Thailand Voice

The red shirt protests have been going on in Bangkok for 4-5 days now. Countless thousands of protesters have been camped out along the Royal Avenue. The news hasn’t received that much attention yet in the international press, mainly because there hasn’t been any violence. Thailand is not like other countries …

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…

Thai newly wed scuba divers, groom Narongchon Chomsa (L) and his new bride, Somying Chomsa show their marriage license during an underwater wedding ceremony, in Trang province, south of Bangkok. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

(Would be extremely difficult to get these two mixed up – but Mrs Clampton did) Due to the positive feedback from the last blog “The Legendary Edith Clampton (Mrs)” , I think it’s only fair to write up a part 2 and include some of the readers’ responses – some…

Whenever we have new foreign teachers at the school, I always take them out to a restaurant as part of their orientation. This is partly to introduce them to my favourite Thai food on a menu. But, I also want to point out to them some of the finer points of Thai…

The rainy season has already come to an end. There has been no rain the last two weeks in Samut Prakan. However, this was the view this morning in Paknam. This is not rain water. This is sea water that swamps the city during the daily high tides during November every year. …

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is undoubtedly Luang Phor Pan Worshipping Festival in Bang Bo District of Samut Prakan. I went last year for the first time and had no idea what to expect. There were so many surprises that…

I had not been to Pai since my second Thailand holiday in 2002. It doesn’t really make a convenient weekend getaway if you rely on public transport or your two wheels. However, it was the perfect thing to do in my friend’s car. Riding up and down hills smoothly…

(The following is a brief Thai> English translation from various local news sources) At 10 in the morning of 24 September, Mr Sanan, administrative chief of Phatthalung province was in charge of perhaps the first ever televised wedding between endangered Sakai people. The Sakai is an indigenous tribe who live …

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 …

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 …

Transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport will now be able to choose between a range of tours if they have at least six hours to spare before they need to catch their next plane. Paknam Web was invited over to the airport this …

On 24 May 2009, I attended the first of two days of the “People’s Alliance for Democracy Assembly” at Rangsit University. Its main purpose was to assess the political situation and prepare a decision about whether to turn the social movement, at least partially, into a political party or not. With my… Read full story >>>

Recently, Thanong has argued that: What kind of lese majeste taboo is The Economist talking about? It is all in the perception rather than reality Later, Thanong in an op-ed entitled “Lese majeste allows criticism but not abuse” criticized the campaign by a number of… 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 >>>

This is not a ladyboy post, though some had to be wondering… Last night I went out about midnight on the porch to secure the motorbikes together with some steel cables and big padlock like I do every night. Something was strange looking on one of the motorbike seats and… Read full story >>>

     Living in Phana I have got pretty used to sharing the house with a variety of wildlife. The little house-geckos known as jingjok  are currently the most numerous. Most of them are out on the verandah because that is where they can find the most flying insects to eat, but there are … Read full story >>>

Reading another of Ben’s excellent language tips has finally spurred me into posting tips of my own. Learning and speaking Thai is one of the most enjoyable aspects of living in Thailand. At times it can be one of the … Read full story >>>

The Tambon (subdistrict) administrative organizations (TAO) created in the 1990s were not the first TAO created – already in 1956 a total of 59 TAO were established ( Gazette ) and a single more in 1966 ( Gazette ). Strangely there are several of these TAO which I cannot connect with any of the modern subdistricts – but that’d… Read full story >>>

Learning and speaking Thai is one of the most enjoyable challenges of living in Thailand. At times it switches the other way and is one the biggest problems and frustrations – there’s nothing worse than feeling ‘lost’ when everyone around is talking and laughing. In general, I love try to learn a new language and … Read full story >>>

An Australian lady is making news here in Thailand and also back on Australian shores. Apparently the mother of 4 was a little drunk and the victim of a prank played by friends. She was in the resort town of Phuket, at the well known Aussie Bar. When she was away… Read full story >>>

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 >>>

You heard it. We were looking forward to the Phuket Film Festival under the directorate of Scott Rosenberg who was kind and willing enough to write this exclusive report for us. Scott cancelled the fest 15 minutes too early … And you think the title … Read full story >>>

I personally only have distaste for Henry Miller. A former girlfriend, the love of my life, was once presented a Henry Miller book by her secret lover. That book seemed to have made up her mind. Soon after she vanished. Leaving much behind. But not the Henry Miller. Maybe… Read full story >>>

It’s a mostly lonely and mighty unforgiving world I’ve found myself living in here, being one of the few bloggers who regularly writes in English about Thai cinema. So when new folks come on the scene, I want to be welcoming. Here’s a few new blogs worth reading: Bangkok1080.asia — … Read full story >>>

Yes I am now going to display my naivety as a 'wet around the ears' Thai newbie, who all you more experienced travelling folk can poke fun at with your superior worldly knowledge. Cambodian border VISA run yesterday, drove 4 hours to the Cambodian border at Aranya Prathet in Sra Kaew province for the 3 … Read full story >>>

I just saw a blog post: http://www.thainewsportal.com/swiss-tourist-found-strangled-on-krabi-beach/ A tourist strangled to death at Noppharat Thara beach – a 30 year old Swiss woman died today apparently. She was found with her handbag strap around her neck and face down in the sand. I just blogged… Read full story >>>

I wrote this blog because there has been a lot of discussion about teachers lately and I know many students spend their hard earned money on English teachers, only to be let down. Let’s get straight to business. There is no definition of a “good” teacher, because personality… Read full story >>>

For about a year or so now, they have been constructing a bridge over Sukhumwit Road in Bang Pu District of Samut Prakan. When they first started I thought it was a bit strange. As it is a bit like a bridge…

 For about a year or so now, they have been constructing a bridge over Sukhumwit Road on the border between Bang Pu District and Bang Bo District. When they first started I thought it was a bit strange. As it is a bit like a bridge to no-where. On the southern …