We are now in the midst of Thai summer. It is pretty warm out. Yesterday it was over 101 degrees Fahrenheit in the city.
As a result of the heat, I find myself sweating what can only be described as profusely. When the kids are in school, I tend to stay in the comforts of my air conditioned room. Still, being in the heat doesn't bother me as much as I might have thought it would. I think having short hair and dressing in shorts helps.
Jacob holds up to the heat very well. I see him playing a game in the living room, and I ask him if he is hot and wants me to turn on the AC. "No, I'm fine" he says as the sweat pours off my brow.
Speaking of the kids, they started back to school today. I'm not sure that they were exactly looking forward to it, but I think they had an okay time.
After six years here in Thailand, we moved back to the U.S. Instead of returning to Ohio, we settled into California.
Showing posts with label Vogel Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vogel Family. Show all posts
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Teak Palace
Today we visited the teak palace. I've been there before, and remembered that it was very nice. What I didn't remember is that you cannot take pictures in or outside the palace itself. Apparently its a respect thing.
Frankly, it really pissed me off and put me in an extremely foul mood. While Tim and the kids visited the different buildings, I waited outside. When they ate lunch at the restaurant on the grounds, I sat and watched.
When I was going through security to the teak palace itself, the female guard saw the bulge in my pocket from the keys. Instead of asking me to empty my pocket, she reach over and grabbed "suspicious" bulge. I was going to ask her if needed a special ticket for that kind of service, but with Tim and the kids there, I refrained. I can't imagine someone doing that in the U.S.
I could understand not letting you take pictures, particularly flash pictures inside the palace. They wouldn't let you take them of the outside of the teak palace. They wouldn't even let you take a cell phone inside lest you sneak a picture. Of course, I saw one guy on the phone in front of the guards for about 30 minutes, and another woman taking pictures.
While I would recommend people to see it if they visit Thailand, they will do it without me around because I'll never go back. I think I am going to delete the few pictures I took in the areas that you were permitted.
Frankly, it really pissed me off and put me in an extremely foul mood. While Tim and the kids visited the different buildings, I waited outside. When they ate lunch at the restaurant on the grounds, I sat and watched.
When I was going through security to the teak palace itself, the female guard saw the bulge in my pocket from the keys. Instead of asking me to empty my pocket, she reach over and grabbed "suspicious" bulge. I was going to ask her if needed a special ticket for that kind of service, but with Tim and the kids there, I refrained. I can't imagine someone doing that in the U.S.
I could understand not letting you take pictures, particularly flash pictures inside the palace. They wouldn't let you take them of the outside of the teak palace. They wouldn't even let you take a cell phone inside lest you sneak a picture. Of course, I saw one guy on the phone in front of the guards for about 30 minutes, and another woman taking pictures.
While I would recommend people to see it if they visit Thailand, they will do it without me around because I'll never go back. I think I am going to delete the few pictures I took in the areas that you were permitted.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Horray for Hollywood!
I took the kids to see the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie this afternoon. If you are looking for ground breaking cinema with a riveting plot or a dynamic action thriller, this isn't your film. Still, it wasn't bad, and the kids really enjoyed it. The movie was in English, with Thai subtitles.
Seeing a movie in Thailand is a bit different than in the states. In some ways, its more like attending a sporting event than a movie in the states .
It all starts with buying your tickets. In the States, movie theaters generally operate on a festival seating, or first come, first served model. You buy a ticket and go find a seat. Here in Thailand, you purchase a ticket for a particular seat. There is a computer screen that shows what seats are available, and you tell the cashier (or in my case point to) the seats you wish to purchase. There are a few tiers of seat prices, with the choice seats costing more than the seats in the first few rows. Of course, like Americans at a sparsely attended baseball game, some Thais buy "cheap" seats and make their way to more choice ones.
Before the start of the movie, the theaters show a video tribute to the King. Everyone stands up to show their respect, while the video and music play. Its very much akin to the playing of the National Anthem in the States at sporting events. Of course, its not a live performance, and even if it were, no Thai would disgrace himself or herself as did our very dear American role model, Rosanne Barr.
Another difference is the selection of movies. A 16 screen cineplex might have ten to fifteen different movies playing at once in the States. Here, there may only be two or three, with each playing on four or five screens.
The snack selection is pretty similar here, with popcorn and soft drinks holding places of high prominence in the snack display. The portions are a bit smaller, although the prices are smaller still.
The movie prices are less than in the states, plus their policy on children is very forgiving. I paid for tickets for Jacob, Cat (the nanny) and myself, while Aleena and Nalin were free. So the five of us attended the move for about $15 U.S., plus $1.50 for a large (U.S. medium) caramel popcorn.
The seats, sound and video quality were all quite good. The only real complaint that I have about the movie theaters here are the previews.
We've taken the kids to see three different movies here in Thailand; Bees, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and a Japanese cartoon for kids. At every one, they played the preview for Alien versus Predator II. Its certainly not the scariest preview that I've ever seen, but it is a bit intense for kids. It scares Aleena, Jacob and Nalin. Jacob recognized the preview when it started and turned his head, while Aleena buried her head in my chest. I understand that there are adults in the theater who might be interested in seeing that movie, I might even. The movies we attended, however, were aimed largely at kids. I just don't think they should scare the crap out of little kids by showing previews of a violent rated R movie before a G rated film. If I had taken the kids to see a PG-13 movie, I might understand, but I think the preview was not appropriate. Of course, the ratings to which I refer are U.S. ratings, if there are Thai equivalents, I cannot read them.
