THE TEMPLE OF A MILLION BOTTLES

The Wat Phra Maha Chedi (more famously known as Wat Lan Kuad) in Thailand’s Sisaket Province is the latest addition to Southeast Asia’s official list of eco-friendly tours.


It is made of 1.5 million recycled beer bottles donated by just about everybody who knew what was going on since 1984. Monks of this monastery started using coloured beer bottles as decorations, but people started donating and the inflow went on for the next 25 years.

So... what's a monk to do? Use all donated bottles like there's no tomorrow!


Wat Lan Kuad literally means: “Temple of a Million Bottles” and already making news around the globe. The temple complex has 20 buildings all made of recycled bottles and the monks intend to build more!


Green Heineken *Thank you, Denmark!* and brown Chang Beer *Thank you, Chonburi!* bottles are used to make the walls and roofs. It is all spectacular!


There’s also a mosaic of the Buddha made of recycled beer tin-caps! Amazing, isn’t it? =)

Ok, let's sing together now...

1.5 million bottles of beer on the wall
1.5 million bottles of beer!
You take one down, and pass it around
1,499,999 bottles of beer on the wall!

1,499,999 bottles of beer on the wall
1,499,999 bottles of beer!
You take one down, and pass it around
1,499,998 bottles of beer on the wall!

1,499,998 bottles of beer on the wall
1,499,998 bottles of beer!
You take one down, and pass it around
1,499,997 bottles of beer on the wall!...

Geez! Goodluck!

****

EVERYTHING IS SET...WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU

Get free website for your blog

MISSING SOMEBODY BACK IN BANGKOK

It’s an extended trip for me here. This is supposed to be a 7-day journey but I have to stretch it till the 15th – meaning, I will be spending Valentine’s outside Thailand. *sobs* Here’s an open letter to my baby…



Dear Teerak,

I’m terribly missing you. You know who you are. Look under your foot – I wrote my name on it to claim you as mine. =)

I’m sorry I won’t be home in time for Valentine’s. I really am.

But I’ll send you a hundred roses. And keep one for me. So, you’ll get 99 beautiful red roses.

It may not be enough to say how much you mean to me, but…

... it will say how much I miss you (and how I’ll think of you on Valentine’s while I’m away.)


คิดถึงเธอ,

Pisanu

*** If you miss somebody back in Thailand, surprise 'em with 99 roses this Valentine’s Day. Lots of freebies! Click here to send flowers to Thailand or through the banners on this blog.
Or you can do it for the kids .

Get free website for your blog

IT ALL STARTED IN MOUNT MAKILING

Mount Makiling is one of Southeast Asia’s sacred/mystical mountains. It belongs to the league of Mt. Agung in Bali, Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, to name a few. It is located in the province of Laguna in the Philippines.

Legend has it that Maria Makiling was a goddess. FilipinaSoul better describes her here and who could tell the legend better than the great Rizal himself here.

Mount Makiling is a volcano – an inactive one, that is *whew! now I think y'know why I'm here*. Parts of the area are supplied with electricity produced from geothermal heat from this mountain. And it made Laguna the hot springs, mud springs, mineral baths centre and a very popular hiking treks of the country.

I would like to commend the efforts of those responsible for preserving the eco-system of this mountain -- UPLB. Lush forests, fresh air, ancient trees dotted the area and I can still hear the sounds of its’ abundant animals living in it. Considering Laguna is just an hour or so away from overly crowded Manila.

At the foot of Makiling is the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) – where the country’s future environmentalists, agro professionals and livestock moguls come from. The IRRI and Philippine Rice Research Institute are also nearby.

Mount Makiling isn’t just all these...

Mount Makiling is a heritage icon of the Tagalogs (the dominant ethnic group of the Philippines) – this mountain provided them legends and beliefs that made their distinct culture that eventually became the basis of all other cultures of the Philippines.

--Pisanu in Los Baños, Laguna
06 Feb 2009

Get free website for your blog

THE ENIGMATIC LAGUNA (A Prelude)

Laguna is a mysterious place that holds unknown legends and unwritten history yet to be revealed. This province of the Philippines in Luzon Island has intrigued me for some time now –

An ancient volcanic caldera? Was this the area where a Spanish priest burned the written annals of pre-Spanish Philippines? Who was the culprit? Are there any records of him?

