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"The Rounds" Monday, July 22, 2002
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * I know, I know -- it's been 17 days since I last sat down and wrote a column, but hey, SDis was here until the 15th (we parted in Hong Kong), and I stayed on through the 19th in Macau, arriving back in The Big Mango early Friday evening. And since then, it's been rest-up and goof-off time! * * * * * * * * * * Still haven't found out what's going on with Chatuchak Market, though I friend e-mailed me while I was in Beijing to say he had read a story somewhere about it maybe 2-3 weeks ago. Someone drop me a line if you have the scoop on it. MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com * * * * * * * * * * Was unable to attend the American Independence Day celebration myself at its new venue in the grounds of the Tobacco Monopoly, but everyone who did attend with whom I've spoken gave it high marks all the way around. One celebrant noted in particular the vocalist who sand "The Star-Spangled Banner." All said the grounds were GREAT, the entertainment excellent, and the fireworks display phenomenal. Hats off to the organizers. * * * * * * * * * * 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. * * * * * * * * * * Cowboy Jon has ridden off into the sunset, looking to spend more time with his lovely wife and just kick back his heels. I'm hoping he'll continue to contribute an occasional column, but that remains to be seen. * * * * * * * * * * A couple new bars to mention: one is The Starlite, in Queen's Park Plaza, owned, I gather, by the same people who own the B-52 Bar in the same building as The Regency Park Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 22; the other is the re-opened Suzie Wong on Soi Cowboy. I visited both over the weekend, and both are quite nice. The Starlite is a quiet place with a pool table -- great for chatting over drinks. Suzie Wong has been completely renovated, and looks great; it continues the former tradition of a-go-go. It *is* a bit pricey for the venue of Soi Cowboy, but I'm assuming the owner (who used to own Shadow Bar, also in Soi Cowboy, and owns Playskool in Nana Plaza) is trusting he can bring some of his faithful regulars over. I was surprised when I went in last night and found the place reasonably full. * * * * * * * * * * Still on the bar front, heard yesterday that The Doll House in Soi Cowboy is awaiting the paperwork ordering the place closed for 30 days. I haven't a clue what happened, but will try to find out. * * * * * * * * * * 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). * * * * * * * * * * Did you catch the story in Sunday's papers about the local doctor who got a 2-year suspended sentence for murdering his wife? The "interesting" part of the court's reasoning, as published in the English-language media, anyway, is that part of the reason for the mild sentence is in that having murdered his wife, the doctor is now deprived of the companionship of one he loved. A-MAZ-ing Thailand, indeed! * * * * * * * * * * 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. The owners are also in the process of setting up their own stand-alone web site, as I hear it (not from the owners themselves yet, however). Drop me a line. * * * * * * * * * * 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!) * * * * * * * * * * The final phase of my Sister's First-Ever Grand Asian Experience went most excellently. We flew to Hongkong, arriving in the evening, then leaving the next morning for Beijing, where we spent 4 nights. Sis was duly impressed with Tiananmen Square -- at 800 meters long by 500 meters wide, the largest square in the world -- and The Forbidden City. We saw Tiananmen Square at night, so it was pleasant then, but the day we went to the Forbidden City it was hotter than blue blazes, and I really did get concerned about Sis, who, like me, doesn't "do" heat well. When we went to The temple Of Heaven -- in my view one of the most fabulous structures on the planet -- it was plenty warm, but overcast. We chose a good day to go to The Great Wall; the paper reported that in small parts of Beijing that day temperatures climbed to an astounding 54.9 degrees Celsius/130.8 degrees Farenheit! It was cloudy that day, too, but warm, even out in the mountains away from Beijing. Then we flew back to Hongkong, where we had, really, only one full day. But local friends of mine, a family there, took us to Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, and Victoria Peak. If you've never been to "The Peak" -- as it is called, simply -- you're missing the experience of one of the world's greatest views. The panorama of Victoria Harbor, with the Kowloon Peninsula beyond it, and the mountains of the mainland in the far distance, is simply breath-takingly beautiful. So are views in other directions, as well. After seeing Sis off at the Hongkong Airport, I trotted back over to Macau. I find it amazing so few people have ever bothered to go there, especially people who lived in Hongkong for donkey years and never once took the hour-long boat ride west along the mainland coast to the enclave. It was pleasing to run into an old friend on the street, with whom I had lost contact, as I had his entire family. Anyway, that was my last afternoon in Macau, but I got to spend the evening with the entire clan. Great time. * * * * * * * * * * Been surprised at the strengthening of the baht, and somewhat confused. Of course, being no economist, when it comes to such matters I guess it follows I'll be confused. But I can't see anything intuitively logical about the currency here strengthening so much against the U.S. dollar, even given the market problems plaguing the States right now. * * * * * * * * * * Saw one of the owners of Paradise Bar (Phuket) this morning in Washington Square, and he told me the 20-year lease on the property is finally ending New Year's Eve, when he and his partner have a huge bash planned. I haven't ever been down there, but a lot of folks I know have, and they've always spoken very highly of the place. It'll be an institution gone when it shuts its doors for the final time. * * * * * * * * * * Got 2 religious holidays back-to-back this week, Asanha Bucha Day Wednesday, July 24th and Kao Phansa Day Thursday, July 25th. I understand that venues will be closed both days, so better stock up good and proper Tuesday night! * * * * * * * * * * 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 |
