Chakri Day
April 6 is Chakri Day in Thailand, a public holiday which commemorates the founding day of the royal Chakri Dynasty. On Chakri Day, the king and other …
Blog
Obesity on the Increase in Thailand
It’s official; Thai people are getting fatter. I’d long since suspected it, but my own less-than-scientific observations have been …
This is Thailand (T.I.T.)
There’s an expression that many expats use to sum up the bizarre, outrageous and confusing things that can happen in Thailand; T.I.T. (This is …
Bangkok Airport Guide
Bangkok’s international airport (code = BKK) is known as Suvarnabhumi (pronounced Su-wan-na-poom) and is located to the east of Thailand’s …
Kreng Jai
Kreng jai (also written as krengjai) is a distinctly Thai trait that can bewilder visitors to Thailand. So what is kreng jai? The direct translation …
Gambling
Apart from a few officially endorsed activities such as the Thai lottery and horse racing at selected venues, gambling is illegal in Thailand. …
9 Useful Thai Phrases
Even if you are only in Thailand for a few weeks, if you can learn a few words of the Thai language it can be amazing the difference it can make to …
Chinese New Year
Thai people welcome any excuse to celebrate and have sanuk, so why not have three New Year celebrations; the western New Year in January, the Chinese …
The Thai Smile, Jai Yen and Jai Rawn
I thought I’d write about a couple of incidents I’ve seen in the past week which confirms one stereotype of Thailand and dispels another. …
The Importance of Keeping Hydrated
If there’s one tip I can give people visiting Thailand, it’s to ensure you drink enough water. The first few times I came here on holiday, …
Is it Safe to Drink the Tap Water?
The short answer is, no. There are a few exceptions in Bangkok, notably at some of the more prestigious hotels, but in the majority of cases tap water …
Sanuk
Most guide books to Thailand will tell you about the Thai concept of sanuk which often gets translated as meaning ‘fun’. But sanuk is more …
Top 9 Popular Thai Dishes
Part of the charm of a visit to Thailand is trying the local food. A survey back in 2000 revealed the following dishes to be the most popular with …
Lucky Number 9
I’m not superstitious (touch wood), but plenty of Thai people are and spending time here it soon becomes apparent just how many superstitions …
Thai Chillies: An Assault on the Taste Buds
Food and the pleasure of eating is an integral part of Thai culture. There’s no need for any tourist to go hungry in a country where cheap and …
Loy Krathong Festival of Light
Celebrated nationwide, Loy Krathong is probably Thailand’s most beautiful and enchanting festival. The word loy (or loi) means to float, whilst …
Being Polite
Good manners are important in Thai society, but politeness isn’t always demonstrated in the same way as it is in many other countries. Although …
Do I Need Malaria Tablets?
The answer for the vast majority of visitors to Thailand is, you do not need to take malaria tablets. As with any medical advice I give, I should …