Bangkok wild nights

My trip to Bangkok deserves an every day post. I'll make it a photo post... I just have to say AMAZING...I would never ever in my life wish to live in such a place but it is worth visiting. You have to plan a trip here!!...I don't know whether Asia in general is like this, but if you want a cultural shock, Bangkok is the place to be. And I am saying this after just one day.

So here I went...

First stop - Istanbul airport. I could already feel the oriental air. The airport is like a huge Bazar...crowded and a true place for cultural diversity, people in flip flops and short pants along with women wearing a burka. I always loved airports, but this one was indeed special. Istanbul from above is huge...like a never ending sea of lights. It is definitely on my list...

When I got to Bangkok, after a night slept on a airplane chair...I had to go back and forth from one agent to another because they weren't sure whether I needed a visa or not. As soon as the mystery was solved and I finally got my visa...I couldn't find my bag. The belt where it was suppose to be stopped and nothing was left on it. A kind man led me to the lost luggage room...and there I found my blue travelling seahorse :)

The cab driver couldn't understand where I wanted to go, so he called someone to help him...anyways, he had a nice religious symbol above the left seat of the car...here they drive on the right, which makes it even more exciting.

At the hotel, the wonderful Nai Lert Park, because I am one of the organizers I got to meet everybody...and got a free tour of the mini jungle I live in now. The hotel is amazing, in the middle of a crazy city such as Bangkok they recreated the feeling of a resort...simply wonderful. At night I get to hear birds and other nature sounds I have never fallen asleep on. Of course, I got a really cool room, with  a pretty view :)

The first day of the conference went out perfectly. Everything was according to plan! As much as I am pissed sometimes I missed all of them, and I feel very family like when I am with them. They have so many stories to share with me and every time I meet them I find out so many marvellous and unique insights about their culture and the way they do business. I wish I will have the courage some of them have. I love my job...I just wish it was more challenging. They all hugged and kissed me, loved my new haircut and especially my tattoo, which they haven't seen until now.

...we went out to one of the street night markets. I can tell you Bangkok never ever sleeps...and what happens in Bangkok stays in Bangkok....and these are not just sayings. It was extreme...I have never been surrounded by so many poor people, fake objects (bags, clothes, watches...anything you wanted) and sex. Everywhere we turned there was a list of Ping Pong and other erotic shows. They even allowed you to take a 1 minute glimpse. There were bars with girls in swimming suites, with numbers that you could just pick...not to mention transvestites. Crazzzyyyy....

We ended the night in a bar where there was a live band. One of the singers was a transvestite of course, you get everything here. They were absolutely amazing. They could sing anything, absolutely anything you asked them in a perfect English. Great talented people in a bar in a night market in Bangkok...pitty. Because I was singing along, the transvestite singer gave me the microphone and allowed me to sing with him...

We went home in a tuk tuk race which we (the girls) won....:)) and I am alive...can't wait for tomorrow.

Lili & Ghita my two new ★

Lili (Lili Ten) and Ghita are my new fostered baby cats. They are not brothers, but they were both unlucky enough to be abandoned and lucky enough to be found. Now they are looking for a house, together or separate, as they are both very independent cats. They are both about a month and 1/2.

Lili is the perfect Tim Burton movies cat. Black, skinny long legs, big green-yellow eyes and a perfect silhouette. She's going to make a great pet for somebody who learns to appreciate her. She loves milk and like any cat loves to purr and cuddle.

Ghita is a small but very brave little man, who can't wait to have a house to play in. He's very deceiving as he likes to pretend to be a scared little cat...lost and alone...but soon shows his real personality and starts running and playing...He's also very proud and doesn't give in the purring game so fast...you have to show him lots and love and make him trust you before he will act like a "small kitty".

They are well educated, clean cats and they both need a permanent house as soon as possible.

♥ Alba Iulia

This weekend we visited one of Romania's best and for a while forgotten cities - Alba Iulia. We went there because of Dark Bombastic Evening's 3rd edition and ended up bedazzled by everything that surrounded us.

The fortress is currently being restored and what they managed to do until now is simply wonderful. Our dearest guide (mr. Andrei - the nanny) took us around in a very efficient and informative way. The fortress is about 300 years old and was built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Before that, 2000 years ago, there used to be a Dacian settlement here....depending on who owned the land the place evolved into the beautiful and still mysterious biggest Vaudan Fortress in Easter Europe. You can read its story here: http://www.apulum.ro/ro/istoria.htm  I'm extremely happy to have seen such a wonderful place in dear, old Romania.

Other than the fortress you can also visit the two huge cathedrals set one next to the other - Orthodox and Catholic...a great cultural trip if you ask me. The Catholic one was built in the XI - XII century. Till this day everything is written in Hungarian first and then Romanian. The Orthodox one was built about 700 year later and this is where Romania's king Ferdinand and his wife Maria were crowned.

In front of it there was an archeological site, and they were just digging out some bones...unfortunately the story of the place was not yet available to tourists.

There are other things to see, such as the University and the Great Union Hall and its Museum...The city is also rather beautiful...and to my surprise pretty big...typical capital snob :)

The festival - Dark Bombastic Evening's first summer outdoor edition was absolutely wonderful. We loved the music and the place where we camped. The food was also delicious and we had things to do.