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* * * * * * * * * * Headlines Smith Thammasaroj: Tsunami Report Decision Brings Dismay Effort to Curb Illegal Traffic Police Checkpoints Internet Rumors: Watch Out for Them Current Drought Worst in Nearly a Decade New Internet Service for Reservations for Travelers Anand Panyarachun: Potential to Help in the Deep South Useful Web Sites and Magazines for Travelers Diesel Prices Increase 3 Baht per Liter This Week Prince of Wales Bar in Washington Square to Re-Open Monday, March 28, 2005 Tourist Arrivals in the Deep South Seem To Be Rising Bangkok Wine Society Inaugural Meeting Next Tuesday * * * * * * * * * *
Smith
Thammasaroj: Tsunami Vice-Minister Smith Thammasaroj was appointed by Prime Minister Thaksin to a governmental post to head the investigation into the activities of the Meteorological Department in the hours before the tsunami struck the coast of Thailand last December 26th. Smith worked at the Department in years past, leaving under something of a shadow after warning of possible tsunamis on 2 occasions only for events to unfold without a tsunami striking the Kingdom, raising the ire of many at the time. It is a difficult call, at best, when a decision on what to do and not to do has to based on inclusive, uncertain evidence. In the absence of monitoring devices around the Indian Ocean Rim, and with the lack of communication between national governments, any decision is fraught with major lose-lose perils. Had the Meteorological personnel on duty acted -- reports suggest they considered it -- then no tsunami struck, it would have cost huge sums of money (infuriating many, as well), while if they didn't act, as was the decision taken in this instance, only for a tsunami to in fact hit, then the costs wouldn't be only money, but lives. There's been some criticism of the U.S.-operated Pacific Rim earthquake- and tsunami-monitoring headquarters in Hawaii for not issuing warnings to countries far enough away for there to be some time for authorities around the Indian Ocean to act. But that strikes me as a red herring, for 3 reasons: (1.) While the center in Hawaii can detect earthquake activity globally, in the absence of sensors in the waters of other seas and oceans outside the Pacific Basin, neither the Hawaiian center nor, indeed, any other, can do more than to warn of earthquake activity, not the potential or the actuality of a tsunami. Even an earthquake center at, say, the southern tip of India would be unable to know what's happening in the waters of the Indian Ocean. (As a note aside, I wonder how many people realize there's no tsunami early-warning system for the Atlantic Ocean -- meaning U.S. authorities in Hawaii would be completely in the dark about any tsunami threat in the Atlantic were an earthquake of the magnitude as the one that struck here; they couldn't warn even their fellow Americans.) (2.) In the hundreds of articles and comments I've read in the nearly 3 months since last year's Indian Ocean disaster, I've not seen a single question of why other earthquake centers elsewhere in the world didn't alert authorities in potential victim countries. (3.) The U.S. isn't the only country to monitor earthquake activity; right here in Asia Japan and China have monitoring networks. And there are other monitoring stations elsewhere in the world. While it makes sense to me, as an American, to say my government could have offered to establish communication channels for transmission of earthquake information (and seaquake, of course), what is the logic of faulting us to the exclusion of others who have earthquake/seaquake monitoring systems? Further, just as I can agree the U.S. government should have thought of this sooner, I also feel regional governments could have asked to receive such information, providing points of contact. But back to Khun Smith and his expected report; he has decided not to issue one. This leaves him in a tough spot, as there will be those who accuse him of having a dark motive, yet were he to release such a report and it were to contain damning information some believe it would, he could conceivably find himself in deep trouble yet again. I'm glad I'm not in his shoes. The Nation has an opinion piece about the current situation in today's editions headlined "Smith’s damage control hurts the public’s rights" that strikes me as somewhat harsh on the man. After all, he is the epitome of the old cliché "Twice burned, thrice shy." That said, official silence surely won't inspire confidence; in some quarters it already has fueled suspicion. [Saturday, March 19, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Effort to Curb Illegal Traffic Police Checkpoints Today's Bangkok Post has a fascinating story about efforts by the government to curb what are called "illegal traffic checkpoints" in a story headlined "TRAFFIC POLICE / MOVE AGAINST FAKE CHECKPOINTS: Public urged to fight extortion." The story reports that Police Major-General Montri