Planning for Next Year

I am back and recovered from the trip. If you read this and you are interested in joining us for next year's trip please let me know. Right now the plan is to visit Singapore, Malaysia, Taman Negara, Cambodia (Ankor Wat), perhaps Saigon, Bangkok, and Phuket. As with the previous trip, it will be exciting and an opportunity to meet communication professionals working in Southeast Asia as well as to experience the culture and people of this rapidly developing and growing part of the world.

I have included a picture that was taken after the official trip was over. My family (Betty, Katie, Kelsey, and Lawson) joined me for two weeks after the student trip was over. One of our most memorable visits was to the Tiger Temple about 2.5 hours from Bangkok. Here is a link to their web site ( http://www.tigertemple.org/Eng/). We will most definitely make a visit on our next trip.

Back In Singapore

Flew today (Tuesday) from Phuket to Singapore on Tiger Airlines. A perfectly fine flight, plenty of room on flight. It departed 8:05 and arrived Singapore about 10:40 at new budget terminal. The only hitch I have found is that there is a 500 baht airport tax that no one tells you about and that the fuel surcharges are more than the ticket. Still it was about $70 one-way.

Picked up sinus infection and although I am informed that sinus infections are not contagious, I'm blaming Meg because she has one. I've already informed her that she's flunked the course because of this. Actually, I went to doctor because I was running a pretty high fever. Saw doctor and four prescriptions for 55 SD, a bargain I thought. So, if you think you picked this up you might want to check it out especially if you are running temp, but then when I get a sinus infection I get really bad ones. Oh, if this persists and you don't think you can get up you should go have a test for dengue fever. The doctor told me it's rampant in SEA and there's nothing you can do about it. There's no pills like for Malaria, but the good news is that it does go away unlike Malaria. Be careful out there. Who remembers the tv show that's from?

I saw a real cyclone as I was getting off the plane. You could see if off in the distance and I got a picture of it before it dissapated.

If your still in SEA, keep in touch. You can email me or post to your blog.

Phuket

Made it to Phuket from Bangkok today and located in beach side hotel. Pricey by Thai standards but not bad by US standards. It's definitely something to consider for future trips to SE Asia. Nok Air is fine. I will travel Tiger to Singapore on Tuesday. A bit of rest, some time on beach. Looking forward to arrival of family, I need a fix. Also, looking forward to return to USA and teaching my students, working on my house, and relaxing on my porch. Best to any who venture here to read.

Phuket is an island just barely off the southwest coast of Thailand almost on the Malaysian border. It is primarily a beach economy with several beaches and small islands all having beaches. On the mainland, Krabe also has beaches. It really is quite beautiful especially remembering that significant portions of Phuket were destroyed by the tsunami.

Ayuthaya

Well, the students are now all gone. I thought today and for the next few I would do a bit more planning for the next trip. So, this morning I took the train from Hua Lumpong Station to Ayuthaya (20 baht). No air con but this one was clean, no bugs, windows all opened, fans inside worked well, about 1:40 minute ride. Then quick walk to river for ferry (2 baht) then about a mile to Ayuthaya Historical Park.

Ayuthaya was begun by Thai kings in 1350 and was finally sacked and burned in about 174o. The ruins are simply amazing. I got too much sun but thoroughly enjoyed myself and I must have walked 6-8 miles. A quick dinner across the street from one of the Wats then a 55 baht ride back to Bangkok on an air con bus and a quick and fun motorcycle cab to Mo Chit Sky Train Station. Zooooooooooommmmm! Should I have told him to go slow?

Now I am pooped.

I have considered travelling to Chaing Mai. The floods have washed out some of the railroad tracks so the night train doesn't go all the way to Chaing Mai and the luxury bus is still 10 hours and gets there at 5 a.m. I may fly there tomorrow and then on to Phuket and then to Singapore. Can't wait for Betty, Katie, Kelsey, and Lawson to arrive as I miss them too much.
Pictures of Ayuthaya are below.

All the best to those still traveling in SE Asia. Be careful and have fun.

Visual Rhetoric

I have written elsewhere in this blog about the emotional response among Thai people to their king. Their fondness for the king is everywhere visible. On a walk through a park near Mo Chit station I took the bottom two pictures and the top one is from Siam Plaza in downtown Bangkok. Symbolically speaking the king is a visual manifestation of the Thai state. This is a central and very fundamental symbol that Thais support and which promotes a kind of national unity/identity.

In the bottom picture note the sweat dripping from the king's nose. This picture is reproduced everywhere it seems and conveys the connection of the king with his people. The king is noted for being in the streets among the people, caring for them as would a good monk. So, in this picture the king is portrayed close to the people, sharing their lives and frustrations and also the heat.

