EVERYBODY PANIC!!!!

Yes: Thailand is in a spot of bother. Over the last years there have been several bomb explosions, violent clashes and military coups. Well one. But it's not over yet. Convicted megalomaniac fugitive ex-Prime Minster Taksin is said to still rule the country from abroad by proxy and half of Bangkok (joined in the PAD) is trying to shake off everything that has anything to do with him, while behind the scenes the army is wielding considerable (and unpredictable) power.

For now the army seems to have sided with the PAD. That is to say, both the PAD and the army agree on one thing: current PM Wongsawat (Thaksin's brother in law) should quit. Preferably before the birthday of the King (which is on the 5th of December).

Meanwhile here in Isaan (as in most of Thailand) there is no sign of any trouble at all. Yes, there are deep divisions and there's discontent. But the markets are bustling as usual, people are celebrating the local silk festival and life generally goes on as it has done for centuries.

Which is why I'm just a tad surprised when a renowned English paper like the Telegraph has put Thailand at number seven(!) in the dangerous-country-top-twenty. After countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan.

I've written an article like that myself years ago, managing to research it well for some reason. I found that the most dangerous places in the world (say the top 10) have been the same for years. Like Colombia, with it's exciting drug wars and unexpected kidnappings into pristine deep jungles. But apparently Thailand is way more dangerous than that now with it's closed airports and thousands of inconvenienced travelers.

Thailand is also deemed more dangerous than the Democratic Republic of Congo with it's panoramic view over war torn Africa, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and a hand full of other exotic countries with long standing travel warnings by the FCO. Countries were tourists are actually targeted. But I guess those sorry old stories don't sell any papers.

Interesting thing, that FCO list. Sure, Thailand has been on it for years too (because of the trouble in the deep south). But there's only one country in the world you really shouldn't go to at all: Somalia. Funny how that one never made the Telegraph...

Haiku #3

Cool November lies
And discreetly masks it’s bite
The hounding winter

Today's Haiku

That is the moon you
Hold out your fist and say it
Revolves around this

Haiku: because they come

About a year ago I discovered that haiku (those ancient Japanese verses) came quite naturally to me. Great. A lot of people seem to have that. The web and the world are brimming with haiku. Why add more?

Only after digging in to haiku and zen history, reading reading Kerouac's and Basho's haiku (not to mention his journey) did I feel that my should be seen and read. It turns out that's why they come. For better or for worse. So here's a bunch. You can expect more...


In thirty-four years
The moon has shone for more than
An eternity

***

Clouds drift to the sea
Not asking 'how old' or 'why'
Don't they seem happy?

***

The sun shrugs and sets
A million stars sing their past
They rise further west

Repost

Too bad Oboema the white black guy from Jiskefet (a Dutch TV comedy) didn't win, but of course I am happy Obama did. In fact I've been rooting for him ever since I did this oh-so-wrong-photoshop in January :)