Thailand Land of Smiles

Thailand in the News Week Ending 03/13/10

Talen — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:49:25 +0000

A Sea of Red in Bangkok

Picture Courtesy of The Nation

Obviously the only news this week is all surrounding the weekend march to Bangkok by the Red shirts. The Red Shirts have descended on Bangkok in large numbers and they will be heard. Thaksin may be the impetus behind the Red shirt movement and the Red shirts are happy to have him as a poster child but it’s their very real grievances against the government that’s brought them to this point. The Bangkok elite have dismissed the rural Thai people for far too long and now the Reds are making sure they can’t be ignored.

The movement leaders have claimed that this will not be a violent protest and hopefully that is the way this weekend plays out but I am willing to bet the government won’t let this transgression pass easily. The courts have already put out an arrest warrant for the head of the Red shirt movement but I doubt very seriously the police or army will be able to carry out such orders in the midst of a sea of Red shirts.

Here is hoping that the protests remain peaceful and all my friends and fellow bloggers in Bangkok stay safe and sound.

For the most up to the minute news on the Bangkok protests please check out the following sites.

The Bangkok Post

The Nation

Richard Barrow Live Updates Via Twitter

On Polyglots, the Thai Language & Time

Talen — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:15 +0000

pol·y·glot [pol-ee-glot] –adjective- able to speak or write several languages; multilingual.

Lately I’ve noticed a trend in language blogs and articles pertaining to learning languages where the emphasis in learning is placed on time more so than skill sets or fundamentals. This trend seems to have started among the polyglot set but has been steadily moving out to more conventional language learning venues little by little. Normally I wouldn’t notice such things but lately a few of these self proclaimed polyglots have tackled the Thai language and that’s something I’m deeply interested in.

Some of the more typical blogs in this new niche of language learning are drawing people in by claiming they will learn a specific language in 3, 6 or 12 months, fluently. I’m not going to point out any specific blogs but a quick Google search will head you in the right direction.

I’m all for people challenging themselves and finding new and unique ways to learn languages, we all seem to tackle language learning in our own ways. I am more of a visual learner who really excels when submersed in the natural habitat of native speakers where others find it much easier to learn through auditory repetition or by learning to read the language before speaking it.

No matter what type of learner you are you will always be interested in different ideas and methods which might help you learn more or even learn faster. It was with this interest in mind that I stumbled upon more than a few of these new language blogs. Call it arrogance, positive thinking or just plain hubris, these authors really believe they will be fluent in the chosen languages they set out to learn in very little time.

The one consistent theme throughout these blogs and articles by polyglots is the word Fluent. They challenge themselves to become fluent in a given language under time constraints that just don’t seem feasible and it would seem that their definition of the word “fluent” is often very fluid and changeable. While, to most of us, fluency is still perceived as a very rigid word, not one used lightly when talking about learning any language much less Thai.

flu·ent [floo-uhnt] –adjective-1.spoken or written with ease: fluent French.2.able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily: a fluent speaker; fluent in six languages.3.easy; graceful: fluent motion; fluent curves.4.flowing, as a stream.5.capable of flowing; fluid, as liquids or gases.6.easily changed or adapted; pliant

If you go to one of the many Thai language resources online such as Catherine Wentworth’s Women Learning Thai… and some men too you’ll see the differences in how she and the language learners she interviews perceive word fluency. On Catherine’s blog she has interviewed over 20 Thai language learners/speakers who come from very diverse backgrounds and have studied the Thai language anywhere from a few years to a few decades. Some of these people are polyglots in their own right. But, as you read each interview the same themes take shape time and time again with an emphasis on the fundamentals. Although some of these people have lived in Thailand and have spoken Thai for decades, none of them profess to be fluent in the Thai language.

As most travelers to the Kingdom will tell you, whether they spent 2 weeks or 2 months in Thailand, they came back with a healthy vocabulary of Thai words and phrases and a retention rate that is better than average. I have a theory as to why this is, being in a relaxed environment, exploring your surroundings and generally enjoying yourself is very conducive to not only learning a new language but to retaining what you have learned as well.

To that extent some of these new type language blogs are getting it partly right as in they all subscribe to learning in a native speaking environment to some extent by submersing yourself into the native culture.

I’m not downing these polyglots, I think it’s great that they are challenging themselves and their readers to learn Thai and other languages. Generally I think they share a great attitude towards learning, but on the other hand I think they are doing a disservice to their readers who are looking to them for more information on learning a language and are being given some tricks and hints that they can supposedly use to become fluent in their chosen language in 3. 6 or 12 months. The readers and supporters of these blogs are doing themselves a disservice as well in many cases because they are looking for the quick fix when there are none when it comes to learning a language fluently.

I myself am not fluent in Thai and am just beginning my journey towards hopefully one day being proficient in the Thai language and I share that goal with many other Thai bloggers who have taken up a second language later in life. While I don’t write specifically about the language it definitely comes up from time to time as it does on other Thai blogs that I recommend such as My Thai Friend, Beyond the Mango Juice, Behind the Noodle Curtain and quite a few more that can be found on the links page. We share a common thread in that learning the Thai language will enhance a love we already have for the country and it’s culture.

The one thing I think many of us have realized in learning Thai is that it’s not a sprint but a marathon. Slow and steady may not have us fluent in the language in a few months but I think it will give us a deeper appreciation and better understanding of the language and hopefully that will translate well to the Thai’s we communicate with.

I’ve also come to suspect that a lot of these self proclaimed polyglots are just that, “self proclaimed”. Being able to memorize sets of words and a handful of phrases is much different than being fluent and holding a conversation with a native speaker. If this were the case I would definitely be considered a polyglot because I am able to curse people out in at least 6 languages and I am always up to the task of learning even more, but that does not a polyglot make…although, it is good fun in the right situations.

