Category Archives: etiquette

The Rules of Modern Manhood

July 2, 2015 – 11:09 am

During my last sojourn to Pattaya I was sitting with Fenway’s mom and several Thai women. They extolled my eating spicy food. I mentioned that most Thai men don’t eat food dosed with chili. The two nearby Thai men argued, “Kin pet dai.” “So you eat sum tam?” I asked about the fiery mango salad. […]

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Naked As A Jaybird

May 18, 2015 – 9:24 pm

Nudity was considered taboo throughout my youth, plus the boreal weather in New England offered few occasions for such a freedom. The naked people available to a young boy were to be found in National Geographic. That illustrious magazine displayed photos of Amazonian tribeswomen with saggy breasts and African nymphettes with pointed nipples. Looking at […]

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The Thai Etiquette Of Hands

April 21, 2015 – 10:32 am

When greeting a Thai male or female, a westerner will stick out his hand. The smiling Thai will offer a wilted bundle of fingers. The farang grasping this imitation of a dead octopus will mistake the weakness of the grip as an exhibition of effeminate behavior. They couldn’t be more wrong. Thai men are vicious […]

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Cowboy Rules 101

May 27, 2014 – 9:15 am

Sent by the ever-tolerant Big Al in Pattaya. He’s my hero. A father/X-fighter. 1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot. 2. Turn your cap right, your head ain’t crooked. 3. Let’s get this straight: it’s called a ‘gravel road.’ I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow […]

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Retort to Cowboy Rules 101

May 27, 2014 – 9:14 am

Life takes all types, but I respect the customs of faraway cultures. We share some of the same traditions. I wear my trousers high. Pants are your bikini briefs. My cap is curved and the logos honor my hometown teams. Nothing else. No truck or lube or fishing references. I drive fully-insured rented cars in […]

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