Floral Arrangements

Sweet, Aromatic, Pungent, Vibrant, Colorful, Beautiful, Thai, Orchids, Smiles, Smells.

Tonight was certainly a bouquet of Bangkok. Callie and I were determined to have an experience out on the town. We eventually decided on food at Arun Prathtit - The Sun Road, right around the corner from Koh San Road . We happened upon Royal India and had incredible Chili Paneer, Samosas, Garlic Naan and Sag Kofta. Of course with large Chang and Singha beers. We then found our way to Koh San with all the lights, music, and Hebrew, Israelis and dirty hippies. It was a bit of a shock for us, but definitely worth the experience. What's better than Elvis sung by Thais in Los Angeles? Elvis, the Beetles, Country and Oasis sung by Thais in THAILAND! More Chang beer to accompany our journey and some highly entertaining drunk Irishmen/boys.

We closed out the bar and decided to meander on over to the Flower Market - only a few kilometers away...but just getting started at 3 am. We were told to take a taxi...by why waste the money? Plus we needed to burn off some beer calories ;) So we walked a little out of the way before getting on the right path, walking by the sparkling and glittering Grand Palace and Wat Po at night. We then approached the vegetable market, whole sale fruits and veggies for the restaurants, hotels and other sellers. We received lots of "hellos" and smiles along the way. We finally found what we were looking for...surprisingly it was our eyes that found the way, not our noses to the fragrant flower market. Pictures to follow...words cannot describe. Looking forward to sharing the vibrant beauty with you in some photos....Lah Dee Sawat (Good Night!)

Sawadee Ka - Hello Bangkok

Sporadic posting is the theme of the month - both  May and June. I have just arrived at the Lub D hostel in the Silom Quarter of Bangkok. We arrived from Cha'am on a minibus which dropped us at Victory Monument. Without a word of English spoken, Callie and I managed to find the SkyTrain and get two tickets, complete 1 transfer, passing a destroyed Central World via the SkyTrain to our stop in Silom. A two block walk with our giant packs and we arrived to a beautiful and inexpensive hostel. We found some nice Thai food restaurant where I finally had a Thai Iced Tea - or Iced Milk Tea. Now we're taking it easy this afternoon, uploading photos, doing laundry and planning our next two days in Bangkok.

Once I've got some extra time on my hands, I will start back-posting my journal entries from my trip so far.

South East Asia is a beautiful place, with beautiful people and delicious foods. My friend Phil asked me to describe my trip in three words, so here they are: Foreign, Humid, Delicious.

Whirlwind to Asia

It's been a crazy week and a half...last Friday, I graduated at USC. Now, it's Sunday in Taiwan...

I'm officially a Master. I received my confirmation email yesterday/Friday in LA that I am commenced as a Master of Public Diplomacy. Two years of amazing learning, friendships and experiences.

I'm heading off to the airport again to go to Cambodia by way of Vietnam.

It's been a crazy week to get here but I'm very happy to be traveling.

I'm keeping all of my experiences in a written journal and will type them up either when I get home or when I have time here in Asia.

From JStreet to JCall: European Jews Call out to Israel

As I finish my last academic paper of my Master's degree, I write about Israel, the uniqueness of Zionism and immigration to the Jewish State and the various waves of immigration have on Israeli society, culture, politics and the relationship Israel has with the Arab world. So with all of that in mind, here is a great little piece on Europe's version of JStreet.

While we're on the subject, take a look at a piece my friend Paul and I wrote back in February for PDiN Monitor on Israel's public diplomacy entitled Lost in Translation.

Soap Opera Diplomacy - Part II

While I found it intriguing the first time around, I just find it even more exciting the second time around. Another few articles have come out this week regarding Turkey's soap opera diplomacy to the Arab world and the rapprochement in Turkish-Arab relations. An excellent article, sent to me by my friend Paul, is written by a Turkish journalist who went on a journalist exchange to Syria. His multifaceted understanding of the meaning of this new "soap opera diplomacy" an ability for exchanges as well as Turkey's soft power to influence many in the Arab world is refreshing. The ability for a country like Turkey, with a complicated (at best) history with the Arab world to in the 21st century begin to positively influence its Arab neighbors while maintaining close and positive ties to the West is very encouraging. It makes me think that the U.S. government needs to stop trying to devise unsuccessful public diplomacy strategies to the "Muslim world" and the "Arab Street" and start listening the the multitude of voices coming from the the "Muslim world" and take a good and hard look at how Turkey is showing some great successes in this arena.

PDiN Monitor, Volume 1, Issue 4: PD Publications

Check out the latest issue of PDiN Monitor brought to you by the USC Center on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School.

The End of the Beginning...

Well, today was my last day of classes for my graduate career. In two weeks time, I will have a Master's of Public Diplomacy. I like to think my very last class had a fitting end - the discussion of global culture. Is there such thing? As Dr. Manuel Castells so eloquently put it, "well, yes and no". Global culture is not a homogeneous or monolithic creature - global culture is partly multiculturalism, partly cosmopolitanism and partly consumerism. The most profound part of this lecture for me, was that as people, we do not share a common global culture, however our global culture is that of sharing. So as I end my academic career and begin my life as a professional public diplomat, knowing that people around the globe do share a common culture - we all share. As I end one chapter of my life and start a new one, I am happy I can share with whomever is reading a little bit about my new journey and just snippets of the end of the beginning.

Israel, Israel, que bonitas Israel...

The Israeli Foreign Ministry does it again. They created a terrible-quality video in a feeble attempt to promote a positive image of Israel. This time, the target audience is the Spanish-speaking world of the Americas. I wish I knew more about the artists that they had performing in the video, the status they hold in various countries in the Americas and whether or not the Israeli MFA did their research on their audience before producing this type of campaign. Even if the artists draw large audiences, the poor quality of the video does not say much for Israel...

Enough words though, the video speaks for itself.

Leight the Fire

It's amazing how certain words, places, songs, smells, tastes and touches impact life in ways you could not expect. The latest surprise came in the form of a name, the name of my blog, Fire & Leight. It's creation was inspired by my friend Paul, but the words fire and light have had special meaning for me since my DC days...

"And I came here
Knowing no one
With nothing at all
But I'm here
Here for a reason
This is the reason
It is my call
So take a look at me
Try to understand me
Believe in me, this is what makes me happy - so
Light, light the fire" ~ by ADHD Rock

A song and words that bring up memories and emotions from a wonderful past and excitement for the future. Much love for friends, new and old...always believe in what makes you happy. 

Nature Diplomacy

This weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Pioneertown and Joshua Tree National Park. The weekend was incredible but that is neither here nor there, however, nature inspires. Seeing thousands or millions of stars in the sky without the glaring city lights makes the world look insignificant. The vast emptiness of the desert is beauty in nothingness. These natural wonders make people kinder and more open. From fellow hikers on the trail to fellow Pioneertown guests, people are just people. I think it would be a great PD initiative to bring all different types of people out into the desert or into deep forests and drop them off for a week with only each other, the essentials. A PD "Survivor" of sorts. I bet by the end of the week issues that were once significant in terms of national conflicts (or others) would become irrelevant and the light of people-hood would shine through.

*Originally Posted on February 15, 2010 at pdcorps.ning.com