I guess what I am trying to say is, take everything you hear or read regarding language learning with a grain of salt and don’t impose any limits upon yourself or your learning. Find the methods that best suit you and the right atmosphere to learn in and you will be infinitely more happy with your progress and your goals will become more clear.

I have to confess that besides learning the Thai language I have personally taken it upon myself to teach Thai’s what little Spanish I know. While not as rewarding as one might think there is nothing more priceless than hearing a Thai girl sing La Cucaracha for the first time

Spanish	English
La cucaracha, la cucaracha,	The cockroach, the cockroach,
ya no puede caminar	can’t walk anymore
porque no tiene, porque le falta	because it doesn’t have, because it’s lacking
las dos patitas de atrás.	its two back feet.

Thailand’s Hidden Gem

Talen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:29:40 +0000

Going back through some older posts I came across one I had written some time ago entitled And you Thought You Knew About Thailand. It’s always cool to learn new and interesting things about some place or thing that you love. Such as The King of Thailand is an American citizen or the fact that it is illegal in Thailand to go out without wearing underwear.

One entry on the ever growing list of interesting Thailand facts has puzzled me for a while so I thought I would dig a little deeper and see what I could find out. The King of Thailand possesses the largest faceted diamond in the world, the Golden Jubilee. Most people have heard of this diamond but there is very little information out there on the subject and even fewer pictures.

In 1985 a brown diamond was uncovered at the Premier mine in South Africa that weighed in at a whopping 755.5 carats uncut. The Star of Africa, weighing in at 530.20 carats, held the title of the worlds largest cut diamond from 1908 until 1985 when the brown diamond was uncovered and cut to a weight of 545.67 carats, making it the largest cut diamond in the world.

This unnamed brown diamond had a very awkward beginnings. Colorless and blue diamonds are very sought after but the brown diamonds are the ugly ducklings of the family and generally worth much less. The unnamed brown diamond was given to Gabriel Tolkowsky by De Beers for the purpose of testing special tools and cutting methods which had been developed for intended use on the flawless D-colour (“colourless”) Centenary diamond. These tools and techniques had never been tested before, and the large unnamed brown diamond seemed the perfect stone to test them on. After all if the new methods employed to cut the stone went amiss it would be no great loss.

What happened next was a surprise to all. The new methods worked better than expected and the unnamed brown diamond turned out to be a very beautiful yellow brown diamond in a fire rose cushion cut. Once cut the the stone weighed in at 545.67 carats which was 15.37 carats heavier than it’s sister stone the flawless Culinan I which was selected and later renamed to the Centenary to promote herald De Beer’s centennial celebrations.

The still unnamed diamond took a small tour of the world when it was brought to Thailand by the Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association to be exhibited in the Thai Board of Investment Exhibition in Laem Chabang. The exhibition garnered so much attention that there were daily lines of over 1 mile long just to see the yellow-brown stone.

Skipping forward to 1995, a group of Thai businessmen led by one Henry Ho purchased the 545.67 carat diamond from the De Beers group with the intention of presenting it to the King of Thailand in 1997 in recognition of his 50th year on the throne. Before the presentation was made though the diamond still had several trips to make. The first was to the Vatican where the diamond would receive the Papal blessing by Pope John Paul II and then back to Thailand where it would be blessed by the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch and the Supreme Imam in Thailand.

The diamond was then presented to King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 50th anniversary of his coronation day in 1997 where the King gave the diamond it’s name, The Golden Jubilee. Initial plans were to mount the Golden Jubilee in the Royal Scepter, later discussions centered around mounting the stone in the Royal Seal. Neither has ever happened.

The Golden Jubilee Diamond has been exhibited at Henry Ho’s 59-story Jewelry Trade Center in Bangkok, the Central Department Store in Lad Prao (Bangkok) Thailand, and internationally in Basel (Switzerland), Borsheims in Omaha, USA (owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.), and Gleims Jewelers in Palo Alto, USA. The Golden Jubilee now resides in the Royal Thai Palace as part of the crown jewels.

An interesting aside to the diamond has to do with the financial collapse of the markets across South East Asia in 1997. Fearing that the people of Thailand would see this gift as too opulent and an arrogant purchase in such economic times, the Thai government decided it would be best to down play the gift and tell the people that the King was gifted a large Topaz.

To this day most Thai’s still believe the Golden Jubilee is a large Topaz and not the worlds largest cut diamond. It’s believed that this reasoning is what kept the diamond from being mounted in the Royal Scepter or the Royal Seal and definitely why there are so few pictures of the diamond after 25 years.

Thailand Kite Festival 2010, Coloring the Sky

Talen — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:06 +0000

Thailand’s 11th annual international kite festival will be held March 13th-14th this year at Mrigadayavan Palace , Naresuan Camp , Amphoe Cha-am , . Festivities will be held from 9am to 9pm each day.

Kite flying has a long and distinguished reputation in Thailand, since the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods among the royalty as well as ordinary people. However, the Royal Household’s law forbade that no one could fly a kite over the palace; otherwise, punishment by law would be enforced. Although I can’t find a reference to the specified punishment I would bet at the very least you would lose your kite and kite flying privileges for a while.

The Chula-Pakpao kites were created in the Ayutthaya period and the competition had been held until the Rattanakhosin period. King Rama ll was fond of Chula kite fighting with the Pakpao kite of his brother. Westerners compared the Chula kite as a male and Pakpao kite as a female, which was similar to the Thai social value in that period that males dominated female. Kite flying was also the most popular sport in king Rama IV, kite flying at Sanam Luang inside the Dusit Palace, and had a kite flying competition held at Dusit Palace in 1856, where he presided over himself. In the reign of King Rama VI, kite flying was restored as a sport and Phraya Phirom PhaKdi organized a kite flying competition at Sanam Luang. After World war II, the Siam Sport Club held an annual kite flying competition.

The tourism authority of Thailand held the first international kite festival in 1989 and has held the festival every year since then, although in many different arenas from Pattaya to this years event in Phetchaburi province at the Mrigadayavan Palace. The site this year was chosen due to it’s capacity to accommodate many tourists and competitors.

