Sunday, September 8, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Random photo dump Sunday 5
Running short on goofy signage near the apartment. Time to venture out farther...
I have no clue what these were, but they were absolutely incredible, with a strong grapefruit aroma and extremely potent flavor.
The line painting guy was there when we were, going right around the van.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
One month overseas: Some thoughts.
Lo and behold! I have survived a full calendar month in Thailand, as of today (assuming I don't get taken out by a motorbike on the way to class, which is a very real and constant possibility here.)
As I walked to the gym yesterday, I had thoughts scurrying about the old cranium from the day prior. I am very predisposed to not dwelling on events, not getting wrapped up in silliness, and generally keeping cool under a wide range of stressful, foreign and/or complicated circumstances. I have been accused of being a robot in the past, for my lack of emotional response, to put it in that perspective. And it's not to say that I was necessarily dwelling on the day before; I was just having a realization that I had really unrealistic expectations about this place when I was leaving the USA.
It turns out, I was completely naive, and not just about Thailand, but about anything outside my home country really. I had not considered that I might be making some comfort concessions, giving up some "luxuries" to which I am accustomed (potable tap water anyone and private laundry services, anyone?) and that I could, just possibly, have a less-than-100% positive experience here. Turns out, those things are all very real.
I had, in my thoughts on my walk to the gym, the disappointing realization that, the day before, in this country where "the people are so friendly," I had experienced no less than four completely negative interactions with a variety of people. Be they randoms I passed on the street, classmates or even the student with whom I was supposed to be working on a group project that devolved into a shitstorm in about ten minutes, I just had a shitty day when it came down to the people I had to deal with. As it turns out, people are just people wherever you go, and no matter how many times others try to tell you "oh they are just so nice!" you are going to deal with real people who have real problems and real lives, that might not want to give you the time of day, or they might be sick of your poor attempts to speak their language, or your work ethic that you think isn't very good actually scares them because you work too hard in their eyes. Or, locals might peg you as some idiot tourist (happens once an hour) and then they laugh about you as you walk past, and while you can't understand them, you know they are talking about you. (An aside to that thought, is that it is sort of comical, because I am keenly aware of the power of my inability to understand at that moment. They can say anything on earth, and you just keep walking with a smile.)
So anyway, I just had a dose of reality bouncing around in my mind on my way to move some iron. I considered how stupid it was to have come here expecting nothing but AMAZING ALL THE TIME. Well, even Disneyworld will get boring to a 6 year old eventually. Duh, I am in a developing country where I witness, first hand, all the same stuff that happens back home; pollution, poverty, politics and people just trying to make it another day.
Still, I am generally having a great time. Yes, the food is wonderful, but I miss my gigantic, savory-flavored American portions. I see pictures of the mountains and rivers of Idaho and would just rather be home fishing right then and there. Homesick? Nah. But damn, I would kill for a rare tri-tip and a sixer of a good IPA.
- Nick
As I walked to the gym yesterday, I had thoughts scurrying about the old cranium from the day prior. I am very predisposed to not dwelling on events, not getting wrapped up in silliness, and generally keeping cool under a wide range of stressful, foreign and/or complicated circumstances. I have been accused of being a robot in the past, for my lack of emotional response, to put it in that perspective. And it's not to say that I was necessarily dwelling on the day before; I was just having a realization that I had really unrealistic expectations about this place when I was leaving the USA.
It turns out, I was completely naive, and not just about Thailand, but about anything outside my home country really. I had not considered that I might be making some comfort concessions, giving up some "luxuries" to which I am accustomed (potable tap water anyone and private laundry services, anyone?) and that I could, just possibly, have a less-than-100% positive experience here. Turns out, those things are all very real.
I had, in my thoughts on my walk to the gym, the disappointing realization that, the day before, in this country where "the people are so friendly," I had experienced no less than four completely negative interactions with a variety of people. Be they randoms I passed on the street, classmates or even the student with whom I was supposed to be working on a group project that devolved into a shitstorm in about ten minutes, I just had a shitty day when it came down to the people I had to deal with. As it turns out, people are just people wherever you go, and no matter how many times others try to tell you "oh they are just so nice!" you are going to deal with real people who have real problems and real lives, that might not want to give you the time of day, or they might be sick of your poor attempts to speak their language, or your work ethic that you think isn't very good actually scares them because you work too hard in their eyes. Or, locals might peg you as some idiot tourist (happens once an hour) and then they laugh about you as you walk past, and while you can't understand them, you know they are talking about you. (An aside to that thought, is that it is sort of comical, because I am keenly aware of the power of my inability to understand at that moment. They can say anything on earth, and you just keep walking with a smile.)
So anyway, I just had a dose of reality bouncing around in my mind on my way to move some iron. I considered how stupid it was to have come here expecting nothing but AMAZING ALL THE TIME. Well, even Disneyworld will get boring to a 6 year old eventually. Duh, I am in a developing country where I witness, first hand, all the same stuff that happens back home; pollution, poverty, politics and people just trying to make it another day.
Still, I am generally having a great time. Yes, the food is wonderful, but I miss my gigantic, savory-flavored American portions. I see pictures of the mountains and rivers of Idaho and would just rather be home fishing right then and there. Homesick? Nah. But damn, I would kill for a rare tri-tip and a sixer of a good IPA.
- Nick
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Just a little food entry (AKA I FOUND BEEF SALAD)
There are a few things on this Earth for which my palette screams. One is a great cup of coffee. One is a high grade IPA. And one amalgamation of many perfectly balanced, simple flavors, just so happens to be served at a street restaurant just a block from my apartment...
I would prefer to go on living, but I suppose I could die happy if I had little other choice.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
A glance around the apartment.
LAUNDRY!
Yeah, I now wash my clothes in a bucket in my bathroom and hang them to dry on the roof when it's sunny. No, you can't compete with that. I also use the butt sprayer that comes standard-issue with every Thai toilet to do some filling of the bucket, and a little rinsing of the soapy clothes (among other things har har har.)
This is high class livin', son.
So here's a little video from the roof, where it was deceptively blinding outside, and then a shot of a ridiculous downpour from my window. Ah, the fun times indeed.
Oh and, now I know, it's the BAIYOKE tower. No T involved.
Yeah, I now wash my clothes in a bucket in my bathroom and hang them to dry on the roof when it's sunny. No, you can't compete with that. I also use the butt sprayer that comes standard-issue with every Thai toilet to do some filling of the bucket, and a little rinsing of the soapy clothes (among other things har har har.)
This is high class livin', son.
So here's a little video from the roof, where it was deceptively blinding outside, and then a shot of a ridiculous downpour from my window. Ah, the fun times indeed.
Oh and, now I know, it's the BAIYOKE tower. No T involved.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Checkin' out Chatuchak
I had really nothing to do today, after successfully procuring a bucket in which to do my own laundry. So, I scrubbed down a bucket of clothes, hung them out on the roof balcony, and hoofed it to the Victory Monument BTS terminal to catch a ride to Chatuchak park, where one can find the Chatuchak weekend market.
If ever you need to kill a day, or more, this is one great way to do it. Food, drinks, and 35 acres of vendor stalls selling everything from horrid touristy trinkets, to really cool authentic Thai trinkets and jewelry, to stuff made from entire alligators, high end furniture, shoes, and tons more.
If ever you need to kill a day, or more, this is one great way to do it. Food, drinks, and 35 acres of vendor stalls selling everything from horrid touristy trinkets, to really cool authentic Thai trinkets and jewelry, to stuff made from entire alligators, high end furniture, shoes, and tons more.
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