Murder in Thailand: Kevin Maes Talks About His Book "Kingdom of Trials" [S8.E15]

Google searches have become a treasure trove of information on modern cultures, and something that everyone from students to seniors use to find information. One interesting feature is Google's autocomplete, which makes guesses on what you're looking for based on what others are searching for. So what does Google's autocomplete say about Thailand? Greg tries various combinations of Thailand-related questions, such as 'Is Thailand...' or 'Will Bangkok . . .' with results ranging from the mundane to the curiously fascinating - one even reminding Greg of this awesome short film called True Skin that takes place in Bangkok's near-future. Searchers seemed concerned about everything from safety in Thailand and whether Bangkok is sinking, to the cave boys story and the prevalence of the zika virus in the Land of Smiles. The results seem to mirror Thailand's reputation as a country of great contrast, complexity, and to some extent, weirdness. Also, to the person searching for "is Thailand hotel?" Bravo. Bravo. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

28 Elo 201835min

What if you got into a time machine and jumped forward a few hundred years, only to discover when you arrived that no one spoke your language anymore? It's happened plenty of times (not the time machine thing, but languages dying out), so we wondered...could it happen to Thai? Greg interviews friend of the show Rikker Dockum, a linguist finishing his PhD at Yale, who has been doing research in northwest Burma on a local dialect that is part of the same family of languages as Thai. After discussing this unusual dialect, Greg and Rikker chat about the modern Thai language and how it has slowly splintered and changed over time, including a few interesting tidbits into why Thais call Google 'Uncle Goo' and why the Thai translation of the Forrest Gump novel used a very specific spelling of a particular word. To wrap it up, Rikker gives us his thoughts on 'language death' and what role the forces of globalization and modern technology play. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

21 Elo 201837min

Just for a bit of fun, we're releasing this week's bonus episode for all our listeners! Patrons of the Bangkok Podcast get the regular show + a bonus show every week. To learn more, go to https://www.patreon.com/bangkokpodcast Greg and Ed - still trying to digest the news from last week's show with attorney Jerrold Kippen - discuss the significance of the (hopeful) changes to Thailand's work permit laws. Just for a bit of fun, Greg also goes through the professions prohibited to foreigners, realizing that most seem to center around protected Thai cultural arts and crafts - although there are a few surprises in the list (gem polishers! Architects!). And to wrap the show up, the boys address the news that the National Legislative Assembly is considering legalizing medical marijuana (!), which (if it comes to pass) would make Thailand the first country in Asia to do so (!!).

17 Elo 201823min

Another in our continuing series on Bangkok's coolest and most notable places to live or visit! This week we focus on the Ari neighborhood, which roughly surrounds the Ari BTS station. Greg recounts the four years he lived in the neighborhood and shares a few insights into what makes it unique. Ed also ponders is demographic makeup - a lot of educated expats living and hanging out right next to working class Thais, patrons of upscale eateries, craft beer bars, and hole-in-the-wall joints that cater to all. While condo prices are high due to the central location, the bars, restaurants, and art galleries more than justify an exploratory afternoon or evening. With a ton of back sois, a great street food scene, and hipster sensibilities (though not too much of that, yet), Ari should be on the list of any expat seeking to explore Bangkok beyond the tourist areas. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

14 Elo 201829min

If you've even a passing interest in living in Thailand, you've likely heard of the recent changes to the Kingdom's work permit laws - the legal requirements of being employed here there are written in stone which, it turns out, are not written in stone. Greg interviews Jerrold Kippen of the law firm of Duensing Kippen about these changes, which were highlighted in a recent article his firm wrote. It's big news! Traditionally, Thai work permits for foreigners were interpreted very narrowly, meaning individuals were legally allowed to only work the exact job, in the exact capacity, and at the exact address specified in their work permit. Jerrold discusses a recent change that has sent shockwaves through Thailand's expat community: it appears that changes to the labor laws mean that once an expat has a valid work permit, he or she will also be able to work any other type of job at any location, as long as that work is not specifically prohibited under Thai law. Greg and Jerrold discuss the significance of the change, what it means for the average Joe, and if it portends an overall liberalization of the employment laws here in Thailand, which would be a great relief for many. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

7 Elo 201824min

This week your intrepid hosts discuss all manner of rail travel in Bangkok and beyond, and the role that the train system plays in Thai society. For most foreigners rail is a convenient alternative, but for many Thais (and others throughout the world), it's the only option, leading to some interesting financial, logistical, and economic repercussions. Greg and Ed also trade stories of riding the overnight train to Chiang Mai and other rail adventures they've had over the years, and then discuss the meat of the issue - the massive new train station in Bang Sue, as well as several high speed train lines emanating from Bangkok to both the north and south. What's clear is that once the Bang Sue terminal is completed, rail travel in Thailand will look a hell of a lot different than it does now. For more info, check out Greg's super-cool Bangkok rail projection map here, and also head to Nomadic Notes for a wider look at all of Asia's proposed rail routes. But no matter what happens, the boys conclude that as long as speed is not super important, rail travel in Thailand is both affordable and enjoyable, and definitely worth checking out by expats and tourists alike. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

31 Heinä 201831min

What do you do if the culture you grew up in isn't your own - or even your parents'? You adapt, dammit, and become what's known as a Third Culture Kid, or TCK, if you're cool. Ed interviews his recently graduated student Mook Ishimura, a half-Thai, half-Japanese 'third culture kid,' who is a Thai citizen but who grew up mostly in the United States and Indonesia before moving to Thailand for university. They discuss the rather unusual situation of feeling LESS comfortable in your 'passport country' than in another culture - in Mook's case, American culture. Mook recounts the difficulty of studying in a western classroom her whole life, only to begin university in an international program in Thailand, mostly with Thai students coming out of the Thai school system. In an increasingly cosmopolitan city like Bangkok, Mook demonstrates that not everyone fits neatly into the 'native' box or the 'expat' box. We think this is a great asset to any city or country - after all, variety is the spice of life, and TCKs are nothing if not varied. And spicy. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

24 Heinä 201839min

On this episode, Master Yoda Biker Greg counsels young padawan Ed in the ways of biking in Bangkok, focusing either on the casual rider looking for some exercise or adventure, the commuter looking for a way through Bangkok's notoriously bad traffic (and unreliable BTS!), or the adventurer looking to blaze new trails (for an example of this, see this week's episode artwork of Greg's good friend Paul exploring a new trail). Greg and Ed discuss all the important points of biking in Bangkok - safety, directions, equipment, and more, plus a discussion on how (most) Thai drivers are actually very aware of their surroundings, providing a surprisingly stress-free ride, if you happen to be riding in traffic (there's a million disclaimers on this, but that's Greg's take, anyway). Greg also runs through some of the obstacles thrown up by the Bangkok government - such as no bikes allowed on the skytrain, or bike paths that are build and then abandoned - that can make it difficult to bike in the city. However, in the end, the guys stress that biking is a GREAT way to appreciate the charm of the sprawling, chaotic metropolis of Bangkok. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

17 Heinä 201830min