I FREED AUNG SAN SUU KYI!

I'd like to think that my statement here last Friday has got something to do with the demonstrations to free Aung Suu Kyi today. Her supporters usually go out to demonstrate around 2nd week of June in time for her birthday. Did I just made a "statement"? I'd like to think that way but nah, how I wish.

Most of the major newspapers in the region has reported demonstrations today against the Burmese (Myanmar) government to free pro-democracy leader Mrs. Aung -- Bangkok Post, Jakarta Post, The Strait Times, The Star to name a few.

But who is Aung San Suu Kyi anyway?

For those of you who's not familiar with the name; welcome back to Earth! How's Mars? LOL

Kidding aside, Mrs. Aung is a Burmese pro-democracy leader who has been under house arrest for 17 long years! She is the world's most famous political prisoner and is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1991 for her peaceful and non-violent struggle against the military rulers of Burma. -- Whew! Did I just write that? :-) I'm so grown up!

What is it for us citizens of the ASEAN anyway -- you ask? Well, a lot! Economic reasons, mostly (according to most people).The United States, the EU and other economic blocs won't give us their full trades UNLESS we do something about Burma's human rights situation. And what's for us to do? The ASEAN has a rule of non-interference with each other's governments, we can't just violate that! -- We don't want our neighboring countries snoop and drive our own vehicles, do we?

We have done everything we can to persuade the Burmese Junta to ease their military rule or at least release "The Lady"(as Mrs. Aung is known internationally). We even came to the point of denying them the chairmanship of the ASEAN! Too childish, if you ask me.

"The Lady" comes from a very noble family. Her father, Aung San, negotiated Burma's independence from the U.K. in 1943 just to be assassinated the next year by his rivals. Politics, politics, politics. *sigh*

I freed Mrs. Aung last Wednesday night… that's why I wrote something about her last Thursday... I went to Rangoon to party... It lasted till dawn... On my way to my hotel I passed by Mrs. Aung's house. I rang the bell... She opened the door. I introduced myself. She invited me in for coffee... She was gracious and gentle... I asked her if she can come with me and my friends to Bangkok. She said she would love that... Then everything went cloudy... When it cleared, I saw Mrs. Aung with me in a day spa... I was having a massage and she's having her nails done... She smiled all the time, but her eyes, still sad... I asked her why... she said she's thinking about her people back in Burma... I cried with her... Then I woke up from a beautiful dream.

A person like Mrs. Aung comes once in a lifetime.

Let's not forget about her.

You see, it's not just her freedom. It's not just the economic advantage of our region.

It's the freedom of a nation.

http://www.dassk.com/

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Our 100th post!

TOP MYTHS ABOUT BISEXUAL MEN

Homosexuals and heterosexuals alike often misunderstand (or simply refuse to understand) the nature of bisexuality. The thought of a person that is attracted to both men and women can be confusing and frequently leads to misconceptions and stereotypes. Below are the top 5 myths about bi men.

Myth #1: Bisexuality Is Just a Phase

For years the gay community has challenged heterosexuals who publicly state that homosexuality is only a phase (--going where?). Bisexuals face the same generalization from BOTH the gay and straight community.

Many bisexuals are completely in touch with their emotions and desires for members of both sexes and often feel limited by the thought of attraction to only a man or woman. Emotional connection is most often the priority when bisexuals pursue a potential partner. Bisexuality is just as much of a natural preference as homosexuality and heterosexuality.

Myth #2: Bi Men Have to Choose To Be Either Gay or Straight

Bisexuals are attracted to both men and women on both an emotional and physical level.

Some "lean straight" (meaning they prefer a member of the opposite sex, but same sex partners are always an option) and others "lean gay" (which means they prefer members of the same sex, but would consider a relationship with a member of the opposite sex). Nonetheless, they are not simply gay or straight and definitely do not have to choose.

Myth #3: Bisexual Men are Sexually Confused

A common misconception in both the gay and heterosexual communities is that bisexuals are sexually confused and cannot make up their minds which sex they like. However, that's the whole point-- bisexuals are attracted to both sexes and are in many cases more clear about their sexuality than most others.

