Archive for October, 2008
Lovehotelgate: Is That You Somchai?
Adultery as a conclusive factor to force a soft-spoken prime minister to resign? Well, we had a cooking show forcing a prime minister to resign. Why not a kinky blockbuster about adultery. But not so fast with this not-so-steamy Bangkokian “Sex, Lies & Videotape”. With adultery, by the way, being anyway a gentleman’s crime in
Read more…
A Princess’s Last Journey
A sneak peek at preparations for a Thai royal funeral – Straits Times’ correspondent Nirmal Gosh has a preview of the pompous 300 million baht royal cremation of Princess Galyani Vadhana, the sister – the only one – of King Bhumibol Adulyadej: In a cavernous hangar-like structure in the compound of the National Museum in
Read more…
Bangkok Sniper Alley
Looks like citizens of all sides will take the law – and its restoration – into their own hands: Police deployed to keep security at the PAD areas (!) have “suspiciously” not been stationed there for a couple of nights. While the yellow PAD militia started rounding up “reds.” Leading to these events – guerilla
Read more…
Just Another Day In Paradise
The proud developing nation of Thailand eagerly tries to convey the impression that the country ranges among the more wealthy, more successful nations. A few glitter fronts and beach panoramas don’t make up though for real life. On the contrary, is Thailand losing ground? Take the shots below provided by AFP/Getty Images – with one
Read more…
PAD Success Score: -3.75
The aims were sky-high, but reality is something very earthly here in Thailand where the misnamed People’s Alliance for Democracy PAD is on the streets since nearly half a year and keeps the official residence of the prime minister beleaguered since over two months – with what payoffs? What’s it all worth? Here’s a strictly
Read more…
Why The Wall Street Collapse Is Like A Stroll On Soi Cowboy
The bulls see a bottom approaching, the bears turn even more bearish while Thailand’s main stock index SET may fall back below 200 according to technical analysis. But why worry about worries you can neither solve nor explain. Or if charts and derivatives are too complicated to understand, what about the equation Wall Street =
Read more…
The Geography Of Thought – East Brain, West Brain?
Another attempt to decipher why and how persons from the two worlds of the West and East “think differently.” You may remember our more lighter take on the topic Westerners Vs. Asians. We dug Richard E. Nisbett’s The Geography of Thought out of the relic box. In the book, Nisbett provides evidence gathered through psychological
Read more…
The Beer Democracy (Metaphor)
In these trying Thai times there is often nothing else left to do than tearing one’s hair. Already having to cope with a movement that demands highest morals and ethics without demonstrating highest morals and ethics the prohibitionists are back on the street. The public listing of ThaiBev, the kingdom’s biggest maker of both whisky
Read more…
Bangkok Sirens: Nok Usanee
Seriously, democracy’s cheerleaders Sondhi, Chamlong & Co. could make you forget the real scuffproof qualities Thailand has to offer. It’s high time for another issue of Bangkok Sirens. absolutely‘s latest add-on: Nok Usanee, who’s as diva as sweet and yet as vamp as innocent – a chameleon siren. She’s the one you want to wallpaper
Read more…
In Times Of Greed
An unspectacular, but nevertheless telling topic. High season is approaching – or what will be left of it. And Thai hoteliers start not only charging an arm and a leg for rooms. They may even cancel your confirmed reservation when there’s a higher bidder. Happened this extended Chulalongkorn Day holiday. Tells me one family they
Read more…