Archive for February, 2009
The Thaksin Quest
A snippet in The Nation caught my eye: “Thai consul in Hong Kong instructed to check Thaksin’s whereabouts.” Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it. Kind of reminiscent of the good old Cold War thrillers. The Thai consul playing James Bond. “The Thai Consulate Office in Hong Kong will check into the whereabouts of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra
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Quirky Farang Suicides
Thailand never fails to amaze even during the sunniest of times. A uniquely Thai thing remains how farangs commit suicide in the kingdom. Take the Italian who recently succeeded in jumping from a bridge – supposedly with a rope around his neck – while the laws of physics separated his body from the head and
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Aseanmania
Not only do we have the probably most talkative prime minister on Earth – there’s no major newspaper and network left Abhisit Vejjajiva didn’t give an interview to yet. Abhisit talks and talks to all of them and you must wonder if he has any time left for work. And you come to think of
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Happy Harry
He has shocked many, saddened a few and warned others. Now Harry Nicolaides, a previously completely unknown author who rose to fame thanks to Thailand’s rigid laws on lèse majesté, is back home on Australian soil. With big career plans. A royal pardon was granted surprisingly fast to the man you could call slightly naive.
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Thailand In A Glass: Siam Sunrays, Cocktail & Savior
What a hard-to-understand place. First they try to prohibit all sorts of alcohol and related pleasures – even during Thailand’s most sanuk of all sanuk-festivals Songkran the sale of alcohol shall be prohibited -, and then the authorities launch a national cocktail to lure tourists to save the nation from the brink of the world’s
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Confessions Of A Farang Artist
Bangkok’s an easy and not an easy territory for artists. An oxymoron? Not at all. The local talent is inexhaustible – but getting recognized can be tougher than anywhere else. As art can awaken, criticize, judge. Thailand loves to promote showcase culture, such as traditional arts and whatever enhances the image of a chosen, pure
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The Thai Dilemma: Caught Between Extremes
Homeless. That’s a word that could describe the feeling of many in current Thai politics. Made homeless. Maybe you had respect for the Democrats. Maybe Mr. Square Face was your benefactor. It’s easy to feel let down by both, whatever your political leaning. In a place of political extremes, there’s no middle course left in
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Career Jump? It’s Franchise Show Time
If you’re one of those people beginning the morning in a largely lethargic manner not really knowing if you still like what you’re doing for a living, here’s a possible loophole how to get restarted: Open up a franchise business. As fate would have it the Business Opportunity Franchise & Better Shop Retail Show is
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The Privilege Of Being Double-Priced
See? I’m positive! A friend sent me a link the other day. In Hua Hin’s main forum HHAD they’re debating another kind of double-pricing for farangs. The double-pricing of more exclusive farangs. And I’m not swearing. Obviously some golf courses in the Hua Hin area are asking higher prices for tourists – and “official” green
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I Will (Have To) Start Thinking Positive!
Life in Thailand is still beautiful, despite her politics. Prices came down, beaches are still empty and the people remain a chosen one. And thank you dear readers who sent some emails – some supportive, some worrying, some inspiring. Consequence being, politics can indeed be a poisonous avoidable and I shall take a little better
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