Street Smart Sukhumvit

I was coming out from a condo deep inside Sukhumvit 24 when I spotted him.

"Khun Chuwit~!!" I greeted him. "Do you remember me? I interviewed you during the general election campaign before~!!"

He searched my face for a while and said, "Yes, yes I remember you... You're from the newspaper, right?"

I swear I could feel my grin spread from ear-to-ear (should I be flattered he remembered me~?!). "Yes, I came with my editor to see you, the big farang guy~!!"

"You still a journalist?" he asked.

"Oh no, I quit already," I said. (And I swear as soon as I said this, he seemed to relax more ha ha ha - I wonder whyyyyy).

"What do you do now?" he asked.

"I just opened a language school in Thonglo," I said.

"You got a name card?" he asked.

(I internally kicked my own ass in my mind~!!) "Erm, no... My school just newly opened... I haven't gotten a chance to make any name cards..."

He took out his wallet and gave me his name card. It was an eye-popping one:

(Sorry I had to blot out his phone number; but I am sure that Khun Chuwit would NOT appreciate it if I parade his phone number in the world wide web for everybody AND their mother to see... And trust me, you wouldn't wanna piss off someone like Khun Chuwit~!!)

"Whoa~ nice picture~!!!" I remarked, and he laughed.

I swear I better laminate this card coz I am gonna be showing this off to EVERYBODY I know~!!!

And for those who have no idea who Chuwit Kamolvisit is, here's a little crash course:

- Chuwit Kamolvisit (controversial ex-massage parlor tycoon) gained notoriety in 2003 when he was accused of (sneakily) razing Sukhumvit Square at 4 am in the morning using military tanks (he later "renovated" the area and turned it into "Chuwit Garden")

- Chuwit Kamolvisit gained even MORE notoriety when he claimed that he paid 12 million baht a month (plus Rolex watches) as bribes to the police

- Chuwit became a media darling when he appeared on various TV programs after he said he was kidnapped due to the statement above

- ran for the Bangkok Governor election in 2004 (but lost to Apirak Kosayodthin). Nevertheless, he still reached third place, perhaps due to his "unconventional" election posters (like the one pictured right - from the general election).

- During his interview I asked him WHAT IS UP with the hammer he's holding~?! He said, "The hammer means I will smash all of Thailand's problems~!! Ordinary people need someone who is not afraid to speak up, someone ordinary like them, but with a big mouth."

- my all-time favorite Chuwit's quote from my interview:

"When I did the massage parlor business, I cleaned the body. When I get into politics, I shall also clean the body. There are a lot of dirty people in the Parliament." (PRICELESS~!!)

- Chuwit managed to enter the House of Representatives but was kicked out of the Parliament by the Constitution Court last year

More on the colorful Chuwit:

http://www.tomvater.com/chuwit.html

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s999627.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuwit_Kamolvisit

http://www.bangkokpost.net/bkkgov2004/chuwit.html

http://www.bangkokeyes.com/2006aug01.html

(Well, since Chuwit is out of politics already...)

streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com

sukhumvit

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