The Elephant Story

The Clueless Chinese Conquerors

Apr 06, 2020 | 0 comments

Over the past several years, it has been very evident that Emperor Xi Jinping has promulgated his "Belt and Road Campaign" as a means to subjugate poorer countries in order to establish sources of raw materials, provide logistical support for China exports to other markets and fundamentally provide himself a prominent position on the world stage. It is clear that such a system was not needed to export their most recent new product, the COVID-19 pandemic, around the world. On the other hand, had the knowledge of the virus not been suppressed over a month, the virus outcome could have...

And this too shall pass

Apr 02, 2020 | 0 comments

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The Land of Smiles and Equality

Mar 30, 2020 | 0 comments

For the past fifty years or so, the author has always believed there is both racial and sexual equality in Thailand. Most Thai men would deny that. From the beginning of this time period, there were strong and successful Thai women in business; the black GI's on R&R from the Vietnam War fit in well with the local scene and every bar had one or more transgender performers. Since that time, the acceptance level has reached one that is unlike many more allegedly open and tolerant societies. In 1995, the Story clan took a trip to northern Thailand and, when...

Where Is the Covid-19 Border?

Mar 23, 2020 | 0 comments

Having been near "Ground Zero" throughout Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded from January 14 through February 6, it is unusual viewing the situation back in the United States. What is even stranger is sitting in London watching the infection exploding in Europe as it invades the UK ... despite the success of Brexit. Moreover, there has been considerable confusion as to the U.S. approach to the pandemic. The medical advice that it would pass as soon as the weather got better does not seem to be happening. Strangely, we were due to be in Milan and...

It Is Not Over Until the Black Swan Poops

Mar 16, 2020 | 0 comments

As the world frets over pandemic health concerns, tumbling stock markets and falling economic indicators that threaten future employment and life as we know it, it is amazing that Emperor Xi actually predicted the catastrophic event in his address to the Politburo in January 2019. The Nikkei Asia Review recently published an article entitled Xi's Prediction of a Cursed Year Came True. XI warned his Chinese Communist Party cadres in late January 2019 to be prepared for unforeseen incidents (black swans) and highly probable, but uncontrollable, rampages (gray rhinos) in the year to come. As the official name COVID-19 suggests,...

Japanese Manga Mania Is Contagious

Mar 09, 2020 | 0 comments

The author lived in Japan from 1970-1973 and was captivated by the Japanese Moomin cartoon features on Japan TV which was a relief from the troubles in Southeast Asia. In actual fact, the dialogue and plots were simplistic enough for children to understand as well as both "geijian" -- foreign and Japanese adults. In actual fact, Moomin escapism most likely appealed equally to both age spectrums. Many years prior to then, the original Moomin characters and story were created by Swedish-Finnish illustrator, Tove Johanson, in a series of comic strips that began following World War II. In all likelihood, most...

TOMADACHI 友だち

Mar 06, 2020 | 0 comments

Following the most recent commentary regarding an Asian visit mired in Coronavirus concerns, there were some very special, lighter moments on the trip which occurred in Japan. The Japanese are known for being very structured, inflexible and not particularly friendly to westerners. However, that is not true when one comes to know individual Japanese which can develop into long-lasting friendships. By the way, the author did live in Japan three years so there is more than just a passing understanding of the place and culture. “Tomadachi” is the anglicized spelling for the Japanese word “friend” which is more comprehensible to...

Emperor Xi Jinping and the Coronavirus Dragon

Feb 24, 2020 | 0 comments

As President Xi Jinping was chosen the leader of China, he quickly established himself in power and then moved into the category of “emperor for life” to become the new Chairman Mao. Becoming general secretary of the Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission consolidated his position of total control. However, his invincibility has been challenged by the Coronavirus. The author was on the nearby periphery of the virus from January 14 to February 7. That period of time was chosen to visit Hanoi, Tokyo, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. The focal point was the...

The Never-Ending Waves of Thai Coups

Feb 17, 2020 | 0 comments

It all began in 1932 when a small group of Thai military officers executed a bloodless coup to remove King Prajadiphok, thereby bringing seven centuries of absolute monarchy to an end and creating a constitutional monarchy. Since that time, there have been eleven subsequent coups placing Thailand at the top of the international coup leaderboard. The cycle begins with the drafting of a new, incomprehensible constitution to be voted upon by the people which is an interesting throwback to democracy. Elections follow the constitution approval with the military becoming dissatisfied with the ensuing elected government. Often the courts are solicited...

The Mongolian Devil and the Buddhists

Feb 10, 2020 | 0 comments

For over twenty years, the author has had a close relationship with Mongolia serving as the first Honorary Consul of Mongolia to the United States and receiving a Polar Star from President Ts. Elbegdorj of Mongolia for contributions to the development of Mongolia. The Storys maintain a residence in Ulan Baataar, Mongolia though it is a bit off the beaten path and seldom visited these days. In addition to being one of the pioneer corporate investors in the natural resources sector of Mongolia, the author had a corporate presence in Russia for some ten years following dissolution of The Former...

The Sake Story

Feb 03, 2020 | 0 comments

As this Story moved from Thailand to Tokyo in the spring of 1970, it represented a bit of a culture shock from the free-wheeling days of Thailand and Laos to a more constrained and very structured life in a crowded city within a crowded country. Early on, the message was clear to have a go at the national drink of the realm for relief of the tedium which was and largely remains “sake.” Sake is a complex Japanese drink made by fermenting rice. As rice provides so many comforts in Japanese life-tatami mat floors, rice straw roofs and the food...

