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"The Rounds" Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * First, I'd like to join everyone in offering congratulations and best wishes to the King and Queen, who celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary yesterday. Long may they live and reign! * * * * * * * * * * A Surprising Songkhran The Songkhran holiday had come and gone, and this was the first one I've spent in Thailand since 1996. I have something of a really strongly negative attitude about getting involuntarily doused, so for the past several years I've fled the country. But circumstances conspired to trap me here. I did hole up in a room above a Washington Square bar, and didn't venture over 100 meters from it. In other words, around the Square, along part of Soi 22, and Queen's Park Plaza. And I was *cautious* as I went about. But I saw very little water-fighting. And in the few cases I did see, the combatants politely stopped shooting their water cannons etc. long enough to let passersby get past -- unmolested. It was delightful. I'm aware that it *was* wild in other places, notably Khao San Road, Nana Plaza, and Soi Cowboy in the capital. And reports from Pattaya say it was sheer madness just about EVERY place around down there. But such is EXPECTED in those places. Anyway, I was actually able to *enjoy* Songkhran -- for the first time. Bail Denied Duangchalerm I was scarcely alone in my amazement when I learned a court in Bangkok denied Duangchalerm's request for release from jail on a bail offered by his Father, Police Captain Chalerm, who is a very influential person. But reports say Pol. Cpt. Chalerm has indicated he may appeal the decision, though it's not clear (to me, anyway) that's there is any court to which he can appeal. But I'm sure more will come of this story. * * * * * * * * * * SARS Scare The newly-identified SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) that appears to have originated in southern China has badly rattled this part of the world. And it is affecting economies around the region, a region that has had more than its fair share of financial gloom and doom ever since the mid-1997 economic crash that started right here in Thailand with the collapse of the baht. There is uncertainty regarding the precise situation here, as I've heard and read conflicting reports. In any case, as recently as last night the highest number I had heard claimed for the total number of cases in Thailand was nine. Thai health authorities have instituted screening of arrivals from countries designated as sources of SARS (China, Singapore, etc.) A few people have complained about the delay, but in fact, according to the great majority of people with whom I've spoken who have arrived via the airport here since the screening began say the delay is just a few minutes. Just yesterday I was startled when one acquaintance objected because in his view, just to take a person's temperature and listen to see if the person has a suspicious cough is not nearly enough to intercept potential SARS victims effectively. I myself stand 100% behind the Thai health authorities on this one. But there's one point that some people are making, but the point keeps getting lost in all the hysteria. That is this: so far, SARS has killed just 6% of the people who've contracted it, and well over 80% have recovered without extreme medical intervention -- no intensive care and no respiratory assistance. So, a fairly small percentage *have* required major medical intervention, another 6% have died -- but the fact remains that 94% have recovered. Unless these percentages change for the worse -- considerably worse -- the scenes we hear reported out of Beijing, for example, of people stripping supermarket shelves bare of daily necessities seem rather extreme. Over-reaction. Panic. Mass hysteria. Whatever you want to call it. Of course I'm not advocating ignoring it -- not at all. But we don't need to move into siege thinking, not just yet. * * * * * * * * * * A Vatana Asavahame Comeback? Vatana Asavahame is reported to be re-entering the political arena to try to save the Rassadorn Party, which he helped found and which is dying. Western readers may best remember Khun Vatana for the very interesting defense he offered in a very public row with the U.S. embassy here some years back when U.S. officials refused him a visa. He demanded a public explanation, and persisted, despite U.S. officials' usual refusal to do so. As the row heated up, the U.S. decided to do as requested, and announced American law enforcement personnel believed Khun Vatana was involved in the illicit drug trade. Of course, Khun Vatana was outraged, and was widely reported at the time to have said words to the effect of "The people have voted me into office nine times -- how can I be guilty?" These several years later I'm *still* scratching me head over that one. * * * * * * * * * * Tourists Numbers Up? In the past 2 weeks or so, I've noticed some increase in the number of patrons in bars, restaurants, and the like. I hope this bodes well for the nation and for individuals employed in the tourism