A month in Thailand.....

I came here to Bangkok on the 1st of January.  It was an empty flight:  New Year's Day.  Katherine joined me two days later.

We leave, tomorrow on what I assume will be empty flights back to China:  New Year's Day.

I came full of goals - writing goals, primarily - while Katherine came here without any 'gameplan'.  Mid-way into week number 2, we altered our agendas to fill out our daily activities......this was beneficial for both of us.

Last night, around 10pm, I completed the 2014 book.  As of today, this will be the last of 5 tax books I'll write.    I'll definitely continue writing but the joy of doing a book about taxes is gone - it is time to face other writing challenges!!

Did I accomplish everything I had hoped to accomplish during this month away from home?  Hell No!!!  Am I satisfied with what I've accomplished?  Hell Yes!!!!!

Most importantly,  both of us have far better knowledge of what we have to plan in advance for as we go on extended journeys, trips more frequently and for longer stays in Thailand and in Japan.  We've got to create the routines while away, to keep us alert and young!!!!

And yes,  we both look forward to our return to Bangkok, April, 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pete Seeger

I was 5 years old.  It was a Saturday morning.  My father and I drove from Brooklyn to Greenwich Village to attend a children's folk concert.  I don't recall that many children.  I do remember going but not much else other than going after to Chinatown and having wonton soup.

Seeger died yesterday.  He was 94.  He was a wonderful nusical idol.  He was the paragon of music icons........another passage of time........

Jai Ho

.....and on the last Monday night in Bangkok, this trip, I froze my ass off at a movie theatre, watching the recent Bollywood hit Jai Ho.  No, the name is the same but this is a separate story, having absolutely nothing to do with the end of production number from Slum Dog Millionaire.

Salman Khan, looking older than he is, plays the younger lead in this anti-corruption song and dance flick of 170 minutes duration - with intermission.

Katherine liked it.  This was her first complete Bollywood film.

Me?  The story was too stupid for me to be able to tolerate.  Were it not for my wife, I would not have stayed for the entire film.

Recommend it?  Yeah, with qualifications, to someone interested in seeing a current example of Bollywood.

See it again?  Are you kidding??????!

Two days of intense, serious tax writing originality.....

I'm on schedule with today and tomorrow being crucial - they are heavily scheduled, with little room to re-schedule.  I'm doing 'original' stuff today and tomorrow.  And then, I put it all together and send it on out to the reviewers.........

Simultaneously, and amazingly, I am also working on tax stuff AND the English screenplay of Goldstruck......so I do have my hands full!!!!!

Onwards........

No more early morning walks.....

Sadly, the warmer early morning weather will be gone throughout the week.  So breakfasts and newspapers and the solitude involved in partaking of a couple of plain, old-fashioned, hard print newspapers (combined, of course, with the stuff I get off the iPad) and the gluttony of weakness to all things bad which are so, so good.......all of that in solitude as the early morning herbs, taken after sitting on the throne and then doing the arm rolls, enhances the morning.........with afternoon walks as a more than acceptable alternative!!!

We gave a friend of ours a dozen pirate DVDs......some were awful, some were really good......total cost was affordable and I do not mind ignoring intellectual property rights when I'd never get the opportunity, otherwise, to see these films in theatrical release......

Will we watch any more films this trip?  Who knows????   We got our satisfactory fill of movies!!

.....Writing on a daily, pre-determined schedule for the forthcoming week is something I can accomplish......to work!!

Two more and that's it for a bit.....

We had a double bill, last night.  Over a great onion bagel with cream cheese from The Bagel Cafe in Bangkok (in my opinion, the better of Bangkok's three bagel bakers) and tons of tropical fruits from our favorite street stall, we watched Last Vegas and Frozen.

Last Vegas, an old farts try to relive life genre film with Mike Douglas, Robert Deniro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Cline, all I can saw is:

Did I sit through the whole film?     No!
Would I recommend this film to anyone?     No!
Would I see it again?   Are you kidding??

What a waste!!!

