You Are Still Loved, My Dear - Final, Part Three Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, November 13, 2011

Save money before you spend any. Pay yourself first.




The last installment for the series 'You Are Still Loved, My Dear' and its earlier entries at:


- Part One - Click Here To Read
- Part Two - Click Here To Read

Two places that we often go back, again and again, whenever in Bangkok would be to our favourite massage place, May Massage and the shopping at the Handicrafts and Arts Section in Chatuchak Weekend Market near to JJ Shopping Mall.  These are two places that we will spend a lot of time, a lot of spending and getting a lot of gratification.

May Massage, Sukhumvit Soi 21

At May Massage, it is self indulgence to relax and re-vitalize.  We would end our day here after our shopping, after a day of sight-seeing and walking around the capital.  We come to this place often, in fact it would be a daily thing when we are in Bangkok.  Hence, we prefer to stay in a hotel that would be a within walking distance to it.

@ The Reception with (far end of picture) the foot reflexology area

May Massage is located along Sukhumvit Soi 21.  It shares the same main entrance as Big Mama Italian Restaurant and located on the second floor.  It has group and private rooms span over three floors.  There are shower areas too.

May Massage has many massage practitioners, both male and female.  They are well trained and skillful.  We usually feel so much relaxed after the rhythmic pressing and stretching of our entire body.  The 'crack-crack' sound, cracking of stuck energy through arching the body in a cobra position at the end of the massage session, provides tremendous stress relief.

We always go for a two hour session, and at times 3 hours including an hour of oil body massage.  It is highly recommended for two hours for a full Thai massage where the practitioner will spend a good half hour working on each section of the body.  In Thai traditional massage, the practitioner works on the left leg, right leg, left hand, right hand and then proceed to work on the back.  Some practitioner will step on your back depending on his/her intuition when treating the back muscles.  It ends with the face and the head.

Just look at the prices!!!

We have tried foot reflexology here but just not able to enjoy it.  Guess, the Thais are better for their traditional massage and not at the 'chinese' foot reflexology.  Having said it, we are often surprised that they are many customers that come just for foot treatment.  Perhaps, for 100 Bahts an hour, one gets to relax and a little of body stretching at the end of the treatment.

Getting There

Must say that this google map is not accurate/updated.  The Grand Millennium Hotel should be after the Soi Cowboy.

Take the BTS to Asoke Station or the MRT to Sukhumvit Station. 

At Asoke Station, exit and walk towards the MRT Sukhumvit Station.  Once out of Asoke Station, walk along the road, keeping left.  When you see Grand Millennium Hotel, you are on the right track. 

You can also continue, when out of Asoke Station, with the underground walkway inside Sukhumvit MRT Station. 

On MRT, at Sukhumvit Station, exit at Exit 1 towards Serm-Mit Tower.  Just outside Exit 1, you will see Grand Millennium Hotel, Sukhumvit which is located just across the road.

Walk along the road, going with the flow of the traffic, till the t-junction of Sukhumvit Soi 21.  You will pass Furama Xclusive Asoke Hotel.  At the t-junction, turn left (without crossing the road) - on the right is where Serm-Mit Tower is.
 

The t-junction

At the entrance of Big Mama Italian Restaurant, climb up (using the side staircase) to the second floor.

It is easy to find this place.  It is less than 50m from the t-junction.  Just outside the entrance, there is a pool of motorcycle taxi.

Reviews

May Massage is the cheapest we found along Sukhumvit Road.  The massage practitioners are friendly and skillful.  Some, are really really good!  Should you stay long in Bangkok and intend to go back to May Massage regularly, you may want to stick to one practitioner.  Of course, you should have known his/her skills for doing so.

The place is clean (enough) but do not expect a luxurious spa condition.  At least, they will provide with clean clothes to change.

Tips, I guess, are optional though it is always good to give.  Afterall, the rates here are already so cheap!

Operational Hours

May Massage opens from 10 am till midnight.



JJ Mall / Chatuchak Weekend Market

JJ Mall, actually, is just a place for us to rest.  It is a refuge after the long outdoor walks/shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market.  It is a place where we will just sit down for a drink or to have a meal at the food court. 

JJ Mall and part of the Handicrafts & Arts Section of Chatuchak Weekend Market

On weekends, this mall is buzzing with activities.  Just outside it, there are rows of makeshift food stalls selling local delicacies. 

For first timer, it can be interesting to go through every floors of the Mall.  The Mall is an alternative to the Handicraft and Arts section of Chatuchak Weekend Market.  Prices vary but usually it is slightly higher than Chatuchak.

