Top Trips of 2008

As I mentioned two posts ago, one of my top inspirations is definitely traveling. Hay, what would I be without my obsessive planning for the next trip, di ba? 2008 saw me planning - and implementing - many of them, and I could not be more than thrilled.

It has been a generally satisfying year travel-wise. Again, I paid attention to diversity, which meant that I mixed a few locations and themes (talagang themes no?), i.e. beaches, mountains, heritage sites.

So today, I end my "best list" with my top trips for 2008. (Click on the links for the posts about these trips.)

Second runner-up: Phang Nga - Phuket - Krabi (March 2008)

I like this trip because it was one of my first ventures on traveling without a fixed schedule. It was also the first time I traveled with Bubbles and he convinced me to just hop on a bus and give way to spontaneity. In the end, we covered a lot of must-see places in the south of Thailand.

First runner-up: Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng (August and September 2008)

I took this trip with Fuchsiaboy and the Czarina of Cavite (not Penang anymore) and you know how freaking gay Laos was because of our presence. Now I've lost count of exactly how many leaping shots we took during that one-week trip. And how about the consequent uproar (uproar kung uproar ito ning!) we made on gay blogdom? Fierceness!!!

And the winner is...

Vietnam
(April and May 2008)

Vietnam certainly is special. Such a wide variety of things to experience. Its natural wonders and man-made heritage all took my breath away. And picking up bits and pieces of history along the way, I have a deep admiration for what the Vietnamese have achieved, from its tenacious fight for independence to its ascent as an economic powerhouse.

And who can resist sitting in a coffee shop in Hanoi, sipping amazing Vietnamese coffee, and watching gazillions of motorbikes speed by? Obviously I fell in love with Hanoi and will surely find my self back there soon.

Besides Hanoi, for two weeks I traversed through the northern and central part of Vietnam. I traveled alone and it could not have been any better. See the separate segments of that trip here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

So there, those are my top three trips this year and hopefully I can spread more campiness in 2009... definitely crossing my fingers to see Indonesia and India next year. Anybody wants to come with me?

Christmas in the Island

Koh Samet is an island off the coast of eastern Thailand, roughly three hours by bus from BKK and another ten-minute speed boat ride. The usual traveling divas from Las Islas Filipinas - Bubbles, Liwayway, and moi - together with a Singapore-based Pinay bayot, spent Christmas there.

We spent most of our time lounging on the white-sand coves, eating roasted chicken hawked on the beach, and getting drunk in the evening. Haggard talaga the bakasyon that was; we were laseng night after night after night.

Christmas eve we had dinner on the beach while watching the "fire men"... I really don't know how to call them either. The band at the restaurant is from the Philippines no less. As in Butuan City, which is like only a couple of hours from Surigao. Winner di ba?

On our second day we walked the entire length of the island. We ended up at the southern tip of the island where we kayaked. Our third day was spent on the beach, getting a tan. I did not get the kind of tan I wanted, perhaps because I put too much sun block. Le sigh.

I love Koh Freaking Samet! It's so close to BKK and I'm sure I'm going back there more often.

Top Inspirations of 2008

What makes me want to wake up in the morning?

Here are my top inspirations for 2008.

Second runner-up: Traveling

I have to have something to look forward to... and no other thing excites me more than counting the days for my next trip. The process of planning the trip is a major undertaking on its own. Goodness, you have no idea how I plan my trips (although that's changing a bit now).

I'm not even sure if I really enjoy the trip as much as I enjoy planning them. And when one trip is over, dahling, I'm immediately planning one.

First runner-up: Blogging

Awww... my diva of a baby has grown into an even more superficial, slutty, bitchy lady... and I couldn't be more proud. Despite its puerile and rushed writing, I actually put a lot of thinking into how the blog is shaped. I think of consistency of voice and variety - and balance - of topics. And I do plan what to write and how to write them to achieve all those.

