Shabu Sai's Hotpot Buffet

You know how at one time I seemed to have this thing for K-BBQ and Mookata and the like?

Not that I don't have a love for it now, but what with my appetite and my tummy these days, I'm finding that I lean towards the soupy soupy stuff a wee bit more. 

Mookata has the soup, of course- it's in a little moat- but I'm finding myself wanting to have more of hotpot type soups where I can dunk my meat and my vegetables in and not feel like I'm missing out if I don't use the grill. 

That's not to say I don't like nor want Mookata or KBBQ. 

No way. 

Just that... I don't know... for some time now I've found it a tad hard to relish in grilled meats, and if I'm going to stuff myself with lots and lots of food, I'll need to measure, to adjust, to balance. 

Shabu Sai, thus, has become one of my newest, latest, most favorite place for hotpot buffet.

A friend had introduced it to me. 

What's funny is that we always used to pass by the restaurant when it was at Suntec City, but never got to try. 

And now that they've shifted out from the place, we find ourselves searching for other Shabu Sais.

There's one at NEX, which I haven't been.

But there's also one at Orchard Central, which, yes, thankfully, I have been a couple of times. 

We were there one afternoon for a late lunch, and by late I mean we were there around 3pm. 

Several kinds of soup bases we get to choose, and whilst I hovered between getting the tonkatsu or the yuzu, my friend went straight for (if I'm not wrong) the tom yum. I just know his had the spice whilst mine had the safe. 

Dont' laugh at my choice of the yuzu.

It might have that hint of sour sour at the start, but the taste balances out once you start dunking your meats and vegetables and other ingredients, and soon you'll get a slightly salty soup with just that very, very, very faint hint of the citrus fruit. 

There were trays of meat this afternoon.

What types they were, whether pork or beef, I now don't seem to be able to remember, there might have been some beef, there might have been some pork. 

But there were all these thin slices of belly, I remember, very likely pork, all of which were really fast to cook, and so very fast to eat. 

It was a good thing, really. 

I was hungry.

What makes these slices great is that they're sliced thin, they're chilled, and arranged all so pretty. 

And because they're so thin, they cook really fast in the pot even though you've just barely warmed it over and switched it on. 

I'm always hungry whenever I come here for a meal. 

So, yes, I'm glad that there're fast-cook foods available at the buffet counter, like lettuce, green leafy vegetables, carrots, tofu- of various kinds. 

There're a good number of ingredients at the vegetable buffet, by the way. 

Like carrots, corn, potatoes, different kinds of tofu, different kinds of mushrooms, lots variety of green leafy vegetables, lettuces, and all the gamut of hotpot ingredients one can think of. 

I've seen cuttlefish balls, fish balls, prawn balls, meat balls. 

I've also seen tang hoon and ramen and some other types of noodles. 

I don't take much of the noodles though. 

Instead I go for the rice, which, I don't eat during the course of the meal, but (more or less) after I've finished the meats and the rest of the vegetables that I want to have. 

This afternoon's vegetables included mushrooms and white tofu which, even though I prefer the processed cheese types, seemed too bouncy and cute to completely ignore. 

Then there was, of course, a whole plate of lettuce, which is a favorite vegetable of mine when it comes to hotpot, and at a buffet like this, can have up to three, four plates stacked full. 

Most of the hotpot, of course, featured meat. 

How many trays we ordered, I don't remember, there might have been seven or ten, but we were hungry, I was hungry, and this afternoon- as it turned out- between the two of us, we had no problem finishing them all. 

Maybe it were the stacked-up trays of thin pork belly slices that did the trick. 

Maybe it were the slices of fresh, pleasantly chilled beef. 

But today it were me who had a larger appetite. 

Long after my friend decided he had enough I was still working my chopsticks inside the pot, picking out slices of meat to dip in the customized hotpot sauce of sesame sauce, spring onions and parsley. 

I had no problem finishing up the meats from my side of the pot this afternoon.

I also had no problem chomping through the other ingredients and picking out spoonfuls of seaweed from my friend's soup. 

Seaweed really does enhance the flavor of everything.

Whether it be wrapping the pork belly slice around the seaweed, whether it be mushed up with some of the other ingredients, or whether it be eaten with my own special mix of rice, it's all good. 

