Thursday, October 31, 2013

Good Food in Bangkok

Date: Oct 31, 2013

I stayed beside the river. In this Royal Orchid Hotel.

There is usually a small pier just behind the hotel where you can hop on to reach the other side of the river.




It cost about 3.50 Baht to hop on to this boat that run across the river. Cheap cheap!




This is the opposite side.




There is this local market street. Just beside that building.

Simply walk inside until the first alley that you can turn right.




Once you turn right, a few steps later, this local restaurant will be in sight.




It is the only restaurant within sight. It looks like proper food. It served Ishan (Northern Thai) food.




This is Kor Moo Yang. The BBQ grill pork neck meat.

The small little chilli dip beside it is a killer.




So we order the 2nd plate which is a bit more fatty meat.




The chicken is very crispy and the meat are tender inside. We also order 2 plates. We got three person nia.




This is home made beverages. Green wheat, ribena, lemon grass. We ordered 5 bottles of such drinks.




This is the basil pork dish.




Have you try Tom Yum Pork Rib soup? Taste very good! I like.




We also have a plate of seafood salad and mango salad.




This is our second plate fried chicken.




The sotong here is soft. Very nice.




Three people, 5 bottles drinks, 8 dishes of fantastic Ishan food, a plate of rice and a packet of glutinous rice.

Guess how much?

499 Baht nia!




Later that night, near Ekamai Heatlh Land massage, we ate here. Seems like a very famous seafood restaurant for Japanese. In our seating section out of 6 tables served are all Japanese.




Some how this is a very chewy oysters. Why chewy I don't know. But it is fresh and good!




And you eat the oysters with this. Put every thing on it and scope and eat!




Yum Sam Kung, mixes three crispy stuff in a salad.




The fish cakes.




This is what the chewy fresh oysters looks like after you apply everything on it. Taste really good!




One big grill fish.





Grill chickens. But a bit tough meat. Not soft.




Huge prawns.




Some dips with veggies, Kway Tew soup, salads and a tender beef steak. 4 people, and cost 4500 Baht like that. Wow! Expensive meal for a 4 person.

But food really nice.

Don't ask me how to go... I only know we took subway, change to BTS to Tong Lo. And take a cab short distance ride and reach here. I follow nia.

I know it is also very near to Ekamai health land massage. Where you cross the road and take a cab, very short distance you teach the famous massage place.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Bangkok Boat Service

Date: Oct 30, 2013

I don't like the traffic jam in Bangkok.

I don't like the hotel venue of Capacity Asia. It's beside the Chao Phraya river, but it is also in a location that is not near to every thing, like MRT/BTS station, shopping centers, etc.

Every time you need to go somewhere, you will be sure to stuck in the jam for a long while.




This trip, I learned to take the Chao Phraya Express boat service.

It is cheap and very convenient. It is fast and only cost 15 Baht nia.




This is the boat with orange flag. This is the boat we are taking.




Actually 15Baht is not cheap comparing BTS fare. But it is fast and convenient.

A conductor will sell you tickets like this.




So when you reach a stop, the guy will whistle a few time and the boat will bump to the side and passenger can be alighted.




You can stand there if you want but hmmm... A bit dangerous considering the water is high right and a bit rush today.




We waited for the boat for 10min, and the ride takes about 6-7min for 2 stops. And we arrived at Sathorn Pier. The BTS station is just directly above this sign.




Then you take the BTS to any where you like.

This boat ride appears to be very popular to both Thai and tourists.




So next time don't forget to consider this if you are really rushing for time and need to go somewhere without traffic jam.

Try it next time when you are in Bangkok.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:เจริญกรุง 30,Bang Rak,Thailand

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Drawings With Your Own Mind

Date:  Oct 27, 2013

Young Kay Kay always has his own unique personality.  

No matter in class or at home, he has very strong character.  Sometimes very stubborn but some times very innovative.

Yesterday, we have great time creating Mr. Pumpkins.

http://miniliew.blogspot.com/2013/10/mr-pumpkin-2013-halloween-special.html

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Today, as usual, we go to the Art Boot Camp class.

