Latest Christmas carol for 2008!

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

It's hitting you once,
It's hitting you twice
It doesn't care
if you've been careful and wise
Recession is coming to town

It's worthless
if you've got shares
It's worthless
if you've got bonds
It's safe when you've got cash in hand
So keep cash for goodness sake, HEY

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town!

Finance products are confusing
Finance products are so vague
The banks make you bear the cost of risk
So keep out for goodness sake, OH.

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

A Unique Bangkok Chinatown - A Review

There are many Chinatown almost in very countries. There is one in San Francisco, South Africa, Australia, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and ever in Dubai. Almost every major country outside of China has a Chinatown. Thailand has one of the oldest Chinatown in the world along with Nagasaki in Japan.

This review also dedicated to one of my best friend called Queen Mama, who lives in a unique Indonesia Chinatown named Glodok, later we'll review this Chinatown of Jakarta named Glodok.

HISTORY

Chinatown Bangkok was started in 1782 when King Rama I decided to build the capital on eastern bank of Chao Phraya Rier. Chinese immigrants were originally settled in what is now the Grand Palace and had to find another place to live. Then the immigrants settled to the east of the new city, along the river. The narrow Sampaeng Lane which not even big enough for a car, was the heart of old Chinatown.

In the early part of 20th century the foreign community who settled on the river further east of Chinatown, petitioned the king for a larger road. Yaowarat Road was built as a result. Yaowarat is now the heart and the name of Thai Chinatown. The curvy path of the road is said to be like a dragon's body.

In the beginning, the Bangkok Chinaown suffered from the stereotypes classically associated with Chinatown around the world. Locals dismissed the area as ethnic ghettos and saw it as a den of vice. Also as a place where foreigners who wouldn't assimilate to the local culture congregaed.

The aa was filled wth gambling dens, opium houses and the still popular thieves market. A hundred years ago if something went missing from your home, you could count on finding it at one of the many pawn shops or in the thieves market in Chinatown.

Over time, Chinatown or now YAOWARAT underwent a transformation and became a significantcenter of commercialism and also tourism. Now it is a centre of trade with an abundance of gold shops, garments, secondhand parts and equipments, electric goods, computer parts, antiques and imported musical instrument shops.

Chinatown does not consist of only Yaowarat Road, but also includes others such as: Charoen Krun Road, Mungkorn Road, Songwat Road, Songsawat Road, Chakkrawat Road and many more.

HOW TO GET THERE

The easiest way to visit Chinatown is via the Chao Phraya riverboat. The nearest pier is teh Ratchawong Pier at the end of Ratchawong Road. This route will take you to the heart of old Chinatown, Soi Sampheng, the bithplace of Chinese community. You can also visit Yaowarat via MRT (subway), the nearest station is Hua Lam Phong station.

WHAT TO DO

The casual tourist on a daytrip in Chinatown would probably only have the time and energy to cover the main street, Yaowarat Road itself. Where most of the activities take place. The the road of interest is Ratchawong Road located off Yaorawat Road. Here one can stroll along and view locals eating, trading, and going about the lives.

Near to theHua Lam Phong MRT station one will find Traimit Road. Here you'll find the famous Wat Traimit or Temple of the Golden Buddha. This Wat houses has placed of Golden Buddha around 3 metres hight made by over 5 tons of gold. According to history, this statue was covered in brown plasters to keep the Burmanese from looting it in their various raids of Thailand. Some date the statue as old as 12th or 13th century or the Sukhothai era. As the time passed the people forgot the true make up of the statue. The in the 50's the statue was being moved by crane and was accidently dropped. The plaster came off, revealing the solid gold Buddha hiding underneath.

Within the same compound as Wat Traimit, is the Samphanthawong Museum a community museum dedicated to the earlier Chinese immigrants in Bangkok.

The tiny Sampheng Lane (also known as Soi Wanit) the originally heart of Chinatown, is an interesting place to walk through due to its colourful history of murders, drug gank wars and prostitution. These days it is less dangerous and serves as a primaliry wholesale market. On sales are fabrics, textiles, preserved food, household and kitchen accessories, spices and cheap toys. Most items are being sold not popular for casual tourists, but it is worth visit just for an experience.

