Elusive Monkey and Banksy-esque Panda Skull

This morning I finally did it!  I captured a photo of the elusive "monkey holding white lotus flower" a.k.a "Graffiti Monkey" on a shop's roll-down gate on Sukhumvit Road near our condo.  I have been trying to snap a photo of him from taxis and buses every time I pass by, but all of the photos have been blurry, unusable, or just partial images of him.

This morning I woke up early and thought, "Enough is enough."  Not many people are awake before 8:00 a.m. in Bangkok, so my 6:30 a.m. adventure was a bit eerie.  As the light broke through the pre-dawn sky, I snapped a few photos and . . . viola!

If I ever get a chance to interview the artist, I'd like to know about some of the symbolism he used.

I like the monkey's teeth and the fact that the edges look so crisp, even though it is painted on a corrugated door.  Whew!



For a while, a paper pasted panda skull was also just as elusive as the monkey.  If you look closely, it is on the left side corner of the building in the center of the photo.

Then, one day after eating at a noodle shop, there it was.  I've seen small stickers on the back side of street signs that have the same image.  I wonder what it means.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

We have mentioned on this blog that "soi" means street in Thai and that there are lots of neighborhood dogs that just hang out in the street.  The local Thai people take care of them, but these canines spend most of their time frolicking or napping on the sidewalks and in the alleys of Bangkok.

As we discover backstreets and new areas of this bustling city, we have been noticing more dogs, some in packs and some just hanging out by themselves enjoying a nap.

Many dogs block your path and won't budge, so it's up to the humans to walk around them!  There are even some dogs that lay in the street, and the cars and motorbikes just go around them!

Some dogs prefer to hang out by themselves on a cozy spot of sidewalk.

Some soi dogs like to pose for the camera.

I see this guy every day.  I have nicknamed him "Soi Sausage" because he's so big and round.  He reminds me of those mysterious "Sliding Stones" that move in the desert of Death Valley.  I never see him walk, but he is in a different spot each time I see him.

The patch of grass on the left is a favorite spot for some playful, wrestling doggies.

Lost in Translation?

One of the best parts of living overseas is learning the host country's language.  Although we accept the fact that we will not be fluent in a year or two, it is always helpful to learn some phrases that will make it easier to get around, eat, and shop.

On the other hand, many countries have made a huge effort to incorporate the English language into many of their signs, menus, and brochures.  Sometimes the English is spot on, but other times not so much.

"Explorium" and "Edutainment" are intentional, but someone forgot the "r" in California.  (Not sure about the missing "e" in experience.)

I think this one could actually work as a new word in English:
Graduation + Congratulations = Gratulation!

I considered this as a name for a band.

Usually I am pretty daring when it comes to trying new dishes, but this one just didn't sound very appetizing.