Christmas Shopping

One thing I love about living in Bangkok is the absence of the ker-razy Christmas shopping rush.  It doesn't hurt too that they have big sales by the end of November.  The only problem that I have to deal with is I have to finish shopping by the first week of December before we leave for Manila.

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We spent the weekend doing Christmas shopping for family and friends back home and I'm proud to say that we are 95% done :)  I am also happy that this year, we decided to do it as a family.  I did most of the shopping myself last year.  I can't say that I didn't enjoy it (y'all know how I love shopping), but it's really more fun and decision-making is a lot easier with the hubby and daughter around.

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Yesterday at Paragon, with Santa and the little elf.  Heehee!

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It's going to be a blue Christmas :)

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Gap is pretty new in the Bangkok shopping scene (they opened only last year, I think) and for some reason, I'm kinda loving it.  I find myself visiting their store almost every week, but I'm putting myself on a self-imposed shopping ban  for the rest of year because I've been a bit naughty.  Heehee!  Anyhoo, the kids section is nakakagigil with their yummy colors!  I always find myself buying something for Aly whenever I go there.  I also love how their stuff is cheaper than Zara Kids.  

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So we went there yesterday, completed our Christmas shopping and got myself a treat.

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A new bag!  Woot woot!

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The best part is, I got this bag for free!  Yipee!  They have a promo at the Gap where you'll get a free bag for a certain amount of purchase.  I got two and I'm giving the other one to my sister.

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We're down to the last two days of November and it will be Christmas soon!  I can't wait!  I love Christmas!

Valentine's Day

This is how we did it:
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Richard and I exchanged gifts the night before...
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Red roses for me (he was afraid that the buds might be fully opened by morning so he gave them to me early)...
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a...and our "functional" gift for the man of the house: electric shaver, which will come in handy during his business trips.
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Aly noticed that she was the only one without a gift but her daddy and I told her that hers will be delivered tomorrow morning.

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On Valentine's day morning, we exchanged greeting cards. Again, Aly asked where her gift was and again, daddy said that "cupid" was probably on his way to deliver it.
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I was busy preparing our breakfast when the doorbell rang.
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Aly was completely oblivious to what was happening. Heehee!
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aSpecial delivery for Ms. Aly Valdez!
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aAly and her "bouquet".
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aHappy girl gets a kiss from daddy.
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aWith our bouquets :)
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aGifts for Aly from mommy and daddy.
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aAly's bouquet: Valentine's-y stuff that bought for our girl -- heart-shaped pens, pencils with bear toppers, lollipops and furry hearts.
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Side kwento about Aly's bouquet: My original plan was to get her a balloon arrangement, but I ditched the idea after seeing online how much those things cost (Thb800-2,000). Hooboy! Way out of my budget! So, my plan B was to get her those plush flowers -- you know, those cute flowers made from the same material that stuffed toys are made of with the happy face in the middle? Well, I couldn't find them at Central Rama3 so I ended up with plan C. I had them arranged into a bouquet at a gift wrapping shop (I think it was the first time she did something like this, because she kept showing the bouquet to friends who passed by. Heehee!). Then, I left them at the front desk with instructions to deliver them to our apartment at 8:00am on Valentine's Day.
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So there. Now where was I?
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aAfter breakfast, we went to hear mass...

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Waiting for our car at the lobby.
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aChinese New Year giveaway from the church: oranges and ang pao.

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...then we went back home to have lunch. Nothing special, we just ate leftovers. Heehee! We had this, though...
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Our VDay cakes in white and milk chocolate.
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After lunch and a brief siesta, we went to Paragon for our movie date with Richard.
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We saw "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" in 3D! Cool movie, by the way. Wa all loved it! It was soo worth the money :)
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After the movie, we did a little food shopping at the ground floor.
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Ferrero tower, can I take you home with me?
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aDamn you, Valentine's Day!! Just when I wanted to cut back on chocolates, they filled the Gourmet Market with chocolate shops. As in, chocolates everywhere you look! It was hard not to buy. Heehee!
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aWaiting for the driver.
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aOur Valentine goodies.
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aYummy chocolates to end our day.
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It was a lovely day :)

Our First Year

Before we proceed with my summer vacation kwento, let's backtrack a little so I can tell you all about our Bangkok anniversary. I know, this is a late post, natabunan kasi ng excitement and preps for our vacation so I didn't have time to put this up earlier. Anyway, here it is.

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28 March 2009 marked our first year here in Bangkok. For our first anniversary issue (naks! akala mo magazine!), I interviewed Richard and Aly on their Bangkok favorites. Syempre, kasama rin ako. Heehee! Here it goes:

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FAVORITE THAI FOOD

Alyannah (A): Khao Phad Goong (Fried rice with shrimp)

Richard (R): Phad Thai (stir fried noodles)

Krisan (K): Tom Yum Goong (hot and sour soup with shrimp)

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FAVORITE THAI DRINK (or any drink that we discovered here in Thailand)

A: Tipco Apple Juice

R: Singha beer

K: Chrysanthemum tea (Yes, the flower. The taste reminds me of our local gulaman with pandan)

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FAVORITE RESTAURANT

A: Pizza Company

R: Bai Mai La Leung (Thai restaurant)

K: Toh Plue (Thai restaurant in Chatuchak)

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FAVORITE TOURIST ATTRACTION

A: Crocodile Farm + Safari World

R: Crocodile Farm + Pattaya

K: Wat Pho + Chao Phraya River

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FAVORITE MALL/SHOPPING PLACE

A: Central World + Siam Paragon

R: Emporium + Pantip Plaza

K: Pratunam, Sampeng Lane, Chatuchak + Siam Paragon

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FAVORITE STORE

A: Kinokuniya Bookstore + Zara

R: Kinokuniya

K: Kinokuniya + Zara

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FAVORITE DESSERT

A: Royce chocolates

R: Mango with sticky rice + frozen yoghurt

K: Pancake roti, mango with sticky rice + frozen yoghurt.

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What else have we learned so far? We still can't speak Thai, but I am proud to say that we at least know how to count in Thai! It comes in handy when you buy from the markets. We also know how to say how much (Thao rai). Halata bang lahat ng natutunan namin are either related to eating or shopping? Haha!

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More than anything, we learned the true value of being a family. We were able to survive living in a new country that speaks a different language, with no relatives and friends, by sticking together. That way, new discoveries and adventures were made with the people that matter the most.

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Our Bangkok stint will definitely provide a lot of wonderful memories and learning experiences for me and my family, but I am still looking forward to the day when we will go back home and live happily ever after in our dream house in Tagaytay. I may have learned to love my life here in the City of Angels, but I left my heart in the Philippines :)

Christmas in Bangkok

Before we proceed with my kwento about our vacation, let's talk about Christmas in Bangkok first. Christmas is not really a Thai holiday, but they still decorate the malls and buildings for the sake of the foreigners. I must say, they really go all out with the decor. Bongga sya in fairness. That's why I want to share these photos with you.

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Emporium. These were taken using my dad's new Sony camera (naks!) last November.

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Ang laki ng snowman! Teka, parang may kulang yata...

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...that's more like it! Para mas realistic yung kuha.

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The gingerbread house.

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Central World Mall. These were taken a day before our flight to Manila.

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A for Alyannah.

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Ang laki ng christmas tree!!

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Next stop: Siam Paragon.

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Ang laki ng christmas balls!!

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And our last stop: Oakwood.
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