Thai Dye

So the name doesn't have much to do w/ the entry - if at all. I just liked it.

Just kidding - it's very clever and deep. You might be intelligent and cultured enough to figure out what it really means if you finish this entry.

I'm drinking beer at the pool again while the Navy figures out how they canceled my flight w/out telling me. And while they do that, they're figuring out how to get me on a plane headed east

And while they do all that - I'm just traveling further and further into Thai culture.

Thais are renown for their kindness, honesty, respectfulness and loyalty. Most of these characteristics flourish from the deep roots of Buddhism here. This religion is ever present in their popular culture and government. There is no separation between the two. With all these wonderful aspects it's easy to forget how every culture has its downside.















The above photo was taken at Wat Pho - home of the shrines and tombs of Thailand's first eight monarchs and a statue of Buddha on his deathbed called the 'reclining Buddha.' Before entering any of temples, everyone must take off their shoes and leave them outisde. I understood this sign all too well.

One of their flaws, much like any other culture I know of, is discrimination. Literature doesn't explore this aspect very much. My Lonely Planet book serves me well here. It describes the people, culture, geography, history and everyday Thai lifestyle for people as a country and more geographically divided into regions. The authors wrote a very informative section of the book about the more all-encompassing characteristics of the culture. One area was gender.

The book lists three genders - man, woman and ladyboy. The authors go on to describe how the 'ladyboy' (or transsexual in our culture) has become a more accepted role in this society. Many boys who feel drawn to the more feminine aspects of life are encouraged to pursue life as a woman.















Hoever, I didn't see this. There are a ton of ladyboys (one of whom is killing us in pool above), but their acceptance is not equal. Just the other day I was following a ladyboy who was employed at the Pattaya Marriot Resort and Spa where we were staying. I went to hold the door open for her and a waitress rushed to the door. She demanded I walk first because this person is a ladyboy and they are less than us - well at least her and me.

It really took me back. I also began to realize no matter how different I am - I'm still farang. That's Thai for westerner or tourist. And just the same way we hate on gapers from the bay and our society as a whole would rather do w/out blacks and mexicans, I am farang - one of the fat and rich white people who come here to rape the country and at like an asshole while I consume everything in sight, believe I'm better than everyone else and act like I'm entitled to whatever I want while I don't take the time to learn or respect the local culture.



















Despite my best efforts to overcome all those stereotypes, I'm one of them. I've been discriminated against and it hurts. No matter what, I feel in some way I deserve it. It makes me appreciate this experience and place in life all that much more. I am farang. I guess we just can't help it.

10 Years Between Two Eyes

This very same day in 1999 I was in this very country and most likely drinking the very same brand beer.

I was 19 years old and on my very first Navy deployment aboard USS Sacramento. I was an undesignated deck seaman who spent most of his days, all 12-18 hours of them, refueling the various ships in our battle group.

The best part about both my visits to Thailand that year were the experiences I had learning about myself, the culture and solidifying the best friendships I've ever had. I couldn't help but keep thinking about those cherished memories for during this weeks leading to this trip - exactly ten years later to the day.

I went through this whole phase of wanting to write down the way I remember things from that trip so they wouldn't be influenced by this trip. Now I'm a second-class petty officer w/ about ten years of Navy and life in general under my belt. Then I couldn't stop thinking about how I'll perceive things through the same two eyes with 10 more years between them. And here's the synopsis.

Nothing will truly set in till I'm back home in reality and begin to forget just how kind and friendly these people are. Its' those things that fade over time. Luckily, I'm remembering why my friends and I in STREAM Division had such a great time.

We were each experiencing something so absolutely far from anything we knew. Sharing that experience created a bond like no other. It wasn't the partying or the women. It wasn't the views or the weather. It wasn't the dirt-cheap prices or nearly lawless society. It was a group simultaneously being introduced to the nicest and most understanding culture we'd ever experienced. And for all the memories that will fade from my first two trips here - this trip reminded me why those were so special.

And right now I'm just taking it all in like I'll never experience it again...

