tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44318983338445268812024-03-14T01:02:02.271+07:00Geeks in AsiaThe story of two geeks and their adventures in (and around, above and under) Asia. We're a couple of gamers, historical reenactors, and all-around geeky folks living in Bangkok, Thailand starting in February 2008.Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-33904677512129621972010-12-13T19:40:00.002+07:002010-12-13T20:36:13.703+07:00Our trip through IndiaEarly this month, Ellen and I had a chance to tour the "Golden Triangle" of NW India--Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. We were, of course, looking for any and all things pre-1600, but that didn't deter us from enjoying the post-SCA period Mughal and Rajasthani art and architecture.<br /><br />We started off the trip in Delhi, where we visited Humayun's tomb, built in the 1570--the first "garden tomb" in India, bringing in the Persian "charbagh" style gardens, and a template for designs that you continue to see developed throughout the Mughal period and later. The charbagh style garden was supposed to represent the gardens of paradise, depicted as a square divided by the four heavenly rivers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3822396990/" title="Humayun's tomb"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3822396990_e370961b3b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090813_528" /></a><br /><br />The local red sandstone is a feature that will be popping up time and again, and is one of the things that makes this and other constructions in the area so eye-poppingly unique. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3821590565/" title="Looking up the staircase to the main tomb structure"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3821590565_f8cafdaab2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20090813_529" /></a><br /><br />The complex builds on traditional Persian and Central Asian architectural styles, showing a remarkable appreciation for mathematics and geometry, particularly in the way it uses perspective. As my wife said, "It is great to photograph a building that knows how to work it!"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5234514161/" title="Light filtering through the geometric screens at the top of the dome"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5234514161_7ce63cf036.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="New Delhi 102" /></a><br /><br />Humayun is actually buried beneath the central dome. There are 150 cenotaphs scattered around the tomb complex, indicating later burials. However, there is no indication as to who is actually buried under any of them. It is assumed that they were Mughal nobility, but nobody seems certain.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5234506013/" title="Humayun's cenotaph beneath the dome"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5234506013_9a8d628366.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="New Delhi 100" /></a><br /><br />There is another large tomb in the charbagh for, of all people, his barber; or so tradition states. We don't know who is there, but the tomb can be dated to the 1590s. The common story is that it was built for Humayun's barber and confidant--after all, you had to trust the person whom you allowed with a razor that close to the royal throat!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5234452233/" title="Barber's tomb through the haze"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5234452233_d1a639f1a5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="New Delhi 083" /></a><br /><br />Humayun's tomb is part of a larger complex was built next to (and inclusive of) the octagonal tomb of previous Delhi sultan Isa Khan Nyazi, which has been on the site since 1547.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5235172076/" title="Tomb of Isa Khan Nyazi"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5235172076_962c48a107.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="New Delhi 137" /></a><br /><br />The complex was meant to be visited; a portion was set aside with quarters where travelers could stay, known as the "arabserai" ("serai" indicates a location to stay--whether inn, fort, harem, etc.). This is a common feature of many Indo-Islamic complexes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5234371951/" title="Gate to the arabserai"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5234371951_03db228c97.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="New Delhi 055" /></a><br /><br />From the tomb for the second Mughal emperor, we headed back in time with the Qutb Minar complex. This World Heritage site was built in 1192 by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak to celebrate Mohammed Ghori's triumph over the Hindu rajputs. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3821574357/" title="Qtub Minar"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/3821574357_08912f9838.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090813_482" /></a><br /><br />It reused stones from various local temples that were dismantled by the conquering Islamic forces. The images of deities were often defaced except where they would not be seen--of course, with the subsequent erosion of the temple, many of those have come to light.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3822383496/" title="One of the carved stones from the ancient temples"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3822383496_8a3e3391ef.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090813_491" /></a><br /><br />Besides being one of the oldest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, the minaret is the highest stone tower in India. It was built in stages. After the first storey, the next three were added by Qutbu'd-Din's successor, Samsu'd-Din Iltutmish. After the top storey was destroyed in a lightning strike, it was replaced and a fifth storey added by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1368. Later repairs were conducted in 1503 and 1803, with some further back-and-forth renovations during the period of the British Raj.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3821566665/" title="Qtub Minar"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/3821566665_0961b287c5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090813_467" /></a><br /><br />A second tower was begun by Ala ud din Khilji in 1311 which would have exceeded the original minaret, but it was never completed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3821569423/" title="Alai Minar (never finished)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3821569423_8241ae3a4a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20090813_474" /></a><br /><br />The congregational mosque (Qubbat-ul-Islam) that was built as part of the complex is not in such great shape, but the borrowed stone is great for a sample of traditional Hindu (specifically Jain) temple architectural features.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5235225670/" title="Pillars taken from previous temples and reused in the Friday mosque of Qtub Minar"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5235225670_cc50b4d55a.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="New Delhi 177" /></a><br /><br />In addition, there is an iron pillar erected in the center of the mosque that was brought from elsewhere. It is dated to the 4th century and mentions a king "Chandra", generally thought to be Chandragupta II. It is remarkable in that it has not rusted away--experts are unsure of how it was made, given its size and apparent metallurgical consistency.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/5235230330/" title="The iron pillar of Delhi"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5235230330_6d5893a3d3.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="New Delhi 181" /></a><br /><br />Next up, Agra and Fathepur Sikri!Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-12024813052550789862010-05-15T10:02:00.002+07:002010-05-15T10:14:16.684+07:00Interesting timesSo, anyone who watches the news in Thailand knows that we are going through some interesting times out here. I prefer not to comment on the political situation, but we are safe (though the protests start about a half mile from our apartment), and we can neither hear nor see anything that the news is telling us about. Most of the activity seems to be happening in other places (we can't even see the barricades from here).<br /><br />For more information, we recommend:<br /><a href="http://bangkokpost.com">Bangkok Post</a><br /><a href="http://nationmultimedia.com">The Nation</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/tulsathit">Tulsathit's Twitter Page</a><br /><br />For the official information for US citizens:<br /><a href="http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/">U.S. Embassy in Bangkok</a><br />NOTE: If you are living in Bangkok you can sign up to get messages from the embassy for all US citizens. I recommend that all US citizens abroad register with the local US embassy in case of local emergency.Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-91850229223094036022009-07-23T22:17:00.004+07:002009-07-23T23:06:39.455+07:00Growing the SCA in ThailandSo how does one become responsible for starting a new branch of the SCA in a foreign country? I'm not 100% sure, but we're going to try to find out!<br /><br />As many of you know, our new friend, known in the SCA as Saito Takauji, moved into the area back in January, and we've been hanging out and talking about things SCA. However, in contact with the <a href="http://www.farwestbarony.com/">Barony of the Far West</a>, we learned of a group of Thai larpers that are interested in going from foam swords to something more substantial. And look at how they came decked out!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3723770756/" title="07122009 004 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/3723770756_2b90eac442_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="07122009 004" /></a><br /><br />We had our first meeting the other day, and started getting them some basic practice in what needs to be done. We need to get some rattan, now, and some armor, clothing, and, well, figure out where we are.<br /><br />The closest group is in Japan. However, that's a baronial group, and if this really gets going, we need to figure out what is best for our Thai compatriots. If they want royalty, honors, etc., then is it better for them to be a part of the West Kingdom, based on the West coast of the US, or the Kingdom of Lochac, based in Australia. Lochac is definitely closer, but there aren't any groups near us. On the other hand, I don't know when the last royal visit to Japan was--not a problem for people who travel to the US regularly.<br /><br />Of course, this may not be in our hands, so we'll see what the BoD says. In the meantime, we'll just do what we can to get our soon-to-be incipient <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/scabkk/">Canton of the Golden Plains</a> up and running!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3723771100/" title="07122009 005 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3723771100_a9edaf4195_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="07122009 005" /></a>Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-7276174221196051712009-05-10T22:08:00.002+07:002009-05-10T22:09:35.603+07:00Seoul, KoreaPop music, video games, green architecture, and centuries of history, all packed into 21st century city--that's what we found in Seoul, Korea.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3479462573/" title="20090425 379 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3479462573_0d97b97eb3.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="20090425 379" /></a><br /><br />Although we had both been looking forward to it, we had no idea what to expect in Seoul. It is definitely a city on the move, with a blend of history and technology.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3481098733/" title="20090424 068 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3481098733_3c4414869d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090424 068" /></a><br /><br />One of the palaces we checked out was Deoksugung. It was built as a mansion sometime in the 14th or 15th century, and was used as a royal residence after the Japanese invaded and burned down the palaces in the late 16th century. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3480142910/" title="20090425 402 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3480142910_e521695858.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="20090425 402" /></a><br /><br />They still do the changing of the guards at several palaces; this practice has actually been resurrected based on documented evidence. They do it several times a day, and, since there is no more Korean royalty, it is done mainly as a cultural exhibition.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3480239686/" title="20090425 377 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3480239686_b3e69fae7a.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="20090425 377" /></a><br /><br />Another palace we visited was Changgeonggun. There, we were treated to a reenactment of a royal banquet, complete with the "king" coming in on a litter born by his servants.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3516633637/" title="20090426 446 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/3516633637_d08bf40bee.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="20090426 446" /></a><br /><br />We even got into the act. There were stations set up on the weekends where you could try historical Korean costume, or hanbok, and have your picture taken.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3515415751/" title="20090426 070 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3515415751_cfe5cec228.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="20090426 070" /></a><br /><br /><br />Besides this historical displays, we also found modern performance arts groups, like the one below. This martial arts comedy was performed in front of the National Museum, and its slapstick comedy is pretty self-explanatory.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=5e748f7f3d&photo_id=3483599864"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=5e748f7f3d&photo_id=3483599864" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />Food is also a draw in Korea. This is, after all, the home of Korean BBQ; plates of raw meat and possibly other items) are brougth out to your table, where you have your own grill. It cooks right in front of you, and you have a variety of choices as to what to eat it with, once it is ready.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3482883833/" title="20090424 131 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3482883833_593fd1a62e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20090424 131" /></a><br /><br />Of course, it isn't all about meat. In fact, since Buddhism had long had a strong presence in Korea (and is still the official religion of the state, though many Koreans are Christian), there are are many vegetarian restaurants that recreate the food from Buddhist monasteries. Of course, it isn't in the meager portions one might expect in an austere religious institution.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3483646726/" title="20090424 102 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3483646726_882709fe22.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20090424 102" /></a><br /><br />After dinner, Seoul is still wired, and people might go out for coffee or alcohol. Our friends took us out to a wonderful little hole in the wall that served <em>dongdongju</em>, a Korean unfiltered rice liquor. It is not uncommon for people to go out drinking and stay up so late that, rather than going home, they will just go into work. There are plenty of stories of people having beds in their offices so that they can be at work on time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3483663918/" title="20090424 116 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3483663918_79f2d1bf01_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="20090424 116" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3482951037/" title="20090424 156 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3482951037_554fa2b82e_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="20090424 156" /></a><br /><br />That, in brief, was Seoul. We spent plenty of time taking it in, and didn't have nearly enough time. There was a breathtaking sense of history in all of the palaces, museums, and reenactments; and yet there was also a sense of the modern, future city. There were examples of new, green technology in use in architecture that were really incredible in their scale. This is definitely a city that has one foot in the past and the other firmly planted in the future.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3517988210/" title="20090426 126 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3517988210_b123306d47.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="20090426 126" /></a>Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-77846845698189856892009-05-03T22:32:00.003+07:002009-05-03T22:37:42.365+07:00Pi Mai in LaosLaos. A country shrouded in mystery. Though briefly during the Cold War its name was splashed across the headlines, I doubt most people remember it today. Nestled along the Mekong valley beneath verdant carst peaks, it rests chiefly between Vietnam and Thailand, sharing borders with Burma, China, and Cambodia. A communist country, still pock-marked with unexploded ordinance left from bitter fighting, it would hardly seem like the ideal vacation spot.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3452596646/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 023 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3452596646_e2f0aa276f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 023" /></a><br /><br />Yet Communism seems to have done nothing to dull the open friendliness of the Lao people. Perhaps, as has been said, Communism was just not designed for the agricultural lifestyle of the average Lao. Whatever the reason, Laos is an amazingly relaxed country, even in the "big city" Luang Prabang.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3437978850/" title="Luang Prabang 2009 034 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3437978850_9109341624.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Luang Prabang 2009 034" /></a><br /><br />The ancient capital city of Laos is today an ideal spot to just unwind. Most of the people still make their living in an agricultural economy, though commercialism is coming in along with the "falang" as word of Laos spreads. Still, there is plenty of traditional culture in Luang Prabang, which is a city of temples--the oldest founded in the 16th century.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3493113146/" title="LuangPrabang20090416 042 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3493113146_979e18be6c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090416 042" /></a><br /><br />We were there with friends whom Ellen had met online. Peter had been to Luang Prabang several times before, and two years ago made reservations for his own family and friends at the Apsara, a cozy little place on the Nam Kan river-side. He then asked friends to join him--and a few of us did.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3452456293/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 165 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3452456293_d5b2fe7a59.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 165" /></a><br /><br />The reservations were deliberately made for Pi Mai, the Lao new year (their version of Songkran).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3492901055/" title="LuangPrabang20090415 107 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3492901055_be15f25591.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090415 107" /></a><br /><br />As in Thailand, Songkran is a water festival. Water fights erupt everywhere, and going out means getting wet. Not that this is an objectionable thing in the heat of the day. Still, we were rotating through clothes to keep dry.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3454384136/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 228 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3454384136_2be7bb43fe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 228" /></a><br /><br />Everyone gets involved in the water fights in Laos, which started early--there were already kids hitting passing tuktuks and motorcycles as early as Friday before the official festivities.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3451532557/" title="Luang Prabang 2009 125 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3451532557_a8cf5e4bbe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Luang Prabang 2009 125" /></a><br /><br />Foreigners, including Westerners ("falang," the Lao term for the Thai word "farang," but used more amongst foreigners themselves than by the Lao), Thai, and others were everywhere. Thai tourists often came as much for the merit making activities as anything else--such as getting up early in the morning to give alms to the monks as they parade through the city.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3440431048/" title="Luang Prabang 2009 048 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3440431048_c9de77e844.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Luang Prabang 2009 048" /></a><br /><br />In both Thai and Laos, where the people are intimately connected with the rivers, streams, and canals, water holds an especially prominent place. This seems doubly true along the Mekong, where it seems that ancient practices are mingled with Buddhist ritual.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3454162773/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 305 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3454162773_7a886eac8f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 305" /></a><br /><br />For instance, instead of building the sand chedis in the temple grounds, along the Mekong the people build sand (or mud) chedis along the river. It is a busy family gathering, and many of the chedis are built directly on the riverbank, with a small channel dug between the chedi and the water. This apparently allows for the spirit of the river, usually envisioned as a naga, to come or go from the chedi.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3454172957/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 312 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3454172957_4079a6a788_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 312" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3454187447/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 322 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3454187447_19b3bed3a5_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 322" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3454170109/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 310 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3454170109_c7c1f460eb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 310" /></a><br /><br />There is also a festival of salting the clouds. Handmade rockets are launched from a bamboo platform. They are supposed to help encourage the rain. Here you can see one going off:<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=6b12ae5de3&photo_id=3492928935"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=6b12ae5de3&photo_id=3492928935" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />Pi Mai lasts for much longer in Luang Prabang than in Thailand, and there are numerous little festivals. One of the local villages, known for their silk, had a small ceremony and festival. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3444502244/" title="20090415 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/3444502244_8c262cef0c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090415" /></a><br /><br />Local or regional worthies were invited as guests of honor, who were welcomed in style. After a long speech (in which I have no idea what was said), there were various dances performed by men and women, apparently from the local area.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=fac428e06d&photo_id=3443677867"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=fac428e06d&photo_id=3443677867" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />Despite the local atmosphere (it was mostly Lao there), the tourist papparazzi were there in force.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3443745501/" title="20090415 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3443745501_7933ecb061.