An ordinary life in an extra-ordinary place
Archive for April, 2009
A circus arrived in our neighbourhood a few weeks ago. They erected an appropriately coloured tent and prepared a massive car park to accommodate all the cars that never came.
While the acrobats perform to tiny audiences, someone came up with a bright idea to fill the car park; hold a vehicle auction for cars and vans which are surplus to requirements in the current economic meltdown (which, according to the politicians here, is not severe and things are picking up and blah blah blah).
So if you are after a well-used but recently washed Toyota van (guaranteed to kill all occupants in the event of an accident), or an Airports of Thailand limousine; get yourself down to the circus.
Sawadee, in this context, meaning goodbye.
The Kinnaree club has been operating in the Phratumnak area for a year or so. A house converted into a “gentlemen’s club” (i.e. a brothel), it is rather conspicuous in a residential area, particularly one which is home to a member of the royal family.
So it was no surprise that it was raided yesterday. Twenty six young ladies were arrested and some poor policeman had the job of collecting assorted used condoms to be used as “evidence.” Raymond Rose, an Englishman, was arrested as being the owner of the place (although I know the man who actually owns the building, so presumably Mr. Rose is just playing at rent-a-brothel).
This morning there was a sign outside the building saying it was closed for a week. Presumably this is the length of time it will take for Mr. Rose to arrange donations to the appropriate authorities, and purchase a new supply of condoms for his customers.
The sign directs potential customers to the Stork Club, which is conveniently located close to the Tourist Police Headquarters.
Khun Kornpat Lertratanaporn, like all young Thai men, is liable to be called up for military service. The fact that Kornpat would rather be a lady and was a previous winner of a Miss Tiffany contest, did not absolve him/her from the conscription process.
Luckily, he/she failed the medical on the grounds that he/she has a disfigured chest.
Photo and story from the Bangkok Post who used the rather clever tagline “A pretty near miss.”
She who must be obeyed comes home last night with a chart which is duly stuck up on the board in the kitchen.
In case you are not fluent in the Thai script, I can tell you that the columns down the left represent the days of the week, the left hand colour column is a good colour to wear on that day, the right hand column is a no-go colour for that day, and the other two columns are… I don’t know.
I start my usual pointless questioning about which particular scientific study has confirmed the luckiness of these colours or otherwise on particular days; and then give up. It’s a no more silly belief than believing in a god, and billions seem to lean on that particular crutch. Unlike religion, it’s a harmless belief, and she who must be obeyed looks pretty cute whatever colour she wears; so why should I care about the basis on which she chooses her colours in the morning. As long as she doesn’t make me wear pink.
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