2Bangkok Top Stories of Year 2005

Bangkok Newspapers by 2Bangkok.com

Thailand's best blog provides a short by highly useful summary of the major stories in the country for the year 2005, along with plenty of hotlinks for more information.

2Bangkok.com picks the top stories of 2005
December 29, 2005

While some stories appear as screaming headlines and points of controversy for a week and then are forgotten, others have lasting impact and lead to other controversies. This year's top stories largely chart the misery of the TRT party in the first year after its historic election win.

1. The year started with Thaksin's triumph at the polls (ThaiElections.com). This air of invincibility probably contributed to a series of aggressive stances by the PM challenging critics' patriotism which led to...

2. A series of aggressive lawsuits against government critics (T is for trouble in the age of libel, The Nation, July 29, 2005, Libel suits being used to intimidate, The Nation, August 17, 2005) which seemed to be an attempt to create a Singapore-style of order in the media (Aura of fear pervades Thai media, IHT, October 5, 2005).

2Bangkok Link

Malaysian Courts Rule on Religion After Death

Petronas Towers Kuala Lumpur

In a rather disturbing and revealing judgment, a Malaysian civil court has ruled that a Hindu mountain climber and national hero must be buried as a Muslim, despite the pleas of his wife that her deceased husband remained a Hindu until his early demise. But an Islamic court had ruled that Mr. Moorthy had converted to Islam, and the civil courts are helpless in matters relating to religion.

Nobody stands a chance today against the Islamic legal system that now dominates the legal system of the country; fundamentalist Islamic control of Malaysia continues to grow.

Muslim burial for Malaysian hero

Mr Moorthy's widow was in tears after Wednesday's ruling. A Malaysian mountaineering hero will be buried as a Muslim, against the wishes of his Hindu wife, who denied he had converted to Islam before his death.

The decision follows a High Court ruling that it cannot override the country's Islamic courts in matters of religious conversion.

An Islamic court had said the man, M Moorthy, had become a Muslim last year.

Lawyers say the case highlights problems faced by non-Muslims dealing with Malaysia's Islamic justice system. "So much for good interracial relations," Haris Mohamad Ibrahim, a lawyer representing Malaysia's Bar Council, told The Associated Press.

"The judge has just told the widow and her family to go back and leave the body of their beloved to be buried by strangers."

M Moorthy, 36, was a Hindu when he became a national hero in 1997 as a member of the first Malaysian expedition to conquer Mount Everest. But when he died a week ago family supporters and state Islamic officials jostled one another at the mortuary as each tried to claim his body.

An Islamic Sharia court subsequently upheld a claim by his former colleagues in the army that he had become a Muslim last year.

However his family, who want him to have a Hindu funeral, were not allowed to appear before the court to dispute his conversion because they are not Muslims.

The family went to the civil court and argued that Mr Moorthy was a practising Hindu right up to a recent accident when he fell from his wheelchair and lapsed into a coma. They say he was even interviewed for local television two months ago about his preparations for the Hindu festival of Diwali.

But the High Court agreed with government lawyers who argued the civil court had no jurisdiction.

Lawyers for the dead man's relatives say the ruling leaves non-Muslims little protection in family disputes considered under Islamic law.

Most Malaysians are Muslim but the country's constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all.

BBC Link

Malaysia's Plan for the Great Pyramid

Merdeka Day 2005 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's minister of defence recently announced plans to send a delegation of Malaysians to Egypt to decorate the Great Pyramid of Giza with flags of all the major Islamic countries in the world. Another sign that fundamentalist Islam, along with a fair amount of nationalistic jingoism, has captured the fertile imagination of the rulers of Malaysia.

And since when did the ancient empires of Egypt go Muslim? I thought it was all about cats and reincarnation.

Malaysia's plan for Great Pyramid suffers setback

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian authorities suffered a setback on Wednesday in their plan to send a 35-member team to drape Egypt's Great Pyramid at Giza with the flags of the world's 57 Muslim countries.

The chairman of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, the body responsible for the Giza site, said in Cairo that he would not allow it to be draped. "This cannot take place," chairman Zahi Hawass said. "The pyramid cannot be draped by any person in this world. Nobody is allowed to do this."

Malaysia's Defence Minister Najib Razak announced the project during a ceremony on Tuesday, when he presented a Malaysian flag to the team's leaders.

Najib said the expedition, which had been planned for May 18, is a "commendable effort," and comes in response to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call to raise Malaysia's profile in the world.

The flag-draping event, sponsored by Malaysia's Youth and Sports Ministry and the Selangor state government, had been slated to be broadcast live on a Malaysian TV channel.

But Hawass ruled out giving permission to the so-called Malaysian Peace Mission team for the project which would involve climbing the 4,600-year-old World Heritage site.

"Why should I allow them to drape it?" Hawass said. "If they want to make propaganda, let them do it somewhere else. They can do it in any other place in Cairo."

Gulf News Link

Muslim Women Lose Out in Malaysia

Merdeka Day 2005

While it's very sad the treatment of Muslim women throughout most of the Islamic world, the fairer sex was generally treated with respect and honor in the more moderate Muslim nations of Indonesia and Malaysia....until recently. As Malaysia has slowly moved into a more fundamentalist pattern, laws are being enacted and changed to reduce the civil and legal rights of Muslim women, moving them towards the same status as the Muslim women in Saudi Arabia. And you know what that means.

Women’s fury in Malaysia
building up over Islamic bill

KUALA LUMPUR: A rebellion is stirring in Malaysia over new legislation, which critics say undermines the rights of Muslim women by making it easier for men to take multiple wives and claim property after divorce.

The government was forced to strike down opposition in the usually tame upper house Senate to push through the bill last week, only to face an avalanche of protest from civil-society groups and ordinary citizens.

Much of the opposition to the bill is being led by educated, vocal and affluent Muslim Malaysian women, who are worst affected by the new property-division rules.

Letters pages in the usually tightly controlled media have also been full of complaints over the “Islamic Family Law” bill, which affects Malaysia’s Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of the population of 26 million people.

“Now I learn that if my husband were to marry another, he has the right to my property to support his new lifestyle!” wrote one outraged reader of the New Straits Times.

“Another provision makes it easier for men to obtain divorce . . . it is hard to imagine how much easier it can be, given the current situation where men can divorce their wives for no reason and even via SMS,” said another.

Malaysian Muslim men are allowed four wives under Islamic law, but under the new amendments they no longer have to prove they are financially capable of treating all their wives equally before taking on another.

On taking a new wife, men can now seize property belonging to existing wives, and they are also given new rights to claim assets after a divorce, as well as less obligation to pay compensation and maintenance.

“They are giving more rights to the men while taking back the traditional Muslim women’s rights,” said Razlina Razali from Sisters in Islam, one of several activist groups in an alliance demanding that the bill be abandoned.

Manila Times Link

Chinese Products in America

Cheongsam Body Painting

Would it be possible for an American family to go an entire year without using a single product made in China? I don't think so, considering the vast economic influence of major American retailers who specialize in Chinese products, including WalMart and Costco. But some nutty American family has tried the resist the tide.

The funny thing about China's ascent is that we, as a nation, could shut the whole thing down in a week. Jump-start a "Just Say No to Chinese Products Week," and the empire will collapse amid the chaos of overloaded cargo ships in Long Beach harbor. I doubt we could pull it off. Americans may be famously patriotic, but look closely, and you'll see who makes the flag magnets on their car bumpers. These days China delivers every major holiday, Fourth of July included.

