Conversation with kids

One Saturday morning, March, the beginning of Summer, at Suwannabhumi Airport, arrival hall, there was a man standing and looking up to the announcement board. “There! 07:55 am, TG123 from Chiang Mai, Landed. Arrived before schedule.”, he thought. He looked at his watch. It’s 08:05am. “Well, it should be fine. I am still on time.” That man was me.

That day, my cousin brought his families to Bangkok for a vacation. His kids were out of school and looking forward for this trip. It’s my second time meeting the kids. My first time was last year but at that time I did not have a chance to talk and get to know them at all. So I was also wondering what the kids would be like. I was a bit nervous. While waiting, I had nothing much to do, so I wandered around the arrival hall. Flipped through a few books. Nothing interesting. Thirty minutes passed, no one came out of the arrival gate.

I picked up my mobile and punched in the number. No signal. “He still does not turn on the phone.”, I guessed. Another 15 minutes passed, now I was stressed and tried to call my cousin again.

“Hello”, my cousin answered the phone.

“Hi, where are you? Is there any problem?”, I asked in a hurry.

“Oh, there is a problem with the luggage belt. We just get our bags. Sorry.”

“That’s fine. Then, I’ll see you in a bit.”

Here we go! The kids’ sound, small and loud, was heard from a distance. The boy was 7 and the girl was 3. It’s time!

“Hello. Do you wait for a long time?”, my aunt asked.

“Not at all. It’s ok. Are you tired? Does anyone want to use the toilet?”

“No need. Let’s go to Pattaya. The kids are dying to see the sea.”, his wife said and turned her face to the little girl.

What a cute face! My niece’s round face and her Chinese eyes fixed on mine. She must be wondering “Who are you? Do I know you? Have we met before?”–that sort of questions. All I could do was smiling and saying “Hi kiddo.” Still not a smile from her. Kids must have a special radar that picks up some weird vibe from adult, I guess. As for my nephew, he’s much older than his sister so his radar was kind of fading, I guess (again).

“How’s your first flight? Did you enjoy it?” I asked my nephew and tried to break the ice.

“It’s alright. All I saw was cloud. It’s not fun at all.”, he replied.

My first thought was that why wasn’t it fun? My first flight was full of excitement and expectation. Do you still remember the first time you were on a plane? I think it’s probably that we are getting many things too easy and quick. Now, taking a flight is very common comparing to the past 15-20 years. Why do I feel that nowadays children are taking many things for granted? They have a hot temper and very demanding. Well, I just don’t want to feel that way with my nephew.

Nonetheless, children will always be children. When both of them saw my car, they shouted and screamed. “It’s papa’s dream car!!!” My brother told me that he wanted to buy this same model. That’s why they were excited seeing my car. I thought, they were just kids and so innocent. My car was just a normal Japanese car, nothing fancy. But they thought it’s the best in the world. So the first thirty minutes, both of them just admired my car and kept talking about it.

My niece: “Papa’s dream car. I want the pink. Papa, I want the pink car.

“My Nephew: “No! I want black. Papa, please buy the black one.”

My niece: “Pink!”

My nephew: “Who will sit in the pink car?”

Both of them just argued over the color of their dream car. When I left the parking building, their attention turned to other things such as the road, the trip, the food, etc. I just kept smiling and driving as well as listening to the kids’ conversation.

My niece: “Mama, where is an elephant?”

Mama: “There are no elephants in Bangkok, only in Chiang Mai.”

My niece: “But I want to see the elephant. Oh oh…the pink car.”

Grandma: “Look! There’s another pink car.”

My niece’s eyes were widen and turned her head around to see the pink taxi that following at the back. She loved everything in pink. My nephew just sat quietly reading cartoon book showing no interest in anything. My brother felt to sleep and left my sister taking care of my niece,who was full of energy and did not go to sleep at all.

During the trip, I was trying to talk to my niece.

Me: “Hey, look at that! Don’t you see that big pink bus? Now the pink taxi just transformed to the pink bus. See?”

My niece: “Where is it?”

My sister: “Umm…Why don’t you ask uncle Ek?”

My niece: “Uncle Ek, where is the big pink bus?”Me: “Over there. Keep watching. It might transform back to the smaller pink car.”

My niece: “Where? Where?”

Then I drove pass that bus. She said “Wow…the big pink bus.”

In split of second, there was one pink taxi passed us; so I told her “Look! There! It transformed back to the smaller car. See?”