Lately the blog has evolved to become more reader-oriented, and a tad too cautious, which is not bad at all. But then I'm considering of bringing it back to a more personal, honest, and introspective direction in 2009. I just feel that the blog has to represent all my sides. It might alienate some readers (I don't like most "personal blogs" either), but let's see how that goes.

And the winner is...

BangCock

Ahhh... to wake up every morning to the buzz of tuk-tuks outside my window, to the view of the Rama VIII bridge spanning the nearby Chao Phraya, and to see the spires of the temple piercing the early morning sky... all that makes me feel home.

There are many things to dislike of this crazy city but the reasons to love it far outweigh the former. Living here for the past sixteen months made me feel pretty settled and familiar to its quirks and charms. I know the city and I have big romance going on. But still the discovery never ends. With the excitement of unraveling it even more, BangCock is my top inspiration for 2008.

***

P.S. The Pinay bitches are heading off to the beach tomorrow early morning. We spend Christmas with sand, sea, and... sun. We come back to BKK this weekend.

Happy holidays, bitches!

Top Dance Tracks of 2008

I did have my fair share of clubbing this year and there were some songs that just pushed me to move, uhm... gayer than usual. And no, I'm not talking about the freaking Dream Girls remixes. Ugh, they make my ears bleed! Puhlease.

Today, I pick my top dance tracks of the year.

So what is my criteria exactly? Hmmm... nothing. Whatever connects with me, whatever makes me want to close my eyes in the middle of the dance floor and be lifted by it. The list is biased towards the pop remix, as you can tell. I simply like the tracks that I can sing to, eh ano ngayon?

But before we proceed, I just want to share this particular remix of Pussycat Dolls' I Hate This Part, which I hope would be big in 2009. I hardly like anything from them, but I like the singing here. And I have a strong feeling that gay men would like it.

So here are my top picks. Just press play, bitches.

Second runner-up: Please Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna

First runner-up: Say It Right by Nelly Furtado

And the winner is...

Just Dance
by Lady Gaga

I swear, nakaka-gaga si Lady Gaga. Bading na bading, di ba?

Performance Level

We put aside the "Top of 2008" list for now and make way for the obligatory weekend update. Obligatory talaga di ba? Charrrrriiiing!

Anyhoot, I had a wonderful Saturday with the vivacious Maggie Q who is visiting BangCock from Saigon. We started at Khao San Road where we scoured the second-hand bookshops. Since I am on a self-imposed book moratorium, I had to hold my self from snagging anything from the shelf. Pleae congratulate me for my legendary self-restraint, bitches.

We then had some Beer Lao in one of those crowded drinking places. Oh, maybe crowded is not the right term to describe the scene in Khao San coz there was hardly any crowd to speak of during this supposed peak season. That's quite sad really.

Inspired by those inked folks streaming all over Khao San, Maggie Q and I talked about getting a tattoo, which I have been planning (make that obsessing) for months now. I already know where I'd place the tattoo but honestly I only have a vague idea of the design. I have to decide on it soon coz I'm DEFINITELY getting it this January. (More on this tattoo thing next time.)

Apres we finished our beer, we took the boat from Phra Arthit and cruised towards Saphan Thaksin. The boat ride was relaxing as always.

We then found ourselves in Lumphini Park for the Bangkok International Street Show. I did not expect the crowd to be that big, ha. Those little creatures, popularly known as kids, were all over the place. Ugh!

A dozen or so stations were set up all over the park where the performers entertain the crowds. I saw a mime and a juggler. The juggler from New Zealand kept on dropping his balls and batons though. Ooops, I made that sound so naughty, no?

My favorite was Hanger Man, who I think is Japanese. He mostly does balancing acts and a few juggling here and there. He is quite a crowd-pleaser not only with his antics but with his energetic personality too. He charmed the local crowd quite well with his Thai phrases spoken in a rigid Japanese accent.

From Lumphini Park, Maggie Q and I strutted our pretty asses to Central Chitlom to catch this French troupe, Les Passagers, dancing on a canvas wall. The event attracted quite a large crowd and it started with a sleep-inducing group called Blue Men (sounds pornish, no?) pounding on drums.

