When I was in kindergarten, the King was hospitalized for something. A flu, maybe. Anyway, I thought it was a good idea to write him a get well note. My note said something along the line of, “Dear sir, please get well soon. The country needs you. Please be good and take the medicine that the Queen gives you. When you’re well, I’ll come play the piano for you if you’d like.” Pretty much my mom knew a lady who worked in the palace, and that was how my letter got delivered. Or something like that. Sometime later, someone from...
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Because I’m Thai, I took a little joy in a few jokes that flew around me today on Cambodia’s expense. Oh come on, it’s a well known feud. I’m just being patriotic. 😉 Person #1: So, how was your meeting yesterday? Person #2: It was good. We had all of these folks there. And there was a Cambodian banker there too… Person #1: Cambodian banker? You mean, the guy with the wallet? — Person #2: Apparently, they were ready to make investment in the U.S. Person #3: I don’t know. Money from Cambodia seems fishy to me. Person #4: It’s...
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Month of Celebration Songkran Festival Thai New Year actually is on April 13, but for us Thais who LOVE to party, we technically shut down the country for a week to celebrate. Out in selected parts of Bangkok, and most part of the country, folks are drenching each other with water. Oh yeah. When April is the hottest month of the year, you’d actually appreciate water being thrown at you. This is, in a sense, the best time to be in Bangkok as most of the folks return to their countryside home villages for the holiday. It’s like Los Angeles...
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The King Never Smiles by Paul M. Handley is coming out on April 16. It is a look at Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibhol in a way that no Thais would ever do: telling the story of a King as a person not a demi-god we make him to be. This summer marks the King’s 60th year on the throne, making him the longest reigning monarch in the world. The release date of this book in April is purely coincidental my ass, Yale! I don’t really object your coming out with a book, but can you show any less respect for...
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LA Times covers another Asian cultural aspect of keeping their skin “white” in Beauty and the Bleach. I LOVE to be in the sun. When I was growing up, my brothers and I pretty much lived at the Polo Club, shortened for the Royal Bangkok Sports Club Polo Club, a branch of the exclusive sports club in the city. I started off first with tennis, then I was either roaming around the grounds or out in the pool with my friends until my brothers were done with their tennis lessons in early afternoon. All three of us were so dark,...
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Ladies, I’ve read this article on the Nation online today, and I believe WE, the “modern” women, should speak out. A question of relationships: Angry, alone and writing furiously Apparently there are a few cases of Thai women expressing themselves Alanis Morissette style, completely uncharacteristic of traditional demure Thai women. As a “modern” Thai woman, I’d say, IT’S ABOUT FUCKIN’ TIME! But of course, the male dominated society, and in this case, narrow minded cheavenist pig of a columnist, has to put down women who step up and express themselves. So, here is a plea to all my Thai and...
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