Archive for July, 2008
Is Bangkok a Dangerous City?
I get asked this question a lot from friends and strangers alike, many of whom still think of Bangkok as a seedy, lawless dive filled with prostitutes and shady gem deals going on among every patch of shadows. However, as anyone who has lived here can tell you, the answer to that question is a [...]
Underrated Things - Thai 50 Baht Note
It never fails - every time I’m in a taxi, the final fare happens to be either 45 baht, or 65 baht (or something very close to these). You can either fumble with a fistful of 20’s - if you have enough - or give the driver 100 baht note, which are plentiful. If you’re [...]
Bangkok Beggars - The Good, The Bad, and The Fake
Now, before I start this off, let me say that I don’t have anything against those less fortunate than us. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time taking HIV-positive kids on field trips, painting orphanage walls with mentally challenged teenagers and volunteer teaching at schools for underprivileged children. But in Thailand - [...]
The Only Law They Enforce in Thailand… Usually
My friend John sums up Thailand’s version of law enforcement beautifully: “There are no laws here until there are laws. Then they’re completely unbreakable.” I remember last year when some City Hall genius decided that Bangkok taxis could only be hailed at designated spots along the streets. Signs were put up, curbs were painted and [...]
Double Pricing: Moral? No. Legal? You Bet!
One of the first things I learned when I was teaching was that many (if not most) Thais automatically think two things about every non-Asian foreigner: 1) We’re rich, and 2) We’re Christian. As my curious students pounded me with questions, I was always amused to see their confused looks when I told them the [...]
Underrated Things - Water
A new category! In line with the lil’ tattoo I have on the back of my chunky neck (learn, in Thai), I like learning. I don’t care what it is - a fact about bugs, a tidbit about history, an entire book on conspiracy theories - it’s all good. Often, right in the middle of [...]
Chuck Norris: Badass
Unless you have a life, you’re probably aware of the uber-awesome website Chuck Norris Facts, a bizarrely funny site dedicated to the cheesy action God Chuck Norris who, unexpectedly, has gone from an 80’s tough guy joke to a minor web-celebrity, due in no small part to the site. Back when I was a wee [...]
