Space ของ Vivitphong

26 Apr 08

I went to see Flower parade and garden at Keukenhof, Leiden with Imron and his relatives on this day.

On the day before, I went to have a drink with friends …. I had 4 – 5 bottles of beer, I think??? … so I needed a lot of sleep. Imron called me at 8 am asking whether I would go to Keukenhof with him [he would meet at 11 am at Rotterdam Centraal]. I was so sleepy and still on bed. I told him that I would consider. Then, I continued sleeping. Ha ha ha.

At 8.30 am … just half an hour later, of cause I was still on bed. Tod called me and asked if I would join her group biking to Keukenhof, Leiden. I asked her the time of an appointment. She told me that well … a couple of her friends were already at Rotterdam Centraal and asked me to come NOW … and I was still on bed, half slept half awake. When I told her that, she asked me to be hurry!!! Could you believe that!?!?!? So, I told her that in that case I would go. Then, I continued sleeping.

At 9 am., Imron called me again to confirm me. After considering, I said Yes, got up and took a shower. Then, join him at the station at 11 am. it was a very long morning for me. Ha ha ha ha.

We arrived Leiden Centraal around 12 am. It was very crowded. Hundreds of people were queuing for a bus!!! Fortunately, Imron met his friend, so we could cut through the queue of both ticket and bus line. Ha ha ha. Even that, we still had to wait for almost one and a half hour.

We arrived keukenhof around 2 pm. At Keukenhof was also very crowded, I estimated around 1000 people around the entrance area. We waited around the entrance area for resting and waiting to go watching parade.

We found the place for watching parade very near to the starting point around 3.30 pm. the parade, really started [there were some ‘fake’ parade before that] at almost 4.30 pm. They decorated and shaped flower into figures, like sail, elephant, dragon, lion, house, and so on; which were set into theme, like Asian, Indian, Sailing, Holland, Safari, etc. To be honest, I think the parade was nice, but not very spectacular; it was good to see, but not very impressive as I think the parades in Thailand are much more attractively decorated. Anyway, it was good to see once. We also noticed that there were lot of tourist from EU, like Denmark, German, etc. coming too. There was hundreds of coach buses. The parade finished at around 5.30 pm.

Then, we went to see the garden in Keukenhof; it was still very crowded. I think it was because this day, they had the parade so lots of people coming. Almost all the flowers in the garden were Tulip. Well, it is the concept. I think walking for just one or one and a half hour was enough for me. The garden they set was, well, only a few looks and concepts. For instance, there were lot of points they will set small blue or purple tulip in the middle, surrounded by taller colourful tulips and expressing the ‘river’ look. I noticed more than 50 points they set the groups of flowers in this shape. To be honest,  I think ‘Mae-Fha-Loung’ garden, Douy-Toong, Thailand is more attractive for me.

Anyway, we met again at 6.45 pm. and we had to queue for about 45 minutes for getting on the bus. Again, there were hundreds of people in the queue before.

We arrived Rotterdam at 9 pm. and I had to go meeting with friends that night. It was a very long day for me …. Really long day!!!! [from 10 am till midnight that I went back room].

2 May 08

I went to Amsterdam and Den Haag; this was another long day for me.

I got up at 7 am and had a feeling that Imron’s relatives would go to Amsterdam on this day. And I was right,; Imron called me at around 8 am to meet them at 10 am at Rotterdam Centraal Station. They asked me if I would go to see wooden-shoe making with them in the late afternoon. I just couldn’t go since I already have an appointment with Ram and Dinesh to play bowling.

We arrived Amsterdam around 11 am and I was so hungry. I just had Mc Donald, then. Then I visited Sex Museum. Well, in my opinion, it is nothing; just lots of nude pictures and figures of erotic actions, an exhibition of “equipments” and old artefacts about sex symbols, something like that, and contemporary arts, I think. It wouldn’t make people sexual arousal; I actually felt sick of it instead. It makes me think that “The Elder” in Thailand was thinking-over themselves, too conservative and too closed-minded about this issue. In my opinion, it would in fact reduce the sexual problem in Thailand by making it less excited from concealing the issues and, instead, making it opened in a proper way.

