MangoZeen

On Boxing Day 2006 a pick-up truck narrowly missed my daughter. I confronted the driver at the end of the soi. The tattooed tapestry got out of his truck wearing sneakers or trainers. He was bigger than I thought and I was wearing the 2nd worst footwear for a fight.
Flip-flops.
The worst are cowboy boots which have no […]

Whenever I visit the States or Europe, old friends celebrate the prodigal’s return. The guest list run from the good, the bad, and the beautiful. After all we’re talking about London, Paris, LA, and New York. Most of the invitees are familiar with my history, but also a smattering of new people and sooner […]

My hometown south of Boston had ten churches, two temples, and seven traffic lights in 1960. Not one bar and that situation hasn’t changed in over 40 years. It’s a good place to raise kids. People believe in God and America. I didn’t really fit into this formula and moved from this town in 1970. […]

“Why farang so fat?” Lil’ Noi the 16 year-old waitress from Chez Michel asked at the end of the night. “Kin mak.”

Lil’ Noi was right.
Farangs ate a lot, although not as much as a hungry Thai woman during the course of the day. Morning rice and chicken, mid-day sum tam with chinese noodles, fruit, snacks, dinner […]

“An evil exists that threatens every man, woman and child of this great nation. We must takes steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland.” GW BUSH 2002

“An evil exists that threatens every man, woman and child of this great nation. We must takes steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our […]

Ever since Jamie Parker had stopped seeing Ort for health reasons, I had been expecting a phone call at the least opportune moment possible. A week went by and then two. it appeared I was off the hook.
Several of the dancers at the Paris A Go-Go said Ort was traveling to Singapore to work with […]

My friend Fabo has heart of gold. This young Belgian is happiest with a Heineken in his hand and his eye on Gai, the rubenesque beauty of the Buffalo Bar. He’s loved her forever. She loves him too in her own way. A long time.

   
I like drinking with Fabo, because he doesn’t talk the usual […]

Yesterday I lunched on Jomtien Beach.

The islands on the horizon hovered over the sea like UFOs from Eden. The wind was gentle and weekenders from the Bangkok and Ban Nok frolicked in the shallow water. It was not clean enough for my tastes and I walked along the strand picking up flotsam trash.
Mostly plastics bags.
Within ten minutes the beach […]

Some people can’t help being do-gooders.
Pattaya has its own share with its local police volunteers. These Dudley Dorights act as informers for the fight against crimes such as naked girls, foreign prostitutes, visa overstays, and after-hours drinking. Some are Thais and a few are farangs. The most noted of their police works for the Pattaya […]

I was sitting with several Thai women this afternoon. They extolled my eating spicy food. I mentioned that most Thai men don’t eat food dosed with chili. The two nearby Thai men argued, “Kin pet dai.”
“So you eat sum tam?” I asked about the fiery mango salad.

“Can eat.”
“Thai men can eat spicy food. Only gay […]