All Posts By

CJ

May 07

Pattaya: elephant show of Nong Nooch Garden

By My journey, Photography
From left: Meng-Hong, Wei-Seong, Boon-Huat, and Wee-Peng at the European Garden of Nong Nooch Paradise

From left: Meng-Hong, Wei-Seong, Boon-Huat, and Wee-Peng at the European Garden of Nong Nooch Paradise

After staying a night in Pattaya, we departed back to Bangkok the next morning. On our way, the tour guide took us to the Nong Nooch Garden, which has a wide variety of gardens inspired from all over the world including traditional Asian tropical gardens, the Cactus Garden to French and Roman gardens. Besides, fascinating Thai culture and traditional dances, and other performances such as religious ceremonies, martial arts and the amazing elephant show – one of the most popular attractions of the garden, are presented daily in the theater within the garden compound.

Wee-Peng vs the mighty elephant

Wee-Peng vs the mighty elephant

After 20 minutes drive from Baron Beach of Pattaya, we arrived at the Nong Nooch Garden. That morning, the garden drew a massive crowd of tourists. We were late for the Thai cultural and traditional performances, however we did not miss the elephant show.

The well-trained elephants in the show were performing skills adopted from human sports like bike ride, soccer, basketball, and more. Towards the end of the show, audiences had the chance volunteering to be towered and massaged by the gentle elephants. They were really brilliant so we purchased bananas to reward and feed the elephants.

After the show, we were given the opportunity to touch and feel our favorite elephants. In addition, we could also pay to ride on elephants, perch between two elephants’ trunks, and take photos with elephants, which Boon-Huat and Wee-Peng did.

Time was so limited for us there because we had to go to a bees farm and a jewelry factory of Bangkok. After having our buffet lunch in the garden, we could only spend a little time in the European garden.

The whole garden was beautiful and the shows were amazing. According to the management, those gardens are constantly updating, with new ideas, new plants and new formations; therefore gives a reason to revisit Pattaya and Nong Nooch Garden again.

Below are some of the shots I took:

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May 03

Pattaya: the Alcazar Cabaret Show

By My journey, Photography
The dancers of the Alcazar Carabet Show in Pattaya

The dancers of the Alcazar Carabet Show in Pattaya

During our trip to Thailand, We went and stayed a night in Pattaya before we traveled back to Bangkok the next day. The one and the only night in Pattaya, we chose to spend the night with the popular show in Pattaya – Alcazar Carabet Show. It is a must see if you visit Pattaya. I’ll explain later after the jump.

The Alcazar Carabet Show was amazing and got us totally immersed in it. It successfully blends the art of acting, stage design, costumes and the sequence of the show so well to be impressed by every one of all ages. We were entertained with the music, lip-sings, dances and various shows played by many perfectly beautiful female.

The traditional (Vietnamese, Indian, Malay, etc.) and modern dances (e.g. Poker Face by Lady Gaga) performed on the stage, fused also into a unique show which brings eastern and western cultures together, thus brought to us a very colorful and entertaining show.

The Siamese traditional dance performed on the show in Pattaya

The Siamese traditional dance performed on the show in Pattaya

I heard that originally, the show was at a small theater of 350 seats with 40 employees on almost 20 years ago, founded and operated by the Phettrakul family who never gave up and continued to improve and upgrade its facilities until the show became world famous.

Today’s Alcazar Cabaret Show features a grand beautiful theater with a capacity of 1,200 seats & 440 employees, fully equipped with high tech surround sound system and modern computer technology. The Alcazar Cabaret Show is now well-know throughout most of the international.

These are some shots I took during the show:

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Apr 30

Lincoln and the helpless little creature

By Compassion, Drawing and artwork, Wisdom

Lincoln and the helpless little creature - by CJ

Lincoln and the helpless little creature - by CJ

“I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.”
– Abraham Lincoln

In reply to friends who chided him for delaying them by stopping to return a fledgling to its nest.