Special mention must be made of the rice that I've said I always try to have. 

Never mind how full I am, I always try to take a bowl of it. 

It is the simplicity of this dish that I love.

One wouldn't think that a bowl of warm, fluffy rice, mixed with fragrant sesame oil, crunchy fried onions and fresh green spring onions would make such a comforting difference to a hotpot meal, but there it is. 

I never get bored breathing in the fragrance of the sesame oil (even though I sometimes overdo it and drown the rice) 

Neither do I ever get bored of the fried onions and spring onions that add such varied texture to the rice. 

Perhaps at another time I might add the egg and eat it Japanese style.

But this afternoon I was happy with what I had.

And I finished the whole bowl. 

I wasn't going to end the meal without having any dessert, however, and so, off it was back to the soft serve machine at the buffet counter where I had a a cup of vanilla soft serve topped with colorful rainbow sprinkles. 

In the form of a vanilla soft serve topped with rainbow sprinkles. 

The NTWU Kopi

Don't laugh, but this plain-looking, non-descript cup of coffee is one of the coffees that I actually miss whenever I'm not in town.

It comes not from a well-known coffee cafe (that, in this context, often serves up pastries and brunch) 

Neither does it come from a place with one of them good baristas who know their coffee beans and coffee types inside and out. 

But it is satisfying, it packs a good solid punch, and is remarkably affordable. 

I was first introduced to this coffee couple of years ago by Mr. Radioman who brought me to the NTWU canteen of the 'hood's bus interchange after a night of hanging out. 

"The coffee here good," he told me, "Solid one." 

Back then I had been a little more skeptical. 

After all not every coffee shop serves up the best coffee. 

But then the shutters of the canteen went up, from the bench we heard the clinking of tea spoons inside the mugs as the lady began stirring up the day's first order, and Mr. Radioman went in to order. 

In a few minutes he was back.

Up till today I still remember that sight of Mr. Radioman coming back to the table with two glass cups of kopis in his hand. 

I'll also always remember the taste. 

See, with this coffee, it isn't merely the sweet from the condensed milk that strikes you. 

It is also the roundedness, the richness, and the thickness of the coffee that hits hard.

I loved the way the coffee first wrapped her flavor around my tongue, sliding oh-so-smoothly down my throat, and then, finally, enveloping my senses with her comforting, revitalizing warmth.  

It's been more than two years since with Mr. Radioman I dipped a stick of youtiao dough fritters into a cup of kopi. 

It's also been more than two years since with Mr. Radioman we shared a plate of fried noodles along with our cups of kopi. 

Perhaps it is that which makes me glad that the taste of this kopi hasnt changed. 

I'm still not (emotionally) able to get back to the canteen of Hougang Bus Interchange for the same glass cup, but thankfully there're other canteens at other bus interchanges that I can go to whenever I need, and want. 

Like the other day when I happened to alight at Serangoon Bus Interchange, and because it had been a somewhat long day- like most days this season seems to be- I needed a coffee.

Desperately. 

In the NEX shopping mall there was McDonalds and MOS Burger and even the food court at the end of the same floor but then I passed by the NTWU canteen whilst walking in, I had cash on hand, and so into the functional, hole-in-a-wall canteen I went. 

The lady did the coffee for me in a quick jiffy, and let me tell you, words cannot describe just how much comfort the very first sip gave me. 

Would it be exaggerated if I say I felt suddenly alive?

Would it be too much of a overkill if I said I felt instantly revitalized? 

Because that's how it was. 

So good, rich and thick it was. 

Honestly, I'm glad for the consistency. 

It's like I don't have to think whether or not this place's kopi be good today or otherwise.

I don't have to worry that the standard of today's kopi fall below what I need and want. 

I don't even need to worry too much about price. 

I've not understood very much what exactly the presence of the unions are (sometimes) in the system of this country- it gets complicated- but if there's one thing I know, it is that the Workers' Union doesn't screw around with the needs and the tastes of bus drivers all around the country whether it be the meals, the snacks, the drinks, the cakes, or the coffees. 

What they want, they get. 

At their price. 