There are two more Singha beers sitting next to me on ice. They just won't taste the same anywhere else.

Beat Down

I hadn't found a place to use these awesome photos yet, but the following is definitely appropriate. This is from a few days ago where I got to tango w/ some Thai boxers. The following entry is more appropriate - I think.



















By the time I got the midnight call to rework some stuff it was too late. I'd let more errors slip by. Numbers - I hate them in all forms. They're even worse when they involve repetition or are part of an equation. In this case they added up to me repeating the same mistake. This kind of stuff is my kryptonite.

It's these kinds of things that take me out. Admittedly, it's by my own choice. This time is completely different. Now I don't feel like falling out of the match. Now whether that's because the hit wasn't as hard or the fighter is stronger - I don't know for sure. Probably a stronger fighter, stronger hit and stronger will to get back up.















If you get blocked and hit in the face every time you drop a left hook, it's time to either use a different punch or change the way you throw a left hook. I'm doing both and that's the sign of a stronger and wiser fighter.

Set Free

Every time I thought this trip couldn't get better - it did.



















Go to Asia - check.
Fly there first class - check
Take great photos - check
Get a ton of massage - check
Drink cheap beer - check
Gorge on incredible Thai food - check
Work with the most incredible people I've ever worked with - check
Get underway - check
Write Navy stories - check
Get underway on Thai carrier - check
Be treated like royalty on a Thai carrier - check
Make a positive impact on my bosses - check
Help my career - check
Buy wooden bowls - check
Meet thousands of the nicest people on the planet - check
See sea turtles - check
Receive embassador/police escort through country - check
Set free endangered sea turtles - check

Need I go on? Truth be told this trip is much more than the first few things that come to mind. It was my intention to keep an accurate account of my activities while in country. But when all this happened in the span of a few days w/ work to do as well - well...

I'll take available time over the next few days to recount the last few days. Keep checking back regularly.

Thai 101 (in English)

I'm quickly learning that many people are quite well educated here. And despite the stigma attached to Thailand, many of these people are women working service positions - many with college degrees.

Just like in America - these 20-somethings are overeducated and underpaid.















Although she is not college educated, Thipjuta is among the most impressive people I've met here thus far. She spent at least two hours explaining, in great detail, the many ways to interchange nouns, conjugate and speak the masculine and feminine forms of the Thai language. She even made me a cheat sheet.

Thanks to her - it's not as difficult as it appeared. Her huge smile made it all that less intimidating. But that doesn't mean it's easy.

Here's some to get you started:

Pom - Me
Lao - Us
Kun - You
Kao - Them

Good morning/Hello - So-waat dee krap
What is your name? - Khun chue a-rai krab
My name is__ - Phom chue
How are you? - khun sai-bai dee mai krab
I'm fine/not fine - pom sai bai dee/ Mai koiy sa-baio

That's more than enough for now. Well maybe one more:

Chok dee krab!! (Good luck)

Royal Thai Navy and Flight of the Concord

Yesterday was my first military assignment: head out to Sattahip Royal Thai Navy Base and take photos of the two arriving US Navy ships - USS Harpers Ferry and USS Crommelin.

The best part of the day was boarding the Thai aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CV911) to take photos of the arriving ships. Check out the bow of this carrier - it's got a ramp for the aircraft as opposed to our catapult system. Thing looks pretty silly to me.



















The Thai guys weren't exactly cool w/ letting us on their ship - despite it being open for any civilian to embark. And they were doing it by the hundreds as we had to wait. After some Jedi mind tricks (calling their officer in charge), we were finally able to get on board and set up for the shoot.

I ended up posing for more pictures with the civilians than taking my own - including one where I held a young boy for a family portrait. Then it was back to business shooting.
















I was absolutely drenched from the intense Thai climate while my asian counterparts remained bone dry. The high yesteday was 97 degrees farenheit w/ about 85 percent humidity. As you can see, I was wearing thick cammies - the equivilent of a canvas tent in dark colors.

