Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Pool Sex? Wild Brazilian Sex? Black On White Sex?

Gerry's still got it! I think!? Here is today's rather weird tale.

So I head down to the pool in my hotel here in Bangkok at 10 am for a swim before the 2 pm check out time and a strange thing happens. I have just started to do my underwater swimming when I look up and a 35ish year old African lady is standing up over me, looking down and speaking to me. What? I am a bit confused by her quick approach. She asks me my name, asks me where I will go next on my trip, asks me where I am from. I have a hard time hearing here as I next to a small waterfall in the pool. She tells me her name, she is single, that is he from San Paulo Brazil and that she will travel to Phuket Thailand later that day. She asks me what floor my room is on then tells me her room number. I am sort of standing there in pool with my mouth hanging open trying to figure out what to say and do. Then she says 'YOUR LOVELY"  (with a big smile of white teeth) we should spend some time together as friends, black on white. I tell her I have someone already, that I have a girl. She does not seem to care, she does not seem to have heard me.

Now I am not a prudish guy, am pretty open minded, have seen most every thing sexual in Thailand (when I was doing my SEX WORKER series of photographs). Still this was a bit off putting, a bit shocking. I was sort of lost for words, I mumbled out a few things, not a yes to wild black on white sex, not a no to wild black on white sex, just a sort of  confused "I am here for swimming, a "I just want to swim" response. She tells me to enjoy my swim and that she will wait for me. This lady then goes to the pool table where I have my towel and clothes and sits down and  waits, watching me. Now I am trying to swim in the pool thinking "What the f-ck! Do I do?" I swim for several minutes in this rather confused state. I had no desire to have quickie one night stand sex with a stranger but how to get out of this rather sticky situation. I figured I cannot lead this lady on, cannot leave her sitting at my table expecting wild crazy fornication with a "lovely" white boy, I have to do something, At that point she yells across the pool to me "How's the water?" and gives me that big smile again. I mumble back "Its fine, thanks".

I think it over a bit more then I swim over and get out of the pool and try to speak to her. We go over some of the same ground a second time, I ask her a bit about Brazil, and find out she speaks Portuguese also speaks French and English. A smart lady who looks like she she has money as her pool outfit is rather nice and stylish. So now I am I there sitting beside her dripping water (this sort of reminds me of a scene in 'The Graduate" she being the experienced seductress Mrs Robinson, me being virginal Benjamin Braddock) and she tells me again 'Your Lovely!" (with a big smile) I think she told me the "Lovely" thingy 3 maybe 4 times. She then asks me to be with her as a friend and says "Lets go!". I change the subject, talk of something else, she gets back to it and before I know she says "Lets go!" again. I screw up some nerve and tell her that I already have a girl and am not really the kind of guy who goes with people I do not know (did not use the word sex).  I tell her I need to know the person better and that I want to be true to my woman. She tells me it is OK the other girl will never know. I then tell her, sorry that she was beautiful but this (going to rooms for sex with strangers) was not really my type of thing .

She was disappointed, a bit put off. How many times had she done this before with success? I tried to talk of other things, tried to make it a bit easier for her, but she was definitely put off by my rejection now. She  suddenly told me she needed to get a beer and basically sprinted out of the pool area. She did not return. I swam for another 15 minutes or so then went to my room. A rather bizarre thingy maybe the last of these type approaches during my lifetime. My 54th birthday is just over 1 week away. Kind of a nice compliment that a stranger, an attractive woman, would approach me for sex and say, think that I was "Lovely!". It is nice to be considered "Lovely" at almost 54 years of age. Guess I still got it, sort of still "got it" anyway.

Hope I did not hurt her feeling too much. She seemed like a nice person. I would have liked to get to know her better and to photograph her. A wacky experience, a unique way to be ending my time in Asia.

Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin Braddock

New Card Printed

Printed up 300 new photo business cards yesterday. The cost was 1000 baht ($40 CAD) for the 300. Did a very simple layout, my fake name GERRY YAUM in bold caps in the middle of the card and underneath (printed fairly large, too large?) are my blog and email, www.gerryyaum.blogspot.com and gerryyaum@gmail.com.

