Moved

It is heart warming to see the donation pools being set up all over the city. Seems like every one in this country is directly involved in helping out the victims of flood that has been terrorizing many provinces in Thailands. In time like this, any form of help is meaningful. Some choose to be at the spot helping out with food preparation and transport, some are involved in the medication and treatment, while others are contributing materials, either food, clean drinking water, medicine, or money.



The management office of our apartment has arranged to collect donations from the residents here. Recommended donation items are clothes, medicine, rice, and canned food. T just reminded me to accumulate our old clothes to give away for this good cause. Rice and canned food are also in our donation list.



Experiencing all this in our neighborhood just raised a question why my office has not shown any interest in extending any help at all. Nothing has been initiated so far… is it because everyone is just too busy and carried away with their duties and projects?



While rain is still pouring all over in various places around the country and there is no sign that it is going to stop any sooner, all we can hope is that more people are moved to help.

Strawberries

If you have noticed, I have never used raspberries or cranberries in any of my baking and dessert. I could drool over their beautiful look in the magazines but their pricing never failed to make me switch to something else. In fact, raspberries and cranberries are considered the most expensive imported fruits in Thailand. Luckily from the presentation point of view, they are replaceable by strawberries which are priced half or one third.



While locally grown in the Northern part of Thailand, Thai strawberries are not in the same quality as the imported ones, either in size, appearance and price. That is the reason why imported strawberries are made available in most of the supermarkets and somehow affordable for almost everyone from all walks of life. On the other hand, raspberries and cranberries are only sold in the high class supermarkets.



Thai strawberries are in the market only at a very limited period of time – normally at the end of the year. I used to feel so happy during those months because I could line up many recipes that involve strawberries and bake to my utmost joy. But unfortunately, my enthusiasm towards local strawberry had gradually diminish over the years as I couldn’t help but notice that regardless its external look was very closed to the imported strawberry, its internal look quickly put me off. Once sliced, local strawberry showed plain red flesh without the tint of white or pinkish shades. This was just not appealing to the eyes when served on the plates or photographed.



Since then I had switched to imported strawberries. And as time went by, I had encountered different kinds of strawberries. Those from USA are big and the most beautiful of all, Australian ones have longish shape which are unique, and Korean ones are cutest due to their tiny and closed to perfect heart shape (displayed in these pictures).

Do feel free to share with me the look of your local strawberries and the kind of strawberry that is your favorite.

Rain

It has been raining most of the time here in Bangkok. While there is strong sunlight in the morning we can usually tell that it will be raining cats and dogs in the late afternoon or early evening. Apparently all of us working in the office hate evening rain since there will be bad traffic jam following that slows down our traveling home. No matter what transport one takes, or worse if he drives a car, a traffic jam in Bangkok is a total disaster.



While we have spent most part of the day at work, we can't help but miss home and expect to arrive there as fast as possible. Obviously this is not possible in times of heavy rain as cars slow down and traffic is unavoidably congested. I am sure there are times when those who are caught in the traffic jam think about imaginary fly-over streets where cars can be lifted up to take the magical pathway that will lead them to where they are heading to. More like a comforting thought in the midst of frustration.



On the other hand, rain brings cool weather that is nice. The sound of raindrops is soothing and relaxing. That reminds me - or maybe most of you readers, of how fun it was playing in the rain when we were children. Adults just don't do much of that anymore..

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Rain always has that magic that somehow uplifts our mood and quickly brings a smile. Unless if we have an important meeting to attend and we are late, or say, friends call to cancel dinner or movie.



While tonight it is not raining and the sky is clear. Simply have the urge to rush back home. But just before that, let me send some of the pictures that I have been intending to post for sometime now. Hope you enjoy them and have a great evening, raining or not raining...