Good Luck!

If you have any experience with Asian people or culture you soon realize that many things are based on the concept of luck, either good or bad. They say fortune. In other words, superstition is rampant. For example, many Thais believe in ghosts. I haven't seen (or heard) one here, but that doesn't mean anything. If I doubted their existence, then it would surely bring me bad luck. Why would I want that? It's a social control mechanism. We all live with conformity, at least to some degree.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Around the Old Oak Tree

Some spirits live in the forest and if you cut a sacred tree, then you will have bad luck. What makes a tree sacred and how would you know? Look for the ribbons. These have been blessed by someone, usually a monk. Sacred forests are a major force behind nature consevation in Thailand. Imagine if America preserved the environment because of spirituality, instead of regulations and enforcement?

Fortune Telling

Many people worship at the temple regularly. Usually, they bring food offerings and burn incense. Sometimes people shake a container of 'sticks' while praying, until one of them falls out. Then, it is matched with a set of 28 predetermined outcomes posted nearby. I'm assuming that most messages promise good luck, but if you don't get the one you want, then you can try again. Many of these beliefs are rooted in the teachings of Buddha. In other words, if you live a good life, then good things will happen to you. The opposite is also true. Surely you've heard of karma and practice some form of it yourself.

If you support,
then you will be supported

Yesterday, while getting dressed, a small lizard (gecko) which had been resting on the closet door, fell on top of my head. I'm not sure who was startled the most. The lizard quickly escaped into my bathroom and I made no attempt at pursuit. After all, it has been living in Thailand, and perhaps in my room, longer than me. When telling one of my co-workers about the experience, he exclaimed that it was a sign of good luck. I wasn't surprised, but I'm sure that you are!

I'm lucky to experience Thailand, thanks to the lizard! I'm lucky to have met some great people, eat some delicious food, and see some incredible scenery. Thanks for some valuable life lessons. Leaving Thailand today, but not in my mind!



Lucky Penny

    

The Great Divide

Coming Together?

As you know, the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Or does it? It's only an illusion since we live in a sun-centered universe. Yet we talk of sunrise and sunset as if it's real. Many things are this way. That aren't real, but we think they are. If we think long / hard enough, they become true, right? After all, perception is reality. What a joke.

Western people have many preconceived notions and ideas about Eastern people. The opposite is also true. Granted, there are some fundamental differences. It's not about right or wrong, just different. Here's where most people focus - on our differences (looks and actions, food choices, clothes, etc.). It's much harder to see the similarities because they require attention to detail. Not enough time or energy for that! In other words, people would rather live with an illusion than reality. What's worse, we think (or know) it must be true. What a joke.

What do you see in this picture - the rock or the crack? Instead, focus on the plant in the middle. You are planted to bridge the gap somewhere. No joke.




Breaking Apart?

Back to the Future?

Olympian

Boxer








The US has Caitlyn Jenner (Olympian) and Thailand has Nong Tum (Boxer). Both were famous male athletes prior to becoming females. Welcome to the third gender. There's probably no place on earth more accepting of transsexuals than in Thailand. It goes both ways, males converting to females, and females into males. The official term is Kathoey, which covers a range sexual identities. For males, the name on the street is ladyboy. They are similar to our drag queens. Some are effeminate, while others have sex-change operations and/or take birth control pills daily. Others are cross-dressing gays. Straight men who take one home are in for a big surprise! Some are easy to identify, but honestly I don't look that closely. Here are a couple of them I have seen on campus recently.


Michael Jackson?



Local Ladyboy

   








Why is it that I see so much of America's past and present in Thailand?  

Science Week

Speeches

They tried to warn me, but I was unprepared for what happened on campus yesterday. Science Week! Science is good. Good enough for 10,000 students to visit campus each day for three days! What's more, it's Science Week across Thailand, meaning that every science program at every university participates. Wow! Talk about big. The College of Science cancelled classes, but students in other programs had to attend. There must be a scientific explanation for this kind of discrimination. 



