By the time i got back from Germany, there was no sign of the military who had resided in my 'hood for the last 2 months. The streets were cleaned up, the barricades were gone.And it's nice that i can go out again and roam the city as i please again...
But to me, things still feel a little off. there was already a "Together, We Can" campaign going in full force - banners, ads, commercials... and lots of sales, designed to bring tourists back to thailand... which is good, because this is a beautiful country, and the business is needed. And yes, it's important to preserve Thai culture, obviously.
But the ads are kind of disturbing, really - they just push "happy happy joy joy" a little too much, and there seems to be no visible effort to help people come to terms with the situation in a constructive way...and sometimes i wonder if it occurs to Thailand maybe Thai thought should be developed/translated/preserved in the same way as the food and clothing. A direct quote from the Tourism Authority of Thailand:
"This new advertising from TAT complies about Thailand is a state of peace and love, you could get warmth together. Let's share your nice hugging shot on our wall post to show how much you love Thailand."
The ad goes to show people hugging inanimate objects ...trees, boats...it cute, i guess. I dunno, i guess it would just be nice to see ONE example of people showing how they are affected, how they experience their lives. Maybe if they had a forum in which they could speak/paint/dance/express their mind, it would inspire people find a better way to bridge their differences...
Perhaps it would be valuable to give a voice to the people who felt there was no other alternative but to take to the streets. Maybe if there were more forums for communication, the people migh be more informed and less vulnerable to the lies and propaganda.
By telling people to just keep smiling in the face of change and uncertainty, aren't you pushing them further into that desperation, which inevitably turns into violence? I mean, people were protesting for WEEKS, and if you dared to ask a Thai what they thought about it, they would look at you as if you should be ashamed - how dare you ask them to speak against their people? Thai culture instills that a good citizen is one who "agrees" and "complies" and upholds the appearance of Happy Happy.
Perhaps if people were allowed to share and analyze their emotions and behavior, they would come to new solutions for handling new social and economic issues...
I don't know, maybe it all exists somewhere, but i can't find it, though to be fair, i should mention that there are few articles in the Bangkok Post (usually in the Leisure section) that might touch upon the issues...
But my larger point here is that i just think the people would get a lot more out of learning to hug one another, not just inanimate objects... and just maybe, somebody should be doing something to encourage that...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
catching up...part 1, Red Shirts
I last left off as the Red Shirt saga was starting to get heated...things eventually really out of hand. My neighborhood became a militarized zone...Lumpini Park became home to hundreds of protesters, surrounded by a ten-foot barricade made of tires and bamboo sticks, doused in something flammable...Sukhumvit, also shut down from one Central World to the other - protesters camped out with their families under the BTS tracks, sleeping on mats, hanging out their laundry, listening 24/7 to propaganda and sappy ballads broadcast over loudspeakers. The beginning of May marked the first clash, down by democracy monument, where i had first walked amongst thousands of protesters who believed they were there for freedom. People were killed, Khao San Rd. was trashed. i was a block away when the bomb was thrown onto Sala Daeng station. Central and Siam had closed their doors, and Thailand was losing an estimated U$100 million a day.
By mid-May, the showdown was getting really tense, the military was present everywhere, and a few days later, the city was completely shut down. No more BTS. nothing open - no place to go, even if you wanted to. Curfews instilled - 9 pm, then 8 pm...and 3 pm in my neighborhood. Sathorn and Silom Roads, and Rama IV, were closed off. The red shirts raided a HOSPITAL, never thinking about what that meant...we could hear the gunshots all night... 3 days of this, and it didn't look like this was going to stop any time soon. 28 fires set in the city, including Central World. People were getting shot in the street...and since the main streets were shut down, protesters came through the sidestreets now, crammed into pickups, holding rifles...
All incited by a power-hungry egomaniac who deliberately put his own people's lives in danger for his own gain... and all because a government couldn't let U$20 million slide, chuck it to a loss in the murky waters of political laws... And while the people fought to get money promised to them by the government, it boggles the mind how they can't see that had their hero REALLY had their interest at heart, he would not have laundered the government money through his own party...
So after three days of camping in and sticking together as the world around us became a fight zone, Tanya, Lannie, and I headed to Pattaya, which yes, had 9 pm curfews, but thank goodness, was not nearly as tense as it bangkok.
And 4 days later, i headed to Germany for a little mini vacation, which i had already been planning...
By mid-May, the showdown was getting really tense, the military was present everywhere, and a few days later, the city was completely shut down. No more BTS. nothing open - no place to go, even if you wanted to. Curfews instilled - 9 pm, then 8 pm...and 3 pm in my neighborhood. Sathorn and Silom Roads, and Rama IV, were closed off. The red shirts raided a HOSPITAL, never thinking about what that meant...we could hear the gunshots all night... 3 days of this, and it didn't look like this was going to stop any time soon. 28 fires set in the city, including Central World. People were getting shot in the street...and since the main streets were shut down, protesters came through the sidestreets now, crammed into pickups, holding rifles...
All incited by a power-hungry egomaniac who deliberately put his own people's lives in danger for his own gain... and all because a government couldn't let U$20 million slide, chuck it to a loss in the murky waters of political laws... And while the people fought to get money promised to them by the government, it boggles the mind how they can't see that had their hero REALLY had their interest at heart, he would not have laundered the government money through his own party...
