democracy and STATIONERY

At lunchtime, my mom called and updated me on the nastiness at the parliament.

Around two, I surfed Bangkok Post, BBC, International Herald Tribune, and CNN so I would know what they said about the current situation in my city.

At 6.30 I read news on BBC about a car bomb that left one woman dead somewhere near where the police had clashed w/ the protesters.

At 7, I left work and headed for B2S at Central World Plaza. I spent more than a thousand Baht there for cute stationeries. Well, I just got promoted and the desk I’m assigned to needs Joe’s touch.

It was almost 10 pm when I got home. My husband cooked me dinner and we ate. Randy again was pissed at Thaksin for allegedly being behind this violence. He’d read somewhere that the ousted prime minister and his wife, Pojaman, are applying for political asylum in the UK and using this turmoil as ground for remaining there. I was pissed that I had to do the dishes after a long day at work.

Also, Randy updated me that Paul, our good friend, will be coming back from the UK to his life in the City of Angels. We’re so happy to hear his dad is doing well so our friend can be where he prefers to be.

Tomorrow, I’m gonna be busy “decorating” my desk and again dealing w/ colleagues who don’t seem happy w/ my new position. Whatever! Life goes on no matter what.

Riot police, tear gas, injured protesters, government house and parliament under siege, power struggle between old and new money, growing or crumbling “democracy,” dirty dishes after dinner, fan freaking tastic colleagues. Oh my gosh, I looove the fluorescent blue staples!!!

Joe

Trump to triumph?

There are times when you need to expand your horizon. There are times when you just cannot confine yourself anymore. And, there are times when you have to make some uncharted territory another playground of yours.

Tell that to Donald Trump, and you will get a puzzled look on his face saying “Why are you telling me this? You really don’t need to.”

It seems a finger in the palm-shaped pie in Dubai isn’t enough for Mr. Trump as he is extending his reach further east.

He picked Bangkok this time.

What you see in the photo is not just another old building being torn apart. That's simply the building site in its mundane present tense. The bright future envisioned by one of the richest men on earth promises something alot more alluring for this property.

Notice the big G on the right side of the photo?

It's the logo of Gaysorn Plaza. “Gaysorn” is a Thai word meaning pollen, the stuff that attracts bees to flowers, that whole 'birds and bees stuff'.Well it seems that Gaysorn also attracts a lot of us “cheerful creatures” too.

Mr. Trump is reportedly joining hands w/ Gaysorn Group in undertaking this project.

Bangkok Post dated September 8, 2008 details a wondrous complex that boasts retail, a six-star serviced apartment to be managed by Starwood, and a luxurious condominium with 30-year leasehold contracts.

Isn’t money madly magical?

The photo was taken from across the street, from Central World Plaza, which the retail section of Mr. Trump’s new toy is expected to be rivaling once completed.

There’s no doubt this new place will do very well. Apart from torrents of tourists who soak and choke the area on a daily basis, there are upper middle class Thais who will fall for anything ranging from some fugly watch for $1,000,000 USD to such in-your-face opulence as sport cars.

I sincerely wish Mr. Trump the success he desires. But his achievement can never match that of the thousands of Bangkok’s 'underdog' street vendors.

Feel free to scroll down to read Street Vendors – What they could do posted on Aug 13, 08.


Joe, champion of thousands of the super dogs