It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Eve)

Happy Christmas Eve from Bangkok!

When I first moved to Bangkok, I thought that Christmastime would feel weird - Thailand is, after all, a country where 95% of the population is Buddhist. I never imagined that I'd see even a single Christmas decoration up in the city Boy, was I wrong! Bangkok is shockingly cheerful and festive, and it's so much fun to go around town at this time of year to see all the decorations.

I still haven't been on my annual "Illumination" walk, but I'll likely be getting to that soon. Today, I thought I'd share a brief post with some holiday scenes from around the city. 

The first Christmas tree I saw was at Samyan Mitrtown, a shopping mall near Chulalongkorn University. I was there to visit Tim Horton's and take a walk with my wife in Chinatown, and was delighted to spot the first Christmas decoration of the season way back in mid-November.

One sunny morning, I went with my wife to the pet hospital where she works to help decorate.

We put up two big Christmas trees in the lobby, and made the hospital look really festive. It was fun to decorate.

Dairy Queen had some special Christmas treats available this year! Pinky had a sort of Christmas tree ice cream sundae, and I had a green dipped cone which was supposed to be like a bauble. 

Even the local 7-Eleven is getting in on the spirit with tinsel around the door, a cheerful Christmas tree inside, and lots of Christmas music playing (it's playing everywhere - from the metro stations to the shopping malls).

A tree was set up amidst the produce at Big C supermarket.

And yet another tree - this one made out of empty boxes of Chang Beer - was set up outside one of the popular open-air bars near the station. I thought this was quite clever!

Central Ladprao had a huge tree, of course!

And Tops Supermarket, located in the basement level of Central Ladprao, had some amazing gingerbread for sale. They were also selling fresh minced pied! Unfortunately, I had to miss the annual Christ Church carol service (when Bangkok's expats gather to sing Christmas songs and enjoy mulled wine and minced pies at the city's only Anglican parish), but my wife bought me one of these delicious minced pies to make up for it!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I'll be back soon to feature some of Bangkok's incredible holiday displays and Christmas lights.