Important: Lost Laptop

Because of my stupidity, my laptop was stolen. I am extremely upset right now. I am asking all of my friends to email me their information again like their postal address.

I am sorry for any inconvenience. My email is dexter.mejia@gmail.com

Dreaded Class Reunion

Many of my friends would think that it is masochistic of me to even consider attending my high school reunion. I was persecuted as a gay man in that Catholic school. It was the darkest years of my life. And yet I did attend it.

Nobody mentioned about the bullying fortunately. We mainly talked about our jobs and jobs of those who were absent. A few of the men look better. Some have not changed. And many are fatter and older. It is probably from the stress of married life. There is one thing that I am envious of and that is having children.

Maybe I am not really destined to have a child. Maybe I am too young to give up.

Anyway, last night's experience made me feel young again without being bullied.

Men Busted at the Shang Mall

Yes, I saw two gay men got busted at the Shang Mall last night. I was with Reggie (from LYC-Manila) and we were checking out the cruising grounds of Shangri-la Mall in Ortigas Center.

I watched one young man giving another young man a handjob. As I was enjoying the show, two security guards suddenly appeared and arrested the two men. The two men gave excuses but then they were caught in the act. I did not know what to do and say to them. Good luck? I am sorry that you might be spending your holidays in jail?

Seriously, it is sad that Shangri-la Mall is spending money and training men just to catch gay men having sex in their toilets. Instead of detecting bombs, they visit each and every toilet for gay men. I am really so glad that I do not live in the Philippines anymore.

Holidays in Manila part 5

I have been meeting some of my extended family and some of my friends. I eat everytime I see them. One time, I bought a bagful of fried pig intestines and I was hoping that DJ would share it with me. But he got grossed out so I had to finish everything. I swear I am not going to eat fried pig intestines anymore on this trip.

Aaaah, I badly need to go back to the gym! I am so fat right now. I hope I will be back in shape by the time I fly to Sydney for the Mardi Gras.

Look at the kids! They have my curls.

Holidays in Manila part 4

DJ is the next friend I met here in the Philippines who is not based here. It was great seeing him here as it was his first time.

I took a break from my family and took him to Ayala Museum and to the University of the Philippines. It is just too bad that he did not allot more time here but I am sure he is going to be back.

Write Me 2

Thanks Cheery for telling me that you still could not post comments (anonymously or without signing in) on my blog. I think it is working now. Please email me if you are still having problems on my blog dexter.mejia@gmail.com.

Holidays in Manila part 3

It was my third time to be at the SM Mall of Asia and it was my family's first. It was very entertaining to have them this time. But then I was also bothered by my DVD addiction and my DVD sales.

We had some very nice Filipino food at a restaurant facing Manila Bay. A Filipino band was playing in the background. And my father is playing with Danica, my niece.

Holidays in Manila part 2

I just cannot stop thinking that Filipino men are just so gorgeous! Fat, muscular and skinny--they are just so masculine. I forgot how attractive my fellow countrymen are.

Anyway, I met Phet yesterday. She works for the same company and it is just crazy that we spent the afternoon together in Megamall (Ortigas Center). She accompanied me while I sold DVDs I bought from Thailand.

After selling the DVDs, Phet and I went to the food court and we were so unpleasantly surprised that food here is so expensive. Some of them are 50% more expensive than in Bangkok. And yet salary wage in Manila is lower. It makes me sick to think how poor people can feed themselves here.

I will not live in the Philippines anymore. There is a huge problem with the system.

Golden Compass (movie)

(I am so thankful to have watched this movie without anyirritating subtitles here in Manila. I watched it at 11:20 PM and I am surprised that even theaters are now catering to American call center employees.)

I had not had any sleep for more than 24 hours when I went to the cinema. I should not have done so. I had 3 calorie-filled donuts but they did not help me that much.

I kept on dozing off so it is hard to make a comment on the storyline. I think it is unfair though that some critics are comparing this to Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia. It is very different. The parallelism between this story and reality is more palpable than those two adventure films.