Among the many colorful and beautiful kites being flown the festival will also consist of the many folowing events.

4 regions Thai Kite Flying Shows

International Kite Flying Show

International Night Flying Show

Demonstration and exhibition of Thai Kites

Demonstration of the Chula- Pakpao Kite Fighting

Competition and demonstration of Stunt Kite

Fast kite Flying Contest

Fighting Kite Show

Flat Kite Contest

Invention of creative kites

Kite stall Contest

Kite street market and clinic

Art for children

As well as kite events there will also be a parachute show, a radio controlled airplane show and competition, tours through Mrigadayavan Palace and an energy saving car rally. As with any Thai festival there will be plenty of food and handicraft booths everywhere to keep you occupied as well. This annual event is really one not to be missed and definitely one of the more colorful events of the year.

Below is the official Tourism Authority video showing the kite festival through the years which should give you an idea of the fun in store for you. And for more information on upcoming events in Thailand please check out the Thailand Events Calender.

Thailand in the News Week Ending 03/06/10

Talen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:59:55 +0000

Thailand Refuses Sister of the Dalai Lama

Thailand has refused to grant a tourist visa to the sister of the Dalai Lama for fear of angering China, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Jetsun Pema, the younger sister of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, who like her brother lives in India, was due to take part in a three-day cultural show in Bangkok beginning Friday until the Thai embassy in New Delhi refused her.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand’s foreign minister said:

We support the cultural show but in the case of the Dalai Lama’s sister we have reserved our right to reject her visa application along with her husband’s because we don’t want to get involved in international politics.

The 69 year old sister of the Tibetan monk was due to give a speech on Buddhist education for Tibetan exiles that the Ministry feared would touch on Chinese politics in the region.

It’s quite sad that as independent as Thailand would like to think it is, it is really just another of China’s lackeys in this oppression of the Tibetan people. You would think that the Thai government would have learned some invaluable lessons from the Japanese during their occupation of the Kingdom and why bowing to such governments only serves to make you weak in the eyes of the world. Then again the handling of the whole Thaksin debacle has really left no doubt as to the toothlessness of the Thai government.

Getting Out the Vote

In what is probably the most important news this week FHM Thailand is in dire need of readers to select a winner in Thailand’s Girl Next Door Contest. They’ve narrowed the field down to the top ten and now need to find the winner. This will be a very tough job, as you can see they field is literally littered with beautiful Thai women. Remember, voting is a right and a privilege and should always be taken seriously. In these important and dark times your vote counts now more than ever.

We need to show support for FHM Thailand as it’s the only true source of unequaled and unbiased political discussion in the Kingdom. Alright, that was a lie. I don’t know what they write about because I still can’t read Thai…even if I could I would still be too distracted by the pictures to care. Speaking of which:

Knit One Pearl Two the Thai Way

Talen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:21:01 +0000

It wasn’t long ago that knitting and crocheting were a popular pastime for women in the United States, as a matter of fact it was a pretty big industry as well. Obviously these were serious skills that were needed throughout the beginning of the country that took a back seat after the industrial revolution when machines made clothes faster and cheaper.

Even so knitting and crocheting were still very popular especially through the periods of the 1950’s to the 1970’s. There were yarn stores on every corner and it was commonplace to see a knitting basket in most living rooms with an ample supply of yarn and usually a half finished piece laying on top. Since the 70’s it’s a rarity to see any of these things in America. Sure, there are still women that enjoy the craft but they are few and far between these days.

During my first trip to Bangkok I found myself wandering the city most days, getting lost and enjoying the new sights I would see during my exploration. One day I stopped in a small beer bar to escape the afternoon heat and replenish myself with a nice cold beer when I saw something I hadn’t seen in almost 20 years. The cashier was intently crocheting rounded patterns and her friend was knitting them into a sweater.

The first thing that ran through my head was the fact that Bangkok holds the title of the hottest city on the planet followed by just what were these Thai women knitting sweaters for? Through my travels I ran into more and more Thai women knitting and crocheting. They were not only very good at it they wasted not one stitch. Sweater, hats, the occasional scarf and drink coasters…lots and lots of drink coasters.

The majority of knitting that I saw being done was by women from rural Thailand who were working in the tourist area’s to send money home. It wasn’t until my first trip up country to North East Thailand that I realized the truth behind the sweaters. From January to the middle of March it can get quite chilly at night. There was more to it than that of course. While spending time in rural Thailand over many trips it became apparent that many women still knitted and crocheted to clothe their babies and small children. Baby blankets, booties and hats to keep their little heads warm were just a few of the things they made.

While these crafts are slowly dying out in America they are still going strong among rural Thai’s but you can see it won’t be long before the slow decline begins here as well. All of Pookie’s Aunts and older cousins knit and crochet but Pookie and the younger family members can’t be bothered with it.

My last trip to Mukdahan had me spending some time in the village with the grand parents and Pookies cousin. Her cousin was 4 months pregnant at the time and she was furiously crocheting away. I only spent a few days in Mukdahan before moving on to Nakhon Phanom but I never once saw Pookie’s cousin without needles in her hand intently working on more pieces that would be knitted together at a later time.

Keep an eye out during your travels though Thailand and you’ll start to see it more and more, and if you are real lucky you might get a scarf or a hat out of the deal…I did.

Thailand Tourist Visa’s Free Again

Talen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:19:34 +0000

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports have asked the government to extend the tourism stimulus measures for another year and yesterday deputy government spokesman Watchara Kannika confirmed that the the measures will be extended from April 1, 2010 and go through to March 31, 2011.

The free tourist visa measure was set to expire on March 5, 2010 and it looks like it still will and there will be a period of 3 weeks where the tourist visa will again be charged for before the April 1st stimulus measures start.The good news is that coupled with the free tourist visa initiative each foreign tourist will also be granted $10,000 of free riot insurance which will cover their trip in the event that things get dicey on the political front. The insurance policy provides for payments of up to $10,000 in the event of death, injury, and/or trip inconvenience, and will only cover people in possession of a 60-day tourist visa.

