“Where your mind goes your intention goes”  – Craig Hamilton

Ever since November, when I first returned to Chiang Mai, my mind has been focussed on obtaining a copy of the Bangkok Post. For the past few years, it hasn’t been readily available in the restaurants, hotels and tourist information sites where I used to find it. I was beginning to think that it had gone the way of many newspapers in these times… extinct like the proverbial dodo.  I eventually found one copy in a small cafe which was nowhere near where I am staying. Since the odds seemed to be stacked against me for getting my hands on that one available copy in that distant cafe, I was about to give up my search. I told myself that having a break from news back home in Canada wasn’t such a bad thing. I could live with that for awhile. However, I did regret not knowing what was happening here inThailand.

The Bangkok Post has been Thailand’s main English newspaper and has achieved a substantial readership over the years. Founded in 1946 by a US diplomat and a Thai business man who wanted to attract the attention of foreign expats and upmarket business interests as the cold war between the US and Russia developed, the paper caught the interest of many Asian readers. As I have discovered, it hasn’t gone the way of the dodo afterall. It’s still in business with approximately 70,000 copies in circulation and is one of the world’s remaining papers still operating as an independent.

Over all the years I have visited Thailand, I always looked forward to finding a copy of the Bangkok Post somewhere because it was my way of keeping updated on what was happening in Thailand politically, economically and socially. Then COVID came along and after that, it became increasingly more difficult to find. Last year I asked a number of people where I could find a copy but to no avail. No one I spoke to, whether English speaking or not, seemed to know anything about it. I found this peculiar because it was almost like they had never heard of it.

To be honest the lack of interest to those I spoke to came as no surprise. Cell phones have taken the place of newspapers, not just in Thailand but in many countries. For this reason, I was surprised while doing a little research on the Post, I read that Thailand’s access to news is rated fairly high compared to other Asian countries. There are still a number of small independent Thai newspapers scattered around the country with most on line. The largest is the Korat Daily, another Thai paper which actually has popped up on my phone a few times. The Thai are noted for constantly being on their phones which may possibly explain why they are always looking at them because I have yet to see any Thai person reading a newspaper. I have seen the odd Thai paper at some mom and pop stores but never seen it being read. Call me old fashioned, but despite newspapers on line, Google news, U tube, Instagram or Facebook, I prefer to have a newspaper in hand along with a cup of coffee to help me catch up on the latest stuff going on in our crazy world. I strongly feel we should not be ignoring it.

However, about two weeks ago and literally out of the blue while chatting with a lovelyThai lady who creates unique jewellery and other artifacts from colourful bits of cloth, our conversation landed on the apparent disappearance of the Bangkok Post. To my surprise, she knew of a cafe owned by her friends, where I could find copies and would you believe, it was a place I have passed by many times over the years and several times this year on my way down to the Warowat Market where I do much of my shopping for my import business!The cafe looked like such a cramped place always full of chattering people (mostly ex-pats I figured).. Since it’s located on a busy corner, I concluded it would definitely be noisy! It was not the kind of place where I could have peace and quiet to read a newspaper, and I had certainly never seen anyone there reading a Bangkok Post!

Entance to NuNuNiNi

It’s location on a busy corner.

The upstairs where I read the post with my coffee.

However, as luck would have it or perhaps it was a bit of serendipity, I have now found a perfect spot where I have access to a spacious floor upstairs where hardly anyone goes. On my first visit to NuNuNiNi’s – Coffee Time (yes, that is the name of the cafe) after ordering my coffee, I asked the gal waiting on me about the  Post and was promptly presented with not only that day’s copy, but also a sharpened pencil with an eraser for the daily crossword. I was non-plussed because doing crosswords is another activity I have always enjoyed.

All ready to catch up on the news at NuNuNiNi.

Since this little gem is at least a twenty minute walk from my place and since the daily temperature for Chiang Mai is hovering around 36 degrees with an above average AQI (Air Quality Index), I have been there only twice. I will go for one more visit before I leave for home next week.

Thanks to, Yu, my artist friend who told me about NuNuNiNi, I have been able to get a clearer picture of what is going on in Thailand politically and economically which helps me understand why it’s such an easy country to visit, why so many people have chosen to live here, and why some still do. I don’t wish to get into all the details relating to the numerous changes of government this country has experienced for the past fifteen years when I made  my first visit. It’s difficult trying to follow the series of governments this country has experienced which have been for so long backed by the military with various degrees of power. Furthermore, there is the influence of the monarchy which has further influenced their political scene. Last year, some protesting from the younger generation in Bangkok broke out but was quickly quelled when the new Prime Minister endorsed by the military was elected. However, there will probably be more changes in the coming year as new parties are being formed and one former Prime Minister, Shinawatra Thaksin, previously a popular business mogul but also the country’s police chief who was eventually thrown into prison for charges of corruption, tax evation, and even crimes against humanity, was recently released and is gearing up to enter the political scene once again. However, despite all their political upheavals, the Thai people seem to have rolled with the punches and managed to keep peace in their country.