So after three days of camping in and sticking together as the world around us became a fight zone, Tanya, Lannie, and I headed to Pattaya, which yes, had 9 pm curfews, but thank goodness, was not nearly as tense as it bangkok.
And 4 days later, i headed to Germany for a little mini vacation, which i had already been planning...
Monday, April 5, 2010
Paid to be there? Red sympathy wanes...
Admittedly, i was sympathetic to the Red Shirts in Bangkok when they first set up camp around Democracy monument. After all, the current PM (Abhisit) was selected by a government that staged a military coup (which cost lives) to oust the former PM (Thaksin) in 2006.
On the one hand, the call for a free election seems simple enough. Sure, why not? Seems that 4 years is enough time for an interim government to organize a new election. But, or course, things aren't that simple.
Thaksin was a telecom mogul before becoming PM, and while in power, his policies encouraged the growth (through programs and funding) of new business and innovation, including the renewable energy sector. He also made healthcare universally available for the poor (40 baht flat fee - just over $1) - a program that i've been told continues today.
But opponents say thaksin conveniently benefitted from his pro-business policies, going as far as to say that he purposefully set up policies that would make him richer. I suppose one would have to dig a little deeper into the exact policies, analyzing the proportion of them that benefitted him...
Officially, he was "caught in the act" when he sold majority shares his telecom company for US$60 million to Temasek, Singapore's telecom. The idea that a foreigner now owned the majority of thailand's biggest telecom company outraged many nationals (i don't see a problem in it myself, but i can see why others do).
One way or another, the claim is that he did not pay money he owed on this sale. From what i understand, this is what got him ousted from being prime minister...and his refusal to pay (or go to jail), is what got him exiled. His logic for refusing to pay might be based on the "pro-business policies" that his government instated, many of which were reversed when he was exiled (which had a significant impact on legitimate businesses who were thriving from those policies). Anyway, a month ago, it was ruled that Thaksin owes US$20 million.
There's more than one claim (rumor?) of corruption surrounding Thaksin. It is not unusual to hear thatThaksin "stole money from the government". Whether this refers to the taxes avoided, or different instances, is another mission...
What does seem evident is that Thaksin had the money to pay people off to get what he wanted, and had no qualms about doing so - some might tell you that it's par for the course when doing business in thailand. While this might be acceptable in business, it's a little less so in politics.
Bluntly put, buying votes sort of defeats the whole "vote for who you believe in" idea. Some say that votes were bought from the start - Thaksin went out of his way to court people from all over Thailand's countryside in a way that was unusual for most candidates...and his efforts (monetary or otherwise) were rewarded with instant popularity. Hey, in the US, we get tax cuts, rebates, and govt cheese - and whoever gives out the most wins OUR loyalty...
But I think Thaksin is starting to lose sight of things. I mean, first off, why not pay what he owes and be done with the whole mess. In addition, i find it disturbing to hear (more than once!) that the demonstrators are being paid 500 Baht a day to be there...and they get a free trip into Bangkok - certainly, this is more pay than many would be earning otherwise.
But seriously, Mr. Thaksin, when do you STOP paying to have friends? (i mean, at this point, he's GOT to have spent more than $20 million...)
Sadly, Abhisit is an Oxford-educated man who was actually selected from the Democratic Party... and he might not have been elected by the people (ahem, bought votes sort of nullifies the whole fair/democratic option) - BUT he was elected by representatives of the people in the goverment - the equivalent of "electoral" votes...
My point being, Abhisit is doing at least as much for the people as Thaksin did... which makes me wonder what Thaksin really cares about more - the people, or his own power? The demonstrators feel like they're part of a fight for freedom - because that's what it looks like. But really, that seems less and less what is at stake here...
So what is going on now...
The "peaceful demonstrations" have been allowed to continue for nearly a month now, and the military presence has shown remarkable restraint. But it's getting to the point where patience is wearing thin. Someone tried to bomb the Bangkok Bank headquarters (2 blocks from me) a week or so ago - without much fanfare, there are now more cops, a checkpoint on Silom Rd (both ways), more railings that make it harder to walk on the sidewalks and harder to get too close/into buildings.
Sukhumvit is worse (business district + many more foreigners) - Red Shirts will drive down the street for hours (they loop around the blocks continually) making all kinds of racket...need i mention that their presence by Central World made world headlines by shutting the whole place down...as the tension builds (and whiskey definitely plays a role here), less people are willing to go anywhere near the commotion...
Today (Monday) - Red Shirts actually managed to get into the government building (in chaeng wattana) and cause enough disruption, that they actually closed all the offices (except Immigration, which willingly stayed open to help those in immediate need).
Seems to me that for all his "pro-business policies", Thaksin pretty much threw them under the bus in exchange for his precious popular support... these demonstations are hurting businesses, leaving them little choice but to pressure the government to resolve the situation.
Maybe Thaksin hopes that this will work in his favor, but i think his plan is backfiring. He's causing a lot of trouble, and i don't think Thais appreciate this kind of drama (it doesn't make them look good) ...
So we shall see...this week, tensions are high, but next week is Songkran - kind of like easter - the whole country basically goes on vacation... so bangkok empties out a little, people go home to be with their families... maybe the demonstrators will be tired of the whole thing and go home, letting everything just be...
