I don't want to sleep alone

A girl and a man are on the phone talking to each other. After the very long conversation, this is how it ends:

A man: I hate to sleep alone again tonight.

A girl: If you don't want to sleep alone, come and pick me up.

A man (paused with a shock): Hmmm...Serious? Hey, my phone is running out of money. Bye!

Phew!

My friends have been claimed!

This is going to be a busy and joyous year for some of my friends. Why? Because they are getting married!

Next week, Nong will be the first person among us (Singapore-educated people) to get married. Her wedding is my very first friend's wedding I will have attended. And guess what, I am her cameraman for the day. Of all people in the world, she has chosen me to take video and photo of her wedding. I am very honored indeed. (Please don't say 'that because I don't charge for the service, that's why she has chosen me'. I am good. Ok?)

Next, my former secondary school classmate, one of my closest friends, is getting married in my hometown, Seno, this March. He would kill me if I didn't go. Wow! I am important and special. :)

Next in the line it will be my house mate. At the moment, he still can't quite decide whom he should marry. Damn good-looking people. They can choose. Whoever he chooses to marry, I am invited to his wedding.

And before year end, two of my dear friends in Singapore are tying the knot. And of course I am going to be there.

Who's next? Need a cameraman, anyone?

Learning to love yourself?

Is that easy? Then teach me how.

I know it ain't healthy. But lately, I didn't like myself very much. It is scary. There are so many 'should have' popping up in my head. I should have achieved this. I should have done that. I should have had those. I should have been treated better by others...These things keep me awake at night. And I can't concentrate at work.

I hope this is not a mid-life crisis.

I need to go walking.

Lao Movie Update

"Sabaidee Luangprabang", the first feature film in Laos after few decades of Lao-made movies being absent from the country. Damn it! I was hoping that I would be the first Lao movie director making and selling a feature film overseas. But wait, this movie is being directed by a Thai director! Technically, it is not entirely and purely a Lao movie. Thus, I still could be the first Lao movie director who makes and sells a feature film overseas, including Hollywood. Don't mind me; I just like to entertain myself with this thought.

Anyway, 'Sabaidee Luangprabang' is co-produced by Lao Art Media and Thai companies, including Ananda EVERINGHAM after the companies not being able to afford to pay him to star in the movie.

The leading man and lady are Ananda Everingham, Lao-Australian actor, and Khamly Philavong, a resident of Xiengkhouang province, respectively. That's right, she lives in Xiengkhouang. And she is my driver's cousin. You see, if you are famous, everyone wants to be associated with you. I always tell other people when they ask about the movie, "You know, the actress is my driver's cousin and she lives right here in Xiengkhouang!?”

The initial plot: "The plot centres on a man of Lao and Australian parentage who visits his father’s former home town of Luang Prabang, where he is struck by the beautiful nature, culture and traditions.

During his travels, the young man meets and falls in love with a beautiful girl, who seems to him to embody the character and spirit representative of Lao women, which is different from those of the where country he grew up..."

Later the plot was changed to something like "....a man from Thailand is looking for his Thai girlfriend who is running away from him to Luangprabang. While he is in search of his girl, he falls in love with a Lao tour guide and her country, i.e Laos..." Ah! Very nice!

Read more about the movie here.

It's just another day in Xiengkhouang

Cold, cold, cold...

It's almost 9 am, but the whole town is still shrouded in mist. People driving or riding on the road have to keep their vehicle's lights on.

Odd Couples

See if it will work for a documentary.

What is considered 'odd' or ' normal'?

Is love not enough?

Isn't love supposed to be wonderful thing?

Is it wrong if I'm a man to love another man?

Is it wrong if I'm a prostitute to love someone and to be loved?

Is it wrong if I'm an old lady to love a young boy?

Is it strange/odd if I'm physically disabled to love someone and to be loved?

Is it strange/odd if I'm Chinese to love a Malay girl?

Is it wrong/strange/odd.....?


On the way home one day, I saw one of my acquaintance, working at the department where my project is situated, speaking to a girl. I asked my driver (not exactly my driver; he's a project driver but he picks me up in the morning and transports me home after work. Yeah, well, I like to call him my driver): "Is that girl his girlfriend".

"Not his girlfriend; she's his wife," he replied.

"His wife!?" I asked with a surprise. "Since when have they been married?"