As for myself being back on a ship, both the Thai carrier and USS Harpers Ferry was a bit surreal, but incredibly familiar. Warships are warships and if you've lived on one long enough, there's very little readjustment when you revisit - if any at all.

After all that time on an aircraft carrier I figured it was time for some flight ops. Look at my UAV (unmanned arial vehicle) go!

A Night on the Town

Call it the quiet before storm.

This is the last of the Buddha holidays where no liquor is being served and last day before the Sailors go on liberty. Needless to say both those those events tomorrow will have a profound affect on Pattaya. I'll have a photo album up soon to show what it looks like before things get crazy.

Night at the Temple

In my efforts to do something a little (or a lot) more culturally enriching, I had a great deal of success last night during the Buddha Day candlelight ceremony at the temple here in Pattaya.

As previously noted, nearly all establishments along the infamous Walking Street and throughout the city - from the raciest of go-go bars to the classiest of hotels - were either closed or abstained from serving alcohol in observance of this holiday.















Most of the women and men who work and frequent those establishments were among the thousands kneeling alongside me - one of four white men.















Religion is religion. There's always something special to me about seeing someone worship to something greater than themselves - especially in this peaceful and soothing ceremony.















Thousands gathered to kneel around the statue of this Buddha. This particular statue may not appear as the same jolly little fat man most of us are accustomed to seeing. But this is, nonetheless, a statue of a younger and more fit Buddha.















I'm not religious per se, but I strongly believe in respecting individuals' religion. Spirituality is very important and if you cannot respect it you should not invite yourself to participate or observe the practice. In order to respect - you have to learn how things go.















The first thing I learned about Buddhist ceremonies is that they resemble the Christian worship services I grew up in. There's a lot of uncomfortable kneeling, there's a couple in the back w/ a very cranky and noisy child, elderly people who give those young parents the hairy eyeball, and a lot of repeating. Did I mention it's very uncomfortable?















For men, we can wear what we like. Women, however, are expected to dress w/ long sleeves and long pants. Not everyone did it, but most adhered to this custom. Everyone is expected to take off their shoes - and absolutely everyone did this.

The ceremony began after about 30 white-robed women filled the first few rows and kneeled. After about 45 minutes of what sounded like mass, everyone rose from their knees or indian-style sitting to light candles and incense. Despite the long kneel and language barrier, the whole experience was quite soothing and placid.














Led by the women in white - we circled the large central Buddha several times. The statue is surrounded by smaller statues where we placed our incense, candles and flowers at.



















The pictures are hardly what I hoped, but the entire experience was exactly what I was looking for this trip - I highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity.

Upon leaving the temple I met an older British man named Martin and his "girlfriend" who made him come to the ceremony amid their escapades. Her, their taxi driver, Martin and I all attended the same ceremony and there's something to be said about that.

Then Martin bought all of us some water and paid for my ride back to town. I bid goodnight as he rode off into the night with his girlfriend - who he says is at least in the ten best he knows in Pattaya.

Act Your Age

My last Thai visit I was 19 years old and barely a year out of high school with even less time in the Navy. I behaved accordingly.

This time around I'm a 29-year-old husband and father - and not acting accordingly. Rather than go out and buy underwear, I spent my money on a remote control helicopter. I couldn't resist. It's made of all flexible materials and can resist crashing.














Let's be honest though - we'll be luck if this sucker makes out of country.

I did, however, get a fantastic manicure and pedicure for a whopping 300 baht - roughly about $10 American.














Tonight it's off to the Buddhist temple for a candle ceremony. It's part of Buddha Day here in Thailand. Most establishments, including the raciest girlie and go-go bars will abstain from serving alcohol to kick off three months of alcohol fasting for many and temple life for a chosen few.

There are shrines like this one all over the place. Some joker here thought Buddha needed a beer.

Under Where?

As you know, the Navy brought me here to Thailand. I just found out I'll be getting flown out to a US Navy ship and then to a Thai aircraft carrier! This is quickly turning into the trip of a lifetime.

But before I get underway, I'm getting underwear! Apparently it's time to retire this sad stack.



















