Thailand Stories

Today marks the 69th anniversary of the battle with the French on 17th January 1941 near the island of Koh Chang. In dispute were some of the territories in Indochina that Thailand wanted to claim back. Although the Thais fought bravely, they lost two torpedo boats…

Tattoo artist Shigenori Iwasaki of Japan works at the Bangkok International Tattoo convention in Bangkok January 15, 2010. The convention ends on Sunday. (Reuters) A tattooed man poses for a picture at the Bangkok International Tattoo convention in Bangkok January 15, 2010. The convention ends on Sunday. (Reuters)

A supporter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra holds a photo of him during a rally in central Bangkok January 15, 2010. Thai anti-government “red shirt” protesters will hold a long rally next month in what they say is a campaign for democracy and a fight against the domination of Thai politics by unelected elites. (Reuters)…

This is a picture that I took in a Karen village in Mae Hong Son. This is where the famous “long-necked hilltribe” lived. I went there back in 2002. I was quite excited to see them for the first time. However, the experience left a bad taste in my mouth…

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gives a keynote address on “A Return to Tradition” to foreign media and the international business community at a hotel in Bangkok January 14, 2010. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

A Thai Buddhist Monk makes his rounds along Bangkok Noi Klong on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. While Bangkok to most is a bustling, modern city of more than 10 million people there still remain areas where traditional culture survives. (AP) Two Buddhist Monks return from their rounds along Bangkok Noi Klong on …

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 …

Whenever we have new foreign teachers at the school, I always take them out to a restaurant as part of their orientation. This is partly to introduce them to my favourite Thai food on a menu. But, I also want to point out to them some of the finer points …

Well, about a few weeks back it was my turn, the first in years actually, to do a visa run to Vientiane, Laos. And I did the visa run on my own and not with some over-priced Visa Run trip company. Thinking back, the last time I had been to Vientiane was just a year or so ago…

Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom (centre), commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, and four other suspects are arraigned in the Criminal Court by the prosecution on Tuesday in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990. (Manager/Bangkok Post) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

I was driving through the countryside in Lopburi Province last year when I came across this amazing sight. An elephant walking through a sunflower field. These sites are a popular attraction for Thai tourists who drive hundreds of kilometres to have their pictures taken with sunflowers. For them, the elephant is just an added bonus. …

Thailand’s first population census was conducted in 1909 by the Ministry of Interior. Four subsequent censuses followed in 1919, 1929, 1937 and 1947. Since 1960, the National Statistical Office (NSO) has been responsible for undertaking population censuses every ten years under the 1952 Statistical Act (revised in 1965). In accordance with the United recommendation that countries should undertake national censuses every the…

Referee raises the arm of Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, left, of Thailand, at the end of their WBA Super Bantamweight world title match against Japanese challenger Satoshi Hosono in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. Poonsawat won the match by 2-0 decision to retain the title. (AP)…

It would seem that the longer I stay in Thailand, the higher the frequency that I attend funerals. In fact, I have two sets of funeral clothes now. I thought today I would give a brief overview of a cremation in order to …

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…

The Europe team members pose for photographs after defeating the Asia team at the 4th Royal Trophy men’s team tournament between Europe and Asia, at the Amata Spring Country Club course in Chonburi province, southeastern Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010. Front row, from left…

Title: To Sir With Love (Kroo Baan Nok) Director: Surasee Phatham Starring: Pichet Kongkarn, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Fonfa Phatham Release Date in Thailand: 14 December 2009 Set 30 years ago, the story follows a new teacher who arrives in a remote Isaan village and struggles to improve his pupils’ educational …

This is the fishing wharf in Samut Sakhon. Fish in great qunatities are offloaded here every day and an army of workers then have the task of cleaning the fish before it is sent of to market. Many of these minimum wage workers are illegal Burmse

A young Thai boy climbs up onto a tank during Children’s Day activities Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, in Samut Prakan, Thailand. The weapons were part of a display for Children’s Day at the Royal Thai Naval Academy, a day in which Thailand’s children are celebrated. (Richard Barrow/ Paknam.com ) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.

The annual National Children’s Day for Thailand took place today. Children are considered as the most valuable resource of the country. There is a Thai saying that goes, “Children are the future of the nation, if the children are intelligent, the country will be prosperous.” …