Life

Its hard to understand things sometimes; maybe because you are not involved in that situation or because you are too far involved in that situation. But at times we are able to pull ourselves out of the daily-routine and tiresome thoughts, and just clear our minds. It is unusual that having this clear mind sometimes allows things to make more sense than when we try to make sense of them...it helps us to realize two things: either everything is one, or everything is nothing. Neither is more pessimistic or optimistic than the other, just different ways of viewing the same things.

I have spent a lot of time in trains and planes and buses recently and giving myself a chance to think..I have meditated with monks and done yoga with tribes-people. I have done many things to dig deeper into myself and dig deeper into the trials of our mind and of our thought-processes. Desire, needs, sensations, satisfaction, happiness, fulfilment. All feelings that we feel need to be quenched in one way or another. These generally come about with some sort of attraction or attachment to a particular person, feeling or thing...loosing this attachment helps us clear our minds to gain a better understanding of why we think the way we do. Gaining knowledge of ourselves and knowledge of nature brings us closer to a knowledge of life...I will not dig deep enough to ask of goals or ambitions, ambitions create depression and egotistical longings. Gaining control over our mind and our body is the key to feeling better...or atleast this is the case for myself.

I feel that the most powerful and meaningful sensation and desire is that of significance. To whom or what are we important? Love and other emotions can become tainted and egos constanltly get in the way of what we really will feel fulfilled with. I constantly, annoyingly, ask my friends and people I meet if they would truly, truly, feel fulfilled if they got to that point that they are shooting for...if that is the place where they see themselves looking back and forward with a smile. Of course accomplishments are great, but thats living in the past moreso than the present. It is difficult to find our true happiness, but we certainly have the right and ability to pursue it. I hope only the best for everyone in this pursute.

Airborne

Heading out on a short trip now. Been enjoying the time in BKK a whole bunch, meeting so many people and really enjoying the benefits of the people I am meeting and the work I am taking part in.

I hope to come back with a new knowledge of the world as I know it; also with some great experiences, new friends/contacts, and maybe a few presentable pictures. We shall see...for now, here are a few pictures from an appreciatory-dinner that some of my students put on for all the teachers.

Goodbye, (English), Zai Jain(Chinese), Sain yavaarai(Mangolian), Xin chào ông (Vietnamese), Selamat tingga(Malaysian)..and of course, Sawasdee Khrap! (Thai).

Quick update

It is Thursday, a weekday, and I am home! Its been a while since I was able to just sit back and relax for a day...but I was allowed a day off and I have certainly made the most of it! Just had some people over to swim and now heading out to grab some food and then go out later on in the evening with some work friends.

Have been meeting some great people lately, people from all over the place and it really allows me an inside scoop on where to, and not to, visit on my upcoming travels. Its nice to know I can ask them [too many] questions and have a couch to crash on if I end up hitting their country in the coming months.

On the same note, this month will be a traveling month. School is out and I am free for a while--well Ill have to take a few days off from work, but no big deal. I am finally relatively fluent in the language and have found it incredible to conversate with people that I could not before; its also nice to hear what strangers are saying about me while I am there("Why does boy wear pink shorts?"). I have a few friends who are also traveling a bit this month---so Viet Nam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and a few other countries are most likely on the itinerary.

In some of these countries it is very difficult to bring in a computer and other electronics, so I am not sure if I will have much chance to keep in touch with everyone. My most desired destination is Myanmar! More than anywhere in the world. It is so appealing because it is so undeveloped and so mysterious. Many people are denied access to this Diplomatic Country, and once you get in it is still not 100% guaranteed. Being an American has many advantages, but also some downfalls when it comes to traveling. No complaints though, I will give it a shot and see if I can get into this country that doesn't even have visa, atms, computers, or cell phones.

Other than this nonsense, all is great. Spending a lot of time with the friends I have out here and also working on a few big projects... The government shut down EVERY school in Bangkok due to the Flu, so we all have a nice long Holiday.

Hopefully the Flu isn't taking over out there...lets let Obama have another term before the Flu Apocalypse

July 4 outside of America

America gained its independence from British rule after brave men went against there government in order to find a new nation...BAM! July 1776 we are a nation of our own. 2009 we are still fighting for equal rights amongst our citizens. Lets stand up for what we believe in and be thankful that there are so many reasons we are one of the greatest nations on the planet.

July 4, 2009: While you were spending the day celebrating the day you gained independence, I was at the scene of Thailand's first Capitol: Ayyuthaya. Long before Bangkok was the Metropolis Capitol of Thailand(much like DC is our capitol), this city was a hustling town full of several huge temples and revrent dedications towards the king of the land. It was at this site where the Burmese army destroyed the independence of a developing nation, sending it south to what is now Bangkok. Thailand is the only country of SouthEast Asia to never be under foreign rule...wowzers. However, the Burmese did go into each temple and cut off the heads of the Buddahs and destroyed the temples as much as they could. In that time, a temple represented a city's life, showing that it was properous and long living. (Crazy, there were buddah heads all over...one we saw was on the ground for hundreds of years, too big too move, and the tree roots started to grow around it...)

ANyway, I cant articulate anythign too well right now,,,,but it was an amazing day. Walking around and seeing the temples and hearing the stories of the land. I took a train out there with a friend and it was a real nice ride, cost 45 cents for a 2 hour train ride. The trains were very hot and uncomfortable, but it was a really cool experience. The train is free to some, so they are not well maintained, free to roam it as you please...you can even get up on top of the train cars and ride it on the roof of the train or ride outside of the train if you.....at some points we jumped off the train and ran along side of it trying to race it...haha, pretty cool. Ya, it was a nice day getting out of the fastmoving city and getting a nice peaceful getaway and just enjoyign the sites and fresh air.

Now hoping on a plane to an island in a few hrs, rated in many magazines/sites as the NUMBER 1 BEACH IN THE WORLD....Jeez. So it will be a nice getaway, no phone, no email, no nothing. Just the people and nature.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/travel-maps/world-top-ten-beaches.html

I will post some more updates soon....sorry this post is junk, I was in a hurry and couldnt think.