Exhausted so far. Skipped my alarm and slept deeply for another hour.
It’s the past week catching up, and it only involved two days of teaching! Thursday and Friday are my busy days now so Saturday will be a regular sleep-in I think.
Today I’m grateful for:
Nong Na coming to stay at our house to take care of Cap and Tig for the next two days for us.
The best thing about today was:
Ending it being in Bangkok again.
The weird thing is though, it didn’t seem to take much effort or organising (though admittedly Amy was taking care of all the details for this trip).
I even got a longer-than-expected afternoon nap that Amy woke me from saying ‘We have to leave in 20 minutes!’
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I took some jackfruit to Baipad’s with the intention of giving it to her mum, hoping that Baipad would still be sleeping but she was in the shop playing with her sister.
I gave her the fruit and she said ‘I don’t like jackfruit!’ I said that was fine and to give it to her mum, which she did.
I will talk to her sometime about thinking about something better to say!
Anchan sent me this picture and I’m happy to see her enjoying life. Her friend is my old student Pompam who is a good kid.
A little dizzy but happy. After difficulty getting to sleep I enjoyed a deep long rest but the morning light woke me up way before my alarm.
I checked the map and it was going to be a hassle to get into the city to the bookshop so I showered and got going.
Despite needing 4 different trains it didn’t take as long as I was expecting and I’m enjoying my first coffee of the day now.
Today I’m grateful for:
Arwith coming to meet me at the bookshop this morning. I bought books for myself and he for his kids.
We grabbed some great vegetarian lunch at MQuarter but the malls were a bit too upmarket for us to buy gifts.
After that I caught a train to Mo Chit and now braving the bus to the airport. It’s airconned though so not so bad.
The best thing about today was:
Finding some good books at Dasa. More to add to the pile.
Something I learned today?
As with yesterday I learned more about getting around Bangkok. I feel like I used to feel while visiting London, nice to visit but not to live.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I found a small present for Amy at the airport.
It’s actually hard to find things for her as she can just buy whatever she wants (within reason of course) but this time I thought that I should at least bring something back so I found a nice pandan snack at the airport.
I also found a gratitude word search book that I will give to Baipad but first I want to see if there is anything inside that I can use for my grade 8 classes too.
Did you do something difficult or challenging today?
Getting around in Bangkok transit was a bit of a challenge and annoyed me at first but as trains were fairly regular and I considered the cost, it started to feel more comfortable.
I took this picture to remember us old uncles meeting again in Bangkok.
Like Jack, I ran quickly from my dreams Eager to discover what it all means In the moment, exploring the themes Is anything at all what it seems? – Put it down on paper – To review this endless caper
I found a box and put time inside
Was it living or was it writing? It’s only myself that I’m fighting A jazz dance in the underlighting Each pair of eyes met, newly smitten Fresh fruit waiting to be bitten Another story begging to be written – Late nights spent on the town – Running home to get it down
I found a box and put time inside
And when I meet my future me I’ll open the box to look and see Words pressed, sentimental free Whether tragedy or victory – Presented here from me to you – A diary of everything I do
I found a box and put time inside
Submitted to No Theme Thursday and dVerse Meeting The Bar (bop poem) Inspired by the movie The Subterreans, based on the Jack Kerouac novel of the same name, where one of Jack’s girlfriends criticises him for always running off to go and write about the events of the night whilst he could have stayed and enjoyed more adventures. For some reason, this interaction always stuck with me. Either way, WordPress provides a box of time for our future selves.
Today I’m feeling:
Anxious this morning. I woke up well before my alarm thinking about going to Bangkok and preparing for school next week.
Starting to relax a bit as I wait for the plane as I leave control to others for an hour or so until landing again.
Today I’m grateful for:
The crazy mixed-up rail options in Bangkok for helping learn more about getting around and gauging travel times. It’s also helped me achieve 10,000 steps easily.
The best thing about today was:
Meeting old friends and new ones at the show tonight. First Nampan and Pam from SpeechOdd.
Then Team, who is a young uni student that contacted me last week trying to make connections to put together a screamo band. Later, another young guy called Poom bought some screamo from me so I introduced them to each other.
Of course, I met Arwith and his bandmates in Piri Ries.
I met Sano-san from Low Fat again and exchanged CDs.
I briefly talked with Fern who is the owner of the venue.
Nampan introduced me to the High Voltage folks.
I also met one of the guys from ADxHD (Korea) who also plays in Struggle Session (China).
Another guy came up to me and asked if I was Shaun and if I remembered him? It was Sasha from Russia! I met him about nine years ago in Kuala Lumpur when we were both staying with Kimi!
It is a little sad to think how small our world is because it feels like there are so few of us interested in this music. But it is amazing to bump into random connections anywhere in the world.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Just my sweat. Thankfully I bought an extra pair of clothes as I was expecting this.
Something I learned today?
Coming from Don Muang, don’t get off the train at Chatuchak for Chatuchak market! Even the nearest station at Bang Sue is a fair walk.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I left some stock free of charge at Heaven and Hell. Poowanat gifted me a CD in return.
