Nikki Blog

Contary to the Thai myth, MeetNLunch is not the only dating company that shares the lunch dating concepts.  There are several large and small firms worldwide that are passionate about the idea of connecting people at noon. 

http://www.Onlylunch.co.uk It’s the dating agency in London.  The website is nicely done, seperating the audiences into the girls and guys’ sections. I was slightly let down by the fact that it doesn’t show the picture of the owners or the matchmakers of the service though. 

http://www.itsjustlunch.com It’s a well-established dating service with offices worldwide, including one recently opened in Bangkok.  Despite many lawsuits against the company (see http://www.franchisepick.com/its-just-more-allegations-against-its-just-lunch/ ), I always believe that all the matchmakers started the company with good intentions. 

http://www.lunchactually.com Located in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.  It just launched a very interesting interactive dating website. Violet Lim also keeps a lively blog of her successful matches in http://www.violetlim.com

http://www.lunchappeal.com/ The service is based in New York and seems more suitable for a more matured clients.  Pam and Scott Stowell both graduated from the Instititute of New York.

http://www.eurolunch.eu The company is based in Brussels, and often organised trips to countries within EU for networking. 

After further Googleing, here is one more for Alaskan singles http://www.meetmeforlunch.net/

Let me know if I have missed out any websites. 

For someone who gets seasick as easily as politician gets corrupted, I was so excited to be able to fly to the beautiful Phi Phi Island from Phuket instead of having to take an unsafe 5 hr bumpy boat ride.  The seaplane service is provided by a company called Destination Air http://www.destinationair.com/

The flight was short and perfect.  Landing right in front of the Holiday Inn Resort or other 5 stars hotels on the islands, will instantly make you feel like a billionaire or Holywood celebs (don’t forget your sunglasses). And did I also mention that Capt. Scott is really cute?

With New Year bombs that blasted off near Central World in 2007 ruining my lambchop moment at the Barbican - I certainly wouldn’t want any of that to be repeated, or this time in Central World itself.

But have the Thai security enforcement improved since then? Do we see a better security check everytime you or your car go pass the check points? Or the guards just quickly pretended to glance into your fake Gucci handbag while thinking what’s for dinner, or closing your bonnet before the light could even shine through?

I fear that the security check in Thailand are somewhat inadequate. Many Thai must have thought “What if the bombers actually put the bomb inside the car, under the passengers’feet and not in the most obvious places like bonnet? And what if the explosives are in those suitcases inside those bonnets but no one bother to even take a look? Do we really want to see a repeat of JW Marriott in Indonesia happening in Thailand before we get our acts together?

I’ve a fear that us Thai like to see what can go wrong closer to home before they like to act. And even if we act, we carry out with a slacking chill out Thai style.

Security matter should be taken very seriously not just at the X-ray machines in the airport. In Indonesia, they checked every suitcases entering every hotels doors, cars are thorougly check (if I have a tattoo on my bum, they would know - just kidding), and items are tipped out of handbags for proper inspection.

All of these checks may be a nuisance and making people aware of the insecurity level they are living with, but I would certainly feel safer living in Jakarta than Bangkok that took security check too lightly.

I was in Vietnam a forthnight ago for a conference, and two things I noted while dwelling there; no public display of same couple affection (story for another time), and no beggars (absolutely none). 

Although a less developed economy than Thailand, Vietnam has managed to removed all of their beggars from the street in 2003 by giving people $13 if they reported a beggar to the 24-hr hotline.  That quickly turned the city beggarless in a few days. Now, somebody could make a fortune if the scheme is carried out in Thailand with the number of beggars found on the streets in Bangkok. 

They come in many forms; some equipped with small children, some of other nationalities (remember the famous Dutch beggar?), others are handicapped, and some simply gliding on the street.  In this last case, you will have to wonder how they “glide” back home everyday, don’t they have stairs?  do they sleep on the road where they glide? surely they must have “a helper” no?

The sight of beggars in Thailand is often making me sick more than making me feel pity of them.   There have been stories of organisations that kidnapped kids, made them handicapped, put them on the streets, and take them back to a sheltered home every evening.  They couldn’t escape the cycle or the organisation and ended up growing into an adult beggars.  And sometimes making more earning than many office workers. 

Vietnam provided the health check for these people.  Healthy people are sent back to their home provinces, while those who have physical or mental illnesses are treated at the city’s expense.  Tourists feel alienated by the sight, and I think there must be a better way for all these beggars to live their lives.

Is this too much to ask from the next Thai government? 

Everyone in Bangkok knows to avoid a conversation about politics with the Taxi driver at all costs, or else you may be left in the middle of Toll way if disagreeing with any of them. Stuck in traffic jam near Big C Phaholyothin, a taxi driver striked a conversation by asking me who I would vote for. OH MY GOD - my mind was racing like crazy of what to response. I replied SOFTLY as if something blocked my throat “Democrat party”, and made myself looked really tiny, wishing I could disappear at that instance. I later felt obliged to ask him back the same question, and he casually answered, “Maybe Leena Jung…she fights for women.”

I don’t know what is more surprising, a taxi driver that didn’t get mad because I support Democrat party, or someone will really vote for Leena Jung (ลีน่า จัง).

Her posters really changed the facade of my district, and took election posters to a new level. Having more pink color than the usual election poster; it’s a nice change and certainly catchy to the eyes - regardless of her numerous posters displayed on the street.

One thing I wanted to raise though, Thailand has much to develop in terms of women’s right. Leena Jung wouldn’t and shouldn’t have to use this theme as her political stand point if we didn’t have such problem. People shouldn’t vote for Leena because she is a woman and because we don’t have enough of them in the paliament. They should vote for Leena because she is able to make a different to our country. These are her personal links (I personally think she should revise some of the image of her products - or maybe I’m just too conservative):

http://www.hi-soleena.com/

http://www.hi-soleena.com/law/index.htm