Location Bangkok: little cause for joy in the city of angels
This is the soi leading to our apartment...
We are back home. That's when the backpacker ghetto Banglampuh can be called "home". Because we've been there for three days already.
Our bed at the Sawasdee House is almost as big as our room, so every morning, after opening our eyes, we hit the street for a cup of coffee.
What we find there, so close to sunrise, usually doesn't deserve a beauty prize; many "Thailand enthusiasts" who hang out on the many terraces are almost hidden from view by the forest of beer bottles that have accumulated on the tables. Incoherent nonsense is spewed by unsavory-looking Westerners, here and there shouts are made at imaginary passers-by. I couldn't help thinking of the words of Mahatma Gandhi when he answered the question what he thought of Western Civilization; “That would be a good idea”.
Yesterday we went to see how our neighborhood was doing. Pictures speak a thousand words.
It is perhaps needless to say that this stagnant water, which has been in the soi for weeks, does not smell like violets at all. It is better not to encounter oncoming traffic on the planks. There will be colonies of bacteria living in this smelly pool that have yet to be discovered.
This too....
To make things even more fun, a bill has been secretly rammed through the cabinet that will pave the way for Thaksin to return home a free man. An amnesty plan has been designed behind closed doors for anyone convicted of corruption and serving a prison sentence of no more than three years (Thaksin has 2 years on his Armani trousers) and is not younger than sixty (Thaksin is 62) is amnestied on the day the king turns 84 (December 5).
“This amnesty decree has the name Thaksin written all over it,” Ning sniffed when she read the message. Not only Ning and I think that, but a few million more Thaksin haters. When the law is piloted through parliament - everyone is convinced that this will happen - then we will again be faced with mass demonstrations. These have since been announced by prominent Thaksin opponents. After the wave of water, Bangkok can prepare for a wave of Yellow Shirts.
Thaksin is a politician who will continue to divide this country to the core and will go down in history as the most destructive force this country has ever known.
Who said again; 'divide and conquer"?
Machiavelli: divide et impera…know your classics, haha.
Okay Thaksin was corrupt and a thief of his own people, but he certainly had good qualities as well. The war on drugs, cheap health insurance, loans for farmers, safer traffic are all things he managed to get through when he was in power.
I don't see any other leader doing that in Thailand in the same hard way!
I think it's very stupid of him that he didn't just pay back all illegally obtained money neatly. Doesn't it matter whether you have 4 or 1 billion euros in the bank? It would have been better if he paid right away instead of fleeing because half of his assets have now been confiscated by the Thai government.
I don't interfere much with Thai politics, but to completely raz the man to the ground is going a bit too far for me. I think 2 years in prison for what he did is very little, but we'll see what the King says about it.
You are well established. That is also the reasoning of many Thais. To me, a thief is a thief. At least as bad is that he shows no respect for the law. His will is law, that should not be tolerated in any society.
@ War on Drugs, good qualities? Mmm, I wouldn't dare take this comment for myself. We are talking about thousands of deaths and they were certainly not all drug dealers… Not really something to be proud of, I think.
Welcome home, Cor! Good luck in the coming days. I hope at least your mattress is dry and bacteria free, otherwise back to Pattaya…