"Hmmm..." he hesitated. "They are not married; they just live together. You know, a girl is a prostitute."

"Are you serious?" I asked with more surprises.

"Yup. Everyone in the department knows about it but has been told to keep the mouth shut," he continued. "And he has been kicked out of the department's house because of this. He's been ordered not to bring a girl anywhere near the office or he will be sacked."

"How could that happen, I mean, how did they get together?" I asked innocently.

"Well, he was first her regular client. I guess, he was impressed with her service and got hooked...But she has given up her 'career' since they have been together," he chuckled.

The following day I came to the office and asked his co-workers about this 'odd' affair. Apparently, they have been making fun of him and his wife. He doesn't seem to care very much. This guy is ready to give up everything just to be with this girl whom 'the right mind' person would think twice to be associated with. He knows he would not be given any promotion for his job. He knows his friends will pester him non-stop. He knows his family will shun him. He knows society will not accept this. Yet he chooses to follow his heart or for whatever reason. I, for one, respect him for that.

Isn't love not enough? Who should/should not have a right or be entitled/worth to love or to be loved?

I have two friends who are 'disabled' just got married last year. Their first child was just born last month.

If I make a documentary about 'odd couples' as mentioned above (man-man, an old woman-a young boy, a government officer-a prostitute...), you think it will be interesting?

I will make one anyway- when I have equipment and 'subjects', of course.

Laos is Indochina's next hot spot!

The 53 places to go in 2008. Laos is the top on the list. How cool!

The New York Times has named Laos as number one destination to visit in 2008.

Links

Come quick before this place is over-crowded by farangs!

Sex, Beer Lao, and Lottery

Socializing or mangling with acquaintances these days has been awkward and sometimes a pain in the neck. I call them 'acquaintances' because I will never feel connected to them as 'friends'. Every time I try to have conversation with them, it always goes like this:

Person A: You have to check out that whore (prostitute, sex worker, bitch or whatever you address them) at so and so. She is new here and hot. I can bring you there tonight or now (while we are having lunch).

Person B: Have you tried (f***ed) that girl? She has big tits. I've already slept with her few times. And every time, I did more than one. You should try.

Person C: Xai, you should not torture yourself, just go and make some donation (sperm and money) to those girls.

Person D: Xai, you don't dare to sleep with a prostitute, do you? Are you gay?

Person E: Blah blah blah...sex...blah blah blah...prostitute...

And what do they do when they gather, drinking Beer Lao. Apparently, not being able to drink is socially unacceptable. If you can't drink, your colleagues or so-called friends are not likely to invite you to join them. And sometimes they will think you are not man enough for not drinking beer. "Pepsi is so for a girl,'' they would say. I'm sick of trying to explain to them how badly my liver has been damaged by this alcohol and that I can't drink it. It rarely works. Can we have fun and good conversation without influence of alcohol? I'm sure we can.

The other thing that always occupies the conversation they have is lottery. Anything under the sun and in their dreams can be translated into numbers. I don't know how they do it.

My New Year's resolutions and plans for 2008

I can't remember what the old ones were. Anyway, as always, I like to make New Year's resolutions and plans. The following are my new 'New Year's Resolutions':

*Study IELTS for AusAid- I'm applying for Filmmaking course!

*Write a short-film script- about a Lao construction worker who falls in love with a Chinese masseuse but he can't speak a word of Chinese...Ah!

*Save money and visit friends in Singapore- see you all in Singapore in November!

*Help my sister to build her house

*Write more emails to my host family and old friends- I feel so bad for not keeping in touch with them.

*Consume less Pepsi, Coke, Beer Lao, Lao whisky...

*Exercise more- I have only one body; if I don't take care of it, no body will. And if I'm sick, I won't be able to do anything.

*Read more books-Thai, Lao and English books- I need to keep my brain stimulated.

*Keep updating my blog- I hate writing but I want to be good at it.

*Have my teeth whitened

*Go for injection- my liver needs to be well taken care of.

*Visit my family- at the end of the day, sisters and brothers are the ones who love and care for me the most.

*Make new friends-when you are old, it's hard to meet new friends-they are already paired up.

*Have my hair grown- I want to feel my head full of hair again.

*Finish my food-always think about those African kids who are starving.

*Learn to make my own t-shirt.

What are yours?

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