.
31 January: Today we took a trip to the Immigration office north of Bangkok for my routine 90-day check-in. This rather newer office was completely flooded and closed back in early November, and we had to go into Bangkok to the old office that was temporarily taking check-ins. So it had been half a year since we ventured north. Along the way we could see high-water marks from the flood, looking like dirty bathtub rings. The flood waters had been very high, and I’m still astonished at the wide-reaching devastation; that was a lot of water.
.
I have not been online much because I have been reading. I just finished reading The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson (Part 1, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Part 2, The Girl Who Played with Fire; and Part 3, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest). Over 2,100 pages total. What a great story!
.
The plan this evening is to get a lot of sleep and visit bookstores tomorrow.
.
-Zenwind.
.
31 January 2012
13 January 2012
Word of Caution
.
13 January: Friday the 13th. We have received a warning of possible dangers in the near future to Westerners who are in-country. The local government's efforts will probably be face-saving moves to down-grade the possible threats in order to not damage the tourist industry, so the best source of news is the embassy's announcements. They advise caution and keeping a low profile. Good advice.
.
-Zenwind.
.
13 January: Friday the 13th. We have received a warning of possible dangers in the near future to Westerners who are in-country. The local government's efforts will probably be face-saving moves to down-grade the possible threats in order to not damage the tourist industry, so the best source of news is the embassy's announcements. They advise caution and keeping a low profile. Good advice.
.
-Zenwind.
.
09 January 2012
January Note
.
9 January: We have been enjoying our winter weather -- the only comfortable time of the year here. Temperatures are in the high 80s or low 90s F. during the day and the low 70s at night. The direct sunlight is hot, but the humidity is much lower than most of the year.
.
-Zenwind.
.
9 January: We have been enjoying our winter weather -- the only comfortable time of the year here. Temperatures are in the high 80s or low 90s F. during the day and the low 70s at night. The direct sunlight is hot, but the humidity is much lower than most of the year.
.
-Zenwind.
.
27 December 2011
Winter
.
27 December: Am I still on the same planet? (You don't know how many former high school teachers, classmates and fellow citizens have asked that exact same question of me for my entire life -- in slightly different contexts of course.) Writing in this date of late December is a shock, because in this time of year I was usually ice skating, x-c skiing or ice climbing, yet here I am turning on the fan and lighting mosquito coils for the doorways. It is a latitude-leap, a climate-warp.
.
However, last night really was cold. I turned the fan off before midnight. In our winter I sleep with long pj bottoms and a hooded top, with a blanket to cover my bare feet if the fan is too cool. But it was cold -- down to about 60*F -- a Two Cat Night, requiring two cats huddled around one's feet to stay warm. Taking a shower this morning without hot water was a real wake-up call. (We have never had any heating system for the house nor any hot water system.)
.
Today we took a trip through insane Bangkok traffic to visit a shopping mall. We walked a bit before getting a taxi, but it was an air-conditioned ride to the a/c mall and theater. An a/c taxi back home at sunset; back into swim trunks and flip-flops after turning on the fan; I didn't sweat once today, and that is very unusual.
.
I just read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) by Stieg Larsson, and I could not put it down until finished. The film, in its English language version, will be in our theaters soon, so I wanted to read it first. It is a dark story and a bit edgy and twitchy, so it's not for everyone. Delicious. The DVDs of the original Swedish films of the trilogy are available here, so I will later view them.
.
The day after finishing the above book I started reading Dan Simmons' Flashback (2011). I love anything Simmons writes, and so far I'm not disappointed.
.
-Zenwind.
.
27 December: Am I still on the same planet? (You don't know how many former high school teachers, classmates and fellow citizens have asked that exact same question of me for my entire life -- in slightly different contexts of course.) Writing in this date of late December is a shock, because in this time of year I was usually ice skating, x-c skiing or ice climbing, yet here I am turning on the fan and lighting mosquito coils for the doorways. It is a latitude-leap, a climate-warp.
