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Published on January 23, 2008

For instance, in one episode two air hostesses slapped each other in the face in a fight over a man - a hoary cliche we have seen so many times before.

The union complained that apart from their sexy outfits, the story lines also imply that cabin crews engage in casual sex. One recent episode featured an air hostess in an adulterous affair with a married pilot.

But our friends in the Editorial Department were surprised by the protest. After all, there's an obligatory woman character in every Thai soap who slaps anyone who eyes her man.

"If the soap is really Thai, there must be one woman slapping another," one of us argued.

Our friends did not think the soap tarnished the image of air hostesses. Instead, it highlights the most cliched element in Thai soap culture. If the audience believes everything they see in Thai soaps, the Thais, regardless of their professions, must slap each other in the face every day.

Besides, there's nothing wrong if air hostesses are bitchy at times, as long as they serve their passengers well. And if Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Atlantic Group, cannot be bothered to raise a protest against a soap showing airline crews who are not virgins, then the THAI union should just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Tarisa on top

Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor Tarisa Watanagase may not look like a people person. She actually looks a bit stiff. But she knows well how to work things out.

Yesterday, she hosted a luncheon for a few dozen National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members, to thank them for supporting BOT-sponsored bills.

Tarisa yesterday opened Bang Khunprom Palace to guests, including prominent economist Ammar Siamwalla and Siam Commercial Bank director Jada Wattanasiritham.

Tarisa did not talk to reporters, for she was busy working the crowd.

Although many are not professional politicians, these NLA members can be difficult to persuade and unpredictable at times. See how the NLA managed to upstage the Commerce Ministry's attempt to pass the Foreign Business Act within the term of the current government.

Officials said that in fact, the BOT had invited several dozen NLA members to the central bank shortly before it presented four financial bills for NLA consideration: the Deposit Insurance Agency, Financial Institution Business, Bank of Thailand and Currency Acts. The central bankers spent time ensuring that NLA members were on the same page with them. Finally, the NLA passed three of the bills, leaving only the Currency Act for the next government to decide.

busdsk@nationgroup.com

The Naiton