Thailand Stories

The iPhone 4 will finally be available tomorrow, 24th June 2010, for those people lucky enough to live in US, France, Germany, Japan and the UK. Expect  long queues and units sold out that first day. In Thailand, the iPhone probably won’t enter the grey market at MBK until the end of June at the …

Some great news was announced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently regarding four locations inside Thailand being awarded Top Asian Beach Destinations by the website Tripadvisor. This is obviously great news and something to be proud of in reaching this achievement. However, I think the spin doctors over …

Buddhist monks pray during the funeral of Thai Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol at a temple in Bangkok June 22, 2010. The body of renegade Thai soldier Khattiya will be cremated on Tuesday with security forces deploying up to 1,000 policemen at the temple to prevent any potential unrest during the funeral…

King Bhumibol Adulyadej (C) of Thailand stands with French President General de Gaulle (L) and General Demetz outside the Elysee Palace in Paris 14 October 1960 as the Thai royal couple is about to leave after an official visit to France. (Getty Images) King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand shakes hands with French President General de Gaulle outside…

At exactly midnight last night, the eagerly awaited new operating system for the iPhone, iOS4 went live and became available for download for the first time. Like other people around the world, I was there waiting with my finger on the update button. This is a fairly major upgrade, in particular for the iPhone…

I know many Thai people will be happy to hear that MSN is now available to download for the iPhone. I think Windows Live Messenger is the most popular IM software in Thailand. Certainly all the Thai people that I know chat on it all day. Even when they are supposed to be…

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 they paid …

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 pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

At the moment we still don’t have any official news of release dates and prices for the iPhone 4 in Thailand. However, the TrueMove website is already advertising on their front page for the iPhone 4 to be “coming soon” to Thailand. At the moment, we are expecting the iPhone to be released during September 2010. However, can you really keep …

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 see so many foreigners there. I never saw any on my previous trips. I guess word…

Thais and others gather Saturday, June 19, 2010, on the one month anniversary of the military crackdown on anti-government demonstrators at Wat Prathum Wanaram in Bangkok, Thailand. At least six people were shot dead at the Wat during the final hours of the government’s…

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…

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 at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com

This morning I decided to go and test out the new Airport Rail Link that runs between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok. As usual, I was live blogging on www.RichardBarrow.com with highlights on my Twitter account. Click here for…

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 …

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

Cows are seen at the dried-up Sirikit dam in Thailand’s Uttaradit province, 470 km (292 miles) north of the capital Bangkok June 16, 2010. Northern Thailand is facing the worst drought in decades. (Reuters) A statue stands against a backdrop of the dried-…

The interest in the new iPhone 4 has overwhelmed even the people at Apple. On Tuesday this week, Americans could place pre-orders for the first time for the iPhone 4 which is expected to ship on 24th June. But the demand was so high that it crashed the payment …

When I am off exploring Thailand, an essential tool for me is Google Earth . I love reading maps and also creating my own. But even better, I really enjoy studying satellite images. I have discovered many new places in my neighbourhood just by using Google Earth. Like sunken ships, temples …

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 allocations from the conservation…