Archive for September, 2009
Phra Bill
It’s one of those strong Thai rituals to send the sons to the temple to become monks and if it’s only for a few weeks, being taught humility and renunciation. Even for an atheist and nihilist monks can be today’s true heros. Each morning, when driving my son to school, I meet this barefoot monk
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Gourmet Extravaganza, 10th Edition
Not for the faint-hearted purse, I already had to stomach quite some criticism last year because of my enjoyment of the culinary elitism at the Four Seasons Hotel’s 9th World Gourmet Festival. But no regrets whatsoever; especially from someone who usually appreciates the candor of street food. Others fly to Hong Kong or Singapore for
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Prostrate Thou Self
As satire, cynicism and sarcasm are hardly existent in Thailand, we have to find satire, cynicism and sarcasm in the real world. Which is actually not too difficult. Some real events here are to such an extent out of touch with common sense and what’s the norm elsewhere that they can only be understood as
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BKK Film Fest
If the following sounds like Spanish to you, you have to read on: “Double Take. Weirdness involving Hitchcock and the Cold War. World cinema fans are into A Prophet, Antichrist and 35 Shots of Rum. Independencia and Manila from the Philippines, Here from Singapore, The Forbidden Door from Indonesia, Agrarian Utopia from Thailand, Burma VJ
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CNNGo
Life in Asia is about to be enriched by CNNGo.com, a new local lifestyle and travel site from CNN. “A work still in progress,” as CNNGo’s Bangkok city editor Karla Cripps tells aB.com, is launching the Asia regional site covering the six city sites Bangkok, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo on September 28th,
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Girlfriend For Sale
Not much to add. This is a YouTube upload of “Girlfriend for Sale” filmed for Britain’s Channel 4. It’s been a while since it was on air in December 2007. But hell, while some get wiser and learn, some don’t – and are not less happy. It’s the same old story over and over again.
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I See Red When I See Yellow
Thailand’s so called new politicians standing for – for what exactly? – once again made it possible that the kingdom featured the headlines of CNN. Citizens hunting down citizens with batons, machetes and glowing metallic eyes. While red shirts were protesting peace- and cheerfully at a Bangkok rally despite torrential rains – it’s always pouring
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Culture Shock
You don’t have to be a stranger to face a culture shock. For most of you life is easy anyway. The color of your skin or depth of your pockets may buy you entry into any society. Being strangers in their own country, that’s the reality for millions of Thai people. The exception of the
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Life In Motion
Had a dream. Making a living with photography. All there would be is meeting, observing and capturing people and their moments. But reality sets in quickly. Have obligations, not enough talent anyway and – yes – no gear at the moment as I’m about to decide between a 5D II and an M9. The more
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Big Trouble In Tourist Thailand
Jet ski rental anyone in Phuket? Disco inferno?! Drug parties? Staged filming? Foreigners destroying the reputation of Thailand? You’re old enough to make up your own mind. Suddenly, Thai authorities are all over it. Even though the jet ski scam is well documented since years. From the U.K.’s Bravo. And don’t tell me I’m always
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