Thailand Stories

Thai Muslim villagers look at birds in cages during in a bird-singing contest in Yala province, about 1,100 km (683 miles) south of Bangkok March 7, 2010. About 6,000 birds took part in the competition. (Reuters) Thai Muslim villagers look at birds in cages…

A devotee to the Thai Buddhist temple Wat Bang Phra works himself into a trancelike state during a religious festival Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, in Nakhon Chaisi, Thailand. Thais come from all over Thailand to be tattooed by the temple’s monks on their bodies being inked by hand using a long metal stylus. The religious tattoos …

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is the Lotus Throwing Festival in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. A revered Buddha image is placed on a boat and as it is taken up and down Samrong Canal local people throw lotus flowers onto the boat. Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos.com .

Bride Rattanaporn Supha, left, and groom Nitiphong Jittahorg of Thailand hold a bouquet of flowers as they are suspended on sling wires during a ceremony, known as a ‘flying wedding,’ as part of Valentine’s Day celebrations in Prachinburi province, eastern Thailand, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn) More Thailand pictures can

Thai newly wed scuba divers, groom Narongchon Chomsa (L) and his new bride, Somying Chomsa show their marriage license during an underwater wedding ceremony, in Trang province, south of Bangkok. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

A Thai Chinese Lion Dancer looks out from the head of his costume as he waits to perform along with more than 80 others Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok has a large Chinese community as do many other southeast Asian nations. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) Chinese Lion Dancers perform Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok has a large Chinese…

If you are in the Suphanburi area this month then I strongly suggest that you go and check out the Don Chedi Fair. This commemorates the glorious victory of King Naresuan the Great which took place on elephant back. As well…

One of the most colourful festivals in Thailand is the annual Lantern Festival in Hat Yai in Southern Thailand. I flew down there last year to enjoy the lights. It is going on now until 28th February 2010. The theme this years is

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.

When the rivers are at the highest level at the end of the rainy season, local people come together to race long boats on canals and rivers. Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos.com .

Buddhist Thais offer alms to Buddhist monks at the morning alms offering on the New Year day Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 in Samut PrakanOffering Alms for , Thailand. (Richard Barrow/ Paknam.com ) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Long-tailed macaque monkeys are offered food during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival, in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi, 150km (94 miles) north of Bangkok November 29, 2009. The festival provides various types of food and drink to the local monkey population, which…

A devotees of the Jui Tui Chinese Shrine has his tongue pierced prior to a street procession at the Vegetarian Festival Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, in Phuket, Thailand. The annual festival traces its origin back to the early 1800’s when Chinese tin miners and others who had been stricken with disease recovered by adhering to a strict vegetarian diet. A Devotee…

Thai buffalo racers compete in an annual water buffalo race in Chonburi Province, 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. The annual race was held as a celebration among rice farmers before the rice harvest. ( Richard Barrow /ThaiPhotoBlogs.com) More Thailand pictures can be found

Thousands of people at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai, Bang Phli, attended the “Lotus Throwing” festival to mark the end of the Buddhist Retreat on Saturday. A Buddha image on a boat, made its way down the canal, while worshippers on both banks threw lotus flowers at it. After one hour, the mound of lotus flowers had…

Villagers look as a rocket is successfully launched during the rocket festival also known as “Bun Bangfai” in Yasothon, 531 kms (435 miles) northeast of Bangkok, May 10, 2009. The festival marks the start of the rainy season when farmers are about to …

A rocket mounted on a decorated float is paraded during the Rocket Festival, also known as Bun Bang Fai, in Yasothon, 531 kms (330 miles) northeast of Bangkok May 9, 2009. The festival marks the start of the rainy season when farmers are about to plant rice. (Reuters) Women perform a traditional dance during the Rocket Festival, also…

Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra leave the Government House area while soldiers watch in Bangkok April 14, 2009. Anti-government protesters began streaming out of the grounds of Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday, ending a siege of the Thai prime minister’s office that had lasted almost three weeks. (Reuters) A security officer takes pictures of Thai protesters showing their ID cards before they leave the site of…

Thai soldiers watch for anti-government demonstrators as they clear an intersection early Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai soldiers unleashed hundreds of rounds of automatic weapons fire to clear rock-throwing anti-government protesters from a major intersection in the capital in the pre-dawn darkness Monday. (AP) Thai soldiers charge and fire gun shots in the air to disperse Thai supporters of exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at Ding Daeng…