Thailand Stories

Songkran Water Fights at Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan It is nearly time for the most popular Thai Festival, Songkran 2011 , which takes place all over Thailand in mid April every year. This is the traditional Thai new year which is…

I am in the Northeast of Thailand for the launch of two new guidebooks. I already told you about the one called “The Mekong: Journeys along the River of Life”. Today I’m on my way to Surin Province for the launch of…

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was established on the 18th March 1960. TAT was the first organization in Thailand to be specifically responsible for the promotion of tourism. Since the inception of the first local office of TAT in Chiang Mai in 1968, there are now 35 regional offices throughout …

This week in Bangkok, there are two opportunities to watch the highly anticipated documentary “Living with the Tiger” which explores the lives of a group of Thai children affected by the HIV virus. The two screenings this week are free and are sponsored by the…

Darkest Isan (where decent thais fear to tread), Part Ten. The only backpacker town in the whole of Isan, Nong Khai is ideal for those who want to getaway from Thailand a bit and  experience guest house life, tuk tuks on hand to ferry you to sightseeing locations…

(17) Peuak Guan – Tua Guan (เผือกกวน – ถั่วกวน) which is a Taro and Mung Bean Pudding. (18)  Fak Thong Kaeng Buad (ฟักทองแกงบวด) which is Pumpkin in sweet coconut milk. This cost 20 baht.  (19) Khanom Luk Chub (ลูกชุบ) which is Miniature Fruit Candy. (20) Khao Niew Tud (ข้าวเหนียวตัด) which is Sticky Glutinous …

Six months have passed since I did the Thai Street Food Challenge. During September 2010, I ate just over 100 different street food dishes. The challenge was to only eat street food for one month, for every meal, with no repeats. Like most people who live …

In the old days, before movies and T.V. soap operas, people were entertained with Nang Talung. This is the art of shadow puppets that first became popular in Southern Thailand two or three generations ago. It has since spread to other…

(9) Wun Kati (วุ้นกะทิ), which is a Jelly with Coconut Cream Topping. It costs 30 baht. (10) Khao Niew Na Sangkaya (ข้าวเหนียวหน้าสังขยา), which is Thai custard on sticky rice. It cost 12 baht. (11) Thong Yod (ทองหยอด) which translates as Golden Egg Yolk…

Chinatown is one of the most fascinating areas of Bangkok to explore on foot. I was there last weekend for a brief look as I intend to write more about this area in the future. I walked a loop up and down two of the main roads through …

The Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit, on the edge of Bangkok’s Chinatown, has been the highlight of many guidebooks for quite a few years now. It is certainly regarded as one of the main sights in Bangkok as it is included …

Tomorrow marks the start of a new year for Chinese people. It is the year of the Rabbit. Today, it is still New Year’s Eve. Firecrackers have been going off all day and local shopkeepers have been setting up shrines in front …

After the success of Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram, other communities in the area decided to try their hand at a weekend market. One such example is Bang Nok Kwaek Market which is alongside the Mae Klong River north of Amphawa…

Thai Buddhists have believed for a long time that they will make good merit if they release fish and birds at a temple. The idea is that you are doing good by giving a creature its freedom. However, its often a short…

The nearest stretch of seaside to Bangkok is probably Bang Pu Seaside Resort (สถานตากอากาศบางปู) in Samut Prakan. Don’t go there expecting beaches as it is only mudflats and mangroves. However, in Bang Pu they have a pier where hundreds of local people go to enjoy the cool evening breeze…

Darkest Isan (where decent thais fear to tread), Part Eight This sleepy little provincial town was once part of the Lan Xang Kingdom of Lao and later a picturesque retreat for French colonists. A mix of the old and new, or perhaps I should say old and new money as the …

I first went to Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram exactly five years ago. I went there for the annual Rama II Fair . This year it takes place on the weekend of 5th-6th February 2011. I have been back to Amphawa a few times since. I really like …

The Red Shirts are back in Bangkok in bigger numbers than we have seen for a long time. This is the first rally since the new year and also since the ending of the State of Emergency. We have had a number of big rallies in Bangkok over the last 3 …

Darkest Isan (where decent thais fear to tread), Part Seven If I had a baht for every time, back home and in the far east, I’ve been told or read how Buddhism is different, it’s a religion of tolerance and enlightenment…

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…