Author Archives: christao408

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About christao408

An expat American who moved to Bangkok in 2005 with his partner (now husband). Life is a grand adventure and each experience is worth having if for no other reason than to remind us that we are alive.

SF

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Okay, I said I would write less, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t write at all.  We’re in San Francisco today, a damp and drizzly San Francisco that has me reconsidering why in the world I bother to come back to the US at all.  We’re having fun, though.  This evening we had dinner with Jason and Giuseppe, a very pleasant chance to meet another Xangan with whom I’ve corresponded for a few years and his partner in person.  In truth, Tawn and Giuseppe have met before, years ago at a volunteer training for the Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center in SF.  And now they’ve met again.

No pictures of the dinner, though.  You’ll just have to imagine it.  (Matt – Jason really is six feet tall!)

The main purpose for us being in SF was for the opening night of the SF Int’l Asian American Film Festival.  Our friend Chi-hui Yang, the director of the festival, is leaving after ten years there.  I worked with the festival for many years and so this particular gala was like a family reunion – all the people who have worked with Chi-hui over the years, all back together again.

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Mabel Chung, who started as a volunteer and eventually took over my operations role, myself, festival director Chi-hui Yang, and Tawn at the Asian Art Museum.

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We also ran into Taro Goto, another festival alum who is now living in Tokyo.  Last April we were there for a visit and he graciously spent several days showing us around.

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Today, I got some shopping in, buying two pairs of Chrome shoes.  I’ve wanted some very sneakerish sneakers and Sion recommended these.  Durable construction, comfortable fit.  Stylish look.  Maybe I should buy one more before I leave San Francisco.

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We entered the United States in Los Angeles, taking separate flights and arriving just a few minutes apart.  After a long wait to clear customs we met my cousins for dinner, our first opportunity to meet their new son, Thomas James.

So far we’re still suffering from some jet lag, but I’m sure over the next few days we’ll get adjusted.  Hope everyone on Xanga is doing well.

 

I Think I Hurt My Camera’s Feelings

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I’ve been really faithful to my camera, a Panasonic Lumix TZ3, which I have had for about two years.  It has been an excellent camera for me and has stood up to the abuse of being carried around everywhere, every single day.  Recently, though, I think I’ve hurt my camera’s feelings.

It shouldn’t surprise me, of course.  Since my trip to Tokyo last April, I started thinking seriously about another camera, this Panasonic Lumix LX3 shown here.

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Two friends have the same camera, both of whom were in Tokyo shooting with it while I was there.  The LX3 has superb optics from Leica, a very wide 24mm equivalent lens, and ultra-good low-light performance.  It also has full manual focus, one of the few models of digital camera that bridge the gap between amateur and serious shutterbug without getting into the SLR models, which are just too clunky for me to carry around for everyday use.

But even once the attraction between me and the LX3 started, I remained faithful to my TZ3.  It had served me well, was still taking good pictures, and I hate to throw something away just because something newer has caught my fancy.

With this trip back to the US, though, I decided to go ahead and buy an LX3.  I wasn’t going to get rid of my TZ3 – there are plenty of cultures where men have multiple cameras, right?  That’s nothing to frown on.

But I’m afraid my TZ3 must have become suspicious or caught wind of my planned expansion of our photography family, because no sooner had I placed the order for the new camera, then the TZ3 started to throw a fit.

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At first it was just minor interference and static, like the subtle horizontal lines running through this otherwise cute picture of a father walking his daughters down a residential soi, or alley, from the kindergarten that sits at the back of the soi.

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My camera’s fury increased, though, along with its unpredictability.  Some moments it would take clear shots such as this one of the Singha Beer Fun Fair on the grounds that were previously part of the British Embassy, along Ploenchit Road.

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A moment later, though, the tempest would be unleashed and my camera would give me nothing but static, causing misery and not allowing me to get a clear picture of things.  It was terrible.  At this point, every time I turn it on, the TZ3 is just in a blur.

