Hair-Raising Death Museum and Bangkok Art Galleries

This is a complete U-turn from my last post about the do's and don'ts of what to charge for tutoring in Bangkok.

The most eldritch, vomit-inducing and captivating experience I have ever had. Take a trip to Siriraj Medical Museum for two to three hours and you won't ever forget it; In fact you may want to gouge your eyes out. Though, for those sick, twisted, or even those purely fascinated by the sciences behind human dissection, this is the place for you!

For some international artwork including paintings, jewelry making, illustrations, digital media and more, you should head downtown to inner city Bangkok along Charoen Krung Road, which acts as the spinal chord for the underground scene of artwork.

If you want Siriraj, you can skip this section and fast-forward below. However I want to give readers the chance to understand that these pictures and all of my writings are not for the weak stomached. (I shouldn't be talking with how many times I end up on the toilet from slightly spicy Thai food.) Please be aware, you are giving your consent to me by scrolling or reading below. I do not advise anyone under the age of 18 to read or view without parental consent. Aka, please don't blame me for anything!

With that being said, I present to you: 

Bangkok Art Galleries

I will start with the an urban arts festival with artwork from around the world, all centered in the heart of Bangkok. This art scene is run by Bukruk. Center city's skeleton of private and small galleries are filled with a ton of artwork that coordinate together for 10 days. You can hop down the river side while drinking some brew as you go. Some art galleries are listed below with some short experiences I had and some pictures. I'm sure many of these galleries are obviously open year round, but hopefully I can provide at least a little insight on what type of things you'll find.

You can take a look at their facebook group www.facebook.com/bukrukfestival with the hashtag #BUKRUKFESTIVAL. Their website is www.bukruk.com
Also here is a promotional video they had for this year's festival. I must say I wish I had gone out more than what I had. Life of a busy American, student-loan paying, English teacher, I guess?



To start off I'll explain the map and brochure. All the galleries are mainly along, or don't veer far from, Charoen Krung Road. I would say the best location to start is by the Saphan Taksin BTS station. This is where numbers 1 and 10 are on the map. Now, this map is a little rough on the eyes because there are two sets of numbers. One is in black and the other is in a dark green. Poor choice on their part. However it is just this month's edition, January 2016.


The brochure gives a ton of information from wall art around Bangkok, galleries, exhibitions (Current), a music festival, animation nights, artists talks, and projection mapping.







Here are a few snaps of the brochure itself:

Black Number 1: Bridge Art Space (Bottom right)

This place had a very quiet, independent vibe. The first floor had nothing to view, so my friend and I actually thought it was not open. However, we were told that the upstairs had some work on display. There was also a short film being shown on the top floor. Sweet!

One artist featured was Kult, a Bangkok street artist. He creates portraits and busts with little facial feature precision. It's almost as if the artist had blurred the identity of these people, including the three-dimensional pieces. These gallery was definitely not a bust. (Bust, hehe.)

The film that was being shown was an experimental piece from Montreal titled, "You Look Like Me". This video sprayed a series of lines, shapes, colors, and sounds at the viewers. The immediate thought is chaos. Throughout the video, a voice-over saying "You look like me" repeats itself while sandwiched with other phrases belonging to different racial classes around the world. The video slowly reveals a face being formed through all the lines and shapes. It seems that this pieces attempts to pressure one to think about the personal perspectives or prejudices placed on people due to race.

Want some good asian food? Sorry, no food. Only drinks and some soy sauce!

Black Number 5: Soy Sauce Factory

I walk in to this gallery and immediately feel the fine arts presence. It's as if I am gallery hopping in Chelsea, in New York. This gallery has a small bar, with a relaxed and cool vibe allowing for open discussion about the artwork at hand. The featured artwork of this time was by Lolay. This artist explores the possibilities of physical features of a person having any correlation with how they act.

Next up on the list of galleries:

Black Number 6: Speedy Grandma

Back in the deep soi (street) along Charoen Krung soi 28, Speedy Grandma is a well known hot spot for the arts and drinks crowd. This place had bumping music, a small bar, and graphical artwork. The artwork displayed below is from a Thai comic book. The walls were decorated well with black and white illustrations using a silhouette theme. If you want to strike up a conversation with another art goer, then turn your shoulder and find yourself in a bass music driven conversation, this is the place for you. If you are looking for a quick art fill, you can roll in and roll out within fifteen to twenty minutes. That is including a 5 minute beer in your left hand.

My personal favorite of my night in the galleries:

Black Number 3: Serindia Gallery

This gallery had a very quiet night. I was the only person roaming the isles in this small yet satisfying gallery. The gallery featured Greek and Romanian artists, Aitch, Saddo, and Fikos. This gallery shows a variety of mediums from oil, watercolor, woodblock and photography. The gallery is usually dedicated to rich, cultural and historical pieces of work, focused on the land mass between India and China. Some of the Greek and Romanian works were shot below: 

Some of these works even showed a resemblance of the Crystal Period. (Well known for Picasso, cubism, geometric and minimalistic style.)

This gallery had an extremely kind and helpful staff that actually provided me with my map and gallery list. The artwork here was intriguing, the staff was kind, and it was very informative as to where to head next. I give the young lady working the desk some snaps for being a good host!

 I primarily stayed on the black list rather than the dark green. The dark green seem to be more of the Bangkok wall art/street art list. You can also take a stroll on Talat Noi for some Bangkok Street art. This area is also known for some of the slums.

I have not yet gone there, but hope to soon. If I do, you can obviously expect a post.

Lastly, some smaller galleries where artwork can be found is at the Chatajuk / Chatachuk / Chatuchak / Jatajuck / or however anyone else wants to spell this market!

This market happens every Saturday and Sunday right near the Mo Chit BTS station. Head over to Section 7 (The far right on the market map) for some really cool and indie artwork. There aren't many lots but they have some pretty neat things to look at. This is a fantastic and easy location for local artists to sell their work, and usually cheaper than other places. If you get tired or want to do something else, there are some small bars between the nooks and crannies. Or, shop! You are at a market!

I once again warn you all about...