My niece: “The pink car.” Smile and happy.

Just a short period of time that I spent my time with kids, I believe that they are really full of imagination. Everything is possible in their mind. That’s why we have to grow creativity for our children from the early age. Adults are full of dullness and I am trying hard not to be one of them. Now I am kind of understanding why people say “I wish I could have turned back to my childhood.”, or “Well, look at that smile. It’s just brighten up my day.”, or “Kids are like a blank white canvas.” What is missing in the adults?, I wondered.

Relic Pagodas by Chinese Zodiac in Thailand ::|:: Part II

Well, here are the next four zodiacs-Dragon, Snake, Horse, and Goat.
Zodiac ::|:: Dragon
Wat Phra Singh Destination ::|:: Chiang Mai
Getting there ::|:: Samlarn Road, Muang, Chiang Mai
Located at the center of Chiang Mai is Wat Phra Singh, where Phra Buddha Si Hing is kept. The holy Buddha is priceless and has been with Chiang Mai for a very long time.
It’s very easy to go to this temple. I recalled that last time I went there was with my friends from the university. We went there for a seminar and did not have our own transportation. We just simply took the red public mini bus, which ran around town. You just told the driver. They knew. So no worry. Then we walked for a short distance. It’s kind of nice to walk around and saw the way of life of local people.
On that day, I was lucky enough to be able to enter the inner temple and gave respect to Phra Buddha Sihing. I was so delighted sitting still in front of the Buddha. What a peacefulness! Inside the temple, the temperature was cooler then the outside, where the sun was so bright. I sat there for couple minutes trying to give myself some quiet moment.
Zodiac ::|:: Snake
Bodhi Tree at Buddhagaya Destination ::|:: India
Getting there ::|:: Gaya District, Bihar State, India
Buddhagaya is the place where Buddha attained his enlightment when he sat under the Bodhi tree called Prasri Maha Bodhi. The temple was named as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.
If you cannot travel to India, you can go to Wat Maha Bhodharam in Chiang Mai. Within the temple’s area, you will see Jedi Jed Yod (Seven Spires Pagoda) representing Buddhagaya. Or if you do not want to go to Chiang Mai, you can pay respect to any Bhodi tree at any temple of your choice. Well, I suggest, if you really have faith, you go to India. For me, I really want to go there in the future.
Zodiac ::|:: Horse
Shwedagon Pagoda Destination ::|:: Myanma
Getting there ::|:: Rangon, Myanmar
As I said in my previous blog that I had visited Mynamar last year; of course, Shwedagon Pagoda was definitely in the program. It was so spectacular. I never saw any pagoda this huge and beautiful. The pagoda itself was made from golds, which I could not remember the total weight; but I knew it’s tremendous. (I think I will write about my trip to Myanmar later.)
I know that many people never thought about going to Myanmar. Well, I suggest you changing your mind. Just go there and you will love it. As for those of you who are born as a Horse zodiac and haven’t had a chance to visit Shwedagon pagoda, you can visit Wat Phra Borommathat at Tak Province as a substitute.
Zodiac ::|:: Goat
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Destination ::|:: Chiang Mai
Getting there ::|:: Ampur Maung, Chiang Mai
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most famous temple in the North and Chiang Mai province. I still remembered my first time visiting Doi Suthep. That time, I think, I was about 5-7 years old. I went there with my family (of course). Walking on that naga steps toward the temple was always a challenge for kids. Whenever, I thought about it, I will always have a smile on my face.
Along those steps, you will find many different hill tribes people selling souvenirs and shooting photo for money. I guess nowadays most of them are not really from the hill anymore. Everything now is all about marketing. Sometimes it makes the sacred place like Doi Suthep lost its charms and gracefulness. Today, if you are too lazy to walk the steps, you can take a cable car going up to the temple.  It’s your choice.  Nonetheless, I want you to try walking and enjoy the surrounding.
Next time, it will be the last part of this story. I hope that at least you guys will get something out of it. I wish you all good luck and good life for this coming Songkran Day or Thai’s New Year Day.

