|
Snap Shots: Buying an
SLR camera
Look first at your bankbook
before looking at the system
by Harry Flashman
If you have ideas of doing something with photography, now
or even later, then I believe you have to look at getting an SLR. That stands
for Single Lens Reflex, and is a type of camera that allows you to change
lenses, and focus by looking through the lens. WYSIWYG principle. What You See
Is What You Get.
 Nikon
D1x
However, choices are many - and difficult. As with all
purchases, you have to first set your budget. It is pointless looking at
250,000 baht cameras if you have a 25,000 baht budget. Look at your finances
and then go from there. Let common sense rule your bankbook, not your emotions.
The next decision is whether you will remain true to film,
or whether you are going to go digital. Digital devotees will say how much
money they save by not having to get films developed and printed, how they can
see straight away whether they have got the shot they wanted and how they can
manipulate the shot they have taken on their home computer. What they do not
say is how they can show the photo to their friends. Lug the computer round to
Aunty’s house? Or buy an expensive printer, loaded with expensive
photographic quality paper and then make prints yourself? Personally, I believe
the choice is simple. If you are taking pictures to send via email, then go
digital. If your photographs are to be kept in albums to show to your friends
then stay conventional.
Having done all of the above, now you should start hanging
around the camera shops. What you have to remember with SLR’s is that you are
buying into a “system”, not just a camera. You should be looking to the
future to be able to add on to what you have.
If you are starting with a small budget, then you are better
off buying one camera body and one lens, then building up from there. Next
purchase would be a wide-angle lens, then a portrait lens and so on. With the
better brands, the new lenses will fit the older cameras and vice versa, so you
have the option of starting with good second hand equipment as well. After I
had my cameras stolen I went out and bought two S/H bodies, one motor drive and
three lenses. This gave me the capabilities of my previous system, without the
total horrendous cost of replacing the lot.
While on S/H equipment, I go to Mah Boon Krong in Bangkok
and have dealt with a company called Foto File on the ground floor. The
equipment is generally in good condition and you will get a (short) warranty
that is enough for you to put a couple of rolls of film through to check that
it is operating properly. Bargain hard, but you won’t get them to come down
much. (If you do, let me know and you can take my order next time!)
My personal favourite is Nikon. The typical journalist’s
camera is the FM2n. A totally ‘mechanical’ camera that will work anywhere,
any time. Rugged and reliable. Expect to pay around 9,000 baht for a newish
body only. Nikon also has great optics in the lenses and they will retro-fit.
Lenses are a few thousand baht each too.
If price is no drawback then the Nikon F5 is hard to beat.
The pro’s camera. If you cannot afford this one, then take a look at the
Nikon N90s as used by local pro shooter Howard Greene.
The other brand used by 50 percent of pro shooters is Canon,
with the top of the range EOS-1N RS rivalling the Nikon F5. Again, you’ll
need a fat wallet for one of these. The cheaper EOS models are also good
cameras. After those two brands, look at the Olympus and Pentax; however, never
forget you are buying into a system that should stay with you for life.
So there you have it. See how big your cash tin is and then go from there.
Happy hunting!
Modern Medicine: Grierson-Gopalan Syndrome - just another name for the Hot Foot?
by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant
This week I would like to introduce you to the
Grierson-Gopalan Syndrome, otherwise known as the Burning Foot Syndrome, which
we medico’s happily shorten to BFS. It is a fine example of how much we know
about the human body, and conversely, how little we really do know! Sort of like
the “More you know, the less you understand” concept often applied to expats
living in Thailand.
My interest in BFS comes from the fact that I have got it.
And so have many of you who are reading this. For almost all my life I have been
unable to have my feet under the bed sheets, needing to hang them out in the
cool breeze, because they feel so hot. My father also had this complaint and I
was heartened to see that the pundits examining this medical mystery call mine
an Autosomal dominant familial disorder, when one’s forebears also have/had
it.
But back to medical examination of the feet. Researchers who
have by now gone through many feet of data have found that it was first
described in 1826 by a doctor called Grierson. Gopalan, by comparison, was a
real Johnny Come Lately having written down his description of my nocturnal hot
feet in 1946.
It may also be of interest to know that the researchers have
found an increased incidence of BFS in Asia and the Far East during a hot
summer. It also seems more prevalent in people over the age of 50, and is worse
at night. Ah, the medical dragnet is tightening.
