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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Thai-ing One On in Kabul |
| 2003-07-16 |
| EFL Western Europeans and Americans are returning to this city of 3.3 million as U.N. employees, nongovernmental organization workers, journalists, and employees attached to the various embassies that have reopened since the fall of the Taliban 18 months ago. When they do venture out in the evening, they are mostly likely found at Lai Thai. Lai Thai, as the name implies, is a Thai restaurant. It serves every Thai dish one might find on a menu in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, complemented with wine flown in from Australia and prawns (shrimp) shipped weekly from Dubai. The Wazir Akbar Khan section of Kabul, where the restaurant is located, is a desirable area of town with large homes. It’s believed to have been the neighborhood of choice for members of al Qaeda when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. Holy men deserve the best. Lalita Thongngamkam is the owner and founder of Lai Thai and it is not her first restaurant. In fact, it is not her first restaurant in a region where major combat operations have been completed. When asked if running a restaurant in a former war zone is risky business, she responds curtly, "Hardly, it’s no big deal." Compared to the locations of her previous restaurants, it’s not hard to believe her. Ten years ago she opened her first restaurant in Cambodia and since then she has opened eateries in Somalia, Rwanda, East Timor and Kosovo. Hellholes R’Us. She has a basic business model: Follow U.N. and NGO workers who are trying to rebuild areas decimated by war and supply them with quality Thai cuisine as an alternative to the local fare. It helps to be the only game in town. Despite Thongngamkam’s refusal to divulge any financial details relating to Lai Thai, it’s obvious her business is thriving. And she is not shy about sharing the secret of her success: "In stable places there is a lot of competition. In crazy places I’m the only Thai restaurant in town." I’m thinking she has to pay a whole lot of protection money. Either that or free meals. Business is so good that Thongngamkam has no plans to pack up her Thai restaurant caravan and move it to Baghdad anytime soon. While the U.N. role remains undefined in postwar Iraq, she will certainly not venture there. She believes it would not be a good business decision. "The U.N. pays more than the military, and they actually go out to eat. The military does not go out to eat," she says. The UN has much better prediem rates. Perhaps Liberia? "Perhaps, but business is very good here now," she says. Will she ever settle down and open a business in a "safe location"? "No way," she says, "in a safe place there is too much competition." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 Thankyou America. This is like balm for the soul. I love stories like this: if anybody doubts the goodness of the US taking out the taliban they can shove this story up their pie-holes. Once again: Thankyou America |
| Posted by: Anon1 2003-7-16 11:55:16 PM |
| #3 Wine and pork this should be interesting. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-7-16 2:33:19 PM |
| #2 A WOMAN business owner. I'm sure a lot of Afghans are paying attention. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-7-16 11:56:04 AM |
| #1 What a gal! |
| Posted by: Craig 2003-7-16 10:54:20 AM |