Another way to get the most out of your old PC

I got this picture from a mailing list from a friend in Thailand.  This is an interesting way to get the most out of your old PC.

Wisdom tooth extraction

Finally, I scheduled for an appointment to extract my last wisdom tooth. I had 3 wisdom teeth extracted in Thailand about 7 years ago. At that time, the dentist did not extract the last one because it might collapse my lower teeth. He suggested me to see an orthodontist first. However, there was a cavity on that wisdom tooth, so the dentist put the filling on it.

Last Monday I went to a dental office for an oral examination and regular cleaning. She told me that the silver filling I have on the wisdom tooth is too old and suggested me to get it removed with another doctor.

The remaining wisdom tooth will be extracted here in the US on Apr 13, 2009. I declined to use sedation because I hate the side effect after the sedation. I hope it will be a "not so painful" experience. I also plan to get blaces for my lower teeth after the extraction. This is also to ensure that my lower teeth won't somehow be collapsed. I plan to go with invisalign.

Have a safe trip and have fun in London.

Sherman Oaks Farmers Market

Finally, I managed to take a good number of photos at the farmers market today even though I got out of work a little late today. Let’s start……

Sherman Oaks farmers market is open every Tuesday from 3-8 PM. It is located at the Fashion Square mall’s outdoor parking, closed to Woodman Ave. See the google map below. The red pin tells you exactly where the farmers market is. Switch to satellite view, zoom in, and you will see that it is at the outdoor parking.

View Larger Map

One good thing about this farmers market is I don’t have to worry about parking since it is already at the huge parking space. I can just park and walk right in! There are also some booths selling some fresh cooked food, so sometimes I just have my dinner there. They have some big tables for people to sit and eat there while listening to music. Yes, they have a music band playing every Tuesday at this farmers market.

As I mentioned previously, I usually go there to get some fresh produce, and so far I have been very happy with the quality of the produce they sell at this farmers market. I really like the fresh free-range eggs from Kendor farm. They are super fresh and packed on the same day they are sold. I can confirm that they are fresh because I eat them RAW! Yes, Rocky’s style. Also, I love the certified organic fuji apples and Korean pears from Ha’s apple farm. They are sweet and juicy. I am simply addicted to them now. Ok enough talk, please enjoy the pictures.

The atmosphere at the farmers market

Fresh free-range eggs from Kendor farm

Ha's apple farm.  The guy has been very nice to me.  I forgot to ask his name today.

Shirts and a lot of paintings of Obama

Pretty colorful for this booth

Very colorful soaps

Fresh vegetables

Restrooms

This has always been my parking spot for the farmers market.  In fact, it is the exit.  That's why I can always get this spot.  Easy access to fresh produce.  Many people will try to park at the front where they have the music band.

 

Many booths and plenty of parking

Swan Restaurant

After my Sunday gym session, I usually drive up north from my place to Sherman Ways to get some tasty Thai food. There are many Thai restaurants on Sherman Ways between Woodman and Coldwater Canyon. Swan is absolutely one of my favorites. This restaurant is a hidden gem in this area. The food here is authentic Thai food. Yes! The food here looks and tastes just like the food in Thailand. The restaurant is quite small. The price is very reasonable and the staffs are very friendly. This place is highly recommended!

Swan is pretty quiet at night time.  Picture taken around 8:30 PM.

The restaurant entrance

Spicy soup with morning glory

Ka Pao fish (fish with chili, garlic and basil leaves) on rice with deep fried egg.  Oh! and just in case you don't know.  Ka Pao with chicken or pork is the default dish for most Thai people.  When we don't know what to order, we go with Ka Pao.  Why? I think because it has all the good favors in it.  Very tasty indeed!

Plenty of parking space

Claustrophobic restroom :)

Phi Phi Island Part 2 and Karen (or Kariang)’s village in Chiang Mai

There are a lot of nice pictures and videos on the third day. However, I lost that CD, so I will have to ask my dad to bring me the CD when we meet in UK on April 1^st, 2009. In the mean time, please enjoy some pictures that I still have for the third day. 

After the trip to Phi Phi Island, we visited my grandma in Lampang province. Before we went to Lampang, we have to fly to Chiang Mai first since there is no direct flight to Lampang (in fact, I believe there is no airport in Lampang. Anybody can confirm this?) After visiting my grandma, we did some shopping in Chiang Mai and visited Karen (or Kariang)’s village in Chiang Mai.  Enjoy the pictures!

Third day we went a little bit far away from our Phi Phi Island.

Our boat is pretty big.  It has 2 floors and 2 restrooms.  Very spacious.

but it also produces a good amount of pollution.

General atmosphere.

Although there was some cloud, I still got sunburn really bad.

Karen's village

One of the villagers.  Only girls have to wear those rings on their necks.

Another Karen's villager

She was working but kind enough to let me snap a picture.

ok, my sis also wanted a picture with her.

Sis, bro and me!

This thing looks kool, and it is in front of the village entrance.  I know the name in Thai but have no idea how to call it in English.

