Archive for the 'History' Category
Of Rankings, Mediocrity & Quality Of Life
Well, there’s always an exception that proves the rule. According to a recent poll Bangkok was voted the no. 1 most attractive city in Asia. Thai media hailed the headline. But the poll was conducted in Bangkok, among 500 foreign tourists. As if 500 interviewed tourists in Tokyo would have chosen Bangkok. That’s not what
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Before America Came, Thailand Was Pure
It’s an often heard charge and foreigners swinging into Bangkok keep on blaming themselves to this day, at least some: Since the mid-1960′s, when U.S. soldiers arrived from Nam for serious R&R, Thai officials keep lamenting the decline in morality. American soldiers had a good time in Bangkok, business for massage parlors was booming –
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Thaksin Day Horoscope
Not much to add. He’s splashed all over the headlines this July 26th. What shall we say. Happy birthday? Many told you so. Man forges his own destiny. Or you’re not blaming yourself a tittle for being apart from your family and friends and country? Here’s some more help to understand. The grand, unbiased Thaksin
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Bangkok In Ten Years Time
I don’t want to sound patronizing, but I think that many of the problems this city and country have stem from the desire to remain insular. To keep the place separate. In fear of being compared to societies that are more scrutable. Most of these behaviors stem from fear and protectionism. Which leads us to
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Siam’s Old Cinema Splendor
Remember going to the movies as a child at that big old theater in the heart of town, the one with the marquee that was the length of the building and twinkling lights all over the facade? Can you recall the excitement you experienced when entering that ornate lobby, the sort that would be too
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Yellow & Red As Political Weapons
We received an exclusive paper by renowned Thailand historian B. J. Terwiel on the current Thai strife of colors. The original is a small book in size. So here’s an abstract with Terwiel’s four main points: 1) Background on Thailand’s Tangled Political Situation; 2) Parallels in the Past (does Sarit ring a bell?); the 3)
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