Of course, Nicole Kidman is as stunning as ever. It is really hard to keep my eyes away from her. I missed seeing Daniel Craig's body. Perhaps, I will just wait for James Bond.

The special effects are passable but not that great. They are not really jaw-dropping but that is OK.

I think this franchise will just get better and better.

Holidays in Manila part 1

I am back to a place where men are men and not overpowdered peacocks. I almost forgot how macho Filipino men can be. They are clean and natural and not trying to look like someone from manga comics.

I love shooting at the Christmas lights. I have to stop myself from smiling everytime I ride a jeepney or else Filipinos would think I am crazy or I am a foreigner.

I can understand almost everyone and I do not see them as background noise. I sometimes forget that I am in the Philippines though so I speak English most of the time. Fortunately, the people can understand me.

This is just the start.

Write me

At first, I thought why there are only a few people posting comments on my blog and yet I have a lot of you visiting. I checked my settings and noticed that only bloggers could interact with my blog.

Now everyone can post their comments as long as it is related to the topic. You can be supportive. You can be critical. You can be nice. You can be nasty. But you cannot be a spamer.

Come on, say something!

Fuck Yoga

I have not done yoga for more than a year now. I do not know why I cannot do the poses I used to do. Many things have changed in my body. I have grown bulkier. I have become older. I have become more lazy in doing yoga.

Last night, I felt like I dislocated my shoulders. If I had a hymen, I would have ruptured it as well. If I were calcium-deficient, I would have pulverized my sockets.

I wonder if muscle building and yoga mix. Can anyone answer me?

Japanese Story (DVD)

I swear the selection of this movie is purely coincidental. I saw this DVD in the rack and it was less than 100 Baht. Why shouldn't I buy it?

There is nothing special in the story. There is nothing new in the cinematography although it does show that the Australian desert is very beautiful. The performances were brilliant though. Toni Collette never fails to amaze me. Gotaro Tsunashima is very sexy. I would have taken him not only to the desert but to the end of this world.

This is a barebones DVD so there is nothing much to comment about. It makes very excited to visit Australia, especially the desert. I wonder if my friend Peter would say yes if I ask him if we could drive to Adelaide from Canberra. Hint hint!

Dean Spurrier, 41

I met Dean Spurrier in Manila when I was forming Long Yang Club-Manila. He was supportive and extremely helpful in making it successful. With his outgoing personality, he was able to recruit a lot of members and at the same time, he was able to introduce to me some new friends.

My friend passed away a few days ago and I am sad that he did. He has left a loving partner, Edwin, and his family in Texas.

Dean, thanks for being a part of my life and LYC-Manila. I am very proud to have known you.

Bi-polarism

Many of my friends know my childhood and how I was brought up. Many of you know where my insecurities stem from. I feel low right now after feeling great in the first half of this week.

It was splendid spending time with AM. It seems he is the man that I have been looking for but I only had a taste of what that relationship can be. Can I really have it?

God, I am already 29 years old and yet I have had only one relationship and that was long distance. Many people would not even count it as a serious relationship.

Sometimes, I feel that there are things/people that are too good for me to have. Am I being fair to myself? Am I putting myself down? Or am I just being realistic?

I cannot wait to have a distraction so my Manila trip is just perfect. I will be busy meeting friends and being with my family.

Thanks Andrew McLean

I know I have sworn not to have anymore anonymous encounters but Andy is just too hot to resist. He has a sweet face and an amazing body. Plus he has a very engaging personality. Yes it is true boys and girls--you can see those things on the dance floor.

I met him at DJ station last Sunday and it is just strange that many people I know in Bangkok have already met him. I guess my friends here are really interested in my personal life. My close friends are very eager to marry me off.

Unfortunately, he has already left the country but we are going to meet in Australia. Woohoo! Can't wait to see you again, Andy!

(Political) Picnic 2

It was the King's birthday. Many people came on time. Some cancelled very late. Some did not contact me. Nevertheless, the event was quiet and relaxing. And I had a chance to practice on a few clicks.