I don't know what we will do after Dec. 31 when our family's embargo comes to its official end. China-free living has been a hassle. I have discovered for myself that China doesn't control every aspect of our daily lives, but if you take a close look at the underside of boxes in the toy department, I promise it will give you pause.

Christian Science Monitor Link

Chinese Tourists in Thailand

Cheongsam Body Painting

The fastest growing segment of tourism throughout Southeast Asia are the Chinese, whose soaring numbers will soon eclipse the Japanese as they take their place as the ethnic tourism engine of the region. Some tourist venues may not appreciate their rough and sometimes uncouth ways, but everyone loves their money, so diplomacy has become the key world among shop owners and others in the local tourism industry.

Ugly Americans of Asia?

However, catering to China's newly rich has its downside, though most Thais are too polite to say so publicly. Just as brash Americans attract glances from Parisian sophisticates, Chinese tourists have acquired a reputation in Thailand and elsewhere in Southeast Asia as loud, pushy bumpkins with table manners that leave much to be desired.

Even tour operators concede that their Chinese customers can be rude and bossy when they hit the road.

"They're not very cultured, and they've just started making money, so when they leave their country I'm afraid they act like big shots," says Ren Jingli, a Beijing travel agent who escorts groups to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

But as they bustle through the temples and markets of Southeast Asia, Chinese tourists are following a well-worn path on the tourist trail. "It's a bit like the Japanese in the early days - they want cheap, they always bargain you down, looking for the lowest level," says Andrew Wood, general manager of a Bangkok hotel that caters to Asian tours.

Christian Science Monitor Link

Poipet Immigration Fiasco

Poipet Immigration Scene

The Letters to the Editor section in today's Bangkok Post has a complaint about the chaotic and potentially dangerous situation at the Thai immigration facility at Poipet, heading from Bangkok into Cambodia and onward to either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. I've been through this hellish border experience a few times, and can only agree with the letter, and continue to wonder why the Thai government is incapable of improving this long-running problem.

Immigration at Poipet border a disgrace

On Saturday, Nov 19, I was travelling from Bangkok for a visit to Angkor Wat which necessitated passing through immigration at the Thai border. The immigration process was a disgrace.

The temperature was in the 90s F, there were several hundred people and the wait to pass through customs took over 3-1/2 hours. There were children and elderly people and the crowd was totally unruly. Several people fainted.

Finally, I was afraid for my life when hundreds of impatient people started shoving and pushing from the back. First, we were told that the Immigration Office does not have enough funding for proper staffing. Second, we were told that customs intentionally slows the process to deter the gamblers who wish to go to Cambodia. However, I was also told that well-known gamblers are able to expedite the process through special arrangements.

Additionally, the air conditioning was broken and there was one small fan working in a room crammed with hundreds of distressed people. Be aware also that the toilet facilities on the Thai border were disgusting and infinitely better once we passed into Cambodia. I was with a group of Thai friends who were deeply embarrassed by such poor handling by a government official. My point of argument is: why the Immigration Office does not make a special arrangement in granting visas for those who intend to travel to Angkor Wat or Siem Reap province?

In reference to Business Post of Dec 5, showing the new road construction between Poipet-Siem Reap, a distance of 147km, in order to facilitate trade, investment and tourism, I am very much in doubt, when one government department says one thing, but the Immigration Office does the opposite by intentionally slowing down the immigration process at Poipet. I presume the two different departments do not coordinate with each other or use common sense. When the road is completed, I hope the immigration at Poipet will wake up and change their attitude.

SUSAN ALLEN

Bizarre Stories from the Philippines

Arroyo/Crash Posters by Snoecks

A young Filipino-America, currently living in the States but heading over to PI next month, has posted a collection of bizarre stories from his mother country. Some very funny reading, including one about the fighting cock that murdered the master.

Stray Coconuter Bizarre Stories

Hung at Dawn

Hung at Dawn by M Ravi


Shanmugan Executed


Van Tuong Ngyuen Executed

Although it's very unlikely that this book about the death penalty in Singapore will ever reach the bookstores in San Francisco, it seems an important work that should be read by the residents of Singapore and elsewhere in Southeast Asia who are concerned with the nagging questions about capital punishment.

Hung at Dawn is an account of three death penalty cases in Singapore detailing exposing the inadequacies of police investigations, courtroom trials and the clemency pleas that prefers to err on the side of hanging convicts.

The book cover resembles one of those sensational best-selling Singapore ghost stories series, coated in black with big, red imposing fonts and a spine-chilling title. The book is, however, far from being fictional. The stories are not fairy tales but real-life events.

Singapore Democrat Book Review

Cambodia Stories from Escape Artist

Angkor Wat

The always informative and colorful monthly email newsletter from Escape Artist features a pair of short stories about Cambodia, one with a message of hope and another about the collision of Western medicine and Eastern miracles.

What is there to say about Cambodia and a people who have suffered, and still suffer so much? Sale of children for both the purposes of labour and for sexual exploitation is a huge problem, but it is a result of extreme poverty about which the Cambodian government is trying to do something. There are other glimmers of hope. Ten years ago a group of back-packers set up a shelter for the street children of Phomn Penh. They quickly realized that this was no solution since the children stayed only a few weeks and left.

What was needed to keep them was work and money. Since one of the back-packers was a cook they decided to open a small restaurant which they called “Friends”. There they trained the street kids to cook, clean and wait on tables. In ten years this fabulous place has prospered beyond all expectation. Now virtually ALL the staff of these first rate restaurants are trained by Friends, and Friends is run by young Cambodians.

I have never been in a more pleasant restaurant where people help one another constantly and patiently and there are so many brilliant smiles. They have even printed a wonderful cook book of Cambodian food called The Best of Friends. A cynic would say these young people have been trained into servitude. A realist would say they have been saved from the degradation of the street, that they are happy and proud of what they are, and that they are a tremendous success story.

Escape Artist Cambodia Friends Story

When word got out that there was a monk blessed with the ability to heal, desperate patients came from all over Cambodia. We were still more than a kilometer away from Wat Serey Soupein, but already, we found ourselves driving through a crowded village, which hadn't existed just a few weeks earlier. The rainy season and the unaccustomed press of crowds had churned the dirty streets into mud, as hundred of people busied themselves with the activities of daily life, buying and preparing food, caring for loved ones, and praying for a cure.

Around a bend, the road opened up onto a huge field where hundreds more milled about, talking, waiting, hoping. At the end of the field, beside the small temple, was a large, bamboo hut, with no walls. Here, the most gravely-ill patients, lie waiting for the monk to cure them, knowing it was a race against time. Stepping into the hut, I saw rows of bodies laid out before me, like in a military field hospital.

One man had an enlarged head, swollen to alarming proportions. He had some type of medical tube tapped to the top of his skull, inserted into his nose. With great effort, an old man, who looked barely alive, raised his head ever slightly to see who I was. On another bed, a young woman, completely reduced to skin and bones, lie suffering at death's door.

Escape Artist Cambodia Monk Story

Dasa Books Newsletter by Don Gilliland

Existential Treatise by Dean Barrett

The above photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I somehow located several book cover images on fictional novels penned by the legendary writer in Bangkok, Dean Barrett, and wanted to post them before my hard drive crashes (again). Dean seems to be doing quite well these days, and is consistently aggressive about marketing his works, along with another famous Bangkok writer, Christopher Moore. I see their names and book titles, and announcements of public signings all over the place, and hope it's working for them. I know several other writers in the Big Mango who have failed in their dream profession, and it hasn't been a pretty picture. No, I won't name names, but some of you know.

