Living life to the fullest with Random Acts of Kindness, Generosity, and Consideration all over the world. Bouncing between Thailand and California and everything in between.
About Me
[Sevenwinds]
Loc:SF Bay Area, California and Bangkok, Thailand
Sharing my travel and cultural experiences as a resident of Thailand and California and bouncing between these two bookends of my world.
After some Thanksgiving dinner and all day out on Black Friday (mostly people watching), I'm staying in for the most part the rest of the weekend. I've been waiting for some golf parts to come in so that I can build my 'magic driver'. After some research, I am hoping that I've found the right combination of driver head and shaft that will give me the most distance with control. Putting it together myself will be a treat as I can see the pieces and take the time to do all the things I think should be done. All this in search for a better golf game.
On the subject of golf, it appears that Tiger Woods was involved in an automobile accident during the weekend outside his home. There are numerous reports (most unconfirmed) that it was a domestic dispute that started it all and that the alleged fight was over another woman. True or not, these reports will definitely tarnish the squeaky clean image of Woods and golf that has been the distinction among other high paying sports events. It remains to be seen how this will all play out. It affects not only Woods, but the entire PGA Tour and all the money the sponsors put into the events - we're not even talking about advertising revenue at this point. PGA players are like everyone else - they are not saints but driven by the same passions and hormones, but they have managed to keep their dirty laundry contained for the most part. But Woods has some of the best image management people around and I'm sure that he will soon be out on the links again showing his magic..
And yes, I did buy a tiny bit of gold on the dip as I believe Dubai is like the canary in the mine....lots of danger from poison assets around the globe. If we miss the signs, then we have no one to blame except ourselves.
This weeks plans call for some preparation and early packing as my cruise trip to Australia and New Zealand starts the middle of the following week. After that it will be Christmas and then the New Year. Then taxes in January before I head back for an extended stay in the big mango.
Its seems like such a long time now, but only a year ago at this time of year the airport in Bangkok was closed by the PAD. I remember distinctly because a few of the guys visiting were stranded and had jobs they needed to get back to in California. Hotels were offering free or heavily discounted rooms to stranded travellers with the tab picked up by the Thai government. No one was certain when the airports would be open again and plans were made to go to alternative airports or finding other ways out of the country. It was a day to day thing and rumors of a coup were being circulated almost daily.
It was the topic of our Thanksgiving Dinner at Bourbon Street - and gosh, how things have changed in only a year. The former PM at the time died recently, and the opposition party in now in power. Thaksin is a fugitive on the run around the globe. Now the red shirts are demonstrating - will they turn things upside down again?..only the shadow knows.
What is certain is that the LOS will manage to survive the turmoil. It will survive because the everyday people are fiercely loyal to their country and the King, no matter who is in power. I have never seem more patriotic people than the Thai people, and I have never seen a King more admired by his subjects. Those two strengths, along with their devotion to their Buddhist religion and family make Thailand a very strong country. Having seen all of this first hand and the genuineness of the Thai people, there is no doubt these political issues will pass and the country will continue its remarkable history.
If these principles of unifying country (patriotism, respected leaders, family, and religious values) could somehow be applied to the USA again, I think things would quickly get better here too and we would once again be the envy of the world. Somewhere, somehow, we lost our way and are wandering around in the darkness following multiple calls in the distance to "come this way". The darkness is full of dangers and pitfalls, and going the wrong way can be fatal. What we need are the core values that make countries great and that will light the way for us to a new and better nation. Thailand made it through their darkest hours, so we can as well.
For all those that are not in the country, best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving from sunny California. We still have a lot to be thankful for, even if it does cost a lot more nowadays......
In an effort to boost sales, companies have traditionally had big 'day after' Thanksgiving bargains with stores opening as early as 4AM here in the Bay Area. After a dismal 2008 season, the stores are hoping that a rising stock market and better economic news will push consumers to spend more this season. This day after Thanksgiving has a nickname, its called Black Friday. Why exactly its called that, I'm not sure but it may have to do with getting the stores numbers into the 'black' rather than in the red (a loss). Just looked up the official info on this name originated - reference here.
So for those in the area, information is now online regarding the latest deals which start as early as tomorrow. Here is the site: http://www.blackfriday.fm/. For those of you in the big mango this week....too bad, there is at least one day where there is better shopping on this bookend of the world.
Yep you can pick up as Acer Netbook for only 189 bucks from Best Buy or a big screen TV from Walmart too. Bargains galore so happy shopping -- the economy needs for you to be in debt again.
