Blogging

In posting this blog, I have been careful not to include our names. When Liz and I created this blog (which, I admit, I do all the posting for) we wanted our friends and family to be able to read it, but not for any random person that googled our name.

On to my point. When lawfirms hire, one of their first steps now is to google the person, check in myspace, facebook, etc. to see if there are any character issues which they would like to avoid. Or, alternatively, if the person just may not be a fit for the firm. While I am not a fan of this practice, I completely understand why a firm that wants to pay a person lots of money out of lawschool would want to know everything they could about that person.

Ok, now to my point. I have noticed that if you google my full name, you see some stuff about me and someone named betty... But, if you google my name sans wick, the first listing is for an individual website, which consists of a blog. This particular person appears to be blogging with a religious slant, and has some views that are pretty pointed (or so it appears).

I have no problem with people expressing their opinions via blogs. I also have no problems with people with a name similar to mine blogging. I just don't want a firm to read someone else's writing and attribute it to me. Hence, for job purposes, I am going with the "wick".

Date Night

Good Morning!

I went out with some co-workers for dinner last night. It was a great time... they introduced me to a small, trendy restaurant, papaya salad (yummy and spicy), and good conversation. Afterward, we went to a mall and had ice cream. It was a great time, but I kept thinking to myself that this feels reminiscent of junior high / high school. Wierd thoughts.

Mom update -

Friday night we went to the night bazaar and ate great food (Bangkok has great Lebanese food), listened to more interesting karaoke, and did a bit of shopping. We were tired by the end of the day, so not too late of a night.

Saturday we went to the Chiptichuckpichutkipuk (or something like that) weekend market. Nothing like seeing people sell great artwork, beautiful rocks, $2 polo shirts and squirrels all at the same place. My mom was a bit overwhelmed (hard not to be there). For those of you who aren't familiar with the weekend market (probably everyone), there are 15,000 booths and over 200,000 visitors everyday. impressive.

Saturday night we went out for Thai food with our friend Mia. After eating at an inexpensive restaurant for dinner, we ate desert at a french restaurant called Crepes & Company (very good, but cost more than dinner) and met up with another friend, Dave. It was a good night overall.

Sunday was election day in Bangkok (not sure what they elected). So, no alcohol was permitted to be sold (unless you bribed the police, which it appears that most of the bars and small, mom and pop shops did).

We also went to the Jim Thompson house. It was amazing. Jim Thompson revitalized the Thai Silk Industry in the 1950's, and one of his purchases was a compound along a canal and 6 ancient teak houses. He moved the houses to Bangkok and created a masterpiece... absolutley beautiful house, garden, artwork. all amazing.

After Jim Thompson we went to Chinatown to see Wat Trimat, or the Golden Buddha. Again, very impressive. The golden buddha is 500 tons of pure gold. Hundreds of years ago it was covered in concrete so it would be protected when Thailand was invaded... and everyone forgot it was gold until the 1950's, when they tried to move the Buddha image. The concrete cracked, and surprise, they found gold!

On Monday morning Liz and my mom went to Ko Samui for two days... I haven't heard from them, so I'm assuming all is well.

My Mom, the World Traveler

Well, my mom was to arrive in Bangkok this week. Aside from the Carribbean, this is her first major trip around the world...

The trip started with a long delay in Chicago, followed by an unexpected stayover in Tokyo for the night. She said she enjoyed it, and she arrived in Bangkok refreshed and ready to go. She appears to be over the jet lag and used to the time difference (although we'll see how used to it she is by the end of the weekend).

For those of you who have spent time in Bangkok (Aaron, I guess), there are some amazing shopping areas. We took my mom their first. Then, we indoctrinated her into Bangkok by having her explore MBK. Definitely not your average shopping mall. Needless to say, after exploring one floor of the back section, she was about on sensory overload.

We took my mom out for some great Thai dinner, which consisted of Larb Pork, Chicken and Cashews in Chili Paste, Morning Glory in Oyster Sauce, Fried Pork and some Rice. For desert, we had one of our favorites, Mango with Sticky Rice. I will definitely miss that when I get back to the states.

After a wonderful dinner, we hiked home (no elephants were out because of the late rain) and spent the evening talking. Liz and mom planned the rest of the week while I relaxed.

