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Friday, January 22, 2010

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.

Normal practice, when stepping in wet concrete, is to hastily backtrack and check if anyone noticed, then get away quickly. At least that's how I see it. Apparently here, you just keep walking till you get where you're going, hardly even noticing you've ruined some poor council worker's pride and joy (not to mention a perfectly good pair of flip flops). I wonder what bob the builder thought when he returned to check his handiwork.
While we're on culture shock, I went to a Thai wedding this week. Very different to a western-style one in some ways, yet similar in other ways. It was obviously something that took a lot of preparation and cost a lot of money that's for sure. Here are the happy couple (Nin and Yui) with all the lovely ladies from our office..
There was no ceremony as such, or at least we didn't get to see one. Apparently they just have a formal signing of the marriage certificate and that happened earlier in the day. There was a very extensive Chinese banquet (Yui is Chinese) followed by a video which was projected onto a giant screen at the end of the hall. The video was a montage of photos of the couple, and a cartoon which described how they met and how their relationship developed. There was also a joint pre-recorded speech by the bride and groom. After the video, the Bride's father made a short speech on stage and the master of ceremonies interviewed the happy couple. That was it. An enjoyable and very interesting evening.

Wifey and Maureen are on the plane as we speak, coming here to cheer me up. I have fizzy wine and cheese in the fridge to make them feel at home. It'll be nice to have company and to show off the swanky new apartment. Still no internet but I do have the telly working. We're off to Koh Chang next Friday for four nights, can't wait.

Be good



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