Scotland is known as the land of castles, knighthood and golf courses for a Thai. But what topped up my knowledge of Scotland was the drink Irn Bru and deep fried chocolate bar.
I like Scotland for its centuries long history, the kilt wearing tradition (just like Kimono in Japan), relaxing greenery but hate it for its cold arctic wind! I had a chance to visit Glasgow and Edinburgh - both cities obviously have different vibes.
In my opinion, Glasgow was quiet and peaceful, almost lonely. There were not many people to be seen on the street during the day. Shops, restaurants and shopping centers scatter around hilly streets, with not much action inside. The nightlife revolved around Sauciehall Street, the most concentrated area of clubs, pubs and bars. The liveliness of the Scottish could be seen after the sun went down.
Edinburgh was filled with the historical heritages; the infamous Edinburgh Castle on the hill, winding roads and hidden passageways and brown brick buildings, they all contributed to my conception of the armoured knight riding a horse down the street. I would not be surprised if Harry Potter popped out from the corner; it was like an imaginary land for me. I personally preferred a more touristy place like Edinburgh than Glasgow, in terms of energy and movement.
Even though Scotland is enriched with historical heritage, one thing that seemed to be stuck in the Dark Age was its culinary art. Every food could be found deep fried; fish, potatoes, sausages, chicken wings, meat patties etc. It was just a matter of salt and vinegar, not very inviting for a taste appreciator like me! I just found that I had the most difficult time choosing what to eat in Scotland. I just did not know what‘s best deep fried...
Apart from the dull delicacies, I found Scotland very interesting. To be in such an historical country, to know more about nature of Scottish people, to be in a country where the people retain their tradition; all gave me a remarkable impression of Scotland.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Japan
My three weeks in Thailand went down like a spring break. After a series of going out, socializing, enjoying the home comfort, I found myself organizing documents, tidying up my room, packing my suitcase and calling my friends for a farewell party. At first, I thought that it would be traumatizing as my September departure, but the anticipation of visiting Japan subconsciously cleansed my wistful feelings.
I believe that most of the Thai people are familiar with the Japanese culture in some ways. I was heavily influenced since my childhood, whether it would be the weekend morning anime TV programmes, little hand-held games, hundreds of Manga comic books, delicious Japanese cuisine or even my five years of studying of Japanese language. All that I mentioned evoked my excitement for this trip to the islands of extreme culture and technology.
As we all know, modern Japanese technology enables us to live such a convenient lifestyle, I was so thrilled to experiment with unfamiliar systems and machinery. I was comforted with the genius toilet system that provided all-in-one service, perplexed by the spider web metro lines, indecisive with the selection in vending machines and impressed with the coupon vending machine in a small Soba restaurant. Everything was made easy…
I went to the Akihabara area where there are many electronic stores. Electronic appliances are very cheap compared to Thailand, I walked up and down every floor of a department store just to be amazed by a section on one floor. It was the costume section.
It was not the presence but the convenience of the fictional costumes that astonished me. I knew that some of the Japanese like to dress up but I did not expect it to be this readily available. Looking around, I saw many people shopping for these items, a man choosing an outfit for his girlfriend, groups of young girls shopping for their wardrobe, even a woman in her 30’s trying on a pirate dress. Everything was natural.
Looking at the corner, I saw many people queuing for something. It was the costume café where the waitresses all dressed up as French maids, amusing. Ryoko explained that it was a “special service” commonly found in Akihabara area. Some of the place has a “homely service” where the customers were treated like a family member, and the newest trend in theme café was the “rough café”. Rough café intentionally provides bad service, slamming the plates on the table, shouting at the customers and the waitresses pull off mean faces when taking orders. It was educating to know how people enjoy themselves.
Materialistic developments are always accompanied by emotional exits because in the end we are all human. We constantly explore every angle of enjoying ourselves. The fine line separating the norms and the unusual becomes the vague grey area. In a country where people seek for physical and spiritual excellence, the answer is so obvious in everyday living...
Tokyo has the population of 12 million people, slightly more than Bangkok. But open-mindedness, freedom and opportunities give its nightlife more flavours and alternatives for every interest.
Internet research revealed many interesting parties. There are plenty of Japanese gigs and international line ups. The clubs, pubs and bars in Tokyo plug themselves into every grid of the city, resulted in neon signs pointing in all directions. There were many stages for any music expressions.
Starting from going out on the first night we arrived in Tokyo which was the famous Japanese original night out, the karaoke. Then more parties followed just like a march, a minimal techno party by the French duo Swayzak, a drum and bass party by the local collectives, the 8th year anniversary party in the one of longest running clubs called Womb, extraordinary outdoor gathering with thousands of Japanese party people in Nagisa Music Festival or even a tiny theme bar where all the bartenders and waitress dressed up as cats. Tokyo nights out offered everything I could imagine.
Going out in Tokyo requires a good planning. Apart from the non-returnable entry in many notorious clubs, which keep you inside till the end of the night, the transportation also restricted your choice of moving around. The subway system stops between 1am to 5am. Taxi fares cost about ten times more than train. There is no turning back once you are out. 24 hour fast food place become a sanctuary for those who fall out from the world of flashing lights and thumping music. A common sight at night is seeing people of all age and sex sleeping in the dining area, sharing warmth, quietness and peace before returning to their home when the train runs again.
