Thailand Voice

When the rivers are at the highest level at the end of the rainy season, local people come together to race long boats on canals and rivers. Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos.com .

One of the most spectacular cultural shows in Bangkok is undoubtedly at Siam Niramit: Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam. So many people had been talking about it on the Paknam Web Forums that I thought that I should make an…

Everyone knows about Loy Krathong that happens on the full moon in November. However, not many people know that we have another Loy Krathong in October. The phrase “loy krathong” means to float a bowl shaped container. It is not a festival like Christmas which celebrates a particular event. You can actually float a krathong…

Animal trainer Santisak Dulapitak, 53, trains his iguana to pose in a chair at his home in the outskirts of Bangkok. Santisak has been training his animals to appear in advertisements and movies for more than two decades. (Reuters) A one…

Every year in October there is a big temple fair in Samut Prakan. It is the most important annual tradition for the people in our province. It is called the “Phra Samut Chedi Fair” and lasts for 12 days and 12 nights. It is an event that we all look forward to as there …

Rescue workers gather around a train after it derailed near the Thai city of Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, October 5, 2009. The passenger train bound for Bangkok derailed in Thailand’s Hua Hin coastal resort district in heavy rain early on Monday, killing at least 7 …

Probably one of the most amazing festivals in Thailand has to be the Buffalo Racing in Chonburi. It is also one of the oldest running festivals as the banners in Chonburi City proclaimed it to be the 138th year that this has…

Towards the end of the Rainy Season, people from all around Thailand come together to race boats on their local canals and rivers. At Bang Phli, where we went this morning, this happens a few days before the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat. At this time, …

ATP tennis players (L to R) John Isner of US (2L), Gilles Simon of France (3L), Robby Ginerpri of US (4L) pose for a photo during a Thai boxing training session as part of the ATP Thailand Open tennis tournament match in Bangkok on September 30, 2009. (Getty Images)…

Chutima Durongdej, Miss Thailand 2009, performs in a National Costume show in the Rainforest Theater at the Wyndham Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas. Thailand wins the 3rd place in Best National Costume at the Miss Universe Competition. (Hand Out, Miss Universe L.P., LLLP) More Thailand pictures can be found

School workers clean tables and chairs in a school classroom in Bangkok on July 15, 2009. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has announced the closure of its 435 schools, 200 nurseries and 13 occupational training centres, for five days from July 15 to temporary closure for a large-scale clean-up in an attempt to contain the influenza…

I have to admit I am not a very diligent traveller: I don’t dive very deep into my guidebooks. I usually enjoy ancient monuments, temples, ruins and other buildings for their atmosphere and architectural beauty, not for the tales from olden days that they tell to an eager listener. I cannot imagine what life must…

Thai Public Health Minister Witthaya Keawparadai (R) gives booklets about swine flu to vendors at a shopping market in Bangkok on June 18, 2009. Thailand’s overall influenza A (H1N1) patient count reached 518 with 113 additional patients were diagnosed, even as several Bangkok schools resumed classes…

When I see images like this I usually think of Japanese kids who often wear masks when they are ill or when they are concerned about catching a contagious disease. However, I took this picture this afternoon here in Thailand. The number of cases of people infected with the …

They will never learn. The Bank Of Thailand, the thai central bank, lost all credibility mid january, when it announced the recovery … When actually the thai economy was plunging , very deep ! Bank of Thailand (BoT) deputy governor Atchana Waiquamdee on Wednesday voiced confidence that the country’s … Read full story >>>

This week we have a crispy egg salad for you which is called “yum khai foo” in Thai. In the ingredients pictured below, you have on the left onion, bird eye chilli, palm sugar, tomatoes and two eggs. On the…

What does science have to say about the most effective way to learn Thai (or any language)? I am writing on behalf of Lanta International Language School , a Thai language school located on Koh Lanta, a small island along the west … Read full story >>>

The “ hair bridges ” story about women in Sagaing Division selling their hair to raise money to rebuild bridges reminded me of another article published in The Myanmar Times , by journalist Cherry Thein. The bridges the women are hoping to rebuild are on a section of the road between the… Read full story >>>

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Learning Languages Fast… A little over a week after launching Women Learn Thai , I wrote my first book review, The Quick and Dirty Guide to Learning Languages Fast . But I didn’t just review A. G. Hawke’s book, I followed his instructions (to a point). Getting help from my … Read full story >>>

Sondhi Limthongkul hasn’t said he will take over as leader of the new political party, set up by People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). He says he will let the majority of PAD members who are meeting tomorrow to vote on … Read full story >>>

From the agricultural cycle of the Pulanka Yao to military “confiscations” by the KMT Douglas Miles ( CIU, Ascona; James Cook University, ex Tribal Research Centre, Chiang Mai) Aiontay has made the briefest comment (comment 7, May 14, 2009) to date relating to my initial New Mandala post … Read full story >>>

For those who have not had the pleasure to see a squat toilet, think about it as looking like a wall mounted urinal but set flush horizontally into the floor. Read full story >>>