OakMonster’s Den

Hello from the great city of Bangkok!

We’re having a great time so far. The weather has been just PERFECT! The cold front is moving in from China and the city just got its first taste of its “winter” with the perfect California summer temperature. It’ll be like CA spring up in Chiangmai this weekend.

A lot of turns in events since we got here. Plans are changing constantly. I won’t get to spend as much time with my dad as he would be off to Dubai on business from 11/26 through 12/1. But we are planning on going to a Thanksgiving dinner at the sports club before dad’s off and running.

I don’t have a lot of time today so I’ll give you an overview. Will write a full travelogue when I get back.

Nov. 20 - Day 1

Had lunch at home. Unpacked and went up to the condo. A walk to Central Department store for some shopping for Brandon. As it turns out mom got us some seats at a fancy restaurant at the Oriental Hotel for Loy Kratong on Friday. Brandon didn’t pack any fancy clothes, so we had to get him some. After we were done shopping, we ate at the Food Loft, the mall’s international food court. And when I say “international” here, it’s not like in the US with Panda Express and a teriyaki bowl place and they call in International. The Loft has Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Italian, rotisserie chicken and German sausages, Vietnamese, desserts of all kind, beer and wine and local refreshments. Deee-lish!

Nov. 21 - Day 2

Hang out around the house. Lunch at local Thai-style Italian restaurant. Brandon’s first dental appointment - in went the first temporary crown, then my dad’s appointment, and then, because our dentist had time, mine. We were at the dentist’s office for 3 hours! Dad’s well-intended drive to Old Town turned out to be a cultural lesson on bad traffic as we weren’t aware of street closure for a fair around that area.

I had a few minutes to rest as my buddies Joy and Tong was a;ready at my house to take me to dinner with my classmates. Brandon went to Royal Bangkok Sports Club - Polo Club for a tour and dinner with my folks, then they came to pick me up. The dinner was AWESOME. We saw an elephant on the streets on the way home. Kind of sad.

Nov. 22 - Day 3

Early call to get on the SkyTrain to Aunty Aor’s house. Breakfast, and off we went to Ayuttaya. A lot of driving around and getting lost, but also a lot of fun too. We walked around and took tons of pictures. We also visited a temple of the tourist path and discovered ancient Buddha images the temple dug up. At the end of the day, we took the SkyTrain back to the house. Super exhausted. Brandon is still asleep at the condo right now. I came over to have dinner and get on the web. HAHAH!

Future Plans

Nov. 23 - Massage at home. Going to an ultra hip “BED” club tomorrow night for dinner and hip hop night.

Nov. 24 - Dentist for Brandon. Not much of anything else the rest of the day.

Nov. 25 - Lunch with the aunties. Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

Nov. 26 - Dad’s off to Dubai. Mom takes us to Chiangmai’s Chaingdao village.

Nov. 27 - Chiangmai still.

Nov. 28 - Return from Chiangmai.

Nov. 29 - Plan on going to Karnchanaburi (Bridge of the River Kwai.)

Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 - No plans. That means a trip to Emerald Buddha, and some tour packages.

Dec. 4 - Return to reality.

Yes I’m counting down by the hours now.

Everything’s packed. Going to take a nice long bath after In-N-Out for dinner with Dr. Pepper to drink. Ahhh. A few choice American luxury items you take for granted.

You see, typical Thai households have shower stalls, not bath tubs. Only in nice hotels where there will be bathtubs, and fortunately for us we’d get to stay at one in Chiang Mai. Although there are McDonald’s and Burger King, there won’t be any “animal style” goodness; and there are rootbeer and Mountain Dew–even in Lychee flavor–but no Dr. Pepper.

And the internet will be few and far between. Well, we do have my dad’s office computer where I haunted every evening last year. But since we will be staying at the condo, I don’t know how much time I’d get to have with it. So, if the blogging goes quiet, you know why.

No worry. I’ll keep a nice, analog journal, and will post it when I have a chance.

Oh, and of course, after talking to my mom last night. Thank GOD for moms! After ribbing me briefly for not having a place for dinner with 35 of my friends yet and it was already Thursday, she made a call to a restaurant for us. I LOVE YOU, MOMMY! Oh and yes, the humble gathering suddenly picks up steam and go from 5 people to 35 in 2 days. Aiiyaah!

Watch out, Bangkok. Here comes the Borens!

Out of curiosity, I’m going to keep this post on the top of the heap until I leave for Thailand on November 18. Let’s see how many people come by to visit, and leave their marks.

Being a mere geek in training, I’m forgoing the use of nifty counters and polling technolgies, and implementing the basic survey method. Besides, it’s more fun this way.
If you’re reading this, please leave me a note. i.e. Hi. Ping. Yo. Or actual comments are welcomed too. And yes, you can post anonymously if you must.

Thank you.

Crunch time! Itinerary changed just a little bit from the original plan.

Thu. Nov. 18 - Leave from LAX.
Sat. Nov. 20 - Arrive in Bangkok.