The more I spent my time in Tokyo, the more I went out, the more people I came across, the more I realized how much Japanese loves Thailand. I saw many travel programmes about Thailand. When people found out that I came from Thailand, they started saying things in Thai. The Thai food stall in the music festival seemed to be the most popular proven by the longest queue. Thailand is one of their favourite destinations I had learnt. With such a mutual craving, how could I not love Japan?
I believe that most of the Thai people are familiar with the Japanese culture in some ways. I was heavily influenced since my childhood, whether it would be the weekend morning anime TV programmes, little hand-held games, hundreds of Manga comic books, delicious Japanese cuisine or even my five years of studying of Japanese language. All that I mentioned evoked my excitement for this trip to the islands of extreme culture and technology.
As we all know, modern Japanese technology enables us to live such a convenient lifestyle, I was so thrilled to experiment with unfamiliar systems and machinery. I was comforted with the genius toilet system that provided all-in-one service, perplexed by the spider web metro lines, indecisive with the selection in vending machines and impressed with the coupon vending machine in a small Soba restaurant. Everything was made easy…
I went to the Akihabara area where there are many electronic stores. Electronic appliances are very cheap compared to Thailand, I walked up and down every floor of a department store just to be amazed by a section on one floor. It was the costume section.
It was not the presence but the convenience of the fictional costumes that astonished me. I knew that some of the Japanese like to dress up but I did not expect it to be this readily available. Looking around, I saw many people shopping for these items, a man choosing an outfit for his girlfriend, groups of young girls shopping for their wardrobe, even a woman in her 30’s trying on a pirate dress. Everything was natural.
Looking at the corner, I saw many people queuing for something. It was the costume café where the waitresses all dressed up as French maids, amusing. Ryoko explained that it was a “special service” commonly found in Akihabara area. Some of the place has a “homely service” where the customers were treated like a family member, and the newest trend in theme café was the “rough café”. Rough café intentionally provides bad service, slamming the plates on the table, shouting at the customers and the waitresses pull off mean faces when taking orders. It was educating to know how people enjoy themselves.
Materialistic developments are always accompanied by emotional exits because in the end we are all human. We constantly explore every angle of enjoying ourselves. The fine line separating the norms and the unusual becomes the vague grey area. In a country where people seek for physical and spiritual excellence, the answer is so obvious in everyday living...
Tokyo has the population of 12 million people, slightly more than Bangkok. But open-mindedness, freedom and opportunities give its nightlife more flavours and alternatives for every interest.
Internet research revealed many interesting parties. There are plenty of Japanese gigs and international line ups. The clubs, pubs and bars in Tokyo plug themselves into every grid of the city, resulted in neon signs pointing in all directions. There were many stages for any music expressions.
Starting from going out on the first night we arrived in Tokyo which was the famous Japanese original night out, the karaoke. Then more parties followed just like a march, a minimal techno party by the French duo Swayzak, a drum and bass party by the local collectives, the 8th year anniversary party in the one of longest running clubs called Womb, extraordinary outdoor gathering with thousands of Japanese party people in Nagisa Music Festival or even a tiny theme bar where all the bartenders and waitress dressed up as cats. Tokyo nights out offered everything I could imagine.
Going out in Tokyo requires a good planning. Apart from the non-returnable entry in many notorious clubs, which keep you inside till the end of the night, the transportation also restricted your choice of moving around. The subway system stops between 1am to 5am. Taxi fares cost about ten times more than train. There is no turning back once you are out. 24 hour fast food place become a sanctuary for those who fall out from the world of flashing lights and thumping music. A common sight at night is seeing people of all age and sex sleeping in the dining area, sharing warmth, quietness and peace before returning to their home when the train runs again.
The more I spent my time in Tokyo, the more I went out, the more people I came across, the more I realized how much Japanese loves Thailand. I saw many travel programmes about Thailand. When people found out that I came from Thailand, they started saying things in Thai. The Thai food stall in the music festival seemed to be the most popular proven by the longest queue. Thailand is one of their favourite destinations I had learnt. With such a mutual craving, how could I not love Japan?
Full Moon Party
Finally, I got a chance to prove all my propaganda about Full Moon Party. After six months of verbal advertisement, it became an actual experience when the Smirnoff Ten arrived in Koh Phangan, Thailand; home of the original Full Moon Party. Everybody had seen how the Bangkokians party already, now it was the time to show them the island’s way.
Dark blue sea, fine white sand and the energising sunshine warmly welcomed everybody from a quick boat trip across the islands. The beach life seemed relaxing, calm and peaceful, but only Steph and Takashi who had already been to the Full Moon Party knew what kind of madness was disguised in the soothing tranquillity. The rest of the team was pretty much clueless of what lay ahead.
The team was booked into a nice resort on Haad Tian, about 10 minutes boat ride from Haad Riin where all the action would be. The narrow concrete road, haphazard motorcycle parking, the smell of barbecued seafood, neat displays of colourful ice buckets under white neon lights, shouting and yelling of different languages all brought back my old sweet memories of my straight six hour set. The organised chaos gradually built up as the dusk painted the sea glittering orange.