A simple and direct card, giving out all the pertinent information. I have no official gerryyaum.com website anymore (to save money) and I have no cell phone so, I do not have that info on the card. People I give the card to can access my free Wix photographer website, my YouTube and Vimeo channels as well as my Facebook page.

I will use the card at artist talks as well as the Penticton exhibition and the possible Toronto (Contact Photo Festival 2019) exhibition.

Shopping, Watch And Tailored Suit/Jacket/Shirt

Yesterday here in Bangkok as I was feeling better I did a bit of shopping. Picked a very nice Citizen's brand watch, the cost was 10000 baht ($400 CAD), I got it at at 50% discount for 5000 baht with an added VAT discount of 250 baht (will pick that up at the airport). Total cost of the watch was $196.32 CAD.

I also got me a tailored clothing at a local tailor shop. I have not that in Thailand since 2003 with mom and dad.

-  A tailored dark navy blue suit with pants (I have an off the rack black suit I work for dad's funeral back home).
- A tailored black whitish sports jacket.
- A tailored light blue long sleeve shirt.

The total cost of everything was around $500 CAD. I am at about limit  for what I can bring back into Canada now. I also have some trip gifts for others (scarfs, chocolates, some Paris wallets) and some books I bought for myself (photography, language).

My shopping is about done. I will wear the watch all the time, and the suit and or sports jacket is for my coming exhibitions, artist talks. Will go semi formal/casual, these clothes minus ties.

Illnesses Receding

After a about a week of sleeping, taking medication (visited the doctor in Bangkok) and generally laying on my ass I am feeling better. My persistent cough with phlegm (green stuff) has been reduced to an occasional cough with no green stuff. I will finish my medications and continue to take it a bit slower over the next while. Hopefully on my return to Canada everything will be back at 100% health wise.

So food poisoning taken care of, gout gone, and now the cough almost done. I feel bad I missed out on a week of shooting, but sometimes you need to do what you need to do to stay healthy. I have a flight back to Canada approaching and am returning to work mid April, got to be physically ready for those events, those responsibilities.

Update* Had a new phlegm attack this morning on getting up, I thought that was done with. Am feeling better generally but still not 100%

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

A Few More Trucks

A few more possible wet plate utility truck. Some of these trucks are probably too big. Having this size darkroom would make the work a bit easier. The diesel costs would be very high for Canada wide travel, especially if I am pulling a camping trailer to live in.

UPDATE: Artist Talk For Shutterbug Group A Go

Before I left Canada in October 2017 I wrote about a possible artist talk with the Shutterbug photography group in Edmonton. Looks like that talk is going to happen now. The plan is for them to rent a space then do a $5 charity donation (for the FAMILIES IN MAE SOT DUMP) for everyone who attends. It will happen in late May or early June. I will need to create a PowerPoint presentation with the new work from the FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and KODOKU (Japan loneliness series) for the talk.

Doing a talk, showing the work, raising awareness and making some donation money. It does not get much better than that.

Possible Wet Plate KANATA Truck?

Surfing the net for fun today in my Bangkok hotel room. Mostly over my illness's with only occasional uncontrolled coughing. Every time I think I am done with it all, the crazy coughing starts.

To distract myself I am playing around looking at potential vehicles for the wet plate KANATA project work. Check this one out! I am not sure the bucket thing is a good idea, that it would even be legal or practical but wouldn't it be great to  be able to shoot 16x20 wet plate from higher angles, Edward Burtynsky like. I could shoot over tree lines,  and down from above on some subjects.

2009 FORD LCF COE S/A w/Telelift TTS25 Bucket Truck


Possible Wet Plate Truck

Photo Idea: Vastness: Wide Open Spaces

When I was traveling and talking to ULF wet plate photographer Kurt M in Bolzano Italy, he said something to me that I take for granted. He told me the thing that struck him when he was filming in the Canadian landscape (north of Vancouver) he was surprised how open and empty of, lacking of people things were. When your in Italy-Europe you have beautiful mountains (the Alps) you have wonderful landscapes, forests etc but everywhere, all the time there are houses, people, shacks etc. There is always a connection to human beings on the land. What struck Kurt about Canada was how there was none of that, just large and empty spaces.

