The Sound of Music

So Ange (http://www.angeinbangkok.blogspot.com) has tagged me to do this music meme and she is hassling me about being slow about it. But it’s hard! Or maybe it just proves how indecisive I am, how little I really know about music, what random music taste I have and what major swings my moods take. I have found it too difficult to choose the 3 songs that are guaranteed to put a smile on my face, 5 traveling must haves and my number 1 album of all time.

If you asked me these questions at 15, 18, 21 and 25 I would give you completely different choices. If I had to complete the same questionnaire tomorrow or next week I am sure I would change every answer. What I listen to really depends on my mood. I love different songs at different times and for different reasons. And as for choosing one album as my all time favourite – not a chance – it would feel like cheating on all my other favourite bands and albums. (Try not to read too far into my commitment issues please!).

However, so as not to let the lovely Ange down completely here are my current top 5 most played albums on my i-pod:

1. The Hives – Your New Favourite Band (I just love singing along to A.K.A I-D-I-O-T. especially after a particularly annoying day at work.)
2. Kasabian - (It is my current getting ready for a night on the town album)
3. James – The Best of James
4. Kathryn Williams – Little Black Numbers ( great to chill out or fall asleep to)
5. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – By the Way (need I say more?)

However, all this music talk has got me thinking of more things that I will miss when I leave. Hope this will do as my alternative music meme Ange.

1. The National Anthem – We sing the national anthem at school every day and I just love watching my kids standing up dead straight and belt out the words, followed by a bow towards the flag. Bless! Needless to say in this patriotic country that is not the only time I hear the national anthem. It is played on the radio at 8am and 6pm everyday as well as in government offices and at skytrain platforms. It is fantastic watching commuters stop in their tracks and stand to attention for the duration of the song. I can’t imagine it happening in London!

2. The King’s Song – this is such a moving piece of music and on more than one occasion it has brought tears to my eyes. Although it can be difficult to heave myself out of my first class lounger seat in the cinema it makes the whole cinema experience for me.

3. Bu de de der! – I love Thai pop! I am currently trying to find NowThai! There must be one CD with all my favourites on. Unfortunately although I can sing along to many of them (although I would imagine the ‘thai’ I sing is not making any sense) I don’t have a clue what the bands or even the songs are called. I have tried singing my top favourite in a record store but got laughed at. Can anyone help me?

Storms

Last night I sat with the lights off and watched the lightening create forked patterns in the night sky. I love watching storms from the comfort of my living room and I will miss these brilliant light displays. I’m sure I will have plenty more to watch in KL, and hopefully I will have as good a view out of my apartment window.

However, I will not miss getting caught outside in torrential downpours. On Saturday we stood waiting for taxi outside Chatuchak with plastic bags (given to us by a friendly stall owner) on our heads with the waters rapidly rising around our ankles. We were drenched. I will not miss wading through the dirty waters of flooded sois wishing I had wellies and not flip flops on, just hoping that I don’t tread in anything too revolting.

Fruit Shakes

You just can't beat a mango shake. I love them. I'll miss a good Bangkok shake.

Soi 7

I am really going to miss my soi. It is a hive of activity with sights and smells to delight all the senses. You can find fresh fruit and veg, beautiful flowers and any number of food vendors all within a stroll from my condo. Soi 7 is also home to my favourite restaurant and my friendly, much visited, massage parlour. But why walk? I’m sure if you sat on the steps outside the condo everything you need would come to you. This morning the Som Tam lady parked her trolley of tasty delights outside, the feather brush guy cycled his wares past and the fruit man stopped his car and sold some delicious looking rambutans. There is always something going on to catch your attention and I will miss weaving through the throng that gather here.

Mad Dogs

Mojo's was the venue for the Bangkok Netball League's end of season bash and the theme was school uniform. Messy is the only word to describe it as we acted the part of giggling schoolgirls, even signing each others shirts with permanent marker as we did years ago when we finally left school. So this is the end of my bangkok netball career (and thankfully my role as treasurer!) but I'll miss Monday nights (and of course the non-sport oriented nights out and trips) with the girls - and, unlike our catchphrase for the evening, I am boverd. Mad Dogs rock!

Fishy

You smell it before you even hear the bell on his bike or see him come round the corner. The odour assualts your nostrils, churns your stomach and ruins the taste of your beer. Yes he is the fish man and I will NOT miss him! It horrifies me that anyone would contemplate buying, let alone allowing this 'delicacy' near their tastebuds. Surely it should not be considered a bar snack? I can't imagine it will help the morning after. So bye bye fish man, so long, farewell.

A month left!

I can't believe it! Where has the year gone? I only have one month left in Bangkok..... I'm full of mixed feelings. Looking forward to the adventure and challenge of a new city and a new job, but am so sad to be leaving some fab friends and a great city behind.

So for the next month I will mainly be blogging about the things that I am going to miss, and some that I'm definitely not. I know that, particularly as I am staying in asia, this may not be the last time I will experience some of these things, but they are an integral part of my Bangkok experience and so I feel they should be noted as such. I didn't mean to start on a negative, but lets just say that it is fresh (or not so fresh) in my mind.