The Siriraj Medical Museum

You can give it a quick "google" search and find many pictures as well. However none will come with my detailed and "Too-Much-Information" descriptions. So my journey began with my lovely girlfriend. We arrived at the hospital and used a voucher (Usually happens yearly for a limited time. The voucher itself cost around 200 Baht, but gives access to multiple museums in a few short months around the new year. Approximately valid from October 31 to December 31. These are the dates that were used for 2015. Also, the catch is that you could only purchase the museum pass for a limited time in October.) See the pictures below for details and examples.

The Siriraj Medical Museum is  Be sure to ask for a map of the different locations in the medical center. The campus holds a number of buildings that you have access to. I walked in to the clean and educational room with displays full of infections and diseases. This was not as bad as I had expected. It was a little gross, but it was fair for what I had expected. I began to get a little more upset as I walk by babies with deformations. I was able to gut it. These babies look like a pale, semi see-through skin, sometimes stitched, Chuckie dolls. If anyone has ever gone to an aquarium where they used to sell baby sharks in bottles; this kind of reminds me of that. You can see the parts of skin that have fallen, or floated, off the body. If you were to tap the glass, you can see the rumble and shake from contact. Quite disturbing at times.

Keep walking through to see babies with two heads, or deformations. These are obviously kept for scientific use and study.
This is nothing compared to what you will see next...

I've already lost track of where I am in this medical center. I find myself walking into another room, which almost looks like it should be off boundaries. I look in the distance on the dirty tiled floors and see shelves full of bones and human body parts. Nothing that makes me want to throw up, until I turn my head and look through the window. I see a man, a doctor? Maybe a student? Maybe just a worker preparing the next visual masterpiece. Not being able to tell what was happening, I glimpse through the unguarded windows and doors to this butcher shop. The man has a large lump of, meat? Slaps it down on the table and rolls it, plays with it, and preps it. I'm still unsure of what it was, but it was dark red, and he had nothing but gloves and a mask on handling this mass of plump.

I continued down to find myself looking at an antique style piece of furniture with a glass door and wooden frame, holding a skeleton. This time I do tap the glass. The skeleton shakes as its head is holding it up leaning against the door. This poor skeleton and soul have to be close to its next fall. One tap too hard and you'll have another pile of bones.
"I swear officer! I did not kill him!"
It makes me feel even more uneasy when I realize I'm breathing the same air that this set of bones is breathing, and has been breathing for who knows how long. The glass has holes and cracks, even worse condition than any normal piece of old furniture. The small description next to the body writes that he was a convicted rapist.
I'm suddenly full of rage and no longer want to breath the same air that touches this skeleton, no because of disgust of human remains, but because of disgust of this person's character.
Thats besides the point though.

I keep walking through and begin counting all the different things I see. Photos, skulls, bones, hearts, fingers, hands, legs, ears, eyeballs, brains, etc. All of these are displayed slightly dirty shelves and have short descriptions of where or what they came from. Many were from accidents, such as fires or motor accidents. These were filled with details, like "man run over by truck" or "shotgun blasts to the chest and face".

Time for some fresh air. I feel a bit uneasy and somewhat down. I feel sad. Learning about all of these people, real people, and observing their remains makes me feel horrible about myself. I do know that some of this is meant for medical use, but why am I looking at it then? Why do I have access? This is not for medical, this is for show and profit. Are these being used by students? How often? These are the thoughts as I walk outside breathing the cleaner (but not so clean) Bangkok air.

I enter my next building.

Have you ever cleaned your house before? Weird question... let me re-phrase that. Have you ever bleached your house before? That strong vibrant smell is what this place smelled like. Only add about 10,000 gallons of dried blood and mounds of carcass. If you ever watched Breaking Bad, and can recall the scene of disposing the body in acid. That pool of acid and blood. That is exactly what I imagined the smell would be like. This portion of the medical center seems to be off limits. One or two sections say we can not enter, as we see a medical center worker walk bye in far too little of protective clothing for how that place smelled. We are allowed to go up to the second floor. This building is older. The floors creek and the stairs crack with every light step.

I turn right down the dark, dreary, wooden hallway and find more figures on display. This time physically stacked on each other, ready to fall and shatter on the floor with one wrong step.

Turn right again, into a room. This room is like an extremely old antique shop with tons and tons of antiques like lamps, dressers, wardrobes, desks, tables and chairs all stacked super high. Now, replace all of those with bones and dried body parts. You have my current setting. Some even have the description and picture of those the bones belonged too. That was at least a bit more settling.

The next room was by far the most incredibly eerie place I've ever been in my entire life.

My first sight as I walk in is a shelf full of stacked babies of different size, age, and sex. Every child had different situations. Some had one eye, known as a "cyclops". Some had two heads, or three arms. If you can think of it, it was there. If you can't think of it, you'll be introduced to it. Coming face to face with tanks full of liquid and floating bodies was disturbing enough. How about walking through this room. I came this far and I needed to keep going.

How many of you had a friend or family member, or even yourself who lived in a home that had so much stuff in their basement or attic that they couldn't quite squeeze through without knocking something over? Yup, you got it. Thats this place. My shirt and pants had to have brushed against countless glass containers. These were not secured down at all. They were all open to touch freely if you desired. It says no photography and I assume its frowned upon to touch the enclosures, but there is no enforcement around you at all. I roamed around the room, being careful to not hit anything or anyone. When I say "anyone", realize myself and my girlfriend were the only live ones here.

I come up to three young children on the floor. All stitched from dissection. You can see the thread enter and exit the skin, pulling the cuts tight together. You can see the slices in the skin, and the particles floating in the liquid. You see the head and arms rock and shake in the water as you walk near them. This was no where near what I expected. I expected the bodies, the gore or even the shocking images. I did not expect myself, me, the visitor, to be affecting the way these bodies lay in their grave. I felt wrong taking pictures, though I snapped a few of some that were a little more easy on the eyes than the others.

These children have been shown respect. You look down and along the line of bodies you have toys and gifts. People show their respects by giving the children toys. Their spirits are believed to appreciate this. It's such a hard site, because this wasn't just a visual, it was physical.

Literally, every step you took was a deciding factor of how these humans lay in their grave.