As I considered going for another massage I remembered the facial expressions of yesterday's masseuse Djip and today's housekeeper - especially when they saw the family man special drawers. An awkward look like, "real nice buddy" was all the motivation I needed to find some underpants.

I usually update every ten years like clockwork - and that pretty much means I bought these here in Thailand in 1999. While things aren't quite that bad, it's not time to set a precedent.

So today's challenge is to barter on Walking St. for the cheapest and most comfortable underwear this daddy can buy! Let's set our spending at $10 American.



















While I'm at it the manicure and pedicure are going to happen too!

Djip and the Thai VW

With just three hours under my belt in Pattaya it was time for my first Thai massage of the trip. After consulting my counterparts Tom and his family, I chose the place closest to the hotel. Actually this was second closest - first was a hair salon that did foot massage too.















The grand total for two hours of the best massage your money can buy is $25 American. Not only did I get a fantastic (and well needed) massage, I met a fantastic local masseuse - named Djip.



She's like me - 29 years old with a daughter who's right around four years old. Unlike most of her Thai counterparts, she's working today. It's the first of three sacred Buddhist holidays. But she has to make money and likes what she does.

Djip, which is a nickname her mother gave her, grew up in small agricultural town. Djip is "baby chicken." She used to sound like that as a young child. Now she's all grown up, gone to massage school in Bangkok and spent the last two years doing thousands of massages on "Farang" (tourists) like me.

But unlike me, Djip is a single mother. Her husband and daughter's father died in a motorcycle accident shortly after their daughter was born. Since then, she's been paying 1000 baht every month for a room w/ no furniture. As tourism keeps leveling off, she's concerned about how to continue paying rent.

A true embassador for Thais, Djip does not represent her sisters a block away - nor does she seem interested in the money they make. Djip is my first friend here and I will be visiting again soon.















As for the owner of these sweet VWs - he's not so nice. Unlike his American counterparts, he is unfriendly and doesn't know what year they are. What kind of VW owner is he. He was pretty stoked to know I drive one though...

Good Morning Vietnam! (from Pattaya)

Adrian Croanauer was a military journalist. The US military started coming to this place for RnR just a few years before he did his thing in Vietnam.

Well the US military is still here with journalists (public affairs elements) in tact - me and another lucky guy.

This is Pattaya and it's a world away from anything back in the states. Las Vegas is absolutely owned by Pattaya and its counterpart across the sea in Phuket. Anything goes in these towns that sex and the US military built one happy ending-at-a-time.

What was then still exists and is evident by the beer bars and girls we passed while my taxi drive got lost on the way here. It's presence is unavoidable, but it's part of the culture. I'm doing my best not to let it weigh me down - trying to focus on the more positive aspects of this truly amazing place.

I'll be reporting more after my first daily massage in 3 - 2 - 1!

NOW!

2 a.m. in Bangkok

Even though the sun is down - Bangkok is aesthetically mind blowing. Even the people in this metropolis have a better attitude than most cities in the US - not to mention the bus full of incredibly rude French people I was with.

Finally cleaned up and settled in - it's time to hit the hay before my two-hour ride to Pattaya in a few hours. Looks like the hotel there is just as impressive. I'll be sure to post more photos as I get the chance.

1st Class

A rough start to my trip landed me at the Rogue Brewery at PDX for lunch. I met some locals and devised a scheme to kick this trip off in style.

New-found buddy Nick and I decided it was time to upgrade to first class for the 10-hour trip from PDX to Tokyo.

Well played Nick. Not only did we not get busted, but got three courses free with an open bar. Hot towels, full-reclining leather seats, an outlet for the computer and even slippers and ear plugs.

Well things are starting to look up from the fiasco that was my last week trying to leave the US.

Reporting from Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan - Jason Tross

PDX Bound

Actually I'm already there.

I mean bound like the kind where things are all tied up and no one's going anywhere.

I'm not going anywhere till tomorrow. Just a slight mix-up - I wasn't aware passengers absolutely must report at least two hours before boarding in order to board international flights. But I know that now.

