In this episode, Greg interviews legendary foreign correspondent Denis Gray about his memoir, Lost Horizons. Denis details his fascinating life story, beginning with his family's escape from communist Czechoslovakia and his father's subsequent intelligence work for the CIA. After graduating from Yale, Gray served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, an intense experience that inspired his transition into journalism with the Associated Press.

The next few decades saw Denis covering critical global conflicts, focusing heavily on the Indochina wars. He highlights the extreme challenges of reporting on the Khmer Rouge genocide from the Thai-Cambodian border, noting how a lack of visual media at the time left these historical atrocities largely forgotten by the wider world.

Greg and Ed then discuss the immense psychological weight of Gray's memories. Ed expresses a mix of awe and relief, admitting he is glad he never had to face such immense dangers himself. Ultimately, both hosts agree that Gray's career represents a rare, vanishing breed of war correspondence, emphasizing the vital importance of preserving these profound, first-hand historical accounts.

For a more visual discussion, see a video of Dennis' book launch and Q&A at the Foreign Correspondent's Club here in Bangkok.

With Ed unavailable this week, Greg welcomes his friend John as co-host to talk about storytelling. Specifically, the difference between how westerners tell stories, and how Thais tell stories. This is especially apropos to John, as he is the creator of Bangkok Stories, an event that, unsurprisingly, showcases the talents of locals who tell tales for an audience.

The discussion is at turns funny, insightful and sometimes dark, as Greg and John analyze storytelling styles to see what they tell us about the cultures behind them. Ultimately, as Thai culture is not a "look at me" one, this informs how eager most Thais are at getting up in front of strangers to talk. Add to this the concept of losing face and/or displeasing family members and those perceived of being of a higher status, and you have a complex mix of inspirations and motivations.

Greg sees a parallel in how difficult it is for him and Ed to find Thai guests to come on the show. Obviously English-language proficiency is a big barrier, but they have asked many over the years who are reluctant in case they say something disagreeable and lose face, which could bring shame on them, their family - or worse - their boss.

This eventually leads into a discussion of the ongoing Psi-Scott drama, which sees the taboo against shaming families with public accusations taken to a disturbing extreme.

When it comes to characters, Bangkok has them in droves - people who have been places, eaten things, talked to people, and lived adventures that would make your mother put her hand to her mouth and proclaim, "Oh my" with a frightened little squeak. On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we're happy to have one of these epic characters on the show with us - Mr Alan Platt, who, as it happens, has just released a book about his adventures entitled Foreign Fool.

Now I know what you're thinking, and it's the same thing we think when we hear self-published book by a farang in Bangkok, and that is, "Oh, yes, another one for the dusty back section of Asia Books, along with all the stories about hard-boiled detectives, heart-of-gold prostitutes, and love gone bad." But no - that's not what this book is about at all. In fact, take it from me (Greg), who has read the book - this is one hell of a fun read, and is actually - get this - really well written. From Saigon to Bangkok to Panama to London to Honolulu, Foreign Fool tells of, as Alan puts it, the bumbling misadventures of a doofus. I'll just let the first two paragraphs of the first chapter say it themselves:

In Saigon, many years after the war was over, long after the city was declared safe for tourists and when even the hookers were becoming almost discreet, I was kidnapped. That does sound a bit dramatic, I admit. Technically, it was more an abduction. But however one puts it, any mention of that sort of thing floods the mind with images of some poor guy being jumped by thugs, bundled into the trunk of a car and splattered across the tabloids with a screech of tires and the burning of rubber. None of that happened to me. I was kidnapped on a bicycle.

Alan discusses how he went from sunning his broke ass on a Los Angeles beach to the top of the New York ad world, how the book took shape, and a few of the stories - both in the book and not - that keep him looking ahead to the next trip. Buy Foreign Fool on Amazon.

The issue of Thai nominees has heated up in the past little while, with daily news stories about crackdowns, changing laws, and foreigners running scared (or just running).

The discussion begins with Ed outlining the basic framework of the Thai Foreign Business Act, explaining how it restricts foreigners from owning more than forty-nine percent of companies in certain restricted sectors. He details how this legal hurdle gave rise to the widespread use of Thai nominees, where Thai citizens are paid to hold fifty-one percent of the shares on paper, allowing the foreigner to maintain operational control.

Next, Ed brings up the legal gray area surrounding this practice. He clarifies that while having genuine Thai business partners is perfectly fine, using fake nominee shareholders who possess no actual financial stake or voting power is strictly illegal under Thai law. Greg then steers the conversation toward recent government crackdowns on this practice. He discusses how authorities have been aggressively targeting blatant abuses of the nominee system, specifically focusing on certain foreign-owned businesses in tourist hotspots like Phuket and parts of Bangkok.

