The school semester is winding down, with finals week and then a week of... well, nothing really. Finals week was quite relaxing, as I basically sat around and watched students write while I played Mother 3. Don't know why it's taken me so long to get around to that game. It's solid, but I dislike how it's broken into chapters. Anyway it was a very relaxing week, and we have this week basically off to do our grading. Except, I've been doing my grading electronically since day one, and "grading" involves me typing a formula into an Excel field and hitting Enter. Yup, grading done.

On the weekends we've been involved in more nonsense. There was a round of KTV somewhere in there, which there's never enough of in life. We went with Heather and travelling friend Stewart, who I think had a bit of a culture shock from the Asian KTV experience. There's nothing quite like seeing your drunk friend screaming Queen at the top of their lungs, thinking they're nailing it when they're totally not.

Ella and I also went to the World's Largest Restaurant. I've said many times, I'm a huge sucker for World's Blankiest Blank, so I was pretty pumped. They have an all you can eat lunch buffet for 200 baht (~$6) so it's a total steal. The place is quite massive, with something like 20 different dining rooms. The regular menu is super expensive, so I'm not sure why they discount the lunch buffet so heavily - but hey, I'm happy. It's in a traditional Chinese style, except the place is so big the waiters wear roller skates to get around. It's quirky, weird, and I love it. After, we went to Rama IX Park - A big park with a few things to see, but overall just really big and really quiet.

We went out drinking next weekend, and met new friend Danny. Danny is hilarious, also from China. He wants to learn English for his MBA. We hung out at Asiatique later, and it was a total bromance for us. Hope to be seeing more of him. The following morning, Ella and I went to find an art gallery which totally didn't exist anymore. However, we were also near a Cat Cafe. Yes, it's a thing. Where you drink tea and eat cake while surrounded by cats. It's something more suited to Japan or Taiwan IMO, but Bangkok is big enough to accommodate. I guess they're cute but like... I dunno. Ella loved it, and I appreciated it for the novelty alone.

The next day, we headed off to do something else I've been meaning to get around to, the Science Museum and Planetarium. Like Taipei's, I feel it was probably a good enough place when it was created. But unfortunately now it's drastically under budget, with about 50% of the stuff there not working. They had some cool stuff (dinosaurs!!!) but the lost potential was kind of sad. I know Thailand isn't the richest country in the world, but I wish they could divert a small amount of money their way just to get everything working again. Dinner that evening was at another place on the back of my mind that I just haven't gotten around to yet, Cabbages and Condoms.

Mhm.

Why does this place exist? I really don't know. Apparently the best way to teach about family planning is to run a restaurant? Also it was not vegetarian, so I didn't see a single cabbage. BUT, they made probably the best Massaman Curry I've had yet. Honestly it's pretty much like a normal restaurant with a few condom themed things. Strange, but not overt.

With my grading accomplished by a few key strokes, on Monday I bugged out of work pretty early to make a trip up to the Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Their location is at Don Meaung Airport, so I took the bus up there. Turns out yes it is, but on the other side of the runways, and no way to get there by foot. So I had to get a taxi around to the other side, and it honestly would have cost the same as a taxi from my place. It's kind of neat, but wow their stuff is outdated. I guess that's the point of the museum, and yes in some ways that's good. The most modern thing they had there was a F5, but there were some other interesting things. A WWII Spitfire, the last surviving O2U Corsair in the world.. and a few other miscellaneous things thrown in. A worthwhile distraction for an hour or two, especially because it was free.

Tuesday I was due back at work though, because I was to chaperone a field trip to Nong Nooch. I've been there before, so I had much the same experience. Fortunately the bus was really comfortable so I slept like a baby the 3 hours there and back. The actual time at the place was a little brief, almost a waste to drive all that way. The place is still weird, and it doesn't know what it wants to be... part zoo, part garden, part classic car show. I always enjoy seeing and interacting with the elephants, I just hope they're treated well. Amazing animals, for sure. Plus staring down a tiger is always thrilling. However, standing in the hot Thai sun while some guy prattles on about how they process manure is not particularly enjoyable, so I was glad when we left. One group of students was having a lot of fun interacting with the elephants, so I stuck around with them. We got quite lost and after a few phone calls, we finally got our bearings and made it back to the bus while everyone was waiting for us.