So I'm sitting here at complimentary beverage hour. That really means anyone in the hotel gets to get schlitzed on cheap booze and pass out in their rooms. It's getting quite popular here in the last 30 minutes.

After a couple beers I'm getting ready to sign off. It's my full intention to be early to the airport tomorrow.

Thailand will have to wait a day.

Champs!

Champs huh?

This photo is from this weekend's parade in Winlock, Wash. I didn't even notice it myself till a friend laughed at the photo.

Happy Birthday Meghan

Yesterday was Meghan Riley Tross' seventh birthday.

We miss you baby girl.

Website

As it stands, my old (and terrible) placeholder page is officially down. It is replaced w/ an arguably lamer page saying my website is still incomplete.

But the good news is I'm really publishing the new one today. So stand by everyone (anyone) for a new www.jasontross.com!

The 1st Race

There's this feeling of excitement at the first fight. All the preparation comes to one moment. We've gone through all the sparring matches. The punches are stronger than ever. The footwork is ready. Now it's just time in the ring to develop that mindset - it's the only way to develop it.

Now to people outside, they don't know what the Champ knows. They don't know what things are exciting and what things are making are skeptical. But it's the first fight and that means the Champ is back in business - if he performs well that is.

The fight was killer. There were hickups as expected, but the fight was an overall success - better than expected too.

If I had to release a statement about the Champ it would read as follows:

After a successful first fight, the Champ is clearly picking up where he left off. Still one of the most talented fighters in the world, his clear determination to win has never been more evident.

There is still much to do in the gym and ring alike in the way of training and sharpening the skills.

What I will say, is that all evaluations are done at this time. The Champ is winning again and has resumed training for the title bout.

"C'mon Joe"

Part of what makes the Champ so great is the game he talks. It's what the people love to love and love to hate about him.

He knows he's the best. You never hear of doubt from his lips. After a while fans, and eventually opponents, begin to buy into 100 percent of it. It's either entertaining or intimidating, but always effective. And he's good enough to back it up.

At this point there's no question, should he get this fight, he will win. No one can move like this. No one can dance like this. No one can talk like this and no one can back it up like this. No one can put up numbers like this.

The Champ is proven and confident. All he needs is the opponent to beat. Whatever the challenge, especially in this familiar arena, the opponent goes down at the Champ's will as he controls all aspects of the fight. That's how it's always been and will continue being.

The spectators are lining up, the bets are in, now it's time for the show.

Back in the League

From here on out the Champ is picking his fights in the big leagues and it feels just right.

Well the Champ moved on from that first comeback fight. It's over and here's a bit of a ride. Here's that point where you start challenging and relying on what it is you do to keep winning. Not every fight is a colossal battle of the titans. Most fights are run-of-the muck, but only if you're among the best who can compete in this league.

My first major win gave me the title belt back, but that's only the beginning. Now I have to find a good fight in this league again.

Simply put, that means a job. There are prospects and this one is very solid.

If the Champ's career were compared to being the fastest car in a race, I got slammed into the wall and totaled. Now we've rebuilt, ran the time trials, won the races I've already won before and finally moving beyond where things left off.

That's what kind of fight this one is - the next one from where I was, but still chasing down the giant. Guess you could say the Champ is back.

Realpolitik

I've been saving this photo for a special occasion - one
really appropriate for such a well-known photo.

Obviously, the photo shows Muhammad Ali being knocked down against his greatest opponent - Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Ali was just returning from a three-year long ban for refusing to join the Army and serve in Vietnam. The IBC strpped him of his title and nearly all he'd worked for - a hit he couldn't dodge. It was a harder hit than anything any opponent could throw in the ring. The results were devastating.

Those three years away from boxing are argued to have been his prime years. Ali returned nonetheless. And after making great progress, Frazier handed him his first career loss in a brutal battle.

Ali gets stripped of his world and achievements (arguably deserved), costing him the best fighting years of his life - then he comes back only to be defeated by the very man he was sure he could defeat. The series of events is enough to cripple even the best fighter in the history of boxing.