That is something I think I need to focus on for KANATA, the immense size of the country, the emptiness of it all, a landscape devoid of people. I could do very large plates that show the overpowering beauty and solitude of Canada's lands.

Note* Along with wet plate imagery in positive and negatives. I need to shoot ULF film as well, probably 11x14 and 16x20.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Bought A Used Version Of: VINCENT VAN GOGH: THE LETTERS: THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED AND ANNOTATED EDITION

I saw this wonderful set of books at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. I really loved them, problem was the cost was $399 Euros ($650 USD new online) and the set was 6 volumes and very heavy. How could I afford them? How could I get them back to Canada?

Today I decided to treat myself and bought a used version of  these books from Britain for $349 USD plus shipping (not sure the total cost of that just yet). I hope to use these books as an inspiration for my wet plate "KANATA" series. I will take them with me and read them as I travel the country doing my wet plate pictures in the years ahead.

A lot of money to pay for some books, but the inspiration, beauty and sheer joy I get from reading then will make me forget the cost pretty fast. I should be earning money again in April so can pay for these types of personal gifts again. These books are real beauties, that detail the heart of a beautiful and complex man. Spending money this way just seems right to me. Am not a boozer, or smoker, do not do drugs or gamble. But when it comes to art, when it comes to producing my photographs the money flows out.

I hope Vincent and I can spend many beautiful moments together in the years ahead. How cool would it have been to spend an afternoon with this man as he worked! Reading his thoughts, seeing his work, sharing his successes and failures in these 6 volumes of letters, is the next best thing.

Vincent Van Gogh: The Letters (Vincent Van Gogh Museum)
Vincent Van Gogh: The Letters, (Thames Books)

My Wonderful New (Used) Box Set

Quote: Janusz Korczak

The story of Mr. Korczak 's protection and  incredible sacrifice to the lives of 192 children during WWII/

"I exist not to be loved and admired but to love and act. It is not the duty of those around me to love me. Rather it is my duty to be concerned about the world, about man."

Video Link To This Story

Making The Wet Plate Work My Own

Today was a day of rest, trying to recover from all the illnesses. Am reading about the life of Van Gogh from several books I got at his museum in Amsterdam. What really comes across is the personalization of his paintings, his own connection to each work is so important. Sometimes with photographs there seem to be a lack of personal connection, more distance.

I was thinking that with the coming of the major wet plate "KANATA" project, the  making of film on plates etc. I could add more of me into the actual emulsions. The glass plates whether in positive or negative form could have more of me in them. I  could add splash lines from water as Kurt M does to add texture to the skies, I could add dust, defects, draw my own lines, sign the work, add thumb prints, whatever, directly on the plates.

These works could be about Canada but also highly personal, intricately connected to me as an artist. Maybe more passion, more depth, more insight, more beauty would be the result.

Thinking needs to be done on this! I will dive into wet plate on my return to Canada. Start mixing all my own chemistry, working from scratch, moving up from 4x5, to 8x10 to 16x20 plate sizes.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Quote: Vincent Van Gogh

Speaking of his portraits:

"the only thing in painting that excites me to the depths of my soul, and which makes me feel the infinite more than anything else......in a picture I want to say something comforting as music is comforting. I want to paint men and women with that something of the eternal which the halo used to symbolize, and which we seek to communicate by the actual radiance and vibration of our colouring."

Wish I Could Go Back

I just left the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam a few days ago but wish I could go back today. Such a wondrous place, such a beautiful experience. It needs to be repeated, again and again!

Quote: Stephen Hawking

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up, It matters that you don’t just give up,”

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Back In Bangkok!

