Paradise Regained

Orange is a Nice Color

2009-05-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

For a country well known for it tolerance build through the buddhist faith of the middle path, news about national reconciliation must bring joy to the population at large. The Bangkok Post reported on its online version, 14/5/2009...

"Parliamentary subcommittees looking at national reconciliation and charter amendment appear to be working towards pardoning politicians banned for electoral fraud."

Whilst those in the red and yellow camps may scoff at these effort...which may mean the end of the campaign for them they should probably starting tinking about Orange as being a really nice colour.

Someone died...Its not suppose to happen!

2008-09-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

I have been silent for a while watching the discord in my paradise Thailand, and had hoped for a Paradise Regained.

But now someone got killed in street fights between the pro-government and anti-government groups. This is Thailand, a land of Peace and Love...this is not suppose to happen!!!

Reality bites hard as we watch the new politics in Thailand. Instead of the military coup in the past, its now people's action.

Its kind of a strange scenario. Politicians instigating people to fight each other on a mass scale with the police and army apparently acting like referees.

Once again, I say this can only happen in Thailand.

Meantime a group of friends is leaving for a deep water dive off Samui. They are totally unconcerned.

"We'll definitely go to Bangkok" after the dive to do our usual. Not worried at all" they say.

"There are only 10-20 thousand people on the streets and 10 million population in Bangkok, 60 million in the whole of Thailand...we are pretty sure we can give them a miss" a friend added,

Besides said another, "Most of the street fighters are from up-country, they were probably promise a few hundred baht to come to Bangkok for a holiday. They will leave when commanded. It's merely a stage show gone a little out of wack"

Lets hope these optimists are right in their assessment. Even more that Paradise will soon be Regained.

Guess Who Else Needs Rebranding

2008-04-11T03:59:00.001-07:00

Some months I wrote about rebranding Thailand. Now Jack Welch suggests in a posting in Advertising Age that USA needs rebranding too!

"If the U.S. were a client, any ad agency worth its salt would recommend a serious brand assessment. A recent New York Times poll found 81% of Americans believed "things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track." Sounds like a classic business problem to me."

Do note that Advertising Age may require you to register to read the article at http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=126246

Thailand..the Joker

2007-12-24T04:45:00.001-08:00

If as they say all the world is a stage...thenThailand must be the Joker. News reports especially in Asia is reporting the news that a party that backs former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won a parliamentary election on Sunday, defeating a party backed by the generals who ousted him in a coup 15 months ago.

Looks like the whole nation has gone on a 15 month excursion and now is back...though not exactly where they started... nor is anyone sure where they are!

Meantime Mr Thaksin has become a famed British football tycoon and has been behind the recent success of Manchester City. Is this all tactical to maintain and boost his image through football politics? If one watch English football these day...one see some banners promoting Thailand, and often sees referees wearing on their sleeves AirAsia Badges. Air Asia is a Thai-Malaysia company where Mr Thaksin wields considerable power. Mr Thaksin has probably helped to obtain such sponsorships to demonstrate that he still has considerable support from businesses in Thailand.

Whatever the case it is definitely unconventional politics, comical and can only happen in my beautiful Thailand.

When shit hits the Fan

2007-08-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I am not posting much on this blog as I have not been visiting Bangkok. Glad to say that its not really about politics and security there but my own personal issues. Thankfully good friends in Bangkok continue to communicate with me regularly.

One of them has sent me this amusing slide. I guess when shit hits the fan, contemplations on toilet bowls could be a good preoccupation.

Click this toilette.pdf (724K) to enjoy and be provoked.

French Restaurant on the Chao Phraya

2007-06-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

MMmmm.... looks like Bangkok is beckoning.

A friend just sent this photograph from her newly opened French Restaurant on the Chao Phraya River.

Business and Politics are not improving.... still under military rule, but I guess the foods gone one notch better....and that's all that matters sometimes.

And For happy travelers, there are many things French in Bangkok. Though never colonized, Thailand was once part of the French IndoChina.

Do sent a comment if you know of something nice and French....(other than the Frxxch.cap) in Bangkok or Thailand. Would most appreciate your contributions.

More restaurant photos

Re-branding Thailand?

2007-05-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

There is no Bangkok heat at the Suvarnabumi transit lounge. I used to break flight to spend a day or two with potential business partners in Bangkok on my way to Beijing, but since the coup and the seeming uncertainties in the government policies toward foreign investment I have given it a by. Personally I am still bullish about the Thai economy and its prospects, but its hard to convince investors influenced by constant negative reports in the mass media.

