Post 372: Asian Markets in Crisis

When I say ‘Asian Markets’, I’m referring not to Stock Markets but to grocery stores, small independent businesses, specifically those here in Thailand....

On and off for the past eighteen months I’ve lived on the very outskirts of Bangkok in an unremarkable housing complex containing 140 single room apartments for young professionals and small families. At a little less than £100 per month including all utilities, air conditioning, Thai cable TV and occasional WiFi, it’s probably quite representative of affordable city living for young Thai’s. The ground floor of the apartment complex is home to several commercial live/work units; two small restaurants, one laundry, a florist and two independent convenience stores, all of whom currently survive on trade from the residents......

This is not a unique situation but something that’s repeated in every suburb around the country. Community living where ‘community’ means exactly what it used to mean; local people running local businesses supported by local people, who they in turn support. Micro economies that react quickly to market needs and survive by offering excellent personal service and by always going the extra mile.  It’s one of the greatest reasons for living here, but it’s a situation that rapidly changing.......

For several years these small independent stores have faced fierce competition from major chains who have expanded into the market; 7 Eleven and Family Mart. However, things now seem to be changing more rapidly, thanks in the main to Tesco Lotus, the Asian arm of Tesco UK. They started with Mega Stores, which I guess was inevitable, but now their smaller ‘Express’ stores seem to be springing up all around us. 7 Eleven and Family Mart tend to be franchise operations owned and operated by local people, but Tesco Lotus I fear are not. Given Tesco’s alleged penchant for litigation, I’ll be careful with my words, but I do fear for the future of this small community and countless others just like it across Thailand.........

Tesco monopolising Thai grocery shopping, what next? ..... Monsanto taking over grain production in Nepal? .... Just a thought!     

Post 371: Honda Super Cub .. Tiger Retro 110

I'd seen them on the road, not in numbers that would overwhelm the more familiar Honda Wave's and Yamaha Fino's that travel the Soi's of Bangkok, but in numbers sufficient enough to make me sit up and take notice. The Honda Super Cub, without doubt the most iconic powered two-wheeler ever made, the bike that mobilised the world, the most produced vehicle in history, 53 years in production and more than 6,000,000 produced to date.   

I'd heard that Honda were reintroducing the Super Cub, but I'd only seen pictures, nothing in the flesh. In photographs the new Super Cub had looked lovely, but it was clearly a representation of the original and not a faithful reproduction. The Super Cub's that I was seeing here in Thailand seemed different to Honda's offering, more original, authentic and true to the original design.

Last year in Phitsanulok, I'd bought a beautiful pair of Converse shoes; comfortable, stylish and robust. They've served me well for a year of walking, riding and travelling. While treating them to a jolly good Spring clean I'd noticed something rather strange written on the side: 'COAVERSE' not 'CONVERSE'. Unless Converse are employing dyslexics in Quality Control, then clearly these beautiful shoes that I've loved and worn for a year are not original 'Converse' products. However, they cost half as much as the originals and with the exception of spelling, pass muster at every inspection.

When the opportunity came to get up close and personal with one of these bikes, I took it. Like my beautiful shoes, the only difference between this bike and a Honda Super Cub seems to be literate in nature: The engine side casings don't say 'Honda', but 'Tiger'. This is in fact the Tiger Retro 110, made in Thailand by the Tiger Motor Company in Bangkok. 

It's a faithful, and I assume legal, reproduction of the original. So much so that when the time comes to source replacement parts, you refer directly to the Honda Super Cub parts catalogue. Owners of original Honda Super Cubs might scoff at the this bike, but after a short test ride I fell in love with it, warts and all; low power, four clunky slick-shift gears, brakes to die from and suspension that ignores all advances in technology and knowledge. In a word, The Tiger 110 Retro is BEAUTIFUL. 

A couple of years ago I rode a Triumph Tiger around the world, now the question is ........
Where should I take this Tiger?

Post 370: Bangkok Ghosts II

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the Hopewell Towers running towards Don Meuang Airport in Bangkok, the Ghosts of a mass transit system that was never completed. They've stood for fifteen years and are made from concrete, so should probably stand for a little while longer......

Unfortunately the few sections that had horizontal platforms in place were supported with metal scaffold. Metal prices must be rising because somebody came along and started to steal it .....

....... and on Sunday, just like the Asian economy that had brought them to their current status, it collapsed.