Mini-Donuts and Photo Booths

Okay, guys. Guess what? Yes. Holly and I went to the photo booth the other day. It's different from American photo booths, but not by TOO much. Different [cloth] backgrounds/drapes, possible photo 'extras', a person to do the '1 2 3' thing... other than that, it's barely bigger than that American one.

And the photos are sticky. Yay.

We had fun, all-in-all.

Take a look:

http://picasaweb.google.co.th/gecko.on.the.wall/CompletelyRandomPicturesFromThailand/photo#5130818062951301234
Then we proceeded to get a donut and a few gifts for family, and I bought two watches. The first was cute but made my wrist smell badly metallic [I knew it would turn my wrist green or black], the other was the replacement for that one I just bought, which was a replacement for the one I lost. [I know what you are thinking. Be quiet.]

Today I got up and watched Moei bake some muffins, then went onto the computer and looked for different recipes, because the time to cook for my family is VERY VERY VERY soon, apparently.

I think I'll start little, like a breakfast. French toast, pancakes, one-eyed sailors, scrambled eggs, a few things simple like that.

Then later I'll cook them a bigger meal, like green bean casserole, chicken [I don't know how yet, probably marinated or crumble-topped], mashed potatoes and gravy, maybe soup [hopefully they have canned soup for my convenience...].

But then I found a picture of Monkey Brains, and I decided I'd do that first. Monkey Brains is another way of saying Monkey Bread... Yes, the delicious American favorite.

So I went and bought mini-Jello-mols, metal. I didn't see mini-bundts, and it made me sad, but I found mini-bundt-like-things with a very flat bubble on top instead of a dip. That'll work. If we don't have canned biscuits [which we probably will NOT], I found a recipe to make in advance for such a thing.

Yes, I know it was a wonderful idea. [wink]

I'm also going to teach myself how to make donuts. I've become so addicted to them here... I bought a couple normal-sized cutters, then a mini-one, which is OH-SO-Adorable. Seriously. It's like, an inch big in diameter, with a hole in it. How cute?! "You'll get fat." I've eaten like this for three months...

My meals: Morning: Fried egg with rice or cereal with milk. Each comes with fruit and a glass of water.

Lunch: Rice with vegetables, meat. Sometimes Pad Thai. Some fruit, maybe coffee. Water.

Supper: Same as lunch. Sometimes we eat Vietnamese, though.

Snacks: Bananas, Papaya, Yogurt, apples, Chinese fruit, donuts, jellies, marshmallow things, pocky, waffles, cookies.

The point is, I eat a LOT over here, now... and I lost 8 kilos since I've arrived.
That's about 12 pounds...

I love Thailand. I love Muay Thai. ...I love me...

Monica

No tengo una cuchara kha!

My Spanish, English and Thai is getting very baffling.
By the way, that means "I don't have a spoon" in Spanish, plus the "kha" in Thai that's just an ending that you slap on when you're a girl or a lady-boy.
I'm getting over my cold... yes, I had one. I didn't need to warn anybody though because at first sign of it, I started myself on Mucinex [Dear Lord, Thank for your kind gifts of Mucinex.]. I brought two bottles with, for those "just in case" things. I'm quite happy I did. I'm nearly over it now, and I'm not even done with the first bottle [yet]!
I highly recommend that if you go to Thailand, bring Mucinex. Otherwise you'll end up going to the Hospital [there's no "go to the doctor" here], get meds you DON'T NEED, don't get meds you DO NEED, and then not get a detailed "how to" and "what that's for" low-down on the meds you GET from the hospital.
So yes, I highly recommend you bring Mucinex.
Or something else that's just as strong.

To the spoon thing:
I went to Holly's host Rotary meeting tonight; we ended up serving Watchiporn's (Virginia's - another exchange student, but from Canada) Pumpkin Coconut Milk Soup stuff. When we were serving we ran out of spoons and I was going around saying "No tengo una cuchara kha," not really realizing I was speaking Spanish instead of English [or Thai], and adding a "kha" at the end. I mentally slapped myself on the head and said, "Mai mee spoon kha." Give me a break, I don't know what "spoon" in Thai is [yet]. I'm just glad these people knew what I was looking for [it really wasn't all that hard to figure out that I needed a freaking spoon due to the fact I was [randomly] holding a bowl of Pumpkin soup standing there like a confused idiot [BAKA!].
I again mentally slapped myself when I went to grab a napkin and thought to myself, "Hey, this hotel folds their [paper] napkins the same way my Rotary's hotel folds theirs." WHO notices this stuff? WHO?! Seriously. Krrai?!

Why yes, the cow is very white with dark white spots and is a pyro. Why yes, his spots all do look like hearts. What interesting perspectives, Apinya...

Got a couple new movies. One's a "horror" movie, but I think it will be quite, save the language... dung-like. That's good, though. I miss those American horror movies that end up turning dungy. They make me laugh. I also got Back to the Future [II and III]. Now all I need is the original, then I have a complete set!
If anybody wants a DVD, send me 3 bucks and payment for postage to send to you. That's the price of a new DVD here, without the case. If you want a newer movie, give me about... 4 bucks.
What black market? I'm talking about Tacos here... [shifty eyes]
No I won't send you guys, DVD's [for those who are [very much] baka people out there]. One, I don't want to waste the time converting American money to Baht just so I can buy YOUR DVD; not to mention I'd have to go shop stall to shop stall LOOKING for the DVD, let alone being in REAL voice [non-dub] and having [if needed] English subs. Then I have to get the envelope to mail the DVD, write your address and mine, take it to the post office and [finally] ship it. No, that takes up too much of my precious time. Now shoo, before I throw this small plastic bag at you.

