Early this month I was in Bangkok for a week, mainly to support myjojo in a race. Most of my time was spent alone and the following pictures taken with him were from the only two days we had before his race started. The remaining 5 days, I spent being his cheerleader, and also took a day’s trip to Platinum Shopping Mall. Went there by boat. It was quite a fun experience having people assume I was Thai, and I managed to improve my Thai speaking skills.

If only I had bought my ticket earlier, then it would have been cheaper for me. Most people booked in advance. Always remember find the best deals with Air Asia, and booking one day late could mean a difference of extra RM100.

Walking through the mini-terminal before departing for Bangkok. It was raining and Air Asia had umbrellas ready for passengers.

Walking through the Bangkok terminal.

The first notion of Bangkok’s culture.

I waited only for half an hour for myjojo to arrive as he came from LA in the next arrival hall.

One day, I will replace myself in that bag instead of his bicycles and let him take me to wherever he goes.

The reason for me being there.

Natural herb for pets. I’m sure it exists everywhere, but I’ve never seen any signboard displaying that before. That’s really good to know.

Myjojo looking pretty tired and hungry, waiting for me to take pictures of our very first meal in a romantic restaurant near the hotel.

Yummy food. Yeah, one of those irritating moments where I had to take pictures to fulfill the purpose of this blog.

And then it rained! Thanks to my Supermom who packed in a few disposable raincoats for me.

Yummy, big and fresh. Starch and more starch.

Yummy! But, not like we don’t have better ones in Penang.

Myjojo’s sweet tooth.

No farting in the taxi, please!

The train.

Also met up with my cousin, Marco Steeb whom I have not seen since I was twelve. It’s been more than ten years now and we are all grown-ups. Mum’s sister’s son. My cousin’s mixed Chinese and German. Attractive looking eligible bachelor. Any takers? Anyway, it was a wonderful dinner with me learning alot about fast cars that night. Marco, Josiah and my other cousin Alvin will have lots to talk about when they meet.

This is Bangkok’s traffic outside the stadium.

It’s so funny how they have so many 7-Elevens along one same road. Probably about 5 stores. As for the pink cabs, they’re my favourite.

Not forgetting the tuk-tuks too!

Myjojo and I in our favourite Oakleys. Oakley rocks!

I’m not looking at myjojo’s expression, but rather the fishes in the aquarium table. What a cute concept.

Fried hor fun. Really spicy one with lots of peppers.

I tried to eat like how the locals eat, that’s with sugar. I don’t see what’s so nice about it. Tastes weird.

This is like wanton-mee.

Myjojo and I then got a haircut for 150baht / RM15.00 only! Wash, cut and blowdry. Pretty decent.

Future cut man!

Let’s see how it turns out for him.

Tadaaa! Our new future cut!

Some promoter girls outside the cinema. Thai girls didn’t impress me at all this trip. Seriously, most of them appeared to be way shorter than me (except these two) and they have thick foundation on that makes their face look rather “berkulat”. One thing I admire though, are their thick long lashes – most of them Thai girls. Myjojo and I only managed to count three really good looking Thai girls that we saw. Those on tv not included.

Thai people really love their king. Yellow is a must.

They’re so proud of him, and I can really understand why. He deserves the respect. He’s done so much for the nation.

People are buying the t-shirts like it’s a fad, as if it were MNG sales, but really it’s all for the king. They love him that much and it’s not even by force. I admire that.

This is one of the more authentic food I ate. Too spicy, I added too much chilli powder!

On my way to the boat. Yes, everyday I walk through such roads from the velodrome, alone. It’s quite an interesting sight albeit the dirt and potential danger too.

From the velodrome to the hotel, it’s past the bridge, but I didn’t stay at Chaleena Hotel. I stayed in Chaleena Princess hotel past Chaleena Hotel. It’s the older branch of the hotel. All the cyclists from Asia were staying in this hotel above.

Some houses by the river.

That’s the boat I went on.

Many people use the boat as a mode of daily transportation. It only cost me 15 baht/ RM1.50 to get me to the destination I wanted which was Pratunam area, the Platinum Shopping Mall.

Me grinning for the camera.

Yummy food, coconut stuffing.

A close-up of it.

There’s pad Thai too. Really yummy.

The length of this fish is from your elbow to your palm. I ate it all up. Cost me only RM10!

