The ";"
click a letter to go
to the page with entries beginning with that letter.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X-Y-Z
|
The ";"
click a letter to go A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X-Y-Z |
Click
here for Search for: Please visit
| "The Rounds" Friday, December 19, 2003
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This my final column before the Christmas-New Year holiday period begins, so I want to extend Seasons' Greetings to all of you and your loved ones. I hope 2003 ends for everyone on an upbeat, positive note in both your personal and professional lives. Let me thank all of you who have read "The Rounds" and other parts of BangkokAtoZ.com over this past year; your patronage is deeply appreciated. * * * * * * * * * * "Beast of
Baghdad" Saddam Hussein In a stunning move, Kurdish and U.S. forces operating in Tikrit, the stronghold of Saddam Hussein, captured the wily deposed Iraqi leader Sunday. Phone switchboards lit up and televisions went on or were changed to news channels around the world as international news organizations such as CNN and BBC interrupted their regular broadcasts with the announcement Sunday evening between 6:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. [Bangkok time]. The Iraqi interim government made the first official announcement, though the British and the Americans, the two major coalition partners, were more circumspect. British Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped forward next, confirming the earlier Iraqi announcement. The White House weighed in last, adding U.S. confirmation. Despite the well-known fact Saddam had numerous doubles during his reign of terror, news reports indicate DNA testing proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that the man captured is indeed Saddam. It is being said Saddam will be tried as a war criminal in an Iraqi court, though if that is confirmed, I haven't heard it yet. During his years in power, Saddam was careful not to let anyone else get too powerful or become too much an icon, so has to make sure his own power wasn't threatened. It may be, I would imagine, that after he fell that remained the case -- suggesting there may be no one around whom Saddam loyalists can gather to carry on their self-serving fight against the "infidels," as they are fond of calling any and everyone who disagrees with their selfish (not to mention barbaric) aims. It also is conceivable that some foot soldiers in Saddam's ranks may have been serving out of fear, pure and simple -- and now may flee. Just remember pre-war broadcasts of huge, cheering crowds when Saddam would appear in public, then contrast those with the scenes broadcast when the Allies took control of Baghdad -- most famously, Iraqis, with the assistance of a U.S. tank recovery crew and their machine, toppling a huge statue of the dreaded dictator and the Iraqis attacking the fallen statue. One assumes that at least a few of them were among the very ones in earlier broadcasts cheering themselves hoarse. But make no mistake: some pro-Saddamists will be hardened by Saddam's capture, so the fight is far from over. The capture will no doubt have a significant initial impact on British and American public opinion, in particular. From the perspectives of Number 10 Downing Street and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, that impact will be hugely welcomed. Yet the two nations' leaders will be well-advised never to forget that opinion can swing the opposite direction in a heartbeat, especially if some stunning incident occurs, especially in Iraq itself. They also will be well-advised to consider just how little stomach their electorates have for war -- Americans infamously always seem to want a casualty-free and glorious war. Celebrate we should . . . soberly. [Written Monday, December 15, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Christmas Feast
and Book-Signing by "Big" George wants all to know that for the price of a drink you can get a Christmas feast at 3:00 P.M. Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th. George's Thanksgiving spread was extremely well attended; he served over 90 Thanksgiving meals -- the point being you better belly up to the bar early if you want to be sure to have a place to sit and to eat. The meal will feature turkey, gammon ham, dressing [stuffing], mashed potatoes with brown gravy, mixed vegetables, sweet potatoes, cornbread, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce. Maybe George's Christmas dinner isn't as extensive as some other eateries' around town -- but hey, the price is right! And from 2:30 P.M.-4:00 P.M. local-based American author Dean Barrett will be on hand with copies of his latest novel, Don Quixote in China: The Search for Peach Blossom Springs. Dean will have copies of some of his earlier works as well; all will be on offer at steeply discounted prices, and Dean will autograph them if you want. [Written Monday, December 15, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Shoot the
