A few stories behind the last few pictures

So the story with the taped shoes- both my parents are shoes-maniacs. They have loads of them, when they go visit me in the U.S. they would often buy a few pairs each. When they travel to Singapore, Hong Kong, or just staying in Thailand, they would see a pair they like on sale, and buy them.

The problem with shoes is that, it can be the best shoes in the world, if you leave it on the shelves, it will rot. This is a pair of my dad's Caterpillar's workshoes. I borrowed it to go on a job with our film company. We went out and set up the crane which they used to record a concert. It was a hard job with a lot of walking with a lot of the parts (including these dreaded weights, weighing about 40 pounds each- the four of us made like 12 trips each, with two in each of our hands). Half an hour into the job, I'm there trying to impress the crew that even though I'm the son of the owner, I was not there to point and tell people what to do, I was there to help just like everyone else, and the sole of the right shoe completely came off.

I couldn't walk in those. Remembering that Alberto always said, "Tape fixes everything," i got rolls of electrical tape and gaffer tape, and wrapped them around my right foot. It fixed it for awhile, but every now and then the sole would slide off to the front and I would have to reach down and pull it back..

but it saved the day.



For the fish, we went and ate at a sushi buffet restaurant. They would sometimes proudly display the fish in front of the sashimi pieces you're about to get. This is what's missing from American cuisine. People know meat by the cuts, but they don't associate the meat to the animal.

Lastly, the Black Man. It's nice to see things that would otherwise be ignored in the world. It would be so frowned upon in the US if a brand is named that. However, "Black man" for Thai simply meant, a man who is black, and there's nothing wrong with that. I hate social designation of connotations. It's ridiculous. China man means a man from China, nothing more, nothing less.

I hope you enjoy my rant. I haven't had a lot of time. Just booked a flight from BKK to Narita. Going to Japan for 10 days, couchsurfing as much as I can. Currently planning out the trip. Wish me luck!

Pete



I'm listening to this.