My holidays were just superb as I took BART from San Francisco to a town about one hour northeast of town, and hanged out with my Mom from Sacramento, my Sister who lives in Ione, her husband Stan, their daughter Heather and her Iranian husband Payam, their crazed little kid named Dylan, and Payam's mother. Great group of people.

In other news, Don Gilliland, owner of Dasa Books in Bangkok, offers an email newsletter with insight into the publishing community and other stuff. I'm going to subscribe and see what he's got to say.......

This week Bangkok got just what it has been waiting for: another new shopping center! But this just isn't any run-of-the-mill emporium; this is Siam Paragon, a mammoth monstrosity that promises those with disposable income an orgasmic shopping experience beyond compare.

And just so no one misses it, Siam Paragon was built in the heart of Bangkok’s main shopping district; conveniently situated next to Siam Center, Siam Discovery Center, and Siam Square. What's up next, Siam Regurgitate Center? Enough already! But apparently it's not enough for some diehards. Built on the grounds of the old Siam Intercontinental Hotel, Siam Paragon has over 500,000 square meters of retail space, all housed in an ultra sleek and shiny high-tech façade.

The developers of Siam Paragon are hoping it will become a magnet for tourist shoppers and also attract the legions of well-heeled Thais that previously fled the kingdom for shopping sprees in Singapore and Hong Kong. Tucked away in the inner bowels of Siam Paragon is Siam Ocean World, billed as Southeast Asia's largest aquarium, with over 30,000 marine animals on hand for your gawking pleasure. That's right, now you don't have venture all the way to the chambers of the Thai Senate to look at sharks.

Besides the underwater wonders, Siam Paragon has hundreds of upscale retail shops, eating establishments, car showrooms, cinemas, bowling lanes, an opera house, and not one but three Starbucks outlets. One wonders if there will be a dress code just to enter the premises.

Dasa Books Newsletter Link

The Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog

Tsunami Destruction at Khao Lak

I've got a Bloglines RSS subscription to this blog, which has been relatively quiet over the last six months, but has suddenly sprung back to life as we approach the one-year anniversary of the tragic event. A few recommended links:

Tsunami Anniversary Trek by Evelyn Rodriguez

800 Tsunami Bodies Remain Unnamed in Thailand

Most of Japan's Bilateral Tsunami Aid Remains Untouched

A New Blog from Aceh

Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog

Christmas in Thailand by Richard

Christmas in Thailand by Richard

Richard at Thai-Blogs always seems to come up with some great stories about Thailand, such as last week's report on his three-day visit to Kanchanaburi, complimented by his excellent photography. Richard is a decent writer, but his photography really shines, such as this portrait recently taken at the school he works at in Samut Prakan. Great work, Richard!

Richard at Thai-Blogs

Samui Complaint

Dean Barrett Novel

I've always had a good time on Samui over the last decade or so that I've visited the island, but I'm also hearing more reports about trouble in paradise, mostly centered around the taxi and transportation cartels that often try to fleece the Western tourist. Pattaya has the same problem as does Phuket.

Another problem is the completely inadequate infrastructure, mostly apparent at the two most popular beaches of Chaweng and Lamai. During a visit a few years ago, we had a few days of rain and the entire beach roads in both communities were buried under deep water for almost a week. Doesn't anyone in Samui know how to build a drainage system?

I've also heard complaints about corrupt police, but hell, that goes on everywhere in Thailand.

The following letter to the editor in the Bangkok Post is over the top, and somewhat suspicious due to its generalized nature (who beat this guy up? an unhappy taxi driver?), but it has stirred up a storm in the Post over the last week.

Horrible people live on Samui
Bangkok Post
21 Dec 2005

While touring through the North of your beautiful country I noted repeated negative stories and letters relating to Koh Samui, which almost caused me to avoid the island. But I did not, and instead, took the opportunity to evaluate conditions for myself.

There, for the first time, I encountered an almost overwhelming number of mean people. This was especially surprising, and barely unbelievable, after meeting so many wonderful Thais in other places; but I guarantee your readers that that is exactly what happened, and in spades.

Reports of murderous driving are vastly understated, but the high probability of death or injury by motorbike was overshadowed by the continuous hassle with street people. Most particularly, the threatening Thai men-cum-cab drivers of that ilk, who push the boundaries of civilised people.

Residents told me they live in fear of the mafia and the police who resemble them (or maybe vice versa). And yes, like so many others, I was attacked for no apparent reason, and then discovered that a police report is a joke (to them); and my hospital bills far exceeded the fine given to the Thai man who attacked me from behind.

The unprovoked attack, which would have been assault with a deadly weapon and/or attempted murder in any civilised place, is all too common on Samui and hardly remarkable. The attacker was friendly with the police and totally unconcerned. He laughed as he paid a small fine and then threatened me again as he walked out the door. The policeman giggled.

My embassy is unaware of any pattern developing, but perhaps the walls and barbed-wire surrounding them obstructed their view. Nevertheless, in a short time I heard many strong-arm and intimidation stories from other tourists, and from local residents powerless in the face of massive police corruption.

It is surprising to discover that a tourist's life is worth less than 1,000 baht on Koh Samui; but the experience was reminiscent of that last year when a policeman killed two Western tourists; except I was not drinking and did not know my attacker; and it happened in broad daylight and in full view of more than 100 Thai people.

Significantly, not one Thai person responded to cries for help, or telephoned the police when asked to do so. In fact, they locked their doors and turned their backs.

Discussing this matter with several high-level island officials, all whom insisted they not be quoted fearing for their own lives, I was encouraged in the strongest possible terms to urge tourists with similar experiences to write to newspapers and travel magazines and shout these outrages loud and often. I promise to do so.

My life is worth more than a few baht but my resources will be used to warn every English-language publication possible about the animals running loose on Samui. I loved my visit to Thailand (excluding Samui), but unfortunately most westerners will probably not make that fine distinction after reading my account of it.

NAME WITHHELD

And today, two responses which seem to support the negative comments of the original poster. If any of this is true, what in the world is going on in Thailand?

No one to defend Samui's reputation
Bangkok Post
Dec 23, 2005

Recent weeks have seen many letters in the English-language press pointing out the glaring troubles Koh Samui is facing. As a long-time resident and tourism business owner I, like many others, stand to lose if these letters have an effect on tourist arrivals. As the letter from "Name Withheld" (Postbag, Dec 21) came one day after an incident with an irresponsible taxi driver who turned violent when I dared to blare my horn at him, I feel compelled to write.

Name Withheld's letter was arguably the most dramatic and ardent plea yet. I was tempted upon finishing NW's letter to consider that had Phuket been the victim of a string of so many intensely critical observations, articulate voices from that island's movers and shakers would have come forward and pointed out the unfairness of the sweeping generalisations. I wondered, where are the voices of Samui's civic and business leaders? Is there no one to come forward and defend the island's reputation?

I suspect that, like myself, they all realise that things have gotten so out of hand, bad publicity may be the only hope for the changes so desperately needed.

ANOTHER NAME WITHHELD
Koh Samui

************************

Island in need of a new, clean sheriff
Bangkok Post
Dec 23, 2005

With regard to "Horrible people live on Samui" (Postbag, Dec 21), I can confirm as a resident that no law and order exists on Samui, and that ordinary people are terrorised by the negative effects of corrupt police and other government officials.

A certain late-night establishment in central Chaweng beach has for more than one year been blaring out loud techno music till 6am every morning, keeping the numerous residents in nearby houses, bungalows, hotels, guest houses and rooms for rent sleepless all night long. Any requests to the police have been ignored as they obviously appear to be cashing in on the illegal disturbances.

