Thailand Stories

National Parks in Thailand Declared as Alcohol-Free Zones At the start of the New year period, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation made a surprise announcement that all national parks in Thailand would be alcohol-free zones.They cited the recent case of a rowdy student drinking party in Khao Yai National Park where someone…

It is that time of year again when the Christmas decorations go up and the shopping malls start to play Christmas songs such as Jingle Bells and Santa’s Coming to Town. Sometimes it is difficult to believe that we are living in a Buddhist country when we see a large and brightly lit Christmas…

Title: My Best Bodyguard (มาย เบสท์ บอดี้การ์ด) Director: Sirippakorn Wongjariyawat Starring: Chakrit Yamnam, Dr. Archong Chumsai Na-Ayuthaya, Sompol Piyapongsiri, Songkran Dechanarong, Theerapat Sajjakul, Thun Kramom Ying Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi Rating: 15+ Release Date in Thailand: 21 October 2010 Movie Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOLPe_6s16g

On Watchiraprakan Road, near the Chonburi City Hall, there is this beautiful pavilion which houses the Phra Putthasihing Buddha image. It is cast in silver and is much revered by the people of Chonburi. The image is taken on a procession around the town during the Songkran Festival in April every year. Click here to see the…

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 …

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 …

In my opinion, the best Songkran parade in Central Thailand  is in Phra Pradaeng. It took place this afternoon and I was there live with my iPhone uploading some of these pictures and a few videos too! It is a very colourful …

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…

Tonight I had an enjoyable time watching the Miss Songkran beauty contest in Phra Pradaeng. The event takes place every year during the new year celebrations in Phra Pradaeng. The winner will ride at the head of the parade this Sunday. If you missed out on the waterfights in Thailand…

I am in Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakan for their cultural activities for Songkran 2010. The people here are of Mon descent and they celebrate Songkran, the traditional new year, after the rest of the country. I went to watch local people play …

One of the more traditional events that took place during Songkran recently was “song nam phra”. This is the practice of bathing Buddha images with rose scented water. Most tourists, and even some Thai teenagers, seem to think that Songkran is only about throwing water at each other. However, it…

I have spent most of this afternoon at Wat Chai Mongkol in Samut Prakan taking pictures of their Songkran activities. The second event was making merit by building sand pagodas. In Thai this is called “chedi sai”. According to legend, people make merit by bringing sand back to the temple that they might have inadvertently taken out on …

This afternoon I went to The Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan to take pictures of their Songkran activities. If you didn’t know already, this is a giant three-headed elephant. Probably the largest in the world. There were quite a few people here making merit and touring the inside of the giant elephant. If you…

I am at Wat Chai Mongkol in Samut Prakan for two special Songkran activities. Probably about a thousand local people have come here to make merit by pouring water onto the hands of Buddhist monks. With about 450 monks and novices here it must be the biggest “song nam…

As you probably all know now, Thailand is celebrating Songkran this week, which is the traditional Thai new year. It is basically a week of waterfights, but there are also some other traditional aspects to the festival which I will tell you about later. …

Two elephants enjoyed splashing water at tourists on 14th April at Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan, about 35 kms south of Bangkok. The Thai people are celebrating Songkran, which is the traditional new year, by playing water fights. All thoughts and worries about the red shirt protests …

I just spent the afternoon at Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan. They have quite a few activities going on this week for Songkran.I will post full story over at www.paknam.com as well as more pictures. The highlight for me was the…

Thailand has quite a few ethnic minorities. One of these groups are the Mons which have their own distinct culture, clothing and language. They originally came from Southern Burma where they were once rulers of their own kingdom. Due to persecution …