Back to the civilization…?

As a matter of fact I feel more at home in this buzzling, overcrowded, traffic jammed Capital of the Far East Kingdom than on the island, invaded by tourists and salesmen/women of different kind. But even such an island has some genuine, basic, sustainable Thai values. Such as Kuhn Maew, the very nice Thai lady that offered Thai massage right on the beach, just a sarong between me and the sand. Gently she gave me a thorough massage, which took an hour. She then asked me if I wanted some pedicure, fixing my not so very nice toe nails. I said yes and another 30 minutes went by with my feet in her lap. Total price 300 Bath (= around 65 SEK or just below 10 USD). Yes, she received also some tip…
But I am now back in this giant city. Is this the nuclear part of the growing, fast developing civilization of Thailand? Is it?
Almost everything is built upon the fascinating dream of making fast and big money. We are forced into consumer actions. Well, we could resist if we really want to resist, but why resist? Everything is for sale here. You want to buy a new suit? There are thousands of dress makers promising you to have one or two or even three suits after 24 hours. Together with some shirts and ties. Whatever you want to buy you can find it in Bangkok. But do nottry drugs of any sort. There are policemen out there appearing as drug dealers and if they got you on the hook you may probably not get off living… And do mot try to buy children for any sexual pleasure of yours. That kind of crime stinks and it stinks hard, something that the judges in this country agree upon; severe punishments await… But otherwise, feel free to do whatever pleases you – as long as you buy, consume, drink and eat, acting as a real farang.
This is the present outburst of civilization.
Isn´t it?

Hopes for the new generations

Are we going forward or backward, up or down?
I have always, as long as I can remember been suspicious over most of our, the humans, actions. I am, perhaps by nature (?), more pessimistic than optimistic.
But then, suddenly, a glimpse of hope.
No, I am not thinking of Mr. Barack Obama.
I am thinking of our grandson, Herman, and our granddaughter, Freija.
This (see the picture above) is how they looked like when they suddenly met on the Koh Samed beach during an evening.

Three men from Russia

Well, I certainly do not want to act as a prejudiced man with negative attitudes to people from other nations. But what the heck: here are we sitting at a nice restaurant at the seashore eating fried rice with seafood, drinking Cafe Latte Yen (Iced Coffee Latte), looking out at the sea. Just behind the fence of the restaurant three grown up men, around the 40’s, are playing with the football. Their language is unmistakable: they speak Russian. And they kick the ball, sometimes hard, so it flies over the fence in between the tables, bumping around, pushing down some salt- and pepper containers to the floor. One of the guests threw politely the ball back to them and they start kicking again and – pow! – here is the ball again….and again….and the three men from Russia do not apologize, do not care, do not bother. One wears a large golden bracelet; he is fat and laughing all the time and I think that he is the worst of them.
No, I do not want to bring forward my prejudices, but…
On the other hand, our close neighbours in Sweden are Russian people. They are very nice, polite and sweet.
But on the third hand, this fat Russian man with his bracelet and red cap on his skull….help! I cannot get rid of my aggressive feelings… I think I have to take a swim, a hard one..or something…

Sunshine is radiation

There is a woman from some Western country lying on the beach every day – without any visible protection. Her skin looks like leather. I pity her. She does not understand that sunshine is radiation and that this kind of radiation destroys more than it heals. The medical specialists in Sweden report an increase of 50% of malign melanom, a severe form of cancer, which is most probably due to being too much in direct sunshine.
Swedes long to these kind of sunbathing beaches as we are living in a country of grey darkness during the late autumn and winter season. But those of us that quickly undress, just putting on some small bath suite and place themselves for hours in the sun take a very big risk, even more dangerous than smoking a couple of packets of cigarettes a day.
But still – the salty, blue water holding a temperature of around 27-28 degrees Centigrades is of course lovely. But after the bath – shadowed place is the best one.

