A Summary

From the time I left Bangkok till my flight touch down in KL I barely had time to breath up until now! There were just things happening, one after the other. But now that the water is calm, I can catch up on the many things that I have left stranded.

The academic year at BHS ended on a high note. Many parents came to collect their child's report card and left with a very big smile on their face. Which made all the teachers smile too. Sadly, we also had to say 'goodbye' and 'goodluck' to Teacher Asella and Teacher Mary Anne who has left BHS.

The last day of school also meant that we will find out which age group we are teaching in next year. For the last two weeks of school there were a lot of speculation. We were all very excited and at the same time a little bit apprehensive. When we are familiar with an age group like for instance this year is my second year teaching the 4 year olds. I knew what to expect and what had to be done. I was prepared this time. So we prefer to stick to something familiar so that we can expand, improve and excel in it. At the same time, we would also like to teach a new age group so that we can move forward, increase our experience, improve and take up the challenge to excel.

I was most surprised when I was told that I was to take the playgroup children, means I will be taking the youngest lot - the 3 year olds. Its a daunting task and I was most apprehensive of it. But after 2 days of thinking about it, I felt that I'm ready to take on the challenge and excel in it. I started planning almost immediately on what I would do and also started asking Teacher Lina (the playgroup expert) on what to expect.

A week later, I find out that there might be another change. Instead of the playgroup, I might have to teach the Kindergarten group - 6 year olds. Hmmm!! Definitely an easier bunch to handle but the report writing part is what I'm not looking forward to. Well, its not confirmed yet! I will find out tomorrow morning, I hope.

But come to think of it. It doesn't really matter which age group I teach, because every year its a new bunch of kids and each class will present a different set of challenges for me. So I say to myself tonight : "BRING IT ON!!!!"

Besides work. *sigh*, too much had happened for me to put it down. Basically, when I got back from Bangkok, I was most keen on going back there or any other place to teach. Living and working in Bangkok has given me a very different perspective on my career. I have been teaching for the last 6 years, and it is a job, not wait its not just a job its what I love to do. I love working with kids on a daily basis, I find it most fulfilling. I love the title that comes with my name now - Teacher Stephanie. When parents or any students see me outside of school hours, its Teacher Stephanie and I'm proud to have been these students teacher. I hope I had taught them well.

Now, moving forward, I asked myself what else can I gain from me being a teacher here in BHS. Well, I got my answer recently, there is a lot of possibilities and opportunities that comes with being a teacher at BHS. It's a big school that constantly encourages teacher development and that is what teachers at BHS are looking for.

So my first step towards my career development would be to further my studies in the field of early childhood education. I will be going back to University to gain my next level, but this I can only begin in the next intake sometime in the middle of next year.

For now, its time to celebrate!!! There were a lot of things to celebrate for. Firstly, the teachers celebrated their job well done the day after all report cards were handed out. It didn't start out so well, we were stuck for an hour in the traffic jam, getting into Mid Valley. But once we were in, we just relaxed and enjoyed our time. We were supposed to do Karaoke, but that plan had to change because of the traffic jam. Instead, we went bowling. Hahahahaha!!! We had a jolly good time bowling. It was good to have some fun time and talk about other things besides lesson plans and students.

Then about 4 days later we had the year end class party at BHS and it was filled with food and games.The children and teachers had their fill for the day.

Next, was Mel and Mark's baby shower. Lots of people came bearing lots of nice gifts for the happy expecting couple. Theirs is a Christmas baby!! We are all looking forward to welcoming their newborn. It was also a good time for everyone to catch up with each other. Some whom I hadn't seen in a while, I was glad to see them again. Then there were the little ones for all of us to coo and ahh over. Hehe!! I bet they enjoyed all the attention on them for that night.

Bree to Skye "Your mitts are so nice"

Angie, Bree and I

Bubu

A few days later I met up with some very long, long, long time friends. San, Tati and Mary. We had a good time chatting over drinks and food. Its as if we had never been apart. Hehe!!

Christmas is around the corner, its going to sneak up on me, I just know it. I had better get started on my Christmas gifts for this year!!! *phew*!!!!!

What?? Time to go home!!!

Time has flown by!!

My 6 weeks here in Bangkok is up and I shall be returning tomorrow. I wish I could stay! I've grown to love this   air-noise polluted-yet bright and huge city!! There is still so much more to discover, I imagined doing it all, but alas, it was not to be. My last 2 weeks here has just passed me by with a clip of my fingers (really, it's like being in an action movie and the scenes just flashes pass you).

I had a school trip, a weekend on an island, school concert and staff party all in the last 10 days.


