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"The Rounds" Thursday,
September 19, 2002
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * Happy
Mid-Autumn Festival This festival is second only to the Chinese New Year (or "Lunar New Year") on the celebration calendar of Chinese the world over, wherever they call home and no matter how long they've been there. It always starts on occurs on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month; it also is called "The Harvest Moon Festival" (because this is when the Moon is its roundest and brightest). Though not a legal public holiday in Thailand, it is widely celebrated. (See the Calendar Link below for 2002.) Here are some interesting links for more information about this major Asian holiday: The Moon Festival In Montreal (includes a fascinating version of the legend of Chang Er, The Moon Goddess) The Hongkong Government Webpage about the Moon Festival VietnamTourism.com's Webpage about The Moon Festival in Vietnam The Moon Festival Webpage of The Chinese Cultural Center of San Francisco A Calendar of Major Legal Holidays Across Asia * * * * * * * * * * Decided it wasn't the time to write about touristy stuff last week, given that the first anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. fell within the week. Like a lot of folks all over the planet, I watched, remembered, and ached for the innocent. * * * * * * * * * * Finally have something concrete on the Clinton Plaza saga. The local press recently reported that Sofitel, a premier hotel property of the Accor Group, will be building on the site, with a scheduled opening date of sometime late in 2004. Just the other night I met and chatted with one of the bar owners there, who confirmed the story, adding that he was going to have to be out of his place within the next 2 or 3 months. More as this develops . . . . * * * * * * * * * * Tony's Bar in Soi Cowboy is up for sale. I'm not surprised, given its almost complete lack of customers every time I visited it over a good many months before its closing. Don't know any details other than that there is a sign on the door advertising it for sale, according to some of the Soi Cowboy locals. * * * * * * * * * * Visited Soi Cowboy's newest addition, Shark, an a-go-go next door to Pam's Bar. Like The Doll House just down the way, it is physically spectacular. A clever touch is that the name is actually in the pavement outside the door several times, at least it appears to be, either as embedded lights or perhaps as luminous paint. The only downside I could detect was the volume of the music, which was just this side of ear-splitting. A friend of mine has been there 2 nights in a row since my visit, the first night simply turning and walking right back out, mostly because of the blaringly loud music, a bit because there wasn't a single other customer. (The night of my visit there were maybe 3 customers besides me.) The second night he asked for the boss, and said he spoke with either the owner or the owner's son -- he wasn't sure -- and that the guy immediately had the volume lowered. It remains to be seen if it'll stick. This is something of a hobby horse with some of us who make the rounds, including me. I can understand louder music in an a-go-go than in an ordinary neighborhood pub sort of place, but even in an a-go-go, I don't like having literally to SHOUT my order, etc. As for the neighborhood bars, well, several of my regular (and otherwise favorite) stops in this category suffer the same affliction. With some of the owners and/or their employees, it seems there is virtually a genetic imperative when turning on the music to run the volume up right over the top. A number of resident foreigners here who would like to be patrons of various of these places have told me either that they've given up after repeated requests made to their friends -- the owners -- or that they have just avoided the place in question right from the get-go, not wanting the hassle of deafening music. Related to this are those places which have music playing (whether loud or normal) AND the television volume on at a comparable level -- simultaneously, making it literally impossible to understand or enjoy either the music or the television show. A variant of this equally irritating is the bar or restaurant where the workers are watching one of the inane Thai television game shows or soap operas which dominate the airways here, all glued to The Boob Tube, resentful of a patron's "rude" intrusion -- after all, maybe they'll miss the heroine getting swept off her feet by the hero, or miss watch the game winner scream and cry insanely. I don't mean to be an Old Scrooge about this. But noise etiquette is something definitely virtually unknown in this part of the world. If you don't believe me, go to just about any cinema or concert or live theater performance anywhere in Greater Asia and listen to all the wretched mobile phones chirping and the said telephones' owners shrieking down the line, making it impossible for those unfortunates nearby to enjoy whatever it is they have bought a ticket to come enjoy. Of course, one must hastily add, in fairness, that