Lastly, after crawling through the stacks of different time periods of abortions, I came across the two full human body dissections. One male and one female. They were preserved and carefully cut to show different portions of tissue. From skin to organs and bones, all were shown with precision. Careful though, if you were to step too close you can see the entire body shake, and can watch the short hair sway in the waves. In the picture below you can see the abortions and unborn/premature born babies. Towards the top right you can see the foot of the male, full figure, body. I chose not to take any more pictures after this. I felt that I was being disrespectful and I even feel a bit harsh about posting these images. Maybe with a little time I will remove them. Technically, we are not allowed to take any pictures, though the enforcement is at an all time low. There are also many pictures already online of some of these figures. I guess mine give a different angle?

I was walking through one large Frankenstein museum, I can't help but imagine that this place is not being run properly. My take is that if it were to be open for general public, then make it safer. I can't imagine what some of those smells were. I'm no scientist but, lets make it sanitary, eh?

Would I go back?
I am not sure I would go back, but I definitely do recommend it as it gave me insight on a few more things that I wouldn't have even thought about before.

Well, thats it for the arts of Bangkok and the creepiest place on planet Earth. I hope you enjoyed it!

If you missed my last post on tutoring in Bangkok, and are looking what to charge students, feel free to check it out! http://theventureon.blogspot.com/2015/12/so-how-much-no-not-for-that-hooker.html



If you get stuck in a mound full of bodies, push through the smells and Venture On!

So, how much? No, not for that hooker!

How much is too much, how much is not enough?

I'm still teaching at my original school I started with. The kids are, for the most part, great and I don't want to leave them. I am teaching mathematics to kids from ages 8-13, and English conversation to older kids from ages 15-19. I also teach at a mall, in a language school, Inlingua. I have students from all ages (4-40). I also teach private lessons in my condo. I've turned my one bedroom condo into a classroom, with a huge whiteboard, and a small selection of books that I can use for worksheets depending on the lesson. I'm beginning to understand what it's like to not have to plan much at all for tutoring/private lessons. I have done a lot of the prep work/book selection already so I essentially just start class and continue where we left off before. This is easy money.

How do I know how much to charge?

I think there are WAY too many people in Thailand who take advantage of their position. Read all this and then I'll slap the wages of life in Bangkok.

Becoming an educator should not be about ripping people off. I completely understand if someone is charging 1,000+ baht per hour for private lessons, but only if you are actually working that much and/or have the skill set to assist you in your class. 1,000 baht is approximately 28 USD. The exchange rate is obviously changing everyday. 

Why,  why, why, why!? I don't understand why so many teachers feel it's acceptable to charge this much for one hour of work. So here is my theory...at least for areas like Bangkok/Pattaya/Chiang Mai... Cities and places with larger population.

Thai people, those of them that are wealthy enough to afford 1000 baht per hour of lessons, are willing to spend it without even thinking about it. The farang (foreigner) make an easy exchange and cash in. The work load that I see most farang having for these types of lessons usually consist of : 'hey what is your homework I can help correct that' to 'lets just talk' to 'lets open this book'. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with these methods, however I do feel that if you have little to no prep, and charge that much you pretty much could be an English teacher fraud. What do I mean by fraud?

An ESL-NE speaker (English as a second language and native English speaker), are usually people who can speak the language quite well, without thinking. The trick, is being able to understand all the rules and exceptions in English. Knowing that the English language has 12 tenses. Not 3. Knowing that we call 'is, am, are' as the verb 'to be'. Knowing how to conjugate have, to be, etc... Knowing about prepositions of time and place, or the many parts of speech in English. Or knowing about the difference with 'either and neither' or describing the way to pronounce 'th' correctly without just having them repeat after you. As a teacher you should be able to figure out or research ways to effectively teach. Read that again, EFFECTIVELY teach.

Now I bet a lot of people could be reading this and could be thinking 'oh wow Harry you are hating on teachers and think you are the best.' No no no, I am not the best I am no where near that. I am rather aware of my skill set. I have some tricks up my sleeve as we all learn to build on our own. I do not know the Enish language well enough. I can't explain the use of adverbials verse adverbs. (What the heck is an adverbial!?) I can't describe the reasoning behind phrasal verbs, like 'passing out'. I can explain the definition but not why it is set up like that. How about that oh so familiar 'l' instead of 'r' that all the Thais say. No one can do the 'r' perfectly. It's because their 'r' in Thai sounds like 'l'. We need to be effective teachers in order to change this so they are speaking correctly. Not sit there for three hours and have them repeat it. Show diagrams of the tongue! Examples! Many words. (A trick I've used is to have them say 'motorbike' and they slightly grasp the r sound in that word. I tell them to cut that out and place it in another word like rice or road. To start using the 'r' sound and try to emphasize/exaggerate the sound. I've found it to work pretty well to make them exaggerate it then tone it down. Another good tip for the th sound I've used is to have the student very lightly bite on their tongue and breath out. Not push spit or make a fart sound with their mouth but more of a relaxing exhale. That's been working perfectly for the past few weeks in my classes of 40 kids. They are loving it. Usually they'd get annoyed but I think they can actually hear the difference themselves.)

So, if you are a teacher that is able to answer a ton of types of questions and teach effectively then I see no problem with charging that much for an hour, as long as you can back yourself up with the books and help with homework. (Minimal prep).. However, if you are simply not trying to educate yourself and are not self evaluating your lessons every single day you teach, then I think it's just shy of a scam if you charge that much. If you ARE simply trying to just sell your accent and memorized knowledge of 'how things are' in English, then sure! Go ahead! Do it, I encourage it. Thais love speaking and practicing too. I think it's worth only around 300- 400 baht an hour, though. Which is still good!!!!

Like I said I'm no expert, and I definitely need to grow a lot in the teaching realm. 

So my lessons that I teach got me firing my comments about this because I get paid around 600 baht per hour in my private lessons. I still feel I am overcharging but the students/clients insist on giving it. Yes, I even tried lowering it because I just feel horrible if I'm not honest.

