Just Another Day In Thailand

[The_Other_Mac]

I constantly flick over to the News forum to keep up with the headlines. God knows why, it's all the usual stuff... just now I sort of mentally sat back and looked at them in wonder. This is seriously what we consider normal?! If so, I've got to somehow put this into the metaphorical shoebox of old photos, to be looked at in 20 years time. What an amazing mix of the dramatic this-will-go-down-in-history, the desperate daily problems, and the surreal. What an amazing movie you could make about today.

As of this moment, here are the news stories on Thaivisa:

Bangkok Airways Suspends Samui's Flights

Local Authority Roads Contracts Corruption

Sim Card Registration In Deep South Not Effective

Newspaper, Internet Site Gagged By Thaksin

Court issues gag order on Sondhi

Phuket Tsunami Sirens Fail To Sound In Test

One-legged German Believed Spreading Aids Arrested

Solar Plan Lights Up Mae Hong Son Province

PM Thaksin Visits Flooded Provinces

To Address The Problem Himself

Thailand To Block E-pornography By Year-end

New Drug Believed Connected With Southern Unrest

4X100, made from cough syrup etc

Suvarnabhumi Airport New Year Party Cancelled

Thaksin Plans To Visit SML Model Villages

Landmine Clearance In Thailand ‘badly Underfunded’

Policeman Arrested Selling Drugs In Ayutthaya

Crackdown On Thai Students Mini Skirts

University clamps down on sexy outfits

Weather Alert - Possible Flooding In The South

New Year Celebration At New Airport Cancelled

Army Chief Insists There Will Be No Coup

(For the record, I've saved that as a static page, so it should be archived and available in 20 years time... )

[baht&sold]

(For the record, I've saved that as a static page, so it should be archived and available in 20 years time... )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will be interesting to look back on T_O_M.

Here's a bit from the "Bangkok Recorder" circa 1865 (courtesy of Bangkok Recorder.com website, reproduced from official archives I wonder?)

Bangkok Recorder December 1st 1865

PUBLISHED BY D.B.BRADLEY - EDITED BY N.A. Mc DONALD

The Siamese doubtless oftentimes think, that we farangs are unnecessarily severe upon them and at the same time are meddling with those things which don’t concern us, when we blame them for not at once a waking up to the importance of taking hold of those vast internal improvements which render a country great and powerful. Perhaps it is to some extent true.

The papers have told them again and again of railroads, canals, and telegraphs, of furnaces, barges, and rolling mills; of improved agricultural implements, of institutions of learning, observatories & of big guns and iron clads; of the oil business and the vast fortunes derived form it, in short they have told them of everything which constitutes the wealth, and superiority of western nations.

Those too who consider themselves better capable of advising than the news papers, have also privately urged upon them the necessity of securing at once a good financier for the government, and of appointing an international judge. But all these importunities they apparently turn a deaf ear, and sleep away.

But are they really doing nothing? Are they making no progress? They, it is true, move so slowly that foreigners can scarcely see them moving at all. If we take a retrospect of the last four or five years, we can see that they have not, at least, been retrograding, and should get credit for what they have done.

Five years ago there was scarcely anything in the kingdom which could be called a road. Europeans talked much and long upon the subject until at length a move was made, and the result is a road which is certainly a credit to the country. Although it lingered long without being finished, and is still in many places in an unfinished state, and needs many things to make it what it should be, still it affords a vast amount of real enjoyment, and equestrian exercise to many of the European community.

But is it really no benefit to the Siamese themselves! It needs but a stroll along it almost any day, to prove that all classes, at least, enjoy it. It also enhances very much the value of property in its vicinity. Places which could formerly be bought in the same neighborhood very low, now command large prices. But it has also its draw backs. It affords situations for the establishing of dens of iniquity and haunts for thieves. Thieving and open violence were never so prevalent as since the opening of that road.

These things however are to be expected and ought be provided against.The new canal which is now making will also be a great benefit to the country. It will open up to agriculture a large region which has hitherto been comparatively useless.

But whilst we have these evidences that there is really something doing, still like Oliver Twist, we want more. There are we believe several more canals in contemplation, which when completed will open up a vast region of country between this and the Old City, which is now comparatively useless.

After all, too, canals are the things for Siam. In a country like this, which during a certain portion of the year, is almost wholly overflowed, the best of roads would be useless during this time.

The principle transportation too of produce must be done in boats. Canals also open up the country better to agricultural purposes than roads. Some more roads are however needed. One is needed on the west side of the river, to correspond to the one on the east side.

It should intersect the new road in contemplation to Na-Kawn-Chei-See passing down and intersecting the river opposite where the other one does. It would greatly enhance the value of property on that side of the river. Some enterprising natives too could also drive a pretty good business by establishing a ferry at the place where the roads intersect the river and at several other places higher up.

The ferry boats should be of such dimensions that they could carry over at any time in safety horsed and carriages. It may be argued however that the government is not able to do it. If not let it be given out, like the present canal, to individual enterprise, with the privilege of taking toll from all passing until it is paid.

Every horseman can pay two or three Ats and every footman an At without felling it, Foreigners will prefer to pay by the year. This would be an easy and honorable way to have the work done.