Disneyland With the Death Penalty

Thank you Avi!

2008-11-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

GLASTONBURY, England, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- A British 19-year-old has officially changed his name to "Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined."

The Glastonbury, England, teenager -- originally named George Garratt -- said his new name, which is thought to be the world's longest, has so outraged his grandmother that she is no longer speaking to him, The Telegraph reported Monday.

The teen said he used an online service to officially change his name for a $20 fee.

"I wanted to be unique," Captain Fantastic said of his name choice. "I decided upon a theme of superheroes."

KIDZANIA

2008-11-03T18:33:00.000-08:00

Must we really encourage kids to grow up so fast?

http://www.kidzania.co.id/ver2/index.php?artid=70&catid=30&mnid=113

KIDZANIA is a unique place for children between 2 to 16 years old and their parents.
It is a kid-sized replica of a real city, with streets, buildings, retail and different vehicles going around the City.

Here, children play adult roles and they learn how to be a doctor, a pilot, a construction worker, a private detective, an archeologist, an F1 driver and over 100 other PROFESSIONS and OCCUPATIONS.

There is a replica of the most representative buildings in a city such as Hospital, Supermarket, Beauty Salon, Theatre, Industrial sites, and many more.

2008-11-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

SEOUL - NORTH Korea released a photograph Sunday showing leader Kim Jong Il smiling and watching a football match - the latest apparent attempt to calm intense speculation over the health of the country's absolute ruler.

Mr Kim, 66, reportedly suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in August. North Korea has denied he is ill and has in recent weeks released news reports, photos and footage portraying the leader as active and able.

On Sunday afternoon, North Korean state television showed an undated still photo of what it said is Mr Kim watching a football match between two army-affiliated teams.

The photo shows Mr Kim sitting with other people and watching something from what appears to be a special viewing stand inside a building. Mr Kim is shown smiling, wearing his trademark sunglasses with a brown jacket and black pants, but scenes of any football match are not visible.

-Singapore Straits Times

2008-10-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love dialog in old movies. I recently watched "On the Waterfront" by Elia Kazan, starring a young Marlon Brando. Below are some favorite quotes:

Brando in a tough guy voice,
"I always feel I'll live a bit longer without ambition"
"My philosophy on life, do it to him before he does it to you"
"You've lost the battle, but you've got the chance to win the war"
"Never is going to be too much for me shorty"

Weird phrases on Asian T Shirts

2008-10-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

On this t-shirt..."donde estan mis pantalones?" click to enlarge

When in Tokyo I noticed a surplus of young women wearing disturbing profanities across their chests. Cute girls in pink baby t's wore shirts that in thick black lettering exclaimed "fuck me please" or "You are an asshole sir". These young woman were no more than 14 years old. The same odd profanities on tight t-shirts exists to some extent in Singapore as well. I suppose its the same concept as Brittney Spears adorning a tattoo of a Chinese character that she thought meant "mysterious" but instead meant "strange". Alas, it would be cruel to compare these girls to Brittney Spears. I can't possibly believe that these young women understand what they wear so boldly across their shirts, and yet they wear these symbols with pride and with confidence. Is the English language no matter what it says or represents that cool? To some, I suppose it is.

2008-10-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

Dear friendlies,

This experience has been tough. I have carried 100's of pounds of equipment on a daily basis through the jungle, I have been potentially cursed by sculptures, I have thrown up while shooting in 100 degree weather, I have been celibate, I have been eaten up by weird South East Asian Bugs, I have smelled nasty smells that you never even knew existed (sweat, socks, farts and durian fruit?), I have missed home, I have been reprimanded for eating popcorn in a movie theater, and I have witnessed drunken brawls on a nightly basis. My question is...do I keep on going? Do I continue to build character with these experiences in Graduate school in a far off land, or do I take what I have learned and return home? What do you think? Its challenging going through it, but when I see these experiences written down, whoa.

Little India and Geylang

2008-10-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

I revisited Geylang this evening. Nate was looking for a prostitute to place in his movie. But, it was too awkward and disturbing. Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese prostitutes filled the dark alleys, men swarmed around them like chickens. Gambling went on in dark corners and smells of hot trash wafted through the air. People ate chicken and rice beside love motels that looked like sterile camp cabins.

