Thailand Stories

For the past two months we have received many inquires from people asking if Thailand is really safe for them to come on a holiday. For the most part, I was telling people that “yes” Thailand is a safe country…

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 …

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 …

One of the benefits of having a data plan with True Move is their 3G network. On the downside, it is mainly limited to locations in Bangkok and cities such as Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Phuket and Maha Sarakham. However, I had …

Today for the first time, I was surprised to see that armed soldiers had arrived at the Provincial Hall in Samut Prakan. I think this is the first time we have had soldiers here since the coup. For the last two months, …

After the news about the curfew in Samut Prakan I thought I should go out and stock up on food and petrol. I wasn’t really expecting any crowds, but there was a massive traffic jam outside Tesco Lotus. Also…

I have been to the main red shirt rally site at Ratchaprasong quite a few times. But, up to now I have never been at night time. The red zone was supposed to be completely surrounded by the army and so I …

Last night I was invited to visit Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan for their night tour and dinner theatre. This is not a regular feature but a special event for this weekend and next weekend on 14-16th May 2010. I have been to the Ancient Siam (formerly known as Ancient City)…

This evening I went to Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan for their night tour. I have been to this outdoor museum literally hundreds of times but this is the first time I have been on a tour during the night. The night tour is …

What do smartphones, Twitter and the Red Shirt rallies in Bangkok have in common? The answer is simple. It has at times meant the difference between life and death for foreign tourists and expats in Bangkok. Maybe a little melodramatic, but it has a grain of truth. Without Twitter, and the …

What do smartphones, Twitter and the Red Shirt rallies in Bangkok have in common? The answer is simple. It has at times meant the difference between life and death for foreign tourists and expats in Bangkok. Maybe a little melodramatic, but it has a grain of truth…

The Mon people, in the communities surrounding Wat Bang Ya Phraek in Phra Pradaeng District of Samut Prakan, took part in a parade and merit making activities this afternoon. In Thai, this parade is called “ngan hae yot phra chedi sai”. Which is basically a parade to carry the pinnacle or slender …

This afternoon I drove over to Wat Bang Ya Phraek in Phra Pradaeng District of Samut Prakan to take pictures at their annual parade of the pinnacles for the sand pagodas. About 11 communities took place in this parade with close on…

This morning I attended a press conference at the Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan about the extension of the Sky Train route from Bang Ping to Bang Pu. The press conference was led by Suphot Suplom, the Director-General of the Department of Highways, seen here talking …

As I arrived at the Sala Daeng Intersection, the Red Shirt contingent from Samut Prakan arrived which was good timing for me as I was able to get some shots for the local newspaper that I work for. They immediately blocked …

This morning I went back into Bangkok to check on the situation with the Red Shirts first-hand. I also heard that some Samut Prakan Red Shirts were going to arrive and so was keen to get pictures of them…

One of the main events organized during Songkran celebrations around Thailand is the Miss Songkran Beauty Contest. The one that I went to on Friday night was held at the municipal offices in Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan. It takes place every year and it is always fun to go and watch. Both male and …

One of the traditions for Songkran is to release fish and birds. The idea is that you are making merit by doing a good deed for caged animals. Of course, someone had to cage them in the first place so that you could release them! This is a …

This afternoon I am here in Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakan Province. Just when you thought that it was safe to put away the wet-weather gear and then Songkran comes back! The people of Phra Pradaeng are Thai-Raman and they celebrate Songkran later than…

Taking a break from the hectic Songkran celebrations the other day, I went to Wat Chai Mongkol in Samut Prakan. It was like an oasis in the middle of a war zone. In the surrounding area, roaming pickup trucks, packed with people armed to the teeth, were patrolling the streets looking for…