Headache medicine, smelling medicines, tiger balms.
Monday, May 19, 2025
Video: Slum Video
Khun Oye washing clothes and Khun Ann with her cat. She told me she had an upset stomach.
Trouble Sleeping
I had problem sleeping last night, kept thinking of my damaged camera. It was such a stupid move on my part.
15 Year Old Girl
Note* it
was strange because I had no memory of her yet she made the effort to
come and talk to me for maybe 15 minutes. I guess with things like this
you reach more people than you think.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Damaged Camera, SUCKS BIG TIME!!
Probably a $2000 CAD repair. The worst day of the trip. I came with 3 bodies, 2 Blads and 1 Canon, now down to 1 Blad and 1 Canon. I can not afford any more stupid accidents.
Today I was just too old, too tired and too stupid. Dumb dumb mistake. I did not zip shut the top of the camera bag. My excuse is that I had a bad case of diarrehea near the garbage dump. I could not hold it, it was an emergency, I had to go in sugar cane field next to the dump. I had no tissue, only a towel.
After that ugly incident I did not close my camera bag properly, on getting back to the hotel to have a shower (I stank and had a mess on part of my pants). I accidentally dropped the camera off the second floor when it fell out of my bag.
The physical demands on me are more taxing at 61. Trying my best but getting worn down this trip, and making many stupid mistakes like today. Still I have to try. So many people I know are already kinda dead at my age, they give up on the trying part, settle, and wait to die. Most all their ambitions and life challenges put aside. I need to continue to chase my dreams, chase my photos, help the people in the pics, continue my life as best as I can, as I age. Even if that means shitting myself and throwing cameras off of balconies!
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Feeling Uncomfortable Today
Uncomfortable moment of the day. My TEE RAK (Darling), the lady who sells us food to donate, bragging about me to another one of her customers. Then that customer saying many nice things to me. I dislike that kinda stuff. I would prefer to be anonymous. I mention the work on Facebook and my blog only to raise awareness-raise funds, but the Gerry is great BS is hard to take in real life.
Video: Eating Donated Food Today "UNDER THE FREEWAY" Thanks UNB
Dao video #1, Apple video #2 and Prem video #3, eating under the freeway today.
Wears You Out
When I was photographing in the bar world, it eventually become overwhelming. I got tired of the drunk Western sex tourists and the crying Thai bargirls. The same thing happened in the dump. I got tired of watching children eat garbage. Now it is happening in the drug world "under the freeway" Watching Apple, Dao and Prem lose their lives to drugs, is more than depressing. It's just such sad shit, so hard to be around it all the time.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
2 New THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY IMAGES
Been having trouble finding time to edit "under the freeway" images. Will be heading North soon to photograph "THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP" in Mae Sot. I might have more editing time in my hotel there.
Here are a couple of new "under the freeway shots from a few weeks back. I need to pack up my cameras and head back to the slum now. I want to shoot/donate for 2 more days yet, days 4 and 5 in a row. |
| Jack walking under the freeway, 2025 |
 |
| May with meth pipe, 2025 |
2nd Hand YaBa Smoke Dangers?
I photographed "Chasing the Dragon", smoking YaBa today. Once in the open, twice in a tight enclosed space. There was a ton of second hand smoke everywhere around me.
The tight space was with Dao and Prem. The first time I ave seen Dao use drugs. They were both inside a damaged tent on the concrete, I was half in half out making pictures as they smoked and hug out. It was all rather intense.
Later I gave them a bunch of food to eat, rice, fish, pork, som tum (papaya salad) and vegetables.
I worry about the effects of second hand YaBa smoke on me, as I was swimming in it. I did not feel too many side effects, maybe a bit dizzy. I cannot find any mentions of dangers online.
Note* I have been offered Yaba and Ice to smoke by 2 different Thai woman, May and Prem. The last thing I want to do of courser is become an addict!! I want to document this story, tell of the effects it has but will stay as far away from it as I can physically.
Link: Yaba Facts
What is yaba? Yaba is a combination of methamphetamine (a powerful and addictive stimulant) and caffeine. Yaba, which means crazy medicine in Thai, is produced in Southeast and East Asia. The drug is popular in Asian communities in the United States and increasingly is available at raves and techno parties.
What does yaba look like? Yaba is sold as tablets. These tablets are generally no larger than a pencil eraser. They are brightly colored, usually reddish-orange or green. Yaba tablets typically bear one of a variety of logos; R and WY are common logos.
Yaba Tablets
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Yaba Tablets
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
How is yaba used? Yaba tablets typically are consumed orally. The tablets sometimes are flavored like candy (grape, orange, or vanilla). Another common method is called chasing the dragon. Users place the yaba tablet on aluminum foil and heat it from below. As the tablet melts, vapors rise and are inhaled. The drug also may be administered by crushing the tablets into powder, which is then snorted or mixed with a solvent and injected.