The beachfront, which was full of sunbathers, readers, swimmers, readers etc, was replaced by various fluorescent flags. Drink stalls were chained with neon lights connection. Sitting mats and short tables were laid out. Each bar started playing beats while the fire jugglers tried their best to attract people’s attention. Earth’s closest neighbor slowly glided through the cloud revealing her shining beauty.
Taxi boats of various capacities dropped people one after another, bringing fun seekers from every direction. Some were from Haad Tian, many sailed 20 minutes from longer beaches and thousands travelled from Koh Samui and Koh Tao, all hunting for that world famous monthly pleasure. The tireless energy was spreading over every sandy square metre.
I passionately placed my first vinyl on the deck at exactly midnight. At that moment, the Smirnoff Ten was all over the beach. Steph was dancing in a pop rock bar, Ben and Kareem were grooving to hip hop beats in another beach bar. Takashi was busy jumping to psy-trance, Audette was communicating to the speakers in a secret mountain party. And others were just strolling down the beach, absorbing the vibes. I carefully pushed the start button and Drum & Bass screamed out its first appearance of the night.
Usual beach life began; restaurants started to serve, backpackers were checking out, taxi cars snaked through the messy aftermath of Full Moon Party. The sun was high up, the colourful flags were gone, tables and mats were stored, stalls were removed and the music has stopped. The island cycle just passed its peak but some people just kept on going. Every party must have an end, some just last longer…
Dark blue sea, fine white sand and the energising sunshine warmly welcomed everybody from a quick boat trip across the islands. The beach life seemed relaxing, calm and peaceful, but only Steph and Takashi who had already been to the Full Moon Party knew what kind of madness was disguised in the soothing tranquillity. The rest of the team was pretty much clueless of what lay ahead.
The team was booked into a nice resort on Haad Tian, about 10 minutes boat ride from Haad Riin where all the action would be. The narrow concrete road, haphazard motorcycle parking, the smell of barbecued seafood, neat displays of colourful ice buckets under white neon lights, shouting and yelling of different languages all brought back my old sweet memories of my straight six hour set. The organised chaos gradually built up as the dusk painted the sea glittering orange.
The beachfront, which was full of sunbathers, readers, swimmers, readers etc, was replaced by various fluorescent flags. Drink stalls were chained with neon lights connection. Sitting mats and short tables were laid out. Each bar started playing beats while the fire jugglers tried their best to attract people’s attention. Earth’s closest neighbor slowly glided through the cloud revealing her shining beauty.
Taxi boats of various capacities dropped people one after another, bringing fun seekers from every direction. Some were from Haad Tian, many sailed 20 minutes from longer beaches and thousands travelled from Koh Samui and Koh Tao, all hunting for that world famous monthly pleasure. The tireless energy was spreading over every sandy square metre.
I passionately placed my first vinyl on the deck at exactly midnight. At that moment, the Smirnoff Ten was all over the beach. Steph was dancing in a pop rock bar, Ben and Kareem were grooving to hip hop beats in another beach bar. Takashi was busy jumping to psy-trance, Audette was communicating to the speakers in a secret mountain party. And others were just strolling down the beach, absorbing the vibes. I carefully pushed the start button and Drum & Bass screamed out its first appearance of the night.
Usual beach life began; restaurants started to serve, backpackers were checking out, taxi cars snaked through the messy aftermath of Full Moon Party. The sun was high up, the colourful flags were gone, tables and mats were stored, stalls were removed and the music has stopped. The island cycle just passed its peak but some people just kept on going. Every party must have an end, some just last longer…
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Homecoming
After changing my where I sleep every 20 days, packing and unpacking every three weeks, visiting airports every month and relentlessly traveling for nearly half a year, my sense of homelessness is eased by my homecoming after nine countries and five continents. Since I got closest to Thailand when we transited through Malaysia, I had always been thinking of my three weeks stopover at home. It is not a longing feeling of what I missed but recognizing what I possess within me, realizing what I am composed of.
Apart from the excitement of seeing my parents, brother, friends, my (brother’s) dog, my favourite Thai dishes, my music collections and DJ set; there is an innate curiosity deep inside me wondering how my ordinary Thai life has changed.
My previous daily world revolved around the waking up in the afternoon, doing design works before dinner (lunch by my standard), mixing practice during the early night, going out and socializing before midnight or spinning the whole night on my regular events, eating dinner (breakfast referred to office people) on the way back home; all these routines had fulfilled my life for the very past years. The world was in my palm and I enjoyed every moment of it. But this visit to Thailand has an extra dimension to me, being in Thai media.
I never imagined before that I would become the centre of anyone’s interest, I never felt commendable. Being a part of the Smirnoff Ten has proven to me that I was worthy of something. It strengthened my self-confidence, raised my self-consciousness and validated my self-approval .After all the interviews I gave, camera time I exposed, flashlights I encountered on this trip; I have found myself a different person. Now, take this spoiled soul and pour more attention from its usual environment; you get a lost soul.
My time in Thailand was like a classic Thai movie where the main character existed in a fantasy world. Nothing would ever go wrong and the path ahead was laid with rose petals. I was gravitated towards the blinding sweetness of fame. I detached myself from the reality. I spent days after days enjoying myself. I was over-daydreaming.