In fact, the police might even have been telling the nightspot owners the names of those who have been complaining because they have received threats to keep quiet and not complain. The local government prefers to ignore any complaints from local residents who are kept sleepless and lose business as tourists have been checking out of their hotels because of unbearable noise. Samui needs a new sheriff in town, an honest and decent police chief who is not there to fill his pockets but to care for the well-being of all Samui residents and visitors. As it is today, ordinary people are powerless and have no protection.

SAMUI RESIDENT AND UK CITIZEN

Boeing Flight to Asia

I'm waving on the right!

My latest flight to Asia could have been better, though Gadling reminds me about the perils of not flying first class.

Gadling Link

Bai Ling, Hai Sun and ImageThief

Bai Ling

Who to choose for Asian Icon of 2005? Bai Ling looks good, but you've probably never met my former wife Hai Sun from Beijing who in the looks department would put Bai in the dust. The perfect nose.

In other news, Will with ImageThief continues to produce the most snarky, incisive, and funny hilarious words from China. Put him in your RSS Bloglines reader.

Beijing Needs a Giant Monster Attack

When you are asked to name the great, metropolitan cities of the world, you will naturally consider certain factors. It's not always size that makes the difference. If it was, then Chongqing would be the capital of the planet, a role I think we can all agree that Chongqing, for all its charms, is not quite ready for. Sure, size has its place, but it's the more abstract qualities that really elevate certain cities to greatness, and that probably influence your choices: political influence; rich history; culture; cuisine; cosmopolitan buzz; and so on.

Beijing has most of this --it's working on the cosmopolitan buzz-- but it conspicuously lacks the one other factor that defines many of the world's other great metropolises: a giant monster attack.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately (a sure sign that the holidays are leading to a work slowdown), and I've come to the conclusion that Beijing cannot be a great, global metropolis until it is attacked by its own giant monster. Thanks to the encyclopaedic reference information contained in two invaluable websites, Stomptokyo.com and Giantmonstermovies.com, I've been able to research some of the cities that have been on the receiving end of giant monsters. Sure, you all know that Tokyo has had a fifty year kaiju infestation that has included Godzilla, Gamera and friends. New York got King Kong on multiple occasions plus, as a bonus, the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (by the way, that's 180,000 feet, or about six times deeper than the deepest part of the ocean). London was attacked by Gorgo. San Francisco got the five-armed octopus of It Came from Beneath the Sea. The list has also has some surprises, including some of Beijing's key, regional rivals and a few cities you'd never expect.

Image Thief Link

My Vote: Weather

Kong


Osho


Pamela

Kudos to Melinda Gates who has finally loosed the economic wallet of her husband, and Bono who continues his fight against the corporate world, but the award should have been given to Weather.

Jakarta Merry Holidays

Merry Holidays from Jakarta

Fred Burks Holiday Message Link

Funny Signs in Thailand

Bangkok Recorder Party Photo

Always a great source of amusement.

Funny Signs in Thailand Link

Religion Quiz

Religious Nuts?

Meet An Athetist Link

Shanghaiist Best Music List 2005

Not on the Shanghaiist Best Music List

I'm not sure about the musical tastes of the five guys who run Shanghaiist, who have recently announced their favorite lists for the year and only included one musical group that I kinda recognize: Foo Fighters. Guess I'm so far behind the loop, that's it's way to late to catch up......and I don't really care. After all, I've got KCSM piping out hot, fresh, commercial-free jazz around the clock every day of the year, so who needs to keep up on the latest rock band?

Shanghaiist presents The Best Albums of 2005

Since Shanghaiist kicked off in July this year, we’ve inflicted opinion after opinion on you, our faithful readership. Here comes a whole bunch more.

This time we’ve taken it upon ourselves to inform you about the best music released in 2005. Specifically, the top 25 albums of the year (summed up in exactly 25 words each).

The list was painstakingly compiled by five Shanghaiist contributors. We say painstakingly because some of us absolutely loathed the choices of the others — in fact, not a single album appeared in all five lists.

For the record, the five contributors comprised three Americans, a Scot and an Aussie. And judging from the complete absence of Chinese music from the list, it might be wise if next time we convince one of our Shanghainese friends to lend a hand. (Actually, as always, we encourage all of you to submit your own lists, thoughts, suggestions, insults-about-our-mothers as comments at the end of this very long post.)

Shanghaiist Link

Weblog Awards Asia Results

Wendy


Mr. Brown (#2), Cory Doctorow, Wendy (#1), Mr. Miyagi (#3)

Sorry about the lack of posts lately, but I haven't been able to locate anything juicy and unique for your perusal. Happens sometimes and rather than just fill with space with senseless drivel, I'll leave some space for both of us.

Mom emailed yesterday and said she checked my blog, and noticed that all the right-side stuff had been pushed down to the bottom of the very, very long page. Yep, that sometimes happens when I include a very long URL in a post, and Blogger can't conveniently break the URL into smaller segments (I need to do that), and so it just gives up and pushed the entire sidebar down to the bottom. Frankly, I really don't care that much since I get tired of looking at my mugshot, but gotta keep Mom happy, so maybe I'll track down the problem today and get things back to normal.

Normal, yuck.

By the way, as we all expected, Wendy has run away with first prize in the Weblogs race, but Mr. Brown did an admirable job of hanging in for second. He should have taken Miyagi's advice yesterday: don a pink tutu and swim across the Singapore River for cocktails with Nick Leeson at the pub. But Brown can't swim! That's really lame.

I'm so glad I wasn't nominated in that popularity contest just to save my ego from being completely crushed, but we all need to prepare starting now (today) and how to beat the evil empire of Xiaxue next year and in all future years to come. At least I'm glad to report I voted daily for ESWN and kept him out of the lonely basement, as if he cares.

Best Asian Blog

Xiaxue 49.70 % (14715)

mrbrown 39.29 % (11634)

Mr. Miyagi 4.07 % (1206)

Simon World 1.46 % (431)

The Marmot's Hole 0.95 % (282)

Hongkie Town 0.69 % (204)

asiapundit 0.65 % (191)

Sassy Lawyer 0.61 % (182)

Hemlock's Diary 0.59 % (174)

Frog in a Well 0.43 % (128)

Our Man In Hanoi 0.39 % (116)

the shaky kaiser 0.35 % (104)

ESWN 0.29 % (85)

Shanghai Diaries 0.28 % (83)

Sinosplice 0.24 % (72)

Total votes: 29607

Weblog Awards Link

Singapore Zouk Party

Singapore, not Bangkok

Hottest party of the year may not be at some nightclub in Bangkok, but over at sleepy Sentosa Island where Zouk rules the roost once a year. Bangkok bars and nightclubs in "tourist zones" must now close at 1am, but Singapore, under conditions, will allow the party to go on all night.

By the time we made it across the bridge to Sentosa island and the snaking queue for entry, it was 9. The huge crowds were all set to party, with throngs of bikini-clad women and shirtless men... good bods all, too. Siloso beach had been converted to a huge sandy carnival with food and drink stalls, bungy-bounce and spin rides, stiltwalkers, fortune-tellers and body-art points. The latter's clientele included several bold women and men who got painted on at very interesting locations.

Clippings from Resfest 2005 were screened as warm-up, before Zouk's resident DJs took over at the 3 different stages. This year saw a new stage for live performances by local rock bands. We enjoyed pieces by Concave Scream, Ronin and Tiramisu - the frontman of Tiramisu is one heckuva bundle of energy within his lean frame, jumping around the stage, entertainingly mad.

