Home Is Where You Hand Your Head...

Greetings and Salutations, my beloved bloggers- It is again time to bring a bittersweet end to yet another chapter of "Gags' Asian Adventure." I refuse to say final installment for, as we all know, experience has dictated that I may very well be back here again.

Soon.

I write you from familiar Singapore where it is hot, humid and generally nicer than the place where most of you are reading this; The very same place I shall soon inhabit myself- good old snow covered, frost bitten, Wintry New England. I suppose it will be quite a shock to my system to come from the high 80's (both in terms of temperature and % humidity) of equatorial Malaya to the confines of the ice laden Northeast. I did feel as though something was missing during these past holidays. However, I have to admit it was a pretty cool feeling sitting on the grass watching New Years fireworks near the Esplinade feeling warmer than most of the years friends and I used to go to Boston for the Fourth of July and... watch the fireworks near the Esplinade.

Weird.

Still, it was a great night full of excellent food, wonderful company and lots of tasty Sangria.

Did I mention the Sangria?

Well, blog dogs, it's always a treat writing y'all for while being able to experience new and exciting parts of Asia, as well as revisiting some familiar ones. It's also been a trip getting to perform a really wonderful show, even if it does sometimes feel like work- when we were working, that is. I feel this tour has really made me feel like I am on the right career path, even though getting here was the road certainly less traveled. Hell, I don't think Frost even saw this wee little road way off to the left...probably hiding around the corner in Montague somewhere. Anyhoo, I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to experience that which I have, to have been able to write about it for you dear folks, and to come out the other end in one piece. I am also terribly thankful that my Grandmother, who turned 101 years old this past Fall, continues to be there as I come and go from the Far East.

If I make it that long, do me a favor- tell the staff at the home I can't stand American Idol so they won't keep leaving what'll probably be season 66 by then on the TV for me to... enjoy... because "Oh, he was a singer, ya know! Isn't that right Mr. Gastalaro....I said, ISN'T THAT RIGHT MR. GASTA-LARO! (He doesn't hear so well anymore...)"

What? You mean I'm the only one who thinks of that crap? Well, maybe because it's my idea of hell. Not bit about the home, the American Idol part, damned Ryan Seacrest, all thinking he's Dick Clark... But I digress...

I do enjoy this business- no, wait. Need- that's a better word- I need this business. That's why I feel so strongly that I'm doing the right thing. What most people outside this business don't get is that most of us need to be doing this much more than it needs us. It's a force not unlike gravity that pulls you 24 hours a day and by saying that, I use no hyperbole. It sort of chooses us, not the other way around - which makes me feel a little like Frodo Baggins at times, without the ears and the ring and the hairy feet... OK, the ears and the ring, then. But still, you get my point. I only hope that everyone finds something that drives them without driving them over the edge, as can happen with anything. I mean, c'mon- most of us are Red Sox fans, right? Yeah, now your gettin' it...

In conclusion, I again extend my heart felt thanks, a hand of friendship and my right leg a little too far every night in the show, so if anyone can recommend a good, affordable massage place when I get home, I'll be forever grateful.

So, until "Gags' Asian Adventure IV: The Quest For Spock", I say good day to you, Live Long and Prosper, May the Force Be With You, and Good Luck- As my friends and family, your gonna need it!

God Bless,
Steven Rocco Thomas Gagliastro
-30-

Christmas, All Thaied With A Bow

Seasons Greetings and Merry Christmas my blogging family! It is Christmas Eve-Day and I write you from Bangkok, Thailand with warm regards and warmer temperatures. It's in the 80's during the day, 70's at night here and I can't help feeling like I'm missing that certain something that goes along with Christmas- Cold noses, warm homes and a cup of hot chocolate under a blanket while sitting on my favorite green couch watching Christmas cartoons. I am currently watching cartoons, but not the familiar holiday fare. Still, I am lucky enough to be enjoying classic "Tom and Jerry" even though I am a bit under the weather. No worries - just a cold, but no fun.

OK, onto the news- So, if you haven't already heard, our tour is coming to an end next month, so this will be one of the final posts of this here blog- that is until I tour Asia again. I know, it seems far fetched, right? That's what I said the first time! Here I am, finishing my third Asian tour and at this point, I never say never anymore. Long story longer, I will be home sometime in late January, so keep your eyes out for little old me as I may be traipsing up your sidewalk sometime soon!