On the one hand, the call for a free election seems simple enough. Sure, why not? Seems that 4 years is enough time for an interim government to organize a new election. But, or course, things aren't that simple.
Thaksin was a telecom mogul before becoming PM, and while in power, his policies encouraged the growth (through programs and funding) of new business and innovation, including the renewable energy sector. He also made healthcare universally available for the poor (40 baht flat fee - just over $1) - a program that i've been told continues today.
But opponents say thaksin conveniently benefitted from his pro-business policies, going as far as to say that he purposefully set up policies that would make him richer. I suppose one would have to dig a little deeper into the exact policies, analyzing the proportion of them that benefitted him...
Officially, he was "caught in the act" when he sold majority shares his telecom company for US$60 million to Temasek, Singapore's telecom. The idea that a foreigner now owned the majority of thailand's biggest telecom company outraged many nationals (i don't see a problem in it myself, but i can see why others do).
One way or another, the claim is that he did not pay money he owed on this sale. From what i understand, this is what got him ousted from being prime minister...and his refusal to pay (or go to jail), is what got him exiled. His logic for refusing to pay might be based on the "pro-business policies" that his government instated, many of which were reversed when he was exiled (which had a significant impact on legitimate businesses who were thriving from those policies). Anyway, a month ago, it was ruled that Thaksin owes US$20 million.
There's more than one claim (rumor?) of corruption surrounding Thaksin. It is not unusual to hear thatThaksin "stole money from the government". Whether this refers to the taxes avoided, or different instances, is another mission...
What does seem evident is that Thaksin had the money to pay people off to get what he wanted, and had no qualms about doing so - some might tell you that it's par for the course when doing business in thailand. While this might be acceptable in business, it's a little less so in politics.
Bluntly put, buying votes sort of defeats the whole "vote for who you believe in" idea. Some say that votes were bought from the start - Thaksin went out of his way to court people from all over Thailand's countryside in a way that was unusual for most candidates...and his efforts (monetary or otherwise) were rewarded with instant popularity. Hey, in the US, we get tax cuts, rebates, and govt cheese - and whoever gives out the most wins OUR loyalty...
But I think Thaksin is starting to lose sight of things. I mean, first off, why not pay what he owes and be done with the whole mess. In addition, i find it disturbing to hear (more than once!) that the demonstrators are being paid 500 Baht a day to be there...and they get a free trip into Bangkok - certainly, this is more pay than many would be earning otherwise.
But seriously, Mr. Thaksin, when do you STOP paying to have friends? (i mean, at this point, he's GOT to have spent more than $20 million...)
Sadly, Abhisit is an Oxford-educated man who was actually selected from the Democratic Party... and he might not have been elected by the people (ahem, bought votes sort of nullifies the whole fair/democratic option) - BUT he was elected by representatives of the people in the goverment - the equivalent of "electoral" votes...
My point being, Abhisit is doing at least as much for the people as Thaksin did... which makes me wonder what Thaksin really cares about more - the people, or his own power? The demonstrators feel like they're part of a fight for freedom - because that's what it looks like. But really, that seems less and less what is at stake here...
So what is going on now...
The "peaceful demonstrations" have been allowed to continue for nearly a month now, and the military presence has shown remarkable restraint. But it's getting to the point where patience is wearing thin. Someone tried to bomb the Bangkok Bank headquarters (2 blocks from me) a week or so ago - without much fanfare, there are now more cops, a checkpoint on Silom Rd (both ways), more railings that make it harder to walk on the sidewalks and harder to get too close/into buildings.
Sukhumvit is worse (business district + many more foreigners) - Red Shirts will drive down the street for hours (they loop around the blocks continually) making all kinds of racket...need i mention that their presence by Central World made world headlines by shutting the whole place down...as the tension builds (and whiskey definitely plays a role here), less people are willing to go anywhere near the commotion...
Today (Monday) - Red Shirts actually managed to get into the government building (in chaeng wattana) and cause enough disruption, that they actually closed all the offices (except Immigration, which willingly stayed open to help those in immediate need).
Seems to me that for all his "pro-business policies", Thaksin pretty much threw them under the bus in exchange for his precious popular support... these demonstations are hurting businesses, leaving them little choice but to pressure the government to resolve the situation.
Maybe Thaksin hopes that this will work in his favor, but i think his plan is backfiring. He's causing a lot of trouble, and i don't think Thais appreciate this kind of drama (it doesn't make them look good) ...
So we shall see...this week, tensions are high, but next week is Songkran - kind of like easter - the whole country basically goes on vacation... so bangkok empties out a little, people go home to be with their families... maybe the demonstrators will be tired of the whole thing and go home, letting everything just be...
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
In case you haven't seen me in a while...