Who uses yabab? It is difficult to determine the scope of yaba use in the United States because most data sources do not distinguish yaba from other forms of methamphetamine. Yaba has emerged as a drug of abuse in Asian communities in the United States, specifically in Northern California and in Los Angeles.
Yaba also is becoming increasingly popular at raves, techno parties, and other venues where the drug MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, typically called ecstasy) is used. Drug distributors deliberately market yaba to young people, many of whom have already tried MDMA. The bright colors and candy flavors of yaba tablets are examples of distributors' attempts to appeal to young people.
What are the risks? Individuals who use yaba face the same risks as users of other forms of methamphetamine: rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, and damage to the small blood vessels in the brain that can lead to stroke. Chronic use of the drug can result in inflammation of the heart lining. Overdoses can cause hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), convulsions, and death. Individuals who use yaba also may have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia.
Although most users administer yaba orally, those who inject the drug expose themselves to additional risks, including contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne viruses.
What is it called? The most common names for yaba are crazy medicine and Nazi speed.
Is it illegal? Yes, yaba is illegal because it contains methamphetamine, a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II drugs, which include cocaine and PCP, have a high potential for abuse. Abuse of these drugs may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Monday, May 12, 2025
Videos: From UNDER THE FREEWAY TODAY!
Some vids from today "under the freeway'. The food is from the donator's, The UNB art collection, they bought prints.
Saved by Ann
Strange moment of the day "under the freeway".
So I am in a large enclosed room area under the freeway making photos of Khun Ann's living conditions. Ann is sleeping but I have photographed her 3 or 4 times there and she is fine with it, no big deal.
As my back is to the door and I am making photos of the far wall I hear a loud yelling type voice from the doorway behind me "YOU STOP, YOU, HEY YOU STOP, HEY YOU, STOP, STOP". I turn around to see a very angry fat Thai man staring at me. I go to him and tell him in Thai 'She is my friend, her name is Ann, we have known each other for 1 month, photos are not a problem" He calms down by about 50% but still seems angry and unsure about me. At that point Ann wakes up and immediately sits up and starts to defend me, she speaks in Thai (I did not understand) and quickly the guy backs down and says more softly, ok, ok, then leaves.
I make more photos then I tell Ann I have some food for her but it is being prepared and I will bring it to her in 30 minutes. I go outside and see the fat man leaning against his car smoking a cigarette, still looking slightly pissed off as he stares at me. I go up to him and explain my whole history "under the freeway". I show him my snapshot picture book from Canada, and also tell him about the work being done at the dump in Mae Sot. Why I made the photos etc.
At this point he is much calmer, even softer and friendly. He teaches me the word DONATE in Thai, "borii-juk". We part on friendly terms and I go to pay for the days food and distribute it (1000 baht, around $44 CAD).
I was happy that Ann woke up to save me!
Note* In the area where Ann sleeps people store and repair cars and motorbikes. It seems to be a bit of a danger area for me as many Thais there eye me suspiciously. That is a problem I also face in the dump. I am never worried about the locals as they all know and trust me, it is the outsiders who pop in for an hour or 2, that know nothing, that are the dangerous ones.
Note** Todays total donation sum was around 1500 baht ($62 CAD).
Sunday, May 11, 2025
2 Week Ago Photos, UNDER THE FREEWAY
Some older pics "under the freeway", 2 weeks ago. Will try posting some of yesterdays stuff later.
Am rushing to get back to my friends there today as well. Will get there late today. I slept in and felt tired on waking, must be from the dehydration recovery. Feeling a lot better, body things rebooting, probably at 85-90% now.
Might be changing apartments, to get closer to the freeway.
 |
| Khun Apple (Bun) |
 |
| Khun Champoo |
 |
| Khun Sompong |
Thankfully No Needle Injection Drugs yet here UNDER THE FREEWAY
I have been told that there are injected drugs here in the Bangkok slum, but have not seen any of that "under the freeway". I photographed some African American friends injecting heroin and speedballs (mix of heroin and cocaine) back when I was 21 in Oakland, California, 1985. I am glad I have seen none of that "under the freeway". That seems another nastier level to me. At least one of the men I knew in West Oakland died of AIDS as a result of shared needles.
Selfies from Under The Freewayy
Tired looking selfie in the subway washroom mirror after a day of shooting in the slum. Second image "under the freeway". Photos made a few weeks back.
 |
| Gerry at 61, UNDER THE FREEWAY |
Khun Apple GoGo Girl Money
Khun Apple when she worked as a GoGo bar dancer (15 years ago?), earned 22000 baht a night as a dancer from the bar, plus 500+ baht a night in drink credits, plus the sex fee for the customer, maybe 1500-2500 baht a night (did not ask her that rate, maybe will tomorrow). She would have been rolling in the money at that time of her life. She also told me she was crazy, and that if a person was good to her, she was a good but if they were bad, then she was much badder.
