A Head Gash is No Cash in Thailand

The other day, actually its been a few weeks ago but I've been too lazy to write about it, I returned home after a very long and exhausting day of work. I was in a bit of a bad mood as I had just found a pimple on my chin. Now I'm old, and so for me to get a pimple on my chin is kind of rare. The thing is, it's damn hot in Thailand this time of year. I mean damn in the literal definition like borderline hell conditions. Most days it's about 90 + and we have 70% humidity but it just won't rain! But, like an idiot, I play basketball and badminton nearly every day in the middle of the afternoon and drench myself with perspiration. So this time of year you see blemishes sprouting on everyone -- who can battle all this heat. I mean I get a facial treatment every weekend, but still my skin is not impervious to these zit fertile conditions.

Where was I? Coming home, and I got out of my truck and was sort of looking at my zit in the side mirror of my truck. Then my favorite little kid was hanging in the doorway of our building playing with the maid, she is partially terrified of the tall goofy Farang and partially loves to wave and say 'Hello' before hiding her face in her mother's bosom. She's only about 1 and a half or so, so just cute as a button. The maid was lowering the sun screen which guards the front door in the late afternoon and this screen, basically a pipe with a tarp attached, came down right in front of me and CRACKED me on the head.

I had no idea I was hurt until the baby started crying. "It's okay honey," I said, trying to joke with her and tease her into a smile; and I almost had her there when a big streak of crimson ran down my forehead and into my eye. "Ahhhh," I yelled, "WHAAAAA" she cried. Both of us scrambled for out rooms.

Now, I have a hard head. I've tested this fact far too many times in my rather idiotic and violent youth. But still I was a little woozy on my way to my apartment. BUT, this is Thailand so you think I could sue over such a thing, Americans I know you do, but think again. Here it is truly walker or customer beware and so common sense rules. I walked into the pipe, it sucks and it hurt like a pipe to the head, but it was really my fault so no pay out will be forth coming.

Oh well, take a look at the idiot's head.

PLAY ME

Satit Kaset Bowling Over All Champion

Being a champion is much more than just winning, its about winning and being given a really cool trophy with a ribbon tied on it.

One week ago Satit Kaset International held their annual bowling tournament at SF Strike Bowl here in Bangkok. I felt good coming into the competition and developed a smooth swing which carried me to a 3 game combined score victory over several hundred other competitors. Because of this remarkable and awe inspiring achievement I have decided that all student and fellow teachers will need to refer to me next year as Master Bowler Ajarn Sim instead of simply Ajarn Sim. I believe that this is a title that better fits my current standing.

Now I would like address the one or two detractors to my title, a better term for them would be jealous competitors who failed to find a way to win, when they might say that the bowling tournament had strange scoring rules and this gave me an advantage. Okay it is true that this was a one ball competition, so no spares had to be attempted, and it is true that any even number of pens knocked down counted as a strike and any odd number counted as a spare, and it is true that I hit a number of 2 pen frames which were converted into strikes, but as they say what matters is not the rules or regulations, but adapting to and using these rules to secure a very cool trophy with a ribbon on it.

I am American, and what that means is very simple, "Just Win Baby" and then everything else is forgotten. I refer to what one of our founding fathers once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Now I can't remember when Knute Rockne said this or even when he was the president, but I do believe in his wisdom. This quote has fueled my vision of competitive sport my entire life and that's probably why I will be polishing the trophy on my cabinet this weekend.

Asia Books Brings in Those Who Hear

When I first starting re-writing the early chapters of Those Who Hear, a novel which actually was originally written in 1st person and I had to switch to 3rd person, it was at Coffee World in the Mall Bangkapi where I would work. I actually had no intention of publishing the story, but like an inventor who needs to tinker when there is nothing else to do, I found myself drawn to this old story and wanted to see if done correctly. In those days there was a shoe store across from Coffee World, but I usually sat on the railing which faced out across the vast exhibition hall of the mall. Here everything from cars to Chinese food might be being sold on any weekend and the variety of products and the lovely ladies who demonstrate those products was always creative inspiration.Now Those Who Hear is a published novel and I live far from this mall and make it there very rarely, so of course a fabulous new book store has come in across the hall. Of course Asia Books placed an order for THOSE WHO HEAR last week and so I am very hopeful that this book finds a home, a very temporary one, on the shelves of this lovely new store in my old stomping grounds. If you visit Bangkapi, please visit Asia Books new store and while you are there, pick up a copy of THOSE WHO HEAR. If they don't have it, DEMAND IT be ordered! Of course they should also have a copy of ECHO POOL in stock and if they don't, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!

Douglas Adams Birthday Today

My good friend Speedy brought up the fact that today would have been Douglas Adams' birthday, only his 56Th. He died far too young. If you click on the title you can go to his website and read all about him. He was known as a great speaker, but without a doubt will always be remembered for his Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. I loved the books, and laugh every single time I hear the opening song of the movie. So long and thanks for all the fish Douglas!

Douglas Adams, photo taken from his website.

A Review for ECHO POOL

Tom White, on the far left, is pictured here during an opening event in Aceh Indonesia. He is the acting chief there in charge of CHF which is rebuilding the infrastructure of this tsunami devastated island.
Tom had this to say about ECHO POOL:

Hi Sim, I am really enjoying reading Echo Pool...at about page 160 or so, as Duke is about to walk out on Arraya. Its a nicely structured novel, and hits home about a story that is unique but close in some ways: the expat overseas, pondering the past, experiencing the right now, love, friends, trying to make way. There's also a piece of Americana in it, somehow the oddities of how we grew up in high school, the father and grandfather frontier experience...a lot in the mix told directly and simply. It makes me ponder things...

Thanks so much Tom for your support of my writing and for the hard and dangerous work you are doing in Indonesia. Openings like the one pictured above are probably the biggest reward you get for such a difficult job.

