Troops on streets in Fiji's "coup by strangulation"

It's weird to read about warfare and strife in Fiji since I've always pictured it as an exotic tourist destination with serene, beyond gorgeous coastline in the South Pacific, which in itself conjures up images of lazy Sundays lying on the hammock. Something along the lines of this promotional website.

I thought of it as a quiet island whose abundance of gorgeous scenery was the perfect tourist attraction.

Link

The Quiet Farang [NYT]

The Quiet Farang - by John Burdett, author of Bangkok 8 and Bangkok Tattoo. This news may be great for JonBennet's parents and those who have followed her death in the States, but for Thailand, this is a public relations nightmare. Thailand's image has suffered, but at the same time, its image as a sex haven have not diminished, but heightened. Once again, Thailand is known as the land of prostitutes and free flowing sex. I hate for that to be the image that many people who only have a fleeting knowledge of Thailand.

Veronica Mars love in Thailand

I found out that VM is showing in Thailand on UBC!!!! All right. Spreading VM love. Too bad we don't have UBC at my grandparents house, so I was unaware of this.

Looks like UBC had some great programming. Here's their series list, and they have current American series on there.

I don't know what to say

I'm looking forward to the semester ending, but I can't face 3 months without some type of structure even if it means pulling my hair out over stupid assignments. I just can't.

I'm looking forward to Thailand. BUT I can't face the fact that I'm not going alone. 2 months in a confined space with the person that fills my gut with hatred--it's something I'm going to have to get over or it'll destroy me. I doubt anyone will see it my way. People are too shallow. Oh well.

Korean Full House

But not the Olsen Twins one. NO.

I missed a couple of episodes in the beginning, but once I discovered it, I was hooked. I feel in love with this TV series, Full House, when I was in Thailand. It was the rage there, and I guess it's incredibly popular over Asia as well. I mean it was like Gilmore Girls for me. Couldn't miss an episode.

I guess I'm not the only one to love it so badly I forked over 1600B for the VCD, and that's a whole lot of money to spend just for a VCD, especially since I didn't know if it was possible to play it here (but I can and it works just fine).

The whole series is just so cute and adorable, and I couldn't resist.

One of the best things to come out of my trip there. Afterwards, I found out just about everyone loved it too. Watching it with my cousins was the best thing.

Ever since then I have had a crush on both the stars of the show, Rain and Song Hye Gyo. More and more Korean series are showing in Thailand as a result of Full House's popularity, and I have had a chance to see both actors in other shows, but none that's as endearing as this show.

I am so obsessed.

I'm back

i'm back from thailand, and it's like i've stepped off onto another life. i'm back. i think more sure of myself. i cried a little, but that was because of Ta and Yai.

the time spent apart was good for me. i feel a little bit more confident when i'm by myself.

i had the best time i've ever had in thailand. it was just me and whatever i wanted it to be. no expectations to live up to, no disappointments to hide.

i always feel refreshed and clear after thailand. it's purifying for the soul. i feel strong and fearless there. i hope it carries with me here.

Reading Log: Bangkok 8

more info at Amazon
more info at B&N

Finished reading around Sunday 23.

Impressions:
-- Illuminated my understanding of Thai cultural life more, i.e. the sex industry. With all that I've heard (not seen), I think it's pretty accurate.
-- I didn't understand the Buddhist 'arhat (?)' thing even though I was raised a Buddhist. I think it amounts to the difference between life the life and studying about it. Like this whole weird Richard Gere notion of Buddhism people generally have. Weird. I didn't learn the Buddhist terms; I just lived them if you follow me.
-- I was a little confused at the end. I wasn't quite sure I understood how the ending unfolded in the way the author intended. I think I know, but there was some leeway there. I mean, I thought I knew, but it kind of freaked me out.
-- In the beginning I was griped with the mystery, but since I'm not 100% sure (only about 75-90% sure) what happened to that guy at the end, I was left unsatisfied.
-- Liked the main character and his contradictions. That was well done.

Rating:
B to B+
[I'm going to try a rating system. I hesitate because I'm terrible at these sorts of things--awareness and perception of what makes something good, enjoyable, or worthy.]

