The New Taboo: Military Clothing

They gave the “flower putsch” back in September 2006 that certain extra – the pom pom girls who wore military outfits: Caps, skirts, blouses sporting those camouflage colors, while those light girls were happily dancing in front of the heavy boys and their tanks.

At a sales office recently, I was astonished to meet a girl wearing the classic yellow shirt – and a military skirt! Now that’s a new sales technique: A combination of the ever-present yellow and military-camouflage. If that’s no political statement?

But, as the Bangkok Post recently told us, the Defense Council has decided that military-style camouflage clothing is now a fashion taboo. Goodbye you fashionable wannabe-soldiers. The council suggests: For those enjoying to wear fancy military gear “take the clothes out of the closet and dye them.” As if the military’s image had suffered after the coup … At least children are exempt from the ban:

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March 31, 2008 | Filed Under Fashion & Style, Society, The Thai Mind | 1 Comment

Bangkok Dangerous, 2008

Hear you loud and clearly. We all don’t trust remakes. They’re as unnecessary as Rambo IV. Heaven forbid they’re talking of Rambo V! But hey, Nic Cage is coming to town with a “Bangkok Dangerous” remake. Still – should I say – anti-revisionist?

Bangkok Dangerous 2008 is a remake of Bangkok Dangerous 2001 – a mainly Thai movie directed by the Pang brothers: Danny Pang and Oxide Pang Chun. Twins born in Hong Kong. And guess who’s directing the remake? The Pang brothers.

In their 2001 flick the Pangs absolutely kicked the thing out with exquisite photography, editing and music. It was a visually snappy Thai urban romance/crime thriller. Now Bangkok Dangerous goes Hollywood. With Nic. Who’s got again hair! Promising, to say the least. Watch the trailer, filmed on the notorious Soi Cowboy.

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March 29, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Books & Movies, Culture & Arts, Truly Bangkok | Leave a Comment

Bangkok’s (S)expat Writers

Before we start: They’re expat writers, and not sexpat writers, as some people may derogatively assume. They may mention a few bar girl here and there. The bar girls’ unique Issanian-behaviourism may be a reoccuring theme. Their books may cater for the customers of Bangkok’s bar scene. But the authors are strictly expat writers.

Why anyway would you call Bangkok’s most famous expat writers sexpat writers just because they write about some flesh now and then? Truth is, says Bangkok longtime resident and expat writer Christopher Moore, sex had been an ingredient of any respective literature. Take Somerset Maugham.

Bangkok’s honorable Foreign Correspondents’ Club recently had the pleasure to present four of Bangkok’s most famed expat writers at a round table Q&A. Turned out to be a most delightful evening peppered with insights and wit. absolutelyBangkok.com was there.

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March 27, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Culture & Arts, Nightlife & Entertainment, The Thai Mind, Truly Bangkok | 10 Comments

Sweet “Nazi Chic”: It Could Only Have Happened In Thailand?

Forgive us for being slightly passed the deadline with this one – it’s worth a mention nevertheless: How a Thai school had to apologize to a Jewish organization for a Nazi celebration.

You heard it right: The “Sieg Heil” salutes happily performed by Thai school kids and the black Hitler swastikas affectionately made by the same kids – both actually meant to be fun.

Well, we farangs just have no sense of sanuk. What should you care as long as you look sexy and mega-chic!

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March 25, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Society, The Thai Mind | 26 Comments

1950: King Bhumibol’s Garden Of Smiles

Sit back and enjoy a great read: The cover story of TIME Magazine about Thailand’s revered monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej, published on Monday, April 3rd, 1950. Some serious news-vintage about the return of the king from Switzerland.

“For good & ill, Siam was changing,” TIME’s correspondent wrote back then. A lot of water has since flown down mighty Chao Phraya. The king remains the ever-compelling heart and soul and father of the nation.

Take the journey in time – and learn why Phumiphon Adundet has become Bhumibol Adulyadej. And not that I am that aged, but remember the “ram-wong” dance craze? And boy, it’s a whole novel. Look how much space a correspondent enjoyed back then.

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March 25, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Society | 2 Comments

Thai Temple Tattoo Frenzy

In case you missed this year’s tattoo frenzy @ Wat Bang Phra just west of Bangkok in Nakhon Pathom, you better make plans for next year’s frenzy.

As you all know, tattoos carved into your flesh by mantra-praying monks protect against misery, broken hearts, even bullets.

Which is why Thailand is such a peaceful, chosen society. And seeing the frenzy, one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out why the word “amok” roots in the neighboring Malay amuco.

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March 25, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Fashion & Style, Health, Body & Mind, Society | 1 Comment

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