Saturday, February 28, 2009

Thoughts on Travel to Thailand

February 28, 2009
Makati City,
Philippines


Today has been a relaxed Saturday. One happy moment was an unexpected find at Fully Booked in Greenbelt 5. I thought the cute little blank-page journal would be perfect to fit into my shoulder bag when I travel. I have a larger-sized journal which I keep at home and which is also cat-themed.

When I got home I set the little blue journal by the side of the travel book I had for Thailand (and other SE Asian nations.)

Looking at the book's cover and the blank pages of my spanking brand new notebook, I suddenly grabbed a red pen and scribbled some verses. Not that I am aspiring to be a poetess who seeks to be published, but sometimes writing down haikus and short lines helps me "unload" my mind of subconscious worries and thoughts...or helps me to amplify happy feelings.

I was reminded of a tv show wherein the folks who traveled around their country brought pen and paper to draw sketches or write a short poem when they visited a place. In my case, I have to use my imagination since I don't think I will be in a meditative mood by the time I get to Bangkok :-)


black, dark silhouettes...
  temples against the blue sky.
forgotten god-kings.
....

soft velvet blanket
crushed under my fingertips...
blank gaze of worry
....

wood boat sways gently
   with its colorful burden.
Floating market day...
....

One day in Bangkok -
Buddhist temples and beaches.
I smell the spices.
...

changed just now to:
One day in Bangkok -
Buddhist temples and beaches.
Spices permeate the air.

Chao Phraya river -
sing songs with water and wind....
I shall listen intently.


* The Blue Cats and Butterflies cover on the journal I bought was designed by Laurel Burch. She is a self-taught artist and "flower child" who lives in California. In the 1960s she sold handmade jewelry on the streets of Sanfo.  She continues today to create vibrant images of whimsy and allure with paper and paint.

I included a picture of the journal here, because it made me think also of Thai silks in dark blue.
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37 comments:

  1. CatH \(^_^)/February 28, 2009 at 8:39 AM

    hi Claire, I see you are online..nagkita kami pala ni Dingdong kanina..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Al Jean :)February 28, 2009 at 8:49 AM

    wow!ang ganda Cat!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Al Jean :)February 28, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    i'll wait for another version when you get to see and experience Bangkok for real!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. John WellbeloveFebruary 28, 2009 at 8:53 AM

    So far, so good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. CatH \(^_^)/February 28, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    hi Al,

    khap!

    thats very kind of you..buti na lang friends are obliged to say that kind of thing to me..hehehe...

    ReplyDelete
  6. CatH \(^_^)/February 28, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    my golly, maybe I will be writing about upset tummy because I pigged out. uncontrollably on Thai food...

    ....hmm..I wonder how that poem will be? *wink*

    ReplyDelete
  7. CatH \(^_^)/February 28, 2009 at 9:06 AM

    thanks John...I shall stop there then until I find another journal's color to inspire me...*grin*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Frank c",)February 28, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    Cat had tummy ache
    Got a new journal from store
    World is right again

    LOL. Have a great weekend, Cat. =)

    ReplyDelete
  9. CatH \(^_^)/February 28, 2009 at 9:49 AM

    Hi Fran....that was nice...though I had an evil thought..and yucky too...

    maybe the journal paper was used for something else *wink*

    ReplyDelete
  10. Frank c",)February 28, 2009 at 9:56 AM

    Naughty-naughty. Like Jing often used to say...OMG! OMG! OMG!

    LOL

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  11. CatH \(^_^)/February 28, 2009 at 10:00 AM

    you started it! *points chin accusingly at Fran Pinoy-style*

    LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Frank c",)February 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM

    ahhhh...but I wasn't the one who had the evil thought. Check..LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. Me AnnFebruary 28, 2009 at 4:13 PM

    hahaha! up to here, nag che checkmate ka fran? OMG!OMG!OMG!

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  14. Me AnnFebruary 28, 2009 at 4:13 PM

    so it is bangkok huh, cat? macau did not appeal to you?

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  15. oselle ♥February 28, 2009 at 7:29 PM

    How's Bangkok? I hope you're having fun there, ikaw lang ba mag-isa?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rocky EspritFebruary 28, 2009 at 8:44 PM

    love it! very pretty cat... and your headshot rocks, woman... you are sooo beeautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Frank c",)February 28, 2009 at 11:33 PM

    I'm an equal opportunist--what can I say? hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  18. Caloy LlamasMarch 1, 2009 at 1:53 AM

    Wow, ganda naman ng mga haiku mo...makata ka pala =)

    Mag contribute naman ako ng Senryu :

    "Farting
    Nothing funny about it
    When you live alone"

    Hehehe...

