Why we can't trust our 'brother'?

What gets my blood boiling most is when two parties have an agreement, for the sake of understanding, peace and mutual benefits, and another goes behind and break the agreement.

I realized that writing this article, I will invoke a lot of conflicts even among my close friends. But so be it as the blood boils and my skin resembles Hell's boy.

Last year the Cambodian government unilaterally proposed to get the mountaintop Hindu temple of Preah Vihear as United Nations World Heritage site. The ancient temple is located on the Cambodian territory along with secondary ruins on the Thai side. For several years, both government have been cooperating on the restoration of the ancient temples - which has easy access from Thailand. The site and the project is mutually beneficial for tourism development. Thailand has agreed to provide technical assistance to train Cambodian workers to restore the temple prior to the proposal to list the site. Showing good intentions to our 'brother'.

The UN proposal by the Cambodian authority has the intention of laying claim to the temple on the Thai territory, including the access road built by Thai government.

The unilaterally submission to the UN has all the intention of going behind Thailand's back to create a new boundary, redrawing border to claim sovereignty over Thai soil and seeking international support for this action. An action that most would considered an act of war aggression.

Thai military last week announced that after examining the claim to the area, found 'false historical evidence' submitted by the Cambodian government which has not be rebuttal.

Surfing the net concerning Thailand protested to the UN of the proposal, headlines among Cambodia newspaper and bloggers range from Thai act of 'aggression' or that Thailand is 'bullying' Cambodia again. Some of these bloggers are titled 'Cambodian Youth for Peace', etc.

Huh????

Can someone explain to me how is Thai government act to protest the claims on Thai soils is an act of aggression or bullying?

Or is this another attempt to incite anti-Thai sentiment among Cambodians, especially those living along the borders in order to threaten Thailand's national security.

It is one thing to attempt to claim the temple, but the act of attempting to claim land on Thai sovereignty, especially access roads, does only showed the level of mentality and the level of honor of our 'brothers'. How convenient ... No need to invest in roads, just claim it as theirs.

And they wonder why Thais think of our dear 'brother' in such poor manner.... geez.. I wonder why...

The Girl In My Bed

This is a very, very personal article. A small dedication and appreciation of a splendid girl that able to calm my restless soul.

Night after night.

Her gentle face and warmly expressive voice able to reach the emotional depth of me. Yet in that mood of the moment, she is able to produce uncomfortable void and communicate gut-wrenching truths about life.

I Forget that the world is turning. Some time I even forget to breath in the presence of the gentle voice that I hear.

"I looked into your eyes, they told me plenty..." she tells me before I lay down. Amazed and frighten that she will see the truth of me.

She tells me that "I would be the one to hold you down, kiss you so hard. I’ll take your breath away. And after I’d wipe away the tears, just close your eyes dear."

I was introduce to her by a friend of mine who knew her a few years before. First glance did not produce a big impression. Bad hair-day maybe. But later I get to know her better, to hear her voice, when we're alone...

She tells me about her fear of love, fear of commitment, yet she does not want to look back at her life with regrets. So she decide to live now and tell me...

"I’m so tired but I can’t sleep, standing on the edge of something much too deep. It’s funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word. We are screaming inside, but we can’t be heard".

For the many years, I travel around the world and she would accompanied me at every turns. Never leaving my side, no matter how strange the place is. It does not matter that the language is foreign to us. Her words is all I hear at every corners and turns, at every streets and alleyway. A girl who will not leave your side when the heat is on, in her gentle voice she says, "I will stare at the sun until its light doesn't blind me. I will walk into the fire 'til its heat doesn't burn me. And I will feed the fire."

Don't misunderstand her, this toughness is only for her special someone.

She continues about her love, her puppy love, her one-sided love, the kind of love that the other person does not know she existed. Frustration!

She remembered "Oh and every time I’m close to you. There’s too much I can’t say, and you just walk away... I forgot to tell you I love you..."

As nothing happened for so long and frustration builds, she reside to her fantasy... her wonderland. To keep herself entertain in her down-time. Some time she got lost... Forgetting where she is....and when she wakes up...

"I do believe i failed you, i know i let you down, don't you know i tried so hard to love you in my way.....' she tell herself, 'It's easy, let it go!"

As the sound of her voice, her stories, her sorrows reaches down into my spirit and takes over my wandering mind, I vaguely hears ..."I will remember you, will you remember me?..."

I think to myself...

When will the stars allow me to break free from her spellbound?

No matter the future.

I think yes, my dear Sarah... my adia...I will remember..

Penn Payback!

What a great end-of-weekend for me! I've been waiting for these 2 bozo to fight for a long time!

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is one of the most popular sport in the US and Europe right now. This is a sport that is making boxing obsolete. MMA fights are only pay-per-view and its getting more audience than other sports on free TV events in the US. Most of these fighters come to Thailand to train Muay-Thai as it is extremely essential for their stand-up fights. Some come and lives here for several years and go back to make millions as champions.

Its been 8 years since they last fought. It was Penn's first fight in the UFC and it was his first lost. Since then he rarely lost to anyone. Another big lost for Penn was to Matt Huges, when his ribs was cracked in the second round of their fight. (he cracked his own ribs by the way, as a result of trying to submit Huges and putting too much strain on his torso.)

Both guys was the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 5, a reality/mixed martial arts show. Both hate each other. Every time these two has to come in the room for meeting with the president of the company, they were almost fighting already! Great anticipation for this finale.

