I returned from Thailand on a TG-something to Sydney on Friday morning. My brain was telling me that it was nine in the morning, but the clocks and air hostesses told me otherwise. For the past two days I've been roasting in a heatwave where each day sits at about 42 degrees (celsius) and retains that until early in the evening. I know some of you must be thinking: "You just came from Thailand, what are you talking about?" Yes, but alas, I spent half my time in air-conditioned rooms, or out in the evening when the temperature had dropped. It was also winter while I was over there.
But what does this have to do with anything?
Writing-wise?
I got a brand new spanking idea for a novel, involving a lot of culture and delving into mythology and the Himmapan forest. Over the last day, I've poked at it a little bit, finding places to integrate past ideas into it. It could be bloody brilliant. But if it's the one, it will be there, perhaps even stronger in my mind, when I find time to get to it.
Regarding RETURN, I made a lot of ground work. I wrote all of the scenes set in Thailand in the previous drafts from photographs and distant memories from when I was eight and younger. And after meeting my family and visiting the village my mum grew up in, I've got everything I need to further those scenes - I've even got some ideas for scene change, foreshadowing and character introduction that'll really help.
And reading wise, well, I wasn't so successful. I didn't realise how much we were doing. The plane trip over was absolutely terrible. Everything malfunctioned, so no entertainment. I was a little nauseated, so I was then starved. And then the first week was chockers full of sight-seeing (Ayutthaya, River Kwai, Hellfire Pass, etc.) and the second week was a lot of shopping and the third week was rellos. I managed to finish two out of four, and will throw those reviews up after this post. (Or will try my best)
Another note on reading: I've returned to school, so I've had to put aside BEHEMOTH and DOCTOR ZHIVAGO and pick up the reading materials for my Advanced English class (EMMA) and my Extension English class (TIRRA LIRRA BY THE RIVER).
Until I undergo a week of school, I can't comment on how the school term will affect my blogging schedule. There's a list of priorities before my blog posts (homework, work, editing) and I promise that as soon as I find a gap, I shall contact you my super-followers.
So, in closing, I'll share with you one of the more awesome and stranger things I discovered whilst I was over there. I give you Mi chob Phuchai (I Don't Like Boys) by Kat-Pat, a singing duo from Thailand.
Let me just say I hate being American sometimes, because I have no idea how to convert celsuis. Using Farenheit(sp?) just makes me feel like I'm in a special class for the disabled. XD;
ReplyDeleteWow! So you're half-Thai? It must've been pretty awesome to be immersed in the culture. It's the best part about going overseas.
Can't wait to hear more about the book you got inspiration for, and good luck at school this semester!!
I was wondering where you got to!! :) Glad you're back and bloggin'.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with school :)