AOB Jan and Feb 2006
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An Occasional Blog
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Bangkok Blogs Bangkok Metblogs - city life Thai-blogs.com - rather serious 2bangkok.com - not really a blog but always up to date on Bangkok news
Hong Kong Blogs A Big White Guy in Hong Kong - self explanatory Hemlock's Diary. And people think I am opinionated - try this! SimonWorld - Hong Kong commentary and great links to other Asian blogs EastSouthWestNorth - commentary Glutter.org - Greater China democracy news and many great llinks
In China Danwei - media and advertising news from China Shanghai Diaries - self explanatory
In Singapore: Xiaxue - self-confessed mean, bitchy, sex goddess who says "wah" a lot! Mr Brown - colourful commentary from Singapore
Asia Travel Circle of Asia a useful commercial site Tales of Asia perspective and commentary on Cambodia and Thailand and other Asian travels Visit Laos a useful guide on getting to and traveling in Laos. Smart Travel Asia useful tips and destination guides. Maybe too up market.
Aviation Amadeus (airline schedules) Airline meals - see it b4 you eat it ! Airliners - aviation forum, trip reports and pix archive
News The Guardian - UK
China sites
Bangkok info sites
Worthy Sites Rconversation - from Rebecca MacKinnon, ex-TV reporter-turned-blogger.
Fun Sites
Useful Sites
Technology Ideas
Author
Robert Scott lives and works in Asia; born in England I have since lived in Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. I now work mainly in Bangkok.
If you want to know more you only need to ask! ask.
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28 February 2006 New additions announced to the Qantas fleet:
************************* Last man standing - England enter the first test in Nagpur without Vaughan, Trescothick and Jones. Freddie Flintoff as the last man standing takes over the captaincy and will probably love every minute of it. What to look forward to in Nagpur: not a lot: England will be bowling to the finest batting line-up India can have mustered, in conditions that would test to the full anyone but spinners of the highest class. It will be hot, searingly so even by the standards of the subcontinent at this time of year as it cranks up into summer. Last Thursday the temperature reached 39.7C (103F), the hottest February day for 119 years, and it has not relented significantly since. Win the toss; bat first and hope to build a large score. Anything esle could be calamitous. 27 February 2006 Went to see the movie "Walk the Line" yesterday - the Johnny Cash biopic. At its heart the movie is a love story - as June Carter gives Johnny Cash a second chance. Remarkable performances from Phoenix and Witherspoon in the lead roles. They are totally convincing. And (apparently to their great surprise) they can both belt out a song as well. ********************* Nearly killed myself slipping over in the shower last night. No one would have found me until the cleaners came this morning. And then who would they contact ? ********************* Siam Paragon, Bangkok's new mega mall is getting over its teething problems. More stores are open. New additions include clothing retailer Zara, a better priced alternative to the high end designer labels. The Paragon cineplex with 11 cinemas and seats at Baht140-160 is great value and very comfortable. ********************** My colleagues are excitedly reading a copy of Australian Classic Car magazine....possibly the magazine with the least content of any on the planet ! Right up there with "The wit and wisdom of Britney Spears" and David Beckham's Guide to good penalty taking." ************************ Hillary Clinton was ranting on CNN about the Dubai acquisition of P&O and the impact of security of the USA. It was pathetic to listen to. Her husband had far sounder political judgement. 25 February 2006 Apologies - this page has been quiet for the week. It has been a busy time at work. And it is 9.30am on Saturday morning and I have been at work for a couple of hours instead of out on the golf course. Indeed this is a no golf weekend. Other than a trip to the driving range. Have not yet shaken off my flu - it is hard in this climate. 19 February 2006 You can read about the theft of my briefcase last Thursday in the "today" page. Brownie points go to the British Embassy who made applying for a new passport very straightforward indeed. The camera, phone and passports can all be replaced. The reading glasses can re replaced. One strange item that was always with me cannot. For some reason, and I never knew why, but never saw reason to change it, my old wedding ring was in the pencil case that he took from my briefcase; it was there with a collection of pens; some better than others. The wedding ring was nice and simple; bands of white gold and gold. It has many memories associated with it. And now it has gone. Proof, if ever it was needed, of how important it is to move on in life. ****************************** The weekend's golf report - 16 Irish against 16 English in a Ryder Cup format at Pattaya Golf and Country Club. Fourballs on Saturday morning; foursomes in the afternoon and singles on Sunday. Won both games on Saturday but lost the singles today. Was playing really well on Saturday morning - at one stage ran off 8 pars in a row. Sunday was so different - the timing was all wrong and I felt uncomfortable - just not able to settle down. Was three down after seven holes. Back to all square after 15 holes. Hit a gem of a 5 iron at the 16th but it was a fraction too long. And the chip downhill to the hole was almost impossible. Lost 16th and 17th and the match 2 and 1. Having got the game back to all square it was a very tame finish. Good weekend though. And I like the team matchplay format. @ points out of 3 is not to bad. The Irish (my lot) were badly beaten. 