Archive for August, 2009
Sodom & Gomorrah
Here’s a little photo report of Jatujak, of the there caged and tied down animals’ Sodom & Gomorrah. There’s hardly anything you can’t find at Jatujak. And no pet that isn’t for sale, be it dogs, cats, birds, fishes, scorpions, turtles, spiders, snakes, etc. In apocalyptic conditions that is. It’s heartbreaking to stroll along Jatujak’s
Read more…
Supinya Klangnarong, Graceful Voice Of Freedom
She’s not only a media rights advocate. She’s charmingly attractive, highly intelligent, a true Thai power woman – and many people’s hero, against her will: Supinya Klangnarong, who rose to fame when she got sued by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s family empire Shin. A hero against her will because there lies a beautiful irony
Read more…
Thailand Executes Drug Traffickers
Not much to add. They execute, and neither will drugs nor addicts disappear. Or does the embattled Thai government try to show some sort of determination? For once the law is followed. Fact is: Two Thai drug traffickers on death row received lethal injections on the evening of August 24th, at Bangkok’s Bang Kwang high
Read more…
Home Sweet Container
Dreaming of your own home in paradise? Your dream may come true. Thanks to ingenious Thai designer Chutayaves Sinthuphan of Site-Specific. Creator of small container homes that not only need hardly any land. Khun Chutayaves’ homes are small, mobile, minimalist, cheap – and best: fully functional and habitable. Just put some designer furniture in there
Read more…
TIME Archive & The Art Of Titillation
TIME Magazine’s online archive is a compelling treasure trove. The archive reaches back to – believe it or not – the year of 1924. That is, if you search for bangkok. Searching for thailand, the archive starts in April 1931. Because Thailand didn’t even exist yet back then? Covers are available back to 1923. My
Read more…
Harem Culture & Colonialism’s Dirty Little Secrets
It’s hard to agree on something in current Thailand. But there is one topic without controversy. Sex. With the words “something we can all agree on, sex,” he was recently introduced at the FCCT: Richard Bernstein, a former New York Times book critic and TIME correspondent in Hong Kong and Beijing. And author of The
Read more…
Bombed German
How much is enough. I mean the publishing of photos by the Thai press that you’d think would be better kept private. Of accident, crime, humiliating photos. A theme that reoccurs again and again among non-Thais here. The “leaking” of autopsy pics of Bangkok-dead actor David Carradine was just another such case. Now we have
Read more…
Trink Is Back
Well, partially back. Albeit I am not aware if he was ever really gone. But he’s not back with the old Bangkok milieu talk. His former employer the Bangkok Post brings the Trink book review of Harold Stephens‘ For the Love of Siam. History comes alive with Europeans trying to take over 17th century King
Read more…
Bangkokians Labor 45 Minutes For A Big Mac
Bangkok an expat dream destination? Depends on some factors. According to the research Prices & Earnings by Swiss bank UBS you have to work 45 minutes in Bangkok to be able to buy a Big Mac, that’s a few minutes more than the global average of 37 minutes. By contrast, workers earning the net wage
Read more…
Pasuk, Baker & Thaksin
Full house at the FCCT. To speak with the club’s announcer: “A book launch and a panel: Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker have revised their 2004 book on Thaksin. The new edition retains all the old chapters on his background, business, rise to power and rule, and adds four new chapters, conclusion and epilogue on
Read more…