Nike Shoes are JUNK

I have purchased two pair of Nike shoes in the past year, one for badminton and one for basketball. I really can't believe how much more I paid for these shoes, especially considering the no-name brand shoes I'd bought before lasted twice as long. I am not a name-brand guy anyway, in fact I won't wear any shirt or slacks that shows the name of the company who made it -- what am I their spokes model? But I used to think with Nike you were getting a good value, boy was I wrong. This basketball shoe split like this after about 12 games. Which means I paid $9.16 per game for these gems. I can't believe the lack of value!
Sadly my badminton shoes, which are not pictured here, also split like this and it happened after only about 9 games. I think I'm done with the swoop! The imitations and copy shoes are just a much better VALUE!
Cheap Chinese shoes may not look as cool, but they work fine for me and they last a lot longer than these expensive American shoes which are made in China anyway.

Website Created for JOURNEYS of the ASTROPATH

http://astropaths.blogspot.com/ as been established to generate a purchasing page and also a page dedicated to the discussion of and development of the Journeys of the Astropath series. On this site I would like to encourage lots of feedback and ideas concerning the characters and story which is currently under development. HAVE AN INFLUENCE! Your comments or ideas could find there way into this novel series. Come take a look at the site, buy the book, read it, and then write some of your ideas to help me create this series.

Click on the title and be taken to the Journeys of the Astropath web page.

$25 RELEASE DEAL get THOSE WHO HEAR and ECHO POOL just $25

$25 if you still haven't gotten your copy of ECHO POOL and you are ordering THOSE WHO HEAR, this deal will save you $4. Shipping is the most expensive part of our cost on these books, so if you would like both of them we can put them in one envelope and ship them at a reduced price. 2 books and shipping to any place on the planet for just $25. Or if you already have ECHO POOL and you have more than one young adult in your family order 2 copies of THOSE WHO HEAR for just $25. Simply be sure, when you make your payment, to let us know which combination you would like. Thanks for your support.

Those Who Hear abailable at Bangkok Book House

The release of THOSE WHO HEAR is official. Click on the title and leap to Bangkok Book House for direct ordering. The Journeys of the Astopaths has begun! I am excited to announce that we have finally, as it seems we worked on this project for such a long time, that we are in print and available now. Book stores in Asia will have this title soon, but somewhat randomly. If you really want to get a hold of it right away your best bet would be to order from Bangkok Book House direct.

I'll probably get a payment gateway set up on siminoe.com soon. If you have a favorite book store, REQUEST it, DEMAND it, and help me get it ROLLING!

THOSE WHO HEAR RELEASES FEB. 13

This is almost the cover -- but the color will be different so you'll have to wait a few days.

February 13th is our scheduled release date, although technically the book will not be available in book stores for a few days after this. If anyone is chomping at the bit to get a hold of THOSE WHO HEAR, my fantasy novel, click the title above and place a direct order with Bangkok Book House. The price here in Bangkok is 350 baht and from what I understand shipping in the metro area is very inexpensive. This book is not a serious piece of literature, its a fun action adventure story that launches a series called the Journeys of the Astropaths. In all we have scheduled and I am working on 5 total books. Of course lets wait and see what the reaction to the first one is before we jump the gun.
The opening book is the guide to all of the books to come in that it introduces Cody Gallas and his special powers. If you are a fan of magic, adventure, or simply love books that offer you a chance to root for the underdog, Those Who Hear should be an addition to your book shelf.

FOOD

The best part of living in Thailand for me is without a doubt the food. I'm not sure if there is any limit to to variety, because each province brags a slightly different variation on all of the standard dishes while also having some which are completely theirs.. As a farang, but one from Western United States, I love my food HOT. One mildly annoying thing is that because of the English who live here and perhaps the Germans, Thais have the idea that anyone who is white can not eat SPICEY food. Nothing could be further from the truth of course. For me, if I'm not sweating bullets and chewing on leaves to relieve the heat, it's not hot enough!

What is really amazing about Thai food as well, is the price. If you eat on the street a standard meal will cost only about $1.00 well $1.60 now that the BUSH ECONOMY has killed the dollar. But, even for nice patio or sort of posh neighborhood places you won't pay more than about $6.00 for great food and atmosphere.

Honestly if I had to pay a lot more Thai food would be a bargain because they have so much to chose from and all of it is tasty. I personally enjoy noodle dishes for the most part, but of course they have rice dishes as well.

Journeys of the Astropaths

These were the rejected covers for Those Who Hear.

A writing project that I have been enjoying working on for the past year is about to finally come to print. The series of books that I have proposed to my publisher, Bangkok Book House, is called Journeys of the Astropaths. It details the life and times of Cody Gallas who has had a childhood marred by tragedy, but finds during these troubles that he has an amazing innate ability. The magic of the series is an anomaly that certain people are born with, a very rare group, which allows their brains to develop at a highly advanced state. They are called astropaths because they have the ability to travel with the use of their mind, communicate telepathically, and read the thoughts of the humans around them. They do have a vulnerability in that while they are traveling outside of their body to anywhere in the world, the body they leave behind is completely defenseless.
So it all will begin on FEBRUARY 13th and I am very excited to enter the world of Young Adult or Fantasy writing. It is such a different project from Echo Pool that I must admit I have no idea what people will say about it. I hope the teens enjoy it and that adults get a few kicks as well.
I will not give away what the cover will look like, but instead will show three of the rejected covers for the book. The publisher has final say in these matters, but Bangkok Book House is very open to the writers helping to design covers and help with the over all image of the books they publish.

COMING SOON is a NEW BLOG DEDICATED TO THE ASTROPATH SERIES, click on the title above and you can see where it will be and the early design.