Friday, November 30, 2007: Friday Isan
Friday Morning Construction
I was up and out early to do Curahee and then have an outstanding breakfast. There was a lot of running about as usual on a Friday.
Tonight I swam and the water was rather cold. I was well frozen when I came back up.
After my swim Sandy and I went over to the Isan Restaurant and met Zaw. He was there with some people from Chang Mai. We stayed until about midnight.
The massive Chang Beer fountain
Thursday, November 29, 2007: Makati Uprising
Botched coup bid in Philippines ends, no casualties
MANILA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Philippine military and police teams stormed a luxury hotel in Manila on Thursday to end a short-lived coup attempt by a small group of soldiers and others who had called on the army to mutiny.
Government forces fired teargas into the lobby of the Manila Peninsula Hotel and used an armoured personnel carrier (APC) to batter down its glass doors before storming in under cover of repeated bursts of fire in the air.
There were no casualties.
The rebel soldiers, a senator and a handful of priests who had occupied the plush icon in the sprawling city of 12 million people surrendered and were arrested.
"We are going out for the sake of the safety of everybody," their leader Senator Antonio Trillanes earlier told reporters. "For your sake, because we will not live with our conscience if some of you get hurt or get killed in the crossfire. We cannot afford that."
It was the latest in a series of coup attempts to plague the Southeast Asian nation since dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted two decades ago.
Thursday's drama attracted hundreds of curious onlookers, but no one voiced any support for those inside the hotel, and there were no reports of unrest within the military. Most of the guests had been evacuated before the assault, but over 100 people, including hotel staff and journalists, were caught in the midst of the action.
Trillanes, who led a failed mutiny in 2003 against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and was elected to the upper house in May, was hauled away in plastic wrist restraints.
Fellow mutineers, including around two dozen soldiers, a priest and a retired bishop, were also arrested along with scores of journalists.
Authorities said the journalists would be freed after identity checks.
"The wrong ways of some does not speak well for the nation or the armed forces and the police," Arroyo said in a brief television address.
"Just like before, we will impose the full force of the law strictly and without favour."
I'm not sure why the Coup Leaders would want to take over the Peninsula Hotel but that is what happened. I lived there for a month in the summer of 2000 and of course my good friend Rene works there.
I called Rene once Sandy and I saw the news on TV this afternoon just to make sure he was okay. He wasn't please at being sent home at 3pm or the idea of the SWAT guys driving an armoured car into the lobby but he did say he had tomorrow off anyways so perhaps he'll miss some of the clean up duty.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007: Sickly
I am sick.
Sandy took Minn to school in the early hours which I actually slept through. I didn't swim tonight and instead just chilled out. Sandy is at the Hospital and it would seem Mike is getting out tonight although he will have to go back in a few weeks for some sort of operation.
Now all I can do is wait for Sandy to come home and listen to "Close to the Edge".
Monday, November 26, 2007: Mikey in the Hospital
I was up and out in the early early today. It was cool but not as cool as it was on Friday. I did Curahee and then had a meal at the Swan. Afterwards it was on to the main event.
Sandy had to head out today because Mike is in the Hospital and she had to pick up Minn. Lut will be staying overnight with him so we have Minn tonight then Sandy has to take her to School early tomorrow morning. If Mike's still in the hospital tomorrow we'll have her again.
I swam tonight which might not have been the best choice. The water wasn't cold but I have been feeling like crap and afterwards I was beat. I had some left over Isan and played guitar until Sandy and Minn got back. Having a blind kid in this apartment is truly a challenge.
Sunday, November 25, 2007: Lazy Sunday
We got in VERY late last night. Well past my bed time that's for sure.
The drive back was slow due to the traffic. At least half the people on the road had to be drunk too. I was down for the count seconds after I hit the pillow.
Today was a lazy day. Sandy and I watched "Ned Kelly" on DVD. It wasn't actually a bad movie. Not exactly cheery though.
Tonight we went over to the Isan food place and met up with Zaw. He was at Khaosan Road last night and was suffering a bit. Apparently Sandy was as well although she didn't admit it to me as she knows I am prone to tormenting her in that state for my own amusement.
