Seizures Of A Yes Yes Culture

Following video was kind of orphaned for some time in our BKK Vids section. It’s worth a very close look though. It deserves an own post. Watch it. Study it. Decode it.

Who’s the actress? No clue. The video was shot by Maurice Spees, a Dutch filmmaker based in Thailand, at a street performance in Bangkok. Capturing pure Thai depth psychology.

The performance “was suddenly interrupted by this woman stealing the show,” says Maurice. “Nobody knew who she was, but she was to good to chase away.” What she’s telling us?

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September 29, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, The Thai Mind | 17 Comments

PAD’s Progressive Sexism: Carry A Condom? Bad Bad Girl

Sexist logic of our “progressive” PAD movement? The protest site at Govt House is not only off limits to sex workers, we’re told. If you haven’t heard the accusation yet: Government House was “full of used condoms because many protesters were using the site as their sexual playground.”

True or not: Proper women should never carry condoms around with them. If they do and associate with the PAD, expect some swiftboating. This related glorious Bangkok Post commentary is not only about the brave new sexist world under a PAD purism.

And we still don’t know what New Politics is really all about. Can assure you that much: New Politics will remain a flexible something adjustable at will - with the highest purity, proper morals and perfect ethics in mind. In men’s oppressive minds. New Politics and women’s rights?!

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September 25, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Society, The Thai Mind | 2 Comments

“People In The Dark” - PG-12 Film Too Hot For Thai Govt

It’s a classic Thai cerebral reaction. Don’t like something? Deny it, ignore it, away with it. Why tackle the root causes. Out of sight, out of mind. By not mentioning a problem you can make it – yes – disappear. The forbidden and denied though are more intriguing. Which is why the Thai powers that be just shot themselves once again in the foot.

As back then, after Thailand’s Youtube-ban, when only more of those slanderous videos turned up. Now everybody wants to see „Children in the Dark,“ a Thai-Japanese film invited to the Bangkok Int’l Film Festival 2008. The film was canceled at the last minute with no given reason. A film rated PG-12 in Japan. Requiring “Parental Guidance.”

Banning a movie rated for children older than twelve. Too tough for Thailand’s authorities - the ministry of tourism in this case, official sponsor of the film fest. Censors’ reason being: The film features the social problem of trafficking in Thai children, buying of internal organs, children who encounter injury and violence and have to deal with pedophiles.

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September 24, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, The Thai Mind | 10 Comments

Tidbits: The Protester, The Reputation, The Drama Queens - & Degenerated Patpong Ping Pong Balls

Tells me my wife - yes, she was on the streets back in 2006 wearing the yellow headband: “The protesters, you know, the PAD is a blessing for them. Look, they get free food and entertainment. They’re mostly the unemployed - we average people have to work.” Thailand’s reputation meanwhile?

Hijacked democracy, rule of the instinct and desire, paradise gone wrong, a not yet completely failed state, tit-for-tat justice, the strengthening of Thaksin, land of the smiling police and won’t-hurt-you-soldier, a postmodern Greek tragedy with that unmeant knack for the tragicomic - and Patpong ping poll balls symbolizing democracy finally. Yes, just read on.

The drama queens at last. Calling black white, daring to reinvent centuries of sociopolitical development, proving the power of misbelief while disproving the proven, masters of the transvaluation of values - Friedrich Nietzsche would have gone green with envy listening to Sondhi, Chamlong & Co.

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September 20, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Politics, Seriously, not ..., The Thai Mind, Tidbits | 11 Comments

Pink Planet: Tom-Spotting In Bangkok

The amazing Thai butch-femme. Nobody in Bangkok uses the L-word. Even though there’s a sturdily active lesbian scene. Toms are highly visible, reports says Julia Steinecke, who recently brought us the Bangkok - Fantasy Land for Gay Tourists.

Toms are highly visible and Dees (short for bisexual or straight ladies) can find them in any public place and approach them. Which they do enthusiastically, we’re about to learn. And guess what: Bangkok’s Toms and Dees, it seems, have some lusty ancestors.