Koh Samed (NOT Koh Samui), is a nice island. It was about 2 1/2 hours drive from school (in Prawet District) to the seaside town of Rayong. From there its another 30 minutes by speedboat to the island. You can opt for the cheaper and longer ride on the ferries. But it was getting dark soon, so we sped off to the island to check in. We headed straight out for dinner after a change of clothes and from then on it was party till early in the morning. It's really fun when the teachers let their hair's down. 

In the morning, I was most surprised that we woke up in time for breakfast. After that, we booked our 'seats' on the deck chair by the sea and planted ourselves there the whole day. You will be amazed at how planted to the deck chairs you can get. Food came to us when it was time to eat, massage ladies came by when it was time for massage and you can even by stuff by just sitting on the deck chairs. 

Then it was time for dinner, so after a quick shower we headed to the other end of the beach to watch the 'Fire show' while having dinner. Dinner was great, they had a wide variety of seafood, meat and vegetables. One of the teachers was a vegetarian. The "Fire show" was very good and we also managed to catch some World Cup matches on the big screen they had set up on the beach. 

I had a great time with the teachers on the beach!!! Then it was back to Bangkok and the last week of school. We had to prepare for the year end performance and party at the end. Here it's done differently. The parent are invited to attend the performance and then the party where the school canteen prepares a BBQ. The children in my class performed a rap version of the '3 Little Bears', they enjoyed and so did the parents. Then awards were given out and also presents to the teachers. I was unprepared for this part and turned tomato red when I was called. After that it was time for the BBQ and some dancing. It was great!! 


Well, I had to say my goodbyes soon after and headed back to my apartment. I had another four days in Bangkok and I wanted to do everything in these four days. My friend SP arrived from KL on that Friday night. Saturday morning we headed out to visit the Temples and Shrines all around Bangkok. It was a hot, hot, hot day, we had to make sure we were constantly drinking water. Then we headed to the shopping mall to cool down, do a bit of shopping and have our dinner. I was quite an expert in getting around Bangkok by now and could explain things to SP. Sunday morning we headed out bright and early to an old part of Bangkok, Khoasan and then from there we went to Chatuchak. SP did a lot of shopping there and was most amazed, the same way I felt when I first walked into that labyrinth. Then we headed home when it got too hot. 


That night we went for dinner at my favourite Thai Restaurant on Rama 4 Road. It's a cheap place to eat at and only the locals know the place. I was introduced to it by my manager who was introduced to this place by a local. Again, it was great food at a good price. That night we stayed up to watch the World Cup Final match in the apartment. 


Monday morning, again we SP and I headed out for some shopping and a bit more sightseeing. We got a massage and a hair cut too. Things in Thailand are really cheap. Then I had to start packing. Oh dear!!! I wasnt looking forward to that part.


On Tuesday morning, SP left early, then I had another 6 hours before I had to leave for the airport. Only that morning I started packing up my things. I had too much to pack. Then it was time to say goodbye to everything in Bangkok!! 


I had a great time when I was there, but I was also looking forward to going home to everything that is familiar. My comfort zone!!

Sights and Sounds of Bangkok!

It's a very, very, very big city and its noisy. Constantly noisy.

I think I've mentioned that in my last few posts. You just can't imagine the level of noise here, its as high as their pollution level! Just standing by the street for a few minutes to wait for a taxi and I feel like I've been enveloped by a blanket of soot. I'm constantly using wet wipes, facial wipes and sanitisers here. I'm no Adrian Monk, don't get the wrong idea. I'm usually quite used to being grubby, but my level of grubbiness here has increased tenfold that I'm so conscious of it.

Well, I spend some time in between shopping to explore a bit of Bangkok on my own. I found out about church, and mass times, English mass times. Google was my best friend for a while. It took me everywhere and told me everything I needed to know about Bangkok. So the second Sunday of my stay here, I made my way to St John's Church, which is nearby Chatuchak Market. Found my way there quite easily, after many sign languages and once I learned that to say church in Thai is 'bod'. It was a small church, which is located on the grounds of St John's International School. The mass was said by a French priest, and surprisingly it was mostly the Filipinos that attended the mass. It was a very nice, cosy church.

Interior of St John's Church

The next Sunday I went for mass at the Assumption Cathedral. It is located within the Assumption University grounds next to the Chao Phraya river. I got to the church easily this time, after Google told me how to. From the BTS station I had a nice walk to the church, passing by little shops, a big hotel, small shopping mall, street vendors and many, many people. To get to the church its best to head to Oriental Hotel, then from there you can ask the doorman directions, its actually just around the corner, but its somewhat hidden. Once I turned the corner, I was greeted by the sight of a beautiful church.

