The long work hours at the office (I had 15 day last week setting the paper to bed Wednesday) plus the commute have made it hard for me to get on a computer and get up as many blog posts as I would like, so in addition to working on some reasonably sized posts I think I'll start putting out five small moments from Jackie's and my life here in Phuket, Thailand.
1) Saturday after work and checking in on poor Jackie I snuck out of the house to catch a sunset at Nai Harn beach. I rarely get out of work in time to enjoy these little treats, so I really didn't want to miss the opportunity.
Out in the flat calm ocean, facing shore with sun setting behind the sailboats at my back I watched a school of minnow jump form the water a dozen at a time, as they were chased by bigger fish. Each time they went airborne their tiny bodies looked like drops of white gold as they caught the setting sun, I was entranced. I probably could have spent a life time watching the fish flee from the large fish just below the surface, however the aged-potbellied Russian's in their skimpy bathing suites wading out toward my like a sexy girl should in wet-dreams brought me back to reality. Luckily their bulbous bodies didn't ruin the real magic of the setting sun and the frantic fish.
2) There is a massage parlor not far from our house, well I should say that there are dozens of massage parlors not from our house, but there is a specific one that is staffed by the blind. I would like to say that I visit this one solely because I have no interest in a "special" message or a "happy ending" or for that matter just because I want to support the blind, however the real reason I visit the parlor is because it is the cheapest around at a 150 baht ($4.87) for an hour. The only place cheaper just opened up in Phuket Town and staffed by female inmates with good behavior records that got trained as masseuse. The idea of the blind work as masseuses is not a very new one. Both Japan and Vietnam I believe have actually set aside that field of work for blind people, because it is one of the few jobs that their handicap doesn't have a huge impact. The other major job that the blind in Thailand have is selling tickets for the national lottery (I still have no idea how that whole thing works).
The masseuse's hands began to work on my legs as I lay on my stomach and then there was a fascinating moment as his hands ran over my left shin (which has a huge deep scar -- it looks like someone took an ax to my leg). I could feel him take several passes over the scare, there was a tangibility to his curiosity. He didn't necessary linger on it, but there was something in the way that he touched the spot that you could tell that he was piecing out the image in his head.
3) A rainbow that turned into a double rainbow (never got to the triple rainbow -- so no tears of joy) appeared over Thailand's flag. The rain was coming down hard and there it was, perfectly framed outside the window by my desk.
4) Ate at a Korean buffet and all you can eat sushi restaurant at Tesco Lotus with some co-workers Thursday. Hot water was poured around the tables grill and two pieces of fat placed on top. A multi-colored conveyor belt brought plate after plate of food by, vegitbales, mushrooms, fish , chicken, pork -- you name it.
They brought me a seat to sit at the end of the booth and I must admit that I felt huge in the tiny chair. Like a ten-year-old boy trying to squeeze into a baby's car seat. The vegetables were placed in the hot water around the grill and slowly made a soup with all the grease and delicious flavors dripping off the thinly sliced cooked meat that we were grilling. Between the chairs and everyone speaking Thai I admittedly felt a little uncomfortable, but the soup we were making was delicious as was all the food so I ended up having a great time. I just never knew what pieces of meat I could pull of the grill. It was a communal thing, but if someone was tending a piece of meat of flipped it over to cook the other side was that them laying claim to it? Would it be rude to snatch it for myself? I had no idea. The meal conculded as every good buffet should: with ice cream. Savor chocolate and cappuccino sure beat the soft serve at the China Buffet back in B-town.
5) Passing through Central (the big mall in Phuket Town) I had the delight of passing several magazine and newspaper distributors. There next to our competitors news paper (The Phuket News) was my front page. Chris got violently ill on Wednesday and left me to layout our front page and there it was. Yes, there were two typos, but over all I had to admit that there was a special pleasure in getting to see "my work" right there. (I really shouldn't take too much credit for it as Chris told me what stories were going to go where on the front page and Neil an Mark proofed the page, however very proud). Riding the escalator up (something I still treasure from my childhood) I did however have a twinge of dissapointment when down below me I could see some farang browsing The Phuket News instead of the Phuket Gazette.
(Eyes are too tired to edit this further-- sorry)
1) Saturday after work and checking in on poor Jackie I snuck out of the house to catch a sunset at Nai Harn beach. I rarely get out of work in time to enjoy these little treats, so I really didn't want to miss the opportunity.