But by far the best stage, with longest dance-ability in our op, was the Mambo-Jambo / Hip-Hop one. Zouk DJs djB and Sonny spun the crowd favorite retro pop hits. The crowd was already having loads of fun when Cash Money took over much past midnight, and the floor went berserk. He teased us with ancient soundtrack everyone could sing along to, tested us with old skool, warmed us with familiar hits from the 80s-90s, rewarded us with the latest chartbusters... here was one of the best DJs I've ever witnessed, he mixed and matched and scratched and mashed it all up like you wouldn't believe, pleasing and enthusing and interacting with the crowd and made us want more - simply an awesome few hours!!

ZoukOut Link

Tiger Temple Thailand

Tiger Temple Kanchanaburi Thailand


Tending the Flock


An Afternoon Walk


Big Kitty on Leash

Richard at Thai-Blogs.com recently took an escape from the wonderlands of Samut Prakan to wander around Kanchanaburi and enjoy the local sights, including the now famous Tiger Temple up the road. He was disappointed at the men in blue frocks who now tend the animals but seems to support the idea of increased visitors payments to hopefully construct new and larger facilities for the endangered tigers. And the admission price is the same for Thais and farangs - a policy that always warms my heart. Hope that map of Sangklaburi in my Thailand Handbook was OK, but it's been almost a decade from when I first visited that town, so changes are sure.

In other news, the other ringmeister at thaiblogs (that would be Steve from Suphanburi) has some clues about life in the Kingdom.

Since our popular Webmastering buddie here, the certain…Mr Richard has decided to start up a bit of a funky series on travelling in Thailand I thought I’d complement his fine work with a blog along similar lines ….oh well, kind of!

Of course, ‘Unseen Thailand’ is a bit of an exaggeration! Thailand's Tourism Board has been using this slogan for a few years now but have failed to do little but point every single tourist in the same dull direction. So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to steal this catch-phrase and point yous all in a far clearer direction.

DO’S

>Do on eat on the street, perhaps the best food to be had – you have just as much chance of coming down with a case of the ‘Indian-belly’ at the nearest 5 star hotel.

>Do visit a local morning market – a truly unforgettable experience of smelly meats, loud vendors and a fleet of vegetable carts waiting to run you over.

>Do take a motorbike-taxi ride, speeding through the traffic like a Loony Tunes character you’ll be in for one darned… ‘scary experience’.

>Do try the local speciality ‘Papaya-Pok-Pok’(Somtum), if not… then the Thais will say ‘You have never truly been to Thailand’.

>Do, even if you don’t speak a word of Thai, stay in the middle of Nakhorn Nowhere or Buffaloburi for a few days , better than experiencing some corny episode of ‘Survivor Series’.

>Do pop over the Thai-Cambodian border into the border town of Poipet for the night, some folks may say it’s the worst border town dump in the world – but it’s one heck of an unforgettable wild-west experience.

>Do have a bevvie at some shack upcountry karaoke bar, can witness the local drunkards fighting over who is going to sing the next song.

>Do venture into Bangkok’s very own slum district of Klong Tery at 2 in the morning, completely off the tourist track…no further explanation necessary.

>Do hang around South Pattaya for the evening, great fun seeing all the newly-arrived naughty Arab males being chatted up by a 6 foot 2 ladyboy they think… is an actual girl.

>Do take the countryside train, even though the journey itself may feel like it takes a lifetime, it’s a great way to get a real feel for the rural Thai ways.

>Do take up the opportunity of staying with a Thai family, another great way to experience the life-style of the locals.

DON’TS

> Don’t go to a Farang infested beach, go to a Thai-style one – excellent place to see the locals stroll along the beach in long-sleeved jackets, huge huts and 50 proof sunblock plastered all over their faces.

>Don’t, as a male, bother buying some over-priced drink for a girl in a bar – completely pointless, just pop along to your nearest dept store and you’ll find lotsa lovely sales-assistant girls waiting to be chatted up for free.

>Don’t take one of Bangkok’s spanking new yellow air-con buses, enjoy the thrills and spills instead in one of the capital’s little green doorless three and a half wheeled ones, a truly manic experience.

>Don’t go on one of those pricey hotel tour-boat rides up the Chao Praya River, for the grand sum of nine baht - take a ride on the local express boat, you’ll get exactly the same view!

>Don’t spend all your time hanging around the usual tourist-haunted temples, go to a local upcountry one instead and you can chat to all the resident monks about ….football, latest Nokia models and the newest DVD releases.

>Don’t stay in and write postcards all night, enjoy an evening of ‘All the fun of the Temple Fair’, meditation and chanting are out – darts, bingo and bouncy castles are in.

>Don’t waste your valuable time at boring Farang discos, Bangkok’s massive Thai-style ones are one heck of an eye-opener.

>And don’t sacrifice any more of your precious time applying for a long-term visa in Thailand, the authorities in charge are highly experienced in wasting as much of your time as heavenly possible.

>Don’t fork out for a pricey ticket on Thai Airways, just take Air Asia instead - even though you may be delayed for an average of four hours you’ll be saving a small fortune. Even Thailand’s very own Prime Minister himself once said “Our national carrier is over-priced and a load of rubbish".

>Don’t hang around some gory guesthouse watching movies all night, check out the local TV Soap Operas, great insight into the mentality of the 'Thai family life'.

>And finally, don’t spend all your time in the city, at the beach or a tourist-orientated hill resort – take a trip into the countryside of Thailand’s very own ‘north-east’ (Isarn), lotsa rice whiskey, grilled chicken, sticky rice and friendly locals – not to be missed.

As usual, just a bitta fun and not too be taken too seriously - if you can think of any more advice to .....truly unseen Thailand... i'll look forward to reading them in the comments below

Thai Blogs via Steve Link

Uluwatu Cafe by Barrie

Uluwatu Cafe by Barrie

It's a very simple shot, but a strong reminder that I desperately need to get back to Bali........soon.

Barrie in Bali Link

Holiday Greetings from Singapore

Happy Holidays from Singapore

Not sure if this is from Mr. Miyagi or one of his links, but it's the best reminder that the BEST girl watching venue in Southeast Asia is NOT Sukumvit in Bangkok but rather Orchard Road on any given Sunday afternoon. There otta be a law against this sorta stuff, but there isn't, so enjoy.

Singapore Handbook by Carl Parkes

Singapore Handbook by Carl Parkes

Amazon Link for Singapore Handbook by Carl Parkes

Singapore Internet Censorship

Singapore Sex Guide

I know, I know, that criticizing the government of Singapore is like shooting fish in a barrel, but it's hard to resist, since the government seems to shoot itself in the foot on an almost daily basis. But I'm a fair trade critic and am willing to criticize my own government and everybody else around the world that stops journalists and the free press from doing their job.

Oh, the first edition of my Southeast Asia Handbook from Moon Publications is banned in Singapore, though you can find it in the "restricted" list at their National Library. Oh, and the first edition of my Singapore Handbook from Moon Publications was also banned. Oh, and I was strip searched coming into Singapore and my kris daggers from Indonesia were confiscated. Took me a year to get those back. Oh, and my Kodachrome slides processed in Australia and delivered to me on Bencoolen Street were searched and some semi-porn shots from Manila were confiscated. I was told to go down to the Singapore police station and get them back.

Sure, right.

Also, my Singapore Handbook from Moon Publications is the best guidebook ever written to that country. ever.

You're banned, Singapore!
A website has barred S'pore surfers to protest hanging as an execution method here

A headline like "Singapore bans website" wouldn't raise eyebrows one bit, as we know that the Media Development Authority (MDA) monitors the web and occasionally restricts access to websites based on their content — the most recent being a gay-related website which the MDA did not name.