Exhibits & Displays

So, campus was a virtual beehive of activity yesterday. There were elementary, middle-aged, and HS students everywhere. Monks came, students were dancing in the street, speeches were given, food tents appeared, lines were long, people were noisy. At times, it seemed more like a circus than a science fair. Each university science student had to assemble a display for visitors. College students worked outside of class. Impressive!  A new set arrive today. Maybe I will return to work sometime next week! 



Young

Middle

Monks







Long Ago and Far Away

Handyman or
Endangered Species?

Things have a tendency to break, no matter how careful you are. When was the last time something of yours got broken? Chances are it was pretty recent because so many things we own are not made to last. Manufacturers figured out a long time ago it was best for the consumer to replace, rather than repair ($). So long to the handyman and welcome to the throwaway society. Hello landfill.

A few days ago, the pull tab on my luggage zipper came off for no reason. I'm sure the same thing has happened to you. The zipper is frozen in place and you are totally paralyzed. Off to Walmart to buy another piece of crap. Take it to a shop, you gotta be kidding! Not in Thailand! A guy on the street fixed my luggage in about 30 minutes and charged me $3.50. I think I bought it at Walmart for $60, about a third of the monthly income for many Thai people living in Khon Kaen.            

Consumerism

Homemade
Ice Cream

SE Asia is a travel bargain. It's one of the reasons I like visiting Thailand and Vietnam so much. Most everything is pretty cheap, even in the big cities. Yesterday, I paid about .60 cents for some home-made coconut ice cream with 3 toppings, including nuts. Most meals, with a drink, cost about $2-$3. I bought a shrimp and fish lunch for 6 students, myself, and a faculty member for less than $50. A foot massage (actually both feet) cost $7 for one hour. I gave her a $7 tip and she almost fainted. Recently, I paid about $27 for a 3-star hotel which included breakfast. You get the idea. It makes one feel rich, even though I am not wealthy. What value are you getting from your money?

Americans tend to buy stuff. Lot's of stuff, in fact. Although money can't buy happiness, that doesn't stop us from trying. There is a bewildering assortment of things to buy, as if that many choices are really needed. We could probably live with less. Many people do. Of course, some selection is good, but too much encourages social stratification. The more choices, the greater the range in quality and price. Rich folks simply buy things that poorer people cannot afford, effectively distancing ourselves from those who are not in our social group. By doing so, it isolates and insulates our relationships. As a result, we feel bad for those who are less fortunate and simply give them some money or stuff. Hence, we value money more than relationships, except for those who are our friends and relatives. Materialism is killing us, and those around us, softly.

Traveling in SE Asia has given me a lot of opportunities to meet various people. None of them are wealthy, but many are happy. Are you happy? They spend money on relationships, not things. Here's a crazy idea. Be a friend to someone outside your social circle. It's okay to give them some money if you also give them some time. Chances are, they need both. The number one desire of internationals in America is to have an American friend. You can give that, but you cannot buy it.             

Trust?

Respect

There's a deep respect for authority all across Asia. Old folks are honored more than young people, and teachers often get the most respect (except for parents). So, that puts me in good standing here: old professor! One benefit of gray hair in the classroom. :) In Thailand, young people typically exhibit a folded hands posture to older people, instead of handshaking. It's quite charming.

Although respect is admirable, there's a danger of taking it too far. It's as if the leaders can do no wrong. History is filled with examples of bad people having too much influence over others. It can lead to group-think, instead of individual action and personal responsibility. Trust can also inhibit creativity. Why think differently, just do what other people tell you. For example, many Asians have a hard time thinking outside the box. Students simply memorize information and call it learning. 

However, I think that America has gone too far in the opposite direction. It's as if we don't respect any body, any time. Sarcasm and cynicism are signs of weakness, not strength. But why should we trust others when we've been burned so many times before in friendships, marriages, and at work? Worst of all are our politicians. Those who actually trust the government are in the minority. So, trust is good and doubting is good. Which is better? It's bad if you don't trust anybody. It's equally bad if you trust everybody. Which is worse?

