Author Archives: Alice

After hearing this question throughout our trip to Thailand I finally thought long and hard about why we can’t go to see the elephants. For decades I have avoided taking my kids to the circus, animal shows, or some zoos because I was against seeing animals exploited for entertainment purposes. I just could not see past the animal’s eyes when they are subjected to doing tricks simply for our pleasure and amusement. Mostly, seeing the gigantic elephants in their little spaces whipped until they can stand on those little stools with their hind legs really got me to think….Animals weren’t born to amuse us, why should I pay money to go see an elephant stand on a stool or play soccer?

Remember that incident in Hawaii when a circus elephant went on a rampage and ran loose in the streets running over cars and people? Quietly, I was rooting for the elephant. Run little guy… go get lost in the woods where they will never find you!!! Run, run, run!!! We all know how that situation ended. He was shot dead! “Sorry folks, we plucked him from his mother’s womb so that he can make you laugh; now we had to shoot him because he went wild on us.” (Can’t imagine how that could happen.) And to my shocking amazement to hear that peta.com (people for the ethical treatment of animals) even has a campaign to boycott Thailand because of the “Phaajaan” ritual. I’ve seen the ritual and boy, I pray that in the next life I do not come back as an elephant. And what about all of the stories in the newspaper about the bad mahouts? I have to do my part and refuse to contribute to the cruelty of these animals by signing petitions to help them, boycotting the circus, and avoiding the zoos etc…. All of this compelling evidence and strong viewpoint and my kids still wanted to see the darn elephants. The kids are always whining…. “it’s not fair you got to see them, I want to ride the elephants like you did when you were little in that picture; I want to feed them bananas and sugar cane”. WHY CAN’T WE GO TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS!! You see, it was easier when they were little. Now that they have their own thoughts and feelings I can’t make it go away by distracting them or bribing them.

So now I’m faced with this dilemma, should I squash my feelings and take my kids to see the elephants? What can one little family prove by boycotting the zoo or the circus? I explained this to my dad. My dad suggested that all I can do is instill them with the feelings I have for the animals, inform them of the viewpoints and let them make their own decision. “You can’t deprive your kids of seeing these creatures close-up, they won’t be able to make up their minds by just looking at pictures from a book or scenes of a video. Look how strongly you felt about the animals when you saw them close-up. Let them see it with their own eyes. Besides, there’s not many places in the world where you can reach out and touch an elephant.” Isn’t it amazing that dads can say the right things at the right time? DuHHH! Fine, we will go see the elephants! So, we set off to the Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. As you can see from Jasmine’s first impression of a lively creature taking a bath… I’m thinking that she thought elephants weren’t supposed to be so life-sized!

Hello all! I have recently completed my trip to Thailand, and will be blogging more about it soon…but I would just like to start this blog by addressing an observation upon arriving in Bangkok for a few days…. Do Thai girls Eat???? Everywhere we went, I can’t help but notice that most of the younger ladies in this city are stick thin!!! Every year I visit their getting skinnier and skinnier. What are they eating? What aren’t they eating? There’s food and snacks everywhere! If I lived here for three months I’ll probably gain 300 pounds! I couldn’t walk down the street without buying some kanom/desserts to sample. So many food stalls, restaurants, how can they possibly stay so thin?? Has anyone ever pondered this?

As I was scouring information for my trip to Thailand in a few weeks I came across this little bit of info:

LOS ANGELES IS TO HOST FIRST EVER THAI EXPO THIS WEEKEND AT THE CONVENTION CENTER!

So, in case we have a few blog readers from LA out there, I’d like to forward this info to you! Maybe I’ll be able to see you there! (Hey N Oak, you free this weekend?)

www.thailand2005.com

Here’s my MEME per Oakley’s request. What a great “getting to know you” activity!

Your name:
Alice aka SiamIam

Your location:
Northridge, California, USA

Do you have a Thai nickname? Lis

When was your first trip to Thailand? 2 months old
Your latest trip to Thailand? December 03
Which part of Thailand were you from? Tonburi. Taksin Rd. 40

When did you leave Thailand?
1977

Your latest visit home?
December 2003.

Longest time spent in Bangkok’s traffic:
Can’t remember I think I’m still in it.

Won any money on Thai lottery?
No

Been to Crocodile Farm?
Yes, even posed with the cardboard cut-out!

Floated down (or perhaps across) Chao Phraya river?
Yes, dinner cruise (stinky though).

Ridden an Elephant?
Yes, I had fun riding on my sisler-in-law… no I mean with my sister-in-law… 😉

Been on a squid fishing boat?
No.

Been to a National Park?
Yes, I remember those nasty monkeys they took my chocolate Pocky!

Seen a drag/transvestite show?
No, but I will this time!

Visited a local (read: off the tourist path) temple?
Yes.

Actually talked with a monk?
Yes.

Been to a temple fair?
Yes.

Been stung by jellyfish? (Tribute to Leonardo Dicaprio)
No! And don’t believe what they say about having someone pee on you for the pain.

Hurt yourself partying in Bangkok? (Tribute to Colin Farrell)
No.

Paid a cop to get out of a ticket?
My brother used the “do you know who I am” excuse? Hey, it worked!

Assisted by strangers? (i.e. a place to stay for the night, a free meal, a ride somewhere, lost item returned.)
Hope so.

Most touristy thing you’ve ever done while in Thailand:
Went parasailing and got fondled by a “tourist catcher”.

Most memorable culture shock moment:
When I had to shush away a guy near Patpong showing my hubby an album with pictures of girls in it. I told him to lay off, I’m already working on him”… ha-ha (sorry, was that kosher?)

3 favorite Thai dishes:
Noodle soup with meatballs, Tod-Mun (fish cake), gang som, gang pa, nam prik pa-tu, oh… you said 3 (sorry)

3 favorite spots in Thailand:
Phuket, MBK, Airport (behind the airport, can’t remember the name but Louis Vuitton and Gucci open their stores there)

3 favorite things about Thailand:
Food. Shopping. Food. Shopping. Family. Friendly Faces. Shopping.