amazing light

The fried tofu and vegetable in peanut sauce topped with creme fraiche was AMAZING but the Nikon D50 that captured this image using only available light (which was very very little) produced even more amazing results...

war

One of my favorite local health assistant coordinators has already left for war. He was one of the most happy go lucky, positive human beings I ever met. Such a hard worker. This is truly a sad day for me. I really do hope he keeps safe.

Fortune was told

Today I was having a conversation with the resort owner about including more vegetables in our meals, and then he asked me if I was happy with somtam. I thought he was talking about green papaya salad, so I said yes, I love Somtam and it makes me happy. "No! not somtam! No! Are you happy sometimes?" I smiled and emphatically said yes! most of the time. He told me the mole on my right cheek is preventing me from being happy. Wow, my mother has been telling me this for years. Is this an Asian thing? He subsequently took my hands into his and stroked the tips of my longest fingers, saying I had a difficult childhood and that is why my second and fourth fingers are uneven. It made me think about my parents divorce, being burned by scalding water, being separated from my sister, in an orphanage, and sojourning to the US and not knowing a single soul. He proceeded to tell me that he could see from my hands I help many people and that no one helps me in return. And so because of this, I should never expect people to pay me back or help me. I thought well, that is pretty reasonable. Could be just good advice, something I'll totally heed. He did reassure me, though, that when I hit rock bottom, someone will be there to pick me up. At which my new coworker, concerned about my destiny, invited me to stay with him if I am ever having problems. Glad that is covered! He also told me that I am a bullheaded person and that when I want something, contrary to the advice that my friends and family might proffer, I will go for it. He nailed that one. Then he got into the juicy stuff and told me that I have two people who are in love with me right now. I asked him who they are because clearly I've been left out in the dark. He proceeded to tell me that I am not really good at saving money. I was starting to not want to believe him. And that I also have a sixth sense and can occasionally know things are going to happen before they happen. OK, now he's becoming my friend again. And that I have a very deep secret only in my heart which makes me very sad and nervous.

hanging

Some of the best times i have here in MS is just hanging with Cate and taking pictures of random dogs. We've come up with a classification system of the thai dogs: Burger, BFF, and Polio Dog. How many degrees of separation are they away from these 3 dog types? we ask ourselves. Then we dash for the dogs and take numerous photos. It's raging fun. Then we go and look at random T-shirts.
This one is definitely 1 degree away from Burger with his scruffy factor. It was so sad, why was he eating poo on the road? I didn't know dogs eat poo.

Then we came across two little puppies. They were many degrees of separation from the 3 dog types, but their puppiness still warranted a pull over and oogling.

an afternoon at the beach

-rayon shawl passes by

-handkerchief bandana passes by

-tribal henna tatto passes by "Not permanent! Only lasts 2 weeks!"

-duvet cover floats by

-bamboo flute passes by, music emanating

-leather braided shell bracelets pass by

-curtains stroll by

-roasted corn on stick passes by

-rayon shawl passes by again

-oversized oriental motif fan walks by, dramatically thrust open for details of oriental motif to be seen

-fried broad beans pass by, with a few, eerily, almost landing in my hand without my volition

-rayon shawl passes by, again

-linen sundress walks by, i'm tempted. the white ones always tempt me.

-the musical bamboo passes by playing a different tropical tune

-wooden carved lamp passes by

-wow, an oversized carved wooden wall clock but designed like a wristwatch walks closely by.

my dream vacation

when i'm not working these days, my mind daydreams about the vacation i will finally be taking at the end of may. agenda: yoga, warm crystal aqua green waters, spa, watch DVDs, read, surf and access to internet (just to check a few work related emails in the morning after my breakfast and coffee). or maybe i'll hit the beach first and then come back to a nice and lazy afternoon.

How I will achieve immortality

Lobby the Committee of Small Body Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union to have an asteroid named after me.