Dec 9/10, 2007 Adventure

Our branch had a horrible performance in our company Christmas party. But then I have to commend one of our staff because she sang beautifully. It was a lot of fun being with familiar people.

I won a vacuum cleaner. I do not know what I am going to do with it. Maybe, I will send it to Manila. I just hope sending it there won't be as expensive as the cost of the hoover.

But then that party was only the start of a great evening. My colleagues (teachers and support staff) and I went to DJ station. It was great dancing with the girls on stage. We had it for ourselves!

At the same time, I met a good-looking and very nice man. My colleagues and friends like him very much. He was actually comfortable talking with them and I only met him half an hour beforehand.

This is a night to remember.

Love of Siam (movie)

This movie is misleading. Some Thais expected a straight puppy love story. And with the title, I also expected a love story. I never expected that it would be a love story between two gay teenagers. I thought it only wanted to escape from the shadow of a previously released gay Thai movie (Bangkok Love Story).

But it is not really a gay love story. It is not even really a love story. It is about a family's struggle to adapt with the changes and challenges that life throws at them. It is a test of how they can hold on to each other as a family.

The love story is only a subplot of the four stories in the film that are parallel to each other. One story is the son's pursuit to find himself. Second is the father's struggle to accept the loss of his daughter. Third is the daughter who try so hard to prove herself to her parents. Fourth is the mother who try to keep the family together as she fears the loss of her husband and her son.

The director and the editing suck. I fell asleep on one part of the movie because it was dragging. I felt like I was watching a soap opera on a big screen. There are scenes that can be tightened and be more concise with a sensible editor.

The actors are brilliant though. The two male young actors are convincingly amorous towards each other. I never thought that men that young can pull it off. Kudos to Mario Maurer and
Witwisit Hirunwongkul.

If you do not like the plot, I still suggest that you watch it because of the sweetest kiss on the big screen. This kiss is just so sweet and innocent. I wish I had fallen in love that early in my life.

Another Straight Disco

I did not plan on going to any disco tonight but then I saw a straight Italian friend by accident. We talked a bit and he lured me to a straight disco on Soi Patpong.

It was full of hookers of course but they immediately recognized that I was not trade so they paid me no heed. Of course, the straight Italian got some attention.

I was surprised to see a few gay men though and they were tourists. I guess I was not the only one who was lured there.

I like the fact that they played hiphop music but it was just too loud. I felt my head was going to explode so I said goodbye to my friend. I wonder if he got himself a hooker.

Million Dollar Baby (2-disc DVD)

This is one dramatic movie that is great to watch over and over again because of the richly layered plot and the amazing performances. It has a very sad ending but at the same time, it is uplifting. It teaches the audience that they have to grab that opportunity to realize their dreams.

The three main actors are so good in this movie that I cannot imagine any actor doing those roles. They are just perfect. They sustain an atmosphere of bitterness even if the main character is succeeding.

This 2-disc edition does not contain outtakes or anything like that but it is still very informative to watch the actors, producers and the director discuss the filmmaking background.

I could not help but cry during the ending of this movie. It was just so sad but at the same time, it was (in a strange way) optimistic.

Political Picnic

It started with just one small idea. Rotem, Jorge and I went to Lumpini Park last year to share some snacks, red wine and a lot of stories.

I decided to do it again on the King's birthday (this coming 5th of December). I have invited some friends and a few colleagues. Some have confirmed and some are not yet sure if they will be able to attend. I am OK with that.

And then earlier, a colleague confronted me "Dexter, why aren't you inviting me to your picnic?"

I could not make up any excuse. I only muttered "Sure you can join us!"

It is my picnic and I will invite anyone I want to.

I just hope nobody else will come up to me and ask the same question.

Expectations and Disappointments of a Friend-Pursuer

Apart from the sex, how different should a person handle a budding friendship vis-a-vis a budding romantic relationship? I am not sure if I am the only one who has experienced this but sometimes I would say "How I wish I could hang out with this peson more...he seems a nice friend to keep!" But then you find yourself being ignored everytime you ask this person out.