Further investigation has turned up all sorts of conditions
of interest to the hot foot sufferer. These range from Vitamin B deficiency,
Malabsorption syndrome, chronic alcoholism, Diabetes, kidney failure, inactive
thyroid gland, compression of the tarsal nerve at the ankle, trauma to the
nerve, Erythromelalgia, chronic mountain sickness, Gitelman syndrome,
Leishmaniasis, multiple sclerosis, psychosomatic disorders and the last,
“idiopathic”.
Taking the last first, “idiopathic” is a wonderful
medical moniker. This is translated as a disease or condition of unknown cause.
“Yes, Mrs. Smith, we know what you’ve got. It is called BFS, but since it is
‘idiopathic’ we don’t know what causes it, or what to do about it!” What
wonderfully comforting people we medicos are.
However, we can do some tests. Have we ever got some tests
for you! We can begin with a complete blood count, red cell indices,
biochemistry, check your serum levels of Vitamin B, check for diabetes, check
your stool for malabsorption, bung in a thyroid check, do a bone marrow
aspiration, check your serum and urine electrolytes, do some nerve conduction
studies (include a nerve biopsy in that), do some molecular genetic studies and
then perhaps some MRI screening of the ankles.
My medical research colleagues do have some general words of
advice, however. It is suggested that first off we reassure the patient - see
the response to Mrs. Smith and “idiopathic”. Then you should wear open and
comfortable shoes and cotton socks. Soaking your feet in cold water for 15
minutes is also suggested and avoid the heat! Apart from that, if you’ve found
something wrong, correct it, but you usually don’t find anything. Amazing what
you can learn in a six year degree course!
When all that fails, you can just try hanging your feet out from the end of
the bed and making sure the sheet only reaches your ankles. It works for me.
I’m sure it will for you too!
 Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
I read all the great advice that you pass onto your misguided readers. But i
don’t know if you can help out my friend Jerry or not. You see i don’t get
to Pattaya much so i use different Web Sites to stay up with the happenings
along with the Pattaya Mail. The other day i visited the TQ’s web site and
there were numerous photos of Jerry. Not only does he chase young girls and
golf balls with no success but he is spending money that he could be buying
chocolate’s and champaign (sic) for you. Now i know you want to tell me to
mind my own business and let Jerry do what he wants but it’s your well being
that i am thinking of.
Truly Tully
Dear Truly Tully,
You are such a sweet man, even if English is obviously your third language, or
you are a very shy person, not using the capital letter “i” to denote
yourself. You should write “I”, Tully my turtle dove. Now, your friend
Jerry. Why is your friend figuring on a web site devoted to chrome poling? This
has me a little worried, I must admit. Perhaps he is going through the male
menopause, a bit of a change is coming on? I do thank you for looking after my
well being, but if that were truly the case, Truly Tully, then you would send
the aforementioned chocolates and champagne yourself. By the way, it is not the
“readers” who are “misguided”, but the writers. That includes you,
Poppet!
And while I think of it, you wrote to me about two and a half years ago,
complaining about Jerry’s popularity at that time, and it seems you are still
harboring much jealousy. I replied, “Regarding your problem with Jerry’s
popularity. If Jerry wants to lash out with the odd 500 baht note, what’s so
wrong with that? There may be better causes and charities around, but remember,
there’s no pockets in shrouds. It certainly isn’t worth keeping for the
next life. The girls he donates to all have dying mothers, dying buffaloes and
assorted children to feed, and this is how they make their money. So this makes
him popular in certain bars around town - let him enjoy it. If he’s going to
go broke with his endless generosity, that is his decision, not yours.” The
only decision you have to make, Truly Tully, is which vintage of French
champagne you are going to send me.
Dear Hillary,
I have met a Thai girl last year, since then I have been coming to Thailand
every 3-4 months, solely to see her. I have even split my holiday evenly in
regular intervals to see her frequently - that how much I like her. We have
exchanged the phone numbers and the e-mails and we have been in contact with
each other from time to time. However, I seem cannot enlighten her with the
meaning of “about” or “around”. You see, she is always eager to know
when I will be arriving to Thailand next time and when I reply to her “in
about 3 months”, she takes it literally to be 90 days, because when I call
her the next time - for instance in 2 weeks - she starts enquiring me with my
arrival date and when I reply to her in about 3 months, somehow she gets upsets
as in her mind I have changed the date and should be arriving in two and a half
months and not three. Hillary, you know how is the situation working as a
professional for a leading company, you cannot be sure when you will get your
next leave, it depends on your boss mode, it easily could be 1-2 weeks
postponed. Please help me in finding correct words to convey her what I mean
when I say “about”. I even tried “approximate” but that even confuse
her.
