Set in the thick of probably the busiest area of Bangkok, engulfed by a forest of multi-storey buildings, is an extraordinary hotel, steeped in a 100- year history but brought up to date with an attractive hip look, lots of modern kit and intriguing reminders of a unique and colourful past.
 
Called Prince Theatre Heritage Stay, this tiny venue has played many roles over the past century before becoming a heritage hotel sought after by visitors looking for an atmosphere-laden alternative.
 
Those roles date back to 1912 when it began life as a casino famous for its racy all-male Chinese opera troupe and the shenanigans of its clientele. It was eventually closed down by Royal decree.

By Agneta de Bekassy
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On the back of recent media reports that 86 tigers rescued from the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi have apparently died in captivity in the last three years, the New York Times has followed up with a story on the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, one of Thailand’s oldest and largest zoos, detailing conditions of its 300-plus tigers.
 
The newspaper mentions an exhibit at the zoo called ‘Shoot ‘n Feed’ with tourists firing pellet guns at targets above a tiger pen - direct hits release food to waiting tigers - and tricks that see tigers jumping through a flaming hoop.

The NYT prompted a Thai blogger to visit the Sriracha Tiger Zoo herself. He experience may well shed some light on the background and ownership of these zoos, which has always been something of a mystery.

“I have avoided going to this particular zoo for decades,” wrote the Thai lady. “I already knew its bad reputation and had recently read the article about it in the NYT. So why bother?”
 
“Well, to get to the truth of anything, it’s best to go to the source. See a place for yourself and try not to judge.
 
“Inside the zoo, I sat in front of many small cages and talked to the young tigers, the way you would talk to a dog. 

“They were so cute, but sometimes cried because their cage is small and there is not much to do except pace back and forth or just sit.

“I watched the tiger show and as others were clapping, I felt ashamed.

BCCC and The BigChilli proudly announce THE Expat Entrepreneur Awards

In conjunction with Thailand International Business Awards 2019

The joint Expat Entrepreneur Awards and Thailand International Business Awards (TIBA) will take place on Thursday October 3, 2019 at the Amari Watergate Bangkok. TIBA is an event organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) with The BigChilli.

HIGHLIGHTING THE FOREIGN BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THAILAND'S ECONOMY

“I was born in Vienna in 1957. My father was an agricultural engineer and my mother was a teacher. I joined the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 33 years ago, in 1986. I studied Arabic and political science at university and even before concluding my studies I was assigned as an interpreter to accompany Austrian ministers on trips to Arab countries and accompany other important people when they received guests and dignitaries who spoke Arabic. But what I always wanted was to be a diplomat and not an interpreter,” said Ms Hager. She was well on her way with an assignment in 1988 as attaché for political affairs at the Austrian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, and has since held a number of important positions in Vienna and around the world. As an ambassador, she formerly served in Cyprus and Mexico. (See CV in Box)
 
Asked if the posting in Thailand was her choice, she replied: “Yes, in a way. In our system you have to submit applications for several posts in order to be eligible for assignment. I was pleased to learn I had been chosen for Thailand.
 
“I am also Ambassador to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. It’s not an overloaded job for me, because while serving as Ambassador in Mexico between 2013 and 2017 I was also looking after seven other countries – Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
 
“I have to keep up with the latest information on all four countries I am ambassador to, and I do it on my own, already in the morning from my residence at the embassy compound. This is the first thing I do over breakfast or immediately after. I read Thai English-language news sources and other sources on the internet. Then I look at news from Austria, the EU and around the world.
 
“After getting acquainted with what’s going on in the world and especially Thailand and the region, I take the short walk to the embassy. I decide what the priorities are, especially in regard to Thailand, and I may call on my staff and collaborators to discuss matters and distribute tasks for them. Then I get to less pressing duties, which includes office work.
 
“Essentially, the task of an ambassador is to promote relations with the country we are assigned to in the best possible way, in all fields – politics, economic relations, culture, education, you name it. In order to do that, you have to take part in a lot of activities such as attending meetings and give presentations. You also have to participate in cultural and social events such as –but not limited to – national day receptions and organize events for guests and so on. Most of this occurs in the evening hours. You have to develop and maintain good relations with officials as well as people from the civil society in your host country.
 
“It is a very versatile and flexible job, and it requires a lot of travel. I travel to each of the other three countries I am accredited to a couple of times a year, and maybe more. It depends on whatever operations and activities, like official meetings, there may be.”