After perusing a few issues of the Post, I have chosen some of Thailand’s problems Srettha Thavison, the new PM and his cabinet are looking into which hopefully will help keep some Thai heads above water. He wants to

• work with the big banks to reduce their high interest rates which are forcing families and small businesses into bankruptsy.
• to set aside money to hire 62,000 new medics to improve Thailand’s primary health care.
• to help the poorer northern Thai states make the change over to electric cars.
• to better the country’s forest management policies by protecting their public parks and not allowing industrial farmers (some are government officials) to buy up farm land.
• to improve the wait times for passengers and build another runway at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok in massive drive to promote tourism for the country.
• to put billions of dollars into increasing the duration of Songkran* by five days, the popular water festival in April.

This is certainly not a very impressive list as far as I can see. Working with the banks to bring down interest rates and the spiralling debt load for small businesses and families, improving primary health care, receiving the hoardes of Myranmar refugees arriving in Thailand and giving them the means to find jobs, passing new laws to protect Thailand’s forests with improved land reform measures, insuring that public parks are protected and farm land is passed on to generational farmers and not industrialists are a beginning to helping those who need it the most. These are all great promises but unfortunately don’t address the most important issues facing the country such as corruption, the role of the military/police, and judicial reform. I totally agree with this age old problem as do many Thai so I found it encouraging that one of the newspaper’s journalists expressed this contentious topic in his column.

As far as increasing the length of time to celebrate Songkran* to my mind this is a waste of good money. I am not opposed to the Thai people having more time off work to celebrat their New Year and the arrival of spring dating back centuries but to put money into a holiday which will cost billions and waste a valuable resource such as water is incomprehensible.

It also appears the government wants to spend more money to make Thailand the best place in Asia for tourism by attracting the Chinese, Japanese, and India. However, targeting tourism by spending  billions on promoting it with elaborate activities and fireworks to draw tourist dollars is not going to help those people who are struggling with poor mental health care, rising crime, and increasing debt.

This agenda shows me that this new PM isn’t addressing the most pressing issues which is a problem with many countries these days. I have joined the many tourists, expats and an ever increasing contingent of Thai people here in Chiang Mai who have had to deal in the past several years with their extremely poor air quality. There are solutions for dealing with the problem and yet none of them have been recognized by any of the governments as a priority. I have written posts on this problem and have participated in some protests which are listed below in case you want to find out how the problem could be solved and what it can do for Chiang Mai, still the country’s second largest city and a major draw for expats, digital nomads, tour groups, and retirees. The air isn’t always bad but every year it seems to be getting worse shortening the time that tourists can enjoy the city when they have clear skies, can see the mountains that surround it, and not have to bother wearing a mask.

In conclusion, I have to admit I am disappointed in the PM’s rather narrow focus of the challenges his country is facing. He seems to be making an effort which is good but he needs to broaden his focus if he wants to stay in power.The history, the wonders of nature, the resiliance of the people and their kindness are just some of the reasons why I keep returning and seeing it as a second home for me. I care deeply about where it is heading and for its future. I also want to give thanks to the Banglok Post which hasn’t changed that much and is still keeping readers like me well informed with Thailand’s news. I might add that it also motivated me to write this post. I hope you have learned something from it as I have. We are all in the same boat which is concern for our futures and how we can cope with the challenges we will face. I think the place to start is to make time for keeping ourselves informed of what is going on, not just in our own country, but the entire world as best we can. It’s not about our differences but all about how we are really not that different from each other when it comes to making our lives better with love and kindness rather than hate.

Hold cursor over the pictures below for the caption:

The lady who told me where to find the Post.

One of the PM’s concerns.

nother concern.

A long standing problem.

Thai mental health needs to be addressed.

A Parade for the Pollution Problem in Chiang Mai

An Update on Chiang Mai’s Air Pollution Problem

Thailand and Climate Change in 2020

• Songkran – is Thailand’s official new year which takes place every year beginning on April 13 normally lasting three or more days. It’s a festival with water which is for cleansing the past and getting ready for the year ahead by bringing in good fortune. It’s thought to have originated in India.
• It’s now a national holiday which has now been extended to five by the present government.
• Families come together to give thanks and honour the Buddha with food and scented water which is all very good. Unfortunately, in many places it’s gotten out of hand as witnessed by many more road accidents and deaths due to too much partying. There will be water everywhere so as a tourist you either stay inside to avoid getting soaked or you go out and join in. I lived through one years ago in Bangkok and always found that the Thai honored our requests to not be soaked.