Hey There, Big Eyes Gone Gaga

I was swept off my feet. Those eyes. The two Thai school girls in the Skytrain were kind of staring into nowhere, with lush, dollish eyes. They didn’t acknowledge my astonished staring, but were clearly fully aware that I enjoyed the sight. Genetics gone perfect, I thought, staring and staring.

What eyes. Big, beautiful, phantasmagoric eyes with softly colored irises and sparkles and butterflies … Thought I was in an Anime cartoon. But obviously being a hillbilly, there’s a simple answer to this celestial beauty: A contact lens fad in Thailand is even sparking health worries.

Patrick Winn of GlobalPost has a timely story on it. In case you meet some of these cuties, keep on staring at them. They wanna be stared at – just don’t expect that they return a look. Or wanna surprise your gig with heavenly melodramatic eyes? Who could resist your big innocent … Football Lover Eyes?

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January 28, 2009 | Filed Under Fashion & Style, Society | 2 Comments 

Anthaiclockwise

Forgive, I was dwelling upon the topic in the past, but now Thailand’s tattered reputation is reaching historic proportions. Not only have we become a textbook banana republic with a parliament again without an attending opposition – or an opposition preoccupied with quorum checks.

But the parliament is anyway no power center anymore. The once proud island of democracy in the midst of authoritarianism has again become a de facto dictatorial regime – with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva not much more than the handsome face of a loathsome behind. Thought we’ve seen those days?

Not only is Abhisit incapable of defying a military on the loose – Thailand’s armed forces are again a law onto themselves by ignoring orders of (the previous) elected governments and placing themselves – as the Rohingya affair beautifully shows – above the rule of law and common sense.

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January 27, 2009 | Filed Under News & Media, Politics, Society, The Thai Mind | 1 Comment 

Beautiful Chaos Bangkok

A beautiful little declaration of love to Bangkok’s beautiful chaos this is, written by John Burgess, special correspondent to The Washington Post. Just this weekend I nearly freaked out in this lovely chaos. Had to get from Thonburi to Chulalongkorn University. The GPS advised the quickest way through Yaowarat Chinatown.

Stuck in the happy chaos called Lunar New Year, a snail could have overtaken us. But once you take a deep breath and relax this tiring Bangkok chaos is like a multidimensional ant hill bristling with colors and life. Take another deep breath and enjoy the chaos while practicing the Buddhist virtue of staying – mentally – aloof.

Completely unaggressive, you’ll hardly hear a horn or someone shouting. Nobody knocks down no one. Millimeters seem to decide on life and death, but somehow the great mingle-mangle flows smoothly and you wonder how so many cars and people can be squashed into such a small space and not one soul seems disturbed.

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January 27, 2009 | Filed Under Society, Travel & Tourism, Truly Bangkok | 1 Comment 

What’s This!?

Each time when passing the corner of Wireless and Ploenchit this fat old something keeps me guessing: what’s this? Not only does it stand in the middle of the sidewalk and obstructs passage, it has as well some strange holes and details “built in” – it must have served some purpose some decades ago.

Back then Wireless was a klong and elephants were common beasts of burden in Bangkok. Was that strange old something part of a dock for ships? Or a part of something to tie elephants to? And why is it not removed? I mean they’re tearing down much more useful stuff in Bangkok.

This undefinable something has so far defied the times and braved the elements. It’s old and weathered – with seemingly no purpose. I’ve heard many stories though what it could be – none of them making real sense. There must be a simple answer to it – anyone? Or got a photo from those times?

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January 26, 2009 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, History, Truly Bangkok | 15 Comments 

The Big Mango Index ‘09

Did again the walk through those Bangkok supermarkets, what a pain, but here we go, the Big Mango index ‘09 is ready. For what it’s worth. Compared to last year’s virgin ‘08 index a Heineken got only slightly more expensive, but whereas a pack of Orchid butter cost some 48 baht a year ago, the same butter today is 77 baht at Villa Market, and still 64 baht at Tesco/Lotus and Carrefour.

But then again, this year’s count doesn’t really represent the inflation we faced in the second half of ‘08. Prices topped towards the end of the year and came down substantially in some cases. A can of Heineken is 2 baht more, veggies are still about the same if not cheaper – except onions! -, milk is some 10% and eggs are roughly 20% more expensive.

Again, instead of giving you the prices of each item we’ll have the same old complete shopping list as last year with the very same items and quantities. If an item is not available, that’s the shop’s problem, we wouldn’t go there anymore. We also only pay full prices and don’t go for special offers. Here’s our shopping list consisting of ten basic food items: Read more

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January 23, 2009 | Filed Under Business & Economics, Food & Drink, Money & Shopping | 2 Comments 

Lieutenant Sunisa Causes A Stir

Been there, heard that. Or you don’t remember Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, a low-ranking officer who again causes quite a stir within the Thai army? That ambassador of Thaksin? That’s right, now you remember her name.

The lieutenant is the author of the book “Thaksin Where Are You?” – a book about an interview in London, or better: an amateur writer’s relentless search for her banished idol. As an army officer! But she didn’t get intimidated by any uniform.

Her book and the book “Lydia Here I Am” written by R&B queen Sarunrat “Lydia” Visutthithada kept the former prime minister in the limelight in late 2007 – read our story from back then, Thaksin’s Public Lover(s). Now Lieutenant “Awol” is in trouble again:

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January 20, 2009 | Filed Under Politics, The Thai Mind | 1 Comment 

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