Not the same for us, of course, it's higher, but because they get what they want, because the canteen is open to everyone and anyone (just so long as we give them their right of space) we citizens, we bus passengers, get to have the same blessed standards too. 

The Cat Called Noel

So I've just gotten a most exasperating message over Whatsapp. 

It is not a traumatic message, it is not a distressing message, but it is one of those that upsets me enough to make me go "Oh no, idiots, Sad" in quick succession, and it is one of those messages that make you wish you were there to resolve it right there and then. 

But I'm not there.

And not only am I not there, I am in fact a pretty good distance away from Steppyhouse, and now I don't know whether or not this kitty cat of a name called Noel will still be on the bench by the time I get back there. 

It's frustrating.

It's exasperating. 

Because this is a cat that wandered through the gates of Steppyhouse's address four months ago around Christmas time, and since then- with the presence, and help, of many a fellow neighbor- has casually made her home here. 

You know, there is a marked difference when a creature of God's creation chooses you versus you choosing them. 

In the Master's eyes, it is respect to the creature HE has created where being a good steward of the creature is a form of worship and gratefulness to HIM. 

In the way of the world, also, a cat's presence, especially one that chooses you, is a symbol of wealth and luck.

And god forbid I refuse to see it any other way. 

Especially since this is a cat who chose us. 

This is a cat who wandered in on her own. 

No one left her behind, no one pushed her in, no one even knows just when it was she came. 

It was one of those situations where one day there was no cat, next day there was one. 

That's it. 

Which date it was she turned up, I actually don't remember.

Neither do I even remember how. 

But I'm pretty sure it was around Christmas time, maybe Boxing Day give and take a day. 

At first we didn't pay much attention to her. 

We had no idea who she belonged to. 

We had no idea whether she was a stray, not a stray, or whether she had a home but had simply come out for adventures and kitty hustles. 

The first few times we kept asking her to don't stay out, go home, but after a week or so she was still there, near the pillar, following everyone and anyone who came by. 

What's more, it seemed like she was hungry. 

We didn't know what to do when she kept following us into the lift, even up the 5th floor and although we could have opened the staircase door to let her run down, we were afraid she might jump from one ledge to another and fall down instead. 

So we just gave her a bit here and there. 

Eventually all of us started to give her little bits of food, one by one, a neighbor here, a neighbor there. 

Truth be told, it didn't actually begin with the food. 

Instead it began with a semi-broken cat house that a neighbor placed under the water riser. 

Supposed to be, I guess, a place for her to sleep in, and everything, but it's been four months now and I don't think she's ever gone inside to sleep. 

Dont ask me why. 

This is a cat who sleeps on the bench, at the side of the car park, on the top of the stairs, on top of the water riser, and even under a parked car instead of going into a nice, comfortable, homely-looking house made of wood. 

But she's a cat, that's her choice, and yep, ain't nothing going to move her out from her spot unless she chooses to. 

Not long after the house got plonked there, a water bowl turned up, and it was so charming, I tell you, to see a neighbor, whilst rushing out of the compound on her way to work, make a quick stop to fill up the half empty water bowl. 

Slowly but surely, more and more of us started giving her food. 

Some of the neighbors came down with bags of kibble and cans of cat food. 

And because this cat always seemed to want to eat, one neighbor left an entire bag of kibble by the cat house for the rest of us to drop a bit (if we wanted to) 

Except that most of us didn't.

We each contributed to her tummy's well being in one way or another. 

There was a neighbor who brought down a can of food each time he came down, opened it, and watched as she ate her way through. 

There was a neighbor who brought some sort of snacks for the cat.

And there was a neighbor who brought cans and also gave them to the cat in front of her. 

All of us had our little ways in taking care of this little feline.

For us, we brought a mix of snacks and canned cat food. 

Some days we offered her snacks. 

Other days we brought down the cans and opened them right in front of her. 

Good nose that she had could smell the food the minute you lifted up the lid and she would then meow her way nonstop whilst going round your legs to make sure you gave the plate to her. 

One good thing about this cat is that she's a clean eater.

There's no mess when it comes to meal time. Not only will she clean up the plate, she'll also eat up whatever has happened to drop to the floor. 

Either way she always finishes up everything, and, more often than not, will continue hunting about the area for more. 

