NANA2 : the movie

This afternoon, I went to Siam to watch a movie. When I checked the list of now showing movies, NANA2 immediately caught my eyes. I was impressed by the first episode of it and deeply impressed by the cartoon version so I unhesitatingly bought the tickets.

The drama of NANA, by Ai Yasawa, is about two Japanese girls who meet each other on a train to Tokyo. Although they share the same age and the same name, Nana, their personality and attitude are extremely different from each other. “Black Nana” is quite pessimistic, spiritually strong, and aiming at becoming the most popular singer. “White Nana” or “Hachi” is optimistic, easily upset, and aiming at having a warm family. Not so long after they share a room together, two Nana begin to share their lives. They become each other’s very best friend and struggle shoulder to shoulder for their dreams.

I really like the cartoon because its content is fascinatingly dramatic, the surrounding drawn is realistic and pleasing, and the emotion of the characters is expressed very clearly though their gestures.

Just like what I have expected, NANA2 provides exactly what happens in its cartoon version; the place that events take place, the exact characteristic of every character, and even the clothes and accessories they wear in each scene! Though that doesn’t sounds very creative, I enjoyed watching the movie, part of that because it makes me realize that Yasawa builds up the scenes with the most part of them base on reality, such a surprising attempt.

Surprising 70 things

Tonight, I’ve got an email titled “Surprising 70 things”. Though I don’t know if the details are correct, I found it very interesting and funny. Some of them are unbelievable, some seem to be very simple but surprising, some are disgusting, but most of them are fun to read. Here is a part of the article which I like. Again, I translate it from Thai to English.

Did you know that…
- Louis XIV took a bath only 3 times in his entire life!
- Hitler parted his hair on the left.
- In Hawaii, a flower on women’s left ear means she is married.
- We cannot commit suicide by holding our breath.
- 3% of women don’t like wearing panties.
- Hippopotamus farts via its mouth.
- All the turbines cycle counterclockwise but not in Ireland.
- Human’s palm and sole cannot be burnt.
- A hedgehog often masturbates.
- Electric eel will short itself dead if it is in brine.
- The most popular name in the world is “Mohammed”.
- Coke, the beverage, is once green. (I’d prefer an ordinary dark one.)
- The kings displayed on cards are King David, Alexander the great, Charlemagne, and Julius Caesar.
- A couple of mice can reproduce their offspring up to a million in 18 months.
- Just like the fingerprint, every tongue print is different.
- The longest kiss recorded is 30.59.27 hours long.
- Fried spider tests like bean.
- A cockroach’s teeth are in its stomach! (ew!)
- Polar bears and kangaroos can kiss. Chimpanzees even have French kiss!
- “Hippopotomonstrsesquippedaliophobia” is the fear of reading long words.
- Google site is not a search engine only, but a calculator too. (Try 1+2)

But after I tried stupidly to search for “Hippopotomonstrsesquippedaliophobia” in Wikipedia, I realized that I was fooled.

Three Men in a Boat

Around 3 weeks ago, I borrowed a book from AUA library. Its name is Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome.

Like its name, this book is a story of three friends – and one dog - who decided to spend their holiday together taking a trip along Thames River. The story is told via the main character’s words, ‘J’ whose name is never mentioned in any chapter but in the introduction.

All three men are indolent and unwilling to do any work like what ‘J’ says, “I like work, I find it interesting… I can sit and look at it for hours.” Their imagination, clumsiness, and humor turn their ordinary boat trip into an adventurous journey. They fall into the river, are soaked by pouring rain, eat a distasteful meal cooked by one of them, tell each other the story they have previously experienced, plan their tomorrow schedule and fail to follow it, and even imagine the conversation between Montmorency, their dog, and a strange cat. At last, they end up with taking a train home in stead of shipping back because of the unendurable events they themselves always make.

The reason I borrowed it is that its cover seems interesting and funny but I’ve found this book not very enjoyable since I had finished the forth chapter (out of 16). The performance of three men is absurd; their comedy isn’t funny for me and they do silly things such as they fail to open a can just because they lost the tin-opener. However, I learned more western culture from this book; what do people do in their holidays, how do they dress from the pictures in the book, and how can a photographer make money from the people having their vacations.

Next time, I'll not judge a book by its cover again.

After read 'Of mice and men'

When I first accepted the book, Of mice and men, I found its cover interesting and I read all of the comments. When I finished reading chapter1, though I was impressed by the elaborate description of the surroundings, I couldn’t find anything that might lead the story to be “A thriller” like The New York Times commented on the back of the book. I ignored the desolate cover and the comments that obviously indicate a tragedy and just continue to read, faithfully expected the time Gorge and Lennie achieve their dream and live happily together.

