Piano Related

What’s your way to free and ease your mind?  For me, it’s the piano.  Around this time last year, I bought myself a piano and seriously started playing it again.   It’s my way to relax and working on my brain cells.

It’s been a long time since I have practiced classical piano and my fingers are not working as easy and smooth as I wished them to be.  First, it’s very frustrated for me not to be able to play some classical pieces that I used to play.  But then it clicks.  This is what I want.  I need to keep focusing and concentrating, which I find it harder to do these days.  In piano world, there is a saying–“Practice makes perfect”.  So I think this is a good time for me to sit down and take it easy.  I also think that it is the way for me to get my mind out of my daily matters.  It’s a kind of a mind therapy for me.

Anyway, over the last couple years I have been inspired by many movies related to piano.  The first one is a Japanese movie called “Shindo” (神童), which I blogged about it earlier.  There are differences between those who are gifted and those who are not.  Under pressure, those talented people can just stop and escape.  Nonetheless, they cannot run away from who they truly are.

Yet again, I find this Japanese TV series called Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ), which is based upon the best selling comic book by the same title, very inspiring.  It’s such a shame that I do not see this kind of series in Thailand.  I think there is only one Thai person who makes it into the world of classical music–Bundit Ungrangsee–comparing to our neighbor countries such as Japan, Korea, and China.  I believe that we can successfully maintain both our national culture and other foreign culture only if we have an appropriate support and a right system from government and private sector.  I just feel like having Thai children to be able to explore the world art forms and high quality inspirational media.

The next one is a Taiwanese movie called the “Secret” (不能说的秘密), directed and starred by a famous young singer, Jay Chou.  I am just stunned when I see the piano battle scene.  I do not know what to say.  It’s just amazing.  What surprised me more was that the scores were composed by a Thai musician named Terdsak Janpan, whom I never heard before. Until today, I still cannot find further information about him.

Another touching movie is from Korea, titled “For Horowitz” (호로비츠를 위하여).  It’s just not easy to live and push your dream in another person’s life, especially when that person is just a child.  This is a good movie to watch if you have time.  I won’t tell you the ending but be prepare to cry.

When seeing those movies, I get an urge to play classical piano again.  Now, getting start is rather difficult for being away such a long while.  I have to start exercising my fingers with scale and Hanon.  Anyway, three months ago, I decided to go back to music school with hope that I can somehow enjoyed my classical music again.

Currently I am practicing a piece called “Etude: Op. 47 No. 21 Adante con moto” by S. Heller, which I find it confusing in terms of finger position.  Anyway everyday I keep telling myself “practice makes perfect”.  I am now learning to be patient and focus for at least an hour everyday in front of my piano.

“Kang Lang Pap” – Behind the Painting: The Musical

It has been an annual anticipating event for many people since the renowned huge success of “Bunlangmek: The Musical” in year 2001.  This year, Thakonkiat Veerawan comes back again with a big musical production ever–“Kang Lang Pap” or “Behind the Painting: The Musical”, which is adapted from a best selling novel by the same title.

Kang Lang Pap was written by Sriburapha, who was one of the most respectful Thai authors and was named by UNESCO as the world most outstanding people in year 2005.  This novel was first published in a newspaper since 1937; and had been made as movies twice in year 1985 and 2001 with equal success.

Personally, I have not seen any version of the movies.  I only read the novel when I was in a high school as a required reading for my Thai study.  This year, before I went to see the musical, I read the book again and it made me realized that how wide was the gap between the language and style then and now.  I forgot how beautiful the language in the old days was.  Many expressions were not used nowadays.  Language is really revolving.

