This is a fantastic venue to take your family and friends to if they are passing through Bangkok, Thailand and want to sample some exquisite Thai dining while watcing a Thai dance. The Oriental has a long history of providing the hi-so of Bangkok with fine cuisines, incomparable services and hospitality, so their latest refurbishment of the Sala Rim Naam Restaurant is no exception.

From the moment you walk through the door you can sense the palpable history, texture, and uniqueness of the hotel. No details lost on the staff and the presentation.

We arrived for a 7 p.m. show and dinner, expecting it to be a slow evening as it was Sunday evening and the dark clouds were looming overhead. To my surprise, and the surprise of my companions Steve, Michelle, and Gary, the place was packed with hungry patrons eager to partake in the festivities.

We were seated at the best table in the restaurant so that our view of the show was not obstructed in the slightest with much gratitude to the general manager. The staff brought out the house wine, which was not a mere average house wine as it was a Kingston 2005 Australian Merlot that was quaint-essential in its fruity and clean taste. The wine was complimented with roast duck dumplings and a fish mousse with a tangy sauce on the side. The fish mousse was fresh, yet spiced just enough for the palate to enjoy without leaving too strong of an after-taste. It complimented the roast duck and did not overpower the subtle aroma of the meat.

The next course was a combination of a beef musaman, fish soup, fresh stir-fry vegetables, and fragrant jasmine rice on a plate of fried shrimp. At onset we were uncertain whether this combination of curry and onslaught of fish and shrimp would negate the taste senses to overdrive, but much to our surprise, it was a keen choice of spices and delectable, complimentary dishes.

Moving onto a dessert of fresh fruits and coconut ice cream with mung beans, we were refreshed and rejuvenated by the Thai dancers as they eloquently express their love story through their subtle body movements and the assistance of the musicians. It was a lovely depiction of a love story of ancient time wherein the dancers user facial expression and the slight movements of their hands to suggest the dialogue and communication.

At the end of the evening, the boat picked us up and returned us across the river to the Oriental Hotel. This memorable excursion should be experienced as an evening package of cultural entertainment, sublime food and wine, and always with good companions. Thanks to Steve and Michelle for inviting us!

This enchanting book is poignant in its storytelling ability and the compelling lessons in truth, religion, and love. Pi is an extraordinary sixteen year old boy who survived a sinking ship while on his way to Canada to start a new life with his family. He was saved by a lifeboat and in it he finds that his fellow survivors consist of a vicious hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan, and a 450 lbs Bengal tiger.

Based in India, the story unfolds into a fascinating depiction of survival and Pi’s journey through Christianity, his native Hinduism, and Muslim. The author, Yann Martel injects each chapter with riveting insights into Pi’s psyche as he progresses in his journey to weave his knowledge of wild animals and religion into his survival. To dismiss this book as a discussion of religion is selling it short. To label it as a story about love is short-sighted. To combine love, religion, and storytelling in a conundrum of truths is a masterpiece which enlighten and humor the reader.

Drifting in the Pacific ocean, Pi contemplated his truths and destiny by creating stories of association and relishing in his hope of seeing his family again. The obscure relationship between the ferocious Bengal tiger and Pi ultimately originated in a desperate need for survival and co-dependency of love. At times gruesome and violent, the perceptive Pi does not provide simple solutions to his predicament even at moments of delusion and despair. Pi survives 227 days at sea and eventually arrives in Mexico. The stories he told the two Japanese investigators about his adventure at sea illustrates his mastery at storytelling.

It is a captivating adventure made more compelling by the philosophical and religious conundrums of eastern India.

See’s book, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, depicts the depth and enduring love of two women bound by culture and social circumstances. It’s an emotional account of a relationship that survived marriage, childbirth, and death, infused with the turmoil and tribulations of eighteen century China and the era of foot-binding. It’s based in an historical era where women had to forge a deeper connection with each other as a necessary mechanism to survive.

While See did a superb job of underscoring the poignant nuances of female companionship, it would have been rewarding to contrast it to the relationship between their male counterpart. One can only imagine how men dealt with the stress and hardship of their time, but then again, perhaps See’s purpose is to allow the reader to draw their own conclusion.

Contrasting this to Amy Tan’s numerous novels on the mother-daughter interconnection, See uses historical China to sequence the growth of female companionship of women in the same age group while only skimming the mother-daughter relationship. Advancing the notion of women solidarity in these relationships, See also delved into the communication method used to connect these women - the secret fan. While foot-binding is also a fascinating topic, it was merely a footnote to illustrate the social history and difficult circumstances women endured to achieve marital status and fulfil familial obligation. The secret fans carried a unique language that women created for women, but were inevitably burned when the women died, thus leaving a critical gap in the artistic phenomenon.

Written in the narrative format, See uses an abundance of historical detail to enlighten her readers that eighteen century China was not all about foot-binding, that something beautiful and artistic were created by ordinary women.

Ever since starting this blog, there’s been apprehension and anxiety about the content and the prose inserted into each post. Words can convey soft images, sentiments, and forgotten memories that are personal and unique to each reader. The selective use of words is a litmus test for the writer’s vocabulary and ultimately, his/her intelligence. Since the inception of this blog, there’s been posts with very endearing messages and those with progressive opinions about this writer’s perspective on varying issues.

Writing is a building conjured up by a powerhouse of words.

While the initial intention of this blog has been to include quirky incites into my world, it has been a hodgepodge of different ideas and thoughts that may not be linked in any order. I aspire to write about relevant issues to which I’m experiencing or pondering.

At the moment, I particularly enjoy just reading. I read fiction and non-fiction, but mostly fiction. I read political satires, autobiographies, memoirs, and an abundance of internet news. Particularly refreshing is when I find a writer that strikes a balance with humor and personality and an injection of originality and insight. I don’t have a single favorite author, I have a handful that changes through the years. Some books are mainstream and some are not. A hodgepodge, like my posts.

This scathing book evoked horrifying images of simple disregard for human kind and egregious cruelty to animal. The author advanced his arguments with facts and data along with extensive research on the issue of what goes into our fast foods and, more importantly, what does not.

Schlosser exposes the insidious lies and fraudulent misrepresentations corporations are spewing from their high posts. He takes the reader on a journey of the history of the fast food world, the people behind the famous burgers and the evolution of the burger from its drive-up days to its present day drive-thru, fast food, conglomerate. The homogenization of the business and the monopoly of the market has made McDonald’s as powerful in business as it is in American politics. Schlosser noted the trend that McDonald’s has penetrated markets in Asia and Europe and has wielded more and more political power through its injection of capitalism in the local economy. Provocative and thought provoking, this book stands out above the rest. It descriptively and honestly discusses the corporate McDonald’s that only few can fathom.

Schlosser does not use clever writing, twists, or plots to evoke the imagery in the minds of his readers - the truth speaks for itself. Once you read this, you will never look at a burger the same.

Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser