See all my pictures here.
Dream big son, you can do anything if you put your mind to it. This! the American, and pretty much strictly the American way of thought, that a parent, usually unsatisfied with where they have ended up in life, tells their child. Is this the hope that their kids do better for them selves then they did and is this their yearning to live vicariously through them and their experiences? How many times are these high soaring dreams, like Icarus' wings, not up to the blazing-hot sun of everyday reality and as the fall back to earth hurts, it hurts that much worse because of the magnitude of this dream big nation and the disappointment in not making it after putting your mind to it.
"Gray skies are just clouds passing over." - Duke Ellington (Chosen because in the grand scope of time any failure or low point pass as quickly as clouds move over head or for that matter.. a musician passing through town.)
This past weekend I visited the original capitol of Siam and the ancient city of Ayutthaya.
*Side note - Small history: Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the city walls. In the sixteenth century, it was described by foreign traders as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East. The court of King Narai (1656–1688) had strong links with that of King Louis XIV of France, whose ambassadors compared the city in size and wealth to Paris.
According to foreign accounts, Ayutthaya was officially known as Siam, but many sources also say that the people of Ayutthaya called themselves Tai, and their kingdom Krung Tai or 'the Kingdom of the Tais'.
So on our drive there, we got lost as usual. It seems to me that Thai people have a very hard time getting/giving exact information on a daily basis.. for example... Zach and I want to move to better apartments, we asked his employers for the addresses to some places. We were givin a print out off of googlemaps with buildings circled and ex'd and told, "Oh yeah, vely easy, wite by da BTS twain, maybe 200 meetuhs, just thry"... I laugh every time I hear this because "I don't know, maybe, Try, Try" seems to be the way people here live day to day. Even something in repetition like walking the same street and taking the same train every day, is a new adventure to a Thai person. Its almost as if they have erased every memory/experience from the day before. This is amazingly great in some ways and highly annoying in others.
"Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today." Bill Murray in Groundhog day (Chosen because sometimes I feel like I am in that movie around here.)
So we first saw the summer palace of one of the kings called Bang Pa In, I believe it was King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam. His reign was characterized by the modernization of Siam and all his reforms were dedicated to Siam’s insurance of survival in the midst of Western colonialism, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat or "The Great Beloved King". He was very much into European architecture and art and furniture. I cant even imagine the process of getting a heavy wooden dresser or couch from France to Thailand in a time before trains or even any roads suitable for mass cargo.... Upon meandering aimlessly around the gardens I saw a very odd sculpture sitting by its self in the garden. It was a very creepy statue carved of white stone featuring children and a woman. It was surrounded by planted flowering lotus plants (Lotus flowers In the minds of the Buddhists, stands for purity of spirit. Rooting in mud, the plant is able to rise up above the dirty water and yield a flower of such perfect beauty and purity). . Jeab, our Thai friend and this days tour guide, told me about it. She said it was Queen Sunanda Kumariratana. The Queen was a much loved wife and first queen of King Rama V. Unfortunately, she died at just 19 years of age, while pregnant, from drowning. The Queen was on her way to Bang Pa-in Summer Palace, on the Chao Praya River, when her boat sank. The old Siamese customs prevented anyone from touching the queen except for the king, making it quite impossible to save the young queen. Her only daughter, Princess Karnabhorn Bejraratana, nearly 2 years old, died with her. The king was very sad about this and made a statue to honor them. I think that this king had 22 wives and out of all 22 of them, this one, his favorite, his love, had to be the one to die. What a strange strange world it is.
"Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue.It's the way you ride the trail that counts, Here's a happy one for you." - Dale Evans (Quote chosen in personal empathetic sentiment in which only my brother and sister will know as we shared it together. On the night that our dad died, all three of us want to a friend bar called Jugheads. A little hole in the wall rock and roll bar that Sean and I had played at many times and got to know the owner. They had karaoke going. I don't remember who put the song in for us but it was "Happy trails to you" the Roy Rogers version and as we all sang this song, Sean, Kenzie and I, crying, I realized that, that moment was goodbye. Tanya brought shots.)
I left the summer palace deep in thought about love, how it comes about, how it has come to me in my life, how I've lost it in my life, where and who it has come from, why it comes to me and why I, at what ever time, am able to receive it. At my age of 31 I think I have experienced a lot of love. Love in many different formats. The unconditional love by family and certain friends, momentary time love by friends and acquaintances, late night "I love you man" love while out with people maybe friends maybe we just met, get you through the hard times love, romantic love that comes with adventures and new experiences, exciting lustful one night stand love, the love of many fans of my music, the multifaceted love from different women in short and long relationships and the love that I am missing so bad right now, the comfortable, knowing love of a long time partner, friend, lover, potential mother, woman, sidekick, lady, buddy, everything.. The yin to my yang, the person that helps to describe how our polar energy or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world in which we live and how we give rise to each other in turn.
What is love and how has it happened to me? Every time I have "ended up" (key words) in a long relationship in which I "loved" a girl it was at a time when I wasn't looking for a girl, I wasn't hurt by a girl, I wasn't still thinking of any girl, I was just having fun being WHO I AM and suddenly I was paired, by chance, with someone that I just kept hanging out with. I didn't choose them, they were just another in a sequence of fun friends/romances that stuck. So here is where I think love fits in. Love could be with anybody. It all just depends on the time that you are open to it. Like when I met my last girlfriend, I had no plan for us to be together so long or to have such a lasting burning love, it just happened because at the time I was open to accept someone for who they were with out reservation. I could be way off, but those are my thoughts for now.
"It's so lonely when you don't even know yourself.” Unknown (Chosen for us all, the people in the process of finding "me" again after living for so long as "we")
The ancient city. Walking around these great mounds of thin stacked red bricks and giant black stones that have lasted for centuries brings a silence to our group. All this done by hand, my thousands of hands. Hours of physical labor without any automated help. These sights and the smells, of the moist dirt bring so many thoughts about this places history. Not the history of who won wars and who was king etc but the history and the lives of the people that had walked these grounds over so many centuries. What were they thinking as they watched the sun set and spread its golden warmth over these structures creating an almost golden hue to them. It was peaceful and quiet and every breeze was met with a thankful breath and a satisfied smile. Were there people just like me, standing in this same spot hundreds of years ago, looking up at the tops of the pagodas and thinking of their past and their futures being equally confused at how they want to approach the world and leave their legacy? Did they also feel on the edge of something great and big but not know how to begin to shine?
"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle." - Lewis Carroll (Quote chosen not just for my personal similar thoughts but for the personality and creation of the man that originated it)
Brick upon bricks, topped by majestic hand carved stone Buddhas, it was a maze of eloquence and mystery. With every antiquated hall and shady turn I met a repetition of silent Buddhas rampaged by the Burmese who burned and destroyed the libraries and robbed the cities treasury. I think of the commoners. People just trying to live their lives when soldiers beat down their doors killed the men, stole their possessions and rape and enslave the women and children that could not run away. I cant help but think of the north Vietnamese when Americans came. There are so many pictures of them running in fear clutching their children with pain and confusion on their faces. I also think of all the young American soldiers and the weight on their minds as they were shipped off not know what or really why they were fighting and taking the casualties. I remember talking to someone about Iraq, Afghanistan, the middle east in general and them thinking as if all the killing and attacks on each other and suffering under terrible regimes was only happening to other creatures. Creatures who lived in filthy huts that didn't have the capacity to really think like humans. Creatures who just kind of live and grow and act. As if these creatures didn't have moms and dads, hopes and dreams, as if they were not people. Its times like this when you wish you didn't know anything.
"He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man." - Samuel Johnson (Quote chosen for an homage to some personal experiences)
After leaving the last ruin, which I might add was the best ruin because you could actually climb the tiny, steep, awkward steps to the top and go inside and smell the urine, moist stone, see the shrine and look up at the bats squeaking and flapping as it was about time to enter the night, we all drove in silence. I think partially in thought and partially being tired from all the outdoor adventure in the heat. Even Jeab was tired and quiet and she is Thai, so I knew it was hotter then usual. We opted to go to an air-conditioned attraction called Wat Phanan Choeng. Wat Phanan Choeng houses an immense seated bronze Buddha which was made in 1324 CE (Common Era ie.. Before Christ) The statue is 19 meters (62 feet) high and it survived the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767 CE. It was quite amazing that people built this so long ago and it wasn't destroyed. Millions of small Buddha destroyed and stolen but this massive one untouched. The entire temple was filled with many variations of Buddhas of different materials and baskets of saffron robes to be used by monks and in blessings. The christian god would die in jealousy of its sheer size and radiating gold sheen if he saw this! ha ha ha! Kidding kidding! I hope I don't go to hell for that joke. I guess it depends if it is the God of the old or the new testament...
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments." - Exodus 20:2-17
....and once again I have consumed a lot of digital writing space and maybe too much of your time. I ended the night by having some delicious river prawn topped in what Grandma calls "Crab Butter". Besides the little darker then mustard color, it was actually quite good. Then again, we were starving, a rotting durian fruit would have been good. Tired.. oh sooo tired, we returned home.
Please... Your feedback is appreciated. see that little comment button right under this....
Love as always. Tha R
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Monday, 14 June 2010
Monday June 13th 2553BE. Bangkok, I love you every night and I hate you every morning.
*Be sure to look through all my pictures on my facebook.
and click on the red words to see corresponding pics.
*side note - Buddhasakarat, Buddhist Era or BE, from 11 March 545 BC, believed to be the date of the death of the Buddha. (BE–AD of 544 used to be common, but BE–AD is now 543 in Thailand. Therefore if you want to find the year that we westerners cal A.D. you need to minus 543 years from every year date in Thailand. ie the Thai date of 06-13-2553 minus the date of death of Buddha BE-AD 543 is 06-13-2010
Oh to add to my tales of woe. What tales of woe? Bangkok, I LOVE THEE, let me count the ways. What an enchanting mistress she is, this Bangkok, Kreung Thep (City of Angles)... this my own pearl of the orient. What a great city with so much to do. Every night I walk your streets and my brain is wrinkled that much more. My eyes opened wide to the amount of people power making this engine churn. You make me feel so old due to overexertion because of not wanting to miss anything yet you make me feel so young and alive just seeing those city lights and knowing there is a promise for adventure out there. This is all good well until the wee hours of the morning. Sleep comes fast as I am dead tired by the time I reach my humble room, flip on the aircon, play some music on my laptop, take of my sweat permeated clothes and recline in the manufactured cold breeze of, at that moment my saving grace... AIRCON! (old window air conditioning unit) Set promptly to 25C.
(INSERT LOUD ANNOYING SONG HERE FROM A JAPANESE MADE, CHEAP MOBILE PHONE SOUNDING THAT IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP) NNooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOO!!! Why me lord, lord of lords, LARD! Why is everything fried? get my lard ass out of bed! One hour to get ready and skip down the street hating all that is humidity, broken sidewalks, the smells of cooking frying fish-balls and rancid sausage links while being harassed to take rides from tuk-tuk drivers who overcharge foreigners and those annoying people selling the Thai lotto....and.. and of course... this dreadful 20 minute walk to the BTS skytrain in my business attire.
My love for you only returns upon getting lunch (author takes sip of warm ginger tea) and deciding how I will be damning myself tonight.
There is a plethora of just about everything you want to do featuring most of the seven deadly sins or maybe capitol vices, lust and gluttony being the shining stars around here...... (explanations will be given.. pictures will be disseminated)
wrath - Not much wrath going on here. Violent crime isn't really part of society here, well besides the unusual case of a drunk farang getting into it with other drunk farangs. There are small amounts of incidences of Thai on farang violence but not many. The biggest episode of violent activity here is the recent red shirt protests 1 2 3. From what I have heard most of the protesters were bussed in from rural areas and paid $10 a day to stand around and make noise. A crowd of women and children is what some people have said. Others (Thai people) are just completely saddened at what happened saying that it is not the Thai way. I hear rumors that there will be more protests within the month but after what happened the first time I don't think it will be the same.
Ohhhh! It makes me so angry that it is soooo humid here!!!
greed - greed may only be existant in Thailand, and I say this only in hearing rumors, by government officials and the very wealthy to acquire more wealth... What else is new right? What really is greed? Is making yourself being greedy? Shoot, if all I wanted was one cheeseburger to be happy and I bought two for myself am I being greedy.. or just straight gluttonous? What if I sell those two cheese burgers to some lost and hungry Americans for double the price? A. Greed, B. capitalism, c. smart businessman or D. All of the above? Maybe greed comes in the form of poor people dressing up like monks to get free money and food (which the government here is cracking down on). Lines are blurred, perceptions are lost amongst the many lines of subjective and objective thought.
Money money!!! My american dollars give me soo much money here! hHAH H AHAH A HA hAH ahhahaha!
*side note - I have witnessed a good many young monks, very young, that have cell phones. I was a little confused by this so I asked a friend here about it. She said it is a controversial thing amongst the monks. Many of the young monks are from very poor families and become monks for a steady source of food, shelter and education. Cell phones are relatively cheap here. I got mine for about $30 US and all cell phones are prepaid in minutes that you purchase at 7-11's which are located about every 40 meters here.
sloth - If the gods, any of them, didn't want us to be inactive and fat, why did he/she/it/them allow for Norman Borlaug and biotechnology to bring about the green revolution and in Thailand allow human capital to be sooo cheap? Here in Thailand, the food is cheap and plentiful just like the maids. It seems that even the beggars can afford to eat. Not many here are overweight though. I dont think it is in the amount that is eaten but in the nutritional value of food items. Food here is for the mos part good for you, low sugar content, high in herbs and spices and of course, with the weather being hot and humid and the majority of people having to walk everywhere this makes for a thin nation. I often get asked by my co-workers if we americans eat hamburgers every night and they laugh as they say.. "Do you supersize it?" hardy har har is say! As my Grandpa Kenney would say... "Yeah, those Asians.. They laugh too your face and and laugh when they raise the price and laugh when they stab you in the back!"
Please... Im too hot and tired to get up. Will you get me a sandwich, oh I mean tom yum soup and a tall Singha? Korb Khun Khrab!
pride - Oh if it wasn't for Lucifer and his need to compete with god! "hubris", considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins would not be so serious. I think the only case of real pride that I have witnessed was the boisterous English people and their pride in thinking that they have the best Futbol (soccer) team alive and then ending up even with the US at the end of the match. Oh those british scum, always being disgusting and unshowered and disparaging Americans and their ways for no reason besides left over WW2 sentiments passed down through the generations. All I can say is ha ha you limey bastards!!!! God save the queen, Americans will take the tie. United states 1, England 1.
God dammit I'm American and no one treats us Americans like this!!! We'll put a boot up your ass for the red, white blue!
envy - envy and Buddhism just does not coexist well. Once young Buddha was asked to explain why among human beings some were short-lived while others were long-lived, some were sickly while others were healthy, some were ugly while others were beautiful some had little power, others were influential, some were poor while others were rich, and some had little wisdom while some possessed insight. His reply was, "The killing of living beings leads to a short life, the non-killing of living beings leads to a long life; the persecution of living beings leads to a sickly life, the non-persecution of living beings leads to healthy life; elasticity, anger and hatred lead to an ugly figure and bad complexion, the opposite ones lead to a beautiful figure, attractiveness and loveliness respectively; envy leads to powerlessness, non-envy leads to powerfulness; selfishness leads to poverty, alms giving and generosity lead to wealth" From what I have seen, the majority of Thai people are very kind, helpful, believe in the goodness of humanity and don't envy others situations. They are a community of acceptance and dealing with the uncontrollable.
I wanna be a millionaire so freakin bad....Buy all of the things I never had... I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine... Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen
lust & gluttony - These two go hand in hand here in Thailand.. well in Bangkok.. ok, all of Thailand. Gluttony, derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or intoxicants to the point of waste. Lust, or a desire for the flesh of another, is a craving for sexual intimacy, sometimes to the point of assuming a self-indulgent character. Need I say more? In a city where prostitution is illegal but not enforced, rather monitored for the welfare and safety of the prostitute and "John" alike to have a mutually beneficial time... and in a city where street vendors sell food almost 24hours a day in front of 3 levels of mom and pop restaurants serving just about anything you want "in a Thai way" well... How are you not supposed to be lustful and gluttonous??? A city where almost anything can be bought and the people are unassuming and unjudging and for the most part urging you to "Try" "Try" "Maybe you will like it" the lines of good and bad are merely a matter of personal preference.
No comment on this one.
Last Friday. After attending a conference of a US speaker about the history of affordable housing, detailing the successes and failures of 6 countries at the Thai Housing Authority. Zach and I were let go early. We didn't know what to do with ourselves now that we have been what the Japanese call "Salarymen", without the salary of course, for a few weeks now and not been out before 6pm. It was 2pm and we opted to take the BTS skytrain to Silom Station. The area between the roads of Silom and Sathorn is the closest Bangkok gets to Wall Street, with glistening skyscrapers all boasting the names of financial institutions. After nightfall the character of the place changes considerably though: the small sois (roads or streets) between Silom and Surawong come alive with people out for a good time, including the infamous short little alley of Patpong.
We walked for awhile and under the 2pm sun we were getting roasted. After actually stopping and thinking about where we were heading we realized we were in a Japanese area. We head into one of the many Japanese restaurants. "Asahi or Singha" I asked Zach. "hmmmmmm.. HungNam U TiNI" he replied. (Where is the bathroom) I laughed and the girl at the door pointed upstairs.. Great another un-air-conditioned hallway and bathroom. I decided on two pints of Asahi being that we WERE in a Japanese bar. These went down smooth and uneventfully while we sat under a fan and cooled our faces. "Ok, lets go somewhere else."
Round the corner and down. We found a jolly little Irish pub and decided to check er out. They had Boddington in stock so I decided to introduce Zack to the heavenly full bodied flavor of Boddington beer. He didn't seem to like it very much but I savored every delicious drop of the cold, golden, frothy, creamy nectar of the gods. we spent the next several hours there talking about the world cup, deciding what to do that night, discussing past experiences and travels and doin the ol guys night out thing... again. Ha! At around 9pm an attractive Thai girl that actually had boobs bigger then an A cup came in wearing a tight green Heineken dress and lookin great.. needless to say we switched to Heineken. Hey? We were in an Irish bar... Irish people like green... The Kenneys are Irish... Green, Irish, Heineken, Kenney, that dress... 2 Heinekens please! This continued for about an hour until we decided to walk around and look at the night market that had popped up while we were inside.
We walked out, took a right down a little know street called Patpong. We were here it seemed a little earlier and all was quiet onthe eastern front. Now it was a bustling commotion. People offering sunglasses, shirts, trinkets, massages, young girls for boom boom, beers, tuk-tuk rides, cigarettes.. Zach eyed some business socks that were very cheap and bought them. When we looked up we realized we were in front of a place called "Pussy Collection" I tried to get a shot of the sign but some of the girls in the door way got quite angry.. so I waited.. and got it anyway. They saw us and demanded that we come in a buy a beer to compensate for taking the pictures.. What the hell. We did, when was the next time we could say we went to a place with such and outstanding name. We drank there for a long time.. chatting it up with hookers, the mamasans, ladyboys, the service staff and other visitors to the bar. It was quite a friendly and fun place. We decided to start flipping coins for beers with the bar tender... Thai people, well all asians for that matter... LOVE to gamble and unfortunately for them we won more then we lost. The night went long and we made it home in time to wake up saturday feeling like total hell........ next blog.. Ayutthaya, an ancient city that was destroyed by the Burmese army In 1767.....