It's easy to tell when she's finished and full though.

She starts cleaning herself. 

When that happens I often sit there watching her.

It's therapeutic. 

Perhaps it be the same for everyone else in the same building too. 

I've seen her sit on the laps of some of our neighbors. 

I've seen her meow excitedly as some neighbors bring her food whilst teasing her that she's a picky eater. 

I've also seen her running over to greet people as they come home. 

It's comforting, really. 

And Noel doesn't even need to do much. 

I'm happy to have her sit at my feet when I'm on the bench. 

I'm happy to watch her as she cleans herself or as she runs around the car park sniffing at things in random. 

But what I'm happiest most about is that she's familiar with people, she's somewhat domesticated, and she lets me stroke her fur, her head, her neck and even her ears. 

I've never had a cat who let me do all that before. 

What's more, she's the first cat whom I have ever heard purr. 

Never have I heard a cat purr (which I'd always wondered what it sounded like), much less a cat who purrs whilst sitting serenely on my lap. 

This is why the message made me scared and I started to cry. 

Because Noel- this white furred, blue-eyed cat who came in around Christmas time- is no stray. 

She's got a home here at this address. 

A home that she chose. 

She is a guardian cat who brings wealth and luck and comfort and love and quirky kitty charm to a otherwise kosong kind of place. 

She keeps people staying here, choosing to stay here. 

And all of us- whoever we are, whatever background we come from- we take care of her, we care for her, and we play with her.  

Bangkok: What a Trip Home!

I took a lot of pictures out the balcony this morning.

For what reason, well, there probably wasn't any, except maybe because the light was beautiful, the blue of sky was so hopeful, and in my heart I had a quiet inkling that- unlike last year- after this trip I would likely not be coming back to Bangkok anytime soon. 

I've got mixed feelings looking at these pictures now. 

On one hand I'm so thankful I have had the opportunity to appreciate this top-dollar view more than once, twice, three times. 

On the other hand, though, I wish I had been able to come here without a noose around my neck- a noose that caused me to waste two nights of despair here. 

But there's no point wishing for something that one hasn't yet have. 

There's also no point carrying on and on expressing thoughts that are existent everywhere, whether high on a balcony on Lang Suan Road, or at a table where one has just had a late lunch. 

Breakfast this morning was a thermos flask of coffee, and, because we had finished our eggs, decided we'd pack back the pumpkin toast, and Grab in a Wasabi Salmon Sourdough sandwich from Bartels instead. 

I liked it. 

The bread might not have the same crunch- unlike the Grilled Tuna Melt- but it was bouncy, it had a hint of lovely herb scent, and the sandwich was stuffed with whick slices of Norwegian salmon, a hint of wasabi, a big dollop of cream cheese, cucumber, pickled onion, dill, and fresh lettuce. I think my friend added an extra fried egg, and an extra serving of bacon. 

We had our sandwich by the pool, and can I say just how pleasant it was to be having our meal high up on the roof under Bangkok's warm sunshine as if we were at a poolside bar?

I wish I had taken a picture of the sandwich.

Instead I only have this- the paper bag, and the serviette. 

Back in the room I took a few more pictures (what this square of green is, I still don't know), packed, then checked out of the hotel, before walking out towards Chidlom and the whole area for a spot of shopping. 

Our first stop was the Big C hypermarket where this afternoon we decided to get boxes of Pocky to give out as secondary merchandise. From the same shopping center we went downstairs over to Boots where I got two bottles of mists from the Ted Baker collection. 

For lunch we headed over to the Ratchadamri branch of Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice. My friend had asked whether I wanted to eat here, or go the one at Siam Paragon. 

I chose this one. 

It was nearer to Big C, and I like the feeling of going to the OG. 

Our meal today included a portion of roast chicken, a portion of steamed chicken, and, yes, two plates of rice. 

The rice is what I come to Go-Ang for, make no mistake, and I shall not be deterred by its oil, its carbs, and whatever not. 

We also ordered an extra serving of fried tofu, served with the mild version of the Thai chili sauce.

It's too good. 

Lunch over we headed over to PANDA a short walk away from Pier 111 and Moxy Ratchaprasong for our last massage of this trip.

