Paul Theroux Interview by Camilla Russell from Bangkok Post

When did you first come to Thailand?

I first came to Thailand 40 years ago in 1968, when Bangkok was a different city. Thailand was very much the same, but the city was different … there were more canals and it was very horizontal. So, of course, nowadays it’s a much more vertical city and denser, but just as vibrant. The first time I came here the Vietnam War was on, and Bangkok was full of US soldiers. So it was like an occupied city and was a city that was designed to accommodate foreign soldiers. It made me feel very uncomfortable. The soldiers were on leave from the war and they were raring to go … looking for activities like love, life and sex. They were looking for something. They weren’t going to museums and they weren’t going to temples. So over the years the Thai people accommodated this, but I’m sure that it wasn’t very easy. War is not just soldiers, it’s businesses, too. Companies selling shoes or electronic equipment or coke for the war effort, and Thailand was one of the first places they looked at. However, tourists’ expectations are different, of course.

What are your perceptions of Southeast Asia as a frequent visitor to the region?

Thailand is different from other places because it’s accommodating. Malaysia is not accommodating. Singapore is not accommodating, either. I lived there for three years, and I returned two years ago. Singaporeans tend to view the rest of the world as dangerous, disorderly and “non-Chinese”. Cambodia has had a traumatic history, so what reason do Cambodians have to trust anyone? The Vietnamese have a very positive attitude and look to the future. Each place is different. I first went to Burma in the ’60s and they’ve had the same kind of government since then, and people who feel oppressed by politics and economics. So if you talk about Southeast Asia, each place is different with different histories and experiences. Not to use cheap flattery, but I think that Thailand is the most accommodating, because Thais don’t feel threatened by foreigners and feel like equals. National pride is important, because it gives you self-esteem. Many countries have been colonised and they are conflicted. Continue reading »

Sergio is the ex-owner of Basilico and Bacco is the Italian God of Wine. The place is in the peaceful Soi 53, just a short convenient walk from BTS Thong Lor. There are dedicate parking lots opposite. The interior is well determined for wine culture but some material lacks style. I had soup in a fancy plate and feel like some ingredients are not to the mark. For pizza, we prefer Basilico. But Bacco still worth a place for wine me dine me.
Map Sukhumvit Soi 53 (BTS Thong Lo)
Tel 02 662 4538
Web www.bacco-bkk.com

QR code is one type of 2D bar code which were developed by a Toyota subsidiary and being used widely in auto industry to identify parts. For example if you have got a brand new Toyota you can see lots of QR code stickers at front console. And then we have Semapedia which able to make QR code tag to link physical world to Wikimedia pages. You can take a snap the tag from your mobile phone and connect to the decoded URL.

“This is a country with a deeply-rooted tradition of electoral politics. When I was a little boy, on election day, my father would put me on his shoulders and take me to vote. That was part of life here. You go, and even if it’s hot, or even if it’s cold, you stand in line and you vote. There’s been concern recently about why voting has gone down from 95 to more recently 80-something vote, which is still very high. Election day is always a Sunday. The country stops and that’s all you talk about. They’re typically in December, which is early summer here, so the weather’s nice, just like today. Some people put on a barbecue, and everyone pulls out their TV, and while you grill your fish, you watch the election results as if it were a sporting event. My father died in 2001, and one of the last things we did together was, when the election came, he said, “Take me to vote.” I wheeled him out, pushed his wheelchair to the school where voting always takes place, and stood outside the booth while he cast his ballot. That’s the essence of this country. And that’s why it was such a painful shock, at a time when we were the only country in Latin America with a democracy, a country with a democratic tradition stretching back almost two hundred years, to have that taken away… taken away for seventeen years. If you’re Chilean that’s the one thing that you’re allowed to get teary-eyed about.”

Andres Velasco Interview by James Scott Linville, January 2007. [Link]

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It offers the best coffee crowd you can drink:)

A best bet for lunch - a combo of fresh organic salad, sumptuous tofu starter and rice topping or hot/cold ramen for just THB 240. I really love the taste of ramen, and then the half-boiled egg leave me happily full. Attentive and friendly service. There is a few parking slots right at front.