As always... I'll be here.
The R.
and click on the red words to see corresponding pics.
*side note - Buddhasakarat, Buddhist Era or BE, from 11 March 545 BC, believed to be the date of the death of the Buddha. (BE–AD of 544 used to be common, but BE–AD is now 543 in Thailand. Therefore if you want to find the year that we westerners cal A.D. you need to minus 543 years from every year date in Thailand. ie the Thai date of 06-13-2553 minus the date of death of Buddha BE-AD 543 is 06-13-2010
Oh to add to my tales of woe. What tales of woe? Bangkok, I LOVE THEE, let me count the ways. What an enchanting mistress she is, this Bangkok, Kreung Thep (City of Angles)... this my own pearl of the orient. What a great city with so much to do. Every night I walk your streets and my brain is wrinkled that much more. My eyes opened wide to the amount of people power making this engine churn. You make me feel so old due to overexertion because of not wanting to miss anything yet you make me feel so young and alive just seeing those city lights and knowing there is a promise for adventure out there. This is all good well until the wee hours of the morning. Sleep comes fast as I am dead tired by the time I reach my humble room, flip on the aircon, play some music on my laptop, take of my sweat permeated clothes and recline in the manufactured cold breeze of, at that moment my saving grace... AIRCON! (old window air conditioning unit) Set promptly to 25C.
(INSERT LOUD ANNOYING SONG HERE FROM A JAPANESE MADE, CHEAP MOBILE PHONE SOUNDING THAT IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP) NNooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOO!!! Why me lord, lord of lords, LARD! Why is everything fried? get my lard ass out of bed! One hour to get ready and skip down the street hating all that is humidity, broken sidewalks, the smells of cooking frying fish-balls and rancid sausage links while being harassed to take rides from tuk-tuk drivers who overcharge foreigners and those annoying people selling the Thai lotto....and.. and of course... this dreadful 20 minute walk to the BTS skytrain in my business attire.
My love for you only returns upon getting lunch (author takes sip of warm ginger tea) and deciding how I will be damning myself tonight.
There is a plethora of just about everything you want to do featuring most of the seven deadly sins or maybe capitol vices, lust and gluttony being the shining stars around here...... (explanations will be given.. pictures will be disseminated)
wrath - Not much wrath going on here. Violent crime isn't really part of society here, well besides the unusual case of a drunk farang getting into it with other drunk farangs. There are small amounts of incidences of Thai on farang violence but not many. The biggest episode of violent activity here is the recent red shirt protests 1 2 3. From what I have heard most of the protesters were bussed in from rural areas and paid $10 a day to stand around and make noise. A crowd of women and children is what some people have said. Others (Thai people) are just completely saddened at what happened saying that it is not the Thai way. I hear rumors that there will be more protests within the month but after what happened the first time I don't think it will be the same.
Ohhhh! It makes me so angry that it is soooo humid here!!!
greed - greed may only be existant in Thailand, and I say this only in hearing rumors, by government officials and the very wealthy to acquire more wealth... What else is new right? What really is greed? Is making yourself being greedy? Shoot, if all I wanted was one cheeseburger to be happy and I bought two for myself am I being greedy.. or just straight gluttonous? What if I sell those two cheese burgers to some lost and hungry Americans for double the price? A. Greed, B. capitalism, c. smart businessman or D. All of the above? Maybe greed comes in the form of poor people dressing up like monks to get free money and food (which the government here is cracking down on). Lines are blurred, perceptions are lost amongst the many lines of subjective and objective thought.
Money money!!! My american dollars give me soo much money here! hHAH H AHAH A HA hAH ahhahaha!
*side note - I have witnessed a good many young monks, very young, that have cell phones. I was a little confused by this so I asked a friend here about it. She said it is a controversial thing amongst the monks. Many of the young monks are from very poor families and become monks for a steady source of food, shelter and education. Cell phones are relatively cheap here. I got mine for about $30 US and all cell phones are prepaid in minutes that you purchase at 7-11's which are located about every 40 meters here.
sloth - If the gods, any of them, didn't want us to be inactive and fat, why did he/she/it/them allow for Norman Borlaug and biotechnology to bring about the green revolution and in Thailand allow human capital to be sooo cheap? Here in Thailand, the food is cheap and plentiful just like the maids. It seems that even the beggars can afford to eat. Not many here are overweight though. I dont think it is in the amount that is eaten but in the nutritional value of food items. Food here is for the mos part good for you, low sugar content, high in herbs and spices and of course, with the weather being hot and humid and the majority of people having to walk everywhere this makes for a thin nation. I often get asked by my co-workers if we americans eat hamburgers every night and they laugh as they say.. "Do you supersize it?" hardy har har is say! As my Grandpa Kenney would say... "Yeah, those Asians.. They laugh too your face and and laugh when they raise the price and laugh when they stab you in the back!"
Please... Im too hot and tired to get up. Will you get me a sandwich, oh I mean tom yum soup and a tall Singha? Korb Khun Khrab!
pride - Oh if it wasn't for Lucifer and his need to compete with god! "hubris", considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins would not be so serious. I think the only case of real pride that I have witnessed was the boisterous English people and their pride in thinking that they have the best Futbol (soccer) team alive and then ending up even with the US at the end of the match. Oh those british scum, always being disgusting and unshowered and disparaging Americans and their ways for no reason besides left over WW2 sentiments passed down through the generations. All I can say is ha ha you limey bastards!!!! God save the queen, Americans will take the tie. United states 1, England 1.
God dammit I'm American and no one treats us Americans like this!!! We'll put a boot up your ass for the red, white blue!
envy - envy and Buddhism just does not coexist well. Once young Buddha was asked to explain why among human beings some were short-lived while others were long-lived, some were sickly while others were healthy, some were ugly while others were beautiful some had little power, others were influential, some were poor while others were rich, and some had little wisdom while some possessed insight. His reply was, "The killing of living beings leads to a short life, the non-killing of living beings leads to a long life; the persecution of living beings leads to a sickly life, the non-persecution of living beings leads to healthy life; elasticity, anger and hatred lead to an ugly figure and bad complexion, the opposite ones lead to a beautiful figure, attractiveness and loveliness respectively; envy leads to powerlessness, non-envy leads to powerfulness; selfishness leads to poverty, alms giving and generosity lead to wealth" From what I have seen, the majority of Thai people are very kind, helpful, believe in the goodness of humanity and don't envy others situations. They are a community of acceptance and dealing with the uncontrollable.
I wanna be a millionaire so freakin bad....Buy all of the things I never had... I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine... Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen
lust & gluttony - These two go hand in hand here in Thailand.. well in Bangkok.. ok, all of Thailand. Gluttony, derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or intoxicants to the point of waste. Lust, or a desire for the flesh of another, is a craving for sexual intimacy, sometimes to the point of assuming a self-indulgent character. Need I say more? In a city where prostitution is illegal but not enforced, rather monitored for the welfare and safety of the prostitute and "John" alike to have a mutually beneficial time... and in a city where street vendors sell food almost 24hours a day in front of 3 levels of mom and pop restaurants serving just about anything you want "in a Thai way" well... How are you not supposed to be lustful and gluttonous??? A city where almost anything can be bought and the people are unassuming and unjudging and for the most part urging you to "Try" "Try" "Maybe you will like it" the lines of good and bad are merely a matter of personal preference.
No comment on this one.
Last Friday. After attending a conference of a US speaker about the history of affordable housing, detailing the successes and failures of 6 countries at the Thai Housing Authority. Zach and I were let go early. We didn't know what to do with ourselves now that we have been what the Japanese call "Salarymen", without the salary of course, for a few weeks now and not been out before 6pm. It was 2pm and we opted to take the BTS skytrain to Silom Station. The area between the roads of Silom and Sathorn is the closest Bangkok gets to Wall Street, with glistening skyscrapers all boasting the names of financial institutions. After nightfall the character of the place changes considerably though: the small sois (roads or streets) between Silom and Surawong come alive with people out for a good time, including the infamous short little alley of Patpong.
We walked for awhile and under the 2pm sun we were getting roasted. After actually stopping and thinking about where we were heading we realized we were in a Japanese area. We head into one of the many Japanese restaurants. "Asahi or Singha" I asked Zach. "hmmmmmm.. HungNam U TiNI" he replied. (Where is the bathroom) I laughed and the girl at the door pointed upstairs.. Great another un-air-conditioned hallway and bathroom. I decided on two pints of Asahi being that we WERE in a Japanese bar. These went down smooth and uneventfully while we sat under a fan and cooled our faces. "Ok, lets go somewhere else."
Round the corner and down. We found a jolly little Irish pub and decided to check er out. They had Boddington in stock so I decided to introduce Zack to the heavenly full bodied flavor of Boddington beer. He didn't seem to like it very much but I savored every delicious drop of the cold, golden, frothy, creamy nectar of the gods. we spent the next several hours there talking about the world cup, deciding what to do that night, discussing past experiences and travels and doin the ol guys night out thing... again. Ha! At around 9pm an attractive Thai girl that actually had boobs bigger then an A cup came in wearing a tight green Heineken dress and lookin great.. needless to say we switched to Heineken. Hey? We were in an Irish bar... Irish people like green... The Kenneys are Irish... Green, Irish, Heineken, Kenney, that dress... 2 Heinekens please! This continued for about an hour until we decided to walk around and look at the night market that had popped up while we were inside.