Then, I went to red light district. It was still to daytime, I thought, as there was no woman in the windows at all. Anyway, there were lots of sex shops and coffee shop, selling marijuana, ‘magical mushroom’ [it was called drunken mushroom or poisoned mushroom in Thailand], and other kinds of ‘light drugs’ [I think???]. I had seen sex shop in other countries I went to and including in Rotterdam, but I haven’t as many as here; there are at least 10 sex shops on the same street. Moreover, just passing by the street, I felt a bit drunk and drugged as of marijuana.

There were tons of people on the main road. The weather was so nice and people are very crowded. I felt a bit hot actually as the sun was so shinny. The city was full of beautiful old building. There is a shopping center and they use the old building to be the mall. It is really nice as the building and architecture and luxury design. However, for the shopping purpose, I think Thailand’s or Hong Kong’s shopping area is better.

Then, I was hurried to get the train to Delft at 4 pm., I was a bit late and arrived there around 4.30 pm. Anyway, we [I, Dinesh, Ram, and Gaston] drove to Den Haag [Dinesh drove his car for us]. The bowling game cost €23 per hour; it is a lot!!! Dinesh said he would like to play bowling in Thailand if he goes; I am welcome and he would see that the equipment in Thailand is much better with much cheaper cost.

Anyway, this first game is pity for me. Since I hadn’t played bowl for 5-6 years, I had to use 5 rounds to recover/remind my form. I bet if we could have played another 2 games, I would 100% recovered and could have won the game … ha ha ha ha.

Then, we went to the beach. The shy was so clear and the weather was really nice. We walked along the beach and had dinner in the restaurant beside the beach. My plate is some kind of fish, I didn’t know what it is but wanted to try, and it is quite nice, although the price is a bit too high. We really enjoyed the atmosphere there for at least an hour.

Then, we arrived Rotterdam around 10 pm. it is another 12-hour-outside day of me. It was also pity that because of the sunny sky, I could not take a lot of photo [it would come out as very dark picture].

16 Feb 2008

This was the week after the exam. I set a new-house party today. I cooked ‘rice noodle stewed fried with chicken and basil’ [ก๋วยเตี๋ยวผัดขี้เมาไก่] and ‘stewed fried rice noodle with vegetarian soup’ [เส้นใหญ่ราดหน้ามังสวิรัติ] for this occasion.

Making an appointment at 6 pm., however, Thai students were late as usual, ha ha ha. Anyway, at least they came [around 7 pm.]. I had more time for cooking even I started cooking at 3 pm. Actually, I had to wait for about 1 hr. in order to make fresh cook for them.

Finally, there were 15 people coming. That’s a lot!!! I didn’t expect this much so food was a bit too little. I was so sorry for that …. T_T.

The party was over around 10 pm. N’Imron was so nice cleaning pots for me. J

25 Feb 2008

This week was the spring break and I had no plan to go anywhere. N’Fon invited me to go to Thai temple in Tilburg with her. I had nothing to do anyway so I decided to go.

We met at Centraal station at 9am. [they came at 9.10 am., anyway … I thought I remembered the wrong date ha ha ha]. Then, we arrived Tilburg around 10 and took bus to the temple and arrive there around 11.30 am. It was very long way.

N’Fon and N’Nang took some food for monk. I didn’t expect to have lunch there actually, but people there, including monks, invited us to have lunch. So, we, as younger, could not refuse … ha ha ha ha. And we eat a lot. We also had a little chit-chat with monks there.

Before we went out, monks gave us lot of snack and instant noodle people brought for donation!!! [As Thai student studying abroad, we received so much of generosity]. Generosity is a very distinct characteristic of Thai culture.

We went out from the temple and took a walk in centrum of Tilbury. Finally I got one table ha ha ha …. It is handy table advertised in bestofshopping.nl and also on TV shopping program. It was sold for more than 80 EUR though, but the shop, Blockker had sold for only 10 EUR … WOW!!!!

Then, to go back to the station, we took a bus ….. BUT!!!! We took the wrong direction!!! The right bus, bus going to the wrong direction. And we took a long time to realize that [about 20 mins].

So, we have to go back to the centrum again. We waited for the next bus for about 10 mins. Since it was just the time student finished their school, the traffic was jam. It took about 30 mins for us to go back to station.

