Vulgar displays of wealth (so what's new?)

This letter to the newspaper was written by David Brown. This about sums up the current situation in the world (not just in Bangkok). The disparity of wealth is just getting worse. The world is heading for a huge crisis if it does not address this matter properly.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Nation, Thailand, 23 September 2011

Vulgar displays of wealth

The main story is about paying civil servant graduates the princely sum of Bt15,000, and there is ongoing debate about the Pheu Thai Party's election pledge to raise the minimum daily wage to the magnificently generous sum of Bt300 a day.

Then there are the stories about the disastrous flooding in many areas of Thailand, leaving already poor Thais homeless, shelterless and in some cases with nothing left of their life's meagre possessions. All very serious and heart-wrenching stuff.

But wait! There is relief from all this misery. On page 5A we learn from an advertisement for the Central International Watch Fair at Central Chidlom that you can buy a Piaget watch for a mere Bt32 million. 

Or, Mr/Mrs/Ms AverageThai Citizen, if that is a tad beyond your budget, you can settle for a Franck Muller watch for Bt3,672,000, or going even further downmarket, a Maurice Lacroix for a miserly Bt370,700. 

Oh, I almost forgot: Spend a minimum of Bt2 million to Bt3 million and you get a cash coupon of between Bt80,000-Bt130,000. 

Am I the only one who finds this situation somewhat obscene?

David Brown

Rayong

Acid attack on foreigners at train station in Bangkok

There seem to be more and more acid attacks. The problem in Malaysia is also quite bad but so far, it has been restricted to locals. However, this attack in Bangkok (hospital saw it's third case) is the perfect case to scare tourists.

Whether this is done by saboteurs or by a lunatic, it has to stop or people will be scared to venture out. Malaysia also needs to quickly stamp out this crazy stunt.

Until the next time, cheers.

Bangkok Post, Friday, 16 September 2011

Acid attack on foreigners at train station

A foreign woman artist, Elizabeth Briel, reported on Twitter on Friday that she and her husband had acid sprayed at their faces at the Asoke skytrain station last night

Elizabeth Briel (Photo from Twitter)

She said the acid was directed at them from the stairway leading to the station near Robinson shopping mall.

Mrs Briel said her husband's eyes were damaged but would be okay, while she has a burnt scalp.

They were treated at Bumrungrad hospital.

The hospital said this is the third case they have seen lately.

In Mrs Briel's homepage http://elizabethbriel.com/, she sums up the incident saying she and her husband "were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Her letter to Thailand says she will leave Thailand and travel to China soon because of "China's contemporary art and its fringe cultures", not because of last night's incident.