Monday, September 29, 2003: Stephen Blackpool Dies

The bearer being now ready to carry him away, and the surgeon being anxious for his removal, those who had torches or lanterns, prepared to go in front of the litter. Before it was raised, and while they were arranging how to go, he said to Rachael, looking upward at the star:

from Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Stephen Blackpool, the fish that refused to die has finally given up the ghost and gone to fish heaven, and is no doubt now hanging out with Moby Dick, Jaws, and Loopy’s gold fish. In is not a surprise except that it is a surprise because for the last 3 months every time I went to feed them at night I’d expect to find him floating on the top of the tank with little cartoon X’s where his eyes should be. Every night he’d still be there, sitting somewhere safe on the bottom of the tank staring off into fishy-space, but still breathing. As of late both Sandy and I have been actually holding him up to the floating food pellets so he could eat. This morning was his last meal.

Sandy and I have been taking the same tuk tuk back to the Redoubt after she’s finished at the restaurant. Tonight we went through our usual routines upon arrival, Sandy checking the laundry zone to see what is dry and what needs to be washed, and me attending the fish. I flicked the tank light on, checked the filters then prepared to feed the little guys…

There he was sitting at the bottom of the tank, staring blankly at the glass… not moving, not breathing, and not blinking. Just sitting there with his little mouth open dead as a door nail. I had said to Sandy before I’d checked the tank that I didn’t think he’d last much longer, and she’d replied that it might be better that he died. Telling her he was dead wasn’t nice. Yes, just a fish… But…

Sandy initially refused to believe he was actually dead. She put him in a bowl for a moment and poked at him a bit… But then admitted he was in fact dead. A debate then followed as to what to do with him. I want to flush him, as a good burial at sea type of ending, but she would have none of that.

“Toilet good for condom not fish”…

So off she went with the dead fish and came back ten minutes later after burying him in some dirt. She insists she’s not sad, but told me not to buy another one as we have enough. The six remaining fish are swimming around looking for left over food pellets.

I will miss the little guy. Sickly as he was. His life was a muddle though. Maybe that’s why I liked him so much.

Sunday, September 21, 2003: Book Day Weekend

Friday night I went met up with Sandy and her friend Khan (no, not Ricardo Montalban's character from the original Star Trek series…) at Asian Spices. Pam, from Chicago is in town so they were eating and drinking and talking. I joined in the eating and talking part of it. At around 11:00 pm Sandy and Khan (pronounced Gann with a sort of a K sound on the front) wanted to go to The Hard Rock Café at Siam Square. Normally I don’t get to tag along for these events (I just deal with the aftermath), but this time Sandy insisted I come with them.

The last (and only other) time I was in that Hard Rock Café was after the 2002 semi final World Cup match between England and Argentina. We went in, and took a spot on the second floor. Pam hadn’t come so I was on my own as the token farang. Sandy and Wrath of Khan drank beer and we had a big yummy plate of nachos. There was a live band playing on the first floor, so we listened to them and we could watch them on a little close-circuit TV…

The Nachos were good. The band was annoying. After every song, before the audience could even begin to applaud, before the last hi-hat crash had finished ringing, the super-model hair-do lead vocalist would shout “Thank you” in his best bogus rock star voice. This became increasingly amusing as the night went on, then when a female vocalist, who’d previously been doing the Archies tambourine on hip dance by the bongos came up to sing… Well she did it too.

Their set went ON and ON and ON… I went through a whole cycle of thoughts…

Don’t be critical, they are just playing what they have to play… At least they are up there playing… They are just paying their bills…

To…

These songs are crap… How dare they butcher that Coldplay song!... Shut up with the Thank you already… This is bullshit…

With a great deal of effort and female persuasion Sandy convinced me to come with them to some where or other out at Rama 3 for “just a while”… So, reluctantly I went along…

On the drive out I promised myself that if it was bullshit on the Hard Rock scale I would ditch them and take a cab back to the redoubt.

We eventually got to this giant beer garden type hall called the Tawandang German Brewery. Wrath of Khan wandered about ahead of us looking for some friends we were supposed to meet but never did. We grabbed a table in the very packed area down in front of the stage and they ordered drinks. I tried a couple of sips of the German style beer they brew up there and I must say it was pretty good. Then the band came on.