TIME's Best of Asia

Most Beautiful Game: TAKGRAW

Combining the skills of volleyball, football, gymnastics and hacky sack sounds like a tall order to most of us. Not to the Thais. Go to Bangkok's Lumpini Park on any given Sunday and you can see for yourself. There, on a disused badminton court, as many as two dozen men pair off, then leap and dive through the air with one objective in mind: without using their hands, keep a rattan ball from hitting the ground on their side of the net. The democratic mix of players—moto-taxi drivers, security guards, students and civil servants—says much about the widespread Thai love of takraw, the most beautiful of Asian games. It has been played here, in various forms, since the 11th century and has spread throughout the region. It's called sipa in the Philippines, sepakraga in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, ching loong in Burma, rago in Indonesia and kator in Laos. But nowhere is it played or watched with as much relish as in Thailand, where it fills stadiums. The sport's killer move—the somersault scissor kick—can send the ball hurtling back over the net at speeds approaching 70 km/h, and to many Thais is as natural to do as breathing. You, however, should not try this at home.

[read the original article]

Exotic fruits

Fancy fruits add some fun to your family’s diet

The Dragon Fruitis very popular, but very expensive, in Thailand. It's a chinese fruit. I've tasted it--haven't tried it enough to say whether I really like it or not. Unriped dragon fruit is yellow. On my little exploring trip, I found a small farm growing the dragon fruit. The second picture demonstrates how the dragon fruit is grown.

The other fruites in the article include: Lychee, Rambutan (my favorite), sweet young coconut, and the famous Durian.

is studying in Thailand an option?

I have a dilemma. I want to go back to Thailand to live and hopefully work, so I can stay there longer, but I don't know how to get there.

I've been looking at Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities, and have found that they have tremendous programs as well. These are the programs I'm interested in at Chulalongkorn:
-- MA in International Development Studies: 1-2 year program.
-- MA in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics:
-- MA in Thai Studies
-- MA in South East Asia Studies

Thammasat has a Thai Studies Program that looks just as enticing. I want to study in Thailand because I see it as a shortcut to me being able to live here. If I don't, which means that I graduate in the US, then I'll have to wait like, maybe, another 6+ years (for BA and MA as well with work in between the two). But after I graduate with BA here, I could apply for MA at a Thai university.

I'm looking at CH and Th because those are the top two most prestigious universities in Thailand, but most importantly, they conduct classes in English. ***I've been shifting through websites that list job listings for Thailand. I have mainly concentrated on the publishing field. I wanted to get a better idea of what the publishing job market is, and what sort of people are vying for certain jobs. Pretty interesting so far. See lots of Thais with communication arts degrees. It must be a popular way to get into the publishing field, or maybe the preferred way? I'm feeling like I might have a chance, except for the fact that I'm not Thai and I don't speak, read, or write it like a native. However, I still do look Thai, so that should win me some points (until they find out that I now am a holder of a blue passport instead of red).

Now that the job market in Thailand doesn't look so bad, I have to conquer my fears about pursuing writing/journalism here. I have a lot of self-doubt about my ability to succeed. But, heck, at this point I'm willing to do anything.

Along with publishing, I'd really like to try my hand at photography. Maybe I'll add "freelance photographer" to my job title as well.

This is one of my main options. Business is another (now I think this is the easiest way to land a job there). Another is something along the lines of the environmental studies. Or I should try to get into one of the above programs, and see where that leads me. Oh, and I forgot that I wanted to try my hand at joining the Peace Corps. If not this, then another program that's similar.

Wow. What lofty goals I have, and this is coming from someone who is neither driven nor ambitious.

Another problem is that I haven't found a way to balance my academic interests versus my career options. Meaning, choosing something because I'm interested in or choosing it because I'm more likely to succeed in it career-wise. I have to weigh both equally and find a balance. Getting a job in Thailand is much harder than I thought, so I have to do everything possible to increase my chances of getting hired there, and that may mean choosing my career over my passion.

I want to trek the competitive world of journalists, writers, editors in the publishing world.

I can type Thai now

I finally found a way to type Thai. For the past hour or so, I've been looking at prices for Thai-English keyboards, and programs that allow me to type in Thai without a keyboard. But a few minutes ago, I found a website that lets me type in Thai or English, and I can copy and paste the Thai that I want.