Its back in California in body, but not quite in mind and spirit yet as those are still in the LOS and parts in-between the bookends. My sleeping habits have slowly begun to change, forced by me staying up late and napping when I can in the afternoon. But yesterday was a busy day because I had to attend a baptism of a newborn of a family friend. Afterwards they held a reception at a Japanese restaurant and still later, I decided to go see the movie '2012'.
I had a urge to see the '2012' movie because I have been reading and posting (blog post from last year) about the various viewpoints of what exactly will happen on 12/21/12. Its good to have an open mind about the scientific and speculative angles of this doomsday scenario. Doomsdays are popular and that's why hollywood has made this movie. Maybe people are really so fed up with the state of how things are now that they feel we need to wipe the slate clean and start over again like Adam and Eve - in purity and innocence until that first bite.
Anyway, I did see the movie and while the special effects were spectacular, I can't say the same about the believability of the plot nor the storyline. Worth a watch, but I doubt it will win any awards for anything except maybe FX.
Today, its another busy day as its my godmother's 90th birthday. Its one of the reasons for an early return from the LOS. She is a remarkable woman who helped me through some tough times and gave me spiritual guidance since my own baptism many years ago. Wife of a former priest, and a forth generation grandmother, she is one special lady and it will be a very large gathering of family and friends. So that is how it goes on this bookend, longing to return home to the LOS as soon as possible.
Got this link from a blog post by Talen (Thailand land of Smiles). If you have the time, watch this movie as it will change the whole way you look at food here in the States. After spending time on 'the farm' in the LOS and seeing how food is produced in the Northwest of Thailand and feeling so much better each time I'm there, I now know the reason why. Almost everything in the US food chain has been altered to produce a nutritionally inferior product for the sake of profits and perhaps unintended side effects by those who think they are actually doing something good for humanity.
Now that I am back in California, I am a prisoner to these companies and the food chain so I have to take steps to eat healthier and see if I can avoid the pitfalls that come with all this engineered food.
Spend the 90 minutes or so watching this video. It will have a popup window with some advertising that comes up first, just close the popup and hit the play button on the blog to start the movie. It might save or extend your life - or at least change how you look at food from this moment on. By the way, I am stopping my daily run to MacDs after this video!
After a rather uneventful flight, I'm back in California. The airport was quiet tonight and I got through immigration and customs in a flash - fastest time ever. It still took an hour and 30 minutes to get through the commuter traffic to get from the airport to my condo in Emeryville, but that's the price to pay for a 6PM arrival time.
Tired, a bit sleepy, and expecting rain tonight and tomorrow, I am starting to miss the big mango already. Called B and told her I was safe and now after some canned soup and a defrosted bagel, its time for some sleep. Its going to be a very long couple of months ahead........
Just finished the short leg of the trip back to California and am resting in Taipei before taking getting back on board the big silver bird. Its been a long day, a bit sad and a bit productive as well. Woke up this morning a bit late as I stayed up packing last night. B cooked up one of my favorites last night, Thai style stew (pork and chicken) and we stayed up late not wanting today to come. We know today will be a start of a long separation as I get back to the states and we will miss each other a lot.
She told me she was going to tell herself that I was just going off to work and that I would be back shortly so she wouln't miss me so much. And I feel that way too, as Thailand is becoming more like my main home instead of a home away from home. I guess that was the plan all along but I lost my way a bit when I first started spending more time in the LOS without any direction. At some point, one has to make the decision to make one your home base and the other place your former home. I think the swap started on this trip and my eventual goal is to spend the majority of my time in the LOS with frequent trips back to the States instead of the other way around. How do you know its that time? For me, its when I arrive and stay on each bookend and how I feel when I am there. It definitely feels more like home for me in the big mango now.
We had lunch today at the Oishi buffet on Chongnosi during their lunch hour and they have a great deal at 359 baht. Normally, its 550 baht for their dinner hours and the menu and selection was virtually identical - plus its a lot less crowded than dinner. I believe they also have a 'happy hour' that runs until 4PM for the same price. We are going to change our strategy and eat a bit earlier next time and for a few baht more, get better stuff than the Oishi Express in Ratchada.
After lunch it was a bit more packing and a nap before heading off to the airport. If it wasn't for this upcoming trip to New Zealand and Australia, I would be having turkey dinner in the big mango and most likely not head back until the holidays. But new adventures await and with a bit of teary eyed sadness Sevenwinds is heading back, but shall return shortly.
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