Now for the sightseeing news. In Hong Kong, I kept a pretty low profile, but I did get out to Ngong Ping, an outlying island south of the main HK island where stands-or rather, sits- the largest seated, outdoor Buddha statue in the world. It's a newer statue, but no less impressive. It was a lovely, thoughtful day that included a very long and beautiful cable car ride to and from the Tin Tan Buddha.


We arrived in Thailand without a hitch just a few weeks ago. Whilst here in Thailand, I visited Bangkok's Royal Palace, unmatched in beauty from anything I have experienced in Thailand thus far. I was also very fortunate to take a day trip yesterday to the place immortalized in the Oscar winning film "The Bridge on the River Kwai". For those unfamiliar with the movie or its history, during the Second World War, the Japanese Army, who had taken control of the Malay peninsula(including Burma and Siam, now Thailand), decided it needed a direct supply route from Burma to the inner peninsula. This undertaking was estimated to take 4 years, but the Japanese put many thousands of locals and Allied P.O.W.'s through absolute hell to complete the project in only 18 months. In terms of human lives, the railway, including the bridge on the Kwai, was one of the costliest projects in modern history. The human toll was about 200,000. The bridge itself, the meeting point and main connection between the two simultaneously constructed railways, was destroyed by Allied bombings. Now reconstructed, it serves as a civilian railway and, more importantly, a memorial for the hardships of lives past.

So, as we count our blessings this holiday season, we remember those gone before, those little ones celebrating their very first Christmas, and all those in between we hold so very dear. God Bless and may your holidays be safe, your Christmases be Happy and your New Years be safe.

And to all, a good night.

Steve

What's the Capital Of Thailand?

Hey there bloggers, lil' ol' me again to regale you with another post. I am in Hong Kong still and, on paper, am expecting to go to Bangkok in the next few weeks. But, with the trouble brewing there, I may not get to Thailand at all. Only time will tell.

Hong Kong has treated us all very well and reminded us civilization is just around any corner. The food is great, the weather is 70's during the day/60's at night, and we found a great Jazz club where we have become regular regulars in just a few weeks. I've even sat in on a few jam sessions and crooned my way to the hearts of...well, dozens- it's a small club. But, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in music and atmosphere. There was a jazz-fest in town a few weeks ago, in fact, they played the outside of the HK Cultural Center while we played the inside. Well, the place to go after the gigs were done was Cafe Fresco where the crowd was treated to, for me, was something akin to catching the Rolling Stones at Sir Morgan's Cove in Worcester- way cool.

There's not a whole lot to see as far as sights in HK, but I visited the Peak which overlooks the entire city from a lofty perch. I also found Snoopy's World, a wee little playground pretty far north in Kowloon. It was kind of dinky, but it was worth the trip. I have plans to see a few more sights as well as a day trip to Macau this week. It's only an hour away and there are casinos. Good thing we got per diem in cash this week, huh? (Just kidding, Ma)

Meanwhile, I will be spending my down time watching the Boomerang Network, sister station to the Cartoon Network. Boomerang runs all the Warner Bros. cartoons as well as the Hanna Barbera stuff- Flinstones, Magila Gorilla, Wally Gator, Huckleberry Hound, and a whole slew of other random toons. I'm also getting my fill of Nat Geo and the Discovery Channel (Boom dee a dah!!!)

I wish my face was sun blasted and my shorts were full of sand, but the Thai protesters have seen fit to keep me in Hong Kong. I'll see that these toes get some sand between them somehow, until then, be well and "Exit, stage right, even!!"

Gags

Goodness, Gracious, Great Walls Of China

Hello there bloggerinos, another installment of this here blog is upon us! This time, I actually have things to write about! Que Fantastic, no! So, last blog I was in Guangzhou trying to keep my sanity by whatever means possible but, no longer! I am currently in Hong Kong and couldn't be happier. I've heard it said that Hong Kong is like New York and London mixed into one crazy island. But before I get into HK, I must tell you about my adventures in Shanghai and Beijing.

