Thailand Voice

Phra Pathom Chedi is located in Muang District, Nakhon Pathom Province, 56 kilometers west of Bangkok. The pagoda is the largest structure of its kind in Thailand. It rises more than 120 meters into the air with the radius of the base of 233.50 meters. The present chedi was built in the reign of King Rama IV to…

When I first came to Thailand fifteen years ago there wasn’t really that much in the way of English media. All we had at the time were two national newspapers in English and a few programmes on television if we tuned in to …

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 …

Samut Prakan was built as a frontier town to protect the approach to Bangkok upriver. Fortresses were built on both sides of the river from the estuary all the way up to Phra Pradaeng. Not many of these forts are around today. They are either in ruins …

This year I have been to several Loy Krathong Festivals. The first was Loy Krathong Jay which was held back in October during the Vegetarian Festival. Then the normal Loy Krathong during the full moon of November. Then, this weekend I went to …

About 30 wives of foreign diplomats in Thailand went on a trip to Petrified Wood Museum, silk factory, pottery community, and Prasat Hin Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. (manager.co.th) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand is seen here changing the cloth of the Emerald Buddha to mark the start of the cool season, November 3, 2009. (Matichon) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Teeranun Wipuchanin, a 43-year-old unemployed former stock trader, walks after being arrested by Thai police officers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport November 1, 2009. Police in Thailand arrested two people, including Teeranun, on Sunday on suspicion of spreading rumours about the health of…

Gas, oil and water spray from the West Atlas mobile offshore drilling unit in the Timor Sea, about 250 km (155 miles) off the far north Kimberley coast of Western Australia state, before it caught fire November 1, 2009. The rig operated by a unit of top Thai energy firm PTTEP in …

The winner of Miss Thailand 2009 was Miss Ornvipa Kanoknateesawad. She also won four other awards during the contest: Miss Media Choice, Miss Healthy, Miss Personality and Miss Princess. (Asiancuteidol) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Canadian protestor, Ashley Fruno, from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), holds a sign during a protest outside the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok October 26, 2009. The protest is part of PETA’s campaign to bring attention to the practise of traditional seal hunting in Canada. (reuters) More Thailand…

Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks during the closing ceremony of the 15th ASEAN Summit at the seaside town of Hua Hin October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND POLITICS) Thailand’s Prime Minsister Abhisit Vejjajiva indicates to Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, right, where to stand as Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, second from right, and China’s…

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…

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen coming down to Siriraj hospital’s ground floor to pay homage to his late mother and King Rama V on the occassion of the Chulalongkorn Day, October 23, 2009. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world longest reigning monarch, has been treated at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital since September 19 for …

H.M. The King has granted the name Bhumibol 1 to the northern bridge across the Chao Phraya River linking Bangkok and Samut Prakan, and the name Bhumibol 2 to the southern bridge that links Phra Pradaeng city and Samrong Tai. (Richard Barrow/paknam….

(63 Longwood Avenue: the first home of Prince Bhumibhol, the future King of Thailand. Photo courtesy of KTBF ) Quite incredibly most Thais who I have ever spoken to haven’t known where the present king of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born. For…

Miss Pongchanok Kunklub was crowned as Miss Thailand World 2009 on Saturday night.(missthailandworld2009.bectero.com) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

New Thailand’s football coach Bryan Robson of England, right, is presented with a team jacket by chief adviser of the Thai Football Association Suwat Liptapallop after a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Robson, a former England captain agreed in a four-year contract to coach the Thai …

A Thai farmer hands over a petition to EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, right, in front of the European Commission and Council headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. Farmers and environmental group Greenpeace handed over a petition signed by 180.000 people calling for…

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…

A supporter wears a mask of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra during a rally at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok October 11, 2009. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom Supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra carry his posters and banners during a rally at the Democracy Monument in…

The US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron ‘Thunderbirds’ arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok on October 8, 2009. Thunderbirds will perform to the public during the Thai air show on October 10. (Getty Images) Thunderbirds jet number 5 of the US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron lands…

A Gallery by Kittisak Butdeewong Fortunately, I have had the opportunity recently, for the second time, to assist a good friend of mine, artist, Kittisak Butdeewong with most of the Thai> English language preparations for his latest gallery. Kittisak, hailing from the north-eastern rural province …

Twenty five contestants competing in the Miss Poland 2009 contest are presently touring Thailand. They will be here from 5th-14th October 2009. Some of the major locations that they will visit include Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Krabi. ( Richard Barrow /paknam.com) More Thailand pictures can be found

Thai buffalo racers compete in an annual water buffalo race in Chonburi Province, 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. The annual race was held as a celebration among rice farmers before the rice harvest. ( Richard Barrow /ThaiPhotoBlogs.com) More Thailand pictures can be found at

Thousands of people at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai, Bang Phli, attended the “Lotus Throwing” festival to mark the end of the Buddhist Retreat on Saturday. A Buddha image on a boat, made its way down the canal, while worshippers on both banks threw lotus flowers at it…

Keigo Zato, a nine-year-boy living in Thailand all his life, and his Japanese father were tearfully reunited at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Friday afternoon. The Japanese father, Katsumi, arrived on the Japan Airlines Flight JO/JL 717 at 3:05 pm. Keigo walked to his father and hugged and kissed …

A Thai Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) official checks the 230 kv Underground Transmission line in Bangkok. The 230 kv Underground Transmission cables would be placed in an underground tunnel for approximately 7.5 kilometers in length to support demand increase and stable electricity supply for the center of business areas in the Thai capital. (Getty Images) More…

A handout photo from WWF GMPO taken in 2008 shows a Khorat big-mouthed frog found in three isolated and remote locations in a protected area in Thailand. Scientists discovered 163 new species in Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong region last year, but all are at risk of extinction due to climate change, …

Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym reacts after defeating Ireland’s Bernard Dunne in their WBA super-bantamweight title fight in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .