Thailand Voice

On reading the title, most of you are probably wondering “Who the heck is she?” Well, she was one of Thailand’s most well-known farang names during the early to mid 1990’s; a name that was highly controversial, but in the stupidest way possible (She even has her very own Wikipedia entry). So, who was…

During the school holidays in Thailand, it is common for Thai students to ordain as novice monks for a short time. In the olden days, before there were government schools, poor boys would ordain in order to get an education. However, these days, their parents want them to ordain for a short time during…

(no, that is not me!) Some people say they admire my adventures – but there is nothing adventurous about me, I am just a lazy traveller. I first went rafting on the Pai river in May or early June in 2002, when I had got so badly …

This morning in Samut Prakan we had the rare honour of a visit by Somdet Phra Phuttacharn (Somdet Kiaw) the abbot of Wat Saket in Bangkok. However, this is no ordinary monk as he is the Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. He is effectively the leader of all Buddhist monks in Thailand. He …

This is continuing my interview with Peter Robinson, who is probably better known in Thailand as “Phra Farang”, the foreign monk. (Click here for part one.) Peter spent ten years as a monk before finally disrobing in order to spend more time with…

One of the best books about Buddhism in Thailand is undoubtedly “Phra Farang: An English Monk in Thailand” by Phra Peter Pannapadipo. Even if you are not interested in becoming a monk yourself, his vivid description of his ten years as a foreign monk in Thailand …

Thailand is in big trouble again. Its tourism industry was already facing disaster last year with the prolonged airport closure. Things looked like it was starting to get better but the situation has just been going from bad to worse. This year Thailand has received a lot of negative press from the …

Another chapter in the life of Panrit “Gor” Daoruang” has come to an end with his release from prison after serving his full three years for dug possession. Gor shot to international fame during his teenage years for his stories …

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…

In Thailand, July 29th every year is celebrated as National Thai Language Day. However, a recent poll showed that 85.3 per cent of people surveyed in Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces were not aware of Thai language day. The survey also revealed some shocking results. According to the poll, 84.9 per cent of people …

If you want to keep up-to-date with the latest happenings in Thailand or need to do some research on a particular aspect of Thai life or culture, then try our popular website at www.ThaiBlogSearch.com . As well as giving a list of all the latest articles …

When you are travelling it is not always a good idea to follow too closely your guidebooks. If you have the time, then explore the area and you might find some hidden gems. The other day I was happy to stumble across a Buddhist Park…

Khao Sarn Road Cop Box (AKA: Chanasongkram Police Station) seems to have a fetish for trying to bust pot-smoking backpackers but not the hundreds of scammers operating in their vicinity. Let me take the chance today to write a …

After four years of travelling and living in Thailand, I often find it hard to take a step back and try to imagine what it is like to experience it all for the first time. When I write, words like chedi…

Stories on Human Rights , which includes Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Mobile Men , will screen at the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto. I had a chance to view all 22 films in the United Nations/European Union omnibus last month in a screening in Bangkok with Apichatpong present at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand . It’s a … Read full story >>>

Welcome to The Thai Pirate's Complete Directory of Interesting Ways to Expire in Thailand. Funny stories welcome, even if false. A Aeroplane Air travel! Safest form of travel. Just don't mention 1-2-Go. Change of fatality – 8/100 Anaconda A big snake, there are lots in Thailand. But don't worry… Read full story >>>

A walk with our two young dogs Cola and Gaan along the tree lined stretch leading to Ban Norn Chad made for a relaxing early evening. After a couple of beers and an enjoyable meal I laid back and mused over the forthcoming end to my village stay. I woke on the living … Read full story >>>

Battling ghosts seem to be a theme this year. Within a month of each other, two theater companies in Bangkok are staging musicals based on the popular Mae Nak Phra Khanong ghost story. First off the blocks is Mae Nak Phra Khanong: The Musical , which… Read full story >>>

The Cannes Film Festival is over and all the awards have been handed out, with nothing but mixed criticism for Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s Nymph , the lone Thai film in the festival’s “official selection”. But last night, Thai news reports led me to search for more Thai films at Cannes in the online catalog… Read full story >>>

There have been a few stories that the government may not last that much longer – see this previous post . Now, The Nation : As relations with allies get worse, Abhisit might be compelled to form a minority government Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might be forced to run a minority government if the bad blood between his… Read full story >>>

Filipino director Brillante Mendoza won the Best Director Award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival — a triumph for the independent filmmaker and his latest work, the dark crime drama Kinatay . The choice raised eyebrows , as Kinatay , which means “slaughter” or “massacre” in Tagalog, had been mostly panned by critics . Mendoza’s prize was presented by … Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post : Police have arrested a Briton in Bangkok’s red light district who has been eight months on the run after allegedly embezzling US$150 million from a company in Dubai, police said on Thursday. Michael Bryan Smith, 43, was arrested in the Nana area on Wednesday night after authorities in the United… Read full story >>>

BP thinks it is far to say that SCMP had the best coverage of the Rohingya issue (Phuketwan deserves a notable mention although SCMP and Phuketwan overlapped – it seems SCMP purchased the rights to the stories or contracted the Phuketwan journalists). SCMP went to Ranong. Looked arooked, took photos, spoke to eyewitnesses, interviewed… Read full story >>>

The Nation : Newin may yet lose some of his fellows. An earlier report said Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan was originally tipped to be the new leader of Bhum Jai Thai Party and even the next premier if the party commanded a … Read full story >>>

Five Star embraces the Macabre Thailand’s Five Star Production has stepped up its game as a distributor, picking up the rights to Macabre , a horror thriller produced by Singapore’s Gorylah genre label (love the name, lah) and directed by Timo Tjahjanto and … Read full story >>>

Quite a while back Monsoon Books contacted us here at www.thai-blogs.com and asked whether we were interested in reviewing one of their books about ladyboys. Since that isn’t exactly Richard’s cup-of-tea, the task was with me. Just looking …

Edited by James Quandt Published by the Austrian Film Museum Available from Wallflower Press . Indie filmmaker and video artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul has often referred to his works as his “children”. Indeed, most of his films credit him with a “conceived by” line, rather than the traditional “directed by”. A new book, covering the 38-year-old… Read full story >>>

Some news stories about Aung San Suu Kyi and John Yettaw: Reuters : “ Critics hit Myanmar on “trumped-up” Suu Kyi charges ” YANGON (Reuters) – Western critics slammed Myanmar’s military rulers for pressing “trumped-up” new charges against detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi , but the move… Read full story >>>

It’s happening! Non-profits, ngo’s, orphanages and everyone else are starting to notice the power of social media. However, they’re not the only ones who should be paying attention to these new forms of media. You should too because it’s transforming small do… Read full story >>>

Big Willy Yes, that’s a poster for the reality-TV comedy movie Saranair Haao Peng at the Marche du Film in Cannes. Sahamongkol must’ve brought it, thinking that gun-toting Willy McIntosh and his crew of crying, angry comedians will be an eye-catcher and rack up … Read full story >>>