First off, being in Shanghai, I might as well have been in the U.S.. I felt like I was in Downtown Boston at a pub where the owners were Chinese. Although it was an expensive city, I can honestly say if I needed to, I could actually live in Shanghai. It's a huge ex-pat hub and the financial capital of China. The only drag is I left my camera at a bar one night, never to be seen again. I suppose it's my own fault, but in the grand scheme of things, it's just an object; a thing. So, one week and three hundred bucks later, I am the proud owner of a new Canon camera. Good thing, too, as my Beijing sightseeing was about to begin. Although I missed the opportunity to photograph the Forbidden City, I captured everything else in spades.

Tienanmen Square, Ming Tombs, The Summer Palace, Pandas at the Beijing Zoo, The Silk Market, The Bird's Nest, The Water Cube- I had a wonderful time seeing these beautiful sights, but there were two main highlights that stand out.

The first was inside Tienanmen Square, namely the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao. It was a strange and curious sight that was very high on my list of things to see and do in China, and it did not disappoint. First off, we tried to see him on Tuesday afternoon as we had been told viewing took place between 8AM and 12 Noon, Tuesday-Sunday and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4PM. Liars! So, we were stymied on Tuesday afternoon, but got our chance to meet the man Wednesday Morning.

Before getting in the very long but fast moving line, one must check all their belongings across the street at the special Mao check in building so as not to allow anyone to photograph, disrespect or otherwise blow up the Chairman a while he lies in state- Fair enough. So, we did this and were herded through the gates and into the memorial hall like insolent children at an amusement park. There was no stopping us now- literally! No one is allowed to stop or pause at any time in the memorial hall, except to lay flowers and give reverence to the large seated statue of Mao in the ante-chamber just outside the room where his "body" lie in state. I use quotation marks because there are rumors(which I suspect are true) that the body on public display is not actually Mao himself, but a wax replica. The story goes that a few hours after he died, the decision was made to preserve his body, but the embalmers were a little overzealous and pumped him so full that he became bloated and distorted. They backed out the chemicals and got him looking reasonable again, but just in case, a wax facsimile was supposedly created. My feeling we saw the wax Mao lying in the crystal coffin, not the real Mao-coy. Either way the experience of being herded through his mausoleum was only heightened by the "was it really him" quandary.

The other outstanding excursion I took was to what I would describe as one of if not the coolest thing I have ever experienced- The Great Wall of China. We had a full day off a few Mondays ago so we took the opportunity to explore the only man-made structure visible from space- not including Las Vegas. We took a cable car to the wall itself and proceeded to climb the entire section open to the public- a little over mile- and snapped more pictures than I can even count. It was truly exquisite. The funniest thing is that we only experienced the tiniest iota of the whole wall, which made the experience even more special. The most fun, though, was the luge ride back down the mountain that lead to the wall. It was so much fun if I wasn't already running late, I would have rode the cable car back up just to luge down another time. Woo-Hoo!!

OK, so I'm in Hong Kong for the next month, so I should be able to blog at least once more before leaving for Thailand, but if I am out enjoying civilization for the next few weeks, don't hate me. Until next time bloggers, I say..

"Mao"

I've Been Shanghai'd, I Tell Ya

Greetings and salutations my blogging friends, and thanks for your vigilant chiding of me and my dragging-posting feet. It's not that I don't like writing for you, oh contrair mon frair- it be the complete opposite of that- nothing to write about!

I am now in Shanghai, China having come from three weeks in Guangzhou, the former Canton, which I would describe as the Delaware of Asia. Not much to see or do and, coupled with the fact that we only had 4 shows to perform and a few rehearsals in those 3 weeks, plenty of time to not do it in. Basically, we were in a veritable holding pattern waiting for permission to land in a place where we could actually enjoy ourselves. If it wasn't for the ping-pong table in the hotel, I think I might have gone mad. MAD, I tell you!! Much Gnip-Gnop, some rounds of Mafia(I'll teach you when I get back), a few games of Snooker, and plenty of drinking kept most of us occupied for the extended layoff in lovely Guangzhou or, as it came to be know, Guangblow. OK, so we did find a great Irish pub swarmed with Aussies and a few Yanks called Houlees and I'll admit it, Guinness did help ease the monotony of the biggest little city in China, but one more week there could have been mutinous. Meh.