As a friend-pursuer, should you also look for signs? Do you also wait for him/her to call you? Would it be pathetic if you are the one who keeps on calling him/her?

As a friend-pursuer, should you just let it flow and not exert effort in building the friendship? Should you just wait for that time that both of you will be in the same bar or mall or train or whatever?

I am thankful though that I have met so many friends in Manila and in Bangkok. Most of the people whose friendships I have pursued are reciprocal. But then it still makes me wonder about the others who could have been nice people to hang out with.

Beowulf (movie)

I watched this movie because I studied the book when I was still in the university. I remember my old teacher reading the lines of the original text and translating it to us in modern English afterwards. Unfortunately, I have studied so many books in my life that I have forgotten most of them. "Beowulf" is one of them.

So why did Robert Zemeckis decide that everything should be CGI. I actually do not know. Most of the characters are still stone-faced even the most realistic one (Grendel's mother). The queen is so lifeless that she looks like someone who had an overdose of botox. I have to admit that Beowulf's war-scarred body is delectable. I cannot help but laugh at how hard Zemeckis tried to hide this hero's dick from the camera.

So many of the performances were lost because of this technique. Hair looks very fake. Angelina Jolie's flotation devices (boobs and lips) were scene stealers though. I am sure Zemeckis can make a movie out of those body parts. How I wish he just used the real actors for the human parts. For me, Gollum is still the most convincing CGI character on film.

The audio is also problematic. Many of the voices were drowned out because of background noise. The conversation between Grendel and his mother were unintelligible. I am sure they were speaking English but the artificial echo renders the scene practically useless.

Should people give it a miss? Yes. Very few people know about Beowulf's tale anyway.

My Mom Reads This

Last night, I chatted with my mom on cam. I wanted to show her the pictures of the floating market. Instead of simply sending the pics to her, I gave her the link of this blog. What the fuck was I thinking?

She said she was trying to read the entry Losing Dexter. I only wanted her to view the pics.

This reminds me--she actually loves reading my diary. I hate it whenever she does it but that does not stop her from being too nosy. Apparently, privacy is an alien concept in my family.

But I am not going to censor myself on this blog. I just hope she does not talk to me about it though.

Perfume (2-disc DVD)

I have to buy another DVD of this movie. The one released here in Thailand was desecrated. The censors have blurred out the sex scenes and the nude scenes. Even bodies of dead people were blurred out.

It is a shame because this DVD release has a very high bit rate. The sound is also awesome. It was very very clear and the blurred scenes ruined everything.

The movie is still very powerful. Ben Whishaw is convincing as a wolf in sheep's clothing. Dustin Hoffman is also effective as a failed artist. Their performances are layered and truthful.

The extras were good but I wish they showed more videos. They only have interviews of the actors and the production crew. It is a classic example of "show don't tell".

It would be nice to have a DVD of this movie for Christmas. Hint hint!

Sexless at the Babylon

As P explored the Babylon, I stayed at the pool area. Sometimes, I stare at the people prowling the poolside and the gym. Sometimes, I would just swim in the water.

It just feels different. I am not sure if I am depressed or I am just going through a shitty stage. Is it normal to visit the most popular gay sauna in the world and not cruise?

Yes, gentlemen, I did not cruise the Babylon and did not get laid. There were some stares but I never responded. Is this normal?

Perhaps, I have already decided on getting laid. Perhaps, I just do not want it to be an anonymous encounter.

This is just strange.

Thanks P

Life is full of surprises and P is one of the most exciting surprises in my life this year. Ideologically I should not really like him. He is from a political background I really despise.

But we spent about a week together and got to know each other as people and not our political inclinations. It was much nicer and more productive to talk about things we have in common.

We had our arguments but that is one way for us to get to know each other. I think it would be suspicious if arguments are absent in any relationship.

I really would like to see how deep this friendship will be. Thanks P for taking the risk. I am so thankful and grateful that I met you.

Floating Market Dumnoen Saduak

Thanks P for taking me to this very different experience.