Repeated Vietnam Tragedies

Jan 27, 2020 | 0 comments

In 1962, the government of South Vietnam and the United States began the implementation of the Strategic Hamlet Program. The strategy was to isolate the rural population from contact with and influence by the Viet Cong. Villagers were rounded up and moved to communal locations where they could be protected and governed by the more “trusted” South Vietnamese government. Below is an image of a then, newly constructed hamlet village with militia guards. It should come as no surprise that the half-baked program was a massive failure. To ensure the villagers would not return to their traditional homes, the houses...

A War Against Gentle Giants and Humanity

Jan 20, 2020 | 0 comments

Jacob Shell, in his book Giants of the Monsoon Forest, highlighted a little-known fact that the during the Vietnam War, U.S. helicopter pilots were ordered to target elephants that were presumed to be employed by the North Vietnamese to transport munitions to the south along the Ho Chi Minh trail in neighboring Laos. There is no doubt that elephants were used to transport goods but the degree of the carnage and deliberate targeting of them came as a surprise. Moreover, there are accounts of up to twenty-eight elephants killed in one province alone. Further, helicopter pilots were instructed to recover...

Move Over Scotland Suntory Is Here

Jan 13, 2020 | 0 comments

Prior to the reversion of Okinawa to Japan in 1972 and following 27 years of U.S. occupation, one could fly to Okinawa, purchase the permitted three bottles of duty-free Johnny Walker Black Label Scotch, sell two of the bottles back in Japan at retail prices, pay for the round-trip airfare and have a free bottle. Therefore, Johnny Walker Black was the currency to support mainland visitors to Okinawa. Most “sophisticated” tipplers in those days would not have considered drinking Suntory Japanese whiskey but it has now arrived. In fact, the price of Black Label has slid to $15 a bottle...

Who Says A Homogeneous Society Is the Most Efficient?

Jan 06, 2020 | 0 comments

The author lived in Japan from 1970 to 1973. During that time, Japanese business practices and their extreme work ethic were predicted to be the wave of the future that would lead to economic world dominance by Japan. The U.S. GDP per capita in 1970 was $5,234 compared to a level of $2,038 for Japan. Over the ensuing years, the Japanese economy spiked in 1987 to become $25,051 per capita relative to $21, 417 for the U.S. The Japanese fell behind in 2000 and in 2018 the Japan GDP per capita was $39,289 relative to $62,795 for the U.S. For...

Dilemma of The Plight of The Rohingya

Dec 30, 2019 | 0 comments

Over two and a half years ago, The Elephant Story published a piece on the plight of the Rohingya. A subsequent article placed the blame on General Min Aun Hlaing for an unknown number of deaths and relocation of more than 700,000 of the ethnic minority Islam Rohingya people from the Rakhine state of northwest of Myanmar to Bangladesh. The general led the campaign to eradicate and suppress these people. Only a few days ago, the heretofore widely accredited “saint,” Aung San Suu Kyi, who was once named in the British parliament as “conscience of a country and a heroine...

English Skills Slide in Thailand But Not in Our Elephant Village

Dec 23, 2019 | 0 comments

Recently, The Bangkok Post published an article entitled Why English Matters to Thailand. English is the second most widely used language in the world after Chinese. However, it far outranks Chinese as an international language. Moreover, the ability to communicate in English is essential for just about anyone seeking to succeed in countless fields from business to academia. English is the official language of 53 countries and is spoken as a first language by approximately 400 million people with another billion people using in regularly. As English is the main language of the internet with 52% of the world’s most...

Emanuelle In Bangkok Moves to Phu Chai Sai In The Golden Triangle

Dec 16, 2019 | 0 comments

Few people in this limited audience would be aware of the film, Emanuelle in Bangkok, which was a masterpiece on many different levels. Having lived in Bangkok during the era of the movie's filming added a certain twist to a revelation that occurred a few weeks ago in the wonderful mountain resort of Phu Chai Sai in The Golden Triangle of Thailand where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand come together. We were guests of Mom Da, owner, and Jason Friedman, Managing Director, of this fantastic property to celebrate the author's birthday. It was particularly poignant given the time spent in the...

Mindless Baby Elephants or Mindless Management of The Khaoi Yai National Park

Dec 09, 2019 | 0 comments

Recently, The Bangkok Post and The Washington Post had press coverage regarding the death of eleven elephants at Khao Yai National Park which has been the subject of other elephant-related articles by The Elephant Story. As meditation is a central concept in the practice of Buddhism, the mindfulness following meditation is often contrasted with the mindlessness of baby elephants. The attention span of baby elephants up to age three is measured in micro-seconds. Moreover, they have not developed the dexterity and strength to accommodate their awkward size. One news account stated that adult elephants trying to save a baby elephant...

Khao Yai Elephant Sanctuary Turns into An Auto Junkyard

Dec 02, 2019 | 0 comments

Some time back The Elephant Story published articles and videos highlighting the lunacy of building highways through an elephant sanctuary in order to link the metropolis of Bangkok with condominium developments on the other side of the Khao Yai National Park and elephant sanctuary. Relative to the issue of man and machine versus elephants, the elephants are winning. It turns out that a large tusker by the name of Duea has chosen to become the official Khao Yai greeter. What is unknown is whether he is in "musth" which is a periodic condition characterized by aggressive behavior following a sixty-fold...