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20090415" /></a><br /><br />Besides the local festivals, people also take the time just to go out. We spent some time up at the local waterfalls--a beautiful area.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3453266800/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 163 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3453266800_137a334373.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 163" /></a><br /><br />They even have an Asian bear rescue center.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3453167746/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 114 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3453167746_e3c2615719_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 114" /></a><br /><br />The waterfall itself is beautiful, but the smooth cascades below were even moreso.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3453230970/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 146 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3453230970_4b42ebc04c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 146" /></a><br /><br />Granted, the hike to the top was probably more than we had bargained on, but the view was incredible.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3452476807/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 175 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3452476807_d5bd1a7f2e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 175" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, going down wasn't nearly as peaceful! A steep gradiant with little to no real trail. We started leapfrogging down--the person in front helping the people in back, etc.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3453288782/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 174 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3453288782_ab5092f506_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 174" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3453318420/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 189 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3453318420_7eb0d9c335_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 189" /></a><br /><br />After coming back down, we headed towards some of the pools where swimming was allowed. The best had a tree leaning out that one could swing from before splashing into the pool below.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=d4e9406e03&photo_id=3453354180"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=d4e9406e03&photo_id=3453354180" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />Back in the "big city," there is a carnival atmosphere on the outskirts, complete with dart games and bumper cars. Although perhaps driving around in a vehicle connected to an electric grid in the middle of a thunder storm might not have been the best idea ever.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3444588578/" title="SNV10808 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3444588578_235aa0becc.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="SNV10808" /></a><br /><br />Later in the week, there is a beauty pageant, followed by a parade with all of the contestants and anyone else who wants to join in.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3492811269/" title="LuangPrabang20090415 029 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3492811269_fb5ef9a4b8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090415 029" /></a><br /><br />The real center of the festivities, though, is the Prabang (or Pabang)--the royal Buddha. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3454768343/" title="20090417 Luang Prabang 173 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3454768343_097ef2f030.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20090417 Luang Prabang 173" /></a><br /><br />It is taken to a local temple, where it is installed so that people may pour water over it in a ritual of cleansing. It is believed that this will help make merit for the people doing it, allowing them to get closer to their goal of attaining Buddhahood themselves.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3492551957/" title="20090417 Luang Prabang 183 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3492551957_9e2970a846.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20090417 Luang Prabang 183" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, that ceremony was to take place the day after we were to leave. Still, we had a wonderful time, and I definitely look forward to returning some day, even if it is just to sit by the river and watch the sunset.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3451835465/" title="LuangPrabang20090414 071 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/3451835465_14e2905f68.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LuangPrabang20090414 071" /></a>Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-42454682351668321082009-04-13T08:00:00.004+07:002009-04-13T08:05:36.728+07:00DON'T PANIC :)Okay, I'm not sure if those are "large, friendly letters," but I just thought it might be a useful phrase to reuse these days.<br /><br />For all of our friends and neighbors reading about the current situation in Bangkok, I just want to tell you not to worry about us. We are actually quite happy here in Luang Prabang, Laos, where we are celebrating "Pi Mai" with some friends. Pi Mai is the Lao and Thai New Year (also called Songkran in Thailand), with a huge water fight everywhere.<br /><br />Pictures are going to take a while to load due to the connection speeds, but we'll do what we can. As soon as we have them, pictures will be up at our flickr page: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tatsushu">http://flickr.com/photos/tatsushu</a>.<br /><br /><br />More info as we know what is happening.Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-37840773960049567752009-01-24T09:05:00.002+07:002009-01-24T09:24:50.574+07:00Just an update...Not much going on, but I thought I'd try this whole updating thing.<br /><br />Ellen's parents are in town, and we're going to be taking them around for the next couple of days. We'll probably visit the Grand Palace and Wat Po, but everything else is rather up in the air. It is great to have them, though.<br /><br />Oh, we have another SCAdian out in Bangkok. Yay! If we can find two more, we could have an actual Canton, which is one of the smaller groups you can have in the Society. We are also all Japanese personas, which is rather an interesting stroke of luck. This is motivating me to work on a new set of armor for the SCA as well. We'll see how that turns out. Part of the problem is finding the correct materials.<br /><br />We also went down to the fabric market recently. Wow! 3 meters of <span style="font-style:italic;">nice</span> fabric (i.e. not muslin) for 100THB, which is under $3 USD, and in good widths. Silks for maybe 100THB/meter. Lots of dance costumes, Thai fabrics, etc. Didn't quite find what we need for SCA stuff, yet, but I think it probably is in there, somewhere. Lots of good Chinese silks that we could use for some Chinese stuff.<br /><br />I also picked up some pearls in Bangaladesh. I'm thinking of making one of the Chinese Imperial mortarboard caps, with the dangling pearls. My only problem is that it would not be something I could use much. The Japanese don't seem to have used pearls too much (mother of pearl they used a lot), but I may be able to do something Elizabethan. Perhaps a nice doublet, studded all over with pearls? I picked up some white, pink, and black pearls there for incredible prices.<br /><br />That's about it for now. We'll have pictures up about our trips with Ellen's parents around Thailand and Japan, just as soon as we finish taking them!Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-4820260924544736202009-01-01T06:40:00.001+07:002009-01-01T06:42:22.299+07:00สวัสดีปีใหม่ (Sawasdee Pi Mai!)Happy New Year from Thailand! One of <b>our</b> New Year's Resolutions will be to try to update this thing more often... Well, we'll see how that goes!<br /><br />Here's wishing all of our friends and family a Happy New Year!Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-53797717161863132982008-11-30T17:40:00.002+07:002008-11-30T18:03:50.283+07:00We're all okay (a long-overdue update!)It's been way too long since we posted anything...we've been planning to, but with all the stuff we've been up to, it takes a while to get everything up! I definitely have a backlog I want to work through, including things like the World Gourmet Festival at the end of September. But right now I wanted to assure everyone that we are totally okay!<br /><br />To simplify, Thailand is now suffering what Josh has described as a marked lack of common sense. PAD anti-government protestors have taken over the two Bangkok airports and have refused to move until the prime minister steps down. Things are getting "interesting" and we hope that the situation can be ended without unnecessary violence. To follow the news on one of the better Thai English-language newspapers, check out <a href="http://nationmultimedia.com/">http://nationmultimedia.com</a>. <br /><br />Josh and I are currently in Japan-- we came here for Josh's Batto-do tournament on November 24th, and were supposed to return to Bangkok on the 27th, then turn around and fly out a week later for the US, where we will be for the entire month of December. Since the airport shutdown started on the 26th, we haven't been able to get back to Bangkok...but the airline has allowed us to rearrange things so that we will just fly straight from here to the US, a day or two early. We're missing only a couple of important things (driver's licenses, my work computer, Christmas presents) and all of those can be gotten around without much trouble. Plus, Japan is not exactly an unpleasant place to be stuck-- we've been touring some of the more obscure Tokyo historical sites, eating great food, and generally having a more relaxing sort of trip than we otherwise would.<br /><br />We are in direct contact with our friends (and Josh's coworkers) in Bangkok, and they are completely safe. Indeed, our neighbor told us that in the area we live in, you would have no idea it wasn't business as usual if you didn't read the papers! The foreign community is not a target in any of this-- it is internal Thai politics, unlike the truly horrible tragedy that happened in Mumbai. The important thing is to avoid areas where the demonstrations are happening, as tempers are running high.<br /><br />One of the ways in which we have been letting off steam is reading an "alternate" account of Thailand's politics at <a href="http://notthenation.com/">http://notthenation.com</a>, a parody site based on The Nation newspaper. Some of the material will probably only be funny if you live in Thailand, but I suggest you check it out. I hear Bruce Willis is in the Suvarnabhumi Airport vent system right now...and let me quote the best article of all, in case you are worried about us being in Thailand from here on out(here's looking at you, Mom):<br /><br />(<a href="http://notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=577">http://notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=577</a>)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;"><strong>World Media Insists All of Thailand On Fire, All Thais Dead<br /><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">BANGKOK - Despite the relative calm following PAD intrusions into several government offices, the world media continue to claim that the country has collapsed into anarchy and chaos. As ordinary Thais go to their daily jobs and lives, </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The New York Times</span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> writes that the “government has been shut down and social order revoked by an organized army of over a million protestors.” Even though only three schools near the Government House have suspended classes, CNN has placed all Thailand-related stories under a flaming banner reading “Civil War in Siam,” with story leaders describing city-wide power outages, roving mobs of homicidal anarchists, and rumors of an inevitable military intervention by “UN peacekeepers.” Even with the actual death toll at 0 and the number of severely injured at 0, FOX NEWS continues to stand by its story that Parliament was burned to death in its chambers, Communists are fighting monks in running street battles using tactical nuclear weapons, and every Thai child is being raped by a foreign pedophile who supports Barack Obama. </span>Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-19161500140819723022008-11-04T17:32:00.005+07:002008-11-05T07:55:40.388+07:00Krabi Vacation<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999063929/" title="The Andaman Sea from Les Passe-Temps"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2999063929_32069a4d74.