Last Week in Canada

Today's song is: Suzanne Takes you Down by Leonard Cohen .. another great Candian.

My last weekend in Canada is over. Tomorrow is Monday. Apparently the nightlife in Bangkok has taken a downtown and business is way down. August and September are typically the low tourist months in Thailand, however this year is worse, probably due to the bombing.

I decided to check the airfares and you can fly to Bangkok from Ottawa now for about $850 return with United, which is an Star Alliance partner so you get air miles which you can use to get to Florida next winter (if you can afford to go with low Canadian dollar!).

When the tourists disappear, the bar girls suffer, and if it goes on for a while they head back to the village to see their kids. That works out well for the mama-sans who don't have to pay them to dance to no one.  However, 3 bars were doing well, as they catered to Japanese who are always coming and going to Bangkok.

Thavorn has started the countdown to my arrival. Four more sleeps and I arrive at 6 am in Bangkok. Apparently Thavorn does not want to meet me at the airport. Can't understand why :-)  many a girl has seen me off and met me on arrival at BKK. It is a very common sight at the airport. Sometimes the lady even sheds a tear :-)

Apparently Nana Plaza is almost 80% Lady Boy now. To each his or her own. I find Katoeys fascinating to talk to but would never go with one. Their English is invariably good and they always seem to have a good sense of humor. Some of them are real stunners. Try not to get fooled.

My goodbye night at Big Rig is shaping up to be fun. It looks like there will be about 15 of my friends there to say goodbye for another year. Hopefully my two children will find the time to go.

My first day back I plan on taking a shower, having a jet-lag nap and heading down to Hillary 4 just outside Nana Plaza for some tourist watching to see what has changed. Of course Jaidan and Thavorn will come with me.

I have been a little remiss with my blog lately, but frankly, there is not much to write about in Canada. There is an election underway but so far, it is pretty boring and seems headed towards a coalition minority government. In my opinion, you might as well give the young man (Trudeau) a chance, just for something different.

If anyone out there has a solution for the migrant/refugee explosion in Europe I would be happy to hear it. If Germany thinks they can absorb a million of them I suggest they talk to Sweden who is a few years ahead of them.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/swedens-ugly-immigration-problem/article26338254/

TTYL

Weather

Today's song is: Hot Time, Summer in the City - not the Lovin Spoonful (original artists), Not Joe Cocker, but the Eels, 2010 in Melbourne 2010

and the original version, 1996

The weather in Ottawa during my month visit has been wonderful. Matter of fact, I could have been in Bangkok. Many people think Bangkok is too hot. It is interesting to compare the last week in both cities.

http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/canada/ottawa/historic 

http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/thailand/bangkok/historic

As you can see, there is little difference between the 2 cities. However I found most Ottawans were complaining about how hot and humid it was whereas I was quite comfortable.

Last year my visit was 3 weeks and this year it is 4 weeks. I find myself in the wonderful position of having 6 days left with nothing that has to be done. Time for a bit of reflection over a glass or two of red wine.

So what have I observed over the past weeks. Canada is definitely a multicultural country. I am not sure whether that is good or bad, but it seems to work. I find that Canadians are as polite and courteous as ever and I am always pleasantly surprised when a car stops and waves me across the street, which is 99% of the time. Very different than Asia where cars rule and pedestrians suck.

There is way more fun to be had in Thailand than Canada and Thai women have the best welcoming smiles that I have ever seen. Once the Thai men get used to you they too flash you a beautiful smile, but you have to earn it. I have slowly got to know a few motorcycle and taxi drivers that I try to chat with. I also know a few food cart cooks, bar tenders and an ex police officer. I would like to know more but language is a barrier.

So most Thais I know are pretty bar girls or ex bar girls and that is not such a bad thing. My other source of conversation are the many foreign tourists and expats living in Thailand. They all have a story to tell and I am more than willing to listen. Many of them would enjoy their Thai experience more if they too were willing to listen. For example, you really do not want to ride an elephant for an hour. If you don't believe me, go for it. Boring!!!!

