Thailand Voice

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 …

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 …

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…

Some of the best orchids in the world can be found in Thailand. They grow here easily and can also be bought at a good price. However, with over 1,000 species of orchids in Thailand the price can vary from cheap to extremely expensive. If you are interested in flowers or like taking pictures, …

เทศกาลกล้วยไม้ไทย ปีใหม่เมืองโบราณ THAI ORCHID FESTIVAL AT ANCIENT SIAM: As part of the celebration for the new year, Ancient Siam have organized the Thai Orchid Festival which will run between 31st December 2009 and 3rd January 2010. The event was officially opened by Mr. Surachai Kanasa, Governor of Samut Prakan…

One of the most spectacular cultural shows in Bangkok is undoubtedly at Siam Niramit: Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam. So many people had been talking about it on the Paknam Web Forums that I thought that I should make an…

Children look at a diver in a Santa Claus outfit at Siam Ocean World during the Christmas season in Bangkok, December 16, 2009. (Reuters) A woman poses with a diver in a Santa Claus outfit at Siam Ocean World during the Christmas season in Bangkok, December 16, 2009. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com…

Miss Karnpitcha Pitchayot won an award for “Miss Beautiful Complexion” in the Miss Thailand contest. The prize was 100,000 baht. The finals for Miss Thailand will be held on Wednesday evening. (siamdara) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs

Today marks the anniversary of the death of King Rama V who is regarded by many people as one of the most important monarchs in recent Thai history. Every year, on the 23rd October, Thai people remember him on this day which is known as Chulalongkorn Day …

(63 Longwood Avenue: the first home of Prince Bhumibhol, the future King of Thailand. Photo courtesy of KTBF ) Quite incredibly most Thais who I have ever spoken to haven’t known where the present king of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born. For…

One of the most important temples in Samut Prakan is Phra Samut Chedi . It is not only the symbol of the province but is also the site for the longest running temple fair in Thailand. According to the organizers, we are…

Twenty five contestants competing in the Miss Poland 2009 contest are presently touring Thailand. They will be here from 5th-14th October 2009. Some of the major locations that they will visit include Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Krabi. As well as touring tourist attractions, they will also take part in activities such as Thai cooking, …

TOUR 1: The Erawan Museum, Ancient Siam, Crocodile Farm and finishing with a seaside meal at Bangsaen 2. Samut Prakan Province is home to the new international airport at Suvarnabhumi and is literally on the doorstep to Bangkok. It also has some amazing …

The participants in the Chang(e) Elephant Caravan have finally reached their destination after their trek across the plains of Central Thailand. The five elephants and Greenpeace supporters set off from the outskirts of Khao Yai National Park fourteen days ago with the purpose of bringing attention to global warming. …

For many years my favourite guidebook has been the Lonely Planet. This has always been my first choice for its comprehensive look at tourist attractions in just about any country in the world. In Thailand, the person who is most associated with guidebooks is Joe Cummings whose name is well-known among backpackers…

The Ancient Siam, or Muang Boran in Thai, is like an open book of history and an open door to the real Thailand. Here you will find numerous reproductions of palace halls, temples, stupas, stone sanctuaries and traditional houses. You can also visit several reconstructed historical buildings, authenticated communities with their inhabitants…

Look, but don’t touch – these Thailand ‘pretty girls’ could be on a scammer) Once known as the Land of Smiles, pitiable Thailand is now turning into the world’s most infamous Land of Scams – and this year in particular we have been inundated again and again and…

This morning I visited Ancient Siam (formerly Ancient City) in Samut Prakan for their annual Mother’s Day activity. Over the last four or five years, the management have been organizing many different kinds of events at the park during all major holidays. Today is a public holiday for H.M. The Queen’s birthday…

In an old guidebook to Bangkok, dating back about 150 years, the writer mentioned a “Red House” on the East bank of the Chao Phraya River exactly 2.3 miles south of Paknam. I have read quite a few contemporary accounts by travellers from the 19th Century that described their first …

Thailand’s oldest privately owned airplane, “Miss Siam” took part in an Air Show today at Don Mueang Airport as part of the Civil Aviation Exhibition 2009. The Thai government have been trying to find a new role for the old airport and staging air shows is their…

Over this weekend, Bangkok is holding its first Civil Aviation Exhibition and Air Show at Don Mueang Airport. Their aim is threefold: to promote and support Thailand’s aviation industry, the recruitment of aviation personnel, and to promote flying as a sport to Thai people. The exhibition is split into two areas. The …

In 1868, H.M. King Rama IV invited Sir Harry Ord, the Governor of the British Straits Settlements, as well as a party of French astronomers, and scientists, to observe a total solar eclipse, which he predicted would take place on 18th August at 12:13 p.m. He also calculated the precise location in Thailand…