To the left, me and friend denise on khao san a few weeks ago - the look of ennui on my face is priceless ;) i like going to khao san because it's not so pretentious (you don't have to doll up or anything), and relatively cheap. Travellers usually are more willing to talk about where they've been, where they're from... and voila! easy, entertaining conversation... (usually i head with friend lannie in tow, and this time with denise, the newest addition to my favored Pinoy crew! i like to describe them as the Latinos of Asia...i feel the kinship, hehehe!) 
below, about 2 months ago (really? sheesh!) at the heart of silom, about 3 blocks from where i live... some will notice that i chopped my hair... it was a rash thing to do, and i still can't decide if i love or hate it - sometimes it's cute, other times (like, when i wake up in the morning!) not so much...! As for that bear/squirrel/'munk-ish thing - nah, i have no idea what it is, but it's big, fuzzy and cute, right?
coming back to life...
i'll do my best to be brief in catch-up...
exams were what they always are - miserable, hehehe! but survived, i think (not sure what the final scores were yet) ... my brain is definitely getting more stubborn in its "ripening" age - i don't like to memorize things for the sake of memorizing - and yes, by the end of the term, there were things i just plain never quite figured out how to do, despite multiple attempts. like, calculating thermal comfort and drawing the shaded area of a window overhang based on the solar angle... just too many vectors for this brain... some things need to be accepted, at least until they come up again... and perhaps by then i'll have a better method at my disposal...
so, i suppose the big news is, I'M DONE WITH CLASSES!!!
the anti-climax to that is... i'm really not sure what's coming up next.
confident in my knowledge, not so much in my skills - i was hoping by now i'd have a better handle on exactly how much energy gets saved/produced using different technologies, particularly solar pv... but a systematic approach still eludes me... so i'm hoping whatever comes next will change that...
on a sidenote, i'm teaching english at the university :) after taking more than 70 college classes in my lifetime, i learned a thing or two about teaching, i think - and it's a refreshing change to be ON THE OTHER SIDE of things! i've been given free reign, which is also kind of nice - i get to develop my own stuff, so i'd say there's a fair amount of history involved...and trying to explain concepts like perspective, art vs. design (vs. engineering), expression, imagination, conflict/social change, rock & roll, satire, jazz, the media...hehehe! bits and pieces that have stuck from assorted lectures over the years...
speaking of which, time to finish off today's lecture/exercises...
exams were what they always are - miserable, hehehe! but survived, i think (not sure what the final scores were yet) ... my brain is definitely getting more stubborn in its "ripening" age - i don't like to memorize things for the sake of memorizing - and yes, by the end of the term, there were things i just plain never quite figured out how to do, despite multiple attempts. like, calculating thermal comfort and drawing the shaded area of a window overhang based on the solar angle... just too many vectors for this brain... some things need to be accepted, at least until they come up again... and perhaps by then i'll have a better method at my disposal...
so, i suppose the big news is, I'M DONE WITH CLASSES!!!
the anti-climax to that is... i'm really not sure what's coming up next.
confident in my knowledge, not so much in my skills - i was hoping by now i'd have a better handle on exactly how much energy gets saved/produced using different technologies, particularly solar pv... but a systematic approach still eludes me... so i'm hoping whatever comes next will change that...
on a sidenote, i'm teaching english at the university :) after taking more than 70 college classes in my lifetime, i learned a thing or two about teaching, i think - and it's a refreshing change to be ON THE OTHER SIDE of things! i've been given free reign, which is also kind of nice - i get to develop my own stuff, so i'd say there's a fair amount of history involved...and trying to explain concepts like perspective, art vs. design (vs. engineering), expression, imagination, conflict/social change, rock & roll, satire, jazz, the media...hehehe! bits and pieces that have stuck from assorted lectures over the years...
speaking of which, time to finish off today's lecture/exercises...
Thursday, January 28, 2010
school, school, school. exams start mid-february. seems like i just finished the last ones... yes, i've had a few breaks in between, but pretty much will spend the next month scrambling from one subject to the next, and somehow make it all come together. i'm thinking, blogging will be pretty limited for february, maybe post up a few fotos... keeping my eye on the prize tho - i'm thinking a week in krabi/koh phi phi...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Welcome, 2010: Kilroy was Here...
2010 - it sounds so sci fi... i could very well just be part of some insomniac-slotted, slightly apocalyptic 80s sci fi sitcom, hopelessly lost in the information overload of 800 tv channels - cheaper to let it run, rather than try to fill the time slot again...
it might explain my ability to survive for several days at a time on fried seaweed, coca cola gummies, wheat crackers, tuna, dark chocolate hershey kisses, pineapple yoghurt, glass noodles, and green tea... or my periodically sustainable ability to sleep for 2 hours a night - until it just slows down the network and needs a 10-hour re-boot...
All attempts to function during re-boot are subject to sudden crashes at any time...
it might explain my ability to survive for several days at a time on fried seaweed, coca cola gummies, wheat crackers, tuna, dark chocolate hershey kisses, pineapple yoghurt, glass noodles, and green tea... or my periodically sustainable ability to sleep for 2 hours a night - until it just slows down the network and needs a 10-hour re-boot...
All attempts to function during re-boot are subject to sudden crashes at any time...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Pattaya...
I took a taxi to Pattaya on friday, but having taken the bus back for only 113 Baht (from Pattaya to Ekkamai bus stations) - from here on in, that will be my preferred method of transport. Actually, my dad and family moved from the sattahip flat (about a half our south of pattaya, give or take) to an apartment in north pattaya.
Wong Amat beach is north of the crowded and crazy jomtien beach, and it really is pretty and clean... removed, yet a mere motorbike-ride away from all the "pattaya action". This flat isn't quite as pretty, but it has space and it is on right the beach, and has a lovely pool. And has a fantastic view (from the 15th floor)...
