Viewpoint
-
Bangkok: a jarring realisation
The once-familiar warmth of the people now felt hollow, their smiles seeming fake, their gestures insincere. I was tired of guessing at hidden motives, of trying to decipher behaviours that never made sense.
-
The Realities of Go-Go Girls in Thailand
In essence, go-go girls in Thailand are freelance workers, often operating as dancers in go-go bars. But make no mistake—they’re usually in it for the money, and tourists are their primary targets. If you’re still unsure about what exactly a go-go girl is, do a bit of research online.The internet is full of tales from…
-
The Power of Focus in Project Management
One of project management’s first and most crucial tasks is setting the focus. As I’ve learned, focus is the foundation for successful projects. It helps to clearly define the project’s goals, align the team’s efforts, and create a roadmap that leads to achieving the desired outcomes. When focus is established, it acts as a guiding…
-
Navigating the Challenges of Trading with China
Trading with China offers immense opportunities but also comes with its fair share of challenges. Businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in this vast market must be aware of and prepare for potential difficulties. Three primary challenges I realised are language barriers, cultural and traditional background differences, and the lack of a robust…
-
An Old Fella and A Sheila
In a cafe in Pattaya, an elderly white man is scolding a Thai woman sitting with him. The old fella, who looks like he’s in his mid-70s, has been carrying on, yelling his head off for over ten minutes straight. Meanwhile, the Thai woman in her mid-50s sits calmly with him. I don’t know what…
-
The escalators: policy vs system
At Terminal 21 Pattaya, Thailand. I come across the information desk on the ground floor (street level).I speak to a female attendant in Thai, “Where are the restaurants located?”She smiles. “Third floor,” she replies in English. I take the first escalator.The blue footprint marks on the escalator stairs indicate I should stand on the right…
-
Fake Faces
Numerous individuals of Asian descent frequently seem to conceal their emotions. Whether in moments of happiness or sadness, their facial expressions remain unchanged. In particular, they often hide any signs of being upset or angry. This behaviour may be attributed to their preference for keeping their real emotions secret, possibly influenced by their cultural background…
-
Are you a Professional?
Many people use to call someone a ‘Professional’ if a person is an expert in a field. The Cambridge dictionary defines ‘Professional’ as a person who has a job that needs a high level of education and training. We’re trained to be a professional at the universities. We’ve learnt the word ‘Professional’ does not only…
-
Since when we can negotiate with a psychopath?
Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Myanmar Defence Services, is also known as “Ma-Ah-La”. “Ma-Ah-La” (မအလ) is the abbreviation in Burmese for “mofo”. Most people in Myanmar believe that Min Aung Hlaing was born on 3 July 1956, with a congenital disorder in a ghetto. His father was unknown, and his mother was a village…