Thailand Voice

Pomatocalpa spicata Breda is an epiphytic Thai Orchid known in Thailand as Chang Dam. Distribution of Pomatocalpa spicata Breda is from India to S.E.Asia and can be found in almost all the Thailand regions both in dry and moist evergreen … Read full story >>>

A trusted native speaker is essential…. You may have noticed by now that learning Thai takes real effort and discipline. No two ways about it. Expect to put in long hours tweaking your pronunciation, expanding your vocabulary, solidifying your grasp on the… Read full story >>>

Erythrina crista-galli is a small deciduous tree known as the Cockspur Coral Tree. Erythrina crista-galli is called Thong laang hong kong in Thailand. Yet another common name for this tree is the Cry Baby Tree, so called because of the Read full story >>>

WARNING: Do not read while trying to drink your coffee at your computer. Not The Nation at its best. Key excerpt: The Thai Journalists Association warned today of an impending apocalypse in the local news media if the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions rules to seize… Read full story >>>

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 .

Couroupita Guianensis sometimes called the Cannonball tree because of its large cannonball shaped fruits is also known as the Sala Tree. Couroupita Guianensis is considered a sacred tree in India by Hindus. Buddhist scriptures tell us that the Lord Buddha was born under the shade of a Sala Tree … Read full story >>>

Several polls, both public and private, suggest that those who declare themselves “politically neutral” represent the highest number of voters, edging out the major parties such as Pheau Thai and Democrats. It does suggest that people are getting “fed up with” politics and refusing to choose between “red” and “yellow.” The latest … Read full story >>>

Have previously blogged on the public fight between Khunying Sudarat and Chalerm Yubamrung, but Veera in the Bangkok Post has an op-ed on the situation. Key excerpt: The maverick MP was also unhappy with his rival group’s a… Read full story >>>

Thai cuisine involves the balancing of contrasting flavors, spicy and subtle, sweet and sharp. It is also concerned with aesthetic value, for the Thais believe that food should please the eye as well as the palate. One particularly delightful aspect…

As the fireworks and firecrackers are going on non-stop for the third day running, and the city is celebrating with the biggest and most colourful parade of the loy krathong festivities, I am at home listening from a safe…

(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 …

Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej accepts flowers after being named Miss Photogenic at the Miss Universe 2009 annual pageant at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas August 23, 2009. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Senior People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Chamlong Srimuang receives flowers from supporters as he reports to police in Bangkok July 16, 2009. Thursday is the deadline for 35 PAD “yellow shirt” leaders to report and be informed of charges against them of terrorism…

Last year, I wrote a short blog with pictures about How to Eat Dragon Fruit . It proved to be quite popular with people searching on Google. The bright pink fruit is not native to Thailand and can be found in other regions of the…

Things look better again for Thailand. Never mind the red shirts who may set the country ablaze when they hold a rally on June 27th to oust the government . But Thais can cheer the surprise birth of a panda – that’s quite an achievement for a panda in captivity… Read full story >>>

We scored a duck with the local vendors who replied to our question with “mai roo” don’t know, including one dear lady whose stall was directly opposite this spirit house who seemed somewhat surprised that there even was a shrine across the road. Read full story >>>

Off on a tangent, today I stumbled on an official Saudi Arabian note about the “Hajj mission of Myanmar Federation led by Ali Habib Mohammed.” Anyone who has ever strolled around the average Burmese town will know that Muslims make up a fair proportion of the country’s … Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post : To be less superficial, however, you must understand the kind of policies that may be proposed by the PAD once it begins to draft a political platform. Their unwritten party manifesto looks to have Leninist leanings, stripped of the anti-monarchic aspects of the communist ideals. … Read full story >>>

            Whenever I hear or read the phrase “the boys in brown” I know that the Thai police are going to be slated for something or other. But here in Phana I can have no complaint about the police at all. It is true that I have twice … Read full story >>>

         Missing Phana, I suppose I most miss our home there. The house was completed in 1995, in theory. In fact, we have been making minor alterations to it ever since. An architect friend in Bangkok drew up the plans, largely according to our ideas. We wanted … Read full story >>>

         Missing Phana, I suppose I most miss our home there. The house was completed in 1995, in theory. In fact, we have been making minor alterations to it ever since. An architect friend in Bangkok drew up the plans, largely according to our ideas. We … Read full story >>>

Visakha Bucha Day is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. It marks the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha which all happened on the full moon of the sixth lunar month. All around Thailand, Buddhists will be going to their …

I mentioned to you before that I wanted to buy some flowers for the house which are meant to bring you good luck. There is supposed to be a certain kind of flower that Thai people believe will bring prosperity to your household. It sounded like a good idea. The only problem is that I …

The Federation of Thai Industries has reported a 37 per cent decrease in automobile sales, and a 52 percent drop in total production in March. Surapong Pasitpattanapong , spokesman of the Automobile Industry Division at the Federation of Thai Industries, revealed that domestic car sales in March totalled 42,000 units, down 37.8 percent from last year, while the sales of…