Forcing or pressuring us to choose to be either gay or straight, and we are still attracted to both sexes – what do you want us to do? Isn’t that called “denial”?

Myth #4: Bisexual Men Will Never Marry

Alongside the thought that bisexual men and women are sexually confused is the myth that they will never be able to settle on a partner of any sex.

In many cases we put a lot of emphasis on emotional connections with either sex. This in mind, the opportunity for us to find a life partner is just as viable as it is for a heterosexual or homosexual. However, since same-sex marriage isn't legal in most places of the world, only a heterosexual marriage in most places will be recognized by law.

Myth #5: Bi Men are Sexually Promiscuous

Oh, I have seen this statement on one of my links. It made me piss all over myself laughing!

Promiscuity (or frequent sex with multiple partners) depends on the individual whether they are straight, gay or bi. I would challenge any gay man who frequents sleazy parks at night cruising for casual sex and a straight man who frequents bordellos paying women to give them sexual favors. Not all gay men and straight men do it, right? Get the point? No need to stereotype the bis.

We are no more promiscuous than any others. However, liking both sexes increases our chances of getting laid or be presented with more potential relationship (by shear numbers alone). And that’s the bottom line why we are being hated –- JEALOUSY -– that we can get away with almost anyone we want and ACTUALLY enjoy it. LOL.

Take that!

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--Extracted from Ramone Johnson

FANCY A SINGAPORE "TWISTER"?

Singapore Sling is may well be the girls most favorite cocktail,

but what about a Singapore "Twister"?

This menacing-looking water spout caused a stir when it was spotted along Singapore's east coast waters on Friday afternoon. Hmmm...you would think it's somewhere in the Midwest wouldn't you?

And by the way, The Singapore Flyer, the iconic giant observation wheel expected to open soon, has received overwhelming response from the public, with over 100,000 people already booked for its rides! I cant' wait!

They wouldn't let Malaysia have the limelight for long, would they? KL has "Eye on Malaysia" thingy which is similar to this. And of course, Bangkok too. But it's smaller. There, take that!

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SOUTHEAST ASIA'S Most Corrupt Countries!

This is NOT one of those "hey-we-are-better-than-you" post. Let me just be clear with it first. This is not to annoy, provoke or ridule as well, no no no.

This is to...uhmm...to... just to "inform". There -- to inform. Although I know this is old news; I havent found any list on the net that put together the 11 nations of Southeast Asia on this issue.

The Corruption Perceptions Index is a brainchild of the Berlin-based organization Transparency International. They are not one of those mediocre "survey" companies that're up for some quick buck or fame releasing ill-conducted indexes -- no they're not. Rest assured, this org is an internationally recognized pulse meter. There. Take that!

Anyways, here's the ranking of the 11 SE Asian countries in terms of the most corrupt government from top (the least corrupt) to bottom (the most hellooo!-are-you-ok? governments);

10. Singapore 9.4
--Of course, who else? They placed beautifully in the world ranking at 5th! What can we say? Small nations are easier to manage. Kudos to the Singaporean government. In my next life, I wanna be Singaporean (or Malaysian) :-)

9. Malaysia 5.0
--Three thumbs up to the government's announcement to raise their public servant's pay to a whopping 30%! (I think more than that, I'm not sure) That's how they do it. Make the government employees happy to eradicate corruption. Very simple, really. Wait... are taxi extortions classified as corruption? If it is, Malaysia's rank would significantly fall way, way below Haiti! :-)

8. Thailand 3.6
--The score is not too impressive but better than 100 other countries (163 total worldwide) on the list. The low score was mostly because of Khun Thanksin, who else?

5. Laos, Vietnam and East Timor 2.6
-- Three countries share the 5th spot with their alarming 2.6 score. I can drive without a license in Laos and when caught... I pay the police 50,000 Kip (200 Baht, RM20, US$ 5) and I'm on my way. But hey! I offered them -- they didn't ask for it, ok?

--I have no comment with Vietnam, I haven't seen anything yet. And what's with East Timor? Mr. Horta has a lot of cleaning up to do.

