Archive for September, 2007
Colonary Treats In Bangkok: Detox Yourself
// She made it look like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Put on her sunniest smile and inserted – assisted by a (male) technician – the tube. Massaged a little, ever smiling, and said: “I won’t hurt you.” Then there was the strange feeling of warm fluids being slowly pumped inside. Then
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The New Drug War & The Real Bangkok Hilton
With Thaksin’s boys back at the helm and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung promising to revive Thaksin’s tough drug war, it is time to remember what happened back then. Thaksin had not only promised to end poverty. He promised to wipe out the drug problem within 60 days. 60 days and more had passed. A great
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What Samak Goes Around Comes Around
During the growing rebellion against our dear old prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra he had hosted a daily political talk show that defended Thaksin. The show was yanked off the air after the military toppled Thaksin in September 2006. Now Samak Sundaravej is back on the air. Not as an overly gruff lambaster, but rather toned
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The Perfect Massage, Factory-Style
You kind of always wanted to support your local massage shop. You didn’t mind the shabby interior and the noisy Thai soap opera running in the background. The massage girl’s husband had run away. She has a kid or two to feed – and supports grandma who takes care of the kids and the kids
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Overseas & Oversexed
An Asian posting can enhance an executive’s career. Sadly, it can also fuel infidelity, abuse – and murder. Working abroad might be great, but sometimes the temptation to stray can be very hard to resist. As it does not matter what you look like or how old or fat or bald you are … In
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The Complete Bangkok Valentine’s Day Guide
It’s that time of the year again with the four letter word. Gosh, I’m talking about love. Valentine’s Day. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Insanely overpriced roses, insanely overpriced special menus, restaurants overfilled with insanely many couples. It’s that day of the year again when even hardcore singles feel forced to buy insanely overpriced flowers. But for
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All The King’s Men
You can’t praise the wily tactics of Thaksin Shinawatra strongly enough. His men are everywhere in key positions now. While, to the outside world, the great puppet master keeps quiet. Noppadon Pattama, a former lawyer of Democrat icon Chuan Leekpai and one of the fiercest loyalists of Thaksin, has become foreign minister, the new global
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The Vongthip Letter Feb 08
Get your monthly dose of Thai insights. Here is Khun Vongthip Chumpani’s newsletter for February ’08. Read Khun Vongthip’s “ode to Thaksin”, learn about the problematic Year of the Rat and our not less problematic new “Kitchen Cabinet”. By Vongthip Chumpani* Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year to you and your loved ones!
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“Wiki Mission”: The Truth And Nothing But The Truth About Thailand
It’s a gem of an idea: The “construction” of the truth about Thailand. A positive, proactive censorship campaign so to say. As Thailand will no longer block unwelcome websites. But enhance them. Truthfully. I’m not talking about porn sites. But sites for you and me. A new battle between the Thai authorities and the world’s
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Chris Coles’ Expressionist Bangkok
And you thought you know Bangkok. Without knowing Chris Coles. A apparent offspring of Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse. A Gauguin who got stranded in Bangkok on his way down to the Tahitian paradise islands. Coles’ Expressionist paintings are jagged emotional portraits, revealing a raw and primitive layer of the human experience. And the abyss
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