Jamroon, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said plans were required to be approved in advance on a month-by-month basis and listed other requirements, such as one specifying there be a group of officers in an open area under the command of a commissioned officer. There's even a hotline for suspicious members of the public to call: 1197. The article is silent about whether or not someone making such a report has to provide his or her identity information, or if anonymous calls will be followed up. This is a step in the right direction, one deserving widespread support. But there needs to be another step taken: raising the salaries and improving the benefits, particularly for junior enlisted personnel, whose salaries are dismal, particularly if they are supporting a family (even only partially). As long as new members of the police are paid low salaries and have to provide some of their own gear, there won't be much way to tackle the problem of police corruption. I'm not justifying corruption, only saying that when a new copy earns a few thousand baht a month and has to provide some of his or her gear, the salary simply isn't enough, especially in Bangkok. Of course I'd like to see police corruption greatly curbed. But I'd also like to see law enforcement personnel earn decent wages. [Saturday, March 18, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Internet Rumors: Watch Out for Them As anyone who uses the Internet on any sort of fairly regular basis knows, a lot of stuff hits cyberspace that ends up in our e-mail boxes that evoke a strong emotional response, whether that response is positive or negative. The following on the left is an example -- with the original text to the right: Speeding Around Cyberspace Note: the red text was inserted into the spurious version, and was not in the original.
I was told that this letter to the editor, was
published in the Melbourne, Australia newspaper, The Age.
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a
report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a
reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. The Original Text
What Is An American? Note: the red text is not in the spurious version making the rounds on the Web.
By Peter Ferrara, an associate
professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law. The original (and genuine) article was written September 25, 2001 -- presumably as a response to the horror show of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I myself wrote some strong comments in the days and weeks following those attacks, and have since found my writings in various places around the Internet . . . well, let's be kind and say "edited." (In each instance I've been swift to e-mail my actual commentary to the owners of the site to ask them to put the correct version online, or no version at all.) Ferrara is apparently quite a rather a character as an individual. A February 22, 2001 article in the revered Washington Post newspaper headlined "Private-Account Concept Grew From Obscure Roots," he is described as "a brilliant and notoriously unkempt wonk." (The story is about Ferrara's concepts while he was at Harvard Law School a quarter century ago proposing privatizing the U.S. Social Security system to a degree.) Ferrara has also done work with the private Cascade Policy Institute headquartered in the U.S. State of Oregon. He did his undergraduate work at Harvard as well as obtaining his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree there, so while Washington Post may well be right in describing him in the way it did, he's must be a seriously "brilliant and notoriously unkempt wonk." There are sites devoted to debunking "urban legends," of which the above is but one variant. Just go to your favorite search engine and enter "urban legends," then explore the returns to find out the ones that suit your preferences. I get this sort of thing virtually everyday, always from someone seeking to keep me abreast. It takes time to research these stories, especially at first as one learns the in's and out's of verifying their authenticity. In these post-9/11 days, we Americans especially love to read any accolade to our country and culture. Remember the pro-American editorial Canadian broadcaster Gordon Sinclair wrote in 1973? Or how about the editorial written September 24, 2001 by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu, a Romanian, in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentul zilei ("The Daily Event" or "News of the Day")? And it is that American trait that makes distortions so disturbing. Of course, people of other nationalities don't like having distorted information curculated about them, either -- and rightly so. If this sort of matter interests you, matters to you, do check some of the debunking sites; there are several well-respected ones that devote enormous energy to tracking down the truth. [Saturday, March 18, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Many people