We had a bunch of food all of which was outstanding. Some of which was hot hot hot but I feel a cold coming on so hopefully it will clear my head a bit.
Saturday, November 24, 2007: Lhoy Khatong
Today was the Thai holiday of Lhoy Khatong (official spellings may vary). This year as with the previous few we went to Sandy's Sisters place for the holiday. As it fell on a weekend this year we went over during the day so that Sandy could help Dang in making and selling the Khatongs, which are the little banana boats that are set adrift in the waterways throughout the land.
Sandy's Cousin's sleepy old dog
We took a taxi over before noon to beat the traffic and once there Sandy started helping Dang with the Khatong Construction. Pet was at school for some reason or another as today seemed to be some sort of Lhoy Khatong related half-day.
Making a Khatong
At around noon Sandy and I took Pluk and neighbor Joey's daughter Jenny to the restaurant by the Khlong for some food. I was starved.
The Khlong near Pet's house
The Restaurant on the Khlong
We had a meal and as our food began to arrive Pet did as well. He had spotted us from the bridge and came down to join us.
Another tasty meal
Once we'd eaten Jenny and Pet took off and Sandy tried to have some soup while dealing with Pluk who is at the Curious George age. He wanted to sit on a swing chair with Sandy then he had to investigate what was going on along the canal.
Khlong life
Afterwards he wanted the honor of asking for the bill. Then he wanted me to take him to the playground zone. It is full of possibly the unsafest swings and merry-go-rounds ever assembled. Not that they are rickety. There are just all made of hardest metal with many hard edges to bust one's skull on. Fortunately the sunshine had made all the metal seats too hot so Pluk quickly changed his mind about each ride several seconds after climbing on it.
The unsafest swing set in the world
We walked back across the bridge and Sandy went back to helping Dang set up some tables of Khatongs to sell.
Special delivery
I spent much of the afternoon just sitting around. The weather has been "cold" but for me it was perfect. Nice and hot with a breeze and no humidity, just like a nice day in June. I spent some of the day recording as I had brought the XioSynth and the MRS8 with me. We had a small meal at around 5:00 pm when Vet got back then things continued on out by the road.
Pet and his pals seem to have acquired an excellent supply of fireworks. They were mostly of the explosive variety although the neighbors seemed to have a large quantity of flairs and bottle rockets. I watched the Pet's merry gang setting these things off and attempted to get photos of the results with some limited success.
Lighting what my Father would have called a "Whiz-Banger"
The resulting "Whiz" and "Bang"
Pet lights some more fireworks
It does amaze me that despite the difference in culture language etc seeing Pet's sugared up gang with fireworks reminded me so much of my own childhood around the time of Halloween. (This would be before they banned such dangerous things as firecrackers) Pet's Mom's reaction was typical of the concerned Mom and Vet reaction was that of the Dad who remembers exactly what it was like but has to keep the peace with Mom so...
Pluk however spent much of the evening with his hands over his ears. The dogs of the house hold and the area I believe did not approve of what was going on. When I was indoors recording the dogs gathered around my feet and flinched with each pop, whiz or bang.
I did take several walks up to the bridge over the course of the night and took some photos of the Khatongs in the Khlong, I shot some video as well however the Spazy-Cam is acting oddly and I am not sure if they will turn out. Their seems to be some sort of a problem as the LCD image is now the same quality of a TV in a bus station waiting area in 1973. I don't know as yet whether this problem is JUST the LCD screen or if the images being recorded also suffer from this "Crappo-Vision" effect. This does concern me as I don't have time to go through a repair before I head back to the old country.
Looking up the Khlong early in the evening
Looking from the other side of the bridge
Sandy and I didn't set our Khatong off until 9:00 pm or so. We set it off near the Wat (Buddhist Temple) down a bit where we went several years ago. We crossed the street and went on through some back walkways that are walled in on either side. Jenny and Pet came with us with their Khatongs. At one point in the walkway which would be between some back yards Pet decided to set off some sort of rather large whirling-pyro-pop.