We walked out, took a right down a little know street called Patpong. We were here it seemed a little earlier and all was quiet onthe eastern front. Now it was a bustling commotion. People offering sunglasses, shirts, trinkets, massages, young girls for boom boom, beers, tuk-tuk rides, cigarettes.. Zach eyed some business socks that were very cheap and bought them. When we looked up we realized we were in front of a place called "Pussy Collection" I tried to get a shot of the sign but some of the girls in the door way got quite angry.. so I waited.. and got it anyway. They saw us and demanded that we come in a buy a beer to compensate for taking the pictures.. What the hell. We did, when was the next time we could say we went to a place with such and outstanding name. We drank there for a long time.. chatting it up with hookers, the mamasans, ladyboys, the service staff and other visitors to the bar. It was quite a friendly and fun place. We decided to start flipping coins for beers with the bar tender... Thai people, well all asians for that matter... LOVE to gamble and unfortunately for them we won more then we lost. The night went long and we made it home in time to wake up saturday feeling like total hell........ next blog.. Ayutthaya, an ancient city that was destroyed by the Burmese army In 1767.....
As always... I'll be here.
The R.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Wednesday June 9th - Hijacked in Pattaya.
I have discovered a new tool in which I will link my photos to words so its easy for description.... click on fellow man!
As I wipe the sweat from my brow and get settled into my well air
conditioned office I reflect on the things I have seen and done and
the emotions that have passed over the last few days. Lets see, the
last time I was able to write was Friday day time. For you folks back
in the land of plenty, the good ol USofA, that would be Thursday
night.Since then I have been incomunicado! I was hijacked I tell you!
but... In the nicest of ways with the best intentions and in sharing
with me a plethora of new experiences. Lets see... We start our
journey on Friday night. Zach, my American comrade and only confidant
here, and I decided that we were very tired and were going to go home
and nap a little, then get dinner and then head home early because we
were scheduled to meet up with our Thai connection (Lex and Lisa, not
their real names but every one here in Thailand has nick names given
to them by parents, friends relatives etc... Zachs is now Uan,
pronounced like Juan minus the J and mine is Yuang, pronounced like
"yoooang. Given to us by Lex's grannie and mom Khun Maa and Khun Yay)
anyways, we were slated to meet up with them to catch a bus to Pattaya
to hit the beach and have a little R'n'R, not Rock N Roll... Rest and
Relaxation.. ok maybe a little Rockin out cause Zach and I BRING THE
PARTY HAY!!! So we were supposed to meet up with them at the bus
station in Ekamai (eee-ka-my) station at 8:30 sharp....
4:00pm friday night: Q House Lumpini Tower, my place of work, one of the nicest
business buildings in Bangkok: I submitted some research on existing
reasons that JApan, the EU, Canada, Malaysia and Korea created
regulations to restrict and control toxic chemicals and their import
and export and how these are similar to Thailand for the Thai Govt to
enact some of these same rules. (for a good example see REACH
regulation EU clicky) to my supervisor Khun Ann ( real name Dr. Rachda) and she came to my desk with some paper and pencil to go over some ideas for a powerpoint
with the info I submitted. She seemed happy with the work. After going
over some sketches she informed me that I'd be starting a new project
and that we have a meeting in an hour about presenting to Phillip
Morris Asia about creating a new tax structure for the import of their
brand of cigarettes.
*side note - DId you know that cigarette packs here have large
pictures of disgusting, bleeding, infected, puss filled and deadly
cancerous tumors on one side of every pack... hmmm....
I prepared for the meeting by doing a little research on the history
of Phillip Morris in SE Asia. During this research I got a call from
Lex asking if I wanted to join her and Lisa and her two friends for
dinner right after work. I agreed.
5:00pm - The meeting went well, the presentation was good and they had
to do it in English so they were interested in my input and thoughts.
I find it interesting the values that Thai business people find
strengths and weaknesses as opposed to what American business people
value as strengths and weaknesses.
6:00pm - Met Lex at the "On Nut" BTS
Skytrain station and she suggested we go to Silom district to get some sushi. I
agreed cause I love sushi. BY THE GODS I LOVE SUSHU!!!
Being Friday night Silom Road was very crowded.
We could not get a taxi to save our lives or an ambulence if we were dying I spose.
So we had to walk.. Now walking here is a necessity. Travel around the city takes a long time cause traffic is sooo very terrible. Not terrible like anywhere in the states and I have been to almost every state.
You can expect to be in the car for an hour to go for only half a
mile.
Anyways.. Its a good thing that I brought an extra shirt because i had
sweat through the one I was wearing and looked like I was soaked.
Sick! The worst thing is that Lex, being Thai, like all Thai's was
barely sweating and telling me it was just a little bit farther. It
seems to be the Thai way to never tell you a plan, or what exactly is
going on or whats happening. I always have to ask like 20 times to get
any answers to anything. The hrase "What is the plan now.. right now" has to be repeated multiple time to the annoyance of everybody.
So after a long long walk we made it to a very cool Japanese buffet.
It really, literally had everything you could ever want that was
Japanese. Sushi of many types, soups, cooked food, everything! It was
pretty amazing. Zach called and asked where I was and
that he was with another American traveler and asked if they could
meet up. Cool Cool. Now.. Directions. Impossible in BKK. (Bangkok)
Once again going back to Thai people having a hard time discussing any
plans, places, doings etc... About an hour later they found us only to
find out that the Thai's had decided to go somewhere else close to
where they just came from........ DOH!!!!
After walking for ever to meet with Lex's friends we settled on a
brittish style pub. The beer was expensive but well deserved and
needed after trekking across Bangkok following dark haired midgets
with no answers for us "planning Americans" around. If only we could
speak Thai or at least know where we were. Bangkok is a huge and
unending array of streets, alleys and strange passages.
Lex's friends showed up. One was her friend "Lisa" another regular
Thai girl. The other was "Anya", a more sexy dressing Thai girl with a
taste for brittish boys and the other was a ladyboy that had recently
had the surgery to become fully a lady. She had breasts and no weenie
and was still in the process of total transformation with hormones and
suck. She was quite convincing but a little off. Zach and I could tell
right away. No beer goggles for that one! (Anya and ladyboy)
* side note about lady boys. Here in Thailand, ladyboys are seen as
beautiful, curvy and sexy people. It is a very open population where
gay, lesbians, ladyboys and strait people all walk around and do the
same things in the open. Ladyboys are often considdered the third sex
here and thought of as advantaged because they have the best of all
worlds.
So, anyhow... One thing led to another, one beer became two, San
Miguels (Beer from the Philippines) were flowing, and Zach and I got
home later then anticipated and didn't end up going to bed until
2:30am.
Ring Ring! THe alarm once again decided to royally annoy me at 6am on
Saturday morning. Damn, Not again I thought. Why does 6am always have
to come around, and why must the clocks insist on telling me in very
loud and annoying ways. This topped by an annoying visitor.
*side note about young well-off american girls..... If you are one of
these or know one, i encourage you to stop acting like you know the
world, stop acting like you can answer every question confidently,
stop trying to shape the plans of everyone around you to suit your
ever changing feelings, stop using this pushed voice to sound nice and
interested only to manipulate things for yourself, stop expecting
everything for free because you are a young pretty girl only still
thin because you are young (worry, you will start blimping out within
5 years and you will start having to develop a personality to keep
people interested in you). Bottom line, be quiet for once.
So we got to the bus station by BTS skytrain, boarded the bus and set
off for Pattaya. It was nice and air conditioned. 130baht for the
whole ride (maybe $5). We were told it was a 2 hour ride. About an
hour and a half in Lex disappeared the the front... I was all kicked
back and comfy with my shoes off and seat back watching the lush green
scenery and buildings go by. Just about to fall asleep. Lex comes back
and tells us that we need to get off now cause were stopping off a
little early to have lunch with her mom (Khun Ma). OK, so I had to
hurry and grab my things. Zach looked at me and smiled knowing that
this was just another surprise in a long series of surprises. Down the
rabbit hole we go!
Our first stop was dinner under a shade of beautiful trees on the edge
of a beach. I could stare off into the distance and see clam and crab
farms. We let our Thai friends order for us as usual. As usual about
15 plates came out with everything from fried fish (with the head and
scales on of course) to bar-b-q'd soft shell crabs that you eat whole.
It was a feast of epic per portions. In Thai cooking there are four
flavors: sour, sweet, creamy and salty. I have come to love the
balance of every dish and how they craftily use sometimes all four to
make a wonderful dish. I shall miss this when i am gone. This was a
nice and peaceful time. Thai service is unbeatable. It seams that
every little place employs a bunch of people. A little cafe in America
would have the owner and maybe one person helping. A cafe of the same
size here will have at least 7 to 10 people working and doing things.
If your glass gets half empty, they fill it up with ninja like skill.
If you finish your plate they sneak it off the table leaving you
wondering where it went. Its pretty amazing.
Our second stop was a floating market. This was ok. It seemed to me
that it was set up primarily for tourists to feel like they were at a
real Bangkok floating market and maybe to learn a little of the
popular culture. Most of the stuff for sale is just tourist junk. I
think the biggest thing that I would like to share with people at home
is the lifestyle here. This is something I cant buy but can maybe
describe. At this point Zach and I were getting a bit antsy. Were not
much for shopping for souvenirs or for walking the tourist hangouts. I
really wanted to hit up a little bar and maybe eat a little, drink a
little and chat it up with the locals. Back to the car we go.
At this point we thought we were going to finally get a hotel and
decompress a little. True? Nooooooo! We circled the same terrible
traffic twice and then pulled into a parking lot with a very large and
fancy building. It looked very plush and flamboyant. It was called
Tiffanys. It is a cabaret review with some loud music and grand
costumes and the most beautiful lady.... boys that Thailand has to
offer. Thats right! I said it.. Ladyboys! Someones mom and grandma
took us to see a ladyboy review. Now, I must comment. There were
moments that I seriously couldn't believe my eyes.... or my mind. Some
of these ladyboys were actually extremely hot like ultra women. The
beautiful looks of a girl with the mentality of a man? Is this like
some sort of super hero? I dont know. Needless to say.. I left
speechless and in thought. Zach and I just looked at each other with a
half grin half sickened look and sighed. What is teh future of this
third sex? This changed everything!!! No I am scared to even talk to a
Thai woman for fear it might be, or was, or will be a man??? This is
too much. Beer me now.