Ok I think you understand or can at least sympathize with where I am coming from. (There is another great example, 'where I am coming from'. That sounds like a difficult thing to explain. Maybe say 'it's the same as you understanding my perspective?' Sure that sounds good! Wait, do they know the word perspective?... Hmm)

The baht. How far does the dollar go? How far does the baht go? Here's my personal breakdown. And this is all of a decent living style. Nothing extremely fancy and nothing below comfortable living. I don't have to worry about turning on and off my electricity other than for saving energy, not my baht.

Well, the breakdown - if you take your time you can probably find a decently nice condo with a pool and a gym for around 7,500 baht a month. Including A/c and a stove top, and a fridge. Sometimes parking if you need it.

That comes out k be slightly over 200 USD a month. (Many can be found immediately for 10,000 baht a month)

As for food, one meal averages 35 baht (1 USD). If you want luxury meals - a couple hundred. Pretty good buffets from around  300-2,000 (extremely nice buffets... I never go there, haha. I always go to the 300 baht ones).

Electricity usually runs around 800 baht a month for someone running a/c frequently. Water bills are pocket change - probably less than 80 baht per months wifi/internet : 650 baht per month.

Transport: around 1,000 per month.

Ok now that you know that, check out all of this below...

So, even if you spent around 16,000 baht a month on living expenses, that's still a lot. So wait, wait, wait. Are u telling you that people can come to Thailand, teach lessons to people for 1,000 baht an hour, teach them at two periods every week, and perhaps have 1-3 people in one lesson/class? One a week with 2 kids, 1,000 each.... Is what? 8,000! Ok so let's try to get our money that we need to survive. And let's make us work a little harder, only one student per hour. We would need to teach 16 hours in one month. Less than half of the average full time working week in western worlds.

If you teach any more, you are rich. 

Now, most of us  have full time salary jobs, that are reliable for a monthly income. So that we don't have to rely on the flexible private lessons. Now I think 1,000 baht for a lesson was an extreme example for me to use, but it does definitely happen. However if you worked the work week the same amount as in a western world, you'd have to charge about 100 baht and hour to get what you need to live. Now that's absurd, you can definitely get a job paying more, working less. A lot less. Average jobs are 30-35,000 baht a month working around 15-25 teaching hours, not including grading and planning. Most of the jobs don't require an extreme amount of work, however some do. For example, my current job requires more than some of the international schools. I do get paid more, though.

Now, you can really see what I'm saying.

The sad part is that if we as tutors and teachers are not making it known that the working class, if they are able to spare 100 baht for an hour of just simple communication skills and phonics, they should be able to. Heck, set up your condo like I did for a classroom, bring 5 Thais in and practice simple phonics for 100 baht each. You have 500 baht an hour, helping the underpaid and working class citizens.

Okay enough ranting about all that.

Disclaimer I don't have anything against teachers that don't or can't explain parts of the English language. I can't, I'd be a hypocrite. However, I do find it a little  scummy if you are charging so much for an accent. You don't offer them as much as they should be getting. 

Hey maybe I'm still stuck in that western 'bang for you buck' mind set? Hmm..

So, if you happen to be strolling in Thailand and need to understand the costs of living please do so! Or if you are a fellow teacher, please feel free to use this for a little bit of insight on the world of private lessons.

Liebster Award, Teacherista, and Hershey

https://heyteacherista.wordpress.com

Hey you young tiger lilly.

Check the 'true life' of a teacherista. :) teaching tips, travels and trousers. Well not the trousers but I thought it sounded good. Thanks Krissy for the shout out and nominating me/awarding me this dandy little treat. The Liebster award! I know I always have grammatical errors, and say some weird things on here. It's more for memories and sharing experiences. I'm not trying to enlighten anyone, but rather include them on my venture. As we all know, I am not a punctual person when it comes to speaking and being proper. I type how I speak. Yikes... Sorry for the headaches ya'll.

Soooo with that, thank you for the blog shout out!! Liebster Award? I thought it was lobster at first and thought I won a lobster. Dang. I'm kinda hungry.

Really awesome of you to notice others. I'm going to give a shoutout to Jennifer Hershey. Inspirational blogs soon to be brighter than the sun, and already hotter than the Earth's core. Focus on that positivity! Yes!

http://Jmhershey.wordpress.com

P.S. Your last blog with communicating. Love it.

As for this crazy girl with questions.... Im going to throw it at you now:

1. What is your favorite thing to do after a long day? I like to sleep, watch Netflix, draw, listen to music, make music, eat and beat box on the toilet. Sometimes I am able to multitask and do two or three at the same time.
2. If your personality could be expressed by an animal, what would it be and why? I'd like to say a majestic horse. Black stallion. But I think personalities are for other people to decide for you! They'd probably call me a monkey or that orange hairy monkey we all forget how to spell. Orange something. Yeah, that one. And no, I'm not a ginger. 
3. Where do you want your next travel destination to be? Preferably Mongolia. But I don't think it'll happen next.
4. What is your biggest accomplishment of 2015? Oof. I'd say publishing my documentary, but it didn't happen. Need to get the music approved. So, probably stabilizing my income and happiness in Bangkok.
5. Tell us about your blog and how it got started? Well, after attempting a blog about Uganda, and shortly thereafter it failed.. I decided to travel and take risks and try to do crazy things. I wish I did more crazy things. I should. Though, through it all, wherever you are, you must push on in the venture. So, The Venture On.
6. What is your biggest motivation? My childhood.
7. What is your guilty pleasure song? Any backstreet boys song and Mmm..bop (thanks to my older sisters)
8. Easy one… favorite food? Strawberries!!!!!!
9. If there was one skill you could have that you don’t currently, what would it be? To move things with my eyes. Some would say this is a power. If it's possible, then it's a skill. Prove its not possible. Go.
10. Personal Mantra? I'm an English teacher and I failed my vocabulary test today. Mantra? Yeah I should probably know this. 
11. What is goal you have for 2016? Keep working on my children's books. I'd say publish them but you know that doesn't really happen with things I make. (Documentary) haha. 

So, again thanks for the nomination!!!!

Jenn. Questions for you:

1) what makes you happy?

2) what inspires you?

3) what are your dreams?

4) are these dreams obtainable?

5) if yes, what do you need to do in order to make these dreams come true? If no, how can you use this dream to push you further in a positive direction?

6) will you make your obtainable dreams your goals?

7) why did you start this blog?

8) what is one moment you felt very happy, by yourself?

9) what is one moment you were very happy with someone else, or other people?

10) will you count how many awesome things you have right now in your life? And help me show everyone that today.. There is an amazing amount of good. :)

Super cheesy I know. Jennnnn please answer and If you want go ahead and 'nominate' or 'award' this to someone else. Ask them 10 questions as well. ROLL OUT!

:)

One year later.

The sound of pulling up to Wawa in Pottstown, PA, waiting in the parking lot. I can hear the faint voices and chatter of others outside. It's the sound of normal, familiarity. Only this time I open my eyes and I'm not anywhere near where I imagined. I'm im an unfamiliar car. I see shopping centers in Thai language. I see the Big C shopping center. I see my girlfriend coming towards the car, who I'd usually see Jake, my Dad, sister or mom. These people, these places, and these sounds all familiarize themselves with each other in my head. I realize I've started to become comfortable in my current stage. Things seem normal. Nothing is extravagant anymore. I didn't think that day would come but without any hesitation, it crept up while I was sleeping and found its way under my eyelids. All without a peep. Monks collecting food offerings in the morning from the general public has turned into a type of traffic jam for me, rather than a novelty. The appreciation is nothing less than before, I just have a new mission every day. It's to get to work. To school. To the kids.

I remember my first few days at work. I walked in to the canteen and grabbed a fork to eat. A line of M girls (high school) were laughing at me. One girl gains the courage to come over and says, 'teacher...' And quickly tosses a spoon into my food on my plate. I laughed and said thank you. Though, I hadn't known the reason why she did that, my fork was fine. As I looked around I noticed everyone eating with a spoon as their main utensil and a fork as the guide. 

It was a hysterical, and sweet moment.

Throughout the last year I've learned so much about communication. Language barriers, language similarities, language itself. I've learned about sounds, phonics, grammar, tone, and many more aspects of communication. I've become a master of charades. You will lose if you play me. I'm being cocky. Try explaining 'cocky' to non native speakers without laughing. Turns out most kids know all the bad words before everything else.. I guess I can't blame them. I know many bad Thai words too.

I've been teaching in a school that is part of a chain. Assumption. There are many Assumption schools around Thailand. I am at Assumption Suksa. These chain of schools are extremely well known. I've heard many people say it's part of the top 5 schools in Bangkok. (I'm assuming school chains because I know a few Assumption schools that are of higher standards than mine.)

I've learned how to handle over 300+ girl students in all my classes, manage grades somehow, and have seen improvement and confidence boosts in the students.

I always thought teaching would be a great job. I thought I'd like it but wasn't sure how much. I LOVE this job. I am told often I work too much. Friends in different schools, my girlfriend, etc.. 

I am never scared of hard work. Annoyed sometimes, yes.. But in the end, it feels good. In fact, sometimes I wish I did more! I truly wish I had more time so I can do more for these kids.

After my first semester teaching and watching some of my first students graduate, I decided to stay. This time it's in my favor. Math is back. I love math. I love pi. I love teaching math. I now teach over 200 primary (elementary) girls mathematics in English. I also teach high school girls conversation. I also continue my extra classes on weekends at Inlingua, and private sessions in my condo.

Back to comfort..

The times I hear these noises, the familiar ones from home, make me extremely comfortable, homesick, and scared all at the same time. I left home for teaching and finding something more for me, something challenging, something different... If it's becoming too normal, am I going to find myself in the same situation? Will this be a never ending cycle?..

All I know now, as I lay here in my $175 a month condo in one of SE Asia's most well known city's, is that I continue to learn one thing. How to appreciate everything, everyone, and every experience more and more. I may get bored but it proves I'm learning and experiencing things. I'm able to compare and contrast. I'm able to see the similarities and create my own comfort.

A thought I had a while ago, but didn't know how to put it into context... In a search for happiness, when you finally get there.. do it all again.

The hardest part, now that I'm used to it.. Is the constant silence from your friends and family. Here, I understand that they, over there, have jobs and lives of their own. Even if I were there now, it wouldn't be like I can see them every day, or when I want to. It sure would be easier though. The time zones.. I can't express the jealousy, guilt, shame, loneliness, and forgotten feelings I have when I see the get togethers, the parties, the jokes, the laughs. My communication is at an all time low. I haven't seen or spoken to some family and friends in over a year. The worst feeling of it all is that I don't blame them. I get it. It's my decision, but I can't help it. It's a mind game. Sometimes it's a battle against yourself. So, I watch documentaries, look at pictures, and read from what gives me my drive. I educate myself on poverty, on child soldiers, on human trafficking, AIDS, international education standards, etc..

I am moving forward. As much as I hate myself for thinking negatively and feeling down, especially about those close to me.. I will not fall to believe our relationships are weaker than the one, two, or however many years I'm away. Maybe it's that their year goes by faster than mine, or maybe mine goes super slow. Maybe it's a gap in the space time continuum.

To my brothers at home. Don't forget we rotate our rings when we're together.

Venture on, and don't let happiness stop you from a whole other type of happiness. It doesn't stop if you find it once. You can rediscover it an infinite number of times. At least for me, I feel that.

Attack of the Tesol

So, I guess my blog is similar to Star Wars. My episodes are out of order. This one falls in place immediately after I leave Mel and meet people at a hotel. Let's call it... 'Venture On, attack of the Tesol'. 

Walking in to a strange group of people you've never met before... I've done this all too many times in the past. I'm almost worn out. I know some of these relationships will be significant but most will not be. I'm not trying to be cynical at all but this is what happens when you spend a few weeks with people. You make friendships with few that will last longer and be stronger. There isn't anything wrong with it but knowing this realty I tend to now not engage as much as first. I let the rain settle and I wait to make my ripple. That sounds weird...

I meet Justin, Kyle and Krissy first. Krissy is running around asking Justin questions I'm not sure of, talking about cards and phone calls. Soon I realize it's one of the horrors of being abroad. You lose your ATM/credit card. Or the machine eats it. Somehow it's gone.

