Today is Boxing Day – Christmas is more or less over and most of us will be getting ready to welcome 2013, the New Year, into our lives.

Yesterday, we went to Christmas Mass at the Assumption Cathedral here in Bangkok, beautifully decorated, the Choir always a joy to listen to and we were delighted to find out that despite the massive restoration work, scheduled until the end of 2014, their famous Crib, close to the Main Altar, was put up once again for everybody to see.

Afterwards we walked the short distance back again to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where we sat in the Lobby for a while enjoying our drinks,  observing the comings and goings around us and occasionally exchanging Christmas greetings with members of staff and guests.

This year’s theme for the Holidays was “White Christmas”. So luxurious, so elegant – I truly wish you could see (and smell!) this for yourself. But since you cannot, just follow me on a little visual tour and enjoy. The tree alone is made out of thousands of tiny white “Michaelmas Daisy’s” and all over the Lobby you can find vases filled with masses of  Hyacinth and Ranunculi – all in white, of course  and their heady smell reaches your nostrils as soon as you step through the entrance doors.