One of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen IN Pattaya was Ann. Her beauty lasted longer than most of her competition, as if she bathed in the fountain of youth created by contributions of cash and clothing from her countless foreign . The veteran mistress managed these generous farangs like juggler, yet she was always broke, for beauty such as Ann’s does not come cheap.
One night a French marine asked Ann to go home. She told him an extraordinary price. The marine laughed her her face. Ann had had many frog beaus and told the dejected garlic-eater, “Fuck ta mère.”
The Frenchman reacted to this insult to his mother by throwing a glass of beer in Ann’s face. The impact shattered the glass and a shard tore an inch scar behind her jaw. Lots of blood. Angry Thais wanting to kill the farang. The police arrested him. He was looking at 6 months in jail, but Ann settled for 400,000 baht to drop charges.
400,000 in a Thai girl’s hands lasts how long?
Less than a week in Ann’s case.
10 baht of gold = 100K
Sick buffalo fund in Ban Nok = 50K
New motorcycle = 50K
Partying for a week = 50K
New clothes = 50K
Lending money to friends = 50K
Money goes quick when you’re having fun, but even Ann was surprised how fast 400K evaporated with the pedal pushed to the metal.
Jamie Parker, a man of little wisdom, heard this story of riches to rags and said, “The Thai Midas Touch works in reverse for a Thai bargirl. Any gold they touch turns into lead, but it doesn’t matter because they think, “There’s plenty more where that went.”
“So it’s the anti-Midas touch.” King Midas had been gifted with the ability to turn everything he touched into gold by a grateful satyr. The blessing became a curse. Water and food turned to gold. “More like the gold turns to mud.”
“Yes, I’ve been to Ban Nok too.” Money earned in Pattaya was funneled into the Isaan economy with hopes of breaking the eternal merry-go-round of poverty. “Throwing money at a problem doesn’t make it go away.”
“Education.” I had graduated from university in the 70s.
“School here isn’t what it was when you were growing up and neither is university in th4e USA. I graduated from high school in 1972. I talk to college kids on their backpacking tour. None of them know which planet is closest to the sun. I doubt Ann finished grammar school.”
“A beauty like hers doesn’t need schooling.” She spoke Thai, English, French, and Japanese. Her travels had taken her to Switzerland, Australia, and Japan. The money would keep coming and her patrons would keep giving and she’d always be broke. “She’ll be fine.”
Jamie was right, because a week later Ann was seeing the French marine.
They were in love.
Kwahm Lak 100%.
And the money came from him and went to the rice fields of Isaan which were only mud once a year if the rains were good.
Sadim is Midas backwards.
The roots of this need to spend is highlighted in an article from this 1928 article featured in 2bangkok.com
Bangkok, Siam… It has always been a moot question in all minds as to why people of Siam are never over-burdened with riches. Now the answer comes in the form of a series of pictures which demonstrates in graphic way how surplus riches of the people are disposed of. When a man of Siam thinks he’s too wealthy to go to heaven he promptly goes out and purchases as much food, clothing, fruit, etc. as will relieve him of his surplus money. He then mounts a high platform built for the express purpose and throws his gifts down to members of the poorer class below. Since all have a right to the food and clothing offered a merry battle goes on for possession of the offerings. Hooks are even made which might tend to give the seeker a better chance to make a good haul. However, before the foodstuffs and clothing are given away, prayers and praises to the king of the devil or “Phya Yomaraj” are sung. The prayers insure the donors of recognition when they dies and are led before the king of the devil for entrance to heaven. After the prayers are said and the food distributed, the huge image is burnt, and residents of Siam must wait until they pile up more coin of the realm before they can stage another similar celebration. October 23, 1928
Easy come, easy go.