futureframe articles
Last updated December 1, 2001

Return to the Ron FAQ

What else do you do?
    I wrote a monthly column on Thailand for the German webzine futureframe (a German-language version appeared in MorgenWelt). futureframe finally closed shop in August, 2001, but the German-language articles are still online at MorgenWelt in the kolumne section. The English-language versions are archived below. Archive of the German-language translations is here.

Articles: (in German only) Thailands Gold-Ente Auf den Spuren einer Schatzsuche, die offenbar nie enden will... (Thailand's Golden Parachute - A continuing urban legend) June, 2001 (in German only) Der Marathonläufer Mechai Viravaidya ist der wohl bekannteste Gründer einer unabhängigen Hilfsorganisation in Thailand. Ron Morris hat ihn porträtiert (Straight talk from legendary public-health campaigner Meechai Viravaidya) May, 2001 Water hyacinths: turning a weed into a win-win situation - In Thailand, this former waterway pest is fueling agriculture, exports - and more research. March, 2001

At Home with the Spirits - The continuing urban phenomenon of spirit houses... February, 2001 Weaving a Better Future - How do you empower poor village women and bolster their culture at the same time? A successful program to help women develop entrepreneurial skills has given many villagers in Thailand the experience of making a business plan, saving, and investing. January 29, 2001 Transient Culture Made in Bangkok - Disposable paper as a window to history... December, 2000 Opening a Can of Bugs - What goes with cold beer? How about a crispy mole cricket? With characteristic inventiveness, Thai gourmets have set about starting a new culinary trend. November, 2000

Thailand's New Wave Cinema - A talk with maverick filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang...  October, 2000 Translating the Simpsons  - How does one translate something as American as the Simpsons into a Southeast Asian language without losing the humor along the way? September, 2000 Gone In A Puff of Smoke - Thais have a general sense of pride in the fact that they were able to open their markets and still avoid the runaway rates of smoking. August, 2000 Realizing a Dream - A Change of Sex - Thailand has gained renown in the field of sex reassignment. July, 2000

Acknowledging Unseen Forces - The signs are everywhere: 8-sided mirrors and other clues prove that ancient Feng Shui is very much alive in high-tech Asian societies. June, 2000 Paradise Beyond the Horizon - What price does the portrayal of paradise exact? Visit the beach used as a backdrop to the Leonardo DiCaprio movie. May, 2000 "Hyperlinking" Ancient Ruins - An hour's flight from Bangkok, one of the wonders of the ancient world awaits - until 1999 out of mainstream travel itineraries. April 17, 2000 Art that Sells - Thai modern art is accomplished and varied, both following Western art ideals and forging its own unique paths. March 27, 2000

Klong Life Revisited - Europeans once knew Bangkok as the "Venice of the East." Today, many Thais take canal buses focusing renewed attention on canal life. February 21, 2000 The Pachyderm Predicament - What is large, grey, and wearily walks the streets of Bangkok? Read about the fate of a country's displaced elephants. January 17, 2000 Urban Marketplace - Chatuchak weekend market still holds a firm place in the commerce of Thailand's Number One city. December 13, 1999 The Dawn of Modern Rapid Transit in Bangkok  - High above some of the most congested traffic arteries in the world, Thailand has built the new Bangkok Skytrain. October 11, 1999

Below is my author blurb from futureframe
(in German on the MorgenWelt site here)

Ron Morris Journalist / Thailand Raised in a small town in the midwestern U.S., Ron spent several years acting and writing in Hollywood before leaving the California for an itinerant life in Asia. In 1992, he found himself amongst a crowd of demonstrators in Bangkok as the military broke up the protest. Being witness to real history hooked him on the culture and politics of Southeast Asia. Presently he is dwelling on mass transit projects, Angkor Wat, beaches, the Simpsons, and the works of Joseph Conrad. He works and lives in what he regards as the greatest metropolis in the world, Bangkok, where he writes, edits, and tends to his websites http://angkor.com, http://2bangkok.com, and http://cityrain.com.

Return to the Ron FAQ