Thais That Bind

I'm tremendously grateful for this residency, and I'd like to give a few shout-outs on the Global Stereotype Radio...  A huge THANKS to the apexart theory and practice: Julia, Steven, Cybele, Julian, & Heather.  GRACIAS Melissa Rachleff-Burtt for the rec, and OBRIGADO Sergio Bessa & the AIM 30 crew.  MERCI beaucoup to my generous Kickstarter Backers, to Logan Bay & Sandy for guardian-angel-ship, & to their guitar-lending friend.  ASANTE to the whole RCS crew, to my students, & to Virginia.  BIG UP YOURSELF to all my peeps! DANKE SCHÖN to ABB crew, Christine & Taller Boricua, previous outbound residents Jayson Keeling & Edwin Ramoran, and the Third Streaming crew.

SHÚKRAN to the people who hooked me up even before I left, like José Ruiz, Ji & Yin, Skowmon, Prawat, Sandi, Becca, and Karen.  KOB KÚN KRÁB to my Thai peoples Denis & the Q-Bar crew, Toby & the Patravadi crew, Som & chefs, Baan Bar & Seasoning, Orange, the Nuts Society, Philip "Very Thai," Susan & Eagle House, my Chiang Mai Kru crew [guru], Marisa & Sangdee Gallery, Korakot, Pailín, & Panú, and ARIGATO Chiká.  GRAZIE MILLE to my Folks for being right there, my sister & Adam (for giving me a nephew to come home to!), and to my extended familia both near & far.  To all the Thai cooks who kept me alive and kicking... and screaming:   ALÓI ! 

THANK YOU all for making December 2010 become a mind-boggling, eye-popping, brain-altering & expanding reality.   I am so sad to leave but so happy to have been here.

KOB KÚN MÁK NA KRÁB  &  Happy New Year ! ! !

When Dogs Bark

sounds like Confucius to me...  That sign was @ a Wat (temple).  Here are a few more miscellaneous pics:

  

 

        

  

Jim Thompson

I went to Jim Thompson's traditional-style Thai home-turned-museum, but they wouldn't let me take pictures (don't even get me started on what I think about that type of policy).  Anyway, I most enjoyed  the art and antique collection.  Jim Thompson was a silk businessman who fell in love with Thailand and built this home before mysteriously disappearing in 1967.  I submit to you that he is currently working at a 7-11 in Chiang Mai.  Here are the few pictures I was able to sneak...

 the spirit house here...

Click here for their website (which could really use more pics from his collection).  

My Apt

My "Soi" (alley off a main street)...

building:

 and studio apt - a 4th floor walkup (in BKK heat): 

 luckily it had A.C. (and my own bathroom),

and a fan.

Here are some views from my little balcony:

  

 I can judge how busy Bangkok is by seeing how many people are walking on this Skytrain ramp (and it's usually really busy):

And here's the communal balcony:

and the best part of its view (this type of scaffold never ceases to amaze me):

I grew to love this little apt. and especially its location.  I'll miss it - 4 flights and all.

Malls

Mega-Malls in Bangkok, like markets and especially night markets (the mall's distant ancestor), are centers of activity way beyond shopping.  People hang out in them for this quality, as well as for their clean bathrooms, air conditioning, and extensive food courts.  Teens show up in droves.  Here's a sampling of some random stuff going on in malls:

 yes they're ice skating

crafts

  

 "beer gardens" with live music and art 

snow

 and I'm no longer surprised to see Xmas trees all over malls (and everywhere else actually)

this one made out of straws...

Sawatdí Krap:

MBK mall seems most related to its outdoor market ancestry...

 Just like people in BKK, stuff overflows too...

   

   

Markets are a defining feature of Thai culture, and I guess these days a fair share takes place in malls.  It's different from pure consumerism, and a bit hard to explain - come to BKK and see!