The Riot insurance was first instituted last year between the months of May and October when many foreign tourists complained that they couldn’t buy trip insurance due to Thailand’s ongoing political instability. The trip insurance will cost the Thai government $1.00 per tourist or about 15 million dollars over the next year.

Full measures cited in this stimulus package include:

Visa fee exemption for foreign tourists.
Helping state agencies hold seminars and field trips in the country to boost domestic spending.
Cutting the electricity consumption guarantee fund for hotel operators.
Reduced aircraft landing and parking fees.
Providing free-of-charge riot protection insurance worth US$10,000 for each foreign tourist.
Allowing business operators who organize domestic seminars, training courses and tourist destination trips for employees to deduct the cost for tax purposes.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports noted that tourism was down by 3% from 2008-2009 and they feel that continuing the stimulus measures will help bring tourism numbers back up to where they are expected to be for 2010. It’s estimated by the Ministry that 15.3 to 15.5 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand in 2010.

All in all some very good news to anyone visiting the Kingdom of Thailand this year for an extended stay.

Thailand in the News Week Ending 02/27/10

Talen — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:01:01 +0000

Thaksin, Thaksin, Thaksin…

This was most probably the most boring week in Thailand news since the coup back in 2006. Everyone had Thaksin and the Supreme Courts verdict on their mind, and everyone wrote about it as well. As I suspected when I wrote last weeks news wrap up, the Courts only took a portion of Thaksins frozen assets, a little more than half, and all parties involved saw it as a win for their team. Thaksin, of course, is showing some protest to the verdict but only enough to help draw attention to himself and his cause…returning to Thailand.

Even if they would have taken all of Thaksin’s frozen assets it wouldn’t have come close to putting a dent in his actual worth. You can bet he has accounts all over the world in countries that have no problem hiding his assets for a small price. What was taken in Fridays verdict was only a fraction of Thaksin’s actual worth.

Now the real game begins for all involved. Thaksin has been biding his time through a court case where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to two years in jail, through a divorce from his long time wife , to limit her exposure, and now through the asset seizure that has been in the courts for over a year. What is the next step for Thaksin?

Now that these minor annoyances are out of his way you can bet Thaksin will be concentrating on the one thing that stands in his way of holding a political seat in Thailand again, the two year jail sentence handed down some time ago. Thaksin is smart, he has leveraged neighboring Cambodia to be closer to his beloved red shirts and by doing so he has reinvigorated the red shirt movement and made sure he has a base to operate from in case things don’t work through diplomatic channels concerning his return to Thailand.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you’ll not only see Thaksin return to Thailand but you will see him hold political office again as well. With all other matters settled that jail term is the only thing standing in Thaksin’s way, but not for long. There won’t be a coup attempt for the same reason there was no violence on Friday when the verdict was read, because Thaksin is smart and he knows that any violence will leave him with a stain he won’t be able to wash off.

No, Thaksin is smart and he has a lot of money at his disposal. Look for him to start making diplomatic inroads to the courts and prosecutors soon. It’s nothing for a politician of any country to make a sweetheart deal after they have been convicted. Not long ago the Mayor of my city was charged, tried, and convicted of embezzlement. Instead of appealing the case she made a deal where she would see no jail time, she would make restitution, and the kicker? She would receive her pension for the rest of her life. You can look for the same with Thaksin and sooner rather than later.

Within the next two years (give or take a day) you will bear witness to Thaksin’s triumphant return to Thailand. He will most probably do little to no actual jail time at all ( he may even appeal the case, and win), he will pay a hefty fine and he will most likely be barred from politics for a short period of time…at least until he can manipulate the right persons to pardon him.

Thaksin has played the culture of Thailand like a fine violin. He knows what the government fears and he is the puppet master in this show of saving face and heading off violence. Thaksin has proven again and again that the current sitting government in Thailand is toothless and weak when it comes to dealing with him and you can bet he will use this soft white underbelly to worm his way back into the political heart of the country.

Bangkok Jazz Festival 2010

Talen — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:42:24 +0000

The 2010 Bangkok Jazz festival is coming up March 9th through the 14th at Central World with many international and local acts performing on two stages. You can get more information on tickets and acts at The Bangkok Jazz Festival web site. Below you’ll find the line up of acts playing this year. All in all March is shaping up to be a good month for events in Thailand, for more information on upcoming events please check out the Thailand Event Calender.

Main Stage : Air conditioning roof top

Tuesday, March 9

19.00 Christian McBride & Inside Straight

20.30 Annekei

Wednesday, March 10

19.00 Chieli Minucci and Special EFX

20.30 Randy Brecker / Bill Evans Soulbop Special Edition with Steve Lukather, Robben Ford, Darryl Jones, Rodney Holmes and Steve Weingart.

Thursday, March 11

19.00 Inger Marie

20.30 Melody Gardot

Friday, March 12

19.00 Tick Shiro & The Tree of Voice

20.30 Jazz Kamikaze

Saturday, March 13

19.00 Mariko Endo

20.30 Nat & Padcha (AF)

Sunday,March 14

19.30 Jirapan & Blue Sapphire

20.30 Bob James, Nathan East, Jack Lee, Lewis Pragasam

Educational & Cultural Stage : (Open Stage )

Tuesday, March 9

18.00 Fat Free (ABAC)

19.00 Bangkaitia (Silapakorn)

20.00 Barry Likumahuwa Project (Indonesia)

Wednesday, March 10

18.00 Duriyasilp (?????)

19.00 Lanatino

20.00 Youn Sun Nah ( Korea ) + ULF Wakanius Duo

Thursday, March 11

18.00 Undergray (Silapakorn)

19.00 Gasgiant (ABAC)

20.00 MoonArra ( India )

Friday, March 12

18.00 Wednesday April (Rangsit)

19.00 Pamelo Town (Mahidol)

20.00 JFK (Philippines)

Saturday, March 13

18.00 MJO (Mahidol)

19.00 Mansri (Silapakorn)

20.00 Tokyo Blue

Sunday,March 14

18.00 CU Band

19.00 Changton Kunjara 4et

20.00 pe’z (Japan)

Keeping Score in Thailand

Talen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:54:10 +0000

It’s not usually easy to tell who is who politically or otherwise in most countries, luckily in Thailand there is an obscure law that demands people show themselves for who they really are. Red shirts, yellow shirts, green shirts and more all signify a different faction that you should familiarize yourself with before traveling to the Kingdom. The below descriptions should give you a head start on figuring out the color coded fashions of Thailand.

