Let me just say that totally by accident I found out that a restaurant (that I LOVE) has Lychee fruit. Granted, they aren't fresh I think they are canned but that was my very first taste of things to come in Thailand. They taste like a cross between a tart orange (or if you've had it, and ugli fruit) and a coconut. It was so good! It looked like a little white olive but was sweet and tart at the same time. I am a big fruit eater and now I CAN"T WAIT to try all the fruits I see pictures of - rambutans, fresh lychee, jackfruit, and yes I might even try a durian. My ears even perked up a little when I saw a blog pic (I can't remember who's sorry) of a dragon fruit. I wanted to lick my computer screen, it made me so hungry. That and the fact that tom yam gung is only my favoritest soup EVER! I am raring to go eat some street vendor food!

Do I really need to say how much I am chomping at the bit to shop the Chatuchak Market?

In other news- I made a comment in an earlier post (yesterday) about a tattoo and was surpised by the amount of attention it got. I didn't think anyone would comment on it. I guess that's because I underestimate constantly the amount of affection many have for their ink. I was greatly disappointed to learn that as a woman there was really no way for me to get a sacred tattoo as monks would not be able to touch me in anyway BUT that doesn't mean I can't still get one. Once I get it I will post a pic of it too!

I want to go to one of Jimmy Wong's studios but as of yet I am not sure which one. I am certainly going to try and go to the tattoo festival in Bangkok if I can find out when and where it is. I just hope I am there for it. Until then...

For those of you that have been following my (recently infrequent) blog. I have my ticket to Bangkok in my hand right this second (yes it is harder to type with a plane ticket in your hand) I haven't been able to let it out of my sight since I got it. (Is it wrong to fondle a paper ticket?)
I am extremely excited and still working on my Thai, I am a little more than a little intimidated by the tonal languages. Wish me luck! Will keep you posted!

Spurred on by the news about the bizarre name the Asoke sect have taken, like this guy who changed his legal name to Tai-Nae (Dead for sure) Mungmajon (determined to be poor), I thought perhaps we can do a little bit of fun activity today.

You know how many celebrity don't use their birth name but a stage name?

Over here in the US, there's a little game about how you create your...um...adult movie star name. The name of your first pet becomes your stage first name, and the street you grow up on becomes your last name. For example: My first pet was a dog named Bob. My street is Soi Langsuan. So I applied a little twist, and voila. Hello. My stage name is Bobbi Lang.

So now, we're going to play this game THAI-BLOGS style. We'll find you a Thai stage name!

First name: Start with the word "Som". Then add the last syllable of your last name.

Note: Common Thai names, like John Smith here, is Somchai. There are many many names that started with "som", which means befitting, well suited, or sometimes also means as you wish. Somchai = befitting a man = manly. So there are a lot of Som's out there. Somying (womanly). Somsri (full of grace). Somkid (your ideas come true). Somphol (powerful). You get the idea.

Last name: Name of the first hotel you checked into in Thailand OR the street of your first Thai residency. *New addition* If you haven't gone to Thailand yet, pick one Thai word or name of a place in Thailand that strike your fancy.

Finally, for even more fun. Add your dream entertainment career as well.

So here is how you will "introduce" yourself.

Sawasdee ka/krup.
My name is [Thai-Blogs stage name]. I am a [dream entertainment career]. (My other stage name is [US stage name].)

For example:
Sawasdee ka!
My name is Somren Langsuan. I am a rockstar. (My other stage name is Bobbi Lang.)

Give it a go, people! :)