The building has several little girls that go to school with my sister (who just turned 9), so now she has playmates (a highly imaginative north irish girl who wants to be called Isadora and the cutest little dutch sisters...), and it's safe enough around there that they get to run around a bit on their own...
My filipina friend came down saturday (as well as two russian girls who were staying in town). We spent a few hours on the beach - vendors come around with food - you can get a 1/2 dozen giant shrimp for 100 Baht ($3)...fried chicken, corn, fruit, and ice cream are also choices...
After a few hours on the beach, we had german food for dinner and headed to Walking Street. I'd actually never been into Pattaya to hang out (the other apartment was a bit far). If "street walkers" is the next phrase that popped into your head, you wouldn't be so far off. It's not that there aren't plenty of nice people walking around - this street has dozens of bars with fun music, pool tables, dance floors, etc. It's just that you gotta be okay with the loads of men trolling for prostitutes (or near-prostitutes) - and vice versa.
Hey, everyone's entitled to a good time, after all, it's a Saturday night... but while we waited for our russian friends to arrive, i was propositioned three times - in 15 minutes! Like, how much... i admit, it was actually more amusing than anything... they were all middle eastern men - but they were, aside from the obvious insult, rather polite about it - and took my refusal very well (especially considering that i joked with all of them, instead of outright telling them i wasn't a prostitute) They all asked if i was russian (which has its own implications)... what was really strange, though, was that 10 feet away from me, there really were a couple of blondies in see-through bloomers, stilettos, and baby-dolls... a far cry from my jeans (not even tight!) and tank top (okay, a litte tight there). So, is it actually a compliment that they picked me... I mean, look, that's what they (and scores of others) went to Pattaya for, so really, it comes with the territory, and at least they ASKED (not just take) - which is why i went easy on them. But really, their inability to even tell the difference, let alone grasp the concept that women can converse and socialize intelligently puts them light-years behind the times.
However, the rest of the night was fun - the lot of us even met some nice australians, and we had a grand ol' time of it.
But ask me if i prefer pattaya or khao san road (which many locals see as dirty and drug-ridden)... i'd take the open-eyed, nomadic youth of khao san over the single-minded whore-seekers (and its share of nasty drunks) of pattaya any day.
Wong Amat beach is north of the crowded and crazy jomtien beach, and it really is pretty and clean... removed, yet a mere motorbike-ride away from all the "pattaya action". This flat isn't quite as pretty, but it has space and it is on right the beach, and has a lovely pool. And has a fantastic view (from the 15th floor)...
The building has several little girls that go to school with my sister (who just turned 9), so now she has playmates (a highly imaginative north irish girl who wants to be called Isadora and the cutest little dutch sisters...), and it's safe enough around there that they get to run around a bit on their own...
My filipina friend came down saturday (as well as two russian girls who were staying in town). We spent a few hours on the beach - vendors come around with food - you can get a 1/2 dozen giant shrimp for 100 Baht ($3)...fried chicken, corn, fruit, and ice cream are also choices...
After a few hours on the beach, we had german food for dinner and headed to Walking Street. I'd actually never been into Pattaya to hang out (the other apartment was a bit far). If "street walkers" is the next phrase that popped into your head, you wouldn't be so far off. It's not that there aren't plenty of nice people walking around - this street has dozens of bars with fun music, pool tables, dance floors, etc. It's just that you gotta be okay with the loads of men trolling for prostitutes (or near-prostitutes) - and vice versa.
Hey, everyone's entitled to a good time, after all, it's a Saturday night... but while we waited for our russian friends to arrive, i was propositioned three times - in 15 minutes! Like, how much... i admit, it was actually more amusing than anything... they were all middle eastern men - but they were, aside from the obvious insult, rather polite about it - and took my refusal very well (especially considering that i joked with all of them, instead of outright telling them i wasn't a prostitute) They all asked if i was russian (which has its own implications)... what was really strange, though, was that 10 feet away from me, there really were a couple of blondies in see-through bloomers, stilettos, and baby-dolls... a far cry from my jeans (not even tight!) and tank top (okay, a litte tight there). So, is it actually a compliment that they picked me... I mean, look, that's what they (and scores of others) went to Pattaya for, so really, it comes with the territory, and at least they ASKED (not just take) - which is why i went easy on them. But really, their inability to even tell the difference, let alone grasp the concept that women can converse and socialize intelligently puts them light-years behind the times.
However, the rest of the night was fun - the lot of us even met some nice australians, and we had a grand ol' time of it.
But ask me if i prefer pattaya or khao san road (which many locals see as dirty and drug-ridden)... i'd take the open-eyed, nomadic youth of khao san over the single-minded whore-seekers (and its share of nasty drunks) of pattaya any day.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
King's birthday
I had planned to go down to pattaya for my sis' 9th birthday, which also coincides (give a day or two) with the King's birthday - which makes for a three-day weekend here. The King turned 82, i think, and was pictured in reasonable health - a palpable boost to national morale.
There were long lines to visit the palace, and the main road to Constitution monument was not only strung up with thousands of lights, but also had installed water fountains the length of the median (with spotlights that were getting drenched, but that didn't seem to worry anyone!). The monument was itself surrounded by hundreds of color-coordinated flower pots... Fireworks were set off after dark on thursday - a fantastic surprise from my unsuspecting vantage point on khao san road.
The next day, i was off to pattaya...