4. The Philippines 2.5
--Having scored lower than Communist Laos & Vietnam is something very alarming, really. But when I was there a month ago, I didn't see anything suspicious. My British buddy who lives in Mindanao Island (apparently the most corrupt of all places in the country) and he doesn't share the same opinion with TI. He even had the experience of being lectured by a policeman and lambasted by a government employee when he tried to offer a bribe. They just refused to be bribed. Those people are worth praising, don't you think?

3. Indonesia 2.4
--Corruption surveys like these are never kind to Indonesia. They really wanted to maintain the reputation, don't they?

2. Cambodia 2.1
--If they are one of the most corrupt, why are they still poor? --I mean the government employees. I go to the Thai-Cambodian border from time to time to play casino. Those same Cambodian Immigration officers who asks for an additional 200 Baht "processing" fee are the same people for like what?-- 5 years ago!? If they get 200 Baht per transient and have more than 2,000 people goes in and out of Cambodia everyday... where do the money go? They still look the same to me!

1. Burma 1.9
--The Military Junta who rules Burma (Myanmar) won't let it go without a fight. The International Community has been bullying them for years but they are still sitting comfortably. Siting the ASEAN's agreement of non-interference, I'm gonna limit my comment on their way of government, I'm not gonna say anything except .... HEY! YOU IDIOTS! FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI! NOW! -- There. Thank you.


If in case you're wondering Brunei is not on the list, well, as expected; not enough information on them. Brunei is Brunei. They belong to another category. They wouldn't care much, they got lotsa mullah anyway.

Normally, people won't take anything if you do NOT offer anything.

Having said that, I wonder who's really making our governments corrupt?

Us or them?

It's BOTH but mostly US! We keep electing them, dammit!

There. Take that!


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If you want the full list, click here.

Related post: 2007 Edition

PERFECT SPECIMEN: Jon Jonsson

Revisiting the most talked about male model in 2005.

A comprehensive collection of Jon's photos...

Click To Play

Eurasians are the perfect specimen of the human race.

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NOS TRÉSORS: Le Borobudur

Au coeur de l'Indonésie, perdue dans une nature sauvage et luxuriante, se dresse une montagne de pierres vieille de plus de 1200 ans. Elle raconte une sagesse immémoriale et invite à une ascension vers la sérénité.

Situé à 42 km de Yogyakarta sur l'île de Java en Indonésie, Borobudur est le plus grand monument bouddhiste au monde. Il étend sur une surface de 2 500 m² des murs ornées de bas-reliefs et des balustrades bordées de 72 stupas ajourés, qui abritent autant de statues du Bouddha. Construit sur trois niveaux, le monument s'appuie sur une base pyramidale, comprenant cinq terrasses carrées concentriques, qui est surmontée de trois plates-formes circulaires, elles-mêmes couronnées d'un stupa monumental

Un monument sauvé du temps
Fondée entre les VIIIème et IXème siècles par des rois hindouistes de la dynastie des Shailendra, Borobudur fut occupé jusqu'au XIIème siècle seulement. A l'époque où le Bouddhisme connu une certaine décadence, il fut abandonné et laissé aux prises de la végétation et des lianes. Sous une espèce de colline sans forme, son existence était toutefois connue des habitants de Java, lorsqu'un Anglais, Sir Stamford Raffles, le découvrit en 1815. Ce ne sera qu'à la fin du XIXème siècle que les premières restaurations furent entreprises par les hollandais. Effrité, rongé par la lèpre et menacé de ruine, le monument bénéficia d'une véritable opération de sauvetage par l'Unesco en 1948. Elle fut suivie par une seconde restauration de 1971 à 1984, dont le résultat est encore appréciable aujourd'hui.

Indicible merveille
Le nom mélodieux de "Borobudur", que l'on peut traduire par "Colline du monastère", est en fait une simplification du nom original... "Bhumisan Barabadura". Traduit strictement en français, cela signifie, "l'Ineffable Montagne des Vertus Accumulées". L'édifice forme une montagne, dont la crête, selon la pensée bouddhiste, est l'endroit où le contact avec la vérité divine peut être fait. Après avoir parcouru les terrasses inférieures ornées de bas-reliefs, en marchant autour de chacune des huit terrasses concentriques, le sage, ou du moins celui qui aspire à la sagesse, accède au stupa central, symbole de l'Absolu. Stupa est un terme sanscrit et désigne un monument religieux en forme de dôme. Il est construit pour abriter une relique bouddhiste. La multitude de pagodes, de niches que l'on trouve à la base contraste avec l'unicité du stupa des hauteurs. Borobudur est le trajet qui va du multiple à l'un.

