They speak a little Thai, have a Thai partner, have lived there for years or have lived there and voilà: the self-proclaimed Thailand expert is born. On blogs they wave their 'facts' as if they came from a Buddhist encyclopedia. But how seriously should we take these digital oracles? Read along and discover the absurdity of their claims.

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'The Mystique of Thai Women'

By Farang Kee Nok
Posted in Culture, Short stories
January 15 2025

Thai women are not just women, but an enigma wrapped in subtlety and charm. They have a unique talent to embrace contradictions and always be ten steps ahead of you. Understanding them is rare, but that is not the point. Discover how the mystery of their nuances and smiles does not need to be solved, but celebrated.

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Although the Thai does not really differ much from the average Belgian or Dutch person, you sometimes experience something in Thailand that you will not easily experience in Belgium or the Netherlands. That's what this series of stories is about. Today another nice story by Lieven Kattestaart: 'Destination Bangkok'.

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Thai chicken with cashew nuts (video)

By Editorial
Posted in Food and drink
January 15 2025

There are plenty of tourists who would like to get acquainted with Thai cuisine but are afraid that it is too spicy. Well, there are plenty of alternatives such as Sweet & Sour, but also the always delicious chicken with cashew nuts or Gai Pad Med Mamuang Himaphan.

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AOW applications, which method works best?

By Submitted Message
Posted in Reader question
January 15 2025

In August 2025 it will finally happen: the AOW will then apply to me, DV and according to SVB.nl I have to apply for this 6 months in advance. Now there are six options listed, two of which do not apply to me, namely "by post" (takes a long time) and "pay a visit to".

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Chaiyaphum, also Isan

By Gringo
Posted in Isaan, thai tips
January 15 2025

If you don't know Thailand well yet and look at the (road) map, you tend to think that the Isaan is bordered in the west by the Motorway no. 2 from Korat to the border of Laos. That is not correct, because the province of Chaiyaphum also belongs to the northeastern region, which is called the Isan.

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Dear readers, I am looking for a good tax advisor in Hua Hin or the surrounding area who can help me with the tax return (PIT) for the year 2024 if you have been in Thailand for more than 180 days and are therefore a Thai tax resident. Greetings, Max Editorial staff: Do you have a question for the readers of Thailandblog? Use the contact form.

Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Siam. It is located 80 km north of the current capital of Thailand. In this video you see images of Ayutthaya and the Wat Yai Chaimongkol.

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Dear readers, Does anyone know a worthy and reliable alternative to Skype? For some time now it has not been possible to top up your calling credit on Skype. I do not need a subscription (and it is not available in Belgium) because I only used Skype a few times a year to call international landlines from Thailand. Thanks for your response, Greetings, Ron Editorial staff: Do you have a question for the readers of Thailandblog? Use the …

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On his way to his daily shopping experience in the cooled luxury of the Udon Thani shopping mall, the generous author often passes an unfortunate beggar sitting in his wheelchair with a expired MOT trying to make ends meet with some free money. He remembered a recently published and very educational article in TB about the new path the government has taken to hide this form of decay of Thai society from view. To brush it away or at least make it invisible. He then curiously and sincerely asked the stranded Senna in life for his opinion about this (apparent) solution. Here is his emotional account.

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In Thailand, clever criminals abuse politeness and trust. Call centers full of scammers manipulate victims with terrifying ease, while the government keeps promising to solve the problem. The result? Silent victims, wealthy fraudsters and a shadow over the country. A tragicomic tale of trust, shame and the wry smile of crime.

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'Bangkok traffic is dancing with chaos'

By Farang Kee Nok
Posted in Culture, Short stories
January 13 2025

Bangkok is a city of endless movement, where traffic lights seem suggestive and rain creates a choreography of daily life. In the midst of chaos, people discover a rhythm that carries them forward. This story takes you into the heartbeat of the city and reveals an unexpected lesson about control and letting go.

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Remodeling (reader submission)

By Submitted Message
Posted in Reader Submission
January 13 2025

Renovating a home in Thailand is anything but easy. From unreliable contractors to bizarre building materials and unexpected complications, nothing goes as planned. Yet, every challenge is an opportunity to learn, improvise and ultimately create a unique home. Discover how creativity and perseverance are key in a country where building is always an adventure.

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Escape to luxury and nature at Roukh Kiri Khao Yai

By Editorial
Posted in Hotels
January 13 2025

Explore the breathtaking beauty of Khao Yai and enjoy ultimate relaxation at the five-star Roukh Kiri Khao Yai resort. Surrounded by misty mountains, lush nature and luxurious facilities, this unique boutique resort offers a serene retreat where style and comfort are perfectly combined. Discover the perfect balance of adventure and tranquility just three hours from Bangkok.

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After years of carefree enjoyment of the tastes and smells of Southeast Asia, a trip to Cambodia this year had a bitter edge. A breakfast of stir-fried chicken and egg turned out to be the starting signal for an adventure that took place between pharmacy, hotel room and heavy metal-worthy stomach cramps. Fortunately, the tide eventually turned and the city showed its charm once again.

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Sandalwood, precious wood used for incense sticks and the production of perfumes. The tree grows in India, the Caribbean and Mexico.

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From 23 January 2025, Thailand will make history by allowing same-sex couples to officially register their marriages. This groundbreaking moment will be celebrated with a grand marriage registration in Bangkok, establishing the country as a pioneer in equal rights in Southeast Asia. A step towards inclusivity and recognition for love in all its forms.

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Reporter: Tjalling I would like to let you know how the annual renewal in Chayaphum went. After paying the TM 30 in November I asked again when to report for the annual renewal 14 days was the answer. So I reported again 1 week before the end of the annual renewal. Had copied everything twice (wasn't necessary, but now I already have copies for next year). The only comment I got was that the copy of the ID of my …

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Maarten Vasbinder is a retired general practitioner (still with a BIG registration), a profession he previously practiced largely in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand. Do you have a question for Maarten and do you live in Thailand? Send this to the editor: www.thailandblog.nl/contact/ It is important that you provide the correct information such as: Age Complaint(s) History Use of medication, including supplements, etc. Smoking, alcohol Overweight Possibly laboratory results and other research Possibly ...

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Questioner: Arnold In the ThaiExaminer.com of last Friday, January 3, a call from the Director General of the Thai Tax Authority appeared for taxpayers in Thailand to file their 31 tax returns by March 2024. Expats who stay in Thailand for more than 180 days must file a tax return for income remitted to Thailand in 2024. The call to report was included in an article with a lot of other news concerning all kinds of tax measures. …

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Questioner: Hans As a mixed couple (from Amsterdam, married to a Thai woman) we have been going to Thailand for years in the winter months. My wife has a house in Korat, our permanent residence there. We have just returned from Immigration (in Korat). I wanted to extend my Visa Exempt of 60 days with 60 days Thai Marriage. I have been doing this for years, never had any problems. I always used a TR visa 60 days to enter Thailand, this was …

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Although the Thai does not really differ much from the average Belgian or Dutch person, you sometimes experience something in Thailand that you will not easily experience in Belgium or the Netherlands. That's what this series of stories is about. Today another nice story by Lieven Kattestaart: 'Jagerslatin'.

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