Getting There

Again, this google map is not accurate/updated.  Kamphaeng Phet station Exit 2 should be as as highlighted in the blue dot.  'X' is where the 'atas' wet market is.

Heading to JJ Mall is an en route passing by Chatuchak Weekend Market.  Take the MRT to Kamphaeng Phet Station and exit at Exit 2.  On weekdays, the entrance to Chatuchak Weekend Market, at Exit 2 of the station, is closed.

It is always good to come here on a weekday.  We always enjoy doing  it this way.  First, it is less crowded.  Secondly, it is always good to venture other nearby places just outside Chatuchak Weekend Market.  There are interesting shops around.

Once exit, and standing just along the main road, to the left is a big market and eatery.  This market, according to a Thai friend, is 'atas' (up market) for many Thais.  It is clean and it is rather interesting just to browse the whole area.  Good to go in the morning and around lunch time.

Across the road, which is opposite of Chatuchak Weekend Market, are rows of shops selling handicrafts, arts, ceramics, furniture and home decorations and antiques and collectibles.  It is a miniature of Chatuchak but open everyday.

This is what you will see once you are out of Kamphaeng Phet Exit 2 and standing along the main road.

Walking along the road, against the flow of traffic, you will pass the Handicrafts and Arts section of Chatuchak Weekend Market.  All shops open on weekend and it could be about 80 percent open on weekday.

Always note when buying antiques here - either at Chatuchak or JJ Mall.  It is wise to exercise few precautions.  Always check on your goods thoroughly to see whether there is any damage.  For antiques, it is better to bring along an expert, unless you are happy with what you are paying for.

Before You Go

Many people go to Chatuchak not knowing what they want or which stall to go.  The sights of all the goods here surprise many shoppers.

Chances are, you will end up spending at least half a day just going through the maze in Chatuchak.  It will be good idea to prepare few things to ensure that your shopping experience at Chatuchak is an enjoyable one.

-  Wear light and comfortable clothing
-  Bring along backpack for storing new found items.  However, it is recommended that you wear your backpack on the front rather than on the back.
-  Always plan to go in the morning, as it can get very hot and crowded in the afternoon.

When at Chatuchak Weekend Market, try their local ice cream ...

This is really refreshing under the hot sun.  For 30 Bahts, you can ask for all the toppings.  You get the coconut water free too!

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You Are Still Loved, My Dear - Part Two Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, November 01, 2011

The more you do for others, the more others do for you.


There are three(3) parts to 'You Are Still Loved, My Dear'.  This is the second and the first was written on 28 October.  I intend to write a simple 'How To' for the last installment.  It will be about how to go to  places where we frequent whenever in Bangkok.

You Are Still Loved is, basically, a series of write-ups about our trip to Thailand.  There are many other similar blog entries here in this blog - Thailand - A Celebration Of Life.  Basically, it is all about our purchases for Reiki Sanctuary.  Thailand, and in particular the capital Bangkok, is a place where we would get most of our house decors.

As written previously, I mentioned that "The good thing about shopping in Thailand is always the spring cleaning in Reiki Sanctuary that follows after the trip.  It is a chance to re-organize and re-arranging old and the new things.  It is a chance to tidy up and wipe clean inside the closets, the wardrobes and all the drawers that were not touched for months.  Ultimately, it is about clearing clutters."

There is much truth to that.  Somehow, a trip to Thailand is marked with a 'religious' conviction that follows it.  It follows with a strong internal desire where it fills me with an energy that I just have to carry through.  It is about re-embracing Reiki Sanctuary, not because she is neglected.  It is about cleansing her, not because she is daunted.  It is about re-vitalise her energy.  It is about re-making of a vow towards a heavenly state of being.  It is about Create and Re-create.

Of course, this heavenly state is personal.  To me, a heaven is a place that is very organized, where all things are put together into an orderly, functional and structured whole.  It is an environment which is very tainted with all things neat, clean and beautiful. 

It should be the case for Reiki Sanctuary.  As much as I believe in the comfort of this heavenly state, it shall be my obligation to accomplish as expected.  It is a partnership to undertake to care for each other.

The presence of God should not only be dominantly thought to be in the church, in the mosque, in the temple or in a holy sacred place.  God, as much as I believe, is everywhere.  Should I want Him to reside closer to me, and within me, I must make sure Reiki Sanctuary encompasses the requirements.

Our last trip enacts the part of the conviction.  Afterall, we want to celebrate our blessings.  We want to rejoice an occasion to live here.  We want to remember the journey and how our souls have been kept safe.  It is an appreciation to be housed with love, peace and joy.  Importantly, it is a sanctuary that keeps our faith for all things good.