Les trois mondes bouddhistes
Selon la cosmogonie du bouddhisme mahayaniste, le monde est une sorte d'immense plateau flottant dans l'absolu, dans les espaces sidéraux et cosmiques. Ce dernier est organisé selon un système de cercles concentriques dont le centre est une montagne qui est si haute, si belle, si pure qu'elle est au-delà de la perception de l'humain. Les textes bouddhiques appellent cette montagne le Mont Meru. Ce mont domine les trois mondes fondamentaux qui sont le monde de l'esprit, le monde de la matière et le monde du liquide, c'est-à-dire le monde des passions. Ces trois éléments convergent vers l'unité de l'indicible, la totale transparence.

En simplifiant, le premier monde, symbolisé par la base du monument, comprend toute chose vécue : les besoins, les pulsions, les amours et les haines. On pouvait trouver sur les murs de ce cercle inférieur des représentations de guerres ou des scènes érotiques, dont très peu ont résisté au temps.

Au-dessus se trouve le cercle de l'enseignement. Le pèlerin peut accéder à la connaissance par l'apprentissage de la vie du Bouddha et celles des Bouddha antérieurs. Celle racontée à Borobudur est une des plus complète qui soit, comprenant les trois premières naissances du Bouddha : sa naissance physique à Kapilavastu, celle à la Lumière à Bodgaya et au Verbe à Sarnath.


Dans le troisième cercle, que l'on peut appeler la sphère de la révélation, le corps n'est plus nécessaire : tout n'est plus qu'esprit. La pureté architecturale de la zone témoigne de l'apaisement du monde de l'esprit. Il n'y a plus besoin de bas-reliefs car il n'y a plus besoin de manifestation. Cette suppression soudaine de l'image accentue l'impression de pureté, de simplicité originelle. Tout l'espace tend vers ce dernier cercle, vers le stupa absolu, le grand stupa central.

Les historiens d'art et des religions cherchent à savoir si ce dernier a toujours été vide, ce qui semble désormais probable. Le message apparaît significatif : le stupa central ne contient pas de statue du Bouddha parce qu'on est au-delà même de l'apparence, dans l'esprit pur. Le stupa central serait en quelque sorte l'absolu symbole sans aucune référence à quelque forme que ce soit.

La notion de "Purinirvana" rapporte le moment où le Bouddha renonce à la vie terrestre et où son âme, disent les textes, s'épand en millions d'âmes à travers l'univers. L'image du stupa central au-dessus d'une sorte de pluie de stupas évoque le Bouddha diffusant la grandeur de son message jusqu'au plan le plus terrestre et le plus bas. Le Borobudur arrive ainsi à concretiser une des pensées les plus abstraites du bouddhisme, et faire ressentir 1 200 ans plus tard le chemin de pensée du bouddhisme dans la serenité d'un lieu et de sa nature environnante.

En francais:

*Le temple de la fertilite
*Ville de Louang Prabang
*Ville historique de Sukhothai


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SE ASIA GOIN' GAGA OVER EVEREST (Again)

My cable operator gets me ALL telly channels in our region. I got TV3 from KL, GMA7 from Manila, TVLao and just about every single telly channel a blogger can dream of. *eyes rolling* Just now, I saw another news that a Malaysian woman named Marina Ahmad has just reached the summit of Everest this morning.

What’s with Everest nowadays anyway?

Wasn’t it just last year when we heard about the highly dramatic Filipino race to the top? – there were more than 1 Filipino climbing Everest on the day of 15 May last year and both of them had telly station sponsors (was it ABC and GMA?—correct me if I’m wrong). It was more of a telly channel race than climbing, really. Both station trying to outwit the other to announce that their “manok” (bet) made it first to the top. Oh was it broadcasting at its best or what? Lovely!

