Thailand Travel Guide

The New York Times has a special on-line section for Thailand.


What do you enjoy most in Thailand? To cast your vote click here! Poll by TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand).

Interview with Anino (part 3)

This is the third and final part of our interview with Anino. If you have missed part 1 and 2 you can read them here and here. More interviews to come soon on both www.storiesfromthailand.com and www.teacherinthailand.com, so don't go too far!

Thaistory: How do you promote your blog?
Anino: Lately, I have linked to a lot of new blogs and met new bloggers. I pay each blog a visit at least three or four times a week. I can’t forward my blog to my friends because I’d like to remain anonymous!

Thaistory: What else do you know about your readers? Are they all Filipino?
Anino: Basically, they are all Filipinos, including the ones in my blogrolls and my co-workers. Once in a while I receive comments from anonymous readers, so I really don’t know their nationality. But, I have an Austrian friend who can speak Latin and other languages as well and he told me that he could understand some words.

Thaistory: What do the pictures from the blog head mean? Do they represent your story?
Anino: Yes…yes…yes. Mountain, trees, nature = mountaineer characters; places where aswang dwell. Skull = death; danger. Statues and monuments = Asian beliefs and tradition. Meat = flesh; food. Cat = power.

Thaistory: There’s one thing that really annoys me on your blog. That SCREAM! It always takes me by surprise. Why don’t you to get rid of it?
Anino: Because it makes my blog unique and annoying as what you say. You are not my only victim. Some readers even told me that they immediately turned off their computers when they heard the scream for the first time!

Thaistory: Any plans for the future?
Anino: Go back to school and do my masters. On the lighter side, I am planning to go to Cambodia and see the magnificent Angkor Wat. As of now, I need to win the “Blog of the Week” award!

Thaistory: I’ve recently added a comment widget on this blog and my other blog (Teacher in Thailand). I think it’s very useful and it helps you keep track of your comments, especially the ones on older posts. I think you should try it too.
Anino: If you tell me how to do it…

Thaistory: Thank you for your time.
Anino: It was a pleasure.

Interview with Anino (part 2)

This the second post of a 3-part interview with Anino, a Filipino blogger who writes an online horror story. You can read the first of the interview part here.

“I had countless sleepless nights due to thinking of twist and entanglement.”

Thaistory: Let’s talk a little bit about your writing routine. Did you make an outline of the entire novel before you actually started writing?
Anino: Not the story per se, only the bloodline of each character. I have outlined Book 1 and Book 2 already. Right now I have so many ideas going on through my mind for Book 3. I had countless sleepless nights due to thinking of twist and entanglement. All I can tell you now is that Book 2 is more gory and bloody.

Thaistory: When do you write?
Anino: I write on scrap paper whenever I find an opportunity, then type it up at home.

Thaistory: How often do you revise or rewrite?
Anino: After I finished typing it in Microsoft Word, I read it twice to check for grammatical errors and loopholes.

“A work to be published is every writer’s dream”

Thaistory: Do you have any plans of finding a publisher for your story? Maybe even self-publish on www.lulu.com?
Anino: Thanks for mentioning Lulu. A work to be published is every writer’s dream. As of now, I am contented with what my readers say about my novel. Just five minutes ago, I received a positive comment from one of my readers, The Social Critic .

Thaistory: Why don’t you write in English? You’ll have more readers…
Anino: I’ll have more readers, but more competitors as well. On top of that, I am more comfortable writing in my native tongue. I write in full Filipino sentences, except when there is no Filipino translation for a specific word or phrase, or when my English-speaking character is speaking. But I have English-speaking characters, like the Biology professor and one of the main characters speaks Tag-lish (a mixture of Tagalog and English).

Thaistory: Speaking of readership, how many unique visitors do you receive in one day?
Anino: I still don’t know how to get that daily visitor counter so I can’t tell you.

