Thailand Stories

(The following is a brief Thai> English translation from various local news sources) At 10 in the morning of 24 September, Mr Sanan, administrative chief of Phatthalung province was in charge of perhaps the first ever televised wedding between endangered Sakai people. The Sakai…

One of the best books about Buddhism in Thailand is undoubtedly “Phra Farang: An English Monk in Thailand” by Phra Peter Pannapadipo. Even if you are not interested in becoming a monk yourself, his vivid description of his ten years as a…

In an old guidebook to Bangkok, dating back about 150 years, the writer mentioned a “Red House” on the East bank of the Chao Phraya River exactly 2.3 miles south of Paknam. I have read quite a few contemporary accounts by travellers from the 19th Century that described their…

Transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport will now be able to choose between a range of tours if they have at least six hours to spare before they need to catch their next plane. Paknam Web was invited over to the airport this morning…

For about a year or so now, they have been constructing a bridge over Sukhumwit Road in Bang Pu District of Samut Prakan. When they first started I thought it was a bit strange. As it is a bit like a bridge …

When I first travelled through Asia I remember thinking that it was lucky that I spoke English as my first language. I noticed that English was being used as the way to communicate between backpackers of different nations. For example, a German would speak to a Frenchman in …

Title: Mor 3 Bpee 4 Rao Rak Naai Director: Haeman Chatemee Starring: Sarocha Tanjararak, Kanin Bhatia, Suppasit Chinwinijkul Official website: www.mor3pee4themovie.com Release Date in Thailand: 30 April 2009 It all started with MSN. Four teenagers making friends online, they yet haven’t met, but are bound to come across each other …

People often envy me when they find out I live in Thailand. However, once you wake up, it is not only azure waters and blooming orchids. Work is work - hard work. Nevertheless, I have settled into a comfortable routine, and day-to-day life is nice and predictable. But I need to be careful, too. The smiling faces fade…

Title: Rahtree Reborn (Buppha Rahtree 3.1) Director: Yuthlert Sippapak Starring: Chermarn Boonyasak, Mario Maurer, Somlek Sakdikul Official website: http://www.buppha3.com/ Release Date in Thailand: 9 April 2009 Surrounded by tranquility of the apartment, a horrible spirit in the room 609 is lurking, and going to be awaken. This time the terrors are triplex. It is time for Oscar apartment to…

Thai people seem to be at the peak of their creative powers when they need to come up with another believable excuse for having a picnic. Usually, the routine trip to a waterfall suffices, but if there is additional demand for more party elements, such as luk tung music, karaoke, and a beauty pageant, a day is set aside to celebrate locally…

Title: Sassy Player (Dtaew Dte Dteen Ra-Bert) Director: Poj Arnon Starring: Peerawit Bunnag, Warapat Petchsatit, Sudarat “Tukky” Butrprom Release Date in Thailand: 2 April 2009 A girl school in town plans to found male football team, so it’s the first year that the school allows boys to enroll. But, there are only 16 boys who come for the admission and 7 of them turn out to be transsexual. Anyway, as the big final match…

Title: Khan Kluay II Director: Thaweelap Sriwuthiwong Starring: Attaporn Teemakorn, Ann Thongprasom, Montri Janeaksorn Official website: www.kantana.com/khankluay/th/main.html Release Date in Thailand: 26 March 2009 Khan Kluay II is set after the victory of Ayutthaya against the invasion of the powerful Burmese Empire when Khan Kluay is appointed as King Naresuan’s royal elephant and services the king in many battles. But it isn’t…

I find it very satisfying to be able to give back to my local community. I teach English to Thai students in a private school in Samut Prakan. But, these kids mainly come from rich families and they are used to seeing foreign teachers. What I sometimes find more rewarding is to …

Title: Meat Grinder (Cheuat Gon Chim) Director: Tiwa Moeithaisong Starring: Mai Charoenpura, Rattanaballang Tohsawat, Duangta Tungkamanee Release Date in Thailand: 19 March 2009 MEAT GRINDER takes you to taste the bizarre horror of traditional noodle recipe cooked by Boot, a woman who owns a noodle stall, a unique noodle stall. Boot has been living with tension and stress for all of her life, she works hard for …

Title: Miss You Again (A-Neung Kit Teung Bpen Yaang Ying) Director: Bundit Rittakol Starring: Thanachat Tulayachat, Ratchawin Wongviriya, Klaokaew Sinteppadon Official website: www.anueng.com Release Date in Thailand: 12 March 2009 The film centers to a high school that is going to be taken over by foreign investor, who plans to…

I enjoy getting lost. Taking a map, my camera, some water, and follow some deserted mountain road, looking down on valleys, looking over mountain ranges. This is how I found the beautiful little village of Baan Namkhong just a few weeks ago at the end of a winding road, in …

Title: Power Kids (Haa Hua Jai Hero) Director: Krissanapong Rachata Starring: Johnny Nguyen, Nanthawut Boonrubsub, Sasisa Jindamanee Official website: www.powerkidsmovie.com Release Date in Thailand: 5 March 2009 Power Kids circles around 5 kids; Wut, Kat, Pong, Woon and Jib, who grow up in a martial art school. Their ordinary life twists when they fight a rowdy gang and it causes…

How come, with the age of the Internet with all that info available on places to go in Thailand, that us folk, when choosing a holiday destination, always select the same old places? And especially, when it’s a tropical beach we are after. So, if you’re bored of well-trodden tourist haunts and their endless array of banana boats and bar beers, then why not…

One of the best agro-tourism projects in Thailand is undoubtedly Farm Chokchai in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. In fact it has won many awards. Farm Chokchai is situated on the Friendship Highway in cowboy country and is only 159 km from Bangkok. You can either come here as a day trip from Bangkok or as a stopover on your…

(The following is a rough/brief translation of the leading article in the Thai Raj newspaper, 31 Jan) (Example edited pic on www.hi5.com) No pimps, no mamasangs – Thai university students, office women and highschool girls sell their bodies directly on the Internet on two of Thailand’s most popular websites www.mthai….