And just the other day, I saw an announcement that they are sending the first Filipino women to Everest. Any other contestants from other telly channel?

I could swear I heard one of the stations announced that Dale Abenojar (PHI) was the first Asian OR Southeast Asian to reach the summit of Everest. Of course this is not true. He was the first Filipino, but not the first Southeast Asian. Must be one of those nitwit reporters stirring things up yeah? Anyway, Dale climbed Everest as a member of a 15-man group. The other 2 Filipinos (with another group) reached the summit 2 days later. Hmmm…where they’ve been?

And whatever happened to Singapore's Khoo Swee Chiow who announced his attempt in 2004 to climb the Everest WITHOUT oxygen? No news on that? And I'm pretty sure a Thai dude announced to the media that he's going to attempt the same last year. Hmmm... lack of sponsors?

Who was really the FIRST SOUTHEAST ASIAN to reach the summit of the highly hoolaballooed-frozen-gigantic-piece-of-rock called Mount Everest anyway?

Malaysia’s M. Magendran and N. Mohandas reached the summit on 23 May 1997. Oh wait -- 23 May???... I see! – The first Malaysian woman who reached the top today was a celebration!!! After 10 years of Malaysia’s success, here’s an ode! Wow! That’s cool. But why they waited for 10 years? They could've sent the first woman the next day, yeah? Oh well. She reached the top day early...*sigh*

Marina Ahmad is the 11th Malaysian on record to reach the top of Everest. The Philippines has 4 and Singapore, 1.

Hmmm...Everest, Everest, Everest. What about a list of the first Thais to summit Mt. Apo? Or the first Malaysians on top of Doi Suthep? Or the first Singaporeans in Puncak Jaya? The first Filipinos to summit Mt. Kinabalu? Nobody interested? Ha!

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I'm sure somewhere out there, is a Southeast Asian who has reached the summit of Everest long before the telly stations made it a big circus deal. I'm sure there are lots of them, actually. Summitters who conquered Everest for personal triumph above publicities and corporate sponsorships or monetary rewards. -- Now these, I can really call... the TRUE EVEREST CONQUERORS.

And moi, climbing Mt. Everest? -- in my next life maybe.

Take that!

PERFECT SPECIMEN: Kathaleeya McIntosh | คัทลียา แมคอินทอช

Who says you can only take off your clothes to be sexy?

Kathaleeya shows you don't have to...

Click To Play

Eurasians are the hottest people on earth. Period. Fullstop.

Take that!

****

REALLY OLD AND UGLY FISH CAUGHT IN INDONESIA!

The News and how Bisean take it on...

Indosnesos (21 May 2007)--An Indonesian fisherman hooked a rare coelacanth, a species once thought as extinct as dinosaurs, and briefly kept the "living fossil" alive in a quarantined pool.

-- "Uhmmm...ok."

Justinus Lahama caught the four-foot, 110-pound fish early Saturday off Sulawesi island near Bunaken National Marine Park, which has... some of the highest marine biodiversity in the world. The fish died 17 hours later, an extraordinary survival time, marine biologist Lucky Lumingas said Sunday.

--"I thought Lahama used a hook? How in the world can he pull out a 110-pound ugly fish if he really don't intend to?...And what was he fucken doing in Bunaken? OR around Bunaken? It's supposed to be a protected area!...so the moronic fisherman was backed up by an equally moronic marine biologist? -- keep a fish like a coelacanth in an aquarium and expect it to live forever? Ha!"


"The fish should have died within two hours because this species only lives in deep, cold-sea environment," he said. Lumingas works at the local Sam Ratulangi University, which plans to study the carcass.

--"Whaaaaat? Of course it would only live for a couple of hours, you moron! It was obvious that they won't let it go until it died! The poor thing hold on for 17 long hours of misery! Is that what you guys are teaching in that university?! Pffft."


The coelacanth (pronounced SEE-la-kanth) was believed to be extinct for 65 million years until one was found in 1938 off Africa's coast, igniting worldwide interest. Several other specimens have since been discovered, including another off Sulawesi island in 1998.

