World Press Photo (exhibition)

Photos from http://www.worldpressphoto.org/

I love photography but it was only a couple of years ago that I was able to buy my own camera and I spent a lot of money on it. Since then I decided that I would concentrate on profiles.

Last Thursday, I went to a photo exhibition advertised on the Bangkok Post so I went there with my own digital camera and took pics of my favorites.

One of which is a picture of a man cradling a wounded man. They are participants of a gay pride in Hungary. It was only taken a few years ago and some people attacked them. It is sad and scary that some people hold so much hatred for other people.

I also liked the portraits of Benazir Bhutto and Vladimir Putin. The Thai photographs discuss very limited topics and many of them are staged. I thought this is about photojournalism.

Anyway, I do not think I have the stomach to be a photojournalist. I am easily affected by the things around me to make it objective.

The Beyonce Experience Live (DVD)

It was a crappy cover but the DVD disc is engraved. It really looked good and when I put in my computer, I discovered that it is a DVD-9.

As a result, the video is intense. You can see Beyonce popping without blurring. This woman is just so flawless. Where did she get her genes? You can also each and every abdominal muscle of her back up dancers.

The design of the costumes are good but some are not so spectacular like the "nude-like" costume with the bits of glass. Her hair is sooo big. I wonder if it weighs more than five kilos. Those extensions are wild!

Some of the dance moves are African-inspired but some are done many times in concerts. I can see Madonna in some of the sequences. But she can move! I wonder where her lungs are.

The music is perfect before you go to a club. The message is positive. The show ends with a slow song but it is perfect.

Dexter Season 1 (TV series)

Thanks Joe (Peter Holmes' friend in Canberra) for burning me a copy of this TV series. I hope you like Suriyothai!

Since this is only a DVD-R, I will just make comments on the TV series itself and not the DVD package. I think it is very strange that I, Dexter Mejia, am fascinated by dying while my TV counterpart Dexter Morgan is fascinated by killing.

Michael Hall looks more comfortable as a serial killer than a funeral director. Both of them involve body parts and a lot of blood though. Anyway, I have also noticed that his hairline is dramatically receding. Focus focus focus on acting...Anyway, Jennifer Carpenter as Debra Morgan is actually more powerful on screen than his violent brother. With her big eyes and flawless white face, she looks more like a killer.

The plot is not that forced but the style of story-telling is done many times already. We have already seen movies that make us sympathize with the killer, movies that make us wonder why people do what they do, and movies that make us sick with the gore and blood. The only new thing about this TV series is it makes you look at blood in a less eeky way. It makes blood very logical.

So who can lend me seasons 2 and 3?

Where is Mr. Right?

I was teary-eyed when I read about the story of this two older lesbians who got married after more than 50 years in their relationship. Amidst homophobia, old age and personal tribulations, homosexual relationships can still flourish and last a long time.

I have always wanted to have a partner and share a life with him. Perhaps, I have patterned my dreams to what my family has become. We are tight-knit and my parents are still very much in love with each other. They are in their 60s and yet they hold hands in public and take long trips together.

Problem is I also dream of having one child at least. It would be nice to pass on my knowledge of this world. Now who would be attracted to that? I have never dated another man who is actually keen on having a child.

Anyway, back to the drawing board.

Please read related article here.

Kung Fu Panda (movie)

I grew up watching Kung Fu movies and this was long before Hollywood took interest in Hong Kong style of action movies. I am glad that Dreamworks was able to embrace that style and put it in pixels.

The 90-minute story is quite simple and the message simpler. It is about being yourself and believing in yourself. I personally have to remind myself that I can do anything that I set my mind on. I just have to believe in myself. There was no tear-jerker moment but the movie is very sweet.

The visuals are eye-catching and some of the elements look extremely real, especially the food. I am a food-lover so I know what I am talking about. Even the paos are so deliciously delicate. The action sequences remind me of Jackie Chan's. They are so clever and funny.

Jack Black's rendering of his voice is quite skilfull. He is very funny even though you do not see his face. Actually, I was able to forget who own the voices. I did not even recognize that my childhood action star Jackie Chan is there.

This film may not be as strong as last year's "Ratatouille" but it is still very funny to watch.

O Ultimo Momento (peut-être)

Thanks to Nicholas Snow for inviting me to this event. It is very good to have a member of the press as a friend.

It is very nice to tell my co-workers the following morning that I saw a pole-dancing performance last night but then Ultimo Momento's "Peut-etre" is more than that.

But I have to say something about the venue first. This event was held at at the Aksra Theater inside the King Power Complex (near the Victory Monument station of the BTS). The building is beautiful inside and outside. The short spherical architecture stands out even if the rest of Bangkok is full of skyscrapers. Nicholas and I headed straight to the Aksra Theater, a medium-sized venue that is lavishly decorated with puppets and engraving of Thai dances. It was a good prelude to the performance that followed.

João Paulo P. Dos Santos is the pole acrobat and Guillaume Dutrieux is the musician. The performance has three parts and it utilizes lights, video, a type of video camera that I have not seen yet, live music and recorded music. There are tons of people and groups doing pole performances now and when it comes to flexibility, João is inferior but when it comes to strength, timing and risk-taking, he may be the best. Several times, he would make a very fast descent from highest part of the pole and control the speed with his arms or legs. Being gay, I cannot help but admire his massive chest. I am not a musician so I cannot say much about Guillaume's part but his presence is not that commanding compared to Joao's. It is ruthless to say but João can actually do away with Guillaume.

