Catching Pedophiles: US Protect Act 2003 at Work

Photo: Andrea Bertone

We are all smiles in this picture, but this was one of those days where the stories you hear are so disturbing, you can’t understand how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents Gary Phillips and Hung Nguyen do it every day.

Q&A at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Photo: Nicole Adenauer

When we visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I had two burning questions.

I got to ask one during our meeting in the conference room, and one in a slightly more casual setting as we waited for lunch to be served.

A Lesson from the Athletes: No Doubt Allowed

I emailed Rohit Brijnath to thank him for his piece on Phelps that I posted earlier this week.

He wrote back: “I will never forget these Olympics because there is something rewarding and inspiring about watching a young man chase an incredible dream. Today, when the Chinese hurdler limped out of the heats, I thought, how hard it is to win even one gold, how much can go wrong. And Michael Phelps has eight. It still amazes me.”

Today, I see he managed to get some face-to-face time with Phelps. I take some lessons from the world’s greatest Olympian.

Photo: Albert Sim, Straits Times

What Champions are Made Of.

Straits Times writer Robhi Brijnath wrote a beautiful piece on Phelps’ pursuit of what was considered an “impossible” dream. I love it because I think he captured in his writing the heart of a man who was brave enough to go after a grand vision.

I want this heart. I want to chase my dreams.

Photo: Albert Sim, Straits Times

BEIJING: The Water Cube is silent. The waters still. The scoreboard blank. The dream done. Michael has gone.

A champion has departed but he has left us fulfilled. Almost every morning, through nine days, I have arrived at this pool, collected the race schedule, climbed to the top stands of the Water Cube and watched a man chase his dream.

What Will People Say…

…when you finally go?

Love what was written on A W Mill’s:

When he came there was no light;

When he left there was no darkness.

Shine on, Carebears of the world. :)

Deliciousness Takes Time In a Tank

I’m taking some time to work on my final report for the trip this weekend, so I will be disallowing myself much online access. But many of you my readers are also my very kind donors, and be rest assured that you will receive a copy when I’m done! :)

Thank you for your patience. Oh, and Happy Birthday Singapore!

On the Streets in Pattaya’s Redlight District

Photo: Jennryn Wetzler

The night began with the brothel-owner meeting, then we headed out to the Soi to give condoms out, and finally it ended with an hour or so at a Ping Pong Show.

O what a night.

Inside a Pattaya Bar-Brothel

Never in my life did I think I could say that I’ve been to a brothel and back.

It is not that I have anything against being there… it’s just… in a normal situation, what business would I have being there?

“Never forget Justice is what Love looks like in Public!” -Dr. Cornel West, philosopher

My discovery of the day is a new documentary, or as its producers like to call it, a “rockumentary,” on human trafficking: Call + Response.

Cupcakes Against Child Trafficking: Singapore

Clearly I’ve ceased to blog in a chronological manner, but hey, life’s way too interesting to keep within plain old linearity.

So I had my fabulous Singapore cupcake event yesterday and it was… shall I say, quietly spectacular. :)