still have never heard of Macau, the first European outpost in Asia. The Portuguese settled in the tiny enclave in the mid-16th century, relinquishing colonial control of the colony only in late 1999 to Beijing. And even if they have heard of it, they often know little or nothing about it. But given its tiny size and population (about 21 square kilometers and perhaps 600,000 people), its regional significance is not to be underestimated. For one thing, it is the only place in China where any kind of gambling is legal. (Macau was returned to Chinese control under a Hong Kong sort of treaty under which existing laws and institutions remain as they were under Lisbon's control for 50 years.) And among regional punters, it's extremely popular, especially those from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the mainland itself. Gambling is a major contributor to the economy, not just in Macau proper, but indeed across the border in the entire Pearl River delta, which Hong Kong flanks on the east. Increasingly, the Pearl River delta is developing what can be considered to be a single, integrated economy for an area roughly defined by the Macau-Guangzhou-Hong Kong triangle. This past Saturday's edition of Australia's Sydney Morning Herald had a major article in its Business Section headlined "Enter the dragon" profiling Dr. Stanley Ho, the undisputed gambling king of Macau. The story suggests ties between the gambling syndicate and triads on both sides of the border. So what's that got to do with Thailand? -- it is an instructive look into the casino world, which is often rather seedy, though Ho himself is highly regarded in the area, and is a Eurasian from a high-society family. And an instructive look is timely as the Kingdom debates legalizing gambling in one way or another beyond the government-sponsored lottery. Gambling indisputably helps bring cash into government coffers, but also often bring a host of problems -- prostitution, organized crime, money laundering, drugs, and so on. In any case, the lengthy article, which runs more than 3,400 words, is a fascinating, insightful look into one of the business lions of east Asia. I taught at The University of Macau (called in the article by its former name, "The University of East Asia") 1990-94, and was well familiar with the casino scene of the day. As a civil servant, I directly benefited: my salary was higher than would otherwise be the case, and was tax-free; my other benefits were better than otherwise would have been the case; and I had access to excellent housing at far below market rates -- the university apartment for which I paid US$375/month would have run me about triple that elsewhere in the enclave. Ho's holdings alone provided over half of the government's total annual tax revenues. And until near the time of the handover, crime was surprisingly low. (And the crime spree in the run-up to the handover that erupted died down quickly when the People's Liberation Army made a major show on entering the enclave, an event for which I was present.) Even squeaky-clean, behavior-controlled Singapore is taking a look at allowing casinos. If such a well-organized city-state finds merit in at least looking at the possibility, it might be time for Thailand to take a long look. It sure worked well during my years in Macau; as I said, crime was very low. Triad members, especially the leaders, were often downright civilized. I knew one such leader casually (and quite by coincidence) who was a model gentleman with an upper-crust British accent and flawless British English. In the end, Thais will have to decide for themselves what they want. [Monday, March 21, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Current Drought Worst in Nearly a Decade Both the Bangkok Post and The Nation in today's editions about the ongoing drought afflicting the nation, drought in nearly every province across the Kingdom. The Bangkok Post story is headlined "Water shortage now critical" -- in fact, it is the paper's lead story of the day -- and the story in The Nation is under the headline "WATER SHORTAGE: Thousands of villages face crisis." The situation is reaching crisis levels in many villages right across the nation. Nationally, reservoir supplies are about half of normal. Of some 45,000 villages surveyed late last week, nearly 1/3 are predicted to run out of water for consumption in 10 days, with just over another 1/3 facing shortages. There is little, if any, water for agriculture, and the Kingdom's farmers are paying dearly for it. A few days ago His Majesty the King got personally involved in rain-making efforts. Such a severe drought would be disastrous at any time; coming on the heels of bird flu and dengue fever outbreaks, and the tsunami disaster of late last year, it's even worse as the Kingdom tries to cope with problems in numerous areas. Estimates of the number of people directly affected run as high as about 11,000,000. That's over 17% of the population. And that number may grow if