I am looking forward to being back in the City of Angels (or was that angles). My friend Shaun will hopefully arrive on September 29th for a week on the far side. Should be fun :-)

TTYL

Documentary

This is a decent documentary worth watching if you have 48 minutes to spare. Pretty accurate.

Political Correctness

Today's song is: One Night in Bangkok  ... used before but different version

My personal favorite ...  some Thai girls having fun dancing ... they love to dance!

One reason I love Thailand so much is that Political Correctness has not yet made inroads into Thai society. They call it as they see it.

I came across this interesting comment on PC in Sports and added a bit to it. It is a good read.  In case you are a Thai reader beaver = pussy in farang land.

I think all sports fans will get a kick out of this letter written to the Chicago Tribune.... 
No matter which side you are on in the matter of renaming the Washington Redskins, this  is funny. This guy is hilarious…; 

Here is an e-mail sent to Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune after an article he  published concerning a name change for the Washington Redskins. 
                              -------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Page: I agree with our Native American population. I am highly insulted by the racially charged name of the Washington Redskins. One might argue that to name a professional football team after Native Americans would exalt them as  fine warriors, but nay, nay. We must be careful not to offend, and in  the spirit of political correctness and courtesy, we must move forward.
  
Let's ditch the Kansas City Chiefs, the Atlanta   Braves and the Cleveland Indians.  If your shorts are in a wad because of the reference the name Redskins makes  to skin color, then we need to get rid of the Cleveland Browns.
   
The Carolina Panthers obviously were named to keep the memory of militant Blacks from the 60's alive. Gone. It's offensive to us white folk. 
   
The New York Yankees offend the Southern population. Do you see a team named for  the Confederacy?  No!  There is no room for any reference to that tragic war that  cost this country so many young men's lives. 
   
I am also offended by the blatant references to the Catholic religion among our sports team names.  Totally inappropriate to have the New Orleans Saints, the Los  Angeles Angels or the San Diego Padres. 
    
Then there are the team names that glorify criminals who raped and pillaged. We are talking about the horrible Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Pirates! 

Now, let us address those teams that clearly send the wrong message to our children.  The San Diego Chargers promote irresponsible fighting or even spending habits.   Wrong message to our children. 
   
The New York Giants and the San Francisco Giants promote obesity, a growing childhood epidemic. Wrong message to our children.
   
The Cincinnati Reds promote downers/barbiturates. Wrong message to our children. 
   
The Milwaukee Brewers. Well that goes without saying. Wrong message to our children.

Added by Jim:

I would think the Edmonton Eskimos should be come the Edmonton Indigenous Peoples or perhaps the Edmonton Inuit.

The Montreal Canadiens should be the Montreal Multicultural Peoples.

The Toronto Blue Jays should be the Toronto Jays, or better yet, Birds as to not offend grey jays or crows, or other birds.

The Syracuse Orangment should perhaps be better named teh Syracuse Orange People not to offend the feminists. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
   
So, there you go.  We need to support any legislation that comes out to rectify this travesty, because the government will likely become involved with this issue, as they should.  Just the kind of thing the do-nothing  Congress or Parliament loves.. 
   
As a die hard Oregon State fan, my wife and I, with all of this in mind, suggest it might also make some sense to change the name of the Oregon State women's athletic teams to something other than "the Beavers  (especially when they play Southern California . Do we really want the Trojans sticking it to the Beavers???) 


  I always love your articles and I generally agree with them.  As for the Redskins name I would suggest they change the name to the “Foreskins” to better represent their community, paying tribute to the dick heads in Congress.

Friends

Today's song is: That's What Friends are for by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight

I am planning a get together at Big Rig in the Pinecrest Mall at 7 pm on Tuesday, September the 15th, my last night in Canada. I have sent out an eMail invite and I hope you can all make it.

I have made contact with many long lost friends during this trip. Everyone from basketball coaching buddies, to basketball parents and fellow bouncers from the Carleton pub. Many great trips down memory lane.

