Asian Supermodel: Chanel Iman

I've been seeing this girl everywhere in my Vogue magazine and in other fashion magazines. Her name is Chanel Iman. Yes her name consists of one of the greatest fashion houses and a supermodel. She is of Korean and African American decent.

At the tender age of 18 years old she's done tons of runway shows. She stomped on the runways for the likes of D&G, Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and of course Chanel just to name a few. She's done plenty of endorsements like Express, GAP & Bottega Veneta.


Vogue featured her on the cover of upcoming supermodels. She is dubbed the next Naomi Campbell of the fashion world. Well not really the next Naomi because we haven't heard of her throwing any cell phones at her assistants just yet. Ok all joking aside this girl at this young age can stomp with the best of the older models. She's making her exotic looks work for her and the fashion world is eating it up.

I say go get them!!! Now check out the pictures....

THERE'S MORE HERE...

Spirit Houses

You experience different things when you decide to go to a foreign land other than what you're used to. You see different things, some unusual to you but for the locals is apart of their life, their heritage. Well this isn't really new to me but new to other people not use to our SE Asian cultures.

What is it you ask? Well it's the spirit houses that you see literally at every house, everywhere. What are these you ask? Well these are mini temple-like houses set outside of your house to house the spirit of your relatives. These spirit houses can be any color but most common are red, white and gold ones (not that any other colors can't be used as well). What are you suppose to do with them? You put offerings such as rice, fruits or small drinks for your relatives and "wai" them.

These spirit houses are suppose to be sacred and not disturbed. I've seen some foreigners posing in front of these spirit houses and making it seem like it's a historic monument or something. Hello people...these are some people's relatives' spirits in them. Don't put your arms around them, smile and act like it's a celebrity.

While I was in Laos visiting Vang Vieng I seen this happen. This German dude was with a couple of people and they stopped by this family's house on the side of the road (which was near the local market) to take goofy pictures next to and around the family's spirit house which was near the front of the house. Well I also stopped by the local market on the way to kayak and seen this...I felt I had to step up and let these guys know that their actions wasn't something to take pictures of and that they should respect the family's spirit house and not mock it nor take disrespectful pictures amongst it. I also asked them how they would feel if I took goofy pictures on their family's grave site? I don't think they would like it much if I were to do that. They didn't know what the spirit house was for and now they do.

Lets just hope they share the knowledge.

THERE'S MORE HERE...

Burma (Myanmar), What a Disaster

Alright so I've been slacking a bit on blogging but you guys are going to have to forgive me as I've had no time at all to blog anything let alone have time to sleep. Like I've said before I've been travelling so freaking much that I have no idea what time zone I'm in or what I did in the last city I was in. Anyways I've been meaning to blog about the recent disaster in Burma or Myanmar as it's now known to the rest of the world.

It's been what...about a week and a half or so since Cyclone Nargis hit the country. I've been seeing in the news and in newspapers that villages are wiped out, families are seperated or in the worst of it gone, lives are distroyed. There's no consistent supply of food for the remaining survivors and they have to stay in monastaries, fields...well basically anywhere that they can fit lets just say it like that.

I know that countries around the world want to help out with the relief effort. There are aide workers standing by in nearby Thailand ready and willing to go into the country to help with the cleanup, medical efforts, supplies and so on. Seems like the military in Burma is keeping a tight grip on the situation and not opening up to relief efforts from anyone. They want to handle it themselves. Come on now a big relief effort like that by yourself??? Who are you kidding?

I know that the situation in Burma and the political aspect of it is very sensitive for people. I just don't get the idea of them trying to handle this disaster themselves. There's bodies in the middle of the streets just floating and decomposing giving off stench and possibly harming others that have survived. Everyone needs some kind of help, it's simply impossible to handle this alone. People are starving and you want to confiscate the food supply that is coming in from other countries to help and pass it out yourselves. How many people are starving and how are you going to distribute to everyone? Get it through your heads that these survivors need medical attention, they need food, they need to be HELPED!!!

These are your country people, regardless of how you think that they're not important they are actually what makes the country. If you're in a position of power you should think of the people that you are in power of and their lives not just your political quest for control. Take care of your people, give them hope that you as a country will triumph this horrible catastrophe together. Do not just smash what little hope they have and not allow the help that they need and everyone knows it. It's not like the aide workers are going to go into the country and overthrow your military. Everyone just wants to help contrary to what you may think.

My heart goes out to all the survivors and victims. I guess this is kind of a sore spot for me because I am part Burmese and my grandfather was from there. Come on now who in their right mind wouldn't have compassion for what these people have gone through. Some people have lost children, parents, sisters, brothers and even in some cases their entire family all together. I know if I were in their shoes I would be devastated and would want some kind of help and hope that there will be some kind of future to rebuild and not want to be gone like the rest of my family.

