The week that was in Thailand news: Accentuating the positives in the Land of Smiles.

[rooster59]

The week that was in Thailand news: Accentuating the positives in the Land of Smiles.

 

 

Rarely have I enjoyed such an amusing and enlightening week following the news on Thaivisa. While the great and the good stories inevitably still rubbed shoulders with the grisly and the grotesque there was much to both ponder and wonder in the land I am proud to call home.

Here was a microcosm of media mayhem containing many of the reasons why I love to live here. Though those self-same reasons may be why critics of the kingdom prefer not to!

To those who find Thailand a frustrating morass of problems, difficulties and bewilderment I would say lighten up and don’t take it so seriously.

For the Thais don’t.

Even when serious issues come to the fore they manage to either find the funny side or at the very worst file it away under R for Rubbish and perhaps deal with it later after mealtimes.

Rooster has fallen in and out of love with many a local lady but one constant remains – an abiding respect for the nation and an appreciation of, and focus on, all the good things that have made life here such an interesting and fulfilling one.

Of course, “khii” happens – but accentuating the positives has become my mantra, especially in the absence of any help from Buddhism, or even religion, that I always filed under my own secret R following the advice of my late father.

One of the principal tenets of my private existence is not to compare Thailand to the “West”, wherever that is, but to enjoy the antics of the denizens of my adoptive homeland rather like a free sideshow. Only comparing a Thai with another Thai.

In this way I compare like with like and invariable find something to like – and less to grumble about. Then it is easier to focus on the improvements that have been made in the country rather than be drawn into the nonsensical notion that it is going to the dogs.

Call me naïve and I will listen to you with a smile – but that is a Thai smile and it doesn’t mean I agree with you…..

For me the abiding memory of the week came early Monday as a Thai policeman talked a knife out of a man’s hand using Southern dialect, then threw the weapon away before giving the stressed out chap a bear hug.

The cop had invited him to “kin khaaw duay gan” and offered to replace his stolen guitar. So what if the promises were not kept – the situation was calmed Thai style and I felt warm and fuzzy.

Later in the week came the story about a cop in Hat Yai paying a student’s clamping fine because he didn’t have enough money.

Don’t worry – Rooster hasn’t gone soft on the force, it’s just that I don’t agree with some on the forum that claim there is some conspiracy to present police – and taxi drivers even – in a good light following stories that present them as sinners.

Thaivisa mirrors Thai news and it is to the credit of the local media that they are not stifled as much as many foreigners believe what with a military regime at the helm and the cops ruling many roosts.

So why not accentuate the positives occasionally because they do plenty of the reverse.

Show me a farang Thai basher and I’ll show you a local that does the same. The difference being they have another of those smiles….

Foreign indignation came to the fore when locals in Samui blamed an American for insulting the spirits leading to him tumbling to his death at a waterfall. But do the negative posters really believe that most Thais accept this as truth?

While some do, there is no denying, many do not. The Thai news media is kind of honor bound to report such views. So we see snakes and lottery numbers. Discover that people are lady boys or toms. Are told about skin color in a major headline…..

The last of these caused a Facebook furor in the news of the Nigerian gang arrested for paying Thai women 5,000 baht to marry their compatriots for visas. The translator to English – for that is what Thaivisa use in many of their best stories – was just opening a window to Thailand.

If you want to know more try learning Thai writing yourself. As mentioned later in the article, the “dark skinned gang” was actually referred to as the “nasty dark skinned gang” – many cry racism or xenophobia but Thais use such terms more to refer to themselves than to foreigners.

In fact look no further than the story about the woman called Praiya, condemned online for her video about how to catch a rich farang husband after admitting to dating 5,000 foreigners.

All the stereotypes came out from the Thais but very few were farang bashing – they were bashing their own.

Rooster hated her video introduction that mocked one of my favorite Thai songs. Inevitably missed by most non-Thai speakers she was lip syncing the classic “Ngern mee mai” (Do you have money?) of the late, great Phumpuang Duangjan who tragically died so young.

I wouldn’t give that “crumpet strumpet” the time of day just for that!

Rib tickling this week was the story of the Cambodian at the ATM near the border with more than 100 cards and a bag full of 3 million baht in cash. It reminded me of something I will never do – join a queue at a Thai ATM.

I have long since appreciated that it is better to have no money than to grow old in this way.

Besides it always gives me an excuse to press the ATM when out at night which allays Mrs Rooster’s concerns when she “happens to stumble” on the withdrawal slip when de-griming my dungarees.

The Cambodian was similarly armed with an excuse though it seemed far more flimsy than anything I would dare to proffer. But at least it kept him out of jail though the cops kindly relieved him of his millions…..for evidential purposes, you understand.

Someone who didn’t have enough excuses was Johan the Dutchman who must still do 20 years for money laundering. Though many believe he was just spending legally earned guilders– illegal in Thai eyes because it was connected to ganja cafes – there is obviously more to the story than that.

He clearly upset too many people – one thing to be avoided in Thailand – and will just have to be happy that his sentence has come down from 103 years and he may only have to do ten more.

As was noted before, accentuate the positive.

Smiling and enjoying the rice gruel is a prospect that awaits former PM Yingluck. While she may well have been naughty, off her own bat or that of her brother, Rooster will always have a smidgen of sympathy.