the rains don't come early. Here in Bangkok, scattered thunderstorms have about a 40% chance occurring from late morning until late evening, with further possible thunderstorms predicted for this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday -- but only Friday is predicted to have a real possibility, with the current prediction rating it at about 60%. One bright bit of news is that a spokesperson for the EGAT [Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand] is reported to have said it has enough reserves to continue proving electricity. (Thai visitors here may prefer to see the Thai-language web site EGAT maintains.) Anecdotes I've heard over the past week or so from people who've either been to Nakon Ratchasima [Korat] or heard from friends or family there say that area, in the near Northeast, is the worst area affected nationwide. Salinity is another problem as river levels fall; one river is said to have unacceptably high levels of salt (8 times the norm), in one river's instance reaching some 120 kilometers upstream, according to The Nation story cited above. Heavy concentrations of industrial and agricultural water pollution are another growing problem as river levels fall. The Bangkok Post has 2 other stories, stories specifically about Suphan Buri: "Lack of water killing off sugarcane crop" and "Reports of rain offer ray of hope." The Nation has as its lead editorial "Unified strategy for water needed" and is quite critical of past and present efforts to alleviate the annual drought. Let's just hope the rainy season comes early this year, especially for the farmers. [Monday, March 21, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Forget being a fighter pilot or infantry troop in combat. Forget being a police officer. Forget being a firefighter. Being a pedestrian is Bangkok is one of the most dangerous occupations known to mankind, arguably more dangerous than those. The danger starts with the sidewalks themselves. They are often broken and uneven. A friend took a rough spill at the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Sukhumvit Soi 22 as he came out the soi and turned right -- where the pavement dips significantly; I have learned to watch my step, literally, should my strolls take me there. Manholes are sometimes left open -- with no barrier, flashing warning lights, nothing to alert a pedestrian. This is especially dangerous at night, and even more so between streetlights. Then there are the Sidewalk Hell's Angels who ride their motorcycles blithely down the sidewalks, treating them as alternate streets, particularly if the street traffic is bad. Even motorcycle policemen regularly whip up onto a sidewalk and scoot right along. It doesn't help that numerous places thoughtfully provide ramps sloping between the street and the sidewalk that make it easy for motorcycles to "enter" and "exit" the walkways -- ramps akin to those found entering and exiting motorways. And we haven't even gotten to the streets themselves. If the sidewalks are often Hell, the streets are Hell Squared. Crossing any street, no matter how narrow, is exceedingly perilous. Crosswalks? -- they're a joke. About all the zebra crossings do is to provide a front gun-sight for motorists (their hood emblem providing a convenient rear sight) so they can improve their aim and they bear down on hapless pedestrians. When I have to cross a street, I adore traffic jams so severe they bring the flow of traffic to an absolute, prolonged halt. But even a traffic jam provides no certainty of pedestrian safety; motorcycles zip between lanes of traffic, present an even greater danger when you're having to cross in front of a large bus or truck so can't see the Evel Kneival -- perhaps more accurately named "Evil Knieval" in the case of Bangkok motorcyclists -- roaring through the gap. You have to learn to engage in defensive walking. The moment you step onto a sidewalk or street, you have to train yourself to go instinctively to Condition Red and assume every single person driving a motor vehicle anywhere within a few kilometers is targeting you. Not the next guy. You. Being noticeably foreign helps, unless you're Cambodian, Laotian, or Burmese (and others), all of whom are fair game, and the season runs year-round. In the case of Western foreigners -- farangs -- the paperwork dims drivers' killer instincts. Then there's crossing major avenues and boulevards. Especially at a "T" intersection. If you want to cross from the top of the T to the stem, don't assume the traffic coming from your right will stop just because the light is red, you silly person. Traffic signals here are merely suggestions meant to be thwarted and avoided. Traffic in the lane closest to the sidewalk is the traffic most likely to speed right through the red light at full steam. Then you still have to get across the other half of the avenue. Now your attention has to shift and divide. Traffic from your left is just a perilous as the that you just escaped. Adding