.
However, last night really was cold. I turned the fan off before midnight. In our winter I sleep with long pj bottoms and a hooded top, with a blanket to cover my bare feet if the fan is too cool. But it was cold -- down to about 60*F -- a Two Cat Night, requiring two cats huddled around one's feet to stay warm. Taking a shower this morning without hot water was a real wake-up call. (We have never had any heating system for the house nor any hot water system.)
.
Today we took a trip through insane Bangkok traffic to visit a shopping mall. We walked a bit before getting a taxi, but it was an air-conditioned ride to the a/c mall and theater. An a/c taxi back home at sunset; back into swim trunks and flip-flops after turning on the fan; I didn't sweat once today, and that is very unusual.
.
I just read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) by Stieg Larsson, and I could not put it down until finished. The film, in its English language version, will be in our theaters soon, so I wanted to read it first. It is a dark story and a bit edgy and twitchy, so it's not for everyone. Delicious. The DVDs of the original Swedish films of the trilogy are available here, so I will later view them.
.
The day after finishing the above book I started reading Dan Simmons' Flashback (2011). I love anything Simmons writes, and so far I'm not disappointed.
.
-Zenwind.
.
26 December 2011
St. Stephen's Day and the Wren
.
26 December: St. Stephen's Day. Hmm... I didn't know that our cats were Irish. But it appears that one or more of them have observed the ancient St. Stephen's Day tradition by killing a wren (or another species of bird).
.
This morning before Tuk went to work I was out on the open area on our second floor, and I saw some bird feathers. Not wishing to ruin Tuk's day by telling her of this evidence of a possible murder, I said nothing. She doesn't like it when the cats commit such "sins" because it will tarnish their karma and not bode well for their future re-births here in samsara. My reasoning that it is just a natural feline instinct does not impress her.
.
After she left I had a closer look. There were many more feathers than I had originally thought under the table -- sure proof of a bird's murder -- and I swept them up and disposed of the forensic evidence.
.
"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze...."
.
-Zenwind.
.
26 December: St. Stephen's Day. Hmm... I didn't know that our cats were Irish. But it appears that one or more of them have observed the ancient St. Stephen's Day tradition by killing a wren (or another species of bird).
.
This morning before Tuk went to work I was out on the open area on our second floor, and I saw some bird feathers. Not wishing to ruin Tuk's day by telling her of this evidence of a possible murder, I said nothing. She doesn't like it when the cats commit such "sins" because it will tarnish their karma and not bode well for their future re-births here in samsara. My reasoning that it is just a natural feline instinct does not impress her.
.
After she left I had a closer look. There were many more feathers than I had originally thought under the table -- sure proof of a bird's murder -- and I swept them up and disposed of the forensic evidence.
.
"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze...."
.
-Zenwind.
.
21 December 2011
Boat Trip to Bookstores
.
21 December: It is winter solstice, and a fine day it has been. Temperatures were in the mid-80s F and the direct sunlight was hot, but the humidity was comfortably low. Finding a shaded seat on the boat, I enjoyed the north wind blowing down the river. I went into the center of town to get some things for Tuk and to raid a bookstore or two.
.
Last Thursday I met up with my libertarian friends, and I used that day's trip to first visit a big bookstore in that part of town. I saw some titles that I have long been looking for, so today I returned and loaded up my rucksack with books. Among my purchases were the Diamond Sutra in Red Pine's translation and, unexpectedly, Dan Simmons' lastest novel, Flashback. My piles of unread books are getter bigger, and deciding which to read next is tough.
.
Returning north on the boat was surprisingly comfortable, with the north wind in my face.
.
Blessed coolness. Zen delight.
.
-Zenwind.
.
21 December: It is winter solstice, and a fine day it has been. Temperatures were in the mid-80s F and the direct sunlight was hot, but the humidity was comfortably low. Finding a shaded seat on the boat, I enjoyed the north wind blowing down the river. I went into the center of town to get some things for Tuk and to raid a bookstore or two.
