In the final weeks of 2023 the old chestnut of introducing a cable car system on Phu Kradeung (Bell Mountain) national park resurfaced. It came as no surprise when a Bangkok Post headline concluded on the very last day of the year that the project "faces uncertainty".
For more than three decades the authorities have been trying to find an easy way of getting tourists up the Loei mountain. In fact it is really a plateau and has long been a sanctuary for wild animals as well as possessing flora more associated with temperate climes.
But the key aspect about Phu Kradeung is that it has always required a significant effort to reach the place, let alone trekking to the top. Even getting to Loei is something of a challenge. Then comes an arduous trek up the mountain which is enough to put off most people.
In 2003 there was a proposal to provide a helicopter service for those who couldn't be bothered to walk. Thankfully, this never got off the ground. Apart from scaring all the animals, it would have opened up the prospect of that ubiquitous species "The Day Tripper" descending on the scene. People could board the copter and drop in after a maybe 20-minute journey, snap a few selfies and head back to civilisation having "done" Phu Kradeung. Except it's not supposed to be that easy.
Phu Kradeung is a wonderful gift of nature and to keep it that way perhaps it should remain being accessible only on foot.
Climb down
About 10 years ago I stood at the foot of Phu Kradeung, contemplating whether I was capable of making it all the way. The answer came quickly in the form of a pained expression from the wife which translated quite clearly as "Don't even think about it".
I didn't venture up but not just because of the wife's misgivings. To reach the summit required a steep trek taking four hours for normal people and longer for less athletic mortals like myself. In other words, considerable willpower would be required.
So I settled for a standard photo posing by the gateway suggesting I was about to embark on a gruelling climb. In fact the next stop was to be a nearby refreshment area for a nice cold beer. I did actually take a token 10-minute walk up the mountain trail after which I was sweating buckets and realised it was time to retreat.
The wife was right again.
Off to see the wizard
While surfing the television this week I came across Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It was the first in the series and has stood the test of time pretty well. It took me back to when I originally saw it at a Bangkok cinema 23 years ago. It's scary to think those cute kids, Harry, Hermione and Ron are in their mid 30s now.
Back then, despite my reluctance to see the film, my wife persuaded me to go along and I'm glad she did. I never understood the plot but that didn't matter as there were so many things going on, laced with humour. There was Harry's first wand, goblins, serpents, baby dragons, delightful owls delivering the mail and even a ferocious three-headed dog called Fluffy. What more could you ask for? By the time the final Potter movie was released it was me dragging the wife along.
Best of British
Much of the appeal in the Potter series was the quality of the acting, especially the terrific supporting cast, a fine array of British thespians in mainly cameo roles. Among them were Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, John Hurt, Julie Walters, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane. What a line-up.
I particularly enjoyed the late Rickman as Severus Snape, the enigmatic Potions Master. What a delicious clipped voice he possessed and he steals every scene. Rickman could make the telephone book sound menacing and was capable of being intimidating without saying a word. If he had been my master at school I would have been terrified of him.
Initial thoughts
JK Rowling, the author responsible for Harry Potter, is a very familiar name, but not everyone is aware what her initials stand for. Fans will know her first name is Joanne but the K is a bit trickier as she doesn't actually have a middle name but for the books adopted that of her grandmother, Kathleen.
Apparently the publishers insisted on using the J K initials as they felt part of their target audience, young males, would not be so keen on reading the first Potter book if they knew the author was female. Also with K following J in the alphabet it rolls off the tongue easily.
Beyond words
Like Rowling I don't have a middle name but unlike her I don't sell millions of books. For some reason the initials R C don't have quite the same pulling power as J K. But if you buy my latest book Beyond Nowhere it would be very nice and the lonely buffalo on the cover would be most pleased.
In addition to AsiaBooks the book is available on www.dco.co.th website for orders in Thailand. The eBook edition is for sale on most online bookshops and the paperback is available on Amazon.
Contact PostScript via email at oldcrutch@hotmail.com