Elephants in Bangkok, Bangkok Province Governor Samak has said he wants to seek permission from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to instruct authorities to shoot any elephants found in Bangkok (presumably just Bangkok City, not the entire province, though this isn't clear from the news reports I read). In a country where elephants are revered, the Governor's suggestion is bound to stir considerable controversy. He once suggested seizing elephants for release in the wild, a suggestion that also stirred controversy because some people felt to release an elephant into the wild that had never lived in such a habitat would be at a complete loss. Governor Samak is always colorful and often controversial in his announcements. He also is a go-getter who suffers fools gladly, and one supposes any firestorm of criticism which his plan to shoot elephants will leave him unruffled. [Written Monday, December 15, 2003] Late News: News reports Tuesday, December 16th say the national government has apparently shot down Govenor Samak's request, instead indicating mahouts (elephant handlers) will be arrested and their elephants confiscated should they enter Bangkok (the city). [Written Wednesday, December 17, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Tourism Shows a Definite Increase Almost anyone in any tourism-related business must be beginning to crack a smile, as the numbers clearly are increasing, doing markedly so over the weekend just ended. I was particularly surprised at the strong numbers in Washington Square, Queen's Park Plaza, and Soi Cowboy (though the last to a lesser degree than the first 2) -- on a Sunday night! Fortuitously, the weather has turned splendid, with pleasant days and cool evenings. Now if the tourists will just remember to tell all their friends and relatives when they return to their homelands. . . . [Written Monday, December 15, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Humor about Saddam's Capture I just received a hilarious e-mail from Ken and Rattana Bower of San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. giving the top 10 questions asked by Saddam immediately following his capture. Here they are: 10. "Be honest; . . . have you ever seen a nicer spider hole than this?" 9. "Who's got a coat hanger -- this beard itches like a son of a bitch!" 8. "Anyone have a mint?" 7. "Is this about the illegal music downloads?" 6. "Am I going to be on 'Cops'?" 5. "Which describes me better right now -- 'haggard' or 'grizzled'?" 4. "How did you get past my impenetrable styrofoam brick?" 3. "Do I get the 25-million-dollar reward?" 2. "How's the war going?" 1. "Will you go easy on me if I tell you where Martha Stewart is hiding?" Ken and Rattana have an excellent web site, a large part of it devoted to Thailand. Have a look: http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/KenLat/ [Written Wednesday, December 17, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Update about Friend's Visa Woes It appears my friend who spent 13 days in a Thai prison recently over visa troubles must have been born under the luckiest of stars. As of midday yesterday he was set to go to the local immigration bureau to get a 1-year visa, then go to the local court to set a schedule for him to report to the court monthly. He did have to exit the country to get this process started, opting to go to the nearest border crossing, in his case the border between Aranyapathet, Thailand and Poi Pet, Cambodia. But the rest of us shouldn't count on such good fortune ourselves; had my friend not known someone with the money and connections to get him out of the deep hole he had dug for himself, he'd still either be in prison or already deported from the country, perhaps with the cloud of a persona non grata designation marring his passport (not to mention his record with immigration authorities here in Thailand). It's just not worth the risk to overstay, at least not substantially overstay. Thai immigration officers are notably kind about short overstays -- a few days, say -- but their attitudes normally harden dramatically as one's overstay gets longer; a friend who is a police senior sergeant major and has spent most of his career in Immigration told me a few months ago that the 91st day is the "magic" one, i.e., the one the unwritten guideline comes into effect and can result in the violator's arrest, imprisonment and fining, and deportation. Of course, other factors can have an influence, such as was the case with a Westerner critically injured in a traffic accident a few years ago. He was in a coma for months, until well beyond his visa, but when friends got a letter from the hospital explaining the situation and took it to the Immigration Bureau here in Bangkok (along with his passport) before his visa expired, the authorities granted an open-ended extension and stamped it into his passport, with the reasonable requirement he exit the Kingdom at the earliest practical date. On the other hand, foreigners guilty of other violations of the law can find themselves in serious trouble over even a short overstay. One obvious caution that an amazing number of people tend to forget is never be rude to an immigration officer. Most people believe a visa grants the holder the inalienable right to enter another country, but that's not correct. A visa allows the holder to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry in the foreign country that issued the visa, at which time the immigration officer will make the final decision whether or not to allow the holder actually to enter the country. Another caution people need to remember is that we foreigners do NOT have any "rights" in a foreign country other than those that country chooses to grant us and those it is obliged to extend under international treaty and convention. I cringe when crossing a frontier and I hear a foreigner loudly insisting "I know my rights!" [We Americans are particularly infamous for this, I'm sorry to say.] Respect and courtesy go a long way towards smoothing the way. Some