Rummaging about

Specificities

The more I think about it, the more I tend to consider I’ve got nothing (or close to nothing) to do in that particular country on the long-term. Of course, people in general are very friendly but that’s not nearly enough. Especially for me, who doesn’t put much emphasis on social relationships… Ironically, I feel as though I should stay to pursue some of those but I digress.

I came here on the pretense of a tryout. Basically a diving one, and it might sound unfair but I assimilate that sport to the country itself: slow-paced and boring. That must be one of many reasons why retired people spend their old years over here (discounting very low costs of living and insufferable very comfortable temperatures). Unless you put aside the capital and the most important business centers (with their own problems such as pollution, huge traffic jams, criminality, corruption?!), you will find this relaxed way of living that is getting on my nerves, everywhere. Link that to the local religion I guess as it’s the general idea the former profess. Not that I have much against it whatsoever. Apart from the fact that no one should be kneeling in front of a statue or anybody else, it’s definitely the most harmless of all.

In a way, I am too young to live here. I am not into parties or celebrations so that’s not part of the equation, but I viscerally need a tiny bit, a small amount of stress. That’s why I’m taking so much risk on that thing called a “moped” (damn, using the word motorbike would sound better, but it would also be an insult to real machines). Already two crashes in two months, an impressive record huh? I’m pretty sure I would kill myself if I remained here. Otherwise, nothing worth mentioning apart from my “regular” drunkard encounter: a local friend of mine’s brother completely convinced he was fit for driving, nearly killed 4 people and damaged the front left wheel of his car on his way to my apartment. It doesn’t help that I’ve never seen him sober and that he had his own younger sister on the back seats on that night.

PS: I quite well know that relieving my lack of stress with speed is not the best of solutions, however I haven’t endangered anyone so far (or so I figure).

Ondulating moods

Melancholy

I don’t really know when that feeling rears its “unattractive” head (can’t say its ugly head, as from time to time I do enjoy it, weird huh?). Vangelis is perfect, slow and easy, their ballads accompanying you along your thoughts. Thoughts that you let wander at their own leisure. You have to deal with it, even though it often means a fair share of dark shadows revolving around your neurons.

Moreover, I’ve read somewhere it may be related to depression but currently I don’t feel depressed. Out of place, yes, yet I haven’t found any place which could prevent me from having that kind of sentiment. It’s a fleeting moment, a minute everything is normal and the next someone has turned off or dimmed the lights. I know Cancers (the zodiacal sign not the illness) are prone to moodiness and I suppose that I just one of the many in that situation. I don’t believe much in Astrology, but parts of what it mentions are troubling. Now,  switching to “28 Days Later” soundtrack.

Despite it, I’m fortunate, no broken heart, and no troubled relationship. Just a troubled life I guess. And I’m not willing to bring anyone into this for now. Besides, it’s only troubled on the basis of my previous choices and I’m quite sure it would not have been that easier had I taken different ways. Mine is tortuous, true but so is everyone else’s. Basically I’ve intended it like this. Somewhat, it is not the most straightforward path but it definitely will offer me a happier outcome. One I could not have reached without a few hardships along the way. Those are part of the ride.

Errances de Visa

Ou la patience n’est pas vraiment mon fort.

Si jamais vous vous dites qu’obtenir un quelconque visa ou permis de travail, ici-bas, vous vous trompez… et lourdement. Honnêtement, le paiement a été fait le 9 octobre, les papiers préparés une semaine plus tard (j’ose espérer) mais les officiels tout en haut sont soit aussi lents que le processus législatif suisse, soit aussi peu concernés par leur job qu’ils en oublient leurs  fondamentaux (et je ne parlerai pas d’un certain problème commençant pas la lettre “C”. Par ailleurs, j’ai entendu dire que sans “piston” (en gros une entreprise ou un contact local), la durée est encore allongée voire pire, rien n’est accordé (et tu t’étonnes que la majorité des gars étrangers qui bossent ici, le font au noir). Jusqu’à présent, je suis sorti deux fois du pays pour le Myanmar et la Malaisie qui semblent soit-dit en passant plus accueillants et pratiquent un meilleur anglais que les douaniers d’ici et je vais devoir le faire une 3ème fois, probablement pour Kuala Lumpur!!