Ed subsequently highlights the massive risks that foreigners take when utilizing these shady corporate structures. He points out that because the Thai nominee legally owns the majority of the company, the foreign investor has almost zero legal recourse if the nominee suddenly decides to seize control of the assets or the business bank accounts. Finally, Greg wraps up the topic by suggesting legitimate alternatives to the nominee route. He points out that foreign entrepreneurs should instead look into the Board of Investment promotion or the US-Thai Treaty of Amity, both of which offer legal pathways to complete foreign ownership without the associated risks.

Greg begins his interview with coffee fan, aficionado and expert Noon by exploring her background as the former president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand and her current role managing Lamarzocco, the high-end coffee machine retailer.

Noon explains her deep dive into coffee quality and traces the rapid evolution of the Thai coffee industry over the past fifteen years. She points out that Thailand is highly unique because it both produces and consumes its own coffee, which creates incredibly short communication lines between rural farmers and urban cafe owners. Next, Noon breaks down the agricultural history, explaining how early royal projects replaced opium crops with disease-resistant but less flavorful hybrid beans, prompting modern farmers to pivot toward higher-quality varieties.

The conversation then shifts to the different historical waves of coffee culture. Noon describes the progression from basic instant coffee to the cafe culture popularized by major chains, followed by the artisanal third wave, and finally the current fourth wave that focuses heavily on the science and exact consistency of brewing. She notes that high-end machines are crucial for maintaining this modern standard.

Following the interview, Ed and Greg discuss Noon's insights. Ed admits that he is relatively new to the coffee scene and shares his mild frustration with overly expensive, pretentious coffee shops. Greg agrees, reflecting on his own habits and acknowledging that while massive chains offer reliable consistency, they simply cannot match the nuanced quality and dynamic energy of the booming specialty coffee market in Thailand. But that's the great thing about coffee - it's a drink that can fit into almost any social or cultural situation.

Greg and Ed discuss the 100th 'birthday' of Lumpini Park. The guys begin by highlighting the improvements in the park over the last several years. More and cleaner bathrooms, landscaping, and an adjacent 'hawker center' are some of the highlights. Greg then reviews the different facilities that populate the 142 acre park, such as a fitness center, swimming pool, and even a lesser known library, one of the first in Thailand to be truly open to the public.

The show then shifts to a walk-and-talk in the park itself, recorded a few days before. With its proper roof and organized layout, the Hawker Center is a definite upgrade over random street vendors but in the end is just another Bangkok market. The boys tell some funny Lumpini-centric stories about their early days in Bangkok and their great memories of the park, before a discussion of the soft power possibilities of the park's famous monitor lizards.

Next, they check out the status of the Green Mile, the long walkway from lower Sukhumvit and Benjakitti Park to Lumpini Park itself. There is now a twisting walkway leading down into Lumpini, suitable for bike riders. The guys walk over Wireless Road and note that the path seems wide open all the way to Benjakitti. Both guys celebrate the realization of a long dream of Bangkok cyclists: riding through Benjakitti Park, up onto the Green Mile, and then down into Lumpini Park without once having to dismount! It might have taken decades, but that dream is finally a reality. :)

Greg begins by introducing the perplexing nature of the Bangkok condo market, noting how prices continually seem to defy gravity despite a massive oversupply. He points out that the market acts as a strange black hole of information where no one can predict trends with any certainty. Ed then jumps in, explaining that after researching the topic extensively, he has concluded the real estate environment operates almost like voodoo. He outlines the basic contradiction: there is a huge surplus of both unsold and unoccupied condo units, yet property prices continue to slowly appreciate instead of crashing.

Next, Ed brings up the legal complexities of foreign ownership quotas, which mandate that Thai nationals must own at least fifty-one percent of a building. This restriction significantly shrinks the pool of potential buyers for foreigners who are trying to sell their units. The conversation then shifts to unique cultural and economic factors. Ed explains that Thai cultural concepts regarding face-saving mean that owners would often rather let a condo sit empty than suffer the embarrassment of selling it at a financial loss. He adds that because property taxes and general maintenance fees are exceptionally low in Thailand, holding onto an empty property is a relatively inexpensive endeavor.

Greg and Ed also discuss the strong local preference for brand-new construction. Buyers consistently favor modern developments over existing ones, which leaves older, second-hand condos languishing on the market. Finally, Ed points out the stark contrast between buying and renting. He describes Bangkok as a renter's paradise, noting that renting is so remarkably affordable that buying a condo often makes very little economic sense.

In a special episode recorded during Greg's travels in Canada, he interviews three good friends of the podcast about their particular speciality, and what their thoughts are on Bangkok despite being so far away from the city they love.