When a website is banned by the MDA, you can't access it from your browser if you're in Singapore. Even if you wanted to find out, the MDA won't reveal its name or URL, according to the news report. So, as you can imagine, if a website is blocked or banned, it effectively disappears from the local bit of cyberspace. But what happens when a website bans Singapore?

Direct your browser to www.putfile.com — the website of a company that provides free online file storage and sharing services — and if you're surfing from Singapore, you'll be transferred to a page with a message titled: "Putfile says goodbye to Singapore". As far as I know, this is the first time a website has banned access to its services from a particular geographical location. You'll have to ask your technologically-savvy friends how this is done, because I don't know how to explain it.

Voicing its opposition to the method of capital punishment used in Singapore, Putfile's message reads: "While Putfile is not a human rights campaigning organisation, we believe that if a country must have the death penalty, there is no need for it be barbaric."

And Putfile assured users from Singapore that they would "be happy to restore service following any positive move from the Government of Singapore towards abolition of hanging as an execution method."

Putfile's decision last week to terminate services to Singapore residents sparked a heated debate on the company's own forums as well as on several others, though the company has since removed the thread.

Some commentators were scathing of the company's decision, labelling it a publicity stunt, and an unintelligent one to boot.

One website dedicated to news about peer-to-peer file sharing, p2pnet.net, ran the story about the furore, which garnered comments such as: "Stupid, you think Singapore will care? There are plenty of business/services in line to serve the Singaporean. Your stupidity is your biggest lost (sic)."

Today Online Link

15 Years Ago

Netscape Founders

I'll never forget that day in 1991 when I wandered into the public library here in San Francisco and fired up their computer and got on the internet for the first time, and was able to read the Bangkok Post without having to spend $2.50 for a hard copy from the Thai grocery store on Geary Blvd. (it's now closed). The next day I spent $2500 for a new computer with modem, and the world changed.

Thank you Tim, Marc and everybody else involved with this life changing revolution.

In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee launched the World Wide Web, a multimedia branch of the Internet.

With Berners-Lee's "http protocol," computer jockeys the world over began making the Net easier to use with point-and-click programs. Browsers such as Mosaic and, later, Netscape Navigator would help popularize the Web, and let a billion Web pages bloom.

Anyone could access the network, and anyone could decide what went online. The Web became a powerful, liberating force that brought people closer together, and shaped new businesses. Take Yahoo, which started as a quirky list favorite links that turned into the go-to site of the 90s. Or Hotmail, one of the first Web services to give away e-mail for free. And Ebay, which linked up buyers and sellers of nearly everything to become the world's biggest trading post.

And of course Amazon, the online behemoth of books. These were the great companies of the so-called "new economy," fueled by venture capitalist sugar daddies and excitable Nasdaq punters.

CNN Link

American Values

George W. Bush Tramps on Liberty

I hope everybody understands that as an American I am proud of my country and our values, but I disagree with the principals laid out by my current president. He will someday be out of office and hopefully disgraced as the charlatan that he has always been. And then America can restore our original values and re-enter the world as a beacon and not a scourge. On behalf of many Americans, I apologize for the behavior of my country, but remain assured that we will (eventually) do the right thing. Give us time. We will change.

The United States has tied with Myanmar, the former Burma, for sixth place among countries that are holding the most journalists behind bars, according to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Each country is jailing five journalists. The United States is holding four Iraqi journalists in detention centers in Iraq and one Sudanese, a cameraman who works for Al Jazeera, at the United States Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. None of the five have been charged with a specific crime.

This year, China topped the list of countries with the most journalists - 32 - in jail, many of them for activity on the Internet. This is the seventh year in a row in which China has led the list.

Fifteen of the Chinese journalists are being held under national security legislation for writing critically about the Communist Party online, the report said.

Magnoy's Samsara Link

Wendy Wins

Wendy and her Evil Twin

Love her or hate her, Wendy has won the Asia blog contest (again), in some part due to her great Photoshop skills. Mr. Brown never had a chance. Do check out this photo surrealism from Wendy. It's great stuff.

Xiaxue Link

Bangkok Event

Deep Dish in Bangkok

It continually amazes me that bands, DJs, VJs, and others completely unknown to the western world can go to Bangkok and get top billing in some nightclub or trendy restaurant.

Burmese Generals Move to Maymyo

The President of Burma

So who wants to live down in the sweltering lowlands of Pyinmana? Certainly not the generals who rule Burma, who are now constructing their villas high up in the cooler climes of Maymyo. British high tea at the Candicraig anyone?

Heads in the Clouds
The Irrawaddy
December 14, 2005

While foreign observers have been puzzling over the Burmese military regime's weird decision to move the capital from Rangoon more than 300 kilometres north to Pyinmana, in an even more bizarre twist the generals have been quietly building themselves their own little hilltop paradise well away from the new city.

The new project to enable the ruling brass to live in cool luxury is in Maymyo, also known as Pyin U Lwin, 67 kilometres east of Mandalay and one hour's flight from Pyinmana.

The Irrawaddy acquired exclusive pictures showing work on some of the new mansions, with their large gardens. Business sources say there will be about 30. No expense has apparently been spared to allow the generals to live in what is basically a resort, complete with an artificial beach and a man-made stretch of water to lap onto it.

That's not all. Workers are also constructing replicas of some of Burma's landmarks, including: Rangoon's Shwedagon and Mon State's Kyaiktiyo pagodas, Mandalay palace, and Mrauk U, Arakan State's old capital. Oh, and there's also going to be a replica of the popular Irrawaddy delta resort of Chaung Tha, which is probably where the fake beach comes in.

Local sources say the generals include junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe, and his two main lieutenants, Deputy Snr-Gen Maung Aye and Gen Shwe Man, who will have the three largest mansions, each with its 3-acre compound. The top brass are believed to intend to use the resort during the hot-season months March-May, and then plan to retire there.

Maymyo's small airport is also being renovated to facilitate more flights to Pyinmana.

Construction work on the mansions is supervised by government engineers, but contracts have been awarded to Rangoon-based private companies, such as Htoo Trading Company and Asia World. A director of the Htoo Trading Company confirmed that the company was involved in construction there, but added: "We are only doing interior design work for the three largest houses."

Seven Rangoon companies are involved in building the replicas. It is not known how the junta is financing the massive project in impoverished Burma.

Maymyo was a garrison town from 1915 during colonial days. The British developed it as a hill station because of its cooler, almost alpine climate, then moved to the station from sweaty Rangoon during the hot season. The name Maymyo means May Town in Burmese, after the town's first British administrator, Colonel May.

It is also home to Burma's "West Point," the Defense Services Academy, and a famous attraction there is the National Botanical Gardens. After Burma gained its independence in 1948, the name of the town was officially changed to Pyin U Lwin, but it is still known as Maymyo.

Irrawaddy Link

Thailand's Wealthiest Citizens

Thanksin Says No

Oh to belong to the richest and most politically powerful family in the country. Some eye-opening figures posted today in the MCOT website.

PM Thaksin's daughter Thailand's richest stockholder for 2nd year at US$0.5 billion
BANGKOK
Dec 13, 2005
(TNA)

Pinthongtha Shinawatra, daughter of Prime Minister Thaksin, has retained the title of Thailand's richest stockholder for two consecutive years, with an estimated Bt19 billion (US$475 million) worth of corporate stock in her portfolio.