The previous area named the Thieves Market or Nakhon Kasem is now a second hand market for Thai and Chinese antiques and pawnshop goods. Most are fakes, but look great, almost similar with the original. Once upon a time this place was where stolen goods would turn up, but you are now unlikely to find anything illigitimate today. Only the best bargainers should shop here, this place is good for a visit too.

If you would like to find gold, all along Yaowarat Road you will find over 130 gold shops. It is why this street also called "the Golden Road". Originally, there were a tycoon gold shop, Seng Heng Li, Hua Seng Heng, Tung Jin Aeng and Tung Toh Gung. Most shops along the road are members of the Gold Merchants Association. Gold products here are recognised for their high standard and quality with the purity of 96.5% or approximately 23 karat gold.

The Chalermkrung Royal Theatre (Sala Chaloem Krung)stages classic dramas and perfomances for those looking for a bit of cultural entertainment. King Rama VII using his own money, due his love of cinema, staed the theatre over 70 years ago. At the time it was built the theatre was the largest and most modern entertainment centre in Asia. It underwent major renovation in 1992, helping it to become a modern theatre of international standards. It is now equipped with the latest special effects and technologies such as laser and multi-vision systems which help to enchance the traditional elements of the stage shows and films.

For the first time visitor should visit the Giant Swing. It was originally constructed in 1784. The swing has been rebuilt numerous times throughout the years. REcently the swing was rededicated in royal ceremony prisided over by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Semtember 2005, the Giant Swing together with Wat Suthat, was suggested as a future UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Not far from Yaowarat is the Pahurat cloth market, in "Bangk Little India" situated next to Chinatown. It is basically a wholesale market fot textiles.

While you walk around, you may see many food stall. Almost all are Chinese food... ut you must try it because this is unique Chinese food only can be found in Thailand. Mixed with Thai flavour. And also there are many unique dishes you may taste.

All in Chinatown there are many fascinating view worth to be visited and seen into Thailand of old and present Chinese community. The narrow lanes and interesting architectures stand in contrast to modern highrises buildings. Come and visit Yaorawat with the whole your heart and you;ll see its uniqueness..

ARTI PERSAHABATAN

Dear friends ,

Tahukah anda kalau orang yang kelihatan begitu tegar hatinya, adalah orang yang sangat lemah dan butuh pertolongan?

Tahukah anda kalau orang yang menghabiskan waktunya untuk melindungi orang lain adalah justru orang yang sangat butuh seseorang untukmelindunginya?

Tahukah anda kalau tiga hal yang paling sulit untuk diungkapkan adalah :Aku cinta kamu, maaf dan tolong aku

Tahukah anda kalau orang yang suka berpakaian warna merah lebih yakin kepada dirinya sendiri?

Tahukah anda kalau orang yang suka berpakaian kuning adalah orang yang menikmati kecantikannya sendiri?

Tahukah anda kalau orang yang suka berpakaian hitam adalah orang yang ingin tidak diperhatikan dan butuh bantuan dan pengertian anda?

Tahukah anda kalau anda menolong seseorang, pertolongan tersebut dikembalikan dua kali lipat?

Tahukah anda bahwa lebih mudah mengatakan perasaan anda dalam tulisan dibandingkan mengatakan kepada seseorang secara langsung?

Tapi tahukah anda bahwa hal tsb akan lebih bernilai saat anda mengatakannya dihadapan orang tsb?

Tahukah anda kalau anda memohon sesuatu dengan keyakinan, keinginan anda tsb pasti dikabulkan?

Siam Square, Bangkok Thailand - a Review

It This is dedicated my best friend "Queen Mama", he is a devoted Thai culture and his desire to move to Bangkok.

We went last time on our memorable visit to Krung Thep or Bangkok 2nd May 2008 with my 3 best friends, which is called Queen Mama, Permaisuri (The King's wife), and a selir (King's mistress) and now honourly to be come Honourable wife or Istri Kehormatan. First time we went there accidentally that they were waiting for me (the King) for photo processing at that place. And after I was looking for them desperately where were they hanging at that time.... well, I found them on the pedestrian way laid down on permanent chair... I was surprised that they were sooo enjoyed on their sights.