First we talk to Pailin Chongchitnant of Pailin's Kitchen about her efforts to stay on top of the latest trends in Thai cuisine, what the landscape looks like in Canada, and her new cookbook.

Next we check in with Chris Rowthorn, a good friend of Greg's, former Lonely Planet Japan author, and lover of all things Thai, about how Bangkok gets under your skin even after you move away.

Lastly we check in with OG Bangkok Podcast season 1 co-host Anthony Joh about his epic motorcycle touring videos, quirks about living in Japan, and the possibility that he might soon come back to live in Thailand.

It's a bit of a departure from our regular episodes, but we'll be back to our normal programming next week!

Greg meets with mega, super, return guest Phra Pandit to discuss Buddhist teachings regarding sex, a conversation prompted by recent scandals involving women extorting monks. Phra Pandit explains that while sexual scandals within the clergy are actually quite rare, they occasionally happen, sometimes because young men are dumped into the monastery by their families rather than choosing the life themselves. He outlines the strict regulations for monks, noting that there are four cardinal rules that cannot be broken. Breaking the primary rule against having sexual intercourse with any human or animal results in immediate and permanent expulsion from the monkhood. Next, Phra Pandit explains that secondary offenses, such as lustful touching or speaking, require a confession to a senior monk and a twenty-day penance.

The conversation then shifts to everyday Buddhists, with Phra Pandit clarifying that laypeople are guided by five precepts, which simply advise against wrongful or harmful sexual conduct. However, he notes that individuals on spiritual retreats taking eight precepts must refrain from all sexual activity. Phra Pandit explains that the reasoning behind monk celibacy is practical. Because monks are supported by the lay community, they are expected to pursue enlightenment, and giving in to desires simply clouds the mind.

Ed then expresses his regret at missing the interview, which Greg recorded the day prior. The hosts then compare the Buddhist perspective on sex to Western and Christian views. They conclude that while Western religions often frame sex around concepts of guilt, the Buddhist approach does not view sexual failings as uniquely wicked, but rather as equal to failing any other precept. An interesting insight into a part of Buddhism most westerners don't know much about!

Greg and Ed explore common Thai stereotypes and symbols that are heavily associated with Thailand internationally, yet play a surprisingly small role in the daily lives of average Thai citizens. They note that due to Thailand's massive tourism success and unique geography, the country has successfully capitalized on and promoted these cultural icons, even if locals do not actively participate in them.

The hosts begin by discussing Pad Thai, noting that while foreigners view it as the ultimate Thai staple, locals rarely eat it compared to everyday dishes like Pad Krapow, and some even view it as tourist street food. Next, they tackle meditation. While Thailand is a deeply Buddhist nation, the hosts reveal that active meditation is remarkably niche among locals and might actually be more statistically popular in the United States, aside from the basic practices required in Thai public schools.

Greg and Ed then bring up Thailand's famous beaches. They observe that while tourists flock to frolic in the sand and water, Thai people generally avoid the sun, preferring to sit under shaded canopies to eat seafood after sunset. The conversation then shifts to tuk-tuks, which the hosts describe as an iconic but highly impractical mode of transport. Greg notes his own fast-paced experiences tracking a tuk-tuk ride on an app, emphasizing that locals largely avoid them due to traffic, heat, and safety concerns, leaving them mostly for foreigners.

Finally, the hosts discuss Muay Thai and Full Moon parties. They highlight that Muay Thai is primarily a working-class sport rather than a mainstream middle-class obsession, and Full Moon parties are overwhelmingly attended by foreigners, with Thais typically only going if introduced by Western friends.

Greg and Ed interview expat legend Chris Baker, co-author (along with his wife Pasuk Phongpaichit) of A History of Thailand, in addition to several other well-known books on Thailand. Greg and Ed gush over the fact they have both read Chris's most famous work, something that every serious expat needs to do at some point.

Chris begins by relating the lovely story of meeting his wife in England and subsequently relocating to Thailand where he worked a variety of jobs before settling down and co-writing a book with her on the economy and politics of Thailand in the 1990s. He explains his fascinating relationship with his wife, which involves extensive arguing over the subject matter of their books, while somehow preserving their personal relationship. The guys joke that this is perhaps Chris's greatest accomplishment.

Chris continues with the story of his most famous book, A History of Thailand, how it came about and he and his wife's shock and amazement at its best-seller status. Chris explains that a new, updated fourth edition is close to release, so all Bangkok Podcast listeners now have their summer reading assignment!

Greg and Ed prod Chris for his thoughts on recent events in Thailand, and Chris gives his insightful take on the last few years. Thankfully, Chris agrees to return to the podcast for future shows. We can't wait! :)

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