Normally Bt15, you can download a free PDF copy from Thai Visa Forum.
ONE contains plenty of news on Pattaya nightlife,
Pattaya Rag
Kamis, 30 September 2010
Pattaya welcomes USS George Washington and support ships
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Cowpens (CG 63), and USS McCampbell (DDG 85) are scheduled to arrive at Laem Chabang Port on Saturday, October 2, at 9:00 a.m. via Pattaya Mail
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Search: "call you baby like i did before"
Why: I am listening to "Little One" by Beck, and it reminded me of it.
Answer: It's called "Eleanor" by Low Millions! I would never have guessed that in a million years! It's also from several years ago.
Source: AZLyrics
Low Millions - Eleanor found on Rock
The More You Know: The lead singer, Adam Cohen, FYI, is the son of Leonard Cohen, who wrote the original (and worst) version of "Hallelujah" in 1984. How about that.
New Music: Ciara/Shut Em' Up
Now I'm not a big fan of leaks but ciara brings me to that point with this new track Ciara tell all the blogs & haters(Keri Hilson & llyod) to shut the fuck up. This is the latest leak from Ciara's new album Basic Instinct which hits stores this November.
What is the song "Black Velvet" about?
Search: black velvet
Why: I don't remember why we were singing it (something about fat kids and red velvet cake), but we weren't sure if it had racial (or mixed-race) undertones.
Black velvet and that little boy's smileAnswer: It's about Elvis! I had no idea!
Black Velvet refers to the soulful black sound of Elvis' voice and the many African American recording artists and singers he emulated to create his special brand of rock n' roll.Stuff in the lyrics:
The first verse is about Elvis as a child and youngstar:
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Verse 2 is about the height of his career:
Up in Memphis, the music's like a heatwave
"Love Me Tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisleThe bridge is about him dyin:
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Every word of every song that he sang was for youSource: Wikipedia, Digital Dream Door
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?
The More You Know: He would still be alive today, right? He would be younger than my grandmother, who is 86 today (Happy birthday, Nana!!). Look at this neat home movie of Elvis getting his tractor stuck in the mud. It's from 1957, when he was 22:
Train travel in Thailand gets more exciting
For starters, the SRT has added new trains from Bangkok on weekends on short-haul Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon, Nakhon Sawan-Phitsanulok-Sukhothai and Nakhon Pathom-Kanchanaburi routes which, if popular, would be extended to other destinations.
Comfortable cushions replace hard wooden seats while their arrangement is kind of flexible with room for adjustability allowing passengers to sit facing each other or turn sideways facing the window, and the trains are bolstered by amenities such as karaoke and meeting facilities and a bar. via Bangkok Post Travel
My view at 6:30am
Early morning is one of my favorite times with Toby. He's super mellow and talk-y, and we "chitchat" about lots of fascinating things while he plays in his crib. When Toby was first born, I was so anxious that I was doing everything right (he was so teeny), but these days I'm thankfully settling in, feeling more confident and just enjoying his awesome company. Oh, Toby, I adore you and your Jack Nicholson eyebrows!
Laughter yoga
Have you guys heard of laughter yoga? Indian physician Madan Lal Kataria encourages people to get together in small groups and start fake laughing; after a while, he says, the laughter will become genuine and euphoric. Dr. Kataria believes that laughter can cure physical and psychological ailments. It sounds nutty, but my friend Scott recently tried it with a group of friends and said it was surprisingly awesome. Would you give it a shot?
P.S. Also, marshmallows!
P.S. Also, marshmallows!
Golden Gate Bridge dinner party
Rabu, 29 September 2010
What is the song on the "Life as We Know It" trailer?
Search: life as we know it trailer song
Why: It popped in my head on Saturday, and I knew I knew it. I was listening to every song on my computer trying to find it. I listened to every single song on:
Gorilla Manor - Local NativesIn general, things Kylie had put into my box.net... but to no avail.