I sold some merch at a discounted price at the show and also gifted the venue the Trumans Water and Flesh Narc CDs.
I took this picture because I finally got to see SpeechOdd play.
I’ll play a song for you, in this empty room Spill my heart for no one else to hear And when I reach the end of my tune I’ll turn off the lights and disappear
The memory of my words will stay Reverberating around these cold walls And when you wander by one day You will hear the whisper of my calls
“Be careful what you wish for When hope blinds you to the signs Forgetting that less means more Living the curse of interesting times”
A little slow to get going this morning as I turned off my alarm to sleep an extra hour.
Starting to think about getting lessons in order and writing new ones for my new classes. It’s giving me some good background anxiety but I trust myself to be able to pull everything together.
Today I’m grateful for:
Finally being able to book flights to Bangkok and back in May to see Arwith and the bands I’ve been working with.
The best thing about today was:
Eating mala sticks this evening. A simple thing but we haven’t done that for a long while.
It was hot enough, even at 8pm, to sweat when sitting still so eating those spicy sticks didn’t really make much difference!
Something I learned today?
Booking AirAsia flights on the website was giving me trouble but using the app on my phone worked instantly.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Staying in touch with Anchan to try and help her through this time.
Talking with Baipad about dealing with her mental health issues.
Here the shadow falls, down into the fog Eyes dead at the singing of the bells Broke by the vicious cards dealt Crawling through the sawdust of these hells
Burying bodies, ten-a-penny Stuffed men once filled with straw All now quiet and meaningless Wondering what it was all for
This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper It never would have come to this If we’d just kept things simpler
Submitted to Shay’s Word Garden – inspired (and borrowed) from T.S.Eliot’s The Hollow Men
Today I’m feeling:
Good, getting better throughout the day. I started off a little dizzy until my meds kicked in.
Both my classes were simple and the kids seem invested in a little reading and understanding. I didn’t push them but the way I structured the reading and questions definitely caught out some of the students who would generally just copy their work.
Today I’m grateful for:
Parthiban in Singapore for paying back his share for the HighVoltage/SpeechOdd 12”, straight back into our Aussie bank account, which will keep Amy happy for a little while!
The best thing about today was:
Being inspired to write a couple of poems during my break between classes. That two hours flew by today as I caught up some reading, thinking about prompts and ideas.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
In my first class we ran out of time for the last group to read because they were all struggling to understand the questions that I was asking them.
I was surprised at how quickly the time disappeared. Oh well, at least I caught about 85% of the class today.
Something I learned today?
Arwith’s band Piri Reis is supporting Converge in Bangkok in May. He’s going to try and line up a weekend show in Chiang Mai if possible too.
Either way I’d like to catch up with him if he’s here somewhere during a weekend.
What things do I like to collect?
I’ve answered this or a similar question before, answering with music, books, comics but it got me thinking a bit more about how technology has transformed collecting in many ways.
With almost everything available somewhere somehow as a digital file collecting physical items is becoming more of a rich person’s privilege.
Collecting things digitally doesn’t mean much to me but from seeing what some of the younger folks are experimenting with online in games they seem to place value in those things.
I was intrigued whilst watching an online race over three hundred kilometres on a barren planet in one of the sci-fi games where folks collect and trade minerals.
I can understand the appeal of these types of games and there may have been a time I might of dreamed of delving into them but I still have some part of me that clings to the physical.
Unlike those players though I cannot place any value in something that only exists as bits and bytes.
Praewa took this picture because she stole my phone (again). Her face is finally starting to mature as she has had a cute childish face since I’ve known her and it has only recently started changing. She still hasn’t grown taller though which I often tease her about but she could still grow a few more inches yet.
Perhaps I was a president Making difficult decisions A surgeon with a scalpel Making precise incisions Maybe I was a singer Adored by many millions Or a famous architect Designing high pavillions
I used to be somebody And now that I’m not I’m just another nobody That everyone forgot
Today I’m feeling:
Lazy and relaxed today. Still a little numb from the whisky on Thursday but not bothered by the lethargy it has induced today as I was yesterday. I thought that I might read and play guitar today but have managed to do neither.
Today I’m grateful for:
Boss at Utopia for making me my final coffees that he will make for me as this is his last day before he leaves for Lampang to start his own shop.
The best thing about today was:
Enjoying playing games on Xbox and though being aware of it wasting time it felt like a reasonable trade-off today.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
There is some family drama going on that I won’t go into detail about here but it may make our New Year’s Eve at Mum’s a little awkward depending on who is there. A culmination of events and bad timing have brought about this drama which feels to me somewhat typically Thai. Amy and I are both on the same page and we are pretty much just bystanders wondering how things will unfold.
Something I learned today?
Thailand is looking to fast-track the high-speed rail from Laos to Bangkok, as well as the land bridge between the Andaman and Indian oceans. The USA is very unhappy with China’s involvement in these projects and will obviously try to disrupt them through one means or another.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I waited around for a few minutes to wish Boss at Utopia all the best for the future but he was in the toilet for so long that I decided to leave, with the thought that I might return later in the day but unfortunately, I didn’t. Was this a good deed that turned vile?
