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.