--"We KNOW how to pronounce "SEE-la-kanth" dahlin' and it's all over fucken Discovery channel. What? No cable around your island?... and what happened to the one caught in 1998? Not enough cadaver to dissect huh? Just admit it guys...you just want it to yourself! Goddamn marine biologists my arse!"


The powerful predator is highly mobile with limb-like fins, and it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

--"Yeah, yeah, yeah...it's highly mobile. They apparently roam through the deep waters from South Africa to Indonesia. Blah, blah, blah. Yaddi, yadda, ya!

"What I really think is... that marine biologist paid the fisherman some mullah to catch him a really ugly coelacanth. Hey, if our 15 minutes of fame won't come to us...we come to them, don't we? Ha!"

There. Take that!

River Pisanu is back.

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PARTIES THIS WEEK: 20May - 27May

BAREBLACK PARTY 2007
Sun 20 May 07 2200h to Mon 21 May 07 0300h
Maison Club, Kuala Lumpur
It's WILD, it's OUTRAGEOUS, it's the black party of the year featuring your favourite DJ Bobby B with some commercial hard, deep tribal and electro sound. Cover Charge RM30 + 1 Drink (2 entry for the price of 1 before 12.00 am). Happy hours till 1.00 am. Dresscode: Black
LETS GET WILD IN THE DARKNESS!


BED SUPPERCLUB PRESENTS DINNER IN BED WITH CANDI
Ongoing - Sat 19 May 07 1430h to Wed 04 Jul 07 till late
@ The Bed Supperclub Bangkok, Sukhumvit Soi 11, Tel +662 651 3537
Join Bangkok's hottest and funniest new expat and reigning Miss Gay Universe 2006- 2007 Candi Stratton every Sunday from 8:30! You will enjoy a fantastic evening of food and fun as Candi jumps into Bed with the guests and learns more about who the Voyeurs are for the night! Make your dinner reservations early as this night is fast becoming one of Bangkok's favourite nights out. Stay on as Candi joins the cabaret show at midnight in the nightclub for Think Pink! You will have the time of your life.


GHETTO HEAVEN Presents DJ IRWAN
24 and 31 May
Zouk, 113 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
Tel.: 03-2171 1997
http://www.zoukclub.com.my/
Renowned for his trademark mix set that has wowed crowds all over Europe is nothing compared to his powerful R&B vocals that can drive a crowd insane, it’s no other than DJ Irwan all the way from Amsterdam.



BOUNCE WITH ANDREW CHOW
23 May @ Phutures Singapore
The undisputed king if Singapore hip hop will make your night bouncin'! Admission to Phutures can make your way to Zouk, Velvet Underground too! $20 for non-members, $25 for men and girls get in for free!

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BI.S.E.A.N. IS 50 DAYS OLD!

We just surpassed the 20,000 hits mark!

Don't mind this post.

We just wanted to celebrate.

(*part of this post has been edited out. The message was already sent accross to the intended person.)

And to our friends who keep coming back here. Thank you. ขอบคุณ มาก ครับ. Terima kasih banyak-banyak. Maraming salamat. 感謝你. Merci bcp. Danke shoen. ありがとうございます.

-- River Pisanu

SOFIA TOOK THE KLEIN TEST

To Pisanu's insistence, I have to take this grid and post it here. As if this is quite serious. Whatever. Providing he posts his' too, so here it is...

Klein Sexual Orientation Grid

I scored an average of 2.52

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Heterosexual

Bisexual

Homosexual

Meaning

This result can also be related to the Kinsey Scale:


0 = exclusively heterosexual
1 = predominantly heterosexual, incidentally homosexual
2 = predominantly heterosexual, but more
than incidentally homosexual
3 = equally heterosexual and homosexual
4 = predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally
heterosexual
5 = predominantly homosexual, incidentally heterosexual
6 = exclusively homosexual

Summary

The idea of this excercise is to understand exactly how dynamic a person's sexual orientation can be, as well as how fluid it can be over a person's lifespan. While a person's number of actual homo/heterosexual encounters may be easy to categorize, their actual orientation may be completely different. Simple labels like "homosexual", "heterosexual", and "bisexual" need not be the only three options available to us.

