Category Archives: Uncategorized

On Attending a Stranger’s Funeral in Thailand

Thai monks always remind me of Discworld wizards, vaguely comical, and either morbidly obese or so body-horror sinewy you wonder whether their organs are still on the inside. “My dear, you have black dress?” My heart sank. Nina’s English can be a little cryptic at times. She couldn’t mean did I have a black dress;Continue reading “On Attending a Stranger’s Funeral in Thailand”

Reflections on Three Years in Myanmar

The recent military coup in Myanmar might seem of little importance to many of us – just political trouble in a country most could not find on a map, even if they cared to look. Not only did I find it, I spent three years living in Naypyidaw, the capital.     The Return of DemocracyContinue reading “Reflections on Three Years in Myanmar”

Peckinpah’s Finest: The Argument for The Ballad of Cable Hogue

Don’t make me out no saint, but don’t put me down too deep. The what of the who? Right? I’m trusting you’ve never heard of this movie and I’m going to tell you why it’s worth your time. The Ballad of Cable Hogue is a comedy western, and to the surprise of many, the filmContinue reading “Peckinpah’s Finest: The Argument for The Ballad of Cable Hogue”

A Journey Through Naypyidaw

The ferry-bus was taking us across the tarmac at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. The destination was the plane into Myanmar. It appeared a relatively new jet, which was reassuring as air travel safety is always a concern – you hear stories. As the idea of living to see tomorrow settled in the mind, the bus pulledContinue reading “A Journey Through Naypyidaw”

A Journey Through Naypyidaw

The ferry-bus was taking us across the tarmac at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. The destination was the plane into Myanmar. It appeared a relatively new jet, which was reassuring as air travel safety is always a concern – you hear stories. As the idea of living to see tomorrow settled in the mind, the bus pulledContinue reading “A Journey Through Naypyidaw”

Why Modern Cinema Needs David Cronenberg.

Mr Cronenberg’s films were of the type distinctly not welcome in our house growing up. They were the sort my parent’s slave mentality would call dirty films. Not good or bad artistically. Dirty. Videodrome (1983), The Fly (1986), Crash (1996) and eXistenZ (1999) are movies that totally affront the values of mainstream society. I imagineContinue reading “Why Modern Cinema Needs David Cronenberg.”

Peckinpah’s Finest: The Argument for The Ballad of Cable Hogue

Don’t make me out no saint, but don’t put me down too deep. The what of the who? Right? I’m trusting you’ve never heard of this movie and I’m going to tell you why it’s worth your time. The Ballad of Cable Hogue is a comedy western, and to the surprise of many, the filmContinue reading “Peckinpah’s Finest: The Argument for The Ballad of Cable Hogue”