The band was outstanding. Bullshit free players, who could truly play. They had two keyboardists, two percussionists, a guitarist, and a rock solid bass player on a lovely 6 string bass… There were a variety of vocalists both male and female who would come out for certain songs and one fellow who played a bunch of things including a violin, acoustic guitar, a weird little flute thing, and this funny looking 3 stringed Thai lute. It was great. I didn’t know any of the Thai songs they did, nor did I understand a single word but it didn’t matter. The audience was primarily Thai, and I’ve never seen that many Thai’s that mangled up, having that much fun, or for that matter being so friendly to me. The usual Vulcan disposition had been dropped and they were dancing around, singing along and having a great time.

I later learned that Wrath of Khan’s ex-boyfriend was the keyboardist who also played saxophone.

Sandy asked if I had any friends Wrath could meet… I reminded her that I could count my friends on one hand and that they all had girlfriends…

We stayed until late then grabbed a Taxi back to the Redoubt.

Saturday was a day racing around Bangkok on a variety of tasks with Kaboom. The number one task being the weekend market and getting more fish tank items. It was one of those weird weather days, alternating between amazing sunshine and blue skies to thunderstorms and downpours of biblical proportions. MK pig outs have become a regular tradition on all Kaboom outings. One more stamp and I get a free MK restaurants tout bag.

Today of course was “Book Day”, in memory and celebration of my first journal entry on September 21, 1977. Sandy took me to Taling Chan Floating Market. She didn’t explain why but once we arrive I knew. Her sister Pooh was there with three friends eating on one of the barge-like restaurants. We joined them and I tried the much talked about “snake-head” fish. As frightening as that might sound it simply tastes like a white fish, but is very soft in texture. Quite good actually, but hardly filling despite its size. Then again there were six of us.

One of Pooh’s friends, meaning to ask me if I liked the snake-head fish, said “are you delicious?” When I explained what that could mean, she spent the rest of the day getting razed about it.

The market is right beneath a railway bridge which once I’d eaten I made a point of crossing. It wasn’t a huge bridge but it did give a great view of the market and the surrounding khlong area. Sandy, her Sister and friends joined me on the bridge and there were a lot of photos taken, then we went on a 2 hour “boat tour” of the Khlong. That was amazing.

We went from the floating market down through the khlongs past houses, temples and so forth. At times we were in areas that seemed remote and forgotten, other times we were going past lots of houses or apartments. The houses ranged from amazing mansions with huge gates and fences around them, to inviting and beautiful wooden structures boasting of huge gardens, flowers and trees you would want to string a hammock up between, to small ancient and decrepit huts on stilts or tin shack shanties. Everywhere, whether they were rich or poor were Thais lazing about on chairs, on hammocks, or sitting on the edge of the khlong fishing. There were kids splashing around in the water, waving or laughing as we passed by, and old toothless geezers and gammers going about their business as if it was 100 years ago.

We turned off the main Khlong at one point and went down a side canal to this Orchard farm. The boat pulled up along side a little shop and everyone climbed out. It was sunny at this point, and I wandered down some muddy foot paths to this beautiful area between to huge zones of orchards. The area was surrounded by swampy stuff and coconut, banana, and palm trees. Sandy, her Sister and their friends took off their shoes and marched through the orchards, laughing and chattering away in Thai the whole time.
We stayed at the Orchard farm for about 30 minutes then everyone washed their feet and climbed back in the boat.

The sun was beginning to go down and it was also turning grey at this point. We went along to another main Khlong and after passing lots more of the same we came to rest by this Temple area. Looking over the side of the boat I could see a bunch of fish swimming along side. I went to take a photo, but Sandy kept saying “No, no wait…” I soon found out why. The whole exercise at this stop was to feed the fish. The locals would sell bread or these cracker type things for 5 baht a bag and everyone would toss it over the side. The fish, which were big ugly cat-fish like creatures would splash about and fight over the food. There were literally hundreds of these fish around us, and it was impossible to stay dry.

After we were all totally soaked and our bread supply exhausted we headed on or actually back around to the floating markets, which by the time we had arrived was cleared out and the local venders were packing up. We disembarked and after a CR stop we took a taxi to Sandy’s family’s house for food and more festiveness.