Today, the topic is scarecrow.  So, the art teacher show a sample of the drawing from another kid.  The kids suppose to follow and draw a scarecrow.

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Let’s check out What has Kay Kay drew.

Hmmm… Two pumpkins beside the scarecrow.

Wow.  I think he told the teacher he wanted to draw two pumpkins man there.

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So, he produced this nice drawings and earn another space in the living room wall.

Well done Kay Kay.  I love your pumpkins.  And I am sure the Mr. Pumpkins will be glad to learn that they have a place in your mind, in your drawings.  Great job!

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The main thing of learning art is to learn how to express your thoughts.

It is not about learning techniques and skills.

Of course those are important too.

But the key idea is to express what you thinking and put it on the drawings.

I took a glance and see other people drawings who follow exactly the “sample drawings”.

Even his brother, most of the time also following the sample drawings.

But Kay is different in a way that he draw his own things.

He bo-chap.

He just wanted to draw.

Just like his sun, is dark red.  Not yellow.  He says he likes it that way.  Wow.  HaHaHaHa.

Quite a cool kid.

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Paper Cutting:小分子水真的能包治百病吗?

Tag:   Small Molecule Water / Diamond Water

There is also some English version of readings about Alkaline water too.  As Alkaline water also break the molecules into smaller.

http://www.way-ya-go-alkaline-water.com/Why_Drink_Alkaline_Water.html

 

 
 
 
 
 
“小分子水”真的能包治百病吗?
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本文作者:花栗鼠习作

作者:孙亚飞

何谓“小分子水”

但凡对二胡这种乐器有一丝了解的人都不会对“二泉映月”这首曲子感到陌生,尤其是要营造悲伤气氛的时候,这可谓是神曲一首。曲名中的“二泉”是无锡的一个地名,也叫惠山泉。此处虽因瞎子阿炳留下的这首曲子名扬四海,但其名字的由来也是相当有渊源。唐朝茶圣陆羽研究茶叶方面已经是高手了,但自认为还有进步的空间,于是又把泡茶的水也作了排名,最终惠山泉排名第二,此泉千年以来也就一直享有盛誉。

无独有偶,“驴友”皇帝爱新觉罗弘历先生一生对祖国山河研究颇深,也曾心血来潮搞了一次天下泉水的排名,而且相比于陆羽的感性认知不同,他采用了更为“科学”的定量法,将天下泉水的密度进行测定,采用的原理是体积恒定时,根据ρ=m/V,不同物质的质量越大则密度越大。经过“精确”的测量,得出结论认为玉泉山的水最轻,从而判定这里的泉水杂质最少,是最好的饮用水。这个典故在相声里常常被引用,比如于谦的父亲王老爷子就非常讲究地用这种水泡茶喝。

时至今日,我们的生活越来越多地受到一种叫做“现代科学”的文化左右,而我们每天摄入量最大的饮用水自然成为民众关注的对象。

不知道从什么时候开始,“小分子水”的概念在销售和消费两端都显得神乎其神,算算起码也有好几年了。有没有人好奇过这究竟是个什么“天外来客”呢?

“小分子水”的说法首先不是一种科学的说法,很容易引起歧义。学术角度上讲,“小分子”是和“高分子”相对的一个概念,一般来说,分子量小于500的分子被称作小分子,而10000以上的则是高分子(也有从5000划分的,其实区别并不大),至于500-10000的就被划分成了过渡区,说白了就是姥姥不疼舅舅不爱的类型,被研究的程度远没有小分子和高分子那么多。

水分子的分子量是18,这初中生都知道,所以它是绝对意义的小分子,就算考虑同位素的问题,3H218O这种分子的分子量也不过区区24而已。所以看上去“小分子水”的说法就是废话一样。

