial SIM card they provide is stacked with a whopping 50 baht (about 1.66 CAD). This doesn't last very long when you take a couple phone calls and texts. Sorry Karen haha, this is why I couldn't reply to your text the other night. I think I have a new operation for you though, operation cardamon. En route however, I discovered the best tasting mango I have ever had. 2 mangos all diced and peeled, so delicious, 20 baht. Naturally I ate it all.

I was taken back to the agency just to chat some business and then head for a haircut. I certainly felt this was very much needed. My hair is incredibly messy and out of sort from the gym now so I will try and snap a pic soon.

I picked up some pad thai from a street vendor for evening meal. WOW! Was this pad thai ever awesome!

On my cab ride home from the agency, which cost about 70 TB, I had an awesome cab driver. There was massive language gap, but we had decent conversation. He taught me to count to 10, although I can only remember up to five. We also talked about avoiding lady boys (basically a lady boy and a no no no and shake head and push away). Also discussed Canada and the mountains, I showed him a few pictures on my phone, his mind was blown away.  He taught me a few other little things in thai but I forgot unfortunately.

Kevin managed to swing a deal with the Fitness First thats a 15 minute walk from the condo. So we went there for a workout. For those that don't know fitness first would be the equivalent of a WHC or Goodlife. Although crazy! Not one pull up bar, just the silly pull up machines.

Riding the steamboat

 I didn’t write about yesterday’s Chinatown adventure, so I figure I would combine this with today’s travels. 

To start with huge props to Vanessa and Bremner for recommending I watch “the League”. It is easily one of my favourite shows I have ever watched. The smack talk that goes down in that is ridiculous. I am always entertained with that show, it will be rather sad when it’s all done. In one of my fantasy football leagues, I just made it into the playoffs. Two weeks and Shiva will be all mine.

Monday my usual gym, pool, go see agents. I visited with the ladies we talked about it being a slower time right now; it’s not me that’s not been busy, its everyone unfortunately. I have stopped worrying about what will come of this. If I can keep a positive attitude and keep adventures rolling then that will have to do. I mean of course I want to work and make money, but you can’t force something that’s not there. Patience.

We discussed more of the cuisine I have tried, and the latest hawker centres as well as the possibility of me taking off for a few days over the Christmas holidays. Hopefully I can find out about a cheap fun place to go.  I have been chatting with Curtis in Australia we are going to try and find a place somewhere here in SE Asia.

After heading off from the agency, I decided to grab myself some lunch. Today, after a discussion with Brenna I had a tickle in my stomach that could only be satisfied by Phad Thai. This kicked the crap out of any Pad Thai I have had in North America. Sorry RawBar it did the trick but has got nothing on this delight. Stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, fish sauce, tamarind juice, red chili pepper, plus bean sprouts, shrimp and tofu, garnished with crushed peanuts, coriander and lime. All of that plus the Thai condiments (crushed peanuts, garlic chives, pickled turnip, cilantro, lime, spicy chili oil, chili powder, vinegar, fish sauce, sugar). While eating my unsatisfactory cheap chopsticks gave me a small sliver on my lip.

Next stop CHINATOWN, to buy? CHOPSTICKS! I meandered around Chinatown for hours, so many small little shops and things to check out. Tailors trying to pull you in, my iPod and sunglasses worked like a charm. I would love to buy some ivory chopsticks or Apple wood or Marble they all look great, but me being me, bought the set for $1. Cheap bamboo ones, with writing of my initials. I almost bought 3 watches for 10 bucks, they had much nicer ones in Chinatown than Little India, but I decided against this for today. 

Spotted this Pub " Tai Mai Shu"

This building made me think of Star Wars Episode II

I was in a walking spirit so decided to find a hawker centre. I asked Barbara (Ms. Googlemaps) and to the Zion Riverside Food Centre I go, approx., 45-minute walk. I spotted a Ferrari dealership along the way and tried to get pictures, but they were all inside and the windows were tinted. Bummer! For dinner, I relied on lines and signs indicated I was to have Chai Tow Kway or Carrot cake. The guy had awards all over his hawker stall, and watching him brought a smile to my face. He truly loved what he did; he was the Brian Flanagan of Singapore Carrot cake. I asked for it to go, not entirely sure why. I think because I had discovered this wonderful riverside walk that would take me all the way to my apartment in just over 2 km. This was a spectacular site, worth another stop for sure. I think I will read books here. 

As for today, well pool and gym obviously. I had a great opportunity to catch up with Kelly and Vickie over Skype; they were being silly about being on video because apparently they just finished spin class. I told them they still looked pretty, and its true. It’s always funny chatting with them they are always so cheerful and full of laughter.

My adventure today was rather simple, my goal was to get lost in the downtown area and find my way back. This is very easy to do with the underground network of tunnels between buildings. Similar to the +15’s back home you can make it everywhere without going outside. This is quite advantageous when it’s say 38 degrees outside.

I found my favourite crepe place and had their Sesame chicken crepe, read my book for a bit then headed home.  I decided I would take this opportunity to enjoy the nice weather and read my book in my newly discovered riverside park. This is exactly what I did. Taking in the nature and the songs of birds I sat on a bench and started Carte Blanche. Interesting, I am James Bond. He is described as 6 ft., 170 lbs. and black hair (I have brown but close enough).

After that and I quick run back to my place I set out to find Ikea, umm I mean the Alexandra food centre. And that I did! After wandering for 15 minutes, I came to the decision to order a steamboat and a chocolate avocado juice. The steamboat is essentially a soup in this awesome dish with lots of fire. The soup consisted of fish, vegetables and tofu, so I had some rice on the side for an extra .50. Looks really cool:

The chocolate avocado juice was simply avocado juice with cocoa added. It was good, but I think I prefer the normal one, the bitterness of the chocolate proved to be too much for my buds.

Next stop groceries. L For the first time they didn’t have any Gala Apples. So I bought Asian pear, grapes and carrots.  I also found something that is a Singapore delicacy. Nonya Kaya. This is a jam type spread made from coconut, sugar cane and some sort of local fruit Pandan. I will get back to you once I try it.