Frozen, the Walt Disney computer animation:

Did I sit through the whole film?  No!  But Katherine did - she liked it....
Would I recommend this film to anyone?  Absolutely!  Anyone with kids under 10 - 3-7, preferably.....
Would I see it again?  No.

And that ends the films we've seen, both in theatre and on DVD.   There is a new Bollywood film at the theatre in walking distance from our place - I am going to see that on Monday.  I might buy Captain Philips and see it again, as Katherine has never seen it......

Gravity

a)  I sat through the whole thing.
b)  I'd recommend it to others.....without qualification.
c)  I'd see it again.

Definitely one of the better films I've seen this past year.

There was a feature article in this morning's FT that best summarized the political situation today in Thailand.......what will happen, though, is anyone's guess......

The behemoth wolf that should have been cut to size.....

Last night was Wolf of Wall Street night.  My era of coke and ludes ended in the 70s, with my move out of L.A.  I could relate to the excesses.  But really, now, 3 hours of debauchery?  That was way too long.  I'd have cut an hour out to make it a tighter, more relevant film.

Yeah, there was great acting.  Yeah, Scorcese is a great film maker.  But no way was this a 'best' picture.   I'd recommend this one to others, with qualifications......I would not bother to watch it again.

Tonight (or tomorrow night) I'll re-watch Gravity which, refreshingly, is half as long as Wolf.

Thus far, I've seen 7 of the 9 films nominated as best picture for the U.S. Academy Awards.  I cannot pass judgement on either Philomena or Nebraska.  I will probably not see either unless I find pirate DVDs of them.

Before Midnight is still the best film I've seen all year.......and Blue Jasmine is a close second place.....neither of them a best picture nominee.  Woody Allen is right:  awards of this nature are purely subjective and essentially meaningless......

Only HBO the past couple of days......

I've seen Gravity.  We'll watch it again.   Neither of us have seen Wolf of Wall Street.  We'll watch that one, too......and Frozen.......but there are no copies of Philomena or Nebraska, both nominated films that are likely never to be shown in either Thailand or China........so 7 of 9 best picture films will be the ones we'll have watched.

But to more important things:  Today is number 21 - 21 years ago, today, Katherine and I were married.  How nice it truly is to be married to a woman I love, who makes me feel good about myself, who has given me purpose to my life.

Once I had all the material comforts and the knowledge that the end was in sight for putting three children through university.  I would have grown old, fast but with profound unhappiness.  I gave it all up and lost a family because of it.

Yet if that is the price I have to pay for what I have now, for where I am in life, then so be it!!!!!!

Life is nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a night off from the good films.....Jack Reacher

We took a night off from nominated stuff to watch pure dribble......and Jack Reacher, a Tom Cruise film, was absolutely, positively pure, unadulterated dribble!

No, we did not watch it to completion.  No, I would definitely not recommend it to anyone......and obviously would never ever see it again!

Now our task at hand is to find pirate DVDs of Philomena and Nebraska..........can they be found???

The Dallas Buyers Club

Two great male acting and supporting acting performances......once again, though, the picture dragged and I truly think a half hour reduction in film length would have greatly improved it.

Would I see it again?  Highly unlikely.  Would I recommend it?  Yes.

So......with 9 films nominated as best picture, this holiday period will find me watching 7 of them, while in Bangkok.

Thus far,  Before Midnight (not nominated) and American Hustle are my personal favorites of 2013 films.....

Her

A Spike Jonze film.  Los Angeles, sometime in the not-too-distant future.

An inter-active, practically human operating system becomes the love life of protagonist Joaquin Phoenix.  Ah but what a voice that OS interface has - Scarlet Johannsen's voice.  Perhaps knowing the beauty behind that voice is the cream to those peaches - how entrancing that voice.....and the aural sex is wonderful!!

But......this was a two hour picture that was in severe need of an edit job to remove about 1/4 of the film which, in my opinion, would make it a 'tighter' presentation.

I'm glad I saw it.  I'd recommend it but with 'qualifications' and no, I'd not see it again, although I'd like the erotic experience of Scarlet, again.....!