Anyhow, talking about the musical version of this long time famous novel, after the curtain was down and the light went off, I had a mixed feeling between satisfaction and bore.  I guessed it was the theme and tone of the story that made me bored.  I did not say that it was bad; just some moments that were too interminable.  Nonetheless, there were a lot of bright sides that still made this musical worth watching.  One of those was the actors and actresses, who were really good in both singing and acting, especially all the lead characters.  I was expected to see the best performance from Pat Suthasinee Bhudhinund and Rudklao Amaradith; but then Bie Sukrit Visetkaew was surprised me.  He, actually, sang quite well but still needed to sharpen up his acting skill.

Off course, music was the core of the musical and this year they did it again.  However, personally I preferred Bunlungmek to this one.  There were only one song that I liked the most, which was sung by both Pat and Bie on the scene when they both were apart.

This year production was the biggest ever.  The talk of the town scene was the Mitake Waterfall scene where there was real water on the stage.  I was amazed seeing water gradually flowed and covered up the stage then fell over at the front stage where audience were sitting.  It was kind of funny to hear the roaring noise from the audience when water started flowing and almost no one paid attention to the performers on stage, including me.  Wow, this time they really made it!  I felt happy with the producers and creators of the production team.  :-)

One other thing that disappointed me was the classic words by Khunying Kirati, the lead actress–“ฉันตายโดยปราศจากคนที่รักฉัน แต่ฉันก็อิ่มใจว่าฉันมีคนที่ฉันรัก”–“I am dying without one who loves me; but I am satisfied that I have one whom I love”, which was not well portrayed at all in the musical.  In my opinion, there should have been some other way to do it in a more touching and emotional manner than what they did.

Well, I will see what will be the next surprise in the coming year from Thakonkiat and his team.

simplicity ::-:: Walking

Have you ever enjoyed one of simplest things you could do like walking?  I did!  That made me think if we, human, did many things way too complicated so that we forgot how we could finish those things in other simpler alternatives.  Sometimes I wondered myself if I thought too much until I fail into the trap of thinking and got nothing out of it.

Last weekend, I went to see a concert with my sister at Indoor Stadium Huamark.  I normally went to the venue early in order to get a parking space.  I had about 1.5 hours before the door opened, so I was debating myself if I wanted to take a cab or walk to the nearby department store to get something to eat.  It’s quite a simple decision but I couldn’t help giving a lot of thought.  Many things came into the equation, plus the time and the traffic, which was such a disaster, especially on Saturday evening.  Finally, I decided to walk from the stadium to Big C Supercenter, which I thought it’s probably around 2 KM (if I was not wrong).

I cut through Ramkhamhaeng University, passed my high school (Satit Ramkhamhaeng), and reached Big C.  Along the way, I saw many things changed: new buildings in the university and my high school, new landscapes, new faculties, new surroundings, etc.  All old memories ran into my head when I walked pass the field track where we practiced sports; the gymnasium where we learned Judo; the art & music building where we took the ground floor as a classroom in our final year in high school.  Those thoughts made me smile.

Before I exited the university’s gate, on my left were two huge buildings, one was for the kindergarten school and one for primary school.  Almost 20 years ago, Satit Ram had only high school, and now seeing little kids in Satit Ram’s uniform made me happy.

After taking a quick meal, I took another route back to stadium.  This time I took the road to the back of the stadium.  While I was walking, I periodically looked up into the sky and saw clear sky and trees.  Later, I noticed that I did it unintentionally.  One of the reasons might be that on the road was crowded and jam-packed with cars and motorcycles; and I did not want to see them.

It was so amazing that half way through the path I did not see a single person.  There was only me.  Then my eyes shifted to the bus and saw that passengers were looking at me weirdly.  They might think that I was crazy by walking.  Well, what I did was smile.  That’s it!

Almost reaching the stadium, there were a whole lot of different kinds of peddlers and food kiosks along the footpath.  I stopped by the “Pa-tong-go Sangkaya” (deep fried dough with sweet dipping) kiosk and found that it was very fresh, delicious, and importantly cheap.  Further on the footpath were seafood kiosks.  Interestingly enough, they arranged the eating area by laying a piece of plastic sheet and putting a coffee table and some cushions around for customers.  There were more than 30 sets along the stadium fence down to the gate.  Wow, what a fun meal to have!  (though I was not guarantee the cleanliness).  That also made me smile.

