Chinese New Year 2012 in Thailand

Apologies for being a bit quiet since returning from our brilliant Chinese New Year holiday in stunning Thailand. The combination of homework, play dates, school social evenings and Hong Kong Arts Festival events has not allowed me to sit and write all week. I'm back on track now so stay tuned for regular reports from Pseudo Tai Tai HQ.

So what's been happening?

Firstly, Bangkok was excellent. It was Prince and Princess PTT's first city holiday and they did a sterling job at playing tourists.

Mr PTT and I managed to escape for a few evenings sans bambinos.

Look! Here I am having dinner at the fabulous rooftop restaurant and bar featured in The Hangover 2!

Dessert there was particularly good. I chose the 'energy bar'... loosely related to a muesli bar but extra delicious and definitely nothing healthy about it!

We also appreciated the quiet splendour of Jim Thompson's house. If someone just gave me the key I could happily spend the rest of my days here...

Inspiration for the PTT Brisbane HQ's Mango tree...

I'd like to recreate this in the PTT Brisbane HQ's garden one day...

Aunty J and Great Aunty S will appreciate this fine fellow's headgear...

Prince PTT also enjoyed the tranquility...

Of course no trip to Bangkok is complete without a crazy Tuk Tuk ride...

We caught up with friends for lunch and Princess PTT proved a popular target for the balloon clown...

 Of course there were temple visits as well...

Princess PTT contemplates what her future home would look like is she also covered it in gold mosaic a la the Grand Palace

Princess PTT was quite taken with the elephants both real and in statue form...

Prince PTT blesses himself with lotus flowers...

I of course embraced local fashion when visiting the Grand Palace...

And reverted back to my own PTT style for drinks at the Mandarin Oriental...

We enjoyed dinner at Nahm, Aussie David Thompson's baby. Most of the Thais couldn't contemplate why we were going to a Thai restaurant run by a white Australian. I know why - it was sublime!

We then took an easy two hour drive to Hua Hin.... Essentially where Bangkok goes to play on a weekend...

We said YES! when they offered to upgrade us to our own villa house...

Prince and Princess PTT enjoyed the refinement of high tea at 3pm every afternoon...

I enjoyed the refinement of a la carte breakfast by the pool...

Don't think we didn't celebrate Australia Day as we did!

Princess PTT channelled her inner diva with this very retro bikini set...

She then wrecked the 1950's vibe by insisting on hair braids...

Prince PTT was quite taken with the beautiful Thai instruments...

All in all a fabulous family holiday!

Till next time Thailand! I'm sure we'll be back...

Yours,

PTT xxx

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2012

We will be away for most of the Chinese New Year Celebrations but Prince and Princess PTT had their school celebration today.

Here's a visual of their silky magnificence:

I was quite proud of my achievement in wrestling Princess PTT's curls into a demure bun:

Daddy even walked to Princess PTT to school...

Its Nanny PTTs birthday today - happy birthday Nanny PTT! We'll see you in Bali!

If I'm a little quiet until the 29th it's because we are off to Bangkok...

I'm sure I'll have a lot to report on our return...

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

IFC's Chinese New Year 2012 Offering

I took myself on a little trip to Central today and treated myself to a Joel Robuchon baguette for lunch...

In case you were wondering it was chicken, avocado, tomato, heart of palm and Béarnaise sauce.

The weather is particularly breathtaking at the moment...

Must get up to the top of ye old ICC to have a drink at the Ritz Carlton as the view would be fantastic....

Anyway... I digress... IFC's Chinese New Year 2012 display was up and running...

What's not to like about a light up waterfall?

I love this subtle way of saying 'Please don't step on the flowers'...

As per usual the whole display was flanked by people posing with their ubiquitous 'V' signs or positioning their other halves in 'romantic' poses and taking soft focus photos on their iPhones.

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

Casa HK frocks up for Chinese New Year

Casa HK's foyer is starting to get decked out in its Chinese New Year finery:

You can thank my little friends at The New York Times for the following primer of plants you will see around the traps over the Hong Kong Chinese New Year: 

Mandarin Oranges: Large oranges with leaves attached are traditional house gifts for wishing good luck. A shrub of small oranges are believed to enhance goodwill, and in particular “fruitful” marriages.

Kumquats: These fruits are particularly popular as “kum” is Cantonese for gold.

Peonies: Their big, beautiful blossoms are believed to bring prosperity.

Peach Blossoms: For singles, this flower is believed to enhance romantic fortunes. Their fruit is also revered as a symbol of longevity.

Pussy Willow: Their multiple fluffy blossoms are believed to bring bountiful fortune.

Kung Hei Fat Choi! (may prosperity be with you!)

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xx