Seeing a movie in Thailand is a bit different than in the states. In some ways, its more like attending a sporting event than a movie in the states .
It all starts with buying your tickets. In the States, movie theaters generally operate on a festival seating, or first come, first served model. You buy a ticket and go find a seat. Here in Thailand, you purchase a ticket for a particular seat. There is a computer screen that shows what seats are available, and you tell the cashier (or in my case point to) the seats you wish to purchase. There are a few tiers of seat prices, with the choice seats costing more than the seats in the first few rows. Of course, like Americans at a sparsely attended baseball game, some Thais buy "cheap" seats and make their way to more choice ones.
Before the start of the movie, the theaters show a video tribute to the King. Everyone stands up to show their respect, while the video and music play. Its very much akin to the playing of the National Anthem in the States at sporting events. Of course, its not a live performance, and even if it were, no Thai would disgrace himself or herself as did our very dear American role model, Rosanne Barr.
Another difference is the selection of movies. A 16 screen cineplex might have ten to fifteen different movies playing at once in the States. Here, there may only be two or three, with each playing on four or five screens.
The snack selection is pretty similar here, with popcorn and soft drinks holding places of high prominence in the snack display. The portions are a bit smaller, although the prices are smaller still.
The movie prices are less than in the states, plus their policy on children is very forgiving. I paid for tickets for Jacob, Cat (the nanny) and myself, while Aleena and Nalin were free. So the five of us attended the move for about $15 U.S., plus $1.50 for a large (U.S. medium) caramel popcorn.
The seats, sound and video quality were all quite good. The only real complaint that I have about the movie theaters here are the previews.
We've taken the kids to see three different movies here in Thailand; Bees, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and a Japanese cartoon for kids. At every one, they played the preview for Alien versus Predator II. Its certainly not the scariest preview that I've ever seen, but it is a bit intense for kids. It scares Aleena, Jacob and Nalin. Jacob recognized the preview when it started and turned his head, while Aleena buried her head in my chest. I understand that there are adults in the theater who might be interested in seeing that movie, I might even. The movies we attended, however, were aimed largely at kids. I just don't think they should scare the crap out of little kids by showing previews of a violent rated R movie before a G rated film. If I had taken the kids to see a PG-13 movie, I might understand, but I think the preview was not appropriate. Of course, the ratings to which I refer are U.S. ratings, if there are Thai equivalents, I cannot read them.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Travel's of Paul
I know a lot of my blog is about my adventures in Thailand, but I also want to share some other stories that I think are interesting from other parts of my life.
Prior to my junior year of high school, I attended the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership seminar for Kentucky students. It was a 3 or so day enrichment program that was a lot of fun.
One of the speakers was a member of the Kentucky State legislature. When he spoke, he opened his remarks with a story. Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name, and I am far from certain that he is the origin of this story. In any case, its one I enjoy very much, so I will repeat the story he told as best I remember it.
During my last semester at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, I had a huge course load. I had eighteen hours of high level courses in my major, and needed another three credit hours to graduate. I decided to enroll in New Testament Studies. The reason for my choice was that this was widely regarded as the easiest class in school. The entire course grade was determine by the final exam. Every year, without fail, the final exam question was a single question asking the examinee to discuss the travels of the prophet Paul.
I devoted myself the entire semester to the classes in my major. I only attended the New Testament class on the first day to get the syllabus and find out the day of the final exam.
A week before the exam in my New Testament class, I threw myself into studying the life and travels of Paul. By the morning of the exam, I knew Paul's travels almost as well as did he.
As I sat for the exam, I was extremely confident. The professor passed out the exam books. As it I turned the exam over, it was as I expected, a single question. I read it to myself, "Critically discuss the Sermon on the Mount."
Now not only did I receive an "A" on the exam, but they framed and hung my exam in the sacred halls of Xavier. Here is the first sentence of my response:
Let those who will criticise the world of the Lord, I shall discuss the travels of Paul.
Even after twenty plus years, that story makes me smile.
Prior to my junior year of high school, I attended the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership seminar for Kentucky students. It was a 3 or so day enrichment program that was a lot of fun.
One of the speakers was a member of the Kentucky State legislature. When he spoke, he opened his remarks with a story. Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name, and I am far from certain that he is the origin of this story. In any case, its one I enjoy very much, so I will repeat the story he told as best I remember it.
During my last semester at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, I had a huge course load. I had eighteen hours of high level courses in my major, and needed another three credit hours to graduate. I decided to enroll in New Testament Studies. The reason for my choice was that this was widely regarded as the easiest class in school. The entire course grade was determine by the final exam. Every year, without fail, the final exam question was a single question asking the examinee to discuss the travels of the prophet Paul.
I devoted myself the entire semester to the classes in my major. I only attended the New Testament class on the first day to get the syllabus and find out the day of the final exam.
A week before the exam in my New Testament class, I threw myself into studying the life and travels of Paul. By the morning of the exam, I knew Paul's travels almost as well as did he.
As I sat for the exam, I was extremely confident. The professor passed out the exam books. As it I turned the exam over, it was as I expected, a single question. I read it to myself, "Critically discuss the Sermon on the Mount."
Now not only did I receive an "A" on the exam, but they framed and hung my exam in the sacred halls of Xavier. Here is the first sentence of my response:
Let those who will criticise the world of the Lord, I shall discuss the travels of Paul.
Even after twenty plus years, that story makes me smile.
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