There’s something creepy about Miss Teen contests. What is it that drives parents to subject their daughters to these contests? I’m treading a thin line here because we have a guest columnist at work at the moment who is a current provincial teen queen. Her latest column was about the contest in which she participated. [...]

I found this on The Nation today. It looks like an interesting story, although I don’t really understand it.
The Election Commission decided Tuesday to issue yellow cards for three winning People Power Party candidates in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 3, EC member Sodsri Satyatham said.
They are Boonlert Krutkhunthot (110,944), Linda Cherdchai (89,976) and Prasert Chantarawongthong (88,139).
EC [...]

I’ve been blessed with a half day tomorrow, which means I can go out tonight, party and go to work some time after midday. I have absolutely no Christmas feeling inside me. It’s really just another day out here. The longer you spend in Thailand and the older you get, the less Christmas means. I [...]

Today is the day. More than a year after a bloodless coup, millions of Thais will turn out today to vote in a general election. It’s an exciting time as an observer, but it’s also one of concern. The thing that stands out about this election is the enormous impact Thaksin has already had on [...]

Less than a day after saying that she would sue the US Justice Department if she were linked to the Bangkok Film Festival bribe scandal and that the whole debacle would have no effect on her or her party’s political campaign (Puea Pandin Party), former Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas Siriwan has announced that [...]

This is just incredible. Firstly, the major story is that Gerald Green and his wife Patricia were arrested in LA after allegations that they bribed a senior official within Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) “to win a film festival contract and other deals worth more than 10 million dollars”. (AFP)
The festival in question is the [...]

I have a theory that the key to success in the current national elections in Thailand lies in the billboards. The number of billboards candidates murder the scenery with is directly proportional to the number of votes those candidates will receive.
Everywhere you go, there are billboards and posters with images of the various candidates and [...]

Nation Group will launch what looks to be a direct competitor to its own English-language daily in March 2008. Xpress will become Thailand’s biggest newspaper by circulation (100,000 copies). After the cut backs that have taken place at The Nation over the past few months, you’ve got to wonder how they can justify launching a [...]

I’m in a state of disbelief about this. The next two weekends will see a nationwide alcohol ban enforced. Whether you’re a local, an expat or a tourist, you won’t be able to buy booze at bars, clubs, stores or anywhere else (expect, apparently, large hotels). There was talk of this on a few [...]

Last night was the final day of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. The regatta is a big deal down here, but as I have no interest in boats I wasn’t particularly excited. I was told many times that the final party of the regatta is meant to be a bit special. Pretty much everyone I’ve [...]

This one is even more bonkers than the idea of the Bangkok superwall. About two weeks ago, a law was proposed that would see drivers having to stop their cars twice a day when the national anthem is played at 8 am and 6 pm. I’ve been waiting to hear about an update on this [...]

Happy 80th birthday to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

I saw something extraordinary yesterday – even more so than the woman who poured her drink over the mixer and CDJ in a nightclub in Patong last night. I was in the car driving back from dragon-boat practice (we’ve entered a team at work) when we drove past the site of a motorcycle accident.
There was [...]