Forget - Twin Shadow
Work - Shout Out Louds
Odd Blood - Yeasayer
But then I saw this trailer (at 1:30)!!!
Answer: "Moth's Wings" by Passion Pit!!!!!!!!! I knew I knew it!!!!!! Oh god. Oh god oh god. Full song (buy it here):
Source: AOL Radio Blog
The More You Know: Maybe you remember their song "Sleepyhead" from that Palm Pixi commercial and "Let Your Love Grow Tall" from some episode of "Ugly Betty" (RIP).
Lyrics to "Moth's Wings" go like:
But you run away from me
And you left me shimmering
Like diamond wedding rings
Spinning dizzily down on the floor
You're just like your father
Buried deep under the water
You're resting on your laurels
And stepping on my toes
Video Of The Week: Ciara/Speechless
Ciara Shows She Rides Hard For Her Man And She's With Him Through It All...
Wednesday giveaway!
Today's giveaway is from Chicago letterpress studio Snow & Graham. They're giving away their beautiful 2011 wall calendar, which has gorgeous flower illustrations each month. Wouldn't it look lovely above a desk? (It would also make a great gift.)
For a chance to win, please visit Snow & Graham's shop and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! xoUpdate: Mrs. Dontje is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing.
The Prefrontal Cortex Is Holistic
The question of whether the brain is "modular" - whether different parts do different things - has been a neuroscientific talking point since the days of the phrenologists.
They were the guys who believed that, not only were there modules, but that you could tell how big they were by measuring the shape of someone's skull, and so learn about their personality.
Phrenology made modules unfashionable for a while, but today they're back, and most of fMRI consists in trying to find areas of the brain that do different stuff, but in a new paper Wilson et al argue against taking modularism too far: Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees?
Their focus is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a large chunk of the front of the brain which is bigger in humans than in any other species. The PFC is routinely subdivided into segments, each with (presumably) a different function. So we have the "emotional" vmPFC, the "memory" dlPFC, the "pleasure" OFC, etc.
Wilson et al don't dispute that there are some variations in function between different bits of the PFC, but they say that in all the excitement over localization, we may have overlooked the role of the PFC as a whole.
They discuss evidence from monkeys with PFC damage (or lesions which disconnect it from the rest of the brain). Damage to the entire PFC, they say, leaves monkeys completely unable to perform tasks which require storing concepts over time. For example, they can't learn that whenever they see, say, a red button, they ought to press it to get food. But if part of the PFC is intact, and it doesn't matter which part, monkeys can do this with only minor problems.
However, the PFC isn't required for all tasks. If the task only involves information which is all presented at once, the lesioned monkeys are OK. So they could learn, given a big panel covered in red buttons, to push the buttons to get food, because the buttons are all there simultaneously.
Jerry Fodor, whose classic book The Modularity of Mind (1983) helped to rehabilitate modularism from its reputation as "phrenological", was also an advocate of this view - within limits.
Fodor argued that some brain systems, like vision, hearing and language, were cortical modules, but that above this, there was a non-modular system which was the basis for thought, intelligence and decision making. If I remember correctly, he didn't explicitly say that the prefrontal cortex was this system, but I'm sure he'd have no objections to Wilson et al's account.
Wilson CR, Gaffan D, Browning PG, & Baxter MG (2010). Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees? Trends in neurosciences PMID: 20864190
They were the guys who believed that, not only were there modules, but that you could tell how big they were by measuring the shape of someone's skull, and so learn about their personality.Phrenology made modules unfashionable for a while, but today they're back, and most of fMRI consists in trying to find areas of the brain that do different stuff, but in a new paper Wilson et al argue against taking modularism too far: Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees?
Their focus is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a large chunk of the front of the brain which is bigger in humans than in any other species. The PFC is routinely subdivided into segments, each with (presumably) a different function. So we have the "emotional" vmPFC, the "memory" dlPFC, the "pleasure" OFC, etc.
Wilson et al don't dispute that there are some variations in function between different bits of the PFC, but they say that in all the excitement over localization, we may have overlooked the role of the PFC as a whole.