Scenes from downstairs

2008-10-01T09:23:00.001-07:00

Below my room... I think there is a Buddhist celebration happening downstairs. They bang on gongs for 9 hours every day. I am having difficulty working.

Overheard in Singapore

2008-09-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

American girl in her 20's talking to American boy in his 20's:

Girl: "I don't like Singapore; you can't smoke pot, the boys have small dicks and they don't sell corn dogs".

Boy: "No, they have corn dogs here".

Sand Sculpture in Durban, South Africa

2008-09-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting to post this photo for quite sometime now. This was taken by my very dear friend Sarah Cassidy on a recent work trip to Durban, South Africa.

Armpit Problems in Southeast Asia

2008-08-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

During the screening of "My Magic" by the Singaporean director Eric Khoo, I felt a very sharp pain in my armpit. I hate to say it, but, I kind of felt like I was having a premature heart attack. Post screening I expressed my feeling of discomfort to my friend Jordan. Much to my surprise I realized that he experienced a sharp pain in his pits as well. Several others including professors and industry professionals who overheard our conversation chimed in with similar stories of armpit pain. We put our stories and symptoms together and concluded that we all similarly have inflamed sweat axillary glands due to moisture being trapped in our hair follicles. Gross! The humidity is intense out in these parts, I am selfishly glad that others share in my discomfort.

PS. Go check out Eric Khoo's new film when it gets distributed in the US. The film is about an alcoholic magician that has to take care of his only child. Its very sweet and special.

My apartment is weird

2008-08-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

There was a local concert in the park outside of my Walk up. Transvestites sang some odd Chinese Anthem. A big crowd gathered, they may have been the most non-expressive crowd that I have ever witnessed. They clapped for the performers post performance as if they were watching a bad comedian. At one point I, the only white person, was put on the spot. The performers said something to me in Chinese, but I don't really know what, something about a boyfriend and me being cute. Photos attached.

Much love,
Katya

Kim Tian food

2008-08-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

The most exciting thing about my new apartment is that I live directly above tiny hawker food stalls. Right below me is a delicious Muslim/Indian Restaurant, several fresh squeezed juice stalls, and multiple noodle shops. The Chinese Restaurant downstairs has live frogs that will eventually be cooked, I think about freeing one of these sweet little toads every single day. From a distance it looked as though one local stall was selling "Poo buns", I took a closer look and realized they were actually selling "Pao buns". Bummer! My new local restaurants and home is on Kim Tian Road, a short distance away from the Tiong Bahru MRT station. I love my new access to delicious eats for midnight snacks when drowned in work, or after a late night out.

My new Friend Nate

2008-08-23T03:43:00.000-07:00

I have a new friend named Nate. Nate is French. You can tell that he is French because he makes big gestures with his hands to express himself. Nate's father was a baker at the famous French pastry shop "Fauchon". When Nate was 8 years old his Dad was asked to open up his own pastry shop in Tokyo. Japanese people love Paris, but, usually after Japanese people come back from Paris they get really depressed. They get depressed because Paris tends to be really dirty and smelly and the people there aren't very friendly to Japanese tourists. So, Nate and his family moved to Tokyo, where France could come to Japan. Nate's dad recently went through a mid life crisis and stopped baking beautiful cakes. Rather, he decided to start up his own line of lingerie (I imagine his lingerie to look like his beautifully decorated cakes). He tests his bras out on his wife and Nate's older sister.

The biggest joy in the world is sharing good friends with good friends. I look forward to collecting as many as possible.

Pet Burial Grounds in Singapore

2008-08-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Some pet owners go beyond urns and niches: they pay hundreds of dollars for Buddhist monks to chant prayers during urn placement ceremonies or for memorial services. More information on Singaporean pet burial grounds at: http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/STIStory_270015.html

Baby whale mistakes a yacht for its mum

2008-08-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

According to the Singapore Straights times...