准确的说法其实应当是“小分子团簇水”,这才是对水分子微观状态的描述,实则属于“超分子”的研究领域。“超分子”的概念其实一点都不玄乎,实际就是“超出了分子的界限以外”,一般是通过特定作用聚集在一起表现得好像一个分子一样的多个分子。打个比方就是,如果买房限购令以个人为单位,这就是分子层面上的事;而如果以家庭为单位,则是超分子层面上的事,因为除了单身以外,出现了“夫妻”、“父子”、“母子”以及可能会出现的“蕾丝”和“盖伊”等关系,这些关系因为有血缘或者法律的限制变得稳固。“小分子团簇水”就是一群挨得比较近的水分子组成了一个个户口本,大多数时候它们手牵手,保持动态稳定的态势,而它们维系关系的基础则是分子间作用力,而为了更好地八卦它们之间的那点事,我们还是要把“氢键”专门说清楚。

molecular_structure_H2O

氢键与分子团簇

直到现在,关于“氢键”的学说仍然是存在争议的,不过作为科普来讲,我们还是采用普遍的观点,承认它确确实实是存在的。

所谓“氢键”,是一种特殊的分子间作用力,但它又表现出了化学键的某些特点,所以被称之为“键”。“氢”是排在头一号的元素,当这个第一最大的痛苦就是绝大多数氢原子把中子都扔了而只剩了一个质子在原子核里,如果把外面那个唯一的电子像比基尼一样从氢原子身上扒掉时,你不会如愿看到一具裸体而是一具骷髅,还好另两个同位素氘和氚略微丰满一点。所以当诸如氟、氧、氮、氯这些爱脱别人衣服的流氓和氢连到一起时,可怜的氢就跟拍X光似的,露出了仅有的一颗质子。不过兔子急了也咬人,没有了电子的保护,它们干脆赖到附近其他衣服比较多的原子上抢几件避一避风寒。衣服多得穿不过来的当然还是那几个流氓,所以氢键也只会发生在氢和上面那四种元素之间,不过客观评价,氯由于半径比较大比起第二周期的那哥儿仨还是要老实很多。

好了,现在再来看看我们要说的水。

水的分子式H2O,这已然是妇孺皆知。而氢和氧两种元素在一起自然便很容易形成氢键,所以水分子在液态水体系中并不是孤立存在的,而是通过氢键的作用形成一个个分子团簇。一般来说,氢键仍然被划分为分子间作用力,因为相比于化学键的键能来说,它通常还要低1个数量级。但是分子间作用力没有饱和性和方向性,就跟微观的万有引力一样,一个分子可以和邻近的任意多个分子发生作用,力道与距离有关而与方向无关。但是氢键不同,一个裸露质子的氢原子只能再和一个富电子原子发生作用,并且方向倾向于直线,这样也就导致这些水分子形成的一个小团队不会无限放大,否则液态水就表现出超高分子的特性了,一般也就是从几个分子到几十个分子那么大。由于水会发生微弱的电离生成氢离子和氢氧根离子,所以这些分子团簇偶尔还会带上电荷,形成诸如H9O4+、H33O16+、H19O10-之类的离子,这样就会形成静电作用,进一步控制了水分子无限拉帮结派。

氢键形成的超分子不如配位作用形成的超分子那么稳定,例如明星配体NH3和BH3的结合体H3N·BH3在化学反应中的表现与简单分子无异,甚至其稳定性也不如缺电子体形成的超分子,例如硼烷和气相三氯化铝(AlCl3)2等,所以氢键的断裂与重建是一种快速的动态平衡作用,常温下也能持续进行。

“小分子团簇”有多少个水分子?

回答这个问题之前首先要知道用什么方法来测定“小分子团簇”的规模。这个,要说除了我们万能的核磁之外还能是什么呢?

对很多人来说,核磁是医院里的高级货,可以确诊很多怪病,所以只要沾上“核磁”一定是高科技,因此不知多少无良商人用“核磁”的字眼赚得个盆满钵满。不过科研中核磁几乎是必备仪器,国内高校的化学学术水平基本与核磁的频率成正比。其实用核磁确认“小分子团簇”规模的原理并不算太复杂,比一般的1HNMR还要简单。因为不同水分子团簇的平均数目反映到核磁矩上的区别就是弛豫时间的差异,而弛豫时间对应的核磁图谱参数是波峰的宽度,所以目前测定水分子团簇个数的方式就是对测定对象扫一下17ONMR。之所以针对17O扫谱是因为它的丰度还马马虎虎而不像3H那样扫不出来,而且它显示的幅度比2H宽很多有利于比较,尽管1H是不错的同位素,可惜实在丰度太高以至于噪声把信号都掩盖了,至于16O和18O,这是两个非磁核矩的物种,拿到太空中也扫不出个峰来。如果要问什么是弛豫时间,可以想象一下从20层楼跳下来释放势能的过程,到达地面前的那一段时间就是一种宏观意义的弛豫时间。

