Hi. I'm in Thailand.

[paulk]

Ask me anything!
I must say -

It's been kind of nice to get away from politics for awhile.

:hi:

[JI7]

1. i want to go to Thailand

are you in any area that was hit by the Tsunami ? how are things in the country now ?

[paulk]

7. I'm in Chaing Mai - up north

we're not going down to the Andeman Sea side (where the tsunami was) - if we go to the beach, it will be on the China Sea side, probably Koh Samui.

Things in Bangkok or up north here don't seem any different - I'm sure it's a different story down around Phuket and Ko Phi Phi. That's where all the damage was. I heard there was a real hit to the tourist industry, but it's kind of hard to tell since March is the start of the slow season anyway.

There was some kind of documentary about the tsunami on one of the Thai channels the other day - couldn't understand what they were saying, but it had a lot of absolutely fear-inspiring footage that I hadn't seen on American tv.


Hey - if you want to go to Thailand - do it! You can find round trip fares (from the west coast for around $800). Not exactly a pittance, but it's more affordable then many realize. I think everyone should travel to Asia at least once in their lives - to visit a culture that has NO roots in the west is ... an educational experience.

[JohnKleeb]

2. Wow

Was wondering where you were. Hey how you been dude?

[paulk]

8. I am hot

and sweating copiously...

[elshiva]

3. Hi, there. Are you a Hindu?

I see Ganesha there in your avatar.:-)

[paulk]

9. not any religion, really

though both the Hindu and Buddhist faiths... are interesting to me.

My avatar is part of one of my store's logos... but I've always been drawn to Ganesha, (the remover of obstacles), as kind of a personal... ideal, perhaps. The God of learning, literature, new beginnings...

A benevolent God.

[sandnsea]

4. Wow!!!

Where at? Seeing what? Business or pleasure?

[paulk]

10. we decided (perhaps foolishly) to re-open our store

after mothballing the whole enterprise for a year and a half.

So we're here on business... mostly. We'll be here for a whole month, so we've slated plenty of time for sightseeing too.

The thing I'm really looking forward to is going to Ankor Wat, which we've never had time to do before. I've been looking forward to that for years.

[TayTay]

5. How's it going

We've been fine. Same old, same old. We had a few threads that dealt with Union issues and I thought of you. (Cuz you flat out know more than me on that and I missed your knowledge.)

So, what's it like in Thailand right now. Are the Thais mad at us. Experiencing any Anti-Americanisms? (I think that's a word, but I'm not sure.) Are you on a vacation or there on business?

[paulk]

11. I've never experinced any anti - Americanism in Thailand

At least overtly. People aren't as gushingly friendly as they were when Clinton was president - he was very, very, very popular here.

Bush.... not well liked, when it does come up. People won't come right out and say they don't like him - that would involve (me) "losing face" - so the subject is just avoided mostly.

[elshiva]

13. Why was Clinton so popular in Thailand?

[paulk]

14. I don't know why, really

he just was.

Many times the first words out of someone's mouth when you mentioned
that you were an American was "Clinton!", followed by a thumbs up. I think he was just viewed as a positive force in the world.

I've never had that happen in relation to Bush.

An interesting thing I saw at an outdoor market today - a t-shirt for sale of Bush's face with the words "wanted - war criminal" underneath.

[elshiva]

15. LOL! I think Bush is hated pretty much everywhere...

[Withywindle]

6. Hi there! Thanks for checking in!

I hope you're having fun. We're carrying on. Enjoy your break--much needed and deserved. :hi:

(I went to Brazil last summer and it was excellent to be away from it all for a little while, and everyone there was so friendly once I made it clear that I hated Bush too.)

How's the food? How's the weather? Tell us about the people you're partying with. :P

[paulk]

12. I am "partying" with my wife and 13 year old niece

which involves for me drinking a Singha with dinner, then collapsing from exhaustion!

The food is great! As always! It seems kind of wrong to buy a meal of pad thai for fifty cents on the street that's worlds better than the eight bucks you'd pay for it in America!