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    Thursday
    Sep022010

    GregToDiffer Takes a Break

    DateThursday, September 2, 2010 at 7:36PM

    Well, it doesn't happen too often, but I'm off for a vacation, so the blog will have to be put on pause for a few weeks. After saving my shekels for what seemed like years (wait, it was years...) I'm off to visit some friends in Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. I expect to come back with nary a baht to my name, but lots of pictures and stories, so hopefully I'll be back to writing soon. See you on the flip side, folks.

    AuthorGreg | | CommentPost a Comment |
    Sunday
    Aug292010

    The Irony of Shoe Shopping in Thailand

    DateSunday, August 29, 2010 at 8:23PM

    One of the problems with being a big guy in Asia is that, well, you’re a big guy in Asia, where the locals are generally considered... uh, well, let's just say there's only one person here that I have to look up at to talk to. A bit of detail for you here – I’m about 6’2” (187cm) and weigh about 260lbs (117kg). At home in Canada, I’m a bit bigger than normal, but not huge; many of my friends there are bigger than me, both vertically and horizontally. But being a big guy in Asia presents its own set of Lilliputian problems, most of which revolve around clothes, especially shopping for shoes. Let me share my story.

    Click to read more ...

    AuthorGreg | | Comment7 Comments | in , ,
    Wednesday
    Aug182010

    Seen in Bangkok: Thai Want Ads

    DateWednesday, August 18, 2010 at 11:32PM

    Maybe it had to do with the rise of Craigslist, or maybe it was like this before I got here, but either way, scanning the job ads in a Thai newspaper can often be a bit of an eye-opener compared to the classifieds in western countries. I've written about resumes in Thailand before and the same crazy rules apply - put down stuff that you'd never be able to get away with back home and see what sticks. I came across this ad while perusing the paper today and thought it was kind of cute how specific they were.

    Click to read more ...

    AuthorGreg | | Comment2 Comments | in
    Monday
    Aug092010

    Thai Massage: Rubbin' Me the Wrong Way

    DateMonday, August 9, 2010 at 9:41PM

    There are many things that people revel in while living in Thailand, either losing themselfves in a singular pursuit or peppering their existence with traces of hedonism: food, beaches, diving, rock climbing, meditation, yoga, and even (so I'm told) girls. I've tried most of these - meditation is okay but after about 45 seconds I start to wonder if anyone's sent me an email; diving is fun; food, well, clearly that's not a problem for me. But there's one of these little bliss-sicles that everyone raves about; that occupy hours of my friends' days and cause people to travel far and wide in search of it and even to train in its methods. It is also one thing that I simply do not get and go to great lengths to avoid: Thai massage.

    Click to read more ...

    AuthorGreg | | Comment4 Comments | in ,
    Wednesday
    Aug042010

    Vanishing Bangkok: A Visit to Baan Bu Metalwork Factory

    DateWednesday, August 4, 2010 at 12:03AM

    Any city that's been hanging around for 228 years is bound to have its fair share of lost treasures and forgotten secrets. Thankfully, Bangkok isn't developing at the same speed as Beijing, where historical corners of the city are being steamrolled to prepare for condos and shopping malls, so there are still plenty of old corners and secrets to enjoy. My friend Lenka and I found one of these lost treasures one of our city bike rides, where we ride by the phrase 'ever narrower' to get lost, explore, and experience the real Bangkok. What we found was Baan Bu, a community in Bangkok Noi that produces exquisite handmade bowls the same way they've been doing for centuries.

    Click to read more ...

    AuthorGreg | | Comment7 Comments | in , , ,
    Monday
    Jul262010

    Seen in Bangkok - Trolls and Buses

    DateMonday, July 26, 2010 at 11:56PM

    The colorful tour buses that ply Bangkok's streets and Thailand's highways are - for some reason no one's ever been able to explain - splashed with crazy paintings in an acid-trip kaleidoscope of color. Everything from Disney cartoons to Grimm's fairy tales to heavy metal dreams are represented on these things, some better than others but all equally creative. There seems to be no end of what the artists will create. Of course, some of it is borderline inappropriate; it's a bit odd to see a bunch of grade 3 faces staring out of windows a few inches above cartoon Valkyries with huge boobs fighting a horde of drooling orcs. At any rate, I was driving down the street one day and saw this terrifying creature on the back of one of these buses.

    Click to read more ...

    AuthorGreg | | Comment1 Comment | in
    Friday
    Jul232010

    Must... Go... to Beach...

    DateFriday, July 23, 2010 at 10:46PM

    Good lord, this has been an exceptionally busy week; extra busy at my regular job, then even more busy with my freelance writing. Not complaining, mind you, working on some fun stuff, but just no time to update the ol' blog. And guess what? Long weekend, woo hoo! Despite my hatred of super-packed minivans and lineups, my lady and I are heading off to Ko Samet for a few days. So, adios, friends, and see you back here sometime next week. Hopefully still pasty white and without sand in my nether regions.Not seen: Bangkok's noisy, haze-filled, traffic-jammed streets.

    AuthorGreg | | Comment1 Comment |
    Wednesday
    Jul072010

    A Morning with the Tourism Authority at Ratchprasong

    DateWednesday, July 7, 2010 at 11:25PM

     

    The Thai government has been working overtime in the wake of all the red shirt mayhem that went down a few months ago to reassure everyone that all is well and things are back to normal. Of course, looking at the big picture and the deep social scarring left from the protests it might be a bit of a misnomer to say things are 'back to normal', but on the surface (where most tourists reside), things look pretty regular. However, businesses are still hurting, so to help drum up interest in the Ratchprasong area (where most of the fires and shootings took place), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organized a special press tour of the affected area, which I was lucky enough to be invited to.

    Click to read more ...

    AuthorGreg | | Comment3 Comments | in , , ,
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