AWOL 2014 Issue 284 30th May | Page 15

Advertise here from only 40 baht per week to hull and back Mags Meanderings: From Som Tam To Mushy Peas tactical democracy A young relative embarked on her first trip to Thailand early this month, much to the consternation of her Dad. Especially when he realised that, rather than travelling in relative safety with her boyfriend, she was going for three weeks flight only with a female friend. The anxiety was only eased a little when she announced that the pair had booked an adventure trip in advance with an Australian company. Unfortunately my assurances that they would be fine - that the adventure would probably involve whizzing through jungle on zip wires - didn’t really help much. I can’t understand why. News of an outbreak of Swine Flu in the Land of Smiles didn’t do much to ease the pain either. But more was to come. As the intrepid travellers arrived in Bangkok a 6 point something earthquake hit some Northern provinces, followed a short time later by the removal of the Prime Minister from office. The two events were not connected, and still not enough to spoil a holiday. Until of course the last couple of days in Bangkok, and the prospect of a severely curtailed nightlife. But hey - it was still a great adventure, and the pair would soon be back home in a country where nothing much ever happens, and where the biggest news (after the FA Cup Final) is the weather. How wrong can you be. Not only had Prince Charles almost single handedly started World War 111, but the UK Government was left battered and bruised by the election successes of UKIP, the UK Independence Party. For those who are not familiar with recent goings on over here, or were simply sidetracked by the search for a Chang after 10 pm, last weeks elections were twofold. Everyone voted for their choice of MEP, (Member of the European Parliament), while at the same time some also voted separately for their local Councillors. I say ‘everyone’, which isn’t strictly true. Almost everyone We have a new ad size! eighth page Prices 4 issues: 1,800 baht (450 baht per issue) 13 issues: 4,940 baht (380 baht per issue) 52 issues: 15,600 baht (300 baht per issue) All prices based on advance payment Please contact us on 081 649 8361 or [email protected] for more information Dream Guesthouse Cheap room for rent from just 350 baht 0915094729 Th/Eng 0805626735 Swe/Eng Soi 94 (1st left after 7-11) has the right to vote. Many can’t be bothered, don’t believe it does any good, or simply won’t brave the rain. I have to wonder though why our coalition Conservative/ LibDem leaders didn’t see it coming. (The election results that is - not the rain.) While UKIP made some reasonable gains in the local Council elections, they really stormed to victory in the European Parliament, winning more seats than any other UK party, leaving our deputy Prime Minister and LibDem leader Nick Clegg looking as if he was about to cry, while his boss David Cameron dismissed the whole event as tactical voting. Which perhaps it was, along with that of many other European countries where the electorate have a