They discuss evidence from monkeys with PFC damage (or lesions which disconnect it from the rest of the brain). Damage to the entire PFC, they say, leaves monkeys completely unable to perform tasks which require storing concepts over time. For example, they can't learn that whenever they see, say, a red button, they ought to press it to get food. But if part of the PFC is intact, and it doesn't matter which part, monkeys can do this with only minor problems.
However, the PFC isn't required for all tasks. If the task only involves information which is all presented at once, the lesioned monkeys are OK. So they could learn, given a big panel covered in red buttons, to push the buttons to get food, because the buttons are all there simultaneously.
Hence the data from these tasks are congruent with the notion that [the PFC] is only crucial in memory during tasks requiring the processing of temporally complex events. This can be defined as an event to be learned about, in which information that is crucial to that learning is presented at more than one point in time, or that can only be interpreted with respect to a preceding event.They say that evidence from human neuroimaging studies supports this view.
A meta-analysis has shown consistent recruitment of the same network of regions in the PFC across a range of cognitive demands. The authors argue that this supports specialization of function within the PFC, but of an unexpected nature, namely ‘a specific frontal-lobe network that is consistently recruited for solution of diverse cognitive problems’. The idea that large and different regions of the PFC are recruited by any task at hand supports our argument that the function of the PFC as a whole exceeds the sum of the functions of its subcomponents.This all has echoes of Karl Lashley, an early neuroscientist (died 1958) who proposed the theory of "mass action" - that the whole cortex contributes to behaviour, rather than each part doing different things ("modularism").
Jerry Fodor, whose classic book The Modularity of Mind (1983) helped to rehabilitate modularism from its reputation as "phrenological", was also an advocate of this view - within limits.
Fodor argued that some brain systems, like vision, hearing and language, were cortical modules, but that above this, there was a non-modular system which was the basis for thought, intelligence and decision making. If I remember correctly, he didn't explicitly say that the prefrontal cortex was this system, but I'm sure he'd have no objections to Wilson et al's account.
Wilson CR, Gaffan D, Browning PG, & Baxter MG (2010). Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees? Trends in neurosciences PMID: 20864190
The Prefrontal Cortex Is Holistic
The question of whether the brain is "modular" - whether different parts do different things - has been a neuroscientific talking point since the days of the phrenologists.
They were the guys who believed that, not only were there modules, but that you could tell how big they were by measuring the shape of someone's skull, and so learn about their personality.
Phrenology made modules unfashionable for a while, but today they're back, and most of fMRI consists in trying to find areas of the brain that do different stuff, but in a new paper Wilson et al argue against taking modularism too far: Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees?
Their focus is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a large chunk of the front of the brain which is bigger in humans than in any other species. The PFC is routinely subdivided into segments, each with (presumably) a different function. So we have the "emotional" vmPFC, the "memory" dlPFC, the "pleasure" OFC, etc.
Wilson et al don't dispute that there are some variations in function between different bits of the PFC, but they say that in all the excitement over localization, we may have overlooked the role of the PFC as a whole.
They discuss evidence from monkeys with PFC damage (or lesions which disconnect it from the rest of the brain). Damage to the entire PFC, they say, leaves monkeys completely unable to perform tasks which require storing concepts over time. For example, they can't learn that whenever they see, say, a red button, they ought to press it to get food. But if part of the PFC is intact, and it doesn't matter which part, monkeys can do this with only minor problems.
However, the PFC isn't required for all tasks. If the task only involves information which is all presented at once, the lesioned monkeys are OK. So they could learn, given a big panel covered in red buttons, to push the buttons to get food, because the buttons are all there simultaneously.
Jerry Fodor, whose classic book The Modularity of Mind (1983) helped to rehabilitate modularism from its reputation as "phrenological", was also an advocate of this view - within limits.
