Electronic Fly Swatter

When I first came to Chiangmai, I was pleasantly surprised to find that electronic fly swatters were commonly used here. Everyone knows how difficult it is to swat a small flying insect, especially mosquitoes, with your hands and this electronic swatter was a godsend (especially when you are trying to kill a mosquito in the dead of night in your bedroom). 

It is simple and fun to operate - press and hold down a button on the handle of the device and this sends an electrical current to the wire mesh at its head. Next, bat an insect with the device and it will be fried instantly (with a loud crackling sound and electrical spark!) as soon as it comes into contact with the mesh. 

I have seen these swatters being sold in the Mustapha store in Singapore but it is strange why they are not widely used there.  

Bought New Monthly Disposable Contact Lenses

Just got a year's supply of monthly disposable contact lenses yesterday as well. I am very short-sighted (more than 600 degrees in each eye) and hate wearing glasses so this leaves me with contact lenses as the only solution (of course, Lasik is always available but I am not going for surgery unless necessary). 

I was not familiar with the brand above but the optician recommended it to me a couple of years ago. I was using Bausch and Lomb soft lens previously but was having trouble with dry eyes as the lenses were apparently too thick for me. I got started on this brand and the problem cleared up promptly. I have also never had any problems with it to date. 

I got them at a great price as well. 12 pairs of lenses for about 2250 baht (about SGD 90) as compared to what I used to pay in Singapore at the optical shop - SGD 160 to 220. I think there are some great deals to be found on online optical stores as well but if you are one of those people who prefer not to shop at these places for one reason or another (e.g. not IT-savvy, cannot be bothered to find out your required measurements, do not trust online stores etc), stocking up on your lenses overseas is another option.  

Minoxidil in Thailand

Battling male pattern hair loss is a much cheaper affair in Thailand than in Singapore. I just got a new month's supply of minoxidil (30ml bottle) from the pharmacy today. The price - 170 baht (SGD 7). I used to buy my minoxidil from the pharmacies in Singapore and it cost about SGD 60 onwards. And this is for generic brands and not even famous ones like Regaine. 

If you need products for treating hair loss (e.g. Propecia, Proscar, Nizoral shampoo, minoxidil), these are much cheaper in Thailand than in Singapore. 

Thai Ingenuity: Maximising Cargo Space on Goods Vehicles

Shipping goods by road via pickups and lorries is an inexpensive and efficient way of transporting many types of goods in Thailand. And since the drivers are often paid by how much cargo they move rather than a flat rate per trip, it makes sense for the drivers to load as much cargo as they can per trip so that they will maximise their earnings.

The platform on the back of the vehicle is lowered to create more space. 

The goods are often stacked high up on the backs of these pickups and lorries and metal cages are usually used to create more storage space as well as to keep the cargo in place. Ropes and other implements are often used to hold the cargo down for added stability. 

Thai Ingenuity: Tyre Crash Barriers

Here is an easy and inexpensive way of making vehicle crash barriers – just get some old tyres, paint them in bright colours, and then hang them up!  

Roti Prata vs Rotee

About Roti Prata

Roti prata is one of the signature dishes of Singapore. It is a round pancake-like flat bread that is cooked over an oiled flat grill. Roti means 'bread' and prata means 'flat' in the Hindi language. It can be eaten at all times of the day but many people tend to eat it for breakfast or supper.

The standard roti prata is made up of fat, eggs, flour and water. It is sold mostly by Indian Muslims at coffeeshops and hawker centres around Singapore. It is usually eaten with a vegetable/meat/fish-based curry on the side while non-spicy eaters often eat it with a sprinkling of sugar on top. Variations of the standard roti prata include prata cooked with cheese, onions, bananas, chocolate, eggs, and even durians.

About Rotee

Thailand also has her own version of roti prata. Thailand’s roti prata is simply known as ‘Rotee’ and is a popular street food. It is usually eaten together with a choice of different toppings such as corn, eggs, honey, chocolate, raisins, and bananas.

However, a big difference between roti prata and rotee is that, while both are fried in oil, rotee is usually served with a generous sprinkle of sugar and condensed milk on top, regardless of which topping you choose – while sinfully sweet and delicious, it is definitely not recommended for those who are watching their calories!

Japanese Food - Yayoi at Central Festival

Had Japanese food for dinner with the missus at Yayoi Japanese Restaurant at Central Festival yesterday. The food was average but it was sure value for money. The entire meal plus drinks cost about 820 baht (SGD 33).

Started with a salmon salad.  

Some sushi...

A shrimp tempura set. 

A beef bento set.