Relic Pagodas by Chinese Zodiac in Thailand ::|:: Part I

I have been thinking about writing this story for a long while. Being a Buddhist and a Thai-Chinese, I am influenced by the culture mixes. Of course, one of them is belief, which is very rich and effecting the way I live more or less.
Last year, I went to Myanmar with my sister and her husband. It was one of the great trips I ever had. We went there for about four days and mainly visited sacred Buddhist temples and holy places. In the contrary to the political turmoil and hard economy, Burmese do really have a strong faith in Buddha. Anyhow, that’s another story.
Definitely, we visited Shwedagon Pagoda, which was the pagoda of the Horse zodiac. Then people in the trip kept asking our tour guide about temples of the other zodiac. When I returned home, I wanted to write about it just for my own memory. However, I haven’t had a chance to do it until now.
As we all aware that the current economy is not doing well. Things are getting expensive. The living cost is rising. One thing to do to get your mind out of the difficulty is to find some peacefulness for your soul. If you don’t have any definite plan for this coming Songkran Holidays, you could consider visiting one of the pagodas of your zodiac.
Well, let get start!
Zodiac ::|:: Rat
Wat Phra That Sri Jomthong Destination ::|:: Chiang Mai
Getting there ::|:: Take highway#1010 toward Jomthong. Merging with highway# 108, turn left and follow the road. The temple is on your left.
This relic pagoda, situated on the top of the Jomthong hill, kept the Buddha’s right-side skull. It is more special than others in a sense that it is not buried but stood inside the pagoda. Thus, the relic can be taken out for water blessing.
On the full moon night of the third and seventh month according to the lunar calendar, the Buddha’s relic will be taken out into the main temple for people to sprinkle water for goodness. Legendary, it was said that the water should be taken from Glang River, then added some scent or nutmeg.
Zodiac ::|:: Ox
Wat Phra That Lampang Laung Destination ::|:: Lampang
Getting there ::|:: Upon arriving Lampang, take highway# 1 (to Thern). At milestone #586, turn left heading Koh Ka. When seeing highway# 1035, turn right and driving for about 3 km, you will see the temple on your left.
Wat Phra That Lampan Laung is the oldest temple of Lampang, where the Buddha’s hair was kept. Later, Buddhist Saint brought Buddha’s forehead and neck bone to be kept here at the temple. The relic pagoda is situated at the center of the ancient old town with “Lanna”, the original Thai northern decoration style called “Lai Kham”-the gold print or pattern on red surface. Inside the main temple, there are Buddha’s story painted on the walls since the King Rama V. One of the amazing things of this temple is that inside the “Hor Phar Buddha Bath”, you can see the reflection of the relic pagoda on the floor as a result of the light that going through the small hole on the wall.
Personally, I was born as an Ox zodiac. I had been visited Wat Phar That Lampang Laung for many years ago. At that time, I did not know anything about all these stuff. Now, I am blessed and feeling lucky that at least I had an opportunity to visit the temple of my birth sign.
Zodiac ::|:: Tiger
Phra That Chor Hae Destination ::|:: Prae
Getting there ::|:: Take highway# 11 passing Utaradit. Then take highway# 101 heading Denchai, Prae.
Phra That Chor Hae was situated on the hill with the 1900 B.E. architectural style, keeping the Buddha’s hair and left elbow. The relic pagoda was built in the Burmese octagon style called “Chiang Saen” art. People believe that bringing three color satin will raise your inner strength and protect you from enemy.
Zodiac ::|:: Rabbit
Phra That Chae Haeng Destination ::|:: Nan
Getting there ::|:: Take highway# 11 passing Utaradit and Prae. Then take highway# 101 to Nan. When arriving Nan, take route# 1187 to Ampur Maejarim. In about 2 km, you will get to the intersection. The foot hill in front of you is the entrance to Phra That Chae Haeng.
Phra That Chae Haeng is the golden relic pagoda of Nan province stood tall on the small hill, where you can see it within the distance of 3 KM. It is considered as a love memorial between Nan and Sukhothai territory in the historical age. The pagoda keeps the Buddha’s hair and left wrist bone.
Well, I will run this story in three parts since I don’t want to make it too long to read. And it’s more exciting that way, isn’t it? Of course, it will be before the Songkran holiday in case that you want to visit the temple of your zodiac for your blessing. See you in a bit.

Expect the unexpected!

Expect the unexpected. That’s what I told myself on the night of Monday March 17th when I went to Harry Connick Jr’s Live in Bangkok.

Well, the reason was that jazz music was never really the mainstream in Thailand. So I didn’t think the concert would be jam packed. The next thing was that only his fans would know and enjoy his songs. Third, I never went to the Bangkok Convention Hall at Central World for the concert; thus, I would never know what it would be like. Fourth, I knew in advance that 90% of the seats were at the same level, the rest would be on the temporary stands at the back of the hall, so I did not know if I could view the stage clearly. Last, the concert was on Monday night, so who would be in the mood to attend the concert.

