An Anniversary in Bangkok

As of November 15th 2011 Nicholas and I have been together for 3 full years. What a ride it has been! Our relationship has been a test from the beginning. We started out long distance, trying our best to see each other every 2 weeks, Then he moved in with me in Jacksonville going from every 2 weeks to seeing each other everyday, then we decided to move to the other side of the world and travel together, live together,work together. Due to my slight fear of being robbed and sold as a sex slave we basically go everywhere together, and sure we have our disagreements from time to time, but we always come out on top. 

This year we are lucky enough to spend our 3rd Anniversary in Bangkok. I've been wanting to go to this restaurant since before we even stepped foot in Thailand. I thought it looked so interesting. I had kinda forgotten about it and put it on the back burner, but Nick being the charming man that he is, remembered and surprised me with a dinner at :

Cabbages and Condoms.  

       This place originally caught my attention because all the decor is basically made with, well, Condoms. I know what you're thinking, great place to go on an anniversary. ;) ;) But the reason this place exist is because in the 70's in Thailand, many people were having babies, spreading diseases, at a rate too fast for the slow growing economy. One man decided to start an organization called "Population and Community Development Association or PDA" According to their website: The organization started campaigns that were tailored to the health of specific target groups such as factory workers, hill tribe villagers and adolescents. In total 12,000 volunteers plus several mobile health units distributed contraceptives to over 10,000 villages. 




Today PDA programs cover over one third of the country, helping to lower the national population growth rate from 3.2% to 1%. The thought behind the name of the restaurant came from the idea that condoms should be as readily available to everyone as vegetables...Ie: Cabbages and Condoms

        So basically, it is a fun way to promote safe sex, and population control. 100% of
 the proceeds from the restaurant go to supporting these efforts. The food is delicious and   
 the decor is hilarious, please take a look for yourself: 

Condom Family, and for some odd reason they are white.

Condom Santa and family?

  The decor was complete with Birth control boarder condom box. If you look closely it says "Republican size" and "Democrat Size" (They were the same size) .                               

Our meal was delicious I had chicken and sticky rice cooked in banana leaves, and we were entertained by a lovely Thai women playing traditional Thai music! 

  And of course instead of mints..... Two Condoms were provided!

 The service was great and if you are ever in Bangkok, or Pattaya Beach

I highly recommend it  :Cabbages and Condoms They accept reservations Nick even request a nice quiet table with good scenery, it was really sweet and a nice surprise! So          

                               thank you Nick and here's to another 3 years.... ;)

                                                           *Cheers*

Thanksgiving in Thailand

An American Thanksgiving-In Thailand

For those of you who know me, you know that my protein of choice is Turkey. A turkey sandwich with tomato, bacon and lettuce can make me a happy girl any day. [Preferably from Publix.] So going an entire year with out Turkey in my life is quite a task. It's no coincidence that Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. For the past 5 years I have been hosting a Thanksgiving potluck ... I cook the turkey and you bring the fixins. It is always a great time with too much food and lots of amazing people. From the moment I got to Thailand, I was plotting where I could buy a turkey, and whose oven we could use to cook it in. If you have followed my blogs you know that ovens are not a usual way of cooking. Most Thai food is cooked in a wok or deep fried in lots of oil. Ovens are very hard to come by. Luckily one of the teachers that lives in our apartment  is an amazing sculptor, so he has to bake his pieces after making them. The moment I spotted it the wheels started turning. 

Now where do we find a turkey in Thailand? Luckily, like most big cities there is a great International market in Bangkok {at the Paragon Mall} not only did we get a turkey.. but it was a Butter Ball!!! Straight from America! It may have cost us 50$ for a 12 pounder but we had our Thanksgiving dinner. We invited all the Americans who lived in our building which turned out to be 6, and our good friend Eric who we met in Cambodia when we took our TESOL course. We have been great friends since we began our journey in Southeast Asia. He was kind enough to pick up the turkey for us.. and along the way he found cranberry sauce and baked a fresh apple pie!!! 

I love Thanksgiving because it is a time where you are forced to stop look around and Thank the people in your life, and thank God or Buddha or whoever it is you worship for all the good things you have in life. Everyday things that some people take for granted on a daily basis. I have so much to be thankful for this year. The amazing journey that my wonderful Boyfriend and I have been on and all the amazing people who have supported my decision.

I am not only thankful for those I've known for years but those I've just met. There are about 30 Foreign teachers who live in our building 6 of them being Americans. The invite went out to all.. but when none of the Brits showed up...we were able to cheers to our independence from them with ease!! I was really proud that we were able to pull together a non-traditional-traditional Thanksgiving meal complete with: sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, homemade apple sauce, peas and carrots, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing and let's not forget the star of the show the Turkey. All the proper smells were present, all the friendships were there. Though we were not with our "real" families we have found families in each other. For many of my co-workers this was the first Thanksgiving meal they have had in years. Even little William (the Half American and Filipino boy) who we have grown to love, celebrated his 1st Thanksgiving dinner this year. All traditions were present complete with everyone saying what they were thankful for.. tear and heartfelt statements that I will treasure for Thanksgivings to come. 

Here are some pictures from our feast:

Head of the Household, Nick carving up our turkey

This is William, celebrating his 1st Thanksgiving

                          

                          And here is our Motley Crew we celebrated with.


I learned at a very young age that life is short, and since then I have tried to appreciate and live every moment to the fullest. I am so thankful for the people in my life and those that have passed. I miss my family more and more every day especially during the holidays.... but if I can continue with my cliches..

Home is where the Heart is, I may not be eating dinner on American soil but the traditions are kept alive by continuing to live them and passing them on to others. So God bless you and your family this holiday season, be safe and do good for others.


*Cheers*

   Thais often drink their soda out of a plastic bag, with ice and a straw.