July 16th

Time really flies. I cannot and do not know how to further impress upon anyone who reads this about how true the phrase means to me now.

It has been exactly 50 years since Man launched the first expedition to the Moon.

16th July has come once more and the birth of this blog has hit another milestone. I give thanks to my heavenly Father for giving me so much and I could not thank enough for His guiding hand in my life. There have been many questions and I am always grateful even for the 'not so immediate' but never absent answers to my prayers.  I guess I have truly answered the 'What do you see yourself doing in 5 years' time?' question faithfully by now and can even answer the next ten.

I also give thanks to Him for giving me a wonderful family and also a beautiful wife which also in turn, another splendid and loving family in the Woosters.

Every 16th of July, the wedding anniversary has always gone hand in hand with my birthday celebrations. It still feels a bit weird up till today, as it is often a blur at times to feel happy to be doted and on the other hand, to be romantic.

It has been nearly 6 months since the last entry. Coupled with the opening of the Wholesome Hub(a venture by Mrs Ussenal), we have decided to stay 'indoors' this year. I guess that NDP scale type of celebrations can wait until things are stable by next year perhaps. 

Celebrations were instead spent with loved ones and it allowed me to see and appreciate life from a different angle. We get to see the happy faces of loved ones on our happiest day (wedding and anniversary) and what more value could be more than the happy faces on our parents when they share to be part of the cast of our own celebrations? Treasure these happy faces because I readily believe that there is no such thing as sufficient when it comes to happy memories. Instead of missing it, why not re-create them always?

Once July passes, the end of 2019 will draw near soon. It is also coming to a near 2 year period since we last saw our Korean brother Keith and also our beloved Twa Yi. I look forward to seeing Keith in December and the reunion will be timely and there could be so much to catch up on, especially since he, similarily to Mrs Ussenal, has also opened his own business venture in a language centre.

I am so sure time passes more quickly than ever as I can still vividly remember things of near 30 years ago. I can still remember Mrs Ussenal's face and fringe even at 13 years old when I first saw her face to face in the Science Lab. I can still remember the design of a purple stone ring I gave her as a 14-year-old as a birthday gift. I hope I can do so even when I am too old to type one day. Perhaps by then, technology will hopefully be able to ready my mind such that words will just transform with a click of the finger.

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot" 

Rome Restaurant Bangkok - When in ROME, do as the Romans say

Rome Restaurant Bangkok

Address : 

4541-4 Phet Kasem Rd, Khwaeng Nong Khang Phlu, 

Khet Nong Khaem, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10160, Thailand

Upon penning my last entry, I guess I should really make an effort to 'record' down our many lovely memories to places we had visited over these years and months. This is what people called a THROWBACK ... 

It was during our last November 2018 BKK Trip that Mr Ussenal solely planned all by himself and brought me to this lovely place, tucked away in a quiet corner of Thailand(about 45 mins drive to the location w/o jam). However, due to the jam, we took almost 3 hours to reach this beautiful place. 
The place opens at 5pm daily so do make an effort to 'escape from the peak hours' and to embark on your journey earlier. We took GRAB and it only costs is 164 baht for the 3 hours ride but none of the entire ride, did we ever see a frown on our driver's face. I presume either we met a superb patient driver or they are so used to the traffic issues in BKK to even bother to frown. 

Rome Restaurant has a few outlets in different cities too but the one closest to u would be the one in Bangkok. We have been to BKK far too many times since 2014 and somehow, someday, Mr USsenal just decided to make a 'breakthrough' - Look for new SPOTS to go to. Well, this is his first surprise SPOT for me and I would say that I am really impressed. 

Many people would be wowed by the architectural design and one place to visit - MUST VISIT would be the toilet. The Gents and Ladies are designed in such 'Romely' way that you could never ever miss it during your visit.  

Rome Restaurant definitely consists of the 3 As - Amazing food, Architectural designs as well as Ambience. Dining at the poolside simply makes you wonder if you are really in Rome and also, you get the companion of nice live band music from the stage located just round amidst the whole place. 

Food-wise, I would say it is more of a fusion between Thai and Western and surprisingly, they have a mini Japanese Sushi counter too. We reached the place around 10pm and there 2 groups of people chilling by the poolside seats. It is definitely a very nice place for chilling out especially with a pint of beer while listening to the live band performance on-stage.

As it was just the two of us, we too had a good peaceful and serene time by the poolside table. The crowd is not what we are expecting but well, it did us good by giving us all the required attention from the waiter and waitress, hence earning their good and attentive service. The food menu however was kinda 'flawed'as a few of their signature items are not available and I would think it is due to it was actually a weekday .. quiet weekday. Nevertheless, we did managed to choose some good choices from the menu.

We also ordered some extra Japanese dishes as you know, my mister is actually a BIG Jap.food fan however, the Jap.choice here is kinda disappointing as the tamago egg - roll was served really cool and the salmon is not superb fresh( priced at 120baht to 250 baht).