The market was new to me so it was thrilling. It is disappointing that the locals are only doing this for the tourists as the Thais are not interested in floating markets anymore.

The price are set very very high even higher than in Bangkok. The items are no different from the ones being sold in the capital.

Well, if you have some bucks to spare and you want to kill time, a floating market is a good place to go to.

Strange Bedfellows (DVD)

This is another DVD that Peter has given me. Most probably, he has not seen this one yet.

Some people may remember it as a film where two straight men desperately needed to appear gay. I find it memorable though because of its dramatic yet realistic portrayal of mateship.

I did not expect the ending to be that way. I actually do not know how the movie is going to end but it is an ending one would not really gues. But then it does not appear forced.

Michael Caton and Paul Hogan have very good chemistry on screen. They really look like they have known each other for years. I am sure it is difficult to fake that kind of relationship on screen.

This movie is really very Australian and it is a nice movie to watch with friends--gay or straight.

Remembering Joel Urbano

I miss Joel. I met him in the Philippines when I was still in the university. He was a very generous man. He used to spend the whole day in the National bookstore (the biggest bookstore chain in the Philippines) because he could not afford to buy books. He would rather read them right then and there.

He was a very intelligent man and was curious about how things work. He liked me dearly and considered me his best friend. He told me his life as a sex worker and the hardships that he faced in Manila.

He learned a lot but he also lost a lot. Complications brought by AIDS made his last days miserable. He did not even recognize me on his deathbed. It was painful to see my friend in a situation like that. I practically begged my friends to help him out and I am thankful that they were very generous.

This happened in December of 2004. He was only 28 years old back then. I am now 29 years old. I know I still have a long way to go and it is a shame that he was not able to enjoy life as much as I did.

His family does not know how he passed away but it is good that they will remember him as the son who did everything to make their lives better in the province.

I hope you are doing better now, my friend. I miss you, Joel.

A Lesson I Learned in Bangkok

For a long time I have blamed Bangkok for feeling used because of the men I have met. For a long time, I thought Bangkok offered nothing more than a bunch of sexual predators and prey.

But lately I have realized I was part of it. I am one of those sexual predators. I am one of the men prowling and pouncing on my next victim. I am one of those men who treat other men as sex objects.

What Bangkok has offered is a chance to explore myself and realize what I really want from a romantic relationship. I got lost for a very long time and I hope I am on the right track.

There are so many beautiful men here so I do not know if I would be loyal to my own desire to set myself straight. I can only find my right man if I am the right man as well.

Thanks to all of my friends for listening to me.

Whale Rider (dvd)

This is really a surprise find. Like "Tropical Malady", I had a feeling that this DVD is going to be wonderful. I never heard anything about it. I just bought it.

It is a very interesting tale but one cannot help but praise the lead actor Keisha Castle Hughes. She is so mature and strong even in the saddest part of the movie. I could not help but cry when she was saying her piece during the school play. It is just so raw.

The other actors are very impressive as well. The cinematography is gorgeous but then it is New Zealand. I can only imagine how beautiful this country is.

I admit I know very little about Maori culture but this movie makes my desire to know about it stronger. I really hope to visit this country someday.

Losing Dexter

I am sure I have hurt so many men in my life. Most of which I am not aware of because I am too wrapped in my own selfish sexual desires. There are two men I have wronged so greatly.

One of which is SA, a Filipino doctor. I dated him eventhough I was not emotionally available. I was still in love with my then boyfriend. I hid it from SA because I wanted to get off with him. I hurt him so badly that five years after, he is still telling some of my friends how badly I treated him. I am sure he still has not forgiven me.

A more recent one is AG, a British flight attendant. I was entertaining so many men the time that he found me. I treated him as one of my numerous hookups until I realized that he actually genuinely likes me, laughs at my jokes and appreciates everything I have to say. That was also the time that AG realized that I am a dickhead.

I have spent so much time using people to fulfill my own desires that I have failed to see what is good. I am sure I have been given more than one second chance.

I have already taken down most of the personal information on my gay profiles. I want to start again. I have to find myself again.

