The week that was in Thailand news: After “cave” and “rescue” it’s back to bag snatches and honest cabbies!

 

 

I have forgotten the number of times I have written the words “cave” and “rescue” over the last three weeks.

 

While recognizing the euphoria of the end of the drama at Tham Luang, this translator is almost thankful to get back to the normality of bag snatches in Pattaya, honest cabbies everywhere, “ice” busts and the activities of the ubiquitous Big Joke.

 

Though to be fair, the deputy commissioner of the tourist police never let the darkness of the cave steal his ever-luminous limelight.

 

The sighs of relief both here in Thailand and around the world were palpable as the twelve boys, their coach and the rescue teams who fought so valiantly on their behalf emerged.

 

Though Petty Officer “Sam”, the ex-Navy hero who did not make it, will always be remembered by a grateful nation as an example of the sacrifice and dedication that painted Thailand in the sort of glowing light it does not always merit when potential disaster looms.

 

While only the ultra-cynical would say that the events in Chiang Rai came at a good time to deflect unwanted attention from the boat tragedy in Phuket that claimed so many tourists’ lives, there will still be a reckoning after the joy of the rescue subsides.

 

Hopefully that will not center on the actions of the coach who took the boys into the cave in the first place. Goodness knows he has already had 17 days of anguish to think about that fateful decision.

 

Besides, didn’t the sign say Don’t enter in JULY?

 

Mirroring Thailand’s disaster history the event became a media circus and once again there were questions asked about the antics and ethics of the Thai media coverage. National disasters and events of this nature always lead to soul searching for one reason or another.

 

And, frankly, they rarely result in any improvements when the dust settles and Thais return to their smug complacency of laissez-faire.

 

Those who have been here a while well-remember the Lauda Air crash in Suphanburi that killed more than 200 people in 1991.

 

The accident was remarkable in the industry for the actions of Nikki Lauda and eventual improvements to flight safety.

 

But the deeds of many Thai villagers were less well documented. There was deplorable and widespread looting at the crash site with not only vital crash evidence being stolen but even tables set up trading in the resale of items such as jewelry and passports.

 

This led to national soul-searching. It was never announced if they found any.

 

In 1990 a terrible disaster hit the streets of Bangkok when a gas tanker overturned after whizzing off the expressway onto Petchaburi Road. The resulting fireball incinerated more than 150 innocent people waiting at the lights in their cars and on motorbikes.

 

The magazine “Inferno Special” hit the streets within hours showing “ghost” pictures of motorcyclists stripped of everything but leather belts and shoes as they staggered, collapsed and succumbed in agony.

 

The Thai people cried disgrace about the intrusive pictures but when young Rooster tried to get a copy they had sold out like hot cakes. Yes, call me ghoulish…even call me Thai….but I collect such things.

 

Predictably the publishing of ghastly images of accidents, rape and murder continues unabated to this day. Road accidents that were meant to end after the tanker disaster instead just got worse and worse with each passing year as the authorities preferred to sweep them under that thickest of carpet – the Thai shag pile.

 

The unkind might use a biblical reference to say that you reap what you sow.

 

In a multitude of cases, pronouncements come from on high that are promptly ignored by departments who are a law unto themselves…not least the RTP.

 

Who could forget how they were told not to show suspects’ faces and discontinue the practice of reenactments. The faces are still often shown indicating that this is at the whim – or the boldness – of local forces.

 

And the reenactments remain a common feature of daily life. Just this week the rape ordeal of a 74-year-old grandmother was acted out at a village resulting in the cops’ unseemly scurrying as a mob threatened to lynch the suspect.

 

Personally, I have never doubted the civilization of the Thais, but they really need to show evidence of that to persuade the outside world – not just when a photo shutter is clicking.

 

Still, ‘post-cave’ the Thais did what they do best and lauded the brave and somewhat embarrassed foreign rescuers in ceremonies from Suvarnabhumi to Surat.

 

Baskets and certificates were handed out along with visa extensions to those based here and tourism minister Weerasak promised five-year Elite Cards to tempt foreign divers back for yet more photo opportunities.

 

Even Koh Tao got some welcome good press as the Surat Thani governor made a big fuss of two divers from Denmark and Canada who work on the much maligned island. Everywhere it was smiles and handshakes, wais and gifts galore.

 

But what of the reckoning?

 

Will there really be an improvement in safety procedures to prevent such mishaps in the future? Will Thailand ever be legitimately hailed as a safe destination for tourists? Will road accidents in such numbers stop anytime soon?

 

In answer let me adapt Western parlance by asking: Is the Supreme Patriarch a Catholic?

 

I am afraid very little is likely to change while the self-serving interests of the elite continue to bear down on a public who have been brought up to turn a blind eye and a Buddhist other cheek.