Take the quiz

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NOS TRÉSORS: Ville de Louang Prabang

Cette ville reflète la fusion exceptionnelle de l'architecture traditionnelle et des structures urbaines conçues par les autorités coloniales européennes aux XIXe et XXe siècles. Son paysage urbain unique, remarquablement bien conservé, illustre une étape majeure du mélange de ces deux traditions culturelles différentes.

Louang Prabang est une ville du Laos, capitale royale formelle du Lan Xang (royaume du million d'éléphant) du XIVe siècle jusqu'à 1946. La nouvelle capitale effective étant Vientiane depuis 1563, puis à la suite de la séparation du royaume de Luang Prabang et du royaume de Vientiane, la prédominance historique du titre de capitale du Lan Xang se dispute entre les deux villes.

Classée en 1995 Patrimoine mondial de l'Humanité par l'UNESCO, Louang Prabang est l'une des plus jolies villes d'Asie, des plus préservées aussi grâce à la présence de la Maison du Patrimoine qui veille à la sauvegarde de la vieille ville


A l'heure d'aujourd'hui, Louang Prabang est incontestablement un des très hauts symboles du bouddhisme en Asie, et jouit manifestement d'une grande aura auprès d'une population encore très fervente et très pratiquante. Avec ses dizaines de temples d'or qui occupent près de un tiers de la superficie totale de la ville, Louang Prabang continue d'être le siège de nombreuses manifestations religieuses laotiennes toujours en cours aujourd'hui ; les moines vêtus de la simple toge jaune-orange sont à compter en milliers (sur un nombre d'habitants estimé à 40 000 âmes), ce qui renforce indéniablement son caractère singulièrement mystique.

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En francais:

*Le Borobudur
*Le temple de la fertilite
*Ville historique de Sukhothai

"For Better or for Worse, in Straightness and in...Otherwise…When One of You is Bi."

In a perfect world, the “closet” wouldn't even exist because everyone's sexual orientation would be casually out in the open, upfront and universally accepted. The reality, of course, is still miles away from this ideal.

Although media visibility has introduced us to the concept of “gaydar” and a collective idea of what traits trigger it, you really CAN’T tell if someone is straight, gay, or bi just by looking at them, (rainbow badges and “I’m Here, I’m Queer” t-shirts aside). This has made it easy for people to lie outright about their sexuality, or just quietly pass as the default “straight” — as long as nobody suggests otherwise.

The advantage seems obvious— invisibility provides a comfort zone within which one can hide from prejudice in ways visible minorities cannot. Invisibility, however, is also paradoxically to blame for the continued existence of unchallenged homophobia. The thousands of non-straight people who live their lives under the radar add to the impression that alternative sexual orientations belong to a minority small enough to be easily dismissed as deviant.

Because, unlike skin colour or gender, sexual orientation is neither physically apparent nor present immediately at birth, even people who will look upon racists with disgust can still justify other forms of bigotry by convincing themselves that sexuality is a choice, or that it was an acquired perversion due to something that happened to the person.

Throughout history and even today, those who fear persecution or are subject to persistent questioning of their sexual orientation, have resorted to more elaborate charades in the attempt to prove to others that they are straight. Sham relationships and marriages and having children with a person they aren’t really attracted to, these actions help build the elaborate façade they feel is needed to mask their same-sex attraction. For gay people who would choose a real relationship rather than live a charade, disclosure is then required—at the very least, they’ve got to be “out” to each other. Whichever way they go, a relationship means a forced decision — pretend or disclose?

For a bisexual person to enter a relationship with a straight person, however, neither pretending nor disclosure is necessary, leaving the question unasked and therefore unanswered. Whether or not you choose to disclose your bisexuality openly is a very personal matter, and cannot fairly be subject to the judgment of those who aren’t aware of your specific circumstances. However, when it comes to the subject of disclosure to someone with whom you’ve entered (or hope to build) a serious relationship, being upfront about your bisexuality is crucial, for the short- and long-term benefit of both of you.