Alley
Dear Alley,
I take it from your letter that English isn’t your mother tongue either, so
you already know some of the problems your girlfriend is having in trying to
communicate in another language. You have also found the answer yourself when
you say in your letter that it could be 1-2 weeks postponed - in other words,
you are saying that it will be in “about” one to two weeks. When you want
to say you will be coming back in “about three months” then what you have
to say is “coming back in 3-4 months” and your Thai girlfriend will know
that this means “about”. Remember too, that one reason why she will want to
tie down the dates is that she has to organize and arrange her life too, please
don’t forget that.
Dear Hillary,
Wee Nit (the adorable) continues to ding dong merrily on high and is eagerly
awaiting the chocolate egg and fluffy bunny giving festival. “Make me happy
too much,” says she. Where can I find a fluffy bunny? I suspect you know the
answer, Hillary.
Mistersingha
Dear Mistersingha,
I am sure Wee Nit (the adorable) is eagerly awaiting her chocolates, but no
more so than I. Your promises are worthless, Mistersingha, my “go hoke”
(Thai - ask Nit what it means), Petal. I hope she stuffs your fluffy bunny
somewhere painful.
A Slice of Thai History: Thai-Indonesian Interaction
Part One: 1899-1946
by Duncan steam
The first Indonesians to settle in
modern Thailand were brought over from the island of Java at the behest of
King Chulalongkorn. The monarch had first visited Dutch-controlled Java in
1893 and went again in 1899. He was so impressed by the beautiful gardens
he saw in the palace compounds of the two remaining sultanates in the
centre of the island that he determined to hire Javanese gardeners to tend
his palace grounds in Bangkok.
Thus, around 100 Indonesians were employed by the king
and brought from central Java to Bangkok. The majority worked, as
intended, in the palace gardens, while others were employed building the
new roads being constructed around the capital. Their hard-working nature
and the quality of their efforts impressed Thai officials.
The Dutch, via the private Netherlands East India
Company (VOC), had begun dominating the Indonesian archipelago from the
beginning of the seventeenth century. In 1798, the VOC turned over control
of Indonesia to the Dutch government. However, controlling such a vast and
extended series of islands was no easy task and the Dutch faced almost
constant revolts from the native populace.
The second wave of Indonesian emigration to Thailand
occurred during the 1920s following a series of abortive risings against
Dutch rule during that decade. Although the precise number of political
refugees is not known, the figure ran into the hundreds, with most coming
from Sumatra. The Indonesian influence in parts of Bangkok was strong
enough so that the area known as Makkasan, near Pratunam, derives its name
from the island of Makasar, home of the renowned Buginese sailors.
These newcomers earned their living as small
businessmen, religious teachers or labourers and were later to provide
succour and support for the third wave of Indonesian migration to
Thailand.
This third group came during the Second World War,
mainly between 1942 and 1944, at the behest of the Japanese. After
conquering the Netherlands East Indies, the Japanese needed labourers to
work on construction of the Burma-Siam railway and drew the labour they
required from local Thais, Allied prisoners-of-war (POWs), and peoples of
occupied territories such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The majority of
Indonesians came from Java, many enticed by promises of plentiful food in
Thailand while others were simply compelled to work for Japan.
As the Japanese began suffering military reverses they
began organising able-bodied Indonesian volunteers into armed units,
recruiting them with promises of future independence for Indonesia under
the protection of Japan. These volunteers thought they would be defending
their homeland, but a significant number were shipped to Thailand where
they were used to watch Allied POWs, thus releasing Japanese soldiers for
more active service elsewhere.
After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the commanders of
the newly released Dutch forces in Thailand asked for volunteers among the
Indonesian labourers to be organised into military units to be repatriated
to Indonesia to help with restoring order and removing the Japanese from
their homeland. A large number of the labourers responded to the Dutch and
volunteered to return to aid in the rebuilding process.
However, by this time the revolutionary movement in
their homeland, led by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, had declared
independence from the Netherlands and when the volunteers in Thailand were
made aware that they would, in all probability, be used to fight their own
countrymen, most changed their minds.