Wednesday, September 17, 2003: Rain and Shine

Last night I got back to the Redoubt at around 7:30 pm and spent much of the evening mucking about with The Groovebox. I recorded a little sketchy thing on the ZOOM 4 track, which featured some MC-303 loops, with added Saturn 9 keys, and guitar.

Sandy showed up around 10:30 pm. There was a major rain so she was delayed by that. Her friend Pam from Chicago is in town so they’d been out and about. We watched “Ocean’s 11” on disc.

There was a huge thunder and lightening storm which was nice to fall asleep to.

This morning it was beautiful out. Sunny and warm without much humidity. Unfortunately by noon it had turned cloudy again, but that is the way of it, as we move out of rainy season and into monsoon season.

Friday, September 12, 2003: Images

In case you don't know the Images page is up and running now. Thanks Justin!
I wont be posting tons of photos, but select ones will go up.

Links works, and is up, although it may go through some changes... and with time the other pages will be up as well.

Not much else is new. Last night I was sickly again although the fever was mild and I slept better. Today I just felt tired and drained. I think much of the weekend will be spent resting up.

Sandy bought me this weird tea-mug. Its a little fat pink cat. It's head serves as a lid. Truly strange in that Asian sort of way...

She said "I know you like cat".

Thursday, September 11, 2003: Fever

I keep telling myself I won’t do entries about getting sick. Then I get sick. Then I think of how much it means to me that Sandy would say up all night bathing me with a cool damp cloth to keep my temperature down, and how wonderful it was when my fever broke at about 6:00 am.

But does anyone want to read that? I’m not exactly sure.

Tuesday, September 9, 2003: Back From Hua Hin

We got up really early to watch the sun come up. Except it was sort of overcast, so it just got progressively lighter out and the sun really didn’t make an appearance until much later. Still it was nice to stand on the beach in the cool and listen to the waves come in.

The big event of the morning was Pet getting stung a few times by a jellyfish. He had stings on his neck as well as his leg. It wasn’t bad enough to prevent him from being back in the water an hour later.

Sandy and her sister’s rode around on one of those banana shaped inflatable they tow behind a jet ski. I did go on it. I did not enjoy it.

We checked out of the bungalows at noon and everything was packed back into the two cars for the ride back to Bangkok. It was not a direct ride; there were several stops for shopping at highway side fish markets and so forth. We drove through one brief thunderstorm then stopped for lunch. We got back to Bangkok at around 4:30 pm.

I feel rested.

Sunday, September 7, 2003: Hua Hin Cha Am Beach

I went up to Hua Hin with Sandy and her family. This wasn’t the first time I’d met them all but it was the first time I was invited on a family outing. I still haven’t managed to figure out everyone’s names as Sandy continues to refer to her sisters by number (sister number 3 etc) and I have no real idea of which order they come in. As with the staff and regulars at her former place of employment I tend to just make up names in my own head for everyone.

The convoy up consisted of two cars. I was too young to have enjoyed any of the Thomson family road trips when the family consisted of more than Mom, Dad, Myself, a dog and a cat. I imagine that the trips with everyone packed into a giant Pontiac land-cruiser weren’t too different than this drive. Everyone talking at once, lots of stopping to gas up/eat/get drinks/visit the toilet, and as much joking around as possible. I of course understood .0003 percent of what was being said, but I understood the mood. Everyone was excited at the prospect of getting out of the city and going to the beach.

We went to Cha Am beach which is just this side of Hua Hin. It is rainy season so it wasn’t overly packed. When we arrived we checked into a little place that featured some small bungalows, each with two separate quarters. Two were rented and I wondered what the sleeping arrangements would be since that meant 4 beds between nine adults, a kid and a baby.

Sandy and I were designated a room, and we put our stuff in there and then sat out on the patio of the facing bungalow that Sandy’s older Sister and Brother in law had taken. They had a few drinks, but I abstained other than soda as for the last week I’ve been battling my malaise.

We were soon joined by a cat. A nice domestic looking tabby. Then another… Then a black one with lots of scars and only one functional eye… then the female tabby’s tiny little kitten… It reminded me of a book I had when I was about 5 called “The Island of Cats”.