Yikes! I immediately have sympathy for her knowing the struggles if contacting companies and banks while abroad. I say nothing and mind my business.

Kyle. He reminds me of my friend Josh. One of my best friends from home, but for some reason I didn't ever picture Josh doing this. Wait, I thought. Duh, this isn't Josh. It's Kyle. They are different. Sometimes it's really difficult to separate individuals in your head. I think that relates to stereotyping a lot too. Who knows maybe Josh would do this. I have no clue. But it makes me think, will I or anyone ever truly be culturally competent? Will someone ever not stereotype? Is it inevitable? I believe there are different levels of it all but really, it's so in depth I feel like I can't comprehend most of it. It's almost an overwhelming thing to think about. I stop. I'm back in the breakfast area where all the soon to be English teachers are meeting to eat.

I see Katie again. She takes a seat with some other people.

AH! I meet the now known as 'hundred baht' this guy is awesome. He has an extremely deep voice. He has quite a character about him that I can't quite put my finger on, though it's not a bad thing. It's somewhat inviting. He's got a sense of humor and loves to talk to people. On fact he was talking to me on Facebook well before we met in person. We were both backpacking in Thailand for a little beforehand. He has been to Thailand before. It's nice to have a modest traveler to talk to.

I can't help but feel like sometimes I get excited and want to share my experiences with people, solely because I was alone and couldn't share it with anyone. Like India. I find myself talking about it often. I'm not sure what but I think there is something going on in my head now. It struck a nerve or something. I've been having flashbacks. I wake up in the night sometimes. Feeling like I'm there. But then I have other amazing sights in my mind of the Taj, the Ganges river.... It's such a wild mix if emotions. Though here I go again.. I know sometimes I'm a modest traveler, but I think this is one thing that I can't stop talking about. I even annoy myself. I just hope I don't annoy others.

Were now in vans. Katie, Me, Meghan Zach, Madeline and Charney. 

These few were my first victims of excitement and stories.

Our stop at Mcdonalds and Starbucks was a western relief. We all relax on a couple hour ride to Hua Hin. We are provided some guidance on phones, cash/banks/ATMs, and where to go for goods. We were given time to go around the mall.

We split into small groups to locate anything we will need for our first few days. I buy hardly anything compared to some. A fan, some cereal, snacks and food. Oh and of course some good ol' toilet paper. 

I am approached by a small Asian girl, who says 'sooo you must be Harrison'.... I'm confused, flattered, and creeped out at the same time. I replied with a small smirk, 'ummmmm, yeah and you are?' We both laugh and introduce ourselves a little more thorughly. I then said, 'you do that often? Approach people with their name?' Haha.

That was the beginning of my group, The Red Group.

Shortly after I found the little Asian girl under my shoe, I quickly jumped to the side to let her yell at me all of the time. She is a feisty little one that we all got to know and love for her 'I. CANT. EVEN. But really can' attitude.

We all rushed around for necessities and foooooood! Me: toilet paper. Gotta have it. Sorry but I ain't no bushwhacked man. I'm a full grown man with some manorilla puberty hair. That needs wiping. No squirt squirt or hand wipin will do the trick. Now that the graphic part is over...

I looked to my left to see two odd individuals carrying their cart outside to the group waiting location. One with a fan and one with a giant knife. What the hell?

We don't have kitchens! It was pretty funny and cool, though. These fond individuals are now two of my good HuaHin made friends, Jessie and Stacey.

Back to Suchaya House.

We moved in together, learned together, practiced together, taught together, drank together, went crazy together, and were tourists together... We were the red group in the TESOL certification course. Friendships were made, drama was swarming around us, and we could have been the next 'Real World' house.

Almost every day we were practicing our extremely similar lessons, to the most minimal and easiest possible way to teach pronunciation and vocabulary.

It was a brutal process for the first few days because some of us weren't quite sure if we were supposed to be doing it different ways. After the first few, almost all of us were in the groove with these new methodologies. This was a foundation. I do believe it's necessary to make sure teachers are able to do this. And follow direction. First step to being a good leader is to be a good follower. I think..

I feel like I'm getting in the groove and really starting to do well. I feel like I'm on fire. Literally. These temperatures are whaling on my pores so much that on the drive home, standing in the sungtaew, my elbows have a continuous drip. Some would even say waterfalls. I am now known as the most sweaty person these people will ever know. And to think that in 4th grade during recess, I thought I was weird and uncool because I didn't sweat as much as Stefan Bilinski. Pft, I caught up for the missed years I missed out.

Almost every day we entered the pool by the house, and had some beers. I usually say out on some beers because I didn't have much money. I saved for the well worth moments, though. Like the beer pong that Katie and I totally won at the bar, but they said it costs another 200฿ to move on to the next round. Pssshhh. Or the celebratory beers after we successfully made it through day 2. Or successfully made it through day 3. Or successfully made it through day 4. Catch the drift? It was a mad house. Rumors, gossip, who's hot, who's not?

However, we all made it worth it and had a blast. Our placements were being announced slowly, through interviews and demo lessons, to phone calls and trips around the country..

Katie and I were called in. We were told we had interviews. They went well. Or, well enough. Sitting at the interview table, we met Kate and Colleen. Another red team member, Cherene, sat there as well. All soon to be office butt bumpers. We were all told we would be teaching at Assumption Suksa. This branch of school is really well known. All girls. Catholic. Oh shoot. If my buddies got word of this they would definitely make some jokes about it. Probably innapropriate jokes. :O to say the least, I was pumped and ready to go. Please for the love of... Don't take that as a pun. Really. I'm a teacher. Here to teach. 100%. Maybe a little venture and exploring. Maybe some booze. But I'm here, to teach.

As time went by, Kat and I decided it was time for the inevitable... We stopped our attempts at communicating as much due mostly to my schedule during the month.

Soon after it all, we were graduating and saying our goodbyes. Goodbye drama. Goodbye friends. Hello to the next part of my life.

300+ Catholic Girls. Here I come.

Venture On.

Ayuttaya and the end to begin

Mel and I grab a taxi to head one hour north. Ayuttaya is full of ruins and older temples. We are worried about weather and rain and have so far been extremely lucky and times everything perfectly. Rain has not gotten in our way yet.

