Well according to an insider, there were actually staff at all times at the aquarium. Some even slept at the office just to make sure the fish and animals were safe and fed.

And they look happy alright. As if nothing ever happened. We human could feel, and smell, otherwise though. Some parts of the aquarium just smell like old rags. Think of an old humid theater. Some parts were unbearable, especially areas where there are open tanks. Guess the fish got a bit too excited and splashed around spilling the water onto their carpeted floors. And no one bothered to clean it before reopening the place.

The starfish petting tank was also gone and was replaced but some kind of stage. Great. Another loud and annoying performance area.

One additional feature added to the aquarium from the last time I went was the “Free Photo Booth”. Yup it’s true it’s free but the photo they give you at the exit is smaller than a postage stamp. Of course if you want a normal size print big enough for you to recognize your face, you would have to pay at least 250 baht. Rip off. We took photos with our own cameras, and iPhones, and they come out looking much better than their green-screen “free” one.

It’s a nice place to hang out in though. It’s beautiful, peaceful, well if you pick the time and day parents don’t take their kids to. There’s no time limit so you can just take a seat in front one of their big tanks and just…stare.

Was gonna upload one of these shots to Bangkok Through the iPhone but then I just took so many so here are all of them.

I don’t get why people keep saying it was a stupid ending and they still don’t understand. It was by far the most revealing episode.

OK the island is a WTF in itself. But if you take it as a fantasy and try to make sense of the stories being told, then it makes sense.

If you haven’t seen it, and care to see it, then don’t continue reading…

——-

The Island Story and the Flash Sideways Story are separate. No relation whatsoever. The Flash Backs were just back stories of how these characters intertwined, how they were destined to be on the Island, by Jacob or whatnot. The Flash Sideways is just a purgatory where these people who had experienced the whole ordeal together, with special bonds between each other, come and meet before they are “reborn”, “reincarnated”, or simply “move on”, whatever your belief is. If you hadn’t notice, the church was an all-religion church. There was a cross, a yin-yang, Buddha statues and Hindu god posters.

And they were just reliving the life they never could have. Hurley actually got to use his winning, Ben became a father figure for Alex, Jack fixing someone successfully, and Sawyer being a cop instead of a thief. And like Jacob said, before they came to the island, they were all losers that had nothing else to lose.

And the Island, basically if you were to take the fantasy seriously, was a real deal. They crashed. There was Dharma Initiative. There was some magnetic field. Yes some went off the island, some went back in time, and in the end they were all back together as the candidates were needed. So yes Jacob and some stupid cave and stupid light you had to save for god knows what reason were real, in LOST world. Yes it’s all whatta fuck but I didn’t see anyone complain about some stupid ring a hobbit has to go get, or a hot smoking vampire that lives through high school and never ages and no one notices. Hello? Star Trek? LOST is just my generation’s Star Trek.

But all that happened. Kate, Sawyer, et al got on the plane and left for real. And the show simply just didn’t show us what happened after they took off on the plane. And like what Jack’s dad said, some died before, while some died way after Jack did in the bamboo jungle. Ben, Eloise, Daniel and AnnaLucia weren’t there because they did not want, or were aware that they could, move on yet. Don’t get the Flash Sideway theory? Go watch The Others, starring Nicole Kidman. Similar ideas.

Well this is my theory and it makes sense to me.

Great ending, despite what other people say.

All this freaking time, I always thought of Naraya as a brand only Japanese grandmothers could love–Fabric bags with floral prints, maroon colored cloths, nappy-bag shaped totes and motherly wears and gears. My grandma’s collection also didn’t make a good impression on me with all the old people colors and prints that she picked.

After being stuck in a Sukhumvit traffic jam near the shop, I had time to peek inside the store. And instead of the usual housewifey designs, I saw navy stripes, polka dots, Chanel-esque quilted black and white totes and more. All this time I had been going to the Emporium, I never once set foot into the small Naraya shop at the corner of Soi 24 until today.

This has to be one of the most “duh” moments in my entire life as everyone around me seems to have already been aware of its greatness. Everything is super cheap. I bought a quilted tote about A3 size, a makeup bag with mirror, a tissue paper case and a card holder–all under B500. That makeup pouch alone is only B50. FIFTY! Anything similar to this sold in the malls or even Jatujak would send you back at least B200.