By this time I was beginning to feel a little sad, also a little nervous (as how I always am when on the last day) but we wanted the 5+1 massage, so we got that, and even though I didn't get to really sleep, the therapists were skilled, and I felt somewhat relaxed after the 90 minutes were over.

I was ready to go back to the hotel and prep for the airport but there was still the pineapple polo bun I term the 'bye bye bun'. It's a bun my friend especially likes, in particular the generous thick slab of butter, and it's a bun we always aim to have before heading back home. 

So across the bridge over to the Central World side we went, towards Siam Paragon where from the booth at the food court, we got the bun, plus two cups of smoothies from Boost. 

My friend took the Berry Boost.

I took the Cookies and Cream. 

On the way back we stopped by the 7-11 for a few bottles of protein shakes that we wanted to bring home.

You know, going to the airport should have been a breeze. 

It has always been.

But then there are times.

And today was such a time. 

I don't even know when it was that the chaos started. 

Did it begin with the booking of the Grab? 

Did it begin when the car turned into the jammed up expressway? 

Or did it begin when we got to the airport (late) and found the check in counter closed? 

I don't know.

We had gotten a Grab to get us to Suvarnabhumi. 

The expectation was that it would take 30 minutes to 40, estimate. 

When we got the car, it was 1715 thereabouts. 

Plenty of time to get there by 1800 or 1830.

Or so I thought. 

What I hadn't expected, however, was that today, of all things, first up, the Grab would be stuck on the opposite side on Chit Lom Road. Not only was he stuck there for 10 minutes, he continued to be stuck here and there all the way as he made a U-turn onto Lang Suan Road. 

We saw his position on the map. 

For the longest time the app showed his car stagnated in traffic, and it took up to 30 minutes or more to come over this side of Lang Suan Road. 

It was nearly 1800 when the app showed him turning into Lang Suan Road. 

Now, one would expect the car to come right up to the entrance, right? 

No. 

Didn't happen.

The driver picked up the wrong passengers- they had been standing outside the driveway on the main road also heading to the airport and the driver had thought it were us. 

"On the way to the airport" we certainly were not, and had my friend not been checking the app at that very moment, we would have missed the car, would have to make another booking and would have missed our flight entirely. 

Fortunately too the security guy was standing outside the entrance at that time, he helped speak to the driver who then realized his mistake, dropped the two randoms off, and turned into the driveway.  

By then it was 1820 Thai time. 

Our flight was 2025 Thai time. 

We were supposed to be at the check in counter at Suvarnabhumi at that time, not just leaving Lang Suan Road.

But perhaps we might make it by 1900 or1915...? 

Fat chance. 

I had forgotten the extent of Bangkok's out of town traffic. 

At first it seemed okay, just the regular BKK traffic, a bit slower but still fine, then the car turned onto the highway. 

There was still a bit of jam, all right, still not so bad, but then he turned once again onto the main expressway leading to the airport, and there it was. 

The nightmare. 

Never in my life had I seen such a long stretch of red snaking out in front of me. 

Worse still, no one was moving. 

Jammed all the way. 

But we had a good driver, whom, perhaps, I have to say, was feeling apologetic, and after guessing the context of our near-shouting conversations in the back seat, used Google Translate to ask what time it was had to get to the airport. 

When we told him 1930, he gave his best. 

For the rest of the journey he switched to the faster-moving lanes whenever he could, changing continuously from the first to the third to the second to the first and so on, edging us forward as best as he could. 

When traffic finally broke through, we sped the rest of the way, and got to the airport at 1944.

Ran all the way to the check in counter, which, by that time, was closed, but thank God my friend had done an online check-in whilst we were stuck in the car, and there was no need for me to do it at the counter. 

So a mad dash it was to the boarding gate- at the far end of the airport- with laptop bag, suitcase, all. 

Not the most pleasant experience, I tell you. 

I made it to the gate at 2015. 

The ground staff were still there. Quickly I showed them the online boarding pass, showed them my assigned seat of 7E. 

They let me board.

But I asked to wait. 

My friend, having probably cleared security by now, was on the way. 

I didn't want to board without him. 

The staff- seeing my panic- and his assigned seat of 7D- said they could wait till 2025. Asked me to call. 