Missing the Good

I feel horrible right now. I hate myself. I have been so deep in the sex world that I missed someone so good. I lost myself.

I need to get out of this hole. My chest is hurting. I need to talk to someone so badly right now.

I am so sorry, Andrew.

Family in Bangkok

I enjoyed the company of my parents and my aunt. It was very nice feeding them Thai food although my mum thinks that everything (including steamed chicken). It was also great taking them to the palace and Kao San Road.

Of course, we had a great time exploring the red light district of Bangkok--my district! It is good that they did not react negatively when they saw how near the fuck bars are.

Most of their time here was spent on shopping at Pratunam, MBK, Silom and Kao San. I thought they would run out of money.

Going to Oz 3

I already got it! I did not know it. I was granted the visa on the 1st of November. I will claim it next week.

Yipee!

Waiting for my parents

My parents and my aunt will arrive here in Bangkok in less than 12 hours. I am planning to show them the Grand Palace, Kao San Road, Silom, and Lumpini Park. I am not sure if I will show them the sex shows.

They will also meet a few of my friends here. It is hard to manage the schedule because they have 3 full days only.

I wonder what they have for me. I hope they have brought some Filipino food. I just hate the fact that I have to be there at the airport at 2 AM.

How will I kill time in the airport? Cruise the toilets?

Ludovic Cazeba (photo exhibit at the Bed Supper Club)

Thanks to Peter and Christian for inviting me to this opening.

It is the first time I consciously made myself look presentable for an art exhibition. Back in Manila, I would not care about how I look. I always thought that people go to art exhibitions not to get noticed but for them to notice the art. Apparently, it is different here in Bangkok. So I put on one inch of face powder.

I am sorry but I have to write something about Bed Supper Club first. It is beautiful and stylish but it is not practical. I hope they pay their janitors a lot of money for keeping the interiors white and clean. Goodness, the floors, the tables and the beds (that served as seats) were all white! I thought I was in a hospital with disco lights.

Anyway, the photographs were nice and I could see that it took a long time for the artist to compose the shots. It was actually hard to appreciate the pieces because the bar/restaurant is far from a perfect place for an exhibition. It was too dark and one needed to climb on the bed and crawl towards the pieces to appreciate the work.

I really wish I could see these pieces again and I hope they will be under better light.

Trick (DVD)

I have watched this DVD many years ago and I decided to watch it again because I admit that I am one person who has been having too many tricks week after week.

The story is simple and unpretentious: two strange gay boys are desperately looking for a place to fuck. The best thing about this movie is the casting. The actors are just perfect for their roles although Tori Spelling was able to overshadow everyone in every scene she is in. But then she is just really good in this movie. I cannot imagine saying this about Tori Spelling.

Anyway, I find this movie memorable because it is very optimistic about something gay men take for granted. I cannot wait to see if JP Pitoc really has a bear can.

Going to Oz 2

First of all, I have to say that the Thai client service officer I met is very patient and nice. I guess she just wants me to get the visa. I went there and she saw the documents I presented and she thought it would be better if I submit my work permit and my contract as well.

Unfortunately, I just finished my old contract so my first contract was not finished yet so I had to ask my company's country manager to fax it to the Australian Embassy. In addition, our company's secretary has yet to claim my work permit next Monday, November 5.

This means the embassy won't begin processing my application until they get the work permit. And the service officer said that it would take them two weeks to do it. Aaaaah! I just hope I would still get a cheap plane ticket then!

And I have not even mentioned the security procedures yet. Each section of the embassy has a security check and I was not allowed to bring my mobile phone so I had to run to the entrance gates to call my employer and ask him to fax the other documents. Then I had to run back to the immigration office to relay the information.

All in all, this will take longer than my vacation. It makes me wonder what kind of visa I will get if ever they give me one.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2-disc edition DVD)

I really did not enjoy this movie on the big screen and I did not enjoy the DVD either. After watching "The Lord of the Rings", my standards for movies in this genre are quite high. This movie is just too bland although it is obviously expensive.