Sun. Nov. 21 - During the day, Brandon’s dental appointment. In the evening, Oakley’s dinner with Mater Dei classmates.

Mon. Nov. 22 - Tentative - Day trip to Ayuttaya with Aunty Sida.

Tue. Nov. 23 - Nothing planned.

Wed. Nov. 24 - Oakley and Brandon’s dentist appointment.

Thu. Nov. 25 - Nothing planned.

Fri. Nov. 26 - Loy Kratong festival. We’ll be staying in Bangkok for that after all. Get to glam up and go to dinner at the Oriental Hotel. Perhaps a few drinks with Oakley’s friends after that somewhere in town. We’ll see.

Sat. Nov. 27 - Off to Chiang Mai. Stay at Aunty Sida’s house in Chiang Dao, a rural mountain village not horribly far from Chiang Mai city.

Sun. Nov. 28 - Back into Chiang Mai, and stay the night there. Dad may have to leave that evening for a meeting back in Bangkok on Monday, still TBD.

Mon. Nov. 29 - Do more stuff in Chiang Mai. Head back to Bangkok.

Tues. Nov. 30 - Friday Dec. 3 - Nothing planned. Free for all!!

Sat. Dec. 4 - Return to LAX.

Chris leads me to Kevin Sites’ blog. The solo journalist is on assignment for NBC, but on his blog here it’s free for all.

Get a taste of war on terror as you follow Kevin and the Marines unit he’s embedded with taking the city, street by street.

Through the sheriff deputy at Brandon’s work, Brandon and I are gathering materials and monetary donation to get stuff to the Marines scout/snipers in Iraq. The deputy belongs to the USMC Scout/Sniper Association, and the stuff will be shipped out in bulk in a few weeks through the Association.

We are handing our donations to the deputy by Tuesday, November 16. Why so soon? 2 reasons. First, we’re leaving for Thailand on the 18th. And secondly, in order for the troops to get the packages for the holidays, it’d have to go out by early December.

-The following is the list from the deputy. The ones in italic is my own addition from my research.

• Toothbrushes & toothpaste. Those Crest “Brush Up” things are pretty neat too.
• T-shirts & socks
• Gun cleaning gear
• Cookies/ crackers
• Sun glasses
• Bandanas
• Fingernail clippers
• Small canned goods (meat, fruit, etc.) The pop-tops are better. Easier for them to eat in the field.
• Handy wipes (showers are seldom)
• Current periodicals
• Sunscreen/ lip balm
• Zip lock baggies
• Phone cards so they can call home.
• AA batteries for their comfort electronics.
• Letters. Yes, letters. The troops like to hear from the folks back home. Write a note to them, talking about the weather, sports, life in general.

So if you’d like to participate, please let me know ASAP via this blog or email.

Thank you, and from Brandon, Semper Fi.

I promise not to edit …well not too much… from this point on and show you the OakMonster’s drunken rant. And yes, that’s DRUNKEN after 2 full glasses of Oakley Winery Zinfandel. (James and Aurora, the newlyweds, bought that for me from an actual winery in Napa.)

A wussy? Yeah, try being a 100 lbs. Asian. The odds are against you on going past 2 glasses and still be sober, buddy.

===

So, I cooked up a big pot of beef stroganoff from scrath. Yes I sure did. And it was d3licious, served over egg noodles. Aurora nad I split a bottle of Zinfendel. WEll, split wouldn’t be correct since she drank probably a glass asn a half to 2 glasses more than i did. We also snack on some cut up chunks of mild cheddar chessse I collected from a few samll snack size Land O Lake. Ghetto fabulous for such a casual evening. and of couse, we sang along -00 and drool over Captain Shang of Mulan. Brandon got me the DVD and a few Godiva chocolate truffles for my early birthday present. Tomrorw I shall have a dinner party at Picarelli and finally I’ll get to take home the interactive Stitch doll! I’m a huge fan of LIlo and Stitch and Aurora and I found the doll at a KB Toys on sale. She bought it for my birthday a month ago but wouldn’t let me have the possesion of my beloved alien. Torture!!! But perhaps she’d give him to me tomorrow … or if she’s really evil sh’ed wait utnil my actual b-day on the 16th.

Wow. the Chair made a turn and I was about to puke. Oh my god. holy crap. i haven’;t drank this much in ages. LOL. One more sip and I’d be in the bath room puking. but that’s okay brandon is hooked on EQ2 so I cna go crashed on n teh bed and I wouldn’t hurt him too much. Muwahhahaha.

Tha’ts what I like about Girl Night In. We chatted, watched girlie type movies, and drank. And we dind’t care about the world. The only thing is, as much as I”m comfortable with the girls, I don’t feel like ripping a burp at them. Like with Aurora, she’s gotten used to it by now. But man, hanging out with the boys liek I did with Shane, Eric, and Branodon the other night…I was free stylin’. And it was totally liberating.

Oh, for those of you who didn’t know. I can burp on command…though little burps. The burps can be induced by rubbing my stomach. So far only myself, Brandon, and a few close friend can rub mah belly. ;-D I think I have burping problems I’m afriad to tell my doctor. I DO LIKE BURPING, DAMMIT. And the fact taht I can do it on command, it makes life more fun. I don’t want that taken away.

