Couple of Weekends left

Well, this is the second to the last weekend left here in California and then its back over to the other bookend.  Can't wait as it seems like its been so long ago.  My Thai friends are ordering things to be brought back over to the LOS and/or sending me things to bring back.  I feel like a Fed Ex delivery man sometimes...

So what are some of the things people want from the states?  Here is a sample.  GPS units, golf clubs, CDs, Cosmetics, pain relievers, vitamins, kite lines, wine, seeds, etc.  You can see that its quite a variety.  Yep, with all that stuff, I see that I am doing my part to reduce the trade deficit and help the economy.  The reason is that it is so expensive now to send anything  from the states to Thailand.  Everything now is sent via air and surface mail/shipping is no longer available from the post office.  It some cases, it cost more for shipping than the product itself and that issue is not being addressed by our brilliant legislators.  For example, its cheaper to send stuff from Thailand to the USA than vice versa.

To reduce the national trade deficit...how about FREE Shipping for All Exported Products?  Get rid of the post office and give massive contracts to FED EX and UPS and then tell all small businesses that they can ship stuff abroad for free to their customers.  I bet that would knock down the trade deficit big time, create jobs, and help the economy.  By the way, you can tell your friends to write in "Sevenwinds" for president in Florida..555

Would you believe that since I returned to the Bay Area from Vegas that is been like spring time again with the weather here?  Mild and no rain.  I even had a chance to go out and play a round of golf last week and have been walking daily to stay in shape.  It has really helped as I am now about 5 lbs lighter and my blood pressure is back to normal without any medication.  This week, I added a day in the gym to my routine so I think it will be walking three days and week, golf one day, and then the gym for two days.  Sundays, I plan to do absolutely nothing and crash out all day.

Anyway, enough rambling.  There is work to do and little time left.  

Back to a stormy Bay Area

Got back late last night after a long drive back from Vegas.  Around 200 miles from the Bay Area, I caught up with the big storm and it started raining.  The weather in Vegas had been great..very mild weather except for Saturday when there was strong winds and it kicked up some sand storms.

Had a great trip business wise and some interesting possibilities for the upcoming year and I did have a chance to go to a show during the last day.  Had a good deal on some tickets to see David Copperfield at the MGM.  I liked his TV specials so I said why not?  Turned out to be a pretty decent show (despite the mixed reviews) and he did do some amazing stuff like making a 3000 lb classic car appear out of thin air on stage.  The other neat trick was him making 12 random people selected from the audience disappear on stage and the reappear on the other side of the theater as his grand finale.  Cool, head scratching stuff...you know its a trick, but can't figure out how he does it.  Here is a commercial for the show.

Or, you can see something like this and spoil your fun.




Anyway, it not too much longer now before its time to head back to the LOS.  Frankly, I can't wait as I don't like the rain and cold weather we have now.  I'm dreaming of the hot sunny weather, the beach, and hanging out with B.

Vegas Bound

Getting ready to head over to Vegas for a few days.  First to hang out a bit and second to attend to some kite business.  This is a good time to go to Vegas because its cheap.  The weekends after the big CES leave a kind of void for the hotels  and some bargains can be had.  Instead of the Strip, I will be staying downtown this time because I will have my car with me.  Downtown is also more low key and there are cheaper buffets and better bargains as they try to compete with the big boys on the strip.  I plan on visiting the pawn shop again that is featured on the History Channel "Pawn Stars"...they have some neat stuff there, but as usual, I will never buy anything but just gawk.

It will be just in time too, to escape the first big weather storm heading our way.  Will we finally get some rain here in Northern California?  I hope so, but I won't be able to see it as the weather will be great down in the desert this trip.  Last year, it was in the 30s when I went to the trade show so having weather in the 60s will be a great chance to actually fly some of the kites on display!

Will try to take some pics while I am there and post when some free WiFi is available.  

49er Fever returns to the Bay Area

Living in my bifurcated world of California and Thailand, hearing the term 'football' requires a context setting.  Say 'football' in the LOS and you're supposed to be talking about Soccer.  Football is synonymous with soccer everywhere else except the USA, where its a sport all its own.