But after I read the conclusion of Peter’s essay, I rushed to read the rest. After I finished it I recognized Peter’s words on Thursday saying the detail Steinbeck described in his novel all are related and affect the story. Just like Carlson’s deed and Candy’s thought toward the old dog that influence the main character, George, to make a decision on his follower’s destiny, Lennie’s.

Overall, I really like this novel. The description is so detailed that I could imagine the picture. It is as if Steinbeck observed it from reality. Beside, the story is very well plotted and very engrossing.

I've read two other Steinbeck's novel, The Red Pony, and East of Eden but i found they weren't very enjoyable as this one, may be because I read them in simplified version in Penguin Readers. However, I found what East of eden and Of mice and men have in common, the trouble in both story are caused by a woman, who didn't behave well and they both died. Does Steinbeck want to denote that women are troublemakers and should be got rid of? I think I must fetch The Red Pony which i already forgot all the story and read it again to find some clue. What do you think? Am i too pessimistic?

so far, at AUA

Tomorrow will be the end of the third week at AUA where I’ve spent my free time improving my Eng skill. So far, I really like studying there especially Reading and Writing class. At first, I got quite stressed because I haven’t known anyone yet and all the classmates seemed very skillful (which I learn later that they are, exactly). But after that just a few days, I got more comfortable and had fun. I like the way Peter teaches us; he doesn’t give us directly lesson but he encourages his students to think about the answer of his didactic question which will teach us itself. This way of teaching make the students understand the lesson more clearly and also, can remember it without too much attempt. Peter often put us in groups and let us discuss some issue; I like this as well because it improves my critical thinking and it is fun debating with the other group or other one, like Joon.

Joon is the only foreign student in my class. He is Korean. He has played taekwondo for 30 years but he won’t fight with women. Sometime I have difficulty listening to his accent but I believe he too have difficulty listening to mine so that’s quite fair learning each other’s accent. Debating some issue with him is enjoyable because he always bring up lots of aspect that no one has thought of before. They are interesting and often be a new lesson for Peter to teach everyone. Today he changed his hair style which most of the classmates and I think that it suits him. I think this class might be less fun without him.

Overall, though I have a lot of homework to do everyday, I consider studying here is very worthwhile.

My Beloved School

I was sitting in front of my monitor staring at my blog and thinking hard what should I write, then Bingo!! ...I saw may display picture. ;)

The figures above are the exact ones. They are called Pra-giaew (พระเกี้ยว).
Pra-giaew is a symbol of my school and is part of our unique uniform as a pin brooched on student’s shirt. Gold Pra-giaew is for boys and the silver one is for girls and they very remind me of my beloved high school.

My school is Triam udom Suksa located on Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan. When I was in lower secondary school, I never had a thought of applying this high school. But when I nearly finished Mathayom3, my parents enthusiastically encouraged me to apply it. At first, I was disappointed and afraid of being in the totally new place. But after a few weeks, I was enchanted by the fascinated surroundings.

There are tons of pleasant things there, a little shady bench to sit leisurely, three canteens each has its unique renowned food stands, various elective subjects to choose up to the student’s preference, a number of expert teachers with the challenging paper, several activities to participate in and above all, a great number of individually talented peers.

Most of the students here have their individual aptitude, both in academic matters and other matters. Some are competent in academic issue and won many scholarships and competitions. Some are talented in Arts and produce lots of creations which are shown and sold on club exhibition. Some are very adept in speaking; they can convince every audience to follow their idea obediently without any nerves. Some are so gifted with leadership that they can subdue the whole bustling class with only considerateness and give the attention back to a teacher, And many others that are good at other things. These peers offer me a chance to see and learn through the activities we have participated. I went through those beside my beloved friends. We had a really good time and grew up a lot.

The senior once told me that “three years in Triam will elapse in a flash” which I listened to it heedlessly.

But I have determined that when I visit my school to see first-year students this June, I will tell them just like that senior did.

The paragraph

The following paragraph is the paragraph about the painting on page 165, revised and proofread. The sentence Peter said is in pink.

The picture on page 165 is an appropriate choice as an opener for chapter 6. This picture is composed of lots of things so that any viewer can learn easily that this place is a mental hospital where mental patients are kept as you will see from the following description. There are beds with curtains which are lined up like a common ward, nuns who seem to be nurses, a cross at the end of the room, and a group of patients, one of whom seems to be addicted from the way he smokes. The topic of chapter 6 is “abnormal psychology”, which is one of the diseases from which patients suffering have to be kept in a mental hospital. Therefore, this is a suitable picture for the beginning of the chapter.