Fodor argued that some brain systems, like vision, hearing and language, were cortical modules, but that above this, there was a non-modular system which was the basis for thought, intelligence and decision making. If I remember correctly, he didn't explicitly say that the prefrontal cortex was this system, but I'm sure he'd have no objections to Wilson et al's account.
Wilson CR, Gaffan D, Browning PG, & Baxter MG (2010). Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees? Trends in neurosciences PMID: 20864190
They were the guys who believed that, not only were there modules, but that you could tell how big they were by measuring the shape of someone's skull, and so learn about their personality.Phrenology made modules unfashionable for a while, but today they're back, and most of fMRI consists in trying to find areas of the brain that do different stuff, but in a new paper Wilson et al argue against taking modularism too far: Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees?
Their focus is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a large chunk of the front of the brain which is bigger in humans than in any other species. The PFC is routinely subdivided into segments, each with (presumably) a different function. So we have the "emotional" vmPFC, the "memory" dlPFC, the "pleasure" OFC, etc.
Wilson et al don't dispute that there are some variations in function between different bits of the PFC, but they say that in all the excitement over localization, we may have overlooked the role of the PFC as a whole.
They discuss evidence from monkeys with PFC damage (or lesions which disconnect it from the rest of the brain). Damage to the entire PFC, they say, leaves monkeys completely unable to perform tasks which require storing concepts over time. For example, they can't learn that whenever they see, say, a red button, they ought to press it to get food. But if part of the PFC is intact, and it doesn't matter which part, monkeys can do this with only minor problems.
However, the PFC isn't required for all tasks. If the task only involves information which is all presented at once, the lesioned monkeys are OK. So they could learn, given a big panel covered in red buttons, to push the buttons to get food, because the buttons are all there simultaneously.
Hence the data from these tasks are congruent with the notion that [the PFC] is only crucial in memory during tasks requiring the processing of temporally complex events. This can be defined as an event to be learned about, in which information that is crucial to that learning is presented at more than one point in time, or that can only be interpreted with respect to a preceding event.They say that evidence from human neuroimaging studies supports this view.
A meta-analysis has shown consistent recruitment of the same network of regions in the PFC across a range of cognitive demands. The authors argue that this supports specialization of function within the PFC, but of an unexpected nature, namely ‘a specific frontal-lobe network that is consistently recruited for solution of diverse cognitive problems’. The idea that large and different regions of the PFC are recruited by any task at hand supports our argument that the function of the PFC as a whole exceeds the sum of the functions of its subcomponents.This all has echoes of Karl Lashley, an early neuroscientist (died 1958) who proposed the theory of "mass action" - that the whole cortex contributes to behaviour, rather than each part doing different things ("modularism").
Jerry Fodor, whose classic book The Modularity of Mind (1983) helped to rehabilitate modularism from its reputation as "phrenological", was also an advocate of this view - within limits.
Fodor argued that some brain systems, like vision, hearing and language, were cortical modules, but that above this, there was a non-modular system which was the basis for thought, intelligence and decision making. If I remember correctly, he didn't explicitly say that the prefrontal cortex was this system, but I'm sure he'd have no objections to Wilson et al's account.
Wilson CR, Gaffan D, Browning PG, & Baxter MG (2010). Functional localization within the prefrontal cortex: missing the forest for the trees? Trends in neurosciences PMID: 20864190
Helmet style
We've talked about helmets (and lack of helmets) before, so I'm loving these photos of Milanese models in their Vespa helmets. Very cute!(Photos by Hanneli Mustaparta)
Maine perfume
A few years ago, my dad took my sister and me on a fall weekend trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. We stayed in a charming old B&B and made it our goal to eat lobster for every single meal, including lobster scrambled eggs, bisque, rolls, whole lobsters, and even a McDonald's McLobster...
Even though it rained almost the whole time, the trip was one of the best I've ever taken.
So I was psyched to discover this Maine perfume. Wouldn't you love to smell its sea, air, sun, pine and grassy scent?(Photos by 3191 Miles Apart and Between the Bread)
Ciara & LaLa IT DOES GET BETTER
Ciara & Lala Joined Forces W/ Perez Hilton For A campaign about Teen Sucide & Bullying Called IT DOES GET BETTER.