Am back in Bangkok after my travels through Europe. In Europe I had to overcome a bad case of food poisoning and gout in my left foot, as well as a persistent cough. Am currently checked into a Bangkok hotel trying to get healthy again. Visited a hospital and got some medicines for the cough. The doctor said I need to cough out all the phlegm in my lungs, and that it would take 5 or 6 days. She gave me some medicines to help that along. So here I lay, coughing and spitting out, coughing and spitting out green stuff. Did so much coughing over the last few days my throat hurts.

Update* The gout in my left foot seems to be returning. The foot has started to swell up and is a bit sore. I took one of dads gout pills (brought them with me from Canada) and have been putting a cold can of pop from the hotel fridge on the top of my foot to help with the swelling.

Gosh I want to go out and make more photos but feel like crap. Time is running out on this trip, need to get more done yet before I return to security guard duty full time. I wanted to return to  the people under the freeway, the migrant area as well as the boxing gym and Klong Toey slum. All these areas are important places for me to make photographs.

Europe Trip All The Destinations

Here is where I went this trip to Europe:

- Bangkok to Milan Italy (Milano)
- Bolzano Italy
- Milan Italy
- Lucerne Switzerland
- Paris France (via Geneva Switzerland, Lyon France)
- Brussels Belgium
- Brugge Belgium
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (Holland)

Then 2 days ago flew back to Bangkok.

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh museum was a truly amazing experience, a highlight of the Europe trip, a highlight of this 6 month trip away from home, heck a highlight of my life. So much beauty, so much wonder, so much suffering, it it is hard to put into words what I felt and saw on viewing his works.

I was able to get a small chair from the people at museum then to plant up front of all the major works and study them up close with the help of the audio guide. It was a great experience all round!! One I will keep with me for years to come. Sometimes getting gout in your foot is a good thing, it got me using the chair which allowed me more up close face time with Mr. Van Gogh. The museum was very crowded so having the char and nudging my way up front then taking my time with each piece was vital. I probably spent 20 or more minutes each with  the works below. Ended up staying 3 hours in the museum

I saw the "Potato Eaters". Van Gogh's love of the people in the painting is so strong, the young woman on the left of the painting can see her future in the old lady at the right of the picture. There is so much gutsy reality to this piece, a documentary painting, similar to the documentary photographs I love so much. You feel like you are with them, eating their meager meal and sharing their lives.

Potato Eaters1885
I saw one of the "Sunflowers". I am not sure I have seen a painting with so much joy and beauty in it before. This sun flower is HUGE, must larger than the one I saw in London several years back. Viewing Vincent's sun flower is a wondrous experience that reaffirms the beauty of life and being alive.

Note* The grey of the Vincent signature and grey of one of the sun flower interior areas are the same. Could Vincent be saying he is one of the sunflowers? Is it a form of self portraiture?

 i
Sim Flower1889
I saw the "Wheat Field Crow" painting (one of his last). The painting is filled with pain, confusion, depression, even panic. "Wheat Field Crows" is a cry for help using all the tools of his mind and art. After looking at this compelling and passionate painting a tear came to my eye. He was all alone at the end, and in the end the painting was not enough, even his art, his love for the world, could not save him.

 
Wheat Field With Crows July 1990

Amsterdam

I enjoyed Amsterdam, found it rather an amazing place. I missed out on the nightlife, red light district but did see the city in the daytime. I traveled around the canals, visited 2 photo galleries and the Van Gogh museum (trip highlight). A wonderful city, with a unique way of doing things. The streets are filled with bicycles, more bicycles than I have seen in any other country, the tram lines and car lanes seem to intersect and cross over everywhere, the signage is a mystery and, everything is very expensive thou not as expensive as Switzerland. I will look to go back to this place some day, some way. The next time for a longer visit, a visit that would include more art galleries and the night life scene.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Down And Out

Am in France now very sick. I have a bad cough (starting to recover), I have bad food poisoning (starting to recover, on medication) and very bad gout in my left foot. The gout is the worst part of it. Lots of pain, unable to walk. Drinking lots of water. The loss of fluids from the food poisoning no doubt is contributing to the gout problem.

This sucks, I want to go out and see art instead I am trapped in my rundown hotel room. Hopefully will be better. I have not eaten much for 3 or 4 days. Got to fight my way through this, I am in France not a garbage dump, how bad can it be?