Toms are even a better kind of man: Her Tom’s not as selfish as a man, says a Dee. Whatever she wants, her Tom’s just buying it for her. Want a Tom? Well, maybe the young Toms who tease up their hair and bind their breasts are going a little too far for your taste.

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September 15, 2008 | Filed Under Bangkok Sirens, Nightlife, The Thai Mind, Travel & Tourism, Truly Bangkok | 3 Comments

Thai Values, Status & Reform Politics

A question that hasn’t been fully answered yet: What role do Thai values play in Thailand’s current political and social turmoil. To understand a people, you have to understand the people’s values. A consequence thereof: How could you apply a Western idea such as democracy by not addressing a society’s own values. How to deal with an inclination to authoritarianism?

Values change. Some don’t. The basic values determining a society grown over generations only adapt marginally, such as religious values. Stumbled across an interesting article that may explain a thing or two - why some politicians are suddenly that “risk loving” and why the charter and rule of law remain inadequate. Or do Thai people like planning and organization? Order and discipline?

The following summary of Thai values was translated from several studies on Thai society - references see below*. The list is three decades old. Have some values outlived themselves? Interesting to note that the monarchy is not referred to back then. The list, compiled by a missionary church, served as a reference for the “Christian communicator,” that is, as a field manual for the outsider.

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September 12, 2008 | Filed Under Being Farang, Society, The Thai Mind | 1 Comment

Meet Chuwit Kamolvisit, Brothel King Turned Bangkok Governor?

Meet Chuwit Kamolvisit, self-declared guard dog of the people and adversary of Thailand’s political establishment. Khun Chuwit recently welcomed absolutely Bangkok at his beautiful Thai villa at the back of „Chuwit Garden“ down Sukhumvit Soi 10. „Each square meter of this park cost me one million baht,“ Chuwit grumbled proudly. „And it’s free, open to anyone …“

Chuwit runs for Bangkok governor at the upcoming election. He runs as an independent. The campaign office is set outside, on the covered veranda of his classy teak garden villa. It’s hot, everybody’s sweating. Chuwit keeps his cool. His eyes wandering around when talking. Only looking straight into the interviewer’s eyes when the question demands some harsher answer.

And there he went on, explaining the white, black and gray people, why former interior minister Purachai goes go to sleep at 9 o’clock, why humans who don’t need sex are not normal and why he sees himself above political parties, trying to strike a balance “between the yellows and the reds.” Chuwit explains that under the Thai Buddhist religion there is no love. All there is is serenity. No love, Chuwit concludes, in Thai society.

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September 8, 2008 | Filed Under Nightlife, Politics, Society, The Interview, The Thai Mind, Truly Bangkok | 10 Comments

PAD A Cult?!

I’m all but a Samak-skeptic, but in today’s weekly “Talk Samak Style” program on NBT the premier raised a topic I’ve blogged on several times over the past days: Samak compared the People’s Alliance for Democracy to a cult.

Samak compared the PAD to the Branch Davidian cult in Waco Texas and a cult in Japan whose members were deceived to commit suicides - using its ASTV to launch its propaganda to deceive the people, reported The Nation.

He’s not too off the mark, even though any educated PAD adherer fighting for purely secular issues will laugh off the comparison. The PAD consists of a great many commendable thinkers and independent persons. But has already crossed an important threshold.

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September 7, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Society, The Thai Mind | 7 Comments

Black & White Kingdom

Black and white, at the ends of the visible light spectrum, are not really colors. Even less in Thailand. The kingdom’s like a motley bouquet of wild and unique flowers. But in these days of the “people’s revolution,” black and white are new colors of choice.

People start wearing black and white - to show they’re neutral. Black and white as a symbol of being fed up with this side and tired of that side. Even over at the fresh markets, you’ll see more black and more white.

After embattled Prime Minister Samak’s Thursday morning monologue to the nation dedicated to the theme “Don’t even think I’m going to quit,” black and white may become even more prominent. “The country needs a leader”, he said, “and the world is watching us.”

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September 4, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Society, The Thai Mind | 3 Comments