Not Allowed

Having lived in Singapore for two years, we are used to signs telling us what is allowed and what is not allowed.  However, we recently saw some Bangkok taxi stickers that took "not allowed" to a whole new level.

No Smoking (pretty standard in all taxis)

No Weapons (a rifle?)

No Dogs with Horns?  No Rams with Pacman Ghost Heads?

This One's Easy - No Thai Massages in the Taxi, Please  ; )

If you don't live in Asia, you might not know this one.  Take a guess?

A Giant Cup o' Joe

After a long day of roaming the streets of Bangkok, we stopped at a Starbucks for a tasty treat.  The strawberry cake was light and creamy.  The chocolate chip cookie was fresh and perfectly warmed.  But the biggest surprise was the GIANT cup o' Joe they gave us!  It was as big as my face!

To be perfectly accurate, it wasn't filled with coffee, but with milk.  (What goes better with a chocolate chip cookie than milk?)

Tortilla Triumph!

As many of you know, it has been quite challenging for me to find corn tortillas in many of the countries we've lived in.  

In Morocco, we never found a place that sold them.  In Shanghai, I tried to have a corn tortilla making kit delivered to me from San Diego, but the masa never made it through customs due to strict agricultural restrictions.  In Singapore, I ended up buying some corn tortillas from a Mexican restaurant called Baja Fresh.  (Yes, the same Baja Fresh we have in California.)

So now that we are in Thailand, another chapter begins on "How to Get Corn Tortillas in a Foreign Country."  Luckily, my principal was aware of my quest and recently found a grocery store that sells locally made corn tortillas.  Here I am with treasure in hand:

Corn tortillas are so rare in these parts that there are people who have made their own masa from scratch!  I considered doing that, but after seeing all the steps, I figured flour tortillas and Doritos were good enough.

Terminal 21 Toilets

One of the newest malls in Thailand is called Terminal 21.  It is designed like an airport terminal with each floor representing a different destination: Japan, Istanbul, France, America, etc.

There are plenty of cultural images and decorations such as giant sumo wrestlers on the Japan floor...

... and a seven story high Oscar on the Hollywood floor!

The mall designers have even decorated each restroom in the style of famous cities:

Using the restroom has never been so much fun!

Things You Don't See in Southern California

A computer keyboard with Thai characters.

Bathroom signs at the mall with the figures doing the "gotta go" pose.

A mobile broom, brush, and sweeper cart strolling down the street.

A "No Balloons Allowed on the Subway" sign.

A herd of cows walking down the street in front of a long row of patiently waiting cars.

A sign on the subway that reads,
"Please offer this seat to monks."

A local cat taking a nap between the escalator handrails.