Who will Sing the Songs of Freedom? (Part 1)

Recently I was in Bangkok for an Asia Pacific modeling software conference/seminar. I had a great, great time.

For one week I lived luxuriously in the middle of the heart of Bangkok, our classy hotel upgraded us to a beautiful deluxe room due to their own technical fault. The seminar/conference was in Bangkok Convention Center, Centra Grand Hotel (an amazing 5 star venue!), right across the 6-lane street from our hotel. It was perfect. I don't have to get stuck in the notorious Bangkok traffic to get to my workplace daily.

Every meal from our hotel to the seminar/conference was top-classed. Even during the coffee breaks, we were spoilt for choice. My wife who was with me throughout the trip was blessed with free super dinners because some didn't turn up for the event. One of the meals we had was on top of a skyscraper balcony overlooking the Bangkok lights at night. Another was a buffet BBQ dinner by a poolside on the rooftop of a tall hotel.

Surrounding our hotel and seminar venue were many gigantic, mega-shopping malls. During daytime, I'd go work and my wife would wander around these malls using their well-built sky-bridges.

It was great meeting so many smart, friendly people from around the region and from the States during the conference. Exchanging ideas not just on the modeling software, but cultures and ideas from their countries. Very interesting. Reminded me of my travelling days as an international student.

After work, I'd walk back to my hotel through a huge mall, go back to my wife in the hotel room, who'd prepare a nice bubble bath for me to soak with nice, relaxing soft music in the background.

I've to also comment on the remarkable Thai hospitality services we received throughout our stay which were top-notched, as usual. I'm ashamed of our own Malaysian hospitality in comparison (wait till I write about the cab incident in LCCT upon return!).

I was thinking I wouldn't mind spending my life this way, working away from Malaysia. Too bad it was only for a week. Everything was perfect, and surreal. Almost unreal kinda lifestyle.

However, the 'perfect picture' was tainted by some things I saw. Bangkok boast of their world-class sky-trains and sky-bridges. But I saw so many poor people by the roadside and at the bridges. Many were selling stuffs, and many were also begging. What broke my heart was little children begging (like the Slumdog movie) like it's the only thing they were taught to do in their young lives. Many were begging with their parents. This reality troubled me. How could the parents let these little children with worlds of potential and lifetime of endless possibilities, waste everything away by living the life of beggars! Their voice speak of those being victimised, of pain, and hopelessness....