Mixing acrobatics and dance, and with the help of meters and meters of cables and ropes, Les Passagers entertained the crowd with mid-air routines.

I especially took note of the Dries-Van-Noten-ish and Calvin-Klein-ish costumes of the performers. The music was likewise enthralling. The troupe started painting on the canvas and by the time the show ended a giant holiday card was right before our eyes.

The performance was a bit lackluster, to be honest, although I don't undermine how difficult it could have been to mount such a show. I was expecting, however, for a more dynamic and energetic performance.

So to cap the day, we agreed to go dancing at Soi 2. Bubbles joined us as well. Oh, so it has been ages since the last time I went clubbing. The music, I'm happy to note, had considerably changed from months ago. As usual, the place is packed. I loved staying on the first floor where there was hardly any dancing surface available and one has to use all your strength to jostle (make that wrestle) with them gorgeous boys.

But where are the familiar faces? I'm quite surprised that the usual suspects were not present. Anyway, who cares?

The point is... I had one swell of a Saturday, thanks to Maggie Q. I have one thing to say... pout!

Top Models of 2008

This nearly gave me a heart attack, I swear. Until I had to make this list, I didn't realize how difficult the task would be with soooo many stunning models nowadays.

I could actually have twenty girls on this list and even that is not enough to accommodate every fierce model I admire. They are just so different from each other and the diversity of looks and attitudes is simply sensational.

So when I was making the list in my head I was totally overwhelmed with the idea that I have to limit the list to three. I sort of came up with a criteria but I reckoned, well, just put in the top three models who INSPIRE you.

The three girls below are those who take my breath away when I see them on the runway. These are the girls who stop me in my tracks when I see them on a magazine cover. These are the girls who would make me drool when I check them on a fashion editorial.

In short, these three define FIERCENESS.

Second runner-up: Anja Rubik (Poland)

Anja debuted in the runway for F/F 2000 and had since conquered the fashion world with her easy confidence and had grabbed advertising contracts from Emanuel Ungaro and Armani. In 2007 she signed a fragrance deal with Estee Lauder Beautiful face for Chloe.

Her most remarkable move to date was cutting her hair short in 2007 that sent shock waves in the industry and catapulted her to supermodel-dom. She was the cover of V magazine in September 2008. Her official website is found here.

First runner-up: Natasha Poly (Russia)

Natasha is definitely the most sought-after catwalker right now, having reigned the runways since her debut in S/S 2003 in Paris. The following season, she walked 54 shows in all the fashion capitals in the world. Five years later, Natasha continues to stomp the runways, opening and closing the most prestigious shows.

In March 2007 she was on the cover of French Vogue and had her fifth French Vogue cover in September 2007, perhaps making her the envy of every model who knows how coveted that prestige is.

And the winner is...

Lara Stone
(The Netherlands)

Gawdness, Lara, Lara, Lara of my dreams.

This girl came out of nowhere, for my list at least. When I first saw her I noticed the gap in her front teeth, her big boobs and curvy hips (as opposed to the majority of rail thin models), and her wobbly walk on the runways. I detested her.

But then she is the girl who grew on me. I started noticing her on the fashion editorials mostly partially clothed and even totally unclothed. She eventually came to be known as the least clothed model around. But that's Lara for you.

She had her debut at the fall Givenchy couture show in Paris in January of 2006. The following year, Carine Roitfeld supposedly said about Lara, "Sometimes a girl just touches you". And yeah, we can tell that she is Carine's fave having first appeared on the cover of French Vogue in May 2004 and had since then landed on the cover of the same magazine four more times (I think).

Some of the campaigns she bagged include Calvin Klein Make-up, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein, DKNY Jeans, and five consecutive seasons for Givenchy.

Lara is my top model for 2008 because she goes against the grain of how a typical model should look like. Also, she is very daring and dark at the same time, and has that lusty, moody rage that surfaces really well on the fashion editorials. For her irreverence, Lara is an inspiration to me.

Top Books of 2008

I'm quite pleased to report that 2008 had been a relatively diverse year for me in terms of my reading life.

