OakMonster’s Den

Total death toll is now over 44,000. 62,000. 68,000. 120,000. 135,000.

Thailand

4500 confirmed dead. About half of them foreign tourists. Another 6500 are still missing.

Even when we’re facing the atrocity ourselves, the country still has the mind to set up a fund to help our neighbor Indonesia.

King Bhumibol made his yearly New Year television address:

“Yet this incident demonstrates the compassion of everybody in the Kingdom, be they civilians or soldiers. They are in harmony and feel compassion for others. They are determined to live in peace. They don’t leave others in the face of disaster. They are ready to help others with compassion, both locals and foreigners,” said His Majesty.

We Thais are so lucky to have such a great leader. Suffering his own loss, the King is still out there, letting his people know he cares, that he is thinking of the rest of us as well. I bet if his health permitted, the King would be out there to visit the south soon after the funeral of his grandson. King Bhumibol, he’s one the reasons why I am so proud to be a Thai, to live under his rules, to be one of his subjects. And even sharing a few strands of his DNAs. (For those who didn’t know, I am somewhat related to the Thai royal family.)

On a different note, despite the tragedy, more violence erupted in the deep south. “Muslim” rebels struck again. More innocent lives are lost. Again, a rare few people who hide behind religion as a cause to commit murder.

Another lesson on terrorism, like Death, it doesn’t take a holiday. It doesn’t know mercy.

Elsewhere

Aids are arriving in the affected area. The world is pouring their hearts and their wallets into several funds to help out.

Indonesia alone lost 80,000 lives, combination of earthquake and tsunami. Almost 41,000 in Sri Lanka. 3000 Americans are still unaccounted for.

Khum Poomi

Here’s the account of Princess Ubolrattana on Khum Poom’s death.

“The princess told Thai Rath daily newspaper she had never thought she was about to lose Khun Poom as she saw him running in front of her as the waves struck. He was not riding the jet ski as reported. He had finished with it and was already
back at the hotel.”

The rite/wake continues until next Tuesday, traditionally 7-day wake but there will be no rite performed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and it is open for the public. Thousands of Thais and foreigners have come by to pay their respects, including a group of autistic students.

Natural Fighter

Almost a week after possibly the catastrophic tragedy the country, and while relief workers are doing their best on other beaches, one Thai lady and a few tourists show us that life goes on.

They’re back on the beach to resume their daily lives.

In a true Buddhist way, Mrs. Yupin, the lone masseuse on Phuket’s recovered Kata Beach, said:

”We are born once and die once. We are not worthy of living if we are lazy and do not pay our own way,” she said. ”Even if another huge wave comes while I am massaging, I won’t be scared because I’m already old now.”

Bangkok Post Thursday 30 December 2004 - Tourists, masseuse return to beach

Compassionate

Prisoners on good behavior stormed the beach on clean up efforts. Others put their hands to the plywood to make coffins. The lady inmates in Bangkok even sent monetary donations out of their own pockets.

Students at trade schools joined forces to raise funds, and make coffins when they were not in class.

The country truly unites under such atrocity. In a way I have never seen before in my life.

Bangkok Post Thursday 30 December 2004 - Prisoners join in relief work, help build coffins

A few ways to help.

All Areas Affected

You can donate directly online to the Red Cross International Response Fund. This fund will help all the countries that are affected.

USAID also has a list of other international organizations working in the areas.

Thailand

For the Thai Community in the United States and American friends who wish to donate money for various relief operations in Thailand, the Royal Thai Consulates in LA and DC are accepting donations now. You can either:

1. Make check payable to The Royal Thai Consulate General, Los Angeles, on the memo line please write “Donation Fund for the South” and mail it to Royal Thai Consulate General, 611 N. Larchmont Blvd., 2nd Fl. Los Angeles, California 90004.
2. Make check payable to Royal Thai Embassy, on the memo line please write “Donation Fund for the South” and mail it to Royal Thai Embassy, 1024 Wisconsin Ave., Washington D.C. 20007.
3. Transfer fund to: Wachovia Bank, 1300 I Street, NW 11th Fl., Washington, DC 20005 . Swift Code PNBPUS33. Routing # 054001220. Royal Thai Embassy’s Donation Account (Checking) No. 2000020745479

More Thai Resources

The Nation Online has an extensive list of phone numbers and other information on how to seek and ID the missing relatives, and donate money and goods.

Khun Poom

Folks in DC area, a Book of Condolences for Khun Poom will be open through Thursday, December 30, 2004 at the Royal Thai Embassy from 10.00 a.m. to12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Over 23,000 death toll so far for the entire region.

Thai press confirms the death of the King’s grandson, Khun Poom Jensen, the autistic son of Princess Ubolrattana.