Next on the agenda was a trip to a market for some food to cook up later. We drove over to this little area and bought a ton of sea-food. All fresh, much of it still alive when chosen. Huge prawns, crabs, squids, as well as lots of stuff in shells which I have no interest in.

Plans for a trip to the beach were dashed when the day’s allotment of rain came. In some places this much rain would be a month’s allotment. It came down in sheets and the laneway flooded up to the edge of the patio. I sat outside with Sandy and watched. Everyone else had retreated indoors. It lasted about an hour then drizzled until dusk.

We had a barbeque later and that was outstanding. Especially the squid. Sandy was horrified when I started squeezing lime juice on to my pieces, but for me Squid will always be Greek food, not Thai food.

I would imagine the total cost of the meal was 20 bucks but to buy that much seafood in a restaurant in a big North American city… A fortune.

The cats liked it too. They hung around the edges of the patio, except for the kitten who some how knew climbing onto my shoe and gnawing at the green G (for Globe) logo was acceptable. This dog kept trying to come down the lane towards us but was sent away yelping twice by Momma Tabby. This amused the Family to no end.

I was standing by the cooker, waiting for more squid-bits when a gecko landed on my left shoulder. I jumped thinking it was a scorpion but Sandy brushed it off and I was then informed that it was considered A GREAT DEAL OF GOOD LUCK, apparently even more luck than having a dream about gold-fish.

Later on everyone got little flashlights and we went down to the beach and walked along the edge of the water. There was some collection of shells, and a big excitement when Sandy’s little cousin Pet found a washed up jelly-fish the size of a soccer ball. Sandy and I were going to go for a walk when everyone turned back, but Pet wanted to tag along and this was causing some trouble, plus one of Sandy’s sisters was trying to get me to take along pepper-spray so we didn’t go on.

I’m not sure what the deal is with Pepper Spray. She and her husband own a little shop in a night market and they sell watches as well as things like brass-knuckles, switch-blades and yes, you guessed it… Pepper spray. It is sort of like the relative who sells Avon or Mary Kay, always trying to give you some samples, except its pepper spray. Imagine trying to pepper spray someone in the dark on a beach at night. If you could actually hit them in the eyes they have the biggest supply of saline solution they could ever ask for to rinse it out with. My camera flash would be more effective. I know this from having had Sandy blind me with it by taking my picture in the dark by the water.

Anyways… It was back to the Bungalows for… more food and drink. Then bed time.

Friday, September 5, 2003: That's Not Lizard Man... That's The School Marm

Told Sandy about the pompus tofu-muncher. She knew who I was talking about and said "oh, they work for NGO"...

Wednesday, September 3, 2003: Shuddupppp!

I was sitting in Spices having a quick bite to eat when three tourists came in and sat down behind me. Tommy Hunter gave them their menus and politely asked if they'd like spring rolls. One of the bunch looked at the menu and then said "Can you make me fried rice with tofu? You see... I'M A VEGETARIAN... I DON'T EAT MEAT..." This was spoken with all the pride and arrogance of some one who just got of the express train from snootyville.

I'm one of god's chosen enlightened beings because I do this or that and don't do this or that because my club is better than yours and we are right and everyone else is wrong and when we take over everything we will make everyone do what we say because we are better and everyone who disagrees with us is unenlightened and less than us and blah blah blah blah...

AHHHH SHUDDDDUP...

I grew up learning the meaning of "holier than thou" and it frightens me to see examples of it in the secular world that beat the barn doors off of anything I saw in the church-zone.

Fine, you don't want to eat meat, don't. More for me. But is it really necessary to PROCLAIM IT as loudly as possible and with totally self-satisfied smug tone? Do you expect the locals to fall on their knees and kow-tow to your wisdom and virtue?

Psssh pssssh psssssh!!

This type of half-wit used to mildly annoy me in Canada... Now I can't listen to them of a second without wanting to beat them into silence with a shovel. In fact my biggest fear in regards to returning to Canada is having to encounter this variety of know-it-all do-gooder and listen to them ramble on or have them quiz me on my Thai "experience" and hear how they went to Thailand once and saw this temple and that temple and blah blah blah blah

Anyways the tone of snootiness was lost on Tommy Hunter but it made me want to switch to an Aitkin’s Diet immediately.