Tom Yum beef soup.

Some vegetables I did not know what to do with. Haha. Really not used to eating raw vegetables.

Took a picture of this girl and bought two stalks of roses for myjojo and his cycling mate who shared the same room, Azizul. I thought she was really cute and she’ll definitely grow up into an attractive-looking lady. So happy-looking and hardworking.  I really wish her all the best and hope she’s treated well.

All of a sudden, in that tight road, there was a baby elephant.

So we fed it.

Such a cute lil big thing. I love experiences like this rather than the whole “touristy” thing, touring around Bangkok, sightseeing and all.

Fast forward all the pictures from the velodrome and what it is like in a real track cycling race, it was the end of my Bangkok trip.

At the airport, I came across this.

Drop in your money to donate and for your own luck.

I shall leave you with the sight of this Deva.

While myjojo went for his training, it was best not to kacau him so I took a boat to Pratunam area (Platinum Mall) where they sell all the ladies’ stuff, wholesale and retail items. Took the boat from Ramkamhaeng and it cost me only 16 baht (RM1.60) for the half an hour ride. If I were to go there by taxi, it would have been more than 100 baht (RM10.00). Quite dangerous, but passed by all the kampung-kampung houses. Murky river water.

In the previous post, I said I wouldn’t buy accessories (costume jewelleries), especially non-silver or gold items but I guess I contradicted myself. Teehee. Just couldn’t resist all the cute stuff. Bought some really nice dresses for future cocktail functions too. Looked pretty much like Zang Toi’s collection but cost me only 200 baht (RM20.00) for one piece. Quite unbelievable. One particular piece was sold in a shop in Low Yat plaza and was marked up to RM180.00 baht compared to the wholesale price at RM20.00. Good thing I resisted shopping just before I came here. You know those cotton, colourful material dresses they sell in many colours but the same pattern (like those in Cats Whiskers)? They sell it for RM10 here in Bangkok! No wonder people wanna buy clothes from Thailand and sell it back in Malaysia for more than double the price. I knew it all along. We all know it, but are suckers for expensive stuff that are sold so cheaply here in Bangkok? Tsk tsk.

CYCLING

Anyway, today’s the first day of Asian Cycling Championships. Some facts from a non-cyclist point of view.

1. Japan has a pretty strong team.
2. Our Malaysians are really united. There are 40 of us including the massage therapist, coach, riders and mechanic. Oh, and me the cheerleader. That would be 41 of us.
3. A huge lizard (about 1 metre long) suddenly came out of no where onto the in-field of the cycling track.
4. Josiah qualified for tomorrow’s sprint semi-finals. Phew. All the best for all Malaysians tomorrow and the next few days.
5. Malaysia is the only team with support banners that read (1) MALAYSIA BOLEH!; and (2) GO GO GO JOSIAH!.
6. It rained earlier before the race started at 10am. Luckily it dried up in time.

Start of road to 2008 Beijing Olympics for Ng and Azizul

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: The road to the 2008 Beijing Olympics begins for cyclists Josiah Ng and promising youngster Mohd Azizul Hasni Awang when they race in the Asian Championships starting in Bangkok Monday.  

The track competition for the senior and elite at Hua Mak Velodrome in Bangkok will end on Thursday.  

The road competition for both senior and elite categories will be held at Nakhon Ratchasima province from Sept 8-10.  

Josiah has never raced in the Asian cycling meet since he started donning national colours in 2001 and the hope is on him to defend the keirin title for Malaysia.  

Rizal Tisin won the keirin event in the Asian meet hosted in Malaysia last year. It was the only gold medal won in the senior category and also the first for Malaysia in 19 years.  

However, Rizal’s poor form has saw him losing his place to promising youngster Azizul Hasni Awang, who is groomed to lead the challenge in the Korat SEA Games in Thailand in December.  

Azizul won three gold medals in the junior category in the Asian meet last year.  

Malaysian team manager Datuk Naim Mohd said Azizul has been entered for the keirin and sprint events as well along with Josiah and another newcomer Muhd Edrus Yunus.  

“Azizul was slated for the 1km time trial when he was promoted to the national team early this year but we wanted to try him for the individual sprint and keirin events.  