"In Sydney, an abandoned baby humpback whale has apparently mistaken a moored yacht for its mother.

'The calf has spent the last day or so in Pittwater and we believe it has been nuzzling up to a moored vessel in an attempt to find milk,' Mr Chris McIntosh, local manager for the New South Wales state national parks service, said yesterday.

Experts say the baby whale cannot survive more than a few days without milk provided by its mother.

Rescuers tried to wing the yacht out to sea, in an attempt to lure the calf into deeper waters and away from Pittwater, which is north of Sydney Harbour."

169th World Photography day in Kathmandu!

2008-08-20T06:59:00.001-07:00

Nepalese Photojournalists dressed up as cameras during a rally yesterday to mark the 169th world photography day. They forgot their actual cameras at home.

Barack Roll

2008-08-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4

copy and paste link

This was brought to my attention by Andy Doro. Barack is such a smooth dancer.

10 Things

2008-08-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

Today as I was getting coffee, I envisioned myself on a formal sit down interview with a pressing CNN news journalist. The question: "What do you like most about living in South East Asia?"

My response (not in any particular order and without the numberings)

1. Wearing flat shoes and being of average height.
2. Spicy foods
3. Sweet foods
4. Weird foods with bouncy textures
5. Old people exercising in the morning
6. Complete order/Complete chaos
7. An appreciation for rich colors along with a faded green tea color
8. Tropical flora and fauna
9. Shamans and fortune tellers
10. Tradition

ANIMAL LIBERTIES

2008-08-19T09:40:00.000-07:00

Apparently in China its cool to dye your dog different colors. Above are images that I took at a Shanghai pet shop of a rainbow dyed dog and a bushy eyebrow dyed dog (slight resemblance to Grouch Marx, maybe?). I personally think this pet-owner freedom of expression is pretty awesome. My sincerest apologies to all animal activists reading this "blogspot". But, seriously, whoa.

JOJO IN A BOX

2008-08-19T02:40:00.001-07:00

JOJO IN A BOX

AIRPORT WAITING

2008-08-18T20:11:00.001-07:00

A Celebration of the Morning, Lumphini

2008-08-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

My favorite parts of cities are their parks. In parks you gain access to people at peace, without work and in leisure, in others' company or alone. In a park there are no pretentions, they welcome the old, the young, and the crazy.

I've been going to Lumphini park in Bangkok for the past 4 years. Its the most beautiful, and alive place that I've ever frequented. Every morning around 7:00 am elders fill the park and sip tea with comrades, some practice tai chi in yellow jumpsuits, others dance in groups to 70's disco music, some sing karaoke under tropical fauna, and others do yoga with a teacher that shouts out instructions through a megaphone. At times stray 5 foot long iguanas will intercept your walk as they pass by you on their way to the nearest pond. Old men say hi to me, the Farong (foreigner), as I make a lap around them. A man gyrates vigorously and my immediate impulse is to laugh, a look closer at his face and not his moving body and I see a man deep in meditation. I feel bad for laughing. Everyone has their morning quirks, in fact everyone has quirks and that is what makes each person so great.

Two Umbrellas on Telephone Wires

2008-08-18T08:11:00.001-07:00

Thai Contemporary Art

2008-08-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

The colors and repetitive images just suck me in and then hold me there. Treasures to find in the smallest details.

Just to name a few, above are some pieces by Navin's Sala, Ralf Tooten, and Preyawit Nilachulaka. You can find many of Bangkok's galleries within the Silom Galleria on Surasak Road, a short distance away from Pat Pong.

The Most Amazing Gift

2008-08-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

My mother and I were browsing through "loft" (a Japanese chain, chachka shop) in Bangkok, when I came across the possibly most ridiculous gift I have ever seen...miniature animal key chains that you can photoshop your face inside of! Sounds complicated, eh? Well, we had to purchase some for my Pops. Attached you will find images of my mother and I morphed into these little animal people. When a "loft" employee was making my little animal person come to life, he photoshoped my face to half look like a Thai baby! I stopped him. I believe the name of this odd but cute product is called a "Shalark".