Then it came the moment of reality, when the flight….on an awkward morning took off from the runway. I was swiftly surrounded by truth. The stream of responsibility flooded my daydream and brought me back to the non-fiction world. My home visit was suddenly over like a lie. Just three weeks before I was wondering how I could spend my time in Thailand sufficiently. I blew it. I lost myself to the comfort and convenience of being at home. Finally, I realized that things around me were constantly revolutionizing forward while I was sinking deep down in my whirlpool of self-delusion. I was exercising my bad human qualities; I became the person I always looked down upon. But I had learned…..
Apart from the excitement of seeing my parents, brother, friends, my (brother’s) dog, my favourite Thai dishes, my music collections and DJ set; there is an innate curiosity deep inside me wondering how my ordinary Thai life has changed.
My previous daily world revolved around the waking up in the afternoon, doing design works before dinner (lunch by my standard), mixing practice during the early night, going out and socializing before midnight or spinning the whole night on my regular events, eating dinner (breakfast referred to office people) on the way back home; all these routines had fulfilled my life for the very past years. The world was in my palm and I enjoyed every moment of it. But this visit to Thailand has an extra dimension to me, being in Thai media.
I never imagined before that I would become the centre of anyone’s interest, I never felt commendable. Being a part of the Smirnoff Ten has proven to me that I was worthy of something. It strengthened my self-confidence, raised my self-consciousness and validated my self-approval .After all the interviews I gave, camera time I exposed, flashlights I encountered on this trip; I have found myself a different person. Now, take this spoiled soul and pour more attention from its usual environment; you get a lost soul.
My time in Thailand was like a classic Thai movie where the main character existed in a fantasy world. Nothing would ever go wrong and the path ahead was laid with rose petals. I was gravitated towards the blinding sweetness of fame. I detached myself from the reality. I spent days after days enjoying myself. I was over-daydreaming.
Then it came the moment of reality, when the flight….on an awkward morning took off from the runway. I was swiftly surrounded by truth. The stream of responsibility flooded my daydream and brought me back to the non-fiction world. My home visit was suddenly over like a lie. Just three weeks before I was wondering how I could spend my time in Thailand sufficiently. I blew it. I lost myself to the comfort and convenience of being at home. Finally, I realized that things around me were constantly revolutionizing forward while I was sinking deep down in my whirlpool of self-delusion. I was exercising my bad human qualities; I became the person I always looked down upon. But I had learned…..
Bollywood
Bollywood is in every Indian’s breath and blood. It gives an alternative fantasy channel to relieve people from the hardship of daily reality shows. With the over-exaggerated storyline, repetitive “classic” scenes and too-good-to-exist main characters, Bollywood soundtracks seem to create a perfect entertainment which permeates all Indian lifestyles.
Bollywood music is enjoyed by all sorts of people. Shop keepers, street vendors, businessmen, students, housewives, rickshaw drivers, celebrities all sing to the classic hits songs after songs. The game which involves connecting lyrics of Bollywood soundtracks can go on for days.
Bollywood culture has found its way into the night club scene strongly. There are Bollywood nights where only Bollywood music is played. It is common for a typical “house music” night to have Bollywood soundtrack mixed into every 2-3 songs of top chart dance hits. Every time Bollywood music goes on, the shouting, whistling and cheering on the dancefloor bursts out with joy and enthusiasm. The energy of the crowd suddenly rises and clubbers seem to be in a musical spell.
It is unavoidable for me to compare the club music scene within Asian countries. As I previously wrote about China that the scene is somewhat 4-5 years behind Thailand, India is at least 10 years behind. India has its own way of blending its vernacular touch to international entertainment. Personally, I find it much more interesting to incorporate local preference to the global practices. It gives more characteristics to what already exists, opening up numerous possible outcomes. This country with such a long history puts itself in a nice spot musically in the modern world.
Bollywood music is enjoyed by all sorts of people. Shop keepers, street vendors, businessmen, students, housewives, rickshaw drivers, celebrities all sing to the classic hits songs after songs. The game which involves connecting lyrics of Bollywood soundtracks can go on for days.
Bollywood culture has found its way into the night club scene strongly. There are Bollywood nights where only Bollywood music is played. It is common for a typical “house music” night to have Bollywood soundtrack mixed into every 2-3 songs of top chart dance hits. Every time Bollywood music goes on, the shouting, whistling and cheering on the dancefloor bursts out with joy and enthusiasm. The energy of the crowd suddenly rises and clubbers seem to be in a musical spell.
It is unavoidable for me to compare the club music scene within Asian countries. As I previously wrote about China that the scene is somewhat 4-5 years behind Thailand, India is at least 10 years behind. India has its own way of blending its vernacular touch to international entertainment. Personally, I find it much more interesting to incorporate local preference to the global practices. It gives more characteristics to what already exists, opening up numerous possible outcomes. This country with such a long history puts itself in a nice spot musically in the modern world.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Food!
I just went over all my writing on this trip so far, steak in Argentina, churrascaria in Brazil, chilli in Mexico, street food in China etc. I noticed that I paid a lot of attention to food and eating. I guess it is fundamental to everyone but to me it is the one of the most pleasurable things in life.
In every city I visited, I hunted down the local restaurants and food stalls. I like to try what people fuel themselves with, learning about the local flavour and understanding the history and background of each country’s cooking. I vividly remember walking 45 minutes in Moscow at night just to find reheated Chinese fast food, having a biggest piece of steak in Buenos Aires, sharing the heat with charcoal griller to warm me while waiting for barbecued lamb on a street in Shanghai, or the toasted sandwich I had in the morning of our video submission day during the selection week in London. My memory is full of various eating moments.