.
Last Thursday I met up with my libertarian friends, and I used that day's trip to first visit a big bookstore in that part of town. I saw some titles that I have long been looking for, so today I returned and loaded up my rucksack with books. Among my purchases were the Diamond Sutra in Red Pine's translation and, unexpectedly, Dan Simmons' lastest novel, Flashback. My piles of unread books are getter bigger, and deciding which to read next is tough.
.
Returning north on the boat was surprisingly comfortable, with the north wind in my face.
.
Blessed coolness. Zen delight.
.
-Zenwind.
.
09 December 2011
A Great Day for a March
.
9 December: The temperature at midday was only in the high 80s, and the humidity and dewpoint were much lower than usual – although the sun was blazing hot – so with such a comparatively cool day I did a long march beyond my normal neighborhood walking circuits. I still returned home wringing wet with sweat. (The fact that Christmas is in two weeks is almost incomprehensible here.)
.
I walked for the first time in recent months through the area further south of us that was completely flooded a month ago and impassible then to all but big military trucks. This area lies much lower than our neighborhood, so when the levees broke they got hit hard. The watermarks from the floods were sometimes chest-high at the sidewalk level, and what impressed me most today was how very low many storefronts and homes were. Many of them were flooded up to their ceilings. Complete devastation.
.
In our near neighborhood, garbage piles are still appearing overnight after the cleanup from the day before. Massive amounts of furniture and belongings are ruined and thrown out. It is a rag-picker’s windfall.
.
There has been a homeless family or two living on the sidewalk under the big bridge since the first flooding. Lots of little kids were running around until this week when school finally started up the new term. They have a tent for mosquito protection at night, as well as some chairs and couches. Notably, they hooked into a nearby outdoor electric outlet, and they have a huge TV set there in their little urban campsite. Life is simple in its basics, but there are priorities. (Yet I would have chosen differently: a radio and a big bag of books.)
.
-Zenwind.
.
9 December: The temperature at midday was only in the high 80s, and the humidity and dewpoint were much lower than usual – although the sun was blazing hot – so with such a comparatively cool day I did a long march beyond my normal neighborhood walking circuits. I still returned home wringing wet with sweat. (The fact that Christmas is in two weeks is almost incomprehensible here.)
.
I walked for the first time in recent months through the area further south of us that was completely flooded a month ago and impassible then to all but big military trucks. This area lies much lower than our neighborhood, so when the levees broke they got hit hard. The watermarks from the floods were sometimes chest-high at the sidewalk level, and what impressed me most today was how very low many storefronts and homes were. Many of them were flooded up to their ceilings. Complete devastation.
.
In our near neighborhood, garbage piles are still appearing overnight after the cleanup from the day before. Massive amounts of furniture and belongings are ruined and thrown out. It is a rag-picker’s windfall.
.
There has been a homeless family or two living on the sidewalk under the big bridge since the first flooding. Lots of little kids were running around until this week when school finally started up the new term. They have a tent for mosquito protection at night, as well as some chairs and couches. Notably, they hooked into a nearby outdoor electric outlet, and they have a huge TV set there in their little urban campsite. Life is simple in its basics, but there are priorities. (Yet I would have chosen differently: a radio and a big bag of books.)
.
-Zenwind.
.
02 December 2011
Normal Exercise Again
.
2 December: I started lifting (light) dumbbells again after a long, long lapse. I don’t even know how long ago I last lifted weights in a fitness routine because my old lifting log sheets are still lost amongst the chaotic piles of stuff we hurriedly brought upstairs when we were flooded. But I started lifting again this week, and I’m taking it slow and easy at the start-up, so the muscle pains are not too bad – and not nearly as bad as the aches and pains from moving heavy sandbags and appliances during the flood. Our all-too-brief winter here is the best time to exercise because the humidity is not at its brutal normal.