    Good luck and happy trip Cat!

    ReplyDelete
  19. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 6:53 AM

    *taps chin* I would not have had the evil thought in the first place, if a certain person who will remain unnamed *ehem* didnt' write those lines in the first place...

    hmmmph..

    ReplyDelete
  20. Boboy YonzonMarch 1, 2009 at 6:55 AM

    Day, naandar na naman ang pagka-samurai mo. : )

    ReplyDelete
  21. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 6:55 AM

    more of which was cheaper fare at that time :-)

    I've been to HK and CHina kc..so baka next time na ako pupunta Macau if may yen ako to go to Disney HK...

    ReplyDelete
  22. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 6:59 AM

    more of which was cheaper fare at that time :-)

    I've been to HK and CHina kc..so baka next time na ako pupunta Macau if may yen ako to go to Disney HK...

    ReplyDelete
  23. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 7:01 AM

    more of which was cheaper fare at that time :-)

    I've been to HK and CHina kc..so baka next time na ako pupunta Macau if may yen ako to go to Disney HK...

    ReplyDelete
  24. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 7:02 AM

    Oselle, excited ka yata for me...

    March 5 pa ang alis ko..hehe..

    ReplyDelete
  25. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 7:02 AM

    thanks Rox...basta may makeup, one can be anything...hmm...dapat siguro magpa makeup ako turning me into a guy..ehem...hehehe!

    ReplyDelete
  26. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 7:04 AM

    thanks Rox...basta may makeup, one can be anything...hmm...dapat siguro magpa makeup ako turning me into a guy..ehem...hehehe!

    ReplyDelete
  27. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 7:11 AM

    hi Caloy,

    long time no see ah (hahaha...may magandang kuha ako sa pose mo na ibang-iba when you took the sunset shots at Sofitel) hehehe...

    that kind of subject makes me think...maybe farting is the reason one has to live alone ;-)



    ReplyDelete
  28. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 7:19 AM

    Sir B...bakit samurai?

    di ba pwede geisha ang gamitin mo na term? *wink*

    ReplyDelete
  29. Caloy LlamasMarch 1, 2009 at 5:30 PM

    Asan yung naiibang picture? Na-post mo na?

    Hmmmm, interesting response to my senryu on the subject farting...
    ***Caloy frantically looking for his book of Japanese senryus***

    ReplyDelete
  30. CatH \(^_^)/March 1, 2009 at 9:56 PM

    I was just amused by your stance in taking pictures of the sun while we were at Sofitel....yes posted na..pati yung sa Roxas Blvd natin, pero sadly walang scandalous shots don....na pwedeng blackmail material...

    if may subject na farting, am sure it will spawn philosophical discussions (as in..pilosopo ohohoho!)

    ReplyDelete
  31. CatH \(^_^)/March 3, 2009 at 10:40 AM

    I'd like to thank Al who has been staying up late at night (as usual..hahaha, para kaming vampira) to help me get more familiar on my BKK itinerary!

    also thanks to Sherry for her idea and tips...on the other post, it helped me clarify where to go and not miss!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Me AnnMarch 3, 2009 at 4:01 PM

    wow! new theme! i like it! sige, share your itinerary with us...i might go to Bangkok this summer too!

    ReplyDelete
  33. CatH \(^_^)/March 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM

    okies...I will see if I can fulfill half of it...as baka alanganin...Ayutthaya for example I would like to vsit..but with the schedule am not sure anymore..

    ReplyDelete
  34. oselle ♥March 4, 2009 at 6:43 AM

    ganon ba... lol

    hayyyy, pilit kasi nag hahabol, grabe dami kong na-mi-miss .. :D

    ReplyDelete
  35. CatH \(^_^)/March 4, 2009 at 5:48 PM

    hi Ozz,

    don'tcha worry...

    am so behind in my postings that a turtle traveling to Bangkok from the Philippines would reach Thailand before I could catch up with all I've missed in Multiply....LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  36. noel kasemMarch 22, 2009 at 7:35 AM

    How was the trip? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  37. CatH \(^_^)/March 22, 2009 at 8:24 AM

    I luv the food!

    The durian was not enough, I could have eaten one durian a day!

    It was also educational :-) I never thought I'd get to see the inside of a bikini bar, and watch also a show involving some...weird...stuff...ehem..

    ReplyDelete

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