Finally, we got back to Rotterdam around 5 pm. I spent 8 hours outside room today.

3 Mar 2008

I went to Antwerpen today, as Herre invited us to his house in Antwerpen, Belgium. I and few friends departed Rotterdam around 4 pm. and arrived Antwerpen around 5 pm. it is not very far.

The train Station of Antwerpen is really beautiful and elegant, has old architecture but the modern feeling. I like it. Herre came to pick up us at the station and we walked to his house. The city, at the centrum, was quite crowded and lively; a little bit busy, but it is better than quiet city, isn’t it?

Herre’s house is quite big, I think; bigger than any houses in Netherlands I have seen. Ploy told me that one thing is that the housing tax in Belgium is very much cheaper than in the Netherlands. Herre told us that it used to be the mansion, and then his father renovated it. He first moved here during X’Mas, 2007.

Herre let us stay in the room on the top floor, under the roof. It gave me a feeling like Harry Potter … ha ha ha ha. … we need an owl then. Then we meet Herre’s father and younger brother. His father is still looked young and his brother is looked very lively and funny; he is looked handsome too … a little bit more than Herre I think, ha ha ha

In the evening we went dinning at Italian restaurant. We ate a lot and I think the taste is different from restaurants in Italy I ate. I had pizza and we drank 2 bottles of wine [there were 6 persons, anyway]. It was a big meal costing €25 each !!!!! *o*

We went to cocktail bar before going back home around midnight. We had chit-chat till 1.30 am., then went to bed.

This was the heaviest day I had in Europe; I had 1 bottle of beer and 1 glass of Champagne before getting out. I had 3 or 4 glasses of wine during dinner and 1 Tequila at cocktail bar. Finally, I drank another bottle of beer before going to bed. Everything was crashing each other inside my head … ha ha ha

It was fun and Herre was very nice host.

The day after, 4 Mar 08, we [at Herre’s house] got up around 10 am. and went to see the city … it was really the shopping city I think. My brothers would like it. Then, we joined the class in the afternoon to go to Coke Distribution Center … there was nothing much about it. We went back to Rotterdam at 8.30 pm.

11 Mar 08

There was graduate ceremony at RBS today. It was set for Master student [Sep 06] and Pre-Master [Sep 07]. There were many of Pre-Master students, but only 5 Master students. That made me nervous a bit that there were Master graduates that little!! Although, it was explained later that that also depended on the thesis defence schedule; as each student defended thesis at different time and had to wait for supervisor’s approval before submitting the thesis and other conditions, I still felt a bit nervous.

About the ceremony, to be honest, I think it was really informal and SMALL. It just set in a big classroom and students was wearing just normal dress. There was noting to present that “memorial” time. It was good that there was a little drinking party afterward at the school’s café [from 3.30 pm till 4.30 pm … or after teachers went back!!!]; that there was a section for chit-chat and personally congratulate. But still, it was just a little event and not special as I perceived.

However, the good thing was that I met Thai student graduated for Master in Logistics there. He is P’Kwang. I met him the first time, but he reminded me that I used to send him and email asking about RBS once … ha ha ha  myself had forgot. There were also about 10 Thai Bachelor students went to congratulate him … the party became a little Thai party then … ha ha ha.

2 Feb 2008

I, N’Imron and P’Noon went to Den Haag. Thai Ambassador at The Netherlands invited Thai students to have a party at her official residence as a thankful party for helping in Thailand Grand Festival in Sep 2007. There is only 3 of us from Rotterdam because the other juniors wanted to prepare for the exam on Mon. I also had an exam on Mon. for Statistic. However, I am not a stat person [i.e. for me, it is really hard to make statistic sense] and teacher allowed us to bring books, notes, calculator and everything … So, I think it was no use to read even more!!! Ha ha ha ha ….

The party started at 10 am but Imron suggested us to meet at 11 am then arrived there around noon. It was a very smart advice!!! We didn’t have to play sport and it was exactly lunch time as we arrived … ha ha ha

The lunch menus were;

• ข้าวสวย                        [Streamed rice]
• พะโล้หมู กับหน่อไม้         [Streaky pork stewed in gravy]
• ส้มตำ                           [Spicy papaya salad]
• แกงเผ็ดเป็ดย่าง              [red curry with grilled duck]
• น้ำพริกปลาย่าง กับผักสด  [Grilled-fish chilli paste served with fresh veg.]