We bought few things (again) this time but, definitely, not so much compared to previous trips.  Still, we ended up with checked-in luggage of forty-two kilograms between the two of us, not counting the hand carried.

Pictures Galore

These two were an interesting buy.  It was a casual visit to a nearby shop, near our hotel, as we needed to get a socket adapter.  These candle holders caught my eyes.  In fact, I eyed a black one too but another customer grabbed it before me.  Unfortunately, I could only manage to grab these two as that was what left in stock in the shop.

Hand-made Stainless Steel vases

Hand-made decorative Stainless Steel tray.  We were lucky to visit this shop (next to 4-faced Buddha) and there was something for us.  What I liked about it was the high quality of stainless steel used.  The end product was light and safe (since the magnet did not stick to it).  We were told by the owner that stocks had temporarily stopped because the factory (in Ayuthaya) could not make anymore because of the flood.  There were limited items when we were there.

I am just into these things .. from big to small.  It is nice to use it to lift up another deco items.  Plus, it is beautiful made.  Plus, it is cheap!

Ok lah, nothing fantastic about these but they definitely make tissue boxes look nicer.  Come in many assorted colors.

Awww, little doggies .. hehe, we just loved them!  Found them in Index which was the local version of Ikea.

I called these the 'Pretty Trays'.  Could not resist not getting such lovely things when I saw them lying hidden in one shop.  Only these two were available ..  guessed it was meant for Reiki Sanctuary.

One of the crazy things, in our purchases this time round, was buying pouches - big and small.  It started off with an idea to organize our traveling toiletries where we could separate the different items.  Little did we know, these pouches soon became an obsession when we went to Chatuchak Weekend Market and found out how 'dirt' cheap they were.

The Little Ones

The Medium Ones

The Large Ones

Since it was shopping in Thailand, do get the Thai things too!

Imported yet rather cheap

I am very excited with this next item. Somehow, it 'talks' to me.  It speaks of the many things that life is offering.  It speaks of the many things one can expect.  Each branch, each twig, each clutter .. they symbolize the many aspects of Universal Abundances and all waiting for the right prayer, the right want and the right opportunity.

What a pretty simple decor

"THE TREE OF ABUNDANCE"

Handmade from wires.  Immediately resonated with my soul the moment I saw it.

At last, something that we had always wanted to do was done.  We accomplished our wish to have our portraits hand drawn.  Something that could remind us and to bring a smile on our face.

We had always admired these Thai artists, where they could replicate a photo and yet looked so real.  Though we felt ours were not done perfectly, we walked away from the shop felt happy.  The good thing, it was priced reasonably.

The artists finalizing our portraits.

Yes, this entry will not highlight where all the purchases are being placed in Reiki Sanctuary.  It is intentional not to show them since I want to do a pictorial video (yes! show-off) for Reiki Sanctuary's third anniversary.

We can't ask for more.  Right here, right now, right at this moment, we are just thankful for everything that life has offered.  It has been a celebration of life. "Thank You!".

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The Beauty of Beauty Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Thursday, August 25, 2011

It’s not what you have but what you do with it.

Thailand, through her Land of Smiles, has been our main holiday shopping destination for Reiki Sanctuary.  I must say that I am often impressed with Thai arts and crafts, ornaments and workmanship.  They are highly beautiful, displaying a careful hand towards the finished products and creative minds.

Often, as years move on that we make Reiki Sanctuary our comfort dwelling, we look forward to visit Bangkok and adding layers of Thailand craft made arts and ornaments which we regard as a source of pride and beauty.  To us, these beauties are affordable and reasonably cheap in favor of our Singapore Dollars.

The good thing about shopping in Thailand is always the spring cleaning in Reiki Sanctuary that follows after the trip.  Somehow, I look forward to be doing that every time.  I would think (during the holidays) what should I do when I get home.  To spend the next few days cleaning the bedroom, the bathrooms, the closets and so on. 

Some may think it is weird that I should desire to be doing such an activity.  That I choose to spend the next few days, after coming back from a good relaxing holiday, to do such mundane household chores.  I must say it brings me a sense of peace and joy doing it.

To me, it is a chance to re-organize and re-arranging old and the new things.  It is a chance to tidy up and wipe clean inside the closets, the wardrobes and all the drawers that were not touched for months.

Ultimately, it is about clearing clutters.  It is about taking stocks to welcome, and paving, new energy to flow.  It is an act of being mindful to, intentionally, generate state of focussed attention that boosts the Yin Yang balance.  It is all about re-wiring our souls for renewed energies.

