Happenings...

So, I have been blessed with an semi-insider account as to what kind of madness is happening in one of my favorite countries. As soon as I heard the news of the Coup in Thailand I called "Da Whale" aka Matt to get the scoop. You know, the guy I had been bitching about for about four months or so when I started this thing. He does have a certain eloquence that I could not capture in summarizing his letter that I deemed it appropriate to publish it in its entirety, as well as some pictures he sent. I hope he doesn't mind. So we have a guest writer on "Where Am I " today, please welcome , The Whale:

So I don't know if you've been following Thai politics, but this
coup has been almost a year in the making. The Prime
Minister (oops, I mean FORMER Prime Minister) Thaksin is one
crooked sonofabitch. He is one of the Thailand's richest men,
and his credo is MONEY POWER RESPECT. While his populist
policies-- handouts to the rural poor-- at first glance appear
to be altruistically motivated, upon closer inspection one sees
that it's just part of his hidden agenda to seduce the
demographic majority into keeping him in power. This guy used to
be really well liked, even in Bangkok. Talk about a fall
from grace.

ANYway, Thaksin originally fell out of favor with the Bangkok
elites because of his outright cockiness. Later because of his
pie-in-the-sky policies which rewarded only those who voted for
him. Gradually rallies began to be held against him
because of accusations of corrupt dealings within his cabinet.
Then he made the critical mistake of selling his share of
Thailand's largest telecommunications firm-- his business-- to
overseas interests. A wave of dissent rocked the city.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets. To clear his name,
Thaksin called for a snap election, which he won because of
his wide support of those in the countryside. Later, the election
was deemed illegitimate over claims of vote buying.

Early in the year, Thaksin resigned, which at the time I thought
was a noble gesture. Things cooled down. Then, about 3
months ago, the schmuck reassumed his position! Not only that, but
the slimeball did it at a time when people were
preoccupied with celebrating the King's 60th year on the throne.
The huge celebration distanced people from the power
play. But, since May, tensions have escalated...

So what you have is basically the same schism we face in the
States-- the cultural elites back the opposition, while the hoi
polloi favor the status quo. The divisions are clear cut.

OK, so here we are. The military claims that it is restoring
democracy to the people. The mood is calm. People in Bangkok
have been waiting for this. I, for once, am siding with the war pigs.

Today: Just came back from Parliament House to view the parked tanks.
Soldiers were on guard the whole time, semi-automatic rifles
slung across their shoulders, many weapons replete with dainty
yellow ribbons wrapped around the barrels. Crowds were
starting to gather around the gates. We witnessed some people hand
the soldiers flowers. The general mood is that these
men are liberators... popular sovereignty at work.

Meanwhile most Farang have their head shoved far up their asses--
business as usual.
One jerk was barking on his phone "Yeah, we were out last night
getting lap dances, had no idea..."

Yup, well put especially the last line, which seems to sum up many of the conversations i heard in Thailand spoken by predominatly white ignorant backpackers.

Up next: New York, more from Thailand and why im wearing a cast on my right arm, yet still smiling. Probably more so than normal.