Showing 1 - 10 of 10
In Isan it's all just a matter of taste
Roger Crutchley, Published on 24/08/2025
» There has been too much depressing news lately so let's lighten things up a bit. There was an article in the Post a few weeks ago concerning a shop in Khon Khaen that is serving ice cream heavily topped with grilled chicken. I haven't tried it and to be frank have no intention of doing so, but by all accounts it is going down very well amongst people in Isan.
A headline that went around the world
Oped, Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/01/2024
» There has recently been some discussion concerning the quirky law that bans the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and restaurants from 2pm to 5pm and also before 11am.
Those were the days, my friend...
Oped, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/01/2024
» A fortnight ago I enjoyed Thai hospitality on a very pleasant New Year's Eve at a small gathering in our neighbour's garden in Chaiyaphum. There were about 10 of us and although I was the only non-Thai the hosts insisted on playing western music rather than the mor-lam they almost certainly would have preferred.
It's enough to give anyone grey hairs
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 28/11/2021
» A recent letter to the Bangkok Post from the ever observant Ye Olde Pedant suggested that Bangkok's BTS and MRT executives should display more imagination in the naming of new rail lines and avoid colour coding. He cited the proposed Grey Line which for him immediately conjured up images of passengers with silvery hair, otherwise known as "the elderly".
Season of silly hats and hangovers
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/12/2019
» The festive season -- otherwise known in Thailand as "Jinger Ben" time -- is well upon us, not that there is too much to get festive about.
Ministry of Wishful Thinking might help
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 16/06/2019
» All week we have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new cabinet, although maybe eagerly is not quite the right word. The selection of cabinet ministers has always been a tricky affair for any new government. It is hardly a secret that certain ministerial posts are a lot more popular than others, owing to what could be politely termed "fringe benefits" -- and we are not talking about free rides on the skytrain.
Three wheels, 9 lives and lots of noise
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/04/2019
» There was an encouraging story from Jakarta this week about a former tuk-tuk driver who has converted his vehicle into a mobile library. Sutino Hadi now spends his days driving to the poorer areas of Indonesia's capital where he is greeted by enthusiastic kids eager to get their hands on his collection of children's books. It's proven to be highly popular and apparently there are similar mobile libraries throughout the country.
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.
A wee dram from a Hebridean whirlpool
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 02/12/2018
» Readers may recall a recent PostScript which featured the formidable waters of Scotland's Corryvreckan whirlpool, which almost claimed the life of author George Orwell in 1947. The whirlpool is potentially so treacherous that the Royal Navy reportedly classify it as "unnavigable".
Suffering a case of the whirlygigs
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/10/2018
» It was the unlikely setting of the US Senate Judiciary last week which has sparked considerable debate on what constitutes drunkenness. There were references to a "stumbling drunk", a "sloppy drunk", a "slurring drunk" and a "belligerent drunk". But there seems to be a certain lack of creativeness in these descriptions. Perhaps a little European influence would liven things up a bit.