DONT FORGET CIARA'S NEW VIDEO SPEECHLESS PREMIERE TODAY ON 106 & PARK
Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris and....Elista (maybe JCVD as well)
I wouldn't have guessed before I showed up here, especially since the city and region are predominantly Buddhist, but Elista is apparently also a Mecca for action stars. And I don't mean just any action stars, I mean two of THE BEST action stars ever: Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris.
I mean WHOA!!!!! Not only did Steven Seagal come (he is a practicing Buddhist so I guess it makes sense...more or less) but so came the one and only CHUCK NORRIS! Here! In Elista! The awesomeness of this city has increased 10-fold since I learned of this. Kalmyk people only need JCVD to round out the top three greatest action stars of all time to visit their city (if you don't know who JCVD is, then you're obviously not a fan of action flicks....or awesomeness).
While neither Steven Seagal or Chuck Norris were in "The Expendables", instead of making that movie, they probably should have simply flown to Elista and just walked around with a camera. I mean the only place you're likely to find a greater concentration of pure, adrenaline-filled action is that hideaway temple where the ninjas train in "Ninja Assasin".
Here, if you don't believe me look!
I mean WHOA!!!!! Not only did Steven Seagal come (he is a practicing Buddhist so I guess it makes sense...more or less) but so came the one and only CHUCK NORRIS! Here! In Elista! The awesomeness of this city has increased 10-fold since I learned of this. Kalmyk people only need JCVD to round out the top three greatest action stars of all time to visit their city (if you don't know who JCVD is, then you're obviously not a fan of action flicks....or awesomeness).
While neither Steven Seagal or Chuck Norris were in "The Expendables", instead of making that movie, they probably should have simply flown to Elista and just walked around with a camera. I mean the only place you're likely to find a greater concentration of pure, adrenaline-filled action is that hideaway temple where the ninjas train in "Ninja Assasin".
Here, if you don't believe me look!
That's Steven Seagall playing chess with the President of Kalmykia, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. I don't know who won, but if Kirsan Ilyumzhinov knew what was good for him, he let Steven Seagal win and saved himself a roundhouse to the face.
And if you don't believe me that Chuck Norris was here, then here is your proof of that as well.
And for those of you who don't know how absolutely amazing Chuck Norris is, think about some of his incredible feats:
- Chuck Norris has stood at the bottom of a bottomless pit.
- Chuck Norris has counted to infinity....twice.
- Chuck Norris can eat four 30-lb bowling balls without chewing.
- Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect-Four in only three moves.
- Chuck Norris was once bitten by a rattlesnake.....after three days of pain and agony........the rattlesnake died.
Now I mentioned that JCVD is the only one of the top three action stars to never have publicly visited the city, but I'm sure that he is either: a) here right now, in disguise b) wiped out anyone here with knowledge that he ever WAS here. So you can, in good faith Dear Readers, know that the three greatest action stars of all time have been to Elista.
I know for a fact that Mike 'Kratos' would like this place and be honored to walk on such holy ground. So, Dear Readers, you should think twice before ever bad mouthing Russia because secretly Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal (and probably JCVD) call it a home-away-from-home. And after reading through just a FEW of Chuck's feats, I wouldn't mess with him.
Selasa, 28 September 2010
BREAKING NEWS: CIARA SPEECHLESS TO PREMIERE TOMORROW ON 106 & PARK
Ciara's Speechless Video World Premiere Tonight BET 106 & Park
Ciara To Ustream This Week
Who wrote "Belle du Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl"?
Search: belle du jour
Why: In "Famous Diaries by Women" on TresSugar:
A little bit more of a memoir than a journal, but Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl is the only book here based on a blog, the modern-day diary. Belle du Jour, an anonymous writer, is a good girl turned call girl who recounts her time working for an elite escort agency in London.
