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A regular CNY
posted : Saturday, February 18, 2023
It really took us three whole years to return to regular programming.
First CNY in BKK since 2020, it feels like nothing has changed. Our itineraries, regular haunts, Eve and Day 1 traditions and so on. Some restaurants and shops that we used to frequent succumbed to pandemic, food prices went up slightly (though clothes are similar) but that’s about it. Even the crowd level have returned. The major difference is probably the fact that our pace have slowed down, because parents aren’t spring chicken anymore. We cabbed everywhere, without bargaining much (so long as it’s about 200 Baht i think we just took it coz that’s like about $2+ per pax only mah). So even though I think this was our longest trip (almost 5 full days coz of RB scheduling), it feels like we didn’t do much. But I am still glad to have this trip. Return to normalcy is one thing, spending time together is another. Though I sometimes think it’s a bit worrying that we are still doing the same thing every year (i.e. no progress in you-know-what), sometimes I tried to imagine how this trip will pan out if we ever have an family expansion, sometimes I wonder with a tinge of fear on how many more years do we get to do this.  Snippets of the trip - we tried Amari Watergate for the first time, seeing that it was renovated. Minor complaints but it’s actually decent, but would want to try more new hotels next time  Complimentary dish (shrimp paste lobster) at each table for our reunion dinner at Praya Kitchen. Spread wasn’t great, dad requested to go back to Goji next year haha  The faint osmanthus scent in the lobby was very soothing  We took a family photo, for once :)  View never gets old  Apple  Sis and I ventured out to this cafe while parents did their Chinatown thing, very IG-able  Food and drinks were pretty too keeping to the theme (it’s called Wallflowers Cafe), but god wtf is this affogato. There’s no trace of ice cream?  Jodd Fairs was wayyyy too crowded, to a point that it’s traumatizing, can’t enjoy food in peace but this ribs was decent. Then there’s the actual CNY part at home. I had almost two full days in Bru prior to the BKK trip (again, unintentional no thanks to RB’s rescheduling) and only 3 days after returning from BKK. Met up with the Brunei duo as usual, hung out with the sister as usual, family dinners as usual, only pop by one house and that’s about it. No regrets, I did get to rest a bit and the next holiday is not too far away so that’s kind of tolerable.  This was from part one of Brunei, within like 3 hours after touch down? Coz I woke up at ungodly hours to catch my flight.  Zorba’s, I think Greek food is kind of a rarity in Bru? Thought the chicken was quite flavorful though their biz level don’t look like they can survive for long, but worse places have surprised me so I don’t know  Also tried Roots for the first time, I think it’s good portion but I still prefer Top Nosh though (That’s all for photo dump surprisingly I didn’t take any pics with humans in it, neither did I find time to go down to Eco Park for a run haha) Though throughout the entire break there’s this dark cloud hanging over my head which I tried to ignore as much as possible - that being there’s a war ongoing in office, my subordinates had to work through CNY to fight fires and i felt guilty that I wasn’t there to support. And the storm had conveniently subsided by the time I went back to work. I guess I shouldn’t complain, but…yeah. So I thought overall it was a weird CNY. I was very much looking forward to it and being away from work, but it felt underwhelming in the end. Perhaps I did spend too much time on other things instead of focusing on the moment. And before you know it CNY is over for another year. Ah well. Till next year, I guess. |
