2010年10月5日

必須對面的

不是已經去完第五次泰國,為什麼前次的遊記還沒寫完。
不是已經努力在維持身材,為什麼沒有太多明顯的進展。

而是 即將來臨的月光時代


這不是新名詞,就是你我想得到的那個意思,「一個月薪水可能花光」。

不是杞人憂天,不是危言聳聽,更不是莞爾一笑,而是真真切切要好好深思的「議題」。

從大方向來說,目前可預見的收入,嚴格來說只有年終獎金,無疑地當然是先存下來,除了過年包紅包,當然希望聚沙成塔,多少多還一點錢,雖然是杯水車薪,但還是得付諸行動。

另一個嚴格來說不算收入的,是給管委會的五萬元保證金,等裝潢結束就可收回,不過這部份當然要當預備金,因為接下來想必進入人生紅色炸彈接踵而來的高峰。此外,還是要預留一些現金作為緩衝,以備不時之需。

支出就不用說了,僅存的一些積蓄大多花在裝潢上,這還不包括家電(還得感謝家人大力幫忙),而一些生活必需品也要陸續補齊,這又可能是一筆費用,另外就是先前早支付的以房仲費以及代書費用。

而可預見的,在11月去完京都行後,我應該就會把全部的旅遊基金花完,到時候又要重頭來過,為明年6月返鄉行作準備。

而如果把每月收支明細赤裸裸貪在陽光下,更是一個驚人的事實。

經過比較粗略的計算,目前一個月房貸(15000)+管理費(1200)+水電網路第四台(2200)+交通費(1000)+手機費(500)+雜支(300)+健身房月費(1800)就是22000了,剩下來的就是吃飯跟娛樂,如果要維持一定的水準,我想7000跑不掉,所以一個月還可以存多少呢?

嗯,可以說已經到了很緊繃的狀態,雖然說上面的一些數字都還有下修的空間,不過還是不要抓得太死,以免有什麼節外生枝的情況發生。

如果按照上面的收支還想存旅遊基金,真的是要過縮衣節食的生活,不然出國玩應該會很拘束。

但這不就是讓我能繼續努力的動力嗎?是的,要再一次告訴自己,這是你選擇的,不僅要勇敢面對,更要真實承擔,相信你能,所以你能!

2010年9月14日

寫在第五次返鄉前

是的,短短不到兩個月,又是該回家鄉看看的時候了。

這次的行程先定調為充電及佈置之旅。前者意味著不再東跑西跑,雖原本滿心計畫去喀比,不過由於機票大漲,只好作罷;另外為配合朋友的行程,所以大抵就留在曼谷,連鄰近的水上市場應該也不會去,而行程當然還是會有豐富而多樣的購物與按摩囉。

而佈置之旅,就是希望可以為新家多添購一些深具泰國風味的家飾了,目前想到的除了絲製品外,一些能勾起我家鄉情感的裝製品都可能放入購物清單,等回國後一併送到新家,也當做為新家做細部裝置。

而目前安排好下下次的返鄉之旅在明年六月,所以可能還會補足一些生活用品,不誇張,從我08年到現在,所用掉的髮蠟都來自泰國(Gasby泰國髮蠟真的好用又便宜),這次打算搶攻Boots系列,從頭到腳的清洗保養一次買足撐到明年六月的份量。

最後,看之前的報導指稱,我去的這段時間剛好是紅衫軍成立四周年,預計可能會有一些紀念活動,而且曼谷至今都還為解除警報,甚至緊張情勢些許升高,還是希望此趟的旅程能夠平安順利,讓我能夠繼續回來台灣工作,賺錢回家鄉貢獻所得。

2010年8月30日

Summer Vacation

屬於我的暑假終於正式來到!

