Satan Arrives in Time for Independence Day!

Satan, you ask? Well seeing as how everything over here in the Kingdom is so cheap, how could I resist a bootleg copy of Diablo 2 with the Lord of Destruction expansion included! All of this excitement was spurned by the much awaited (at least in my life) announcement of pre-production for Diablo 3. Nicholas boys, it's going to be a good reunion in about 2 years when it finally comes out.

But I digress. This past weekend was my first time just sticking around Bangkok, and what a great decision it was! Every year the American Chamber of Commerce (affectionately: AmCham) hosts a blowout Fourth of July Party. On the grounds of the Port Authority of Thailand, Americans came out of the woodwork for this super-patriotic abroad experience. There were American soldiers, the US Ambassador to Thailand, rock music, burgers, burritos, baby back ribs, Budweiser, face painting, and naturally, fireworks at the end of the day. I was able to register for my absentee ballot there, and for a small donation I received a "Bangkok for Barack" t-shirt (oops, I didn't mean to give away my affiliation). The festivities were a ton of fun, even when it came to overhearing the occassional "what up bro" which brought back a warm sense of nostalgia. ~*sigh*~

I should mention that I got AMERICA painted on my back with the ol' Stars and Bars and an Eagle biting the head off of a snake. We danced into the night, feasting, and causing quite a commotion.

Interesting sidebar: while getting my back painted, I ended up talking to an American man who has lived in Thailand for the past 30 years and has married with little half-Thai babies. I mentioned that I was doing a major research project for my university on Nuclear Feasibility in Thailand and I just casually asked this man for his opinion. Can someone say "can o' worms"? After much ado, this man made it very clear that if there was nuclear energy coming to Thailand "it would be reason enough to leave" and take his family with him. He was VERY put off by my even asking... this project will prove more interesting than I thought!

More later... I simply must kill the Countess before this day is through! Over and out!

You Say Potato, I Say Manfarang!

Potatoes are hard to find sometimes, but this morning I ate some sweet potatoes that were being cooked like streetmeat outside the park.

This past weekend I ended up going to Ayutthaya to meet up with a friend from Chapel Hill. I met Greg Smith last semester through some mutual friends and it turns out that he's volunteering at an AIDS hospital/temple in Lop Buri, about two hours north of Bangkok. We met up (after much ado on my part as I tend to starting shopping when I get lost) in Ayutthaya, one of the former capitals of Thailand in centuries past. Ayutthaya was the big trading mecca for th 14th to 18 Centuries until the Burmese Army sacked the city in 1767. The city is essentially an amazing location for ruins and temples, and it was quite the adventure. Upon arrival, without a map or fluency in Thai, I couldn't find my way around very well, so I ended up hopping on the back of a motorcycle taxi and finally arriving at our bungalow that Greg set up, Baan Lotus (home of the lotus). Infact, there were beautiful lotus flowers in the pond in the back.

Greg and I rented bicycles and rode around the city through traffic, but I didn't need a helmet because I had a beautiful new sun bonnet! We crossed a river by ferry and explored a temple and saw the Giant Buddha. We also went on a guided tiny bus tour with 4 other people from Baan Lotus that the littl old lady who owns it put together. The woman speaks perfect English, is about 4'8'', probably 75 years old, went to college in Tel Aviv Isreal, and is a retired medical scientist. Love her. On the bus tour, we went to some spectacular ruins, all of which are lit up beautifully at night by floodlights. We also went to an elephant farm where I got to see little baby elephants (chang). I finished off the night by buying Thai Fisherman Pants and drinking some Chang beer. Don't worry mother, the drinking age is 18. The following morning Greg and I could barely rise from our soft beds and oscillating fan after a night of much fun and conversation (sorry for waking you up Belgian lady), but we ended up biking across the city to find the afamed Giant Reclining Buddha. It was the coolest thing ever.

The rest of the week passed with classes, schoolwork, aerobics, and mostly as normal. However, during my Aerobics class on Monday morning, I was invited up on the stage once again to help lead class and it's the most exhilerating thing in the world. I've started an intensive Thai language class, and a traditional Thai dance class as well. Coming up soon: Americans celebrating Independence Day abroad...what will happen!?