In March 1946, around 280 Indonesian native troops who
were commissioned in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and were
housed in different Dutch-controlled camps in Bangkok, deserted and fled
to Saigon in Vietnam and also to the south. They only returned to Bangkok
when the Dutch had gone.
Most of the returnees also went south to the
predominantly Muslim provinces, and started working as rubber tappers and
fishermen. They became involved with the local inhabitants, marrying Thai
girls or Indonesian girls born in Thailand.
Personal Directions: Asian Tigers are a rare species
by Christina Dodd
I always knew that Asian Tigers were a rare species, but
the reality of just how rare and special hit me when I experienced at first
hand the way Transpo International - Asian Tigers - sets its teams to work.
Moving for most of us is a traumatic time to say the least, especially when
everything you possess and have collected in life is literally placed in the
hands of complete strangers. All sorts of worries and anxieties emerge and
you find that you behave like a frantic mother hen running around after her
only chic.
In the business of moving people, the ability to relate
well and to understand the customer is possibly the most critical part of
any job. People - customers - amazingly become very fussy and perhaps a
little too demanding and sometimes unbearable, as they observe the packers
going about their work. I can honestly say that I would not particularly
enjoy being watched so closely as I tried to do my job!
Recently when Transpo arrived at my door, however, I felt
a sudden state of calm. Right from the first point of contact over the phone
I was impressed but when the actual team came to pack up my world and carry
it away - they gave me a strong sense of re-assurance that my life’s
possessions were in safe hands. This whole exercise has therefore prompted
me to highlight in today’s story the importance of teamwork, and the fact
that given the opportunity, young people can lead and lead extremely well.
This was the case with the supervisor who was sent to
take care of this operation. He seemed younger than any of the others in the
team and I was a little surprised at first. I wondered whether he had the
qualities required of a team leader considering the ages of everyone else.
Anyway, Khun J.R. was in charge, and his communication ability was faultless
from the start. During the days the “Tigers” were with us we did have a
few uncertain moments, but at the end of the day all was sorted out. It
seemed as though everything was sorted out in a whisper. No dramatics, no
raised voices - the tasks of problem solving and decision-making went into
smooth and results-driven motion with a final positive outcome.
This is extremely essential from the customer’s point
of view. To have professionals around who “really are” who they say they
are.
Talking about things being done in whispers, come to
think of it, during the whole process there seemed to be very little noise
made by the team. They toiled away, each concentrating on their respective
areas with unwavering focus and attention. The only sounds that could be
heard I recall were the wrapping and cutting of sheets of paper, the
screeching noise of packing tape and the sound of cutters slicing up heavy
card. Of course there was conversation, don’t get me wrong, but really
only when necessary.
When the final load-up was completed, and all the
paperwork in place, I looked around to see an empty house polished and
cleaned, ready for the next occupant to simply walk in. All I had to do was
to pick up my small carry bag and put the key in the ignition; ready to meet
up the following week and to hear once again the sound of paper - this time
the “unwrapping” of it.
This experience was so pleasant that I think it would
really be nice to have a personal team, just like these guys, around the
whole time simply to get through life!
The effect that good teamwork has on those on the
receiving end can only bring rewards. The team produces results and the
customer feels good. The customer is happy and free of a lot of the stress
that would normally accompany such a task as moving. The customer, whose
life is quite personal and private when talking about household goods, feels
secure and does not feel as though their secrets and treasures have been
violated or intruded upon. This is a very important aspect of this business
as everything you hold dear is touched and looked at by those unfamiliar to
you.
One thing that was very evident with the fellows in
J.R.’s team was that they treated everything, every item, with due regard
and respect. Their training has been thorough enough for them to have a
clear understanding of the various customers they will be servicing and
their needs. This team was so thorough that upon arrival at the new
destination they all remembered what they had packed in the boxes that were
marked with their names. As they were unloaded, the contents were easily
recalled and allocated to the appropriate rooms. Even when I had trouble
remembering some of the items (it’s quite striking how you can have mental
blanks in these situations) young J.R. came to the rescue knowing exactly
what was inside, and what I had remarked about certain objects.