I tried it, and sent it through email, and with my email system, it works. It shows Thai perfectly.

Now that I have a way to send and receive Thai messages, all that is left for me to do is. . .well, actually learn how to read and write Thai.

Hooray for me.

It's a step toward me relearning my first language.

ๅภถุึึึึำึึำำึึดึคค

nomads & elephants

Last night, I went to the elephant show. It was a small, intimate show with 4 baby elephants. There were 6-10 people involved in training and ticket sales.

The elephants did small, simple tricks, but I was excited, nonetheless. I've never been to a show like this in a long, long time.

I got to go under an elephant for 10B.

Shows like this make me think about the people who do this as well as much as the elephants themselves. I wondered about the trainer's lifestyle more than anything. I wonder what traveling from place to place; staging shows day-to-day was is like. I don't think they make more than a couple of thousands each night. But that's a guesstimate. I'd like to travel with them for a year to see if it’s like a nomad's lifestyle -- sort of an investigative journalism type of thing. Maybe I could blog from the road. That’s the type of adventure I want.

This morning, I saw the elephant truck cross the bridge. They’re off to do other shows, I suppose.

Elephant show

They are going to have an elephant show at the wat tonight. I'd like to go watch it and hopefully take some pictures. Saw them -- 2 elephants, one of them was a baby. The riders and elephants were coming out of the wat this morning. They were looking for some empty forests for the elephants to roam.

Movies
King Arthur looks awesome. Jerry Bruckheimer is a rich, happy man. Also, brilliant, I'm sure.

I saw a commercial for Catwoman, and I don't think I'm going to be excited or want to watch it. I've never really though that Halle Berry was that beautiful. I like Alicia Keys better.

Random thoughts
I don't know what I'll take away from this place. I think I'll cry, but I'll be most sorry for the missed opportunities I've had to be here. I don't know how the puppy will be doing. I don't know what will happen after we leave -- will anyone feed it?

When I get back, I'm going to play badminton more often. That'll be my sport of choice, and I'll exercise more. I promise.

I watched Johnny English in Thai. Mr. Bean is hi-larious in any language.

counting down the days when I have to say goodbye

Looking my on my trip here because I didn't write about it in detail earlier. AA was definitely better because of the extra room. Flew United from Tokyo to BKK.

I miss the anticipation when I first arrived, the excitement of seeing my family again, and the hope for the next two months. I want to go back to that moment. I want to arrive there again -- late at night, everything new, fresh, foreign, but with a similar tinged. I want another two months.

Airplane trips are horrible which ever way you look at it. It's going to be even more horrible this time when I have to say goodbye. I wish I could go away quietly -- then I won't shed too many tears.

Election
I saw some election stuff for BBK Governor. I guess the “right” number on the ballot is the big hype. I need to learn more about government and election procedures in Thailand.

Random thoughts
From now on, the greeting in Thailand won't be “Sawadee;” it'll be, "where did you get your n-jobs done?”

I'm going to take a balloon and write, "please fly high and wide and find me some happiness," and let it go fly with the wind's command.

One of the many funerals

Yesterday, I saw a funeral possession pass by our house on its way to the wat. I found out that in the Thai tradition, when a funeral possession passes, everyone must remain silent until the coffin passes.

As it passed, I felt a strange, I'm-going-to-be-sick feeling in my gut. It was incredibly somber, as expected, but the feeling of seeing someone passed by you is scary, especially in Thailand where superstitions are a forceful presence in daily life.

There were people that walked behind the coffin, which was transported in a pick up truck, and drums and a few instruments that I didn't recognize where playing--some type of wind instruments.

This particular lady was in her old age when she passed away. I don't know what of. The family decided to keep her body in their house for 100 days before cremation. Usually, the body is cremated, and there is a celebration after 100 days to remember and pay our last respects to the deceased. The celebration is held at the wat, and movies and/or dances take place.

That's all I really know about Thai funeral traditions. I'll have to research more about it to understand the events taking place.

[found an article in Jade Dragon Magazine about a Thai funeral that Robert Wilson, an English teacher, attended. He goes into detail about the ceremony and atmosphere of a Thai funeral.]

