Google Maps Bangkok: Never Ever Again Lost

Still lost in town? Still don’t own that fancy GPS gadget?

Get to know your way around Big Mango’s city jungle: Google Maps have released their map of Bangkok (and Thailand!) in English.

No more excuses to miss that date because you couldn’t find that place.

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February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Gadgets & Shopping, Travel & Tourism, Truly Bangkok | 2 Comments

Bangkok For The Well-Heeled: Members-Only Pacific City Club

It’s that place in town that needs no advertising. Well, it can’t advertise. It’s a members-only club. Not that type of private club with bar-fines though. But a classy business club with no walk-ins, no tourists in slippers and shorts:

Bangkok’s Pacific City Club is a safe haven for the epikureer and gourmand. The offspring of the redundant Heritage Club remains the only British-style business club in town besides the Bangkok Club @ Sathorn.

Chances were some time ago that you met HE Queen Sirikit herself dining at Pacific City Club. Thaksin Shinawatra remains a member there, but didn’t have much chance lately to enjoy the club’s glass-enclosed Wine Room.

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February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Body & Mind, Food & Wine, Truly Bangkok | 1 Comment

The Return Of The Great Divider

February 28th, 2008: Thaksin Shinawatra, the great divider, as intensely hated as loved, ends one and a half years in exile. To clear his name and get his hands on the frozen millions.

Thaksin is back home - in what turns out to be one of the longest days in the life of Thaksin. The begin of a triumphant comeback? Can he resist the urge to grab power again? Lies another showdown ahead with the judiciary and the old elite?

Follow the events of the day in real-time right here. Relive how Thaksin fell to his knees and kissed Thai soil after his arrival and was taken into police custody VIP-style.

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February 28, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Society | 3 Comments

The Homecoming Of Thaksin

In a carefully choreographed show of the faithful former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be welcomed back to Thailand on Thursday, February 28th, at ETA 9.40 am at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Probably “politely” arrested upon arrival Thaksin will then head to the Supreme Court and apply for bail - while the Thai voters finally get what they’re paid for.

Thaksin’s former lawyer and current foreign minister though, Noppadon Pattama, insists that Thaksin would be back by private jet - and not necessarily on Thursday by TG 603 from Hong Kong, as the Thaksin-friendly website Hi-Thaksin.net reported (which is not to be mixed up with Hi-Thaksin.com).

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February 26, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Society | 1 Comment

Thailand’s Gay Past

Mention homosexuality and many Thais will blame it on recent Western influences. Ask Varaporn Vichayarath what she thinks, however, and she would simply smile before providing a list of old temples with murals depicting same-sex courtship.

Yes, homosexual courtship between both men and women.

And yes, at temples. Temple murals show a Thai Kamasutra - proof that homosexual relations are not a recent phenomena in Thai society.

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February 24, 2008 | Filed Under Nightlife, Society, The Thai Mind | 1 Comment

Our Dear “Invisible Hand”

The real power in Thailand, it seems to be, is an “invisible hand.”

That invisible hand has become Thailand’s political buzzword when troubles loom.

It’s the buzzword though uniquely used by the neo-populist movement of the Thaksinists.

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February 20, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Seriously, not ..., Society | 2 Comments

Muay Thai Up Close

Ever witnessed a Muay Thai fight?

Muay Thai is not just about tears and sweat and blood and broken dreams.

Muay Thais is a pan-religious experience. Just to mention the repetitive monotonous intro that lifts you into a trance-like mood.

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February 18, 2008 | Filed Under Sports & Fun | Leave a Comment

Thailand’s Latest Armed Resistance: Noise Fighters Of UURFAAN

If you dare to leave Thailand from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport on February 23rd, chances are you get acquainted with the “United Urban Rocket Front Against Airport Noise” (UURFAAN).

Based on the beautiful tradition of the Bun Bang Fai rocket festival in beautiful Yasothon, residents of Suvarnabhumi take Yasothon’s craft into real-life-action. They announced that they may “accidentally” shoot down commercial airliners. Unless they’re paid hard cash compensation money for noise pollution.

If you leave Bangkok on the 23rd, book a window seat, as you may witness the most spectacular pyrotechnic show of handmade rockets shooting by outside ever seen at an international airport.

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February 17, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Seriously, not ..., Society, Travel & Tourism | Leave a Comment

Book: Poetic Bangkok

There’s a new book about our beloved’n'behated Bangkok: “Bangkok”. A hymn to the quiet poetry of our misunderstood megalopolis.

It’s an illustrated book more precisely. With photographs shot by Peter Nitsch, 34, a richly awarded German photographer living between Bangkok and Munich.

You’ll say that Bangkok is never poetic and that there are already whole libraries filled with books about Bangkok.

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February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Travel & Tourism, Truly Bangkok | 5 Comments