Category: Daily Whatevers

I was in Sekinchan yesterday, then went to Bagan Pasir (where I boarded the Kaleebso to go to Jarak back in November 2005), Pasir Penambang in Kuala Selangor, then went for dinner by the sea in Jeram, south of Assam Jawa.

You can view the pictures here, and I must say that some may interest you…depending on what your interests are.

คิดมากจัง เหมือนเธอไม่เคยรู้เลย ว่าฉันรักเธอกว่าใคร
แล้วตัวเธอ จะเปลี่ยนแปลงเพื่อใครนะ

คิดยังไง ฝืนใจตัวเองเพื่อใคร เมื่อฉันรักเธอแบบเดิม
ฉันรู้เพียง เธอคนเดิมล่ะดีแล้ว

Yes…that is what Hat Yai actually means. I’ve not been there since…hmm…September of 2004. Well, I passed by Hat Yai earlier this year on my way to and from Koh Lipe, but never actually stopped there.

So, what is it with Hat Yai?

My first time to Hat Yai was when I was posted north and was looking after that area. That was back in 1993. Spent some 3 years (almost). Hat Yai is the place that seriously got me into listening to Luuk Thoong (Loog Thoong to some) and learnt more about the Thai culture. And I loved the sanuk way of life. Everytime my shift as “Duty Officer” ended, I’d go to Samilla Beach in Songkhla, grab me a plate of chilli fried crabs, a mat, chow down, and sleep by the beach. I almost moved there back in 1996 after my tour in the Air Force ended.

I kept going back to Hat Yai, and Thailand in general during the after-years. However, it wasn’t till 2004 that I made more trips to Hat Yai (as well as to Bangkok). Those were the days when Steve, Nad, and I would meet politicians from that side of the border discussing certain things. It was fun to be there, especially watching this farang Steve confusing everyone there with his Isaan dialect and perfect Malay.

Now, as I sit here in front of this PC, listening to Hot Wave 91.5FM from Thailand, I miss Hat Yai. Well, I miss Thailand. I miss speaking Thai, watch the Thais go about their life, watch Thai TV and so on. I also need to replenish my Thai music collection.

Hmm..maybe I should also write about the day I visited Nang Nak‘s house next.

Oh my God…I’m cracking up! LOL! 😀

I want to got to New York and see the Vampire State Building.

This is hillarious:

Not many people go to Antarctica yet because it is under penguin rule.

Finally I’ve gotten to do my video page. I’ve uploaded the web version of the Twinkle Jarak Style, Perhentian Trigger Happy Trip, Aquaria KLCC Dive, Tioman Feb 2006 Trip, Tioman 3-4 June 2006 Trip, and the Do’s and Don’ts of Diving videos.

You can watch the videos BY CLICKING HERE!

Yup…Sukhumvit. One of the places in Thailand that I miss so much. In fact, I miss Thailand..period. My first brush with Thailand was back in 1989, on job trip…but to the southeastern province of Narathiwat. So I never learnt how to speak the lingo as I am conversant in the Kelantanese/Pattani dialect.

My second brush was my longest, from 1993-1995. That was when I had the opprtunity to learn the lingo and customs, and fell in love with its culture and music. After that it was off and on, until 2002 when I had the third brush right through 2005.

So what do I miss about Sukhumvit? Yeah, the traffic sucks for sure. But I enjoyed going to Benjasiri (Queen’s) Park, watch schoolchildren performing traditional music; the standing at attention when they play the National Anthem at 6pm Thai time; the King’s Anthem at night. I miss the sanuk way of life. Everything was just sanuk for everyone, myself included.

Sukhumvit’s where I got my friend, Muaazam, to fall in love with Thai music too. He’s been taking his girlfriend to various parts of Thailand since then.

I need to go back there.

I just miss it.

This is a candid shot of me (on the right) having a private discussion with the Prime Minister’s Political Secretary, Dato’ Othman Desa.

It was a private discussion..