Trust is a problem worldwide (either too much or not enough). You are part of it. So am I. Let's do something about it.

Time

In 1970, Chicago released the hit song, "Does anybody really know what time it is?"  Spending time in SE Asia makes me think about how Americans use time. We have a penchant for organization and efficiency, which leaves no time for spontaneity. We live by the clock, go to bed and get up at a certain time. Eat three times a day. We live as if every second counts because we hate to waste time. We punch time clocks because time is money. We have some free time. Time flies. We are on time (or not). Time, time, time! Does anybody really know what time it is?

I suppose we can thank the industrial revolution for making us a slave to time. But there is one segment of America that marches to the beat of a different drummer - farmers. The slower pace of life is one reason why so many people disdain the country. It's as if we love to be busy. We all depend on farmers, but most of us don't know any of them personally. Nor do we really want to. 

Thomas Jefferson once envisioned America as a land of small farmers. I think he would really like people in SE Asia, for many are farmers. They have time to plant, harvest, and sell. But they also have time to think, and get to know their neighbors. They have time to cook and eat their own food. Some can actually enjoy life, despite not making much money.

If you want to know what America was like long ago, then visit SE Asia. It's as if the place is frozen in time. Although the language is different, farmers here are doing many of the same things we once did. It's refreshing and saddening. What do they have and what have we lost? Time.       

Village Fishing

Yesterday, one of my faculty sponsors took me to a rural village near Khon Kaen. A former student lives there with her parents and brother. The purpose was to go fishing, Thai style. I wasn't sure what to expect. The parents are farmers and they have a small pond on the property. And I mean a really small!

Little Muddy

Several of us piled into the back of a pickup truck and off we went. The brother cut some bamboo poles and rigged them for fishing, like Huckleberry Finn. After chumming the water with termites, we fished with some dough balls. Interesting. I caught the first fish, a shiner. Back home, I would use this for bait. We caught a few others, nothing of any size, and released everything.

Fish or Bait?

Next, they taught me how to throw a cast net. The nylon net was long and had many lead weights along the bottom to make it sink quickly. The idea was to throw it in a circle using a fluid motion. Everything looks easy until you do it yourself. I  have a lot more respect for those who fish frequently. I threw the net twice and miraculously it worked both times. Lady luck was on my side so I stopped. I felt a sense of accomplishment - caught a little fish and cast a big net!

Success!

Afterwards, we all went to a restaurant for lunch. Large shrimp (oxymoron?) were served on platters and mine was in a coconut. The food was spicy, but nothing that ice cream couldn't conquer. Made some new friends today. Here's the takeaway message and it has nothing to do with fish or fishing. Some people that I did not know and will never meet again were interested enough to spend the whole day with me, a foreigner. Are you willing to do the same? Love thy neighbor.

Ice Cream Friends

 

Let's Make a Deal

Most students are concerned about grades and those at Khon Kaen University are no different from others. Of course, going to class, taking notes, and studying are some common tactics. However, one mechanism used by students here to get good grades is very different than those in the US.

Temple

Many students visit the temple on campus for prayer and to give offerings. Incense burns incessantly. Gifts typically include flowers, fruit, and bottled drinks (opened, which also attract a number of bees). Religious practices are practiced religiously.

Interestingly, they make a deal (bargain) with the temple gods. Students pray for good grades and if they get them they return to the temple with a figurine, hence a number of 'decorations' adorn such places of worship. I suppose the size of statues is related to income, or at least an ostentatious show of wealth. Actual grades may also play a factor in the decision-making process.Size matters!    

Answers to Prayer

   

Daily Routine

The alarm clock is set for 6:00 am, but I rarely sleep that late. First thing is a shower. For Westerners, the thought of a wet-floor bathroom is very unusual. Water is not contained, but instead gets all over the floor. Rule #1, make sure that you pick up all of your stuff. The trick is to do everything in the bathroom while the floor is still wet - no back and forth. This can be a bit tricky.