The entrance of Assumption Cathedral

I got there just in time for mass to begin. It's a very big church and not crowded. I'm comparing this to the Assumption Church in PJ. It's beautifully designed and well maintained too. The mass was said by an English priest and this time there were a variety of people who attended mass. I loved it here so much I came back for mass here when I could.

The Altar

In my last few days here, I had a friend visiting and we went touristing around Bangkok. We took a river cruise on the Chao Phraya River, we saw a weird looking snake head-alligator body animal in the water right under the houses. The boatman was very excited to us show this, I was very scared and kept telling him 'okay, we've seen enough, let's move on,' which he obviously didn't get.

Do you know what this is?

We saw lots of temples along the way, a snake farm and a crocodile farm too. We didn't stop at any of this though, I wasn't to keen to get up close with the creepy crawlies. Besides this, there was nothing much to see. I wouldn't recommend the canal river trip. Instead take the longer trips that gets you to Ayutthaya.

The temples were pretty much alike. We went to the Temple of the Golden Buddha and the Grand Palace - also the place for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It was a very hot day to be walking around, so that's why I didn't enjoy it very much. Make sure you have on a good pair of walking shoes, water bottle, a hat or umbrella and sunglasses.

Temple of the Golden Buddha

Entrance to Grand Palace

The Royal Grand Palace

 Besides the temples and palace, there are many more things to see around Bangkok. But a few days is not enough to cover the whole of Bangkok. I was here for about 7 weeks and I couldn't cover the whole of Bangkok too.

Traffic in Bangkok is just horrendous, so don't bother renting a car while you're visiting. Much faster to get around in their taxis or tuk-tuk. The taxis are either, new Altis or Camry, or the older ones use Sentra and Corrolla's, they are all in bright colours so its easy to spot them from far. I enjoyed the tuk-tuk ride, I wish I could drive one.

Bangkok Taxi

Tuk-Tuk

The 'songteow' is another cheap transport that can get you around. For about 6 baht which is equivalant to Malaysian Ringgit 60 cents you get to your destination. But these 'songteow' are like buses, they have numbers on their roofs and the ply a fixed route.

The 'Songteow'

Bangkok life is constantly moving. There seem no end to the things that goes on. At night, places like Khaosan Road comes alive. This is like a little cowboy town. Many tourist - backpacking tourist choose to stay here, because its cheap and you can get almost everything cheap on this road. Rooms here can cost as little as RM40 a night. Same say there's even cheaper.

Khaosan Road Nightlife

Another place that is constantly bustling is Yaowarat Road, or better know as Bangkok's Chinatown. Lanes and lanes that are endless and winding, there is simply no beginning and no ending to the roads at Yaowarat.

A very small part of Yaowarat Road

These are just about some of the things in Bangkok, there are actually a whole lot more. I've just peeled off one layer. I hope that I can come back here again soon.

Shopping in Bangkok!

Written on July 2, 2010

The next best thing to Bangkok other than food is the SHOPPING!!!

Almost all the major shopping areas in Bangkok is connected to a BTS Skytrain or MRT station, making it so much easier to shop. From the station you can walk straight into a shopping mall via the bridges. No need to walk on the busy Bangkok roads. The LRT in Malaysia should take note of this.

The BTS Skytrain

Interior of BTS Skytrain

Once you get to either the MRT or BTS, get yourself a map. Its the best thing to help you get around. I relied a lot on this. I used the stations as my point of reference when I'm checking on where to go. It's quite straight forward, even the signages are well placed. So you shouldn't have a problem getting around unless you are really, I mean really bad with directions.

The sign at a BTS Station that points you to the last station.

There's lots of shopping malls in Bangkok that can rival KL anytime. The Mall Bang Kapi was the first mall that I stepped into. It was my first day in Bangkok and I was brought there so that I could get some food for the next few days. The supermarket reminded me a lot like Jaya Jusco, but it wasn't. I was glad that I could get lots of stuff here that you won't usually find on our supermarket shelves in KL, and they're cheap too.

The first weekend, I went to MBK shopping mall which is quite similiar to our Sungai Wang Plaza. Again, the food here was alright, the things to shop here was great!! I found some nice short sleeved shirts here for only RM20. I may sound overly excited and surprised, but that's because I could never find nice, like really nice short sleeved cotton shirts for myself in KL.

MBK Shopping Mall - great bargains to be found here

There's also Pratunam Market, more like Petaling Street style and Platinum Fashion Mall across the street from it, which has air-conditioning. Then there's Prantip Plaza which is an IT mall, where you can get IPhone for as low as RM500, I have no idea where its from though. From here the mall gets more upscale. Emporium and Siam Discovery is for the sophisticated, Siam Paragon is for the yuppies.

