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"The Rounds" Thursday,
October 24, 2002
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * "The Key Of Desire" Don't forget the unveiling of the 2nd in Richard K. Diran's planned series of 7 paintings, one for each day of the week, the series overall now -- I've just learned from Richard -- is called "A Week of Seduction." "The Key of Desire," the 2nd painting in "A Week of Seduction" is for Wednesdays, and will receive its first public unveiling Saturday, November 2, 2002 between 2:30P.M. and 5:00 P.M. at New Square One Pub in Washington Square on Sukhumvit Soi 22. I got to see this new painting just 2 days ago, and find that I like it even better than the first one, "City of Dreadful Night." When one gets close enough to this second creation it's easy to see the extraordinary attention to detail paid by Diran in aspects such as the lady's hairline, where individual strands of hair are clearly visible. Richard's first art exhibition continues to excite comment, sometimes from surprising quarters; one really doesn't expect, for example, our friends who came up the hard side of things in oilfields in the Middle East and elsewhere to offer incisive, insightful commentary into discussion of the rarefied atmosphere of the visual arts -- but some of our friends from just such backgrounds have proven to be amongst the most perspective critics -- "critics" in the positive sense of the word. A few have already seen the 2nd painting too, and some have reacted as I did, liking it even more than they liked the first one. Remember: The first 10 people who approach me and correctly tell me the name of Diran's 2nd painting will receive a drink from me; the first one to name *both* his first and second paintings' names will receive 3 drinks from me. Finally, if anyone can correctly name BOTH paintings AND the week, he or she will likewise get 3 free drinks on me, an autographed 8"X10" color photograph of the second painting, AND his or her picture taken with Richard for inclusion in this column. So pay attention -- and drop by! [Please note: you have to approach me personally, immediately upon entering the bar, and tell me the name(s) EXACTLY to receive your drink(s); I won't be buying drinks because the girl told me, or because you talked to Richard 2 hours and got the name from him! And yes, I will be there until all 16 drinks are served!] See -- it *does* pay to go to stuff put on even by Earthy Squaronians! * * * * * * * * * * Apologies for the 2-day delay in getting this up. As much as I've learned about the Internet, I'm *still* learning -- and just now found out why I've been unable to upload the past couple of days: "operator trouble." * * * * * * * * * * With some regret I feel I need to withdraw my recommendation of the Saffron Restaurant on the 59th floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel on South Sathorn Road. I returned there this past Monday, and while I didn't get any hassle about coming only for a drink or for being a "party of one," I found the service to be ultra-slow, given that the place was nearly empty. Besides me, there was a party of 3 at one table, and a party of 4 at another table. The 3 were in my direct view, and left shortly after I arrived, but during the time they were there, they did not call for service -- so they weren't keeping the staff busy. The party of 4 was not in my direct view, but if they did use the services of a waiter or waitress, they sure were quiet about it. Anyway, because of my earlier experience, I decided to time how long it took to get a drink once I had ordered. The score? -- the first drink, *11* minutes, with the second a bit "speedier" at "only" 8 minutes. And my bill came to 552 baht (including VAT and the service charge), which while not out of line with a hotel outlet of that caliber *is* excessive given the tardy service. (That amount equals about US$12.65 at that day's exchange rate.) * * * * * * * * * * Thinking of money makes me remember that the baht has strengthened over the past several days, weighing in as of late yesterday at about 43.57 to the Yank dollar. I'll be surprised if it doesn't weaken to at least 50 to the US$ by, say, early spring, at least not if the knock-on effects arising from the Bali bombings everyone fears come to pass. * * * * * * * * * * And that reminds me to talk about those effects. Initially, they are proving good for Thailand. For instance, there was a newspaper story earlier this week that a Swedish tour operator was moving his Bali package to Phuket -- which involved re-routing an astonishing 80,000 travelers! A friend who lives down there told me that anyone who doesn't already have a room booked until after Christmas is plain sunk. And the fact that Australia has added the Philippines to its list of countries in which it advises Australians to be careful could lead one to think it will help Thailand. But long-term? Well, I don't know any more than anybody else, of course, but it seems likely to me that in the mid-term the ripple effects will be strong -- and bad. Why? -- because (in my forecast) Southeast Asia in particular will be lumped together and feared, at least amongst Western travelers, except our friends down in Australia and New Zealand, perhaps. After all, in many a Western mind just about everything from about