So, now I'm sitting here at work wondering what wonderful things they are visiting...

Tonight we are going to take mom to the night bazaar. should be a great time, and hopefully some friends will meet us out. regardless, it should be a good time.

Happy Friday

Well, this posting to the blog every couple days hasn't worked as well as I planned. But, I'll keep trying...

Liz and I have gotten used to life in Bangkok (kind of). Liz has become an expert at the river taxis, and I have had the opportunity at work to try a myriad of restaurants (which Liz is later subjected to).

last Friday Liz and I met one of my coworkers (James) and some of his friends for dinner at the night bazaar. Imagine going to the state fair, but with lots of people trying to sell food and beer to you while you sit at a table in a big section under a tent while listening to Thai's karaoke anything from the Temptations, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash and the Black Eyed Peas. Very interesting, but a great time.

Saturday and Sunday Liz and I packed up with the other interns and went off exploring Thailand with some professors from Thammasat University. Great time. We were able to try lots of food, see lots of Buddhas and temples, see some handicrafts, nature, did I mention try lots of food, and get some great stories all on the University's dime. Liz and I had a great time getting to know some of the professors and getting to know Dave and Mia, two of the other UW students over here (unfortunately, Maureen couldn't attend).

After a long weekend, we relaxed a bit this week. We have gone out for dinner a couple times, met up with some friends, and generally kept busy. Work has been good and Liz has found some interesting parts of Bangkok.

Back Again

Ok... so I've been deficient in posting. However, Liz and I have been busy.

Last week went pretty well... worked three days, had two days at the University... not bad. Then, I got a 4 day weekend. So, Liz and I went to Ko Samet for 3 days.

For those of you familiar with Thailand, there are many island resort areas. Most people go to Phuket or Ko Samui. Very touristy, developed, nice. However, we went to semi-developed Ko Samet.

After a 3 1/2 hour bus ride, a ferry that was being passed by turtles, we arrived in Ko Samet. We hoped in the back of a pick up truck (taxi, as they call it) and we were off. Unfortunately, pavement is optional, and due to heavy rains, deeps ruts in the uneven road were mandatory. However, we did get to the area we wanted after some walking following the taxi ride.

Our beach bungalo was ~ $30 a night... pricey, but it was a holiday weekend. it consisted of a bed, tv and bathroom with hot water and an airconditioning unit. right off the beach. very nice. we spent sat-mon there before deciding to pack up. The food was great, the atmosphere and the scenery was amazing. The beach was pretty isolated from the rest of the island, and because we went pretty far down the island, not a lot of people. we definitely enjoyed our time there.

That being said, the Thai sun is hot... and burny. liz and i got our fair share of sun and burns, even with my ever replenishing coat of SPF 45 and rarely leaving the confines of the umbrella (except to build an extravagent sand castle... that was my undoing).

We made it back to Bangkok and relaxed for the buddhist holiday. Today work is great, I get to pick up my tailor made clothes tonight (so i think) and liz explore the city today. we have a lot to talk about tonight.

see ya!

Long time, No Write

Sorry for the lack of posting lately... Liz and I have been incredibly busy (or so it seems). We spent the rest of last week and the weekend exploring the city. We found a wonderful park near our apartment and some great restaraunts near us. Mom (sullivan)... get ready for some wierd food...

We went to an outdoor weekend market on Sunday. It was exactly what I thought it would be like... but much, much more so. Small little venders everywhere, winding alleyways with odd smells and strange music and interesting merchandise (live squirrel anyone)? Overall, we had a great weekend.

I had two days of training earlier this week... it was interesting and I learned a lot about business and law in Thailand. It was also nice to meet up with the other three interns: Mia, David, and Maureen. We had a great time together and they are all very nice. On Monday night (after a 3+ hour cab ride home), Liz and I went out to dinner with David and Mia for some great Indian food. Yum! I also got fitted for some clothes I am having made... It was neat to have tailors marking fabrics and everything. I am looking forward to having some new, tailored clothes.

Liz and I are also continuing our mission of trying new foods. So far I am not missing any US foods... but I think I will miss some of the foods in Thailand. Great stuff.

Hope everyone back home is doing well.