Word: bangkok
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...Until you see Jaa in action. In a cavernous room on the third floor of a stunt training center in Bangkok, Jaa bobs on the mat like a gymnast lining up a run to the vaulting horse. At the end of the room, a crew member holds aloft a cushion that stands in for a human head. Jaa hurtles down the runway, launches himself like a missile, flips in midair and brings his right foot crashing down on the cushion. The kick sends the cushion?and the unfortunate guy holding it?flying across the room. Jaa lands on his feet...
...muay boran, a more elegant and traditional form of Thai boxing that resembles kung fu. Jaa traveled the countryside talking to the few remaining old masters of muay boran, rediscovering more than 100 long-abandoned moves. Ritthikrai and Jaa filmed the actor's best stunts and showed them to Bangkok director Prachya Pinkaew. The filmmaker was dazzled but had problems getting backing for a film with Jaa in the lead role. "Thai audiences are not used to seeing people from the northeast in the lead," says Sita Vosbein, managing director of Pinkaew's production house, Baa Ram Ewe. "They think...
...1970s and '80s, the region was buffeted by bouts of unrest, but those then taking up arms had independence as their goal?not jihad. By the 1990s the handful of guerrilla bands fighting for a separate state had been largely marginalized by the central government's conciliatory approach. Bangkok pumped development funds into the south, started governing through local leaders, including Muslims, and pardoned a host of insurgents. Relative calm returned, until this year. Now, say experts, what used to be a nationalist agenda pursued by essentially secular groups has been hijacked by Islamic radicalism. "In the post...
...Malaysia, given the laxity of frontier checkpoints. "It's not easy looking for them because they are in and out [of Thailand]," said Thaksin. While the two governments have beefed up joint security efforts along the 500-km border, Kuala Lumpur has yet to locate a single person on Bangkok's most-wanted list. "I wish [the Malaysians] could arrest the key people?that would be very helpful," said Thaksin. For their part, Malaysian officials say they are closely monitoring the border to track down suspected militants. "There's no question that we are doing everything in our power...
...Singapore to Bangkok: The Eastern & Oriental Express whisks you along for two nights and three days (departs Dec. 24), pausing at Kuala Lumpur and historic Georgetown in Penang. Enjoy the scenery while dining in an elegant Thai-inspired restaurant car. $1,590 to $3,220. tel: (44-0845) 077 2222; www.orientexpress.com