放眼九月,除了三天的員工旅遊,還有早就安排好的返鄉之旅,加上中秋節一共六天。經過仔細計算,九月上班日扣掉中秋的國定假日外為21日,而我實際上般的天數為15日,如果再把九月下高雄On-site的那一天扣掉,等於只有14天,哈哈,整個過好爽。

所以,我滿心期待九月的到來,迎接這美好的一月~

2010年8月27日

Time flies

似乎每過一段時間,就要感嘆一下時光飛逝,或許現在要再加上人事已非。

網路上散落著之前小U時的一些報導,現在看起來顯得格外稚嫩。不過畢竟都是自己有過的採訪,印象還是格外深刻,看過一遍又會勾起那時候的情景。

不過最值得一提的,是這篇某個考小U在部落格上的文章,那屆有一場考題是要採訪老U,記得那個時候應該是回去領證書,結果就這樣誤入歧途被抓去採訪。

重點來了,這個小朋友在網誌上的文章寫著:「我採訪的是台師大傳播所的XXX、輔大傳播的XXX,他們共同的記者特質就是對新聞工作懷抱熱忱,對於身處那個單位不重要,重要的是你有沒有對探索新聞有熱情。

天啊,曾幾何時我說過這樣的話啦,回頭看一下文章的時間,2007年七月,回想起來那個時候的確還有這樣的感覺,不過現在所謂的熱忱在我還沒真的當上記者前,就已經因為聽說太多的真實情況而急速退散。現在問我還有沒有記者夢,我只能說或許還有,不過比起來,現在的工作的學習真的很多,再次印證上帝如果關了一扇門,會開另一扇窗給你。人事已非的是,現在小U似乎停招,更別提聯合報已經舉家搬到汐止,那個曾經天天回到報社寫稿的實習生活,現在反倒有些懷念。

另外要感嘆的,就是大學的社團生活,又是不小心在網路上找到之前嘉雲會返鄉服務隊的什麼鬼連結

天啊,已經辦到22屆是怎樣,時光有過這麼快嗎,還是後來一年辦四屆,我記得我有參加過第二屆在蘭潭國小的營隊,不過已經對那群小惡魔沒什麼特殊印象,後來糊里糊塗地接下第四屆總召,一晃眼就過了18屆。

回頭看當時的發文年份,民國90年,我哩勒,距離現在已經九年了,一年兩屆的確過了18屆,也就是今年是第22屆是毫無疑問地正確。這真是太恐怖了,還記得那時候前幾屆都仍屬草創時期,就憑著學弟妹的一股熱情,才讓活動得以繼續延續。當然,讓檔案變得更有制度化也是我當初想帶進去的概念。有些事情不是感情好就可以辦得到,仍然需要更有效率的方法,才會事半功倍。

再來另一個社團的感嘆,就是議研社了,我接營主席是第47屆,雖然後來營隊沒有繼續延續下去,(如果正常下去或許已經到60幾了吧˙),不過仍然讓我小小感嘆,文稿中的社長那時候才大三,如今都已經是博士生了,你說說,是不是又該來個「天啊」。

如今,這些早就算是陳年往事,取而代之的,我的名字出現在「新聞聯絡人」上,這種感覺剛開始很不習慣,因為那時候總認為我的名字該出現在「/台北報導」之後,不過久而久之也就開始麻痺,甚至有點慶幸自己走進看似前途似錦公關,而不是記者。

或許再過個五年,我又會有不同感嘆,但是這些記錄只會繼續往上加,刻痕只會更明顯,我不後悔走過這些路,那些酸甜苦辣,仍然是點滴在心頭~

2010年7月28日

4th Thailand Trip Day06_BKK trip with Roge_依依不捨返家了

好啦,又到回台灣工作的時候了。

這次旅程可以說相當圓滿,除了守夏節那天沒有喝到酒之外。其他該去的、該買的、該逛的都有順利達成。

不過羅格在最後一天還是發生了一件小扼腕的事情。猶記前一個晚上羅格把行李箱翻開,把所有東西都拿出來說要重新整理,實在是很大的一番功夫。

就在海關檢查前不久,我才再三交代記得把液體的東西都托運,結果羅格把昨天晚上在Boots買的幾瓶沐浴乳也都戴上隨身行李,所以就被攔了下來,即使海關人員微笑再親切、語調再柔和,羅格也只好把這些「違禁品」乖乖繳械,直接丟進垃圾桶,這時我彷彿聽到他心碎的聲音,即使外頭陽光再溫暖,這時他心中一定是烏雲滿佈的悽慘阿。我只好跟他說,這就當作下次你來泰國的動力之一吧。