The plot was not really that interesting and the director is at fault. It is so hard to believe that this four kids can actually rescue a fantasy land. There is no clear character development. I cannot see any change in any of the children.

Mister Tumnus (James McAvoy) and the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) are far more memorable characters and performances. At the same time, they presented very powerful images.

It is funny to say this but the extras are far more exciting than the feature film. The passion of the kids is so contagious and the DVD commentary track can be self-indulgent sometimes but unpretentious.

But the movie is so bad that this DVD cannot be saved. Give it a miss.

Going to Oz 1

I am currently lodging an application to get an Australian tourist visa. So far, it has been an uphill battle. It is expensive and time-consuming. I just hope it is worth it.

I have an appointment at the embassy on the 31st of October. I will tell all the details of this story after my application.

No More Face Pics

I have already taken out my face pics from all the gay profiles I visit. I want to concentrate on writing and photography. I also want to concentrate on staying in touch with my friends. Here is the pic I have posted on those websites.

The Witnesses (movie)

Emanuelle Beart is really stunning even if her beauty is toned down for this picture. I do not know if those boobs were real though. They look too perfect.

I am sorry but I cannot help but notice that there are nice butt exposures in this movie. The lead actor has a very plump and smooth butt while the American has a very hairy but shapely butt.

I actually did not know that there are gay characters in this movie. And up to now, I do not know why some people are still making a movie about the HIV/AIDS break out in the 80s. Maybe it is a reminder that it is still a problem.

All the actors are good but Emanuelle Beart and Johan Libéreau are just mersmerizing to watch. They are both very beautiful but Johan Libéreau transformation is convincing but he is still hot even with the KS make up on.

I am not really sure if this is a movie to miss because it really does not present something new.

Thailand: Destination for Pedophiles?

After hearing the news that Christopher Paul Neil is hiding in Thailand (now captured), it seems this country is a haven for pedophiles. John Mark Carr, the American who claimed to have killed a child beauty queen, worked here. And at the same time, I have heard so many stories from Caucasian expats (and some directly from the horses' mouths) meeting their boyfriends when the latter were still below the legal age.

I live in the meat-packing district. My apartment building is only a minute-walk away from a bar that showcases Thai teenagers. You can find them clothed in white bikinis with numbers on their front. Obviously, there is a thriving sex industry here.

Question is: Is there a healthy industry for pedophilia here as well?

Jiri Chmelar (painting exhibition in Siam Paragon)

I was not able to attend the opening of this exhibition but I was able to get there the day after. The velvet ropes were annoying. I could not get clear shots of the works. At the same time, the pieces were not camera-friendly. The original photos were intentionally blurred so it translates to a very poor picture.

I actually think the paintings are not that special. I told Girard that I only need a heavy-duty printer to make the same images. I already have a good camera and a good knowledge of Photoshop anyway.

Cape Reinga Stones

I received a very surprising letter yesterday. Inside are five stones I have to return to Cape Reinga in New Zealand with the sender himself.

I really cannot wait to visit this beautiful country. I have a feeling that it will be quite an adventure.

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (2-disc DVD)

I cannot believe that this Harry Potter movie is directed by the same person who did the steamy "Y Tu Mama Tambien". This installment is a lot better than the first two because it is tight and the foreshadowings and story layers are done discreetly and effectively. The clocks give you a hint of what Hermione is up to. The crows are there to signify death when the Dementors are absent.

I really do not like the kid actors but the supporting actors are very effective. Gary Oldman is the best and hardly recognizable from the makeup and his bodily movement. Alan Rickman is still despicable as the Severus can be in the book.

The digital effects are much more effective in this one. The Dementors are scarey and the Quidditch game really looks exciting.

The second disc is packed with very funny interviews. At last, the actors are not wearing costumes or makeup. One of the Slytherin boys actually looks handsome. I think his name is Crabbe. The tours now include characters from the film like Lupin and the Weasley twins.

I will get the DVD of Goblet of Fire and Order of Phoenix when I get back to Manila this December.