This is my review about the area, taken from other sources.

Siam square serves as a staging ground for up and coming artists, designers, trends, and styles. While the surrounding mega-malls offer traditoal American and European designers, Siam Square keeps its own uniquely Thai flavors.

Siam Square's first building were constructed in 1965 on land belonging to Chulalongkorn University. This area was build to provide rental income for the university. Because of it's proximity to the university, the area quickly grew up and took a life of it's own.

It quickly became a favourite teenage shopping areain Bangkok. Siam Square is a hip place for Thai youth to meet, eat, catch concerts and just hangout.

The area can be a bit overhelming for the average foreign tourist. The small substreets running behind the main roads are packed with teens searching for the latest in fashionsand accessories. This shouldn't put you off of a visit though. The area is easily accessed through the Siam BTS Station and near to MBK, SIam Paragon and Discovery shopping malls. Every traveller will no doubt visit one of this malls and so might as well travel across the street and see the Thai youth scene-- certainly a contrast to the hill tribes of the north :-)

The Siam Square area is divided up into many small streets (Soi). Two of the street are loosely grouped into clusters of similar shops. Soi 6 is the massage soi. This soi is the farthest frm MBK. The street is lined with various Thai and oil massage shops offering inexpensive foot masages, Thai massages and various services.

If you walk to the end of Soi 6, you'll find The Novotel Bangkok. On Soi 5, you'll find an abundance of modern hair salons. These shops are a great middle ground betweenthe cheap local barbers who don't speak a word of English and the outrageously expensive western priced hair salons in the mega-malls. The only caveat wil be their tendency towards ultra-modern Asian hairstyles, so to be sure to communicate your hairstyle clearly or you might end up looking like the latest Korean pop star :-))
The prices hover around Bt300 for shampoo, cut and style. if you walk around long enough someone will put a discount card in your hand d you'll get a nice haircut for around Bt120 (according to my friend experience). The Colour and Cut Centre is a very clean, modern salon that does inexpensive colouring and great haicuts.

The rest of the sois are jumbled groupings of boutique clothing stores, instructonal centres and restaurants. So it's best to be explored on your own. As the area tends to move from trend to trend. It's hard to lock in the specific stores and boutiques worthy of a visit

It's happened to be a closet, you read that right, is a Siam Square (Soi 3) staple favored by travel guides and newspaper worldwide. This boutique clothing shop/ hair salon/ pedicure shop/ restaurant/ cafe by Thai designer Siriwan Tharananithikul is a unique as the name suggest (wah mau dibayar berapa neh gw... nulis nama orang disini.....hhhmmmm)

Down towards Soi 1, you'll find the tried and true HARD ROCK CAFE BANGKOK.

Siam Square has a tendency, due largely to the ever-changing population of students passing through Chlalongkorn, towards going gonzo with the latest trends. Lately it seems ice shope are the flavor of the day (permaisuri loves ice cream ). Walk down any of the sois and you'll find a shop selling ice with various toppings on top that make it seem like a traditional sundae.

Siam Sqaure is pretty unique. It's also largely tuned into the youth culture of the day. You can have a good meal, see some emerging Thai designers, catch an outdoor Thai rock perfomance and see a side of Bangkok not commonly feaured in travel guides. Take a stroll into the back alleys and find great bargains and deals on cutting edge fashion trends not found in the nearby mega-malls.

Early Christmas sharing

Hiii... this I would like to share a beautiful story taken from a famous story of Chicken Soup....

An Elf's Tale
Tyree Dillingham

It was six o’clock at the mall, and I was as exhausted as an elf on Christmas Eve. In fact, I was an elf and it was Christmas Eve. That December of my sixteenth year, I’d been working two jobs to help my parents with my school tuition and to make a little extra holiday money. My second job was as an elf for Santa to help with kids’ photos. Between my two jobs, I’d worked twelve hours straight the day before; on Christmas Eve, things were so busy at Santaland that I hadn’t even had a coffee break all day. But this was it -- only minutes more, and I’d have survived!