Shower

Wet Floor

After getting dressed, I go down for breakfast. Some food I recognize and some I don't. I eat a bowl of rice porridge (soup) every morning, usually with fruit, a piece of toast, and some coffee. Eggs are not common. I keep yogurt in the mini-fridge in my room. I eat some form of rice 2-3 times per day.

Faculty don't show up until around 9:00 am, so I have some time in the morning to read / respond to email and work on my blog. The hotel is a distance away from campus, so I take the free shuttle bus to work. It's nice and convenient. No need to speak in Thai, just get on and get off. Easy breezy.

Campus Shuttle Bus

I eat lunch at the student center, usually with others. It's largely an open facility where birds fly through and dogs roam. It has many small shops and businesses, all of which are student-oriented. There's a number of food booths, so many choices. After work, I usually eat at the night market and return to the hotel. I watch a little bit of television or read, then another shower before bed.



Student Center
Outside

Student Center
Inside



Thighland?

Come party with me?
(from internet)

Ask any Western man about Thailand and they will usually say something about women, with a wink and a nod. From my perspective, it's an unfortunate and mostly undeserved reputation. Yes, there are some beautiful girls in Thailand, but most look and act very ordinary - just like those in other countries. In fact, women in Thailand dress more modestly than those in the US. It would take a lot to convince me that the sex drive in Thailand is different than females worldwide. I'm betting on a normal distribution. If you want it, you can find it. So how is Bangkok any different from Las Vegas?

The reasons have nothing to with what's in the water. How about income, education, and job skills?Many women in Southeast Asia are sold as sex slaves each day, some by their own parents who are desperate for money. Others work in massage parlors. This is about economics, not estrogen. It's easy for those who have a job, a home, and a family to denounce human trafficking. BTW, honk if you love Jesus.

But let's not blame the victim. Clients are largely responsible for the sex industry, mostly men. Sex tourism is a moral failure of epic proportions. The irony, of course, is that men truly believe that women are sex-crazed here, thus doing them a favor by releasing pent-up emotions. For men, it's a fantasy. For women, it's a job. What's love got to do with it?

How did all of this get started, at least in the US? During the Vietnam war, American warships anchored in the Bay of Thailand. Sailors and soldiers came ashore seeking rest, relaxation, and more. Welcome to Phuket and Pattaya. I'm in Khon Kaen. Life is normal here, reminds me of Missouri.                  

     

Taxi, Taxi

Taxis are the most common form of transportation in Asia. Seems as if they are everywhere, and cheap too! Some drivers can speak English but it doesn't make a difference as long as you have money and some directions. Ridden in a lot of taxis, but never seen a sticker like this one before. Just goes to show that some really have a sense of humor. I can only imagine what prompted this rate increase (nearly $1.50 USD). :)

A tuk-tuk is a partially enclosed form of transportation, usually consisting of two bench seats in the back of a small pickup truck. Went to the airport recently and took a motorcycle tuk-tuk. Park-n-fly with a twist (and a turn). On the way back home he drove on a one-way road against on-coming traffic. Made it back alive, but next time I'll use safer transportation - assuming that exists!

 

Jungle Fever

Tiger on an Elephant

King of the jungle, but only for a day! And one day was enough for me. Elephant riding is far more difficult than you think, still sore. I don't see how the trainers do it. Makes me glad I have a desk job.


Gentile Giants

It was a great day in Chiang Mai. One of the best tourism experiences I've had in a long time. There are numerous elephant 'camps' deep in the jungles of Northern Thailand where you can interact with these massive creatures in a variety of ways - feeding, bathing, riding, etc. Some have better reputations than others, often fueled by news reporters who feel compelled to write everything from a PC perspective to make the story more controversial than it really is. The only thing I didn't like at my camp was the stupid animal tricks, giving the elephant a paintbrush and teaching it how to create some artwork. But it's no different than what one would see at Sea World or many zoos, nationwide.



