http://www.jayjun.com Swallowed by his BArch thesis for a year, Jay Jun suddenly emerged in Southeast Asia to resume his capricious trot around the world. Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:31:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I have something to confess ... I have this uncontrollable urge to immediately condemn any form of "classical" European style in this part of the world. I know, I know but you'll be surprised with the prevalence of bungalows with Greek columns, Tudor facades and "Some Exotic Asian" roof, not only in ... http://www.jayjun.com/2008/01/13/hua-lamphong-train-station-european-asian-eclecticism/ Unlike many cities in the world, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur chose to build their mass transit trains ABOVE ground. For good reason I feel. Why would you ... ... in a climate where the temperature under shade is a constant 25˚C whole year round with wide-open highways ripe for whamming layers of ... http://www.jayjun.com/2008/01/03/siam-square-in-bangkok/ Even cheapskates like us couldn't afford to pass the opportunity to see the world famous Tiffany's Show! This is the show that in the 70s started this whole trend of transsexual cabaret shows. Today they have a full blown theatrical production with 100+ performers performing in a state-of-the-art auditorium. The ticket ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/12/24/tiffanys-show/ No visit to any country should be complete without a look at its seedier side. If extra-terrestrials think alike, I think they'll choose Pattaya to visit as the seediest side of planet Earth!!! Ok, I know that doesn't look too seedy.... mmmm... Fast forward 12 hours! That's better. And in the centre ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/12/18/pattaya-worlds-largest-brothel-pilgrimage-hmm/ What is this guy doing?? Trying to steal someone's car? This lady looks like she's doing the same thing! Is the officer going to stop her?? Wait a minute ... why is the officer helping the lady here ..... Ohhh ... as it turns out. This is Bangkok's brand of solving the double ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/12/12/another-case-of-unplanned-but-original-workable-solution/ I've once told a friend, "Don't underestimate humanity's ability to evolve original & completely workable solutions without professionals (ie. architects!)," adding that there are plenty of examples in Third World (or formerly 3W) countries. Jatujak market is one of those bizarre places where the market just kept growing ... and ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/12/08/the-mother-of-all-weekend-markets-jatujak-market-pilgrimage/ I had the great pleasure of experiencing Thai hospitality first hand from Marianne's Le Cordon Bleu classmate, Aummy (pronounced: Oo-Mee). And this is her warm family - Aummy's Mummy & Daddy ... Aummy and her Dad can speak English very well, but her mum can only speak Thai. Even so, language is ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/12/05/thai-hospitality-from-aummy-tastebuds-in-her-home/ This city of 10 million people with the longest name in the Guiness Book of Records could have easily been one of my more interesting posts. Unfortunately two things happened ... 1 - Allergic Contact Dermatitis I checked into hospital twice!! Doctors say I'm the hundredth over foreigner who walked in with ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/12/04/krung-thep-mahanakhon-amon-rattanakosin-mahinthara-ayuthaya-mahadilok-phop-noppharat-ratchathani-burirom-udomratchaniwet-mahasathan-amon-piman-awatan-sathit-sakkathattiya-witsanukam-prasit-also-known/ If the airport I am heading to happens to be spanking new especially if it claims to be the biggest in Asia, I always put effort into arriving during daylight hours. Sidenote: This odd behaviour can be explained by the gargantuan amount of airports completed in Asia during the last 10 ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/11/29/suvarnabhumi-airport-bangkoks-new-international-airport-pilgrimage/ For those not in the know, I've been reminding myself to be game enough to try "bugs" during this romp through Southeast Asia. Thinking it'll most likely happen later in the trip, the Great Cosmic Interference has decided to bring the Bug Hawker to me during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. ... http://www.jayjun.com/2007/11/13/tastebuds-in-phuket-a-bugs-afterlife/