As usual, our recent trip was spent going (again and again) to the Chatuchak Weekend Market.  We decided that we should experience the weekend shopping this time.  To experience mingling with the huge crowds.  To experience to get lost in its huge maze of shops.  It was, in such a condition, that our patience counted.  All our past visits here was on a week day where only the Antique Section opened.

How we planned for the weekend shopping at Chutachak Weekend Market.  Starting from Mo Chit BTS towards JJ Shopping Mall.  Basically, it was to look-see the rest of Chatuchak but to spend more time in the Antique and Craft Section which was just outside JJ Shopping Mall.

Crowds inside the Market.  We were blessed with the weather that day and made our browsing comfortable.

This is Chatuchak Weekend Market on a weekday.  It is almost a ghost town.

It is always good to study the Map of Chatuchak Market before going down and knowing what you intend to buy or see.  Chatuchak Market is the kind of place that needs time and patience.  Time, because it is so large and getting around can be confusing.  Patience, because of the huge number of people all jostling for position and the fact that if you find a stall you like and then carry on to another stall, it is not easy to find your way back again.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

1              Books & Magazines, Places to Eat and Drink, Buddha Artifacts
2 - 4         Home Decorations, Art and Crafts, Ceramics; Pottery, Collectible items
5 - 6         Clothing; Fashion, Bags, Belts; Accessories, general miscellaneous items.
7 - 9         Antiques; Antiquities, Furniture, Lamps; Lighting, Ceramics; Handicrafts.
10 - 24     Clothing; Fashion, Pets, Fish; Animals, Consumer Goods, Household Goods,
17 - 19     Ceramics, Food Stalls
22 - 26     Antiques, Crafts; Furniture


Things (or some of my friends would say 'Junks') that we bought:

Wall Clock that we found along Patpong, Silom area.

The so-called A Grade mats

Trays and more trays

Yoga Ballerinas

Stainless Steel

It was by chance that we found this shop, or rather a wholesaler, just near to Erawan Shrine (near Chit Lom BTS) specializing with high quality stainless steel.  They supplied most of their things to hotels.  A good stainless steel, according to them, must have low magnetism that will not attract a magnet to stuck on it.

The friendly owner who shared with us about her family business.

.. and where most of them, rightfully, deserve to be housed in Reiki Sanctuary:

Reiki Sanctuary - Living Room

Reiki Sanctuary - Dining Room

The one extra-ordinary thing that we got during our recent trip was to order curtains.  Here is the story of duck and chicken (as I posted the texts in another forum):

This is a little bit of a story between duck and chicken between us and the curtain maker. Was away on holidays to Bangkok and, as usual, the most part was shopping. It just happened, this time round, that there was a Home Decor Exhibition at Queen National Convention Center. Decided to look see - in fact, such exhibition looked much the same locally.

What caught us was the Big Sign 50% Sale on curtains. Fortunately, we had our curtain measurements logged in our iPhone. That, somehow, gave us the option to make our way to this curtain booth and enquired a possibility for order. The unfortunate part, only one lady out of the few from the booth could speak (very little) english. And, our Thai language was also half-past six.

We were surprised that the lady could accommodate us and to deliver our order within four working days (which normally, as she mentioned, took about 2 to 3 weeks). Must say that they had quite a collection and for 380 Bahts (about S$15) per yard (after the discount), we were quite happy to get these curtains.

It was rather difficult to communicate during the transaction. Fortunately, with our measurements and drawings, we were able to strike the deal. For a total of about S$185 for four pieces of curtains (inclusive of workmanship), must say that it was a steal. However, what we didn't realize, the price came with the aluminium rails which were delivered to our hotel (together with the curtains). We believed, should we have understood her and not to include the rails, the price could be lowered.

Overall, the workmanship was impressive. They even ironed the curtains and had metal weight inserted at the bottom of every panels of the curtains! Let the pictures speak now ..

How it was packed, and bundled and delivered to us in our Bangkok hotel:

What we liked about the fabric was the imprints of Reiki symbols on it.

Just see how it was nicely ironed!  And, at the bottom of the curtains is the metal weight which allows the curtain to fall elegantly.

The 'Thai Reiki Curtains' in the Living Room

It was a quiet holiday.  We just wanted to relax and to shop a little.  It was also a blessed trip, with beautiful weather throughout, where we wanted to return to Erawan Shrine.

.. and then, we were greeted with this beautiful fold of clouds when we were returning to Singapore ..

"Balance"

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