Soi Dogs in Thailand
I know about twenty Soi dogs in Thailand (so named because they hang out in alleys, or sois). They’re not well cared for and, if this story moves you, sign the petition to improve their lives. If you’re in Chiang Mai you can volunteer or adopt a dog from Care for Dogs. They do heroic work […]
Cheap Alcohol in Thailand
Cheap alcohol in Thailand is one of the country’s great attractions and my personal joys, but The World Health Organisation (WHO) released its “2014 Global report on alcohol and health” on May 12 and Thailand was a standout: not in a good way, either. The average quantity of pure alcohol consumed by each Thai adult, 15+ years, increased […]
Thai Elephant Lullaby
The Thai traditional elephant lullaby goes back a long way. Elephants are very communicative with one another and have a highly-developed language. They also love listening to soothing music. Here’s the charming video of a Thai lady putting an elephant to sleep by singing her a Thai elephant lullaby: Here’s another beautiful elephant moment in Thailand: […]
Samadhi Sutra
Samádhi Sutra: Samhadi, the Great Quenching, is a desire-free state valued by Buddhists, who worry a great deal about desire and the transcendence of desire. The Samadhi Sutra is recited every day, probably thousands of times, in temples throughout Thailand. It is especially read to the monks, who are expected to be serious about Enlightenment: Concentration: Tranquility […]
Adultery in Thailand
Adultery in Thailand: Three Handy tips on Keeping your Penis attached to the rest of you. Wonder no more. Though Thailand has never been a major force in spectator sports, it recently took the coveted Adultery World Cup by a comfortable margin. But if you, silly farang, think you can get away with it, think again: Thai […]
Thai Sex Shows
Thai sex shows 100 years ago: a Humorous Tale with Interesting Pornographic Elements: Thai sex shows 100 years ago arrive long before the influx of GIs during the Vietnam War have revived sex shows, but this kind of entertainment had already emerged as a feature of Bangkok night life by the 1920s. In Sayam Rat, a […]
Persistent Ghosts in Thailand
Persistent ghosts have been a problem this year in Thailand In last month’s newsletter we brought you news of a serious haunting at Nari Samosorn Building, where a state employee reported encountering a ghost. (A state employee reported encountering a ghost inside the Government House, just days after officials completed a series of rituals aimed […]
Understanding Thai Temples
If you want to understand Thai Temples, here are some easily recognized features to get you started: The Thai word for temple is wat. When you are giving or receiving directions, Thais usually refer to the nearest wat since the neighborhood wat’s location will be familiar to everyone. That’s how central they are to Thai life. Temples […]
Don’t Argue in Thailand
Whatever You Do, Don’t Argue in Thailand! The tale: A 46-year-old German man, the owner of 99 Beer Bar on Chaweng Beach (a well-known entertainment district on Koh Samui) and his Thai girlfriend were in a nightclub parking lot when they found three teenagers sitting and drinking alcohol on the German’s motorcycle. The German man […]
Ghosts in Thailand
More Ghosts in Thailand… After an army officer said he smelled “ancient perfume” and experienced paranormal activity – as he and his soldiers were moving furniture from Naree Samosorn Building inside the Government House compound last week – officials at Government House were forced to perform a religious ceremony during efforts to renovate the building. […]
Thai Dog Skin Trade
There’s a little-known Asian business that will never be big in the West: the Thai dog skin trade. Dog leather is soft, fine-textured and readily distinguishable from other leathers due to its foul smell and scars. If you’re not an expert, you might mistake it for sheep hide. The president of the Thai Footwear Association said the strong […]
Thai Buddhist Amulets
Thai Buddhist amulets are something of an obsession in this Buddhist land. Buddhist amulets are part of Thai culture and you see them everywhere. Amulets, on the other hand, ward off evil and repel bad luck. The word itself comes from the Latin amuletum, ‘to protect a person from trouble”. They can be gems, paintings, […]
Thai Grilled Rats
Thai Grilled Rats, nu phook, are hunted in the rice fields and grilled for sale as a rural delicacy. They’re a regular source of both protein and income during the last two months of the year for villagers across Thailand. The greater bandicoot rat (bandicota indica) is a rodent of the muridae species found in China, India, […]
Thailand’s Human Rights
Thailand’s Human Rights Have you heard about Thailand’s Human Rights? Thailand’s recent coup d’etat has been surprisingly well-received by even my Red Shirt friends. Like them, I’ve been a steady supporter of the ousted Prime Ministers, brother-and-sisters, Thaksin. They did a lot for poor people and farmers. And even my wealthy Thai friends supported them. But it […]