15 February 2006 Hmm - feel truly awful today - every temperature under the sun and a head that is pounding. Not helped by a day of meeting and losing my temper after the last one. Sometimes I get soooo frustrated. 14 February 2006 OK - its Valentines Day. I have received no flowers or cards - I have sent none either. The 14 year old boy of a friend of mine is sending 19 cards!! Not just sending; he is rumoured to be hand delivering them. See - romance is not dead - it is just confined to teenagers. In Bangkok there will be a shortage of cuddly and furry toys by the end of today. *************************** At least my weekend was safer than a quail hunting weekend with Dick Cheney. How embarrassing. The late night shows will have fun with this story! Still have a lousy bout of flu. *************************** Singapore does have its surprises - there are real living exhibits sitting among the waxworks in the Images of Singapore exhibit on Sentosa. Once you have gotten over the surprise of this chat jumping up to shake hands with you they are great fun; extremely friendly and very much into their roles! 13 February 2006 Nasty bout of flu - nothing to do with chickens. Straits Times yesterday: 96% of Singaporeans support the death penalty. This remarkable font page headline is baed upon a poll of 425 poeple. And the population is 3.5 million. 11 February 2006 As I get in the taxi this morning the taxi driver slips a cd into the player. The next thing I hear is barking dogs woofing the melody of the Beatles "I want to hold your hand". This is followed by the same all dog band seeing "She was Just 17" and "Its been a hard day's night." Was he taking the piss? Or did he really enjoy such a bizarre sound? Or worse still did he think that I might enjoy listening to that? Or even that it was the real thing? Woof. Very surreal. Amazing Thailand. ****************** Thai Air Asia seems to have done away with the fasten seat belt sign. Any other airline would have lit up the sign for this flight. Its more fun than a Disney ride but walking the cabin would be very foolish. Captain must be an ex cargo man or military. Think he has forgotten that he has self-loading freight. ******************* 8 February 2006 Sports news day ! The ever popular Glazers are to sell off the Old Trafford name at Manchester United. In the same way that Arsenals' new stadium will be known as the Emirates Stadium Old Trafford is now up for sale. Suggestions welcomed - a sponsor with a suitable name. The Teflon stadium as it is always someone else's fault? Ample Rich stadium ! That is for Thai investors! Others ??? ********************** Chealsea's Arjen Robben - hereafter to be known as the Dying Dutchman. Poor Rafa Benitez was outraged. His goalkeeper, Reina, stroked Arjen's face and the Dutchman collapsed in a wimpering heap. Pathetic. Enough is enough. It's bad enough when players try to con the ref into giving them a penalty. But when it's to get one of your fellow professionals sent off, it's a disgrace. 5 match suspension and community service with the local amateur dramatics club. 7 February 2006 Watford won 4-1 away at second place Sheffield United last night. Better still it was live on Sky Sports 1 across the UK and Europe. Watford moved to third in the Championship ! truly beyond anyone's realistic expectations at the start of this season. 5 February 2006 Golf at Bangsai yesterday where a big slump between the 8th and 13th ruined the card. Not feeling so good. A pinched nerve in my left shoulder still hurts and I had a huge headache by the end of yesterday's game that did not go away. So went home after golf and spent the rest of the day in bed feeling rather sorry for myself. ********************** Hard to know what to make of last night's anti-Thaksin rally. The number attending varies form some 40,000 to 100,000 depending on who you read or believe. It was largely peaceful and for that we should all be thankful. Where next? Another rally is planned for February 11th. Thaksin may well resign - but not yet. He needs to ensure that his assets are free from subsequent prosecution or seizure and that his political legacy is largely intact. But if he does go - then what? The TRT party is a lose affiliation of fiefdoms that Thaksin has held together through promises and patronage. He was the party. He gave them power and legitimacy. Without Thaksin there may well be no TRT. 2 February 2006 You are being watched !!
