Thailand Voice

Supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra travel by boat from Ayutthaya provinces into Bangkok March 14, 2010. Tens of thousands of protesters converged in Bangkok on Sunday to give Thailand’s military-backed government an ultimatum: either call elections or face crippling demonstrations across the capital in coming days. (Reuters) Supporters …

Supporters of former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra gather on a highway in Bangkok March 13, 2010. Anti-government protesters headed for Bangkok from the countryside on Saturday for what they are calling a “million-man march,” aiming to paralyse the capital and topple a government they say is a…

Supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra take part in a rally at Victory Monument in Bangkok on March 12, 2010. Tens of thousands of supporters of Shinawatra began to mass in their trademark red shirts ahead of weekend protests in Bangkok aimed at toppling the government. …

A popular recreation for Thai people at the seaside is playing on a Banana Boat like this one. The whole family jump on the back wearing life vests. They are then towed up and down the beach front by a …

A fisherman works on his fish farm on a partially dry reservoir on the Mekong River during a drought affecting the Thai-Lao border area of Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province, north of Bangkok March 11, 2010. Severe drought has hit Southeast Asian…

A Thai policeman stands guard outside Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house in Bangkok March 10, 2010. The Thai government has invoked a tough security law, the Internal Security Act, giving the armed forces broad powers to control an upcoming rally by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if necessary….

Thai policemen inspect identity cards at a checkpoint in outskirts of Bangkok. The Thai government has invoked a tough security law, the Internal Security Act, giving the armed forces broad powers to control an upcoming rally by supporters of former …

Bangkok used to be known as the Venice of the East due to its large network of canals. However, most of these have now been built over to make way for roads. One of the main canals still remaining in Bangkok is Khlong Saen Saeb which dates…

Escorted and guarded by Thai commandoes, Maj. Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol (center), alias Seh Daeng, a supporter of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is brought to criminal court Monday, March 8, 2010, in Bangkok. Khattiya and seven associates were arrested on Saturday on charges…

Khan Kluay was a smash hit Thai cartoon when it was first released in Thailand in May 2006. It was the first Thai cartoon made at international standard and did very well in the domestic market. The little blue elephant, called Khan Kluay, was very popular with Thai children of all ages. I know…

Nakhon Sawan Province, also known as Pak Nam Pho is where the rivers of Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan converge and form the Chao Phraya River, the most important waterway of Thailand. It then flows from north to south for 372 kilometres from the central plains to Bangkok and the Gulf of…

A woman holds up figurines in the shape of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at her shop in Bangkok February 24, 2010. Each figurine sells for 100 baht ($3.02). (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

I consider myself very lucky to be living in Thailand. Not only is the weather great but we also have plenty of delicious fruit. This is the real thing that you can buy at markets throughout Thailand. Rambutan, lychees, longan, papaya, pineapple, sapodilla, durian and watermelon are some of my favourites. They are all…

One of the most beautiful and also important temples in Lamphun Province in Northern Thailand is Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai. According to legend, the Lord Buddha himself once came to this area to collect alms. A local Lua tribesman offered him some “samor”, a kind of…

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…

A devotee to the Thai Buddhist temple Wat Bang Phra works himself into a trancelike state during a religious festival Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, in Nakhon Chaisi, Thailand. Thais come from all over Thailand to be tattooed by the temple’s monks on their bodies being inked by …

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is all smiles during a televised news conference at government house Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 in Bangkok. Supporters of populist former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra denounced a court order to seize US$1.4 billion of his assets, and vowed Saturday to pursue a nonviolent struggle for what …

BANGKOK THAILAND – FEBRUARY 26: Red shirt pro- Thaksin supporters react as the court announces the final verdict for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s family on February 26, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that the Shinawatra family should be stripped of more than half a contested $2.3bn fortune, which is …

Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is shown on a large screen during a teleconference to his supporters at the Pheu Thai Party building in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Feb. 26. 2010. Thailand’s highest court prepared Friday to rule on whether Thaksin should lose part of his…

Policewomen attend a briefing at the Supreme court in Bangkok February 26, 2010. Security forces are braced for a big turnout and a possible violent response to a court verdict due on Friday on whether to seize $2.3 billion in assets belonging to the family of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra…

Thai police and military police officers guard the main entrance to the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra emotionally pleaded for sympathy and an end to his exile Wednesday, days before Thailand’s Supreme Court decides whether $2.29 billion of his …

The Thai people have always had a love for football. However, until recent years, the only leagues that they followed were the ones in the UK and the rest of Europe. Now the Thai Football League has a loyal following with a much greater interest from both the print media and Thai …

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, 2nd right, kicks the ball while playing a soccer charity match against Thai women’s national team at Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010. Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was confronting with police officers outside the stadium while …

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…

Supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra sit on a main road during a rally outside the Bangkok Bank headquarters in Bangkok February 19, 2010. The protesters said that the Bangkok Bank has a close relationship with Privy Council chairman Prem Tinsulanonda who has been accused of masterminding…

In the grounds of a Thai temple, just north of Bangkok, I took this pictures of open billed storks nesting at the top of a tall tree. There must have been literally thousands of them. They come here during the winter season every year. You can get quite …

Supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rally outside the Election Commissions in Bangkok February 15, 2010. About 400 protesters have been holding frequent but brief and peaceful political rallies against the government and independent bodies, saying that law-enforcement authorities practice double standard. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com

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 …