Looking out at the wide expanse of the tarmac, the plane lined in neat rows, and the spanking new and tastefully designed environment, one would not have imagined the controversies that surround the airport. It makes one wonder if the whole negative situation that currently exists is not someone's overplay exacerbated by the international media.

The local newspaper I picked up at the lounge reported that the prime minister will be commissioning an internationally renowned PR company to re-brand Thailand and to improve its image. Like many of the past policy changes by the care-taker government, I wonder if it is another swing that just too heavy.

What many Bangkokians hope for, at least the few dozens I have spoken to, is a return to civilian rule and aleadership that will return the country to a "state of tolerance and harmony" The Thaksin era has seen the country being "power-shafted" to high growth mode and now a reversal with a forceful push towards sustainability.

The principle of sustainability arises from systemic thinking that every force creates an equal reaction. A forceful push in one direction can create unwanted backlash. The middle way, and tolerance that is so much of the Buddhist culture imbibed universally by Thais avoids such conflicts resulting in a sustainable approach.

No where in Thailand, in my view demonstrates the principle of tolerance as in the Soi Nana area of Sukhumvit. Here on the hot, stuffy and crowded streets cluttered with hawkers and vendors, you will find the most luxuriant potpourri of cultures and counter cultures in the world.. "veiled to the eyeball" muslim ladies from the Arab world, shop and jostle, dine amidst the girlie pubs, massage parlours, pimps, prostitutes, gayboys, transvestites and dirty old men. They all do their own thing happily with little anxiety in accordance to their faiths and beliefs, often even exchanging greetings with one another.

Coming from a pristine, clean Singapore, it was culture shock for me when I first visited Nana some 20 years back. My thoughts were that this place will soon explode or implode. 20 years on, it is still growing, bustling, more crowded, more developed, more variegated with large international hotel chains vying for space along its crowded streets and lanes. There has to my memory never been a riot all these years. The most exciting events being drunken brawls and loud arguments between customers and clients which tend to attract a pretty good crowd.

There certainly is sustainability in diversity. Little forces pointing in all directions probably creates constant ripples, maybe a brawl or two. Conflict come only when big forces clash. Sustainability cannot be ordained by push and shaft and even less by the gun. It comes through awareness, understanding and acceptance.

The spirit of tolerance,harmony has always existed amongst the Thai people. Perhaps it is best for politicians, opposition members, dissidents and policy makers to take a back seat and leave diverse private citizens and businesses to go on their own affairs.

A friend just send me an email to say her dad is starting a French restaurant along the Chao Phraya. That's the kind of news I would rather hear. Perhaps there is now a reason to visit, especially with the S$4 fare offered by AsiaAir, the budget carrier.

The U-Tube U-Turn

2007-04-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

I guess most Thais must be in agreement with the banning of U-Tube after its insistence of publishing material that was disrespectful if not outright rude to the King. Americans have little appreciation or love for the monarchy which doesn't mean they have to be rude. Worst if they have, even unintentionally allowed themselves to have been manipulated for political dissent!

I am not exactly writing this in Bangkok, as this blog really demands of me.... but in the closest thing I can think of...The Golden Mile Shopping Center in Singapore, replete with Singha Beer, Thai Hawker Food, Thai grocers with the full scent of a Thai market place. Believe me, 70% of the people here are Thais.

Ruminating over this whole unfortunate phase in Thailand, I just find it odd that Thailand would have to at this stage of its development, and in the current mood of the world adopt so many of the unremarkable behavior formerly exhibited by the Singapore PAP regime. Maybe the circumstance does justify them...but then how did we get into this situation in the first place, and more important how can we get out of it?

Though a Singaporean, I have spent enough time over the last 30 years, and have enough friends in Thailand to identify with her.

My recent trip to the country side was great....encountered many happy children with rosy plump and delightful faces at the farms, enjoyed the great countrysides, sceneries.... an environment that certainly is worth preserving against the march of globalization. But does preserving a way of life or natural environment always involve negative blocking strategies.... non-improvement, becoming more and more backward and finally disappearing through decay?

I submit that it certainly is not.

I have always expressed an admiration for spirit of tolerance in Thailand establishes a neutrality vis-a vis the political ideology of the ruling party. This I thought was far superior to the "rule-based" democracy we have in Singapore.

The irony of course is that it Singapore seems to be trying hard to learn tolerance and Thailand being "rule-based".

I really don't know if this is paradise regained or lost.

Bangkok ..here we come.