技术上的事就说这些了,太没意思。总之最后的结果显示,核磁波峰的宽度越窄,分子团簇中的分子就越少;反之则分子数目就越多。研究者大致论证,当宽度在60Hz时,大约对应着10个以下;而宽度达到100Hz以上时,则对应着30-40个。

一些谈论“小分子水”的消费者或者导购认为“小分子水”是最纯净的水,但实际上纯净水比自来水的“分子”要大,因为纯净水的波宽大约120Hz,而不同地区的自来水略有区别,一般小于100Hz。

怎样把“大分子水”打成“小分子水”

终于说到正题了(这作者实在太罗嗦了)。

其实前面讨论“氢键”就是为了说明怎样才能形成“小分子团簇水”,因为形成“小分子水”实则是对水体系中氢键的破坏。

具体操作的话一般有两种方法,加入杂质或者是加热。为什么自来水比纯净水显示其分子团簇更小,就是因为自来水中存在很多Ca2+、Mg2+和Cl-、SO42-之类的离子,正是这些离子与水之间的作用最终破坏了氢键,打散了“大分子水”。

目前已经有研究证明,离子对水分子团簇的影响非常直接,并且阳离子是提高团簇程度,而阴离子则相反。不同离子的促进作用区别很大,每种离子基本也是独立影响。例如Cu2+和Al3+这类的离子提高作用很明显,以至于很小的浓度就使得波谱过宽无法测定,而Na+、K+之类的作用就不是很明显,这和它们的水合能力直接相关。而阴离子方面,Cl-可以明显地拉低团簇作用,SO42-则温和很多。利用这个原理,用不着去巴马这样的长寿村,自己撒把盐到水里也一样能创造出“小分子水”,一点也不稀奇。

除了离子作用以外,温度也是一大影响因素。分子运动越快,越不利于氢键的形成,所以加热之后也可以将超分子打散,到了100℃时,液态水和气态水平衡,此时的水分子团簇接近单分子,通常不超过4个分子。

另外一个不得不说的因素是磁场。磁场对水具有特定的作用这是很早就被发现的物理现象,但是分子层面的原理并无明确解释,有一种说法认为是水分子因为磁场能而解离为“小分子水”,但科学界支持这一观点的并不多,因为磁场能远小于氢键的键能,不足以将液态水维持在高势能的“小分子水”状态。磁化水可以降低锅炉的结垢作用,这一点已经被工业上应用,并且国外磁化技术作为生活用水的净化技术已经有了二十多年历史,尤以奥地利的约翰格兰德(Johann Grander)的技术出名,不过与国内宣传磁化水可以治疗疑难杂症不同,国外对磁化水更多的宣传是洁净。至于磁化水是不是真的那么神奇,这里就不再多探讨了。

总之,形成“小分子水”的确定因素是离子浓度和温度,可能还有磁场的因素。

“小分子水”能治百病?

其实说到这里,这个问题已经是不言而喻了。

“小分子水”概念的兴起与巴马这个超长寿地区有很大关系。然而从很多地区测定的结果来看,巴马的“小分子水”并非独一无二,一般多火山地区的水由于溶解了较多矿物质,核磁的波宽都比较小,都属于所谓的“小分子水”。如果分析长寿的现象可以发现,这些地区的长寿现象确实更常见一些,但却并非所有的这类地区都长寿,甚至有些地区的水中矿物质含量也很丰富,却由于诸如氟或铅之类的离子天然就超标,平均寿命还比较短。