I did mentioned earlier about the FANTASTIC Toilet's design and indeed, it was a HOT spot for many of the patrons to take pictures in the toilet.YES!!! The toilet!!! hehe

The visit to the washrooms basically concluded our fabulous visit to Rome Restaurant and by the time we left the place, it was almost 12.30am. There is a usher or maybe I would say a 'guard' seated outside the restaurant porch area and he would kindly help you get a cab, should you ask him politely. We did tried to GRAB a car but it was indeed hard. Hence, he gladly offered us assistance at no fees upon seeing us trying for quite some time.

The journey back to MBK area was around 45mins(not 3 hours) as the traffic was smooth at this wee hours. 

As many said, Rome is not built in a day and I finally understand why. The intricate and meticulous designs of the building architecture structures and to the many nice paintings and sculptures all around the place simply added fine touches to the Rome 'vibes and feel' even while in Bangkok. 

Ne Mai Vedem Rome

2019 Another Year ... Too Fast!!!

2019 marks the end of 2018 and yet another year of anticipation and new goals.

It is rarely and very seldom that I will pen in our blog. Mr USsenal definitely have a better flair of writing as compared to me.

As I am penning down at this moment, many flashbacks of so many event highlights just appeared in my mind as if it was just yesterday that it happened...

My 2018 was filled with loads of changes and well, I would say uncertainty. The last post as written by Mr USsenal was for my birthday and it was definitely the worst birthday yet most blessed one, in my 38 years of life then. I am indeed thankful for the support and love my family members and my dear friends had given me over the last few months, making this journey bearable and easier.

It took me quite a long while to get over the fact that I am indeed moving on from a job and place that I am so used to everyday. Getting out of one's most comfortable zone is indeed challenging and I have to admit that I don't even want to walk past the place even thou it is just a throw stone away from my house. That place holds far too much memorable memories for me to just move on in just the flick of time. However, I finally did and when the time I did it, I knew that I am indeed ready.

I knew that I had to be ready and had to move on when I first started my SPED teaching and tuition class time with my few but most adorable kiddos. Facing my 'eldest son' Terence was the most difficult and biggest 'ordeal' I had to do but I knew that I will be really okie if I can manage my time with him especially after seeing him for the first time after so many months.

I decided to start teaching him clay crafting and I am glad that he enjoyed it as much as I did. Seeing the smiles on his face makes me felt so comforted and once again...Worthy!!!

I had to, simply had to take in 'Xiao Pang' for almost everyday as there is simply no other centre that will take him in. Hearing his mother's cries and plea for help, I knew that I too had to do it. However, seeing his progress daily, I am feeling nothing else but thankful that Lord has placed him with me then. He helped me 'recover' faster than I expected as it was July when he came to me, hence leaving me little time to brood over the done but to move on with the undone. 

At times, people says that it was the teacher that teaches the student well but to me, I am infact 'taught' by this group of loveliest children in many ways I myself can't even fathom.I am totally thankful and blessed to be able to have them in my life. 

Embarking onto my ever FIRST SOLO trip to BKK in Sept.2018 without Mr USsenal's companion, Woosters Daddy's Birthday, our Duo Trip again to BKK in Nov.2018, Love Concert in Genting by Shila Amzah and also the most recent Batam New Year Countdown Trip definitely created and marked many more new memories in my new 'journey after the old one after leaving my most 'comfortable zone'. I too managed to have more ME time with my loved ones which I am so happy to be able to do so. 

                                      

The most recent Batam trip is definitely the most memorable new addition memory I had added to my 2019 collection. The new addition of Limsters aka my God-daughter family aka old times neighbour of my MIL(Madam) from her old Stirling times. It is not the quality of food, not the amount of things we buy or how much we can spend in this place that makes everything memorable and nice. It is the people we met, the companion we have and most important thing is the quality time we spent bonding with our loved ones over a short yet great respite. 

It might be 10pm when we were still having dinner at Love Seafood but everybody's face were still beaming as the companion was great. It might be 1am in Batam time but the anticipation and excited face of the old folks, the wow and wooooo of the rest of us makes this trip extra memorable and worthwhile while watching the fireworks together at our hotel lobby - just under the sky of beautiful Batam. 

While I was standing right under the booming fireworks, I am secretly telling to my Lord of how thankful I was to be able to have this group of fabulous and loving beings with me and most of all, I am looking forward to the next trip, but with addition of my Woosters Family too.    

I may not be one who have much but I am blessed with my Woosters and Chuasters family members always. In times of difficulties and sadness, they are always with me especially my Ah Lao aka Mr USsenal.

I do not know what the Lord had prepared for me in 2019 but I knew that I am ready as I strongly and always believe in this saying : 

Have faith that my 2019 will be and is BETTER than 2018. 

P/S : Maybe it is really time I start blogging about my many trips to BKK and more... ...