2007-03-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

The multinationals and big companies appear to be inholding patterns about investing more in Bangkok these days. Temasek, the Singapore company has to somehow disinvest to appease not just the government but the Thai Intelligentsia. It is gone beyond what's right or wrong...there is just too much stirred up in that influential community about loss of face, national security, improprierary relationships with the former regime, private agendas of Thaksin.

Meantime another reversal is taking place...
Yes!
"Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Wednesday told joyous iTV workers to stay on the job and to keep the station broadcasting. Gen Surayud gave the order after the Council of State ruled that the government takeover of iTV was legal, and ordered the transfer of its assets to the Public Relations Department." - Bangkok Post

But as far as the backpacker tourist is concerned, Bangkok is still Bangkok...full of friendliness and hospitality. The news from some friends in the travel business in that costs of hotels that cater to the up-market tourist , have gone down somewhat. Maybe the backpackers can take the opportunity to venture outside the Khaosan area.

A friends that married to a Thai Lady is putting together this exciting backpacking package to Bangkok and it surronding areas. He is secretive about the itinerary...but promises, "I'll show you things you've never seen" he says confidently.

I truly doubt it, having wormed myself around Bangkok and most of the neighbouring towns and villages the last 16 years of my life. But still I hope to find something new.

So despite politics or terrorist threats....Bangkok Here We Come.

Don Muang Airport

2007-02-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

I thought my story "Miraculously Bangkok" was the last about Don Muang...as the spanking new and futuristic "Suvarn...airport" opened late last year.

Recent news seems to suggest that the miracle may continue. The authorities are planning to move a significant part of air operations back to Don Muang to allow corrective and improvement works to be done at "Suvarn". As usual in Thailand or rather Bangkok...not everyone agrees.

There certainly are grounds for concern. Yes! many cities are served by more than one airport, London, Shanghai amongst some of them...why not Bangkok? The airport authorities are probably the only party that could answer the question, "can they manage?" I remembered some difficulties at Don Muang over whether we were exiting at Terminal 1 or 2. Thankfully these were just adjacent to each other. With the two airports being such a distance apart mess-ups will have more serious consequences. Even without a mess up, it would take some clever and artful scheduling to match connecting flights such that the convenience of transferring passengers willbe optimized.

For me, I am happy to go back to Don Muang. I have already begun to miss my Barbecued Duck Rice and Bitter Gould Soup at the Don Muang Village. I am sure the Uncle at the store will be happy to see me too.

What a Coincidence

2007-01-29T21:47:00.001-08:00

Someone reading my posts on "Nothing is right" and "A State of Bliss".... written before the Thailand COUP, commented that he saw in it something prophetic. He asked if I had a sense of what's happening?

Certainly not, mere coincidence .... but everyone, Thais and visitors probably did feel that things were overheating. But then in a state of bliss we say, "it's always seems to be over-boiling in Bangkok"...so what?

The theory of constraints once again proved itself... with a powerful backlash... not quite a Tsunami but enough to be disconcerting.

A number of expatriate friends working in the region but living in Thailand are thinking about leaving. I hear foreign investments have stopped, which probably meets the goals of the current policy makers. Investments leaving could be more troubling.... it may mean the loss of jobs and livelihoods at a time where adjustments may be difficult.

I was just reading a book about Globalization... and the New Global Political Economy. The author was kind of negative about the whole thing... he probably thought the world shouldn't have started on this path...BUT RECOGNISED that the momentum is now unstoppable... and every global citizen, without choice has to recognize this new reality and learn to swim in its often times murky water.

I am not sure if the Thai policy makers are trying to insulate the country from Globalization... there seems to be a whole lot of talk about this. I really don't think they are. They I think, only wanted to give the nation a breather, consolidate before moving on. Looks like in this Global Economy you can't take breathers at your own time...stop and you may be swept away.... or as they say MARGINALIZED.

The person that developed the use of that word usage was really creative. Being pushed into a margin is probably bad enough... but in many parts of Asia that's developing or emerging...that margin is even fast shrinking. How do you described being in a caught in a shrinking margin? Do send you comments and suggestions.

And coup or no coup.... increasing marginalization will happen for the majority of global citizens. The wealth gap will definitely be accentuated. Pareto's 80-20 will be blown away....90-10... 95-5 ????

The good thing is, the world is at your feet ... and your choice are limitless.

The Chinese ladies that I see increasingly coming on their free will to to work as street girls are probably one outcome of this limitless choice. Of course there are more positive examples than this. The 10% will certainly flow around with their capital, skills and resources... and so the bottom 10%. (The author said the terrorists are classed amongst these)

Would this ultimately create that large "prarie fire".... a global uprising of the world's "proletariat" recalling that old Marxist dream.

