Thailand Voice

Wat Phrathat Suthon Mongkon Khiri in the Thailand Province of Phrae is a modern Thai Wat, completed in 1984. The first thing you will notice about Wat Phrathat Suthon Mongkon Khiri is the enormous reclining Buddha which can be easily seen from the Denchai-Lampang highway 101, just a few kilometers outside the city … Read full story >>>

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…

Built in the 14th Century, Wat Sri Sawai is probably the oldest Thai Wat in Sukhothai. Wat Sri Sawai with its three very distinctive Prangs or Chedis was built in the Khmer style. The Middle Prang of the Temple measures over 20m… Read full story >>>

This is a picture of some Thai puppets on sale at a temple in Chiang Mai. I bought two of them which now hang on the wall at my house. They always seem to look better in the shop. But, I guess that is because there…

Wat Sri Chum, an ancient Thai temple in Sukothai, has the largest and perhaps best known Thailand Buddha in Sukhothai. This Thailand Buddha is called Phra Atchana. Wat Sri Chum was built about 700 years ago and forms part of the Sukhothai Historical Park which is now a World Heritage site. Read full story >>>

Given my recent posts on the subject, I wanted to point out a story that Reuters ran yesterday. It’s called “ Are cracks appearing in Thailand’s military? ” Here are the first few graphs. A grenade attack on the office of Thailand’s … Read full story >>>

There was an interesting approach to a story about Manuel Zelaya on the official radio news this morning: the story covered Zelaya leaving Honduras, some months after he had been ousted in a military coup, much of which time he spent… Read full story >>>

On many occasions in the Land of Smiles I’ve booked into a hotel for an overnight stay. Wonderful Wi and I tend to do so when we fancy a night out in Udon Thani for whatever reason. The scenario as we approach … Read full story >>>

The meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has agreed to keep the repurchase rate unchanged at 1.25 per cent – a rate suitable for enhancing economic recovery , a source at the Bank of Thailand said on Wednesday. ( Bangkok Post )… Read full story >>>

There are two Thai Temples named Wat Chang Lom in Sukhothai. This one which is located just outside the city behind the Legendha Resort, and the one in Si Satchanalai. Chang Lom means surrounded by elephants and this Thai Wat is certainly that. Built in the late 14th Century, … Read full story >>>

When the creation of Galyani Vadhana district was announced last month, due to the Christmas vacation two Thai Wikipedians beat me to add the official creation to the article on Wikipedia . As they also added that the act to create the district was signed by HM the King it made look into even more detail … Read full story >>>

Control, so the amartya establishment would no doubt have it, confers legitimacy: when the establishment was able to win elections, then the election was the sacred symbol of democracy and any dissenters were excoriated for illegitimate and perhaps even communist direct action. Then, when Thai Rak Thai proved that winning elections was no… Read full story >>>

Quite a few people have said to me ‘ I could do what you do.’ They are talking about blogging and I’m sure some could do what I do and probably do it better but do they understand the commitment you have to give to this time consuming … Read full story >>>

“Thai people attend a religious floral offering Saturday, January 9th, 2010, during a religious ceremony at an old military prison, known as Tuk Din, in Bangkok, Thailand.” “The prison believed to be haunted with the spirits of the dead, is being demolished to make way for several 20 story apartment … Read full story >>>

Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learners… Name:  Jonathan Thames 
 Nationality: Third Culture Kid; USA citizen 
Age range: 20-30 
Sex: Male 
Location: Monterey, CA / Chiang Mai / other places 
Profession: MPA Student 


What is your Thai level? Let’s say “Advanced” because I am generally proficient and got into “Advanced … Read full story >>>

Chang Noi in The Nation on the next election:  Over the last couple of weeks, Chang Noi has been travelling around the northern region. One striking change from even a couple of years ago is the sheer weight of political advertising. At any significant road intersection, there is at least one… Read full story >>>

The Red Shirts have lately turned quite inventive, and their latest stunt at Khao Yai Thieng forest reserve was maybe their most outrageous protest so far, exposing a soft spot that may have nationwide effects, and the potential to embarrass many rich and powerful people. Several … Read full story >>>

In Samut Songkram, there is a farmer’s market that has taken over the railway tracks. The market vendors sit on both sides of the track while customers have to walk down the middle. When the train whistle blows, they have less than a minute to pull back their produce and also the awnings sheltering them…

Judging by these photos that I took early this morning, not everyone was nursing hangovers after welcoming in the New Year at midnight last night. Like thousands of other local people from Paknam, I was up early at 6 a.m. to head down to the City Pillar…

งานประเพณีวันขึ้นปีใหม่ 2553 และตักบาตรพระภิกษุสงฆ์ MAKING MERIT FOR NEW YEAR: Thousands of local people from Paknam joined Mr. Surachai Kanasa, Governor of Samut Prakan Province, and other dignitiries to give alms to 99 monks from local temples. Prakhonchai Road, in front of the City Pillar, was closed early on …

Wat Phrathat Sri Chom Tong is one of the most important Thai Temples in Northern Thailand. This Thai Wat is believed to contain a holy Buddha relic which is kept in a Golden Chedi. The Golden Chedi at Wat Phrathat Sri Chom Tong dates back to 1452 but the present Viharn was constructed during the 19th… Read full story >>>

Today, people from all around the country are coming together to celebrate the 82nd birthday of H.M. The King. Many of them are wearing pink which is an auspicious colour believed to help make the King better. The Thai monarch has been in Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok since 19th September for …

Toilets in Thailand don’t exactly have the best of reputations. They are often dirty, smelly and not well-looked after. They are also nearly always squat toilets. Now comes the news that the temple toilets at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai in Samut Prakan …

Thailand’s fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra walks at Bayon Temple during his tour of the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap November 12, 2009. Emboldened by a rousing welcome in Cambodia, Thaksin is raising the stakes in his bid for a political comeback by rallying support from just …

People are already planning their holidays in Thailand for 2010 and so we thought we would help out by letting you know the dates of the main events and holidays. I know so many people keep asking “When is Loy Krathong…

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…

Demonstrators from the People’s Alliance for Democracy clash with Police and local villagers near Sisaket, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on a temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third …

A good way to explore an area is by using Google Earth. I have personally discovered some interesting places by analysing satellite images. So, I was really pleased to hear that Google had updated the satellite images for a large part of Samut Prakan Province. This gives …

Asian Elephant calf Luk Chai receives a traditional ecumenical Thai blessing for good health and success at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. To respect the Thai heritage of the elephant and herd, the blessing was performed by a senior Monk along with 8 other Monks from Canberra and Sydney temples, and the occasion was also…

This morning I visited Ancient Siam (formerly Ancient City) in Samut Prakan for their annual Mother’s Day activity. Over the last four or five years, the management have been organizing many different kinds of events at the park during all major holidays. Today is a public holiday for H.M. The Queen’s birthday…