Flowers In The Rain

This is my photo journal of a summer rainy day. No word is required as the pictures tell the story by themselves.

Life is Like Cherries in A Bowl ...Dancers in A Row.

Love has come to us in many forms and it has been always lavishly pleasing. It can happen at any place in any moment that you can never imagine. It brings tears in your eyes when the moment gets high.

Little smiles have never been so shiny where love started to bloom. It is blooming in our hearts and it never seems to end. Friends are people in my life who always shine brightly in those doom days where everybody else in the world has gone afar. I believe God sent them for a reason. The reason is love and the reason is infinity.

In this wee hour, I still think of my friends whose love is delivered from above. I thank God every time I feel their love that is so profound and cherishing. It must have been heaven.

For all the reasons I might not be able to understand for the rest of my life, it does not matter now. A million words of thankfulness can never be enough. My friends have shown what it was meant by what has been written in the Holy Bible for thousands of year. This much is so true.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”. - Proverbs 17:17

Where have you been for all my life until I found you? I love you my dear.

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Wednesday Afternoon

A hot summer day continued with restless heat. But flowers never stopped blooming as I wandered in a little Botanical Garden near my home. A small turtle at the top of half-sunk log splashed into the water suddenly when I approached to capture a post. Water bubbles traced the way the little turtle dove and faded.

Purple Feung Fah formed a splendid bouquet by the pond where the water reflected shiny emerald glow. The shadow of lively trees was clearly mirrored on the surface of slow moving tide that seemed solid and cannot be seen through further. What was underneath still a mystery and covered by the heavy rain last night.

An old big tree stood there for decades and spanned its branches to cover the ground. Deep green color shown the richness of life in full bloom where lovers hid under its shade from brave sunlight to cherish life.

A wee black and white bird flew swiftly over my car and stopped suddenly at the front shield to pick her wiry grass looking at me sharply as if I would grab it from her before she flew away quickly to a big tree of my neighbor. The other side of the small street, a kind of hooligan helped holding an old lady arm and walked her through a small grocery.

Small things in life can make a mere Wednesday afternoon special in a dash of this lonely planet earth. Isn't it a cherish of life we have here and shouldn't we caress it with respect and joy of our hearts as long as this world spins.

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Rain

In the broad daylight, out of nowhere and without sign, rain sprayed all over and brought down the heat on earth instantly. It was really a blessing what Bangkok was to give. Whenever it came to the peak of hotness, rain came and frequently with thunderstorm. We got both water and winds and the movement on the surface ground cooled down temperature naturally.

I hope there are some similar places like Bangkok whose weather is lovely all through the year. The hottest month does not seem to be too cruel. As the rain comes, plants are fresh and come to life. Smell of the earth and freshness of the air can be found in the heart of the city. Natural disaster? Once in hundreds of year. Floods in Bangkok were regarded as disaster in 1982 because at that time the drain system was so poor together with heavy rainfalls. Even at the worst, zero death toll. I could hear the birds sang after the rain and danced on the green grasses. Blessed city, indeed!.


I remember my family and I had to travel by hitch-hiking which was very unusual in Thailand. We got on a truck from our house in Bangkapi just to bring food to our grandparents in Sukhumvit 71 (Klongton). We walked from the main street to grandparent's house and the water level was about my waist (I am not tall at all - way below standard Asian size!). It was fun and lovely when we finally got there. A few days later my grandparents moved to my uncle's house where it was dry. A few weeks later, we got back to grandparent's empty house (because no one was left there alone of course!) and found that the ground floor was flooded at half the height to the ceiling and we had to renovate the house. I still remember the fixed furniture made from woods and wood products were misshaped and became greenish.

This is not a remembrance of only the worst flood in Bangkok. Essentially, it's a memorial of love we had for each other in our family. Grandpa and grandma are now in heavenly hands. I really long for seeing them once again in heaven as I am still in this physical world. It has been more than 20 years since they were gone, but love has never faded away. Even now nothing remains the same and it never will. It feels like there is always something missing in life. Not being able to feel their caring and loving arms around me again but remembering their smiling faces with mercy eyes when they looked at me, there's warmth in the heart even it's a sheer distance apart.

Nothing could ever replace.

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Yoga for Life

I tried to persuade my mum to practice yoga many times but she didn't feel comfortable going in town. I think it might be because it has not come to the point that she liked it and still did not see the instant benefit.

For myself, the benefit was quite fast because I have been suffering from muscle pain at my right side of my neck and right shoulder. It was a symptom of lengthy and continuously computer mouse clicking. I had a chance today to go to a yoga class for 1 hour and a half. And the pain just went away. Regular yoga helps me a lot to build muscles, to burn extra calories, and keeping me fit. At the first place, it was torturing because my nature being too active to move slowly. I found this place suitable for me since the rhythmic yoga keeps me awake and alert. I have been to physical therapy session but it didn't help much. Once the session was over, the pain was back there as if it was hidden somewhere while treating. Unlike yoga, the pain went away within 10 minutes of practicing and won't come back again until a few days after. If I practice regular yoga, the pain is gone and my health is back.

I persuade everyone to practice yoga, it's an ancient art that is still active today and can help you at any age. It doesn't hurt your knees because most of the poses are non-impact. It helps stretching your muscles and move joints where they have rarely moved. It also helps your mind to focus better.

Stay healthy and active because we all have a lot left undone!