Later, the cookers served;

• ผัดถั่วลันเตา หมูกรอบ      [pea stewed fried with crispy pork]
• แพนงเนื้อ                      [beef curry]

There also were desserts;

• ข้าวเหนียวถั่วดำ                     [black bean and sweet sticky rice in coconut soup]
• ข้าวเหนียวดำ                 [black sticky rice with coconut and taro in sweet soup]

Also with other beverages.

Oh!!! It was so fun and full party …. I thought I could eat no more.

After lunch, there was an election of President of Thai Student Association in The Netherlands [TSAN]. The result was really predictable, I thought. Anyway, it was great to have such seemingly dedicated woman to be president. Her name is Euiy [อิ๋ว]. She was the same age as me. She has a Dutch boyfriend. Her project is really interesting and tangible; to make like a ‘Year book’ of Thai student studying in Netherlands. It could make a valuable information and network. I said to her that I had an experience of managing the ‘Year Book’ project for Bachelor degree [BE] so I might be able to help her. And I am really intended and voluntary to help her in this project.

Then, at 4 pm [only 2 hours after lunch], Mrs Ambassador prepare Thai noodle [ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหมู – เนื้อ] for us …. Eat again!!! … I was still full …. But eat … ha ha ha

Well, it was all eat and eat … really good!!! We went back at 8 pm and I was really, really full.

4 Feb 2008

We have Statistic exam this day [well, it is under the module of research methodology, but I think it is just statistic]. The exam is not that hard. It was very alike the example Mr Geilenkirchen gave us actually. Moreover, he was so generous and so realistic to allow bringing everything even laptop into the exam. So I could finish it within 1 hour.

What the F**k!?!?!? A second that I finished the exam, V.D.B. came in and announced that the exam was cancelled since, they claimed that, there were [3] students using laptop, connecting internet and using MSN to communicate with each other. They claimed that there were ‘some teachers’ witnessing this behaviour so “school have to make this tough decision”!!!!

Many of us tried to convince that it was unfair to cancel the exam as the school [V.D.B.] knew [was informed] that there were 3 students did that. However, V.D.B. claimed that they could not check or find evidence so the exam must be cancelled. … What!?!? It is your problem, not mine!!! I went to do the exam, that’s my task. To make the examination justified, it is school’s task … Don’t throw your problem to us!!

What the hell!!!! It was really non-sense. If, as they claimed that, the inappropriate behaviour was communication via MSN but they could not prove there was message sending among them … Bull Shit!!! Liar!!! This is IT era, there are thousands of way to track for evidence; e.g. checking the school network, hacking the computers’ memory, …. Several ways to investigate the case. But they don’t do that. They might say “ well, it is hard for us to take investigation, so just throw the burden to those students and do the new examination” …

9 Jan 08

Here I am in NL again!!! It was so surprise that Imron, Fon and Pui came picking me up at Schiphol. I was so touching. I arrived at 6.30 am and went back directly to Rotterdam. I quickly packed things and went to class … I was 1 hour late though.

Another thing was that I just noticed that the room, especially the Kitchen area was so dirtyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! The Chinese roommate didn’t clean and keep tidy at all. On my God!!!

10 Jan 08

I had to come to new room today for checking and paying for the first payment. Erik, the room owner, would go exchange for 6 months. He kept the room clean.

11 Jan 08

I packed most of the stuff in the big luggage and bring to new room today. Since all things were in one luggage, it was not so hard to move. For the rest, I would formally move on 12 Jan 08. Since it was Sat., there was fair market at Blaak, so I bought some fresh vegetable and fruit to the new room.

12 Jan 08

Oh God!!! I packed the rest of my stuff. They were unbelievable that there were this much …. 6 big bags … very much more than I expected!!! Fortunately, I already asked Imron and Nut for help. Firstly, Nut seemed not to come. After a series of influencing [ha ha ha], he [said] felt guilty then came. Fon also came to help clean up the old room before we left.

Finally, we [I, Imron and Nut] arrived the new room around 6 pm. No shops opened, we supposed. As nothing ready to eat, so we ate from the restaurant in the front building. This was the first time I had some kind of Turkish food … a fried potato with some meat and cheese … VERY UNHEALTHY!!!!