Thaistory: The easiest way to do it is with Google Analytics. You sing in with you gmail account, write you blog details and then upload on your blogger the HTML code.
Anino: Ok, I’ll try it. All I can tell you now is that the total number of my visitors since I've started my story is 5,064. That figure is not bad considering the fact that my blog is only four months old. The Blog of the Week poll has also increased the number of visitors.

(To be continued)

Interview with Anino (part 1)

The first one to be interview by storiesfromthailand.com is Anino a Filipino blogger who writes an on-line horror story.

“Bloodthirstiness of a Savage”

Thaistory: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Tell us a few things about yourself.
Anino: Thank you for this interview. And I am the first in line too. I’ve just turned 25. I have been to six countries in South East Asia, so only five more to go.

Thaistory: I know that you want to remain anonymous and that you don’t want your readers to know too many details about you. But, what does your pen name mean?
Anino: Yes, it’s true. I’d like to maintain a mysterious profile. The readers don’t even know my gender! ANINO means SHADOW.

Thaistory: Let’s talk about your latest post! You wrote about a “Blog of the Week” award. As it is in Filipino, I can’t understand a thing, so please enlighten me!
Anino: Sorry if I am always pushing you to vote for me daily. The poll is about a “Blog of the Week” award. There are ten nominees which are all Filipino blogs from all over the world. The break down goes like this: 55% from the voting; 35% from Filipino bloggers who act as judges; and 10% from the Composed Gentleman, the blog owner. For an intricate explanation of this contest, you can visit his blog. Last week, my blog was Top 2. I only needed 3 points to be the winner!

Thaistory: You’re in my blogroll under “Filipino horror story”. What’s the actual title of your blog? In English, please!
Anino: Ahh… “Bloodthirstiness of a Savage”

Thaistory: What’s the story about?
Anino: It is about a local creature called “Aswang”, the antagonist in Book 1. There are four main characters in the story: three boys and a girl, who are all first year college students. I can’t tell you any more as it will spoil the story.

Thaistory: What’s an “aswang”?
Anino: It is a creature that eats human flesh. There are many types of aswang, some of which lurk in cemeteries at night to dig up and eat corpses.

Thaistory: Where does the action take place?
Anino: The setting of the story is a university campus in Manila.

Thaistory: How far are you with the story? Do you know how it’s going to end?
Anino: Until now I have already posted Chapter 18 on my blog. A character will die in Chapter 19 (which one I can’t tell you). This death will also trigger the beginning of Book 2.

(To be continued)

Interview section

Starting next week, www.storiesfromthailand.com will inaugurate a new label: INTERVIEWS. From time to time I will interview fellow co-bloggers from Thailand or elsewhere.

The first to be interviewed will be Anino, an old colleague of mine, who started his blog, Mga Hiwaga Ng Kasaysayan - Bangis ng Isang Buhong, in October 2007.

Stay tuned!

Asian Journal

ASIAN JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic periodical which provides a forum for interdisciplinary discussion of issues related to East, South and Southeast Asian arts, cultures and societies, inviting contributions from the disciplines of literature, literary/art criticism, language, philosophy, anthropology, social studies, cultural studies, semiotics, gender studies, film, media and communication arts, architecture and design, and contemporary critical theory. The journal publishes original research articles concerned with Asian texts and contexts, as well as a variety of creative forms of writing, while its interview/event/review section offers an analysis of related recent literature and a commentary on relevant cultural events.

The journal is published three times per year in February, June and October by Assumption University Press, Assumption University, Ramkhamhaeng Rd., Soi 24, Hua Mak Campus, 10240 Bangkok, Thailand.

Related post: Asian Ways , New English Teacher

To submitt papers contact:

Katarzyna Ancuta
Graduate School of English, Assumption University
Tel: +66 (0) 2300 4543 – 62 Ext. 1348,
Fax: + 66 (0) 2318 7159

Website: http://www.gse.au.edu/

Bangkok Book Sale

Click on the image to enlarge.