.
I took a taxi to a shopping mall today, needing a haircut, some electrical cords, and any books worth getting. It is the first time I’ve been down that way since the flooding, and this area south of us was hit very hard. I saw the high-water marks on buildings and walls, looking like a dirty bathtub ring but at chest level or sometimes higher. Many shorter shrubs and bushes were killed by being under water for too long, making our normal green streets less colorful. People are still shoveling out their homes and drying stuff in the sun.
.
On the way home I had a taxi driver let me off way short of home so that I could have a good long walk the rest of the way. With all the exercise I’ve been getting lately, I’m hitting the sack early tonight. Our cats agree that this sounds like an excellent idea.
.
-Zenwind.
.
2 December: I started lifting (light) dumbbells again after a long, long lapse. I don’t even know how long ago I last lifted weights in a fitness routine because my old lifting log sheets are still lost amongst the chaotic piles of stuff we hurriedly brought upstairs when we were flooded. But I started lifting again this week, and I’m taking it slow and easy at the start-up, so the muscle pains are not too bad – and not nearly as bad as the aches and pains from moving heavy sandbags and appliances during the flood. Our all-too-brief winter here is the best time to exercise because the humidity is not at its brutal normal.
.
I took a taxi to a shopping mall today, needing a haircut, some electrical cords, and any books worth getting. It is the first time I’ve been down that way since the flooding, and this area south of us was hit very hard. I saw the high-water marks on buildings and walls, looking like a dirty bathtub ring but at chest level or sometimes higher. Many shorter shrubs and bushes were killed by being under water for too long, making our normal green streets less colorful. People are still shoveling out their homes and drying stuff in the sun.
.
On the way home I had a taxi driver let me off way short of home so that I could have a good long walk the rest of the way. With all the exercise I’ve been getting lately, I’m hitting the sack early tonight. Our cats agree that this sounds like an excellent idea.
.
-Zenwind.
.
25 November 2011
Melancholia
.
25 November: No, I’m not suffering from melancholia, but I just saw an interesting film by that name. I went into Bangkok, just for movies and books, for the first time in a long, long while.
.
The express boats finally resumed service this week after a month off, and I got to see things at river level again. The river is brimming, and many locations along its banks are flooded badly. Riverside houses that have always seemed to be suffering foundation failure are now collapsing. Other houses are probably now doomed. Everywhere, huge pumps are trying to get water out of the neighborhoods and back into the river. As I’ve said before, it is astounding that so much water is flowing by.
.
I almost missed the express boat. As I was walking toward the pier I looked ahead and saw the southbound boat coming in, and they wait for no one. Waiting for the next one would mean a 20 minute wait, so I ran an obstacle course around sidewalk vendors, children, homeless sojourners, and sleeping soi dogs. The boatswain had just thrown the cable from the pier’s peg back onto the boat and had piped to the pilot to go on, when I took a running leap to land on deck. (Love those sure-footed sports sandals.) This was much more exciting than waiting for another boat.
.
The film Melancholia (2011) was a rather odd movie, two hours and ten minutes of strangeness. Oddness and strangeness are not necessarily bad. Written and directed by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, it starred Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, and some other good actors. I am not really recommending it, since most people will not like it, although a few might. I had wanted to see it for weeks, but the flooding kept me from getting to it. Afraid it would soon end its run in the one theater here that has been showing it, I made a point to come in and see it in a matinee.
.
It is about two sisters who seldom ever get along, and now a huge planet named Melancholia is suddenly going to crash into and destroy Earth. During earlier “normal” times, Justine (Dunst) is crazy, dysfunctional, hurtful and disturbing, while her sister Claire (Gainsbourg) is stable and comforting. But watch how they each deal with the coming annihilation as it closes in. Great acting by two great actresses. My main criticism is the poor sound quality; in early scenes the whispered dialogue given by Charlotte Gainsbourg is inaudible; I will have to wait for a DVD with subtitles to find out what she said.
