JaiRai

Hi Nasi - yeah maybe more expensive than prior and less mysterious, nonetheless Thailand is an exotic locale with a liberal environment. Not militantly communist or muslim like some of it's neighbors - and it will always hold some appeal. Yes, the mystery may have diminished and the web is partially to blame for that (including us) - but I'm skeptical that it's in a state of decline. Sure, some long for nostalgia from their own past, and that's just something people do. But is Thailand as a destination in a state of decline? Nope. Can one find adventure, an exotic environment there, and beautiful women.... Yep. Is it fucked up, jaded, and more mercenary than the past? Yep. So... yeah. Whatever. Navigate accordingly. But still a very appealing and raw place, pulsating with life stripped of the excessive pretentious layers piled on in the West. It's a place where some go to die, some go to live, some go to just..... ???????? Personally, I love it. Edit: Ps - I'm relatively a new guy, and they don't post as much because it's all been said. And having bar girls on my facebook page (which I don't even fucking use) would likely cost me job opportunities. But still, I love Thailand for the mix of beauty and ugly, right there in front of you. Where in the West one needs to peel through layers of facade to get at what something really is. Then again - who the fuck knows.

I never cared for the 'in your face' nature of cowboy either. I mean yah, it's fun as a spectacle/carnival type atmosphere - but the overt merc style didn't exactly pull me in. I much prefer the joints on soi 11 like... levels, oskar bar, and even climax (the seediest of them all). Because the ladies were much more attractive and NOT in your face with the used car salesman type pitch. Many had day jobs and were just curious (yeah people here will tell you otherwise but I lost count of the hotel and salon workers I met in the evening - and saw again during the day when they asked me to stop by their work to grab lunch). Hell, one even came out and yelled across the street to me, from her restaurant, as I had my last lunch with KS before heading back home (though I didn't recognize her at the time). There's a place for areas like Cowboy and Nana, and they can be fun - to a point. But, yeah. Sometimes a little more subtle than standing outside and yelling at every other dude and yanking them by the arm is more efficient. And I laugh when I go with my friends to Baccarra and girls start bragging to me about how many guys follow them on facebook and how much they get. "oh really?" Cool, good for you. See ya next time. Anyway - it's all moot. Nightlife will always be there in some form or another, with all it's inherent beauty and ugliness and fantasy and reality. It does make life more interesting.... I guess.

A little bit dumb with traces of racial stupidity... but nonetheless quite funny also in sublime moments (forwarded to me by a couple chinese co-workers who loved it, go figure).

Still a few things of beauty left in the world -- even pop-culture corny ones. Go figure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ

Ironically - couldn't be politically further away from this fool. But tis a beautiful thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIk6-hHx--Q

Scotland is the faggiest country in the history of human existence. Just saying....

none of you sorry ass mother fucking posers could ever have a prayer of touching this. bitches. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPxOpesLsB8

You ever have one of those songs the puts you in a good mood and you have no clue as to why. Compound it with the fact that I have no understanding of what is being said. But... yeah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U9PUHCt444&list=PL4KTVCCjw8vlRmlIdZTyxPMc6h2vIHh1r

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACKLW19XdE

Lets do some 80s pop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ

Not exactly a song but there is a certain lyrical quality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbX35BLgJq4

As the departure date looms, as the realization that my time here is finite and I'm about to go back to the grind... back to bullshit... back to faking it -- this is the soundtrack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSUIQgEVDM4

The song that plays when approaching any soi 4 ATMs in the evening.

One of my all time favorites. Compiled from dialog with a homeless community taking refuge in an abandoned train tunnel in NYC. Gets frequent rotation on my ipod while I walk around the city here, not sure why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q8Q_3K-YrE

Lest some oddball get the wrong idea, I should clarify that when I reference puu-ying, I adore them around age 30 - the young ones (21,22,23) are just way too annoying chatting on Line/Facebook with their vast armada of friends and would be suitors every .5 milliseconds. Although, there is a new staff member at my school age 25 recently arrived from Khon Khaen who is quite beautiful and sophisticated for her age. That one would be worth putting the effort in, if I wasn't so pathetically lazy. Plus, I'm a simple minded muthafucka too. Takes one to know one, chai mai??? KS is a forgiving soul, I'm sure he'll ban me one day and then let me back after he cools off and I plead forgiveness.

Actually, much to my astonishment - there is a genuine thailand theme song. However it does require a bit of sophistication by the listener. One must assume the role of existential protagonist if you will. For example, NOTHING in the vast commonality of human existence embodies the Thai spirit more than this - provided you substitute every single line with puu-ying, and ahaan thanon (street food for you simple minded muthafuckas, of which you are great in number). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33o32C0ogVM

I always get people from back home asking me what 'my' Thailand them song is - usually "one night in Bangkok" or some cheesy lady gag-gag song is their guess. *sigh* There is no damn theme song. It's too fucking weird, complex, different, and all that. BUT - if I had to pick one. This would do alright: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5roz5-wdjBg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGmUsJvRv7U

Some won't like this bastard spawn, but my woody still hasn't gone down since hearing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThU9BOWcmjM

A long time ago (circa 2004) I went to see the Korean film "old boy" at the Egyptian theater in LA. Tarantino was sitting in front of me at the time with some homely looking woman (probably his assistant). Anyway, they had a Q/A after the film and in the intermission went to piss and who was standing behind me but QT. Took me awhile to realize it. Asked him for his auto then felt kinda stupid. If you haven't seen Old Boy it's one of the most potent films I've ever seen. Ever. I mean, at conclusion people left the theater in silence. Disturbed would be a better word. I don't want to say why because it would give the conclusion away, but it is quite a plot twist. And a damn good movie. Tarantino films were always a bit heavy on the dialog for my taste, this isn't broadway, but I liked Inglorious Basterds. Didn't LOVE it, but I liked it. Whatever. Mekong, this is where you and I will have to agree to disagree, I always thought the Sopranos was over-rated (nothing against Gandolfini, RIP). Game of Thrones is without a doubt the best TV series (HBO) I've ever seen, 2cd place would be "the wire" (hence a little agreement there). Been awhile since I saw a good film. Going to take a look at "end of watch" this weekend. Hopefully will duly inspire faith in Hollywood. Watched "Argo" and "Lincoln" last week, thought they were both highly over-rated. But, to reiterate: whatever.

Now this, is a thing of great beauty. And there's not enough of that in the world.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmy113gMds0