Thailand Voice

If you want any proof that superstition and black magic is alive and well in Thailand then you don’t need to go further than the front page of the Thai Rath. This is the most popular newspaper for Thai people and its front pages are often filled with colour pictures of road accidents…

After a string of bad luck, the Thai government has decided that the best way to bring about national reconciliation in Thailand is to move around some furniture and potted plants at Government House. I don’t want to belittle the beliefs of the people in government, but wouldn’t it be better if…

Sony Kuncoro of Indonesia, left, poses with Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana, right, after the men’s singles final at the Li-Ning Singapore Open Badminton Super Series on Sunday June 20, 2010 in Singapore. Kuncoro won the match 21-16, 21-16, beating the Thai player. (AP) More Thailand

In Samut Songkhram, there is a market which takes place literally on the train tracks. I first went there about four years ago. I have been back a few times since. Today was the first time for a whole. I was surprised to…

Nong Grace keeps asking me to take her on one of my day trips. Most of the time I don’t need the extra hassle of dragging a 6 year old kid around. Doing day trips is not always fun and easy. It is sometimes hard …

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gives a speech to investors at Impact Arena in Bangkok June 18, 2010. Thai government now forecasts economic growth of 4.5 to 5.0 percent this year on strong exports despite recent political unrest. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found

Mr. Nirun Thiranartsin, the Suvarnabhumi Airport Director, presided over the opening ceremony of the “Smiling Fruits @ Suvarnabhumi Airport” this morning at the airport. The fruit festival is for promoting the various Thai fruits to international passengers arriving and departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Between 16th-30th June…

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) talks to his finance minister, Korn Chatikavanij (L) and other officials before addressing the seminar on how to reform the country in Bangkok June 17, 2010. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

According to an article in the Bangkok Post, the Fine Arts Department plans to register 25 sites as areas of historical interest in Thailand this year. Most of the sites are in Bangkok and many are Buddhist temples, although there are also palaces and residences. Registration will entitle them to …

Leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) or the Red Shirt movement, Jatuporn Prompan, center, talks with journalists at Bangkok’s criminal court in Thailand Tuesday, June 15, 2010. Thai authorities on Tuesday brought 11 UDD leaders to the court to seek a court order to extend their detention terms. (AP) …

Thai scuba divers wearing soccer jerseys cheer underwater during an event for the World Cup at the Siam Ocean World in Bangkok June 14, 2010 REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang A staff member of Siam Ocean Aquarium clad in soccer jersey feeds a shark during a show in Bangkok, Thailand…

The video shows the Thai Cultural Trip to Ko Kret in Nonthaburi that I joined recently. It was sponsored by the TAT for foreign teachers working in and around Bangkok. I didn’t actually shoot this video on my iPhone.

Thai university students walk past the “Sawadee Cup” restaurant Thursday, June 10, 2010, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. The coffee shop is alleged to have been owned recently by Joran van der Sloot. Van der Sloot remains the lone suspect in the 2005 disapperance of U.S. teen Natalee Holloway and is…

Thai fish boats tow a a cement platforms before they are dumped into the sea off the coast of southern Thailand near Pattani province on June 11, 2010. The cement platforms will serve as artificial reefs for coral to help rehabilitate the marine ecology of the region. (Getty Images) …

I have said it before, but no-one believed me. This year will see the start of a significant number of people using e-guidebooks instead of hefting around large bricks that the Lonely Planet books are starting to resemble. Lonely Planet…

Tiger Woods, right, and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand sit on a bench in the 17h tee box in the fourth round of the Memorial golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Sunday, June 6, 2010, in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs

There are quite a few temples around Thailand that have depictions of what will happen to you in Hell if you break the precepts or do something bad. One of the most comprehensive collections can be found at Wang Saen Suk not far from Bangsaen Beach. Click here for location on …

A popular Beach resort for Bangkok people is Bangsaen Beach in Chonburi. It is the closest beach to Bangkok as it is only about an hour or so away. However, it also marks the spot where mangrove forests become beaches for the first time. So…

Between Ang Sila and Bangsaen Beach there is a small hill called Khao Sam Muk. According to legend, two lovers jumped to their death from here when their parents objected to their marriage. There is a shrine for them at the foot of the hill. Click here to see the location on a map. The…

On the road between Ang Sila and Khao Sam Muk I came across this beautiful Chinese temple called Wihan Thep Sathit Phra Kiti Chaloem. It is a four storey high building that contains many Chinese deities. Click here to see …

Ang Sila is a small fishing village not too far away from Chonburi City. The local people are famous for producing things made out of granite. This is a popular place to come to buy a mortar and pestle. Click here to see the

