Streetwise: lots of offers but none seems to fit

Many people around the world could not live in their home countries for a number of reasons.

Late Chilean president Augusto Jose Ramon Pinochet spent years in exile. Many Cuban politicians and civilians sought exile due to conflicting political beliefs.

Now added to the list is ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Despite the gloomy future at home, at first many envied him for his enormous wealth which should warrant a comfortable and convenient lifestyle anywhere on earth.

Despite his repeated complaints that he would rather be home, no one believed him as he had a big house in London and a huge sum of money to spend.

But all the beliefs were shattered when Britain denied him a visa.

Thaksin looked indifferent to the news. In his interview with Reuters, he was adamant there was always a place for him in the big world. But is it so?

Yesterday, the prime minister of the Bahamas was quoted as saying that his country is ready to be the home base for Thaksin, should he decide to form a government in exile.

A blogger said that on that island country in the Atlantic Ocean, no matter where you choose to stay, you'll always be near the ocean. But Thaksin is not known as an ocean-loving man, for his birthplace was in Chiang Mai, a mountainous province.

It would be a shame if he had to live by the ocean, for his smooth pale skin would become tanned.

So, should he go to Togo, the African country where Thaksin was invited to reside and work as the government's economic adviser?

What about Chad, another African country where he was invited to advise on how to preserve Lake Chad, which has been shrinking?

All the countries somehow seem out of place. It could take a full day to travel from the Bahamas to Thailand. Lovers see their feelings evaporate quickly because of distance.

And it could also have the same effect on his political cult in Thailand. It would also be difficult to travel from the African countries to anywhere in the world.

It is a pity that despite his claims that he reads a lot, Thaksin forgot to learn about late prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan's experience. Chatichai was also ousted by a coup but he conveniently returned a year after that, because he chose to keep his mouth shut and stay away from politics while in exile.

Realising it now would be too late.