We got a taxi to the bus station 'Mo Chit'. This bus station is full of mini vans, buses, taxis, etc.. We keep asking around but the language barrier is rough. Mel tries a security/info desk. I try a ticket window. We are asking and it's to no avail. Really need to learn a little more Thai, haha. We make it easier for us, but just longer by staying 'ayuttaya?' And we are pointed where to go. It's across the station. Unsure if where 'pointing' meant to go we just went ahead and tried asking more people... Eventually we'd get to a vehicle right?

One after another we keep asking. We find our way into a small mini van that will cost us 60 baht each one way. Sweet. Approximately 2 USD.

Arriving in Ayuttaya right across the bridge, we are greeted by the wonderful 'HELLOOO TUK TUK! I show you many things.' We say no thank you and keep walking. We hae time and we see that Ayuttaya isn't that large of a place so we can see the things we want to see, or majority of what we want to see fairly easy. We decided to walk almost everywhere. From walking through the older ruins and hearing people bein blessed by monks, to hearing music and seeing elephant rides/shows happening in the near distance, we were please with what we saw.

The architecture was actually really interesting. I couldnt to stop looking at how the bricks were layed and cemented over to form the taller spiers. I'm not sure what the correc term is for the things I'm describing, but seeing the chips and pieces fall apart, the deformities in the structures was almost soothing. You could see how long and what efforts were put into building this piece of artwork. To see it being preserved and idolized is refreshing. Not sure why, but I'm hoping to connect with that more later, or disconnect... I just want to understand more.

Mel and I walk and walk and walk and take pictures and pictures and pictures and then we just think about what we want to eat eat eat.

We decide to walk across the other end of town to a restaurant that is in our books, but it's kind if difficult to find. We see it, but don't know how to get there. The canal doesn't really allow for easy crossing unless you venture behind all the buildings on the other side. We decide to try. We find our way to a temple, strolling on through and finding different pathways that lead to beautiful flowers all around. We don't really care what happens were just happy to be here. Finally we reach a guesthouse of some sort. Maybe this is it?

Woah this isn't it, but it's a damn good guest house. Has some extra curricular activities, and it's all very nicely displayed.  From the furniture and the wooden legged structures it definitely seems like a place I'd enjoy. Anway, the owner sees us because it's not really peak season and no one is around. He leads us through to the correct way through the temple and towards our destination. Thanks kind man!

Despite the vicious dog's territory we were passing through, we made it! Sadly... We wanted to eat on the boat but this is when the rain got rough. And I mean ROUGH. I think this is the hardest of the monsoons we've seen. The plastic and plates and food is blowing in the wind. Across the river, from where we came, we see cars stopping to wait it through. Honestly we could hardly see the cars. Barely even the lights. The rain was falling so fast in so much volume that I was truely amazed. It's like you can read things and see things in tv but you really just don't know, until you feel it like that. - like climbing to a high elevation for the first time and the struggles that you can encounter/ not expect. It's so difficult to describe.

Nonetheless, we were dry. Sitting and eating under a roof next to some older women sharing food. We all laugh with each other after we've relocated a few times haha. WowZaaa. 

The restaurant/guest house helps us get a tuktuk/taxi back to the bus station. No way we were goin to go in this rain walking. It did slow down a lot so it wasn't as bad. We take a ride back on another minivan, get of at victory monument and walk around for some food and maybe some shopping. This is a huge hub for transport. We arrived in the evening and the night life came alive. Second hand shops everywhere. Were enjoyin our last time strolling through Bangkok together. We find extremely cheap food, and take some back alleys that seem a little less traveled. Of course it's all been traveled before. It's Bangkok. Tourist central. But it's the last bit of adventure we can find.

Back at our hotel, we sleep. The next morning, is an early one. I have to meet up with my group and hop on another van, that will take take me to Hua Hin, where I will take my TESOL course with XploreAsia. It's a fast morning and I'm hugging Mel all too soon looking through the glass door widows as she walks away. I'm thinking about her on her day alone, what she will conquer and what she will see. It's one last day. Live it up, safe travels home, and thank you SO much, for giving me the best vacation of my life. No one will take this from us, it was our time and our experiences. I loved it! Love you, Mel!!!!!!!

Here we go. Teacher Harry is back.

Krabi and Ko Phi Phi

Mel and I took our new outlooks on northern Thailand and sought out the south. We had a connecting flight to Krabi, a well known tourist spot for some island hopping. We arrived in Krabi only to realize out ferry to the island was not running anymore. The ferry is longer than an hour ride so it only runs a couple times a day.

We had to whip out the books and find a hostel or hotel. We decided to stay in Pak-up hostel not far from anything we wouldn't mind seeing. We took advantage of the night and walked around, found a random festival of sorts with a stage for participants in some karaoke event. It was alive with a night market, food, and accessories for whatever you could think of.

This is where Mel and I had our first encounter with the King.

We were enjoying some cheaply made cocktails and some mediocre sushi when the clock struck 6:00pm. We were a bit confuse when everyone around us stood up and was still. I wasn't sure if it was like the start of an American baseball game or what was happening..

We stood as everyone else did and stopped what we were doing.

The song was in honour of the king.. the nation.

Now before I say anything more I want I make a statement that it's illegal to speak of the royal family with any negative context. This is a law that is much different than other countries. So with travelers, they should be aware and educated on this so they do not make any remarks, and find themselves in trouble.

We enjoy some Thai ice cream and some children performing on the ground playing instruments. This is a common practice, at least from what we've seen.

I'm eager for a burger. We find a place to eat. It seems like an Australian bar and grill or something. I gotta ease off the American. India was rough and exciting. Thailand is great. But food.... Yeah I need that burg.

We are happy to get some rest in the hostel which is actually pretty nice. Only 250฿, which is around 7-8 USD. Booya.

