< Back To This Issue's Index >< Subscribe >< Send a Letter to the Editor >

The Knight of Wands is ruled by passion and adventure. On the positive side, The Knight of Wands is full of energy and life. He is sexy and irresistible ... always the charmer. On the negative side, this Knight is a little too sure of himself and his abilities. He tends to be reckless and irresponsible.  Wow, that rather caught my eye when I saw it surfing a passing Internet page. Could this be me? The old male ego would be tickled at the notion of being sexy and irresistible being a 53 y/o guitarist, but ‘reckless and irresponsible?’  I don’t think so. I simply made a decision to let go. It is a difficult concept for some to embrace. Society seems to generally respond to life experiences from a position of fear and insecurity, so this universal notion is embraced about how the game of life is to be played by the rules without variation, the terms and conditions of which dictate how we are supposed to live aren’t necessarily intended for personal or spiritual growth or the individual’s benefit. Being a free spirited, guitar flang’n musician, I find myself surfing the web in these esoteric realms sometimes for fun and games. A baby-boomer, I’ve now adopted a kicked-back style of living, One Day At A Time . . . Just For Today. It’s also a popular theme among others who have experienced the benefits of twelve step programs, and realized increased spiritual awareness to these simple principals.

Tomy Gunn had a 1989 Emmy Nomination, several Billboard chart records as a songwriter, numerous film and TV credits as a composer and sound designer, and he developed the industry's first digital audio software/hardware editing bundle before calling it quits to that razzle dazzle rat race.  He'd also played guitar for numerous groups including Frank Sinatra, Sr. and was hired by Turner Broadcasting to build the first digital audio dubbing studios in China for CCTV. Today, Gunn lives in Thailand while he runs his Paradisemoon.com website. He chooses to live for passion and romance and high adventure in the Kingdom of Siam. He writes more about his philosophy and background, and his alter ego Coconut, on his website which is linked below. . Additional Resources Living Overseas  Unique Lifestyles  More on Thailand  The Paradisemoon.com website  Contact Tomy Gunn  .

Today, I live for the adventure, passion, and romance of exploring new areas of life and music, and I try to incorporate some of these lessons and themes into my music. The outcome has taken me on a sojourn from the Caribbean, to the pacific islands, and now, the Gulf of Siam, Thailand, about 6 km down the road from the Kings Palace outside historic Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan. I knew there had to be a good reason behind the location of the King’s Palace in Hua Hin, and I find that it is basically the proximity to Bangkok and the weather, which is absolutely beautiful most of the time.
 

“Wow, so why am I so free to enjoy life,” I ask myself? I suppose because I just made a decision to simply ‘let go.’ An individual with an eye for the finer things in life, as well as the simple things, I have found the traditional Thai music from Issan (northeast Thailand), folk art, craftsmanship, and beautiful Thai ladies among the finest treasures on this planet. I sometimes jokingly fancy myself as a wayfaring minstrel-guru-sixties-beach-dude from yester year on permanent vacation, but only in a lighthearted spirit of fun though. I’m really serious minded and compassionate to the plight of my fellow man. Today, I choose to ‘feel’ the essence of life as the Thai people ‘feel Bai Sri . . . enjoying life on a

moment-by-moment basis. Just the other night, as I was cruising into the town of Hua Hin to the night market on the back of a motorbike taxi, I looked up at the moon, felt the warm gulf evening breeze blowing in my face, and it gave me a very deep sense of spiritual freedom.

This is something that I had totally lost touch with in my 27 years of chasing a buck in LA’s fast lane. I recall a line that had stuck in my head about not having is having, and now, I am fairly convinced there is much truth to this statement. I did leave it all behind and arrived in Thailand with a few suitcases and my instruments. Now, I find myself seeking free audiovisual candy such as live classical Issan music and colorful folk dancers, awesome original art, and fine craftsmanship. I find traditions of Siam such as the ancient shadow puppeteer and magical places of significant historical and esoteric value, displayed in the many Wats (temples) throughout Thailand, as well as the exotic natural tropical beaches and jungle escapes that are free for exploring, relaxation, and appreciation.
 