Each person has different eating habits and preferences. It is exciting to learn about someone through eating. It supposedly takes up ten percent of our time in our lifetime. A dinner tells many secret messages in a person, from the food selection, table manners, food sharing and offering, even how he/she manage the payment. The sub-conscious is exposed during the simplest activity.
It was at lunchtime in Mexico City where me, Kareem, Takashi and Ania went to a buffet Chinese restaurant. We all filled our plates up with fried rice, fried noodles, stir-fry vegetables and all the stir-fried and deep-fried we could find. I noticed how 4 people all have 4 ways of eating same kind of food. Ania had knife and fork in her hands, I used spoon and fork, Takashi was only equipped with a fork while Kareem ate with his bare hand.
It reminds me of how different and unique we all are. It makes me aware of life, four people having four means to achieve a common goal. It is not just about eating but also working. You have to understand and compromise with the individual custom, generating the overlapping area with each other. This is what makes my experience original to me.
In every city I visited, I hunted down the local restaurants and food stalls. I like to try what people fuel themselves with, learning about the local flavour and understanding the history and background of each country’s cooking. I vividly remember walking 45 minutes in Moscow at night just to find reheated Chinese fast food, having a biggest piece of steak in Buenos Aires, sharing the heat with charcoal griller to warm me while waiting for barbecued lamb on a street in Shanghai, or the toasted sandwich I had in the morning of our video submission day during the selection week in London. My memory is full of various eating moments.
Each person has different eating habits and preferences. It is exciting to learn about someone through eating. It supposedly takes up ten percent of our time in our lifetime. A dinner tells many secret messages in a person, from the food selection, table manners, food sharing and offering, even how he/she manage the payment. The sub-conscious is exposed during the simplest activity.
It was at lunchtime in Mexico City where me, Kareem, Takashi and Ania went to a buffet Chinese restaurant. We all filled our plates up with fried rice, fried noodles, stir-fry vegetables and all the stir-fried and deep-fried we could find. I noticed how 4 people all have 4 ways of eating same kind of food. Ania had knife and fork in her hands, I used spoon and fork, Takashi was only equipped with a fork while Kareem ate with his bare hand.
It reminds me of how different and unique we all are. It makes me aware of life, four people having four means to achieve a common goal. It is not just about eating but also working. You have to understand and compromise with the individual custom, generating the overlapping area with each other. This is what makes my experience original to me.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Morro de Sao Paulo
From the moment I got on the second boat ride to come to Morro de Sao Paulo, I could feel the recognizable air. Morro de Sao Paulo is the Carnaval after-party island of Salvador. It took us about 5 hours on a boat-bus-boat ride from Salvador to this relaxing island on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. My first step on the island’s simple concrete pier, evoked a sense of that homely greeting in Koh Pha Ngan, in my very own Thailand.
Apart from the colonial style architecture that still remains as the important landmark, the rest of the atmosphere was what I am accustomed to. Sunny beaches, bikini shops, Italian restaurants, beach bars and the friendly laid-back attitude reminded me of home. It was time to reminisce about good old days and enjoy fresh seafood.
Life on the island was very calm, peaceful, friendly and productive for me. Personally, I love big cities as they give an insight of what is evolving around my insignificant lonely social being. Beach life gives me a deeper understanding inside myself. I found the island time a perfect break to reflect on my thoughts and emotions. It embraced me with a welcoming familiarity. I took my first plunge into the sea in more than two years!!!!
I let my mind loose and enthusiastically started writing. The environment was very helpful to my work. I really enjoyed blogging in dusk and dawn. The gentle breeze gave me comfort; the sea made me thoughtful, the sun ignited me with energy and the colour-changing sky filled me up with self-recognition. It was an idealistic pleasure for me to produce content.
I capture this moment as a prelude to Full moon party in Thailand. As the day goes by, I have been thinking relentlessly about it. The nature of Brazilians is very much similar to Thais. This island trip gives a soft preview and I just cannot wait to show my team Thailand…
Apart from the colonial style architecture that still remains as the important landmark, the rest of the atmosphere was what I am accustomed to. Sunny beaches, bikini shops, Italian restaurants, beach bars and the friendly laid-back attitude reminded me of home. It was time to reminisce about good old days and enjoy fresh seafood.
Life on the island was very calm, peaceful, friendly and productive for me. Personally, I love big cities as they give an insight of what is evolving around my insignificant lonely social being. Beach life gives me a deeper understanding inside myself. I found the island time a perfect break to reflect on my thoughts and emotions. It embraced me with a welcoming familiarity. I took my first plunge into the sea in more than two years!!!!
I let my mind loose and enthusiastically started writing. The environment was very helpful to my work. I really enjoyed blogging in dusk and dawn. The gentle breeze gave me comfort; the sea made me thoughtful, the sun ignited me with energy and the colour-changing sky filled me up with self-recognition. It was an idealistic pleasure for me to produce content.