It whizzed, flared brightly, twirled about and then exploded which set dogs barking and Pet, Sandy and Jenny running. Jenny had been given pet's khatong to carry as well as her own and with a crash she dropped it and it went flying into many pieces. Pet gathered up what bits he could and had to even reach under some one's gate to get a piece of banana leaf then we headed on to the Wat, Pet carrying his somewhat mangled up Khatong. Once we reached safety Sandy helped to reassemble Pet's Khatong and we went on to a spot by the canal and set off the Khatongs. For some reason this year Sandy and I shared one. I was still required to contribute some fingernail and hair as well as a 10 baht coin and had to make a wish. I wished for the same thing as I did last year. Since it is NOT bad luck to reveal it I can tell you that I wished for another 1 year multiple entry Class B visa as there is no where I'd rather be or no one I'd rather be with.
Sandy and My Khatong
After the khatongs were set off I went off and took some photos. I got separated briefly from the others but ran into them eventually. Sandy spent some time photographing and heckling some fellows in boat who were fishing the Khatongs in hopes of getting some money.
More Khatongs coming
We walked back towards the house the way we came and Pet set off a bottle rocket. Unfortunately the bottle fell over and the rocket went off and bounced around between the walls of the walkway. We had a motorcycle come up behind us a few seconds later and the poor fellow had to drive on through a great grey cloud of fireworks fumes.
We got back just in time for the Bug Vender Buggy to arrive so Pet and another one of the neighborhood kids got some crunchy snacks. Pet got some sort of tiny battered deep-fried fish. The other kid's Mom bought him what looked like maggots. Yummy.
Yummy snacks
I am the Bug Man
The evening ends
Note the Monk, which I didn't see when I took this
Friday, November 23, 2007: Cold Friday
It was cold out this morning when I brought in the laundry. Cold enough I wore a jacket when I headed to Curahee in the earl early.
Construction on the new BTS line advances...
Today was one of those massive run around days where I had to go here and there and back and forth. Curahee was good and the Black Swan breakfast afterwards was outstanding. Later in the day I had to pick up Lappy from Pantip as it had went there for some repairs. I also had them add some more RAM which will hopefully make its processing speed less like a Vic-20.
Sandy sprained her ankle at the gym so she stayed in tonight. We just hung out and watched a movie.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007: The Class B Shuffle
The time has come once again to go through the process of preparing my Class B Visa application. I will have to deliver this paperwork with my passport and some forms to the Thai Consulate in Toronto in hopes of being allowed to stay here for yet another year. The old advantage of this was not having to leave the country every month. The new advantage is being allowed to stay in the country with out being booted out after 90 days. In the good old days this process could be completed here but now I am required to go back to where I came from to do it. This of course is a massive expense.
The upside of this process is I get to see the Lucky Burmese Santa Guy with bees in his beard and a mug o' honey. I have yet to receive a proper explaination of this fellow. I will have to quiz Zaw on it.
Bees in one's beard - how is THAT lucky?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007: Wheel Chair Access vs Reality
This is what happens when good intention smash head-on into stark reality. Someone had the great idea to make the sidewalks "wheel chair accessable" ignoring the fact that much of the sidewalks are barely accessable to those who can walk. Of course the motocycle taxis and delivery guys wasted no time in taking advantage of this situation. So to stop them the City has added metal poles full of concrete at strategic spots.
"Timmah!!!"
This Thusday at 9:00...
It's Tow-Truck Police!
Friday, November 16, 2007: Friday Headache
I woke with a brutal headache this morning so running was left for another day. I got up at my usual time popped some pills and went back to sleep. I woke up three hours later headache free.
I spent the early evening recording. I'm trying to finish off an idea I started last weekend but it is now getting too large in size for its own good. I will have to jettison many of the tracks I've done in order for it to work.
Tonight Sandy and I went to the Isan food place for a dinner. The food was outstanding as usual. Sandy had me try this spicy duck salad which had indistinguishable taste due to my eating a spicy beef salad at the time. I presume it was good.
We came back to the SOL and watched “The Guardian” on DVD which was to my surprise a pretty good movie. Or perhaps it was an okay movie but because we’ve seen so many bad movies of late that it seemed like it was good.
Thursday, November 15, 2007: The Class-B Shuffle
Fixing a hole...