During the late 19th Century, the colonial powers of France and to a lesser extent Great Britain were attempting to carve up parts of Siam for themselves. In order to protect his kingdom, King Rama V ordered the construction of …

If you are planning on visiting Ancient Siam (Muang Boran) in Samut Prakan this week then be sure to check out their festival for “Fruits from the Four Regions of Thailand”. The aim is not only to promote the different fruit found around the country but also to encourage people to help Thai farmers by…

On Monday we attended the press conference for the launch of the “Transfer Passenger Tours” at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Yesterday I gave you a rundown of the first eight day tours for transit passengers . Here are the final seven tours. (9) Erawan Museum…

The following are some of the tours that you can join at Suvarnabhumi International Airport if you are a transit passenger and you have at least six hours to spend. (1) City and Temple Tour (4 hours duration) – A visit is made to Wat Traimit …

Am busy, but here are some links and reading: 1. Suthep interviewed by The Nation – his answers about the Blue Shirts and the government formation are interesting. 2. People satisfied with Abhisit, but less so with other Ministers (what no Kasit?). Korn also does quite well considering we have -7.1% growth which as have blogged… Read full story >>>

The Nation : Moody’s Investors Service has been fast to pick on Thailand. Earlier, it pointed out that the Thai economic downturn is going to be one of the worst in the region. Then it downgraded the credit outlook of Thailand from positive to negative. Now, Moody’s announces that it has… Read full story >>>

The Star Entertainment Awards for 2008 were held last night at Siam Paragon, with Happy Birthday the big winner with three awards: best actor for Ananda Everingham, best director for Pongpat Wachirabunjong and best screenplay for Kongdej Jaturanrasamee. The indie drama Wonderful Town also continued its … Read full story >>>

From ISEAS : To mark the 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in 2008, the editorial team of SOJOURN decided to come up with a list of “Ten Most Influential Books on Southeast Asia”. The idea seems straightforward, but the … Read full story >>>

From ISEAS : To mark the 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in 2008, the editorial team of SOJOURN decided to come up with a list of “Ten Most Influential Books on Southeast Asia”. The idea seems straightforward, but the discerning will quickly realize… Read full story >>>

Today New Mandala is launching a series of book reviews by Craig Reynolds.  All of the details on the series are available here .  The aim of this series is to introduce New Mandala readers to important, interesting books, particularly in history and religion, in an accessible format… Read full story >>>

Han ten Brummelhuis, King of the Waters: Homan van der Heide and the Origin of Modern Irrigation in Siam , Leiden, KITLV Press, 2005. pp. xvi, 409 This important work of scholarship breaks new ground in the history of Siam’s political economy and the transfer of technology that took place in Southeast Asia … Read full story >>>

The third monthly Week of Siam film series starts on Thursday at House cinema on Royal City Avenue with ” A Tribute to Chatrichalerm Yukol “, celebrating the early career and social-realism films of MC Chatrichalerm . Two will have English subtitles, 1990’s Song of Chao Phya ( Nong Mia )… Read full story >>>

My post on the administrative history of Pattani has found at least one reader very interested into the topic. He has even digged out an old map dating from the time of the 1909 boundary treaty between Siam and the United Kingdom … Read full story >>>

The BTS Sky Train system in Bangkok has been open for nearly ten years now. A few weeks back we saw a new extension being opened that takes the line over the Chao Phraya River for the first time and into Thonburi. For the next three months, you can ride on this new…

Ernst von Hesse-Wartegg (1851-1918) was an Austrian diplomat, who however is best known due to his many travel writings. Following a visit to Siam in 1898 he wrote the book ” Siam, das Reich des weißen Elefanten ” (Siam, the land of the white Elephants), an interesting read… Read full story >>>

Actor William Shatner will be among the guests at the World Comedy Film Festival , which is set for Bangkok from June 10 to 16. Shatner’s gift for comedy can be seen in such Star Trek episodes as “The Trouble With Tribbles” . He’s never shied away from making fun of his own persona as well as … Read full story >>>

Singaporean actor and filmmaker Loo Zihan will be on hand for a screening some of his films in Loo Zihan Is a Film-Maker on Saturday, May 23 at Democrazy Theatre Studio in Bangkok. Zihan is perhaps best known for his role in Ekachai Uekrongtham’s Pleasure Factory as the young… Read full story >>>

Abhisit on CNN . NYT interview with Thaksin a few weeks ago – see Siam Report’s blog post here with commentary. Am still a little surprised on his explanation over the blue shirts: Well, there may be people in the armed forces or the police, but … Read full story >>>