The yellow shirt used to be a simple matter because every day of the week has a color associated with it. Yellow is the color for Monday and Monday happens to be the day that the King was born on. You would always see Thai’s wearing yellow on Mondays to honor their beloved King but that was before the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took over the color as their battle flag against the red shirts, the Thai Rak Thai party who became the PPP, The PPP and anything Thaksin.

Most notable accomplishment: 2006 coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin.

Natural Habitat: airports, government buildings and wherever the red shirts are.

Now the Yellow shirt is seen as more as the fashion statement of the Bangkok Elite.

What about the KIng? Please refer to Pink Shirt.

The red shirt is the battle flag of The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). They are comprised of Thailand’s rural poor who support ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin rose to power by courting the rural Thai’s and promising many changes to make their lives better.

As Prime Minister Thaksin made good on those promises while using his power to line his own pockets through many corrupt business deals. Ousted in the 2006 coup, Thaksin has been gathering his army of red shirts to protest the new government and help him come back to Thailand with immunity from prosecution.

Natural Habitat: government buildings, hotel conference centers and wherever som tam is being served.

The red shirts love the king but can’t wear yellow or they might be thought of as PAD supporters when they are really Thaksin supporters.

Green shirts are the new yellow shirts . The People’s Alliance for Democracy who were once a movement to defeat Thaksin have decided that now they want to be a political party and everyone knows that when you start a new political party you need a new shirt color. So now green is the new yellow but red shirts still won’t wear yellow because the green shirts used to wear yellow and the red shirts don’t want to be seen as supporting the yellow shirts even though now they are the green shirts.

There is also the hope that by changing colors from yellow to green that people might forget that the yellow shirts shut down the airport and generally have been a pain in the ass since the coup.

What about the poor King , can he go back to being yellow shirt again? Please refer to Pink shirts.

The Blue shirts first came on the scene when the Yellow shirts took over the airport in Bangkok. The Yellow shirts blockaded the airport to protest the Peoples Power Party (PPP) who was the old Thai Rak Thai Party that Thaksin Shinawatra was the leader of. It wasn’t enough they ousted the prime minister they then wanted to disband his party even though his party was disbanded by the government only to reform as the PPP that the Yellow shirts wanted disbanded.

The Yellow shirts succeeded in removing the PPP but not before pissing off the Blue Shirts who represented the working man and the nations utilities. By closing down the airports they not only put a hurting on tourism but on the the Blue shirts pocketbooks.

The Blue Shirts have no love for the Red Shirts either after the Red Shirts invaded the ASEAN Summit in Pattaya by breaking down the doors to the conference and generally scaring the shit out of more than a few world leaders. The blue shirts engaged the Red Shirts with all manner of sticks and bats and generally had the approval of Thailand’s military who didn’t stop them because everyone knows the military is on the Yellow Shirts side, probably even more so now that they are green.

The Pink Shirt came into being in 2007 when the King was hospitalized. Royal astrologers came to the conclusion that Pink was a good color for the Kings health. When the King left the hospital in November of 2007 he was indeed wearing a Pink Shirt and a Pink jacket which started a mad rush throughout Thailand for Pink Shirts in honor of the King.

The King who normally wore darker colored suits has since been seen wearing a whole range of colors which led to speculation that there would also be a run on Green and Blue Shirts but unfortunately those colors have been taken. Now Thai’s like to wear Pink Shirts to wish the King good luck and good health. Some still wear yellow shirts but generally they don’t want to be associated with the PAD movement who also doesn’t want to be associated with itself and that’s why they are now Green Shirts.

Long live the King and may no one steal his color again!

The Light Blue – Blue Shirt is the color for Friday in Thailand which is also the Queens day of birth. Wearing a Blue shirt usually signifies respect for the Queen. You will still see many Thai’s wearing Blue on Friday for the Queen and it is usually a light blue. Thankfully no one has stolen the Queens color but I have a feeling that eventually the PAD will take blue because as we all know, by combining yellow and green you wind up with blue so it makes sense that the once yellow shirts that are now green shirts will someday be blue shirts by washing of said yellow shirts and green shirts together.

You’ll have no doubt noticed that I sometimes capitalized the shirt colors and sometimes did not. Being as I intend on returning to Thailand in the near future I wanted to assure I have given due respect or disrespect to the various colors so I can lie my ass off if cornered.

Here are a few more shirts to be on the look out for when in Thailand…while generally harmless they are always good for a laugh.

Newbies first trip to Pattaya. Easily recognizable, you will have no doubt you are dealing with a first timer to Pattaya. If you are said first timer remember this shirt and buy it immediately upon arriving in Pattaya and make sure you wear it your first night in town so everyone knows you are new to the town. When the vacation is over and you go home make sure to wear this shirt every weekend so people will ask you all about Pattaya.

Newbies second trip to Pattaya. Not wanting to be seen as a newb by wearing the newbies first trip to Pattaya t-shirt the newbie will purchase the Same Same shirt to signify his second trip to the Land of Smiles. Some newbies make the newbie mistake of buying this shirt their first trip but this is generally looked down upon by the older newbies and should not be done. Make sure to buy this shirt during your first visit to the market during your second trip to Pattaya. Yes, there are other places besides bars and hotel rooms in Pattaya.