I had to head over to the Lawyer's today and begin the process for my next Class-B Visa. They will prepare the appropriate paperwork which I will deliver to the Thai Consulant in Toronto in December. Hopefully there will be no problems in getting it this year.
Another Condo going up
Silom skyline
Wednesday, November 14, 2007: Wednesday Construction
The holes they've dug are being turned into foundational bases for BTS pillars.
Sunday, November 11, 2007: Remebrance Day
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae
May 1915
Friday, November 9, 2007: Man Haircut etc
"I need a man haircut please..."
And what do we have here? A van with a list of what is and is not available on board. You can have reclining seats and karaoke but judging by other signs you can't have...
Smoking... Puppies... Booze... and...
Leg hold traps?
Thursday, November 8, 2007: JC 20 & Beefy
I saw something at Music Solution that I couldn't believe. A tiny Jazz Chorus amp. TINY! A twenty watt Jazz Chorus.
The JC 20
Here it is on top of the proper sized JC 120
Tonight Sandy and I went over the the Isan food place. It was actually cool enough out that I wore a jacket. Sandy and I had our respective usuals and today the grilled beef was beyond outstanding.
Zaw showed up and we moved outside by the street. Somehow I ended up eating three plates of grilled beef. Which when we stood up to go I discovered might have been too much.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007: Zoom Zoom a Zoom
I've neglected to talk about the G1 so I will subject you to that now.
I picked up the Zoom G1 guitar multi-effects stomp box a few weeks ago. It was on sale for roughly 50 bucks at the music shop in the Paragon. I had already planned to bring my Zoom 505 stomp box back to Canada when I return in December but when I saw the new pedal I decided (after several weeks of debate) to pick it up. I did also look at the G2 which is basically the same pedal with a few more knobs and more of a Casanova Frankenstein art deco look to it BUT since it didn't really have any more to offer except a black casing with chromesque Captain Nemo flare I went for the slightly cheaper G1.
So what does it do you wonder?...
Well in the old days, when Rock was king of the ocean stomp boxes ONLY did one or two things at best. For example they could alter the guitar signal with a filter to create that whackachicka whackachicka guitar sound which was so popular during TV Police drama high speed pursuit parking garage car chase scenes. Or they could give you Hendrix-like distortion or Queen like echo. The key thing was these pedals were usually single function and expensive. To have a combination of the most wanted effects you would need to purchase multiple pedals and batteries and plugs and so forth.
But that was 1978 and this isn't.
The G1 has 54 different effect “types” and they are broken down into several effects modules (Compression/Effect type, Drive, EQ, Noise Reduction, Amp Simulator, Modulation, Delay and Reverb). You can turn on or off these modules, select individual effects with in each module that is "on" and adjust the parameters accordingly. You can run a maximum of eight simultaneous modules. So for example I can set a distortion sound, add a pitch that is a full octave above the original, throw in some echo and be big and heavy. Or I can select the acoustic simulator sound and some chorus and reverb and make my electric sound all acoustic and dreamy. In the olden days this would take up a considerable amount of floor space and making my electric sound acoustic would have been impossible.
The big selling point for me with the G1 was that it has 5 seconds maximum delay time; perfect for washy soundscapes. I can also plug in my Zoom expression pedal and control various parameters like volume, gain, echo amount, or use it like a wah-wah pedal.
The presets in the G1 are based around the "sounds" of various famous guitarists although unless you could play like them I don't know how accurate these are. There is even a patch called "Adrian" which is supposedly based on the sound of Adrian Belew's guitar in "Big Electric Cat" which sounds nothing like his guitar in that song. (He used a fretless guitar I believe on that song) Most of the presets are quite useless for my purposes as they are too top heavy with chorus and flanging. However there are four banks of ten “User Patches “availed to store one's own tweakings in so I've been working on putting some more useful sounds in there. I may have to adjust some of the patches further when I get to Canada as I’m sure they will react differently to the GR 300 than they do to my Escape guitar. I have run the Wave Processor through it and found that I have to limit the amount of modules in order to retain the pure sound of the square or saw tooth wave. The GR 300 will certainly require a similar approach.
Gear is good.