3 days of wasted time and 3 movies along the way.....

Life is a cabaret, my friend, come to the cabaret - or in this case, carnival atmosphere protests to bring down the government in Thailand.

There is a 65/35 split in favor of the Thaksinites, the party in power that has learned to play politics and has thus garnered the vote of the rural, impovershed north of Thailand.  The city 'elite' , named the democrats, wishes to do away with democracy as they perceive no other way of getting to power, aspiring to be as corrupt as those currently in power are.....

And in between timing our Sky Train trips to points not in the protesters paths, we've watched the carnival proceed and watched:

Money for Nothing (only this is Thailand and while the chicks are not for free, they come, I am told, pretty damned cheaply!).  This is about the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and predicts dire consequences for the U.S. economy.  I agree, but the movie is not as earth shaking as it perhaps could be.  Yeah, it is worthwhile viewing for someone else to watch it but I definitely would not see it again.

12 Years a Slave.  Incredible story.   This is the award winning type of film.  Yes, I would  see this one again.

American Hustle.  I saw it on 2 January in the theater.....then, last night, again, 14 January, as a pirate DVD.   I would see it again!   Phenomenal ensemble cast performances.....and that means fantastic direction!!!

The Old Man and the Sea - circa 2013

All is Lost

This film is a winner!  Not a box office bonanza type of film - one character in the film and scarce dialog but this is a film testament to man's indefatigable will to survive.  What Robert Redford was doing on a sailboat, sleeping, in the middle of the Indian Ocean is a big question.  But his boat hit a floating container of (presumably) China-made sport shoes, took on water but lost all power and, because of an eventual storm, capsized.

Survival in the inflatable boat and actually reaching another vessel that saw the lifeboat is an entirely different matter but the visuals say it all.   Yes, I'd see this one again.....

.....Llewyn Davis.....

There ae places where it is financially advantageous to be an old fart and Bangkok is one of them.   Last night's senior citizen ticket for Inside Llewyn Davis cost 90 baht = around $US3.25 for a prime time ticket!!

Not only that, the movie complex is in walking distance from where we are staying in Bangkok!!  At that price, I will definitely take in more 'live' cinema, this month!!!

Llewen Davis is a low life in love with himself in every way, shape and form of this concept, chronicaling a winter's week in New York and Chicago during 1962 for this really good (but not break out) folk singer during the era that saw Dylan rise to fame.  Acting is great.  Photography is fantastic.  Story is disturbing.

This is not a feel good story to watch, so don't go seeing it for that........but it is worthwhile seeing.  And I suppose, some years from now, I just might want to see this one, again.

The Butler

No it is not a great film.  No, I do not like Oprah Winfrey.  No, Forest (or is it with 2 'r's?) Whitaker (2 't's, too?) was not great but he did give a good performance.

It dragged.  I'd still recommend it to watch - I liked it better than Saving Mr. Banks but it was by no means one of my 'best pictures'.

The pirate DVDs here are more expensive than in China.  Yes, we'll watch most of the nominated films while here (a great way to spend our evenings!!!).  For my favorites, though,  Before Midnight and Blue Jasmine are the best I've seen from 2013, thus far......

Inside Llewelyn Davis might or might not be playing at a theatre in walking distance from where we are staying in Bangkok - what used to be a good newspaper listing of theatres and times for films no longer exists in either the Post or Nation - not an improvement and lends one toward the easy way out by buying those ever-available pirate DVDs because theatre details are not readily available.  We had to 'pull teeth' to find out where American Hustle was, last week - much easier to watch the DVD!

Saving Mr. Banks

It was pirate DVD time, last night in Bangkok.  We saw the new Disney entry for end of year awards:  Saving Mr. Banks, starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as PJ Travers, the author of Mary Poppins.

This was the story of the 20+ year battle to secure the film rights and make Mary Poppins, the movie, a film that is as great, now, as it was when issued.  I loved Mary Poppins but did not think much of the new film.

