Halloween in a Buddhist country is strange. Malls like Emporium are decorated with masks, black and orange garlands, and of course ghosts of all shapes and sizes. But ask a local person why they celebrate Halloween and you might end up explaining what trick or treat means. It's funny how they celebrate it for the sake of celebrating it.

Post script: It was a rainy Halloween in Bangkok, with everyone experiencing their worst nightmare - heavy rains and 3 hour traffic jams all over the city. Good thing we decided to stay home instead. The crown I wore to work gave me a headache.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer seems to be featuring Bangkok these past few days. I have to disagree with the writer though... there is so much more to Bangkok than MBK's 7 floors of shopping.

I could not help but laugh out loud while reading "Learning to be Asian" by Michael Tan. I've been here in Bangkok for about 5 months now and I live and breathe their culture, as I slowly begin to embrace it. It has been an awesome experience for me to be exposed to their unique culture -- their deep respect for Thailand's royal family, their totally different religion, and more importantly, their lack of colonial mentality. As opposed to Filipinos who have dreams of going the the US of A for greener pastures, Thais who are educated abroad will always go back to their country to contribute to society. As for their lack of English, they don't seem to make a big deal out of it. Neither do they feel inferior if they don't get to watch the latest Sex and the City or Friends episodes. In the end, we Filipinos seem like a strange culture to Thais altogether -- because we don't have a unique culture, nor do we have a language we can call our own. I do hope a lot of people get to realize the importance of exposure to the Asian culture before worshipping all that is Western.

Had an annual check-up at a nearby hospital this morning. Funny how Thailand has a more organized hospital system, even if they do lack a bit in the English department. And the hospital doesn't smell like a hospital too, nor do they have overflowing emergency rooms.

Reading about Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the circus of a government she runs in the local newspaper is almost funny. To an outsider who knows nothing about the Philippines, it must be an extremely dangerous country, not to mention bus bombs and kidnappings as an everyday thing. Rest assured though, the Philippines is still a sane and safe place. After all, the south is not the only place that comprises the Philippines.

I've been in Bangkok for 4 months and I'm still struggling to juggle everything. Yes, I've been to Patpong a couple of times although I wouldn't dare watch the physically-challenging pingpong shows there. Besides I'd rather go shopping than waste 500 baht. Living in Bangkok is proving to be an adventure in itself -- minus the food adventure of course. It's amazing to see how Thais are... I've never met any Thai in my entire life before moving here so it's like living in one big strange soap opera.