So I’ve made up my mind.  Unless my TZ3 gets a new attitude, sharpens up and snaps right, I may have no choice but to leave it and move on with my life, happily snapping away with my new LX3.

 

Postlogue

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For those of you familiar with Krungthep, here is a reverse shot (obviously taken before my camera started having a fit) showing you where I was shooting from – the top level of the Central Chidlom car park – the area with trees in the white building, just above and to the right of the blue banner.  This is looking down Ploenchit Road towards Chidlom BTS Skytrain Station from the pedestrian walkway linking to Wave Place (Home Pro).

 

Random Photos Around Krungthep

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Welding of a column at the Terminal 21 construction project, Sukhumvit and Asoke roads.

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Abandoned structure on an overgrown property, Soi Phrom Phong near Khlong Saen Saeb.

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Passenger riding in the back of a delivery truck, Rama IX Expressway near Ekkamai Road.

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Monk collecting alms and giving blessings in the morning at the corner of Sukhumvit and Thong Lor roads.

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Crowded street near the Flower Market on Rattanakosin Island in the old section of the city.  The yellow flags are the flags of King Rama IX.

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Abandoned cars at a junk yard on the frontage road running along the eastbound train tracks, parallel to Phetchaburi Road.

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Sunset over Asoke Skytrain Station.

 

Thai Language Newspapers

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One aspect of living in Thailand that has caught my attention is comparing Thai language newspapers to the English language papers.  There are some interesting differences.

For starters, there are approximately ten daily Thai language newspapers and two English language papers here in Krungthep.  Bear in mind that the population of the greater metropolitan area is between six and ten million.  The lower number represents the officially registered population, but the higher number represents the many laborers who come in from the countryside but never re-register their address from their home province.

It amazes me that there are so many newspapers here.  Now, they aren’t all newspapers in the way you might define a newspaper if you are from the US or Canada.  Some are more political, some focus mostly on sports, others are mostly tabloids.  But they are all daily news publications.

The English language papers – the Bangkok Post and The Nation – looks and feel much more like a traditional Western paper: news section, sports section, business section, and lifestyle section.  One could argue about the quality of their reporting, but that’s for another entry.

The Thai language papers, even the ones that profess to be serious news outlets, are not shy about using shocking, barely redacted images on their front pages.

Almost every day there is a scene from an accident, a murder, a bomb attack in the South, etc.  The bodies are pixelated in an attempt to protect the sensitivities of the readers, but they don’t try very hard.

These two examples are pretty tame.  The worst image I’ve ever seen was in the case when a young man rather stupidly climbed a pole supporting high-tension power lines.  He was electrocuted and his charred body was caught up in the lines.  The image on the front page of one paper showed the unmistakable image of a charred body, twisted up in the power lines.  Gory.

I guess you could make the argument that showing more graphic images keeps people from living in the illusion of a sanitized world, free of death, violence, and ugliness.  However, I’m not sure I need to see such graphic sights over my breakfast to help me fully apprecaite the world.  Thoughts?

 

Does Anna Paquin Resemble Holly Hunter?

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I’m neither a big TV watcher nor very up-to-date on matters of popular culture.  We don’t have cable and our TV can’t even receive the free broadcast channels.  But about once or twice a week, Tawn and I will watch an episode we’ve purchased from the iTunes store of True Blood, the HBO series about vampires living amongst humans in a small town in Louisiana.

Our friend Ken first suggested the series to us and we’re hooked.  I’m not sure why I find it so compelling – the cliffhangers at the end of each episode are a bit melodramatic – but there’s just something about the idea of vampires finally “coming out of the coffin” and living among human society that is interesting to me.

I also really enjoy Anna Paquin’s acting.  She’s a marvelous screen presence.  Since the first episode, I’ve wondered whether anyone else notices the resemblance between her and Holly Hunter, whose daughter she played in the 1993 film The Piano by Jane Campion.  Paquin won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in that film.