Is this, where legend says, lies a Muslim city that was annihilated and totally erased on the map and history? Was Rizal a Muslim royalty? – So many questions on my book, really.

This is how I see Laguna on Luzon Island. It has so many secrets the Filipinos do not know or choose not to know. This area is one of the Philippines' cradles of civilization and holds the secrets of the true history of the Filipinos.

I know that my readers are expecting a tongue-in-cheek travelogue and a couple of misadventures on this 7-day trip. After all, this is how Laguna is to most Filipinos – a tourist destination. Don’t worry; I’ll feature some of ‘em.

Here’s Pisanu, on a trip to the mysterious and enchanting place called Laguna.

--Pisanu in San Pablo City, Laguna
04 Feb 2009

PERFECT SPECIMEN: Michael Copon

The Supreme Philippine

Michael Copon (born Michael Sowell Copon) is an American actor/model. He was born on 13 November 1982 in Chesapeake, Virginia to a Filipino father and a German-American mother.

Michael was cast by the Fox Kids Network as Blue Ranger Lucas less than a year after he graduated from Deep Creek High School (2001). He quickly advanced from high school senior and defensive end on Deep Creek’s football team in 2000 to print model in Los Angeles to Blue Ranger. He is well known for his role as Felix Taggaro in the hit telly series "One Tree Hill".

More of Michael here...


(Click photo to enlarge)



Eurasians are the hottest people on Earth.

****


Get free website for your blog

OUR CULINARY GEMS: Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice

One of Singapore’s contenders for the national dish. Chicken rice can be found in every street corner, coffee shops or restaurants in the Lion City.

This complete “entrée” recipe was brought by Hainanese immigrants from China and evolved into a distinct Singaporean dish.


Try it this weekend and impress your friends!

The recipe is here…


Cooking Time *forever*
Preparation Time Patience is a virtue.
Serves 5-7 really hungry people

Ingredients for the chicken

1 whole Chicken (to be boiled in a large pot of water by itself)
70 ml of Sesame Oil
60 ml of Light Soy Sauce
1 medium sized cucumber
1 sprig parsley
60 ml of Concentrated Chicken Stock (made from boiling chicken bones or from chicken stock concentrate e.g. Maggie chicken stock)

Ingredients for Chicken Stock (Optional)

300 to 500 gm of chicken feet or bones
2 liters of water

Ingredients for the rice

1 Clove Garlic
20 gm Ginger Bruised
4 cups of Thai Fragrant Rice
Cooking Oil
150 gm of chicken fat
Chicken Stock
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Water that was used to boil the chicken (some to be used for cooking the rice, the balance is to be used as a base stock for an accompanying soup)

Ingredients for the condiments

100 gm Ginger
20 gm Galangal (optional)
100 gm red peppers
1 teaspoon chicken oil
20 ml concentrated chicken stock
10 to 15 ml of dark soy sauce for each diner as dip
2 cloves Garlic

Ingredients for Soup to accompany the Chicken rice

Balance of water used to boil the chicken
250 gm of cabbage
20 gm peeled shallots
Spring onion for garnishing


Directions

1. Boil chicken feet or bones for about 2 hours and simmer. Let at least a liter of water evaporate in the process. This makes the stock more concentrated.

2. Clean the dressed chicken. Boil a large pot of water. Make sure to immerse the whole chicken. Boil for 20 minutes. Remove the chicken and let it cool down.

3. Prepare the rice. Fry the uncooked rice in a wok with some of the chicken oil obtained from the fat mixed with cooking oil. Keep on frying in a moderate fire until golden yellow.

Next pour the rice into a pot. Add some chicken stock, salt and the balance of the water required is obtained from the water used to boil the chicken. Add 1 clove crushed peeled garlic and a piece of about 20 gm bruised ginger to the pot. Cook the rice. Serve in a bowl or plate.

4. Back to the chicken. Brush the chicken with sesame oil. The sesame oil also gives a fragrance and flavoring the the chicken. No salt is to be added to the chicken. Debone and cut the white meat into bite size strips.

5. Prepare the condiments. Grind the ginger and galangal (optional) together. Add 5 to 10 ml of concentrated chicken stock, ground peppers and the peeled garlic. They are served separately.