For more information contact Asia Books customer service (02 715 9000) or visit www.asiabooks.com.

Thailand property

Foreigners and foreign companies are not allowed to own a direct interest in land in Thailand, with one exception from this rule: apartments or condominium units. If you want to know how to buy an apartment or house in Thailand, visit Thailand property.

Forever Love

The Forever Love Foundation (FLF) is a non-profit charitable, public benefit corporation based in California, under U.S. Internal Revenue since 1997. It was founded by Ms. Malissa Drake, a US-Thai Citizen as a loving tribute to the memory of a little orphaned boy who was infected with AIDS in Thailand.

FLF first programs started in Chiang Mai from 1997 through to 2000. The organization’s activities mainly focused on healthcare, micro-enterprise, HIV/AIDS, student scholarship, annual educational camping and donate goods programs. In 2001, FLF office moved to southern Thailand to the province Satun, where they operated and implemented the same programs in Satun. Currently FLF office is located in Phathumthani Province, central Thailand.

ELF mission is to provide basic needs, education, and social development to impoverished children so that they have the means to participate in and benefit from their societies, and to promote their rights and interests, especially of those who are infected with HIV and affected by AIDS in rural areas of Thailand

Contact them at

Address: 69/686 M. 6 (Moo Baan Warabadin),
Lumlukka Rd. T. Bungkumploy,
A. Lumlukka, Bungkumploy, A. Lumlukka,
Phathumthani 12150 Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (0) 2-512-7021
Fax: +66 (0) 2-152-7022
E-mail: foreverlove@forever-love.or.th , malissadrake@forever-love.or.th
Website: http://www.forever-love.or.th/

Rent a car in Bangkok

Click on image to enlarge.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

TSPCA celebrates its 13th anniversary!

An independent and non-profit organization, the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) was officially established on 31 January 1994, by a voluntary management council.

In August 1997, TSPCA had been granted an affiliate status with the UK-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) which has worldwide network of over 140 countries.

On 16 October 1997, TSPCA has been officially registered as non-profit and non-governmental organization to be active on the conservation and protection of Thailand’s natural resources and environment according to the Act on the Promotion and Conservation of the Quality of Natural Resources and Environment B.E. 2535

TSPCA Vision

Development and Promotion of Animal Welfares in order to:
- Create Better Natural Environment and better Public Health to Communities.
- Boost Moral Value and Proper Treatment towards Animals among Individuals and Animal-Related Industries to Promote Thailand’s Social and Economic Prosperity.

Contact TSPCA

120 Kasemkij Building, Room 301, Silom Rd., Bangkok 10500 THAILAND
Tel. : 66 (0) 2236 2176
Fax : 66 (0) 2266 5104
E-mail : info@thaispca.org
Website : http://www.thaispca.org/

200 views

My slideshow about Koh Samet has been viewed 200 times!

Thai Short stories

Marcel Barang’s workshop:

A bamboo bridge over rapids, Seksan Prasertkul
The muzzle, Suchart Sawatsee
A traffic-wise couple, Sila Khoamchai
Blood buds, Sila Khoamchai
Ties that bind, Reungsak Kamthorn
The nigh of the falling stars, Manop Thanomsee
Following instructions, Sakchai Lakkhanarwichien
The lookers-on, Korn Siriwatthano
It should have ended ahead of time, Sujinda Khantaya-longkot
Lover, Win Liawa-rin >> Amant, La poupée, Poumrak Pansing connaît la musique
An old cloth and a tray of mackerels, Win Liaowa-rin
The last drop of ink, Win Liaowa-rin
Venom, Saneh Sangsuk >> Venin

Source: http://www.thaifiction.com/

Not a free country

According to Freedom in the World - 2007, published by Freedom House, Thailand is NOT A FREE country, ranking 5.5, alongside Brunei and Cambodia. Vietnam ranks 6, China and Laos 6.5, and, of course, Myanmar (Burma) and North Korea rank 7!

