On tourism and entertainment, our various writers echo the same good
vibes, knowing as they do that most city guest houses and small/mid-range
hotels did better business in the closing months of 2001 than the same
period last year.
Does the media thrive on controversy? Maybe, but at least in this issue
it's a rather lighter topic than the last, where our coverage of world
events led to a lively debate in Your Letters. But who would have thought
that 100% of your letters
about the tram service proposed by the Mayor would have been so strongly
anti? Western imagery, safety - even Swedish incredulity - flowed in. Will
the clanking unsteerables ever be seen here, we wonder? Here in Thailand's
second city, is anything even remotely resembling a proper bus service
better than none?
JUST LIKE THE REAL THING?
Click for larger photograph
Almost! This metal bas relief of a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen actually
represents an aircraft of the 64th Sentai, wich was stationed here at Chiangmai.
Framed in dark Thai timber, each piece is numbered and only 1000 pieces
will ever be produced. Made by Thai craftsmen with care.
Very close to the year-end as I was tucking into some Christmas turkey,
unwinding after a hard-worked month, a long time Belgian resident here
described a meal he was given in a hilltribe village some 4 years back
when he visited to recruit staff.
"The village headman was served with a plate of rice, some grass
on top and a boiled egg. I was the visiting VIP offering extra prosperity,
and I was given the same but with 2 eggs! I looked around. All the other
people in the hut had the rice and the grass, and no eggs. Enjoy your turkey!"
The needy recipients of your kind winter clothing gifts live better than
that, but not much better.
The award-winning Chiangmai Zoo at the foot of Doi Suthep
introduced a baby giraffe recently, and is preparing for the arrival of
a pair of rare pandas from China (...).
Deputy
Editor
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