Bangkok University

Pictures: First, a group picture with the Dean (right) and a colleague of mine who teaches there (left) along with the students and I. Second, "freshies" at orientation. Juniors and seniors lead part of the session to create a sense of belonging in the program. All of these students are communication majors. Third, our group at the communication building. Fourth, our guides during our visit.

On Thursday we visited Bangkok University, a private school with a new campus not far from the airport in Bangkok. It's a beautiful campus and the School of Communication has a beautiful new building. There are 3,000 communication majors in the various programs. There are about 300 majors in the pr program.

We were treated royally with time for meetings with their Dean, Chair, students, and faculty. They provided a wonderful lunch where our students had an opportunity to talk with their undergraduates.

Later, I had a nice walk around the campus with one of the students and some further conversation with the chair of the pr program.

One of the things I learned is that pr is in its infancy in Thailand. It is still largely seen as a promotional/press agentry process. But with several pr programs in the Bangkok area the faculty are hoping to change perceptions about the role of public relations in an emerging Asian economy.

A Visit to Ogilvy Public Relations

This morning we visited Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, just a few minutes from where we are staying. Ogilvy has beautiful offices and is the largest of the firms in Bangkok. What I mean is that their revenue is the largest. They have numerous accounts including, Boeing, Thai government (BOI Board of Investment), Unilever, etc. They are a full service firm that includes advertising, marketing, and public relations.

Of particular interest was a discussion of the role of the king in Thailand. I could hear in the voice of our host the deep respect and affection for the king who lives simply and focuses on the needs of his people. Pictures of the king are everywhere and everyone knows his story and speaks with reverance. Here is a person of impeccible personal moral commitment to his nation. I wonder what it's like to live somewhere where the ethical record of at least one person is completely above reproach? Thaksin (the interim prime minister), however, is quite another story.

This afternoon we go to the ancient palace and tomorrow we go to Bangkok University.

Elephant Ride

As I mentioned in a previous post, Prattaya is kind of seedy and takes too long to get to, but the elephant farm is just fine. For 900 baht you get a one hour ride through a nice area on one of these plus a nice fruit plate and a cold wash rag after. If you go you'll know why the wash rag is such a big deal.

Reclining Budda

The reclining Budda in Wat Pho must be 100 feed long. The guide book says it's about 15 feet tall. It's so big it is hard to photograph. Budda is reclining and contemplating nirvanah, the place beyond death.

Wat Pho Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Pho is an ancient Thai-Buddist temple near the Chao Praya. The grounds are very large and it contains living space for 250 monks, a school, several temples, and the reclining Budda. Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand. The picture at the botton is our group be blessed by one of the reident monks.

Around Bangkok

Bangkok is divided by a river and much traffic of all sorts occurs via boat. You can get a 100 baht ticket for taxi traffic for the day which takes you to all the major attractions in central Bangkok. Notice the water hibiscus in the water. Apparently, the queen found this water plant on a trip to Indonesia many many many years ago. She brought it back for her gardens in the royal palace which is adjacent to the river. Well, now it is a nuisance as it has found its way into the Chao Praya and is clogging up river traffic.

The second picture is from the MBK food center. You buy tickets and for 100 baht ($2.85 USD) you can have a great dinner. The shopping here is unbelievable.

Weekend Market in Bangkok

This is the famed weekend market in Bangkok. Take the Skytrain to Mo Chit station and you step into the largest market I have ever seen! I goes on for blocks and contains everything and I mean everything: pets, clothes, shoes, jewelry, food, luggage, carvings and on and on. The vendor at the top is selling stir fried bugs. Yum!

A Fine Misery Photos

What you don't see is how hot everyone was. Only four windows opened and there wasn't much ventilation. Please read "A Fine Misery" entry for details.

Tuesday in Bangkok

Yesterday, I went with a group to Pattaya south of Bangkok in search of elephants and beach. The elephants were quite good and Amy, Christie, Katie, and I all enjoyed the elephant trek. The beach was C- and the town a bit seedy for my taste. Apparently, Pattaya was a R&R location for US troops during the Vietnam War. So you can imagine the kind of economy that has grown here. I didn't really know what a sexpat was until this trip. Also, it was an excessively long bus ride (lots of traffice and rough highways). I'm glad I went, but wouldn't choose to return.

Tomorrow we meet with Ogilvy Public Relations and on Thursday we meet at Bangkok University with my colleague Peeraya whom I met at IPRR in Miami back in March.

Yep, it's still hot!