Boy Trai

Last Tuesday night, we went to Boy Trai concert at Shoo Bee Doo Bar. We got there around 8pm, eat some food, drink some liquer and waited for P'Boy to show up (which he did at 10:30pm).

Anyway the concert was sponsored by Red Label, so of course, we ordered Sang Som as our rum of choice.

The concert was pretty good - I only know one song by him so I can't profess to be his biggest fan. But, one of my friends is. And during the concert, she was either backstage (to get a good look of P'Boy) or singing along to his songs.

As the concert wore on, some of us were beginning to feel restless and couldn't resist to dance. All in all, a happy, fun evening.

One Night in Bangkok

On Monday night, I went to take photos of Sathorn & Narathiwat road. Since there is nothing but buildings and traffic, these two elements basically constitute my photos.

Rather than just take pictures of buildings, which are pretty much static, I decided to rotate the lens while it was capturing pictures (see these two photos of the same building).





At another shot, I tried to capture the streaming traffic at a busy intersection. I also want to get a picture of a BTS, but couldn't manage a successful result.



Finally, I take a picture of a lamp hanging from the BTS - don't know why really, but I like to take pictures of street lamp...

One Special Teacher

This is a post dedicated to my art professor, who on this day, retired from teaching at the age of 62. I learned about his retirement through the alumni newsletter.

I can still remember the first day I met Prof. Thom. It was my freshman year - first class of the semester. Prof. Thom came into the room and probably seeing some doubts in our eyes (or was it because it was so early in the morning most of us weren't awake yet), he said 'All of you are special.' Okay, I thought. Totally weird.

I breezed through Freshman year and Prof. Thom's class. I didn't talk to him again until my senior year (because he mainly teaches introductory class) - when I was struggling through my senior projects. Much have passed during those three years and more doubts crept in - doubts about my ability as a designer, a painter and in general as a college student.

I met Prof. Thom by chance while he was smoking and I was lamenting about my senior projects. He came towards me, asked me how I was (terrible, can't you see from my facial expression?) told me he was assigned to be my advisor (really?) and told me that I would turn out to be something special (hangover again, prof?). Throughout that semester, he would made comments on my projects in detail as if he were analyzing the Sistine Chapel. By listening to his comments, I learn how to draw.

I wish I could go back in time and relive the experience again. Most of all, I wish I were back sitting on a bench in front of the Art building so that I could hear him tell me, one more time, that I was something special.

In Love With...La Féerie

La Féerie is a French word meaning 'enchantment' and that was my first thought when I entered this little spa. It is located just across from Thonglor 23 - many people have missed the place because it is just a little house located between My Place restaurant and Ducati motorcycle shop. (Speaking of which, can somebody move this irritating shop...like to other province? Seriously, what kind of person would buy a 2 million Baht motorcycle)

Anyway, La Féerie is a small, cozy spa, specializes in manicure and pedicure. Massage is currently available only on Wednesdays - until they find a permanent masseuse.


What I like about this place is not only the services, but also the atmosphere - it's very homelike - since the place is small, it has that intimate quality that big spa lacks. People often complain about the high price, but if you consider where it's situated and the quality of the products, you have nothing to complain about. (IMHO, taken in the atmosphere and services, it's worth dishing out the cash).


But, what I like most about this place is that 90% of the time, I get to spend time with two of my favorite people in the world - and there are not that many. They are that type of people that once you left their company, you feel like you are the most special person in the world. All in all, La Féerie is not just a place that I go when I want to relax, it's a place that I go when I feel tired, when I need life/career advice and whenever I feel down.

Without A Tripod

How would your picture comes out if you shoot it at night without a tripod? Check these out.

I took these pictures at Siam BTS. Set your shutter speed at about 1/20 and F stop at 16. After pressing the shutter try adjusting the lens. You will get some 'electrified' results.

Night Out at Siam Paragon

These are some of the photos I took on a night out at Siam Paragon. To celebrate CNY, S.P. decorate the courtyard with dragons and lots of red color (bit tacky, if you ask me).

Enjoy the photos...






I like to take pictures with slow shutter speed - you can make boring subjects look more interesting - ghostlike images...

Mandalay

If one were to ask me what is the most attractive city in the world, I would immediately say Mandalay. It isn't the most 'happening' place (that would be London) nor is it the most romantic city (that would be Florence, of course) nor is it the most beautiful place (without a doubt -- Santorini), but gosh darn it, it's the most attractive place I have ever traveled. Though I didn't dare to travel outside the 'tourist' spots, but maybe that's why it's, oh, so mysterious.

Not to say that I just locked myself up in a hotel. I ventured outside on my own with some trepidation -- scenes of oppression and military force, as shown in the news, came to my mind. However, after ten minutes of meeting and talking to local people, I found that my fear was gradually reduced. Myanmar people are largely polite and very religious - something that the media tend to ignore. Not surprisingly, most are still 'localized' (thanks to the military government) and that, paradoxically, is the most charming aspect of it all. As I began to interact more and more with the locals, I couldn't help myself hoping, selfishly wanting Mandalay to stay like this forever.


I stayed at a hotel just across from the Mandalay palace and every mornings I opened the window curtain, I was staring at the pagodas and the massive man made lake. But, my favorite time is not during the day, but at night when the sky opened up, revealing the stars and constellations (blue/red/orange). Since residents do not wander at night (thanks to military curfew), silence filled the city. And at about this time, I would stand in front of my hotel, facing the palace and I would look up in the sky that is filled with stars and felt that, just for a few hours, time has stood still in Mandalay...for the past two hundred years.

Photography and Leica

Photography: I don't know when it happened or how it happened, but I just fell in love with photography ever since I bought my first SLR camera eight years ago. Took one photography class - naively thinking that it would be just a one time thing - and have been a photography addict from that moment on. A while back I purchased my first digital camera - Leica and this tiny camera is now with me everywhere.

Leica...as photography enthusiasts will know, is not a camera...it's a Leica. Leica was founded by Oskar Barnack and introduced to the public in 1925 - It was the first portable, small camera. (Before that, camera was a traditional format that used heavy plates). Today, Leica is still coveted by many and is probably famous for its immaculate materials and lens.

Recently, I bought my first DSLR and is currently using my Canon 400D to take photos. I don't take pictures with my Leica as often as before, but this tiny camera will forever be my favorite.