The Thai government has launched a Thai Cybercop programme on Radio Thailand to monitor the media; this links to the website www.thaicybercop.com where you may report websites that cause offense!! Please not this one ! This is all quite Orwellian ! |
1 February 2006 Another question - why is this list on your web site; what does it mean !? Trouble is there is a right and wrong answer to most of the questions below. And the right answer is probably the least honest ! Try the following replies and see what reaction you get: Very; Don't know why you bothered; Yes; Stunning; You really don't want to know; no where else would have us; full of convicts; to wind you up; my gig/gik; at home; just didn't want to talk to you; i guess so ! ******************************* State of the Union address today: BUSH: At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. And we do not forget the other half -- in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea and Iran -- because the demands of justice and the peace of this world require their freedom as well. Isn't he missing the biggest tyranny of all !!! China !? *************************** I was watching "The Battle of Britain" on vcd late last night. The good news is that the good guys still win ! The film was made in 1969 - partly filmed in Hawkinge, where my grandmother lived. Hawkinge is just outside Folkestone in SE England and was at the front line of the Battle of Britain. The aerial shots are well done. The planes were the only airworthy spitfires and hurricanes available. The me-109's, were actually spanish airforce ha-113's re-engined from d-b601's to Rolls-Royce merlins. The bombers were also real german bombers that were re-engined. The sub plots are a bit lame. But the last list is a who's who of British actors and Susannah York adds the glamour!
Print: Spitfire Mk. Is of No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron engaging enemy aircraft over Southern England during 1940, by Anthony Theobald A history of the Hawkinge airfield can be found here: http://www.battleofbritain.net/0006.html The RAF's official Battle of Britain history site is here: 31 January 2006 Some of the worst questions that a guy can be asked by his partner/wife/girlfriend (or for the Thais, their gik): Do I look fat in this? Any suggestions??? 30 January 2006 Was back at Subraphreuk on Sunday. Good company, shame about the golf. Three games in three days was too much for me. I felt truly worn out. Still feel tired today ! 29 January 2006 Golf with old friends from Reuters days on Friday at Subraphreuk; nice day out in lovely weather; but not my best golf. And then an early start yesterday at Bangkapong Riverside where I was playing well until an 8,7 finish which truly ruined the card. Two birdies on the back nine helped. No consistency ! 23 January 2006 Question to one of my colleagues - What would you do with US$1.9 billion. Answer - Buy the next election. Thaksin has sold the family stake in Shin Corp (49.6%) of the company for US$1.9 billion to Temasek Holdings; the government investment arm of Singapore Inc. ************************* Funniest email of last week was a message from the landlords of Chateau Potash telling us of the lengths they go to to ensure building security. They advised us that: "all visitors have to trade their identification cards with the building pass cards. They also mentioned that they have undercover police persons in charge 24 hours a day." Well I have never been asked to show any id. I have never seen anyone show id. The security guard at the entrance was reading a comic at lunchtime. Maybe the elevator ladyboy (see below) is an undercover security person. That's taking the disguise a bit far! 23 January 2006 Elevator dilemma. If a ladyboy gets into the elevator with you in your office building is it right to make a point of letting him/her off the elevator first? Should a man hold the door open for a ladyboy as he would for a woman? Confronted with the elevator dilemma is Chateau Potash today we chose to exit last.