Thai elections

I guess it's election time. Local elections are going on. So pick up trucks are running with big posters and speakers asking people to vote for them. Big speakers blarring credentials of the candidates and asking them to vote for that candidate's number. They are driving up and down the klong several times a day for about a week now. It's become increasingly annoying because it's so loud!

I've never really been privy to the election system here.

On another note, 2 months seems like forever, but it's winding down. I'm about to cross the finish line.

puppies

About a week or so ago, one of the dogs had puppies. 5 all together. But already 2 died within days of each other. The other 3 are on the verge of surviving too. Its mother, emaciated, full of fleas, and covered with sores is unable to produce any milk to feed her young. The mother also has a broken leg from a car accident a while ago, so she can't fend for herself anymore.

However, all the cousins have claimed the puppies, and there are more cousins than puppies. Mine is the brown one. I'm going to call him Coco Puffs. One is black, and the other is white with browns spots (2 of them have this, one died already).

The stray dogs here are in pitiful conditions. Any animal lover would be devastated. [Which reminds me of the Athens Stray Dog story] ***I watched Not One Less (1999), and it was great. They show a lot of Chinese/Japanese/Korean movies here, and I feel like I'm better for it. I get to watch a range of international and Asian films are not available in the US.

last day of the AIDS conference

Last day of the AIDS conference. I'm sad because this is the first chance I've had to listen to speeches at an international gathering. I'm glad I did because I now get a chance to learn more about AIDS from leading experts. Because of the speeches, I also got to dispel a great misconception about AIDS--how the disease is passed. I was ignorant about it. I knew that you couldn't get it from kissing or sweat, but other than that, I still didn't know enough to calm my fears.

I've learnt that youths are in greater danger than I thought. I've always figured that adult males for the main culprit. I understand the plight of women living with HIV/AIDS (along with their children) better. I also have something to hope for with the medical advances. I've never realized that women are at a disadvantage in the fight against HIV/AIDS because one of the most effective ways to prevent infection are condoms, which men can refuse to use. [45% of Saudi Arabia's AIDS victims are women. I'm surprised the SA is even addressing the AIDS issue. Bravo for them.] I'm excited for microbicides because women don't have to depend on her male partners for protection anymore.

There's tons more than I've forgotten about.

I'm curious as to what the international media are writing about. ***The things I've regretted can be summed up in two parts: The things that have happened to me, and the things that I let happen to myself.***Coming here, I've seen how life goes by. How people and their lives come and go. In 2 years, they have built up relationships and friendships with people in the neighborhood. My family knows these people better than me. Some familiar faces still come by, but many have gone. I envy my family and their relationships, and the extensive network that exists among ordinary people living and working there. I wish I had the same connections that they have. It's pretty lonely when you really only know 5 people.

I saw a travel piece on Macau, and now I want to go. It's a tiny country, which I think will make it easier to see the whole culture at one time. I think you can get a more thorough understanding of the country that way. Plus, you don't have to come back the next time to see places that you don't get to this time.

taking time off

Yesterday, I saw Thailand v. Newcastle.

The more I watched the AIDS conference, the more I'm drawn into the medical aspect of the disease. I've heard some great and enlightening speeches so far.

I heard that BKK schools are closed because BKK can't stand to have extra traffic on its roads. Hooray for school children. When I heard this, I thought it was because the Thai government wanted the school children to be able to attend the event, but then I heard about the traffic thing, and then I realized that you need to pay your way into the conference. So much for the conference's theme of "ACCESS FOR ALL."

I am now officially taking a semester off school. I have mixed feelings about this. I don't know if my decision will yield a definite answer. I don't know if my answer will be clearer just because I have time to think about it more.

AIDS Conference

The AIDS Conference started in Thailand. It's great timing that this conference is held in Thailand at the same time that I'm here because of how many people I know are carrying HIV/AIDS right now.

Much press time in Thailand is being devoted to this (which, now that I think about it, is pretty obvious).

The President of Uganda is speaking right now about the African experience with AIDS. I'm enjoying his speech.

The statement, "We are living in an AIDS era" is so frightening to me.

And, thank you channel 11 for showing it live and in English.