The Sports starved Bay Area has had its football heroes and glory of the past.  Especially when they were lucky to have two of the greatest players ever in Joe Montana and Steve Young.  When the local team the 49ers (Named after the gold run miners in 1849) finally made the playoffs with 'the catch' and the won their first ever Superbowl, the area went crazy with something called 49er fever.  Everyone was wearing red and gold and the talk of the town centered on the scrappy underdog team from nowhere.

Mommy, mommy, look at all of those red shirts...are they demonstrating again?  Funny as red shirts are kind of a no no in Bangkok.

Well its happening again.  The team won the game with a last minute catch..'The Catch 2012' will be folklore again for some time.  While not a avid fan, its great to watch history repeating itself for a new generation of people.  I must admit, it was quite entertaining.  It will be interesting next weekend as I will be in Vegas as the playoffs unfold.  The Sports betting rooms should be quite lively - much more interesting than the kite trade show  I am attending...555

Attacks "Called Off"

After a few days in the Bangkok Monkey House, the alleged terrorist 'confessed' to the plot and also said the plot was called off due to it being discovered.  Its amazing how people arrested by the local police so readily 'confess' to crimes don't they?   You see it in the papers all the time, with the criminals posing for pictures and giving reenactment of the crime, etc.  Must be the sudden change of heart and conscience and/or the persuasive charm of the BIB behind bars that result in so many confessions..

Whatever the case, I sure hope the information is correct and the people involved take their global war elsewhere.  Thailand is a playground, but not a war zone, and there is enough excitement to go around already.  This was one of those situations where the right hand and left hands were not in coordination.  The Thai government was obviously caught off guard by the release of information by the American Embassy and went immediately into damage control to protect the tourism industry.  Count on more friction between  Thailand and the USA on an already strained relationship due to recent incidents on the US stand on Thai laws that pertain to criticism of the monarchy.

Is there still some worry?  Yep...especially when the governments says they have everything "under control".  

Warning issued by American Embassy

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/011312emergencymessage.html

By Western areas, I would assume they mean the areas around Sukhumvit and/or Khaosan Road, either of which would be devastating to the tourism industry.

Be on guard friends, the war on terror has indeed gone global, and yes, we did bring it upon ourselves.

Another week with little rain and Kung Fu

Another week has passed with little or no rain in the bay area, which bring thoughts of drought in the region.  But with the good weather is the opportunity to play some golf, which I did earlier this week and maybe again today.  The highs have been in the 60s, which is very unusual for this time of year. Unfortunately, the golf courses are a bit dry and there are lots of brown spots due to the cold evening temperatures and lack of water.

I've been trying to avoid all the political news from the primaries and the major networks.  Instead I've been watching old Wong Fei Hung movies and the remakes of the movies from the current crop of stars.  Jackie Chan was Wong Fei Hung in Drunken Master (Parts 1, 2, & 3).   Jet Li did some great movies in "Once Upon a Time in China" (Cantonese with English subtitles), in a three part series of Wong Fei Hung' life.  Comparing the old and new movies, one can't help to see how the acting and athletic skills of the performers have increased.  Can't believe what I saw as a kid and was so impressed with, was actually quite amateurish.  But hey, those where the days without special effects, computer animation, and black and white film...

Fight scene from the 50s made contemporary:

The Jackie Chan Movie

The Jet Li Version

  

Why watch these old movies?  First of all, they are entertaining.  Second, its a glimpse of history and why the Chinese today are so suspicious of the west.  Wong Fei Hung lived through a time when China was being carved up and colonized by the British, the Portuguese, the Russians, and the Americans (who kidnapped and tricked laborers to work the California gold mines and the transcontinental railway.

Its not Thailand, but it is part of California history.  A part that is not too fair to those Chinese that came to the state in the early 1900s.