There were long lines to visit the palace, and the main road to Constitution monument was not only strung up with thousands of lights, but also had installed water fountains the length of the median (with spotlights that were getting drenched, but that didn't seem to worry anyone!). The monument was itself surrounded by hundreds of color-coordinated flower pots... Fireworks were set off after dark on thursday - a fantastic surprise from my unsuspecting vantage point on khao san road.
The next day, i was off to pattaya...
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Must-Have Thai Snacks :)
okay, i'm still addicted to the sparkling lime-ade (soda manao) ... but fried seaweed and strawberry-cream-covered pretzel/"buiscuit" sticks (with "strawberry flakes") have now made the list.
As a extra plus, they're readily available at any seven eleven, taking care of any salty or sweet craving, 24 hours a day... perfect study food - they join the box of cornflakes as the most ubiquitous food on TOP of my refrigerator...
for those curious about the "tempura seaweed" - http://www.taokaenoi.co.th/
Thursday, November 26, 2009
A Merry Drifter Thanksgiving
So my first holiday on this side of the world - i miss it, and have been a little drifty, not knowing what to do with myself today (other than normal thursday things).
However, Thanksgiving did not go uncelebrated, as my Kiwi friend and her American fiance ("... he MAKES PIE!") stepped up with their roommate to toss up a truly delicious spread for about 15 other drifters. It was amazing that their little oven turned out that whole spread! Carina's at KMUTT with me, but Isaac goes to Chulalongkorn, which is right in the middle of bangkok. More of his classmates showed up, an assorted mix of world citizens including americans, swedes, brit, canadians, norwegians, lao, and thais... an interesting bunch! i thought it was genuinely cute seeing the lao and the thai taste stuffing and pumpkin pie for the first time :)
So, a hearty thanks to the hosts of a Drifter Thanksgiving! it takes a special kind of energy to do that -making a holiday for strangers - for which this year, i'm both lucky and grateful to have found. Now, time for a little (much anticipated!) holiday skyping...
Saturday, November 21, 2009
just a saturday
another day wondering why i haven't done more. today. this week. this month... i've had gym clothes on for hours, but instead been reading internet stories and painting my nails. okay, not a complete loss - i watched clips from Jeff Corwin's 100 Heartbeats documentary, reminding me of the inspiration behind my studies. Save nature from the unconscionable rivers of trash and CO2 that are literally choking our planet to death. But exactly where i fit in, and what exactly i'm going to do about it, continues to elude me.
Corwin, of course, focuses on the animal rescue and conservation side. I think there are plenty more qualified than me to care for the animals (cute as i think they are!) - but doing something to protect forests...carbon trading is exciting, in this regard, because for the first time, conservation can actually be treated as a commodity in a market-driven system. This does not negate the need for government involvement, just that it presents a new tool for financing conservation as well as mitigating its success. It may also be tied with some ecologically sustainable market opportunities for local citizens - both as stewards of the land as well as sustainable businesses (one example i love is the mushroom harvesting from protected reforestation land here in thailand). Ecolodges, bee farms, and orchid farms are other examples i've come across.
then there's the trash bit... gathering what's out there, and turning it into something useful. This aspect is partly inspired by the e-waste project i did in florida a year ago. Not to get into specifics, but the recycling alone could save millions in cold hard cash as well as environmental impact/emission by avoiding new extraction, processing, and transport, let alone the volume NOT added to landfills, etc. I look at the trash in the rivers (there is one riverway a block from me that gets clogged up constantly - Jeff Corwin is not kidding about the foul smell that comes off that stuff!) and beaches... and i wonder how hard it would be to gather all that stuff up and turn it into something useful? Waste-to-energy, seems to be a sound idea, but there are reasons it does not entirely take off... but what if it could be turned into something else? I wonder about that...
Then there's the new tech thing. There should be a way to get the new technologies up and running faster, particularly to countries that benefit from small, community-specific growth - it might be a "test site" but it would still change people's lives... and maybe that's where i'm at... but do we focus on solar, or wave converters? wind? we'll see, i guess...
Corwin, of course, focuses on the animal rescue and conservation side. I think there are plenty more qualified than me to care for the animals (cute as i think they are!) - but doing something to protect forests...carbon trading is exciting, in this regard, because for the first time, conservation can actually be treated as a commodity in a market-driven system. This does not negate the need for government involvement, just that it presents a new tool for financing conservation as well as mitigating its success. It may also be tied with some ecologically sustainable market opportunities for local citizens - both as stewards of the land as well as sustainable businesses (one example i love is the mushroom harvesting from protected reforestation land here in thailand). Ecolodges, bee farms, and orchid farms are other examples i've come across.
then there's the trash bit... gathering what's out there, and turning it into something useful. This aspect is partly inspired by the e-waste project i did in florida a year ago. Not to get into specifics, but the recycling alone could save millions in cold hard cash as well as environmental impact/emission by avoiding new extraction, processing, and transport, let alone the volume NOT added to landfills, etc. I look at the trash in the rivers (there is one riverway a block from me that gets clogged up constantly - Jeff Corwin is not kidding about the foul smell that comes off that stuff!) and beaches... and i wonder how hard it would be to gather all that stuff up and turn it into something useful? Waste-to-energy, seems to be a sound idea, but there are reasons it does not entirely take off... but what if it could be turned into something else? I wonder about that...