Efficient and effective teamwork in the industry of
moving people is paramount to success. There is no doubt about it. To be
move management specialists you do indeed have to invest in training and
keeping the spirit of teamwork at its highest possible level. There is no
room for second best in this industry or in any industry for that matter. It
is refreshing to see companies invest in their people and to see companies,
such as Transpo, acknowledge the fact that the best thing they have going
for them is their “people”.
We all know and understand the need for teamwork in our
respective industries and professions. The results that come forward are
win/win for all concerned when teamwork is like the smooth running of a
finely tuned timepiece; all parts working to a well-balanced routine
providing consistent and precision timing. And whether it’s a team of a
few or a team of many, no matter how the numbers fall, the leader is the key
element in fine-tuning the process and ensuring the final outcome.
Job well done Asian Tigers!
For more information on our personal training or coaching
services, or any of our business and corporate skills programs, please
don’t hesitate to contact me at Christina.dodd@asiatraining associates.com
Until next time, have a great week!
Social Commentary by Khai Khem:
What’s left on the menu we can trust?
When I was growing up my parents would not allow me to leave
the dinner table without cleaning my plate. Thankfully I was not a picky eater,
and an active lifestyle promoted a healthy, almost insatiable appetite. In those
days most of us took for it granted that the food we ate was safe. Was it
really? Now I’m not so sure.
Our recent outbreak of bird flu has devastated the poultry
industry of a number of countries. This is now a new strain, but the disease is
not new. If memory serves me, Hong Kong slaughtered millions of birds a few
years ago, and I think most readers remember the devastating effects of Mad Cow
disease in England which left the beef industry in the UK in ruins.
In the late 1990’s an outbreak of e-coli in Japan hit
Japanese school children so hard many schools were closed until it the source
could be located, contained and eliminated. American hamburgers have been
demonized in recent years when people across the USA fall sick from contaminated
beef. Hoof and mouth disease in livestock has often reduced ranchers and farmers
to financial oblivion and dangerous pesticides have forced produce growers to
destroy their crops.
DDT was once touted as a miracle chemical which would protect
farmers’ crops from insects. This magic bullet is now a considered a death
blow to the environment and banned from use.
MSG, the chemical flavor-enhancer and preservative, is now
found to trigger asthma attacks, headaches and other adverse reactions. Most
people don’t even realize the food they eat has MSG added to it, therefore
some countries demand information on a label warning which foods include it. In
the past decade restaurants around the world have stopped using it and display
prominent signs that their food is cooked without it.
Our latest health scare in Thailand now involves one of the
staples of our diets. How long can we avoid eating chicken? Many Thais are
Buddhists who do not eat beef and the prices of less controversial foods are
bound to rise. Fruits and veggies are now separated in the supermarkets by price
and environmental nurture. Organically grown produce is more than twice the
price of the ordinary “spray and pray’ variety. Price counts! Even middle
class wage earners have to draw the line somewhere. The very poor have little
choice but to eat what they can afford.
I also have friends who drive imported cars from Europe that
cost more than their family home, but will haggle to their last breath when
purchasing some things, and surprisingly, pricey food which is cooked at home
brings out their stingy streak. The price of a dinner at a first class
restaurant doesn’t make them gasp as loud as a small increase in the price of
limes or eggs at the wet-market.
The lowly chicken’s present plight is temporary. The
outbreak of bird flu will come and go, and like SARS, war and the stock market
crash, we will survive it - albeit millions of chickens won’t. Authorities
have been accused of covering up the severity of the problem in every nation
that has been hit with this plague. I sympathize with the public’s suspicion.
But we must give credit to our officials for wanting time to get it right.
Public panic triggered by rumors and misinformation would create a worse
situation than we already have.
So what’s on the menu this week at my house? Chicken - what
else? Thailand is a major producer and exporter of chickens around the world. We
are about to find out how important brand merchandising is in the modern market.
Reputable companies with good track records will supply us with safe chickens.
Big supermarkets, good hotels and fine restaurants choose their suppliers with
care. What supplier provided Government House with all those weekly chicken
delicacies? This group was very confident that their food was safe!
I don’t wish to make light of such a serious situation. My heart goes out
to the unfortunate farmers who will suffer economic ruin from this unforeseen
disaster and I weep for the families whose members have been struck down by this
fickle virus. Swift and sincere action is being taken across the region to
prevent more tragedy and great effort is being made to contain the damage. We
must give our officials and public health workers time to do their jobs and
support their efforts. Let’s not rush to judgment until we have all the facts.
|