So we finally got back to the traffic filled street that led to our
hotel (3rd times a charm) and tensions were kind of high. Zack and I
were tired and wanted an air conditioned bar. The two Thai girls I
think wanted food and maybe to walk around... and the american girl
wanted a bi-poler dream come true. So she told everyone to get out and
walk. After my warning that it was very far she still pushed for this.
I really dont know why either because of a hurt foot and kind of
crappy mood. A really long walk in hot weather with high humidity and
a hurt foot doesn't make for fun.
Finally, the girls decided to take motorcycles to the hotel and Zack
and I made for the closest bar. Hey its the Hard Rock Cafe
Thailand.... land of the sliding inflated beer prices... Who cares, we
are about a mile away from walking street (destination of the super
party, hookers, dirty shows, kick boxing bars, dance clubs, hooka...
its other name is sin city) and we NEEDed a little swill. In we go,
once again a Thai band with some very pretty Thai girls singing are
doing american covers... including "Im proud to be an american" WTF?
and we ordered our beer. It was very expensive. We drank, we saw, we
left.
Just outside of walking street some hot bar girls were calling us in
as they do to every "farang" walking by. Normally we would just walk
by but I noticed guys Thai boxing and other people betting on them,
FUN!!! We went and sat and drank. What a good thing a Thai bar girl is
to a guys ego, is this paradise I thought to myself.. only if you
believe that the girls really DONT want your money, the Thai boxers
really "ARE" having fun and getting paid, the friendliness really "IS
NOT" just cause you are American and you are their target audience.
HAHA. OK I'll believe just for a second, let myself feel as though I
am supers special to everyone in that bar for that moment. I am not a
walking bulging wallet. We stayed for a bit and had fun but then
carried on to walking street where a guy continued to try to get us to
pay for a show to see a girl put a pink pong ball in her most private
(well not any more) of areas and shoot it into a cup. We declined and
went on to a dance club. Zach and I ordered hookah and some beers that
apparently came with free shots. TEQUILA!!!! There were some pretty
hot girls there too but it is so scary to look at girls in Thailand in
certain areas for fear that they are hookers just trying to get your
money, or that they are ladyboys.. RUN RUN RUN! After smoking the
hookah we were feeling quite spent and information overload and tired
of all the sales pitches meant for half retarded brits (ps. I think I
have a real chip on my shoulder about British people after meeting so
many of them here and them just being rude, low class, smelly, dirty
shit talkin losers for the most part, and most look inbred hahaha im
sure this is not all brits, just the well off holiday drunks) and 50
year old scummy desperate vets looking for an 18 yer old Thai girl to
forget that they are old and mentally mamed.... We went back to the
kick boxing bar. It wasn't crowded, the drinks were cheap, the staff
was nice and not overly sales-manly and it was air conditioned. The
boxing bar was great, we met the owner, a pretty Thai lady about 40s
who kept buying us whisky shots, I think because we werent the usual
desperate americans and treated them like people not purchased slaves.
Well, that is all for now, this was long and long. Time to meet Zach
at MBK and get dinner and a lovely 3 liter of Singha!!!
Anyway, thats all for now.. I will be adding a section to the blog calls "Zach Says" to give a little of his insight.
The R.
As I wipe the sweat from my brow and get settled into my well air
conditioned office I reflect on the things I have seen and done and
the emotions that have passed over the last few days. Lets see, the
last time I was able to write was Friday day time. For you folks back
in the land of plenty, the good ol USofA, that would be Thursday
night.Since then I have been incomunicado! I was hijacked I tell you!
but... In the nicest of ways with the best intentions and in sharing
with me a plethora of new experiences. Lets see... We start our
journey on Friday night. Zach, my American comrade and only confidant
here, and I decided that we were very tired and were going to go home
and nap a little, then get dinner and then head home early because we
were scheduled to meet up with our Thai connection (Lex and Lisa, not
their real names but every one here in Thailand has nick names given
to them by parents, friends relatives etc... Zachs is now Uan,
pronounced like Juan minus the J and mine is Yuang, pronounced like
"yoooang. Given to us by Lex's grannie and mom Khun Maa and Khun Yay)
anyways, we were slated to meet up with them to catch a bus to Pattaya
to hit the beach and have a little R'n'R, not Rock N Roll... Rest and
Relaxation.. ok maybe a little Rockin out cause Zach and I BRING THE
PARTY HAY!!! So we were supposed to meet up with them at the bus
station in Ekamai (eee-ka-my) station at 8:30 sharp....
4:00pm friday night: Q House Lumpini Tower, my place of work, one of the nicest
business buildings in Bangkok: I submitted some research on existing
reasons that JApan, the EU, Canada, Malaysia and Korea created
regulations to restrict and control toxic chemicals and their import
and export and how these are similar to Thailand for the Thai Govt to
enact some of these same rules. (for a good example see REACH
regulation EU clicky) to my supervisor Khun Ann ( real name Dr. Rachda) and she came to my desk with some paper and pencil to go over some ideas for a powerpoint
with the info I submitted. She seemed happy with the work. After going
over some sketches she informed me that I'd be starting a new project
and that we have a meeting in an hour about presenting to Phillip
Morris Asia about creating a new tax structure for the import of their
brand of cigarettes.
*side note - DId you know that cigarette packs here have large
pictures of disgusting, bleeding, infected, puss filled and deadly
cancerous tumors on one side of every pack... hmmm....
I prepared for the meeting by doing a little research on the history
of Phillip Morris in SE Asia. During this research I got a call from
Lex asking if I wanted to join her and Lisa and her two friends for
dinner right after work. I agreed.
5:00pm - The meeting went well, the presentation was good and they had
to do it in English so they were interested in my input and thoughts.
I find it interesting the values that Thai business people find
strengths and weaknesses as opposed to what American business people
value as strengths and weaknesses.
6:00pm - Met Lex at the "On Nut" BTS
Skytrain station and she suggested we go to Silom district to get some sushi. I
agreed cause I love sushi. BY THE GODS I LOVE SUSHU!!!
Being Friday night Silom Road was very crowded.
We could not get a taxi to save our lives or an ambulence if we were dying I spose.
So we had to walk.. Now walking here is a necessity. Travel around the city takes a long time cause traffic is sooo very terrible. Not terrible like anywhere in the states and I have been to almost every state.
You can expect to be in the car for an hour to go for only half a
mile.
Anyways.. Its a good thing that I brought an extra shirt because i had
sweat through the one I was wearing and looked like I was soaked.
Sick! The worst thing is that Lex, being Thai, like all Thai's was
barely sweating and telling me it was just a little bit farther. It
seems to be the Thai way to never tell you a plan, or what exactly is
going on or whats happening. I always have to ask like 20 times to get
any answers to anything. The hrase "What is the plan now.. right now" has to be repeated multiple time to the annoyance of everybody.
So after a long long walk we made it to a very cool Japanese buffet.
It really, literally had everything you could ever want that was
Japanese. Sushi of many types, soups, cooked food, everything! It was
pretty amazing. Zach called and asked where I was and
that he was with another American traveler and asked if they could
meet up. Cool Cool. Now.. Directions. Impossible in BKK. (Bangkok)
Once again going back to Thai people having a hard time discussing any
plans, places, doings etc... About an hour later they found us only to
find out that the Thai's had decided to go somewhere else close to
where they just came from........ DOH!!!!
After walking for ever to meet with Lex's friends we settled on a
brittish style pub. The beer was expensive but well deserved and
needed after trekking across Bangkok following dark haired midgets
with no answers for us "planning Americans" around. If only we could
speak Thai or at least know where we were. Bangkok is a huge and
unending array of streets, alleys and strange passages.
Lex's friends showed up. One was her friend "Lisa" another regular
Thai girl. The other was "Anya", a more sexy dressing Thai girl with a
taste for brittish boys and the other was a ladyboy that had recently
had the surgery to become fully a lady. She had breasts and no weenie
and was still in the process of total transformation with hormones and
suck. She was quite convincing but a little off. Zach and I could tell
right away. No beer goggles for that one! (Anya and ladyboy)
* side note about lady boys. Here in Thailand, ladyboys are seen as
beautiful, curvy and sexy people. It is a very open population where
gay, lesbians, ladyboys and strait people all walk around and do the
same things in the open. Ladyboys are often considdered the third sex
here and thought of as advantaged because they have the best of all
worlds.
So, anyhow... One thing led to another, one beer became two, San
Miguels (Beer from the Philippines) were flowing, and Zach and I got
home later then anticipated and didn't end up going to bed until
2:30am.
Ring Ring! THe alarm once again decided to royally annoy me at 6am on
Saturday morning. Damn, Not again I thought. Why does 6am always have
to come around, and why must the clocks insist on telling me in very
loud and annoying ways. This topped by an annoying visitor.
*side note about young well-off american girls..... If you are one of
these or know one, i encourage you to stop acting like you know the
world, stop acting like you can answer every question confidently,
stop trying to shape the plans of everyone around you to suit your
ever changing feelings, stop using this pushed voice to sound nice and
interested only to manipulate things for yourself, stop expecting
everything for free because you are a young pretty girl only still
thin because you are young (worry, you will start blimping out within
5 years and you will start having to develop a personality to keep
people interested in you). Bottom line, be quiet for once.
So we got to the bus station by BTS skytrain, boarded the bus and set
off for Pattaya. It was nice and air conditioned. 130baht for the
whole ride (maybe $5). We were told it was a 2 hour ride. About an
hour and a half in Lex disappeared the the front... I was all kicked
back and comfy with my shoes off and seat back watching the lush green
scenery and buildings go by. Just about to fall asleep. Lex comes back
and tells us that we need to get off now cause were stopping off a
little early to have lunch with her mom (Khun Ma). OK, so I had to
hurry and grab my things. Zach looked at me and smiled knowing that
this was just another surprise in a long series of surprises. Down the
rabbit hole we go!
