Tag Archives: Yuu Koyama

Moments in Thailand

Thailand was amazing.

From Christmas Day 2015 until January 4th, 2016, my brother Chris, my cousin Eli, myself, and for the latter half Yuu Koyama, trekked a journey through this southeast Asian coastal nation. No, it was more than a trek. It was an epic. And that’s a more accurate use of ‘epic’ than most of you have ever read.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand

We could achieve world peace if only, somehow, we could muster the resources (and the consent of the Thai people) to send anyone with a violent state of mind on a tour through Thailand. The country has a way of just making you feel good, whether it’s human pleasures or, more importantly, the relaxation and tranquility the people there have a way of transmitting to their visitors.

From how wonderful the people are, how charming life is in Chiang Mai, to how pleasant Thai people are even in the heart of massive, hedonist Bangkok, and how tranquil life is on a beach in Phuket, here are some moments I remember best from my journey through Thailand.

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Photos from Phuket

Phuket is pronounced poo-ket.  So this post is pronounced “Potos from Pooket.”

This island state in Thailand was a very unique experience for me in this day and age.  Perhaps I’ve lived in Japan for too long – but relaxation almost permanently eludes me here.  Although I try and succeed in traveling often, I am an active traveler.  Those who join me are sometimes frustrated by my aggressive itinerary planning – seeing temples, climbing mountains, riding boats, storming the bars and clubs.  On vacation, every moment is precious to me.  Sitting in hostels using computers is something I am never comfortable doing.

Moreover, Japan is a very busy country, with very little downtime.  Writing, sorting photos, reading, and watching TV or movies/doing laundry or cooking (I combine all of that) generally takes up the rest of the time that I am not with friends.

And the result is, since 2013 or so, I have had extremely little free time.  While I enjoy many of my doings, I had nearly forgotten what it was like to spend three whole days without any plans whatsoever; to just drink and socialize.

Until Phuket.

Here are the photos of that incredible time:

Patong Beach, Phuket

Patong Beach, Phuket

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Bangin’ Photos of Bangkok

That title has probably been abused by millions of internet users.

Here are some photos from our journey through Bangkok.  It was a massive city, with a lot more nighttime activities than daytime ones.  I think we were all in agreement that it would have been nice to trade one day for an extra night, if only Superman could hold the Earth in place for us.

Pictured here are some of Bangkok’s premiere temples and palaces, some New Years celebrations, our canal tour, a Muay Thai training session, and my secret, solo journey to collect Mr. Yuu Koyama from the airport.

We arrived in Bangkok on Monday, December 28th, and departed on the evening of January 1st.

Departing Chiang Mai International Airport

Departing Chiang Mai International Airport

Wat Arun

Wat Arun

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That Weekend in Nagano, As Evidenced by iPhone Notes

Though it has spent a year tumbling around in my head, everything in this post is entirely true.

Hakuba, Nagano.

Hakuba, Nagano.

I’ve got to write a blog post about this weekend I thought, watching Yuu Koyama steal fried chicken off his father’s plate.

It was breakfast on Sunday morning.  Yuu Koyama was disrupting the cold, silent and nearly empty hall with casual English cursing that his father only vaguely recognized.  He was taunting his father by eating his food and moving his plates away from him.  It was December 21st, 2014.

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One at a Time

I wanted to title this essay “How my Crude, Cynical, Obtuse, Straight Japanese Friend Gives me Hope about the Future of LGBT Rights in Japan,” but in the spirit of progress, this message sent by text to a friend (with a more colorful word after “one”) seemed more fitting.

With the arrival of marriage equality in the United States, perhaps the moment is timely to talk about the gay rights movement in Japan, or lack thereof.

Pride Month Celebrations began in 2010 in Japan.

Pride Month Celebrations began in 2010 in Japan. Source

Well, it exists.  But it’s in its infancy.

While they don’t experience the open persecution seen in Russia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, LGBT people in Japan are locked in the prison of strict social customs. Most gay men in Japan seem to either be foreigners or partially to completely in the closet, which is why I’ve had to change their names in this post. They probably have a long way to go in an isolated, patriarchal society where older people hold all the keys over a submissive youth.

But the tide will turn, and I know that because of Yuu Koyama.

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