[Daddy Matters Father's Day Special] Dear Dad

To celebrate the upcoming Father's Day (which falls on the 3rd Sunday of June everywhere EXCEPT FOR of Thailand), I have been challenged by the Daddy Matters Group to come up with a post imagining what Noah would want to tell me if he wrote me a letter. I am one of the youngest Daddies in the group and my son is still blabbering in baby tongue, but I shall take up the challenge anyway.

Dear Daddy

I have been longing for you to understand what I say. My friends in my Babies Genius class like Boss, Plankton, Iphone, Ecclair, Proud, Green and Pause can all communicate with me, why is it so difficult for you to understand me when I try to converse with you everyday? 

See, their names are all so cool, at least they mean something, what does Noah even mean? It sounds like "No ah?" in Singlish. Hello, we are not in Singapore now. I know he is a bright old man in the Bible and built the Ark to save all the cute animals, but I am a baby, not an old man. 

Ok, enough of the complaints, I am not Singaporean anyway, complaining is not in my list of favourite activities. Instead, my favourite activities are hugging Daddy and Mummy, kissing Daddy and Mummy, playing with Daddy and Mummy, singing with Daddy and Mummy and sleeping with Daddy and Mummy!

Favourite time of the day: Yii family laughing minute

I really cannot imagine my life without you peeps. I can't even bear to see Mummy disappear from my sight. During the day, when you are outside doing whatever you are doing (and can't you stay home more often), I just can't control my emotions when she disappears into the toilet or out of the room. I know I make her very frustrated when I scream and cry, but I just can't help it! Help me apologise to Mummy when you can, will you? Please?

Daddy, I love kissing you, especially those long ones on your lips, and those you peck on my cheek during the bedtime stories. However, sometimes I wonder just how many times you want me to kiss you per day. You ask me to kiss you every other minute, and give me a glum face when I am too busy doing something else. I will kiss you as many times as I can ok? You must give me some time to do my stuff. I need to play play play play play.

Play with seesaw also need to kiss you first is it?

With regards to eating, I understand Daddy and Mummy cook healthy food with premium ingredients for me everyday, but they don't taste like anything. I am a big boy now, I want to feed myself like you do. I haven't checked out the bowls and spoons completely yet, so sometimes I make a mess. Just give me some time to explore, I promise I will master self-feeding soon! And please, all those yummy delicious things you are eating everyday, spare some for me leh....

Lastly, Daddy, I think you are must be the happiest Daddy in the world. Why? Because you must be the only Daddy in the world who can celebrate 2 Father's Days every year, one in June and another in December (in conjunction with the King's Birthday in Thailand). Compare that with the others, it's double the fun, double the appreciation, double the joy.

2 Sundays later will be your 3rd Father's Day! I would like to wish you a happy one. You are doing a pretty decent job for a Daddy with no prior experience. Keep it up! I love you very much.

Hugs and kisses

No Ah Yii

The Dilemma of Noah

Noah Potter and his mother

Noah has graduated!

No, not from University of course, but whether or not he actually goes through University here, I have at least seen how he would look like in Thailand's pretty graduation gown, thanks to his playgroup's clever gesture of sending off every kid to a more advanced class with an 'elaborate' graduation ritual.

This was certainly a moment worth celebrating (at least it was made to feel so), but after looking at Noah's picture pasted on the wall of the school, he didn't look happy about it at all.

What a glum face

After taking a step back to look at the full picture, I finally understood why.

He can't choose between his triplet of girlfriends, who are following him into the next class!

Sigh, poor Noah, he has his own cute little dilemmas.

Seems like looking too handsome is not such a good thing after all!

The Dilemma of Fatherhood

Dear Noah

You are 15 months old now.

Time flies. I still remember watching you gaze into my eyes for the first time in your life in the hospital's nursery after your first ever bath.

But no, maybe I don't remember anymore. Sometimes, when I look at your chubby face chuckling at me baring all your 8 front teeth in full glory, I can no longer picture how you looked 15 months ago, 12 months ago, or even 6 months ago. Oh, those precious memories, hidden deep in my heart, why do I struggle to find them when I want to?

Did you look like that? I almost cannot remember already.

These couple of months, the babies we know around your age all began walking. You simply watch them  without showing much interest. Teachers/Neighbours alike started to apply peer pressure to push you to start walking. We did not buckle, and gave you your own time. Seriously, it does not matter to Daddy and Mummy. You are a clever boy. You can walk when you feel like it, and talk when you are ready. You can stay snug in Daddy's embrace for as long as you want.