The website really doesn’t do its products justice; it’s only further emphasizing on its housewife image with all those pink roses and butterfly prints and all.

I’m so going back to bag all of its houndstooth and polka dot collection.

She has only just started her YouTube videos this month and she’s already garnering a lot of hits for her main series, Learn Thai the Bon’s Way, which gives funny and easy to understand lessons on Thai language.

But what got my attention wasn’t her enjoyable Thai grammar lessons, but this other side project she has, Jaidee TV.

The intro sequence is cheesy, the soundtrack is awful but those are exactly what makes this series awesome. She parodies different Thai stereotyes, such as ab-baews (a girl acting/talking/making faces like she’s a 12-year-old Japanese anime character), kradae inter kids (speaking Thai like you’re a farang even though you’ve only been living a broad for only a month), and a nature mockumentary about farangs.

Only five videos and I’m already a fan.

Here’s the mockumentary. It’s a parody of this old, conservative documentary series shown on Thai national TV, called Krajok Hok Daan or six-sided mirror. I don’t know if they’re still producing it. It’s very traditional, with an old Thai teacher kind of character doing the narration, just like in this parody. The funny part in this video is when she pronounces English words in a very Thai-teacher accent.

Too bad it’s only in Thai right now. These parodies can really open a window into the world of modern Thai culture. Rikker, get started on those subtitles right now!

—–

Edit: Here’s Rikker’s subtitle!

I brought my birthday present, the Hello Kitty Fuji Instax Mini, with me. I took more photos than what’s shown here but some were stolen right from my hands when the camera spotted them out. Guess that’s the effect instant cameras have on people.

Bonus: Anyone can provide home for these kitties. The last batch from this Mommy Cat were “taken care of” by the condo management. I don’t want it to happen again. Just contacted SCAD but taking in strays isn’t exactly their focus. Please pass the word around. The babies are about a month old.

I recently received an email newsletter from my favorite clothing store, The Old Story, informing me of its move to the new location, as well as showing off what the owner, P’ Ying, has been working on since the closure of the old outlet.

And since she didn’t BCC her customers, I could see all the email addresses of her die-hard fans.

And the list is too damn long.

But I’m not gonna be selfish. After all, if she gets no business, I get no clothes.

Her store is one of the most unique in the whole Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Perhaps even Bangkok. She designs and makes every piece by herself, with the help of her rockstar-looking boyfriend whom you would have never guessed could sew. Especially if you know the style of fashion in focus here.

1950s-1960s Vintage.

Think Mad Men in the psychedellic colors and patterns of Pushing Daisies.

According to the person who lived the era, my mom (OK she’s not that old but still closer to the period than I was) the fashion of the items here are nothing special. Things you’d find housewives wearing back in the day, not models. But the best thing about The Old Story is that they are faux-vintage, so you don’t have to deal with the holes and the musty smells like you do with real vintage clothes ie. ones that survived 40+ years.

She makes everything: dresses, skirts, blouses and even pants. Since I discovered the store, I’ve bought six blouses and shirts, two pairs of pants, four dresses and four skirts. I wish she would make shoes too so I can rebuild the whole wardrobe.

She was located near the MRT before but now the lot is gonna get bulldozed and turned into a DoiTung outlet, she then had to move further into the market in the competitive Lopburi area.

I’m going there tomorrow to grab the best pieces before the Lopburi shoppers start taking notice of her store and stop buying their Thonglor-appropriate attires and start getting on my bandwagon.

Here’s what I need to go home with at least:

Royal Project Stores.

Just in case you didn’t know, to put it simply, these shops are a part of different foundations and projects initiated by, you’ve guessed it, members of the Thai Royal Family, and each of the stores were set up to support different causes and groups of people.

Out of the ones I went to, I was most impressed by HM the Queen’s SUPPORT Foundation store at the Grand Palace. The project aims to give rural people in Thailand a secondary income by giving them training in handicrafts so they can start their own business. The project will then buy the products made by people in the program and sell them in the stores. The money then will go into the foundation that goes on helping mre people taking on their own handicraft businesses.

The SUPPORT Foundation is called “Sillapacheep” in Thai. Mention this to any Thai you know and they’d go, “Oh my god, that’s so baan baan,” evoking the image of something outdated, corny, traditional–boring.