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What do you think?  Is there a resemblance between Paquin (left) and Hunter (right) or am I the only one seeing it?  Or has this already been widely discussed in People Magazine and I’m just completely out of the loop?

 

New Shoes

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A few weeks back I had to buy a new pair of sneakers.  While running on the treadmill, the sole of one of my approximately 14-year old sneakers came right off.  It had been flapping a while near the heel but I didn’t realize it was going to actually come undone while I was running. 

The fact that I haven’t bought a pair of sneakers in more than a dozen years somehow provides considerable insight into my personality: I’m not one to throw away something old if it still works.

Still recalling the confusion which I faced during my last sneaker purchase all those years ago, I went to the sporting goods section of the Central Chidlom department store and waded through the hundreds of shoes.  Of course none of the employees took the initiative to offer help and even if they had, I’m not sure any of them are particularly knowledgable about shoes.

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I figured cross-trainers are a good choice because I use them for biking, walking and, recently, running.  Focusing on the models labeled as cross-trainers (without knowing if those labels were accurate!), I eventually selected three models and called over a clerk to bring the right sizes for me to try.  I settled on this pair of Adidas shoes that seemed lightweight and breathable, features that are useful here in Thailand. 

Except for the fact that I had to buy one size larger than is ideal – I have wide feet, so have to suffer a little too much toe room in order to avoid a squeeze – these shoes have worked out pretty well.  They are comfortable and, being dark, I don’t have to worry as much about scuffing them.

I’d better mark my calendar for sometime around – let’s do the math – 2023 or so to buy my next pair.

 

How About this for Tawn’s New Car?

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We’re driving a Nissan Cefiro, what in the US was basically the Infiniti I30, which is approaching a dozen years old.  While it has held up pretty well other than a few cosmetic scrapes and scratches, it is starting to show its age and has required more frequent visits to the mechanic for various small problems.  The signs are clear: sometime in the next two years or so it will be time to buy a car.

Of course, major purchases are often the source of potential conflicts in a relationship.  Different styles, different expectations, different buying habits, etc. all influence what each person thinks is the right purchase.  So over the next few months as we start the process of thinking about what car might be the right fit for us, I’ll share our thoughts on the blog.  That way you can get some insight into how we think about these things.

Tawn’s expressed his interest in a “statement” car, something that reflects his personality and sense of style.  Of course, you might correctly imagine that I’m looking at things from a much more practical perspective.  But let’s not delve into those depths quite yet.  Let’s just keep things fun.

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A few weeks back we were at the local car wash and there was this convertible for sale.  It is a Sunbeam Alpine Series IV, a beautiful British car from the mid-1960s.  If there was anything that would work for Tawn, this would be it – except for the fact that it is a convertible and Tawn is not a fan of the sun!

What do you think?  Could you see us driving amongst the rice paddies of central Thailand in this?  The red color would certainly look nice against the lush green of the paddies!  Of course, the reality is we’d be sitting stuck in traffic in Bangkok, breathing the fumes.

 

Happy Birthday Alex

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Alex There are many interesting Xangans out there and Alex (Roadlesstaken) is one of the more creative ones.  He has a lot of subscribers and has worked with them to compile an interesting series of video entries called Xanga Secrets (watch Volume VIII here).

The thing is, Alex is celebrating his birthday on March 1st.  For some reason, he sounds a bit bummed out about turning – gasp! – 24.  I can’t imagine why, seeing as how he isn’t even old enough yet to get a discount on his car insurance. 

Last week he sent out a call asking Xangans to help lift his spirits by giving him a shoutout to help him remember his birthday, seeing as how in his old age he has already forgotten how he spent birthday number 23.

So here it is, Alex, my birthday shout out to you:

Alex's Site

If you would like to help make his birthday memorable, feel free to drop by his site and wish him a happy birthday.  If you think it is a bit of a desperate ploy to grab attention, that’s okay, too.  (Just kidding Alex…)