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="The Andaman Sea from Les Passe-Temps" /></a><br /><br />So, this past weekend we experienced some of the pleasures of Thailand's western coast along the Andaman Sea, staying at <a href="http://www.lepassetemps-krabi.com/">Le Passe-Temps</a>, a boutique bungalow resort run by two French gentlemen, one of whom practices Taichi with Ellen here in Bangkok. They had a chance to practice together out in the surf our first evening there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2998959963/" title="Taichi on the beach"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2998959963_1e1d95e7b4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Taichi on the beach" /></a><br /><br />The bungalows are out in Ao Thalen, on the western outskirts of Krabi, are truly out of the way, surrounded by tropical trees and jungle foliage. A walk along the beach will find you surrounded on one side by thick mangrove trees, with the deep blue ocean on the other. During low tide, you can walk far out onto the flats, even wading out to the local weirs, if you are up to it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3000203192/" title="A small stream surrounded by mangroves"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/3000203192_569c9a4ac3.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="A small stream surrounded by mangroves" /></a><br /><br />Just down the road from Le Passe-Temps is a sea-kayak rental and tour company, where we took a breathtaking tour of the mangroves. A kayak or similar craft is required to get into the mangroves, you should go at high tide, and you'd better have a guide or you could easily get lost. The walls of the karst cliffs towered over us, providing views that you only ever see in movies and nature documentaries.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999882820/" title="Looking up through the mangrove trees"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2999882820_4a6edfd980.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Looking up through the mangrove trees" /></a><br /><br />Dappled light falls down through the broad leaves of the mangroves and the towering limestone walls, upon which are inscribed enigmatic paintings from travelers long since past. Within various walls and crevices are stashed the remains of some of those travelers--the sea gypsies who would journey up and down the south-east Asian archipelago.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999848920/" title="The tree monitor"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2999848920_63709bd748.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="The tree monitor" /></a><br /><br />The trees themselves were teeming with life. From birds, to lizards, and monkeys deep in the mangroves. There are even gibbons, though they are usually too high up the cliff walls to see well. The monkeys--long-tailed macaques to be precise--will actually jump on the boats as they pass by, searching for food. Of course, that's better than the monkeys at our next adventure, where they will jump on <em>you</em>!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999084821/" title="Monkey and child"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2999084821_3105afbde5.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Monkey and child" /></a><br /><br />The macaques at the Tiger Cave Temple were quite brazen, jumping on people and doing whatever they could to get food, water, or just something shiny. With the steep steps up to the top of the mountain, you are always at eye level with one or more of them, though they do scatter if they see you act dominant. They have, however, learned that young Thai women are easy prey, and seem to figure most other women fall into the same category.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999927466/" title="View from the steps of the Tiger Cave Temple"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2999927466_f7abe916e8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="View from the steps of the Tiger Cave Temple" /></a><br /><br />The thieving monkeys can hardly stop you from enjoying the view from the steep sides of the mountain, though. Unfortunately, I only made it up about 3/4 of the 1200+ steps before night began rapidly descending. Ellen had stopped even further below. I wouldn't mind trying it next time, just starting a little earlier. After all, here is the goal:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999403419/" title="Tiger Cave Temple"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2999403419_5fc4333bb2.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Tiger Cave Temple" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999403419/sizes/o/in/set-72157608617152752/">See the golden spire at the top</a>? From the gray spire at the bottom to the gold stupa at the top--that's the goal. It is supposed to be an impressive view, especially at sunset.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999153439/" title="Birds on a weir"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2999153439_3357568d23.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Birds on a weir" /></a><br /><br />The next day, we got up early. A walk across the flats really can bring you right up to those nets, as you can see here. The birds (I think they might be sea swiftlets--the ones that make the edible nests) also seemed to like to partake of these vantage points.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3000050546/" title="Robert digging for buried treasure"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/3000050546_587c67e2aa.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Robert digging for buried treasure" /></a><br /><br />Walking along the beach, one of the dogs at the resort decided to follow us. Robert enjoys exploring the beach, and really seemed to enjoy digging for crabs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3000052406/" title="Crab uncovered"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/3000052406_9eb63c6486.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Crab uncovered" /></a><br /><br />Of course, once you find it...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3000066374/" title="Crabby beach"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3000066374_734904da3b.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Crabby beach" /></a><br /><br />...what do you do with it?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/3000061006/" title="I pinch!"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3000061006_94689b2f94.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="I pinch!" /></a><br /><br />This really was a wonderfully relaxing vacation... the only problem is the stress of leaving it all and coming back home. Oh well. The coconuts, the oil palms, the rubber trees, and the mangroves--and everything that makes them their homes--will still be there when we return.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2999702704/" title="Sunset on the Andaman Sea"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2999702704_0b70c0091a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Sunset on the Andaman Sea" /></a>Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-12015265528625288242008-10-10T10:10:00.002+07:002008-10-10T10:16:58.647+07:00A note about voting!So last night, Josh and I voted in the 2008 US Presidential Election. We were very pleased at how easy it was, actually-- a week or so ago, we each received an email with instructions on how to print and mail our absentee ballots! It was simply a matter of printing the ballot, filling it out, and wrapping it in the second "envelope" sheet of paper, which then had to be signed and dated and witnessed. Pop it in the APO mail, and voila! (Before leaving the US, we had filled out change-of-address forms and overseas voter applications...it's funny, I don't remember giving them my email address, but I guess I did!)<br /><br />For some extra fun, the Democrats Abroad in Thailand have come out with a <a href="http://democratsabroadthailand.blogspot.com/2008/09/cool-obama-thaienglish-t-shirts.html">couple of Obama T-shirts</a>: one says "Obama" in Thai letters, and the other says "Bangkok for Barack" in a very Thai (and red, white, and blue) style. Awesome!<br /><br />Everyone else, remember to vote in November!Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-4401005232513910112008-10-09T13:34:00.003+07:002008-10-10T10:50:16.163+07:00Long time no blog!So once again we've failed to update for a while. We've certainly been busy! Josh has been traveling in Australia and New Zealand, where he got to cuddle a koala (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu">the pictures are on our Flickr page</a>) While he was gone, I met up with some Internet friends and enjoyed some of the activities surrounding the World Gourmet Fest in Bangkok (I need to put up a post about that).<br /><br />Some of you may have seen in the news that the political situation in Thailand is heating up again: on Tuesday there were a number of clashes between anti-government protestors and the police, and a number of people were killed. Although we definitely want things to be settled, Josh and I are not in any danger-- the protests are confined to one small area of town near Government House, and that is unlikely to change.<br /><br />More later!Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-40526412249117987522008-09-15T23:14:00.002+07:002008-09-16T00:18:44.580+07:00Mad Science + BudoWell, been traveling and I need to get some posts up (I know... I sound like a broken record) but I thought first I'd share a small project that took up much of the past three days.<br /><br />First of all, I think many of you are aware that we have one room dedicated as our 'dojo' for budo, tai-chi, and general art projects.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2472993879/" title="Bangkok Dojo"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2472993879_5ba654c9c7.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="20080507 002" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately it has been a little small for some practice, which I tend to take outdoors, including battodo. Besides needing space, however, battodo requires one more thing: cutting. While the focus should never be on cutting for cutting's sake, regular cutting practice is an essential part of the curriculum. But where to find material? Contrary to my initial thoughts, there aren't that many tatami in Bangkok. Nor do there appear to be many tatami repair shops. I could, perhaps, pay $120/tatami mat, but that's a little steep. Finally, I got a chance to head out to the local market.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860156996/" title="01 - Mats by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2860156996_bba5f112bb.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="01 - Mats" /></a><br /><br />This is what we found: 10 mats at about 120 Baht each--a little under $4/mat. Not too bad, but I suspect the overall cost will be more than using tatami omote. For one thing, these are more like beach mats, though thicker, but I still suspect it will take more than one to give a good target.<br /><br />I also picked up one wide one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860155032/" title="02 - Long mat by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2860155032_bbaba61b9b.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="02 - Long mat" /></a><br /><br />It was made of the same material, including the colored weave. This is a problem in some mats, as the cheaper mats use a pretty hard plastic, but these mats appeared to just use colored straw.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859326825/" title="03 - Mat detail by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2859326825_a5627350f6_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="03 - Mat detail" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, I had misgivings once I saw that it was about as wide as the others were long! And it really twisted, even when rolled as tightly as possible.