like as not those very same unfortunates themselves are armed with their very own mobile phones. (Pagers are becoming passé -- after all, one can't shriek into a pager!) Especially curious to me is that a surprisingly high number of the bar owners whose establishments have one or more of these unpleasantries are Westerners who wouldn't dream of allowing such were they operating their places back in their respective homelands. Sigh . . . * * * * * * * * * * Don't forget that I've added a place for you to sign up 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. * * * * * * * * * * Hit the Hotel Plaza Atheneé again a week ago, accompanied by 2 lovely lady companions, this time trying The Silk road Restaurant, the hotel's Chinese-cuisine eatery. as has been true every visit I've made, the setting was very pleasant, the service impeccable, the food both delicious and authentic. (Eight years of living in Greater China didn't go wasted on me in the culinary department -- I love Chinese food!) Broke down and bought a membership card for myself, the one giving me entrance at a discount to any eatery in the place plus extras such as a free night for 2 and some other freebies and discounted offers. The membership set me back 5,500 baht -- about US$130 -- for a year. However, given that with two diners, for example, the discount is a whopping 50%, it doesn't take that many visits just eating to get it back. And given the high rack rates for rooms, the freebie plus the deep discount get it back even sooner. Let me give you an idea of the service. We stopped back by Reflexions Lounge, the subject of my last report concerning the hotel. The Head Chef came out, greeted the 3 of us by name, inquired -- by name -- after the lady who had been with us on our visit there. Aom, one of my companions, was impressed enough to comment upon his excellent memory. He proceeded to point to the table where we had sat, correctly identifying where each of us had sat -- and noting that midway through the meal 2 of my companions of that evening traded places -- and which 2 they were. Just for grins, he added what each of us had ordered -- including the Thai dishes from the Thai restaurant down the hall 2 of the ladies had ordered -- not even from HIS kitchen. All 3 of us were agog by this point, a fact which he obviously noted and clearly relished, which must be why he went on to mention each of our current work or other situations and other personal details. And you know what? -- Had he been answering questions on an oral exam, he would have scored a cool 100%, no kidding; he erred not on any detail regarding any of us. It was one of the most impressive such performances I've ever witnessed. Now THAT'S "service" -- with a HUGE capital "S"! * * * * * * * * * * Today's newspapers are reporting that Ramkhamhaeng University has declared Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of the sitting Prime Minister, innocent of any intention to cheat in a political science examination during which he was found to have papers -- despite the fact university regulations forbid the possession of any papers during an exam. The basis of the "acquittal," so to speak, apparently is that the contents of the papers in question had no relation to the examination. However, the curious part is that although the investigating committee has officially declared Panthongtae Shinawatra innocent of any intention to cheat, the decision has been made that he will be failed in the one class and required to re-take it again "next year." In the first place, earlier media reports cited university regulations that any student caught with any papers in any exam would be failed in all that term's subjects and be barred from re-entry for 1 year -- but it's unclear what "next year" means in this case; one story report it means next academic year, but even that's unsure. In the second place, if he is indeed innocent, then on what grounds is the university justifying failing him in his political science class? Seems to me either the gentlman is innocent -- and thus should not be punished at all -- or he is guilty -- and thus should have the full book thrown at him. I suspect Panthongtae Shinawatra would have a case against the university in in places such as any Western democracy, Japan, and other such places. But the most stunning facet of this entire affair remains, as I commented on in my last column, the acting rector's assertions that academic cheating is "trivial" and her rhetorical question regarding how the university could punish a cheater. Myself a former junior member of "The Academy" -- as a university instructor in several places -- I find such contentions intellectually appalling and disgusting. You can check out a couple of today's local English-language reports at these links: * * * * * * * * * * Have any of you who either live here or have visited in recent months noticed the huge upsurge in popularity of pool? While before it was sometimes difficult to locate a place with even a single, threadbare pool table, now one can find them everywhere. Pool seems to have pretty much shot darts right down as the "in sport." Be prepared: some of the employees in places offering pool tables are downright excellent pool shots. I don't know about you, but it humbles me to have a 40-kilogram, 1.5-meter-tall bargirl who looks and sounds as if she's about 14 years old wax me -- and yes, that happens to me with far greater frequency than I want to talk about! * * * * * * * * * * If anyone reading this has a website and would like to place a link there for BangkokAtoZ.com, you can just copy-and-paste the banner below into your site; it's a live link to this site's homepage --