thrills are the motorists turning left (to them) onto the avenue; they can do so even if their light is red. (Don't cross from the top of the T to the stem from the side beyond the traffic lights -- you'll have to worry about traffic coming out of the stem, too.) Notice I haven't blamed any one nationality for such behavior at the controls. People from other lands have to follow the advice the late U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, who as a newly-elected congressman received excellent advice from the Speaker of the House, the late Sam Rayburn: "To get along, you've got to go along." Foreign drivers have to adapt -- the alternatives are to perish, or to give up driving entirely. Therefore, don't assume that smiling Anglo face behind the wheel or astride that chopper will show any more consideration than his local cousins do: none. All this applies in parking lots and the like, applies in spades. After all, there is a sense amongst drivers that parking lots provide fine, vast spaces to engage in rounds of "Chicken Bumper Cars." In this setting, the infamous tuk-tuks that plague the city are by far the worst offenders. I've written before about the daily races and other antics of tuk-tuk drivers in Washington Square, especially at the beginning and end of school days as the ferry girls to and from the girls' school about halfway down Sukhumvit Soi 22. Below is a graphic instance of the only time I actually trust a tuk-tuk driver
Tuk-Tuk Stuck -- Ha Ha Ha!!! There is one group that chooses to engage in activity that makes being even a Bangkok Pedestrian seem positively sedate and grannyish: those misguided souls who are brave/crazy enough to ride bicycles. I've never been able to decide if they deserve medals for heroism or long, safe, restful holidays a loony bin. The government really ought to require everyone to sign complete waivers if they plan to walk anywhere outside. Meanwhile, when you get ready to exit safety, don't forget to go to Condition Red -- nor to turn on your rear target-acquisition radar! [Monday, March 21, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * New Internet Service for Reservations for Travelers The Nation has an interesting story about a new real-time reservation system a private company is implementing later this month in its "Byteline" section headlined "Real-time service assists travelers." There are plenty of web sites giving access to extensive services throughout Thailand, but this one is said to bring many together into a single system, a less common feature. If this appeals to you, read the story, and if you use the service, I will be interested in any feedback. [Monday, March 21, 2005] * * * * * * * * * *
Anand Panyarachun: The Nation has been running an online poll in recent days asking if "Anand Panyarachun's involvement in the peace process in the South would effectively solve the problem?" Khun Anand has had a long and distinguished career in both the public and private sectors. He was asked by the military dictators who seized control in 1991 to take the post of Prime Minister, something he didn't want to do but did, in the hope he could steer the nation back towards a democratic status. Bloody events in 1992 led to his re-appointment as Prime Minister by Royal decree. The military dictatorship was ousted (and, happily, has never returned). That ouster was dramatic. His Majesty the King summoned the leaders of the 2 competing factions for a Royal audience; they had to slither on their bellies some distance. Essentially, His Majesty, the universally belovéd King Bhumibol Adulyadej , "suggested" the 3-man military dictatorship resign. Which they did, posthaste. Khun Anand is easily at the very top of any list of admired and respected politicians and businessmen in the Kingdom. And he admired on the personal level for his unquestioned -- and unquestionable -- integrity, ethical behavior, and keen insight. Unsurprisingly, as of today some 5,725 people had voted in the poll. The results to date? -- 89.9% of the respondents has said 'yes,' while only 10.1% have said "no." A 9-to-1 ratio is most excellent by any standard I've ever heard of. Which way did I vote? -- well, what do you think??? "Yes," of course. It is too much to expect any single individual to solve such major problems as the sectarian violence in the Deep South, violence exacerbated by racial tensions. But if any single individual (outside The Royal Family, of course) has the possibility of having a major influence on solving the problems in the Kingdom's troubled southern reaches, that individual almost has to be Khun Anand. Should he accept the challenge, let's all be cheering for him as he takes on yet another daunting, challenging task for his nation. [Monday, March 21, 2005] I stumbled across a web site that may be of interest to Texans and people interested in The Lone Star State, wherever they may be. TXCN does of course focus primarily on Texas, with news stories and weather information from around