Countries are ranked according to political rights and civil liberties on a scale from 1.0 (most free) to 7.0 (least free).

Source: Freedom House

Condo for sale?

Or maybe you want to buy one! Then the best place to start is Haptons Property (HTP)!

Catering to foreigners and Thais alike, HTP focus exclusively on Sukhumvit Road and the Central Business District of Bangkok. A team of multi lingual staff make the process of buying, renting or selling a property as simple as possible.

HTP is first property agency in Thailand to offer clients full property details including :
- Stunning virtual tours
- Full property description
- Digital photographs
- Detailed floor plans
- Location maps
- Automatic email updates

For more click here!

Ladyboys in Thailand

There are many kathoy (‘lady boys’) in Thailand. Here is how to determine if that beautiful woman is actually a man:
1. Look for any of the following signs that may indicated the person is actually a male:
- Adam's apple. This is no longer full proof as many now remove their adam's apple surgically.
- Height (anything above 5.8 is a little suspicious).
- Modified facial features - usually men's faces are more angular.
- Too large feet.
- Too big shoulders.

2. Listen to the voice. Ladyboys speak softly to mask their deeper voice, compared to genetical girls.

3. Look at the way she/he walks. Swishy, flirtatious walking is a ladyboy "tell".

4. Check the shape of the wrist. Men's wrists are usually straight. Women's slant inwards toward the hand. Supposedly this is why it is more comfortable for women to wear bracelets.

5. Large bulge halfway between head and foot when facing the person.

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/

Bookmooch

Bookmooch.com is an innovative site that allows readers to put their own books up for grabs; for each book sent out to another member, you receive points that can be used to “mooch” books you want off someone else’s virtual shelf.

Dictionary.co.uk defines "mooch" as: "to obtain something without paying for it, or to borrow something without intending to return it" as in "You're old enough to get a job and stop mooching off your family."

Just adding books to your online inventory earns points toward future mooching: for every book added, you receive 1/10th of a point. You also receive one point for confirming that a book you mooched has arrived safe and sound.

Mooching books domestically costs one point, while mooching a book from a user in another country costs three points.

Members create wishlists so the website can automatically notify them when books they would like to mooch become available. Act quickly, though—popular titles are often claimed within moments.

For more information, go to http://www.bookmooch.com/.

Charity event

The BARKING BANQUET hosted by SCAD Bangkok (formerly Soi Dog Rescue) is a fundraiser that will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm, at Jamesense Restaurant (Garden Grove Building 2F, Sukhumvit Soi 16).

Put your paws on the table and enjoy a sumptuous Mediterranean Buffet with complimentary glass of wine at the Barking Banquet. Bring your friends along for an evening of great food, great company and great fun at this delightful new restaurant.

Bark and meow your bids in the "Dutch" auction where some bonesome prizes (& some kibble) are up for grabs. Tickets are 600 baht per person and are on sale at Jamesense (0-2363-3191-2), ReTails and ReTails Too (http://www.scadbangkok.org/retails). Contact Info Email: tami@scadbangkok.

Books for Prisoners

If you have paperbacks lying around that you’ll never read again, why not do some early spring cleaning and a good deed at the same time?

The U.S. Embassy American Citizen Services (ACS) office regularly takes donated books to U.S. citizens incarcerated in Thai prisons. Bring your spare paperbacks to our next Bangkok Bookcrossers meeting on March 4th (or to our afternoon get-together on February 29th) and they will be dropped off at the ACS office for delivery to prisoners.

If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, but would still like to contribute books, please contact me at encgolsen@gmail.com. If anyone else knows of a similar program for prisoners of other nationalities or for other charitable causes, please email me the details at encgolsen@gmail.com so we can consider organizing a future book collection on their behalf.