Power outage at Sherman Oaks farmers market

There was a power outage at Sherman Oaks farmers market on Tuesday, so I have to postpone the entry again :( Nonetheless, some of the booths were still open until 7:00 PM. I got some eggs, apples and vegetables as usual.  I hope all the booths will be open again next week.

Phi Phi Island - Part one

I decided to post this entry because my co-workers want to know more about the Phi Phi Island that I went last year during my vacation. This trip was back in May 16, 2008. Originally, I did not plan to blog this trip at all, so the photos you see in this post are just some pictures that my dad and I randomly took during the trip. We also recorded many video clips. I will have to upload them to youtube sometimes in the future. Anyway, I will try my best to put everything in sequence with some descriptions for the photos.

This trip to Thailand is, in fact, after 3 years since last time I went back to Thailand. The trip is quite short (only 2 weeks) given that I had to fly all the way from Los Angeles to Bangkok. Basically, my plan for this trip is to meet my family and my friends, go to the Phi Phi Island, and go to Chiangmai and Lampang (to visit my grandma). I was very excited to see how much change has happened to Bangkok and Nakornpathom, the city I grew up.

For the first 3 days after I arrived in Bangkok, I spent most of my time with my family and relatives. A lot of talk and a lot of food :)

The real adventure began when we were going to the Phi Phi Island. We had to fly to Krabi first (took only about an hour form Bangkok) and took a mini van to a small harbor. Then, took a ferry boat to Phi Phi island and finally took a small boat to Phi Phi Island Village which is on the east side of the island.

We stayed on the island for 3 nights and went out for diving for 2days.  On the second day we went by ourselves with a small boat. On the third day we went with a big group of people on a big boat (2-level). We also had a local tour guide on the second day.

The small harbor in Krabi

At the top level of the ferry

We got a free upgrade to Hillside Pool Villa, which is the best accommodation that this resort offers, and we got 2 of these for 4 people. Honestly, we felt like one is more than enough for us, but we did not cancel the other room because we think it is inappropriate to cancel the room after getting the free upgrade. The monkey on the side of the pool is me :D

Free all you can eat breakfast every morning

A lot of boats

We decided to go with this low-tech boat for the first day. That is my dad’s leg on the left. Of course he got sunburn really bad on both of his legs.

The resort from a distance

My sister and a huge school of fish

My dad

Guess what happened to my little bother?  Sea sick :)

Asakuma Rice, Sherman Oaks

Although yesterday I went to the Sherman Oaks farmers market, the weather is SO cold that I was able to take only 2-3 photos.  I will have to postpone the farmers market posting to next week.

Today I went back to work like usual... :(  For this week, my boss is on a trip to UK, so it's a little bit relaxing in the office... :)  I decide to bring my camera with me all the time, so that I can snap some photos whenever I want.

During lunch time, I and my friends went to Asakuma rice for our lunch.  This Japanese restaurant is quite new.  Personally, I think the food is good but not great.  The price for lunch special is quite reasonable (I usually go there for lunch), but other items are quite expensive ($3 for a small bowl of miso soup?) compare to the other sushi restaurants in the area. Very friendly and attentive service.  You can read some more review here.  Below are some photos I took at the restaurant

Asakuma Rice

The entrance

Inside the restaurant

My lunch special... yummy!

The restroom is quite small but very clean.

There are only 4 parking in the back of the restaurant.

Most customers will have to rely on the parking meters on the street.

Day off for my birthday.

I am taking today off since it is my birthday, and I want to be happy! Today's plan is quite simple. Have my car service at center BMW in the morning at 10:00 AM. After that, get some lunch, go to Wat Thai (Thai temple) and do some grocery shopping at Sherman Oaks farmers market.

Every year I visit a Thai temple to "make merit" (I hope I use the right words). Usually I just donate some money to the donation boxes and give some money to a monk that I pray with (or sometimes a group of monks depending on how busy they are and how many people are making the merit).

Things went well although I felt a bit sleepy in the afternoon. At Wat Thai, the monk that I prayed with asked me if I am a solider?! How could a soldier have such a white and pale skin like me?... I immediately realized that it's because of all the muscle I have gained from working out at the gym. In fact, my upper body is quite big compare to average Thai people. I'm also about 6 feet tall. Regardless, this means that my diet and exercise regiment work quite well. Below are some pictures I took today. Hopefully, I can get some more pics tonight at Sherman Oaks farmers market. The camera I use is Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 that I bought yesterday from Costco. The quality of photos is pretty good for a point and shoot camera.

Center BMW

BMW X6 - From the front I think it looks similar to the X5, just a bit sportier and wider.

My car - the 335i coupe 300HP twin-turbo inline 6

Arrived at Wat Thai

The sign says opened Mon-Thu from 7A.M. - 8P.M. and Fri-Sun from 7A.M. - 9P.M.

The temple exterior. I think the twin giants look awesome! They guard the entrance, and people built two little fences to protect them (from little kids possibly :D).

My incense is already in there. Hopefully my wish will come true... :)

Inside the temple

This is what I got from a bird in Wat Thai after donating a good amount of money.

For more information about Wat Thai, click here.