Maintenant, vous me direz que voir du pays c’est bien (et pour les amateurs de “stämpfs” c’est un régal, quatre par entrée/sortie), mais franchement cela commence à me courir sur le haricot. Et ce de plus qu’il aurait été très certainement possible de le faire depuis la Suisse. Au moins pour 3 mois, cela m’aurait permis de voir venir, au lieu d’être balloté de droite à gauche comme une vulgaire balle de foin. A ce propos, il faut savoir qu’une grosse tête de dirigeant a décidé de diminuer la durée du visa temporaire, ce n’est plus 30 mais 15(!) jours qui sont accordés lors de l’entrée sur le territoire, à la seule exception d’une arrivée par l’intermédiaire d’un aéroport (30, et oui!). Et le plus drôle, c’est qu’avec cette idée stupide (dixit mon instructeur), ils limitent l’arrivée de touristes et par conséquent l’apport d’argent (et de certains problèmes, ok d’accord). Bon si encore ils pouvaient tellement se le permettre, mais ce n’est guère le cas, étant donné le nombre très important de personnes qui vivent de ce secteur.

Bien, sinon tout va bien à bord. Pas été malade ne serait-ce qu’un jour depuis le début, à l’exception d’un Burger chinois qui ne devait pas être très sain. Pour l’instant, j’attends un peu le bon vouloir de l’instructeur qui temporise un peu… Ce qui se comprend cependant, car il ne serait pas indiqué de partir plonger 5-6 jours et toucher terre plus tard avec la mauvaise surprise d’une visa temporaire échu (je n’ose imaginer…). Question matériel, un ordinateur de plongée, masque tuba et palmes avec la combinaison adéquate, je dois bientôt atteindre les 30 mètres, il paraît qu’il fait bien plus froid à cette profondeur…

Note : Papiers pas prêts stop. Devrai sortir encore 2 fois stop.

Flower encounter

I like flowers.

Watching, inhaling their scent and taking pictures of them. I think they make the most gorgeous close-ups you can ever find. Imagine a Rose or an Iris from a 5 – 10 cm distance, you can inspect every nook and cranny of  the plant. They don’t hide anything from your eyes (well except for an occasional angry wasp) and therefore have a some kind of innocence I cherish. Even though some carnivorous species have the unfriendly tendency to devour their visitors, the majority of them are waiting for you to appreciate them freely. Amazing isn’t it?

However, for most of us guys this amazingness seems to be completely lost in an ocean of indifference.  And that is why I was favorably impressed when I spotted one my coworkers coming to the office from some early shopping session with a bouquet of flowers. Please note that bringing a few petals to your significant other once a year is up to anyone, but I had already seen him carrying a Rose intended to his wife a week before. So there he comes and my romantic core kicks in; uttering something outrageously sweet that I cannot repeat herein. Anyway, I could not help but think that if we men were a little more attentive to our partners, we could avoid a lot of trouble. Not necessarily with flowers, but with all sorts of small details.

PS : To be truthful, I was curious and actually doubtful about the bouquet and followed suit after him to the nearest sink. He was watering the flowers and that is when I asked him who they were for :  the floral arrangement was to be added to a shrine aside The Buddha and therefore not really for his spouse’s pleasure!?

PS 2  Not all flowers smell good, you do not want to have any sniff from that particular one.

Noodles in gravy

Funny how you can start a blog with. My sister, the one who talked me into it, should be the one writing. I sometimes even wonder why she does not have one on her own… But the answer is actually pretty straightforward, her life is already too busy to spare any time expressing herself on the blogosphere.

Why “noodles in gravy”? Simply because I vividly remember that particular evening when I heard my dive instructor asking if I could handle eating vegetarian food for the remaining days of the festival. I do not know whether I was not hungry or acclimated enough, but on that first day of cleansing I failed the “test” miserably. To be completely honest, I have never been a fan of food, I only eat in order to get the nutriments that my body needs. On top of that, I can barely handle myself in a kitchen and therefore would rather visit a nearby store than trying to emulate any cook, however bad s/he is.

Anyway, was it the noodles or the gravy, I do not know. Nevertheless, after the first 10 minutes, I was hopelessly trying to sort out veggies from the rest and only eating the former until N (my instructor) decided to put an end to my misery. That is to say, you should never try out exotic things when you can have fried rice with mushrooms as my neigbours had ordered then.

For the next 5 or so days, I alternated between normal and vegetarian food without much trouble. I even enjoyed  it a lot as well as adding a some new flavours on my palate on my way back to Phuket. As far as I know, it was the only major setback concerning Thai food that I’ve felt as of now, well apart from getting my mouth a little worked up by spicy dishes. It’s all part of the game whenever you travel.

To anyone wishing for more info related to the Vegetarian festival in Thailand see this website : http://www.phuket.com/festival/vegetarian.htm