Whereas in the previous years I mainly concentrated on novels and an occasional non-fiction, I expanded my "repertoire" to cover more of the latter. 2008 saw me dipping my fingers into history, economics, and religion. I seriously made it a point to alternate between fiction and non-fiction.

Nonetheless, I fear that I'm not reading enough and I'm thus committing to finishing at least one book a week, which is not exactly that demanding (if only I can pull my self away from the internet on most evenings).

Having said that, here's my list of my favorite books that I read in 2008. Again, the books do not have to be published this year. Certainly I would likewise recommend that you check them out if any of these capture your interest.

Second runner-up: The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins (2006)

When I posted about it on this blog, I wrote: "by far one of the most fascinating books I read lately". For religious people, the book would challenge the way you see your faith, and for atheists like me, it definitely affirms what we know all along.

First runner-up: Atonement, by Ian McEwan (2001)

I wrote: "I admire how the author successfully builds up the tension in the first half of the novel and the longing in the second half." McEwan triumphs in laying out superb imagery and capturing the deepest of guilt and passion.

The top book of 2008 is...

Guns, Germs, and Steel (1997)

by: Jared Diamond

I wrote: "Referring to various disciplines as archaeology, linguistics, ecology, biology, and geology, the book is surprisingly easy to read... and very convincing at that. I've never been a fan of non-fiction, much less history, but this book, is pregnant with enlightening information".

Quite an odd and surprising choice given my reading track record, but this truly tickled my fancy in history and economic development. Guns, Germs, and Steel is the book that has the most impact on my reading interest this year, which makes it deserving as my top book for 2008.

Top Films of 2008

Now that everybody's coming up with their "Best of 2008" list, I figured I might as well come up with my own. You know naman me, gaya gaya.

Let me start my "Top of 2008" list with films.

Any cineaste in Bangkok would find a wide diversity of films shown here year-round. The city has a couple of major world film festivals and a slew of smaller ones from the embassies. Local films, however, have still so much left to be desired, at least to my view.

The films included in the list need not to have been released in 2008, but simply I watched them in 2008 (ditto for my upcoming list of top books and music). And since I'm really the laziest bayot around, I'm keeping this to three movies. Just like in the Miss Universe, there is the title holder and two runners-up.

Ok, without much further talak, shall we start with this list?

Second runner-up: The Savages (2007)

A very intelligent take on sibling rivalry and filial duties, The Savages is not your typical dysfunctional family movie. Such engaging performance from Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

First runner-up: There Will Be Blood (2007)

A gut-wrenching tale of unbridled greed. The movie is both infuriating and captivating, my mouth was agape throughout the whole film.

And the top film of 2008 is...

Up the Yangtze (2007)

This masterpiece of a documentary unflinchingly probes into the lives that are forever altered by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

On a larger scale however, Up the Yangtze is an effective portrait of the average Chinese as he is carried by the strong currents of modernization. The documentary certainly has an agenda, that of showing the repercussions of "progress", but the way it is told is deeply personal, without being too muddled by the politics of modern China. I pick this as my top film because it is memorable and relevant.

Shelf Life: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

I heard of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao through a guy I was MSNing with. A few days later I found it in the racks of the second-hand bookstores in Khao San Road.

It's the kind of book whose language lingers in your head long after you finished it. Author Junot Diaz uses a mix of ghetto English and Spanish and the colloquialism injects a burst of verve for such a tragic novel.

With a theme akin to magical realism, one can almost put him under the category of Isabelle Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez but the language the author uses gives this Pulitzer Prize-winning piece more edge and spunk. The book jumps from one time frame to another, using a mishmash of writing styles, with a consistent angsty and cocky tone.

The main character, Oscar Wao, is an overweight geek raised by his mother, Beli, who has long left the Dominican Republic. She settles in New Jersey together with Oscar and her daughter, Lola. The novel unravels the unfortunate fate of Beli, Lola (to a certain extent), and eventually Oscar Wao himself. Their shared disastrous lives, which spans generations before them, is brought upon by fuku, believed to be a curse of sorts, "specifically the Curse and the Doom of the New World".