6. Preparing the soup. The soup is then made re-boiling balance of the stock and add equal amount of water. Add the shredded cabbage and peeled shallots. Add salt to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes. Cut the spring onion and garnish the soup.

7. The chicken rice should be served as shown in the picture above. The condiments should used as a dip for the chicken.

Bon appetite!


Get free website for your blog

THE GREAT HORNBILL: Our Heritage Icon

Here’s one heritage icon instantly associated to our beloved region – the Great Hornbill of the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. *other species found in Vietnam*

They are called แก้ไข นกกก in Thai, Kalaw in the Philippines and Burung Enggang in Malaysia and Indonesia and Kenyalang in Kalimantan. *what is it called in your language?*

I visited Jurong Bird Park in Singapore a few weeks back and this birdie does it all the time. When I walk in the aviary, they always land to get in the way. So, either I go back where I come from or I just make a run for it. What do they want from me?

Obviously, these great birds are fearless. That’s why they are the symbol of numerous tribes like the Iban people of Borneo, the Dayaks of Kalimantan, the Igorots of Ifugao -- Brave, fearless warriors of the land. Sarawak is known as the "Land of the Hornbills".

They can grow up to 4ft in height with a wingspan of 5ft! That’s why they are sovereigns of the rainforest. The Hornbill’s most distinct feature is that ginormous thingy on top of its’ already ginornous bill – it’s called a “casque” by those who want to have names for anything & everything. A casque – don’t forget.

It is said that Hornbills use their casques (only males has it) for aerial battle. Like what those deers and goats do – butt fight! Although nobody has actually seen Hornbills in actual aerial butt fight.. It’s just a legend perhaps.

The Great Hornbill is in the list of Threatened Species. We can’t afford to lose another one of our endemic icons.

Save the forest, protect the Great Hornbills –

heritage icons of Southeast Asia.


Buceros bicornis


****

*Thanks to Mr Bauer for the photos

Get free website for your blog

AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY? HEAR THIS!

Whether we admit it or not, our lives directly or indirectly revolve around electricity. Power from oil, coal, nuclear, underground heat that all converted to, you got it -- electricity.

All these sources are limited. C’mon! It’s a no brainer! And smart/ingenious/inventive/crazy people are kicking high and low searching for new energy source.

Here’s my say.

Fitness gyms.

Our cities are full of it! Bangkok alone has more than 500 registered fitness gyms. KL got heaps, Manila has tons, Jakarta got loads and just imagine in Hanoi, Saigon and all around the region.

What if – those gym equipments are fitted with energy conversion thingies? THAT WOULD BE INTENSE!

Imagine how much energy could be generated from gym bunnies and iron pumping aficionados!

Fitness gyms can be energy self-sufficient! That would be cool!

Let’s think BIG – governments can set up Public Mega Gyms to generate power for the city. Better yet, set it all up in prisons and let them exercise 24/7 as punishment. *lol*

It’s a win-win situation, really – clean energy for the country and fit & buff citizens. Just imagine how much human energy is wasted in fitness gyms.

Fitness gym equipments + energy conversion apparatus + free workouts + people = clean energy.


Whaddya think?


****


Get free website for your blog

INDONESIA IS STILL THE ONLY FREE COUNTRY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Freedom House, an independent non-profit organization advocating human rights around the world since 1941 recently released the 2008 Freedom of the World Scores. Indonesia retained its status as the only "free" country in our region. [ source]

BISEAN first featured these findings last year -- Freedom in Southeast Asia

Here's our Freedom Map of 2008

Thailand has been elevated from "Not Free" to "Partially Free" status together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Timor Leste this year.


****

10 COOL FACTS ABOUT AYUTTHAYA อยุธยา

Welcome to my hometown -- The abode of my family and the realm of my ancestors.

1. Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, a Thai kingdom existed from 1350 to 1767 AD.

2. It was one the most powerful kingdom the world has ever seen. Its territory included a huge part of Burma, the Lanna Kingdom, the Yunnan & Shan Sri Provices of China, the whole of Laos, the whole of Cambodia, South Vietnam and all of Malaya.

3. The City of Ayutthaya’s population was well over a million people in the mid-17th century while London had barely half of it.