不過話說回來,還是要很感謝有羅格的同行,旅途中大致相安無事,多個人同行也比較有照應,相較於之前一個人單打獨鬥,心理的壓力有稍微減少,而且有些地方兩個人逛起來也比較有趣。

來幾張機場的花絮



以下是Air Asia的幾張照片,空姐剛好在示範如何使用安全帶



結束這趟旅程後,不到兩個月我又要再次返鄉了,哈哈,家鄉的人事物別太想我,我們不久之後就會再見面了。

2010年7月27日

4th Thailand Trip Day05-1_Bkk trip with Roge_Ancient Siam

此次旅程逐漸步入尾聲,今天的行程要外出小遠行,準備要去Ancient Siam。

先來個前情提要,先介紹一下Ancient Siam,這是泰國戶外大型的博物館,佔地 200 英畝,與泰國國土的形狀幾乎相同,可以說是全世界最大的戶外博物館,共有116個包含泰國76個府內最著名的古蹟、建築、紀念碑、廟宇的複製模型,展示著泰國將近800年來的歷史、文化、信仰、藝術與人民的生活習俗。

我今天仍然一早就得起床,因為這邊下午五點就閉館了,而這邊可以參觀的地方實在很多,所以九點多就準備出門,因為陳羅格對這裡興趣缺缺,所以我就一個人踏上旅途囉。

為了不浪費時間,所以我大手筆的從BTS On Nut花了快300元坐計程車到達,泰國計程車是35元起跳,一次跳2元,由此可以知道這裡是有多麼遠了。在前往Ancient Siam的旅途中,會先經過三頭象博物館,據說裡面也有得逛,不過這不是我此行的目標,所以就請司機稍微停下車,我照張相就好。

三頭象博物館

我們終於抵達Ancient Siam了,以下就是裡面的介紹。

Ancient Siam的入口,此門牌約有4-5層樓高
購票處
園區內提供遊園車(類似高爾夫球車),不過所費不貲
兩人座位一小時就是要100B,整個園區認真逛下來4.5個小時跑不掉阿~
不過園區提供免費的腳踏車,我當然選擇這種服務,又可以順便當個追風少年
這張是那邊服務人員主動幫我照的,是不是青春洋溢阿~

接著我們就準備出發啦,如同前文所述,這個園區幾乎比照泰國國土的形狀來做規劃,大致上分為泰國南部、中部、北部、東北部及東部。入口處就在最南方的位置。

不過園區實在太大,加上我還不夠在地,所以還是miss了幾個景點,不過我大致上還是拍了近百個點。以下就來看圖說故事。(以下的英文說明摘自於官網)

2. The Thai Pavilion

Traditionally, a Thai pavilion (or sala) is built outside the city walls in front of the main gate, to serve as a shelter for travellers who are waiting to enter the city while the city gate is still closed, because the city entrance is opened only at certain times.
Thai pavilion at Muang Boran is built in the Sukhothai style. The roof is pitched at an extremely acute angle and is supported by round wooden pillars and beams, unique style of Sukhothai art.



6. The Thai Pavilion

Manohra is one of the main characters of Suthon Jataka-the story appears in a collection of stories called Panasa Jataka. The religious tale of Manohra became a popular local fiction in Southern Thailand.


7. The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Nakhon Si Thammarat
The monastery is a remarkable architectural reminder of the artistic virtuosity of the southern Thai ar chi tects. The stupa, where the Buddha relics are housed, was built during the reign of King Si Thammasokarat in 555 A.D. when Nakhon Si Thammarat was first established. The structure is obviously influenced by the Sin gha lese art.

