Dear has his usual "Spaghetti Salmon".

Our favourite "White Chocolate Cake", the best in town.

Hong Kong

During July 14-17, Dear and I went to Hong Kong. We stayed at Marco Polo Prince Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. We have not been to Hong Kong for a long time. The last time we went there was more than 10 years ago. The primary purpose of this trip was to enjoy sightseeing and eating. However, we ended up doing a lot of shopping because all shops everywhere were on sale during this 2005 Hong Kong Shopping Festival.

Dear rushes to buy the new "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at the Page One Bookstore near the hotel at 7.00 a.m. and spends all day reading the book.

Hong Kong Space Museum

Hong Kong Island at night.

At 8.00 p.m. we go to the Avenue of Stars on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade to get the best view of "A Symphony of Lights", a spectacular multi-media show, combining lights, music and narration involving key buildings on Hong Kong Island.

Key buildings on the Hong Kong Island are decked out in lights and perform rooftop pyrotechnics and spectacular fireworks.

I enjoy taking photos of this spectacular show.

After a Symphony of Lights and a cup of Hagen Dazs, Dear continues reading Harry Potter until finishing it late at night.

View of Hong Kong Island when we board the Star Ferry at Kow Loon.

From the Victoria Peak.

We go to Madam Trousseau Wax Museum at the Victoria Peak. In this picture Dear admires Andy Lau from Infernal Affairs.

I teach Bruce Lee how to kick butts.

Posing with Humphrey Bogart, Hollywood Legend.

Dear and Eddie Murphy

"Shame on you, Mr. Bush", says Dear to President Bush, while Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is standing nearby.

"Thy script dothn't make no sense, Romeo"

"Watch it, Michael!"

Dear is pleased with roasted goose (Han Yang) at the famous Yung Kee Restaurant.

Deep-fried chicken at Heichinrou Restaurant, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Welcome Dinner at New Great Shanghai

Our family have a welcome dinner for Dear at New Great Shanghai Restaurant.

Nong Ou, Poom, and Mother are busy eating.

Dear and Noon

No time to talk.

Fried chicken and dried chillies

Peking Duck

Shrimp bread

Liquor chicken

Fried shark's fins and eggs

Shanghai noodles

Meeting with Satreevittaya Friends

Meeting with old friends from Satreevittaya School at Aung (Pailin)'s house.

Happy to meet Aung, a close friend, dark but charming, popular girl.

From left, Ben, Ma, Air, Tai, Aung, Aae, Sup, Yong, Nong Nat, Nong Noon, and Kai.

Traditional Thai Small Puppet (Hun Lakorn Lek)

Organised by TISCO Foundation, Mother, Dear and I go to see the traditional Thai theatrical puppetry, "The Birth of Tossakanth", at Joe Louis Puppet Theatre, Suam-Lum Night Bazaar. Hun Lakorn Lek was invented 100 years ago by Master Krae Saptawanit but disappeared after the World War II started. It was brought to life again by Joe Louis (Sakorn Yangkhieosod), Thailand's 1996 National Artist. Each puppet requires the synchronised efforts of three puppeteers, all of whom appear on stage with the puppet, and each of whom is a khon dancer.

The show is impressive and fun. Mother loves the show and she is kissed many times by Hanuman and Benchakai. Dear is however sympathized with Nontuk and wishes he (Nontuk) won the battle.

Posing with Dear at Joe Louis Theatre before the show.

Lunch at Ruey Goong Phao

Mother, Dear and I have lunch at Ruey Goong Phao Restaurant, near Bang Sai, about 80 kilometres from home. Ruey Goong Phao is famous for its grilled river prawns. The trip is also a test drive for my Mazda3.

Yummy river prawns

Delicious fried coconut tops

Mother enjoys eating river prawns at Ruey.

Fatman Returns

Dear returns from RPI and will spend his summer holiday here.

TISCO Bank Plc.

Granted a new commercial bank license from the Ministry of Finance, effective July 1, TISCO Finance becomes "TISCO Bank Plc.". Today TISCO hold religious rites at its new banking hall. It is now ready to begin banking operations on July 4.

The new "TISCO Bank Plc." logo.

With Khun Pichai, Tua, P' Jum and Khun Sathit at the new banking hall.

With Tua (Teerin) in front of the new logo.

Lunch at Rasstube Restaurant

Hosted by Khun Sivaporn, I have lunch at Rasstube, a German restaurant, with former colleagues at EO and ER.

At the Sala, in front of the restaurant.

Posing with Tua and Shompoo and my Mazda3.

Dear's Birthday

As today is my only son's birthday, I make merit by offering the food to the monks. My son, Dear, is now 21 years old and studying EMAC (Electronic Media, Arts and Communication) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) at Troy, New York. He will come home next month after finishing his summer courses there. He will graduate and get his bachelor degree in 2006 and pursue his master degree somewhere in the USA.

Dhavipop the Musical

I take my 85-year-old mother to see "Dhavipop The Musical" at the Thailand Cultural Centre. The show is produced by Xact and starred Captain Puthanet Hongmanop and Suthasinee Puttinand. We have to get to the theatre early at 7.30 p.m. and come home around midnight. It also rains heavily while we have dinner. Mother enjoys the show although it is a bit too long.

Elephant Reintroduction Foundation

After attending TISCO Foundation's Scholarship Distribution Ceremony at Chaibadan, I visit the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation's Wildlife Sanctuary at Sublanka, Lopburi. The main mission of the Foundation is to systematically and effectively return domestic elephants to the wild.

Pang Maeboonkaew, Plai Somchai and Pang Pornchita at the Wildlife Sanctuary.

With Pang Maeboonkaew, a 25-year-old female elephant.

Plai Somchai, a lovely 4-year-old baby male elephant.