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859327437/" title="04 - Twisted Mat by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2859327437_b8d67fe126.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="04 - Twisted Mat" /></a><br /><br />The shorter ones were more numerous. So I figured I would roll up a couple as doubles, a triple, and three singles. That way I could get a good feel for the mats. Unfortunately, they had the same problems. Though thicker than a typical 'beach mat', they have a loose weave and uneven fibres that makes it difficult to roll. I tried several different techniques, with little success. Hopefully the water they soak up will fill them out some and perhaps make them a little more substantial. I'm already missing my tatami omote.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859328879/" title="05 - Short mats by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2859328879_1a04614f2d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="05 - Short mats" /></a><br /><br />I'd been saving rubber bands from the street vendors, but apparently our maid figured they were garbage, because I couldn't find any. Instead, I went with butcher's twine, which shouldn't significantly affect the cuts. Quite enthusiastic about the tests, I started them soaking as soon as possible.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860170042/" title="06 - Rolled mats by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2860170042_2d1186ce92.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="06 - Rolled mats" /></a><br /><br />It was about this time I realized I was in a dilemma. What was I going to cut them on? I could already see the potential problems of using a table corner, as most of the tables were under the roof on the lower level, meaning not enough room for a good swing. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860177534/" title="07 - Hmmmm by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2860177534_ec758b49e7.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="07 - Hmmmm" /></a><br /><br />I decided the best thing would be to go to the local version of Home Depot and see what I could find.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860158302/" title="08 - Pondering 1 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2860158302_0684013778.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="08 - Pondering 1" /></a><br /><br />Turns out, HomePro is not really a Home Depot. No lumber at all. So much for a good 4x4 stand. But I did recall that in Japan they had used some kind of pipe. Hmmm... maybe if I grabbed some PVC pipe bits I could build what I needed, but how?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859330031/" title="09 - Single pole by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2859330031_ccede09a8f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="09 - Single pole" /></a><br /><br />This pole might work. I just stand it up like this... might have to cut it down a bit later. But just stand it up. Carefully... then let go...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860159610/" title="10 - Pole falling by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2860159610_771e83a28e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="10 - Pole falling" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so we're going to need something to keep the pole from falling over. Let's see what we have here.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860163592/" title="11 - The joints by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2860163592_8714d4f900.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="11 - The joints" /></a><br /><br />Several different T-joints, huh? Maybe I could throw something together.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859331357/" title="12 - Investigations by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/2859331357_3a601e0b87.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="12 - Investigations" /></a><br /><br />Yes, I think I could do something with these. I just need to figure out what. These definitely have potential.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859332033/" title="13 - Not quite by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/2859332033_de3275a376.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="13 - Not quite" /></a><br /><br />Not quite what I had in mind.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860161574/" title="14 - Still not quite by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2860161574_61028ba61a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="14 - Still not quite" /></a><br /><br />You're getting closer.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860166170/" title="15 - We Have Something by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2860166170_2134903812.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="15 - We Have Something" /></a><br /><br />That's what I'm talking about!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860167518/" title="16 - Saw by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2860167518_abc1e8889e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="16 - Saw" /></a><br /><br />First, saw off a few pieces of the pipe to connect them. Not too big, just enough to help hold them together.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860168110/" title="17 - Dirty jobs by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2860168110_43a2d79051.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="17 - Dirty jobs" /></a><br /><br />Time to get dirty! I can't really read the warning labels on this glue, as it is all in Thai, so I figure I'll take some precautions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859339923/" title="18 - Fine by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2859339923_f6d1cf1319.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="18 - Fine" /></a><br /><br />Here's the finished base. By my calculations, I should be able to put four poles as 'legs' and one central pole as the stand. BTW, if you are wondering about why everything is blue? Because it was thicker and heavier than the white PVC pipe. I figured that a certain amount of mass would be helpful.<br /><br />But what about the peg? I didn't find any dowels at HomePro, but we did have a thin piece of pipe lying around.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859340507/" title="19 - Looks right by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2859340507_7bab0be845.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="19 - Looks right" /></a><br /><br />A little bit of sawing to add a good angle, as well as a 1" to 1/2" pipe connector and voila!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859349887/" title="20 - topcap by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2859349887_07fc507253.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20 - topcap" /></a><br /><br />The great part is that, except for the base, everything can come apart. That means if I want an iai stand, all I need to do is replace the long, central pole with a shorter pole. Of course, blue isn't my favorite color, but what the heck.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860178692/" title="21 - Pieces by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2860178692_cb8948a140.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="21 - Pieces" /></a><br /><br />Here are all the pieces laid out, ready to be assembled.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859351083/" title="22 - Complete by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2859351083_1f698aac23.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="22 - Complete" /></a><br /><br />Put it all together and see what you get! It is a little taller than I'm used to, but the mats are also a bit shorter. Besides, it feels nice to not have to reach down to cut. Still, I'll eventually want to get precise dimensions to make a stand at the exact height that the Kakuseikai uses so that I can practice with what I'll be using in Japan.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860176970/" title="23 - Claude by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2860176970_f5a81fdecd.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="23 - Claude" /></a><br /><br />Claude would like to take this opportunity to remind all the would-be sammyrai out there that nobody should attempt to cut without appropriate training and safety precautions. Do not try this at home!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860170646/" title="24 - Cutting-1 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2860170646_6a505865ff.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="24 - Cutting-1" /></a><br /><br />Mats soaked, and with the rain stopped, it was time to go downstairs to try the stand. Spiking the mats was a bit difficult, but not because of the stand. The mats were just too floppy. Once on the peg, they generally stayed put.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859342735/" title="25 - Cutting 2 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2859342735_956a47c7b1.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="25 - Cutting 2" /></a><br /><br />Cutting the short mats was definitely easier than tatami omote. At least two mats were required to give the same feeling as one piece of goza or omote. Also, even though they were 'new', these mats came pre-dirtied. I tried to wash them off as well soak them, but it still felt as though there might be some grime in the weave. Furthermore, I think there is some plastic being using ind the overall structure. Still, the cuts seemed good. I may just want to forego using a Nihonto on these mats any time soon.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2859343811/" title="26 - Cutting 3 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2859343811_a54b0eec96.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="26 - Cutting 3" /></a><br /><br />Oh, and as I rather thought, the tall mat really didn't work too well. Too soft, and not enough mass to really support itself. It wouldn't go on the peg until it was cut down to size.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2860175574/" title="27 - Cutting 4 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2860175574_a0cc21094a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="27 - Cutting 4" /></a><br /><br />After that it cut more easily than certain commercial wara I've tried. Even bad cuts went through effortlessly, while the shorter double did a fairly decent job of showing me where my angle was off on my blade, and wouldn't let me get away with a truly awful cut.<br /><br />In the end, it looks like I've found something to cut, even if it isn't the best. Hopefully I'll be able to keep in practice for Japan. Still need to find other people to practice with, of course.<br /><br />Hope this has been enjoyable. Next time I'll try to tell you about the Taj Mahal. See:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2832702526/" title="20080810110 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2832702526_c910d810ea.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="20080810110" /></a>Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-19512827049236290672008-09-13T20:59:00.002+07:002008-09-13T21:24:23.531+07:00The Royal AnthemNot much has been happening here recently...a lot of rain (it IS the rainy season, after all) and hanging out at home. We need to post some info about our recent trips to Singapore and to the beach here in Thailand (Cha-Am, about 80 miles southwest of Bangkok)-- the pictures are up on our Flickr page, if you want to look at them!<br /><br />One thing I did do today was walk the block-and-a-half over to Bumrungrad Hospital, for the 2008 "Living in Thailand" Fair. This is an annual event geared to expatriates living here, at which exhibitors from clubs, schools, companies, restaurants, etc. all set up booths and stand ready to ply you with flyers and free gifts. It's like a trade fair, only where the trade is being a foreigner. Fun! <br /><br />(Plus, it serves as advertising for the hospital. I believe I've posted about this before, but all of the major private hospitals actively market themselves much more like five-star hotels or even getaway destinations rather than a place solely for fixing what ails you! We got a brochure in the mail inviting us to join Bumrungrad's "Healthy Living Club", which gets us discounts on inpatient rooms, medical supplies and lab tests, and health screenings, not to mention items at the hospital gift shops and meals at the numerous restaurants. Yes, I said restaurants: we have actually gone over there to eat dinner on a couple of occasions! It's a bit out of the Twilight Zone...)