I called.

I called and called. 

I cried.

Or nearly did. 

Thankfully he made it to the gate at 2023 with 2 minutes to spare, the staff got his big black bag (now sans protein shakes and body mists and big liquid containers) onto the special check-in, and together we flew back home. 

Bangkok: A Seafood Dinner

The light was good this morning. 

The sunrise lingered.

And it didn't disappear even after the orange glow was gone. 

She continued, breaking out, slowly, gradually, towards the cheerful expanse of her daytime blue.

It is not every day that I get to look out the balcony towards the Krungsri bank tower. 

It is also not every day that i get to look out towards Chidlom and the Baiyoke Sky Tower in the horizon.

We began this morning with eggs and toast in the room, where, like previous mornings, we had them pan-fried. Today my eggs were made half scrambled, half omelet, and I liked them this way very much. 

Pumpkin toast was also, surprisingly, not as sweetish as I thought it would be. 

Breakfast over I headed to the swimming pool for a bit, if not for anything but just to soak in the quiet, soak in a little bit of Bangkok's morning sun, and give thanks for the mornings past. 

Mid-morning we went to Chao 9 massage place on Lang Suan Road for a 90-minute Thai massage. 

I cant recall whether or not we were directed upstairs- we might, we might have not- but it was a quiet room, spa music played in the background, the massage was great, and, best part, it got all the kinks of my lower back and shoulders out. 

When we finished, out we headed to Lemon Farm down the road where this afternoon we got more cookies, more chocolate snacks, plus a few more packets of matcha powder that my friend had seen the other day, and wanted to have.

Back it was to the room afterward to put down our purchases then off it was via BTS to Ploenchit Center where at the Villa Market supermarket downstairs I got a selection of 8x12 ziploc bags. 

You might find it weird just why we would go to a certain place to get ziploc bags when we can easily Grab them in online.

It's fun, really, and I don't mind visiting Ploenchit Center for the memories of McDonalds, Starbucks, and Doubletree Hilton down the road further behind. 

It makes one feel thankful. 

There was no lunch to be had today.

Instead we headed out for an early dinner to a place called Kod Talay at Sukhumvit 70 out in Bang Na Nuea, out in Bang Na. 

Before coming here, I had no idea where this place was. (I had simply followed along)

But then the Grab car dropped us off at a spot close to a car park, we got off, looked up, looked around, and there it was- the three storeyed building of the Bangkok Fish Market right in front. 

Kod Talay The Riverfront Seafood was just behind. 

There's a bit of a process getting in. 

First the person at the gate asks you how many in your party there are. You then cross over to a counter where you get to choose which sort of a buffet you want. (Some come with drinks, others come with beer, some have more specific types of seafood, others have just the regular)

Here they charge by pax. After you've paid the girl gives you a sort of RFID wristband that you have to wear the entire time. This RFID lets you move in and out of the area with ease- the staff at the gates just tap you out, and when you're done, tap you back in again. 

After getting your wristbands, the staff then direct you to your table. 

The best part about having a meal here is the atmosphere. 

It is the kind of place that makes you want to tie up your hair, roll up your sleeves, dig your tongs into the heap of raw, fresh seafood that you've gotten, and just get into the joy of steaming, grilling, peeling, eating of it all. 

There's not a quiet moment here at Kod Talay. 

There's a buzz, a liveliness, a vibe that permeates round. 

That being said, this is not the kind of place if you're not a fan of all things seafood or if you're wanting only meat. 

Neither is this the kind of place if you're afraid of getting residual smoke in your clothes or in your hair. 

In general, Kod Talay is an outdoorsy, alfresco dining destination where tables are lined all along the edge of the waterfront, where tanks of seawater hold live prawns that you're handed a pail and a net to ownself catch, and where, as you chase the prawn, colorful fairy lights hang above your head. 

The whole atmosphere is lively, crowded, carnival-like, lots of chatter, lots of boisterous shouting, lots of laughter. 

I'm not very good at eating prawns. 

Much less catch them alive. 

But this evening I managed to capture two, and I could see them writhing about in the pail as I carried them back to our table.

It's one thing to see chilled (dead) prawns resting over ice in the supermarket. 