My only friend regret is that most of them are not adventuresome enough to travel halfway around the world to visit me.

I am seriously considering become a reverse snowbird by living in a Class C Motor home during the 5 summer months in Canada and then living the remaining 7 months of the year in a condo in Thailand. This would enable me to maintain my OHIP and RTO and introduce Jaidan and eventually Thavorn to Canada.

So if anyone is interested in borrowing a RV Home during the winter months I will have one available starting in the late fall of 2016 is things go well or 2017 if the visa's do not go well.

Sitting down with friends you have not seen for a long time is a great way to review where you have been and helps confirm your plans for the future.

Thavorn and Jaidan seem to be surviving quite well without me. I am halfway into my visit and they are doing well.

TTYL

Back to School

Today's song is: We Don't Need no Education by Roger Waters - Old Fart Edition Live

It is everywhere, back to schools sales, promotions, and newspaper articles. To an ex teacher it is music to my ears. Parents also rejoice at back to school, as once again, someone else is tasked with their entertainment and maintenance.

It is sad that schools have been affected by the politically correct leanings of the day. Gone are the: 'Red Rover, red rover, we call Jimmy over' and 2 up wrestling. Boys are not permitted to make contact in the schoolyard so no tackle football in the fall. Bullying now goes underground via text messages, Facebook postings, and comments uttered just barely audible to the bullied.

It is no wonder that boys no longer excel in schools. One just has to look at the gender stats for university enrollment to see the results of our current system. In many universities they are approaching 70% female enrollment. I like to point out there are 2 conclusions that one can reach about this gender gap at university. Either we males are dumb fucks, or we are being discriminated in the school system. You decide.

My son managed to get to grade 6 before he had a male teacher. He thought he died and gone to heaven. Thank you Glen, for making grade 6 the best year of Jordan's K-6 experience. I would think male role models would be important during the formative years but today's educators don't seem to get that.

Enough of the education rant and onto the weather. I was expecting to get some relief from Bangkok's heat but yesterday the temperature topped 30 degrees for the first day of September. What gives? Maybe there is something to this global warming stuff. Hopefully it will cool down during the next 2 weeks before I head back to Bangkok.

Today is a work day as Brent and I visit the public board of education. I must remember to be at my best PC :-) and not tilt at windmills.

TTYL

Friends

Today's song is: by Nickleback ... How you Remind Me. Only fitting to have a Canadian Band while I am in Canada.

Although I am enjoying Seeing Old friends and Family Miss Thavorn and Jaidan I do. I Video chat with them via LINE and they seem to be surviving quite Nicely Without me.I am toying with the Idea of spending the Summer months in Canada and the Winter. months in Thailand. I have always liked the outdoors and I could purchase a Class C motor home for the summer months in Canada and then rent for 7 months in Thailand. This kind of the opposite of what most snowbirds do as they use their motor homes in the wintertime.

However, I will not make that decision for at least a year as. quite content doing what I currently do, spending most of my time in Thailand.

I am having dinner with an old friend at 6:15 today and then tomorrow (Wednesday) I am at the public board and then Thursday I am having lunch with an old friend from Carleton University who used to work as a bouncer with me.

In between, I am programming for my company so I am quite busy.

On my way to dinner tonight I will stop and shop at the Guest warehouse outlet. My Russian friend is now a Guess model so she is on her way to a successful modelling career. I knew it was only a matter of time until someone discovered her.

I try to stay in touch with. overly fond of Facebook and its self-aggrandizing model of staying in touch. After all, what is a friend? Certainly no one has hundreds of friends, mostly passing acquaintances. Ditto for Linked-In.

At sometime I really should consider writing a book on the bar girls of Thailand as most books on the subject were written by jaded punters. They all have a story to tell and no one is telling it. It is a fascinating subculture.

The weird news of the day is the Thai police offered a reward for information related to the capture of the Bangkok bomber and then apparently they think they have found him themselves, so they are claiming the reward. Only Thai logic could make sense of that!

TTYL