Thailand – Page 4 – the coffee philosopher

Posted on January 8, 2016 by the coffee philosopher

Singapore Botanic Gardens

That’s not a typo – ‘botanic,’ not ‘botanical.’ Less like an American botanical garden, which are rather like educational centers or nature museums, this was more like Rock Creek Park – a huge, public park for walks, jogs, exercise, and picnics. Only tropical. I say Rock Creek rather than Central Park, because it is sprawling, irregular, and a touch wild.

In case you hadn’t gathered, we spent a couple of days in Singapore – just a two hour trip from Thailand – and I’ll probably have more to write. But it may be a bit fragmented. I’m writing this at the airport (though the lack of internet means it will be posted later), but I suspect later ones (and much of what I write about this trip to the east) will transcriptions of haphazard notes that will make only partial sense.

Posted on January 4, 2016 by the coffee philosopher

Bangkok, Light Of Happiness

This enormous light installation cost thirty-nine million baht (some $1.1m at current rates), which is a source of some controversy. But I didn’t pay for it and had a good time at this public whatever near Khaosan. And we ran into some additional family, so a good night.

Posted on January 2, 2016January 2, 2016 by the coffee philosopher

I’m Still In Thailand, So Here’s An Episode Of ‘Flash Gordon’

http://youtu.be/giegNC-I9GA

Posted on January 1, 2016 by the coffee philosopher

Skinhead

The young man in the barbershop spoke a little English and when I tried to mime what I wanted (which was for him to use the trimmer without a guard to bring it down close and the same length all around), he asked, ‘skinhead?’ While not something with positive connotations for me, clearly he understood. In the end, for one hundred baht (less than three dollars at the current rates), I got a haircut and my beard trimmed (though a little more shaped than I like; I prefer a level of natural roughness to it). The young barber used a straight razor, which is a wonderfully decadent experience. At once frightening, elegant, and liberating. He was very polite and we communicated a little. This part of the Ramintra neighborhood is not known for ‘farang’ – foreign – visitors or residents, so I’m guessing that I was his first white customer.

Posted on January 1, 2016January 1, 2016 by the coffee philosopher

It’s A Two Story Starbucks

Starbucks is an incredibly cool and aspirational brand in Thailand. In some ways, this double decker Starbucks is an emblem of their love for the brand. On the other hand, they original idea of Starbucks, where you sit and work and drink coffee – a place that mimicked the social aspect of seventeenth century coffeehouse (and the coffeehouses of my late adolescence and early twenties) – is not common. While coffee places are so prevalent as to make Seattle seem positively coffee starved, Starbucks is one of the few with significant sitting areas. It’s an in and out culture, rather like what Starbucks is currently in America.