There's a lot to this story we don't know. We don't know what Ali did to train and get his mind right for a one-of-a-kind comeback. He did whatever it took. He won, and his end justified whatever means it took.

What we do know is Ali did come back. He brought himself to a level far beyond the competition. Newcomer George Foreman took Ali's prize belst from Frazier by knocking him down six times in two rounds before the entire fight was called off. Ali beat young Foreman in Africa and went on to survive two more wins over Frazier, including the Thrilla In Manila.

What if Ali never came back after being banished? What if he never continued after his embarassing loss to Frazier. What if he didn't find the means necessary.

Well this Champ did get back up. He ate his loss and the crushing banishment to regain the title after his own series of devastating events.

The blow that took the Champ out of the game came from somewhere else - a judgement. He was the fast-talking, over-confident Champ who knew he could win - people wanted him to lose. He was completely unprepared for this blow. Not only had he trained, but mastered what the Champ thought was the most important aspect of this fight. He channeled all his energy into this area, thinking it would win. He was wrong.

Something went wrong in the end of the 7th round. He went down. He didn't see it coming at all. Even though the Champ fought to get up three times in the same round - he had to stay down. And that was that. His entire life was in danger. It was a painful choice. He had to make the decision and it cost him everything.


Five years, and one comeback later, the Champ is in the ring again - and regained his title.

End justifies the means - and this is a perfect example. And to that end, I say Realpolitik.

Big Mac Attack

We have finally walked the plank. 

We are Mac owners. 

I was right, I was right, I was right. 

This is the most incredible interface ever! Everything is intuitive and works when you need it to. Here's to life after PC...

Endurance

So how's the Champ doing?

Pretty good under the circumstances.

Moving into the big leagues - it's painfully familiar at times, but it's where he needs to be. Training - it's painfully difficult, especially staying committed to it. Training is what's brought him this far in a short time. What a year...

Things can change a lot in 365 days. The weather is the same as last year but the climate is dramatically different. Now is when you start to realize just how much has happened this last year. Now is no time to be tired. There's endless work to do - both training and ring time.

Where is he on the ladder? Somewhere in the middle - fighting to make success a habit and make positivity a matter of muscle memory. The fight is mostly internal, where the most confusing work needs to be done.

Good and bad things happen in life. How they affect us could easily be graded on a scale in tenths. One being the lowest and worst and 10 being the highest and best. We place up and down on this scale depending on how we feel. And the way we feel about events are relative to our position on the scale. Some things are positive for one point while some things can be negative for three points. They affect where we sit on the scale.

Let's say you're at seven and score a positive five. Well you've only got three points to go, so this wouldn't be as big a deal as if you were at three and scored the same five. Of course this works in reverse as well.

Training is the only way you can bring up your standings. It makes the bigger positives more likely to occur and affects your everyday state. No training leads to failure followed by bigger failures. This thing is pretty complex and difficult to win. Consistent training is the answer every time. It keeps you from over-complicating an already complicated idea.

Back ot the gym for more endurance.

And now... Nothing

That's what I'd like to do today - nothing.

Happy Easter everyone. Hopefully you're enjoying doing doing nothing.

The Well

One thing about a series of events, whether good or bad, is we never know how long it's going to last. Kind of like a well - hence my headline. And in this case I'm particularly floored by how many good things are happening in such a short time period. You could call this a good-news well. I've found a lot of bad news wells too.

On that note, I have to remember how these things go. Everything can fall out w/ no warning. Not that things will ultimately go that way - just sometimes they do. Just accepting that's life is a fair approach. Preparing for them is a good approach. Anticipating and looking through them is the sound approach - for both good and bad wells. The best approach is to have many wells. Some call this diversity. I call it balance.

Mt. Bachelor

I never really get photos of me skiing. So I was very stoked to work w/ Bend-based photographer Tyler Roemer. Check out his blog at http://tylerroemer.blogspot.com/ and on his personal site http://tylerroemer.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

The day ended right after I landed. Seems we don't have any readily-available photos of that landing...