Thursday 21st december,
Just back from tze refugee camp ... I'm fucked mentally and physically.
Maybe it's tze jungle blues or otherwise this nasty Lariam blues ... but don't ya worry folks I'm allright.
Man oh man ... what a couple of day's ... it's been a complete culture shock.
2 travel day's ... 3 performance day's and 6 shows later.
It's been amazing ... but all so bitterly sad ... Many of you folks including me would love to live in that area and with such simple lifestyle ...
But those people don't got any choice ... I call it tze alternative club med prison ... we're all blessed that we can go where we want ... but freedom out there is a bitter word ...
15368 people live in that camp ... many of them still got there families left in Birma.
I've been hosted by an environmental group ... 10 young kids all with such a sad background.
The stories I've heard ...
I've played in four schools for one of tze tuffest crowd I ever encounterd ... most Karen kids don't show any emotions ... but eventually did some kick ass shows.
Tze major one I did on tze pre day of tze Karen new Year befor a crowd of at least a 1000 of people (the official report says 6000 but I can't believe they where all watching).
I've encounterd a really nice guy from Human Wrights Watch, whose gonna write a story about me which is gonne be published in a local ngo magazine ... good advertisement for clowns without borders ...
So many things to tell ... the situation out here is still very bad, last year there been serious fighting on the other side of the border, that's why the camp is so full.
The Human Wrights Watch guy told me many nasty things ... forced childlabour, forced childsoldiers, medical ngo's fuckin' up the locals, poverty ...
I've seen a lot and won't be able to tell it ot you all at the moment ... I've writin' it all down and you can expect a full report ... probably when I'm back in Belgium.
A big shout out to the Kesan People, KWO, Human Wrights Watch and all you brave Karen People out there ...
I really hope that you all can go back to your country one day ...
You've been so nice to me ... thanks for your hospitallity, your strength, your warmth and your kind humor ...
Tablu Doma !!!
Latzi
I
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Tze first Karen Cliniclown is born!!!
Friday 14th of december,
Yep this afternoon tze first Karen Cliniclown is born ... unfortunally the other 5 bailed out.
But maybe he can convince them ... it was so great to see him play and actually doing really well.
Muchos respect Ray Min!!! I'm so proud ... it was a blessing to see him play. At first he was havin' a really rough time, but with a bit of coaching he kicked ass!!! Took some really beautifull pictures ...
Me vely happy!!!
Writing about photo's ... this week I've been followed a couple of times by a South-Korean free lance photo journalist. Yesterday afternoon he intervieuwed me and there's a big chance my story will end up (+ a shitload of pictures) in a Korean book, which I even can't read!!!
Hihi ... that's what I say to that.
Cheerios folks!
Yep this afternoon tze first Karen Cliniclown is born ... unfortunally the other 5 bailed out.
But maybe he can convince them ... it was so great to see him play and actually doing really well.
Muchos respect Ray Min!!! I'm so proud ... it was a blessing to see him play. At first he was havin' a really rough time, but with a bit of coaching he kicked ass!!! Took some really beautifull pictures ...
Me vely happy!!!
Writing about photo's ... this week I've been followed a couple of times by a South-Korean free lance photo journalist. Yesterday afternoon he intervieuwed me and there's a big chance my story will end up (+ a shitload of pictures) in a Korean book, which I even can't read!!!
Hihi ... that's what I say to that.
Cheerios folks!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
End of Mae-Sot
Friday 14th of december,
My first week of clowning almost finished ... it's pretty harsh in this weather conditions ... and to be totally honest; I'm physically and mentally quite tired.
I learned one thing ... I will never do this kind of work on my own again, I know CMSF-Belgium warned me, but that it would be so though ... I didn't know.
It's a little bit like a quote from Popov; When the clown laughs everyone laughs with him, when he cries, he cries alone ...
Don't ya worry folks ... Latzi's not going down ... He's just pretty tired.
This week been pretty amazing, I played three times at the Mae-Sot clinic (monday-wednesday and friday), people start to call me Mr.Bean and askin' to do some magic again. They give me a lot of energy ... had some very beautifull moments. Especially with one little kid who's very ill ... twice in a row I suceeded to make him smile and forget his pain. That's what it's about ... invite them to my clowny world ... so they can forget their harsh reality for a split second.
