Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Motherland Visit, Part 7: Thoughts along the Way

Yes, I am one of those Moleskin-carrying travelers… I have no shame. Here are some thoughts collected during my Thailand journey.

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Twenty year old Minolta captures
Twenty year old memories
through a hazy lens

I should probably clean that


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heavy air
thick with scooter smoke
puffing dark grey clouds as they dart
like squid
streamlined octopi
appendages all tucked in
between the bulk of
four-wheeled vehicles
sharks


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cool breezes life the weight of humidity
street vendors heighten the sense of humility


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three generations of Kliengkloms
laying on their backs
wooden day beds
eyes to the ceiling
silence for just enough time
to catch our breath

there’s a lot of things to take care of

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Daddy-isms

We’re walking down the street towards the beach in Hua Hin and as per usual, my father is being gregarious to all street venders. In passing and with no intention to buy, he casually asks the Tulian dealer where they are from – tapping into a well of knowledge about local Thai fruit – for if they are grown in certain region, they will have a certain taste. With a wave and a fleeting promise of return, my father continues along his way to the slight annoyance of the vender.

Cut to a couple hours later when we are taking a tuk tuk back to hotel. From the tuk tuk we spot the Tulian stand one block ahead of us. We turn to my father and hastle him about his “friend” at the stand and how he was going to get busted for hurting his feelings. And sure enough, as we all turn to look at the stand, the vender waves right at us. BUSTED. And my dad laughs exactly like if he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

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In Thai:

Dad: There should be a price difference between playing golf in the morning versus the afternoon. It’s cheaper in the hot time.
Aunt (his sister): Who wants to hit balls when it’s hot?!
Dad: People that want deals!

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George: Dad, why don’t you have some friends around here that we can stay with?
Dad: I don’t have friends. Just ex-girlfriends.

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