Beast of Burden

Other than elephant riding, I found the log rolling, pulling, and stacking demonstration to be culturally significant. It helped me understand the interdependence between animals and people in a work-related context. Today, it's within a tourism context, thanks to modern machinery which has replaced many of our traditional customs and practices. This is one of the main reasons I like visiting Asia so much, especially the developing countries. You get to see first-hand what life was like long ago. Rapid advancements in Western society foster the idea that new is good and old is bad. Technologically savvy and culturally insensitive we all rush to ruin.



Trainer and Trainee

River to Nowhere

Fishing for Giants

Giant Mekong Catfish

Stalking two Thai giants on a fishing trip yesterday - the Giant Mekong Catfish (morning) and the Giant Snakehead (afternoon).  Hoping to make a twin killing, but only managed to slay one of the beasts. BTW, King David only got one too! Among catfish, the Giant Mekong is the world's largest. I'd like to see someone try to noodle one of those bruisers. Mine weighed about 25 kilos. I know, sounds more like a drug deal than a fish. The Giant Snakehead would have been a prize, but it wasn't meant to be - at least not on this trip. Fished all afternoon and only saw a couple of them. Not a single strike for me or the guide. But I left happy. There's no such thing as a bad day fishing!






Catch-n-Release

Snakehead Lake

Getting (Unsettled) In

I'm staying at a hotel on campus - same place I stayed last time. Kwanmor is functional - clean and convenient, on the bus route, and offers breakfast. Most importantly, the room has AC. :) Not exactly a 5-star accommodation, but plenty good enough considering I'll only be here for a month. Check it out for yourself. http://home.kku.ac.th/kwanmor/index.php It didn't take long to unpack my stuff.

I had no intentions for dinner to become a small misadventure. The place I ate was familiar, behind the student center. Imagine a partially-enclosed flea market with many food stalls, all of which are privately owned and operated. There's an eating area in the back with lot's of tables and chairs. The food selection is enormous and all written in Thai. You can just point and pay - all the food is in plain sight. This is one of the reasons I like it. No need to worry about any menus here.

After checking out the food stalls, I decided to get some freshly-cooked vegetables. You get what you want and put it in a small plastic bag. They weigh it and you pay it. The conversion rate is 35 Baht to 1 USD. A bag of vegetables, about 20 Baht. Good start. Next, I went for the main course. If you are reading this blog then you already know how much I like fish. Seafood in Thailand is a no-brainer. It turned out to be a fish soup, and I watched them make it. Water, vegetables, and fresh fish. 50 Baht, yikes I actually spent over 1 USD!

They put this boiling mixture into a plastic bag and tied a rubber band around it very tightly. I don't see how they do it. I got a bowl, spoon and chopsticks - ready to go, or so I thought. What could possibly go wrong? I sat down at a table meant for four and started eating my vegetables. Then I was ready for the fish soup. I finally got the rubber band untied (keep in mind the bag was still very hot) and dumped the contents into the bowl, carefully holding the bag by both edges. Everything worked perfectly until I realized that the bowl was too small and the hot broth gushed across the table and partly into my lap. I didn't know what to do. It's a good thing others weren't eating with me.

Much to my surprise, a couple of the cooks (but not the ones I had ordered from) came over and started wiping the table with napkins that I had failed to get. One brought over a bigger bowl and I successfully made the transfer. Afterwards, they checked on me a couple of times to make sure I was doing okay. Not sure if this made me feel better or worse. But it just goes to show that people can have mercy on strangers, especially dumb Americans. Whew, glad that meal was over!  

Arrived Alive!

Not sure which felt better, a hot shower or brushing my teeth! Arrived in Bangkok last night about 10:30 pm after a grueling flight - over 24 hours in the air or sitting in a terminal.  St. Louis to Minneapolis to Japan and finally to Thailand. And that doesn't count getting up at 4:00 am in Columbia to catch the early morning airport shuttle to St. Louis.  But, I'm here and well, I think.

Off to Khon Kaen this afternoon to start another adventure. I have been to the campus a few times before and look forward to returning. Some good faculty friends and always look forward to meeting the students. Amazing Thailand! Come and see for yourself.

https://www.tourismthailand.org/