22 January 2006 Happy birthday mother ! On a short delay here at Hong Kong airport waiting for the flight back to Bangkok. As always much to think about after a few days here. We had a colleague working with us from Toronto. It was 15 years since he was last in Hong Kong. His most frequently hear words were "wow" and "incredible" and "this would never happen in Toronto." Living in Hong Kong or as a frequent visitor it is simply too easy to take this amazing city for granted. And it is amazing. A couple of happy observations. It is a cleaner city than it used to be and overall the service in hotels, bars and restaurants is now very good. That was not always the case. ***************** The Swede who coaches the English football team really has been the victim of something of a prank, coup and victimisation by the News of the World. Now the NOTW is a rag fit only for bathroom reading. But the naivity of Mr. Eriksson and his advisors is simply monumental. There is little doubt that the FA (which incidentally means football association although the alternative meaning might be just as appropriate) would dump Eriksson or any other manager at a moment's notice should it suit them. But Eriksson has trumped them; attracted by Arab money, a yacht cruise around the Arabian gulf and way too much champagne he volubly spilled the beans on his future ambitions and on confidences given to him by the FA and his squad of over indulged players. Eriksson is an overpaid, average coach with the spine of a jellyfish. This was a man who thought it OK to watch his players threaten a strike because the prima donna Rio (is that an English name) was to be dropped after failing to attend a drug test. A fine example all around. Maybe he and the FA deserve eachother. At least the NOTW can say it served merely to show how greedy and gullible they are ! ************************* The flight has been delayed due to the aircraft rotation!! What sort of reason is that! Now delayed again ! ************************* It has been cold and grey in Hong Kong all week - and really quite cool this weekend. It was tough today for the domestic helpers who gather en masse in Central and Admiralty and sit on any available piece of concreted open space with their friends for the day. They are not made welcome by the malls, stores or restaurants; they have little to spend as what they have is generally remitted to home. Never forget that the Chinese can discriminate as well if not better than most other races or nations! ********************* No plane at our gate yet - a 7pm departure looks unlikely ! ********************* I wonder if I will ever work and live in Hong Kong again. I guess it is as near as I have to somewhere I can call home. 17 January 2006 Had a good flight on CX up to Hong Kong yesterday afternoon. It as been a few month since I have been in business class and Cathay even on a short flight to provide a high level of service. Despite a packed flight and KGB children running around the aisles the crew, who were a happy team, did a good job. Hong Kong is grey and cool. 16 January 2006 Golf at The Rose Garden course yesterday. West of Bangkok this is not an easy course to find on a dark, misty morning ! And it was my first golf for four weeks. 9 pars in the round; but a little too much rubbish on the second nine. 33 points for the stableford; four off the winning total. It was great fun just to be out on the course on a lovely, warm, sunny day! 14 January 2006 In Chateau Potash on a Saturday. This cannot be good ! 13 January 2006 Some cake in the office for ED's birthday - always nice that everyone remembers, attends and sings happy birthday. This was an Emporium chocolate cake. Very classy. I know you would like to see it:
There were not enough candles ! 10 January 2006 Great progress in Chateau Potash - E.D and I now have our own personal trash bins instead of a shared and overflowing (usually his lunch trash) bin. E.D says it is like getting a divorce! 9 January 2006 Burton Albion - 14th in the Conference came awfully close to humbling Manchester United last night - the 0-0 draw was a great result and fully deserved by a team who, despite a pudding of a pitch, played flowing, passing football. Indeed it was Man U who resorted to hiking the ball forward to the pace of Saha. But what was Fergie thinking; why field a reserve team, incorporating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first start for 20 months, when the FA Cup is United's best hope of salvaging his first season under Malcolm Glazer's ownership? So they head back to Old Trafford for a replay in front of 40,000 people instead of the 6,191 who packed the Pirelli Stadium. Burton manager, Nigel Clough, says they don't have a prayer. But then he said that before last night's match as well. The FA Cup is alive and well again ! 4 January 2006 I am going to have to find another way of getting to the new chateau potash - our office move means a longer walk - it is not the distance that is an issue - it is how polluted Rama iv road is. Truly unpleasant. The cold season is over already. It was warm all weekend and is now hot in the mornings. That did not last long. ********************** I did see "King Kong" last night. This is already one of the best films of the year - simple raw entertainment. Total escapism. Surprisingly involving; stunning to look at; and moving. The emotional bond between between beauty and the best is cast on a mountain; from then on Ann will be as safe as Kong can make her, and he will protect her even from her own species. It is entirely believable. Great film - making. 3 January 2006 It is still a holiday in Bangkok. And I have a cold. So am feeling a little uninspired. 1 January 2006 Happy New Year!
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