Here is my plea for Burma (Myanmar): Please let the rest of the world help in the recovery effort. Think of your people and not of politics for once. Look at their faces, look at what they've gone through. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want help if you were them? Of course. Would you want to know that you'll have some kind of future? Of course. Put your politics aside and do the right thing for your people. Come together as a country and you'll get through this together.

THERE'S MORE HERE...

HAPPY NEW YEARS

It's been about a month since my last post. I've been travelling so much for work that I haven't even had a chance to update or anything like that, sorry people. I didn't expect to travel this much in such a short amount of time.

Anyways it's that time of the year for us. It's New Years for the Laotians, Thais and Cambodians. I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Years and may all the water playing keep you guys cool in the hot, humid weather.

New Years is a time for us to enjoy the three days with our families. It's the time to enjoy fabulous food, drinks and each others' company. I wish I was there for all the water works, but what can I do can't get off work you know.

HAPPY NEW YEARS TO THOSE CELEBRATING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!!! BE SAFE!

THERE'S MORE HERE...

Bangkok Early

I am going to be in Bangkok, Thailand a litttle earlier than expected. I will be there from next week Thursday the 13th to Sunday the 16th. This is going to be a business trip but then I still have the weekend to see some sights. I don't know how much I'll be able to see since it's such a short trip. I didn't expect to be in Bangkok or even in SE Asia til about New Years next month. Well even better I'm kinda glad that I get to go sooner.

I'm missing the food and people around SE Asia. Being an American you can appreciate the politeness, the common courtesy, and the soft spoken demeanor of those people. I'm ready to be back the days of early last summer when I spent a month in SE Asia. Ahh I can't wait til next week...hurry up and come already jeez!!

THERE'S MORE HERE...

Lets Not Hate

There is this story coming out of Oxnard, California that is sending shockwaves throughout the US. A 15 year old boy, Lawrence King had asked a classmate that was a boy to be his Valentine. Lawrence King was killed by a shot to the head by one of his classmates. This is a junior high school that this happened at.

Personally I am digusted that this has happened to such a young boy. Why should he be killed for being who he is? Are we that ignorant in 2008 that we can't open our minds to different things? Are we that closed-minded that we can't see past preferences and get to the heart of the person?

People should be able to express themselves without being scared that there will be consequences. Gays, Bis, Lesbians, Transexuals should be able to be as open about their feelings, their relationships as we heterosexuals. They are just as we are if we take the time to get to know them. Some of them like the same things we do, they're fun to be around, and they can relate to the same things that we relate to. They are not aliens what so ever. It is not contagious people.

This is such a sensitive subject for me. I have family members that are gay and transexuals. Some of my closest friends are gays and I would not trade them for anything. I take such offense when I hear someone saying something so ignorant about gays, lesbians, bis and transexuals. I am not trying to preach my beliefs on anyone, but does it have to come to violence? I think people should just leave them alone, let them be themselves as they let us be ourselves.

It is not what we look like, it is not our relationships, it is not our careers, it is not our social status, it is not the company we keep, it is not how we interact, it is not who we love that makes us who we are but it is what is in our hearts that should count.

THERE'S MORE HERE...

Why Must I Get Married?

I get this news that all of my cousins have settled down. They are either "married", got kids, or engaged. Every time this subject comes up there's always the question..."When are you going to get married?" I hate this question so much that it makes me want to puke every time I hear it. Seriously I just want to blow chunks on anyone that asks me this question, maybe next time I just might (well not puke but maybe water out the mouth or something).

My answer to this question is always the same. "What is so good about being married in your mid twenties?" I mean seriously is there an expiration date on yourself if you're not married by a certain age? I think being in your mid twenties is the time that you find yourself, it's the time that you have for yourself. This is the time that you can be a self-fish bitch and pleasure yourself (alright not in that way).

I don't see the rush in taking the big plunge. Isn't the divorce rate up? Come on now being married so young is not all it's cracked up to be...to me that is. I want to travel, I want to meet new people, I want to spend money on myself damn it. Let me flirt with as many hot boys and lay on as many beaches as I can before I settle down with one guy. It does not mean that if you're not married by a certain age that you're going to be a lonely hag for the rest of your life. To me it means that you're an independent person that is going to put yourself first before having to answer or compromise with someone else.

Alright I'm sounding like I'm a self-fish bastard, but who cares. I'm not ready to give my life up at an early age right now. Let me indulge in my travels, my career, let me amass my LV collection first. I have no qualms with marriage but it's not for me right now. Good for those who want to be tied down and have found that person you want to be with forever. Do not force marriage on those who are not ready for it and still want to have some fun.
*To my family: When I decide to get married, you'll receive an invite or else you'll just see pictures...HA!!!*

THERE'S MORE HERE...