Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Time for a Seoul-Tokyo peace pact
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 12/08/2019
» I love kimchi and I love ramen. I love the bushido way of life and Japanese humility, and I love South Koreans' resilience and devotion to education that helped them lift their country from poverty after World War II to become an Asian economic powerhouse. And in my opinion, both South Koreans and Japanese are among the nicest people in the world.
Dark enough for you?
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 20/08/2018
» 'Dark tourism" is an interesting concept that did not come to my attention until I watched a Netflix series recently. Few countries actively promote offbeat or slightly dangerous pursuits but it's a niche with potential, if managed carefully -- even if it's hard to explain to your insurer.
Green salvation, one bag at a time
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 02/09/2019
» South America and Africa are on fire, the icecaps are melting and sea levels keep rising. Natural disasters have become more common on every continent and July 2019 was the hottest month on record globally. People are dying while thousands of animal and plant species are disappearing forever.
The angel of Flight CX 613
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 13/05/2019
» It was Monday night on one of the last flights of the day from Hong Kong to Bangkok. The plane was filled with Thai passengers returning home after the long weekend to celebrate the Coronation, along with Hong Kong residents travelling for business or leisure.
Media freedom in the dock
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 18/02/2019
» The decision by Philippine authorities to arrest journalist Maria Ressa and the move by Thailand’s broadcast regulator to suspend the broadcaster Voice TV are the latest examples of how press freedom in Southeast Asia is deteriorating.
Smoked out? Not yet
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 19/11/2018
» No one disputes that cigarettes can kill. Each year smoking accounts for 7 million deaths worldwide -- that's seven times more than those attributable to the world's deadliest animal, the mosquito.
A restaurant with a soul
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 08/10/2018
» Back in the glory days of Patpong in the 1970s and 1980s, before the night market arrived, Mizu's Kitchen was one of the hottest places in Patpong Soi 1 in Bangkok.
Enjoy the calm while it lasts
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 23/10/2017
» China's economy slowed marginally from 6.9% growth in the first half to 6.8% in the third quarter but is still on course to beat Beijing's full-year target of 6.5%. It was the sort of good news Communist Party bigshots were waiting to hear, coming a day after President Xi Jinping's stirring three-hour speech to their twice-a-decade congress.
Wake-up call for Don Mueang
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 09/08/2017
» The numbers of international arrivals to Thailand speak for themselves. So why was the Immigration Bureau not to know that its counters at Don Mueang International Airport would be clogged by arriving passengers last Saturday, and why wasn't it prepared?
Sickening glorification of a brutal murder
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 10/06/2017
» The recent murder of a karaoke bar worker in Khon Kaen has exposed a lot of concerning issues that underline the moral decline of our society.