Bangkok pt.1

So it has taken me a while to collect my thoughts and get around to posting, but here is the first installment of my adventures in South East Asia.
Bangkok is like NYC on steroids, roughly 10 million people from every ethnicity you can imagine, nonstop, neon and beautiful. Hanging with my sister was amazing and this city is crazy and all out gold!

The fist thing we did when I got into town was to get some great food on the streets and feed an elephant that was hanging out at a busy intersection. After that is was time for me to sleep, 18 hrs. is a long plane trip.
The next day it was off to meet some of Kim's friends at Crepes & Co. a great little French/ Thai restaurant were we ate..... well you can guess. Than we went walking through Bencha Siri Park were I saw a great game played with a rattan ball called Takraw, think volleyball meets soccer, no hands, but crazy kicks. After that we went to the Asain Hebal Association to get full Thai massages, it was amazing even without the happy ending. Later that night Kim and I braved the Patpong Night Market, in one of Bangkok's "red light" districts, and no I did not go see the "ping pong" shows but I did by some great gifts.

The following day Kim had to work so I decided to go explore the city. I had a great day. traveling along the Chao Phraya River by water taxi and visiting the breathtaking temples along it's banks. Starting with the Wat Phra Chetophon (The Reclining Buddha) and then on to Wat Aruan Ratcha Wararam (Temple of The Dawn), than onto one of the most incredible buildings I have ever been in The Grand Palace that houses Wat Phra Kaew (The Emerald Buddha) endless gold and brilliant colors. I had to rent pants to wear because it is the Kings Palace. Next I wondered through Bangkok in the rain trying to find Wat Suthat and Sao Ching Chao (The Giant Swing). Almost the minute after I found the temple it started to pour down and cooled off about 15 degrees it was great!! Once the rain stopped I headed off to the UN building to meet my sister after work. We than went to grab some food at a restaurant called In Love, great sushi and Thai food all while looking out over the river lit up by the night. And finally a tuk tuk ride home to pack for Vietnam.

The next morning we went to the UN for Kim to get some work done before our afternoon flight. As we headed downtown we realized that something strange was going on as road after road was closed and there seemed to be a growing police presence. We finally made it to the office just in time for them to tell us to leave that part of the city. The PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) was on the move and the police were tired of it. We made it to the airport anyway and it was off to Ho Chi Minh City.

Life in Pyropolis...

So I went to Burning Flipside Pyropolis 2008. My first time since bringing a couple of bands there in 2000 (@ rec. plant.).

So this is basically Austin's version of the burning family of events.

First a little history:

Zazobra started in 1958 (Santa Fe, NM) and this is the first "modern festival" based around burning an effigy to rid a town of bad vibes or hatred. 

Than it mutated into Burning Man in 1986 (Black Rock Desert, NV). 

Started by a bunch of rockers who wanted to go out into the desert and play music real loud and burn shit.

Slowly the rave people and the lost rainbow gather's joined in and the whole idea just blew up....

But what is that idea?  

Is  it just a reason to get away and be somebody else for a little while.....

I think the simple answer is yes!

It may "stand" for something else, something more important, but in reality I think it is really just a rock and roll, trip out thing to to for a few days.

Now don't get me wrong I think it is an important thing for most people.

I believe most of us have a need to get out of our selves for awhile and pretend we are more in touch or feeling of ourselves and others.

This said I got to experience this with one of the coolest and in my opinion most important camps. Burning Glam!

These are a bunch of vintage people who understand that getting people to let go of their inhibitions by even just dressing strange for a little while is the heart of what these festivals are all about!!!!

Aside from a little cold front of silly drama I had a pretty great time.

My only major compaint is that the electro "rave" kids are still playing stupid ass house music.......My god do any of you realize how far techno has come in the last 10 years....Damn.

On this same note  I must give props to the Flideside local radio station and the DJ @ ish on  Sat. nite... "Miss America" hell ya!