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Glimpses of the Land of Smiles

an all-new series featuring

Hardy Stockmann

Hardy is formerly of The Bangkok Post, where he worked as an editor for many years.

He also is a published author; his works include the first book on Thai boxing -- "Muay Thai" -- ever written in English.  His current book Cape Town Jazz is available locally in the music section of any branch of Asia Books.

Coincidentally, Hardy has a past with one of our other contributors, Dean Barrett.  Dean used to do Thai Airlines in-flight magazine, "Sawasdee," and he used some of Hardy's photographs.

Hardy plans to offer us snippets of insight into Thai life and customs in regular offerings, so please check back!

Hardy tells me he plans to submit some items in verse -- unusual, today.  I posted his initial offering without realizing this -- he had e-mailed it to me, but it came through in regular prose format, not verse.  But I have posted it again in exactly the form Hardy wrote it.

Let us know what you think: mekhongkurt@bangkokatoz.com

Hardy's writings:

"The Wai" -- this covers the basics of the significance of this gesture in Thai culture and social interactions, and includes a photograph of a lovely young lady performing a graceful wai.

"Elephant Baby" -- this is a personal perception of a baby elephant, a creature of cuteness -- but also of power.

"Cabbages & Condoms" ostensibly is a poem of admiration for the well-known Khun Meechai, a former minister of the government who championed birth control and opened to famed Cabbages & Condoms in Bangkok, a restaurant where condoms are handed out freely -- and which, incidentally, serves excellent food!  However, the poem is more of an admonition to all those who engage in unprotected sex.

"Prem Tinsulanond" is an ode in tribute to one of Thailand's great statesmen of the 20th century.  General Prem commands enormous admiration and respect from both the local and foreign communities, as this paean of praise attests.

Copyright © 1997-2001 by Kurt T. Francis and Dennis A. House, except as  noted otherwise.  Materials by Christopher G. Moore, Dean Barrett, Richard K. Diran, and Sonia Pressman Fuentes are copyrighted © by those respective authors.  All rights reserved.  Please see the Copyright Notice for further information.

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