It's another thing to see them half-alive feelers moving to and fro as they scrabble about in the pail. 

To be honest I didn't know what I was supposed to do.

Was I supposed to ignore them and let them die a natural death?

Was I supposed to hasten it by throwing them alive onto the grill? 

I had no idea! 

In the end I simply waited until my friend brought back some of our other food, then arranged them two prawns on the grill. 

They were alive....

There aren't many pictures of our meal here this evening, by the way.

I didn't get to take many. 

I don't know why.

Maybe because I was too busy watching our food cook.

Maybe because I was too busy watching my friend cook the food, with me eating it at the same time.

But there was a lot of food. 

We took plates of salmon sushi with lots of mayonnaise on top.

We took plates of salmon sashimi that we ate with wasabi and soy sauce. 

My friend brought over skewers of salmon belly that we grilled on the hot plate. 

Then there were several (smaller sized) prawns, a couple of clams, snow crabs, some meat, crayfish and fresh oysters, all of which we loaded onto the hot plate to grill. 

We were surprised at how easy the crayfish got cooked even with their shell on. 

Might have been the size. 

Might have been the freshness of the fish also. 

Then my friend got delighted by the way the oysters got grilled. 

They were soft, they were warm, the oyster retained its own umami, sea-like, briny taste, and, bouncy as they were, they paired really well with the green colored vinegar that he had gotten from the buffet counter inside. 

It is a bit of a pity that I didn't get to see everything that was offered on the indoor chiller shelves. 

Would have been so interesting otherwise. 

But there was a Pad Thai station- outdoors- and my friend got me one. 

We finished the meal with some dessert. 

Most of it had been taken by the other diners by the time it came to our turn, but there was fruit, there were still a bit of cake, so I helped myself to a bit of pineapple, a bit of watermelon, some cute little cakes, a bit of pudding, and two scoops of ice cream. 

Bangkok: Hair Spa and One Bangkok

I rose at 540am Bangkok time this morning. 

Was it an early hour? 

Yes, but it didn't matter. 

I had barely slept. 

The mood was still sour but my friend cared enough to add a one-time credit to the Cloudtalk app, and even whilst I was mostly (still) filled with a sense of regret, resentment and disappointment, there was also a bit of relief. 

It wasn't the kind of relief that everything was ok, but the kind of relief that came as a result of knowing at least one issue had been settled, and it was now up to me to deal with the rest of whatever I had to face whilst still here. 

I am thankful for the fighter with me. 

I am thankful for the fighter who always wants to be with me. 

Because this is the type of person who will- despite his (or her) loss, despite his (or her) displeasure towards the situation- will still be on your side and help you and comfort you and hold you close when you're helpless and frightened. 

It is for this reason that even though on the previous night I had (in desperation) seriously thought of booking a flight home, it was an option I knew I didn't want, it was an option I knew I had to fight against.  

Moods are still moods though, I guess, and so I don't have as many pictures as I ought to have, for today. 

Breakfast this morning was pumpkin toast and organic eggs both perfectly fried in the pan. I can't remember whether I helped myself to the frozen strawberries. I might have, I might not. 

Comforting it was, though, to have my flask of hot coffee. 

A bit of work got done, then out it was for lunch to one of our go-to BKK lunch spots in town- OKONOMI at Central Embassy. 

Bright and sunny the place is, always a delight, and this afternoon we had our usual favorites where I ordered the Salmon & Cheese Mazemen- a bowl of cured shio koji salmon, camembert cream, sweet soy, okaka and lemon zest- and my friend ordered the Salmon Poke of edamame, negi, and sweet soy sauce on multi-grain rice. 

So familiar have we become with the menu that we don't usually need to look. 

Although, honestly, I don't know what okaka is. 

Or how it looks like. 

In fact I don't even know if it was in this bowl that I ate. 

Lunch over, we took a Grab for a head and hair spa at this place called SARLLIVE HAIR SPA. 

Google Maps tells me it's located between Wang Thonglang and Phlabphla.

Which, I have to say, I have no idea where exactly in the sprawling metropolitan capital of Bangkok these two districts are. 

