Sabai Sabai

Bird Thongcai McIntyre's Sabai Sabai was playing in my head as we made our way around the streets of Bangkok, especially since a Thongcai KTV DVD is on top of my dad's wish-list. Sabai Sabai is also the philosophy, attitude of life which the Thais exude: No worries, take life as it comes. Bend with the wind, like a tree. And above all, keep smiling. Something I can appreciate very much.

The most natural thing for me even in the holidays is to raid the DVD stores. Armed with a list of to-buy Thai films but did not had much hope since Thai DVDs rarely include English subtitles. Only managed one, Blissfully Yours, by Cannes winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul. 

 Blissfully Yours (2002) dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul

DVD stores (those selling original discs) are a rarity in Bangkok. Could only find 1 in Mahboonkrung. The rest of the stalls peddle pirated discs. But even in that 1 rare shop, you could find gems, films you could hardly ever find on the shelves of local shops.

Machete (2010) dir. Robert Rodriguez

 The Usual Suspects (1995) dir. Bryan Singer

JSA (2000) dir. Park Chan-wook

The rare Korean film that I admire. The Korean wave didn't really get into me. Too intense for my liking.

Memento (2000) dir. Christopher Nolan

The newspapers penned a different image of Bangkok. Yes, there were sandbags around major buildings, but the mood here was so relaxed, it's like business as usual. No panic, no shortage of food in the market, the streets were crowded, hordes of tourists, even Singaporeans as well.

There's something magical about this city that keeps me coming back, the third time in 5 years.