I looked over at Shelly, our manager, and she gave me an encouraging smile. She was the reason I’d made it through. She’d been thrown in as manager halfway through the season, and she’d made all the difference in the world. My job had changed from stress-filled to challenging. Instead of yelling at her workers to keep us in line, she encouraged us and stood behind us. She made us pull together as a team. Especially when things were their craziest, she always had a smile and an encouraging word. Under her leadership, we’d achieved the highest number of mall photo sales in California .

I knew it was a difficult holiday season for her -- she’d recently suffered a miscarriage. I hoped she knew how great she was and what a difference she’d made to all her workers, and to all the little children who’d come to have their pictures taken.

Our booth was open until seven; at six, things started to slow down and I finally took a break. Although I didn’t have much money, I really wanted to buy a little gift for Shelly so that she’d know we appreciated her. I got to a store that sold soap and lotion just as they put the grate down. “Sorry, we’re closed!” barked the clerk, who looked as tired as I was and didn’t sound sorry at all.
I looked around and, to my dismay, found that all the stores had closed. I’d been so tired I hadn’t noticed.

I was really bummed. I had been working all day and had missed buying her a present by one minute.

On my way back to the Santa booth, I saw that Nordstrom was still open. Fearful that they, too, would close at any moment, I hurried inside and followed the signs toward the Gift Gallery. As I rushed through the store, I began to feel very conspicuous. It seemed the other shoppers were all very well-dressed and wealthy -- and here I was a broke teenager in an elf costume. How could I even think I’d find something in such a posh store for under fifteen dollars?
I self-consciously jingled my way into the Gift Gallery. A woman sales associate, who also looked as if she’d just stepped off a fashion runway, came over and asked if she could help me. As she did, everyone in the department turned and stared.

As quietly as possible, I said, “No, that’s okay. Just help somebody else.”
She looked right at me and smiled. “No,” she said. “I want to help you.”
I told the woman who I was buying for and why, then I sheepishly admitted I only had fifteen dollars to spend. She looked as pleased and thoughtful as if I’d just asked to spend $1500. By now, the department had emptied, but she carefully went around, selecting a few things that would make a nice basket. The total came to $14.09.

The store was closing; as she rang up the purchase, the lights were turned off.
I was thinking that if I could take them home and wrap them, I could make them really pretty but I didn’t have time.
As if reading my mind, the saleslady asked, “Do you need this wrapped?”
“Yes,” I said.

By now the store was closed. Over the intercom, a voice asked if there were still customers in the store. I knew this woman was probably as eager to get home on Christmas Eve as everybody else, and here she was stuck waiting on some kid with a measly purchase.

But she was gone in the back room a long time. When she returned, she brought out the most beautiful basket I’d ever seen. It was all wrapped up in silver and gold, and looked as if I’d spent fifty dollars on it -- at least. I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy!

When I thanked her, she said, “You elves are out in the mall spreading joy to so many people, I just wanted to bring a little joy to you.”
“Merry Christmas, Shelly,” I said back at the booth. My manager gasped when she saw the present; she was so touched and happy that she started crying. I hoped it gave a happy start to her Christmas.

All through the holidays, I couldn’t stop thinking about the kindness and effort of the saleswoman, and how much joy she had brought to me, and in turn to my manager. I thought the least I could do was to write a letter to the store and let them know about it. About a week later, I got a reply from the store, thanking me for writing.

I thought that was the end of it, until mid-January.
That’s when I got a call from Stephanie, the sales associate. She wanted to take me to lunch. Me, a fifteen-dollar, sixteen-year- old customer.

When we met, Stephanie gave me a hug, and a present, and told me this story.
She had walked into a recent employee meeting to find herself on the list of nominees to be named the Nordstrom All-Star. She was confused but excited, as she had never before been nominated. At the point in the meeting when the winner was announced, they called Stephanie -- she’d won! When she went up front to accept the award, her manager read my letter out loud. Everyone gave her a huge round of applause.

