Christmas wasn’t that painful

(Scary looking dwarf under a Citibank-sponsored Christmas Tree beside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel)

Doesn’t Christmas freak you out a little?  Doesn’t it seem weird that this is the “holiday” season, but for most people it doesn’t feel like a holiday?  I’m assuming that more than half of Canada is stressing out at this time trying to figure out what presents to buy and for who.  Maybe it’s because of the 3 wise men who brought gifts for the birth of Christ, but who really remembers that anyway?  Now, it’s buy buy buy… the more expensive the better.  It must be nice to be an executive at some company hoping to cash in on the season for “giving”… i’m thinking the idea for “giving” doesn’t actually mean presents, but of doing something nice for your fellow human beings.

(Looking down Sukhumivit Road – Central Chitlom Mall on the left and the BTS skytrain track on the right)

Its weird how Thailand has picked up this infectious buying habit during Christmas.  The society is already a really heavy consumerist one, but to introduce a foreign religion and practice into the country is just… umm… wrong.  For one, over 90% of the population is Buddhist, which means they don’t celebrate Christmas.  And two, is that the idea of Christmas here in the country is not about doing something for your fellow human beings, but to buy the latest and greatest toy.  Can you believe that banks and VISA are sponsoring Christmas trees?

(Jesslyn, Janet and Hannah at Wat Arun)

I spent Christmas Eve at a friend’s home to celebrate and eat dinner, Mexican style.  It was nice especially when I had to pass the latest couple of years because I was always sick.  So it was nice to catchup and to spend a Christmas in good company and eating a homecooked meal.

(Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane… no, it’s just Tim)

The holidays, so far, has been filled with nonstop excitement… i spent the last couple of days showing some relatives around Bangkok.  It was a short visit and it was hard to get a lot of sights in, but we managed to do a little bit of sightseeing of temples, shopping malls, and eating good food.  There’s more excitement in store as I prepare for a couple of trips out of the country to visit friends and family.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been having a very eventful couple of months, but I wonder if I’ll have time to actually feel like I’m on holiday….