Reality TV loves Bangkok!

OK, so we're finally getting to see the latest season of my favorite reality show, America's Next Top Model. They're in Thailand! It's kinda fun seeing the view they portray of Bangkok. It kinda reminds me of the picture they gave of South Africa a couple of seasons back. Very hodgepodge and stylized. It's always fun to see the popular landmarks and whatnot, but they do miss a lot of the flavor of the city. It does turn out they're staying at the Plaza Athenee, on Wireless Road. Wireless Rd is the location of the US Embassy and is one SkyTrain stop from here. You could walk door to door of the hotel in, oh, 30 minutes or so. Driving would take about 10 (not counting traffic). So, they're in our general part of town, which is cool. The most recent episode I saw, they learned Thai dance. I'm gonna have to find that theatre - it looks really nice. And I wonder why they took the girl to the hospital they did. It's a Thai hospital that I'm sure is fine and all, but there are much nicer and better international ones around!

Many people also know how excited I was to see The Amazing Race 9 come through here also last season. I like the picture they gave much better. They engaged the culture on a much more realistic level - that is, they mixed with the other 95% of us! That time, they came within 2km of where we were living when they went to the Mo Chit bus terminal. We still intend to go to the Marble Temple and play like we're on Amazing Race. :-D

So, as I remember, I'll be sure to comment on Top Model and what they're doing around here - give the "other side" as it were.

*yawn*

I had a lovely headache today - my first since we moved in 2 months ago! :-( Very drugged but feeling better!

It's been a very busy week around here. On Tuesday, Becky Davis and I went together to Amy Eckrote's baby shower. Well, turns out the day AFTER a Thai holidy isn't the best day to drive somewhere because the roads were totally jammed. We only had to hail a cab to go from Soi 10 to Soi 26, but wow that was complicated. After waiting 20 minutes at Center Point across the street for a cab, we took the tuk-tuk up to the main road and hailed one ourselves. We made it all the way to about Soi 20 when the air conditioning in the cab went out. WOW that was hot! After sitting at Soi 20 in traffic for 30 minutes, we got out and walked. I swear it was cooler outside the car than it had been inside! In any case, after looking around and realizing we had 10 minutes to get there and traffic was at a dead standstill, we walked the remaining 15 minutes carrying Malia and STILL got there before our old cab had even moved! Only in Bangkok would it take that many modes of transportation to get somewhere!

We moved Malia into her nursery yesterday too. She had been sleeping in our room in a little seat/bed. It was so decadent to be able to walk in the room, turn on the lights, run a bath without the bathroom door closed (no air con in there!), and talk above a whisper. That said, I did miss her being there. But, we got a video monitor from the States which works great. Malia-Vision! Matthew was so cute, he just loved watching her. We actually drained the batteries on the monitor watching it so much! :-)

Malia also had her two month vaccinations yesterday. She's up to 4.3 kilos - 2 kilos more than when she was born 2 months ago! 53 centimeters long, so she's still kinda tiny. In fact, she and Nathan Eckrote are the same size, and he's only 2 weeks old! We've been lamenting the fact lately that there aren't any other baby girls her age in the church right now. It's gonna be her and all boys in Sunday School!

Our 7th Anniversary Picture

It's from back in May, but it's still a good picture! :-)

Ms. Malia and her Poopy Face

No, it's not what it sounds like! :-) Malia just has a crazy little face she makes when she poops. It's so cute, I had to take a video! Enjoy!

Malia's Arrival Announcement

Phangnga Mission Trip

I realized I never mentioned our mission trip from April! We went down south to the tsunami zone. I created a blog for the trip that pretty much speaks for itself, so here you are!

Phangnga Mission Trip 2006