The best I can say is that they're above Watthana, near Huai Khwang, not too far from Lat Phrao, and that Lat Phrao Road runs through Wang Thonglang. 

The actual salon sits on this road called Srivara Road, not too far from the Chalong Rat Expressway, and whilst located slightly further out of the main areas of town, was charming and accessible all the same. 

SARLLIVE Hair Spa specializes in one thing: Head Massages. 

Meaning it is THE place to go to when you want a good head massage.

That's not to say they don't do other massages. 

It's just included in the treatment, and so a package might have something like a Vietnamese style head massage, a facial massage with rice milk and black sesame products, a neck and shoulder massage, and a head massage water ring spa. 

Mine this afternoon was 90 minutes long. 

The treatment began with a pleasant, fragrant foot wash, after which they brought us upstairs to a lovely, quiet room lit with soft lighting where we were told to lie down face up, hair hanging inside the sink.

I don't really remember how the entire treatment went. 

All I remember is that there was a hair wash, there was a very thorough scalp massage, afterwards there was a facial massage- where even my ears were rubbed- there was another scalp and head massage, there was the water ring spa where tiny continuous streams of cool, clean water soothed the vital points at the crown of my head, creating a gentle lull that comforted my already half-asleep self. 

As much as I enjoy head massages, it is in fact the facial massage that I enjoy the most. 

Something about it relaxes the jawbone and upper cheeks, and when combined with a slow thorough head massage that stimulates and soothes the nerves all at the same time, is so comfortable that I fall right asleep.  

When we finished, we made a quick drop into the MAKRO next door (for fun's sake and to look at small ziploc bags) and then took a Grab to One Bangkok. 

This was a mall that had been growing in popularity, and which we had been wanting to visit for some time. 

One thing unique about One Bangkok is her presence. 

It's contrasting, yet complementary, in the sense that whilst she's located in the heart of the city on Wireless Road in Lumphini, Pathum Wan, she feels quieter, slightly off beat, a little corporate-like, wearing an atmosphere suited for the discerning business traveler or the digital nomad in a start-up needing a white-noise type of place to work. 

One Bangkok is not a business-type of mall however, and there're a good number of brand-drive n retail stores that cater to the fast fashion crowd. 

Flagship stores include Skechers, Swatch and Club 21, but there's also a MUJI and (surprise of surprise) a NITORI. 

Getting there isn't too difficult, so it seems, the mall's near the Sala Daeng station and a short walk away. 

We did a bit of retail shopping, and because in the midst of all our exploring found a Tonkotsu Wako up on the 5th floor, decided we'd have dinner there. 

I was so glad, I tell you.

I had missed their breaded cutlets.

I had also missed their soft, fluffy, warm, perfectly cooked rice. 

You know, for a long time I had thought that Tonkotsu Wako was popular mostly with expats and tourists and the millennial working adults. 

Apparently it's just as popular with the Gen Z working adults too. 

The outlet here at One Bangkok was little bit quieter than that at Central World, nevertheless, it too had a sizeable crowd. 

Near our table were people in groups of threes and fours.  

Further behind, five whole tables had been joined together for a huge group that looked like Gen Z office workers enjoying an out-of-office dinner party. 

I can't recall exactly what it was we ordered this evening, but I know we had our favorite order of tonkotsu (with cheese) where, like always, we made it a set with a nice wooden pot of soft, fluffy, warm rice, soup, and shredded cabbage free flow.

Then we had a second piece ala carte of the tonkotsu- plain, just pork inside- and, because the pictures looked so good, an additional order of ebi prawn. 

They were so generous with the breadcrumb batter.

They were also so generous with the thick, creamy mayonnaise. 

When dinner finished, we hung around the area a short while (I had the call) then decided we'd walk back to Urbana, taking the route down Witthayu Road, turning left onto Sarasin Road, and finally, the other end of Lang Suan Road.

Along the way on Witthayu Road we passed by one side of Lumphini Park- the lights in the park were on but I didn't dare go in for fear of losing my sense of direction and getting lost.

After turning left onto Sarasin Road, we passed another side of the park that on this side housed the Badminton Association of Thailand, after which, after we crossed to the opposite side, there was the Royal Bangkok Symphony Music School, both of which, I was surprised to know, were literally opposite each other.