The design of the whole piece is well thought out. It utilizes probably everything that the artists can do without overpowering one another. Although one is more interesting to watch, as a collaboration, the impression they give is effective. I am glad that it is not longer than 45 minutes though because I was starting to drift off.

Now I wonder whether João has a gay profile.

Videos can be watched on this website http://www.scenesdecirque.org/compagnie-o-ultimo-momento.php

The Incredible Hulk (movie)

I am surprised that this movie has a lot of surprises. The cameos exciting for an avid movie goer and I am sure it is more exciting for comic book fans. I do not want to write anything here except that the next movie will be very much interesting.

Liv Tyler can compete with Edward Norton when it comes to weight-lifting because she is so buffed. Nevertheless, she was very touching as a lover who has missed her man for a very long time. Her first sight of Bruce Banner at the restaurant has a very strong sense of longing. Tim Roth looks so menacing. I just wonder if he can actually become a superhero and not a villain.

It seems movie executives have their eyes set on critically-acclaimed actors. I know that Edward Norton is not new to the action genre but I am sure nobody has ever thought of him as a superhero. I have not seen Eric Bana's version but Edward Norton offers a great deal of regret and frustration.

The live action sequences are very effective. The chase scenes shot in Brazil are just amazing. It makes me wonder how they were able to shot in the shanties. In contrast, the CGI action sequences are exciting enough but they are a bit confusing. It is hard to judge the distance and positioning of the key people.

The sound effects are mind-blowing but not overwhelming. The CGI hulk looks very realistic and the sizes of him and the other monster are proportionately consistent.

This movie and "Iron Man" are important movies to watch this year because there will definitely be much bigger movies coming out in a few years.

I wonder though what can happen to Betty (Liv Tyler) when the Hulk fucks her.

The Harry Potter Prequel photos

The Harry Potter Prequel

The speeding motorcycle took the sharp corner so fast in the darkness that both policemen in the pursuing car shouted 'whoa!' Sergeant Fisher slammed his large foot on the brake, thinking that the boy who was riding pillion was sure to be flung under his wheels; however, the motorbike made the turn without unseating either of its riders, and with a wink of its red tail light, vanished up the narrow side street.

'We've got 'em now!" cried PC Anderson excitedly. 'That's a dead end!"

Leaning hard on the steering wheel and crashing his gears, Fisher scraped half the paint off the flank of the car as he forced it up the alleyway in pursuit.

There in the headlights sat their quarry, stationary at last after a quarter of an hour's chase. The two riders were trapped between a towering brick wall and the police car, which was now crashing towards them like some growling, luminous-eyed predator.

There was so little space between the car doors and the walls of the alley that Fisher and Anderson had difficulty extricating themselves from the vehicle. It injured their dignity to have to inch, crab-like, towards the miscreants. Fisher dragged his generous belly along the wall, tearing buttons off his shirt as he went, and finally snapping off the wing mirror with his backside.

'Get off the bike!' he bellowed at the smirking youths, who sat basking in the flashing blue light as though enjoying it.

They did as they were told. Finally pulling free from the broken wind mirror, Fisher glared at them. They seemed to be in their late teens. The one who had been driving had long black hair; his insolent good looks reminded Fisher unpleasantly of his daughter's guitar-playing, layabout boyfriend. The second boy also had black hair, though his was short and stuck up in all directions; he wore glasses and a broad grin. Both were dressed in T-shirts emblazoned with a large golden bird; the emblem, no doubt, of some deafening, tuneless rock band.

'No helmets!' Fisher yelled, pointing from one uncovered head to the other. 'Exceeding the speed limit by - by a considerable amount!' (In fact, the speed registered had been greater than Fisher was prepared to accept that any motorcycle could travel.) 'Failing to stop for the police!'

'We'd have loved to stop for a chat,' said the boy in glasses, 'only we were trying -'

'Don't get smart - you two are in a heap of trouble!' snarled Anderson. 'Names!'

'Names?' repeated the long-haired driver. 'Er - well, let's see. There's Wilberforce... Bathsheba... Elvendork...'

'And what's nice about that one is, you can use it for a boy or a girl,' said the boy in glasses.

'Oh, OUR names, did you mean?' asked the first, as Anderson spluttered with rage. 'You should've said! This here is James Potter, and I'm Sirius Black!'

'Things'll be seriously black for you in a minute, you cheeky little -'

But neither James nor Sirius was paying attention. They were suddenly as alert as gundogs, staring past Fisher and Anderson, over the roof of the police car, at the dark mouth of the alley. Then, with identical fluid movements, they reached into their back pockets.

For the space of a heartbeat both policemen imagined guns gleaming at them, but a second later they saw that the motorcyclists had drawn nothing more than -

'Drumsticks?' jeered Anderson. 'Right pair of jokers, aren't you? Right, we're arresting you on a charge of -'

But Anderson never got to name the charge. James and Sirius had shouted something incomprehensible, and the beams from the headlights had moved.

The policemen wheeled around, then staggered backwards. Three men were flying - actually FLYING - up the alley on broomsticks - and at the same moment, the police car was rearing up on its back wheels.

Fisher's knees bucked; he sat down hard; Anderson tripped over Fisher's legs and fell on top of him, as FLUMP - BANG - CRUNCH - they heard the men on brooms slam into the upended car and fall, apparently insensible, to the ground, while broken bits of broomstick clattered down around them.

The motorbike had roared into life again. His mouth hanging open, Fisher mustered the strength to look back at the two teenagers.

'Thanks very much!' called Sirius over the throb of the engine. 'We owe you one!'

'Yeah, nice meeting you!' said James. 'And don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!'

There was an earth-shattering crash, and Fisher and Anderson threw their arms around each other in fright; their car had just fallen back to the ground. Now it was the motorcycle's turn to rear. Before the policemen's disbelieving eyes, it took off into the air: James and Sirius zoomed away into the night sky, their tail light twinkling behind them like a vanishing ruby.

Missing Sex and the City (the movie)

The local government has very strict censorship guidelines and they have the power to snip or to blur out scenes that do not meet these. These scenes include the groin, breasts, knives, syringes, blood, wounds, cigarettes, cigarette smoke, cigars, weed, guns and the list goes on and on.

When I came here, there was nothing like this and as time goes by, more images are being blurred. Apparently, they are protecting this country's image. It does not want to be associated with the sex trade, violence and drugs.

Anyway, I will just wait for the DVD release of the film in the Philippines or wherever I will be when it gets released. It is not a special effects movie anyway. I loved these characters in the small screen so I guess they have to stay there--in the small screen.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (DVD)

The look may not be original but this movie is definitely memorable as it tries to revive the tension of the Cold War and an era of skepticism.

The visuals are overpowering but luckily, some of the actors have very strong screen presence. Surprisingly, Angelina Jolie stood out eventhough she had a very small part in the movie. I guess the eyepatch did the trick. Giovanni Ribisi's performance is also entertaining to watch eventhough he did not have some funky costumes. Unfortunately, the blandest performance is one of the main actors, Gwyneth Paltrow. I have never liked her in any of her movies. I just do not understand why producers keep on hiring her--she is not that beautiful and she is not a convincing actress.

Back to the visuals, many of them are exciting to look at especially for a movie geek like me. There are so many references to very old movies like "King Kong" and "THX 1138". Laurence Olivier's likeness is also very interesting to see.

This is only a single-disc release but it is packed with very informative documentaries. Half of it is about the technical aspects of the film and half of it is about how the production people worked together. It is really nice to see people who make films because they love it.

I actually did not expect to like "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" this much.

New Panels on the Right

Some of you may have noticed that I added some new features on my blog a few days ago. Of course, they are added so that you will have more reasons to visit my blog. All of these features are on the right panel of the blog.

The first one is a link to my flickr account. You will see thumbnails of the photos I have taken. Some are old and some are new.

The second is snippets of news related to gays and gay movement around the world. It is Google News so it concentrates on north American and European news.

Both of them change everyday so you have to visit this site often.

Plus I still have my travel schedule on the same side so please email me (dexter.mejia@gmail.com) if you want to hang out. I love meeting new people.

Lastly, the last panel arranges my blog according to topics. So if you want to read my reviews just click on "review". If you want to hear about my boring personal life then just click on "personal".

Enjoy your perving!

I Am Not A Moneyboy

I rarely describe myself in a negative but in Bangkok, I cannot help but be on the defensive when it comes to dating Westerners.

Being Asian in an Asian country with a booming sex industry, Western gay men already expect a lot of things from me. They think that they have to pay for everything when they are with me. They think I need for them to pay my drink, my cab fare and my company.

More often than not, I am earning as much money as they are. Besides, my apartment is in the same area as the gay area where some of them cannot even afford to live in.

Western men think that I do not speak English and I am stupid. I know what alliteration and assonance are and I know the capital and a fairly good amount of American and European history. And on the other hand, they are not even sure how to spell the word that pertains to people from my country. Is it with a "ph" or with a double "L"?

In Western cities, I can approach any guy (Caucasian, Asian, Indian) I fancy and I would be received politely. But when I try talking to a Western guy here, he would whisper a question to the next Westerner "Is he a prostitute?" Or he would exclaim infront of me "Oh, you speak English!"

I believe this is not about myself. I think this is about how Westerners perceive Asians here. They think that we are needy, insecure and asinine. And when they find someone who does not fit that mold, they do not know what to make of him.

I really cannot wait to live in a city where the playing field is equal.

Apocalypto (DVD)

Mel Gibson thinks that we are stupid. He gets a pig to sound like a tapir. And he thinks he can put an extinct civilization on the big screen without a proper research.

I think Mel Gibson has too much money and too much time in his hands to make ambitious concepts look like shit. Why does he use a language that is not popular? Answer: people won't notice how badly written it truly is and it is cool to have subtitles in each and every movie that he makes.

The movie may be historically and biologically incorrect but there are some great points. Mel Gibson was lucky to get some very good actors and extras. They all look great on screen. The cinematographer is a genius. He has done some breathtaking shots indoors (like the one in the cave) and outdoors (like the waterfall scene). The makeup and visual effects are all convincing. And everything looks pristine on DVD.

The commentary track is very insulting to the work of many people. Mel Gibson does not remember the names of his stunt people. He also laughs inappropriately in scenes of carnage. Maybe, he gets hard looking at violence.

By the way, the butts of many of the actors look amazing.

The Full Monty (DVD)

I bought the DVD some months ago because it was extremely cheap (less than 100 Thai Baht) and now I know why. It is hard for the DVD player and DVD drive in my computer to read chapter 7 of the DVD. Quick suggestion: do not buy the original DVD of this movie in Thailand.

There were no extras as it was only a barebones DVD as I expected. The audio and video were OK. It was not really very clean but for that price, why should I complain? But then it says on the cover that it is a dual layer disc but the entire data is only 4.1 GB. It is a single layer disc!!!

Some of the actors in this movie are quite popular now. Robert Carlyle looks a lot younger but he is obviously very talented as a struggling parent. Mark Addy looks very handsome here actually. He is not as chubby here as he is now.

If I publish this review then that means I had nothing else to write about.

Ex Lashes Out

I read some old emails earlier. They were random emails. I was not following any logic. Then I stumbled upon a very old email from my ex. There is a link to his website so I clicked on it.

I explored the site and felt very sad with what I read. He implies that he regrets loving me and now he considers me as his holiday shag in the Philippines. In addition, our pics together are also displayed on the same page.

My close friends know that I had a 3-year long distance relationship with this man and it was not productive. After 5 years, he is still very upset with what happened and is still lashing at me. Obviously, breakups are not really nice.

I feel angry but this will pass.

Missing Gay Profiles

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Gay, Fun & Sober

Many of my friends know that I am very much against the use of drugs and other substances. I just think people are just destroying themselves and not getting the most out of their lives because of these practices. At the same time, they also ruin their friendships and romantic relationships with every use.

Many of my friends also know that I can be a lot of fun in discoes and bars. I can be as loud as a banshee and hotter than Madonna (in her 20s of course) on the dance floor with just a drink of water.

That is why I started a second blog "Gay, Fun & Sober". I will be inviting some of my friends to writer here and it will be a fun orgy. The website is http://gayfunandsober.blogspot.com/

I do not need alcohol. I do not need drugs. And you do not need to rush me to the ER at the end of the night.

Can you imagine how much money you can save if you date me?

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (movie)

(spoilers warning)

The children have grown. The boys look a little bit more manly. Lucy is not that ugly anymore. And Susan has big boobs.

The plot is more exciting this time because there is more at stake and the battles are bigger. And for once, they lost. Speaking of battles, they are still sanitized so that children are allowed to go in the cinemas. The trees are fascinating to watch. It seems the trees cannot lose but then the Ents (of Peter Jackson) are more believable.

The acting is not that memorable. Anna Popplewell (as Lucy) is the best. William Moseley (as Peter Pevensie) is the new Keanu Reeves--they are both good-looking cardboard cutouts. Ben Barnes (as Prince Caspian) is annoyingly disturbing because of his accent--quite different from the rest of the Telmarines.

The music is too modern. The language used is terribly inferior compared to the Lord of the Rings screenplay. Nothing memorable--actually that is how I can sum the film: nothing memorable although it is a bit better than the first one.

Collateral (2-disc DVD)

Tom Cruise may be the most despicable person in the world but I am still in love with him. I have always fantasized him enveloping me in his arms. According to what I have heard, it is not really that impossible. Anyway, that is not the topic of this entry.

I was very surprised at how exciting this movie is. The plot is clean and not overtly manipulative. The production value was impressive. The musical score and the cinematography took me to the exciting nightlife of L. A. The editing kept to its very measured beats.

The performances were the ones who stood out though and I think this is one of the best performances by Tom Cruise. He was very believable as a killer. He knew how to throw punches and shoot like a henchman. It is not as fake as him holding a samurai in another movie. Jada Smith is extremely beautiful and very nice to watch on screen. Jamie Foxx is not as sincere though. I can still see a man acting and and not a cabbie.

Michael Mann is a perfectionist. The extras are very informative and they show how meticulous Michael is. The commentary track is full of information and I know that many parts of the commentary track were done in more than one take. Sometimes, Michael's voice actually overlaps his own. I am now curious to see his other movies.

The Smuttiest Smut

A bisexual couple (man and woman) visited me a couple of weeks ago. They are part of the active S&M community in San Francisco. Aside from their dark but exciting stories of kink, they brought me a couple of issues of the best smut I have ever seen in my life.

It is Instigator--the best magazine for pigs and perverts. The paper is very thick and the photos are well-composed. The models are not the type that you would typically see in porn but they obviously enjoy licking boots, getting a whole limb up their orifices and getting their balls injected with one liter of saline.

Aaah an escape for a pig like me who is stuck in a hypersexual but sexually conventional city like Bangkok.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (DVD)

Mel Stuart's version is definitely very different from Tim Burton's. Mel's is sweet and very childish while Tim's is very dark and wicked. I really prefer the latest version because it is more faithful to the book and the scenes are more inventive.

But there are some very good moments in the first adaptation. Gene Wilder is very sympathetic and some of the songs are really unforgettable.

The pacing is actually nicely done. It is more hopeless than Tim's.

One great thing about this DVD release is the commentary track of the four kids who are already grown ups when they recorded it. They sounded very much like the kids they were 30 years ago. The excitement in their voices is very obvious and how I wish there was a video of them talking.

Hmm...there is something convenient and sexy about Oompa Loompas...

An Open Letter of a Transgender Woman in the Philippines

From: reydante
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 11:59 AM
To: tfpmanila@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [tfpmanila] an open letter from a transgender woman



PEOPLE LIKE US

An Open Letter of a Transgender Woman in the Philippines

[25 May 2008 / Sunday / 6.04 AM to 6.45 AM]


No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Eleanor Roosevelt


My friends and I have been made to feel inferior approximately five hours before I

wrote this letter. I'd like to sweep this incident under the proverbial rug but there is no more space to accommodate it.


On the 24th of May 2008, my friends and I were celebrating the anniversary of our organization the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), the first transsexual women's support group and transgender rights advocacy organization in the Philippines. We settled to celebrate it in Ice Vodka Bar, located in Greenbelt 3, 3rd level Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila. It was my first time in that bar. Two in our group have been there before and they had nothing bad to say about it.


There were five of us. I was leading the way. The bouncer stopped us. I asked why. His reason was we were dressed "inappropriately". We were rather dressed decently, tastefully, and most importantly just like any other human being who lives her life as female 24 hours a day.


I asked for the manager. The bouncer was nice enough to let me in. The manager,

Ms Belle Castro, accommodated me. I don't know if I spelled her name right. I asked for a business card but she had none available. Her telling feature though was her braced teeth.


I complained. Ms Castro listened to me. I found her sympathetic, even respectful as she addressed me all throughout as ma'am. She told me the following:


1. (Referring to my friends, and obviously to me) That "people like them" aren't

allowed in our bar every Fridays & Saturdays;


2. That that was an agreement between all the bars in Greenbelt (she

particularly mentioned their bar, Absinthe, and Café Havana) and Ayala

Corporation, the company which owns the Greenbelt Complex;


3. That the reason for this policy is: "Marami kasing foreigner na nag-kocomplain

at napepeke daw sila sa mga katulad nila." Loosely translated in English:

"There are lots of foreigners complaining because they mistake people like

them as real women"; and


4. That they have a "choice" to implement the policy.


I felt terribly hurt and uncontrollably agitated. This transphobic act is not the first time that it happened to me, to my friends, to people like us. To say that this has become almost a routine is an understatement.


I have shouted at Ms Castro several times, asking her why I'm f***ing experiencing

racism in my own country and what gave f***ing foreigners the right to demand to

block people like us to enter bars in our very own country.


Ms Castro tried to hush me by pulling the "It's our choice card" and asked me to talk decently. I am not proud at all of using the F-word as my intensifier and of letting my emotions ran raw and wild. My warm apologies to Ms Castro for losing my cool. Just like any of us, I know, she was just doing her job.


This may not be the proper forum to raise this concern. But is there any reliable legal forum to address this issue? Reality check: there is no antidiscrimination law in this country. And if you're discriminated, there seems to be a notion that you're supposed to blame yourself for bringing such an unfortunate event to yourself.


So, I'd just stand up through this open letter.


I am standing for myself. I am standing for people like us. I am standing up because I, am, very, tired of this incivility. We have long endured this kind of treatment for far too long. Enough.


I'll not go as far as campaigning for a boycott as it is definitely the simple workers

that would suffer from any loss in revenue such an act may cause.


People like us would like to be treated just like any other human being. Just like

those foreigners who complained about our existence: With dignity.


You know the civilized and ethical thing to do: Stop discrimination in your

establishments.


Bigotry is never ethical nor a sound business strategy.


Warmly

Ms Sass Rogando Sasot


Sass is one of the founding members of the Society of Transsexual Women of the

Philippines (STRAP) [www.tsphilippines.com], an Associate Member of Transgender ASIA Research Centre, and a member of Ang Ladlad Party.

To have a dialogue with her regarding this incident, you may reach her at srsasot@... or through her mobile at +639276257010.

Aussie English & the Filipino Stomach

As I attempt to conquer the Land Down Under, here a few more snippets of my conversations with the natives. I obviously have to grasp their language if I want to satisfy the worms inside my stomach.


Scene 1:

ATTENDANT: So you want value meal number 1?

DEXTER: That is right but do you have root beer?

ATTENDANT: I am sorry but we do not serve alcohol here.


Scene 2:

DEXTER: Do you have tow-may-tows in your Aussie burger?

PETER: You are in Australia, Dexter, so they are called tow-mah-tows.


Scene 3:

DEXTER: The waiter forgot to give me some ketchup for these fries.

PETER: We do not usually serve tow-mah-tow sauce with our CHIPS.


Scene 4:

ATTENDANT: What would you like to order?

FRIEND: A feel-let (fillet) please.

ME (thinking): I wonder how you guys pronounce the dance.

A Confederacy of Dunces (novel)

A more modern Cyrano de Bergerac but less appealing and less tragic, Ignatius Reilly is an intelligent beast with a quest to satisfy his ego. With the main character's flair in words, this can be easily adapted as a play although who can resemble such a grotesque physique?

The first chapters resemble an episode of Saturday Night Live. It introduces several characters that are uniquely fleshed out and involved in the world of Ignatius as the latter looks for a job, gets a job, loses a job, gets another job, organizes an uprising and finally gets involved in a scandal. Near the end of the story, it seems the hero has lost control of everything but then he is just bound to conquer another land.

Unfortunately, the author (John Kennedy Toole) killed himself before his mother convinced a publisher to print it. He could have written a sequel or sequels to this very interesting character that people would love to hate. It is very interesting to note that this book paints a very colorful and politically-incorrect (but realistic) picture of Louisiana gay life in the 60s.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (movie)

My first thought after watching the movie: "Steven Spielberg must have used a lot of stunt doubles to replace Harrison Ford in all of his bone-crushing stunts." But then viewers are given a view of his body. It was in shape and gravity has not done much effect on it just yet.

The story was exciting. It is a special treat for Indiana Jones fans because there are numerous allusions to the previous movies. At the same time, there is a sense of passing on the hat (literally and figuratively speaking). The ending is predictable of course. It still has to stick to the Spielberg-Lucas formula.

The special effects are amazing. The sound was dynamic but not overwhelming. The chase scene reminds me of the stampede scene in Peter Jackson's "King Kong" but the former is much much cleaner. The stunt people and actors look like they were in the scene. Of course, many of the stunts are ridiculous but then this is an adventure movie.

Oh I cannot help but mention the ever-glowing Cate Blanchett. She was convincing as a villain but I wish her character was more fleshed out. She alone is reason enough to watch this movie.

Thank God I Am Gay

I was able to pull myself out of my depression because of an invitation from a Filipino colleague who was celebrating her birthday today. It was a nice group of Thais, Kyrgystani and Filipinos. We went to Holiday Inn-Silom and raided the Irish pub there. Fortunately, the band was Filipino and very very good.

We had some good food (the fajitas were bad though) and great music. The girls in the band loved dancing with me so I was on the dance floor longer than at the dining table. I told that them that there are no cute people around. There was a snooker champ but he was not handsome as well.

And there was this Thai woman who was stunningly beautiful but drunk. She came to me and danced with me. She put my hands in places where they should not be but I quickly devised dance moves to avoid those parts of the female anatomy I dare not mention on this gay blog. The Filipino band and my friends were laughing their hearts out but the drunk woman could not see it. Probably, she couldn't see also that I was a flaming queen with her alcohol-laced eyes.

She gave me a drink and she was surprised that I said "no". She tried putting her triangular part on my thigh and I backed away. And the song finished. I was literally soaked in sweat so I took a tissue and watched her leave the place in a hurry.

The band told me that she is heartbroken. Thank God I am gay or else she would be in great danger right now. I hope she went straight home.

First, God created a gay man...and he was beautiful

The news about the removal of the ban against same-sex marriage is a feat for gay politics. I know I do not have a high opinion of the US but I am happy for my fellow gay brothers and sisters in California.

I, myself, would like to get married someday and have a family of my own. I would like my family to be there and share a very important moment for me. Marrying another man feels so natural to me and I would like the world to know that and accept that. I also would like to have a child and show him/her a life that is not full of guilt and self-hatred. I want to have a child who is very proud for what he/she is.

But I need to find myself a boyfriend first.

Lost Memory Cards

I brought three memory cards of my camera to work so I can edit the photo studies I took a few days ago. I already edited some of them but there are still some good ones that I have not edited yet.

Stupid me put it in his pocket where his wallet is. There were tons of times that I fished my wallet inside my pocket and the cards might have slipped out. Damn, damn, damn!

There are some good studies I have done but then I can make more. The problem is those cards are fucking expensive. I really hate myself sometimes.

Somebody Stole My Dream

Charice Pempengco is a 16-year old singer in the Philippines. In 2006, she placed third in a very big singing competition in the Philippines .

And a few days ago, she was on Oprah because she is very talented. She sang "I Have Nothing" and hugged Oprah while she was being interviewed. She can really sing!

That bitch! She stole my Oprah! Now I have to start singing so that I can go to Oprah as well.

Boundin' (short film)

This is one of my favorite short films.

I found this online as I have been feeling down lately. As the storyteller says, sometimes I am down, sometimes I am up. I only need to put one foot up and I am back up again. And I am bound to fall down again occasionally. But then I can actually do better than ever after every fall.

Many of you might remember this movie from Pixar's "The Incredibles". It is part of my collection. I hope you like it and find it as inspiring as I do.

Inspired by Kiwi!

You have to watch the youtube video first before you read my comments. Please click here if it is not loading properly.

I was browsing one of my favorite websites the other day (Youtube) and I found Kiwi!. I cried after seeing it the first time.

I think the ending is justified. There are times you have to risk everything to achieve what you want--including the things that other people think as impossible.

I have met a few people who have doubted what I can do. I got rid of them and then I was able to reach my goals. One person said I could never have the salary of a Western teacher in Thailand. I was able to prove that person wrong four days after arriving in Thailand.

Some months ago, I told another friend that I would migrate to Australia and teach English there. He said I could not do it so I got rid of him. Now I am already on my way to prove he is wrong.

3 Whores in Bangkok part 2

After my work out this morning, Thai 1 approached me with a confused expression on hi sface. He said Thai 2 denied knowing me. I thought "deceitful slut" but of course, I had to reserve my opinions for myself and thought of bitching about it on my blog.

Thai 1 then asked Thai 2 how I knew that Thai 2 works at the airport. Thai 2 replied "Well, he guessed it."

Anyway, Thai 1 is now very confused because so many people are claiming that they had sex with Thai 2 and yet Thai 2 is denying everything. But what is more interesting is why Thai 1 is taking all these lies. I am sure he is smart enough to know that it is impossible to have a relationship when Thai is planning to stay in Vancouver for at least two years and Thai 1 is going to stay here in Bangkok.

I asked Thai 1 to go out with me later this week but it might not be a good idea. He does not know what he wants from Thai 2. He knows it is not going to be fruitful but he is still attached to him. At the same time, I do not want Thai 2 to take revenge on me.

I think this story is not over yet.

Adam Waters' Blog

I was browsing some blogs earlier and I found this one randomly. It was created by Adam Waters, an English teacher in Japan. Please click

In 2006, he set a goal: get a six-pack in 84 days. To motivate himself, Adam shared his ordeal on his blog and took pictures of himself everyday. Obviously, he succeeded and he has set different goals since.

I do not promote having a 6-pack. I like his blog because it just proves that one can have a healthy body if he is really determined to do it. I have already sent him a message. I wonder if he can still reply to the hundreds of messages he gets everyday.

By the way, he is cute! What bothers me is I think he looks cuter in his older pictures.

How To Appreciate Thailand

Chard is an American in his early 70s. Everytime I see him, Chard is with a different young man. He came out when he was 45 but when he dates, it looks like he only came out yesterday.

He thinks that I am wasting my youth just because I am not having sex very often.

And then here comes a tourist from Melbourne. He loves the temples and the shopping places. He also confesses that he is not attracted to Asians and I am OK with it.

But Chard is not. He thinks that Melbourne man is wasting his time in Thailand.

I really want to shake Chard until his balls fall off.

You do not need to fuck the men here to enjoy the country!

3 Whores in Bangkok

A year ago, I dated Thai 1 and we had a fun time. He is cute and entertaining to be with. He went to Vancouver to take his masters.

Last February, I met Thai 2 and had a casual encounter with him. I went to Australia and was not able to communicate with him.

A few weeks ago, I saw Thai 1 (who is having a vacation here) and Thai 2 working out together. They both looked at me and tried to ignore me but I said "hi" to them. I thought that they were talking about me and they would think that I am a slut (who would ever think that?).

But then earlier, Thai 1 approached me and told me that Thai 2 is actually his ex and that his ex is very jealous of me. Apparently, Thai 1 admitted that we sorta dated last year but they already ended their relationship before then.

And now, Thai 1 is hounding me and asking me if I had sex with Thai 2. I refused to answer the question and the answer really should not matter to him. According to Thai 1, Thai 2 is making him feel guilty about sleeping with other men. And of course, Thai 1 wants to know if Thai 2 is doing the same thing.

Sometimes, gay men really amuse me.

Iron Man (movie)

Superhero movies are becoming grittier and grittier and "Iron Man" is one of them. By the way, who imagined Robert Downey Jr. to be a superhero anyway? He is not young anymore, not conventionally good-looking and not exactly a box-office tyrant. I guess that is the definition of "gritty".

So what is new about this movie? Nothing really. It is current though--like many Hollywood movies, it paints a very ugly picture of Middle Easterns. The only good thing about is though this phobia of Middle Easterns keep the Middle Eastern actors in the US employed.

So what is good about this movie? Well, the storyline is not as dull as the Fantastic Four series. And Stan Lee appears as one of his mastubatory fantasies, Hugh Hefner.

This is actually a great movie to watch if you are into special effects and underutilized acting of a talented actor like Terence Howard and Downey.

4Bia (movie)

Local critics were raving about these four short movies so I thought I should give it a try. I got used to watching horror movies by myself but I suddenly missed being with someone when I saw a gay couple sitting infront of me. They were even kissing each other's hands while kissing.

Well, I love the opening credits although the theme is predictable. It shows blood in all gravitational possibilities but the director (probably one of the four directors featured in this movie) obviously spent a long time storyboarding it. The first story is "Happiness". It is about a girl who is lonely and finds a "text" friend who is actually closer to her than she thinks. The scenes are laid out with all types of lenses and devoid of any spoken line.

The second story is "Tit for Tat" which resembles a work of a young artist who is not out to make a good movie but out to make a good-looking video portfolio. It is really hard to know where the carnage is coming from and that is probably because of the snappy editing and framing. I actually felt like I was watching a music video.

The third is "In the Middle" and it is supposed to be a parody of popular Hollywood movies and one popular Thai movie. It is very funny in many scenes and a couple of the boys are very cute. I guess the director forgot about the genre.

The final one is "Last Fright", a melodramatic story about a widow and her rival. I think the melodrama comes both from the story and the actors themselves. It has everything you would expect from a haunted plane, including deadly trolleys, empty seats, smashed windows and of course, the long Sadako-hair.

Should I trust the local critics? Ah no. 4Bia presents nothing fresh, memorable or original. Perhaps, this is the Thai version of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" franchise that has been raking a lot of money in the Philippines for over two decades.

I know a Pedophile

I feel very low right now. A man I have known for almost a decade now has admitted that he has had sex with minors in his home country the USA and overseas. I believe that the charges are true.

Unfortunately, we work in the same organization so I have this heavy burden right now of telling everyone what has happened. I feel weak and yet I have to tell them also that things will turn out fine.

I know that the intentions of this organization are real, significant and most importantly, legal. But how can you do that when the person who introduced you to this organization is the also the one who was caught in a sting operation by the police?

I do not know how to do this but I have a feeling I can. It will be a huge struggle for me politically and emotionally. I just have to do what I need to do.

Maxis Bar Opening

Kerry (a good friend from Adelaide) introduced me to his longtime friend John Douglas who opened a new bar last night. It is located on Soi Twilight or Soi Pratuchai of Surawong Road.

It rained earlier so I decided to tone down my dress significantly. That means wearing a singlet, shorts and a pair of sandals. I noticed that I was terribly underdressed. Almost everyone was wearing their best and I looked like a slob with a camera as big as his head.

All of the guests did not want to have their picture taken by me but I cannot blame them. Possibly, I look like someone who is going to frame them by posting their pictures on gay websites or pasting celebrities' faces on their bodies.

All of the guests except one. I did not notice this until I left the place and viewed all the pics I took. One handsome Caucasian guy around my age was actually looking at me and smiling at me in one of the photos. I wanted it to be a stolen photo of the guests but it turned out he was staring at me.

I have to find out who this guy is so I have to talk to John Douglas about it. By the way, the email address of the bar is maxisbar@gmail.com. The website is not working yet.

Mariah Carey's Ken Lee

I rarely post anything from other people but I will make an exception on this one. I will remember this song for the rest of my life.

A handsome white man is staring at me

He is staring and
I touch my face and
I feel my teeth.
I forget that I have just
cleaned them. 

He is still staring and
I look to my left and
I look to my right.
I forget that we're alone
in an elevator.

He is smiling and
I think he hasn't seen
an Asian before.
I forget that I am
actually in Thailand.

I am going to
smile back at him and
say "hello" to him but
Fuck, he's gone!

Super Dexy

I was in the locker room of the gym tonight when I saw one of my gym buddies. He is a handsome and athletic American of Fijian-Indian parentage and he is 40 years old. I told him he is getting old and he dared me to have a running match with him on the treadmill. I accepted.

After 20 minutes...

Fijian: How are you?

Me: Oh I am sorry I fell asleep (while running on the treadmill)!

Fijian: Another 20 minutes?


After another 20 minutes...

Fijian: Another 20 minutes?

Me: Jesus, sure!


After 3 minutes, he stopped...

Fijian: (panting) I think you need more exercise. You are young and fat.


He walked away while I increased the speed of my treadmill.

Songkran 2008 Laundry

These are my favorite short pants. They have been with me in three different countries already. They are now caked and dirty but I am sure they will still serve me well for a few more years.

Songkran is now over. I have already given away my water pistol as I might not be here anymore next year. My tired body almost gave up after sleeping for only 5 hours for each of the three consecutive nights. I have already gotten rid of the condom that protected my mobile phone.

I met a few new people but nobody came to my bed. Damn, I miss being with a man. I wish I were splashed by something aside from water.

Published on Adelaide Magazine

Thanks to Bamboo-Adelaide for submitting a photo with me in it. Blaze magazine is a free gay publication in South Australia and they recently published an article about the Bamboo group (a gay support group). It is perfect for this LYC affiliate because I am sure they will receive more inquiries and possibly more new members.

And I am glad that they submitted the picture! Click here to read the article.

I did a Britney

No, I am not having postpartum depression nor I have a new album out. I was just bored in my apartment and decided to get some colored contacts, have my head shaven and shaved my eyebrow as well. Here is the result. Next time, I will castrate myself.

Kiss During the Sydney Mardi Gras 2008

I was at the workplace of Rai, a Filipino friend, as we watched the paraders go by. Amidst the shouting, the people rejoicing and the music, I found two men kissing. I think it is the sweetest thing in the world. Click here view to see the video on youtube.

Is Sobriety a Rarity?

I am proud to say that I have never taken drugs and I am not interested in taking them. All of my friends know that I am fun and uninhibited when sober. I do not even need to drink alcohol to get up on stage in DJ Station and act like someone has put an electrode up my ass.

I know that acceptance of the gay lifestyle in mainstream society is not fully accepted yet but then I know that there is progress. But the older I get, it seems there are more and more gay men who are hooked into drugs and prohibited substances. And this does not exclude countries that accept same-sex couples.

And few gay men admit that they take it because they love it. Most of them say that they take it only when their friends take it. They say they do not want to be left out eventhough they know it is dangerous. I have seen on Animal Planet that deer actually run away when their herd accidentally heads to a pool of crocodiles.

And few gay men admit how much and how often they take it. What does occasionally mean? What is a recreational drug user? I never thought putting scars in your brain or burning your septum is actually creative.

I am trying to convince myself that this is only a gay subculture but it seems it is not. The more I put myself out there, the more it is apparent that I am part of a minority. Please tell me I am wrong.

Happy Memories

As I traced my steps from DJ Station to my apartment on Silom Soi 6, I could not help but remember the happy memories that I had last December. We traced those same steps while holding hands and admiring each other's achievements in our local communities. And a few minutes before, we were inseparable on the dance floor. Nothing mattered while we were kissing.

My friends are already tired of listening to the same story over and over again but I cannot help it. I was in love and I am very sad.

My friends say that those happy memories are in the past and I should let it stay that way. I wish I could make more happy memories with him. I never smiled so much in my life. I have never done so many sacrifices for just one man. I wish I mattered to him as much as he mattered to me.

Oz 2008: Thank You!

Thank you, Peter Holmes, for introducing me to your great country. I know it is a bit shameful but I know more about Australia than my adoptive country (Thailand) right now. We have shared so many memories together and I am sure we have tons of years of friendship ahead of us.

Thank you, Kerry and Thinh, for having me in your lovely Adelaide home. I hope to see that bed sheet with the animal prints again. I am so thankful to have met Kerry through Long Yang Club.

Thank you, Andrew MacDonald, for being with me during a very difficult time in my trip. You have a golden heart with a raging passion. I am looking forward to working with you more closely in the near future.

Thank you, Justin Richards, for driving 1 hour and 20 minutes just to meet me in person. It was really ecstatic to be with you in person. Hurrah to the provincial queens in Australia!

Thank you, Stuart Poole, for taking me to that memorable and bumpy trip. We will go to the desert next time.

Thank you, Thomas Payne, for that Kambah Pool experience. You have raised my standards very high now.

Thank you, Bobby, for that nice hotel room in Sydney. That was a damn good location!

Thank you, William Rattley and Constantin Schnaeker, for your company. I am very excited to start this new friendship with you guys.

Thank you to all the Long Yang Club chapters in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne. Thank you, Bamboo-Adelaide!

Thanks to everyone I met during this trip. I will be meeting you guys again sooner than you think.

Oz 2008: Sydney Pics 2

Here are some touristy pics. Some of which are taken at the Taronga Zoo, very near the Peter Holmes' apartment where I stayed. Click here to view all the pics of my Australian vacation.

Oz 2008: Canberra Pics 2

Thanks Stuart Poole for taking me to Goodradigbee River  and Mt. Coree. It was an unforgettable adventure as we drove up and down the mountain using his 4x4. I hope to camp with you there this coming winter. Click here for more pics.

Oz 2008: Adelaide Pics

These are Kerry, Thinh and tiny Chai. They were my hosts in Adelaide. I will definitely visit them again on my next visit to this country.

This is Justin, my friend from Murray Bridge.