Travelers to the Philippines will invariably want to find out more about the history of the country after having seen it, but good books (and bookstores!) in the Philippines are hard to find. In particular, books on Philippine history are virtually impossible to be found anywhere. In the picturesque northern Luzon city of Vigan, for […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Business' Category
Welcome to the WoWasis China Bookshelf
Chinese philosophy and business practices have long influenced Southeast Asia. Here at WoWasis, we found the following books to be especially compelling for Westerners, as the information in the books on this list, while particular to China, helps to explain much about life in Southeast Asia. We’ve grouped them into Nonfiction and Fiction categories. Nonfiction […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bachelor in Bangkok: Khun Lee on Entertainment Providers, Sex Workers, and International Tourists
I have an English friend in Bangkok who has gotten himself into quite a mess. This guy has the same “disconnect” that I see in so many western men in Thailand. Let me explain what I mean by “disconnect.” When I meet educated, successful men from Asia, Latin America, Africa, or anywhere other than Europe, […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis banned book review: Paul Handley’s ‘The King Never Smiles’
As it says on the back cover, “Any journalist or academic who takes an interest in Thailand soon learns that one topic is off limits: the modern monarchy.” It also mentions that “it is dangerous, and one risks expulsion or jail for lèse-majesté” for reporting on sensitive matters relating to the royal family. And thusly, […]
Read the rest of this entry »Who owns the news? Not the major news networks.
WoWasis had a very interesting conversation the other day with a cameraman from the BBC. We were discussing the red shirt protest in Bangkok in May of 2010, in which several reporters and camerapersons were killed or injured while in the line of fire. We mentioned that some of the most interesting footage was […]
Read the rest of this entry »A go-go girl’s path to success, regardless of what the guidebooks say
Carmina works as a dancer in a bar in Angeles City, Philippines. Possessor of a deep, sultry voice, she was occupied as a performer-hostess at a men’s club overseas for more than 10 years, and made a very good living. Her specialty was singing jazz standards, and she can rattle off any Cole Porter tune […]
Read the rest of this entry »Eating bugs in Thailand: Supplementing your daily caloric intake the upcountry way
Westerners visiting Thailand for the first time may quickly encounter a dramatic indicator that they’re no longer in the western world: the streetside bug cart. Loaded with trays filled with a number of delicious insect delights, these carts serve primarily Thai people who’ve emigrated to Bangkok from outlying provinces such as Isaan and the northern […]
Read the rest of this entry »Men’s rooms TV ads: more noise pollution in Bangkok?
Bangkok, already one of the world’s noisiest cities, might be in the process of getting louder. U.S.-educated entrepreneur Palin Lojanagosin intends to start putting ads in washrooms on television monitors. These will not only be placed above sinks, but above the toilet stalls themselves. All of us have come to grips with the notion that […]
Read the rest of this entry »Buying property: Own your own piece of Thailand? It can be done, but with caveats
(Note: Also read WoWasis post about construction scams in Thailand) Many Westerners who fall in love with Thailand have expressed a desire to own property there. Although the process is probably more complicated than in your own country, it is doable, as thousands can attest. Here are some of the basics, and remember to consult […]
Read the rest of this entry »Low cost air travel in Thailand
These are exciting times for visitors electing to travel by air within Thailand, as three low-cost airlines are vying for low-cost domestic fares, flying out of Don Muang airport, and offering fares to destinations such as Chiang Mai for as little as 500 baht ($13 USD). While offering lower prices than traditional carriers such as […]
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