<br /><br />Anyway, one of the events as part of the fair today was a series of performances by various music groups, including the Bangkok Music Society choir and the Orpheus Choir (which, I believe, serves as the chorus for the Bangkok Opera). Directing these was Somtow Sucharitkul, who I have mentioned before on this blog: he's the artistic director of the Bangkok Opera and a prolific composer AND sci-fi/horror writer. (I got to meet him, which was fun!) <br /><br />Which brings me (finally) to the title of this post: one of the pieces that all the choirs performed was a new arrangement of the Thai Royal Anthem by Somtow. You can see a recorded performance of it (from another event) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTx_we-NGN4">here</a>. This is the King's anthem, and it's played before all performances, including movie showings...so we have heard it a lot, probably more than the actual Thai National Anthem, which is played at 8 AM and 6 PM daily on public intercom systems, radio stations, and many TV channels (I guess we just aren't tuned in at the right times for it). That's fine by me, because I think the Royal Anthem is a very nice piece of music- Josh and I find ourselves humming it in unison on random occasions!<br /><br />(If you're interested, here's the <a href="http://www.learningthai.com/kinganthem_01.htm">Thai text and English translation for the Royal Anthem.</a>)Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-23014839022754521562008-08-28T14:26:00.003+07:002008-08-29T10:36:02.582+07:00Thai protests-- a noteSome of you may have seen <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/27/thailand.protests.arrest/index.html">news about the protests here in Thailand</a> over the past several days. I wanted to assure everyone reading this blog that we are fine, and not in any kind of danger from this.<br /><br />Thailand is going through an interesting time right now politically, centering on the figure of the former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra-- he was the one deposed by the military coup in 2006, and he has now fled back to asylum in Britain to escape arrest. The People's Alliance for Democracy, the organization currently occupying Government House, is calling for the resignation of the current PM, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samak_Sundaravej">Thaksin's supporter Samak Sundaravej</a>.<br /><br />(ETA: An online acquaintance who has lived in Thailand for over 10 years now posted a link to <a href="http://inthefield.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/27/when-a-revolution-is-not-a-revolution/">this CNN blog</a>, which from everything I've heard is an accurate summary of the current situation.)<br /><br />It's a complex issue and I'm no expert on the situation, but we are all hoping that one way or the other, democracy will prevail-- and no one gets hurt.Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-79112540124517442372008-08-28T14:21:00.003+07:002008-08-28T14:26:15.805+07:00Back from Singapore!Okay, so I'm back from a few days in Singapore. All in all, it was a fun trip-- I got to see the Orchid Gardens, some museums, and Chinatown, and Josh and I went to the zoo and the Night Safari together-- but I was more tired than I expected. I'll put up some photos here later on (they are already on our <a href="http://flickr.com/users/tatsushu">Flickr page</a>).<br /><br />For Labor Day weekend, we are off to the beach! Specifically, we are driving down to Cha-Am beach on Saturday, just about two hours outside of Bangkok:<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=bangkok,+thailand&daddr=Cha-am,+Amphoe+Cha+Am,+Changwat+Phetchaburi,+Thailand&hl=en&geocode=&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=13.22123,100.176086&sspn=1.959781,3.570557&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=13.280355,100.17306&spn=0.97107,0.7072&output=embed&s=AARTsJpsRcFl3SXwVck4Vsple4vnDCDORg"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=bangkok,+thailand&daddr=Cha-am,+Amphoe+Cha+Am,+Changwat+Phetchaburi,+Thailand&hl=en&geocode=&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=13.22123,100.176086&sspn=1.959781,3.570557&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=13.280355,100.17306&spn=0.97107,0.7072&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />We are going to be staying at the <a href="http://alilahotels.com/chaam/">Alila Resort</a> there, which I am very jazzed about: it's brand-new and has gotten a lot of press because of its cutting-edge design.Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-64203214006403104382008-08-17T14:50:00.001+07:002008-08-17T15:23:00.481+07:00Broadway in Bangkok(I considered back-dating this post, but figured it might get lost in the shuffle...so here it is, a little late!)<br /><br />On Saturday, July 25th, Josh and I went to see a traveling Broadway show here in Bangkok. Yes, Bangkok does get traveling Broadway shows, in a theater designed specifically for them (more on that later).<br /><br />The show in question was <em>We Will Rock You,</em> the musical based on the music of Queen, which had been recommended to us by some friends. This so-called "jukebox musical" is in the same category as recent shows such as <em>Mamma Mia!</em> (ABBA), <em>Movin' Out</em> (Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp), <em>Our House</em> (Madness), <em>Good Vibrations</em> (the Beach Boys), and so on. (If they ever make a musical based on the music of U2, I'll be there with my PopMart T-shirt and my inflatable lemon beach ball.* But I digress.)<br /><br />I'm no huge Queen fan, but <em>We Will Rock You</em> was a very enjoyable, and suitably campy, show. The setting is 300 years in the future, when rock music has been outlawed, and a giant corporation (GlobalSoft) led by the Killer Queen (and her henchman, Keshoggi) controls the world through the copious application of bubblegum pop and reality TV shows. It falls to the young rebel Galileo Figaro, his girlfriend Scaramouche, and the rest of the "Bohemians" (who take their names from past legends and are led by tough-guy "Vic", aka "Victoria Beckham") to follow the Ancient Signs to find the Sacred Instruments stored in the Place of Champions in the Heart of the Living Rock and save the day. Many Queen songs are repurposed as accompaniment, including "Under Pressure" and "Another One Bites the Dust", and the show culminates with a giant sing-along of "Bohemian Rhapsody". There were lots of other audience participation moments as well, which seemed to bewilder the polite Thai gentleman sitting next to us (his children were getting into it, though).<br /><br />The cast of the traveling company was, interestingly enough, mostly South African and Australian (since I've only seen US traveling companies before, I'm used to mostly American actors and actresses). They did a great job!<br /><br />The theater which plays host to traveling Broadway shows here is the <a href="http://www.bkmagazine.com/place/muang-thai-ratchadalai-theater">Muangthai Ratchadalai Theatre</a>, which is brand new (just built in 2007, actually) and is located on the top floor of the Esplanade shopping mall not too far from here (we took the MRT, or subway, to get there). The inclusion of theaters in shopping centers here seems to be much more common than standalone theaters, which makes sense for space-saving concerns. We did end up sitting in the very last row-- my fault for not looking closely enough at the ticket diagram!-- but were still able to see everything pretty well. The language issue was taken care of through four large (but unobtrusive) screens at about each corner of the stage, showing surtitles in Thai. <br /><br />One definite difference about the shows here: the merchandising. We bought the glossy souvenir program for 100 baht-- approximately US$3. This is the same program that would cost about $15 in the States. T-shirts were similarly priced, at 300 baht! (Moral: if you want show stuff and the show is coming to Bangkok, let me know and I'll get you the goodies, cheap!) The tickets, on the other hand, were a bit more expensive than in the US, but still not bad.<br /><br />All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening, and we're going to keep a close eye on what else comes to town...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*Actually, I no longer have the inflatable lemon, because I passed it on to a wide-eyed young U2 fan before coming to Thailand. Oh well.</span>Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-59746849068047688992008-08-10T16:14:00.001+07:002008-08-10T16:14:43.639+07:00First Thai Olympic medalJosh and I have been watching the Beijing Olympics today on the Thai national broadcast station, NBT. Although we can't understand the narration, we are really enjoying it: they are doing a great job with almost non-stop coverage, and VERY few commercials. Although they are focusing (understandably) on events where Thai athletes are competing, they are also showing a good mix of other sports.<br /><br />(Plus, I watched the Opening Ceremonies the other night with NO commercial breaks! Take that, NBC!)<br /><br />We just watched the 53-kg women's weightlifting competition, which was won by the Thai contender, <a href="http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/9/230229.shtml">Jaroenrattanatarakoon Prapawadee </a>(they have been shortening her name to Prapawadee on the displays, for conciseness). She set a new Olympic record, too-- there is going to be a lot of celebrating here!Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-80177268502124157412008-07-31T00:08:00.002+07:002008-07-31T00:17:22.832+07:00Interesting NYT article about our neighborhoodToday, I was pointed to an <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/travel/20surfacing.html">interesting New York Times article about "Soi Arab", </a>a small street that forms the center for the local Muslim tourist community. This is just around the corner from our apartment.<br /><br />To get to Sukhumvit Road and the Skytrain, Josh and I frequently walk down through this area. It's a fascinating experience-- a bit of sensory overload, true, but a glimpse of a tourist "experience" different from what we are used to. There are lots of interesting restaurants that we need to try, and quite a few incense shops (as mentioned in the article). The latter shops interest me because they sell agarwood/aloeswood, which is one of the most prized incense ingredients in the world and the major incense material in historical Japan (where high-grade aloeswood is known as <em>kyara</em>). I've often thought about duplicating some of the Heian-period incense recipes, but the price and scarcity of aloeswood held me up. It's good to know that I can at least go around the corner and get a whiff of what the good stuff is like, even if I can't afford it.<br /><br />Boring historical aside over, we should try and get some pictures of Soi 3 and Soi 3/1 at some point.Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-12952878288621757812008-07-19T15:42:00.002+07:002008-07-19T15:53:06.402+07:00Driving!Yesterday I screwed up my courage and embarked on a new adventure: driving in Bangkok!<br /><br />We didn't bring either of our cars with us to Thailand, figuring that we would see how things went, and pick one up if we needed one. It turns out that one of our friends had two cars and was only using one-- so we are now the proud owners of a comfy Toyota Corolla. Hondas and Toyotas and the like are great cars to drive around here, because the parts are readily available and service is cheap. American auto makers such as Ford *do* have a presence here (something I wasn't expecting!) but service is a little harder to come by. Essentially, it's the reverse situation from back in the States.