Tsunami By Choice

Four years ago, on December 26th 2004, at around noon, one of the worst weeks in my life started in Villa Market with some free degustation of Blue Ice Beer, the probably worst beer in the world. While attempting to spew the terrible brew, my mother-in-law called. There’d been some big wave down in Phuket, she said. A few hours later, still dizzy from that indefinable brew, I was in my car heading down to Phuket.

Arriving there with next day’s sunrise, most coastal roads were still impassable, inundated with dead bodies and debris. Couldn’t count the bloated bodies of the dead along the road anymore even after the first day, not to mention the following days. Thailand and the tsunami-affected Indian Ocean suffered tremendous pain. But togetherness and solidarity were strong in those days.

An unseen wave of worldwide solidarity swept the disaster region. Help from everywhere arrived. Schoolchildren and housewives in faraway countries collected money for the tsunami victims. This time around, with Thailand’s political crisis, damage is of completely different nature. But not less devastating - and completely preventable, if common sense could prevail.

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December 26, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, History, Society, Travel & Tourism | 3 Comments

Finland Plot Revisited

What has Thailand’s deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to do with Lapland?! And why does he have a reindeer driving license? Well, Thaksin was in Lapland in 1999. How can that possibly have anything to do with the political crisis in Thailand and the kingdom’s tough lèse majesté laws?

“Finnish conspiracy” lurks behind political crisis in Thailand - that’s the title of one of the most readable and concise accounts I’ve encountered so far on the alleged plot of Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to topple the monarchy. Legend has it that Thaksin made that plan in Lapland.

If you know some bits and pieces about the Finland Conspiracy, this account written by Finnish journalist Jukka Huusko is a worthwhile read. Even if you’re up to speed with the theory, read the whole thing. Huusko lists new facts, angles and quotes. So what were Thaksin and friends debating up there near the Arctic Circle.

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December 24, 2008 | Filed Under History, Politics | 9 Comments

Season’s Greetings

Season’s Greetings to all! Thanks for your loyalty in 2008 and we’re all set for an exciting 2009. This year for the first time I haven’t written a single christmas card. It’s all gone emailized. And I was thinking and thinking about what to upload on absolutely for this year’s festive season.

Tempting was a proper analysis of the practically inexistent shopping for a christmas tree over here in Bangkok, a quite elaborate ritual in the West. Or insights into the art of gift wrapping. But then I stumbled over Monty Python praising Christmas and ended up in the Ubon of 1965 with Bob Hope.

That’s why we celebrate a little potpourri with this year’s digitalized Season’s Greetings. There’s something about Christmas up in Ubon during Nam, something for the hopelessly romantic and the cynics and atheists as well. To you and your family, a Merry Christmas and happy New Year! Here we go:

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December 22, 2008 | Filed Under On Our Own | 4 Comments

The Poseidon Link

Poseidon was the Greeks’ god of the sea and, as “Earth-Shaker,” of earthquakes. Poseidon is also a Bangkok icon of the other kind. But first: For observers interested in Thai politics there wouldn’t be much sense of direction without the takes of Bangkok Pundit, a “complete political junkie” who’d “rather listen to ASTV 24/7″ than writing about non-politics, as he once told me.

In a latest post on the Abhisit I cabinet line-up, quietly deploring the quality we once again get, there’s a juicy reference posted by a commentator: “The more interesting choice is Pornthiwa Nakasai at Commerce. Supposed owner, or daughter of the owner, of Poseidon. Maybe we’ll have another bubble economy.” Now what does that tell us.

A quick Google search reveals some bits and pieces about Pornthiwa of the Phum Jai Thai party, the reformed Matchima Thipataya. She has a background in the entertainment business, says The Nation, discreetly. The Post claims Mrs. Pornthiwa’s background includes running the Poseidon massage parlor in Bangkok.

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December 21, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Seriously, not ... | 5 Comments

Street Art In Bangkok, City Of Europe & Life

Hail the PAD for chasing away tourists. Otherwise the 1st Bangkok Street Show would have been even more crowded. But even with heaps of locals and families: what an event. What an enthusiastic show de force of Bangkok as a city of vibrancy. And life.

Eleven stages at Lumpini Park with a new show every 40 minutes from 3 to 9 pm … Mime and comedy from Thailand and Japan dominated the event, but the artists came from as far as Brazil, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the U.S.