So, here I sit in Shanghai feeling like I have re-entered civilization where the guys on the street are trying to get me to buy Tiger Beer and watches as opposed to tiger paws and...well,... watches. What is it about my face that says "Hey there, I'm stupid Yankee Joe, buyer of cheap knock-offs, seeker of pirated dvds and all around dufus- please solicit ME! I'll buy it!!" I guess it's the same reason I get hired to play wacky, silly little men on stage. Although, I have always noticed that I am the person people pick to walk in front of when having to cut past a long line of people. Airports, banks, auditions- next time you are with me in those situations, just watch- It'll happen, believe you me.

So, apart from exciting Guangzhou, some sad news to tell. Riley the Rottweiler, who has barked at each and every one of you, only to followed by a wagging stump happy to see you, has left our Earthly realm. The angels have sped her to Doggie Heaven, where puppies feel no pain and every meal is buttered steak, egg yolks and Jumbones, and dessert is made of chocolate, for in Doggie Heaven, pups can enjoy chocolate without fear. Good 'ol Mick will be waiting to meet her there and will look after her once again. She was a good dog and, as sad as it is, I know she is without pain and am thankful for the time she was with us. It saddens me to think that upon my return to the States in lieu of her gruff welcome, will come a solemn silence.

See you at the Rainbow Bridge, Winis.

Steve

It's Good To Be The King...

Goodness Gracious, bloggers it's that time again, so hold on to your proverbial hats! When last we left our hero...me...I'm the hero...anyway, I was in Xian, China visiting unearthed warriors, Wild Goose Pagodas, dumpling restaurants and otherwise having as good a time as possible while being laid off for a few weeks. Well, I was not the only one trying to enjoy myself as most of the cast and crew were also gallivanting about the former capitol of China when a stroke of bad luck struck one of our cast members.

The gentleman playing the King, Jefferson, was on a lovely bike ride atop the Xian City Wall(see last entry for details) with a few others from the gang, when the pedal on his bicycle broke, cutting him very deeply. He received immediate medical attention but the laceration needed nearly 30 stitches, inside and out, and he was quite immobilized for almost 2 weeks. Well, if you didn't already know, I am the principal understudy for the king and, as he was pretty well out of commission for a number of days, that left yours truly to step into the role.

I was fortunate enough to perform the role of His Royal Highness King Maximilian Godfrey Ladislaus Leopold Sidney Frederick John for 4-5 shows during the run in Xian. I'm very glad to have had the opportunity to perform the role and even gladder to report that Jefferson is on the mend and back atop the throne where he belongs. His wound is still healing and it will be sometime before he is fully back to snuff, but he is the definition of a trooper and will have an interesting story (to say the least) when people ask him about his scar

That aside, things were relatively tame throughout Xian and as I write you, I am in a lovely hotel in Zhengzhou, China with one performance left to do this evening and then onto Guangzhou for a few weeks. After that comes Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. After that, I cannot remember exactly where to next, but it's probably for the best as our schedule is in a constant state of flux. One of the joys of touring this part of the world.

One of the exciting things I have done here in Zhengzhou is visit a, or rather The Shaolin Temple where Kung-Fu was born. There was a demonstration of Kung-Fu skills, the grounds were beautiful and I had a bit of a Karmic experience in one of the gift shops, of all places.

Last year in Singapore, I found a little shop in a market in Central Singapore where they sold Tibetan charms, jewelery, etc.. I bought two pendants for myself, one of which was a cross-hatched diamond pattern made of silver that was supposed to be a good luck charm. I happily purchased it and upon returning to the U.S., I had only worn it one other time when I donned the charm and went shopping at one of my favorite places, the Ocean State Job Lot. Little did I know, but somewhere between the car and the store, the charm fell off my neck and was lost. I retraced my steps, but, alas, alack, it was gone. Bummed as I was though, I though it was best to think of it as a sign it was meant to happen.