Thailand also has a reputation for producing some of the most beautiful ladies in the world. Being the true romantic that I am, I was motivated seek that for myself, and I am happy to report that it is so very true. However, more so than the traditional Thai ladies, it is the sum of the traditions, folklore, arts and crafts, temples, and countryside that make Thailand the jewel that it is. This is what I really discovered to be the ‘true essence of Siam.’ A mystical place bathed in Buddhist philosophy, some refer to as 'the land of smiles.' I suppose I am writing this article for Escapeartist Magazine for much of the same reason that I write the music. I wish to share the adventure, passion, and romance for a moment in time under that elusive paradise moon. I set up and operate a multimedia website in that very name, Paradisemoon.com, to showcase world contemporary rock & new age music aong with fine arts and crafts. With servers in New York and California, and a home base in Hawaii, I remotely

Hassan Khannoufa, puppeteer

upload content to the site, via telephone /modem connection,from wherever I can. I find the traditional Thai folk music most interesting and quite esoteric as it is based on a different tuning structure. To some people, it really sounds painfully out of tune! 

Some traditional Thai ladies seek marriage partners from abroad for the desire and interest in western culture, and for economic reasons. This is where many misconceptions begin about Thai ladies. Foreign men have greatly contributed to the degradation and moral decay of traditional values among some Thai ladies simply by creating this seemingly endless demand for the sex trade. The phenomenon has exploded over the past fifty years or so, and today it is the major contributor to the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases in all of Asia, and the rest of the world for that matter.

It is a major source of resentment among the general Thai population and creates this love hate ambiance between the tourist trade and the Thai people. It is a problem, and I feel it to a degree in my day-to-day interaction with some of the people. There is also that dark side of human behavior 

displayed as ignorance associated with racism that is alive and well in Thailand. It’s a popular theme between rival Thai ethnic groups, but ‘farangs’ can easily get snubbed, too. Nevertheless, most Thai ladies adhere to traditional values, and under the proper circumstances, both the sincere foreign men seeking brides and the traditional Thai ladies seeking husbands can and do find each other. With the almighty buck as a go between and the growing number of matchmaker ‘shopping cart’ agencies, sometimes it can present a real challenge. I personally became quite well versed on the subject, as the thought of seeking Ms. Right-Thai-Girl really appealed to me. I can only offer a word of caution to suitors. The quest for true love and companionship can amount to a seemingly endless trek through mucky waters, but

for many a journey well rewarded. I know many foreign men who have married Thai ladies and are very happy they did. I am one of them, and I cannot begin to fully express in words how it has transformed my life. Contrary to popular belief, most Thai ladies would prefer to remain in Thailand, as the family bond is quite strong. 
 

Strongly believing in the traditions and customs, Thai people are quite colorful with their concept of the spirit KHUN (spirit or soul) that is entrenched in much ritual and ceremony on the special occasions of their lives. The KHUN is invisible and untouchable, but it is noticeable by ‘feelings.’ Bai Sri Su Khun, for example is a ritual activity that increases ones mental strength. The Bai Sri means auspicious rice, a symbol of ‘lives’ related ceremony. There are several of these traditions that are celebrated as national holidays in Thailand. Perhaps at some point, I can further elaborate on the subject of Thai traditions and more about the rich history of Siam. There are numerous unique Thai art paintings, fine crafts, and items of antiquity on the paradisemoon.com website, and we are currently shooting DV clips of some exotic romantic locations and items of interest to share on-line under that elusive paradisemoon. Because of my personal experience in finding the Girl In My Dreams, we made a decision to put a link on the paradisemoon.com website to pass on some of our experience, strength and hope on the subject of love and romance unde that elusive paradisemoon. Through a network of personal contacts and friends, we choose to offer a ‘one on one’ introduction network for sincere individuals seeking love and romance. Those who choose the shopping cart services and beer-bar girls need not apply.

The ritual of Bai Sri is made up of banana leaves stitched into three levels that contain rice. Too are the four essential elements of lotus, prosperous candle, young coconut juice, three candle trays with three candles each, and a white holy string. Bai Sri on this occasion represents, (1) physical well behave, (2) verbally well behave, (3) mentally well behave. A white holy string represents the ‘hoop’ of commitment. Lotus represents four elements: Prosperous candle represents brightness and wisdom Young coconut juice represents pure minds Three candle trays represent the physical world, the image world, and the non-image world A white holy string represents the ‘hoop’ of commitment

So, upward and onward as they say, and I hope these thought and reflections will impact someone, somewhere, to ‘stop and smell the roses’ in life, and ‘Make It A Happy Day’.

Drop me line if you are headed this way, because I’ll probably stay. 

.