This shirt is pretty self explanatory. Usually bought as a joke referring to how Thai women in the entertainment industry see the foreign men that come to court them. Sadly this is typically worn by a newbie who thinks by making light of being a walking ATM won’t make him look like a walking ATM but all the girls already know he is a walking ATM because there is an invisible tattoo on his forehead that was put there when leaving his brains at the immigration line at the airport which clearly states ” Walking ATM”.

Typically worn by the newbie that went to Bangkok first for a few days but then wears it in Pattaya as to not look like a newbie. Usually buys the ATM shirt soon after. When he gets home he will wear this shirt as often as possible hoping that you will ask him if he has been to Bangkok.

At this point you will be assailed by a man on a mission who is very similar to street corner evangelists. They both will tell you that you are going to hell but the Newbie Bangkok shirt wearer will generally be able to describe it better with visual aids, directions and phone numbers if needed.

This shirt is worn by the jaded expat who can’t be bothered to say Mai ow, krup anymore. He sits in one of the many beer bars in the kingdom and gets hassled every 10 minutes by someone selling, dvd’s, pictures, pictures with snakes, roses, watches, suit sellers, stun gun marketers and generally every Thai working in the tourist industry that saw him wearing the newbie t-shirts in his earlier years of traveling the Kingdom.

The Thai word for foreigner is Farang or Falang. Typically anyone wearing this shirt wants to make sure that there is no confusion on the part of the local Thai’s as to the fact that he isn’t a Thai himself. He is also telling the local Thai’s that he would like to pay even more than the regular Falang price which is already twice the Thai price.

Last, but most definitely not least, is the t-shirt worn by the guy who wants you to know that he is absolutely not gay…he just happens to like other men who look like women but still have their willies attached. Besides it’s not gay if they have big breasts and you don’t touch the twig and berries…well, not too gay anyway.

While this article may have contained some factual evidence for the colors of shirts in Thailand for the most part this was a tongue and cheek look at an incredibly twisted color code that influences daily events in the Kingdom. No offense was meant to anyone, especially the Pattaya newbies considering we were all one once and I happened to be the one wearing the Bangkok shirt

Thailand in the News Week Ending 2/20/10

Talen — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:39:51 +0000

Bangkok Braces for Thaksin Court Verdict

Photo Courtesy AP/Sakchai Lalit, File

The big news this week is the coming verdict in the Thaksin Shinawatra Supreme Court case. The Supreme court has been deciding whether or not to confiscate Thaksin’s fortunes which have been frozen for some time due to corruption allegations. The issue at hand for the Supreme Court is to determine if the money Thaksin made during his reign as Prime Minister was made by illegally using his influence in business dealings for himself and family members.

Many countries have posted warnings and advisories to travelers and expats alike that Bangkok is not the place to be in the coming week due to the likelihood of violence centered around the verdict to be handed down by the Supreme Court next Friday.

With the uproar of the red shirts and thousands of police and army personnel taking to the streets of Bangkok before the verdict comes down it would seem the Supreme Court holds Thailand’s future in the balance at this critical time. There are many that believe the court will decide to confiscate all of Thaksin’s fortune but it might not be that simple. The Supreme Court is in the hot seat and no matter what the decision, there is sure to be many upset with the verdict.

The Supreme Court has no doubt heard from all sides in this matter from the government to Thaksin’s people and it’s a sure bet that everyone involved wants their pound of flesh. As for Thaksin he has long made the arguement that the bulk of his fortune was made prior to becoming Prime Minister. This may leave the door open for the Supreme Court to take a higher road and piss off everyone involved.

The court has to decide if Thaksin is guilty of corruption, and if so, how his family business, Shin Corp, profited from the illegitimate business deals associated with the case. Thaksin is a savvy business man and always has been, so his point that not all the money is from his time as Prime Minister of Thailand is a legitimate claim. This gives the Supreme Court a face saving get out of jail free card that they very well may use.

It is very possible that when they hand down the verdict this coming week that they will only seize a portion of Thaksin’s assets and relinquish the balance to the ex Prime Minister. Of course this will upset everyone in the government and all of the red shirt protesters but probably not enough for violence to erupt. The red shirts wouldn’t be happy with such a verdict but they would still claim it as a victory for their deposed leader. The government on the other hand can close the case on a large portion of the Thaksin saga without losing face.

As the world watches Bangkok this week with anticipation of the verdict on Friday we can only hope that the Supreme Court has done it’s job well, taking into consideration not only the law but the impact this verdict will have on the kingdom. It may be less a case of finding against Thaksin than a case of finding for Thailand.

Elephant Nature Foundation & Park

Talen — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:34:01 +0000

As anyone that reads this blog on a regular basis knows I have a large soft spot in my heart for Thailand’s national symbol, the Asian elephant. Tourists to the kingdom will come into contact with these beautiful beasts many times throughout their travels, from Bangkok to Issan the elephant plays an important part in the tourism economy. Unfortunately most tourists don’t realize they are the sole support system for this industry of enslavement.

From being hit by speeding vehicles to being electrocuted by low hanging electrical wires these gentle giants have to persevere rough city streets and sometimes less than friendly mahouts to help earn their masters money. It’s a sad life and not one any animal should have to endure. Not long ago a baby elephant was being led out into the Bangkok streets to begin his long night of work when he fell through a large storm grate and became trapped. The poor beast remained trapped for over 12 hours while many men worked to free it. The psychological harm done to these animals can be just as severe as the physical harm done to them.

Aside from the elephants that walk the streets of the major tourist cities you will also find elephants at most of the major attractions in Thailand such as animal parks, Zoo’s and gardens. Elephant rides are a huge tourist draw but again these elephants endure the same unnatural working conditions and sometimes cruelty to perform as they do. Most elephants in the tourism industry begin their life in small cages as babies where they are prodded with sharp sticks and metal hooks to train them to perform correctly. These Elephants once trained make it into the tourism industry from street begging to the higher ranks of playing soccer or painting pictures for you.