(Alternate title: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl)
Answer: Dr. Brooke Magnanti!
Her specialist areas are developmental neurotoxicology and cancer epidemiology. She has a PhD in informatics, epidemiology and forensic science and is now working at the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health. She is part of a team researching the effects of exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos on foetuses and infants.Fancy!
She worked as a call girl from 2003 to late 2004, and the memoir was published in 2005. After much speculation about her identity (and threats from an ex-boyfriend to out her), she revealed herself (in this Times interview) in November 2009.
Source: Wikipedia , The Sunday Times
The More You Know: I need some pocket money. I want to read that book. Or the blog (which is apparently the exact same thing). Start here in October 2003 (from the bottom):
I spent all morning getting ready to meet the manager. This involves no small amount of eyelash curling, hair straightening and wardrobe panicking. Sexy, but not slutty? You'll be wanting the dark silk top, then. Young, but serious? Well-cut coat. As much cleavage as I could muster. Boots, of course - it is autumn in London after all. My nails are an acrylic nightmare but there was simply no time.
I want to watch the MGMT video for "Congratulations"
Search: mgmt congratulations
Why: Mary posted a Pitchfork article, "MGMT Respond to Piss Attack Allegations." Then I started clicking around, and turns out I missed a video in August, but the one linked on Pitchfork has been removed.
Answer: Here it go:
Source: WhoIsMGMT
The More You Know: Well, that made me kind of sad. It reminded me of when my grandmother's cockatiel Pete died. Legend has it that his beak fell off.
Maybe these pictures will cheer you up. This is what we used to do sometimes in 7th period Newspaper.
Ciara's Goodies Are 6years old
Goodies is the debut studio album by American recording artist Ciara. It was released on September 28, 2004 via LaFace and Sho'nuff Records. After writing songs for several established acts, Ciara's talents were noticed by Jazze Pha, and she began to work on what became Goodies. The album's conception came through the which the title track, created as a female crunk counterpart to Usher's "Yeah" (2004) and Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek" (2004). Ciara worked with several writers and producers on the album, including Jazze Pha, Lil Jon, Bangladesh, R. Kelly, Johntá Austin, Sean Garrett, and Keri Hilson, among others.
With Goodies, Ciara was hailed as the "Princess or First Lady of Crunk&B". The album uses dance music while utilizing pop, R&B, and hip-hop influences. The album delivers contradictory lyrical content, featuring female empowerment and independence-promoting lyrics in songs like the title track, while others show interest in adult activities. Critics gave the album positive to mixed reviews, commending the "Goodies"-esque songs, while deeming others as unoriginal and noting Ciara's limited vocal abilities. Most critics compared the work to the late singer Aaliyah, and also said it had qualities of Destiny's Child. In the United States, the album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, as well as charting internationally. It was later certified triple platinum by the RIAA, and as of June 2010, had sold over 2.7 million copies in the United States.
The album spawned three worldwide hit songs including the title track, "1, 2 Step" featuring American rapper Missy Elliott and "Oh" featuring American rapper Ludacris. The title track topped the charts in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. The second peaked at the top spot in Canada. The final single "And I" had limited chart success in the United States only. Goodies earned Ciara two Grammy nominations at the 48th Grammy Awards including Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "1, 2 Step."
Thai Golf: The Buddy Trip Writ Large
Strolling down the main drag in Pattaya, Thailand, the local clocks ticking toward 11 p.m., I am reminded of the golf destinations we North Americans regard as desirable.
Front and center is the golf component, of course. Normally it’s the primary factor in determining quality or desirability. But there’s no denying that packs of (primarily) male golfers generally prize golfing locales for their nightlife, too. Any gaggle of 8-12 golfing buddies will include a few lads determined to rip it up each night, though their desires are often offset by a few compatriots who’d just as soon play poker in the condo. And so there is equilibrium. However, still, it seems the destination must offer some degree of lascivious attraction — if only to get the hard-partying faction on the plane. Think Myrtle Beach and its strip of nightclubs and bars. Think Vegas and its many diversions.
