Bangkok History Highlight: The Blue Diamond Affair [Season 3, Episode 35]

Bangkok History Highlight: The Blue Diamond Affair [Season 3, Episode 35]

Continuing our series on interesting episodes in Thai history, this episode focuses on the infamous Blue Diamond Affair, It all started when a Thai gardener named Kriangkrai Techamon, who was working in Saudi Arabia, decided to make off with $20 million worth of gems and jewelry belonging to a Saudi royal. Although the thief was caught shortly after his return to Thailand, he had already sold much of the loot, including the famed 50 karat 'Blue Diamond.' No problem - the gems were returned to Saudi Arabia and an apology issued. Case closed!

But! Soon after the treasure was returned, Saudi authorities claimed that over half of the returned gems were fake, including the Blue Diamond. The Saudi authorities sent a special team of investigators to Bangkok to investigate...and what followed was a tale of murder, kidnapping, and black magic, with the ultimate result being a near-total diplomatic breakdown between the two countries that continues to this day. It's a plot almost too twisty for Hollywood, but listen in for details on one of the strangest episodes in Thai history.

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.

Episoder(562)

AI vs The Big Mango: What ChatGPT 4o and Gemini Know (and don't know) about Bangkok [S7.E27]

AI vs The Big Mango: What ChatGPT 4o and Gemini Know (and don't know) about Bangkok [S7.E27]

Greg and Ed perform an interesting test of the current state of AI: can you actually trust what different AI's have to say about Bangkok and Thailand? Greg uses ChatGPT, while Ed is a Google guy throu...

9 Jul 202432min

Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam Part 2 [S7.E26]

Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam Part 2 [S7.E26]

This is Part Two of Greg and Ed's interview with Paul and Yuangrat Wedel, returning guests to the show who previously talked about their book "Radical Thought, Thai Mind." This time around the fascina...

2 Jul 202443min

Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam [S7.E25]

Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam [S7.E25]

Greg and Ed interview Paul and Yuangrat Wedel, returning guests to the show who previously talked about their book "Radical Thought, Thai Mind." This time around the fascinating couple discuss their t...

25 Jun 202438min

Ed's City Review: Bangkok vs Hong Kong - Which One Comes Out on Top? [S7.E24]

Ed's City Review: Bangkok vs Hong Kong - Which One Comes Out on Top? [S7.E24]

Continuing our regional focus of late, Greg and Ed discuss Ed's recent trip to Hong Kong and how it compares to big, bad Bangkok. Ed begins with a big caveat: he's not really much of a traveler, and h...

18 Jun 202439min

Regional Podcast Pals: Joah McGee on Covering Tragedy & Hope on Insight Myanmar [S7.E23]

Regional Podcast Pals: Joah McGee on Covering Tragedy & Hope on Insight Myanmar [S7.E23]

Wrapping up our short series on our regional podcast peers, Greg interviews Joah McGee from the Insight Myanmar Podcast. Joah begins by explaining his early life in Myanmar and how he initially went t...

11 Jun 202436min

Bangkok Devaluation: A Few Things That Used to Matter…But Don't Anymore [S7.E22]

Bangkok Devaluation: A Few Things That Used to Matter…But Don't Anymore [S7.E22]

In a possible new series, Greg and Ed discuss things that have become less important or meaningful since they began living in Thailand. In short, stuff that we used to value a lot that just seems not ...

4 Jun 202431min

Regional Podcast Pals: Mike Tatarski on Producing the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh City [S7.E21]

Regional Podcast Pals: Mike Tatarski on Producing the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh City [S7.E21]

Greg interviews Mike Tatarski of the Vietnam Weekly podcast. Mike begins by explaining the podcast originated out of his Substack newsletter of the same name. After taking a course in 'entrepreneurial...

28 Mai 202446min

Looking Back on the 2006 Coup and Why We're Still Feeling it Today [S7.E20]

Looking Back on the 2006 Coup and Why We're Still Feeling it Today [S7.E20]

Greg and Ed revisit the 2006 coup in Thailand and reminisce about the oddness but also impactfulness of the experience. Ed begins with a quick recap of the career of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionair...

21 Mai 202436min

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