I capture this moment as a prelude to Full moon party in Thailand. As the day goes by, I have been thinking relentlessly about it. The nature of Brazilians is very much similar to Thais. This island trip gives a soft preview and I just cannot wait to show my team Thailand…
Monday, 18 February 2008
Salvador Carnaval
An English friend once said to me that if I want to find a party that beats full moon party I have go to the Carnaval in Brazil. From internet research, I was thrilled by the fact that Salvador Carnaval is the biggest street party in the world with 1.5 million people. I was overflowing with curiosity.
We were given a Carnaval kit on the second day after arrival. The kit included 5 ticket-Ts (coloured tops that also were our passes to the events), a Smirnoff T, a book, a notepad, two pens, a manual fan, a tube of facial wash gel, a pack of razor blades and the ladies favourite, cellulite removal crème. We were told to take good care of the ticket-Ts. A ticket-T that let us get into 2222 – which was one of the most exclusive lounges (known as a camarote) could cost over 500 Rais and they could not easily be replaced. There was a room provided to customize our tops, so a boring tank top was altered to endless fashion possibilities.
Salvador Carnival can be separated into two parts, the Trio parade on the street and the Camarote that spread out over the length of the street. 2222 Camarote, the most exclusive lounge was once a residence of the heroic Brazilian music figure, Gilberto Gil who is now a minister of the government. It amazed me to know the impact of music on Brazilian lives.
Camarotes are private lounges that provide an elevated view into the street where the Trio parades stream by you. They had a dance floor inside with DJs pumping electronic music. I was very fortunate to spin my beloved music at 2222 Camarote on one night. It was an unimaginable and unforgettable experience for me. We had a chance to party in two Camarotes. There were sushi bars in both of them, proving the sushi craze of Brazilians. I enjoyed eating fresh sushi and sashimi every night. Um… Japanese food in Brazil….
The Camarote life was so glamourous, pretentious but indulging. The experience in the actual parade was totally different. Thousands of people shoving, bumping, yelling, singing, shouting, smiling, laughing, moon walking and the most distinctive one, kissing. The tradition is that a guy can kiss any girl in the parade. There was an even better reason in order to rightfully kiss a girl….. becoming a part of the tribute to Ghandi troop. They are the people who paid money to get a special white outfit which came with loads of bead necklaces. This team (around 3,000 manpower) stormed through the street exchanging their necklaces for every kiss they sealed. I am not sure how this practice relates to Ghandi’s devotion but it sure was an attractive tribute. It was a common sight to see these guys in action while walking through the party-bustling street at night.
The walk in the parade was intense. My emotions and actions were directed by the engulfing amount of positive energy that surrounded me. It was not necessary to know the lyrics or songs in order to follow the dynamic of the parade. When they clapped I clapped, when they jumped I jumped, when they shouted I shouted, everything was simple and instinctive.
My 5 nights in Camarote, 6 hours of parade experience, numerous plates of sushi, and a session of DJing were totally a treasured experience. My life will never be the same after the Carnaval….
We were given a Carnaval kit on the second day after arrival. The kit included 5 ticket-Ts (coloured tops that also were our passes to the events), a Smirnoff T, a book, a notepad, two pens, a manual fan, a tube of facial wash gel, a pack of razor blades and the ladies favourite, cellulite removal crème. We were told to take good care of the ticket-Ts. A ticket-T that let us get into 2222 – which was one of the most exclusive lounges (known as a camarote) could cost over 500 Rais and they could not easily be replaced. There was a room provided to customize our tops, so a boring tank top was altered to endless fashion possibilities.
Salvador Carnival can be separated into two parts, the Trio parade on the street and the Camarote that spread out over the length of the street. 2222 Camarote, the most exclusive lounge was once a residence of the heroic Brazilian music figure, Gilberto Gil who is now a minister of the government. It amazed me to know the impact of music on Brazilian lives.
Camarotes are private lounges that provide an elevated view into the street where the Trio parades stream by you. They had a dance floor inside with DJs pumping electronic music. I was very fortunate to spin my beloved music at 2222 Camarote on one night. It was an unimaginable and unforgettable experience for me. We had a chance to party in two Camarotes. There were sushi bars in both of them, proving the sushi craze of Brazilians. I enjoyed eating fresh sushi and sashimi every night. Um… Japanese food in Brazil….
The Camarote life was so glamourous, pretentious but indulging. The experience in the actual parade was totally different. Thousands of people shoving, bumping, yelling, singing, shouting, smiling, laughing, moon walking and the most distinctive one, kissing. The tradition is that a guy can kiss any girl in the parade. There was an even better reason in order to rightfully kiss a girl….. becoming a part of the tribute to Ghandi troop. They are the people who paid money to get a special white outfit which came with loads of bead necklaces. This team (around 3,000 manpower) stormed through the street exchanging their necklaces for every kiss they sealed. I am not sure how this practice relates to Ghandi’s devotion but it sure was an attractive tribute. It was a common sight to see these guys in action while walking through the party-bustling street at night.
The walk in the parade was intense. My emotions and actions were directed by the engulfing amount of positive energy that surrounded me. It was not necessary to know the lyrics or songs in order to follow the dynamic of the parade. When they clapped I clapped, when they jumped I jumped, when they shouted I shouted, everything was simple and instinctive.
My 5 nights in Camarote, 6 hours of parade experience, numerous plates of sushi, and a session of DJing were totally a treasured experience. My life will never be the same after the Carnaval….
China
I was prepared for China with excitement. It may be the longing for familiarity that that drives me for this Shanghai visit. Even though it is not Thailand, being on Asian soil makes me close enough to home.