Source: Erin's newsletter (Volume 1, Issue 6, February 11, 2008)

Domain name

Because the Adsense income is growing steadily, I decided to but a domain name through Blogger. It's easy to do and highly recommended if you're serious about blogging. Just go to your Dashboard / Setting / Publishing and from there you’re only 3 steps away to owning your domain name. It costs only 10 USD / year.

I did the same thing with my other blog Teacher in Thailand.

Cartoonist / illustrator needed

Two soon-to-be-published books for children need illustrations. If you're a cartoonist / illustrator or if you’re good at drawing, send an e-mail with one or two of your illustrations at thaiwizkid@gmail.com and you might see your name on the covers of the two books. It doesn't matter where you're from! All e-mails will be answered! Good luck!

Have you ever...?

Found on Ms Teacher

Wanna play? It's simple. Copy, paste and if you've done it, bold it.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said I love you and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped (reversed)
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

RAMBO is back!

For a movie review, click here.

River Kwai Trophy 2008

Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series
March 1, 2008
Amphur Sayok, Kanchanaburi (2 1/2 hours drive from Bangkok)

New Course for 2008! Combines a challenging 1 day race with the magnificent beauty of the river Kwai valley.
Disciplines include biking, running and kayaking.
The race route travels along scenic trails and explore the mountains and farmlands of western Thailand.
Start and arrival of the race in the vicinity of the Pungwaan resort Kwai Noi.

Find out more!

Asian Ways

2nd Annual ACSA Conference
Asian Ways: Traditions and Transitions
Bangkok, Thailand, 5-6 august 2008

CALL FOR PAPERS

The insistence of journalistic discourse to refer to Asia today as to a continent in transformation, on the rise, in motion, in progress, in transfer and transition can but make one wonder about the seemingly irresistible need to resort to the metaphor of movement to convey the world’s opinion on the changes Asia has been undergoing in recent decades. Still, movement implies a journey and journeys map out the roads – those more and less taken. And while moving us forwards, the same roads may in fact lead us back into the past. To a journalist this may well seem yet another opportunity to invoke the famous “Asian Paradox” – a useful turn of phrase coined to express practically every aspect of Asian culture that escapes Occidental logic. For has it not been already declared that Tradition stands in a way of Progress and the two are mutually incompatible? How is one then to comprehend the notion of a modern traditional society – as an oxymoron, a paradox, or perhaps as just one of the many observations that can be made about contemporary Asia?

This conference seeks to explore new ways of understanding Asian traditions and transitions, inviting contributions reflecting on the changes in reading and representing Asian literatures, cultures and societies.

We invite papers and presentations on Asia-related aspects in literature, language, literary criticism, film & media, theatre & performing arts, art & design, architecture, new media, cultures & societies, gender, race & ethnicity, popular culture, martial arts, religion, philosophy, ideology, semiotics, critical theory and any other forms of cultural expression. All critical approaches are welcome.

Submit your 200-word abstracts to Katarzyna Ancuta at kancuta@au.edu by 31.03.2008, including your University affiliation, and whether or not you will require any visual aid equipment for your presentation.

The Legend of Suriyothai

A story of intrigue, romance and war set in a dramatic period of Thailand's history, "The Legend of Suriyothai" is based on actual events in 16th century Thailand. “The Legend of Suriyothai” begins during a peaceful era, but forces from both outside (Thailand's neighbor Burma to the north) and within, conspires to test the strength of the nation.

Filmed at spectacular locations throughout Thailand, with a true cast of thousands, this Cecil B. DeMille-sized epic chronicles the life of Suriyothai, a beautiful young princess, who must choose between marrying her true love, a gallant young warrior named Piren, or doing her duty to wed Prince Tien, the son of the "second king," in a marriage arranged by their two very powerful families.

Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 34 mins
Theatrical Release: Jun 20, 2003
Box Office: $277,562

Read more on ROTTEN TOMATOES.