.
-Zenwind.
.
25 November: No, I’m not suffering from melancholia, but I just saw an interesting film by that name. I went into Bangkok, just for movies and books, for the first time in a long, long while.
.
The express boats finally resumed service this week after a month off, and I got to see things at river level again. The river is brimming, and many locations along its banks are flooded badly. Riverside houses that have always seemed to be suffering foundation failure are now collapsing. Other houses are probably now doomed. Everywhere, huge pumps are trying to get water out of the neighborhoods and back into the river. As I’ve said before, it is astounding that so much water is flowing by.
.
I almost missed the express boat. As I was walking toward the pier I looked ahead and saw the southbound boat coming in, and they wait for no one. Waiting for the next one would mean a 20 minute wait, so I ran an obstacle course around sidewalk vendors, children, homeless sojourners, and sleeping soi dogs. The boatswain had just thrown the cable from the pier’s peg back onto the boat and had piped to the pilot to go on, when I took a running leap to land on deck. (Love those sure-footed sports sandals.) This was much more exciting than waiting for another boat.
.
The film Melancholia (2011) was a rather odd movie, two hours and ten minutes of strangeness. Oddness and strangeness are not necessarily bad. Written and directed by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, it starred Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, and some other good actors. I am not really recommending it, since most people will not like it, although a few might. I had wanted to see it for weeks, but the flooding kept me from getting to it. Afraid it would soon end its run in the one theater here that has been showing it, I made a point to come in and see it in a matinee.
.
It is about two sisters who seldom ever get along, and now a huge planet named Melancholia is suddenly going to crash into and destroy Earth. During earlier “normal” times, Justine (Dunst) is crazy, dysfunctional, hurtful and disturbing, while her sister Claire (Gainsbourg) is stable and comforting. But watch how they each deal with the coming annihilation as it closes in. Great acting by two great actresses. My main criticism is the poor sound quality; in early scenes the whispered dialogue given by Charlotte Gainsbourg is inaudible; I will have to wait for a DVD with subtitles to find out what she said.
.
-Zenwind.
.
22 November 2011
Back to Normal?
.
22 November: What is normality here in Thailand, anyway? Well, the opposing political factions are demonstrating in the streets and/or threatening to riot against each other, and that seems very much the status quo ante here.
.
Today my parents-in-law hired local people, who are out of work because of the flooding, to clean up our courtyard front and back. I am very grateful, because doing it myself would have probably killed me. I cannot lift another sandbag. I spent last night unable to sleep because of aching, screaming-in-agony pain all over my body. (Well, I did not actually scream out loud, but I did bite down hard on a towel to keep from moaning and waking Tuk or scaring the hell out of the cats.) Some day I will admit that I’m getting old, or that I’m out of shape.
.
Workers have torn down the elevated boardwalks in our neighborhood that we all used to navigate above the floodwaters. We can walk down dry sidewalks now. Things smell a bit better. I think normality is on its way.
.
-Zenwind.
.
22 November: What is normality here in Thailand, anyway? Well, the opposing political factions are demonstrating in the streets and/or threatening to riot against each other, and that seems very much the status quo ante here.
.
Today my parents-in-law hired local people, who are out of work because of the flooding, to clean up our courtyard front and back. I am very grateful, because doing it myself would have probably killed me. I cannot lift another sandbag. I spent last night unable to sleep because of aching, screaming-in-agony pain all over my body. (Well, I did not actually scream out loud, but I did bite down hard on a towel to keep from moaning and waking Tuk or scaring the hell out of the cats.) Some day I will admit that I’m getting old, or that I’m out of shape.
.
Workers have torn down the elevated boardwalks in our neighborhood that we all used to navigate above the floodwaters. We can walk down dry sidewalks now. Things smell a bit better. I think normality is on its way.
.
-Zenwind.
.
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