 

This unlikeliness to change was exhibited in all its starkness by one of the first stories this past week on Thaivisa when the Phuket governor issued a letter in which he believed he had the power to stop the media sharing pictures of dead bodies from the Phoenix boat tragedy.

 

Sorry, guv’ner but your pronouncements will be met with your compatriots’ wais and smiles…..as they completely ignore you this time then the next.

 

Cave rescue coordinator Narongsak Osottanakorn at least came out of the drama with his head held high. Many people around the world were impressed with the clarity of the information he gave, his availability and the good sense and humanity that he displayed.

 

Result: Transfer.

 

He must have felt like a Chelsea manager.

 

Meanwhile every Tom, Dick and Zuckerberg were trying to ride the coattails of the cave euphoria in promoting their own image.

 

The Facebook chief showed he hadn’t a clue what was going on while Elon Musk acted more like a Musk Melon.

 

Trying to be sweet and nutritious he arrived far too late then sucked up to PM Prayut at the cave giving the latter a chance to gain extra political kilometer-age claiming that “Mister Mutt” had promised to invest in Thailand.

 

The general, not familiar with the dimensions of narrow passageways, was confused over the size of the mini-sub that Musk left behind. He wondered along with his related Admirals - thick seamen if you like - how they might all fit inside this bit of potential military hardware.

 

Until he cottoned on that it must be a small prototype of one he could order to subdue the rampant hordes the next time Burma or Cambodia attack in numbers under water.

 

Drumph even chipped in with his usual profound analysis on Twitter almost managing to type enough characters up to the limit. The leader of the free world praised Thailand while keeping his own migrant children locked away from their folks and embarrassing himself in London.

 

Fortunately, rather like the cave deflecting the bad press from Phuket, he was alongside Mrs. May making him look like a statesman compared to that hapless example of womankind.

 

Now, dear reader, I suspect by this stage that amid the outpouring of joy you are detecting a few shades of angst from the Rooster keyboard.

 

Please forgive me; it is clear that while I have attempted to be philosophical about the end of England’s run at the World Cup in Russia there is still a welter of residual rancor.

 

Mrs. Rooster – who normally just shakes her head when she sees me circumventing the pool table at breakneck speed after Harry Kane scores for Spurs – actually enquired with concern on Thursday morning whether there was good news.

 

“Khao Dee Mai?” she asked not even using the word “futborn” – that was a given.

 

I got a figurative hug in response to my own sad headshaking.  

 

Later I explained to my five-year-old daughter T.H.F.C., who had earlier received tuition in the refrain of “Coming Home”, that she would be nine or 13 or perhaps 25 when the trophy might next return to the land of Pickles.

 

The famous dog, who once discovered the stolen Jules Rimet trophy in a garden, compared somewhat favorably this week to a Thai hound who was left with nothing to eat but his Canadian master who had died suddenly.

 

Thankfully the use of Vaseline – previously only used in other areas prior to KY taking a financial interest in the nether regions of Thai business – was used to spare us from the complete reality of the pictures.

 

Some helpful posters on the forum said it was all in a day’s work for man’s best friend. I was thinking if the grim reaper calls I would rather have a cat until someone piped up that dastardly felines barely wait until rigor mortis has set in.

 

Perhaps a fish then.

 

Aforesaid Big Joke (alias Surachet Hakpal) hit pay-dirt this week with a Ponzi bust that we were told was worth billions. Despite translating Ponzi stories I have as much knowledge as how these scams work as to why so many fall for them.

 

Of course, it could be ignorance and greed – two terms that the Thai education system seems to teach in abundance. A staggering total of 500,000 victims were suggested if BJ’s Tourist Police Bureau website is to be believed.

 

Note to self: teach five-year-old the meaning of the word “prudence” in case it’s overlooked in the all-encompassing kindergarten homework.

 

Seeing as I have done my level best to promote the Maj Gen I decided to email him and ask for an interview for the Thaivisa faithful to enjoy. However, with his current workload I only expect a reply in 2562…..Gregorian calendar.

 

The interview may never occur at all if he decides to step on toes and tackle state corruption….

 

Top crime drama of the week – forgetting the general’s meeting with Musk for a moment – centered on idyllic Railay Beach in Krabi where a Ya Ba nutter took a bunch of foreign tourists hostage at a restaurant.

 

Forum comment centered not on the merits of hostage taking but the power and specifications of the .357 gun he was brandishing.

 

It appeared all of a sudden that there were only Americans on the forum old enough to remember the antics of Dirty Harry (For the benefit of younger readers he’s a different and more handsome “Harold” than the one married to the Thai porn star).

