letters to thailand - part 12

To the boys and girls of the LEO CLUB
C/o the honourable chairperson BeeBee,
The Construction View Hotel Ao Nang, Krabi

"If the city was dreaming," he told me, "then the city is asleep. And I do not fear cities sleeping, stretched out unconscious around their rivers and estuaries, like cats in the moonlight. Sleeping cities are tame and harmless things.
What I fear," he said, "is that one day the cities will waken. That one day the cities will rise."
(The man who got lost in the dreams of a city - World’s End)

"Watch out for the HUMAN."
(Morpheus to Constantine, in Preludes & Nocturnes)

the sandman

The mayor of The Hague took a mouthfull of sand and spoke.
"You are the eyes and ears for the police and for the community. Reliable information is indispensable. To know and be known; giving back public space to ouselves. Skills and agreements are a must, I am proud that you were all willing to follow this special training."
His cheeks glowing with satisfaction the mayor rubbed his hands, in pose and gesture resembling our lovable chairperson when he stands in the doorway of his hotel as another bus- load of white skin shuffles towards the entrance.

A small band of freshly graduated neighbourhood- watchers looked up at their leader in expectation…I’d never seen them before, yet, after a last exame by the thought-police, they were now certified to watch over me while I am roaming my private realm of dreams.

Tens of thousands of security camera’s, neighbourhood web-cam systems and the worlds most extensive mobile phone tracing system couldn't bring back that comfy feel of safety, missing ever since special warnings about left- luggage and people wearing funny hats appeared on national television.

For many years some have stockpiled heavy armoury…living behind barricaded doors they might throw the occasional handgranate when the police comes knocking to ask if all is well.
It didn’t work.

Now there’s a new broom on the block and it shall wipe our streets clean again…see all the scum riding their rats to safety already.
In all there are sixteen of those brooms in my hood. Together they are well over 900 years old; this bundle of experience is armed to the teeth with torches and mobile phones with extra large buttons.
They drive re-enforced mobility scooters with a built-in, 'art of the state', GPS and extra oxygen tanks; some even carry reanimation units.

Talk of the day is a soon to evolve 'Clash of the Titans'… challenging authority, angry pensioners stray ever further from their designated hang-outs.
Both sides are busy charging their batteries to the max.
The local Chinese is taking bets.

letters to thailand - part 1
letters to thailand - part 2
letters to thailand - part 3
letters to thailand - part 4
letters to thailand - part 5
letters to thailand - part 6
letters to thailand - part 7
letters to thailand - part 8
letters to thailand - part 9
letters to thailand - part 10
letters to thailand - part 11