the east end of the Mediterranean to the east coast of Japan is "The Mysterious Orient." And some people truncate distances. Let me give a light-hearted example of what I mean by that. When I was a kid and my parents, my sister, and I were traveling somewhere, Mom had a habit of getting out the road atlas, then studying it carefully, and finally looking up and saying to my Father, "Why, look here, Gary -- it's just about 2 inches to Chicago, and the kids have never seen it!" That the map scale might be "1 inch = 200 miles" didn't figure into the matter. (But Sis and I *did* get to see lots of places we wouldn't have, had matters been left to my Dad!) But translating this into the more somber context of the aftermath of Bali, I can easily see folks sitting around making their travel plans and saying, "Hmm -- Pattaya is in the same neighborhood as Bali; let's go to Orlando instead." I hope I'm entirely wrong, of course, and that instead there is some sort of critical mass reached in folks' exasperation and they take a stand, in essence saying "We're NOT going to let a bunch of cowardly terrorists rule our lives!" But I'm not going to hold my breath, either. * * * * * * * * * * It doesn't help here in Thailand that some government leaders have made public pronouncements at odds with logic -- and with statements coming from security and police sources, thus leaving a confusing image in people's minds. For example, Prime Minister Thaksin and General Chavalit have both tried to say that Thailand is completely safe and that it's impossible for any terrorist to launch an attack anywhere in the Kingdom. Well, that's patent nonsense, given the ease of making bombs and the like and given that this *is*, after all, a democracy in which people move about virtually completely freely, including foreigners. Luckily, directly concerned authorities have been widely reported to be taking major steps to boost security considerably, especially at popular tourist destinations such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya-Jomtien, and Chiang Mai. It also is being reported that security is being tightened around locations such as oil depots, threats against which have apparently been reported to appropriate Thai authorities by American intelligence services. I don't mean to say I fear peering out my door -- not at all. And I do believe the Thai authorities will do their very best to try to keep Thailand as safe as is humanly possible. As I've been saying since 9/11, I exercise prudence -- and get on about my business. But I remain considerably more alarmed at the prospect of a dog pack of katoeys cornering and robbing me, maybe hurting me in the process, than I am at the thought that I just *might* be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get blown up by a terrorist bomb. Well, yes -- of course that's mathematically possible, but come on -- how truly likely is it that any given person will be a victim? I reckon not much more likely than it is any given individual will be the next victim of a meteorite. Heck -- I throw my fate into the Hands of the Gods every time I cross Sukhumvit Road! * * * * * * * * * * We're hoping to be announcing a concert by the wonderful Marcus Sugg soon, though I've not heard any further about his travel plans since he e-mailed me some weeks ago to suggest setting up a date for one in the middle or latter part of November. If it actually comes to pass, look for it to be around the 22nd or 23rd at the Texas Lone Staar in Bangkok's Washington Square. I'll likely send out a special announcement to the BangkokAtoZ.com Mailing List members the second I know something firm, then follow up here with a general announcement the next column. So, if you want to be one of the Early Birds, sign up here! * * * * * * * * * * The infamous Duang Chalerm case
has surfaced again, this time with a court hearing in which a police officer
working at the club where Mr. Chalerm is alleged to have shot another police
officer to death testified that he heard a shot, looked immediately, and saw
Chalerm the Youngest standing over the murder victim -- with a gun in his
hand. But it has to be noted that under cross-examination by defense
counsel, the police officer changed some parts of his story -- though not about
his seeing Mr. Chalerm standing over the dead man, gun in hand -- changes that
could weaken his credibility as a witness. The trial continues . . . * * * * * * * * * * 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! * * * * * * * * * * A few days ago a driver for a company stopped to assist 2 wounded police officers, one of whom ended up dying. The driver's reward? -- his superstitious company owner, Mr. Lu San Jung, said to be from Taiwan, had the unmitigated gall to fire him -- angrily at that -- in the belief the driver's good deed would bring bad luck onto the company; the driver transported the wounded officers to hospital in his company's truck. The owner's behaviour is well beyond even reprehensible, and he richly deserves the criticism, condemnation, and general approbation avalanching down about his ears. Letters to the editor have been extraordinarily harsh, letters from outraged Thais and foreigners alike; the opening letter titled "Goodwill comes undone" in The Bangkok Post's popular "Postbag" for Saturday, October 26, 2002 is a prime example. If