 

Rooster, who has books about Dunblane and Hungerford on his shelf, just can’t get excited about guns.

 

In fact, the only time I am tempted by a Magnum is when Mrs. Rooster isn’t looking and I can treat myself to one of the more expensive ice-creams at 7/11.

 

After a sojourn of sensibility during the cave drama it is now time to return to the Rooster awards.

 

The “That Was Absolute Truth” (T.W.A.T) award goes to the pocket general for his timely observation that his has been “the most hard working post-coup government in Thai history”.

 

Well done general; on behalf of the Thai and expatriate community may I congratulate you and your tireless teams for all the graft.

 

While the “Don’t Put Ice in Your Undies” award goes to the Thai lady called Mai who was arrested in Koh Pangan with a couple of condoms of methamphetamine stuffed up a place where even the general wouldn’t shine.

 

She broke down after a stern questioning from the Pangan cops who were thankfully sure of their grounds for arrest after a tip off.

 

My advice to Mai – and perhaps something to ponder while doing a decade on rice gruel – is less about the hiding place and more about the sagacity of marrying a Nigerian called Peter and driving his BMW to Surat.

 

Lastly, today is the final of the World Cup – an event that has gripped at least one member of the Rooster household for a memorable month.

 

But in commenting on the likely outcome of the quadrennial showpiece between France and Croatia permit me to quote Bangkok Post legend Bernard Trink when I say….

 

I don’t give a hoot.

 

Rooster

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-07-14

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Lastly, today is the final of the World Cup – an event that has gripped at least one member of the Rooster household for a memorable month.

 

But in commenting on the likely outcome of the quadrennial showpiece between France and Croatia permit me to quote Bangkok Post legend Bernard Trink when I say….

 

I don’t give a hoot.

The final is tomorrow, Rooster.

Today we could see England take home the bronze medal

I can hardly contain my enthusiasm.

18 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The week that was in Thailand news: After “cave” and “rescue” it’s back to bag snatches and honest cabbies!

 

That's a hilarious title, thanks for the good laugh rooster59.

And your post is great... as usual.

 

18 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Hopefully that will not center on the actions of the coach who took the boys into the cave in the first place. Goodness knows he has already had 17 days of anguish to think about that fateful decision.

 

Just want to add... saying that he 'took them into the cave' is assumption rather than fact, and also you're (involuntarily I'm sure!) making him look a bit like the Pied Piper of Hamelin !

 

The fact is we don't know what exactly happened on 23 June, and how. They, the coach and for the moment very few other people, do know.

 

These boys are aged 11 to 16 and if they decide to explore the cave, there's not much a 25 year old guy can do to stop them, especially knowing that it will be closed only from July on. OK 1 week before closing time is not much but that's easy to say in hindsight. Accompanying them was, in my opinion, the best choice to be made, and that's what he did.

 

The sky was bright blue, these kids live nearby, have been to the cave numerous times and are obviously not idiots, so the flash flood obviously came as a ginormous surprise... one they will remember all their lives, that's a given.

 

 

Yes please take us back to reality?

I wonder who the Brits will support this evening? ?Allèz les Bleus?

Rooster is Spurt fan? How arKane


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

"This led to national soul-searching. It was never announced if they found any".

 

Brilliant! Well - pretty good! 

On 7/14/2018 at 5:23 PM, rooster59 said:

 

The Thai people cried disgrace about the intrusive pictures but when young Rooster tried to get a copy they had sold out like hot cakes. Yes, call me ghoulish…even call me Thai….but I collect such things.

 

Can you still get that Thai magazine, At-Yar-Gum, that shows murder seans, bad road accidents, anything with lots of red stuff in it, an only in Thailand type of thing.

On 7/14/2018 at 10:23 AM, rooster59 said:

it’s back to bag snatches and honest cabbies!

 

Hollywood wants a piece of this action too.

 

 

 

that “Mister Mutt” had promised to invest in Thailand.

Hilarious. Given that the average Thai has great difficulty with either "s" or "k" at the end of an English word, it is obvious that even the supreme general is not gonna be able to say the two of them together! Hence Mutt.
As a comment it may have been better if Mr Mutt had rethunk the whole thing before sticking his nose into the situation. He ended up looking like a bit of a dick. Which I'm sure he isn't.
Some good may come out of it - the general may order 3 of those mini fellas - to help the 3 big'uns from getting bored while hanging about in a dock somewhere . . .

Sent from my E5823 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

the boys ever get their bikes back ?

 

On 7/15/2018 at 12:41 PM, sambum said:

"This led to national soul-searching. It was never announced if they found any".

 

Brilliant! Well - pretty good! 

 

I loved the double-entendre of "graft"