the state. It does give coverage of national and international stories as well; for example, it did a pretty good story about Sunday's earthquake in Japan's Kyuushu Island. It also has 10 links to other news sources on the TXCN Sitemap Page and 34 newspaper links from all over Texas on the TXCN Links Page. You have to sign up (for free) to read the site, and there is one little trick to doing so. Beside the boxes where you're asked to type in at least your 5-digit U.S. zip (postal) code and preferably your full 9-digit zip code there is a note this applies only to people in the U.S. Logically enough, I left it blank -- but I got sent back, with that part of the sign-up page highlighted and a message to correct it. I typed 5 x's in the left box and 4 x's in the right box -- and that worked. If you have any interest in Texas, this is a good site to visit. [Tuesday, March 22, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Useful Web Sites and Magazines for Travelers I've become aware of several web sites useful for travelers I want to let you know about. The first, Time Ticker, is a site with a single focus: time. It allows one to check the time in another time zone easily. It has a map of the world, with a vertical bar set at Greenwich, which is in the "home" time zone of GMT, the standard one for determining the rest of the world's time zones. It also allows you to set your computer's internal clock. While it's not hard to figure out how to use, it's not intuitive. When you float your pointer over the map, a grayed-out bar similar to the one at the default setting of GMT appears and moves along with your pointer. Move the bar to the place where you want to know the time, then right-click somewhere in the middle of the gray bar to set it there. A ball will appear and drop to the bottom of the bar, and you'll see the time zone at the bottom of the bar, indicated in terms of GMT. Bangkok, for instance, is GMT+7, meaning it is 7 hours later here than in Greenwich. To the left is an indication of the local time, day of the week, and the date. Below that is a control panel that enables you to do a number of tasks. To the right are 2 more boxes, one with a clickable list of countries in the chosen time zone, the other with a complete list of the world's countries (in case you're not sure where to point on the plain map). Try this handy program out! Next up is the somewhat confusingly named Into Asia site -- it's really about Bangkok, though there is a bit of information about the rest of the country. This is a well-designed, easy-to-navigate site that should be especially useful to a first-time visitor or new resident. I just spent about an hour exploring it, and overall it's very good. Some of the information is a bit dated; for example, the subway is mentioned as still being 3 years away, so presumably that page was written 3 years before the subway opened last year. The picky may argue the Skytrain doesn't end at Sukhumvit Soi 81, since in fact it ends at Sukhumvit Soi 77 (Soi Onnut or Soi Onnuj -- take your pick of spellings). But Soi 81 isn't much past that, so the point is very minor. Also, the link for the map of Sukhumvit from just east of Sukhumvit Soi 20 isn't working. Those things said, this is an excellent site. It is filled with a LOT of genuinely useful facts about The Big Weird. I don't often recommend a site for book-marking, but this is one site well deserving of it for anyone with an interest in Bangkok. I give this site 4½ stars (out of 5) for Bangkok-oriented sites. Another hugely popular web site is the Mango Sauce web site. Right off, let me say this site often addresses adult topics, so parents will want to review it before letting their children look. Even so, it contains much useful information. IT's well worth a visit. There are 2 free magazines in oversized paper format that are specific destination guides, Guide of Bangkok and Guide of Hua Hin/Samui. Both have some articles in English and others in Thai, so the guides are useful to English-speaking (or at least English-reading) foreigners and readers of Thai. The magazines use extensive color. Additionally, each has articles on personalities Thai and foreign, fashion, and the like, as well as specific event announcements, descriptions of tourist areas and other targeted information. Each has numerous advertisements -- a good way for anyone not familiar with the destinations to learn what's out there and available. Both are widely available in Bangkok at numerous outlets; restaurants often have one or the other or both, for example. The latter is less commonly found here in Bangkok than the former, but I assume it is more readily available in Hua Hin/Cha'am and Samui than it is here in the capital. [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * This is one of those stories with universal appeal to our sense of humor. Thanks to my good friend Herb in Nevada for sending me these funnies. "Attention, Passengers !" All too rarely, airline attendants make