The first thing that hit me was the cold winter of China. It was around 0 degrees and that was certainly not what I am used to. All the clothes in my possession will not last me three days in this freezing weather. But the living expenses in China welcome me gracefully.
Meal times in China are also rewarding moments for me. As Shanghai is one of the biggest cities in China, I have enjoyed choosing food from different provinces. And each of the different backgrounds and preparations has its own reason. Beijing in the north, which suffers more extreme weather results in salty taste that helps you keep the heat in your body. Sichuan province in a humid valley prefers its food full of chilli and spiciness in order to adjust the body temperature through perspiration. Or Shanghai food that uses lots of sugar to create the savory taste when balancing it well with soy sauce. The sophistication is hidden in every dish you eat.
I walked on many back streets of Shanghai downtown and found smoke coming out from the corner of a building. With curiosity, I searched the origin just to find one of my favourite delicacies, street food!! I love tasting street food not just because it is simple and convenient but it also reflects the lifestyle of people in the city. My favourite street food in Shanghai is the grilled lamb on a stick seasoned with herbs and chilli. The irresistible smell draws a group of people together to share great tastes and the warmth from the red-lit charcoal on a cold day.
During the course of this trip, I have enjoyed my eating experience of various food resulting in gaining 7 kilograms of weight. But even I sometime ate too much in China; I lost my weight by 2 Kilograms. The evolution of Chinese diet amazed me and I was surprised with the sensitiveness of the human body. Next stop, Salvador Brazil, I will probably lose myself to the beautiful fresh seafood from the ocean…
The first thing that hit me was the cold winter of China. It was around 0 degrees and that was certainly not what I am used to. All the clothes in my possession will not last me three days in this freezing weather. But the living expenses in China welcome me gracefully.
Meal times in China are also rewarding moments for me. As Shanghai is one of the biggest cities in China, I have enjoyed choosing food from different provinces. And each of the different backgrounds and preparations has its own reason. Beijing in the north, which suffers more extreme weather results in salty taste that helps you keep the heat in your body. Sichuan province in a humid valley prefers its food full of chilli and spiciness in order to adjust the body temperature through perspiration. Or Shanghai food that uses lots of sugar to create the savory taste when balancing it well with soy sauce. The sophistication is hidden in every dish you eat.
I walked on many back streets of Shanghai downtown and found smoke coming out from the corner of a building. With curiosity, I searched the origin just to find one of my favourite delicacies, street food!! I love tasting street food not just because it is simple and convenient but it also reflects the lifestyle of people in the city. My favourite street food in Shanghai is the grilled lamb on a stick seasoned with herbs and chilli. The irresistible smell draws a group of people together to share great tastes and the warmth from the red-lit charcoal on a cold day.
During the course of this trip, I have enjoyed my eating experience of various food resulting in gaining 7 kilograms of weight. But even I sometime ate too much in China; I lost my weight by 2 Kilograms. The evolution of Chinese diet amazed me and I was surprised with the sensitiveness of the human body. Next stop, Salvador Brazil, I will probably lose myself to the beautiful fresh seafood from the ocean…
Smirnoff Experience Shanghai
The Smirnoff event in Shanghai was the second event of our Global Smirnoff Experience. I still remembered the unbelievable collaboration of Faithless and the Musica Viva Orchestra in Moscow like it was yesterday. With the line up of Tom Middleton in collaboration with “The Lab” local turntablists collective, Hard-Fi with the Chinese Shanxi Drummer and DJ Sasha, I was ready to experience the musical magic.
The event greeted guests with the stunning world’s longest cocktail list, which had 1,320 variations of welcome drinks. Then, I was attracted by the Tangram wall which challenged my architectural sense. Before I moved on to other features, the electrifying collaboration between Tom and The Lab started its prelude.
The four DJs of the crew stood side by side with their best friends: mixers. Various impressive turntable skills from the talented locals combined with Tom’s selection and resulted in rhythmic gratification. I was in a magical moment when the song made the transition to Drum n’ Bass. We all were having a photo shoot - myself and Ania dancing inside the Smirnoff Ice booth with fake snow falling off from the above.
Then came Hard-Fi. Even though I am not a big fan of indie band music, the joint performance with the Shanxi Drummers was truly satisfying for a beat addict like me.
Finally, DJ Sasha with his special selection of an exclusive rock remix set finished off the already hyped crowd. Admittedly, after his performance I felt that laptop DJs lose a bit of that mystic energy that tickles the admiration of another DJ. When the movement on the stage was reduced to finger clicking the mouse and eyes staring into the tiny laptop screen, I just could not feel “it”. But his selection and mixing skills replaced the missing energy.
By the end of the night, I was thinking of the Faithless performance in the Moscow event. I cannot really tell which act overwhelmed another. Original collaborations provided original music experiences that can not be compared. It is not a 1+1=2 but rather 1+1=11.
The event greeted guests with the stunning world’s longest cocktail list, which had 1,320 variations of welcome drinks. Then, I was attracted by the Tangram wall which challenged my architectural sense. Before I moved on to other features, the electrifying collaboration between Tom and The Lab started its prelude.
