jan. 23, 06

Most geckos in the parts of Phetchaburi I see are white with a strong hint of tan, to put it poetically. Generally, they laze around on the walls and ceilings, waiting to ambush flying insects. If startled, however, they can move with such speed and dexterity as to demonstrate the meaninglesness of human acrobatics. For instance, they can sprint across the ceiling, upside down, so quickly that they're a blur.

Today, I noticed a different type of gecko crawling on the wall outside the 7-Eleven. He was of the same shape as other geckos but his coloration was similiar to that of the American rattle snake and his eyes were greenish and almost clear; Also they appeared larger than the beady black eyes of the local geckos. Actually, I believe I have sighted this sort of gecko running along in a university garden bed once or twice before.

I'm not unhappy lately... though I am perplexed with issues often vaguely described as "philosophical" or "spiritual." Southern Central Thailand is an interesting and often pleasant place to live. A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to drink with some workers who had just finished building the university's welcome sign. I accepted a glass of ice-cold Chang and I found the workers to be good company despite their limited English so we kept drinking together, at my urging moving from the truck bed to the stairs of the sign itself. The foreman broke out some raw garlic and at first when I wanted to eat some, they warned me about how spicy it was. With the cold beer, however, I ate a good handful of cloves. This was a good drinking night and I woke up refreshed the next morning.

Another positive experience occured even before this, as I was walking to the library, feeling depressed. A medium-sized butterfly of glowing lilac purple coloration flew past me; It was brilliant even on this garden campus full of exotic butterflies. I looked for where it landed but it was gone. I don't know why this experience cheered me up but it did. I think it was more the thought that occured to me afterwards, which I will ackwardly explain as this:

"All of our pleasures and sufferings are very fleeting. We are not Gods, bound to an artificial standard of morality and achievement; the butterfly only pleases us in passing."