<br /><br />Thursday and Friday were holidays here, and the traffic was light, so Josh persuaded me that it would be a good time to try getting out on the road. So, I drove over to meet him for lunch. Below is a handy Google Map of my route (from C to B and back):<br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=4074322113070751940,13.745741,100.555284%3B13497020454325392381,13.738760,100.549110%3B1588468325658351038,13.745798,100.553998&saddr=13.745763,100.553977&daddr=Ruam+Rudi+%4013.738760,+100.549110+to:Sukhumvit+11+%4013.745798,+100.553998&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=16&sll=13.743615,100.550995&sspn=0.01507,0.02738&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=13.743615,100.550995&spn=0.01507,0.02738&output=embed&s=AARTsJoJ53zcFzfTH7lYCVSHAdFe8Ih7PQ" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=4074322113070751940,13.745741,100.555284%3B13497020454325392381,13.738760,100.549110%3B1588468325658351038,13.745798,100.553998&saddr=13.745763,100.553977&daddr=Ruam+Rudi+%4013.738760,+100.549110+to:Sukhumvit+11+%4013.745798,+100.553998&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=16&sll=13.743615,100.550995&sspn=0.01507,0.02738&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=13.743615,100.550995&spn=0.01507,0.02738&source=embed" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />Fortunately, no bodily or property damage ensued! I was also able to pick up frozen groceries without having to lug them home by hand, which was nice!<br /><br />The car is a US car, so the steering wheel is on the left...but here in Thailand, you drive on the left, so that has been the first thing to get used to! Fortunately, traffic tends to be very fluid, so as long as we keep an eye out and "go with the flow", it is really not all that crazy. The hardest thing to get used to are the ubiquitous mopeds and motorbikes that weave in and out of traffic, so "no sudden moves" is a safe strategy when driving a car!<br /><br />Yesterday we also picked up a new Garmin car navigation system, to make our travels easier. Garmin has a huge presence here in Thailand, and they produce some really excellent and detailed maps for the whole country, in both English and Thai. We ended up buying a nuvi 200 GPS in English (they also have them in Thai), which is identical to one we'd get in the USA, except that the Thailand maps are pre-loaded on the unit. When we travel back to the US we'll get a card with the latest US maps and pop it in. Easy!<br /><br />We intend to use the car mostly for trips out of town, rather than daily commuting. We are thinking of going to the beach (probably Koh Samet) in a few weeks, and we also want to make some day trips to places like Ayutthaya, the Kao Yai National Park, and similar. Watch this space for details!Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-36751320350488633822008-07-14T20:30:00.002+07:002008-07-14T21:02:20.453+07:00Cambodia -- Tonle Sap Lake VillageGreetings-- it's Ellen again (finally!)<br /><br />By the end of our second day in Siem Reap, we were pretty much "templed out"...something that must be pretty common! Our guide, Mr. Vith, suggested that on the third morning we take a boat trip down the river onto the Tonle Sap to visit one of the Lake Villages, Chong Khneas.<br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonle_Sap">Tonle Sap</a> is a huge freshwater lake/river system. Most of the time it's pretty big, but in the rainy season, the Mekong River actually reverses its course and flows *into* the lake, causing it to grow to over twice its dry season size. At the time we were there, the rains were just beginning, and the floods were a few months away.<br /><br />The road south out of town started out in good condition, but gradually deteriorated into a rutted dirt track. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512787467/" title="20080519 015 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/2512787467_5d53cdcf6c.jpg" alt="20080519 015" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The road is elevated a few meters above the surrounding marshlands, and the houses are built on stilts to be at road level. Many of the houses were built by squatters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513612294/" title="20080519 012 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/2513612294_4164907872.jpg" alt="20080519 012" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />We had stopped back in town to pay for our boat tickets (it is organized by a central company). Once we got to the end of the road, our guide located a boat, and we set out on the river.<br /><br /><br />We passed numerous other boats along the way, and a couple of floating barges holding the local primary school. The water level will rise by several meters in the rainy season, putting all the marsh grasses, etc. underwater-- so having everything float is a smart idea!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513615462/" title="20080519 020 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2513615462_26c1257093.jpg" alt="20080519 020" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512820977/" title="20080519 111 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2512820977_d364ccf715.jpg" alt="20080519 111" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512798161/" title="20080519 045 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2512798161_b73845b9ab.jpg" alt="20080519 045" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />There is even a floating "rec center", with an enclosed basketball court:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512821241/" title="20080519 112 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2512821241_25b28ec9b3.jpg" alt="20080519 112" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The river then opened up onto the Tonle Sap itself, and we could see the floating village:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513626314/" title="20080519 055 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2513626314_645451b2b8.jpg" alt="20080519 055" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />There are several of these floating villages on the lake, but this is one of the most frequented by tourists, thanks to its proximity to Siem Reap. Most of the folks on the lake are actually ethnic Vietnamese rather than Cambodian, but our guide told us that there are pretty well divided "neighborhoods" within the village. (Here, at least it's relatively easy to move house if you don't like your neighbors...)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513641792/" title="20080519 099 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2513641792_9e7832c270.jpg" alt="20080519 099" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Life is hard here, and most people are engaged in subsistence fishing, etc. There is a great deal of innovation, with folks creating floating chicken coops, "fields", etc...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512803091/" title="20080519 060 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2512803091_f50bbfcd9f.jpg" alt="20080519 060" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513634602/" title="20080519 079 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/2513634602_6e1f7e4c53.jpg" alt="20080519 079" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />We stopped at a floating tourist center, with a great display on the lake's fish and waterbirds (as well as traditional fishing methods), a small shop and a chance to view some local residents:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513633846/" title="20080519 078 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2513633846_e89c6f42f9.jpg" alt="20080519 078" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />There is even a church, which attracts many people to services by promising them a free meal afterwards. Not entirely sure how I feel about that, honestly...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512806351/" title="20080519 069 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2512806351_99c9c40d60.jpg" alt="20080519 069" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />All in all, it was a really eye-opening experience to see how differently people lived. The same was true for the entire Siem Reap trip, for me: I felt like an obscenely rich person casting an imperious eye at the "quaint native customs", and that assessment isn't really far off the mark for any Westerner that comes here. <br /><br />It really is true: how you live is, in great part, a fluke of where you were born. But no matter where you are, people are always finding creative ways of meeting their needs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513643040/" title="20080519 102 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2513643040_72ecdbe9bf.jpg" alt="20080519 102" height="334" width="500" /></a>Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-27790980464416485382008-07-05T17:40:00.000+07:002008-07-05T17:40:28.749+07:00The Temples of Angkor: Part II<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2511412954/" title="20080518 319 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2511412954_a295f1119b.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="20080518 319" /></a><br /><br />Although Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat are the most famous of the monuments, if you are really going to see everything you will need to have a driver and a guide. We hired Mr. <a mailto:ounivvith@yahoo.com>Ou Niv Vith</a> (Tel: (855) 12 97 26 11) to take us around. His English is excellent--he used to be a school teacher, but by taking the test to become a guide he could make more money. It is still highly recommended that you do your research ahead of time--it will make it much more interesting and, not entirely unsurprisingly, the latest research is not always in the hands of the local guides.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2510582185/" title="20080518 323 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2510582185_62b26e283f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080518 323" /></a><br /><br />Much of the temples near Siem Reap remain covered by jungle--some are still inaccessible due to mines left over from the Cambodian civil war and, later, their war with Vietnam. In the coming decade, who knows what more will be revealed?<br /><br />Banteay Samre, shown above, is not so hidden in the jungle, but is off the beaten track--though not so much so that there weren't people there catering to the tourists. Still, it is deinitely one of the less well-known beauties of Angkor Wat.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2511857634/" title="20080518 125 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2511857634_4bc3221c65.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080518 125" /></a><br /><br />And the beauty isn't just in the temples. This rainbow showed itself--we saw it 360 degrees around the sun, apparently filtered through the moisture in the atmosphere. I'd heard of pilots seeing this kind of phenomenon, but was taken aback when we saw it here. Fortunately, one of the buildings at Banteay Srei helped to block out the sun so that we could take this picture.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2511884364/" title="20080518 163 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2511884364_222a3bf44d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080518 163" /></a><br /><br />The temple itself was carved with myriad delicate carvings, in a distinctive red sandstone that really brought out the light and shadow of the haut relief carvings throughout. That they have survived since the 8th or 9th centuries is absolutely incredible.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512911221/" title="20080518 378 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2512911221_2b17c3a8d7.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="20080518 378" /></a><br /><br />Nearby Banteay Srei is a less decorative but no less impressive monument--Preah Rup. Built as a funerary temple for the king and the royal family, it still stands today--the black smoke of ancient royal cremations can still be seen on inside of the two crematoriums.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513138211/" title="20080517a 210 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2513138211_f43804c9d9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 210" /></a><br /><br />For your truly 'jungle' temples, you really can't beat Ta Prom. It was actually used as a set for "Tomb Raider", and is one of the most distinctive temples with the trees having overgrown so many of the walls. Although the trees are continuing their slow process of tearing down the temple, conservation work is very careful of the fact that today the trees are as much a part of the heritage of this site as anything else.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513581646/" title="20080518 456 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2513581646_62461032de.