Wowing the audience with soap bubbles, juggling, hanger acrobatics and magic, while younger and older couples strolled around, kids cheered and I couldn’t discover one single upset face. That’s the Bangkok we know and we love. What an enrichment for Krung Thep.

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December 20, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Travel & Tourism, Truly Bangkok | 4 Comments

Haunted Abhisit? Who Was Not In Bed With Each Other

Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most haunted of them all? Over the past few weeks, Bangkok’s non-Thai blogging world was focused on due political process and rule of law. Thai politics though are a twistable pragmatism, a customizable dictation of a few only reminding themselves of the broader masses once the needs of the few are sated.

The embarrassing airport blockades may have effectively killed tourism for some time to come. But Thai minds forget too easily. Thais are used and accustomed to the strife. The one big constant in Thai politics is the political instability. Given this axiom we’re rather fortunate with a Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Thaksin was the exception. Before and most likely after Thaksin we always had and will most likely always have coalition governments preoccupied with internal power struggles. Politicians keep on bargaining for their own good, while continuous cabinet reshuffles lessen the need for new elections.

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December 20, 2008 | Filed Under On Our Own, Politics | Leave a Comment

How Western Parents Can Have Polite, Kind & Respectful Kids: Teach Them Thai Values

Thailand may not be a world leader in Westminster democracy, high morals and ethics. But obviously in children’s behavioral education. Following text is by an author who’s all but an idolizer of Thai values and therefore ignores the potential effects the - submissive? - Thai values may have on the kids later on. Just to mention the inability to take decisions, face opposition, stand a high moral ground.

It all seems so easy, just smile at everything. Here we go: Thailand has a reputation throughout the world as having some of the world’s nicest people. As a teacher in Thailand, I’ve always noticed that Thai kids do not behave like Western kids. Thai culture is completely different to Western culture, and Thai kids are brought up much more strictly.

Thai children are taught different values than Western children and, because of this, they tend to be behave better and be sweeter and nicer than many Western kids. After five years of teaching English in Thailand, here are what I think are some important Thai values that every Western parent should be teaching their child.

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December 19, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Society, The Thai Mind | 11 Comments

Necessity Is The Mother Of Those Fake 1,000 Baht Notes - UPDATE

+++ Update: In a comment below a reader clarified that both banknotes shown below are correct. The fakes seem to be based though on the “old” design. Watch out for this: “The fake notes are printed on paper, not material. The color runs when the bank note is placed in water. The metalic strip doesn’t feel like a metalic strip. You cannot see the water mark when held up to the light.”

Anyway, there may be a variety of fakes out there. I don’t think that fakers are that dumb to just use paper and non-water-resistant color. If you want to be on the safe side, only go for the newer design. Illustration below was sent to me by a reliable source. While Bank of Thailand has a Feel-Look-Tilt test and explains counterfeits of the older and the revised versions.

Watch out, you could be a criminal. By handing out one of those counterfeit 1,000 baht banknotes circulating in considerable masses during these harder days. That’s right. You may have some in your purse. The user of such banknotes will be subject to a maximum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum fine of 30,000 baht.

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December 18, 2008 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Gadgets & Shopping, On Our Own | 15 Comments

Lost In Hotels? Use A Phenomenal Bargain Search Engine

Ever wondered how to find the best hotel deal in Bangkok? What’s the best way to find accommodation in Thailand? When it comes to Thailand, one of the most visited places on Earth, you may be confused about who to use to find the best hotel deals. There are zillions of local travel agents, many websites and many smaller hotels which can only be booked directly. Now, there’s a phenomenally clear-cut solution:

Hotels Combined, a website comparing all the special deals and booking websites, such as Hotels.com or Booking.com. Many of those who would like to book in advance simply open several hotel reservation sites and browse through their inventory in different browser windows, jumping back and forth in between the different reservation sites in an effort to compare the prices and to find the best deals.

All of this is actually unnecessary since there are sites which do all of this work for you. HotelsCombined.com is such a price comparison search engine where you can search over 30 top travel sites at once. It will instantly compare all the rates and display the best rate for each hotel, all on a single user friendly page where you can sort hotels by guest reviews, star rating and of course prices.

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December 18, 2008 | Filed Under Travel & Tourism | 4 Comments