First impressions on Stevia

I wrote last week about Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from plants once cultivated in South America.  Stevia comes in powder form and packets and I've been using them in my coffee for about a week now.  First, I must agree with many that Stevia does not have an aftertaste when used in the correct amount - not a least to my taste buds.  Knowing that not all people have my kind of taste buds, I'm sure it can vary from individual to individual.  Also, there have been no side effects except one...my blood pressure is back to normal without medication!  I'm not sure if its the walking program I've started or the Stevia, but my blood pressure is well within the range of 'normal' for someone my age (125/84)...even a bit younger.  I've been tracking the blood pressure for a few days now after being off medication and its been very stable.  If it continues into next week, I'm thinking of stopping my hypertension medication completely.

It may also be related to my walking program which is helping my feet feel fresh during my rounds of golf.  I have been trying to walk about 3 miles a day briskly or do at least 10,000 steps.  Having a step meter is a requirement because its so easy to cheat and underestimate your workout.  The 'bounce' in my step has come back and yesterday I was taking double steps up the stairs.  With the great weather and no rain, the trip over to California has been pretty productive and healthy.

Lastly, do you know this guy?  He is from Guangdong province, was a Chinese medical physician, an Acupuncturist,  and was one of my childhood heroes.  Unfortunately, there is some debate if this is even his picture at all, but of his son instead.  I used to pay a quarter and stay all day at the movie houses to watch movies about the stylized version of him.  First person to identify him correctly gets an exclusive 'Marina Palms" polo the next time he/she visits the Land of Smiles when I am there.

Thai Movies

If you love Thailand and want to find out a bit about its history, albeit in a dramatized way, be sure to check out Kingdom of War 1 &2.  In Thailand, the films were released as King Naresuan 1 & 2 and released internationally, with subtitles under the current name.  They are interesting productions with casts of hundreds   thousands and many historic peeks of ancient Siam and Burma which get woven into a pretty decent story line.  The warning is that it takes a number of hours to work through both films so give yourself some time.  Catching up on these two episodes again is what I was doing while recovering from the flu.  

Its a patriotic film - one intended to provoke pride for Thai people.  Some may think that might be too corny in today's politically correct  and intolerant world, but I think its refreshing and worth the time.  A third episode (DVD) has already been released but only in Thai so I am anxiously waiting for the English DVD version.  A fourth episode is supposedly released as well.  The movie that was shown in Thailand last year did have English subtitles when it was shown in July, but as of now, no English subtitle version on blue ray or DVD.

The sets and costumes are very elaborate and would costs a fortune to make in Hollywood so hats off to the production company for such a great piece of work.  I've already added the first two episodes to my video collection and can't wait for the others to be released.

Tickets Back

Wasted no time after the New Year to shop for tickets back to the LOS.  A number of airlines have some good deals from the west coast, especially Korean Air where you can get a RT fare for under $950, but I decided to stay with my regular airline (EVA) and take advantage of their special web fare for their Evergreen Club members where you can buy discounted fares with  mileage deducted from your account.  They have a tricky system where you can also buy cheaper tickets, but get no mileage or reduced mileage so one has to be careful that the lowest price may not be the best for your situation.  Going with EVA gives me an extra bag, use of the lounge, and priority boarding so I guess its worth the few hundred bucks more.  Besides, its for their class of seats between economy and business called 'Elite' Class which offers wider seats, more room between seats,  and a more quiet cabin area.

So I have about 5 weeks left here in California and will back in mid February.  In the meantime, I have a trip planned for Las Vegas in two weeks and tons of stuff to do, including filing my income tax for 2011.  At least I have a hard target now and light at the end of the tunnel.  

Weird weather continues as it hasn't rained since I arrived here in California last month.  This is the rainy season and we get our heaviest rainfall in January and February, but the forecast is for no rain in the next 10 days or so and weather in the high 60s.  There are fire danger warnings in the middle of winter as the grasses and bush from last year are extremely dry and no new grass has emerged.  I suspect that California will once again undergo water rationing like we did not to long ago.  There was a period where the water level was low for almost a seven year period and we were limited to 45 gallons per day, per person.  That included all showers, toilet flushes, washing machine, and garden watering.  I'm glad I am not on a meter here in the condo, and I don't have any plants or a yard.  Its going to be hot summer if it doesn't rain in the next few weeks.

Drought is not unknown to California and surely will return again.  Will the next year be the one that pushes an already weak California economy off the edge?