what's going on?

and i say "hey hey hey, what's going on?" sang four-none blondes.

and i would ask the same thing... as if the global recession and natural disasters resulting from global warming are not enough comes swine flu, threatening to become another pandemic. of course, health authorities say that's it's still too early to predict if there's gonna be a massive, greater outbreak. they could be telling the truth, or they are just trying to make the world not to panic.

regardless, where does this take us? we used to only see this in the movies. but from time to time it happens in real life. only this time, they happening in frequent succession.

is doomsday nearing? is this the time to panic? who has answers to this problems? where are the real heroes when you need them? are we ready for this?

40 degrees and rising

one of my students told me today that temperature here has peaked at 40 degrees C. no wonder that the heat has become truly unbearable. feeling sticky all the time. some people are getting sick. i think im losing weight because all my adipose tissues are melting like wax. that's not really medically correct. i just feel like i've been losing a little weight this season.

on the brighter side, the mob has stopped. maybe for a while but at least it has stopped. i think so... i live outside of the metropolis. even during the holidays, the celebration in my sector went on. i went to suan siam (siam amusement park) with some friends during the festival and it was crowded. the streets were dotted with people throwing water at each other, at by passers, and on buses while celebrations in the main city were barricaded...

what im saying is, there's some sort of peace right now. will this nation be the same again? only time can tell... i dont understand politics very well. but i have observed long enough to know that when politics become ugly, the whole nation suffers. i left my country for the reason that politics has not truly improved over the years... power-hungry, riches-thirsty politicians. and the innocent citizens whose only desire is to live peacefully and comfortably suffer. but i cant be the judge. there's only one who can truly judge the intents of men, God.

peace on earth, goodwill to men... that's what im saying. ^^

black holiday

today is the start of the songkran festival here in thailand, celebrating the thai new year. but the celebration is not as festive as the previous ones. in fact this, i think, is the only songkran in thai history that is considered "black songkran" due to the ongoing protests gainst the leadership of the current prime minister.

sad. the major downtown area is closed. two days ago i went to the siam area, watched "slumdog millionaire." siam paragon, the newest luxury shopping complex in the area is suposed to hold a night-long concert of thailand's top rcording bands. i was lookinf forward to it. now it's aborted.

it's sad... what's been going on in this once peaceful nation. we can only pray that this too will pass... that God will make something good out of this turmoil.

happy when it rains...

it's a holiday today... and it's raining so hard outside. what a way to spend a holiday. it reminds me of alanis morissettes's song "ironic."

but truth is, there's always something about rain that makes me cheerful. maybe it reminds me of my childhood. or my life from where i came from i general. in my country we get a lot of rains. moonsoon rains, typhoons, and along with it, flood. when i was child or even when i was already an adult, i loved "bathing" in the rain. it was fun, very child-like, and subconsciuosly, it was like being one with nature. being free. floods are messy and annoying. but we always had many ways of having fun at home or out in the waters.

added to that, during heavy rains (flood or no flood)), classes were sometimes suspended. my peers would go straight to a moviehouse or to somebody's house.

there's only one thing i dont appreciate about rains in bangkok. traffic jam. it stars to rain, even lightly, and you get annoying traffic jams... and flooded streets. especially if you happen to be wearing office clothes.

come to think of it... it's only april and it's starting to rain. strange. could this be another effect of global warming?

along the winding road

the first quarter of the year has passed. welcome to the second quarter. times moves so freaking fast it makes my head spin... but life goes on and here are some things that keeps me hanging on...

1. currently busy with...
teaching conversation english at the university near where i live. and where i am also employed as a teacher for a government project in nonthaburi (a nearby province). it's fun... at least i get to teach adults, people you can interact with inside and outside the classroom. two of my students offered me a ride today... how cool is that?

2. currently listening to...
keane's "perfect symmetry" and snow patrols' "a hundred million stars". also to kala's "minute". (kala is a thai band. i bought the album late last year but havent really had the chance to listen to it closely until recently. and i like it. they're good.)

3. currently reading...
"clinical kinesiology" a physical and occupational therapy textbook. again, im such a geek...

4. looking forward to...
songkran festival. thai new year that falls on april 13-15 (but it would be a week-long holiday in my work!). if my best friend (in philippines) would come over, we will hit the road to cambodia and vietnam. if he doesnt, i'll probably go to malaysia.

also looking forward to seeing "x-men origins: wolverine." i've been an x-men freak for almost 15 years now... although i dont like the movie versions that much, it's just fun to see my favorite xmen characters come to life (in the silver screen, that is). special effects dude...

5. currently watching...
"supernatural" season 3 (for the second time). and next week i will start watching "heroes" season 3. i've already seen the first 8 episodes, actually. i just had to finish the complete 3rd season.

6. presently craving for...
shawarma or kebab. and grilled mutton (egyptian style) at the arab town on sukhumwit soi 3. and also an authentic daging rendang, a malaysian delicacy. now my mouth is drooling...

i've also been craving for some cinnamon bread... thick and creamy, which, for some reason, is hard to find in bangkok (or anywhere else in thailand).

7. what i've been dying to do again...
get to hit the gym again. and run... long distance running. and hiking. crap, i miss outdoor activities. in bangkok it's just malls and shopping and dining and traffic jam!

8. something im thankful for...
friends... i have a few wonderful friends that i can rely on in times of needs. (and even when i dont need them, they're there!) and my thai bestfriend (salman) is equally incredibly generous and supportive.

9. something that made me laugh...
cant remember, actually. i laugh a lot, that's for sure. i just dont remember the last time i really laughed out loud.

10. something that made me cry...
nothing in a long time. i just got teary eyed in one of the episodes of supernatural season 2 (which i've just finished watching for the 2nd time) because it reminded me of one person who i loved so deeply, then just vanished from my life. just like that... like it happened so freaking fast my life stopped for a moment.

11. current favorites...
sleeping, writing blogs, tv series on dvd, and enjoying the summer break.

12. one thing that i have been hoping for..
new direction. like, new job, new environment, new life... and a hot girlfriend. a chick so hot i would warp...

...........................................
have you stopped for a moment and thought of things that carry you thru life?
what are the things in you life right now that you are thankful for?
what's the one thing that you so desire to happen to you this year?