Hanks looked like Disney but definitely did not sound like him.  The Travers role was wonderfully acted but the persona was so unlikeable that it was difficult to really want to get involved.

While I did watch the entire movie, I really would not recommend it to anyone......

I got those steet food stand blues

Ah, the steet food vendors in Bangkok!  The food is as tasty as you will find.  Generally speaking, the hygienic standards are more than acceptable and one will not get food poisoning (as I had in Mexico, in Israel, in India (obviously, in India!!).  What one will get, though,is a bad case of the runs......got them now.....and today's schedule is being slightly altered to accomodate the necessities of life at times like this - to be near my throne, as yours truly, a king, needs that throne - frequently.....very, very frequently - until the runs have ran their course.

Yet the chance of this happening from a nice, sit-down establishment in fashionable surroundings are just as good as the chances of it happening  streetside (actually, not so, but it sounds good!)
Regardless, it is fun to be on a month-long bout with gluttony, knowing full and well that I'm going to lose this bout.......butterball me......such is life......

Boat noodles for lunch/Italian cuisine for dinner......

.....and hotel breakfast food for (naturally) breakfast!!!

Wouldn't it be nice if the military in Thailand were competent?  Then, the party in power (too corrupt) and the party aspiring to power (which claims that it will not be as corrupt, although, if they were to come into power, I maintain, would be as corrupt) would be out of the way, permitting a coup and replacement of the current system with a better one.

Alas, the last two coups in this country proved that the gang who couldn't shoot straight and was even more inept at governing, will not step in and the whole country is going to pot (alas, the wrong kind of pot!).

I am cynical - why shouldn't I be - absolutely no one here in this wonderful place has any concept of what government can or should be....but then, again, where in the world is there a place with government that gets my approval?

Happiness is being an ethical, existential cynic!   I have given up on government - any government - anywhere - a long time ago.

Respect is to be earned.....and when it comes to government and politics, no one, anywhere, has earned my respect!!!

Alone in the breakfast room, becoming Gordo!

How the hell can I turn down crisp bacon, home fries, baked beans for breakfast?  I can't and that, frankly, will screw up, even further, an already screwed up diet!!!

Oh the weather outside is sunny, and in my wallet there's money.  So, what goes with that powder blue sky?  Shall I buy, shall I buy, shall I buy???

And thus far, I've gone to Kinokuniya and purchased two books.  Nothing else, yet.....save for Saving Mr. Banks and The Butler as pirate DVDs.   I'll likely buy 8-10 DVDs for watching, this trip, upon which both Katherine and I are eating our way through the capital of the country.  Bangkok is nice albeit a city with really stupid politics.  But aren't all politics stupid?  Better to be the ethical existential cynic that I am - don't believe in anything, get involved only where I can do something to directly benefit those for whom I expend energy......and not take things too seriously.......

Lucky that I was born right and do not have to worry about putting food on the table or living well - I've already had that time in life where both food and shelter and the ability to secure both was questionnable.  Glad that those days are long gone.

Enough musings for the day - time to go back to the room and actually start upon something productive - will I do this or won't I, today????

It figures - we leave and it warms up in Guangzhou!

Hey, Hey, Bye, Bye - leaving home in a clear blue sky.......freezing cold is not my bag, so Bangkok beckons with it's warm, warm tag!!

Neil Young, I'm not, so no rock n roll will never die songs for me but.......!!???

It figures - we leave and the temperature gets warm.

I went to Bunrungrad Hospital, yesterday, to have my ears vacuum cleaned, sucking out a decade + accumulation of wax.  Now I can hear  - is this advantageous?  But I cannot walk because I've eaten my way through this place in just a few short days.  Food is great, will power is non-existant, motivation for doing anything, quite frankly, is totally lacking!!

Anyhow, I am back to blogging and hope to keep it up - not necessarily every day but most days, I hope.  I will get back into diet control, soon, I hope......and after that, hopefully, I will start acting like one who has goals to accomplish on a daily basis.  Right now?   Relax and enjoy!!!