*BUUUUURP.*

Okay druken rant schmunken rant. (Oh hey look I CAN spell “schmunken” when drunk!!!!). I”m going to bed.

It’s all true when they say that once you’re a USC Trojan, you’re ALWAYS a Trojan. The love for our alma mater runs deep in our cardinal and gold veins. So much so that it connects us through generations, hence the world’s famous Trojan Network.

That’s why FAITHFUL is first on the 5 Trojan virtues of Faithful, Scholarly, Skillful, Courageous, and Ambitious.

And that’s something those fucla freaks don’t possess. Here’s a proof as one of their own sent to USC Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart which he proudly posted on his blog.

Nov. 8, 2004 - Email of the Day

Hey Matt–I have to keep this kind of anonymous, but I’m such a big fan. I’m a student at UCLA (so many people would kill me for admitting this) so I’m supposed to hate USC. But I have so much respect for Coach Carroll, Norm Chow and the way you play. The sports fan in me takes precedence over my student status, I guess. So when we play you on the 4th, I’ll be booing you guys like everyone else at the Rose Bowl, but I’m pulling for you to win the National Championship!

I rest my case.

Okay, okay. One more on the political slant from a LEGAL immigrant. Visited Jennsylvania via “back in the bubble” ‘Mazing Amy.

Here’s the last words on the whole electionmanitzel fashizel (taken out the less relevant parts–sorry Jen) . Again, just in case you didn’t it the first time, the following message is brought to you by Jennsylvania.

November 9, 2004 - 5:03 PM
Step Aside, Dr. Phil

Dear America,

…

Later, I heard John Kerry’s already gearing up for a possible 2008 bid for the presidency. Excuse me, sir? A little friendly advice? RELAX. Give yourself a minute to catch your breath. Why don’t you take your wife on a nice cruise or something, you know, chill, kick back, maybe drink some banana liqueur cocktails before you make that kind of decision? (note to self: Stop thinking of Speedo-clad Kerry relaxing on the French Riviera. Because, really? Ick.)

After I returned from lunch, I heard how suicide hotlines and Canadian immigration officials have been inundated by those wanting to escape Bush’s second term. Mental health professionals all over the country are working overtime to counsel those of you despondent over the election. Apparently you guys have been seeking post-election trauma therapy in droves!

I’m sorry to have to do this, but I think you folks need a little tough love, so…

… Ahem.

People?

GET A FUCKING GRIP ON YOURSELVES!

Pull it together! You’ve had a whole week to feel sorry for yourselves – it’s time to get on with your lives! Enough with the moping, wailing, and navel-gazing already! Move on! It may seem hard at first, but I know you can do it because you guys are AMERICANS! You and your ilk are responsible for the likes of John Wayne and the Ford Mustang and Microsoft, for crying out loud! And as Americans, you were spawned from the baddest motherfuckers ever to walk this earth! Those ancestors of yours huddled inside rickety old boats for weeks to get here, battling storms, seasickness, hunger, fatigue, and fear, carrying nothing with them but the will to live free. And you know what? These people – your people – helped create the greatest country in the world with the best form of government known to mankind.

Does that mean our system is perfect? No. Does it mean sometimes despite your hard work, your guy (or gal!) doesn’t get elected, even though you know in your heart he or she was the better candidate? Yes.

And it’s OK to be disappointed when it happens.

But don’t let your displeasure with our system cause you to lose your peace of mind, toss away your citizenship - or worse, your life - over fears about the direction this country may or may not be heading BECAUSE YOUR TEAM DIDN’T WIN.

It’s flat-fucking-ridiculous. You’re better than that.

You’ve had plenty of time to feel your feelings. Now it’s time to organize. Rally. Act. Get off your therapists’ couch and use your pent-up energy to legally affect change.

So prepare to leather up, you nancy-boys and girls.

Because you’re going to be OK.

Best,

Jen

P.S. My mother the therapist probably does not share my views on this particular post.

P.S. Also? If I could endure eight years of the fraternity party otherwise known as the Clinton Administration, you can deal with the benign President Churchy McJesus.

P.P.S. If Bush were so intent on imposing a stringent Christian lifestyle on everyone, wouldn’t he have started with his kids? As it stands, Jenna and Barbara are one Jello shot away from starring in the Presidential edition of Girls Gone Wild.

An email sent to the webmaster of The Nation’s, one of Thailand’s English language newspaper, was printed in the Letters section. (Scroll down a bit.)

This newspaper frelling loves me and my online comments!!

On Thai female athletes winning Olympic Golds (Headliner!)
On intercultural marriage (scroll down)

The Nation’s website allows you to comment on the articles. So I went and posted things not knowing that they actually do pick good comments to be published in their papers.

My friend, Joy, emailed me that she came across my letter in the papers while she was on the plane to Hong Kong. She was thinking, dang this chick sounds like Oakley. Hey, it is Oakley!