The four DJs of the crew stood side by side with their best friends: mixers. Various impressive turntable skills from the talented locals combined with Tom’s selection and resulted in rhythmic gratification. I was in a magical moment when the song made the transition to Drum n’ Bass. We all were having a photo shoot - myself and Ania dancing inside the Smirnoff Ice booth with fake snow falling off from the above.
Then came Hard-Fi. Even though I am not a big fan of indie band music, the joint performance with the Shanxi Drummers was truly satisfying for a beat addict like me.
Finally, DJ Sasha with his special selection of an exclusive rock remix set finished off the already hyped crowd. Admittedly, after his performance I felt that laptop DJs lose a bit of that mystic energy that tickles the admiration of another DJ. When the movement on the stage was reduced to finger clicking the mouse and eyes staring into the tiny laptop screen, I just could not feel “it”. But his selection and mixing skills replaced the missing energy.
By the end of the night, I was thinking of the Faithless performance in the Moscow event. I cannot really tell which act overwhelmed another. Original collaborations provided original music experiences that can not be compared. It is not a 1+1=2 but rather 1+1=11.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Australia 2
It is the first time in my life that I have spent a Christmas holiday in a country where most of the people cherish the actual festival more than just another reason to go out and party. When I was studying in New Zealand, I saw the preparation, the buzz, the hype and the importance that radio and T.V. commercial created. But I would spend the actual festive season in Thailand because of the southern hemisphere summer school break. Therefore, this is rather special for me to celebrate Christmas in Australia.
I walked around the city in the afternoon to find empty streets, closed shops and lifeless restaurants scarcely opened. Finding a bar at night becomes unexpectedly difficult. The colourful lights that use to keep me accompanied are off, leaving me in the darkness. The unfamiliar chilly breeze adds on to the loneliness in an unaccustomed setting, and it makes me think how bad it must be for people on their own.
Finally, a year is about to end. I slowly recall my life for the past 365 days, quietly mulling about every moment spent. Being away from my “safety cave” may shock and confuse me today, but in this unbelievable trip around the world I just have to embrace the unexpected. This is just another moment of life that I have to go through with self-understanding and consciousness. I will never regret living this extraordinary experience.
I walked around the city in the afternoon to find empty streets, closed shops and lifeless restaurants scarcely opened. Finding a bar at night becomes unexpectedly difficult. The colourful lights that use to keep me accompanied are off, leaving me in the darkness. The unfamiliar chilly breeze adds on to the loneliness in an unaccustomed setting, and it makes me think how bad it must be for people on their own.
Finally, a year is about to end. I slowly recall my life for the past 365 days, quietly mulling about every moment spent. Being away from my “safety cave” may shock and confuse me today, but in this unbelievable trip around the world I just have to embrace the unexpected. This is just another moment of life that I have to go through with self-understanding and consciousness. I will never regret living this extraordinary experience.
Australia
After three months of travelling, I have heard and talked about Thailand more and more often, either within my team or with people I have encountered. There have been many times when my team praised the warm weather and sunny days; I just thought that Thailand is hotter and sunnier. When someone crazily ran down to a beautiful beach, I just thought that Thai beaches are more amazing. Every time the team was amazed with the low living expenses, I just thought that it is also cheaper in Thailand. It may be a patriotic feeling but I have never realized how wonderful and liveable my country is.
Spending time in South America and South Africa where there are not many Asians to be seen, being a Thai is some kind of a rare species (but warmly welcomed). I felt excited with the new setting and practice that I am not accustomed to. But arriving in Sydney where there is such a large Asian population and loads of Thai restaurants, the feeling of my nation evokes an unexpected strive for identity.
After a series of incomprehensible countries, I admit that I feel strange when I hear Thai conversation in an unfamiliar sight. It makes me a happily confused though. Familiarity brings me back to my beloved country, stressing the special invisible value of “Thainess” imprinted in myself. Further more, I have accidentally bumped into a friend I know from Thailand. That longing for self-recognition and mutual acceptance has built up notably. Nationality becomes an invisible and indescribable bond.
In the past when I travelled overseas with my mum, I never wanted to find a Thai meal, I never understood the joy of meeting Thai people abroad, I never liked expressing my “Thainess”. Looking back now, I feel that it was nonsense. But now I gladly embrace what I am and what I have in my country. It is not a homesick feeling, but a pride of being a Thai.
I love Thailand…..
Spending time in South America and South Africa where there are not many Asians to be seen, being a Thai is some kind of a rare species (but warmly welcomed). I felt excited with the new setting and practice that I am not accustomed to. But arriving in Sydney where there is such a large Asian population and loads of Thai restaurants, the feeling of my nation evokes an unexpected strive for identity.
After a series of incomprehensible countries, I admit that I feel strange when I hear Thai conversation in an unfamiliar sight. It makes me a happily confused though. Familiarity brings me back to my beloved country, stressing the special invisible value of “Thainess” imprinted in myself. Further more, I have accidentally bumped into a friend I know from Thailand. That longing for self-recognition and mutual acceptance has built up notably. Nationality becomes an invisible and indescribable bond.
In the past when I travelled overseas with my mum, I never wanted to find a Thai meal, I never understood the joy of meeting Thai people abroad, I never liked expressing my “Thainess”. Looking back now, I feel that it was nonsense. But now I gladly embrace what I am and what I have in my country. It is not a homesick feeling, but a pride of being a Thai.
I love Thailand…..
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