Quote: Stephen Hawking

 “It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.”

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

A Truly Amazing And Remarkable Visit With Kurt Moser

Today I had  a very remarkable afternoon and night with Kurt Moser. Not sure where to start,  March 7th was the most interesting and compelling individual day of that this 6 month  Asian trip. I feel a bit overwhelmed by everything I experienced and learned from Kurt. I will post some photos later on when I have my laptop again. Kurt was great to me, answered every question, helped me in every way I could imagine. If I cannot learn to be a wet player under his guidance from yesterday and hopefully some help in the future then I simply cannot learn! He opened up his world to me, it was a great day filled with magical moments.

What an incredible gentleman Kurt is, he m at the end of the night he even took me out to dinner! More details and photos to follow.

Final Payments For Pee Noy

On my last day in the dump I had to return my motorbike to Pee Noy, had to pay for additional 4 days of bike rental as well as pay him for the driving he was doing to the airport and a tip. I gave him 180 baht a day x 4 for the bike = 720 baht, and 1000 baht for the driving and tip (about 400 baht for the driving and a 600 tip).

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

In Milan

from Facebook...

Am in Milan Italy or as they say here MILANO. Rather cold, layering up to compensate. Heading off to Bolzano (3 hour train ride North) to meet up with Kurt tomorrow. Am trying to overcome a cough I got back in Thai, maybe at the dump, everyone coughs there. Do not want to spend my entire time in Europe sick. 
On the 9th will leave Italy not sure where I will go! The freedom of the European Union allows lots of possibilities. The photo is from my last days in Mae Sot. Am handing out my bag of Lollipops to Sky Blue students. Also donated the fan (from Thais) and school supplies (Thais and Dana B&S) to the school (located on the edge of the dump).

Sunday, March 4, 2018

A Final Goodbye

Had a nice thing happen on my second last time to the dump. I went and gave a bag of apartment things to a woman who lives on the edge of the garbage in the swamp area with her husband and one armed little boy. There was a group of 6 people sitting outside her home. We talked for a bit. One of the men started to speak to me in Thai. I thought at first he was asking me for money but realized that was not the case when I tried to give him some and then he told me “No its ok, not need it”. He then spoke to me for about 2 minutes. His accent was rather heavy but eventually I realized he was thanking me. He knew I was leaving that day and simply thanking me. Thanking me for all the work I had done in the dump. He was very sincere in his thanks, very honest. It was beautiful and rather moving. I patted him on the shoulder and said thank you.

This group knew I was not coming back, knew I was not returning. And instead of asking for extra dollars or extra things, he simply thanked me for all the work that had been done. A wonderful moment I will keep with me on my return to Canada. The picture below was made at that time, the man in the white shirt is the one who spoke to me.
Final Group Photo

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Last 300 Baht Handed Out

Before I handed off the motorbike I raised down to the swamp area of the dump one last time. I had to give Pee Noy his bike back at 730am and was at the dump swamp at about 7am (just down the road from where Pee Noy lives).

I had gathered up the last of my apartment things to hand out. I had all my sauces, my cooking oil, my cleaning soap, my frying pan, my pot, my dishes, my knives and forks,  my little broom, some small towels etc. Basically anything I could find of any value I put into 2 plastic bags to give out to a dump shack home.

On arriving I parked the bike on the paved road then walked off down to the homes which were down near the swamp. There was one main home there that looked semi abandoned. I walked over to the front area of the home dragging the bags with me. As I approached the front I hear the word “Gerry?” I said “Yes”. Then a man came out from underneath the shelter, where he had been sleeping. It was a sad thing, this skinny little man (the father of the family group who lived alone now, see photo) crawls out in the dirt, animal like, dog like. He was completely forgotten and on his own. Gosh to live like that every day, every night. What kind of future can he possibly have? Will this man still be alive on my return to the dump?