Princess Ubolrattana married Peter Jensen, a San Diego business man, some 20 years ago, and was disowned by Thai royal family. About 10 years ago, she opened her San Diego home to a Thai magazine, and introduced her family to the people. Thais fell in love with her charming Thai-American children, 2 girls and a boy. Eventually the royal family embrace the Jensens and welcome the Princess back. In 1999, the Princess and Peter were divorced, and the Princess moved back to Thailand.

The oldest daughter, I think, is getting her Ph.D. in music/vocal studies in England. The younger daughter is going to college in San Diego, but is vacationing with mom and Khun Poom. Khun Poom has a late onset of autism. A “Rainman” he was, a math genius. They have worked with him for many years, and just recently he could do things and go places by himself.

Yes. Was. Now the boy’s dead.

And yesterday I was so happy drooling over movie stars. Today, I’m in mourning for fellow countrymen and feeling the King’s loss.

So much for “Happy Holidays”.

The 9.0 earthquake in Indonesia sent tsunami into the southern islands of Thailand. A lot less damaged in Thailand than in Sri Lanka and southern India.

My family is safe and sound. My dad and brother were both in Bangkok when this happened, and my mom is in a much safer place even, in the hills of Chiangdao in Chiangmai province.

I don’t have the official report yet, but I’m pretty sure the hotel that my dad designed, and we stayed at in 1999, Thavorn Beach Village, were hit as well.

The Malasian geologist also warns of possible eruption of underwater volcanos. Oh my.

Finally, words have it that a member of the King’s family went missing. We’ll see if that is just a rumor or not.

I haven’t watched so much television in a long time. I parked myself on the couch all day yesterday and watched movies on DVD, movies on Demand, and whatever movies were on television.

I fell in love all over again with the charming and witty Hugh Grant in my 500th watching of “Love Actually”, and the first time watching “2 Week Notice”. That smile. That sense of humor. Those eyes.

Then I caught myself swooning over Colin Firth in “Love Actually” even though I can’t really say what makes him so dreamy. Partly the accent. Partly his being a little goofy. Well, he does comedy well too. Expressive eyes, perhaps. The sound of his voice, maybe. And of course, the nice and tall, squared shoulders thing. I really don’t know what it is!

Followed close behind is the younger Christian Bale. I watched “Little Women” as my usual Christmas tradition, and discovered all over again that little something about Christian Bale’s fangs, and the sexy pianist hands that he has. Yes, I’m a little weird about the hands. I blame it on my early exposure to Japanese romance manga. They drew their boys tall, pretty like a girl almost and with these long, delicate, pianist fingers like Christian Bale’s. Those are them sexy hands.

“The Recruit” brought me Colin Farrell with American accent. His eyes melt me just the same. And that body. Woahwee! Nobody says bad boy like Colin does even when he’s playing the good guy. Something about him says, hey I’m tough on the outside but cuddly on the inside. Maybe it’s the unibrow…

“Bend It Like Beckham”. Again, Jonathan Rhys Meyer. He is good looking in a strange way. At first I didn’t think too much of him, but then suddenly it clicks. I guess it has a lot to do with his acting too. Suddenly he was the cutie pie I couldn’t stop watching.

And finally, the grand McDaddy of all hunky Brits, Sean Connery in “The Rock”. I swear to god, that man is sexier as he gets older. Not all actors age like Sir Connery does. Well, okay. Denzel Washington, but then again the man doesn’t really age. Look at what age does to Robert Redford and Harrison Ford though!

Okay yeah, I definitely have something for the British accent and wit. And I finally realize all of that over one full day of television.

Christmas is commercial to me. It’s merely a 6-day early New Year’s Day for Thai people. We do our presents for New Year, not Christmas.

So, we get to jump start the New Year, year of the Rooster, a little bit early with these fine gifts:

1. To ourselves = GameCube for Oakley, new pair of combat boots for Brandon, and subscription to NetFlix for the household.
2. Emeril’s spices gift pack. 2 bottles of spice blends, a bottle of marinade, and a bottle of steak sauce.
3. …

When you look up “Joy of Christmas”, you’ll find this.

This is Buster Zykan. My HS friend Melissa is his mommy.

Merry Christmas, one and all.

BUT…no Christmas for you, hippies!

I was done with shopping and wrapping of gifts on Saturday.

Take THAT.

Then again, most of the shopping was done while we were in Thailand. Actually, most of that shopping was done by mom, but man does she know how to shop! Only need to shop with her once and she knows exactly what to get the next time around.

As for wrapping, I just sat in front of the TV on a weekend and wrap away. The next thing I knew, it was time for dinner and all the gifts are wrapped.

If you need help, give me a ring. Just pop in a DVD and leave me by the couch.