The trendy Siam Paragon

Sadly though I couldn't visit CentralWorld because it was still closed due to the recent unrest. I took the BTS and its passed right beside it, I could see the burned area. It looks sad that Bangkok's pride of the shopping malls was damaged. But its set to return soon!!

Besides the malls, Bangkok also has 2 famous street markets. Suan Lum Night Bazzar is only opened from 7pm till late and has rows and rows of stalls that sells almost anything. Lots of bargaining goes on here, and you must really bargain to get the good deals.

The entrance to Suan Lum Night Bazaar

The shops are well lit and airy too!

Chatuchak Weekend Market is another famous shopping spot. Here, there are rows, rows, rows, rows and rows of stalls that sells everything, I mean really EVERYTHING!! You want to get a live lizard, branded shoes and bags, paintings, house decor and cutlery and clothes and plants and accessories, here's the place to go and get them dirt cheap. They even have 'movers' office here to help you ship your things back. You will need to put on your best bargaining skills. It's amazing yah!! I went there almost every weekend and still I find new shops.

So, go around visit all the malls first and then when you're done with that, then only you go to Chatuchak to do your shopping. It the best place to buy presents too!!

The layout of the entire Chatuchak market.

Access to all these shopping place is easy, just hop onto the MRT or BTS and it takes you straight to the front door of the malls and markets. The trains are fast, punctual, cheap, air-conditioned and CLEAN!

Don't worry about food or drinks. It can be found in abundance at every corner of Bangkok.

Next trip : the Sights and Sounds of Bangkok!

Bangkok in school and its food!

Written on June 21, 2010.

Bangkok is turning out to be a really fun and exciting place to be for me!! I've begun teaching in the school and have been out and about town since my 1st weekend here. So far, everything is going great!

I'm based in Prawet, a district near the Suvarnabhumi Airport - its pronounced as sur-va-nah-bum. It was mostly a residential area. Actually in Bangkok there is no clear definition as to where there are industrial, residential and business area. It's just all mixed up. For example, just at the entrance to my apartment there is a factory and right next to it a block of flats on the right and a house on the left followed by a restaurant cum house next to it. Here'a a view from my balcony!

Looking at it, its hard to tell what building is what until you go closer and have a look. Just opposite the main road is a big private hospital too. Things are just so random here. Then there is always lots of big rivers and there was one flowing just behind my apartment block. Again, you can see the brown roof huts is an entertainment outlet, sound like a karaoke place to me and just behind that is a cluster of houses.

Then I noticed this guy on a raft in the river, at first it looked like he was fishing then he was messing with the vegetation there, of course I thought that was like food for him. But I found out later from the reception lady of my apartment that I was wrong, he was moving the plants away so that the mosquitoes don't breed there. Such things that I amuse myself with on a Saturday morning.

I was posted at St George's International School, it was a very beautiful and eco-friendly school. They had a huge playground, a football field and a swimming pool. Here is the entrance to the school. The building on the right is the office. It looks grand, doesn't it!

The classrooms in this school were really big and spacious. I had only 8 children in my class and a teaching assistant too!! It was grand. All the teachers here are foreigners from England, Scotland and Australia, while the teaching assistants and office staff were Thais. Overall, they were all very friendly, welcoming and helpful throughout my stint here.

I've been out to a few places in Bangkok but not to all the major tourist spots yet! I'm saving that for later. The food here has been great too. At school they serve a mixture of western and local Thai food for lunch, so i've been enjoying it all!! Then the food by the roadsides too are great, although most time I don't really know what it is. I try to find out with some of my basic Thai and lots of hand and sign language. But I've learned to just 'whack' only.

Desert : Crispy pancake filled with cream and carrots. They have it with other fillings too!

Thai's equivalent to 'satay' and can be found at every street corner.

Mixed rice

Pork stir fried with peppercorns. It's really spicy!

Roadside stalls like these can be found on almost every street.

A simple dinner

Pad Thai Noodles

Fried Bugs!! I couldn't bring myself to try any of it!

Red Tom Yum Goong

Clear Tom Yum Goong

My favourite Thai food - beef noodles (Pho Bo)

Thai Papaya Salad with Salted Crab

RegularThai Papaya Salad

I've had so many types of different Thai food, its amazing that there is still much more to go. I will definitely be exploring more. I also love the coconut water, here its sweeter and the pink guava. It's very refreshing to bite into it after spending the whole day walking around in the heat.