After the Golf

30 Aug

After our game and quick simple lunch at Toscana Valley Country Club, we decided to head towards Khao Yai Floating Market. As the attraction was not that far away, we might as well check it out simply to add on to the ‘been there, done that’ list.

The place was not as its name suggested like the other famed Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. There’s no boat on the water at all! It’s more like a mini zoo and a collection of little stalls, amusement park style. Also there seems to be a lot of foreign influence. Marilyn Monroe was everywhere!

I poked the tail of a sun-bathing alligator. It was gooey. I don’t know how else to describe it…

Well for 100THB per person for the entry fee, we covered the place in half an hour. By 3pm, both of us were tired out already and dreaming of the plunge pool. So we will spend the rest of the day enjoying a dip in our private pool before dining at Tempo Restaurant in Botanica itself.

Hopefully tonight I will sleep better and won’t be so tired for tomorrow’s game.

    
     
   
   

   

 

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Toscana Valley Country Club

30 Aug

It was a restless night; the bed was comfy but the pillows were not. Not my pillow type I guess. Every hour I woke up, in the end I gave up sleeping and got ready for breakfast.

Breakfast was good. My typical style, it was enough to fuel me for our impending game. By eight sharp, our driver came and we were on our way.

The drive to Toscana was like going through Europe. We pass places with names like Lucerne, Kensington, some chateau and even some winery towards Toscana.

The golf club setup is very European. Peppered with houses on its hilly terrain, it looked challenging. Great course, it was pleasant and with the strong wind and cloudy skies, the outing was indeed enjoyable.

   
   

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Not Typically Thai

29 Aug

Our first night in Khao Yai and where did we go for dinner? Khao Yai Cowboy Steak House! Hahahaha…

We picked all three choices from the recommended list. Although not the most authentic in Thai flavors save for the fish and Singha, dinner was actually good.

The accompanying chili was explosive. A little dip in it with the pork knuckle was enough to put the mouth on fire!

Glen Campbell was belting out the ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ over the speakers then Dolly and Kenny came on before the band members came on stage to prepare for their live performance. Hard to believe we are in Khao Yai.

We are calling in the night early. Tomorrow, let the golf begin!

   
   
  
  

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Yes, Thailand Again

29 Aug

I didn’t want to bore with the usual humdrums of the trip. Yes, we are in Thailand again but not in Bangkok city itself but at Khao Yai. I thought for a change, it would be nice to be away at a different destination that offered the same things we enjoy but a different surrounding.

This is my second time in Khao Yai, a first for hubby. The last I came here, I was with a big group of golfers and thoroughly enjoyed the several golf courses. I decided hubby should enjoy the area as well, hence the choice.

Unlike Bangkok, Khao Yai is less crowded but with equally excellent golf courses. My last two days at work was rather busy to the point I was semi-stressed while hubby is always stressed. So the timing of this trip is good for the soul and for us to destress.

There was a half hour delay in departure resulting in us arriving an hour late. But we cleared immigration and got our bags rather fast. The two plus hour journey from the airport to the hotel was rather smooth. Although the day started early, I am not that tired, I just can’t wait to tee off!

The hotel, Botanica Khao Yai is a five star resort. Lovely, intimate and totally indulgent, our room comes with a private plunge pool. A bit different from our usual golf trips, well, once in a while, we should reward ourselves. I live by the philosophy ‘work hard, play harder’.

We go for an early dinner tonight.

   
 

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Where are We Going?

29 Aug

We left the house early this morning to avoid any delays as this is a long weekend. Who knows? The roads may be clogged and the airport check-in line may be miles long. Well, none of these happened; we got to the airport in 45 minutes and the feared long line was non existent. Phew!

It comes as no surprise that we will be heading to our favorite country again for our Alphabet Trip. Since we arrived early, we are enjoying the privileges of the Premium Lounge before our flight at 12.20pm.

The fun begins!

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Our Alphabet Trip

28 Aug

Our wedding anniversary is coming up soon. During the significant milestones, we make it a point to go off somewhere to celebrate and rekindle the romance. Sounds corny I know but necessary for the soul and that’s how it works. Away from our daily routine, away from the mundane and away from the stress.

I call this our ‘Alphabet Trip’. 

A to admire, B to buy, C is ‘see’, D to drink, E to eat, F* to… well, you get the idea.

There was one year hubby got the anniversary year mixed up. Thinking it was the 15th year milestone, he planned our trip to Italy covering Rome, Florence and Venice. We visited museums, admired beautiful architecture, ate and drank a lot and basically, did the whole alphabet routine.

The following year, when it was the actual 15th anniversary and realizing the mix up, we decided to do another trip and basically covered the alphabets again. It was from this trip to Sydney that I bought my Blundstone boots.