it's possible for Mr. Lu to be held personally accountable under Thai law, I hope his feet are held to the hottest fires that law can bring to bear. I suspect we haven't heard the last of this, and that we'll be hearing from Thai labour authorities and noted human rights activists such as the highly (and rightly) respected lawyer and senator Thongbai Thongpao. No doubt offers of aid in many forms, including employment will be pouring in for the well-intentioned but unfortunate Khun Sakchai, the grossly mistreated driver. Just think! To stop to render aid to wounded-by-gunfire, on-duty police officers can get you fired! * * * * * * * * * * A reminder I posted a new "Traveler's Tales" last week, this one from an English acquaintance offering a contrast between girls in Thailand and their sisters down Malaysia way. In this piece, the author writes about the contrasts he has found in his dozen or so journeys to Thailand and Malaysia between the girls in each. Himself married to a Malaysian-Indian, he is well-situated to speak, at least anecdotally. Comforting is that he is open and honest enough to point out the pitfalls with ethnic Malays in Malaysia, especially because of the requirements of the faith of Islam a man must fulfill if he is to have a Malaysian-Malay-Islamic wife. While this isn't a "Traveler's Tale" in the sense of being a specific report of a specific experience, it does offer valuable insights to the Western male enamoured of the idea of marrying an Asian lady. Read it, and enjoy -- just click here. * * * * * * * * * * Went to the earlier-reported bar The Living Room down in Clinton Plaza Friday night -- hey, I couldn't get this column up, so I figured I could add in late stuff, okay? While it wasn't very busy, I enjoyed myself, in no small measure because I got to meet some of the folks involved one way or another with the wonderful Nanapong.com web site I praised in last week's column. It was also pleasant to sit alone a bit and to hoist a pint to the memory of Me Dear Old Dad, who would have turned 73 yesterday had he lived. (He passed away in 1988, so no, I'm not in the midst of deep grief -- hoisting one to him is something I do every year on his birthday.) Now that it appears Clinton Plaza will be in operation -- at least in front -- for awhile, be sure to drop down and visit The Living Room and the other bars there. And tell them you read about them here! * * * * * * * * * * A bit of a plug for The Moonshine in Sukhumvit Soi 22's Queen's Park Plaza: every Saturday night from around 6:00 P.M. they cook grilled hamburgers that are excellent and filling -- at the highly competitive price of 65 baht. The bar is catching on well, perhaps leading the way for QPP generally. All the employees are friendly, the place has a comfortable atmosphere, and you can get in a game of pool or darts while you're at it. * * * * * * * * * * 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). * * * * * * * * * * I'm pulling off the individual mentions of bars for sale, but any interested parties can e-mail me here: MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com. * * * * * * * * * * Friends of the legendary George Pipas, proprietor of the Texas Lone Staar in Washington Square, will be happy to know that he's back from a lengthy stay Stateside. Unfortunately, his back is still troubling him, despite 3 unpleasant treatments he had in America, 2 involving injecting cortisone directly into his spine, the 3rd involving the doctor inserting 2 wires into his spine -- something to do with deadening the nerves; I've never heard of the procedure. He really wants people to come on by and chat with him a spell; you can catch him there daily from about 6:00 A.M. until around 1:00 P.M. George reports that his old friend Pat Landry -- himself legendary in these parts -- is here on holiday, but no one has sighted Pat yet. * * * * * * * * * * Some Old Thai hands may know Bobby Champagne and Wayne Caffey, but may not know they both passed away earlier this year -- I just found out about Bobby myself. May they rest in peace. * * * * * * * * * * It was with considerable interest I read a newspaper story this week reporting that Prime Minister Thaksin has received the Sam Houston Humanitarian Award. This award is given by Sam Houston State University in Texas, U.S.A., and was given to alumnus Khun Thaksin. He became only the 4th person to receive the award, joining the ranks of Former Secretary of State James Baker III (1993), former Polish President Lech Walesa (1996) and former President George Bush (1998). Mr. Thaksin earned a doctoral degree in the university's Criminal Justice Institute, from which he graduated in 1979. Created in 1993 to honour the 200th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Texan Sam Houston, President of The Republic of Texas during its brief life in the 19th century, the award is meant to recognize several different areas:
I for one -- and for the life of me -- can't begin to imagine what was going through the minds of the people who decided to bestow this award on Prime Minister Thaksin. Let's take the points one by one:
Well, if the local English-language media in Thailand are not entirely works of fictions, there are Thais who might questions what definitions of "responsible" and "distinguished" leadership and service were used by the bestowers.