Once a paradise island

My friend, a retired airline captain, told me that he visited Koh Samed at the Rayong district of Thailand some forty years ago. At that time the island was unspoilt, clean, a natural beauty that came to become a part of the big natural park of the region. Today it is like all other islands that attract tourists – and Bangkokians. It is a bungalow circus, resort after resort after resort after bars after bars after restaurants after restaurants. The coastline glittering in the evenings of thousands of coloured lamps, the beaches filled by sun thirsty people. The paradise is gone, gone, gone…
Which reminds me of the once upon a time quite small fisherman village, named Pattaya (pronounciation strong at the end: Pattaya´). I visited Pattaya in the verey beginning of the 1970’s. There were two hotels and a few very cheap, simple restaurants along the coast. And look at Pattaya today. The village is gone, gone, gone…
And this is how it goes and this is how it works and this is what some people call development…

Buddhist wedding

Koh Samed November 14 2009: Our youngest daughter has got married to Lennart, a very nice and good looking man. The wedding was aranged completely in Thai Buddhist style: first a procession walking to our bungalow in which we had hidden the bride. Negotiations taking place: Do you really want this young lady? How much are you prepared to pay for her? What will be your gifts?
But the gifts were already there: sugar palm tree stems, lots of fruits and flowers – and the ring, a beautfiul ring.
Are you sure? Yes! OK, step over the silver gate. Are you really sure? Yes! And now he passed the golden gate. Negotiations continued for a while. And at last – the bride being introduced, walking together with all relatives and guests and negotiators and speakers to the ceremony hall, where nine monks chanted and provided all with holy water and blessings.
And then the ending procedure: The holy water over the hands of the bride and the groom while they became united by the holy rope, placed upon their heads, liberated and congratulated by their parents.
The signature on the document by the legislative representative of the region: and by that: man and wife!
This was an unique event, documented by several photographers and journalists and reporters from the Tourist Authority of Thailand!
Welcome to the family, Lennart! You are already a part of our hearts.

Acting tourist

No, it is not that easy. An acting tourist is expected to look satisfied, content. He (or she) is slowly moving around, climbing out in the luke warm sea water while the sun is blazing, yelling “Hello!” and “Is not this fantastic!” to the people around. It is a role.
It is a demanding role, not that easy to cope with.
But in this special case I am also expected to give (or sell?) my daughter away. She will get married, just here, close to the beach. Monks will be chanting and bless the couple.
And me, giving (or selling?) my daughter away will play another role: the greyhaired, older man that now is prepared to step back in order to provide more space for the younger generations. This role is neither the most easy one to play, but it is a natural one.

No, we can not

Year after year I have returned to this city that once in a time was called Venice of East. But that was long time ago. The city has changed. Most of the windling klongs became streets for the cars and the MC’s. More and more people moved in, hoping for their luck somewhere, perhaps in the still growing tourist industry. Traffic jams, sky train, underground, buses and more and more buildings, some of them sky rocketing. Shopping malls, entertainment quarters, hotels, restaurants, bars – a growing mud of human hopes for glory.
But all this has a price, a very high price. Energy is not for free, and everything that comes with the growing machineries requires lots of energy, most of it electricity. And all ounces of electricity create carbon dioxide somewhere along the road. And all carbon dioxide provides more nutrition to the climate change.
Is it too late to make a U-turn?
I am afraid it is. We, humans, are too nearsighted even if some of us cry out and yell and call to environmental conferences.
I don´t want to appear as any doom’s day prophet, but I am very close to give an opposite message to Mr. Obama.
No, we can not.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance is not to be used in technical areas only. It is of course of importance to follow up and to make sure that the selection of people to qualified positions, based upon psychological assessments, is valid and safe enough. That is one of the reasons for me to make a visit to one Flying Training Schools in one of the countries in Far East. This kind of research project is a must if you will be called a professional recruiter.

A quest directed to all airline flight operation fans

Which airline carrier has a total of 85 aircraft, out of which – just as examples – are
four A340-500
six A340-600
eighteen B747-400
six B777-200ER
and so forth?
The company’s international operations makes it to the 11th largest in the world.
(The information has been provided to me directly from one of the staff members,)

Well, honestly, is an information and a quest like this important and of any value to anyone but the company itself?
Honestly – who cares?
Well, as a matter of fact I am convinced that there is quite a lot out there, who seriously and eagerly collect these kind of facts. It is comparable with collecting stamps or metal money or antiques or art or whatever.
We, the Humans, are not hunters only, we are for sure collectors as well.
And the answer to the quest is…..?