Compassion is how a mother’s tender heart quivers at the pain and suffering of her child when the child is sick. A mother is willing to do anything to alleviate her child’s suffering. As with boundless love, we also develop compassion to all beings who suffer pain and despair. A compassionate person cannot possibly be cruel to any being.

Love is the greatest kindness of all is a mother’s boundless, unconditional and protective love for her child. If we can shower a mother’s love on all living beings, our love would be boundless, unconditional and non-discriminatory. It’s boundless because we are reaching out to all beings. It is unconditional because we do not love with conditions attached or expectations of rewards or reciprocation. It is non-discriminatory, and this means it is given to all and not through selective choice or to one more than the other.

If we realize that all beings are subject to same vulnerability and mortality where all of us suffer from pain and eventual death, and all of us also appreciate being loved and cared for, then it makes sense to extend our love to all beings boundlessly, unconditionally and without discrimination. Just as we love our family and friends, let us widen our circle of love and kindness, and extend these feelings of goodwill and caring to encompass all living beings.

by Chan Kay Yein, Ph.D.

Apr 30

Chimpanzee mothers carry their mummified dead infants

By Compassion
The chimpanzees continue to provide care for their deceased infants. (Credit: Oxford University, Dora Biro)

The chimpanzees continue to provide care for their deceased infants. (Credit: Oxford University, Dora Biro)

Recently at Discovery News we told you how chimpanzees confront death. They do so in ways that are very similar to our behavior toward dying friends and relatives.

On the surface, it might at first seem that chimpanzee mothers break from those noted similarities. When their offspring die as infants, the mothers will continue to carry and groom the dead bodies until the mothers are able to gradually let go of them. By that time, the infant’s body has usually mummified.

The behavior likely mirrors, at least to some extent, the biophysical reaction of human mothers when they too lose young sons or daughters. Right after birth, the mother’s body is hormonally, and in many other ways, ready to care for the infant. Even after a baby dies, the physical connection can take time to adjust. This isn’t even taking into account the emotional bond.

Chimpanzees go through this adjustment period in a very literal way, by continuing to provide care for their deceased infants.

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Apr 28

日AV女优苍井空盼为青海做事 微博筹款赈灾

By Compassion
日本超人气AV女优苍井空

日本AV女优苍井空 (Aoi Sola)

在中国拥有大批粉丝的日本AV女优苍井空，周五(23日)在推特（Twitter）宣布，拟发起为青海灾民筹款的活动，让中国粉丝们大为感动。苍井空说，自从得悉青海发生大地震后，她的心情一直非常难过，希望自己能为青海做点事。

日本知名的AV艺人苍井空，虽然已从AV界退除役，但大家对她之前的「专业」表现，仍是念念不忘；11日苍井空突然开始玩起推特，先是被中国推友眼尖发现后转推，Followers就不断飙升追随。

根据《福州新闻网》报导，26岁苍井空因为注册推特，让整个中文推特族群热血沸腾，不管男女都在讨论苍井空。不过因中国有网路管制，且由於苍井空为知名AV女优，属於情色类内容，无论是推特还是苍井空的新闻，都是禁止浏览。

对於苍井空准备为玉树地震募捐，有中国网民说，「（她）只用日语写了博文，没有更新中文的博客。显然是针对日本人，而不想增加中国粉丝的负担。心思之细腻和善良可见一斑。她还说下一步希望休假一段时间，能为中国地震做些事情……这样好的姑娘，太赞了。」

日本AV女优苍井空 (Aoi Sola)在自己的微博宣布，拟发起为青海灾民筹款的活动，让很多中国粉丝们感动。苍井空说，自从得悉 青海发生大地震后，她的心情一直非常难过，希望自己能为青海做点事。

日本AV女优苍井空 (Aoi Sola)在自己的微博宣布，拟发起为青海灾民筹款的活动，让很多中国粉丝们感动。苍井空说，自从得悉 青海发生大地震后，她的心情一直非常难过，希望自己能为青海做点事。

[source: http://www.nownews.com/2010/04/27/91-2596575.htm]