WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? WHY ARE BANANAS CURVED?

Riverbank Stone muses over the mysteries of an expat lifestyle in Nong Khai.

Coming of age in the 60's I was consumed with trying to figure out the mysteries of life. Like who put the ram in the ram-a-lam-a-ding-dong, and who put the bop in the bop-chi-wop? Now I've ripened with time, more important questions cross my mind here in Thailand.

These old C56 steamers would be faster than our "express"

Why do I have to dial my dialing code for local calls? The phone company sez it gives them a bunch more numbers. Couldn't they have just added more dialing codes? Why are all the local beers name after animals? Why is scouting mandatory? I bet old Baden-Powell is spinning in his grave.

Why is the local train quicker than the express (OK, less slow)? Why is it that no matter what time of day I pass any school, the students are always standing outside? And for you British folk,.why are you are allowed to display pictures of your Queen showing here after her 30th birthday. Let's get with the programme.

Why is it that whenever you file a complaint with a company they always reply, but never answer? And why call me a "Valued Customer" when I never get satisfaction? Why do so many western restaurants in Thailand serve Thai food? Thai restaurants in the west don't serve western food. Why is it that when I order coffee, I get Nescafe? Ha! I know this one. Nescafe is more expensive than coffee; therefore it's better. The French brought bread to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Who brought bread to Thailand? Hang him!

Real bread reminds me of Vientiane across the Mighty Mekong. Tony of the famous Fountain has pulled and for now it's run by Lao.

Down in Udon, Mick's Pub is now a Thai place and if it returns to its previous life as a fine western pub, I'll return too. The Swedish Pizza place in Korat celebrates its 5th anniversary on October 15-20th, be there for prizes and specials!* Talking of specials, if you dial 1234 before dialing a long distance area code and number, you get a sizeable discount on the phone call. This does not work from mobiles or phone boxes. Why is it that nobody knows about it? Who taught the Thai military how to wear berets? In a country where uniformity is the norm I see berets worn at all different angles. The British SAS have it down to an art; absolutely square and the rim horizontal.

Next month: all about our boat races!

Loy Kratong

- A time for love, hope, fears and forgiveness.

Michael Psciuk

Schedule of Loy Kratong Festival 2001

Tragedy at the Pentagon

Rick Hudnall

Why massage? Why Thai?

Tassanee Boonsoom

Famillies go rallying

Hot Dog

Chiangmai and the North

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Ric Klein

Nong Khai, etc, etc

Riverbank Stone

Letters

Heart to Heart

Mountain People of Northern Thailand

THE PADUANG
(LONG NECK)

Big bikers are coming

All 5 enthusiat big bike clubs in Chiangmai, led by the North Comets, will stage 'Bike Week' from December 8-10th. (...).

MISS SENGSON. I am a 35 year old Thai woman, 49kgs weight, 152cms tall and single. My interests are travel, cooking, reading and more (...).

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