Next day we head off to Ko Phi Phi. We got a ticket at a ferry office the night before. I forget the exact price but just as everything else, once you but something you find it cheaper elsewhere. We rode on the ferry to the island watching the cool clear blue water under the skies. It's a long two hours or so, and we approach the long tail boats you dream of and see in pictures. The boats are all lined up on the sand, the bungalows are in sight, an many, many people trying to recruit for the next dive. Diving is huge here. I want to try so bad. It's very cheap here for this kind of sport. If you want a diving license, do it in Thailand. As so I've heard. I haven't done it yet and I want to. I am rather poor.. So even though it's cheap, I have bills to pay, haha. Dang student loans.

Were walking through the people trying to sell things, and are lookin at the poorly scaled map. Easy to read but confusing at first as anyone would be with anything new.

We reach our place to stay for the night after a short walk (long walk in respect to the islands size). We check in for one night and realize that in two days, the boat returning to krabi will be too late for our flight. We apologize and tell the hotel we need to check out after one night.

Everything is alright, after some brushing around for our documents. Walking to our nice little hut, we take a look off the edge of the hills and it's got a great view. We are able to unload, and go enjoy the beach!!! Yes! This island is hounded with tourists and party goers, Muay Thai, tattoos, etc.. Were walking around trying to find some things to eat or just see. We keep passing this 'pirate' restaurant? It's quite funny. I'm not sure if Mel knew the whole time but I didn't realize the restaurant had multiple openings to enter from either side. It was all open air walls/pillars, but i didn't know that. I guess I just couldn't see through to the other side? Everything is so crammed here. Nuts. At least for the Farang (westerner). We also keep passing this place called 'The Rock'. It looks like a dominant restaurant, more expensive and up on a higher level. Literally.. Elevation.

Mel and I spend some time on the beach walking out to the water, explore the weird slimy sand creatures we found that look like clear spaghetti and slurp themselves back into holes as soon as they make contact with someone. Ewwww. Hehe.

We spend a decent amount of time on the beach laying there. Relaxing. It's nice. I see a group of guys throwing a football. Man I wish the guys were here. My dudes would love to have a catch in the mile long ankle high water. 

After some photo ops, and some relaxing on the beach in front of some tunes from a nearby bar, we head on up to bed.

We hear and FEEL the bass from the beach. It's bumping outside like crazy.

Were in one of the farthest places to stay, too!

I take a look down towards the beach, much lower than where we are currently. It's loud, there are lights, fire twirlers, an it's like the night is young. Mel and I don't feel like going nuts, we try to get some shut eye, wow that music was loud. Haha. I can't imagine staying closer down towards the beach.

Now, we wake up, eat a nice complimentary breakfast, and are headed out back to Krabi.

It's funny, we ask if no assistance for this man to help us. They load us in a truck, on the back. Kinda like a sungtaew. Were going down the sometimes steep hill, one way hardly paved path. Holding on for dear life at points to not fall off, haha.

The end comes near and the truck stops. We unload our bags and the man throws them in a sort of square cart/trailer/dolly thing. Were wondering what is happening then realize it has wheels. He's pullin it! He starts to pull our bags through to the ferry on the other side if the island. We feel bad because we just walk behind him, passing all the other foreigners feeling like this is some sort of, indecent treatment. We try to say we can take the bags but the man insists. He's extremely kinda smiling, and generous.. Then again... this is just a walk to the ferry.. Not Mongolia.

We reach our ferry early, watch some fish under the docks, wave goodbye to the scenery and take a much wanted spot on the top of the ferry to lay down, in the beating hot sun. Another two hours or so back to Krabi. Easy enough we just walk around Krabi and search for a place to stay again. Worst case scenario we go back to the hostel, otherwise we just keep looking for a nice place to relax and feel comfortable.

We find a place and are able to bring down the price a little bit. Mel says 'screw it' and takes her card out, haha. WOOO. A/c hehe.

Were just roaming the streets we were roaming the two days before and are ready for our flight back to Bangkok. This is where it sucks. Going back to Bangkok means Mel and I are coming to an end in our vacation and fun.

Besides from the excitement of getting back to Bangkok, and getting my luggage from the storage unit, there wasn't too much more excitement other than good old Khao San road. We were staying on Khao San road. This road is permanently closed and had a vast amount if bars an restaurants. This place goes WILD at night. From Ping Pong show offers to laughing gas, to just hanging with friends or gettin down on the dance floor.. It has a chronic environment. I mean that in a both positive and negative way. 

Katie Matero, my Student Staff Coordinator in Johnson Hall for the Spring 2014 semester. She's taking the course too. We message each other and find out she and others in the group are coming to khao San road. We decided to meet at 7 eleven. Mel and I wait around and meet up, get introduced to some people, and have a night turn old. We watched foreigners take the 'spotlight' in search of peer acceptance, watched child break dancers, are scorpions and eventually made our way to 'the club'.

The Club. The entrance is a large oval neon sign which has a small opening with some

Guards standing under it. You pay a cover fee which gives you a stamp for re try and a drink once you get in. (Ticket). The doorway leads you down a long ish dark hallway, which seems darker when it's your first time and you are under the influence. Definitely quesionable at first when you are unsure of the territory and surroundings you are in. Mel stayed in the room for this part which is okay, but I really wish she came! It was nuts. The hallway opened up to (again seemed larger than it was while under the influence.. Haha) a huge opening of a dance floor with a center rounded DJ stage. Lasers and lights and robots filled the underground club feel of the cement walls. Katie and I walked in an got our picture taken and were put on the club's Facebook site. Oh boy. Then we were all going wild snapping pics and dancing to some wild house/techno music. A bit intense. After being there more often now, it's definitely not as insane or wild as it felt. It felt like I was in college again.

Despite all the crazy fun, we all separate and hit the sack. The next day, Mel and I were going to head to Ayuttaya for a few hours. After Ayuttaya Mel is going to have her one night in Bangkok. Within te next 48 hours I'd be off to meet my group for the TESOL course. I'm eager to meet people and get started but... I'm definitely going to miss Mel. She was a huge uprising of spirits for me after all of the highs and lows in India. India... You got me good, but I'll be back some day. I want to. See more, volunteer more... I need to understand you more. Damn Delhi. Haha.

Up next: Our day in Ayuttaya.

Goodbyes and see you laters wih Mel.

The end of the beginning.. And the beginning of the rest of my life.