Ray Leos: 1956-2024

Published on Nov 2, 2024 by Luke Hunt

Vale Ray Leos, an American academic who probably did more for higher education in Cambodia than anyone else. He died Nov.1, 2024.Ray was a good friend, a mentor who steered me into an academic career at Pannasastra University and was primarily responsible for my last book, The Punji Trap, getting published. For more than two decades, Ray was totally dedicated to his students and that so many of them have gone onto successful careers in international relations, journalism, film making and advertising -- or simply made a better life -- is a testament to his extraordinary talent, patience and ability. He was no-nonsense and did not suffer fools gladly but he was kind-hearted. The calibre of this man can not be replaced.....

Mae Sot Book Dispensary

Published on Aug 18, 2024 by Luke Hunt

Studio Bomborra is sponsoring the Mae Sot Book Dispensary to deliver books written in English, Burmese and Karen for children under eight years of age across the border from Thailand to a school in Myanmar. Key people involved in this are Ei Ei Love, David Armstrong and Luke Hunt. Please do not send money. If, however, you have old, unwanted books at home that are suitable for young children and you're prepared to send them via sea mail, then please post to the following address:Mae Sot Book Dispensary: 61/21 Rat Uthit Road, Mae Sot Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, 63110, ThailandJust a point out, not all postal services provide seamail to Southeast Asia and airmail can be expensive, so....

Condoms & Cabbages

Published on Jul 26, 2024 by Luke Hunt

Mechai Viravaidya has spent the last 50-years at the helm of Thailand's family planning policies and is credited with saving millions of lives through his  safe sex campaigns as the HIV-AIDS virus took hold in 1981. Mechai spoke with Luke Hunt from Beyond the Mekong. Click here to listen..

AsiaLIFE in Vietnam

Published on Jan 14, 2024 by Luke Hunt

AsiaLIFE and Publishing Hip Magazines in Vietnam Jonny Edbrooke speaks about his various media ventures and the importance of being nice in Southeast Asia.Jonny Edbrooke studied book making and worked for a printing company in Britain before moving to Hong Kong via Bangkok in 1985, when he began carving out a career in publishing as a designer of high-end magazines.In Hong Kong, he worked for Marco Magazine, which was produced for the Hong Kong Group, Epicure, and the South China Morning Post’s Sunday Magazine. All were full color, glossy and targeted an audience with money to spend.Ten years later he took that knowledge to Vietnam. The country was still recovering from war, the expat communities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh....

John MacDougall: 1970-2023

Published on Dec 30, 2023 by Luke Hunt

John MacDougall, an American Academic in Indonesia, has Passed AwayA brave and intelligent man, and scholar of all things Balineseby Luke HuntJohn MacDougall, a cultural anthropologist from Princeton University in the United States who dedicated his life to Indonesia and all things Balinese, died on December 30 after a long suffering illness, a sad finale for 2023. He was 52.Over a career that spanned almost 30 years, McDougall’s writings and influence would reach the highest ranks of governments struggling to cope with Islamic terrorism across Southeast Asia which was borne out of 9/11 and the murkyties between al-Qaeda and its regional affiliates.He arrived in Indonesia in 1988 and quickly became a recognized specialist, universally known as Johnny. He spoke the....