I made many little friends who follow me around at the end of the day. I'm gonna mis this clinic ... hopefully I can come back one day with a bigger crew.
On wednesday and thursday I started to give workshops to KNSG, a bunch of 6 young guy's very cean to learn the art of Mr.Bean.
It was very interesting but not eassy. But in the end I have to admit that they did a pretty good job. In a couple of minutes we gonna do some clowning excercices in the clinic ... hope that works out allright.
On thursday morning I did a very funny show before 200 karen kids in a very small place called Kwega Buang School ... it was hilarious ... I think my stage was not even bigger then 2 by 2 ... It was a good old laugh!!!
Tomorrow I'm of to Mae-Sariang and then straight to tze jungle to go and play in the refugee camps.
I'm hapy to travel again ... charge my batteries and then ... show time ...
Thanks to the people who reacted or mailed me ... it's always a support to hear from your home town ...
Greetingz,
Latzi
My first week of clowning almost finished ... it's pretty harsh in this weather conditions ... and to be totally honest; I'm physically and mentally quite tired.
I learned one thing ... I will never do this kind of work on my own again, I know CMSF-Belgium warned me, but that it would be so though ... I didn't know.
It's a little bit like a quote from Popov; When the clown laughs everyone laughs with him, when he cries, he cries alone ...
Don't ya worry folks ... Latzi's not going down ... He's just pretty tired.
This week been pretty amazing, I played three times at the Mae-Sot clinic (monday-wednesday and friday), people start to call me Mr.Bean and askin' to do some magic again. They give me a lot of energy ... had some very beautifull moments. Especially with one little kid who's very ill ... twice in a row I suceeded to make him smile and forget his pain. That's what it's about ... invite them to my clowny world ... so they can forget their harsh reality for a split second.
I made many little friends who follow me around at the end of the day. I'm gonna mis this clinic ... hopefully I can come back one day with a bigger crew.
On wednesday and thursday I started to give workshops to KNSG, a bunch of 6 young guy's very cean to learn the art of Mr.Bean.
It was very interesting but not eassy. But in the end I have to admit that they did a pretty good job. In a couple of minutes we gonna do some clowning excercices in the clinic ... hope that works out allright.
On thursday morning I did a very funny show before 200 karen kids in a very small place called Kwega Buang School ... it was hilarious ... I think my stage was not even bigger then 2 by 2 ... It was a good old laugh!!!
Tomorrow I'm of to Mae-Sariang and then straight to tze jungle to go and play in the refugee camps.
I'm hapy to travel again ... charge my batteries and then ... show time ...
Thanks to the people who reacted or mailed me ... it's always a support to hear from your home town ...
Greetingz,
Latzi
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Anti childtrafficking day - Hsa Thoo Lei
Tuesday 12th december,
Last night around 17h. I did my first show in Mae-Sot.
It was a tricky one ... I was tired because of the heat. All the impro bit's wen't really well, but unfortunally I screwed my ending ... Ahwell c'est la vie ...
But today I did a kick ass show for about 500 kids from different ethnic groups ... it was so great ... they really digged it big time.
I made a really nice crowd picture at the end ... but internet is going pretty slow here. Maybe I can get some pictures on here in the next couple of day's.
Latzi
Last night around 17h. I did my first show in Mae-Sot.
It was a tricky one ... I was tired because of the heat. All the impro bit's wen't really well, but unfortunally I screwed my ending ... Ahwell c'est la vie ...
But today I did a kick ass show for about 500 kids from different ethnic groups ... it was so great ... they really digged it big time.
I made a really nice crowd picture at the end ... but internet is going pretty slow here. Maybe I can get some pictures on here in the next couple of day's.
Latzi
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Mae-Tao clinic
Monday 11 december,
This morning I played at the clinic ... my first hospital clowning in Thailand experience.
And fuckin' hell this is hardcore hospital clowning ...
The things I've seen and heard ...
Poor Birmese refugees riskin' their lives to cross the border and get help, underfed poor people, young kids with their babies ... . Damn that hospital does a pretty beautifull job out here. So much respect for what they do ... while I'm just a clown wandering through.
