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.

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (2-disc DVD)

I am sure it is funny that I am doing a review of this DVD when it is so late already.

Well, the plot of the movie here is a lot better than the first one. The characters are more fleshed out and interesting. Even Malfoy does not look one-dimensional.

The actors' voices have changed. All of the boys sound like someone is squeezing their throats. Acting has not improved dramatically though. But then, by now, you would know that none of them really has developed.

The picture quality of this DVD is brilliant and so is the sound. The CGI are more realistic. The digital doubles are not that obvious. Dobby is impressive at first but then he does not have any weight. He looks too light when he moves.

Oh this DVD is packed with extras. It was actually fun playing the games and watching the deleted scenes and interviews. It would have been nice if the actors were not wearing costumes. I would have liked to see them wearing ordinary clothes.

Well, the basilisk is one of the scariest creatures I have seen in the big screen and it is still scarey to watch even on my laptop. It is just amazing what digital technology can do nowadays. It is worth seeing this movie because of this digital creature.

For Vanilla People

I am always bold in my blog so I am going to take a risk. I am into sadomasochism as much as I am into vanilla and I am proud of it. I cannot be ashamed of this because it is fun and my sessions are done with consent.

I am writing this out of frustration. Gay men from all countries experience prejudice and I thought that we would be more sensitive to other minorities but I guessed it wrong. I have received so many negative reactions from gay men when they hear my less than usual interests. Many have winced. Some have refused to talk to me. Others even badmouth me.

Here are some facts:

1) We are sane.
We are just like you or any vanilla guys out there. Being into this does not mean that we had a very violent childhood or violent relationships.

2) We do it with consent.
S&M does not translate to rape. We do not force anyone to be into it. We might actually spend more time getting the trust of our sex partners than vanilla men.

3) We do it as safely as any other person.
We use latex when we insert any part of our body to our partner. Some people may not do it but then there are stupid S&M people as there are stupid vanilla people.

4) We are not drug dependents.
I admit that some of us use recreational drugs but like any other forms of having fun, we do not need it. It is possible to have S&M fun without the use of drugs.


I know I will not change the gay world with this article but I just hope I changed one or two people here. The next time you meet someone who is into this, pat him on the butt, "I am not into it but I I am sure you are having a lot of fun."

Romance is Dead(ly)

I have asked my friends "Are you in love with your bf?" and I have not received a clear "yes" yet. Some people say that love is not enough to enter a relationship so why are people in a relationship when they are not even in love?

Some of them have left their countries. Some have resigned from their jobs. Some have spent a lot of money. Some have risked their lives.

Is romance dead? Are we doing illogical things so that we are hoping that we can experience romance?

Humor or Homophobia 2

I finally got two of this hilarious toy for some close friends of mine. I filmed it last night. Tell me what you think.

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone (2-disc DVD full screen)

For the record, I have already read Harry Potter 1-6 so please do not tell me anything about book 7. One of my correspondents did and he already had a taste of my fit.

This is my first to watch this movie in its entirety and it is not really that amazing. It stays faithful to the book but it did not try to be better than the book. This is actually the simplest of all the books and yet it did nothing to elevate the characters or the story to a more memorable level.

I have the full-screen version so I cannot say anything about the cinematography. The Quidditch game is not that spectacular in parts where the players are obviously CGI. There are tons of them. The closeups work well though.

The extras are cute but I wish they had interviews and audition clips of the kids. Perhaps, they would put it in a later release. I wonder when will I be able to afford an HD DVD player.

For fans, it is interesting to watch. Do not look for anything different though.

Kenny (DVD)

Thank you again, Peter, for giving me this Aussie DVD. I really do not know anything about it when I popped it in my laptop.

It was just hilarious and I thought "this could not be a real documentary". It looked choreographed and of course, it was. It is a mockumentary. I was amazed because Kenny is a huge character in very hilarious situations. But then it can be real also and that is why it is appealing.

The single-disc package is loaded with deleted scenes and very interesting trailers of other DVD releases. The commentary track is funny but not as funny as the movie. They still kept the mockumentary feel of the movie on the track.

This movie is just so funny. I am going to watch it again.

Burned Good Samaritan

A couple of weeks ago while walking along Silom Road, a South Asian man stopped me and asked "Do you speak English?" I answered "yes".

"I have been looking for a job the whole day and I have not eaten anything. Can you help me out?" he asked again.

I gave him 60 Baht and said "I am sorry. I have a tight budget right now"

I felt really good after doing that because I do not want to be in a foreign country without a job. I also told my close friends about it. I was proud of what I did.

But then last night, I saw him again on the same spot. He even looked at me and maybe he did not recognize me. I did not look back but I heard him say the same lines. I am never gonna help a fellow foreigner again.

J On A Crossroad

I admire the fact that J is leaving New Zealand, that he is starting a brand new life back in Germany. I admire that he's got the guts to end the relationship that he has now.

I am sure he will be a stronger man after this. I am sure he will learn a lot from this horrible relationship.

But then I do not agree that he is thinking of ending what we have started. Immigration procedures can be a bitch especially for gay men but I hope gay men do not see this as a deterrent in forming meaningful relationships. Right now, J cannot imagine us living together in Germany. But then I never imagined that I would actually be living here in Thailand.

Life has so many surprises. The ones you do not expect are the ones that happen. You just have to follow what makes you happy. I pray that J sees that soon before he makes his decision.

Humor or Homophobia?

I found this pen holder at the reception desk of my flat. I really do not know whether to laugh or frown.

When you put a pen inside the hole, the head bobs up and down and it shouts "Oooh yeah! That feels good...aah...aah...aah" and other disgusting words too explicit to be on my blog.

So is it humor or homophobia?

Crying Ladies (DVD)

I have seen this movie several times already and it is still funny. Hilda Koronel is sometimes a scene stealer because she just looks so real. Sharon Cuneta is too made up to look like a poor person living in a shanty.

Technically, this movie and the DVD are really good. The image quality is better than many Pinoy DVDs. The sound is passable--only a stereo sound. The special effects are nice but sometimes self-indulgent.

The pacing is a huge problem in this movie. Some scenes are too long. Some scenes are too short and too contrived. And some scenes look like TV commercials.

All in all, this is a nice movie to watch when you are already bored with your weeknights.

The Brave One (movie)

It is only a coincidence that after publishing a review of Thelma & Louise, I would be publishing a review of a film with a strong female character in a very violent scenario. But then "The Brave One" is not as ground-breaking as the 90s movie.

I am not sure about the possibility of the plot line because I have never been to the US but I think it works satisfactorily well. It was unpredictable first then the middle part was predictable but the ending was unexpected. Again, is New York as vicious as this? Maybe one of you guys can answer that.

Neil Jordan is very good in showing the tension of the scenes but I do not see much of a connection between the characters of Jodie Foster and Naveen Andrews.

Ah Jodie Foster...she is powerful in this movie. She sounds very different. She sounds in pain. I have not seen many American movies this past year so I am not sure if she would be a strong contender for an acting award.