Thailand Voice

Stumbled upon this interesting piece from (UK) Guardian online promoting Burma as underestimated tourist spot. I’ve long been tempted to take a better look at the country know as Myanmar ever since my brother spent a week there in between a couple of stays … Read full story >>>

Pensri has been collecting material for a history of Phana for about ten years. Her father had a big collection of books and documents on the subject and several people in the village have added to her collection by allowing her to photo-copy written … Read full story >>>

It’s not a glamorous picture but one I think is significant nevertheless. So why did I snap a picture of the dirty pavement whilst cycling home? For the word written on the ground. It reads ควย pronounced “kwai” (literally K-… Read full story >>>

There are two main reasons we visit Pattaya these days, work, or rugby. This one was rugby (yeees). We hit the streets of Pattaya early to find somewhere half decent to stop; somewhere that wasn't too divey, nor expensive (tricky as it was a Saturday, when … Read full story >>>

It started again ! As fast as a V8 engine… The car market has been euphoric in december in Thailand, eventhough with a view per quarter, we are back to “normal levels” (catching up effect). Let’s start per month. Both market, commercial and passengers, … Read full story >>>

Job2Do is without a doubt the best known Thai Reggae Band in Thailand. Job2Do, with lead singer Job Bunjob, has a huge cult following in Thailand and thanks to the many visitors who have seen his concerts in Thailand Read full story >>>

I suffered my first car accident a month or so ago, which is quite something as I’ve been driving for nine and a half years. Ironically it came minutes after I’d been talking to a family friend, over from Switzerland, about the standard of driving in Thailand. As it happened, the incident… Read full story >>>

I wanted to point out a column in Wednesday’s IHT/NYT called “Betting on Thailand.” It’s a look at how Thailand compares — and will compare over the next 20 years — with its regional neighbors in terms of business and economic development. Here’re the last two graphs, which are… Read full story >>>

If you are a reader of this blog, you will know of my Thai niece Nong Ja . She usually stays with us on a fulltime basis, but at the moment she is staying with Miss Noot’s mum from Sunday to Friday. We venture out each Friday and pick … Read full story >>>

Last year’s Loy Krathong fell a few weeks after I’d arrived in Thailand making it a great, first insight into Thai culture and tradition. We went to a beautiful local river, taking some amazing photos and videos in the process. A year on and it is still my favourite Thai festival. Most people … Read full story >>>

Picture taken by Fiona Hamilton Source Herald Sun Newspaper These sorts of people disgust me, and there are plenty of them across Australia and the world. The gutless cowards always after the fact of committing a crime become remorseful and make up the most pathetic excuses for some halfwit… Read full story >>>

Living in Thailand is considerably easier when your partner is Thai. Having a native partners helps overcome most of the issues which arise from the language and cultural barriers here in Thailand. A prime example being my visa applications issues , which would have be hell without The Missus. It’s … Read full story >>>

Was at the sports centre the other day when a chap pulled up in this Harley. I was pretty impressed, who wouldn’t be. “Wait. That’s not a parking space, sir…” My initial warmth for driver quickly diminished when he rode round in… Read full story >>>

Prachatai On Aug 10, PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul commented in an ASTV programme about his attempted assassination. He said that Suthep Thaugsuban, Secretary-General of the Democrat Party and Deputy Prime Minister, should stop protecting the culprits. He suspected that Suthep may be in the know as to who plotted the ambush. Some said that… Read full story >>>

Mother’s Day in Thailand is the birthday of the reigning Queen (just as Father’s Day is the King’s birthday), after all, she is the Mother of Thailand. As Queen Sirikit’s birthday falls on 12 August, today was วันแม่ (wan mae), or Mother’s Day in English. As a public … Read full story >>>

I’m a right old moaner, at least that’s how I appear to anyone brave enough to read this blog over the last month or so. The problem with being busy is that, with limited time, I only write about things that have really … Read full story >>>

There are 6 parts of the constitution which a parliamentary committee has recommended be amended (at outlined here ) and a new Bangkok University poll surveys views of Bangkokians on these proposed amendments. Survey Data Methodology : 1,119 people surveyed and large oversampling of younger people (only 23% are over 45) and more educated (45% have a… Read full story >>>

The Nation on the government’s PR campaign: A performance report will be released on August 3 along with the launch of a month-long publicity campaign. One of the highlights of this campaign will be the free 15-year compulsory education that the government has implemented nationwide. … Read full story >>>

It’s amazing how many emails I get asking for advice about moving to Thailand. I don’t do individual case studies and, even if I did, moving to a foreign country is not a decision to be made lightly, it can ony be made … Read full story >>>

Yesterday I promised my daughter that I would take her to the park to do a painting. In the centre of town 3kms from home is the Tung Sri Muang Park . The kids and I love going there and recently Ariya has really… Read full story >>>

Meeting number 13 of board one from June 8 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities. Na Mo Ma ( เทศบาลตำบลนาหมอม้า ), Mueang Amnat Charoen district, Amnat Charoen province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 44.35 km², 8 villages and 4,229 citizen. Na Pa Saeng ( เทศบาลตำบลนาป่าแซง ), Pathum Ratchawongsa district, Amnat Charoen province, … Read full story >>>

Totally out of the blue, it seems the Thai Premier League is coming to Saraburi as Bangkok-based Osotsapa FC have agreed to move. Moving franchises (or teams as we say in English) is something I’m ordinarily completely opposed to. On this occasion, however, I will forget my ethics, and throw my weight… Read full story >>>

Yesterday Google rolled out another update of their imaginary in Google Earth. I tried to look myself if I can spot newly covered areas myself, but only noticed that the Tai Rom Yen national park in Surat Thani now has hires data – but … Read full story >>>

Hi folks, I’ve been away for a while due to family obligations; but good souls always return. On Sunday, here in Suphanburi Town, I took my trusty Tiger girl out of her cage for a days outing to nearby Kanchanaburi province. I… Read full story >>>

The supermarket experience is becoming the same all around the developed and developing world – it is one of the genuine impacts of globalisation. Large retailer companies understand best practices and so set up their shops in pretty much the same way in every country. Here, in Read full story >>>

A recurring toe injury surfaced from an active few days early this week, so yesterday I dropped into the local hospital to end my misery. Despite suffering extreme pain with every step I take, almost on arrival at the hospital… Read full story >>>

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum insisted on Thursday morning that he would never drop his ministry’s plan to lease 4,000 NGV buses for Bangkok and would continue to press ahead with it. Mr Sohpon was responding to a report that the leader of the Friends of Newin group, Newin Chidchob, was invited to… Read full story >>>

A Thai citizen, Luksana Kornsilpa, has filed lese majeste charges against Jonathan Head and the entire FCCT committee, based on their selling DVD copies of a speech by Jakrapob Penkair. Jakrapob gave an FCCT speech in 2007, in which he criticised the traditional patronage system. … Read full story >>>

A pioneer and inspiration for the current independent film movement in the Philippines, Lav Diaz is scheduled to come to Bangkok at the end of the month to help kick off a three-month-long series of screenings of his films in Bangkok and Phuket. The title really… Read full story >>>

According to the Industry Minister Chanchai Chairungruang, the South Korean government has requested the Thai government to provide assistance in establishing a new industrial park. The park will act as a home for South Korean investment in primarily the electronics industry: companies will, apparently, use Thailand Read full story >>>