Our first stop was dinner under a shade of beautiful trees on the edge
of a beach. I could stare off into the distance and see clam and crab
farms. We let our Thai friends order for us as usual. As usual about
15 plates came out with everything from fried fish (with the head and
scales on of course) to bar-b-q'd soft shell crabs that you eat whole.
It was a feast of epic per portions. In Thai cooking there are four
flavors: sour, sweet, creamy and salty. I have come to love the
balance of every dish and how they craftily use sometimes all four to
make a wonderful dish. I shall miss this when i am gone. This was a
nice and peaceful time. Thai service is unbeatable. It seams that
every little place employs a bunch of people. A little cafe in America
would have the owner and maybe one person helping. A cafe of the same
size here will have at least 7 to 10 people working and doing things.
If your glass gets half empty, they fill it up with ninja like skill.
If you finish your plate they sneak it off the table leaving you
wondering where it went. Its pretty amazing.
Our second stop was a floating market. This was ok. It seemed to me
that it was set up primarily for tourists to feel like they were at a
real Bangkok floating market and maybe to learn a little of the
popular culture. Most of the stuff for sale is just tourist junk. I
think the biggest thing that I would like to share with people at home
is the lifestyle here. This is something I cant buy but can maybe
describe. At this point Zach and I were getting a bit antsy. Were not
much for shopping for souvenirs or for walking the tourist hangouts. I
really wanted to hit up a little bar and maybe eat a little, drink a
little and chat it up with the locals. Back to the car we go.
At this point we thought we were going to finally get a hotel and
decompress a little. True? Nooooooo! We circled the same terrible
traffic twice and then pulled into a parking lot with a very large and
fancy building. It looked very plush and flamboyant. It was called
Tiffanys. It is a cabaret review with some loud music and grand
costumes and the most beautiful lady.... boys that Thailand has to
offer. Thats right! I said it.. Ladyboys! Someones mom and grandma
took us to see a ladyboy review. Now, I must comment. There were
moments that I seriously couldn't believe my eyes.... or my mind. Some
of these ladyboys were actually extremely hot like ultra women. The
beautiful looks of a girl with the mentality of a man? Is this like
some sort of super hero? I dont know. Needless to say.. I left
speechless and in thought. Zach and I just looked at each other with a
half grin half sickened look and sighed. What is teh future of this
third sex? This changed everything!!! No I am scared to even talk to a
Thai woman for fear it might be, or was, or will be a man??? This is
too much. Beer me now.
So we finally got back to the traffic filled street that led to our
hotel (3rd times a charm) and tensions were kind of high. Zack and I
were tired and wanted an air conditioned bar. The two Thai girls I
think wanted food and maybe to walk around... and the american girl
wanted a bi-poler dream come true. So she told everyone to get out and
walk. After my warning that it was very far she still pushed for this.
I really dont know why either because of a hurt foot and kind of
crappy mood. A really long walk in hot weather with high humidity and
a hurt foot doesn't make for fun.
Finally, the girls decided to take motorcycles to the hotel and Zack
and I made for the closest bar. Hey its the Hard Rock Cafe
Thailand.... land of the sliding inflated beer prices... Who cares, we
are about a mile away from walking street (destination of the super
party, hookers, dirty shows, kick boxing bars, dance clubs, hooka...
its other name is sin city) and we NEEDed a little swill. In we go,
once again a Thai band with some very pretty Thai girls singing are
doing american covers... including "Im proud to be an american" WTF?
and we ordered our beer. It was very expensive. We drank, we saw, we
left.
Just outside of walking street some hot bar girls were calling us in
as they do to every "farang" walking by. Normally we would just walk
by but I noticed guys Thai boxing and other people betting on them,
FUN!!! We went and sat and drank. What a good thing a Thai bar girl is
to a guys ego, is this paradise I thought to myself.. only if you
believe that the girls really DONT want your money, the Thai boxers
really "ARE" having fun and getting paid, the friendliness really "IS
NOT" just cause you are American and you are their target audience.
HAHA. OK I'll believe just for a second, let myself feel as though I
am supers special to everyone in that bar for that moment. I am not a
walking bulging wallet. We stayed for a bit and had fun but then
carried on to walking street where a guy continued to try to get us to
pay for a show to see a girl put a pink pong ball in her most private
(well not any more) of areas and shoot it into a cup. We declined and
went on to a dance club. Zach and I ordered hookah and some beers that
apparently came with free shots. TEQUILA!!!! There were some pretty
hot girls there too but it is so scary to look at girls in Thailand in
certain areas for fear that they are hookers just trying to get your
money, or that they are ladyboys.. RUN RUN RUN! After smoking the
hookah we were feeling quite spent and information overload and tired
of all the sales pitches meant for half retarded brits (ps. I think I
have a real chip on my shoulder about British people after meeting so
many of them here and them just being rude, low class, smelly, dirty
shit talkin losers for the most part, and most look inbred hahaha im
sure this is not all brits, just the well off holiday drunks) and 50
year old scummy desperate vets looking for an 18 yer old Thai girl to
forget that they are old and mentally mamed.... We went back to the
kick boxing bar. It wasn't crowded, the drinks were cheap, the staff
was nice and not overly sales-manly and it was air conditioned. The
boxing bar was great, we met the owner, a pretty Thai lady about 40s
who kept buying us whisky shots, I think because we werent the usual
desperate americans and treated them like people not purchased slaves.
Well, that is all for now, this was long and long. Time to meet Zach
at MBK and get dinner and a lovely 3 liter of Singha!!!
Anyway, thats all for now.. I will be adding a section to the blog calls "Zach Says" to give a little of his insight.
The R.
Friday, 4 June 2010
June 4th - Friday is Friday everywhere...
Friday! I feel here, about Friday, how I felt after a long work week
in the states. It seems that the Friday sentiment crosses
international borders. My head was a little hazy this morning. I
celebrated over many Singhas and Changs last night.. Why you ask?
Because I found a pizza place that actually served pretty good pizza
with real tangy tomato sauce, real cheese and many styles!! The bread
it was on was more of a toasted tortilla but it was good. It marked
the first meal that I didnt have rice or noodles since I left the
States! Of course I did pay for it! Usually I spend 50 to 100 Baht
($1.50 to $3.00) on a meal. Last nights? 500 ($15usd) baht and worth
every little penny.. or baht. CHAI!!! (Yes!!!!)
Thailand... Land of smiles. I take a slight pleasure in hearing all
the girls laugh so femininely and proper in little high toned whispers
as they cover their mouths and smile or put their hands on their
cheeks. They seem so old world in their office dress attire. Very
fashionable skirts to just below the knee and a blouse that although
hugs their tiny frame still is very work appropriate. It makes me
think of the American 50 with a modern twist and a class that I have
only seen in Asians. I must admit it is quite an attractive package. I
think a lot about Grandpa in the Philippines. I imagine it as somewhat
similar of an experience. A tall American amongst a bunch of pretty
little Filippinas who would all love to come to the States.
Unfortunately, I have a hard time being interested in a girl with the
shape of a small boy....(Dig that american curve) Not only this but
Thai courtship is way beyond my comprehension. I barely see couples
here hold hands. Any public affection here in Thailand is seen as
inappropriate. How do people know that someone likes you? How do you
decipher friends and romance? hahah I'll never know! A song comes to
mind...
Oh yeah, all right.. take it easy baby, make it last all night.. she
was.. a AMERICAN GIRL!
For those who dont know the song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akiBVlrRvEQ
What is is about American women? I miss them dearly. Seduction is such
a different and much more tactful game it seems in America. They are
all so beautiful and yet so different is so many ways. Here in Krung
Thep (Bangkok but I am trying to live as a local and they don't like
that word) although I am sure there are many different personalities..
the styles and the attitudes are all so similar looking and dressing
and thoughts. Score once more for America and their vast variety of
women of many colors, backgrounds, educations, lifestyles, likes,
wants and dreams.
The subway on teh way to work today was so full. There were lines of
many thai people just waiting to get on the train. Lunch was equally
crowded. We went out with a rather large group of coworkers and had
papaya salad with fermented fish, papaya salad with crab, papaya salad
with salted eggs, pork throat, ground pork, and chopped pork, all in a
variety of sauces. It seems that Fridays is when the streets of Krung
Thep come alive starting at 6am on Fridays. This is the first weekend
that the curfew will be lifted so I assume that it will be a wild
weekend.
For me, I plan on getting out of the city and heading to the beach
area called Pataya.. I guess to the people here it is known as "Sin
City" We will have our Thai friends with us to guide us to all the
sinful attractions. Ill update you maybe monday... If I survive.
Doing all this daily reporting makes me want to maybe start a blog
about my daily life, obviously starting here and continuing into the
states. I think it is interesting enough to maybe hold some readers.
MY only reservations are that I would want to speak completely openly
and honestly and I am sure that this would definitely hurt some
peoples feelings. Not because of me having an opinion about them
specifically but that my daily truths and actions are not always what
other people had planned or had thought for me. Its the good ole'
multiple selves situation.. with my family I am this way, with my
spouse I am this way, at work I am this way, in public I am this way,
in private I am this way. Wouldnt it be easier to always be one way?
Not many really ever do that. In some cases it might be wise to have a
few selves. Either way I think that in life you have to do what makes
you happy and not care about the approval or thoughts of others
because in being honest with yourself and doing what makes you happy
you will find fulfillment. Not to mention, the people that love you,
if they really love you, will love you for who you are.
In the words of Stephen R Covey...
“There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment.