Despite all those thoughts, I still looked forward to going to the concert. It was simple. I have been listening to his music since 1992, when I was in high school. (I still cannot believe it.)

‘Oh My Nola’ | January 2007 | Released

Arriving at Central World around 06:30pm, the first thing need to be done was finding the parking. It was as I expected, it’s hard to find the parking. I had driving around the parking lot trying to find the nearest spot to the lift to the concert hall. Finally, I got it.

I still had time so I went to B2S checking some new books. When I was about to leave the store, at the Thaiticketmaster counter, there were some tourists asking about Harry’s concert. So I thought, “Was it the concert management’s intention in holding the event at Central World in order to attract foreigners and tourists given that this was not the kind of music Thai people liked?” I thought I was right!

08:40pm, the concert started on-time. (It’s not like Thai concert that normally starts 40-60 minutes later than the scheduled time.) Well, the concert hall was full. I thought more than half of the audiences were foreigners or tourists. Thai audiences were mainly celebrities and some well-know people. Personally, I felt like attending a concert in another country.The theme of this tour concert was to perform the New Orleans Jazz style. Harry did not perform any jazz standards that Thais might be familiar with or heard of such as the song from the movie ‘When Harry Met Sally’ or songs from his platinum album ‘Only You’, which was got US Platinum. All the songs were from his latest couple albums. (If you want to find out more about his music, you can visit his website at http://www.harryconnickjr.com)

‘Chanson du Vieux Carre’ | January 2007 | Released

One of the highlights was when he and his band performed His Majesty the King’s composition “Near Dawn” or “ใกล้รุ่ง”. I was touched.

His performance and his band truly brought the audience to New Orleans. It brought back my memory when I was in the States and had a chance to visit New Orleans. I really enjoy the music. The performance was pure, fresh, and lively. It’s an entertaining night.

‘Only You’ | February 2004 | Released

‘When Harry Met Sally’ | July 1989 | Released

By the way, up until now, what happened were not the things that I exected. The hall was full (though I felt like I was not in Thailand). The audiences were enjoying the music (mainly because there were foreigners). The concert hall was not OK but the sound system was good. And the view to the stage was OK but I still did not like it. (It made me felt like I was sitting in the high school gymnasium.)

As I said earlier, expect the unexpected. When the concert ended, all audiences went straight to the elevators crushing out. I waited about 15 minutes before leaving the hall. Then I walked to elevator and stood in line waiting for the next trip. Ding! Ding! The elevator came. Suddenly one big guy broke the line and said “Let the VIP go first!” The first person in line surprised and puzzled. I was in the back of the queue and thought to myself “What the hell!” I did not want to tell who the idiot VIP and his families were. I never thought that people with a high position in the society would do such a thing like breaking the line. For one thing, he was not Thai. I was very disappointed. But then again, Thai people were too nice. That lady standing at the head of the line just let them went through. Just like that!

Anyway, expect the unexpected!

If I got something out of this concert, I would say “Do whatever you love; then you’ll deliver your best and do it with your heart.” When Harry performed on the stage, you would know that he loved what he did. He just gave it to the audience 100%. So…just listen to your heart. Then do it with your heart, but do not expect anything.

I Will

“I Will”
by Zhang Li Yin

不知不覺的 月亮悄悄照亮夜空
在想你的這一夜 寂寞伴隨我身旁
痴心如夢想 疲憊已無力在飛翔
真心的翅膀追隨 你的影子到天亮
我真的好想就這樣 飛進你溫暖心房
你是否看到我的愛正在 為你而閃亮

* 在你的懷中 愛你疼你呼吸都停止燃燒
承載著甜蜜的夢隻想和你 飛翔到永遠
輕輕說愛你 你是我無悔 追隨的方向
Baby you’ll (be) last forever my love *

細雨般的思念 細述對你無盡思念
等所有空白都添滿 也說不盡我的愛
這一夜 我的心 被寂寞悄悄的融化
原來我的愛依然 是個純真的小孩
今天也守在電話旁 裝做偶然也無妨
哪怕是一次打錯的電話 也難以入睡

]沒有你在身旁我會怎麼樣
為你憔悴 為你落淚 為愛而枯萎
是你的愛溫暖我 鑽石玫瑰一般的珍貴
我早就已經知道 你是我永恆的愛

Repeat *

MV Part 1

MV Part 2