Tel 02 260 9976
Web http://www.samuraibkk.com

Address 1/38, 1/39 Soi Sukhumvit 39

In year 1954 or about 50 years ago, the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand was established as government agency to directly supervise Zoological garden or zoo. Until the present time the Zoological Park Organization has 5 zoos are under responsibility namely; Dusit Zoo,Khao KheawOpen Zoo, Chiangmai Zoo, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo and the last is Songkhla Zoo, open to the public and tourists since 1998. The first zoo in thailand is much older and have the interesting history.

The Zoological Park Organization have duty take responsibility to give education in conservation of animal and plant breed research as well as recreation place for visitors. There are 5 administration structure sections namely; Affair division, Tecnical division, Audit Committee, Policy and Planning division, Business Development and Public Relation division located in Dusit Zoo as coordinate activities section and arrange various activities to zoo.

In the reign of King Rama V, formerly, Dudit Zoo was a part of Royal Dusit Garden Palace with the local name of “Khao Din Wana” came from filling soil to be hill among water which was set up and named by King Rama V as his private botanical garden. King Rama V visited to group of Java Island in 1908 and took a number of Chital deer back to raise in deer garden located in Royal Amphorn Palace area, at the following time, generation of Chital deer were moved to Dusit Zoo

Thereafter, the change of administration in 1932, the government of Field Marshal P. Pibunsongkram, the Prime Minister of Thailand at the time, asked the King for the land at Royal Dusit Garden Palace area. King Rama VIII granted the land, then the government asked the Bangkok Municipality to establish the zoo was turned over to the Zoological Park Organization as well as recreation park for the public.

On 18 March 1938, HRH Prince Aditya Dibabha Abhakara, the chairman of the regency council granted the land to set up the zoo for the public on behalf of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) conceded Bangkok Municipality to administrate. Thereafter, Bangkok Municipality moved Chital deer from Royal Amphorn Garden Palace to Royal Dusit Garden and collected animals from both domestic and foreign countries to be raised for visitor. In addition, decorating the site as recreation place for public including named “Dusit Zoo” as the first Zoological garden Thailand.

Dusit zoo; the area is approximately 47.2 acres or 118 rais of land regarded as abundant zoological garden among city. Complete administration in accordance with the objective both giving education, conservation and breeding, raising animals pen as well as recreation place for public. Dusit zoo has been open for 66 years. There are diverse wild animals both domestic and foreign countries total more over 2,500 species. There are average 2.5 million visitor per year.

Journey : How to get there;

Bus No. 5, 9, 18, 28, 70, 108, 528, 515, 539, 542 (See detail at http://www.moffle.com/bus/ )

The survey of butterflies in Thailand started in 1770 by Mr. Fabricius. A collecttion was made by Mr. E.J.Godfrey,who started the survey in 1909, described as 721 varieties. At present, Brother Dr. Amnuay Pinrat has 1,300 varieties in his collection, on display at the Museum of the St. Gabriel’ College. Butterflies and insects in the collection were named in his honor, such as Papilio Poligton Pinratne and Petasiessa Pinratnai.

Besides, there are Fossil Museum, Ceremonial Barge Museum and Shell Museum.

Bangkok existed alongside Ayutthaya as a port city, linked to the capital by the Chao Phraya River. Thus, Ayutthaya art could be found in many temples in Bangkok long before it was established a royal capital. An evidence of the art of King Narai’s reign (1656-1688) is at Wat Chong Nonsi, once with Chong Nonsi Canal flowing past the back of the temple to the Chao Phraya River, enabling a short cut of only 5 minutes for passing boats.

King Narai, the Great of Ayutthaya was honored for his wise diplomacy conducted with the West. Western architectural style and art-form were also adopted, as seen in the lotusshape window openings at the congregation hall of Wat Chong Nonsi, similar to that found at Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat, the congregation hall of Wat Tongpu, The Wichayen Mansion and the Evening Palace in Lop Buri. The murals were also executed in Western style, with perspective.

Soldiers in the painting were also dressed as in King Narai’s reign, with head-dress and mantel.