If you would like to purchase one, and you can translate this Japanese website, please visit: http://www.shalark.co.jp/

Bangkok's Chinatown/Sign City

2008-08-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Feel free to impart your own translations/ New Yorker captions (but, please, nothing about psychologists).

BANGKOK

2008-08-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Walk outside and you are covered in sweat. The grit of the city rubs right off onto your clothes. Women hold hands with other women who might actually be men that have recently removed certain parts. Smells of raw fish, fresh spices, car exhaust and lotus flowers. Colors blindingly bright. Devour foods that are so spicy that you cry and sweat, but, this particular sweat cools you off. It's never felt so good and so raw to feel so fucking hot. Sweet smiles from beautiful women, looks of fear from white men who have just bedded those same women for money. Buy a fresh squeezed watermelon juice from a street vendor, the vendor touches you gently and tells you how absolutely beautiful you are. Some people have Paris, I've got Bangkok.

South Korea's Fake Funerals

2008-08-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

In order to decrease their record suicide rates, South Korea has developed a fear tactic/program that is aimed at helping its citizens better appreciate their lives. This program of betterment and appreciation involves staging individuals' fake deaths! In this program people are encouraged to write their last will and testament, read their wills aloud and eventually get buried alive!

for more information and photographs see:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2e29bbb6-574b-11dd-916c-000077b07658.html

2008-08-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

1. Translation of the word "foreigner" to Mandarin: Lao Wai:
literal English translation "Old Outsider"
2. Translation of the word "foreigner" to Cantonese: Gui Lao:
literal English translation "White Ghost"

The Mangostin

2008-08-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

This little purple fruit baby is the most delicious fruit. It is commonly found throughout the tropics of South East Asia. Peel the skin away and behold tender and slimy sections. The Mangostin is actually handled like an orange. There are seeds inside each section, but they are soft enough to chew and then swallow. Sweet and twangy deliciousness.

luang prabang, Laos

2008-08-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Met

2008-08-10T06:24:00.001-07:00

Massage Conversations

2008-08-10T03:40:00.001-07:00

In my day I have had a fair amount of noteworthy massages throughout Asia. I have been beaten down by blind men, I have been been touched a bit questionably by Thai women and I have been cured of pending illnesses by the touch of Chinese reflexologists. I will however share with you a few of my favorite lines that have been shared with me during the course of my relaxation visits.

a. "You are the smallest white person that I have ever seen!"
b. "You are beautiful, you look like a model, a 14 year old model"
c. "I have always wanted a white person's eyes like yours?"

I feel self conscious and weirdly violated.

Golden Mile Complex, Singapore

2008-08-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

Ten minutes north of the Arab quarter is a wonderful little gem known as the "Golden Mile Complex". A strip mall of recent Thai immigrants, neon food stalls, sketchy bars with beer girls/prostitutes, and bootleg cell phone carriers. People saunter about the complex with beers in hand, occasionally stopping to check out the Muay Thai boxing games blaring from Thai CD and DVD Stalls.

Within the Complex is Tuk Tuk thai kitchen, a fantastic food paradise that serves papaya salad and crispy shredded catfish that will make your mouth go numb. The Taro root and coconut milk dessert is heaven on earth.

Tuk tuk thai kitchen
Golden mile complex (main)
tel: 6293 5101

Ghost Month

2008-08-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

In Chinese tradition, the thirteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. During the Qingming festival the living descendants pay homage to their ancestors and on Ghost Day, the deceased visit the living.
-wikipedia

Attached are some shrines and food offerings (sweets in the shapes of sea creatures) that I came across in Geylang (aka. Singapore's red light district) in honor of the Ghost Month. I think the decorations are so beautiful. FYI. Aside from purtty ladies, Geylang has some of the best outdoor food venues in all of the country.