Those were the days...... 

If I have a time machine, I will freeze every precious moment we have together and live in the world with just you and Mummy.

If I have a choice, I will keep you as little baby Noah, because I can no longer envision life without your shrieks of pure joy.

But that's not going to happen. You are growing at a pace faster that I can imagine. I dread the day that you will run on your own and reject my hugs. I am fearful of the future when you are no longer willing to accompany me when I finally have more time to spend with you.

Relax Noah, slow down. Take your own sweet time to grow up. Stop once in a while to smell the roses and roll in the grass. The adult world is more complicated than you think. Enjoy your childhood while you can.

You are starting to walk with support now

We will be with you every step of the way.

Love
Daddy

The Nicest Taxi Driver in Bangkok

I have always told people that for the quality of the vehicle (usually Toyota Corolla Altis) and level of service, Bangkok definitely has the most value-for-money taxi system in the world. That said, the drivers here are not perfect. Especially in the bustling city where millions of tourists hang out every year, drones of opportunistic taxi drivers roam around choosing customers who are willing to pay them inflated fares they don't deserve to earn.

I have had my fair share of frustrations with taxi drivers over the last few years, particularly when I try to get home from the city because I don't look Caucasian enough, but yesterday, on Labour Day 2013, my heart was completely melted by a customer-choosing cab driver whom I will now identify as Khun Longan.

My family and I were waiting for the taxi under the scorching sun outside Paradise Park amongst a pretty big crowd of people. As it was the 1st of the month (payday for most Thais) and a public holiday, getting a cab was impossible. Not even 1 empty cab was in sight. The old Thai lady standing in front of me then told me (in perfect Mandarin) that everyone standing or sitting around was waiting for cabs. At that instant, my heart sank a little.

Barely a minute later, a cab stopped at the taxi stand. 2 young thai teenagers rushed forward and attempted to get in. However, before their butts could touch the seat, they had to turn around to shout at me (I was a good 20metres away). With my poor understanding of the language, it sounded something like, "SOMETHING SOMETHING SOMETHING THE LADY WITH THE BABY!"

Noah, our lucky star, weaved his magic again. We could not believe our luck! The old lady in front of us smiled kindly at me as we bypassed her to get into the cab. Khun Longan then told us that in this situation, he will have to give priority to pregnant ladies and families with babies as he cannot imagine how long we might potentially have to wait there.

Now who says drivers who choose their customers are all nasty?

Not my most flattering pic, but the focus is on Khun Longan, the kindest cabby in town!

Bangkok is a city that never fails to surprise me every other day. It can give me the worst of frustrations today, then massage my heart with the warmest of comforts tomorrow. There is never a predictable moment.

If you are still wondering why I continue to call myself the Stranger in Bangkok after nearly 4 years, I hope you have already found the answer.

An inspiring meet-up with a reader of Stranger in Bangkok

Something spectacular happened on the the 3rd of March.

After church service, a lady came up to me and asked if I was the author of this blog (this was before my Contact Me page was published).

For many times, I have said that this blog was and still is written to keep my loved ones informed of my happenings in Bangkok, so never in a million years would I have envisaged something like this to happen.

That said, everything happens for a reason. God never leaves anything to chance. For a lady from a little town in Southern USA to pick out a Singapore-born East Malaysian in this Thai metropolis crowded with 12 million people because of this humble blog is most definitely not pure coincidence.

My reader L, her beautiful twins A and Z and me!

Last week, Li Li and I sat in her living room sharing our experiences in Thailand. From her life-threatening health condition during her pregnancy, to her frustrations with the local hospital after delivery, right down to bringing 2 tiny babies home (1 came home weighing less than 1 kg!) and (mostly) single-handedly caring for them till they are in perfect condition 8 months down the road, L has had to overcome huge challenges every step of the way to get to where she is today. Noble mothers out there (that of course includes L, my wife, my mum and you, yes, you), I would like to thank all of you once again, for summoning enough energy every single time to make sure your children get the very best.

When L subsequently talked about how my blogposts struck a chord with her situation and how the things I wrote helped her during her difficult journey here in a foreign land, it finally dawned on me that what I publish here means a lot more to a lot more people than I had ever imagined.

So this is what it feels like to have twins

This blogging journey is starting to add magical highlights to my already-colourful life. I am sure my family and L's  special bond will continue to flourish over the next few years as we both grapple with the daunting prospect of raising our families in a country we cannot call our own.