According to Money and Banking Magazine and lecturers at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Commerce and Accounting, Ms. Pinthongtha currently owns 14.6 per cent of the telecommunication giant Shin Corp's stock, worth Bt18 billion, and 28.9 per cent of SC Asset Corp's stock (the property development unit of the family businesses), worth Bt1 billion.

The country's second richest stockholder is Bannapot Damapong, brother of Mr. Thaksin's wife, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra. Mr. Bannapot owns 13.4 per cent of Shin Corp. stocks, worth Bt16 billion.

Land & House Co president Anant Asavapokhin, who topped the list of the country's 500 richest stockholders in 2002 and 2003, has become the third richest with Bt15 billion in stock in his portfolio.

Panthongthae Shinawatra, only son of the prime minister, ranks fourth on the list with 9.8 per cent of Shin Corp stock, worth Bt12 billion, while Premchai Kannasutra, CEO of ItalianThai Development Corp, ranks fifth with eight billion baht in stocks.

Paethongtharn Shinawatra, remaining daughter of the prime minister, ranks 45th, holding about Bt1billion baht in stock, compared to Khunying Pojaman, Mr. Thaksin's wife, who ranks 397th with only Bt116 million worth of stock.

Yinglak Shinawatra, the prime minister's sister, ranks 62nd with Bt820 million in stock.

The Shinawatra Family has become the country's richest with a combined Bt33 billion in stocks.

The Asavapokhin Family ranks second with Bt17 billion in stocks, the Maleenont Family ranks third with Bt16 billion, the Damapong Family is fourth with Bt16 billion and the Chirathiwat Family ranks fifth with Bt15 billion.(TNA)-E008

MCOT Link

Devan Nair and Lee Kuan Yew

Devan Nair and Lee Kuan Yew

Sunday watching the (American) football games and it wasn't pretty. Oakland lost again by a margin of error and my hometeam was completely devastated by those coffee swilling grunts up in Seattle. In other news, Devan Nair has died and Singaporeans around the world remember his significant contributions to the establishment of their country.

So ex-President Devan Nair has passed away. Customarily we say only nice things about dead people. And in Singapore, nice things generally mean things that are nice according to the establishment, the ruling party, the Powers That Be. This confuses Mr Wang somewhat because ex-President Devan Nair, in more recent years, has himself said many things which the establishment wouldn't think of as very nice. For example, Devan Nair spoke loudly in support of certain well-known opposition figures. Even bumbling idiots like Chee Soon Juan, whom Mr Wang detests.

Mister Wang Link

The Filipino Diaspora: Saudi Arabia

Fort Santiago Manila with Star of David

Imagine leaving your home and barangay in the Philippines to live and work in a foreign country such as Saudi Arabia, where almost everything familiar is against the law. A Filipino reports from Saudi, and it ain't pretty.

SAUDI ARABIA is home to Islam's two Holy places, Makkah (Mecca) and Madinah (Medina). It is a country where women are still fighting for the right to drive and unmarried couples who mix in public risk the anger of the mutawah, the stern-faced religious police armed with thin wooden canes. It is a country where words like alcohol, sex, rape, mini-skirt, prostitute, Christmas, communism, and anything that connotes Christianity, "immorality," or godlessness are taboo and not allowed to appear in newspapers and magazines. It is also a country that has hired fun-loving and eager Filipinos by the hundreds of thousands at a time for the last three decades. Up to now, no day passes without a Filipino boarding a plane to work there.

Many OFWs spend several years working in Saudi Arabia. But they never get used to its culture. All alcoholic drinks, for instance, are prohibited in the Kingdom, not exactly comforting for Filipinos used to the delights of San Mig after a hard day's work. Yet these delights can still be had, although very expensively, including the sadiqui, a concoction of rice and yeast that tastes like lambanog (a fiery drink made from the nectar of coconut flowers) and that Filipinos have managed to source secretly.

Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism Link

Jewish Star of David in Manila

Boracay Sunset by Carl Parkes

Carlos Celdran has just posted an old photograph of the Jewish Star of David above a gate at Fort Santiago, and asks for some help about the origins. Interesting question. Were Jews involved in old Manila and why is there a carving of the slaughter of the Moors above the Jewish insignia? Do see the link and provide some background.

Oy! Does anybody out there know why there is a star of David hanging above the Fort Santiago gate in this turn of the century photograph? I don't remember the Israeli Occupation period in Philippine History so it really is quite a curious sight. I received this photo through an email being circulated by a man named Jeff Yap who is also wondering the same thing.

Thanks man, for raising the question. And anybody out there got some answers to this? I wonder if it has any connection to the fact that right above the star is a wooden carving of Saint James beheading some Moors.

Carlos Celdran Link

Papua New Guinea Life

Sepik River Kids by Carl Parkes

The Australian guy who has been working in Papua New Guinea for the last two years is soon to pack up his bags, and hopefully start a long journey around Southeast Asia, and hopefully will continue his blog on his new adventures. In the meantime, he's sending stuff back home and posting a few final thoughts on his time in PNG, such as this summary of the best and worst of times.

The My Choice Awards

and the winners go to ...

Best overall week ...
Going to Manus for work and spending it tripping out to a remote island on a banana boat, heading into Manus island interior via the Manus highway (or goat track) and saving a cuscus from becoming kai kai.

Most scariest moment ...
Climbing two thirds up an active volcano and finally realising that the thing was erupting boulders the size of VW beetles ... a hasty retreat was made.

Most exhausting event ...
Trekking for 7 days over the Kokoda Track, which meant 96 kms overland but climbing up a combined height of two thirds of Mount Everest (and going down again).

Best moment of instant celebrity ...
Flying into a remote highlands village with my white haired mother and being swamped by the entire population.

Best PNG location visited ...
The remote Balaun island, part of the Manus trip. I had always wanted to visited a remote pacific island .. this felt very much like it.

Best non-PNG location visited ...
Biak in Indonesia. Cheap food, cheap accommodation, great scenery, great weather, great company .. all good.

Biggest culture shock moment ...
Eating a cuscus foreleg on the second Mt Wilhelm trip. Nice .. tastes like lamb .. not much of it though.

Biggest culturally awkward moment ...
Expected to cry at a Western Highlands funeral. The tears didn't well up.

Worst health moment ...
Urinating a dark red colour while having Malaria in a place without a doctor.

Lifetime changing award ...
Growing up quickly when driving a car full of computers and having guns pointed at you by rascal gangs on the side of the road.

Most thrilling individual moment ...
Making it to the top of Mount Wilhelm the first time ... I laughed and cried at the same time.

and finally ...

Best thing discovered ...
Meeting some of the best friends I have ever made .. including some fantastic locals with lion hearts and some brilliant ex-pats including some very special people. See you on the other side.

Papua New Guinea Life Link

Dowry in Thailand

Dean Barrett Novel

OK. So you've lost your mind and fallen in love with the bargirl from Bangkok or Pattaya, and decide to throw your fate to the wind and marry the girl from Buriram. The buffalo may be ill, and the folks need a new truck, but you must first pay a token dowry to the parents before you marry the girl of your dreams. Stickman covers the issue today in his weekly column.

A Sin Sot FAQ

Ever since the opening piece in the column a few weeks back about the guy who was asked for what was essentially a 2,000,000 baht dowry, both myself and the Mrs. have been inundated with questions about the issue of the dowry, or sin sot as it is known in Thai. In an effort to put the sin sot issue to bed once and for all, what follows is a FAQ outlining sin sot in Thailand.

What is the sin sot?

