Thailand Voice

Over the past few days, the red shirts have been streaming into Bangkok to join the protest site on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. On Sunday the red shirts from Samut Prakan came together to join the protest. The local red shirt radio had been broadcasting for several days…

Thousands of red shirt supporters from Samut Prakan, 30 kms south of Bangkok, make the long journey into Bangkok on 14th March to join the rally in Bangkok. They went on foot, by motorcycle, on the back of pick-up trucks and in …

A total of 5,000 red guards are believed to be deployed at the rally site in Bangkok and at 30 other locations in the area. This includes 200 mobile units on motorcycle. They will be providing protection to the red shirts at the rally and also intercepting…

The city where I live, Samut Prakan, is a red shirt stronghold as they voted for Thaksin. Today there were about 4-5,000 people parading through the town demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit steps down. You can see more of our photos

It is probably not a good idea to venture outside at the moment if you are living in some areas of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lumpoon, Maehongson, Nan, Phayao and Chiang Mai due to the bad air quality. You should also consider wearing face masks in Chachoengsao, Nonthaburi, Samut…

One of the most important events in the Thai Buddhist calendar is Makha Bucha Day (sometimes spelled Magha Puja). It takes place on the full moon day of the third lunar month which is usually late February or early March. This year it was today, 28th February 2010. Like many…

This morning I drove over to the 100 Year Market at Klong Suan on the border between Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao. They were having their second annual market fair which will take place this long weekend during the Makha Bucha holiday. Mr. Surachai Kanasa, the Governor of Samut …

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is the Lotus Throwing Festival in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. A revered Buddha image is placed on a boat and as it is taken up and down Samrong Canal local people throw lotus flowers onto the boat. Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos.com .

Thai police use a water gun during an exercise at the City Hall Plaza in Samut Prakan on 20th February 2010. Thai security forces and police organized a joint exercise to prepare for possible anti-government protests in Thailand next week. (Richard Barrow/ Paknam.com ) More Thailand…

The tension is rising in Thailand as we have now started the countdown to Judgement Day on Friday 26th February 2010. The red shirts have already started their protests though so far the yellow shirts have decided to stay at home. If that is true…

The grounds of a Buddhist temple in Thailand have a variety of buildings of all shapes and sizes. At first glance their use might seem to be random. But, there is one building, called the “phra ubosot” which is not only the most sacred but also has distinguishing features that makes it …

Young Thai girls pose for the camera at the seaside at the pier in Bang Pu, Samut Prakan, about an hour away from Bangkok. Every year, between October and March, thousands of migratory birds come here to escape the harsh winter in Siberia. The pier …

Traditionally, in Thailand, when a Buddhist dies, their body is cremated and then the bones and ashes are collected and are either kept at the temple or at home or sometimes both. However, there is a third option which is seemingly becoming more popular these days. It is called “loi angkarn” which means the…

One of the famous desserts for Samut Prakan Province is Khanom Jaak. The dessert is prepared inside the leaves of a nipa palm and then roasted over a charcoal fire. The ingredients include sticky rice flour, palm sugar and shredded coconut. A bundle of this costs about 20 baht. Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos….

If you visit Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan you will see the Sanphet Prasat Palace. This was the principal palace during the Ayutthaya era. It was unfortunately burned to the ground by the Burmese in 1767 when they invaded the city. Today, only the …

This is a picture of a Thai family scattering the ashes of a deceased relative in the Gulf of Thailand. Traditionally, Thai families either keep the ashes at home, at the temple or scatter them on the waters or a combination of all three. Many people travel to Paknam in…

On Sunday, we went for an enjoyable bicycle ride in Bangkok. At first glance, this would sound like a crazy idea. But, it is amazing that after only a short boat ride across the Chao Phraya River, we were surrounded by lush green vegetation and almost complete silence. In fact, for most of the…

When we talk about horse polo, we usually think of the colonials in places like India. I watched my first polo match in Gilgit in Pakistan about 15 years ago. It was a thrilling game played out on a dusty pitch surrounded on all four sides by enthusiastic locals. For me growing up…

The first time I watched horse polo was in Gilgit in Pakistan. I always thought that it was only played in the Indian sub-continent and by the old colonial powers. I didn’t realize that Thailand also has an active polo team. Apparently polo was first introduced to…

This large Reclining Buddha can be found at Wat Khun Inthapramun in Angthong Province in Central Thailand. It is 50 meters long. Some guidebooks mistakenly say that it is the longest in Thailand. However, I know one at Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang in Samut Prakan…

The Chinese people of Samrong in Samut Prakan Province believe that their God Jao Por Tap will help them get rich. Behind Imperial World, on the old Paknam Railway Road, they have built a large Chinese shrine dedicated to this God. Every year, on the last Sunday of January, they hold…

TOUR2 : Bang Nampheung Floating Market, The Erawan Museum, Reclining Buddha at Bang Phli and finishing with a meal at sunset at the Bang Pu Seaside Resort. Samut Prakan Province is sandwiched between Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. As it is so close to the …

This is a picture of the memorial for HTMS Thonburi at the Royal Thai Naval Academy in Samut Prakan. The ship was badly damaged during a battle with the French on 17th January 1941. Thirty six sailors lost their life. The ship was later salvaged and…

On Sunday 17th January 2010, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Kamthorn Pumhiran presided over the wreath-laying ceremony at the Royal Thai Naval Academy in Samut Prakan. The event commemorates the bravery of the naval heroes who sacrificed their lives in defence of the country’s independence and…

Today marks the 69th anniversary of the battle with the French on 17th January 1941 near the island of Koh Chang. In dispute were some of the territories in Indochina that Thailand wanted to claim back. Although the Thais fought bravely, they lost …

A young Thai boy climbs up onto a tank during Children’s Day activities Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, in Samut Prakan, Thailand. The weapons were part of a display for Children’s Day at the Royal Thai Naval Academy, a day in which Thailand’s children are celebrated. (Richard Barrow/ Paknam.com ) More …

The annual National Children’s Day for Thailand took place today. Children are considered as the most valuable resource of the country. There is a Thai saying that goes, “Children are the future of the nation, if the children are intelligent, the country will be prosperous.” To help stimulate children to…

Judging by these photos that I took early this morning, not everyone was nursing hangovers after welcoming in the New Year at midnight last night. Like thousands of other local people from Paknam, I was up early at 6 a.m. to head down to the City Pillar…

Buddhist Thais offer alms to Buddhist monks at the morning alms offering on the New Year day Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 in Samut PrakanOffering Alms for , Thailand. (Richard Barrow/ Paknam.com ) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .