One more Monday picker-upper

Bank's dad also owns a resort in Nakhon Sawan. It has a mote surrounding all the huts and land... and yes, the mote has canoes!

This canoe in particular had a quarter-sized hole, so using it required some coordinated scoopage on the scooper's part. This wasn't a clean event, but it ended up getting ranked on my Top 5 Experiences in the Region list. :)

Bank, you are too cool.

Oh, Mondays

Actually, this Monday was rather okay. A little hectic, a little cold, but not bad in the least. But, if you feel like your Monday hasn't gone spectacularly well, take a gander at this:It's from Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok. I had an awesome time in the gift shop. Mike and I stopped by the one in Chiang Rai, as well, but the one in Bangkok was even more memorable. The restaurant portions are generous, and I'd like to think the Republican-sized condoms were smaller.. teehee.

Now start having that blissful Monday!

Sunday evening treat

for a weekend that equaled almost no academic productivity and topped the charts in TaiKo cRazY!

This is Evan and Michael with terribly cute (and happily mangy) puppies in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. Bank's father owns a huge stretch of land upon which dozens of buffalo freely graze. There are also resident dogs... with resident puppies... with resident fleas?

Too cute.

Om nom nom

Okay, maybe I don't cook/bake when I'm stressed out. I usually do all that yummy productivity when I'm feeling good, accomplished or satisfied with X. (X... a variable I've grown an ambivalent relationship with ever since 10th grade calculus).I didn't make these, but look at how delicious they are! I believe both were filled with red bean ::drool:: These two guys were from a hotel restaurant in the Chinese district of Phnom Penh. I had the turtle :D

Strike of the Poo Bacteria II

There is nothing truer than my oh-so-sensitive stomach. If you can recall Filipino Poo Bacteria I, then I can assuredly introduce you to Thai Bacteria Dos. Now, whatever I reacted to in the Philippines was at the level of 'oh man, am I gonna die?!' status. Whatever I got in Thailand was much more manageable but terribly prolonged.

So when Mike and I made our way to Chatuchak weekend market, I thought I was prepared for a full day of shopping and eating and then, THE UNTHINKABLE.

yeah, those are coconuts in the background

and yeah, that's me on the gurney. hahah

Was it really that bad? Mike and I rushed to the nearest hospital, which actually wasn't the nearest hospital.. we kind of just pointed at the map and followed our noses. This is a shout out to Bangkok Christian Hospital: you guys are the bomb diggity. I'll save the itemized bill for my emergency visit for another post.

After a good hour and half in the hospital, where did we turn to next? Food, of course! You can't think some pesky bacteria will get in my way!

Ramen from the Central World food court.
Defeat? Never.

Me want!

Only in Bangkok...

is it even better..

Quotes of the day

"Ye bruh i gots the snizzle on yr toe tight shiz in the what."

"Ya u knw i dun smack all tht high no mor but itz all good bruh im all down wid jus smakin n chillum on tha thizz u kno"

Priceless. Alex, you are loved.

Sure, why not a third one?

While Mike and I were in Thailand, we met up with some friends from Los Angeles in Bangkok. We tried to hit up the most "happenin'" spots. So, of course, we brought Bank, Evan, and Jesse to where we were staying: the infamous Thanon Khao San. It's a huge tourist trap, teeming with vendors, late night partying, and crazy-touristy-ish-debacle-type-stuff... every single night of the week. After we brought the guys there, Bank thought it would be much better if we visited local haunts.

A Sky Train and subway ride later, we ended up at RCA. RCA, similar to Khao San, is a long stretch dotted with clubs, eateries, and other hip things that hip people do. We ended up at this club with live music, and the guys decided it would be great to order The Tower ::cue thunder::.

The drinking curfew is 1:00AM in Bangkok, and the fellas ordered it at 12:30AM. They had 30 minutes to finish three liters of beer in addition to the two beers each of them already had. Bank and I didn't drink; we just watched the beautiful agony.


Yay! Look at that glory!








And this gastric sobriety!


These pleasant memories perk up my day. =)

Also, if you're interested,

here's a pretty comprehensive and recent article on the 'model minority' stereotype:
"Getting real about the 'model minority'" by Carol Brydolf (CSBA)

Let's make this more snazzy, shall we?

A great friend of mine suggested that I add a little more political flare to my blog. Well, we'll just see about that!

Here are a few issues I've recently been most concerned with:
No on Proposition 4
No on Proposition 8

I can be moved to tears when discussing the above two. Watch out!

(According to the flickr caption) Pistahan 2008 at the Yerba Buena Garden in San Francisco

At the Magno Rubio performance last Friday, people were selling shirts with the same message. But, as I usually say, "I gotz no money!"

This is a less publicized issue, although I feel it is extremely critical for the future of adolescent health. Teen pregnancy prevention programs (MIP, TSO, I&P) have been completely cut from the updated California budget. I owe so much of my foundation in public, reproductive, and teen health to TeenSMART Outreach (TSO), and I know there have been hundreds- if not thousands- of youth who have benefited from this program. Must I repeat the adage?! Prevention is the best medicine, people! So, for the next couple of weeks, a lot of my energy will be invested in salvaging these statewide programs.

Stay tuned for more pontification. ^_^