And now for these next 2 weeks, I'm mostly going to take it easy. My work obligations are practically nil. Maybe do a little sightseeing, but probably catch up on TV. Next week I'm going to be teaching a conversation class to Thai teachers, which could go really well or really... not well. We'll see! And the week after that, a bunch of classy folk and my sister are coming from America to visit. I really hope they'll bring me deodorant.

Wow, I'm embarrassed how long it's been!

OK so, first of all, I got my new, extra large passport (it's so pretty!) and have it all up to date from Thailand. I'm officially, 100% legal now. Which is a giant godamn deal for no reason. I might as well list Thai Immigration as my permanent residence, because I've spent nearly every Monday for the past two months there. They really, really don't want people to stay in this country. Well so be it, I'll be out by April. So long and thanks for all the fish.

My last few adventures involved a trip to Victory Monument to try Boat Noodle Alley. This was something I only recently heard of, and that's why Bangkok is an amazing city - there's always some thing you never knew about, that you probably have walked by 100 times. Boat Noodle Alley is this well, alley, tucked back in the maze of what is Victory Monument Station. It's a line of restaurants along the canal serving up bowl after bowl of noodles for 12 baht. (35 cents). Yes, 35 cents. Granted they're not giant bowls, it's like Cup-of-Soup style. But that's the point - you see how many you can stuff down, because they cost nothing. The name comes from back when the canal was used for transport, the drivers didn't have time to eat a meal - just the minute or so when things were being loaded and unloaded. Hence came the small amounts of food, in an oversized bowl to keep from spilling as the boat rocked. This is hands down, my favorite place to eat in Thailand. That evening, we went to a party that I have little recollection of, so I knew it was good. On the way back home, I stopped at Boat Noodle Alley again, to polish off another 6 bowls. I love this place and I want to marry it.

Also on the agenda was the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. Pros: Free. Conveniently located. Good for an hour or two. Cons: What the hell am I seeing? Basically an experimental (read: weird) art place. I don't get it. I know Ella is into art, and I could appreciate the Art Museum we went to a few weeks ago - I mean, that stuff is hard to do. But this... it's just weird for the sake of being weird I think. The star of the show was a man and a woman in a kitchen, painted top to bottom in green. The man was "yelling" at the girl using nothing but an "H" sound for about 3 minutes. Boom. Cut, credits!

What. The. Fuck.

We had a run to Khao San later, but not before stopping off to Wat Rakhangkhositraram Woramahavihan - because screw you, brevity! Supposedly it has a giant pigeon colony, and maybe it does, but perhaps earlier in the afternoon. It was a pretty average Wat overall, albeit with a prettier than average interior.

The next weekend was a trip to find a church that was supposedly beautiful. And it was, but TripAdvisor... man, where to begin. I've used you before. Sometimes you have a lot of stuff to do. But you are just so inaccurate. Either the place you're referencing has been gone for 5 years, or in the case of this church, was on the complete opposite side of town. Get it together, guys. Ella was kind enough to take me clothes shopping, because let's be honest, I am a fashion disaster. Like, how is it possible to know what looks good and what does not? It covers my body, and that's about the limit of my knowledge. On the way back we passed Japan Fest 2014, in which there were a bunch of cosplayers and a concert. It appeared to be winding down which was a shame, I wish I would've gone out there when it was in full swing.

We had a night of drinking with some friends, and the next day went out to find the best fried rice in the city (IMO). It's the place I ate at my first weekend here, and sure enough, the little street vendor lady is still serving it up. I remember the first time there were more vegetables, but ah well. That area used to be covered with protestors, so the museum there is now open - about King Rama VII. Just for comparison, currently Thailand has King Rama IX, the nephew of VII. VIII was not King for an overly long time, so there's not too much to write about him. The VII seemed like a nice person, but I just found the museum a bit boring. After we headed out to the floating market, Khlong Latmayom. It was pretty small and not overly exceptional, but had a few mildly interesting things. I think the best floating market is one I randomly came across near Pattaya when I went to Nong Nooch. Maybe one day I'll figure out where the heck that was. I've been keeping a list of stuff I want to do in Bangkok, and although it started quite large, Ella and I have really put a dent in it. There's not too much left, I feel I'm kind of over the hump in terms of stuff to do. But just like Taipei, there's always some weird spot you've never been to before that can surprise you. I'm sure Bangkok has a lot, and I'm looking forward to seeking them out.