Smiling Moon… the real deal

I seldom blog on weekday. But this one must go up asap. Amidst the chaos in Thailand right now, this is a really comforting sight. I personally witness it at a much closer distance. Makes my day.

 Image source: Bangkokpost.com

State of emergency??

Image source: daylife

When we say that Thais are party animals, we aren’t kidding. Like a local Indie band put it, when the government declared State of Emergency, they were still having their emergency beer. And guess what? At the anti-government Peoples Alliance for Democracy demonstration (PAD), there’s actually a stage with constant supply of performance. Demonstration+Entertainment, nowhere else but Thailand.

Thais in short

How do I describe Thais? For the benefit of expats-to-be, Thais in general are very polite and obliging (to English speaking tourists in particular). Just don’t stress them… or else…

Vintage experience… Priceless

I sat on this vintage salon chair for my S$4.50 haircut. Note the retro pics on the wall. These are real, not replica. Cool. So are my really short hair in sunny Bangkok.

My bachelor pad

  

Wonder how a bachelor pad looks like? The one on the left is 3hours before a friend’s visit. The one on the right is, well, 3 hours later.

Case Study on execution failure

Problem

This has been happening for about a year now but the simple technology (digital timer for traffic light) I’m going to mention is probably still the latest trumpet blowing effort by the traffic control authority here in Bangkok. Crossing the four lane road in front of my apartment is always a harrowing experience. There was no traffic light and when the traffic is relatively smooth, it’s nearly impossible to get to the other side.

Action Taken

A year back, the authority finally installed the traffic lights with big digital timer display with instantaneous response on the lights when pedestrians press a button like what we have in Singapore. Theoretically this would have significantly improved pedestrians’ safety. However, the results were nothing less than miserable.

Results

• The over zealous timer actually shows the countdown to red light for the drivers and countdown to green light for the pedestrians. To the Dear sirs, think again, damn it! You are encouraging the drivers to beat the red light and frustrating the pedestrians with a 98sec countdown. Guess what, sometime the timer resets after 99sec because there’s only a 2-digit display. This misleads the pedestrians who stepped out after 99sec when your brilliant system is actually continuing the countdown.
• There is no prominent signs or instructions on this ‘press and go’ system which is relatively new to locals.
• The lights are randomly turned on on hourly basis. No one knows when it’ll be in effect so both drivers and pedestrians are never really getting use to this system. Attached pic taken at 12pm, lunch hour and the damn thing is not working.
• The traffic are usually so bad that the crawling cars can only manage to nudge you, not hit you. So most of the time, instead of waiting for the green crossing lights, pedestrians simply stroll through.
• When the traffic is at cruising speed, chances are the lights are not working because priority are for the traffic. Now, life is really cheap! So if there’s this poor guy who crosses the road at 8am for work and return at 9pm, he probably will never realize these traffic lights are not just dummy models.
• So during relatively smooth traffic at cruising speed instead of the usual crawling speed, you will still have to keep your fingers crossed, mind focused and ID card in your wallet with family contact while crossing THAT road with THOSE traffic lights

Root Cause

Truth is- lack of appropriate education on execution or simply, stupidity. However, for endangering our lives, that root cause wouldn’t show the extent of their (the authorities’) intelligence if I do not elaborate further.

Firstly, wrong priority when installing these white elephants. Solving traffic congestion seems to be the priority, not human life. Therefore, the lights are on when traffic is at crawling speed and off when at cruising speed. Subsequently, this installation becomes redundant since it is off when needed and On when not needed.

Secondly, it is evident from the countdown to redlight (for driver) situation that the authority never actually understand the problem before implementing the solution. Everything is probably planned (if any) on paper. Another proof is when pedestrians either don’t know a button to the traffic lights exist (I personally informed two already) due to lack of prominent sign or they simply have not have a chance to use it like the above example of that poor guy (it’s me at times).

Corrective Action

Education.

It’s time like this that I wish I’m home. That said, Bangkok still has lots of pleasant surprises to be explored and most, if not all, of them are not run by the authorities. For now, how do I get to the other side when the lights are off? Fingers crossed, mind focused, ID card in my wallet.

Food! Glorious price…

 

Here’s where I have my breakfast or brunch. Just 3mins walk from my apartment. 2 dishes with rice cost just 25Baht. That is about S$1.05. For 3 dishes, that’ll be 30Baht which is S$1.30. The menu includes Stir fried Chicken with Chinese Mushroom, the famed Green Curry and Tom Yam, Fish in three flavours (translated), Black Pepper Pork, Broccoli, Mixed Mushroom (not from  can), Asparagus with Cauliflower and Carrot, Thai style fried egg with wild vegetables and prawn paste dip, and the list goes on. Perfect if accompanied with a cup of creamy Thai style gourmet iced coffee (Espresso with condensed milk and Carnation milk)- 25Baht.

 

And then there’s the gorgeous balcony view from my tiny 35sqm studio which also comes with a kitchen.

These are just some of the little pleasures here that help me get through the day. Friends are welcome to bunk in for free. I do have alternative place to stay.