The years that followed were ‘insignificant’ years, so we didn’t do anything special or planned anything grand. This year, the 20th wedding anniversary is coming up!

OMG. Where did time go? 20th milestone. No wonder there has been an increase in white hair count, M1 has gone off to university, M2 turned 14 but going on 18 and perspectives on life has changed. But these are good accomplishments save for the white hair count, that can’t be good.

We will be making a trip and decided to extend the alphabet to include ‘G’. For golf. It should be an awesome time.

Here’s to many more milestones together. Happy anniversary to us!

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The BMW Golf Cup International 2015

27 Aug

Yesterday it was another Wednesday-out-of-office for golf for me. But this was not just a typical mid-week escapade, this was my much anticipated BMW Golf Cup International tournament. And for the first time, I am playing in the Guest category instead of the Ladies category because the purchase date of my car has exceeded the six years restriction policy.

I left home early before the morning traffic crawl started to build up. And thoroughly enjoyed the sheer driving pleasure speeding along the highway to head towards the golf course. The day was cloudy and I must say I did not have the jitters. I was basically there to enjoy myself with no pressure and expectations. However I fare, I will not qualify for the National Final because in the Guest category, I am grouped together with all guest male players save for one other lady. It would be a tough ordeal as there are far more stronger players in this pool than me. 

Although my flight had only three ladies, both of whom were in the Ladies category, we had a good time. Fun? Well, it’s hard to say fun when the greens were so fast. Many a time, the three of us cringed when our balls rolled pass the hole, go back and forth of the hole and even hurtled off the green, away from the hole! Despite this, the spirit was strong, the company was good as the course was pristine, the challenge was there and the weather excellent. The hospitality, as always, was impeccable. It was a BMW event after all.

My first two years’ participation were uneventful but last year was a big achievement. I was champion in my Qualifying round and went on to play in the National Final. During the Finals, I even scored the Longest Drive novelty, smashing my dimpled ball to a distance of 213m.

This year, with the playing field different, being in the Guest category, I feel smug that I beat 35 men and another lady to win the Nearest To Line (NTL) novelty with a 40cm placement of my golf ball to the line. I suspect the guy who had his name on the board for his 50cm effort thought he had bagged this but too bad dude, I pipped you to it!

So yeah, I had my moment and it felt good, making up for the change in my category for this year’s participation.

 

The Hole-in-One prize which nobody won

  

The winning tee off, 40cm from the line!

 

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Joy

25 Aug

Joy is when you discover you are eligible after all to play in the BMW Golf Cup International 2015 tournament after the initial disappointment a few months back.

I received a call not too long ago informing me that I can play by just changing my category status from Lady to Guest. If only I knew earlier, it would have saved me a lot of heart ache and disappointment.

I tee off tomorrow at 8.00am.

Whee….

  

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Something Strange

24 Aug

Level 784 of Farm Heroes was tough because the challenge had 4 bulls on the board and you have to collect 175 green apples and 175 water drops, on top of getting 8 clams and bringing the 3 sheep over to the hay. Without a lot of moves, it was tough and I couldn’t pass it for days.

Then something strange happened. It was Wednesday night when I launched the game. The playing field changed and not what I had googled up to get an idea how to beat the level. Instead of 4 bulls on the board, there were only two and the 175 each for the green apples and water drops was reduced to 100 each! Weird. The sheep and the clam numbers remain. Because of the change in requirement, suddenly the playing field eased up.

Needless to say, I succeeded after two attempts and obtaining three stars along the way.

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Satisfying a Craving 

21 Aug

I hardly have cravings, I just indulge. A glass of wine, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, some chocolate, you know… the usual decadent stuff once in a while. Last Friday I suddenly find myself craving durian, the King of fruits.

It’s been said when you crave something, most likely you are pregnant. The last time I had a strong craving, I was pregnant with M1 and I specifically remembered a strong craving for satay. Hubby had to oblige me. This time, while I am certainly and definitely not pregnant, it’s rather unexplainable that a sudden craving developed. And for durian!

We didn’t have to go far in search of it as my golf buddies came to the rescue! They were kind enough to go buy for me. I just had to pick it up after work: a tub worth at least 4kg of durian. Yum…

The minute we walked into the house, M2 groaned. The smell! It’s just too pungent for words. She opted to sit in the terrace away from the smell and played with Rooney, official pet number one. Between us and the maid, we polished off the tub.

No words can describe the smell. To say it smelly is an injustice. Then again to label it fragrant is equally incorrect. I guess one has to savor to appreciate as it’s an acquired taste. I was definitely a happy camper with my craving satisfied after the feast. Burp…

  

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