Drug Expert Gerry
My drug knowledge is growing. I am so inexperienced, heck at 61 years old, I have never even been drunk in my life. I was told today the cost of a YaBa (crazy medicine) pill is 50 baht ($2.11 CAD). What this or that is called, how to smoke ice and YaBa, placing a coin your mouth to prevent burns, etc. I knew nothing, now I am getting rather fluent in it all.
When your photographing in this world, it is best to know what is going on. Knowledge is never a bad thing. Even this kind of terrible knowledge. There is also ice here (meth) and all kind of solvents, that are inhaled. I see cans of all types, today saw an old paint stain can. The old standard booze is also in heavy use. Saw too older men I have known and photographed since 2018 drunk today mid afternoon.
This addiction stuff is brutal. I asked Khun Apple today if she ever missed her old farang (Western) husband. He was in their 60s she in her 20s when they married. She said she did. I asked her if she thought of quitting drugs and going back to her family (4 children) in Issan province, she it was too quiet for her there and she could not return. I told her that I had been photographing "under the freeway" for about 10 years now and that at least 4 people I knew had died. She just nodded and said she could not go back home. I will be surprised if she is alive my next trip here. The life in addiction, life "under the freeway" is just too fucking hard.
800 baht of donation work today. So that is a good thing. I guess when I went missing for a while the Thais were asking where I was (free food). Today was a better day 'under the freeway'. We fed around 12 people, plus a dog with yellow eyes.
This Was Sweet
Today Apple, had charm and caring. Good traits that would have been beneficial to her in her earlier life as mother and when she worked the GoGo bars.
Back UNDER THE FREEWAY
Back to the slum today. Had a bit of bad luck to start.
After about 7 days of illness related to dehydration. I was desperate to make photographs. Early this afternoon I jumped on a motorcycle taxi to head to the sky-train station. 30 seconds after sitting down a huge rain shower drenched me and the driver (he had on a raincoat). It was rather brutal, I was wet from head to toe. It was the like the water out of a high pressure hose was being shot all over my body. It was a VERY LONG 5 minute drive.
On arrival, I had wet hair, wet shirt, wet pants, wet camera bag, wet shoes, wet socks, wet underwear but that was not the worst part. After climbing on the sky-train, the A/C worked its magic and I was shivering cold in seconds. A 30 minute ride later I was back out in the heat, then down to the subway, then on a second train, cold again, before arriving "under the freeway".
During 4 hours of shooting and donation work. I stayed wet the whole time, adding lots of sweat to the shirt-pants as well. I was not sure which part of my shirt and pants were "rain wet" and which parts were "sweat wet". On the way home it was the same thing. I was cold all the way back! Painful stuff, but an interesting memory. I hope I do not get sick again. Some coughing on return to the room and more A/C!!!
First with the dehydration I had not enough water, now today, too much water!
I do think I got some good pics today. So it was all worth it.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Link: Justice for Photographer Nick Ut
A good, compassionate man gets justice after a 1 year AP investigation. His photograph "Napalm Girl" is one of the most important social documentary photographs in history. Nick helped the child, cleaning her wounds and carrying her to an ambulance, and the photograph helped stop the Vietnam War, saving thousands of lives.
Friday, May 9, 2025
Quote: Sedat Pakay
This quote is courtesy of Jack Wilgus, a good FaceBook friend. The rest is my thought on the subject.
That is why I always get pissed in movies (like THE WORLD OF SUZIE WONG, FRIDA). Where the supposed artists says "I want to find out if I can make a living with my art"
You do art because YOU HAVE TO DO ART, you have no choice in the matter. You do not do art because you want to make a living, you do art because it is in your heart and soul, and your life seems meaningless without it. The creation of art, sustains you not financially but rewards your heart/soul/mind, it gives purpose and meaning to everything. It brings you a deep internal happiness, that is more valuable than any dollar signs will ever be.
Monday, May 5, 2025
Will Buy Food with FRAMES Artist Fee
Will use the $200 USD FRAMES feature fee to buy food for the people in the pictures.
Note* This will be the 4th time the stories will be told in a Photography Magazine. In order the mags go, Silver Grain Classics, Analog Forever Magazine, Black & White and now FRAMES.
Note** This is the first time the published magazine work will receive a feature payment.
Link: 7 Photos and $200 USD
There will be 7 photos plus text in FRAMES Magazine, Issue 21, January20.
Note* FRAMES is a quarterly photography magazine. It is quite thick in format, and has a book like appearance.
 |
| Past Covers |
Rich Phuket!
Phuket restaurant with a view. Expensive tourist place, 390 baht for a Hawaiian Pizza and 80 baht for a coke..
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Quote: Leo Tolstoy
“If you feel pain, you are alive. If you other people’s pain, you are a human being.”
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
