The Village of the wild plum

Interesting stuff about the translation of the original name of Bangkok.

The elections in Moscow have come to an end (pretty depressing and suspicious end), so we packed up to head to Bhutan without feeling that we did something wrong.

On our way to Paro (the only town that has an international airport in the whole of Bhutan) we had a transit stop in Bangkok where we spent almost a day and had an opportunity to visit some shrines in the centre of the city.

We chose to go to the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) because it was one of the famous and most attractive places in Bangkok according to Boyfriend.

It really was. As we got there, Boyfriend started to contemplate why the shrine complexes of Bangkok aren't really famous around the world, "it's not even protected by UNESCO". But soon, we started to notice the modern marble slabs at the temple's bases, the workers were painting the ceilings gold using paper stencils, and the modern glasses from the shrine's walls were falling off (the production of the original glasses was over in the last century). I read about the reconstructions of the complex: there were four restorations; the last one was like thirty years ago. Now I think that's the reason UNESCO don't want them. 

But the complex looked awesome anyway. It goes to show that even in the poor countries people are capable to follow architectural traditions.

When we came to another big shrine and took off our shoes leaving them before the enter, it started to rain so heavily (oh hi there the monsoon season!) that the downpour didn't stop for another hour or more.

For 5 minutes we were exploring the temple but then got bored and started to think over the escape plan. Why not to run out of this dry and warm place in a random direction without any idea where the exit is.

When we already were all thoroughly soaked, Boyfriend remembered that we actually had a map with us. So, after he studied it for some time, a brilliant idea came to his mind. "There!" he said and we were again running under the rainfall to the direction he chose. When we finally got under the roof, a guard man appeared just before us and with the words "NO EXIT" pointed to the just opposite direction. 

I already prepared a speech to deliver which should've started with "GIVE ME DAD MAP, YOU!" but then I remembered that that was a Boyfriend and Boyfriend is inviolable, so we just silently headed to the new direction.

The complex was 45 minutes away from the airport by car but it took us more than 2 hours to get back as we stuck in a huge traffic jam. I later read that the traffic problem is one of the things Bangkok is famous for. And that's funny because according to wiki

Bangkok is the seat of all branches of the national government. TheGovernmentHouse, ParliamentHouse and Supreme, Administrative and Constitutional Courts are all located within the city. Bangkok is the site of the Grand Palace and Chitralada Villa, respectively the official and de facto residence of the king. Most government ministries also have headquarters and offices in the capital.

Frankly speaking, the one good thing they've done is the system of intersection bypasses and elevated highways. But it's built almost on the outskirts of the city and it doesn't solve the problem in the centre anyhow.

So what is the occupation of the king? Well, actually, I heard about a couple of the obligations of his majesty. Like to give the different types of orders..

On May 2010 there was a demonstration which ended with 92 deaths of armed and unarmed protesters and journalists.

And these kinds of things..

Only the Thai King is allowed to touch the statue of the Emerald Buddha. The King changes the cloak around the statue three times a year, corresponding to the summer, winter, and rainy seasons, an important ritual performed to usher good fortune to the country during each season.

"To usher good fortune to the country" because you must do this stuff somehow.

P. S. Airport photos!

3 am and "Goood moorning!"
from my backpack-kitten

cute-looking Thai coke

cute-looking milk which I didn't buy 

because I don't like milk

but I really like these tiny bottles >_<

cute-looking sunrise

and a cute-looking plastic capsule of water.

InLiberty 2013

Me and my new libertarian friend!

We are back in Moscow from Georgia where we spent a week listening to (pro-libertarian) lectures on economics and learning how to debate. The summer course was held in a former military base, 40 minutes driving distance from any civilization. One of my first tweets when we entered the building was like "We already arrived and THERE IS NOTHING BUT COFFEE IN THIS PLACE". Although, later that evening we had our dinner, all in all this photo shows how I saw the food situation:

THE LAST PLUUUM!!

I even recall how I wandered along the road to pick some wild apples for lunch.

The conditions were pretty tough but we've got what we came for. We met Kaha Bendukidze (the former Head of the Government Chancellery of Tbilisi), had lunch with Jason Sorens (the founder of the Free State Project), slept during the  really interesting lectures by Anrey Illarionov (the former economic policy advisor to the Vladimir Putin) and listened to the many more libertarians! How could it be possible that we lived with them in the same small building the entire week eating together and singing songs after midnight with some of them?

The economists (Butrin on the left and Illarionov on the right)
are arguing desperately about politics.