I took this picture on Wednesday because this kitty, as with all little Thai gingers, reminded me of Kim. This was about as close as I could get though as it was too shy to get closer.
(Early) Anxious and wound up. I went to sleep easily but woke up cold because of the intense aircon that I couldn’t figure out how to temper. Both Amy and I feel like we have colds and that could quite easily be true after being on a plane and then into the crazy humidity here. My shoulders are stiff from not moving much on this hard bed and I’m awake well before I’d like to be.
(Late) Calm and contemplative after a 2-hour massage, good food and even a reasonable enough temperature to do the short walk back to the hotel from the shopping centre. Back home tomorrow. Happy.
Today I’m grateful for:
Nong Fai for picking us up at the airport last night when we were dog-tired after a long day.
The funny taxi driver who picked us up from the train station this afternoon and then the Auntie who massaged me into pain for two hours at the hotel. Bless them all for their small parts in my story.
The best thing about today was:
Finding new work pants at Monotone and then some cheap soaps at Bath and Body Works after a train and MRT ride into the city. No rush today, everything will be ok.
Also sending a couple of boxes of things back home via a courier service so that our bags will make the weight limit for our final flight. Only 430 baht. Bargain (so long as it arrives!)
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I got caught out yet again with my visa, this time not having a re-entry permit so now I just have a 30-day visa on arrival until I go to immigration again on Tuesday.
I have a visa to stay and I can leave any time but I’m not allowed to leave without permission and not allowed back in with the visa! Frustrating.
Something I learned today?
I found the Monotone stores in BKK again today and was advised to use LINE to contact them in future rather than use Shopee as there are fake stores on there! Weird to think that people would imitate this rather small independent brand.
I took this picture because I like the message for my kids and am curious if any of them will tell me that it is grammatically incorrect.
Broken isn’t bad, here we are again It’s our destiny, what we’re made for There’s no hiding from our inner pain For some, it’s what they’re paid for Scabs are formed around scrapes and cuts Dizzy heads are spun amongst the stars Feeling cheated and going nuts These deeper wounds will form your scars
Today I’m feeling:
A little flat and a little bored. Missing that crazy cat.
Today I’m grateful for:
Free time. Netflix. YouTube. Books and comics. It’s a lazy day.
The best thing about today was:
Watering the garden whilst on a video call with Amy. It got me up and about instead of lounging around and napping.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I couldn’t keep my eyes open this afternoon so had to succumb to a quick snooze. I’m not motivated at all today. That’s ok. I know there are days like this and things will pick up again.
Something I learned today?
I watched a video about the cost of living in Bangkok and was shocked at comments saying they thought 200,000 baht a month was about right for someone single in their 20s or 30s. I know that’s not my demographic but to compare I live on less than 30,000 baht per month and the locals are getting around 9,000 for many jobs.
What is my favourite way to relax?
My favourite way to relax is after working hard. Right now I’m relaxing from one relaxing thing to another and it’s not my preference. I need the juxtaposition between effort and rest.
I took this picture because I’m having to pour my love into Cap and Tig. Cap loves to be close by though usually just out of arms reach. Though he’s usually lazing around he rarely seems to be in a deep sleep.
As the book opens, princesses are yawning Dead-eyed dogs trudge homeward Bamboo whistles in the wind Lulling all with the promise of reprieve Here at the edges of time The world diverges for those to clash Mad deviations keep the wheels greased For those dogs forever fighting The red sky denied, turns blue Filled with the joyful and forlorn Intermissions inspire reflection About the dogs that stalk the dark
Today I’m feeling:
Happy and better than yesterday.
Today I’m grateful for:
The Thai teachers around me who were helpful and also amusing. Despite having to ‘work’ all weekend it was interesting enough and time passed by quickly thanks to the pleasant atmosphere.
The best thing about today was:
Finding out about some cool features of some of the tools we were learning today, enough to make me consider paying the small fee to access them. They would help enhance my classes a little.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it? Not having enough time at home to get all the chores that should have been completed on time. How did I handle it? By doing them, but not on time. It’s not the biggest issue but it means leaving wet washing outside overnight.
Also, I wasn’t able to shampoo Tigger again and he really needs it. I hope to do that on Tuesday afternoon if nothing else comes up.
Although these things are not really in my control I don’t consider them to be that important that they are giving me too much stress. There was a time when I would’ve let these things bother me more.
Something I learned today?
From reading an online post I found out that perhaps Hanoi is comparable to Chiang Mai and HCMC to Bangkok. Armed with that information I think I would prefer northern Vietnam to the south. Not that I wouldn’t want to check it all out for myself.
The writer described Hanoi as more of a collection of villages that have become joined and it is still quick and easy to get out into the mountains and jungles.
How do my thoughts and emotions impact my daily life?
My thoughts need to counter my emotions so I can stay in control. I get better at this though that may be due to avoiding people rather than actual improvement in control!
I took this picture because I knew there weren’t going to be many other chances to take photos today. I dropped into Utopia for my coffee, drinking it quickly but enjoying it immensely. Art gave me a new blend today that was light but zingy.
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