But not anymore apparently. Despite the cliche location, the store is awesome. Unlike the Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew their area it is sitting on, you don’t need to cover your ankles going shopping here. Come in shorts and flips flops if you want, you’re welcome nonetheless. And unlike many stores in town when anyone with a camera is almost considered a criminal, here you can get all snap happy. They even encourage it.

And why not? When the store offers a lot of things they’re proud to show off.

Thai textiles like silk, woven fabrics, cotton and hemp are dyed, patched, stitched, mixed with other materials creating a wide range of beautifully unique items. Like earrings made of silk worm cocoons, “pha khao ma” rag dolls, silk evening clutches and chic home decor pieces. I got myself a Japanese-esque drape top, made from Northern Thai cotton fabric in electric blue. Electric blue. Sillapacheep does electric blue! No more brown, grey, burgundy, or any other big-haired ladies’ favorite hues.

I got a chance to talk to the manager, who explained to me that it was actually the store’s main goal to take on these changes. They want to promote the products not just to tourists, but also locals who have a rather negative image of local crafts being unfashionable and of poor quality. And that’s why they have taken on a team of new generation designers to help come up with the range of products made from folk materials by the villagers.

And yes those dresses are also for sale. But unlike the villagers made pieces, these ones go for about B20-30,000 a dress.

Don’t you think this pink Disaya one just makes a perfect birthday present for me? It’s for a good cause, you know?

*hints to certain people reading this*

Rich, housewives who go out for fancy meals with fellow rich housewives while their husbands are out making more money for them to spend.

But in Bangkok, there’s a whole other culture of these ladies.

Ladies who do…nothing.

Just pick one: Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Central Chidlom, The Emporium. They are all there. Not during weekends. Not in the evenings. But during weekday afternoon while us commoners are confined in our cubicles, crunching numbers/penning copies.

Who the hell are these bitches?

And they’re not like 40-50 years old. They are my age. Twenty-something Thai females, all dressed up, carrying the best in designer goods and just walk around. In packs.

Loaded husbands? I doubt it. And even if they have loaded parents, what kind of parents would just let them out spending their money? My loaded friends are working with their parents at least.

And every girl my age I know all have a day full-time job. And ones that don’t, they stay home and slave over their computers. They’re not out and about shopping, drinking Ventis in Paragon all day long.

And then there’s another type of ladies–ladies to sell. They don’t own a store. They are not working in a company that imports these stuff. But they’re online, constantly updating their forum posts, selling not common items like makeup or clothes but Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, YSL bags.

Siam Brand Name

These bags are not selling for a few thousands of baht. And they don’t only sell only one or two at a time. These girls have a whole series of forum posts where they put up at least 5-6 items a post. All brand new items.

Seriously, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

And most importantly, HOW CAN I BE ONE?

I wore it once, left it in the car and never wore it again. And I never will because somehow somewhere between that faithful evening when I threw it to the back of my Jazz, it had disappeared.

I have searched the house over, under the tables and chairs, behind the TV, in closets, among the piles of my clothes and bags etc. Even the car, which was practically ripped open, it was nowhere to be seen.

I am pissed. Not because it was an expensive hat (it was only B800). And it’s not like I cannot find a flapper hat anywhere else considering it has become some sort of a trend thanks to Blair Waldorf and all. What pissed me off the most is that it’s a frigging hat, the size of my head, how could something so big be so easily misplaced? And I only wore it once!

I have been going crazy since midnight last night when I was planning an outfit for work today (which is a sort of ritual I do), I got the perfect outfit to match the hat but then I found out it was missing. I looked until 2am before collapsing on the bed. And today I’ve been multitasking and googling the world over for something remotely similar that can help me fill the hole in my shopaholic heart.

Well here are the righteous candidates:

And of course, just my luck, these items are either too expensive, out of stock, or they don’t ship to outside the US.

I’m gonna be hitting Platinum and Siam Square until I find the worthy replacement. Until then, I’m gonna be obsessing over this for a while. At least I am not obsessing over B50,000 lambskin bags anymore.

Well it’s not really a flea market as most of the stalls here are from local brands like SuperrZaaap and the Diet Pills. If you’re into Soma and Dudesweet style and love indie rock and electropop music, then this is your heaven.

What is the most interesting is how different Club Culture looks.

If you missed this one then don’t fret. It looks to be quite a popular event so there will be one again soon.