Every day started at 8:30 am with attempts to take a shower (which was actually attached to the toilet room's ceiling) and pray for eatable porridge for breakfast or at least some whole-grain bread. The first lecture started at 9:30 and the last one ended after midnight, when half of students went sleep while the other half with some lecturers moved to the backyard to talk informally until 3 am.

9:40 am. Trying to concentrate on economics.

As I already mentioned, the lecturers were really great people and they raised the topics I was thrilled to hear about. They spoke about the history of liberty, the correlation of the political freedom and the economic growth, laissez-faire politics, the success of Hong Kong and the failure of Ukraine.

"KILL THE STATE WITHIN" it says (^_^)/ 

The most interesting part though, was to listen to the American lecturers. Especially, Jason Sorens as he spoke about his project in New Hampshire. The idea of his project is to recruit as much libertarians as possible to move to New Hampshire, so they could make a real difference in people's lives gaining enough votes in the senate. I knew about it before but his presentation made me feel so excited and depressed at the same time again, that I felt the urge to look at the whole thing from the inside as soon as possible.

And wow wow Tom Palmer was there too! Though, he himself raised pretty obvious topics (such as "Welfare state is evil"), apologizing for that he had to speak English (that was definitely cute), it was a great opportunity to ask his opinion on different subjects.And even though some subjects were obvious, we learned a great deal of argumentation which might not come to your mind before.

Anyway, Palmer seemed interested in the whole thing. Russians? Libertarians? Er.. wut?

As for Boyfriend, he went there more for the sake of work than the lectures, so he always looked busy when I tried to occupy myself with, like...

Sketching..

Or idling...

But still more drawing than idling. As the other members of LPR were debating, I was sketching them PASSIONATELY and with special diligence.

These guys!

I also drew Sorens! And asked Boyfriend to speak for me (because I'm too shy to speak with adults especially with such well-known guys in any language) so I could give the sketch to him. And I  we succeeded! Jason Sorens took it and patted and said he treasured it. This is how I met my new hero.

He also reacted when I mentioned this on twitter.

Another important thing was the debates time. We were divided into teams and each day we were given 3 hours to develop the arguments and prepare our speeches and questions, and than the debates began. At first, I was sitting aside and watching closely. The next day was tough for me, so I cried myself to sleep during the preparation time. The day after that, my new friend forced me (in the most libertarian way!) to participate. Early in the morning, he mentioned that I couldn't back out, so I had time to jitter and sob about that. But when the time came, with the help of our mentor and that friend I prepared a closing speech about the evils of the authoritarian reforms.

They are also speaking against unpopular reforms
(My speech was just a conclusion). Oh hi, Mao!

By the end of my speech half of my face was twitching nervously but.. people laughed as they supposed to and applauded. Somebody even whistled and came up to me after the session to cheer me up. I was relieved. Did I enjoy it after all? Yes. Did I agreed to repeat my performance on the next day? No, for the first time it was enough.

Me after the debates

The last day was the excursion day. The whole group was packed into small buses and we set off to the capital, Tbilisi, stopping at some historical sites.

When we got to Tbilisi I found the situation in the city pretty strange:

• Modern architecture looked fine (Thanks to the president, Saakashvili)
• The main street of the city, the Rustaveli Street, looked just awesome

• But the rest of the capital looked really poor
• Lots of poor people ask for a handout
• If you turn off the main streets you'll find pretty much nothing but the dilapidated houses and backyards)

I got interested in reforms of Saakashvili and it all came together to a question "Why even though the Good beats the Evil, it doesn't last long and is pushed out by the system, because the system is already rotten?"

Our certificates of participation (^-^)v

Eagle is for the Libertarian Party of Russia.

August 18 was my 18th happybirthday. It was also the day I officially joined the Libertarian party of Russia (LPR)*. Actually, I was already a member of this party however a state law prohibits those who are underage from joining any party. So, here is the story.

Eagle is the official
symbol of the LPR

* Please, make sure you read this article first not to take me to a sectarian freak, because libertarianism is the most beneficial thing that can happen to you in this world.

That day started in Misha's apartment where we spent our fist night together, the night when I didn't come back home for the first time in my life, almost two years ago. I woke up early in the morning (as I didn't have enough time to get over my jetlag from arriving from Tokyo) to find that Misha wasn't sleeping since 6 am. Idk, but it makes me somehow happy to wake up near Boyfriend when he is already awake (don't misunderstand me, I experienced it only two times in my live).

As it turned out, this day was also the important day for the LPR in the process of its registration, the day when all the documents were finally formally ready. It's a pretty hard process to register a political party in Russia as the state law requires to have at least 500 members from at least 50 regions to be officially registered. Moreover, after this requirement is archived at least a half of members should attend the constituent assemblies in each region. The assembly in my city, Moscow, was planned to be exactly on August 18, 12:00.

Vera, Paul and their cat Marseillaise. Libertarians.

We decided to meet Boyfriend's friends before the party conference, but we woke up too early and the friends were too sleepy. It meant that we had to occupy ourselves with smth for nearly two hours, so we looked through some albums in Misha's library, I read some Ghost World, then we looked through some more albums and then it was time to leave. Actually, the plan was to intrude to the friend's appt a little bit earlier than we were told but luckily for them Boyfriend's albums were too interesting. So technically, we were even late. But really, nobody was waiting for us. On the contrary, it looks like we came somehow unexpectedly as Vera was having breakfast, Paul immediately hid in the bedroom and Marseillaise hadn't enough time to realize that to hid with Paul was a better idea before Misha started to squeeze it. And I? I behaved in accordance with the ideal scenario for me – I was sitting in the corner..

observing.

In half an hour, though, we were already on the metro platform where we met one more friend and headed to the meeting place all together.

Daria and her fluffy backpack. Not really
 a libertarian but she agreed to join us
to help the party with the registration.

Attention. Not so important information. Feel free to scroll it down.

1. Boyfriend and others bought some confections in a nearby bakery and I got a cup of chopped watermelon (they had smth like a watermelon themed week. they were selling even a watermelon soup!) and a straight black coffee (at least I don't use Instagram to picture my lunches, can you please excuse my food flood for a second in here).

2. As we walked towards the meeting place Misha had an argument with Paul (who is a student of a historical faculty) about some interesting historical/architecture stuff but lost a bet and it was so cute to look at.

Then, was the assembly, where I finally was officially registered and given a membership card and a stupid photo capturing the moment.

And then, someone brought lots of propaganda stickers which I decorated my macbook (and the membership card too) with.

All in all we met a lot of people that day, were chatting a lot, fussed a lot.. For a moment, I didn't want it to end to such an extent that I didn't want to leave Moscow, not so soon at least. Now, it's already 26th and I still hesitate if I want to return to Tokyo, although I still don't have any friends here in Moscow but I started to feel happy to be with Boyfriend's.

The truth is, that we came back to Moscow only because of Boyfriend's holidays, the first half of which we wanted to spend at home and the other half hiking in Bhutan. However, I'm writing this post from Georgia (country, not a state) where we unexpectedly arrived to participate in Bazaleti Summer School of Economics which starts today after we finish our breakfast.

Yesterday, I had a great chance to meet even some more people who were also libertarians which calms me down a lot. But for the time when new people came to our table and it was my turn to introduce myself there was already fifth cup of coffee inside me, so I was all shaking and barely managed to say a few of sentences. But I did it! And continued to shake.

P U S S Y R I O T

I am a complete lack of feminism. "There's a man and a little girl who need him.." and bla. Second, there is a few people alive who I really give respect to.

And then, Tolokno comes in. Actually, she came in a lot of times before. Sometimes naked. Sometimes amazingly gross. It was ok, because aside from being a feminist, she was (and still is) a punk. Also, she has a daughter who turns 6 next year. I even met her husband in person. He is an anarchist. Aand also a punk.

And then, was that performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow on February 21 and as a conclusion, the imprisonment of the three of girls including the leader, Tolokno. 

This scandal might lead to nothing. Or there could be no scandal at the first place. But there was a scandal, but with two great consequences: Putin's Russia was disclosed, and the world opened a new feminism icon and she is Russian. 

And if you are not Russian, but heard something about the band and think that they should be all right girls because, well, Madonna supports them, I want you to know about them a little more, I want you to respect them for more. So here some basic facts about the whole thing.

• Pussy Riot is not just a feminism movement, their actions are aimed against (and it's very important) the policies of Russian President dictator  Vladimir Putin and the hypocrisy of the Russian Orthodox Church (church is no good for you. pretty NEVER – editor's note) and they also stand up for the LGBT rights.

• Pussy Riot band consists approximately of 13 members but all of them are anonymous (except of the scandalous three) wearing bright balaclavas and going under nicknames (my favorite are Tomcat and Seraphima, sorry for such a revelation).