In a previous life Rooster was a teacher of Thai culture and I had the pleasure of Yingluck’s son in my class – I always ascribed to the view that lovely children came from nice parents so, at the very least, that counts as a redeeming feature for Ms Shinawatra.

Grisly this week were two revolting crimes against those very children that Rooster holds dear. Two parents had to endure the agony of seeing a trusted “friend” on CCTV spiriting their ten year old daughter away from school on a motorcycle. She was later found naked and murdered.

While in Chonburi a teacher read evidence of rape in a primary child’s homework assignment. And worse – the callous so called mother had sold her to an old man on the council giving her daughter 500 baht sweet money from the proceeds.

While in the first case the tragedy is that the mother will never see the child again, it is to be hoped that in the second she is never allowed to.

Meanwhile, following last week’s refusal to believe an international survey when Suwannaphum was named one of the worst airports, Thais rushed to agree with one this week when THAI was praised for its economy class cabin service.

Funny that.

Mind you I have no beef with THAI and that is not because I don’t eat beef but due to an unforgettable experience years ago when travelling across the pacific with a well-respected Thai school director next to me in coach.

One of his alumni – none other than the pilot - came out of the cockpit to kneel on the floor and give him the deepest wai I have even seen. We were then both invited to the flight-deck for a wonderful night view over Hawaii.

What a pity that Mohammad Atta and his pals put an end to that particular avenue of pleasure when they sought to meet all those virgins in New York City.

And so to this week’s Rooster awards. Post of the week goes once again to forum wag “canuckamuck” who commented on the US tourist who fell after insulting the spirits in Samui saying:

“The spirit who was offended has now been identified as gravity”.

While the “AC:DC” (arch cretin: district chief) award goes to Bang Lamung boss Naris who thought it would be a good idea to engage the bargirls of Walking Street in the political process by asking them Big Too’s four leading questions about the country’s future.

I don’t mean to be disparaging about their education but I do recall asking one of their ilk when I first came to Thailand in 1982 if they knew the nationality of the first man on the moon.

“Don’t be silly,” she laughed dismissing the very notion. “How could anybody get there?”

Finally it was great to see Britney Spears arriving in Bangkok this week – hopefully the general PM will put his twerking crusade on hold as we could do without another embarrassing international gyratory incident.

Her visit inspired the comely lovelies of Nok Air to put together their own “Toxic” music video that reminded nervous Rooster about my love for Thailand but also the dangers of flying.

For I recalled the time when, travelling Nok Air to Chiang Mai with the missus, I was physically unable to keep my beady eyes off the passing trolley dollies, incurring the silent but wide-eyed wrath of said Mrs Rooster.

Not a question of IF but WHEN looks could kill.

 

Rooster

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-06-25

[Orton Rd]

I don't see much positive in a country that hands out 35 year jail sentences for face book comments.

[wakeupplease]

Rooster has fallen in and out of love with many a local lady.  Hey Rooster you didn't happen to meet that lady who was selling the info 5000 how to, did you? There could be a book written there me thinks and possible a film?

 

I do agree it could be a very nice country to live in, but I suffer from the anti corruption/deception syndrome, alas.

[wakeupplease]

21 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

I don't see much positive in a country that hands out 35 year jail sentences for face book comments.

Or sharing world wide news stories

[BigBadGeordie]

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

I don’t mean to be disparaging about their education but I do recall asking one of their ilk when I first came to Thailand in 1982 if they knew the nationality of the first man on the moon.

I too am unaware of his nationality, but I can recall his name, Buz Lightyear, who not only went to the moon, but also to infinity and beyond.

[quandow]

And one more time - I got sick of the Thai "khii" so I pulled up stakes and moved to Zijuatanejo, Mexico. Just took six weeks to get back to Thailand with a renewed appreciation for khii.

[kjun12]

15 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

I don't see much positive in a country that hands out 35 year jail sentences for face book comments.

Could not agree more.  And, the cause of it (present dictatorship) gets worse and worse.

[off road pat]

I always enjoy "The Week That Was" Thx, it was great again, had my dose of fun. And I'm looking forward to next week !!!

Best regards !!!

[rogeroc]

On 6/24/2017 at 0:50 PM, rooster59 said:

I don’t mean to be disparaging about their education but I do recall asking one of their ilk when I first came to Thailand in 1982 if they knew the nationality of the first man on the moon.

“Don’t be silly,” she laughed dismissing the very notion. “How could anybody get there?”
 

Sounds entirely sensible to me !  

 

But yes she should have known it was America who pretended to get there !.  In days before we even had mobile phones !

[Stargeezr]

Hey Rooster!  Thanks for a positive report this week,  In Thailand there were no major forest fires

like in the Western USA or the tropical storm that drenched some of the middle and south of said country.

  No major landslides like the one in China.  So all in all a good week in LOS. Here n western Canada the Summer

weather is great in the low 20s but tomorrow will be 30c in my city. Nice! Only grumble is at this time

of year we only get about 5 to 6 hours of darkness so have to stay awake very late to see the stars.

Stargrazer

[eeyang wah]

AC:DC ? 

[quaymat321234]

Thanks for your sharing