4. The ambassador of King Louis XIV of France compared the size and wealth of Ayutthaya to Paris in the 1600s. King Narai of Ayutthaya had close ties with the French king sending each other gifts regulary.

5. Its name was derived from Ayodhya in Northern India. The city of Rama, the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana.

6. The ancient city lies in an island where 3 rivers meet – the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Passak Rivers. It can be reached from Bangkok through the great Chao Phraya River.

7. Ayutthaya is a World Heritage Site. So, it means the whole city is protected. Ancient ruins like the Royal Palace and a handful of majestic temples are all that is left but – it’s like a time capsule back in ancient Siam.

8. The ancient city is best explored on foot or a bicycle. It is quiet, it is relaxing and good exercise too. The northwest of the city is where most of the ruins are.

9. Ayutthaya is the only place in Thailand without standard written Romanticized form. You may find it written differently around Thailand – Ayuthaya, Ayodhya, etc. But no matter how it is spelled, it is pronounced as /Ah-yoo-tuh-yah/.

10. Ayutthaya is just an hour away from Bangkok. Take a cab or the bus at Morchit Station.


We are waiting for you.

****

PULL THAT TEA! I SAID PULL THAT TEA!

It doesn’t make sense, huh?

How can tea be pulled, you ask? Then shut up and I’ll tell you…

Teh Tarik is a creamy, sweet with a pleasant bitter aftertaste beverage served just about in every corner of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei.

"Teh” means tea in Bahasa and “Tarik” means pulled. Get it?

This beverage is all about showmanship. It is prepared by mixing tea and condensed milk together and poured from a container held high to a container held low. That’s where the “pulling” comes in.

A properly made Teh Tarik must have thick foam on top like a cappuccino -- If it doesn’t…*whishk!* poor you. *LOL*

How is it iconic? Well, it is de facto the national drink of Malaysia. They even hold a national competition in preparing this drink…

Competitors showcase their “talents” (like cart-wheeling, leg-splits, can-can) while dragging a long stream of tea over their heads. Simply spectacular, baby. Ok, get off me.

Oh! Did I mention Teh Tarik is best served hot? -- Which means best for a cold rainy day. And to be more accurate; “served in just the right temperature” for immediate consumption *unlike coffees from McDonalds & 7-Eleven which you have to wait 600 years to cool down!* Although some prefer it over ice.

Go and try this heavenly brew on your next visit to Malaysia, Singapore or Brunei. You’re not gonna like it…you’re gonna LOVE it!

Teh Tarik – beverage icon of Southeast Asia.



****

PUTRAJAYA: Grand-Scale Landscape Architecture Masterpiece

Everything is brand new, everything is in its’ proper places… clean, crisp, well-planned, well-manicured, well-kept and everything “well-“. Yeah, that’s Putrajaya -- Malaysia’s Administrative Capital.

Oi! Don’t get me wrong! Not that there’s anything wrong with it but we gotta understand this city was built almost overnight *that’s figure of speech for those who are planning to appeal, ok?* and the city is just barely 13 years old!

I had the chance to stay longer than most tourist in this uhmm…”beautiful” is an understatement really, so let’s use the adjective “ostentatious”. There, take that! Majestic, extravagant, grandiose, ritzy and why not?!!! -- They can afford it!

I met a couple of new friends who lives here (Airry, Fitri, Aidil, Moris…terima kasih n***!) and I really did get to closely observe what’s around. Putrajaya is the nook of well-heeled yuppies working for the government and their fabulous friends.

Though some may think it’s just another “showcase city”, Putrajaya is the heart of Malaysia – a brand new heart for a country in a hurry. Impressive government buildings, 9 art-deco bridges over artificial lakes, pricey residential blocks, 5-star hotels and don’t forget the centrepiece – the Office of the Prime Minister.

The city has a mall (yes, in singular form) called Alamanda. Do some shopping here if you haven't yet in KL. Or visit the city's 5 Squares; Dataran Gemilang, Dataran Putra, Dataran Putrajaya, Dataran Rakyat and Dataran Wawasan.

What's in a name? Putrajaya was named after the country's first Prime Minister Abdul Rahman Putra (nope, not related to Paula). "Putra" means son/prince and "Jaya" means success.