years back I had the misfortune of being unable to exit until the 88th day after my visa expired. When I reported to the Immigration Bureau at Don Muang Airport here in Bangkok, I had the fine money already in an envelope. I handed my passport to the officer, who looked at it, then glanced at his calendar and calculated how many days I had overstayed. "Do you realize you've overstayed 88 days?" he asked me, rather balefully. "Yes, Sir," I replied. "Do you know you have to pay 8,800 baht as a fine for your overstay?" he asked (the fine was 100 baht per day back then, not the current 200 baht per day). I handed him the envelope and told him the money was in it. He opened it and counted the money, then asked if I planned ever to return to Thailand. I explained I was en route to Penang to get the required visa to take up a teaching post at a university here in Bangkok, and hoped to be allowed to fly back in 2 days. Then he asked me why I had overstayed, and I told him the simple truth: I didn't have enough money even to go to the Cambodian border until just the day before, when I had bought a round-trip ticket to Penang. He smiled, shook his head, saying, "You crazy Americans! I won't see you when you come back in -- but welcome back to Thailand anyway!" In short, I made no excuses, spoke respectfully, paid my fine without argument or hesitation, and generally indicated I was well aware I was very much at his mercy. Given the recent crackdown, I don't plan to put the goodwill of Immigration Bureau officials to the test any time soon, though -- and advise no one to do so. [Written Wednesday, December 17th, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Mojo's Update Mojo's (Sukhumvit Soi 33) part-owner Robb told me last night he is expecting to get the bar's full licenses in about a week, licenses that will make it legal for the bar to remain open until 2:00 A.M. and to feature a live band. I wrote about Mojo's recently, and my endorsement stands. I've been back a couple of times since then, and find it to be a very pleasant place; I especially like the attentive but very low-key service. [Written Wednesday, December 17, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Sukhumvit Soi 33 Update Construction continues apace at the 3-storey buiding being erected on the west side of Soi 33, where street intelligence has it there will be at least 7 or 8 new bars being opened (though this is still not confirmed). Opposite that building, I noticed just yesterday evening 2 adjoining shophouses that used to be private residences have been gutted, for what purpose I don't know. At the rate bars have gone into the soi over recent years, I won't be surprised if one or the other or both end up housing a bar. On the sub-soi featuring The Office Bar & Grill, Mojo's, and a Korean restaurant, there are 3 multi-storey shophouses adjoining Mojo's, all of them for sale or lease, so maybe one or more will end up having a bar or restaurant. When I first stumbled into Soi 33 in mid-1994, there were only about 8 bars and 3 restaurants (excluding Novotel). Now there are about 4 times as many -- an average increase of over 2 new establishments a year. It's a bit odd to see such disparate places cheek-and-jowl, some catering to Westerners, others to Japanese and Koreans. Further, the Western and Japanese/Korean places are largely aimed at businessmen, but some of the restaurants target families. Soi 33 used to be one of the most expensive venues, overall, in Bangkok, but that is changing as prices soar in Patpong, Soi Thaniya (the "Japanese Patpong" a block north of Patpong 2), Soi Zero, Nana Plaza/Sukhumvit Soi 4, Soi Cowboy, and Queen's Park Plaza/Sukhumvit Soi 22; drink prices in those venues approach or equal the non-Happy Hour prices in Soi 33, making the famous "Dead Painter" Soi bars more attractive than the used to be. Only Washington Square bars remain relatively cheap, at least in central Bangkok. Bar fines are a touchy subject, one many people would prefer to ignore or to pretend not to exist, but the fact is, they do. In that area, many of the other venues remain cheaper than Sukhumvit Soi 33, where bar fines range up to 1500 baht, compared with a peak, for example, of around 600 baht in the Nana Plaza area, and 500 baht in the Queen's Park Plaza/Sukhumvit Soi 22/Washington Square area. In any case, anyone looking for a drink in a nice, subdued hostess bar won't go wrong in Soi 33. [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Another New Bar Set to Open on Sukhumvit Soi 33 A Thai friend told me just last night (Thursday) that a new bar called "The Green House" will open tonight in a sub-soi running off the right side of Sukhumvit Soi 33 as one goes up Soi 33 from Sukhumvit Road. My friend didn't know much about the format, etc. of the bar, but we're going there tonight, so I'll report on it next time. For anyone who wants to visit now, go to the sub-soi running alongside Wall Street Bar; The Green House is on the right down towards The Blue Bar-B-Q Bar. [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * More Sad News About Squaronians Thursday afternoon proved to be one of those times I wish news wouldn't come in. In the span of just 3 hours, I got reports of 2 recent Squaronian deaths. Rod Davis, a free-lance journalist who lived at Bourbon Street Boutique Hotel for years, was reported to have passed away down in Malaysia December 14th. The person telling me had received an e-mail from Rod's staffers in Malaysia -- Rod had a company with offices here and in Malaysia -- saying Rod had developed a lung infection requiring surgery and that complications from the surgery led to his death. Although I knew Rod -- often called "Ron," even by foreigners, because the girls around the Square always addressed him by that name -- for a number of years, I didn't know him very well. But within the context I did know him, I really liked him and was always pleased to see him. About 3 hours later, I was in Wild Country Bar when one of the other patrons received a telephone call from a mutual friend of ours; the mutual friend said he had just had a call himself reporting the accidental death of the ironically-named Tom Jones, who originally hailed from Wales but lived in Vietnam. I met Tom only few times, and really didn't know him, though he would come to Thailand fairly regularly, centering much of his social activity at The Prince of Wales. The report is that Tom slipped in the bathroom and hit his head, resulting in a fatal head injury. Someone took him to hospital right away, but apparently he was dead-on-arrival. Both Rod and Tom are said to have been in their 50's. I want to stress that while my sources of these reports have always been reliable, I got the reports third-hand, at best, so cannot confirm them. When and if I do get positive confirmation, I'll pass it along. Rod and Tom, may you both rest in peace. [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Expat Association of Thailand News With the end of the year holidays nearing, the Association will not be meeting for the next 3 Sundays, other than to have a Board meeting with the president and me on the first Sunday in January to plan our next step. Growth has stalled, to a degree, but that was something I expected as we approached the American Thanksgiving holiday late last month. It's clear we won't meet our hoped-for deadline of the end of this year to have the Association formally registered with the Thai government, but since that was a self-set goal, we don't really mind -- there are no legal implications we need worry about. Some people profess they remain somewhat confused about the Association's purpose. At the most basic level, that purpose is to bring together foreigners and Thais so they can exchange information and provide assistance to each other and to the community at large. For example, perhaps a foreigner has particular knowledge about Thais getting visas for his (or her) country and can share that information with our Thai friends. Similarly, a Thai person may know how to obtain a driver's license and let us foreigners know how to go about doing that. We continue to hope to be able to offer group health insurance, a discount card accepted by merchants, free or low-cost classes, and the like. There are varying opinions regarding what, if any, role we should fill in providing charity, so that remains to be decided. In any case, once we have the meeting of the Board we will take up the task of completing registration so we can have formal status, which should solidify our standing dramatically. [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Thai International Quality Suffering I had occasion to do a turn-around flight to Vientiane, Laos yesterday, and elected to fly on Thai International. I flown on this flight a number of times and always found it satisfactory, especially the schedule; the plane departs Bangkok at 8:15 A.M., arrives in Vientiane 55 minutes later, sits on the ground there about an hour, then departs to return here at 10:30 A.M. Yesterday, however, was another story. The plane was 25 minutes late departing -- and no explanation was ever even attempted. But the return flight wasn't delayed. In the event, we made up a little of the lost time in flight, so I had about 35 minutes to disembark, get a visa-on-arrival for Laos, check through passport control and customs, get to the Thai counter to get a seat assignment, go pay the passenger tax, go through passport control and security, then make a rather mad dash to the plane -- passengers were already embarking. When I got a seat assignment, I asked the lady for a seat as far forward in the plane as possible, and was surprised when she assigned me to seat 66B -- nearly at the very rear of the aircraft. I assumed the flight must be fully booked, so imagine my chagrin when I boarded and sat down, and proceeded to count 21 aisle seats empty further forward than my seat -- and those were just in the rear cabin. (I always ask for an aisle seat, as I don't mind passengers climbing over me, but don't like to do so myself.) The forward economy cabin also had numerous empty seats. In fact, the flight was less than half full, so I can't imagine why the lady at the counter assigned me a seat so different than the type I had requested -- I guess I should be thankful she did at least give me an aisle seat. Landing was another minor irritant. For unknown reasons, when one flies on Thai's Vientiane flight, the jet departs from a pier in Terminal 1, but when it returns, it stops on the tarmac on the south side of Terminal 2 and passengers are taken by bus to an entrance into Terminal 2. Given just about all airlines' habit of listing take-off time as being when the plane first begins to move (ignoring the anywhere up to 15 or 20 minutes it can take to taxi and then actually get airborne) but listing the landing time as when the wheels first touch down (ignoring the roll-out, taxing to the terminal or parking space -- in the latter case then having to be transported to the terminal), it's irksome the plane isn't