Thailand Stories

A fisherman works on his fish farm on a partially dry reservoir on the Mekong River during a drought affecting the Thai-Lao border area of Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province, north of Bangkok March 11, 2010. Severe drought has hit Southeast Asian countries, parching the region’s major river, Mekong, whose water level has dropped to only 33 centimeters, the lowest in…

We are at Rabieng Ta-le restaurant alongside the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Prakan. It is a great place to come to enjoy the sunset in the evening. The restaurant is at Bangsaen 2. They have some great seafood. We have ordered softshell crab curry, spicy crispy catfish curry, fried shrimp, and fried crab rice. The food has just started…

Anti-government rallies are being planned by the red shirts in Bangkok from 12th-14th March 2010. They are hoping for a million protesters though the final figure is expected to be less than half that. However, it is still a sizeable protest and precautions …

I am at the graduation ceremony for my Primary 6 students. Always a sad time of year. I teach them English and Computer. I used to get close to the students but that always makes this time of year much harder. None of my students were born when I first came to …

A Thai policeman stands guard outside Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house in Bangkok March 10, 2010. The Thai government has invoked a tough security law, the Internal Security Act, giving the armed forces broad powers to control an upcoming rally by supporters …

I am at the National Science Museum north of Bangkok with Nong Grace and her cousins. This is the first time I have been here. It is an impressive place with many hands-on activities for the kids. Grace is certainly enjoying herself. But for me it…

Thai policemen inspect identity cards at a checkpoint in outskirts of Bangkok. The Thai government has invoked a tough security law, the Internal Security Act, giving the armed forces broad powers to control an upcoming rally by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if necessary. (Reuters) A Thai policeman stands …

The Thai government over the past few years have been so focussed on first the yellow shirts and then the red shirts that hardly anyone has noticed the rampant increase of drug use in Thailand. It is almost getting to epidemic proportions …

I am at the airport saying goodbye to our foreign English teachers. They have been teaching at our school for the last year. In May we will be welcoming a new group of university graduates. The red shirts will be rallying in Bangkok this …

His Majesty the King receives a briefing yesterday on the situation in the country from the prime minister. Abhisit Vejjajiva was granted a private meeting with His Majesty on the 14th floor of the Chalermphrakiat building, Siriraj Hospital. (ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Escorted and guarded by Thai commandoes, Maj. Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol (center), alias Seh Daeng, a supporter of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is brought to criminal court Monday, March 8, 2010, in Bangkok. Khattiya and seven associates were arrested on Saturday on charges of illegal possession of firearms. The Criminal Court on …

It has come to that time of year again to renew my work permit and visa. This allows me to stay in Thailand for another year. In the past my work permit was done by my school, but two years ago I changed …

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…

I saw Dan Rivers on CNN this morning doing a piece on Thai wine. He made a comment at the end that one day it might be a real possibility that Thailand could become just as famous for it’s wine as for it’s food. I don’t buy wine that…

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 06: Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand waits with his caddie on the 18th hole during the the third round of the Maybank Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on March 6, 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Getty Images) KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 04: Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand plays his second shot on the 15th hole during the…

They moved the prisoners and pulled down the buildings of the old prison some years ago. All that remains today are some of the watch towers and short stretches of wall. There is a plan to build a 137 meter high tower here for tourists…

A boy named Tok is the prospective inheritor of his family that has been working as comedians for generations. But something goes wrong as Tok seems not to inherit any hilarity from his family: he can make no one laugh. When Tok meets Namkaeng, the only woman who does laugh at his jokes, their…

A traffic policeman walks past a group of Bangladeshi Jumma Buddhist student monks and novices during a rally outside the United Nations building in Bangkok March 5, 2010. The monks urged the Bangladesh military and Bengali Muslim settlers to stop attacks on the Jumma indigenous people in Chittagong Hill Tracts …

A year and a half ago, I bought a pineapple from Foodland Supermarket, ripped off the stalk at the top, and then stuck it into a pot of earth. I didn’t seriously think that it would grow. But it has as you can see by this photo! - Posted from my iPhone

A few days ago, a user called “musicxpresso” put up for sale on ebay a wanted poster for Thaksin and his wife for a mere 99 cents. The photo showed the massive banner used as the backdrop for one of the yellow shirts stages while they occupied the Government House area. However, if you read the badly worded description (obviously …