Archive for July, 2008
Pojaman Guilty: The Thaksins’ New Search For Exile
No street protests, some noisy supporters armed with roses and a somber Thaksin family on the court benches: Many in Thailand quietly celebrate the conviction of Thaksin’s wife Pojaman to – read TIME‘s solid explainer – three years in jail for tax evasion. But what some laud as the “beginning of the end” will lead
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Coalition Crumbles – Puea Pandin Joins Opposition?
Puea Pandin never was a “darling party.” But when arithmetics determine political survival, the party led by provincial machine politician Suwit Khunkitti, a former TRT member who has a strong following in the northeastern region, became a welcome bedfellow. Now Puea Pandin is out – at least partially. Hours before the cabinet reshuffle announced by
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Hardened Old Bangkok Scribes Share Hot Bangkok Night
Are we such a desolate bunch, Bangkok’s foreign writers and correspondents? After all those hardening years in town? That’s at least the message I gather from this clichéd article celebrating the old desperado image of the long extinct, classic Bangkok correspondent still stuck in Nam. As a rule of thumb I consider any farang suspicious
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Bush & Thailand’s Piracy Crackdown, Part XXVII
They’re a little late this time around. But they finally made it: The police raids in Bangkok on vendors with fake brand-name products – punctually again signalizing the arrival of a high foreign, mostly U.S. dignitary. And U.S. President George Dubya Bush is in town early August. Time for Bangkok to clean up its piracy
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The Dark Side Of Paradise
Let’s widen the horizon for once and talk not only about Thailand. A friend once told me “Women – who can live with them. And who can live without them.” The same goes for the neighbors. Who can live with and without them. The spectrum of this article is Thailand and the kingdom’s regional neighbors.
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Soi Arab: A Crossroads Of Two Cultures
Arabs are everywhere these days in Bangkok, so flush they are with oil cash and don’t know what to do with all that money. Have a medical checkup at one of Bangkok’s leading hospitals. Chances are you’ll be lonely farang surrounded by Arabs. Here’s a recent article on Bangkok’s one and only Soi Arab, written
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Exploit Thy Neighbor: Preah Vihear & Those Chauvinist Thais
You can turn and twist it as long as you like: The ancient temples of Preah Vihear belong to Cambodia. And you can’t blame the Cambodians for rubbing salt into the wounds of Thais by excessively celebrating their “victory” by having “their” Preah Vihear listed as a Cambodian UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fortunes for once
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“R Burger”: Yet Another Japanese Burger Joint
This one is different. You’ve tried them all. And R Burger at Siam Square will still surprise you. As they’re not serving the traditional bread buns. But Chinese-style steamed buns that are fluffier and a whiff sweeter than run-of-the-mill hamburger buns. And a key ingredient of R Burger’s burgers is Marine Collagen. Go figure. But
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Update: 3G iPhone in Bangkok/Thailand
Kind of bored with Thai politics and analyses at the moment. So why not talking about the essentials of a fulfilled life: The arrival of the 3G iPhone in Bangkok. Todd the iPhreak did some research. MBK has price signs up. Most reliable and always most expensive Winner Telecom wants 38,000 to 40,000 baht for
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Oho! New Bangkok Art & Culture Center
absolutely has some exclusive shots: Of the not only architecturally impressive Bangkok Art & Culture Center that is about to open its doors after years of setbacks and delays. Opening day is Sunday, July 27th, dedicated to Princess Sirindhorn’s photography. The new Bangkok Art & Culture Center is not only a gallery and museum. It
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