While in Japan a few years ago, I was visiting a temple in Kamakura and bought a few luck charms made of clay that were expected to eventually break. As it was told to me, when the bell shaped charm breaks, it is believed that something bad which was to happen to the owner instead happens to the bell, causing its' destruction. Pretty neat, eh? Well, I sort of adopted that to mean the Tibetan good luck charm took a Karmic hit for me and perhaps was found by someone who needed it more than I. Good story, right? Well, at the Shaolin Temple, there in front of me at a Tibetan gift shop was the same good luck charm in silver and turquoise and, of course, I bought it and now, more than ever, feel I was not meant to own the original charm I brought back from Singapore, but was meant to "deliver" it into the hands of another whose needs outweighed my own.

At least that's what I tell myself to help me sleep at night.

OK, enough babbling and pontificating. I'll leave you be with the hope that you are well fed, well rested, and well aware of just how lucky we all are, Tibetan charms aside, to have the things and most importantly the people we hold dear.

Zaijian!(Good-bye!)

Gags

Quite A Lotta Chinese Terracotta...

Warriors, that is. Ni Hao, blog buddies! It's time for another exciting installment of blog-o-rama. As if you couldn't guess, I'm now in Xian, China and am finding it to be quite to my liking. The city if clean and interesting, the people seem nice, and the hotel lobby has free wireless- all in all, a good combo. I am off for a total of about 2 weeks while the set/costumes/ props(etc.) clear customs, so I am trying to see the sights of Xian. Luckily for me, there are plenty of them.

As the title of this blog installment suggests, we visited Xian's main attraction yesterday, namely the Terracotta Army. For those not familiar with these clay fellows, the Terracotta Army is a collection of thousands of life sized clay soldiers from about 200 B.C.(E.) that were constructed to protect the tomb of the first Emperor of China's Qin Dynasty. This great and terrible ruler(his name escapes me at the moment) was the first to unite China into a single kingdom/country and the Terracotta Soldiers were to be his protection in the next life, guarding his tomb and providing him a sort of spiritual security blanket in the afterlife. He died at around 50 years old, some say as a side effect of drinking mercury, as he thought it would prolong his life.

Duh.

Anyhoo, the soldiers lay undiscovered for almost 2000 years until in 1974, some local farmers unearthed the head of one of the soldiers while digging a well. They freaked out, thinking it was the devil himself and contacted the local authorities. It was determined, much to the relief of the nervous and superstitious farmers, that the head did not belong to the devil, but in fact was one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in Chinese- nay, human history. As a reward, the main farmer was given a cash prize and some lovely parting gifts. As a further(well deserved) thank you, he was given a job for life at the museum autographing souvenir programs for tourists like me. I was not fortunate enough to meet him, as we arrived after he had departed for the day(@ 3PM- good hours!). Seeing as he's around 80 years old, I'll cut him some slack, seeing as I got a signed copy anyway! Lucky me!

One of the interesting things about the excavation site is that of the suspected 10,000 life sized figures buried there, since '76, only some 2,000 have been unearthed. It is painstaking work to Humpty-Dumpty the soldiers back together again and it is expected that it will take another 200 years, more or less, to complete the excavation. So, if your children's children's children's children's children teleport, or however they'll get around in those days, to Xian, they'll get to see the whole site unearthed. It seems like a long time, but, hey, they finished the Big Dig in our lifetime right?

Right?

Well, it's easier to get to Logan, anyway...

Xian is the former capitol city of China and is a tourist destination for many world travelers as well as for China's own citizens. Some other sights are the Drum Tower, Bell Tower(guess what those are?) and the Xian City Wall, which is the only one of its kind in China to have survived the destruction of war, be it ancient or modern.

Don't it feel like yer here with me? Don't it!? Well, maybe not, but I'll keep trying to paint mental pictures through this here blog and maybe someday, I'll be reading one of your blogs about the wilds of Africa...or sumthin' like that.

I'll be in Xian for about 3 weeks, then to another city or two for about 2 weeks, then on to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. It's funny, but every time I come back to Asia, I keep hearing people say, including myself, "Well, when will I ever be here again?" To which I silently say "Probably next year!"

Thank you for you attention. We now return you to your regularly scheduled goofing off from work, or whatever do on your computer to make it look like you are accomplishing something.

Til next time,

Gags