The stupa at Muang Boran is smaller than the original one at Nakhon Si Thammarat by one-third.


8. The Pallava Group of Images, Phang-nga
The images of the three Hindu deities, Vishnu, Shiva and Laksamee were carved out of stone by Pallava sculptors living in southern India around the 8th-9th centuries A.D. Later during the fifth reign in Rattanakosin period King Rama VI, who was still the Crown Prince, travelled to see
these images whose faces and bodies strangely stood  out of the trunk of a tree that had grown around them. Nobody knows where the images come from. However, from the ornaments and hair styles, we can pre sume that the statues are of Indian origin.
Now these images are kept at the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum.




9. The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Chaiya, Surat Thani

The Phra Maha That is one of the most sacred and important monasteries in the south of Thailand. The structure of this stupa is similar to the Chandi Pawana Chedi in Indonesia, the mondop style chedi, which was modeled after Chandimendut Chedi of Java.
The square stupa of Phra Maha That Chaiya standing on a rectangular base is built solely of brick. The structure is ornamented with delicate stucco designs. In the four corners of the raised platform are diminutive round brick Ceylonese chedi of which the spires are decorated with a four-faced stucco Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in accordance with Mahayana Buddhism.
The main tower standing in the center is a round chedi serving as the upper story of a relic cham ber or an image house.




10. The Old Market Town

The Old Market Town or Talad Bok has been recreated to portray the atmosphere of an ancient Thai community. The self-con tained community of an old market town makes it possible for the towns people to live on their own; the town pro vides sufficient facilities and necessary structures which are important for the physical and psychological well-being of the people. There are shops selling all kinds of goods, entertainment centers such as theaters and casinos, and religious monuments like the spirit houses standing side by side in the community. The structures play an important role in the towns because they help cultivate a good understanding among the multiethnic groups of people. So, the people live peacefully and spend their lives in the way that they are used to.
The residential quarters in the old market town are inspired by those standing along the ancient road in Tak Province together with the local shops in Kamphaeng Phet. The traditional Thai houses are taken from an old community in Yan Nawa District, Bangkok. On visiting the site, travellers will be reminded of the spectacle of an ancient market town that was once vital in Thai communities.





















11. The Tiger Kings Palace, Phetchaburi

The teaching hall at Wat Yai Suwannaram, or normally known as the Tiger Kings Palace, was once situated in area of the Ayutthaya Grand Palace. During the reign of King Sanphet VIII (or the Tiger King), he dedicated this teak palace to Somdej Phra Suwanna Muni (or Somdej Chao Tangmo), the supreme patriarch of the Ayutthaya Kingdom who came from Phetchaburi Province. This palace was dismantled and reconstructed at Wat Yai Suwannaram, the mon as tery where the patriarch had grown up and been educated.





12. The Scripture Repository
13. The Bell Tower
In the past, the scripture repository is normally raised on piles over a pond to protect the palm leaf manu scripts from ants and termites. The building of this type can hardly be found any where in Thailand today. The one at Muang Boran has been built and preserved for posterity.
The repository was brought from Wat Yai, Bang Khonthi in Samut Songkhram Province. Its original build ing, standing in a pond at Wat Yai, was much dilapidated. The structure is likely modeled after the Ayutthaya architectural style. The walls on the outside are invaluable old murals of the Life of the Buddha which are painted with tempera sketches gilded with gold. The murals are faded now.
Nearby is located a bell tower which has a unique local style and is hardly seen today. Muang Boran obtained this building from the same monastery.



14. The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Ratchaburi

The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Ratchaburi Province represents Mahayana Buddhism and was con struct ed during the Lop Buri period which dates to around the 11th-13th century A.D. The brick central tower stands on a laterite base. The structure has been renovated and restored several times. The murals in the chamber of the prang were made during the early Ayutthaya period while the stuccos and ornaments on the upper part of the prang were executed by both Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin craftsmen.
Phra Maha That, Ratchaburi situated at Muang Boran is a three-fourths scaled model of the original struc ture.