Fortunately there are people like Sangduen “Lek” Chailert and the Elephant Nature Foundation who have devoted their lives to this cause and are doing wonderful work that you, the tourist or expat, can take part in and feel good about. Lek’s love for the Asian elephant began as a child when her grandfather, a traditional healer, saved a mans life and was given a baby elephant as payment. That baby elephant, named Tongkum, would change her life. She found that the human relationship with the elephants could easily be forged through love, kindness and rewards rather than cruel training procedures.

After going to college in Chiang Mai and earning her bachelors degree she went to work in the elephant tourism industry helping elephant trekking companies locate and secure available elephants. It was then that she discovered the darker side of the domestic elephant trade through the abuse and neglect she witnessed. Lek then began her new career as an advocate for the domestic and wild elephants of Thailand to change the traditional ways and help to educate not only the tourists but the elephant owners as well.

Through this passion the Elephant nature Foundation, a non profit charity, was born. Lek had sold everything she owned and used the profits from her travel agency to rescue elephants and and start the Elephant Nature Park in 1996. In 2003 an American wildlife charity bought and donated a 16 hectare site to the foundation where over 30 elephants live and roam today. The elephant park is a place where you can not only see the Asian elephant in their natural habitat but you can also learn more about these gentle giants and volunteer your time to help preserve this way of life for them.

A visit to the park can be a full day excursion, an over night stay and even a three week stay if you wish, you will not only learn about the Asian elephant but will also be actively helping the park to maintain and promote awareness to the plight of the Asian elephant. The cost of every visit to Elephant Nature Park directly supports the elephants and makes it possible to continue running the park.

Sangduen “Lek” Chailert is an amazing woman and she is helping to change the mindset of the tourism industry one elephant at a time. Please take the time to visit the Elephant Nature Foundation to read more about Lek and her incredible work with Thailand’s elephants and how you can help.

Thailand in the News Week Ending 02/13/10

Talen — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:32 +0000

Thailand Refuses Dalai Lama

Photo Courtesy Reuters

Even thought the Dalai Lama practices Tibetan Buddhism, a different branch of the religion from the Theravada Buddhism the Thai’s practice he is still a very revered Buddhist figure in Thailand. Even so he is now on the list of those not allowed entry to the country.

His last visit to Thailand was in 1993 for a solidarity meeting among Nobel Peace laureates, but things have changed much since then, and for reasons only known to the Thai government his visa applications have been refused since then.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why this revered Buddhist figure has been denied entry. From causes he supports such as Democracy in neighboring Burma and the release of long time political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi from Burmese jail to the long arm and influence of China who fears the man and his words.

China has done much through the years to curtail the Dalai Lama’s travels through the world spreading his words of peace and continually reminding the world of Chinese occupation of what should be an independent Tibet. China has used it’s power and influence throughout the world to bully governments into keeping the lone Buddhist monk Quiet. China even went as far as to warn the United States not to confer upon him the Congressional Gold Medal stating that it would seriously impact U.S. – China relations.

Thailand for it’s part has stated “generally, we don’t allow anyone to use Thailand as a base country to do any political activities or instigate violence in other countries.” Which is the easy way of saying we have way too much trade with China to jeopardize diplomatic relations between the countries. As it stands China has made sure that most of South East Asia is off limits to the Dalai Lama.

It never ceases to amaze me that one of the largest nations on this earth with all their military might turn into a bunch of quivering pussies due to the power one Buddhist monk wields with words alone. China has come a long way in the past 100 years and yet they are still an ass backwards country in the eyes of the world.

TAC to Begin Selling iPhone in Thailand

Rumors have been circulating for a while about a second iPhone carrier for Thailand and it seems that Total Access Communication, the second largest carrier in Thailand, has won the bid and will begin selling iPhones within the next month.

Norway’s Telenor company who is a majority owner of TAC has declined comment on this news but sources close to the company say that finishing touches are going on towards advertising and web sites dedicated to the iPhone.

True Move the original carrier of the iPhone has sold about 100,000 units in the last year and project a further 120,000 units this year. With the emergence of non voice services the market will become very competitive again as voice services are already saturated in Thailand.

Another carrier in the mix to watch out for is Advanced Info Service ADVA.BK who failed to make a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone but hopes to find another way to offer the iPhone to the Thai market.

This could be very good news to consumers because with increased competition iPhone prices and plan pricing may drop, but this is Thailand so prices could easily go the other way as well. 3G is still another consideration as it is limited throughout Thailand and the iPhone capabilities won’t be able to be utilized everywhere yet.

A New Guinness Record?

Photo Courtesy Pattaya Daily News

Well, the folks at Ripley’s Believe it or Not in Pattaya are hoping so. On Sunday February 14th, Valentines day, they held what they hope is the worlds largest speed dating festivity.

A total of 1076 people showed up to participate in the event which beats the previous held record in Germany by 129 couples set back in 2008.

This event was the largest ever undertaken by Ripley’s which took up 168 square meters of the Royal Garden Plaza’s ground floor. Thai’s and foreigners were in participation to set the record with the oldest participant being 52 and the highest educated holding a masters degree.

The participants spent 3 minutes getting to know one another before a bell signaled them to move on to the next person and a further 3 minutes. Impression cards were filled out and hopeful matches made by information filled out on the cards.

While the Guinness World Record was definitely one goal of the event the much bigger goal was to promote Pattaya as a tourist destination and it seems they did a good job.

If you want to be more technical about it, Pattaya has probably held the record for speed dating for a very long time but I don’t think any speed dating records or confirmations have been kept on soi 6 in years and I believe they would be disqualified anyway due to the fact that they are paid professionals.

Year of the Tiger

Talen — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:00:56 +0000

Happy Chinese New Year and Valentines day to everyone in Thailand and throughout Asia. This year the two events coincide so there will be all kind of festivities all weekend long.