The pouring afternoon

The following story is a forward mail I received. The narrator describes the event she has experienced with sympathety and added her own moral opinion which I consider interesting to read. Actually, the original article is written in Thai, so I rewrite it in English for foreigners' understanding and practicing my writing skill.

The story accidentally occurs in a pouring afternoon when I was rushing to meet my friend. I ran to the road and hurriedly get into a taxi without noticing the taxi’s condition. It’s dim and stuffy inside and the seat is completely uncomfortable. My first thought is “it’s alright, just a few minute being here”. Time past slowly when the old cordial driver told me that he had no change to give if he had to do so, “you are my first passenger today”.

I looked at my watch; it’s nearly 4pm then. So I asked, “You’ve just started driving?”

His answer was “Well actually, I’ve been driving since 4 in the morning but I’ve got no passenger all day”.

“Really? Why?” I asked him just to cover my indifference.

“My car is too old that nobody wants to take, but I understand. If I was them I would rather take those new ones too because of the same amount to pay and of course, it’s their money” his tone of voice seemed comfortably unstressed “Children, nowadays, like colorful cars.”

Then he changed his topic

“By the way, how much does BTS cost?”

So I told him.

“Ah, if I don’t know how to take, will anyone help me?” His voice grew more nervous “My son wants to take it on his birthday. I want to take him too but I’ve no experience”

At that time, BTS is completely operated for nearly 3 years.

“If I let him take it, he’d be overjoyed. I’ve taken him to the station once but I have no money that day.” His tone then was so happy that I suddenly got a lump in my throat; I could do nothing but nodded.

About his old car, I know exactly I’m one of “children nowadays” who like colorful cars and wait for them another half an hour ignoring old taxis. When I heard his words, the only thing I could do was giving him an embarrassing smile through the mirror.If it wasn’t raining or I’m in rush, I’d definitely not take this taxi.
I think it’s my rights to choose things I prefer, but if the thing we choose can help others too, I think it’s not bad. Taking only new, colorful taxis is not wrong too. But if we give a little attention to a little detail, we might give other people happiness simultaneously.

This whole story makes me look back at myself deliberately. For me, BTS is what I take all the time sometimes to go to work and sometimes just leisure around.

But for the driver’s son, it is “a birthday present” or nearly his “dream”.
It’s just merely 15 baht for me but up to 15 baht for him.

This makes me a lot more considered when I spend money, thinking of many lives struggling just for tomorrow’s meal.

The pursuit of happyness

Chris Gardner (Will Smith), the main character sells medical machines for living but he couldn’t sell enough for himself and his family. Not so long after his failure in his career, his wife left him unendurably. When he looked around and saw people walking in the street being so happy, he began to think why he can’t be one of them then his struggling began.

“all men created equal—equal in certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Abraham Lincoln

From the quote, everybody has his or her right to pursue happiness, not to have the happiness but to pursue the happiness. So do Chris Gardner, he struggle for living unyieldingly. He realized his brightness and tries hard to be accepted as a trainee studying and competing in a huge company without earning any salary for his long-term employment there. Though he was inferior in the group because he was hazed by the teacher and had to find a place to sleep in each night, to fix and sell the last machine for his living-fund which is all confiscated for tax, and many other unfortunate events, he never gives up.

The intense of the story together with the excellent act of Will Smith make me consider this movie an extremely outstanding one.

Indy in Town

Indy in Town is well-known among teenagers as a place that comprise of teenagers, performed by teenagers and especially for teenagers.

Indy in Town is held weekly at The Center Point of Siam Square for approximately two years so far. Around 3pm of each Friday, teenagers who are authorized to operate their shop will gather up at the place to begin preparing their shops which is manipulated into 4 rows, each row has 15-20 blocks, and each block has an area of a square meter on ground. The place will be more crowded as it is getting dark; the most crowded time is around 5-7 pm.

Most of Products sold here are accessories such as brace laces, rings, belts, and the most popular products, various styles of earrings and necklaces which you can select materials and order your own style! The others are postcards by those who are interested in photography, huge bags with the size of drawing board for Arts students, notebooks and diaries having a painting of man and woman that will fit each other if they are placed together (sold in pair for a couple) and many other fantastic things that are made or at least, decorated by the seller herself. The products are cheap, unique and overall, hard to find in anywhere else.

As you can see from the products, they are made by personal interested and match definitely with the desire of teenagers. That's why Indy in Town is truly the place for teenagers.

Welcome to my new blog

There's a problem with my old blog, I couldn't edit it.

Indeed, it seems that that blog doesn't belong to me any more. I have tried many ways but it still not work so I decided to create a new one.

so,



to Zar's new blog :)