Tensed Day

The day was so rush and I didn't even have a chance to pick up calls. Even breakfast and lunch seemed too long to take. I wished the day would end soon and I could take a break.
I was waiting for my adviser to come to his office and I kept looking at my progress note to correct as many as I could. It took a while before I decided to go to a convenience store nearby as if there was a small window of time to let me know something new in life. As I turned at the corner of the building, my professor, whom I didn't get a chance to meet her in the last six months at least, drove her car pass by. She rolled down the window to talk to me as she broke the news.
Good thing happens when it is least expected. When there's no sign at all.

My professor and adviser offered me a job.
My adviser is getting married.
The tensed day was over. I really don't know what I have done to deserve it. It appears as it may. I know there's always someone up there to watch over me and keep me in piece in times of need.
Keep believing!
PS. I intentionally inserted my favorite VDO here from Youtube that describes the feeling of a good day. "Feeling So Good" by Jennifer Lopez.

The Falcon of Siam

"A story beautifully told from the era of King Narai" accordingly to "you-know-who", he handed me a book so I started reading it while having reflexology. The first 13 pages were about action scenes of Falcon with a Malay. I really don't care much about reading such literature but I love exploring. Most of all, it's something about our "Siam", our "Motherland", our "Homeland", our "Thailand".

The book was appreciated by many publishers, as well as "you-know-who" who was so into the world history and many more. It happened that the details of the story seemed so real and he thought they were true. Well, I guess he has never seen our "Suriyothai" story. MR.Kukrit Pramoj had beautifully written a short novel on her and it was very impressive, quite amusing indeed. Who knows what had happened long ago. It may have a possibility of happening as one could make a wild guess.

Wake up! It's just a novel.

In Loving Memory

My lovely Tuay Foo had lived a life with us for 17 years and 5 months. From the first day she was born, she was the prettiest puppy in my eyes. Her white puffy fur and sleeping eyes took my heart. She loved eating spicy food and fried rice. Her favorite sweet was "Tuay Foo" just as her name but it had to "S&P". I remembered holding her in my arms to sleep. Her soft fur lightly touched my face as she lied down on her back. Now she's in heaven leaving her body underneath the tree in my front yard. It's been 4 years now and I still miss her very much. I hope God allows dogs in heaven, especially my Tuay Foo. I miss her dearly.

A Moment Before Dawn

A Moment before dawn always has me think of something special and is always a special and mystic moment. I can hear very small things tweak and breeze blows. I realize how beautiful my day was and here's a glimpse before the next peep of light.


Work Like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt before, and
Dance like nobody's watching

Research of Hope

My research continued with fear and hope. Downloading many published papers on my hard drives did help in a way. However, confused and worried mind like myself remained scared and questioned.

My research topic is vibrant in current argument with lots of grants all over. As defined by "framework", it has lots to do leading to many mixing paths. It's getting dark again and another day is passing over. What I got today are

- Friends support
- Love from my mum (as always)
- Curiosity level increase
- More papers on my hard drives
- Progress on my research (very little) and documented it in PowerPoint and Notes
- More blogging
- Confused ....

What did you get at the end of the day?

Late Breakfast and Early Lunch

Yes! Late breakfast and early lunch could be called brunch if we put them together. Not my case. I had late breakfast with mum before she went off to see her doctor and then she rushed back home to cook me lunch.



Mother's love is like water. It never ends. Even though I don't like her idea of over-caring me for food, there is no point arguing. Love what she does as time flies to eternity. There will be no other love like this.

Love from Distance

I was about to start my research. The phone rang again and my overnight burning candle was pouring its tears on the floor.! My dearest friend, Florence, ID shown on my cell phone screen. I wouldn't think twice.

An old friend is so valuable than gold. The more I am in the chaos, the more I can see. An old friend's laughter worths a day of heaven and a million memories to laugh after. I love you Florence.

Morning Coffee

A home recipe "mocca" is easily made and tastes great too. Simply add Malt Ovaltine or Cacao power in your Latte. You're set.

Even better with Hershey's Chocolate Syrups because coffee houses use it too. Whipped cream is an option.

My morning coffee is just a cup of Nescafe Gold, Cacao Power, and Creamer. I stopped using artificial sweetener, drinking diet drinks for a few months after I came to know the confirmation of such substances. Life's been lacking sweet tastes and it will take a while. My mum uses honey and you have to put it quite a lot to taste it in strong drinks like coffee.

Good morning and Happy Monday!

Back to Nature

I have changed my strategy. First, it was about "Back to Nature" and "Cherish The East". We belong to the East of the world and should not look for more westernization than we have today. It is already more than enough.

Beauty Tips
- Change to natural or herbal products such as shampoo, scrubs, soap
- Hair Coloring - I found Henna Herbs from India very appealing and giving great result but you need to admit that you will have jet-black hair rather than fashionable golden brown or auburn.
- Local fruits - Thai Fruits are available all year round and taste terrific. Imported fruits are relatively expensive except ones from China.
- Clothes - I tried local made ones and they are terrific. Thai Silk is expensive and difficult to handle but there is a trade-off of its stunning beauty. Alternative is handwork from India but it does not last long.
- Beauty parlor - Try a salon near your home rather than international brand salon. It works too and much cheaper. Great result.

A Sunday Evening

This Sunday evening seems so dull. It was raining lightly but it was enough to get on my car that was washed and polished yesterday. A gray sky looks so miserable but the beautiful pink Feung Fah are so lovely as everyday.



I always keep myself full in an easy way. It is not because I don't care much about food or I don't like going to kitchen but my interest is elsewhere. To keep me full and stuffed with protein. This is my dinner:-

2 cups of steamed peanuts
1 cup of rice soup with salty egg
1 cup of noodle

Now I can work late for tonight for my research and my work. Have to put my phone on silence too.