Then there's the new tech thing. There should be a way to get the new technologies up and running faster, particularly to countries that benefit from small, community-specific growth - it might be a "test site" but it would still change people's lives... and maybe that's where i'm at... but do we focus on solar, or wave converters? wind? we'll see, i guess...
Saturday, November 14, 2009
where to love jazz in bkk...
Okay, i'm a little spoiled when it comes to my love for music. it's like having a fantastic lover, you come to "expect" things. Bottom line, i crave to hear creativity, layers, playfulness, inspiration, and emotion along with technical skill - any combination, really - but i still drive a hard bargain - ironically, one which i can only scratch the surface of achieving myself. (another story, though!)
Now, bangkok is a really fun place to go out. Fun clubs, good DJs that'll shake you up. A couple of places can rock out classics, and punk (even Thai-grown!). Jazz, though, gets tougher. Sure, lounges abound with the usual standards, played the usual way. Any actual brilliance would undoubtedly dissipate in those insufferably stuffy places - and that's if i last long enough in all that oppressiveness. Talk about killing jazz...!
If you're looking for hip places where the music will really blow your mind - well, i'm still looking...however, i have recently had the luck of stumbling into Niu (silom 19). Okay, the faux bookcases have GOT to go - they're totally pretentious, which actually contradicts with the music they deliver - yes, they do standards, but they mix it up with offbeat and inventive stuff... this place offers up music worth getting lost into...
Notable drummer Ari Hoenig played last weekend. Incidentally, used to play with the Jazz Mandolin Project... yeah, that's what i was looking for. Tunes that made the very matter in the room rattle and shake! I know it's not new england, but i do hope i'll find a little more of this in bangkok over the next few months...
Now, bangkok is a really fun place to go out. Fun clubs, good DJs that'll shake you up. A couple of places can rock out classics, and punk (even Thai-grown!). Jazz, though, gets tougher. Sure, lounges abound with the usual standards, played the usual way. Any actual brilliance would undoubtedly dissipate in those insufferably stuffy places - and that's if i last long enough in all that oppressiveness. Talk about killing jazz...!
If you're looking for hip places where the music will really blow your mind - well, i'm still looking...however, i have recently had the luck of stumbling into Niu (silom 19). Okay, the faux bookcases have GOT to go - they're totally pretentious, which actually contradicts with the music they deliver - yes, they do standards, but they mix it up with offbeat and inventive stuff... this place offers up music worth getting lost into...
Notable drummer Ari Hoenig played last weekend. Incidentally, used to play with the Jazz Mandolin Project... yeah, that's what i was looking for. Tunes that made the very matter in the room rattle and shake! I know it's not new england, but i do hope i'll find a little more of this in bangkok over the next few months...
November Adventures... (I)
Mostly re-adjusting to my surroundings. For a week or so, i had my clothes literally all across the floor - then all my notes from last semester and papers (and yes, i got my grades, and passed everything)... managed to throw out a bagful - always nice when you whittle down the Load...hoping i didn't pitch anything that indispensible...I've got less classes, though i imagine the work will pile up - but at least there's a bit more flexibility...
i've promised myself that this semester, i WILL get more exercise. I played badminton yesterday with a few classmates at a school gym. It was so hot, didn't take much to work up a sweat! but i actually like the game very much, and it's nice to find something to do communally...
A "Larb" Lesson
Followed by food and beer, of course. Lots of "larb" (pronounced "Lahp") dishes - one of my absolute favorite thai dishes - i could live off the stuff. usually made with ground or sliced chicken, pork, or beef - contains roasted rice powder along with fresh lime, shallots, basil, mint, and chili - served with sticky rice.
i've promised myself that this semester, i WILL get more exercise. I played badminton yesterday with a few classmates at a school gym. It was so hot, didn't take much to work up a sweat! but i actually like the game very much, and it's nice to find something to do communally...
A "Larb" Lesson
Followed by food and beer, of course. Lots of "larb" (pronounced "Lahp") dishes - one of my absolute favorite thai dishes - i could live off the stuff. usually made with ground or sliced chicken, pork, or beef - contains roasted rice powder along with fresh lime, shallots, basil, mint, and chili - served with sticky rice.(Recipe, for those interested, this one seems about right: http://www.recipezaar.com/Larb-Gai-Spicy-Thai-Chicken-Salad-88611 )
Incidentally, though - i tried a new version of the dish - apparently, in the Issan province, it's actually made with raw beef and blood. If you're cringing about now, you're right. it's absolutely horrid! it's one thing to have thin, clean slices of raw beef (Japanese style) - but in chunks, soaked in a deep red "sauc"e - uh-uh, not even the larb spices could make that work for me...
A Sidenote on Sticky Rice
In thailand, sticky rice is generally served in a dense little clump about the size of a fist, from which you pull off bits as you eat the other dishes. This more glutenous rice is actually very functional in that not only can you eat it with your hands, but generally keeps very well - for up to 2 days - without extra heat or refrigeration, whereas regular rice would start to spoil after a day. Plain (fluffy) rice only became more common with increasing rice trade (from the West, ie, to accompany Indian dishes). The sticky rice is a bit more caloric, so i try to stick to the plain one - although it's absolutely un-exchangeable when it comes to mangoes and sticky rice (where the rice is actually generously "drizzled" sweet coconut milk)...