Sin sot is often translated as dowry. It is money AND gold given by the groom to his bride (but usually retained and managed by her parents, at least initially) on the day of their wedding, or sometimes, at the engagement ceremony. I personally believe that "bride price" is a better term than dowry.

What is the reason for the sin sot?

There are several reasons for the payment of the sin sot.

Traditionally in Thailand the wife would leave the family home upon marriage and move in with her husband’s family. As her family had lost a set of hands, and thus labour, the sin sot was compensation of sorts for this.

The sin sot is also seen as re-imbursing the family for the cost of raising a child.

The sin sot is supposedly seen as a means of showing that the groom is able to take care (financially) of his bride. Personally, I think this is absolutely daft and would question how anyone could feel this is a valid reason.

Finally, the sin sot is seen as a sort of guarantee money so that if the husband leaves his wife, she is guaranteed to have some money to look after herself. Remember, in Thailand in the past, and still to some extent today, a woman who has divorced is looked upon as spoiled goods, and is hardly ideal material for a wife. So if she has been divorced, she might struggle to have a good life and the sin sot money could be used to make sure she doesn't go hungry.

Stickman Link

Memoirs of a Geisha: Review and Comments

Not Memoirs

The post below may not break any new ground, but the comments are worth checking out.

I suspect that Memoirs of a Geisha most likely deserves the wrath of the Japanese press, but is right now really the low point of cultural understanding between Hollywood and Japan? Remember when Japanese businessmen were murdering women and using high-tech devices to cover up the video evidence only to be foiled by Wesley Snipes? ("Always bet on black") Americans in 2005 may think Japan is samurai and kimono, but c'mon, do you really think they don't remember that the guy who can eat the most hot dogs in twelve minutes is Japanese?

PliInk Link

Thailand Elite Card Fiasco

Thailand Elite Card

The Thailand Elite Card continues to be the amazing fiasco of the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as once again pointed out in a pithy post in Pattaya Today.

Thai elite card changes direction
Pattaya Today

ItÂ’s a while since we heard about the elite card, organized by Thailand Privilege Card on the initiative of the prime minister, so how are things going? There are now around 1,300 members clutching their little plastic which is a bit of a shortfall from the target of 100,000 luxury travellers interested in a lifetime club membership for a one-off fee of US$25,000.

The elite card was launched in 2003 with a great fanfare but never really gripped the farang publicÂ’s imagination even though, to this day, there remains a dedicated immigration checkpoint line at Bangkok airport for the privileged few.

The sort of privileges on offer were said to be hassle free visas (youÂ’d only to have to leave the country once every 6 months), discounts at golf courses and spas, limousine taxi from the airport, special treats at first class hotels. Initially, there were also suggestions that the elite card would be the golden key to opening a foreignerÂ’s right to hold freehold land in his or her own name. However, later clarification meant that you would not actually be in possession of the deeds since a foreigner canÂ’t hold freehold land in his own name.

So the whole thing went round in circles and was soon forgotten. Another early problem was that the privileges on offer were mostly to be found via other routes, such as holding a platinum card of some credit card companies or having a lot of air miles (or reward points) or being a VIP in some prestigious company. You didnÂ’t actually need, in other words, to fork out $25,000 to be treated specially by airlines or to use the beauty salon in a posh hotel for free.

As for golf, well you could do as well joining the Pattaya Sports Club, or some folk believed. Even visas have got much simpler for everyone. So you donÂ’t need an elite card to live almost indefinitely in Thailand provided you have some cash, a pensiodependentpendant Thai relative. Now the president of TPC, Choksiri Robboonpha admits that the elite card project made some major miscalculations. He explains that he has decided to forego numbers and focus on the clubÂ’s exclusivity instead. The elite card is now for quality members who spend at least 10 times more than the average tourists and invest billions of baht in the country. This sounds sound much like the chap with the knotted handkerchief from Bolton who has a few bob in his pocket and fancies a free jacuzzi.

Choksiri emphasises that the elite card venture is not a failed programme. Rather, it’s a revamped one. The core benefits are still there such as immigration privileges, access to personal assistants, free spa services and the rest, but there are some intriguing extras. For example, elite card blurb refers to “opening doors that would otherwise remain closed” and provide “powerful connections” which could benefit a member’s business.

Well, now, you donÂ’t see that on Visa or Mastercard application form., EliteÂ’s main marketing remains targeted at Asia, though not exclusively, and the company now has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing as well as Brussels and London.

The new direct flights between Bangkok and Moscow are expected to boost Russian interest in the elite card too. There the nouveau riche, very much the product of the downfall of communism, seem to have money to burn and in US currency at that. ItÂ’s never easy to resurrect an idea or a name that got off to a bad start, which ThailandÂ’s elite card certainly did. It reminds you of the restauranteur who promised to wash his hands more often after customers complained of food poisoning: they didnÂ’t return.

The real point about the elite card is that the members have to feel subjectively like they are privileged and pampered VIPS. It’s an inner satisfaction like travelling first class on an intercontinental flight or being invited to the prime minister’s birthday party. If the new elite management can persuade foreigners they are indeed “special”, the idea may yet take root. But it won’t be easy. A reader has sent in this: Symptoms of Bird Flu – 1. high fever; 2. congestion; 3. nausea; 4. fatigue; 5. aching in the joints; 6. irresistible urge to crap on somebody’s windshield.

At a recent posh Pattaya bar’s birthday party, a distinguished guest enquired of a waiter if they stocked any red wine. The waiter replied that indeed they did. The guest then asked if the waiter knew from whence the wine came and, on finding out that the lad did not, asked to him to find out. The waiter returned a couple of minutes later and explained, “They say the wine’s from Friendship”. Now that the south area of the recently rebuilt Soi Bukao is more or less ready for occupancy, they say that foreigners are queuing up to purchase leases and start paying rent and key money on the concrete boxes on offer.

Our lawyer in the know says that 80% of the wannabe entrepreneurs are from UK. The best of British to them. The recent scare that bars and clubs would have to close at midnight came from national press reports about not selling alcoholic drinks in supermarkets, shops and petrol stations after the witching hours. But the ban, due to come into effect in January, doesnÂ’t apply to the entertainment sector, so rest easy (for now anyway). Although Pattaya is knee deep in lawyers and people purporting to be same, they are very loathe to be available on Friday evenings and through the weekend which is often the time that farangs can find themselves as guests of the police station. Good scope here for a reputable law firm, properly marketed, which can fill the gap. We hear rumours that a Pattaya businessman is thinking about opening a chain of Balti curry houses, British style, in the resort.

You know the sort of thing – huge bowls of curry with Indian breads the size of cartwheels. In spite of claims to the contrary, nobody in Pattaya is offering hot suppers Bradford style and the idea could take off very well. Don’t forget the work permits lads, or you won’t last a fortnight. It’s doubtful if Noel Coward ever visited Bangkok, but there’s a tale that he did. Apparently, the night security manager knocked on his hotel door and asked him whether he had a gentleman in his room. Coward replied from inside the room, “Just a moment and I’ll ask him.”

Pattaya Today Link

Richard Pryor v. Eugene McCarthy

Richard Pryor


Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, 1989


Pryor, two daughters, wife, brother-in-law

The death of Richard Pryor has long been assumed, as he has been battling with disease for many years after decades of personal hell. Eugene McCarthy also died yesterday - and I was a big fan of Eugene in his salad days - but it is Pryor that really tugs at my heart. After an early appreciation of milk-toast Bill Cosby, it was Pryor that torn open the envelope and brought black American humor into the mainstream. He will be missed.

The New York Times eulogy linked below is well worth reading.

New York Times Link