Sunday, November 30, 2008

At a butcher shop



I went to a student art exhibition in Siam Paragon. And was quite impressed at the talents of these young minds. Refreshing and bold. There were many interesting pieces, but my attention was caught by this.

The artist for the photo shown here is Kreerath Sunnitramat (image below):



In his digital photo (actually blown up into a very large size), Kreerath tries to present a situation at a butcher shop. See the bloody and messy, dirty floors, flooded with pigs blood. The butchers here could either be Thais or migrant workers.

The write-up of this piece is in Thai, except for somethings like name of artiste and medium of work. So I can't make out much of what this is. But ...

In an instant I felt like puking, and felt some empathy for the workers who had to slog all day in this kind of environment. It must be quite revolting but can they help it?

I also thought about Thai Buddhist society and how they would react when see this. Buddhists would prefer not to kill animals. But the bloody floor tells a different story.

The other thing that came to mind was the situation back home. Malaysian Chinese are often labelled "Babi" or pig (in a degrading manner) by the ultra racists.

But the ultra racists forget that many Malaysians of Chinese origins do not eat meat, let alone pork, for various reasons.

I do not eat pork, or beef, or even lamb. Mostly chicken, which I do not prefer because I rather like fish. I am mostly vegetarian, no seafood at all, no eggs, only fish.


It's sad to see how conservative society is and how little have changed since the dark ages.

Friday, November 28, 2008

State of emergency on Sukhumvit road



Nah!

When I left the office at 6pm yesterday, Sukhumvit road was as congested as ever. People were still rushing home for the weekend, dinner before disco, or Christmas shopping.

Did you say there was a state of emergency in Bangkok?

Yes, only at Suvanabhumi airport, where even taxi drivers are joking about it.

"Not going to Suvanaphoom, are you?"they'll ask cheekily, adding "Even if you pay us 1,000B (RM100) we won't go!"

Since I've been here in 2006, there's always something or other in the political scene. I've gotten use to it. Though my work in human rights does not allow me to be detach from it.

In Sukhumvit where I live and work, it's Christmas forever.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Kopitiam



This is another place I like to visit when I miss home. Georgette, the owner of Kopitiam is a Malaysian, from Kuala Lumpur. She's really friendly and kopitiam serves really good food.

You can find it in Tonglor, between Soi 5-7. Look carefully, for you might miss it, as it is nestled not very prominently at the side of Panjit Tower.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Boo hoo! I'm living in a zoo



I support people's power but I do also wonder where that power comes from, and where it leads to. And in this case, it has finally arrived at the International Airport.

I don't support the fact that the demonstrators rallying and blocking the airport now is being backed by the fascists - and that includes the army, police and the royal palace.

You could say that the people are being manipulated for the ends of the fascists, aren't they?

I really do not know how long I will have to stay in this zoo. Boo hoo!

A room of my own




"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction; and that, as you will see, leaves the great problem of the true nature of woman and the true nature of fiction unsolved. I have shirked the duty of coming to a conclusion upon these two questions—women and fiction remain, so far as I am concerned, unsolved problems..." Virgina Wolfe.

I have only a rented room and a monthly paycheck, for labouring away in a human rights organisation in Bangkok.

But what I really want to do is to be a writer. An artist. Eventhough no one buys or read my stories, art.

My journey begins here, at my balcony, with only the trees - one tamarind, the other mango - as my constant companions.

And the breeze...my sweet distraction.

One night in Bangkok



Latte, subway cafe, nana, one night full of interesting scenarios.

[This is just the first paragraph of a short story I am writing].

What Malaysians can do, Thais can do better



My favourite drink. Hot, steamy and luscious!

When I miss home, it takes only a slight resemblance of what I can find in Malaysia, to make me feel at home. In this case, it is this teh tarik seller in Jatujak weekend market. He speaks Malay too, how nice! And is from Pattani. He seems so happy doing what he does. How I envy him!

By the way, background voice (the woman's voice in Malay is not me, but my friend Jennifer).

Monday, November 24, 2008

My Bodhi Tree



Inspired by Thailand's Buddhism, this image on Buddha's Bodhi tree is drawn in ink, during one of my insomaniac nights.

Watch out for my art blog - coming soon!

Took a wrong turn, only to find my way



I'm a great believer in destiny. I believe that nothing happens by accident. And that, if we lose our way, it is for a reason. That even if something bad happens, or we do not get what we want, it is a blessing in disguise. These are not just empty words. But personal experiences, which makes me come to a conclusion: every cloud has a golden lining. Be thankful for failures, mistakes and sometimes misfortunes.



And so we almost lost our way, or rather, I pointed us to the wrong exit. We were on our way to Central World in Chidlom. I've been there many times, with many people and never lost my way.



It all came very clear to us later the reason why we took a wrong turn. We met the Emerald Buddha and Four Face Buddha. Although I was not the one who needed to pray, the sight of other people's devotion, was mesmerising, to say the least.

Why this blog



It's nice to do something different. And I guess I am ready now to share stories of my nights and days in Bangkok. I've been here about 3 years now and have some nice things to share. There are not so nice things, too, but these are what I see and hear and feel.

A few souls have asked me why I don't blog about Bangkok when I live here. it's because I am always so occupied with my political blog at www.sloone.wordpress.com. I am virtually living in Malaysia.

But there are somethings about my self that I've discovered in Bangkok - correction - I've always knew about myself, but did not dare or had the mood to explore before. The sense of freedom in Bangkok, did show me the way. And I am ready now to explore this other side of me.

Although I've started publishing my works in little bits and pieces - since I was 14 (poems) and a story when I was 16, and later when I started to join the activists and later journalism fields, I always wanted to write books and paint.

I am starting to be more serious now. I have a collection of art pieces that I must publish here.

I am also working on a few short stories (fiction) and a novel.

I hope I can accomplish them while being here.

This blog, as you will see, will be more personal, and mostly about Bangkok, this land of a thousand smiles.

As you know, if you have followed me closely on the other sloone blog, I always see things differently.

Allow me to share this difference with you.