15 Jan 08

I, Amanda and Chi had to go the Compass Group in AMS area A … something … for IPD project. The weather was so bad!!! Cloudy, Windy and Rainy … All in one!!! Moreover, since we had to get there at 9 am, I had to get up before 6 am and meet Amanda and Chi before 7.30 am in order to get on the right train. Otherwise, we would be late. However, the guy at Compass was so friendly and helpful. Finally, we got the assignment. It was not that hard and that tough like someone trying to convince us that it would be a real hard task!!!

28 Jan 08

I went back to the old room [Robert Baelde Hall] in order to clean up toilet and shower room as I and the Chinese roommate agree upon [I clean the 2 rooms and he clean the kitchen area]. It was still so dirty!!! I was quite upset that he still didn’t do anything. Only 3 day left before the next inspection!!!

Anyway, I did my job. The toilet’s floor is so dirty so I had to wash it … so stinky!!! L .  The shower room is even worse. Although the floor was OK, the problem was the drain. It was stuck, the water is flow so slow … EEEEEEEEEEh!!!! The problem was hair!!! It blocked the drain and I supposed it was cumulated for years!!! I tried so hard to get them out … so loathed!!!! L

It took too much time than I expected … I didn’t study for the exam as much as I planned … Oh!!! And the room was so nice so I felt lazy … Oh!!! What could I do???

Christmas Break in Thailand

Home sweet home!!! Finally, the day has come. I took the flight on 18 Dec 07 from Schiphol, AMS and arrived Suvarnabhumi, BKK on 19 Dec 07. Although it was a long flight, I hardly slept because I was very excited. Departing from home for a period really can make one so missing the home.

Anyway, when I arrived Suvarnabhumi airport, there were my nany[s] and my youngest brother picking me up. I was so exited.

On 19 Dec 07, I suddenly had lunch with my family and, of cause, I have Thai meal!!! I was missing “Kang Som” and other Thai curry with real Thai favor. For dinner, P’Jai cooked “Nam Prik Ga Pi” …. Oh God!!! It’s so good. This was too good to be true … ha ha ha!!!

One reason I wanted to come back quite early because I would like to attend Christmas Mass at my church with my friends. And I was!!! Although the Mass songs, as well as Christmas songs this year is not so fun [very slow and boring], being with friends and family [I had to force my brothers to go to church … ha ha ha] was really good.

On 28 Dec 07, my first brother set the party at house. It could not be more extreme than this. Having organizer, plenty of flower decoration, hiring photographers, ordering 4 tanks [about 80 liters] of Beer and inviting around 100 guests, Could you believe that!?!?!? All in all, the party was fun and lot of drunk. We [I and my AC friends] drank 3 bottles of wine I bought from NL. Wine in NL is so cheap; about 3 times cheaper than in Thailand. The Bastard Government, taking our taxes and produce nothing!!!

On 31 Dec 07, I invited my BE friends to have New Year party at my house. They came after 9 pm!!! I wanted to have dinner with them too actually but their excuse is family!!! How could I complain??? T_T

Anyway, we had “Kao Toom Pla” that P’Morn made for us, drank 2 bottles of wine and some whiskey. Mostly we played card; Taxes Porker!!! This year I might be good luck since I won the tournament for 1,400 Baht. Last year I lost 6,000 Baht though.

On 5 Jan 08, we had Family Party at my house, with almost 30 persons. It was fun too. I got some gift since this day was my birthday. All of them are clothes!!!

In general, I didn’t come back Thailand just for fun; I brought all assignment with me too. In fact I planned to finish them by 80% during the break, However, I couldn’t … it was only 50% completed, I supposed. The problem was it was hard to concentrate on school stuff when the climate was so relax … ha ha ha!!!  However, I also travel a lot in order to interview many CEO for me thesis topic. It is so sad that I cannot narrow it down to the manageable scope. Anyway, it was a good experience.

Oh God!!! It was 8 Jan 08 I have to go back NL …. I didn’t want to T_T. Another bad thing is that I cannot book for EVA Deluxe I have to take Singapore Economy in stead …. The price is not that cheap but the class and facility is so much different … Oh Poor OAK!!!