While I was planning my trip to Chonburi, I studied satellite images of the area around the city. Along the coastline I came across a patch of mangrove forest and what looked like a boardwalk. The only way that I could drive to the Mangrove Forest Conservation and Study Center was…

Today I went on a day trip down to Chonburi City and Bangsaen Beach. My first stop was at Wat Thammanimit. It wasn’t easy finding this temple as all the signs were in Thai. However, once I turned off Sukhumwit Road in Chonburi City and headed towards …

British national Jeff Savage (front) and Australian national Conor David Purcell arrive at the Pathumwan Municipal court in Bangkok June 4, 2010. Savage and Purcell appeared on Friday at Thai court for breaking emergency decree as they are accused of joining the anti-government protesters. (Reuters) Australian national Conor …

The second edition of the Phuket Film Festival will take place from June 4th until June 13th this year after being canceled last year due to security concerns arising from the ASEAN summit taking place on the Island. This years film festival will be organized by Scott Rosenberg, managing director of… Read full story >>>

A Thai woman prays at a Buddhist temple where six civilians, including a volunteer nurse, died within the sprawling protest encampment in downtown Bangkok that was supposed to be a safe house and a no-weapons zone during recent clashes May 31, 2010. Thailand’s parliamentary…

The first BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) route in Bangkok was opened on Saturday 29th May 2010 and runs from Sathorn Station (BTS Chong Nonsri) to Rajapruek Station. There are 25 buses and 12 stations on the 15 kilometre route. It is free from now until 31st August 2010. (Richard Barrow) …

While I was exploring the BRT bus route today, I came across this beautiful park between MRT Dokmai and MRT Rama IX Bridge. It is dedicated to H.M. The King of Thailand. It is close to the Rama IX Bridge as you can …

While I was creating a google map for the BRT Bus route in Bangkok , I came across an interesting sight between BRT Wat Dokmai and BRT Rama IX Bridge. This is the satellite image of what looked like a capsized ship close to the Rama IX bridge…

About four years ago the BBC had a story about an image of David Beckham that could be found at a Thai temple in Bangkok. I had forgotten all about it until I spotted one of the names of the BRT stations which rang a bell with me. As I was exploring…

At Wat Pariwat in Bangkok, you will find this image of the famous English footballer David Beckham. He is one of the images decorating the base of the Buddha image. Football is worshipped in Thailand so they thought it wasn’t such a bad idea to use Beckham’s image in a Thai temple. Click…

Today was the first full day of operation for the new BRT bus in Bangkok that runs in a dedicated lane. So, I thought I would head into Bangkok to check it out. Looks like thousands of other people had the same idea! Check out my google map of the route…

I shot this video on my iPhone today to show how difficult it is for the drivers of the new BRT buses to approach the stations. The first clip is of the bus approaching BRT Ratchaphreuk terminal station. Here the passengers wait in…

This evening I went to Wat Asokaram in Samut Prakan to take pictures at the mini-marathon that had been organized as part of the activities for Wisakha Bucha Day. There were two races. The first to set off were the runners. They were mixed ages and both men and women. The second race were…

During the occupation of Ratchaprasong by the Reds, the shrines in the area remained open, though they didn’t see that many worshippers. I visited all the shrines during the occupation as I kept receiving emails from concerned people who wanted …

This afternoon I went to visit the Silom Walking Street which will run for three days from 28-30 May 2010 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The one-kilometer long walking street was set up to help retail operators who have been hard hit by the red shirt protests over the last two months…

I was up early this morning to go and take pictures at Wat Klang in Samut Prakan City.  Today is the full moon and an important Buddhist holiday called Visakha Bucha. When I arrived shortly after 7 a.m., there were already hundreds of local people at…

Bangkok people give alms to Thai monks during a joint mass prayer at Lumphini Park in Bangkok on May 26, 2010 to bless the Nation a week after a deadly anti-government protest crackdown. Thai authorities extended the curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces for four nights, as they seek to restore order following…

Early this morning, I went to the King Rama VI statue in Lumphini for a mass merit-making ceremony that included representatives from the five major religions in Thailand. Due to light traffic, I arrived early at about 5.30 a.m. I drove up and down Ratchadamri Road all the way to Ratchaprasong and noted …

A supporter, not seen, tries to touch a hand of leader of anti-government protesters, Jatuporn Prompan, right, as he arrives at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) office for an interrogation on terrorist charge Tuesday, May 25, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Opposition leaders moved to impeach Thailand’s prime minister Monday for his handling …