客观来说,巴马地区的水质由于富含钾、锶等离子,确实有益于身体的健康,但所谓“小分子水”只是因为这些阳离子以及与之抗衡的阴离子共同作用的结果,而非对身体有益的原因。还是之前说的那个例子,往水里撒把盐也能变“小分子水”,可是矿物质太不均衡,对人体没有什么帮助。再者,均衡的矿物质也不是长命百岁的唯一原因,更别说治百病了。

“小分子水”比一般的水更容易吸收的说法也是没有科学依据的,原因很简单,因为我们身体的细胞膜不是滤网,它既可以放一些大分子进去,但封闭起来时,连钠离子这么小都钻不过去,所以并没有证据可以说明小一些的分子比大一些的分子更容易进入细胞中被人体吸收。到目前为止,鼓吹“‘小分子水’更容易被吸收”这一说法的专家们并没有提出相应的测定数据,那么从逻辑上只能判定不存在这一过程。

至于市场上有些杯子可以“制造”出所谓的“小分子水”,如果寻找个安慰自然无所不可,有些矿石杯未必就没有效果,但拿石头来泡水也不是没有风险,因为在巴马,水中矿物质之所以平衡,是溶解了很多矿石之后综合得到的离子浓度,而对于特定的一块石头来说,说不好赶上是朱砂矿或是红丹矿也没准。而且拿石头保健本来也不是什么新鲜事,中国人引以为傲的陶瓷其实和矿石没什么差别,玻璃也算是一种特殊的石头,一块石头磨成杯子的形状就能让人趋之若鹜实在令人匪夷所思。

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题图出处:www.way-ya-go-alkaline-water.com

Mr. Pumpkin 2013 (Halloween Special)

Date:  Oct 26, 2013

Every year we do this.  

The kids remembered their previous version of Mr. Pumpkin.

Mommy specially hand carry these two pumpkin from US.  It costs only less than $2 there.  

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It is more expensive to get it here.  May be $7-$10.

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Let’s get to work!

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Draw the ugly Mr. Pumpkin face on the pumpkin.

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I told you, Kay Kay loves his pumpkin man.

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Mommy, that is the best I can draw.

Why you draw the teeth out?  hahahaha.  And the head line is too low.

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Boo-deh…..

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OK. Guys, this is definitely a WRONG way to cut it.  Why?

You see, Jay Jay’s hand on the chopping board.  If the chopping board suddenly move? hahaha

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Bye Bye No-light Mr. Pumpkin.

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It is done!

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Now, Kay Kay has grown up this year, definitely.  Because he dare to touch the Mr. Pumpkin.

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And both the kids definitely has grown up.  

Because they both dare to take the Mr. Pumpkin up with the candle inside.

(later, Kay Kay cries a bit because the Mr. Pumpkin getting hotter at the bottom.  Wahahahaha)

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Don’t forget to take photos with the Mr. Pumpkin Man.

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Halloween is always an Ang Moh thingy.

The ghost are not as scary as the Chinese Ghost month.

Although we are in Asia, we also have fun celebrating it.

The pumpkin may be a bit expensive here.

But think about the fun of craving it.

Think about the fun of taking photos with it.

Of course, with the candles in it.

It is a sure fun things for kids.  

So, go out and buy one pumpkin and start making your own Mr. Pumpkin.

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Jay Jay loves his Mr. Pumpkin.

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Even my mother in law likes it.  It is beautiful.

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Koko, don’t squeeze me!

It’s a nice picture.

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No need to go out and celebrate Halloween.  1 or 2 pumpkin with 1-2 hours does the job.

Here is a nice family photo you can take.

Wow… I didn’t know my kids’ painting wall can be so nice in the photos. 

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You see, I told you, you can get very nice family photos with Mr. Pumpkins.

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Good night Mr. Pumpkins.  Thanks for brining laughter and fun to my family.

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Mr. Pumpkin A:  Hey B, do you think we are alone here?

Mr. Pumpkin B:  I think we are...

Mr. Pumpkin A:  But why I feel so strange, it is like there are something behind me...

Mr. Pumpkin B:  come to thing about it… I feel cold too...

Mr. Pumpkin A & Mr. Pumpkin B slowly turn their head...

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Happy Halloween!

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