He links to us too

The Thai-Lander is a blog by a German teaching in Chiang Mai.

Rambo in Thailand

Sylvester Stallone writes, directs and stars as RAMBO, filmed on location in and around Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Twenty years after the last film in the series, John Rambo (SYLVESTER STALLONE) has retreated to northern Thailand, where he's running a longboat on the Salween River. On the nearby Thai-Burma (Myanmar) border, the world's longest-running civil war, the Burmese-Karen conflict, rages into its 60th year. But Rambo, who lives a solitary, simple life in the mountains and jungles fishing and catching poisonous snakes to sell, has long given up fighting, even as medics, mercenaries, rebels and peace workers pass by on their way to the war-torn region.

Rated: R
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins
Theatrical Release: Jan 25, 2008
WideBox Office: $18,203,876

Read the entire review on Rotten Tomatoes.

Bkk Bookcrossers Meeting

The next Bangkok Bookcrossers meeting is Tuesday, February 5th, at 6:30pm. They'll be meeting at Bert's, located in the ground floor of the Zen department store at Central World.

If you're coming from inside Central World, Bert's is on your left as you enter the cosmetics section. If you take the skytrain, the easiest way to get to Bert's is to go to Chidlom station and take the skywalk to the first Central World exit. Instead of taking the escalator into Central World, go down the stairs, up onto the plaza in front of Central World and walk straight ahead. Bert's has an outside entrance--you should be able to see it from the skywalk.

Source: Erin's newsletter

Fiction Asia

http://www.fictionasia.com/ is a blog written for and expressly intended for the use of writers, in Asia and elsewhere around the world, who have a creative drive to write fiction.

New Bkk Books

Bangkok Books published new titles:

1. Thais Say it best When they say Nothing at all! by Annie Leo
2. Illicit Islands by John Daysh
3. French-Thai phrasebook (with or without CD)
4. Map Koh Chang & Chantaburi by Eric Olason
5. Map Pattaya & Koh Samet by Eric Olason
6. Genuine Thai Copies by Sean Bunzick
7. Russian-Thai phrasebook (with or without CD)
8. Last Escape by Paul Garrigan
9. Danish-Thai phrasebook (with or without CD)
10. Golf Map 2008

Visit their website http://www.bangkokbooks.com/ to read about these books as well as find information about the authors. They schedule an average of one new book every 7-10 days, so check back often.

All the books are available in Thailand at Asia Books (33 branches), Bookazine (25 branches), B2S (30 branches), Kinokuniya (3 branches), airports (Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, Chiangmai), hotels, Suriwong Book Center, DK bookstores and many smaller independent bookstores.

In Singapore and Malaysia you can find these books at Borders, Kinokuniya, MPH, Times and airports.

Indy Book Festival #5

The Indy Book Festival #5 will be held from February 8 to 10 at Santi Chai Prakarn Park on Phra Arthit Road.

The open-air forum is aimed at stimulating new generations of writers to present their ideas through books, film and music. There may also be a chance of selling their ideas to interested publishers. The three-day affair is open to the public and there is no admission fee.

For more details on both programmes run by the Thai Writers' Association, call/fax 02-308-0410/ 1, or 08-7519-9150, or email thaiwriternetwork@hotmail.com. Alternatively, visit http://www.thaiwriternetwork.com/ (website in Thai only :( ).

Another one

Another link exchange via Teacher in Thailand:

* Gamay Spices in Life - a blog by a simple, self-determined, open-minded, and goal oriented pinay.

Later edit:

Funky Mommy - a blog about ramblings in words about photography, parenting, food, world news, gossips, and online business.

PINAYSMILE'S JOURNEY - a Filipina who married an American; now living with her husband in Kauai, Hawaii.

Before and after

It doesn't matter where these pictures were taken. The situation is the same on any other Bangkok klong (canal).

Before and ...

... after

I wonder where did things go wrong?