Probably not, at least not from Thailand. Thankfully the normal Thai on street, probably feel the way I do.... what the heck?... Nothing is ever right anyway... just stay in a state of bliss.

Nothing is alright

2006-09-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Nothing is alright
because the world's a system
and systems are subject to chaos they say
just as one part of our lives seems to be
getting better, more stable,
something else somewhere is crumbling and
may impact us later like a flutter of a butterfly wing.
It may be crumbling uncontrollably to us
or worse because of our improving situation
Just the other night, the family celebrated my wife's birthday
It was a warm, happy occasion that made me feel
things are OK, What a happy family had!
On return home, there was a message on the phone
that my mum was ill,
and needed to be admitted to the hospital the next day.
Such is the nature of chaos.
Its not a Sep 11 or the Asian Tsunami everyday
but it keeps coming like waves rolling up the shore.
How does one manage in this chaotic world?
I really don't know. for
The more you think you know, the more you don't
Those who think they don't know probably don't.
Running around trying to learn does not help either
only adds to life's chaos
There are some imageries that offers me some light.
A Shaolin monk perched precariously
on one foot on a bamboo pole,
full of potential power,
silent, fully aware of himself and the environment,
ready to strike, and
when he does, he does so effectively
in quick simple strokes
or the blind swordsman who despite his lack of vision
can detect all movements around him.
He is entirely centered, totally aware
about his self and his relationship with his surroundings.
But are these imageries mainly the creations
of tinsel towns, or are they real?
My martial arts compatriot certainly thinks they are real
He has a website ninjado.com.
I hope he finds that inner peace, stillness, power and awareness.
A master can teach you all the strokes
Getting it to flow right and in full power, they say
requires "neigong" inner work in direct translation.
This is not about altering our hearts and lungs
boosting them with robotic power, becoming Bionic
Its about gaining that inner peace and stillness of mind and body.
That we need to do on or own through "kulian"
A Chinese phrase meaning painful study and practice.
I, unfortunately though Chinese
came from the western tradition where
Learning is suppose to be fun,
a joyous adventure and discovery.
So I, like most see glimpses of light
but little knowledge that we can apply.
You are I hope not quite as mixed up as me
I go now to stand on my head.

A Confused Week

2006-09-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

Week of 28/9 was a confusing week. It was mixed signals all week through...may-bes, clarifications and yet more clarifications, pending, silence, etc etc. By Thursday, I was truly swamped with doubts, questions and negative thinking(See picture)

Then on Friday I received the mail saying....
"I have been talking to a lot of people about charity cruise and am very excited! .... I am thinking doing every 1st Sunday of the month starting October. What is your opinion?"

What a refreshment that was...so positive, so cheery. It uplifted my dulling spirit entirely!

Miraculously Bangkok

2006-08-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

I guess I’ve finally seen it all… a cab driver who could miss the turning to Bangkok's Don Muang International airport, first time in my 20+ year of travel to Thailand....and believe you me there is no U-Turns along that road, all the way pass the next town of Rangsit a good 20 minutes away.

So in great anxiety, constantly praying for no bad traffic or car breakdown, I finally reached the departure gates just 40 minutes before flight time, i.e. 5 minutes after the counters would have closed for the flight.

Ready to do battle with any passenger service officer, I rushed to the counter …only to find that the flight has been delayed.

If that’s not Bangkok then what is? One bad makes up for another...and things are smoothed out in this earthly paradise.

A State of Bliss

2006-08-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

I often wonder what things were like before Adam ate that forbidden apple. It probably was a state of blissful happiness.... where actions does not create consequences. How else can there is eternal bliss?

The flapping of a butterfly's wings in Tokyo, it was postulated by Lorenz can cause a tornado in Texas. Every action, no matter how well intentioned can create a positive and a counterbalancing negative feedback. An act of kindness that creates instant warmth and glow may in the longer result in the receiver becoming dependent and lazy, or cause someone else to become envious and unhappy!

Such is the chaos since our " fall from grace". Chaos because no one can truly predict the effects of his or her actions...would it harm someone, or himself in the future, eventually?

So happiness belongs to people that have a blind side... they do not see these effects or do not want to see them.....don't care. It also belongs to those who can reconcile themselves with their own actions and behaviour. Religion is certainly helpful with this. Religion also helps us accept that this life of chaos and contradictions is temporal and we soon will regain paradise.

Paradise where there are no consequences.... I wonder wherein then lies the source of happiness? Will happiness still be an emotion or some more stable state? Will there be smiles?

Who knows...it is an infinite uncertainty which causes men no matter how holy to fear death.