I consider the different buddy trips I’ve experienced, in these very locales, and I laugh to myself as another sultry Thai evening obliges me to wipe the beads from my perspiring brow. The Walking Street in Pattaya, ground zero for the city’s famously over-the-top nightlife, frankly makes an evening in Vegas look like a night in Amish Country.
Blocked to vehicular traffic (save a series of small open-air trucks that continuously circle the downtown area, picking up patrons and dropping them off, for a dollar), Pattaya’s Walking Street stretches several kilometers along the beachfront. Either side of this thoroughfare is fairly well riddled with some of the craziest nightclub scenes you can possibly imagine. If you’ve never been to Thailand, you will have to imagine it — because you’ve surely never seen anything like it.
This is the primary take-away from my 10 days golfing across Thailand: There is such a breadth of experiences to be had that, after a point, all comparisons tend to pale.
For starters, it’s a big country — from Chiang Mai in the north to Phuket in the south it’s some 750 miles, or about the distance from Boston to Myrtle Beach. In other words, it’s too big to be climatically or culturally monolithic. This explains the striking contrast between the cool-highlands of mountainous Chiang Rai, hard by the Burmese and Lao borders, and the utterly tropical environs of Koh Samui, an island off the east coast of Thailand’s tendril-like southern reach, in the Gulf of Siam. Chiang Mai feels loose and slightly bohemian, like an overgrown backpacker haven, while Bangkok is the picture of a glittering, modern, bustling, gargantuan metropolis; Hua Hin is a quiet, gracious, retiring, seaside retreat while Pattaya… isn’t.
You’ll never rake a bunker in Thailand. In the Kingdom, that’s a caddie’s job and it’s but one benefit of the country’s utter reliance on 80- to 115-pound loopers. Yes, they’re all female and they’re a constant at every course in Thailand. Take a cart? They’ll drive it. Feel like driving? They’ll ride on the back. Walking? They’ll pull the trolley. All of this is done with unfailing courtesy and a solid understanding of the course. Club selection? I’d handle that yourself — but that’s my feeling toward all caddies.
In a place like Thailand, with its walking streets and massage parlors, the whole caddie phenomenon tends to elicit raised eyebrows from the uninitiated, but trust me: There is absolutely nothing sexual about the Thai caddie experience. For starters, despite the heat, they are completely swathed in clothing from head to toe, complete with long sleeves and gloves. Such is the standard of female beauty in Thailand: Tans are not fashionable for women, at all, and caddies go to great lengths to avoid them. Second, they are all business. In most cases they are far too busy fixing ball marks, putting sand in divots and raking bunkers to flirt with you.
Some of the best caddies we experienced were served up back in Bangkok at the sporty Muang Kaew Golf Club, where conditions included near-100 degree temperatures and not a breath of wind. Our caddies never wavered — until we did. My two playing partners and I ditched the back nine, paid full caddie fees, and made three friends for life. Then we went for a massage in the clubhouse, a typically sterling facility in a country where they hew to a very high standard.
Asian clubhouses in general make their American counterparts look downright dowdy. Yet because Thai clubhouses cater to so many Asian golfing tourists, they are borderline palatial — how else to impress the Japanese or Korean who is used to merely opulent clubhouses back home? Massage rooms are standard fare in Thai clubhouses. Locker rooms are cavernous, as each golfer is assigned a locker at no charge, as a matter of course. After the round one is expected to shower, don a change of clothes, and kick back for several hours in the bar or restaurant. It’s a damned fine ethic, if you ask me.
It’s the organic quality of the golf culture here that resonates, we decide. Unlike some Asian nations where golf is nothing but a modern development gambit, or others where a colonial overlord foisted golf on the culture, Thailand came to the game on its own. The Thais really do love their golf. We decide they have every right to feel that way: We love it, too.Ed: Great article on golf in Thailand at the A Position. The above is an extract but if you like your golf, it's worth reading the full article. Pattaya Rag
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