Woven into the story of Oscar Wao's family is that dark period of Dominican history (replete with numerous and lengthy footnotes), namely the reign of terror of infamous dictator, Trujillo, perhaps the worst fuku that befell the country. (Any Pinoy quite familiar with our own Marcos would find the events in the story a bit familiar.)

If anything, the book is a hysterical observation of the social and political madness of a banana republic and the lives it shapes.

P.S. For you people who bother to celebrate the holidays, this book would be a wonderful choice for a gift instead of a bleeding scented candle or an angel figurine, for Christ's sake!

Incoherent Weekend

Ay, another requisite weekend report from moi. Ngarag ang weekend na itez... rampa, rampa all over the place na naman ang bayot. I swear, this weekend does not have a coherent theme, so basically it's pagkakalat as usual.

Biyernes... I dropped by the Filipino Store in Silom to chat with the lovely Pinays who keep the store brimming with stuff from Las Islas Filipinas. It appears that them Pinays visit this blog once in a while so let me take this chance to say HALER to them. Ipagpatuloy ang pagpapayat mga tita!!!

As the official spokesperson of Sari-sari Store (charing!!!), I invite all Pinoys and Pinoy-lovers to visit them at the third floor of J-Plaza (with a BTS access to boot) for some goodies that would remind us of the good old third world.

Later in the evening, I met Bubbles, Liwayway, and Nida Blanca in Souvlaki in Silom Soi 4 for some beer and lots and lots of processing. A new club/bar opened in Soi 4 in a building whose wall collapsed just a few months ago (the building was empty then and the incident happened in the morning). The three primera maricones of Las Islas Filipinas dropped by to check it. Goodness, I don't even want to start talking about how lackluster the place is and we did not bother to stay longer after the awful drag show. Oh dear, I hope I'm wrong, but the place is soooo going to close soon enough.

In fact I noticed that quite a number of bars in Soi 4 have closed over the months. Have the gays stopped spending? Ay caramba! Dahling, gays simply don't scrimp on hedonism. If indeed gay men are tightening their belt, this economic crisis is apparently worse than it sounds ha.

Sabado... I dragged my ass to Sukhumvit where I ended up in Dasa Book Cafe, a second-hand bookstore. I did spend a fortune on about six books. I honestly don't have the right to be buying books as of yet coz I still have dozens of unread ones. But self-restraint is not really one of my virtues, and we all know that.

I had lunch at Emporium while waiting for Shanghai Tang and his girl friend. Because they were late, I checked out the latest exhibit of the Thailand Creative and Design Centre called Perishable Beauty, which explores decay, death, preservation, anti-aging, seasons, and conservation, among others. The theme is impermanence and how people face deterioration.

One section of the show reminded of me Miss Havisham's wedding table. A feast is enclosed in a glass box and it is allowed to rot. You simpy see the whole thing eaten by molds. Another installation looks into the beauty industry's exploitation of man's fear of aging.

Finally I met Shanghai Tang and friend and we took a cab to the Bangkok Sculpture Centre, which lies in one of the city's suburbs, about 30 minutes on the highway.

J'adore the architecture of the center, which is a cavernous display space of pieces by some of Thailand's most prominent sculptors from various periods.

The pictures below are some of my favorite pieces.

Later in the evening, I headed to Miss E's Christmas party at her house by the river.

Gawd, I don't want to be reminded that it's already the holidays. I'm sorry dahlings, it has never been my favorite of seasons. I find it a tad too merry for my taste, I could not help it. Hay, I'm just thankful that I'm not in Las Islas Filipinas during the holidays. I strongly abhor all the mindless commercialism and the sheer chaos the way Pinoys celebrate Christmas.

But then, even in Bhuddist Thailand, one cannot really avoid it coz the malls play Christmas songs on loop and gaudy decors are all the rage.

Please let this holiday be over soon so that we can go on living our lives sans the sappiness and the garish decors.