pulled directly to a pier. I noticed numerous empty piers as I walked along towards passport control and mentally shook my head. Another point about this flight in general is that while it is a code-sharing flight with Lufthansa Airline and Laos Air, Thai doesn't like you to board their aircraft unless you are holding a ticket issued by Thai International. Some months ago I flew up late one afternoon on Laos Air, stayed 2 nights, then went the following morning to the airport in Vientiane to return on Thai International's 10:30 A.M. flight. I *finally* managed to do so, but only after lengthy discussion with several supervisors, all of whom insisted the flight was not a code-sharing one. At that point defeated, I left the supervisors' office to go back into town until the Laos Air flight that afternoon. But as I was walking across the concourse, I glanced at the Arrivals and Departures Board -- and *there* the flight was listed as a triple-code-sharing one with the 3 airlines I mentioned above. I went back to the office and finally got one of the supervisors to come out into the concourse with me (he really, really, really didn't want to do so) and look at the board. In an ill humor and with poorly-concealed ill grace, he took me to the counter to get a seat assignment -- but made me sign a form that since I wasn't booked on that flight I couldn't get a meal. Well, missing an airline meal is hardly a great tragedy, especially on so short a flight, so I readily signed just so I could get the heck gone. (On board, a steward offered me a meal. I explained what had happened and declined the meal, figuring he didn't know I wasn't entitled to one. He snorted and said something to the effect of "Never mind him -- we've got far too many meals that will just go to waste. You can have several, if you like! Why are those guys so rude to our passengers?" Good question.) Thai International used to deservedly enjoy a reputation of one of the world's finest airlines, particularly regarding it's on-time record and cabin service. Purely by coincidence, my very first flight to Asia on August 15, 1985, was on Thai International as far as Tokyo (where I was switched to Cathay Pacific for the last leg into Hongkong). In those days the airline served D/FW International, between Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, and the nearest international airport to my then-home. A friend and I were traveling together, excited by our first trip to Asia, where we were going to teach in a university in mainland China. And the Thai flight was spectacular in every way, getting us off on the right foot. The departure time was precisely that -- we roared forward down the runway at precisely the scheduled time. Once airborne, we found the cabin service to be superb, as was the food, believe it our not. And the food was served on what appeared to be genuine china. The landing times in Seattle and Tokyo were *not* when the wheels hit the tarmac -- but when we docked at the piers. We hadn't realized we would be routed on Cathay Pacific on into Hongkong, but that turned out okay, too; at the old Kai Tak Airport on the Kowloon Peninsula we were met by a lady, a uniformed chauffeur, and a gleaming Mercedes Benz. (We had bought a package deal through Thai's Royal Orchid Holidays.) Sadly, those days seem to be gone for good. . . . [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Some Smiling Thoughts . . . I just got a funny e-mail from a friend with some short, pithy thoughts that brought a smile to my face. My friend forwarded the following to me from some unknown (to me, anyway) source. I hope it brings smiles to all your faces, too! I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped on. I can't afford one so I'm wearing my garage door opener. You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway. I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans! I was thinking about old age and decided that it is when you still have > something on the ball but you are just too tired to bounce it. I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age and call it "Pumping Rust." I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease. . . . that's when your chest is falling into your drawers! You know when people see a cat's litter box, they always say, "Oh, have you got a cat?" Just once I wanted to say, "No, it's for company!" Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, "A Good Doctor!" Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do . . . write to these men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they deliver the mail? I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older then it dawned on me. . . . they're cramming for their finals. [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * U.S. Embassy to