It was with joy and pleasure to watch early in the second round as B.J. 'The Prodigy' Penn took Pulver's back with a triangle leg-lock. The crowd goes mad chanting, 'B.J. B.J!', as they anticipate the fight that is about to come to an end. (really, he has to change his name! ;)).

They call him 'The Prodigy' because after studying Brazilian Ju-Jitsu for only 3 years, he won the world championship. He was the first non-Brazilian to do so. He was also the fastest American to received black-belt.

Penn has excellent back control, flatten Pulver out, trap his left arm, took his neck and force Pulver to TAP OUT with a rear-naked choke! Good night!

Such glories! Another satisfied audience! Looking forward to UFC 73! STACKED!

Why ECT went to jail

"Why did ECT went to jail: 99 days of danger"

A biography of former Member of Parliament Thaworn Senniem and complete court document of this historical case. A case which I am proud to be part of since the first strategic meeting till the end. We risked a lot and didn't have the Party's backing or even blessing. We only saw that this is best way out for our country at the time. We took action when most was just talking. Failure could mean we go to jail.

The book talks briefly about Khun Thaworn's life, why he decided to put his neck on the line. It was exactly 99 days since we file the case to the court and the day of the verdict. Things could go either way, 2 out of 3 judges voted guilty as charged.

A lot of people doubted our team. Soon enough we were heroes and everyone are backing us as if they were behind us the whole time. Wonderful and sincere people we work with...

The day of the verdict was quite an exciting day as we could not even leave the court house due possible violent attacks. I can still remember how we have to sneak out like some criminals, ashamed of what we've done. I also remember getting a parking ticket when I finally get to my car, signed my a high ranking police officer who don't normally write tickets any more. He walked towards me and smile with contempt to see that I was frustrated to see the ticket!

I wonder why he did that, then I saw that my car has the Democrat Party head quarter parking sticker in the front window. Another Thaksin worshiper, I thought. Another uniform aiming to please his god. I waved, smile and bid goodbye.

Most of the pictures in this book is the work of yours truly. The book is in Thai. If you want a copy, let me know.

Two of my all-time favorite movies!

Sad day for Buddhism

Buddhist Rally Alarms Surayud
Suspicious of ulterior motive in charter call
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday suggested that there could be an ulterior motive behind a mass rally to press for Buddhism to be recognised as the state religion in the new constitution. He said things could not be taken at face value when asked to comment on an observation that the demonstration had a hidden agenda...
Bangkok Post, April 26, 2007

Today about 20,000 monks and supporters confronted officials in front of the government house. 20,000! Monks! A calculating and well-planned demonstration to enshrine Buddhism as a national religion is said to have political motives, said highly-placed police source. Wat Dhammakaya is said to be the force behind the scene. A rally that threat to draw violence!

I have comments on this so-called Wat (means temple for you farang) which I will share later.

The demonstration is lead by several groups, namely, Buddhist Promotion Foundation and Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand. They vow to conduct nationwide campaign by sending representatives to monks around the country, to include this charter in the new constitution. They intend to CAMPAIGN with monks, who has no voting rights! Real smart!

Actually, they are quite smart as laymen needs higher power to look-up to and worship. Look at any map of Thailand and you will see that every small towns are dotted with temples. Even the poverty stricken town where people barely have food ready for the next day. They will surely have temples that cost more than the whole village's life-time income. The poor, black-eyed farmers will make his way to the monastery to make alms and ask his monk for couple of winning lotto numbers. In some town, monks are more powerful than local authorities. What better way than to have monks convince millions by telling them to fight for this charter or face the eternal damnation!

To see monks and people who say they are the protector of my religion protesting is a sad sad day for me. To see that the rally almost turned violence in the sea of the yellow robe is truly heartbreaking.

While these people (including some laymen in yellow robe who called themselves monks) claimed they practice strict Buddhism. I have no doubt that they can recite the Tipitaka and share stories of our Lord Buddha all day long without missing a beat. But I question if they are simply parrots who can repeat things without understanding the meaning?

Have they forget the core principal of what He taught us? I know its been a long time since he last spoke to us, but we have his honorable disciples that passes the teachings throughout the time.

Where are your Dharma? Where are your true virtue? Do they not teach you to seek wisdom through compassion? Have clear and kind thoughts? Speak kindly with helpful words and respect? Conduct yourselves rightly as we wish to be treated?

Did our Lord Buddha not teach us that an effort that are harmful to others are wasted efforts? Good intent for man-kind, maybe? To let go of all desire? What are they teaching in the temples nowadays??

I'm not finish with this topic yet. More to come!

"The kind of seed sown
will produce that kind of fruit.
Those who do good will reap good results.
Those who do evil will reap evil results.
If you carefully plant a good seed,
You will joyfully gather good fruit."
Dhammapada

Welcoming rain

I've not experience intolerable heat in Bangkok to this extent for quite a while now. Air-conditioning at my place is running 24/7 and I hate it. I like fresh air and being enclosed in a room with circulating cold air does not help to improve my health. To open the windows and doors letting the breeze gush in is out of the question. Yes, there will be breeze coming in, but the purpose of this breeze is solely for cooking. It is simply a breath from Satan!

As I look out of my window at around 6ish today, I thought I left the balcony lights on! It was dark and cloudy outside, but the balcony was bright golden red. Beautiful. A storm is coming. So I say, welcome my dear friend. Wash away what the devils bring and give us a breath of fresh air so we can start with our sins all over again! (After knocking down several of my precious orchids in the process!) (Photos taken 18:14 April 25, 2007)