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Cool November
october was a whirlwind! i did pass my classes - even energy technology, painful as it was... and then whisked away to the States, with 2.5 weeks to see friends and find ways to streamline my life - like sell my car and pack up my stuff (for easier mobility). Then i came back and went to Singapore for the Carbon Forum Asia (http://www.carbonforumasia.com/) - which was quite inspiring - i've several new ideas - an urban wind energy tunnel (with a twist, of course) - and i've come across a plastics recycling project (using pyrolysis) that might serve as a precedent for a similar idea i'd had (but with different end-products)... still like the wave converters... that's going to hit the big time one of these days ;) Mostly, i've been gravitating to the totally clean energy lately, rather than the biofuels - though i believe there's a definite and necessary role for biofuels to replace existing fuel sources, particularly while other infrastructures are built. the problem is, biofuels needs it's own infrastructure too... it should still be developed as a source for electricity via waste-to-energy (ie, biogas) in a closed system, or back to a grid. In terms of vehicles/transport, it seems to me the most versatile solution would be an electric (fuel cell) car.
If that's the case though, scientists and engineers must find a way to replace rare earth metals with synthetic or polymeric alternatives - look at mining now - every country with gold or any other metal worth something is more likely to be experiencing significantly more violence and civil wars, often a territorial fight over mines, which are notoriously undocumented.
so, as you can see, i'm raring to go for semester two. It is nice to be in bangkok - not sure if it's "home" exactly, but it's something...
If that's the case though, scientists and engineers must find a way to replace rare earth metals with synthetic or polymeric alternatives - look at mining now - every country with gold or any other metal worth something is more likely to be experiencing significantly more violence and civil wars, often a territorial fight over mines, which are notoriously undocumented.
so, as you can see, i'm raring to go for semester two. It is nice to be in bangkok - not sure if it's "home" exactly, but it's something...
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Hello, Yellow...
as i squeeze the last bit of white-&-milk-chocolate-frosting-in-a-tube - my latest 7-11 discovery! - into my mouth, i contemplate my last week of the semester. of course, it was all supposed to be wrapped up by the 18th, maybe the 25th, latest, but what's a few extra weeks amongst friends?
I rode on a new yellow bus yesterday. My beloved little green buses are currently being phased out in favor of natural gas powered buses. As a student of renewables, i feel it is my duty to support the new buses. but truly, they're not nearly as much . Despite the rather cramped seating, which often pinned my knees to the seat in front - or that seat in the back row, next to the door fom which you could go flying out of should one turn be too violent - if it were not for the low, arguably not so effective, metal bars... and the bus drivers, dashboard littered with m-150's and buddha amulets, weaving traffic like they're in formula 1 - there's no doubt, the green buses are purely FUN! The new ones are awfully pretty and clean, and quiet and nicely air conditioned - but you can't open the windows (no breeze, even if it is exhaust-heavy!), and if you're not sitting next to someone, you're sitting sideways. And it costs 12 baht, instead of 6.5. Much more boring. But the windows are nice and big, and they are actually slightly bigger, so they truly fit more people... i know it's the RIGHT thing, but i'll be sad when i can't get a little green bus ride anymore...
But, the change is good, so bye-bye, green (i'll miss ya)... and hello, yellow!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Cake
it's that time of year again. the one where you're s'posed to be wiser, or satisfied with yourself in some way - and i guess this year has brought some true change to my life, for which i am both grateful and proud - but it's hard not to wince over the scuffs and mistakes along the way.
it's okay, though - there's a bunch of golden moments - Plus, i got sunshine, a chocolate cake, and new shoes... what else could a girl want on her birthday?
my birthday always marks the last season of the year - the one you pull out all the stops, figure out what you're gonna do to really finish it off with a kick...
well, the season will start with a final exam. okay, a little rough, but we'll make it. then 4 more exams... okay, i can do that. see, progress: not nearly as stressed out as i was for midterms... like jumping into cold water... i'm good now ;)
A short trip home will be quite welcome - it actually feels like the first vacation i've truly earned since i quit my job 1.5 years ago. Then singapore on my way back. Carbon Forum Asia. very excited about that, and more about it when it comes around...
so there it is... Save the celebration 'til the weekend :)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Skip August...
sheesh, i feel like i just stepped out of the spin cycle. i can't believe a "little" paper on solar PV and a couple of exams tripped me up as much as they have... i stressed too much, too early in the game - which got me sick, twice - and had my mum in town - and i totally went about that paper wrong, so i think i did 6 times the work that was necessary, and of course the END became a Wonderland pursuit of meaningless proportions... until Today! Phew, just in time to get a hold of myself for finals, but i still feel ten times LIGHTER.
I've been in bangkok for over 4 months now - and i can't decide if i feel at home here or not. i like living on my own, except when i'm procrastinating, there's no one to step in and catch me in the act - and down the rabbit hole i go. and when i start having conversations with myself - path A or path B... or is there a C - oh, it's definitely not so sane when no one else is actually there! And once in a while, it's a bit spooky.
Watched Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" this weekend - loved it - i did leave with an odd sense of satisfaction - and loved the fact that this film openly ridiculed the Bully, questioned its sanity, and stood up to it. What kind of justice could even begin to level out the level of injustice carried out by the nazis?
More soon...
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