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080518 456" /></a><br /><br />The ruined temple of Preah Khan is also secreted within the jungle. It is actually the yang to the yin of Ta Prom, having been built for the king's father, while Ta Prom was built for his mother. The dilapidated ruins still give voice to the king's filial piety, for as you approach the center where his father's coffin was placed, the doorways grow smaller and smaller, until you are forced to bow before him, no matter how noble you may be.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2510832501/" title="20080517a 239b by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2510832501_a639964e64.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20080517a 239b" /></a><br /><br />But for all the searching around in the woods, we still come back to Angkor Wat as the most impressive single religious complex in the area.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2509338531/" title="20080517a 387 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2509338531_946f41a786.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 387" /></a><br /><br />Inside, the complex is just as impressive, with carvings around the lower galleries showing famous stories, including the story of Ramayana and the Churning of the Sea of Milk. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2510140956/" title="20080517a 268 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2510140956_21b64c1a21.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 268" /></a><br /><br />The towers of Angkor Wat are perhaps the most famous view, however. It is used on the Cambodian flag, and has been so since the mid 19th century. Oddly, for all of its stature, we know very little of why the temple was built--and why it differs from so many other temples, facing west, towards the setting sun, rather than east, towards the rising sun.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513931646/" title="20080519 136 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2513931646_55657fa393.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080519 136" /></a><br /><br />The most important structure in Angkor, however, contains the least decoration. The west baray was the largest of several man-made reservoirs that supplied water to the city and the fields. It was their ability to tame the waters in these large reservoirs that gave the early Khmer the ability to grow three crops of rice a year and thus support their flourishing civilization. Unfortunately, much of the canals and aqueducts have been lost to the jungles, and people are only now figure out how to recreate them and hopefully reinvigorate the agriculture in and around Siem Reap.<br /><br />To be continued...Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-14119111686109490102008-06-22T11:59:00.004+07:002008-06-22T18:54:36.172+07:00The Temples of Angkor: Part I<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2510144196/" title="20080517a 274 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/2510144196_902f4854cc.jpg" alt="20080517a 274" width="500" height="334" /></a><br /><br />Nestled deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia lies one of the largest religious compounds ever created--the temples of Angkor, popularly known as Angkor Wat.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2509146628/" title="20080517a 020 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2509146628_24e2cbeb03.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 020" /></a><br /><br />Angkor comes from an ancient word meaning 'capital', and this area was, in fact, the capital and center of the great Khmer empire. The largest palace and temple complex is called Angkor Thom, established by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. You may recall his visage from our trips in Thailand, as he had his face carved everywhere as the face of the Buddha himself.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2508303299/" title="20080517a 010 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2508303299_e812cd26ae.jpg" alt="20080517a 010" width="500" height="334" /></a><br /><br />A Chinese explorer, Zhou Daguan, described his visit to Angkor in the late 13th century. He describes these figures pulling on a naga, or serpent. They represent an important Hindu story: The churning of the sea of milk. Supposedly, the devas (angels) and ashura (devils) pulled on naga, wrapped around an upside-down mountain in the sea of milk, to churn it to produce the elixir of immortality. The story is quite involved and serves as a creation myth for many different things.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2510927743/" title="20080517a 042 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2510927743_280837a7f3.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 042" /></a><br /><br />The Bayon is the primary temple of the city complex. It is a 3-level Buddhist mountain temple, with nearly 200 faces of the Buddha (or, as I mentioned, Jayavarman VII). However, while impressive, that is not the most important feature to archaeologists.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512642910/" title="20080517a 074 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2512642910_533452574f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 074" /></a><br /><br />Around the galleries are an impressive array of bas reliefs--and besides the written account of Zhou Daguan, this is some of the only records we have of how the Khmer people lived.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513526550/" title="20080517a 150 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2513526550_64d89cf5cd.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="20080517a 150" /></a><br /><br />Less impressive, but no less important, is Phimeanakas. This is believed to have been the seat of Khmer kingship, where the ruler would ascend every night to ensure peace and tranquility throughout the realm by appeasing the naga who was the spirit of the land. Behind this structure was the royal palace, but it was made of wood and nothing significant remains.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2509082382/" title="20080517a 163b by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2509082382_d1cba2f498.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="20080517a 163b" /></a><br /><br />Other stone structures remain as well, but little or nothing remains of the wooden buildings that were once located within these walls. At 3km at a side, the city was huge. Protected by a moat which was part of an ingenious hydrological system that helped keep the fields of Angkor fertile. In its heyday, Angkor could raise three crops of rice a year. Now, that is only possible for those living directly on the river. However, recent discoveries may allow better irrigation once again, and the past may hold some clues for the future of Cambodia.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2509080076/" title="20080517a 161a by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2509080076_948b328c95.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="20080517a 161a" /></a><br /><br />To be continued....Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-43688286951826031562008-06-22T11:55:00.000+07:002008-06-22T11:56:04.143+07:00I've been reading anything I can get my hands on about Thailand recently, and one thing that caught my eye was the story of Tongdaeng (Copper), His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's pet dog:<br /><br />http://www.belovedking.com/tongdaeng_eng/index_eng.html<br /><br />A fascinating read and a great story. Good for Tongdaeng!Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018608799724266245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431898333844526881.post-47988019989301730172008-06-21T14:55:00.003+07:002008-06-22T00:36:38.070+07:00Cambodia , and a previewWow! Sorry everyone, but we've been really bad about keeping up. A lot has happened, so here's a preview of what's to come:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li><b>Angkor Wat</b> -- Angkor Wat is massive... and so I hope you'll understand that it has taken us some time to get around to posting about it. Like the Ancient Thailand posts I think we'll have to break it up into several different posts.<br /><li><b>Japan and the Mugai Ryu tournament</b> -- Information on my trip to Japan.<br /><li><b>The Temple of Literature</b> -- A look at an ancient Confucian temple in Hanoi.<br /></ul><br /><br /><b>Phnom Penh</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512876701/" title="Picture or Video 092 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2512876701_0d32dd72de.jpg" alt="Picture or Video 092" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Phnom Penh, capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, is probably not one of the world cities most Americans think about when they start listing off the capitals of various foreign powers. You may get Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Beijing, etc. (and probably 'Sydney', too), but I doubt you'd get Phnom Penh in the top ten.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2513682308/" title="Picture or Video 038 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2334/2513682308_16c60bb12b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Picture or Video 038" /></a><br /><br />The people of Cambodia have a long and impressive history in the Southeast Asian penninsula. Originally centered on the northwest shore of the Tonle Sap, the ancient Khmer capitals near Angkor date back to the 8th century, and their occupation continued up until 15th century, when the forces of Ayutthaya conquered the Khmer and put their own puppet on the throne. The Khmer king and his court escaped to Phnom Penh, further downriver and away from the Siamese.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512862541/" title="Picture or Video 052 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2512862541_fdabae9174.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Picture or Video 052" /></a><br /><br />Wat Phnom had been built in the 14th century (Phnom means 'hill' and it is the only one in the city, apparently). It became the center of the new capital. Eventually the Khmer pushed the Siamese out of their country, and now the town near Angkor is known as Siem Reap, or 'Defeat of Siam', but we'll save that for another post.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512874151/" title="Picture or Video 082 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2512874151_402a14c2a2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Picture or Video 082" /></a><br /><br />Phnom Penh continued as the capital of the Khmer kings. Eventually, they came under French colonial rule, and remained so until the mid-20th century. They obtained their independence from France and had Independence Monument built in 1958. In throwing off the yoke of European colonialism, however, many turned to Communism. An extreme form of the socialist doctrine was behind Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, who instituted a bloody revolution. Its goal was 'Year Zero'--which included as a goal the complete extermination of all scholars, even those who only wore glasses. The bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge was eventually countered by the invasion of Vietnam, which itself set off a wave of conflicts throughout the region.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatsushu/2512883867/" title="Picture or Video 112 by tatsushu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2512883867_9dff2f34f3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Picture or Video 112" /></a><br /><br />Today, Cambodia is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia. Phnom Penh is a mix of the old colonial wealth and modern poverty in a milieu of an economy that is on the rise, though still hampered by widespread corruption. The people, however, are some of the friendliest people in Asia.<br /><br />This is a country with a proud past, and has the potential for a bright future. In the days of Angkor, the fields of the Khmer were so fruitful they could grow three crops of rice a year. There are still landmines in the forests, but they are being slowly cleared. Currently, I believe that Cambodia is definitely a hidden jewel of Southeast Asia.Tatsushuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981938829821610984noreply@blogger.com0