Archive for March, 2009
Dr. Saul: Ratchada’s GNP Factor
It is our privilege to introduce columns by Dr. Saul Kruggerand, the renowned Ph.D. economist and native of South Africa, who will regularly share with us his wide research and hands-on experiences on Thai economic affairs. In his introductory column “Dr. Saul,” as he is affectionately called by his students, will analyze Bangkok’s Ratchada district
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Tired Of The Big 3? Try SubZeroSiam
You’re a regular poster in one of Thailand’s farang forums? The options are growing. Now that even the Bangkok Post offers a forum and The Nation has teamed up with ThaiVisa it’s that easy for everyone to have a say. Add TeakDoor – my personal favorite – and Ajarn … But how you will be
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No Humor Please, We’re Thai
One of the great wonders in the kingdom of Thailand is when you meet a local who understands satire, irony, sarcasm, cynicism – common ways of expression in the West. Thai humor is quite different to the one you come from. But who’s to blame. Look at the state the country is in, when nothing
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The Generals’ Democracy
Slowly but surely it’s getting uncomfortable again in Thailand. When the army’s shadowy Internal Security Operations Command Isoc has to explain villagers the nature of democracy it is as plain as the nose in your face that politicians do not really set a good example explaining what democracy is all about. Good luck to us
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Golfer Prayad’s From Nowhere To Riches
I’m not a golfer. Got a single club, a no. 7, somewhere. What can you do with a single club. I’m a kiter. But even as a anti-golfer, Thailand has a great PGA event with a promising Thai twist coming up. Hua Hin’s Black Mountain Golf Club from March 26th to 29th hosts the Black Mountain
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Suthep, Our Yes-Man’s No-Man
They’re a couple, the two, there is no other word. When there’s good or not too bad news to tell you’ll hear the words from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. If a guy for the tougher, more unpopular jobs is needed, you’ll most surely hear it from Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, a kind of Abhisit’s
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Playing God
Who doesn’t love them, internet forums. Posters often surpass paid editors and journalists by means of wit and spot-on analysis. Other posters though, enjoying the anonymity of being out there somewhere in cyberspace, simply drive you nuts. As Nietzsche famously said “Nothing is true, everything is permitted,” the internet allows the wackiest of wacky minds
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Thailand’s Waning Charms?
Does Thailand still work for you? It does for me. The food, the weather, the people you can’t resist. A yearly trip back home to see the family is important. But fewer and fewer friends left and ever new laws are enough to make me want to hop on the very next plane back to
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Atomic Thai Chili? Try Blair’s Reserve:
An insurance salesman in Bangkok once told me that most Thai health insurances exclude kidney diseases – as kidney ailments are a common disease among Thai people due to the spicy, salty food. Thai food takes pride in its hotness, said to be not only healthy, but good for your stamina and everything. But even
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Prohibition
Thailand’s proposed booze ban over Thailand’s booziest holiday of the year is another of those grand superficial initiatives serving a few’s ideological interest at the expense of freedom of choice, ignoring the simple fact that a grown up person should be quite able to think for oneself. A prohibition would be the political paternalism we’ve
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