The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase ‘to live, to
love, to learn, to leave a legacy’. The need to live is our physical
need for such things as food, clothing, shelter, economical
well-being, health. The need to love is our social need to relate to
other people, to belong, to love and to be loved. The need to learn is
our mental need to develop and to grow. And the need to leave a legacy
is our spiritual need to have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal
congruence, and contribution”
Anyhow, that's my thoughts for today. If you no longer want to hear
them then let me know and I will un-insultedly (yes I made up that
word but I feel that is appropriate for the context) remove you from
the mail list.
Long days and pleasant nights.
The wordsmith,
R
in the states. It seems that the Friday sentiment crosses
international borders. My head was a little hazy this morning. I
celebrated over many Singhas and Changs last night.. Why you ask?
Because I found a pizza place that actually served pretty good pizza
with real tangy tomato sauce, real cheese and many styles!! The bread
it was on was more of a toasted tortilla but it was good. It marked
the first meal that I didnt have rice or noodles since I left the
States! Of course I did pay for it! Usually I spend 50 to 100 Baht
($1.50 to $3.00) on a meal. Last nights? 500 ($15usd) baht and worth
every little penny.. or baht. CHAI!!! (Yes!!!!)
Thailand... Land of smiles. I take a slight pleasure in hearing all
the girls laugh so femininely and proper in little high toned whispers
as they cover their mouths and smile or put their hands on their
cheeks. They seem so old world in their office dress attire. Very
fashionable skirts to just below the knee and a blouse that although
hugs their tiny frame still is very work appropriate. It makes me
think of the American 50 with a modern twist and a class that I have
only seen in Asians. I must admit it is quite an attractive package. I
think a lot about Grandpa in the Philippines. I imagine it as somewhat
similar of an experience. A tall American amongst a bunch of pretty
little Filippinas who would all love to come to the States.
Unfortunately, I have a hard time being interested in a girl with the
shape of a small boy....(Dig that american curve) Not only this but
Thai courtship is way beyond my comprehension. I barely see couples
here hold hands. Any public affection here in Thailand is seen as
inappropriate. How do people know that someone likes you? How do you
decipher friends and romance? hahah I'll never know! A song comes to
mind...
Oh yeah, all right.. take it easy baby, make it last all night.. she
was.. a AMERICAN GIRL!
For those who dont know the song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akiBVlrRvEQ
What is is about American women? I miss them dearly. Seduction is such
a different and much more tactful game it seems in America. They are
all so beautiful and yet so different is so many ways. Here in Krung
Thep (Bangkok but I am trying to live as a local and they don't like
that word) although I am sure there are many different personalities..
the styles and the attitudes are all so similar looking and dressing
and thoughts. Score once more for America and their vast variety of
women of many colors, backgrounds, educations, lifestyles, likes,
wants and dreams.
The subway on teh way to work today was so full. There were lines of
many thai people just waiting to get on the train. Lunch was equally
crowded. We went out with a rather large group of coworkers and had
papaya salad with fermented fish, papaya salad with crab, papaya salad
with salted eggs, pork throat, ground pork, and chopped pork, all in a
variety of sauces. It seems that Fridays is when the streets of Krung
Thep come alive starting at 6am on Fridays. This is the first weekend
that the curfew will be lifted so I assume that it will be a wild
weekend.
For me, I plan on getting out of the city and heading to the beach
area called Pataya.. I guess to the people here it is known as "Sin
City" We will have our Thai friends with us to guide us to all the
sinful attractions. Ill update you maybe monday... If I survive.
Doing all this daily reporting makes me want to maybe start a blog
about my daily life, obviously starting here and continuing into the
states. I think it is interesting enough to maybe hold some readers.
MY only reservations are that I would want to speak completely openly
and honestly and I am sure that this would definitely hurt some
peoples feelings. Not because of me having an opinion about them
specifically but that my daily truths and actions are not always what
other people had planned or had thought for me. Its the good ole'
multiple selves situation.. with my family I am this way, with my
spouse I am this way, at work I am this way, in public I am this way,
in private I am this way. Wouldnt it be easier to always be one way?
Not many really ever do that. In some cases it might be wise to have a
few selves. Either way I think that in life you have to do what makes
you happy and not care about the approval or thoughts of others
because in being honest with yourself and doing what makes you happy
you will find fulfillment. Not to mention, the people that love you,
if they really love you, will love you for who you are.
In the words of Stephen R Covey...
“There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment.
The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase ‘to live, to
love, to learn, to leave a legacy’. The need to live is our physical
need for such things as food, clothing, shelter, economical
well-being, health. The need to love is our social need to relate to
other people, to belong, to love and to be loved. The need to learn is
our mental need to develop and to grow. And the need to leave a legacy
is our spiritual need to have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal
congruence, and contribution”
Anyhow, that's my thoughts for today. If you no longer want to hear
them then let me know and I will un-insultedly (yes I made up that
word but I feel that is appropriate for the context) remove you from
the mail list.
Long days and pleasant nights.
The wordsmith,
R
June 3rd - poor poor farang.
Well dear readers, I find myself acclimating to daily life here and I
am surprised at how much my work here is like office work in the
states. People sitting around in cubicles working away, every now and
then talking a little time out to joke around and munching on snacks.
Her it is usually some sort of fish flavored chip or crunchy prawns
but pretty much the same. I have not yet been brought my afternoon
ovaltine yet so I am getting antsy. Today's assignment is to research
the effects of the rapid development of South Korea, the trend for
urbanization and the effect that it had had on air pollution as
opposed to the air pollution that is floating over from china... Is
this some sort of CO2 racism? I am not really sure. AH.. As I wrote
those last words my afternoon ovaltine was dropped lovingly at my
desk.. Korb Koon Krob! (Thank you) So! I once again ate lunch with my
co-workers. We took taxis to Silom, one district over, to have lunch
at this indoor outdoor place. The line was long so I figured it was
good, or at least popular. I had them order for me as usual. I got a
bowl of beef and noodles with a sort of curry made from pigs blood,
various spices and vegetables. It was quite good. Kind of spicy and a
little like Tom Yum soup for those who have had the pleasure. For
desert? None other then some sort of coconut milk soup with dried
crushed up beans made into a paste and fried and dropped into the
soup... YUM! Until yesterday and today I haven't drank the local water
supply, I think everything seems to be ok. Maybe the local flora have
finally settled in me and are happily eating my intestines. Today was
extremely humid. 95 degrees with 100% humidity? Yeah. Imagine being
sort of wet all the time. Anyone who has lived in the south or who has
been to vietnam I am sure know this well. I think I will stay a little
late and try to impress the boss a little today. After that? I am on a
mission to find a Thai pizza place. I have seen them but haven't
tried. THe pictures look as if it is like every other Asian dish..
crab, shrimp, fish pieces... but on a round bread with cheese. Hmmm...
And they claim this is NY style???? I guess it like Americans eating
Chinese food and thinking that it is like the food real Chinese people
eat right? Another comrade might be joining me tonight for a stay in
my room. She too has an internship in Asia but hers is in Vietnam but
she has a little time to kill and is backpacking around. It will be
good to see a blond again! hahahah. OK, once again.. see you soon...
I'll be here. Please forward on to anyone who you think might enjoy
this.
The "Farang yai mak mak" ...
or as they say.. vely vely big falang!
R
am surprised at how much my work here is like office work in the
states. People sitting around in cubicles working away, every now and
then talking a little time out to joke around and munching on snacks.
Her it is usually some sort of fish flavored chip or crunchy prawns
but pretty much the same. I have not yet been brought my afternoon
ovaltine yet so I am getting antsy. Today's assignment is to research
the effects of the rapid development of South Korea, the trend for
urbanization and the effect that it had had on air pollution as
opposed to the air pollution that is floating over from china... Is
this some sort of CO2 racism? I am not really sure. AH.. As I wrote
those last words my afternoon ovaltine was dropped lovingly at my
desk.. Korb Koon Krob! (Thank you) So! I once again ate lunch with my
co-workers. We took taxis to Silom, one district over, to have lunch
at this indoor outdoor place. The line was long so I figured it was
good, or at least popular. I had them order for me as usual. I got a
bowl of beef and noodles with a sort of curry made from pigs blood,
various spices and vegetables. It was quite good. Kind of spicy and a
little like Tom Yum soup for those who have had the pleasure. For
desert? None other then some sort of coconut milk soup with dried
crushed up beans made into a paste and fried and dropped into the
soup... YUM! Until yesterday and today I haven't drank the local water
supply, I think everything seems to be ok. Maybe the local flora have
finally settled in me and are happily eating my intestines. Today was
extremely humid. 95 degrees with 100% humidity? Yeah. Imagine being
sort of wet all the time. Anyone who has lived in the south or who has
been to vietnam I am sure know this well. I think I will stay a little
late and try to impress the boss a little today. After that? I am on a
mission to find a Thai pizza place. I have seen them but haven't
tried. THe pictures look as if it is like every other Asian dish..
crab, shrimp, fish pieces... but on a round bread with cheese. Hmmm...
And they claim this is NY style???? I guess it like Americans eating
Chinese food and thinking that it is like the food real Chinese people
eat right? Another comrade might be joining me tonight for a stay in
my room. She too has an internship in Asia but hers is in Vietnam but
she has a little time to kill and is backpacking around. It will be
good to see a blond again! hahahah. OK, once again.. see you soon...
I'll be here. Please forward on to anyone who you think might enjoy
this.
The "Farang yai mak mak" ...
or as they say.. vely vely big falang!
R
June 2nd - Its starting to sink in.
Im totally going to bed early tonight. I am sooo beat tired
and my head hurts from so much thinking. Hmmmm.... shouldnt I be
getting paid for this??? Right now I
am supposed to analize the trends of internal and external factors
causing urgency for countries to adopt anti toxic chemical legislation
for 5 nations
that have already done it and suggest weaknesses and strengts for an
upcoming Thailand strategy. ooooof! Ima grab a beer with Zack at
the hotel lobby across the street from our apartment and then call it
a night. Your 8am is my 10pm. I have to go back to Big C (The
gigantor local asain
market because I bought an Iron for 289 ($9USD) baht and of course when i took
it out to iron my shirt today it was a three prong and my apartment
has only two prongs..... Ill eat there too. Its very reasonable.
