Revised My Estimate of How Stupid People Can Be

Members of a national police force’s special bomb squad attempted to defuse a WWII era mortar shell last Wednesday. They were unable to disassemble the shell, undoubtedly because of corrosion. They took the shell to a nearby shop that had a wider selection of tools, including a welding torch. Do I need to say what happened next?

In America, ‘Special’ is used to describe retarded people. In the Philippines, it is used to describe the Philippine National Police Special Action Force. Details here.

A Thai Motobike Riding Habit

Many motobike riders wear helmets because the inconvenience and cost of a helmet are outweighed by the fine paid if stopped at a checkpoint. In practice that means that there are certain streets with high helmet usage and others streets where fewer bother.

The cops set up in the same spots which all feature a combination of an area where stopped riders won’t obstruct traffic, an approach that offers no escape route after one spots the checkpoint, and shade for the officers. I’ve seen riders approaching a known checkpoint area reach down, take their helmet off a hook, put it on, ride past the check point area and then return the helmet to its hook.

Its what sometimes happens next that bothers me. The rider, usually male, bends over and down to look at himself in the right hand rear view mirror then uses the left hand to put his hair back into place. One can get away with riding like that because everybody one the road watches out for the idiot moto riders. Riding in traffic here is bad enough with both hands on the handlebars and one’s head on a swivel.

Vietnam Itinerary

Trying to travel with less planning than usual (described here) caused motivation to do any planning to dissipate. I’ve done the essential long lead stuff but the rest has just slipped away. Departure date is now within weeks instead of months, motivation returned and I have a plan.

Fly Bangkok to Hanoi.
Next day fly to Da Nang, then taxi to Hoi An.
Eight nights spread between Hoi An and Hue.
Fly to Da Lat (don’t have ticket yet).
After ? nights, bus to Nha Trang.
After ? nights, train to Qui Nohn.
[Optional ? nights in Quang Ngai].
After ? nights, train to Da Nang.
[Optional ? nights in Hue or Hoi An].
Fly to Hanoi.
Next day fly to Bangkok.

Wondering why I’m backtracking to Hanoi and not flying home from Ho Chi Minh City? Original trip plan was to go no farther south than Hoi An, spend more time in Hanoi and go to Sapa in the northwest. Entering and exiting the country from Hanoi made sense. Still could do that but it looks less attractive than the above itinerary.

If you don’t see a trip map below, use this link.

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Cappuccino with Sea Foam




It’s not listed in any guide I’ve seen.  Why would a guide book mention a seaside patio that has both decent coffee,  comfortable chairs and a wall which provides a ribbon of shade to enjoy the foam in the cup and the foam on the sea?  The bistro is listed, of course.  But the only guide to local public spaces with breeze, view and shade is in my head.

Photography at Sunset

The effect of direct sunlight on the reflective surfaces of an ornate temple dazzles both the eyes and spirit. The later can’t be photographed. The eye dazzle can, but in a greatly transformed version. The eye sees the color of the dazzle but at such an extreme light intensity the digital camera registers pure white.

Unless one waits until the sun is almost over the horizon.







Wat Huay Mongkol







Sunset over pineapple fields on the ride home.

Happy Massage Ladies




This many shoes and sandals outside means …







… every massage lady is busy. It’s high season so they work, work, work.

How to Pronounce Suvarnabhumi

Suvarnabhumi = BKK, the international airport in Bangkok. Many English speaking expats call it ‘Swampy’. That may be less than useful when communicating with a taxi driver which is important because Bangkok has two airports.

The following is from a Thorntree thread with the same subject as this post. Each > is from a post in the original thread.

>Sur-wan-a-boom

>So-ya- wanna-boom

>Su-wan-na-poom

>Agree with Joy16: Su-wanna-POOM

>I prefer su-wan-na.

>Su-wanna-POOM
Is that poom as in boot, or poom as in book?

>Mr. Poom ran over my leg with his ####’n car!
I wanna sue Poom!
สุวรรณภูมิ
soo wan na phuum

>the first three syllables run together almost as one – su’wanna-poom. Capt-C – it’s poom as in room

>air-port.

Can You Find the Surprised Boy?




Down the hill from St. Paul’s Church, Melaka, Malaysia

Krill Fisherman on the Beach

Noticed the rolled up hand fishing nets as I approached the beach. Had seen them in use but didn’t know what they were fishing for. Hadn’t seen them this late in the day before, wondered what that meant. Also what’s with the pickup trucks that smell like fish? It’s rare anyone parks at the beach end of this soi.







Some krill nets.







Straining the krill.

It was a good day for the krill fishermen. The white sacks are filled with krill. The tubs filled with water hold krill. Workers run sieves through the krill, let it drain, examine the contents closely, carefully pick out a few things which are tossed aside, dump the contents back into the tub and start again. One guy keeps adding sea water to the tubs. I guess that’s because it’s easier to spot the foreign matter when the krill are alive.

The tourists in the background are enjoying their day at the beach scented by kilos and kilos of recently dead shrimp.

Buying Netbook: Deposit Required

The netbook was second on my wish list.  First choice was available at only 2 stores in town.  One was part of the national chain of computer stores with by far the worst reputation, the other had zero English ability pooled across all employees.

The netbook was out of stock. Didn’t want the display model, which surprised them. (What? You’ll wait 4 to 6 days? What’s wrong with you?). Quick inventory check showed several Bangkok stores had it in stock. That will be 1000 b deposit (~$ 33).

Exchanging money for paper in a country where ripping off foreigners for substantial sums is a well practiced art and where the foreigner has no recourse is not my preferred option. It’s only 1000 baht, I thought, and the chain is the one with the highest reputation on the expat forums.  Bought my laptop from them last year without drama.  Its money I can afford to be screwed out of, so why not?

Treatment of foreign customers, limited stock and not speaking any Thai is what it is. I can play by their rules or not play, but haven’t achieved a zen like acceptance yet.  Started shopping at the worst place so as to taste the anger and frustration before letting it go and letting some of it go at the store employees before walking into a store where I didn’t want to give them any reason to fuck with me.