Hear that? That’s the sound of all those alarm bells going off, joyfully ringing out “THREESOMES!” in the minds of many readers out there. Keep those pants on (for just a sec longer, though—sex should be about fun and fantasies) —here’s how to walk so you can run to your heart’s content later on…you’ll trip if you start with your pants down to your ankles.


It can be a difficult and confusing road for both partners in a relationship where one has taken the big step and revealed their bisexual inclinations to the other. Working together and communicating openly is crucial at every stage of this process, and don’t rush ahead until both sides know they’ve been heard. If one of you is struggling or reluctant, this will hopefully provide a framework for navigating the subject in the most helpful way.


to be continued...

MOBILE POST FROM PISANU / MOC Blog

This is the first time I'm posting from my phone and I hope it goes through. I'm here in Den Haag for the Pasar Malam Besar or the World's Largest Eurasian Party. And this emergency post is brought about by Sofia, who just phoned me a minute ago, panting. I had to get off my vacation for a couple of minutes.

Our hits soared more than 500% today and Sofia panicked! She wanted to know what's going on. We don't want another bouts of hate emails from people who are trying to question the worth of this blog! We don't want another blogger subject us to another stupid polling ridicule. No way Jose! We don't want any of that anymore.

The high hits put a smile on my face so I checked the links and found the "blog angel"! :-) I guess VH of MOC Blog did it again! This entry is for you Mr. V. and thank you for believing in my (now our) blog.

I'll do a lenghty post about your work when I get the chance after my vacation. I promise. :-)

Sofia, if this post turns out to be messy, please sort it out. เย้ๆๆๆๆหายป่วยแล้วดีใจจัง

PERFECT SPECIMEN: Peter Corp Dyrendal | ปีเตอร์ คอร์ป ไดเรนดอล

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Here's one of Peter's great songs...

OUR TREASURES: The Philippine Jeepney

It is affectionately called “The King of the Road” and by god I do understand why! They would stop anytime, anywhere as they wish when loading and unloading passengers. Other motorists would do all they can to avoid a speeding jeepney, and they would cut you off when they see a gap as little as 5 feet between you and the car in front of you! Filipinos have learned to more or less tolerate it. This unconscious tolerance made the jeepney the most loved symbol of the Philippines.

These traces of American influence after World War II can take you almost anywhere you’d like to go. It is the most popular means of daily transport for the Filipinos. It is used as a passenger bus, a delivery truck, a school bus, a tourist shuttle and to an extent, a social status.

They come in different sizes. There’s a four wheeler that can accommodate 14 passengers comfortably; a six-wheeler usually used to travel to remote far flung villages; and I’ve seen some really, really huge ones with 8 wheels that can carry more than 40 passengers! (just like the photo here on the left!) The sight is incredible like they are attempting to break a world record or something. LOL

They also come in different classes. Some jeepneys have air-conditioning, a sound system that could break an eardrum in one boom, and a sedan-like with all the amenities of a little van. They also have the ordinary ones being used as it is intended for -- transportation.


A mobile artwork. What strikes me most is how they adorn their most beloved jeepneys. No jeepney is alike! They are lovingly decorated with colourful stickers, air brush paintings, plastic ribbons that flutter as it speeds though the streets. Some jeep owners would decorate it with hundreds (ok, ok! it's an exaggeration!) of mirrors faced towards the back; meters long radio antennas and to top it all, a colourful plastic panel just above the windshield proudly bearing the family’s name or other whacky slogans. The Jeepney has become a work of art – a channel for self expression.

The first time I ever laid eyes on a jeepney was when I was a little kid. And it wasn’t in the Philippines but in Kuwait in the Middle-East. I remember there was an Asian Expo or something and the Philippine participants brought in a really shocking jeepney!

I was playing with my Kuwaiti and Indian friends on a kiddie park and suddenly there’s this huge, glistening, never before seen vehicle with all it’s colourful splendour! It clearly says “Mabuhay” in front. People on the streets applaud in amazement as it passed by. And I, motionless in awe.

Efforts were made through the years to banish this icon from the streets.
But the Philippine Jeepney is here to stay.

A true pride of Southeast Asia.

****

--written by Pisanu