Showing 11 - 20 of 33
We need to look after creepy-crawlies
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 17/02/2019
» There was a disturbing report this week that the world is running out of insects, primarily due to pesticide poisoning. Having just read an article in which a scientist warned "if insects were to disappear, the world would fall apart", I suspect this is not good news. However, the world already seems to be falling apart without any help from absent insects. Admittedly the declining insect population is difficult to appreciate in Thailand where it is hard to experience a day without an encounter with some kind of bug. In my small garden there are plenty of crawling things creeping about, ready to sneakily bite me at the first opportunity.
Once it was almost a botanical garden
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/11/2018
» About 20 years ago I was standing on the steps of the British ambassador's residence in Bangkok after interviewing England and Manchester United football legend Sir Bobby Charlton. Shameless name-dropping again, l know, but there is a point. While we were waiting for transport, Sir Bobby surveyed the embassy grounds and remarked what an idyllic scene it was, with all the trees, ponds and well-manicured lawns. He was definitely impressed. With traffic gridlock only a stone's throw away, it was a truly tranquil oasis presided over with aplomb by the statue of Queen Victoria.
You can't beat a good song in the gridlock
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 09/09/2018
» Earlier this week a veteran taxi driver told me he was a great fan of Elvis Presley. He proceeded to sing Love Me Tender for most of the journey. He wasn't too bad either -- Elvis would have been proud. The crooner cabbie said singing took his mind off the horrors of Bangkok's traffic.
Established in 1946 … that's some time ago
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 29/07/2018
» It was with slightly mixed feelings that I read the <i>Bangkok Post</i> will celebrate its 72nd anniversary on Wednesday - Aug 1. Any newspaper that has lasted that long and in the process survived approximately 15 coups or attempted coups and assorted other upheavals, deserves a pat on the back.
Soggy socks, sandbags and rising damp
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/10/2017
» All week, we have been listening to dire warnings from meteorologists of big storms and heavy rains, countered by Bangkok officials reassuring us everything is under control and the Big Mango won't sink without a trace.
When paradise is just 10 minutes away
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 06/08/2017
» Roughly once a week, I have the pleasure of asking a taxi driver to transport me to paradise, or to get the pronunciation right, "paradye". And within 10 minutes we have arrived.
The cop, the seat belt and the fat farang
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/05/2017
» While I always wear a safety belt when sitting in the front seat of a taxi, it is taking a little while to get in the habit of wearing them in the back, as now required by Thai law. This is a result of spending four decades in Thailand not wearing seat belts in the back -- primarily because there weren't any.
Not exactly a great sense of timing
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/04/2017
» A front-runner for this year's Unfortunate Timing Award has to be the Tourism Association of Thailand (TAT) proudly announcing a special Bangkok Street Food festival for June, apparently blissfully unaware of the ongoing campaign by city authorities to clear those pesky vendors from most of the Big Mango's streets.
Just grin and look stupid and you'll be OK
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 16/04/2017
» When I was first in Thailand I used to think Songkran was great fun. Throwing water and getting soaking wet seemed a very sensible diversion from the overwhelming April heat. I was even a little disappointed if I didn't get a good drenching from grinning urchins. Everyone seemed so happy. It was definitely sanook.
A tale of wasted days and wasted nights
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/02/2017
» One of my New Year's resolutions was not to write about Bangkok's traffic woes, a thankless topic. I held out for 57 days, which is not a bad effort considering the hours already wasted this year sitting in the Big Mango's gridlock.