HK Artist Factories

2008-08-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong based artists Chow Chunfai, Kwan Sheungchi, Lam Tungpang, Lee Kit, Ma Chihang, Pak Sheungchuen and Wong Waiyin presented their works at the Osage gallery in Singapore this past Friday. The artists have neighboring studios in abandoned factory spaces known as studio Mr 221 and studio 615 at Fotan. Their works which range from video installations to large scale paintings similarly depict a personal struggle to identify themselves as artists in a corporate landscape. There is a recurring emphasis on space and faded pastel colors which creates a very tranquil viewing experience. The emphasis on space proves to be very different from the popular patterns and collages often found in the works of contemporary American artists.

http://www.osagegallery.com/

I swore at a Singaporean and now I feel bad

2008-07-31T02:47:00.000-07:00

As a New Yorker, I have a fair amount of confidence in being able to shmooze my way out of many odd situations. Singaporeans won't work with me!

In order to get a Visa, I spent 5 some odd hours at the immigration building only to be told to return later for not having the appropriate forms filled out. I came back later, appropriate forms in hand, however, I did not have a sufficient form of payment (apparently I cannot use cash, credit cards, or bank cards at immigration?) "We only use cash cards, please purchase one at your local 7/11". What the fuck is a cash card? "Who in this world doesn't fucking accept cash? (that was me when I lost it)". I was so mad I was nearly compelled to spit my already illegal gum on the floor! SIDE NOTE: if you get caught with more then three packs of gum in Singapore, you may face hefty jail time for intent to sell. Four 7/11 trips later, I returned to immigration with two cherry slushies, weird chips and a cash card. On my way to yet another line, I was taken a back by an enthusiastic Singaporean woman who shouted "Madonna" as I strutted by. I figured she was yelling this at me since I was the only white person there. I proceeded to wait on three more lines, bada bing bada boom, I now have a Visa.

Dear Sweet Singaporean lady that I swore at...I am sincerely sorry that I raised my voice at you.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia

2008-07-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

Ventured into a weird/sad zoo across the Singaporean border in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The sites included monkeys that could be the poster children for zoloft advertisements, tigers being fed raw chickens, domestic animals eating the grub of the wild animals, and birds the size of me escaping their cages. My favorite oddity was the baby monkey and lion living together harmoniously in a cage! The zoo keeper said they were best friends.

Excercise Videos in Bangkok

2008-07-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

In the Grocery Store Check Out Aisle, Singapore

2008-07-26T02:01:00.000-07:00

(please click on photo to enlarge)
I think this really may be the saddest tzedakah box that I have ever encountered. Its so so sad. Please help this little spastic child when you are here for a visit.

Bintan Celebrations

2008-07-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

This little dude to the right just finished reading the Qur'an in May. This was his coming out celebration in Bintan, Indonesia (A Muslim Bar Mitzvah without the glow sticks, motivators and open bar). It was the most beautiful festivity that I have ever attended; delicious foods, rich colors and delightful people. The family has invited me to a wedding in February.

Land mine museum, Siem Reap, Cambodia

2008-07-23T18:01:00.001-07:00

In January I visited the Cambodian Land mine museum in Siem Reap with my friend George. Enclosed are images of a bear being blown up by a land mine. They are painted by the founder of the museum, Aki Ra.

Peanut Ice Kachang

2008-07-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite dessert in the entire world is Peanut Ice Kachang

Does Peanut Ice Kachang even need an introduction beyond its awesome name and beyond the fact that it tastes like an Ice-cream Sunday that is agreeable to people like my sister who are lactose intolerant? I'll simply provide an image and the...

Ingredients:
sweetened beans
sweetened corn kernels
cubes of gelatin
heaping mounds of shaved ice
chocolate syrup
strawberry syrup
a weird colored syrup
peanuts

P.S. Wouldn't it be amazing to have a baby named "little peanut Ice Kachang?"

The best in Singapore: Annie's Peanut Ice Kachang
Tanjong Pagar Food Center, Stall No. 02-36, Singapore

Tiger Balm Village

2008-07-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first entry. Its a blog!

Although I have not yet made my grand entrance in Singapore, I have decided to post some exciting images from my previous trip out east. I believe these images from Haw Par Villa (established by the brothers who invented Tiger Balm in order to scare youngsters away from performing unethical deeds) strongly portray how brilliantly weird Asia is.