He told me he did not have a headlight and could he get a headlight? My headlamp buying days were done, I was leaving and I had no spares to give him. The lamps cost 300 baht each so I reached into my wallet and left him 300 baht, then said goodbye. That 300 baht was the last donation of this trip. A total of $3500 CAD in donation money was raised. I spent $4000 CAD on donation goods and some CASH handouts, so an extra $500 came out of my security guard salary trip savings. The best money I ever spent in my life.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Closed Apartment, Returned Motorbike

Closing the apartment and getting the motorbike back to Pee Noy were less difficult than I thought. The hardest part of the apartment closing was just the packing of all the gear. Everything went smoothly. Now the trick will be to get everything back to Canada.

Bus To Bangkok

The 81/2 hour bus ride to Bangkok loaded down with 3 heavy bags and 1 very heavy backpack was difficult. Ended up taking a early day bus at 9am, which was a bit different for me (the night bus was full). The hardest part might have been waiting in line for 1 hour at Bangkok’s Mojit bus station for a taxi. Hot as hell, with ever slow moving lineups. I had to struggle with the bags every step of the way. Not something I want to experience again soon. Being sick, coughing and hacking away throughout the day did not help things.

School And Apartment Stuff Donation

Did my final donations to SKY BLUE School which is on the edge of the dump.

from Facebook...


...The photo is from my last days in Mae Sot. Am handing out my bag of Lollipops to Sky Blue students. Also donated the fan (from Thais) and school supplies (Thais and Dana B&S) to the school (located on the edge of the dump).


One last Climb To The Top Of Garbage Mountain

On the last day in the dump I did one final climb up a garbage mountain. I needed to get a higher perspective of the people working below so up I went. The garbage was hot from the day in the sun, and it was filled with flies. I must have disturbed their sleep because when I got to the top and started to photograph the action belwo they were all over me, buzzing my face, climbing down the neck area of my shirt, climbing on the lens. Funny how after years in the dump, things like this bother me less, the flies here used to freak me out, not anymore. I needed the shot, climbed the garbage mountain to get the shot, and I got it!

Handed out The Family Fund Money To I Hope Those Most In Need


I was quite worried about the handing out of the money from the FAMILY FUND ($300 CAD cash donated by a coworker to hand out in CASH). I decided the best way to do things was to put 7000 baht (400 had been handed out earlier) into 14 – 500 baht pink envelopes. Then to hand out those envelopes quick and fast on my last minutes in the main dump picking area.

The idea was to have the money out before everyone realized I was giving out money. I did not want to cause a panic, start people charging about trying to get their piece of the action. Over the last week or so I had been trying to figure out who needed the money most. A sort of priority of need list in my mind.

On the last day I handed out to each group, a head of the family, leading mother or father figure. They included the Win family (boy eating an orange) as well as the Toe family and the extremely poor family (they ended up getting 2 envelopes, one to the older mother and one to the young father). On the last day there was also a brand new family, a very poor family I did not know, I gave them 500 and also 500 to the bride and groom (he had suffered a dog bite and needed medical treatment) and the bride and grooms father-mother.

It all went fairly smoothly with no hiccups. After I had handed out the money, I got on the motorbike and left as quietly as I could.

Cash donated to the families by a coworker (FAMILY FUND)
7000 Baht, 7 piles of 1000
14 pink envelopes of 500 baht each

Buys

Did the last buys, they included, that’s it folks.
- Headlamps 6x300 baht and 2x80 baht.
- Batteries 40 baht

Total spent 2000 baht

Email: Good News, Another Donation

Got another donation today, from another photographer! Gosh photo people are good folk :))) I added his donation to the total donated amount.


Here is his email, minus his name to protect his privacy.

Hi Gerry, 

I'm a fellow photographer up here in Whitehorse, Yukon. I originally came across your blog after seeing some of your youtube darkroom videos and have been following your work in Thai;and. I'm amazed at the amount of time and energy and compassion you are putting into all this. I really hope I get to see the final exhibition somewhere.

I'd like to donate to the dump families, please let me know your Paypal address. 

Thanks for the inspiration!

Regards, 
-------


PS: Please look me up if you decide to bring your cross-Canada ultra large format project North of 60.