Monthly Archives: February 2007

Phuket Paradise Amok

February 9, 2007 – 3:47 am

My great-grand aunt Bert traveled to Siam in the 1870s on her father’s clipper ship. Elephant tusks from Laos and opium for China were the Flying Sky’s cargo. I met her a few times in the 1960s. Her house was a boy’s delight. Whale teeth shark jaws, harpoons, hookahs, and oddities from the Orient. She lived to 103 [...]

By Peter | Posted in Travel | Comments (0)

ALMOST A DEAD MAN -EXCERPT

February 7, 2007 – 2:20 am

unpublished novel by Peter Nolan Smith After the two waiters served the final dish of Cali’s 27-course birthday dinner, the orange sorbet  melted untouched by the satiated guests. 26 hours into the marathon feast at an Alstersee restaurant none dared check their watches, because they weren’t going anywhere, until the birthday boy finished his dessert. Their host fondled the [...]

By Peter | Posted in Fiction | Comments (0)

Million Baht dinner ala Bangkok

February 7, 2007 – 1:58 am

This weekend Bangkok’s Dome restaurant atop State Tower will be the setting for one of the most luxurious dinners in recent history. Places for the 11-course banquet can be had for a million baht or $29,000 and so far 15 guests have reserved a seat at the table. Six international chefs from around the world will be preparing [...]

By Peter | Posted in Bangkok, Food | Comments (0)

Shopping Mall on Pattaya’s Beach Road

February 6, 2007 – 11:08 pm

Some bad ideas won’t go away as evidenced by Pattaya’s City Council announcing further consideration about opening a new mall on Beach Road. This pet project was forwarded by the out-going mayor, who promises to obey the same environmental constraints as Suvannabhumi Airport. In other words none at all. Plans call for high voltage lines to be draped [...]

By Peter | Posted in Environment, Pattaya | Comments (0)

Don Muang re-opens for International flights

February 6, 2007 – 10:45 pm

The Thai Prime Minister announced Bangkok will have two international airports with the re-opening of Don Muang aka Don Ho. Suvannabhumi or Cobra Swamp International will continue operations, while investigators try and unwind the tangle of corruption which has lead to too few toilets for passengers and Thai Air officials alike. Repairs to the new [...]

By Peter | Posted in Bangkok, Travel | Comments (0)