40baht for a good amount of fried noodles or fried rice. I ate this
weird soup from a street vendor today, knowingly warned not to eat
from street vendors because no one uses paper plates, forks, or cups
so they wash them in a bucket next to the cart..... and .... well...
IM ALIVE! It was delicious. Very flavorful and good. KInda like
chicken and dumplings - the dumplings + noodles. About to start my
train ride and walk........ Ill be here.
R
and my head hurts from so much thinking. Hmmmm.... shouldnt I be
getting paid for this??? Right now I
am supposed to analize the trends of internal and external factors
causing urgency for countries to adopt anti toxic chemical legislation
for 5 nations
that have already done it and suggest weaknesses and strengts for an
upcoming Thailand strategy. ooooof! Ima grab a beer with Zack at
the hotel lobby across the street from our apartment and then call it
a night. Your 8am is my 10pm. I have to go back to Big C (The
gigantor local asain
market because I bought an Iron for 289 ($9USD) baht and of course when i took
it out to iron my shirt today it was a three prong and my apartment
has only two prongs..... Ill eat there too. Its very reasonable.
40baht for a good amount of fried noodles or fried rice. I ate this
weird soup from a street vendor today, knowingly warned not to eat
from street vendors because no one uses paper plates, forks, or cups
so they wash them in a bucket next to the cart..... and .... well...
IM ALIVE! It was delicious. Very flavorful and good. KInda like
chicken and dumplings - the dumplings + noodles. About to start my
train ride and walk........ Ill be here.
R
June 1st - My first day at work in Bangkok.
I just got back from my second day of work. This stuff is hard!!! Boy
am I glad I had my sustainability classes though cause I am doing that
exact same stuf! Who knew I would actually use that cost benefit
analysis shit and that life cycle nonsense and that same report
method. I am doing some serious things!!!!! Today home sickness is
starting to hit me a little. I feel tired. Living here and adapting to
a new environment is hard. No fridge in the room, none of my usual
comforts, you got to kill someone to get a good amount of water or a
cold drink, I only eat about 2 times a day cause its so hot i'm not
hungry, I walk about 4 miles a day and ride subways and trains every
day dressed up, sweaty and carrying my backpack. Its a pretty rough
change... I don't think many could take it. I enjoy it though because
it makes me appreciate other peoples lives, my life and makes me know
its a huge world and that I want to see so much more of it. I love
this kind of immersion stuff. I am even picking up a little Thai
language pretty fast. Thai people seem to like Americans "farangs" and
wish us well as well as being very helpful. I might move apartments at
the end of the month to a closer one to the BTS skytrain. I am
supposed to go to the beach this weekend and I am looking forward to
it. I am really watching my flow though. so yeah. Thats where i'm at.
Hot, hungry, tired.. but loving the adventure. I was a little sad
yesterday thinking about home and still get a little sad while
thinking of it. BUt stiffin up the upper lip little soldier right?
This is such an awesome experience and it will bring me so much as it
already has. Hows your day? Hows your life? I feel so detached from
everyone and everything as if my past life isn't there anymore or has
gone on without me. I almost dont know what to do about it. Celebrate
and forge on or mourn the pasts' death. Dont think of it as if I am
suffering, I mean I am a little but its only because of how good we
have it in the US. and of course my choice to embark on these kind of
things. Its just a different life style. The city of Bangkok is very
interesting though. Two nights ago we got scammed by a cabbie who took
us to the wrong place, on purpose, and left us in a pretty serious
hood. Bastard. We did a little walking and made it out good though
minus 500 baht ($15) . Life is
such an experience you know that. I tried to do laundry last night and
of course the dryer didn't work so I have clothes hanging all around
my room. I am looking pretty good though. Loosing all the fat I have
is really exposing the muscle that before didn't show, my belly stays
big though.. damn beer. hahahah. There is a park with a free
outdoor gym, kind of how they have on muscle beach in Vennis Cali, and
I will start working out there with the ripped asians next week. The
yhave these giant komodo dragon things you have to watch out for in
the park, huge lizards and I guess at night, while dodging all the
hookers, if you get too close to bushes they jump out and bite you.
crazy... Bangkok, or as it will be called on the maps in the near
future, Krung Thep, (the locals think that Bangkok is an ugly and old
sounding word) is a city with like 9,100,000 people there is still so
much wildlife in the concrete jungle. There are lotus flowers in the
planters with fish that eat off of the roots and small ecosystems
everywhere. They make excellent use of nature within the city to keep
such an urban area green. Traffic is prob the biggest danger here, one
wrong step and youll be hit by busses, motercycles, taxis and or tuk
tuks. Its quite a cluster funk here with traffic. Id go running but
the sidewalks are sooo crowded with vendors its impossible as well as
teh sidewalks are all crazy and busted up. Well, thats what I know for
know... I went to lunch with my co-workers. anywhere from 100 to 200
baht, so 3 to 6 dollars depending and that was a decent place. I
bought a bunch of stuff from the store, i am still looking for a cheep
rice maker. I need to cut spending as much as possible. Oh yeah,
lunch... I just had lunch with the entire office at a german place. It
was quite good. They were wishing one of the employees off as she is
marrying an American and going to San Francisco. It reminded me of my
going away party. tisk tisk tear tear. So My boss (mrs) Khun Malika
and (mr) Khun Kittipong paid the bill. It was very nice of them. Thai
people are so nice to each other. It is strange and somewhat
refreshing.... Maybe I'll pick up the good book of Buddhism. i see how
it has affected this nation and its a good thing. Anyhow, talk to you
soon. I'll be here.
The still living legend....R
am I glad I had my sustainability classes though cause I am doing that
exact same stuf! Who knew I would actually use that cost benefit
analysis shit and that life cycle nonsense and that same report
method. I am doing some serious things!!!!! Today home sickness is
starting to hit me a little. I feel tired. Living here and adapting to
a new environment is hard. No fridge in the room, none of my usual
comforts, you got to kill someone to get a good amount of water or a
cold drink, I only eat about 2 times a day cause its so hot i'm not
hungry, I walk about 4 miles a day and ride subways and trains every
day dressed up, sweaty and carrying my backpack. Its a pretty rough
change... I don't think many could take it. I enjoy it though because
it makes me appreciate other peoples lives, my life and makes me know
its a huge world and that I want to see so much more of it. I love
this kind of immersion stuff. I am even picking up a little Thai
language pretty fast. Thai people seem to like Americans "farangs" and
wish us well as well as being very helpful. I might move apartments at
the end of the month to a closer one to the BTS skytrain. I am
supposed to go to the beach this weekend and I am looking forward to
it. I am really watching my flow though. so yeah. Thats where i'm at.
Hot, hungry, tired.. but loving the adventure. I was a little sad
yesterday thinking about home and still get a little sad while
thinking of it. BUt stiffin up the upper lip little soldier right?
This is such an awesome experience and it will bring me so much as it
already has. Hows your day? Hows your life? I feel so detached from
everyone and everything as if my past life isn't there anymore or has
gone on without me. I almost dont know what to do about it. Celebrate
and forge on or mourn the pasts' death. Dont think of it as if I am
suffering, I mean I am a little but its only because of how good we
have it in the US. and of course my choice to embark on these kind of
things. Its just a different life style. The city of Bangkok is very
interesting though. Two nights ago we got scammed by a cabbie who took
us to the wrong place, on purpose, and left us in a pretty serious
hood. Bastard. We did a little walking and made it out good though
minus 500 baht ($15) . Life is
such an experience you know that. I tried to do laundry last night and
of course the dryer didn't work so I have clothes hanging all around
my room. I am looking pretty good though. Loosing all the fat I have
is really exposing the muscle that before didn't show, my belly stays
big though.. damn beer. hahahah. There is a park with a free
outdoor gym, kind of how they have on muscle beach in Vennis Cali, and
I will start working out there with the ripped asians next week. The
yhave these giant komodo dragon things you have to watch out for in
the park, huge lizards and I guess at night, while dodging all the
hookers, if you get too close to bushes they jump out and bite you.
crazy... Bangkok, or as it will be called on the maps in the near
future, Krung Thep, (the locals think that Bangkok is an ugly and old
sounding word) is a city with like 9,100,000 people there is still so
much wildlife in the concrete jungle. There are lotus flowers in the
planters with fish that eat off of the roots and small ecosystems
everywhere. They make excellent use of nature within the city to keep
such an urban area green. Traffic is prob the biggest danger here, one
wrong step and youll be hit by busses, motercycles, taxis and or tuk
tuks. Its quite a cluster funk here with traffic. Id go running but
the sidewalks are sooo crowded with vendors its impossible as well as
teh sidewalks are all crazy and busted up. Well, thats what I know for
know... I went to lunch with my co-workers. anywhere from 100 to 200
baht, so 3 to 6 dollars depending and that was a decent place. I
bought a bunch of stuff from the store, i am still looking for a cheep
rice maker. I need to cut spending as much as possible. Oh yeah,
lunch... I just had lunch with the entire office at a german place. It
was quite good. They were wishing one of the employees off as she is
marrying an American and going to San Francisco. It reminded me of my
going away party. tisk tisk tear tear. So My boss (mrs) Khun Malika
and (mr) Khun Kittipong paid the bill. It was very nice of them. Thai
people are so nice to each other. It is strange and somewhat
refreshing.... Maybe I'll pick up the good book of Buddhism. i see how
it has affected this nation and its a good thing. Anyhow, talk to you
soon. I'll be here.
The still living legend....R
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