Huh? Oh -- I guess giving a gadzillion shares in his businesses to various relatives, friends, and minions helps explain this one.
Although the fact that the first 3 recipients were Americans at least implies such a record in the American civic and cultural context, as worded I guess one can reasonably enough argue it could apply to such a record in Thailand -- though it seems a bit of a stretch, frankly.
Yes, he got a PhD., in all fairness, and even though the university is not an Oxford or Harvard or what-not, a doctoral degree is not easy to come by. I would be curious to learn of his pursuit of educational and scholarly quests since 1979; I thought he had spent those years building a mighty business and fighting his way to the top of the Thai political ladder.
This one is *really* problematic, when one considers PM Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, the senior party in the governing coalition, has been in the forefront of efforts to defang government agencies such as the Election Commission, the National Counter Corruption Commission, etc. Not that Texas politicians are always -- nor even usually -- all that concerned about such issues, mind you, but this one is perplexing. For my part, I was taken aback, enough so to write a strong e-mail to the university. [I'm native to Texas, so I reckon I've got as much right to have a view on the matter as anyone.] That the Prime Minister is a brilliant businessman and an extraordinarily skilled politician is beyond any sane doubt; it would be both stupid and churlish of me to suggest otherwise. It would be interesting to know what Sam Houston himself might have thought of it all, and what the first 3 recipients of the award do think of this rather extraordinary event. * * * * * * * * * * And along come Chechen terrorists inside a Moscow theater, ultimately holding more than 700 theater-goers hostage. At about 5:30 A.M. Saturday, Moscow time, Russian authorities learned the terrorists had begun murdering hostages; Russian special forces then stormed the building. At least 35 terrorists and 67 hostages died in the ensuing battle, including the alleged terrorist leader. Even rebel Chechen leaders are distancing themselves from the terrorist operation, assuring the world they didn't even know about the terrorists' intent, much less aid or approve of it. Too bad the Russian special forces didn't take out all the terrorists -- the terrorists were, in the parlance of American police officers, "bought and paid for" the second they hurt or killed the very first innocent hostage -- and ALL the hostages were innocent. I'm sure we all mourn the 67 dead hostages and feel for their families and friends. You might want to check out latest reports at Interfax (the Russian news agency's English-language web site), the BBC, CNN International, and Fox News. * * * * * * * * * * Back on the lighter side -- and back to Bangkok, BangkokAtoZ.com's Links Page will soon be expanded, thanks to the good offices of a Nanaponger whose online name is "T_Ngern" and who has graciously agreed to let me copy a truly extensive list of Thailand-related web links he's collected and periodically updates. I'll announce it once I get it up. * * * * * * * * * * You also will notice a great change in the homepage of BangkokAtoZ.com -- actually, it's largely a reincarnation of an earlier version of that page, one I decided to revive to give the page a cleaner look and to make it easier to navigate, especially for people not too familiar with surfing the web. * * * * * * * * * * But enough!!! Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
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