Tourists come here on day-trips -- Highly recommended destination for those who love Islamic arts & architecture. But let me warn you if you will come on a budget; public transpo here is inadequate. Get a rental car if you don't fancy walking for miles.

How to get here. The fastest and most convenient way is by KLIA Transit (rail) from Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station. Single journey ticket costs 9.50 Ringgit. A cab trip from KL would cost around 40-50 Ringgit, that is if you can "hypnotize" the cab driver to use the meter. The best way is to ask around for organized tours.

BISEAN would feature Putrajaya's most interesting buildings on our coming posts. Here's the city's official website and community portal if you wanna find out more.

****

WE'RE OK, GUYS!

I didn't plan BISEAN's first blog post for 2009 to be like this...

But for all those who sent emails, comments, SMS, Morse codes and smoke signals demanding we let them know we are alright...well, here. We are alright.

The BISEANers were actually pissing the night away at Clarke Quay last night. Yes, in Singapore.

Too bad what happened to Santika. More than 59 people died last night in a fire *sigh*. Our sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

Santika is just 3 mins walk from my flat in Bangkok (Santika at Ekkamai 9, I live on Ekkamai 10). If it just happened we were in town, the whole gang would be there for sure (But we'll definitely leave early for Q Bar).

Ok, this is just a short post. Just to let our demanding readers know.

--Pisanu in Singapore

HOW TO SAY "Merry Christmas" IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Asia's 2 Christian-dominated nations is in our region (the Philippines and Timor Leste) are celebrating the Christmas today! Whether we admit it or not, the Christian holiday that falls on the 25th of December has evolved into something more "universal".

Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei cites it. We in Thailand never fails to surprise visitors that we, indeed, celebrate Christmas in our own way. So as the largely Buddhist Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

So, here it is...today is Christmas. The holiday that shed its 'religious' tone and considered as a day of peace and gift-giving around the world.


We say สุขสันต์วันคริสตร์มาส in Thailand. It's "Souksarn wan Christmas". It's "Krit-sa-mat" or loosely pronounced like that, ok? This is the most awaited event of the kids in International schools around the country! They also say "Souksan wan Christmas" in Laos.

The Filipinos say "Maligayang Pasko" for the Tagalogs. "Naragsak a Pascua" for the Ilocanos in the north. "Masayang Pasku keko ngan" in my second home Pampanga. "Masinadyahon nga Paskua" in Central Philippines. "Maugmang Capascuhan" in Bicol and many many other languages in this country.

The Timorese would say "Feliz natal" in Portuguese. How do you say it in Tetun?

And for our Chinese bros in Singapore and across the region: 圣诞快乐 "Sheng Dankuai Le" in Mandarin and "Sing Daan Faai Lok" in Cantonese.

It's "Christmas nay hma mue pyaw pa" in Burma. "Mừng Chúa Giáng Sinh" in Vietnam and "Soursdey Noel" in Cambodia.

"Selamat Hari Natal" is how they say it in Malaysia (Malay) and Brunei, and also acceptable in Indonesia but better "Selamat Natal" to be more accurate. "Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal" from our Tamil brothers.

สุขสันต์วันคริสตร์มาส et Joyeux Noel everybody!

****

WORLD'S TOP FRENCH RAPPER IS LAOTIAN!

His name is BOLO.

I first heard of him sorting through CDs at FNAC Madrid while waiting for mom to emerge from a day spa. He's really, really good! I am sincerely proud of this talented Laotian bro. Listen to his music here...*quite an old video though, but hey!*

Hoo-Ha! Coooool!

****

CHINLONE: Burma's National Sport

BISEAN previously featured our region's National Sports. It was a round up of our neighboring village's cool games.

We mentioned that Chinlone was the most beautiful game -- non-competitive, graceful and everything nice. See for yourselves...

Cool! See what we mean? =)

****

GRUMPECHT'S GREEN PIT VIPER: What a Beauty!

I don't know about you but this has got to be the most beautiful snake in the world! *appeals won't be entertained, thank you*

This beauty is one of the 1,068 NEW species discovered in the Greater Mekong River region (Laos, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia & Vietnam) in the past 10 years!

National Geographic has a featured article here -- read all about it. Quite interesting, really. We'll feature some of 'em on our "Our Flora & Fauna" Series.

****

*Photo by the Greater Mekong Programme/WWF International