Humour
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When presence matters more than purpose They arrived in convoy—pressed shirts, polished shoes, and practiced smiles—ready for the flashbulbs and flattery. No agenda, no announcements, just the optics of arrival. It’s a familiar dance: dignitaries doing the rounds, their presence calibrated for the cameras of the local newspaper rather than the community. The photo op…
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Beyond The Bamboo CurtainThis popular series often compares Thai with other cultures. I hope readers find this interesting. Thais enjoy many kinds of witty humour. Wordplay, clever turns, and playful tricks amuse them. They like subtle and deadpan humour. Sarcasm is best avoided — it’s too cutting for their taste. It’s the Greek word for…
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To make cultural points in the “Beyond the Bamboo Curtain” series, and to make the story more interesting for readers, I often give examples of true stories from other cultures. Different nationalities have different senses of humour. I recall being in a UK pub one overcast day in winter. A few of us were sitting…