The Revolution will NOT be televised!

(At least not in THIS country)


Just when I was beginning to become complacent about everyday life here in Bangkok, somebody goes and starts a Coup d'etat! Last night an unknown number of tanks, humvees, APCs, and soldiers moved in to central Bangkok and effectively removed Prime Minister Thaksin (and about a half dozen of his associates) from power. It was an entirely peaceful demonstration of the Thai version of democracy: The majority rural population votes in a right wing government and the Bangkok leftists find way to get rid of it. As of this morning there has still been no reported violence and the whole city seems completely calm and not nearly as disturbed as one might expect. My guess is that while this isn't the way they wanted Thaksin to go down, the people are happy to be rid of him, at least in the city.
The schools and Universities are closed today, and supposedly the King has declared this some strange form of National Holiday. Details are sketchy, but either way, I have little to do today but refresh the BBCNews homepage. The CNNInternational and BBCWorld cable news broadcasts were shutdown in this country shortly after midnight, and they have yet to return. All we have to watch now is a state controlled channel that is simply airing pictures of the King and patriotic songs, which occasionally have been subtitled in English for us.

UPDATE: The state controlled television networks have returned to air news in Thai. The cable news networks have not been returned, likely to prevent Thaksin from being able to make any statements to the Thai people.

Weekend of Bad Wine and Bowling

Thursday night was the annual Wine Tasting Festival hosted by the Biotechnology department here at Assumption University. A somewhat dressy affair complete with plenty of finger food and a live band, this "wine tasting" was really an exhibition of what the biotechnology students had labored to produce: really really bad wine. Oh, but you bet we drank it. In fact, I think fifty percent of those who showed up to drink that night were Farang teachers at Assumption. It was an incredibly odd experience. Really awful (but consumable) red wine accompanied by excellent Thai finger foods and a band that, like virtually every other Thai band I've seen thus far, did not draw too much of a distinction between live music and Karaoke. All in all, thoroughly enjoyable. Here are some pictures of us having more fun than we probably should have been, and this Thai baby may or may not have gone home with us...


Friday night was perhaps slightly less odd, but no less fun. We went bowling, and this is one thing that the Thais don't seem to have made illogical. Bowling here is in fact even more efficient than it is in the states!! They have bowling shoe vending machines! If that's not an indication of an advanced civilization, I don't know what is. Here are a few pictures of Americans making asses of themselves at the lanes.