-- or, if you prefer a simple text link, use this hyperlink: BangkokAtoZ.com. 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). * * * * * * * * * * A non-event, really, but one so rare I can't resist commenting on it, is that in making my rounds last night I was uncomfortably cool in some places and downright cold in others -- without exception. True, it's the rainy season and thus cooler than in high summer, but I don't recall that ever happening to me -- not even in the cool season -- before here in Bangkok. Had occasion to ride in 2 taxis, and both drivers had their air-conditioners set to "FULL ARCTIC BLAST," or so it seemed to (shivering!) me. And I prefer cooler climes -- heck, in terms of climate, the nicest place I've ever lived for my tastes is Beijing, with its 5-6 month-long winters! [Don't ask me why I live in the tropics. That requires a nonexistent logical explanation. But I go with the local flow, a flow in which logic rarely, if ever, has any role whatsoever.] * * * * * * * * * * The bar I mentioned that's up for sale remains unsold; direct any serious enquiries to me at MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com. It's worth adding that the landlord of the venue is finally doing something to actually promote it, so this could be an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in going into a nice enclosed, air-conditioned bar-restaurant. Drop me a line. * * * * * * * * * * A friend arrived from the West Coast of the U.S. this week and was gloating that he got a round-trip ticket U.S.-Bangkok-U.S. for under US$600. While coming from anywhere else in North America off the west coasts of the U.S. and Canada remains relatively expensive because of the domestic flights involved, cheap deals are indeed to be had from the west coasts of the 2 countries. Sounds like a GREAT time for anyone in North America who would like to visit Thailand to do so -- while the coming's cheap! (I should charge the Tourism Authority of Thailand a FEE for saying that, shouldn't I? And how about the airlines? . . . and the Thailand Hotel Association? . . . and -- well, you get the picture of greed!) Seriously, by all means don't be put off by the fact this is the rainy season (unless you want to go elsewhere than around the Bangkok-Pattaya area). While we're having some rain most days, it isn't around the clock, and isn't heavy the great majority of the time -- I personally am enjoying the cool weather and the regularly-washed air (a big gift in polluted Bangkok!). I can personally guarantee you'll be welcomed with open arms anywhere you go -- I'm talking from the moment you climb into a vehicle at Don Muang International Airport (Bangkok International Airport) to come into town. The hotel will love you. The restaurants will love you. For those into shopping, the merchants and vendors will love you. Nightlife lovers will be welcomed in practically any of the capital's several thousand places, as is true down Pattaya-Jomtien way, from what I hear. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will love you. About the only folks who may *not* love you are those such as the gem scam artists you manage to avoid (if you have an ounce of sense, that is), taxi drivers who want to charge you 500 baht for a 35-baht ride, and so on; I'm assuming most of you won't lose any sleep over grief emanating from that crowd -- I won't, I don't, and I never will. THEY can all burn -- well . . . I don't want even to get STARTED on those so-and-so's. * * * * * * * * * * Will be adding a variant product line soon using some of the beautiful pictures my lady friends have graciously allowed me to use. Here's a sample:
The
Lovely Khun Aom I'll post a notice here and elsewhere on the site when those products are online. * * * * * * * * * * I'm still looking for contributions to our "Traveler's Tales" section, and welcome any submissions. Just send me a synopsis [*only*] at my e-mail address above. Even if you're not a writer, just about *everyone* has stories to tell -- they just often don't realize it. I know when I taught first- and second-year university nonfiction writing this was the case with most of my students, the majority of whom, with a little coaching (and coaxing!) came to realize they did inedded have something to say -- and that it was worth reading. So don't be shy -- this is YOUR chance to share your tales! (Preferably not TALL ones, though!) * * * * * * * * * * Enough for one go! * * * * * * * * * * Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
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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 |
