The dark days before Christmas
As Christmas approaches, Lieven lies ill in bed, dreaming of better times. Surrounded by cough syrup and paracetamol, he reflects on the irony of his situation: free from work but trapped in illness. Then a telephone call from his sister-in-law from England brings unexpected news, making him worry about the approaching holidays.
The government is brilliantly solving the gigantic smog problem by systematically looking the other way. Prime Minister Anutin refuses to pass a strict air quality law, because clean lungs are life-threatening to the economy. Large companies fear loss of profits due to burdensome environmental regulations and demand political backing. You get to breathe in local particulate matter while politicians line the well-filled pockets of the agricultural sector.
Foreign tourists are increasingly degrading Thailand into a lawless playground. Our Western sense of superiority manifests itself nowadays in public sex and aggressive vandalism. Local residents will no longer tolerate this unadulterated boorishness. The fairy tale of the enlightened traveler is mercifully and definitively over.
Songkran is a stupid festival
Let me get straight to the point: Songkran is (has become) a stupid party. The underpants fun for children and (almost) senile elderly. What's the fun of throwing water at unsuspecting passersby?
Expats moving to Northern Thailand are simply insane. While the extremely high concentrations of PM2.5 particulate matter slowly turn their lungs into a tar pit, they tout the area as an earthly paradise. Meanwhile, the government refuses to intervene structurally, and apathy reigns.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul plays the great savior at a gas station in Isaan while the population, in a fit of collective madness, fills jerrycans to the brim. This column dissects the political theater act of the rented Toyota Veloz and the hysterical Thai hoarding frenzy that treats every drop of diesel as liquid gold for a Songkran that literally threatens to fall through.
You still owed the return flight from my last trip, so start with that. There was a gate change, to 2A I remember. This has the advantage that you are close to the smoking area. The disadvantage is that it is not a full-fledged gate, but more of a bus stop to take you to the aircraft parked elsewhere. No drama, although I can imagine, especially if you were traveling business class, that you don't like having to stop in such a bus.
Column – The digital mirage of the keyboard warrior
In this column, De Expat lashes out at readers who claim that dirt-cheap flight tickets home can still be found during the current Middle East crisis. He describes these self-proclaimed 'attic-room strategists' as arrogant know-it-alls who think they can beat complex airline algorithms with a simple mouse click. While the real aviation world is on fire, the columnist warns against the dangerous digital mirage that these 'experts' are spreading online.
French Amsterdam in Pattaya: 'The BVN Torment'
Frans Amsterdam has settled down again in Pattaya and entertains us, until there are no more 'like' ratings, with his experiences in a follow-up story:
Frans may not have a goldfish in his hotel room, but there is an aquarium or bottle bank. That is a Samsung television set with traditional picture tube, screen ratio 4:3, but already equipped with a flat screen. No wonder of inventive ingenuity, but just a solid thing, which cannot be faulted.
Frans is returning to the Netherlands in a few days, and that concludes his Pattaya story. This time: Ann is happy with her photo on Thailandblog, and Tuk-Tuk Frans explains to Ann once again that he's a butterfly.
Hundreds of frugal Dutch people are currently stuck in Thailand. Their dirt-cheap plane ticket with a layover in the Middle East suddenly turns out to be an exorbitantly expensive trap. While missiles fly over Iran, our compatriots are complaining bitterly about their mandatory stay under the palm trees.
What do you do with a damaged banknote in Thailand? That's what Frans Amsterdam wondered. Bargirl and good friend Cat had the solution, resulting in two farangs and the girl completely happy.
More than tired of it I am. Prejudice, that's what I'm talking about. More specifically, of course, prejudices about Thai. There are countless. And they are shouted too often without any knowledge of the matter.
Frans Amsterdam has settled down again in Pattaya and entertains us, until there are no more 'like' ratings, with his experiences in a follow-up story:
I celebrated a small anniversary with the girl from Thaifriendly, Ann, last night, she was there for the fifth time. Not unique, but for someone with such a fear of commitment as me, certainly not a matter of course.
Frans Amsterdam has settled down again in Pattaya and entertains us, until there are no more 'like' ratings, with his experiences in a follow-up story:
At the Dynasty Inn Hotel I have never had any complaints about the work of the chambermaids. However, there is one that I would like to talk to you about.
Column – The hairy dictatorship of the Thai top lane
Bangkok's BTS Skytrain is asking passengers to tame their long hair during rush hour. In a crowded car, a loose ponytail quickly becomes an unintended weapon. This column dissects the absurdity of this hairy etiquette and the suffocating closeness, where personal space proves to be a long-gone illusion as we collectively crawl home.
How the loan to the bargirl turned out
A few weeks ago, Cat received 5000 baht from me: 2000 as a gift and 3000 as a loan. There were numerous reactions to the story I wrote about this transaction. The general consensus was that I shouldn't expect to get that 3000 baht back.
Lending money to a bargirl, how will that end?
Frans wants to lend money to bargirl Cat, a friend service. But how will that end? The readers can say it, because afterwards everyone already knew it in advance.
Ooh, ooh it's party time
A birthday party in the Happiness bar 1 and 2. Food, drinks, birthday cake, candles and 'Happy Birthday'. Frans Amsterdam falls with its nose in the butter.
If Frans doesn't go to the mountain tribes…
When I'm in the Netherlands and I make plans to visit Thailand again, all sorts of things flash through my mind that I absolutely should do at least once. I'd take the train from Pattaya to Bangkok, or a bus trip from Bangkok to Korat, just to experience Isaan at least once.
Column – Thailand is done with Cheap Charlies, antisocial tourists, criminals and visa abuse
The Thai government is considering significantly reducing the 60-day visa-free stay after a flood of complaints about misbehaving tourists. The balance between economic gain and public safety has been disrupted by foreigners abusing hospitality. Minister Sihasak wants to get rid of the criminals and freeloaders who see the country as a lawless playground and is preparing strict measures.
Frans Amsterdam: Bobby the pub dog from Wonderful 2 Bar
The old pub dog Bobby gets into trouble with a shady character. The man kicks the elderly creature, he shouldn't have done that. Frans Amsterdam saw it happen and describes the scene.