Who thinks I should do a [test] video blog? RAISE YO' HANDS, HOMIEZ. [Please raise your hands, ladies and gentlemen.]
Or rather, comment. I can't see your hands, put them down. Write me a very very very brief comment of "I vote for video blogs," or "YES!", or even a simple "WHEE, CARROTS" will work.
Anything negative I will take as a "Heck no, don't do it."
...Apinya, you don't count.
...seriously. So keep your kau neo daam to yourself.......... [eats it all first] [*shifty eyes* gin gin gin]

So, anyway, good night, dear peoples all around the world [who are mainly below me, teehee].
*points to the ground and mocks you* "Stop pointing at me, it's rude!" "Stop it!"

Give me a break, I'm tired.

No, we don't have DST.
Now we are 13 hours ahead of you.

STOP ASKING!!!


Erm, please.

Oh yeah. I also got a donut today. Holly and I reflected upon the 90's [again during this exchange], and realized how old we felt and were. In just three year's time, we will be talking about something that happened two decades ago... Geez, I feel old.

Good night. =]

Monica

Halloween Fairies

H to the A to the Double-L O Double-U Double-E N!!!
First off, my leg itches like nuts, and I thought you should know that.
Second, I did celebrate Halloween, and I had a blast doing so [even though it was raining]!

On the 27th my [host] father and sister [with Apinya (Holly) and I] went to Lotus. That's like a Super WalMart, but flipped so there's more food items than non-food items. A backwards Super Wally World... Anyway...
I found a stash of pumpkins and saw they were like 12 baht per kilo, which is about 35 cents per 2 pounds. The pumpkin ended up costing about 45 baht all together, meaning it weighed all of about 3 kilos/6.5 pounds. It really wasn't that big of a pumpkin. That's the biggest they had, too. Well, I was going to buy the pumpkin when Kun-Pah said "Mai Bpen Lai," and said he'd pay for it. Sweet. I got a pumpkin.

Two days later, I carved it. I don't know how I managed to carve such a decent-looking pumpkin with no tools but a giant knife [look at pictures, that's the smallest knife we own], but I did it, and I like it.
Yay for Jack Skellington.

Then on Halloween day [for me, rather; you were still in day before; ...farangs], I went to school with my wings on, hair up, and even applied liquid mascara [don't get all frenzied up. I didn't wear it how you're SUPPOSED TO [see pictures]. Haha, I made a moon that you can't tell for sure is a moon until I tell you... and some stars. Yes, I meant for the moon to be that way.
I also bought tons of candy while we went to Lotus [and got the pumpkin]. A few bags; one of chocolate candies, another of marsmallow candies, another of gummy cows, and a little plastic treasure chest of chocolate gold coins. Most of the candy was gone by the end of the school day, as I was handing them out to teachers and friends. That was fun.
I got a lot of pictures taken. ... Not just with my camera...
"Oh, Monthida!" [camera-phone snapshot]
"Thida! Look!" [camera-phone... movie? what?]
Then in the cafeteria... I thought I was stared at enough because I was farang... atleast half the cafeteria stared at me and smiled or something when I entered... for the first several minutes. I much prefer the looks/reactions by the people who aren't paying attention then all of a sudden I'm so close to them asking for a meal or a drink or something and they're like "OH!" and simply have their mouth turn statuistic with an obvious "Oh" mouth movement. [giggles]

Then we all piled to Holly's later and Watchi and I spent the night. You are correct, actually. We really barely slept at all. We stayed up watching Scrubs and Corner Gas. I guess it was our version of the [was-going-to-be-but-ended-up-not-being] Farang Halloween Party.

Why yes, it was fun. Until people started getting ill from candy over-dosing. Bleh.

Then this morning Watchi went with Holly to school to visit her classes. I went home, took a shower, ate breakfast, then went to school for my classes... Thank you, later-starting classes...


Yes, I am getting eaten alive right now just to tell you this story.

Yes, it does hurt. The mosquitos here are freaking huge, and so are their snouts! [phantom shivers].

Yes, Cake the cat is somewhat blocking my keyboard routes for my arms/wrists/hands.

Oh yeah, and Kun-Meh's birthday was the day before Halloween! I have her a bracelet that my real mother made [I picked out the color, teehee], and Kun-Meh seemed to really like it. Which is rather cool. Because she hugged me.

We went out to eat Thai style BBQ again. I love that place. Yumminess.

Pictures pictures pictures.

Thank you, Picasa!

Happy Halloween, too. I hope yours rocked. [hearts]

Monica

P.S. - Thought I'd clue you in... I've been chosen as one of the "grand finale" girls in the fashion show on December 8th. Dec. 8... the King's birthday. Big deal. Big event. I'm part of it... sweet.

My friend Tip [pronounced "Teep"] is a model... she's showing me how to do the catwalk... and in high heels. I know you just winced at me in high heels. Don't worry, I'll try not to fall or trip... or stumble and fall on myself... even though I *am* Monica... Me + heels = catastrophe, I know! BUT I MAY TURN OUT OTHERWISE... it's a possibility!