“This is because the 1km time trial is not an Olympic event anymore and we wanted him to focus on getting into the Olympics. This will be his major exposure before we enter him for the World Cup campaigns later,” said Naim in a telephone interview from Bangkok Sunday.  

For Josiah, who arrived from United States to join the team last Friday, the Asian meet will give him a chance to earn automatic qualification for the World Championships next year.  

“The World Championships gives out quota places for the Olympics but Josiah also can qualify through the UCI rankings at the same time,” added Naim. However, it will not be easy for the Malaysian team to finish in the medals in the senior category this time. “Compared to last year, the field is much stronger because this is the year before the Olympics. “All the top Asian riders are present here because there are points to be earned towards the world rankings,” said Naim. The team sprint in which Malaysia won a bronze last year will see a new combination of Azizul, Edrus and Junaidi Nasir. However, the team sprint combination could be switched to include Josiah depending on his form and if the schedule permits. The endurance events will be contested with a new team pursuit quartet of Amir Mustafa Rusli, Thum Weng Kin, Saiful Anuar Aziz and Akmal Amrun, while Jasmin Ruslan and Harrif Salleh have been slated for the scratch race and points race. Nor Azian Alias and Uracca Leow will lead the challenge in the women’s road and track events. For the record, Malaysia won a medal haul of 4-5-3 in the championships last year.  

MALAYSIAN TEAM: 

Senior Men Track: Josiah Ng, Mohd Azizul Hasni Awang, Muhd Edrus Yunus, Mohd Rizal Tisin, Amir Mustafa Rusli, Thum Weng Kin, Mohd Saiful Anuar, Mohd Akmal Amrun, Mohd Jasmin Ruslan, Mohd Hariff Salleh. Road: Suhardi Hassan, Mohd Zamri Salleh, Mohd Rauf Nur Misbah, Mohd Safwan Sawai, Mohd Faris Abdul Razak, Loh Sea Keong.  

Senior Women Track and Road: Noor Azian Alias, Mohd Yusof Ruszatulzanariah, Uracca Leow, Sulha Sulaiman, Masziyaton Mohd Radzi, Norhidayah Yusari.  

Junior Men Track and Road: Mohd Syamil Bahrum, Mohd Zamani Mustaruddin, Mohd Firdaus Jaafar, Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin, Mohd Shahrul Afiza, Mohd Fadhli Fauzi, Mohd Azman Saharuddin, Ishak Amir Arifuddin.  

Junior Women Track and Road: Fatehah Mustapha, Muslihah Salim, Badeuzzaman Nurul Ahmar.  

Link: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2007/9/2/sports/20070902174411&sec=sports

Bangkok’s been fun so far. Went for a haircut yesterday that cost me only 100 baht (approx RM10) and it looks pretty good, quite professional and this was in a mall. Then later on myjojo and I went for foot reflexology for 150 baht (approx RM15) for an hour. I told him not to get a Thai massage not just before his race tomorrow till Thursday. Some of these massages are pretty unreliable. I’ve heard of cases where people get constant back-aches because of massages from chairs, hairstylists etc. This area near the Huamark Stadium is pretty interesting with lotsa hawker stalls outside. On Ramkamhaeng Road, there are like ten 7-Eleven convenience stores, 20 cybercafes, 20 massage parlours and 20 hair salons. Tsk tsk.

I saw the velodrome. It’s open air. I wonder if I can gather enough supporters for Malaysian team. There are 40 members from the Malaysian team including therapists, coach, junior cycling team, males and females etc. All looking pretty gung-ho. Kind of reminded me when I was in my school’s cheerleading squad / choral-speaking team last time. Everyone coming out wearing the same t-shirt, standing tall and professional but all are pretty friendly towards each other, but diff on the race track. Haha.

At night, went to the night market outside The Mall. So many things displayed. I thought I would be buying alot of earrings but they all look like they could kill my skin. I can’t wear non-silver and gold items. So I bought dresses instead, and some other accessories like leather stuff.  Not even buying shoes because they don’t last. T-shirts are also worth buying. Quite careful with the food although most of them look pretty tempting.

Been doing lotsa activities running here and there practically alone. I’m the one without a schedule, remember? Good to be carefree and try to do what to locals do instead of the whole “Grand Palace” kind of tour. While the cyclist does his training, I’m there to support him from afar from the opposite hotel (different branch). Costs me only 700 baht (approx RM70 per night).