• OPINION

  Do something!

  News, Alan Dawson, Published on 03/02/2019

  » Admit it, Bangkokians. You like your vicarious danger. It could be because Bangkok hasn't the regrettably typical dangers of many cities. There are no cyclones, big earthquakes, volcanoes. So when world-class pollution hits, Bangkok folks are extraordinarily concerned but they also exhibit a weird, well, pride.

• OPINION

  Two hats not good

  News, Alan Dawson, Published on 07/10/2018

  » When Bangkok got too noisy because of all the criticism about cabinet ministers taking advantage by openly playing politics unfairly, the general prime minister escaped to the North on another scrupulously non-political trip to give away money and be photographed with every local personality and housewife within 20 kilometres.

• OPINION

  Safety last

  News, Alan Dawson, Published on 15/07/2018

  » The government can't prevent boys from being naughty any more than it can prevent squalls in an open sea. However, the government could have prevented two of the most deadly events to have captivated local and global attention recently.

• THAILAND

  Living the high life

  News, Alan Dawson, Published on 24/12/2017

  » A week ago today we told a first-time visitor from the beautiful US state of Colorado to forget about seeing "the real, so-called authentic Thailand" because there isn't a square centimetre where tourists do not tread. The next day we set out on a family trip to places with not a foreign face in sight (one obvious exception).

• OPINION

  Searching for sanity

  News, Alan Dawson, Published on 28/05/2017

  » It now is pretty much confirmed by all available sources that the world is nuts. Last week was just more proof piling up.

• THAILAND

  The Big Issue: Those pesky tourists

  News, Alan Dawson, Published on 26/02/2017

  » If you need to watch a rant or even start a hot dispute, pick an expatriate, any expat, and say "double pricing".

• OPINION

  The big issue: We know where you are

  Alan Dawson, Published on 14/08/2016

  » In all, the military regime in just one week came up with four new ways they intend to track people in the coming days and months.

• OPINION

  The big issue: Less danger, more holiday please

  Alan Dawson, Published on 12/06/2016

  » There never has been such a disastrous string of tourist crashes, bashes, smashes and tragic endings like the past two weeks. But there was plenty of warning. The speedboat collisions, bungalow collapse and Phuket shopping mall erosion were as well advertised as years of highway hell foretold Friday's horrific van crash that killed 11 teachers.

• OPINION

  The Big Issue: You have my permission to stay

  Alan Dawson, Published on 28/02/2016

  » Exactly a month before the start of an unprecedented crackdown on foreigners who overstay their visa, it got tougher for foreign news people who want a visa at all.

• OPINION

  The big issue: Unbelievable protest

  Alan Dawson, Published on 03/01/2016

  » The Christmas Eve verdict to convict and condemn two Myanmar men for the unspeakable Koh Tao beach murders touched off quite a firestorm of its own. There were protests, but really, quelle surprise, right?

1 2 Next Last