Winning meant that her picture was put up in the store lobby, she got new business cards with Nordstrom All-Star written on them, a 14-karat gold pin, a 100-dollar award, and was invited to represent her department at the regional meeting.

At the regional meeting, they read my letter and everyone gave Stephanie a standing ovation. “This is what we want all of our employees to be like!” said the manager who read the letter. She got to meet three of the Nordstrom brothers, who were each very complimentary.

I was already a little overwhelmed when Stephanie took my hand. “But that’s not the best part, Tyree,” she said. “The day of that first store meeting, I took a list of the nominees, and put your letter behind it, with the 100-dollar bill behind that. I took it home and gave it to my father. He read everything and looked at me and said, “When do you find out who won?”

“I said, ‘I won, Dad.’”

“He looked me right in the eye and said, ‘Stephanie, I’m really proud of you.’”
Quietly, she said, “My dad has never said he was proud of me.”
I think I’ll remember that moment all my life. That was when I realized what a powerful gift appreciation can be. Shelly’s appreciation of her workers had set into motion a chain of events -- Stephanie’s beautiful basket, my letter, Nordstrom’s award -- that had changed at least three lives.

Though I’d heard it all my life, it was the Christmas when I was an elf -- and a broke teenager -- that I truly came to understand that the littlest things can make the biggest difference

Mengapa Berteriak - Sharing

Mengapa Berteriak?

Suatu hari sang guru bertanya kepada murid-muridnya;"Mengapa ketika seseorang sedang dalam keadaan marah, ia akan berbicaradengan suara kuat atau berteriak?"Seorang murid setelah berpikir cukup lama mengangkat tangan dan menjawab;"Karena saat seperti itu ia telah kehilangan kesabaran, karena itu ia laluberteriak.""Tapi..." sang guru balik bertanya, "lawan bicaranya justru beradadisampingnya. Mengapa harus berteriak? Apakah ia tak dapat berbicara secarahalus?"Hampir semua murid memberikan sejumlah alasan yang dikira benar menurutpertimbangan mereka. Namun tak satupun jawaban yang memuaskan. Sang gurulalu berkata; "Ketika dua orang sedang berada dalam situasi kemarahan,jarak antara ke dua hati mereka menjadi amat jauh walau secara fisik merekabegitu dekat.

Karena itu, untuk mencapai jarak yang demikian, mereka harus berteriak.Namun anehnya, semakin keras mereka berteriak, semakin pula mereka menjadimarah dan dengan sendirinya jarak hati yang ada di antara keduanya punmenjadi lebih jauh lagi. Karena itu mereka terpaksa berteriak lebih keraslagi."Sang guru masih melanjutkan; "Sebaliknya, apa yang terjadi ketika dua orangsaling jatuh cinta? Mereka tak hanya tidak berteriak, namun ketika merekaberbicara suara yang keluar dari mulut mereka begitu halus dan kecil.Sehalus apapun, keduanya bisa mendengarkannya dengan begitu jelas. Mengapademikian?" Sang guru bertanya sambil memperhatikan para muridnya. Merekanampak berpikir amat dalam namun tak satupun berani memberikan jawaban."Karena hati mereka begitu dekat, hati mereka tak berjarak. Pada akhirnyasepatah katapun tak perlu diucapkan. Sebuah pandangan mata saja amatlah cukup membuat mereka memahami apa yang ingin mereka sampaikan."

Sang guru masih melanjutkan; "Ketika anda sedang dilanda kemarahan,janganlah hatimu menciptakan jarak. Lebih lagi hendaknya kamu tidakmengucapkan kata yang mendatangkan jarak di antara kamu. Mungkin di saatseperti itu, tak mengucapkan kata-kata mungkin merupakan cara yangbijaksana. Karena waktu akan membantu anda."

Tuhan Memberkati

My First Blog

God save my country, Indonesia

This is my first blog, and have decided to make a blog that can alter all my writting desires.

Nothing I can write here but I only can stress-up you all that God is good and all the pressure of everything and we have to surrender to His Mighty Power...