• The group cites punk rock and speaks about Bikini Kill and Karen Finley as well as the Riot grrrl movement as their inspiration. 

Aand more quotes:

"What we have in common is impudence, politically loaded lyrics, the importance of feminist discourse and a non-standard female image. The difference is that Bikini Kill performed at specific music venues, while we hold unsanctioned concerts. On the whole, Riot Grrrl was closely linked to Western cultural institutions, whose equivalents don't exist in Russia."

Aand more wiki for those who are familiar with this stuff:

In a February 2012 interview with Vice magazine, Pussy Riot member "Serafima" named her major feminist influences as Simone de Beauvoir, Andrea Dworkin, Emmeline Pankhurst, Shulamith Firestone, Kate Millett, Rosi Braidotti and Judith Butler.

• You don't have to criticize their vocal abilities as its already been said by themselves: "You don't have to sing very well. It's punk. You just scream a lot."

• Whatever place they consider as a new stage, their performances will always be unsanctioned. They will never perform on a real stage as they can't stand being a part of the "capitalistic system" as they call it. Instead, they usually appear at somehow symbolic places. Starting with several metro stations and tram's roofs, they also appeared atop of a garage beside the prison, where opposition activists were being held, once they performed at the Lobnoye Mesto in Red Square, and their last video was shoot atop of an oil derrick and a petrol station where they covered a portret of the chairman of "Rosneft" (an oil company owned by the government) with black oil-like dirt.

• On February 21, 2012, five members of the group staged a performance on the soleas of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior which the women described as a protest directed to the Church leader's support for Putin during his election campaign. In spite of this, when the three of them where chased and captured by the authorities, the judge stated that they had "crudely undermined the social order" showing a "complete lack of respect" for believers, so they were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, and each was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

•  On October 10, following an appeal, Samutsevich was freed on probation, her sentence suspended. The sentences of the other two women were upheld. In late October 2012, Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova were separated and sent to prison.

• Mark Feygin, the creepiest lawyer for the girls, stated that they would appeal the verdict, but that "Under no circumstances will the girls ask for a pardon [from Putin] ... They will not beg and humiliate themselves before such a bastard". Tolokonnikova in her turn stated that "Our imprisonment serves as a clear and unambiguous sign that freedom is being taken away from the entire country."

Well, as I already said, I don't like them from an aesthetic point of view, but I respect them for their active political position which led to the worldwide scandal. They make the world listen to the story about what really happens in Russia. Now there is one more question in my pre-communication questionnaire: "What do think about the whole thing?"

Beginner's mind

Let's go straight to the point. You know what is common between Boyfriend and a laptop? Probably, you don't. Well, the thing is they both hate coffee which disappoints me a lot. I really NEED like coffee and drink it every day but both my favorite guys can't (well, one of them couldn't. Rest in peace, mac) stand it at all. The one and only difference is that I can't hurt Boyfriend with my coffee-love (well, physically at least) but I can't tell this about my mac. 

After a first cup of coffee, I had to replace the front panel to completely new one (there were no longer Russian letters on it so I learned to touch-type). A second cup killed several keys and also a touch pad. I got a computer mouse. Later, coffee killed the mouse too. It was the end. I had to bury my dead mac sell it for parts almost for nothing. 

My mac wasn't the only friend who died by my unfortunate hand. I remember, how I tried to teach a mouse to swim when I was 7 or smth..

I spent my summer days at my grandparents' country house when our cat Muusya started to bring us mice. She carried them home one by one and played with them with her paws. The mice were almost killed but still alive which made it funnier to my cat enjoy the game. YUCK! I was like: "Give me that mouse you bustard!"

So, I took one mouse from the cat and decided to pet it. You probably think why not to just pet your kitty instead. Well, I love animals very much. Even VERY much. And cats are this type of animals which doesn't appreciate this enthusiastic kid love. And Maki don't like it when somebody don't like her. So, I need somebody to switch my love to. A half-dead mouse suited just fine. I even made a portable house for it! With a few blades of grass and some dirt. At first, everything was alright: the sun was shining, the mouse behaved well but then.. an idea crawled to my retarded mind.

Why not to teach a mouse how to swim? 

Just like that. Like why not, right?

It never learned, if you couldn't tell. Instead, it floated upside down after a few seconds of trying.

Responsibility was the hardest thing for me to learn from the very begining. All these plants, animals, computers.. I floated upside down in my attempts to learn how to be responsible just like that poor little mouse did (only, I am not inside the handmade cave).