thaizer.com

You are browsing the archives of 2007 June.

The term ‘farang‘ (often pronounced as ‘falang‘) is a general term used by many Thais when referring to Caucasian visitors. The exact derivation isn’t clear with some experts stating that it is a contraction of the Thai word ‘farangset‘ (French) as the French were present in Siam and Indochina in the 17th Century. Others believe [...]

If you only visit one temple in Chiang Mai, then this should be the one you visit. The mountain wat that overlooks the city of Chiang Mai is the holiest temple in the north of Thailand.
History of the Temple
According to legend, in the late 14th Century holy relics were placed on the back of a [...]

Visitors to Thai temples (wats) may find the atmosphere surprisingly relaxed as they often serve as local community centres. Within the temple grounds children can sometimes be seen playing games of football or basketball and monks may engage you in conversation.
However, there are some important things to note before visiting any wat and particularly [...]

Mosquitoes are a part of life in Thailand. Some people suffer more than others from mosquito bites, but there are a few simple steps you can take to lessen the chances of being bitten. Whilst the risk of getting malaria is low, mosquitoes can also carry dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis. The first line of [...]

Thai-Style Driving
Motorcycles are a common form of transport in just about every part of Thailand and the apparent disregard for safety may come as a shock to many visitors. It’s not unusual to see entire families on one motorbike; dad driving, junior perched in front holding on to the handlebars and mum sat behind with [...]

Whilst the choice of river dinner cruises in Bangkok is overwhelming, the same is not true of Chiang Mai. Mae Ping River Cruise is probably the best established of the few companies that run dinner cruises in Chiang Mai. However, the choice of food isn’t extensive with the option of a set menu or a [...]

Over the past week a number of anti-coup demonstrations have taken place in Bangkok as protesters voice their displeasure at Thailand’s current political scene. Last night, this culminated in a gathering of an estimated 10-15,000 people at Sanam Luang opposite the Grand Palace. Sanam Luang is a large expanse of open land that has traditionally [...]