Out in the flat calm ocean, facing shore with sun setting behind the sailboats at my back I watched a school of minnow jump form the water a dozen at a time, as they were chased by bigger fish. Each time they went airborne their tiny bodies looked like drops of white gold as they caught the setting sun, I was entranced. I probably could have spent a life time watching the fish flee from the large fish just below the surface, however the aged-potbellied Russian's in their skimpy bathing suites wading out toward my like a sexy girl should in wet-dreams brought me back to reality. Luckily their bulbous bodies didn't ruin the real magic of the setting sun and the frantic fish.
2) There is a massage parlor not far from our house, well I should say that there are dozens of massage parlors not from our house, but there is a specific one that is staffed by the blind. I would like to say that I visit this one solely because I have no interest in a "special" message or a "happy ending" or for that matter just because I want to support the blind, however the real reason I visit the parlor is because it is the cheapest around at a 150 baht ($4.87) for an hour. The only place cheaper just opened up in Phuket Town and staffed by female inmates with good behavior records that got trained as masseuse. The idea of the blind work as masseuses is not a very new one. Both Japan and Vietnam I believe have actually set aside that field of work for blind people, because it is one of the few jobs that their handicap doesn't have a huge impact. The other major job that the blind in Thailand have is selling tickets for the national lottery (I still have no idea how that whole thing works).
The masseuse's hands began to work on my legs as I lay on my stomach and then there was a fascinating moment as his hands ran over my left shin (which has a huge deep scar -- it looks like someone took an ax to my leg). I could feel him take several passes over the scare, there was a tangibility to his curiosity. He didn't necessary linger on it, but there was something in the way that he touched the spot that you could tell that he was piecing out the image in his head.
3) A rainbow that turned into a double rainbow (never got to the triple rainbow -- so no tears of joy) appeared over Thailand's flag. The rain was coming down hard and there it was, perfectly framed outside the window by my desk.
Photo by: Chaiyot
4) Ate at a Korean buffet and all you can eat sushi restaurant at Tesco Lotus with some co-workers Thursday. Hot water was poured around the tables grill and two pieces of fat placed on top. A multi-colored conveyor belt brought plate after plate of food by, vegitbales, mushrooms, fish , chicken, pork -- you name it.
They brought me a seat to sit at the end of the booth and I must admit that I felt huge in the tiny chair. Like a ten-year-old boy trying to squeeze into a baby's car seat. The vegetables were placed in the hot water around the grill and slowly made a soup with all the grease and delicious flavors dripping off the thinly sliced cooked meat that we were grilling. Between the chairs and everyone speaking Thai I admittedly felt a little uncomfortable, but the soup we were making was delicious as was all the food so I ended up having a great time. I just never knew what pieces of meat I could pull of the grill. It was a communal thing, but if someone was tending a piece of meat of flipped it over to cook the other side was that them laying claim to it? Would it be rude to snatch it for myself? I had no idea. The meal conculded as every good buffet should: with ice cream. Savor chocolate and cappuccino sure beat the soft serve at the China Buffet back in B-town.
5) Passing through Central (the big mall in Phuket Town) I had the delight of passing several magazine and newspaper distributors. There next to our competitors news paper (The Phuket News) was my front page. Chris got violently ill on Wednesday and left me to layout our front page and there it was. Yes, there were two typos, but over all I had to admit that there was a special pleasure in getting to see "my work" right there. (I really shouldn't take too much credit for it as Chris told me what stories were going to go where on the front page and Neil an Mark proofed the page, however very proud). Riding the escalator up (something I still treasure from my childhood) I did however have a twinge of dissapointment when down below me I could see some farang browsing The Phuket News instead of the Phuket Gazette.
(Eyes are too tired to edit this further-- sorry)
Five lovely moments, I must say. I almost missed the rainbow, because I am a textaholic and often miss the pictures. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the front page. It looks great. So do you. Mom
ReplyDeleteHey Congratulations Isaac! I'd be proud too. Keep up the good work. You are getting tons of good experiences of all kinds. I love the watching the fish moment. Peace and love,
ReplyDeleteTom
I have to admit: that's a pretty slick=looking front page in that photo. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your five memorable moments with us! I feel like I was experiencing them with you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Marcia