April 2008
54 posts
Taxi Scam
At the bus station I was approached by a man saying “Taxi? Taxi?” I know that is usually a bad sign, but I asked “meter taxi?” and he said yes. In fact I asked 4 or 5 times as we walked to his car. But then when I got in, he didn’t turn on the meter.
“Can you please turn on the meter?” I asked. He grinned, revealing sparse yellow teeth. He held up four...
I will kick your ass (in like 4 months ok, not...
My Muay Thai lessons are going really well! Now I can (sometimes) make the really satisfying WHAM when I kick the pads. The instructor, Somchai, says maybe next week I can spar. Or maybe he was joking. I don’t know. His Muay Thai shorts have a picture of a skull wearing an American flag bandana and smoking a cigarette on them. It’s right on his ass—SO THAT IS WHY I AM LOOKING AT...
“And so I found myself in Bangkok, eating at an Egyptian restaurant, giving alms...”
– Me, narrating my dinner to myself.
(Yeah, that’s right, I’m quoting myself)
Do wasabi peas count as a 'vegetable'?
This is important.
Updated*** New Twist in Python Wife Saga →
Mr Satien Kankudlung from Udon Thani province married a python, which a respected spiritual figure claimed was his soul mate from 600 years ago.
WatchBangkok Olympic Torch Ceremony: I’m just not very impressed
360 die during 7-day Songkran celebration →
This article is much more detailed (and confirms my 80% figure—before you start thinking I was just exaggerating!)
Songkran death toll down to 360 →
bangkok: 360 people died and 4,794 were injured in 4,242 road accidents in the seven-day period of Thailand’s Songkran celebrations.
”Down to” is a bit misleading, as the death toll last year was 361. Also something like 80% of the accidents involve motorcycles. I didn’t take any motorcycle taxis during the holiday.
I’m pretty sure I joined a Gaelic Football team last night. I don’t even know what that is.
7 tags
Olympic Torch Relay
I wanted to see the relay, which passed through Bangkok today. But I got a late start, and the ‘express boats’ are not really very express. It did not help that I missed my stop and had to switch boats to go back. But I did see a guy catch a big catfish on the pier. I am scared now to eat fish in that area, because they might actually come from the river.
After getting lost for a...
Thailand sets flexible route to ensure security... →
“Thai authorities said any foreigner involved in efforts to disrupt the relay of the Olympic torch in Bangkok would be subject to expulsion from the country.”
It's Hot. I'm Hot. That's Hot.
It is the hot season here, and it is hot. It’s only 34°C here at the moment, but it’s supposed to get up to 38° (that’s 100°F for y’all back home). But the reason I’m so hot is that the airconditioning in my office is turned off for the holiday.
Don’t they know farangs have to work on holidays? (and are too cheap to pay ฿ 150 to use the wireless at...
WatchThis was the mild, day-time celebration, set to hip-hop music blaring over giant speakers. At night, I went to Silom, which was a 4 lane road packed shoulder-to-shoulder with Thai teenagers for 6 blocks. Someone was shooting a firehose out of a 9th floor window. On the sidewalk, boys painted my cheeks with talcum powder as I passed. I expected them to slap it on, but it was a surprisingly gentle...
One nice thing about Thais is that they will sit anywhere. If there are stairs, something resembling a bench, or (rarely) an actual bench, there is someone sitting on it. This is so nice because I like to sit down, too, and cannot always find a bench.
It is also perfectly acceptable here to take a nap on a bench. This surprised me at first, but really, who does it hurt?
“Yeah, she was 15, with a baby, and working at Magic Mountain.”
– Overheard on the BTS
7 tags
Frog without lungs found in Indonesia →
This ugly little guy, compared to “a squished version of Jabba the Hutt” by one biologist, is the only known lungless frog. This unique creature could help scientists understand evolutionary change, if it doesn’t go extinct first:
Bickford and Gillespie said the frog’s discovery adds urgency to the need to protect its river habitat, which in recent years has become...
Fighting the Urge to Fight the Urge →
People’s resevoir of self-control is limited and shallow. (via World Future Society)
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The 10 Worst Pieces of infrastructure in the U.S. →
(via ifightevil)
I am thinking about getting laundry service...
One of my fears over here is that my washing machine doesn’t fully rinse my clothes. They might still be covered in dried soap.
And I keep imagining that some imminent tropical afternoon when I walk to the skytrain, the friction between my thighs will work up a rich, foamy lather. Then I will have to ride the train with a sudsy crotch.
Talk about embarassing!
3 tags
D and I took the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Banglaphu for a little walking. Ended up seeing the King’s motorcade.
It goes a little something like this:
2-3 Silver BMW 5 series with red flashing lights 15+ BMW motorcycles 5-10 red BMWs A vintage yellow Bentley sedan and a vintage yellow Bently limo (yellow is the king’s color) A lot more red BMWs Identical yellow Bently sedan...
5 tags
5 tags
PPP Member of Parliament Karun Hosakul faces... →
A government coalition MP decided to take things to a physical level yesterday by kicking an opposition member.
People Power Party member Karun Hosakul kung-fu kicked Democrat Somkiart Pongpaiboon yesterday while he was dining.
But, Karun being no Bruce Lee, missed widely barely touching Somkiart’s right leg.