sector.If my anecdotal observations turn out to be correct, it will be a relief that the war in Iraq and SARS haven't devastated the tourism industry. * * * * * * * * * * Gulf War II The war has been as much the source of great controversy here as it has been many other places. Fortunately, we've seen no trouble here. I've heard, but don't know for sure, that early on P.M. Thaksin got together with representatives of all religious groups and basically ordered them not to get into conflict. In any case, we've seen virtually none. My guess is we foreigners debate it much more than do our Thai hosts. * * * * * * * * * * New Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 33 Have heard of a new Soi 33 bar, located in the former Chelsea Pub and called "The Cave." Reports say one's first drink is something like 900 baht, with additional drinks running in the 200-300 baht range. Apparently the bar has Patpong-style shows, with a slant towards fetishes. While such shows are not my style and such prices are just too stratospheric for me, show or no show, if you like fetish displays and don't mind the prices, now you know where you can go. * * * * * * * * * * Queen's Park Plaza Update I remain perplexed why QPP isn't doing better than it is, given it has been in operation 18 months now and is situated practically next to 2 hotels, with others not much further away. Some have hazarded the guess that on the one hand, given the flesh trade, it is unappealing to families and others not desiring even to enter such places, while on the other hand, booze, pool, and darts repeated around the plaza umpteen times in conjunction with no go-go shows makes the venue too tame for some folks. Maybe they're right. Three of the QPP bars have closed, two of them closing yet again. Presumably they're for sale. A few of the places are doing fine -- Moonshine Restaurant-Bar, Sugar Shack Bar, and a couple others. Do explore the plaza when you're in the area. If nothing else, fans of Thai food can get an excellent range of food at the outdoor restaurant towards the back of the plaza. * * * * * * * * * * Nanapong Message Board for Information [If you start reading the item below and think you've seen it before, then you must have read it in my most "recent" column, i.e., November 21, 2002. But I'm running it again as a reminder.] I'd like to remind readers that a great source of up-to-date information, especially about the Sukhumvit area, is the superb message board run by the fine folks over at www.Nanapong.com. There are all sorts of topics covered, and they aren't restricted to Bangkok or the bar scene. But do use adult judgment regarding viewing of the site by children, as some of the comments can be pretty, um, "earthy." As with any message/discussion board, it's better for you to read a fair number of messages to get an idea of the flavour and feel of the board. It's also important to remember that the moderator's do NOT like flaming, nor anything objectionable such as racist statements, etc. -- and the moderators WILL delete an offending post forthwith, and, if need be, block an offender who just won't get with the program and follow the rules. Oh -- I wouldn't mind your telling the Nanapongers you heard about their board from BangkokAtoZ.com! (Hey, every little plug helps!) * * * * * * * * * * Sad Notes There have been several deaths in recent months. Most recently, the well-known (and well-connected) Jack Shirley died 2 weeks ago down in Pattaya. He had been around Thailand going back to the 1950's. Jack was 76. Back on December 29th, the widely-popular "Sailor" John Cassiba passed away. He was 72. Sometime earlier in the year, our former contributing writer Hardy Stockmann passed away; I didn't learn of it until sometime after his death. John, Jack, and Hardy all three leave behind Thai wives. Most recently, a well-known fixture on Washington Square, a Thai travel agent everyone has always called "Travel Agent Charlie" passed away. Charlie was long divorced and never had children. He is survived by one brother and some other relatives. I didn't know Jack well, though I did know both John and Charlie quite well. All three are sorely missed. * * * * * * * * * * Change of Hands in Jomtien The lease held by the likeable Brad and Yui on the Moonshine on Jomtien Beach Road Soi 4 expired this month, and Ott has resumed running it. This is a great little guesthouse I've mentioned before. The regulars are faithful, and most of the staff long-serving, so many people know each other. For 500 baht you get a clean room with cable TV, air-conditioning, and a hot-water shower -- PLUS an hearty American breakfast. Definitely worth considering for your base of operations when you find yourself in the area. * * * * * * * * * * 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. * * * * * * * * * * Travelers' Tales Got a "Traveler's Tale"? -- send me a line! MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com * * * * * * * * * * Link Exchange 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). * * * * * * * * * * Until next time -- Sawasdee khrap! 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 |