an effort to make the inflight "safety lecture" and their other announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This sort of story always seems to me to transcend boundaries of all types and virtually guaranteed to bring smiles to our faces. I've seen these particular quotes before, but re-reading them sure brought a smile to my face. [Friday, March 18, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Today's Bangkok Post has a story headlined "Govt urged to delay two city mass transit projects as economy slows" reporting freshman Democrat MP for Bangkok, Korn Chatikawanit, has called on the government to suspend or revise 2 of the planned 7 transportation projects because they account for 40% of the total the government plans to spend on such projects. According to him, the 2 projects will cost an estimated 170 billion baht (over US$ 4.4 billion). The 2 projects are Skytrain and subway extensions, which the MP says he admires, but believes now need halting, particularly since they serve only 18% of the commuters, according to his reported comments. According to the story, Khun Korn believes the government dragged its feet on beginning the projects, and now, with the slowing economy, rising interest rates, and rising fuel prices, the plans aren't tenable. But if the newspaper's story is correct in the numbers it reported, I don't see how the 40% figure comes into play. The report says Korn argued the government plans to spend 1.5 trillion baht on the 7 projects in all -- but 170 billion works out to be 11.33%, if my calculator is correct. Still, we are talking about a very large amount of money. In my view, the continuation of these projects is essential for the long-term well-being of the capital. Vehicular traffic is already reaching levels uncomfortably close to pre-crash levels again. I have no idea of the 18% figure for the number of commuters is correct -- but which commuters? Current ones only? If so, it follows the percentage affected will increase as the 2 systems are expanded. The ultimate goal is to have nearly 300 kilometers of mass transportation systems reaching all over the capital. Surely that will bring mass transit to convenient use for countless people. I rarely venture far enough to warrant using the Skytrain or subway, but I sure do like knowing both are readily at hand in my neighborhood should I need to travel some distance and one or the other serve the area of my destination. Increased efficiency in tax collecting would help, as any observer of Thailand knows. In this area, very many individuals and businesses pay few or no taxes, if the rumor mill is to be believed. Expensive? -- yes, of course such systems are expensive. However, what are the costs of not expanding the mass transit network? Mass transit is one area in which every government since I arrived here in mid-1994 has consistently pursued. And in my view, that continuity is a good thing. [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Diesel Prices Increase 3 Baht per Liter This Week Motorists awoke this past Wednesday braced to face higher diesel prices, which went up 3 baht per liter -- a 20% increase -- at midnight the night before. PTT, the major player in the domestic fuel market and as such able to set benchmark prices, has tried to mitigate the impact by not increasing prices on petrol, at least not *this* week -- but top managers have to deal with the price situation on world markets in terms of oil price situation on world markets in terms of oil prices. ["Petrol" is "gasoline" to my fellow Americans. ;-)] Some have criticized the government for allowing this increase to happen, but from where I sit, governmental leaders had little choice but to let the price increase some to reflect the realities of the market place. Yes, this has enormous implications for consumers of numerous products and services right across the Kingdom. Am I happy I may well have to pay more for agricultural products shipped from outside Bangkok (for example)? Of course I'm not. Ditto anything else that involves transportation costs. But that's the cold reality. With other economic forces currently at play, the situation in the transport sector may well get less favorable in the foreseeable future. Just read any writer on economic affairs in Thailand you trust. [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * *
Prince of Wales Bar in Washington The Prince of Wales Bar in Washington Square has been closed since early this month for extensive remodeling, but is scheduled to re-open next Monday. I spoke with Khun Pia, the proprietress, within the past 2 hours or so, and she told me she will be having a Re-Opening Party with free food beginning about 5:00 P.M. [My own caveat, as always, when free food is involved; it's expected partakers will buy a drink or two, not just pig out on the freebies. Some owners would prefer I not say that, but after more than a decade in Thailand and nearly 2 decades in Asia, I feel compelled to say it. I get tired of hearing owners talking about ending their various freebie programs because of abuse by Cheap Charlies.] The Prince of Wales Bar is a neighborhood pub sort of place, as the majority of the bars in Washington Square are. It's cozy and comfortable, and the prices for libations are quite reasonable. Do drop around to help celebrate the Grand Re-Opening. This is one of the oldest bars in Washington Square, and can be a fun place to visit. [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Tourist Arrivals in the Deep South Seem To Be Rising If anecdotal evidence means anything, it seems to be the case that tourists are returning to the tsunami-devastated Deep South, albeit it at a trickle. I continue to harp that many places weren't touch and remain pristine destinations for the sun-n'-surf set and for divers in particular. And even places affected by the tsunami are mostly recovered, and getting there. I was delighted to learn a few days ago that my cousin, a pro-level scuba diver, is going to spend some time in Phuket with one of his diving buddies to explore the underwater world of that southern divers' paradise. (Then he and his amigo will make the obligatory stop here in The City of Angels to bend an elbow with me for a day or two before return to the daily grind Stateside.) As a long-time resident of the Kingdom, I genuinely appreciate my cousin's and his friend's votes of confidence in Thailand. I don't know who is coming with him, but my cousin has visited Thailand to dive numerous times; it and Bali are among his favorite destinations. Mike -- my cousin -- has worked in the hazardous material disposal industry, and is a Vietnam War veteran. In other words, he gets the concept of "danger." If he, a man well-acquainted with danger and destruction, sees fit to come here, I reckon anyone contemplating doing so ought to so contemplate seriously. I have friends in Krabi and Phuket, and their reports suggest a slow -- painfully slow -- recovery. If I'm right in my fears that the Thai economy is headed for another downturn, then destinations in Thailand will become only that much more attractive for visitors (and investors) from abroad. Looking for a summer holiday destination abroad during your children's summer vacation? I hope you give The Land of Smiles more than a passing thought. [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Bangkok Wine Society Inaugural Meeting Next Tuesday Thanks to the good offices of Baronbonk, to whose free newsletter I subscribe and you can, too -- just go to the Asia Bugle free sign-up page -- I just today learned of the newly formed Bangkok Wine Society and its next meeting. The inaugural meeting of the Bangkok Wine Society's current 6 winery members is next Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at 6:30-8:30 P.M. in Pendolasco Italian Restaurant in Sukhumvit Soi 2; this link will take you to the page with the details. The Baron reports in his weekly newsletter the 6 winery members are attending, each bringing samples of their products. (The Bangkok Wine Society page announcing the event says only that at least 4 different kinds of Thai wine will be available, but the Baron apparently got late word.) Now I'm no expert on wines, but I've had a Thai white or two, and found them most satisfactory. At a mere 300 baht for the admission fee, wine lovers will want to give dropping by during the meeting to try some Thai wines. Thanks to The Good Baron for letting us know about this. Do visit his website; it covers the nightlife around Thailand and the region most excellently (and in a candid manner, parents please note). [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Bad news for Thailand is good news for foreign visitors and investors; over the past few days, the Thai baht has weakened about 1/3 of a baht against the U.S. dollar (roughly 8/10th's of 1%). With the currently increasing trade deficit (if press reports are correct), this could boost the export market and help to attract capital inflows. If the trend continues, as I expect it to do, then the Kingdom will become an increasingly attractive holiday destination as prices for vacations here drop in terms of other currencies. Less pleasant are the implications overall of this weakening. Thailand doesn't need any economic shocks akin to those felt during the aftermath of the mid-1997 debacle, that's for sure. Nor does the region need to have the regional economy dragged down again, as happened in 1997; only the monoliths of China and Japan were able basically to hold their course and maintain their fundamental economic strength. The rest of the region was devastated, especially nations such as Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia. As always the case, we can only watch and wait. [Friday, March 25, 2005] * * * * * * * * * * Enough for one go . . . Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * 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??? 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