It makes me all pretty sad and I'm a bit overwhelmed ... but damn proud that I could sometimes could get a smile on their face.
We won't save the world with laughter ... but we might can try healin' it with laughter...
Latzi
This morning I played at the clinic ... my first hospital clowning in Thailand experience.
And fuckin' hell this is hardcore hospital clowning ...
The things I've seen and heard ...
Poor Birmese refugees riskin' their lives to cross the border and get help, underfed poor people, young kids with their babies ... . Damn that hospital does a pretty beautifull job out here. So much respect for what they do ... while I'm just a clown wandering through.
It makes me all pretty sad and I'm a bit overwhelmed ... but damn proud that I could sometimes could get a smile on their face.
We won't save the world with laughter ... but we might can try healin' it with laughter...
Latzi
Tourist day's are over!!!
Today I arrived in Mae-sot and just had a meeting with some local organisations, Mae-Tao Clinic and KSNG (they give drama workshops in the refugee camps).
My weeks already booked; tomorrow I will do some hospital clowning and a show in the village in the afternoon. On tuesday I'm gonna perform at a Anti childtraffic day (which is a big issue around these parts). For the rest of the week I will be doing shows every morning in different schools and in the afternoon I will train the Mae-Tao Clinic and KSNG people tze lovely art of clowning and hospital clowning. On friday we all will go perform in the hospital ... yep yep ... this could be birth of the Thai hospital clowns ... I'm really lookin' forward!!!
Tourist day's are over (lovely trainrides, thai whisky with tze locals, beautifull tempels and cruisin' around on motorbikes with two beautifull girls) ... it was great and surely charged my batteries...
Greetingz to you all!!!
Latzi
My weeks already booked; tomorrow I will do some hospital clowning and a show in the village in the afternoon. On tuesday I'm gonna perform at a Anti childtraffic day (which is a big issue around these parts). For the rest of the week I will be doing shows every morning in different schools and in the afternoon I will train the Mae-Tao Clinic and KSNG people tze lovely art of clowning and hospital clowning. On friday we all will go perform in the hospital ... yep yep ... this could be birth of the Thai hospital clowns ... I'm really lookin' forward!!!
Tourist day's are over (lovely trainrides, thai whisky with tze locals, beautifull tempels and cruisin' around on motorbikes with two beautifull girls) ... it was great and surely charged my batteries...
Greetingz to you all!!!
Latzi
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
My first two day's
Just arrived in Pithsanulok after a seven hours trainride in 3th class, which gave me a nice first contact with tze Thai people. Many things I already writin' but probably have to make a full report when I got some more time. It's weird being a farang in a strange country ... but little by little I'm gettin' used of it.
Bangkok was a bit stressy ... glad I got out, but unfortunally I only slept for one hour last night.
Bloody reversed jettlag ... nono folks I didn't went out partying, it all was a bit overwhelming I guess.
I' m gonna be very glad when I arrive in Mae-Sot and can start playing ... a purpose instead of simply being a tourist ...
Bangkok was a bit stressy ... glad I got out, but unfortunally I only slept for one hour last night.
Bloody reversed jettlag ... nono folks I didn't went out partying, it all was a bit overwhelming I guess.
I' m gonna be very glad when I arrive in Mae-Sot and can start playing ... a purpose instead of simply being a tourist ...
Sunday, December 3, 2006
What's he doing out there???
All of the sudden I started to think that there's no explination on my blog about what exactly I'm going to do over there.
Well it's prety simple (at least on paper): I'm going to play my new solo clown show "Cuadradio" in some refugee camps (of Karen People) @ the border with Birma.
I will play aswell in a hospital in Mae-Sot and some local schools around that area.
This whole project is set up with the aid of Clowns et Magiciens Sans Frontieres Belgique (www.cmsf.be) and KWO.
Voilà ... now you all know!
Well it's prety simple (at least on paper): I'm going to play my new solo clown show "Cuadradio" in some refugee camps (of Karen People) @ the border with Birma.
I will play aswell in a hospital in Mae-Sot and some local schools around that area.
This whole project is set up with the aid of Clowns et Magiciens Sans Frontieres Belgique (www.cmsf.be) and KWO.
Voilà ... now you all know!
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