2010 is the year of the tiger and will remain so until February 2cnd 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, and it is a sign of bravery. This courageous and fiery fighter is admired by the ancient Chinese as the sign that keeps away the three main tragedies of a household. These are fire, thieves and ghosts.

Tigers are physically powerful, gracious, independent and brave, they are extremely bold animals. They are friendly and loving but can also selfish and short tempered. Tigers seek attention and power; frequently they are envious in a relation. Tigers live dangerously which often leads to trouble. They are intolerant, take risks and are always searching for excitement. Tigers are also instilled with a good dose of courage.

The Tiger has an overpowering attraction and is very kind and always takes on the character as protector. The Tiger flourishes by power and attention and takes advantage of all circumstances it gets itself into. The Tiger is a natural leader and loves to be the centre of attention. As a rebel it goes up against authority and speaks out about wrongs in society, and willingly puts up objections. Even if you don’t agree with the beliefs of the tiger you admire his way to protest.

Just as how their counterparts in the jungle are impulsive, so too are individuals born in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. When people think of tigers, it is their vigor and power that comes to mind first. But it has also been noted that tigers are known to share and are unselfish animals. The reason people admire the tiger is due to the fact that they are ferocious and domineering on the outside, but they are just as noble and distinguished on the inside. These are the same personality attributes that persons will have who are born in the Year of the Tiger.

People that are born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Often, failing at a given duty or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a deep sense of depression.A Tiger is always at their happiest when they endeavor to climb the ladder of success. Attaining the top spot is his foremost purpose; being in a position of power is her ultimate goal. They are quick learners, need to be challenged and often prefer to work alone. Some Tigers tend to change careers more frequently because they get bored quite easily. They are natural born leaders and perform at their best if working towards positions of power and influence. So once there is no further room for progression, they will often move on to something else.

Anyone that is born in the Year of the Tiger is usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive.

People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can at all times make more.

The Year of the Tiger is the third year in the cycle of “Heavenly Branches”. Customarily, it is called “Yin”. Those born in the Year of the Tiger are compatible with the horse, dog, and dragons. The year 2010 is another Year of the Tiger. It is the ji-chou year. Jji is the sixth of the Ten Celestial Stems and yin is the third of the Twelve Terrestrial Branches and marks the Year of the Tiger.

There will be many events happening across Thailand today and all weekend long. If you are in Pattaya check out the festivities at Bali Hai Pier and if you are in Bangkok then there is no other place to be than Chinatown.

Everyone have a safe and happy New Year and remember to make your significant other feel special this Valentines day!

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival 2010

Talen — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:54:07 +0000

Mark your calenders, the Phuket International Blues Rock Festival will be happening at the end of this month on February 26th and 27th at the Hilton Acadia Resort and Spa on Karon beach in Phuket.

As usual there will be a great line up of blues/rock artists this year and all the proceeds from the event will be going to local children education charities, namely the Rotary Club of Patong and the Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation.

This year there has been a change in ticket prices and that’s an awesome thing because the tickets will actually be cheaper. If you buy your tickets in advance of the festival they will only cost you 1000 baht for both days but if you wait to buy your tickets at the gate they will cost you 1500 baht for both days. There will also be a VIP ticket available for 3000 baht that will get you into both days of the festival and into a special VIP area where the wine and beer are free, That’s a damn good price. The VIP price is for advance ticket sales only.

Tickets can be purchased at the following locations in advance of the festival:

SFX Cinema, Central Festival
Holiday Inn (Patong)
The Sandwich Shoppe (Patong)
The Sandwich Shoppe (Chalong)
The Sandwich Shoppe (Laguna)
The Phuket Gazette Offices
DaVinci Restaurant (Nai Harn)
Don’s Café (Nai Harn)
Kata Beach Resort (Kata)
The Boat House (Kata)
The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa

The Hilton Acadia is also offering ticket packages with accommodation at the resort:

Standard Package: THB 10,000 per room (2 persons):
- 2 nights’ accommodation (Friday+Saturday) in Garden View room w/breakfast for 2
- Blues Rock Tickets for 2 persons for both nights

DeLuxe Package: THB 15,000 per room (2 persons):
- 2 nights’ accommodation (Friday+Saturday) in DeLuxe Garden View room w/breakfast for 2

- Blues Rock V.I.P. tickets for 2 persons for both nights

Bookings can be made by calling the hotel reservations department at 076-396-433 (International +66 76-396-433) or by email to

reservations.phuket@hilton.com

The festival will unofficially open on Thursday the 25th with a performance by Robert One-Man Johnson at the Hilton Arcadia hotel lobby Crossroads beginning at 3pm and will continue later in the night at the Tai Pan Night Club in Patong where there will be a festival warm up session beginning at 10pm.

The full Schedule for the 2010 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival will be as follows:

Friday February 26th:

15:00: AkashA (Malaysia) Acoustic World Music at hotel lobby

17:00: Main Gates open – darts, other games, plenty of food and drink
18:00:
Robert One-Man Johnson (USA)
Retrovision (Bangkok)
Andy Gonzales (USA) & The Rockin’ Angels
Rich Harper (USA)
Richard Clapton(Australia)

Saturday February 27th:

15:00: Robert One-Man Johnson (USA) at hotel lobby Crossroads

17:00: Main Gates open – darts, other games, plenty of food and drink

17:30:
AkashA World Music (Malaysia)
George Cordeiro (USA) & The Fai Jang Blues Gang
The Prodigal Sons (Norway)
The Groove Doctors & Friends (Phuket)
KNiKi (Australia)
Charlie Musselwhite (USA)

This years festival is shaping up to be another great event and with the low ticket cost and the proceeds going to charity this is definitely one not to miss. For more information on the festival you can visit the Phuket International Blues Rock Festival web site. For more information on upcoming events in Thailand please check out the Thailand Events Calender.

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