This was a walking session full of smile.  I realized that I forgot how beautiful the sky was; how fresh the trees were; and how easy going life could be.  Now I saw that there were more in life.  I did not have to make things too complicated.  More or less, I still could look up to the sky or kneeled down to take a look at the green grass and small flowers.  When was the last time you do that?

For whatever other reasons one might have, for me, this short walking distance brought me back some good old comforting memories and showed me some simple life styles that many others might forgot.  In addition, not to mention that I got a chance to exercise a little bit too.  What else could one ask for in life?  I thought living each day as simple as possible might be an answer.

EP01: for the love of cartoon – “Fujiko F. Fujio”

If I have to say, I would say that Japanese cartoon book or comic book is the most influence media to not only Thai kids but also the adults. I am one of them who still read Japanese cartoon. I would say that I have been growing with it.
Before I could remember anything, I recalled that I had Captain Tsubasa, one of the cartoons about football, in my hands. The world of cartoon was opened by my dad, who at that time worked with an adhesive company selling glue to various types of businesses and one of them was the publishing company called Viboonkij.
Thirty years ago, the copyrights and intellectual property were not truely and widely enforced in Thailand, all of cartoons sold here were not quite legal. However, no one cared. I remembered that it was cost about 10 baht per book, which was not that cheap at that period. Anyhow, whenever he could, my dad would bring home the whole set of cartoon for my brother and sister as well as me. Captain Tsubasa was the one that had a place in my heart.
Since then I have been a big fan of Japanese cartoon books. I read all kinds but there are a few of my favorite cartoonists that I want to share with you.
Definitely, my first favorite cartoonist is Fujiko F. Fujio whose comic book is the one and only best seller of all time, Doraemon, the blue cat-robot without ear traveling through time from the future. I remembered that I had to sit in front of TV every Saturday and Sunday morning to watch Doraemon and his gang’s adventure. It is one of the most creative story that expands kids’ imagination and creativity over and beyond. Even now, there are still Doraemon Movies showing every year. Also created by him are Parman, Hattori The Ninja, Q-Taro, and many more.
Fujiko F. Fujio
Doraemon	Parman
Hattori, The Ninja
Whenever I read and watch his cartoons, I just keep smiling and forget everything else, especially with Doraemon. I think I have another good friend, who has great stories to tell. I am smiling with him and sad when he’s sad. I remembered that when I met my friends at school, we were talking about Doraemon’s new episode and his new magic device from his pouch. (I believe that those of you who read this know what I am talking about.) Oh…I just want to have him for real. He could have made my life much easier.
Doraemon and the gang teach me many things, even though I do not obviously notice but I know it’s there, inside of me. He teaches me love, friendship, sacrifice, good, bad, brave, family, bonding, smiling, crying, fear, giving, caring, and most of all imagination. While he is so good in everything, he still has some flaws. Just like us, a normal human being. We have to know the goods and emphasize on them. When there are enough goods, bads will be buried. Of course, bads are there and never go away. You have to face and know your bads, the same thing that Doraemon has to face his fear of a rat.
Even now, the new generations still know Doraemon. The models and other products associated with this blue cat-robot are all over places. Even though time passes by, Doraemon is unchanged. Everyone knows Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, Suneo, Giant, and etc. They are everybody’s friends. Such extraordinary friends that always be in everybody’s heart!
If you want to ask me if I have any favorite Thai cartoonist, I would have to say that I don’t have one (at this moment). I am not against any Thai cartoon but I do not find it interesting or exciting. I think it’s about the story line, the drawing style, the theme, and the uniqueness. Thai people have been growing with Japanese cartoons so that it can’t help for being influenced by them, which is neither good nor bad. We just have to be ourself and be creative. That’s all.