Noah and the stunning ladies

L, this post is dedicated to you.

Stay strong, you are a warrior, so are A and Z.

夢想實現: 4月6號動力火車POWER STATION新加坡演唱會

2013年4月6號晚上,我也算完成了一個夢想.

動力火車新加坡演唱會(Picture courtesy of Power Station's official fanpage)

記得1997年,我才十六歲, <<無情的情書>>最後吶喊的震撼肯定了我跟動力火車的不解之緣. 我曾經因為要快點賣到他們的CD從巴士上跌到膝蓋開花, 也多次在KTV飆他們的歌到聲音沙啞.

動力火車的歌聲真的是陪我度過了這十六年的時光,從剛追到女友時跟她背對背哼著<<不甘心不放手>>,到在我們的婚宴上獻唱<<我給你幸福>>,到現在一歲的兒子一聽到<<艾琳娜>>就翩翩起舞...我真的不能想像沒有動力的日子..

從<<就是紅>>到<<繼續轉動>>等了四年,<<艾琳娜>>又等了四年, 說實在話,我多次以為唱片公司不再賞識他們,把他們冷藏,不會再聽到他們的新歌. 新加坡演唱會更是等了又等. 三年前,我被派到泰國曼谷工幹, 看演唱會的機會更是渺茫.

最近,我才剛跟老婆說, 不知道動力火車的近況怎樣,如果要開演唱會,不管怎樣都一定要去,因為不知道會不會有下一次. 說著,新加坡演唱會的消息就公布啦! 當然,我們真得趕緊買了門票,機票,飄洋過海(我吃得起苦)到新加坡支持! 

演唱會開始前,老婆把我的手握得特別緊, 她知道這一刻對我來說多重要. <<繼續鑽動>>前奏響起時,我的夢想實現了. 十三年真的沒白等, 兩位老大都四十幾歲了,但比以往長得更帥氣,歌聲沒退步,反而更成熟,扎實. 我看只有我老了! 

對不起老大,你叫我們合唱時,我多次唱不出來,是因為太感動,在咬著牙齒忍住眼淚. 更對不起, 我沒留到最後, 沒站在椅子上跟你們高唱<<背叛情歌>>, 因為十一點半了,兒子從來沒離開我們這麼久過,所以擔心了. 下次,我保證,一定留到最後一刻, 唱到天亮都奉陪!

夢想雖然實現了, 但是我有了新的夢想, 就是參加你們下一次的演唱會.這是死忠歌迷的願望,就算拜託一下. 不要再讓我等十三年了.

The Family in Bangkok's battle with Herpangina

Sorry for the long lull. It hasn't been an easy time for the Yii household these past few weeks.

Ever since we came back to Bangkok from our Chinese New Year break in February, all of us have been hit by bugs/viruses and there was hardly a day when all 3 in my house were completely healthy. Noah seemed to be the fittest amongst the 3, because while both Li Li and myself were hit for at least 2 weeks each, he managed to recover from his bout of herpangina within 4 days. However, it was still very difficult for us to see little Noah struggling for comfort as it was his first real illness more than a year after his jaundice ordeal at birth.

Poor little Noah all feverish and uncomfortable

A lot went through my mind when I was hit by Noah's virus shortly after his recovery.

For a couple of days, all I could do is to lie on the bed watching my wife taking care of me and Noah at the same time without being able to offer any help.

For the better part of the next 2 weeks, I could not muster energy to do anything after work aside of finish dinner then go to bed immediately.

I realized life went back to square one if you are ill. The only people who will stay with you is your family, and the only people you really care about are your family too. No amount of big deals clinched at my company or even exciting future career opportunities tempted me one bit, even updating this very dear blog of mine meant absolutely nothing anymore.

During the 2 long weeks, the only thing in my mind was, "I need to get well as soon as possible, because my family needs me." That's why I slept as much as I did, and did the bare minimum in office just to ensure things ran smoothly. However, I don't think I did myself a favour by expecting my immune system to be as efficient as Noah's. Instead of recovering within 4 days, my condition deteriorated over the course of 1 week to the point that I had no choice but to visit a doctor. This period of ill health has well and truly reminded me that I am nothing if not for my family, and that I am nothing without my body performing at its optimum condition.

So here's my very brief update of my current status after an extended break from the blogosphere. I can happily announce that I am almost totally recovered now, and will do my best to stay so for as long as possible.

As for you my dear readers, take care of yourselves, because your family needs you, and good health is not something anyone of us can take for granted.