Close for I received a notification by e-mail from the American Citizen Services section of the U.S. embassy here in Bangkok this morning informing me the embassy will be closed December 25-26 for Christmas and January 1-2 for New Year's. (This applies to U.S. embassies and consulates everywhere, as far as I know.) American citizens in need of assistance can telephone the ACS section directly at 02-205-4049 (24/7). You also can get current information at http://usa.or.th/embassy/acs.htm. [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Website Numbers' Contest Well, I didn't reach the hoped-for magic number of 100,000 visitors by midnight last night, but the average number of visitors to the site rose after I announced the contest a few weeks ago. With the holidays upon us, I've decided to wait until early next year to plan a new, longer-running contest. I am grateful to all of you who did visit and who passed the site's URL along to family, friends, and colleagues. At midnight last night, a total of 85,773 people had visited at least 1 page of BangkokAtoZ.com over the past 2 years, an average of 42,886.5 for each of the 2 years, or a little over 117 per day. But the average over the past few months has steadily been climbing, and the average daily number since the first of the year is running at nearly 130. Just this past week I discovered that through some glitch, many pages have lost their counters, which means visitors to those pages weren't counted. I've been working on putting a counter on each affected page, and so far have added one to exactly 100 pages. I still have several hundred pages to check, though, so it's going to take me awhile to work this all out, at which point I'll be able to develop a clearer picture of the numbers of visitors to the site, their approximate geographic location, etc. (though no personal data at all, of course, which I don't want anyway). [Written Friday, December 19, 2003] * * * * * * * * * * Trink Still Around with His "Nite Owl" Column Bernard Trink's "Nite Owl" column appeared in today's edition of The Bangkok Post, presumably the next-to-last time it will run, if the reports that next Friday's appearance will be the grand finalé for his decades of column-writing about the nightlife scene in Bangkok. Trink's last two columns, in particular, have gone some ways towards recapturing some of the quality the column used always to have a few years ago. Love him or hate him, his column has been popular; reportedly, at the newspaper's website Trink's column receives about 30,000 hits each Friday -- and who knows how many other people visit it on the days in the week following its initial appearance? Some Old Thai Hands say the paper's senior management is notorious for changing their minds at the last minute, especially when it comes to giving an employee the boot, so some people are wondering if they will really go through with the decision to axe the column. I still urge you to write the newspaper to voice your opinion -- pro or con: editor@bangkokpost.net [Written Friday, December 19,2003] * * * * * * * * * * The Nation Rushes into The Breech "The other paper" has moved to fill the gap that will be left after Trink's "Nite Owl" departs the scene. Today a friend called to my attention a new column called "Farang Affairs" in every Friday's edition, saying he thought today's was the 3rd such column to appear. In the column there is a note that it is edited by Phil MacDonald, whom I have never heard of. It's not clear to me if he only edits the writings of someone else, or himself does any of the writing. In any case, I was quite impressed with the column today -- it sure pulls no punches. It candidly discusses Trink's apparent pending departure. It also takes to task guys who go into a-go-go's, take of their shirts, and get up on stage to dance, giving them credit only for having "the courtesy to buy drinks at the bar in which they make dicks out of themselves" -- contrast to another group taken to task, cheapskate tourists, often noted for buying a bottle of beer at a grocery store than walking right into a bar. The column notes "It’s like bringing a packed lunch to a restaurant, ordering a glass of water and using the silverware." Pretty straight-forward, impressive stuff. You can see today's edition of "Farang Affairs" here. * * * * * * * * * * E-mail Change Notification Sign-up Sign-up here for e-mail notification when I add or change something on the site. Just go to the sign-up page. * * * * * * * * * * Where Is *Your* Name??? So you've been a slacker and still haven't signed up for the free BangkokAtoZ.com Updates Mailing List??? ;-) Well, get with the program and sign up right now to be notified via e-mail whenever we add something to the site -- that way, you don't even have to visit the Updates Page to see if there's anything new -- we'll let you know by e-mail. If you want to sign up, just go to the sign-up page. I'm pleased to say that more and more of you are signing up, and I urge all of you not to hesitate! * * * * * * * * * * Where is *Your* "Traveller's Tale"??? Got a "Traveler's Tale"? -- send me a line! Just send me a *query* note at MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com. * * * * * * * * * * Linking to BangkokAtoZ.com If anyone reading this has a website and would like to place a link there for BangkokAtoZ.com, you can copy-and-paste the banner and text link below into your site; they are live links to this site's homepage:
I'll appreciate an e-mail telling me the URL of where you placed it. If you want me to put a link on BangkokAtoZ.com for your site, do tell me where you have placed our link, and I'll give you a link in a comparable position, of the same nature (i.e., banner-for-banner, text-for-text). * * * * * * * * * * Enough for one go . . . Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
|
|
Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 by Kurt T. Francis, except as noted otherwise. Materials by Christopher G. Moore, Dean Barrett, Richard K. Diran, Sonia Pressman Fuentes, and Hardy Stockmann are copyrighted © by those respective authors. All rights reserved. Please see the Copyright Notice for further information. Click here for our Privacy Statement Please direct all inquiries to mekhongkurt at bangkokatoz.com |
