"She loves me sincerely, she told me that after the pin"
A sentence from one of the songs of the Troubadour Gerbrand Castricum from Limmen. A well-known figure in Pattaya, who spends much of the year there. Armed with his guitar, he performs songs about the sultry (night)life in the city, which is world famous for its entertainment for adults. In 'Alkmaar op Zondag', a local newspaper, there is an interview with him. In it he talks about his passion for Thailand and emphasizes the…
Crisis on the foreign exchange market: consequences for the Thai baht and euro exchange rate
In this very extensive article, the author describes the current economic and currency crisis that has serious consequences for the West. The value of the Euro will continue to fall against the Thai Baht. This will make it increasingly difficult for some expats and retirees to continue living in Thailand. The author, who wishes to remain anonymous, has conducted his own research into facts and relies on public sources and expert statements. The result: a bleak scenario.
Thailand travelers duped by bankruptcy De Vries Reizen
Well-meaning advice: be careful when booking airline tickets to Bangkok through a travel agency. The same applies if you live in Thailand and want to book a flight ticket. A poignant example of how things can go wrong is the recent bankruptcy of De Vries Reizen from Drachten. This travel agency acted as a representative for Mahan Air in the Netherlands. Mahan Air flies to Bangkok for an attractive price. On September 27, De Vries Reizen went bankrupt. …
CNN: Another 2.000 fetuses found in Bangkok (video)
Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) - More than 2.000 illegally aborted fetuses have been found at a Buddhist temple in Bangkok. The fetuses were discovered earlier this week. There was a pungent smell at the Phai-nguern Chotinaram temple in central Bangkok. On Friday, the Thai police announced that 2.002 fetuses were involved. “A confession from a temple undertaker also led to the discovery of 348 fetuses earlier this week. The police have…
New low-cost airline Thai Tiger Airways will start in May 2011
Today, the Board of Directors of Thai Tiger Airways has completed all permits and formalities. The new airline will fly to multiple destinations in Thailand in May 2011. Thai Tiger is a joint venture between Thai Airways and the low-cost carrier Tiger Airways. The latter has existed since 2003 and was founded by Singapore Airlines and the Irish Ryanair. With the establishment of a Thai subsidiary, Tiger Airways, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways are trying…
Price fighter AirAsia X from February to Paris
Malaysian airline AirAsia X will launch its second route to Europe in February next year. As of February 14 (Valentine's Day), the low-cost carrier will operate a flight four times a week between its home base in Kuala Lumpur and Paris Orly Airport. An Airbus A340-300 with 327 seats will be deployed on the route. AirAsia X opened a scheduled service to London Stansted in 2009, the company's first European destination. Half a year later, the…
The feast of Loy Krathong
This Sunday, November 21, the Thais will massively celebrate Loy Krathong, an important festive event in Thailand. Loy Krathong is a celebration of water and lights. Thousands of balloons and small boats with candles that illuminate the darkness like small stars. A beautiful face. Loy Krathong is also celebrated by the Thai community in the Netherlands. Loy Krathong is an ancient tradition. Loy means to float and a Krathong is a small vessel usually made of banana leaves. The Loy…
The hunt for abortion clinics puts the cart before the horse
The discovery of 350 baby bodies in a temple in Bangkok has reignited the discussion about unwanted pregnancies in Thailand. The law is clear, but as in so many cases there is a solution. However, the hunt for illegal abortion clinics, announced by the government, puts the cart before the horse. Thai law is clear on abortion. It is prohibited unless the pregnancy is the result of incest or rape. Also in …
As long as the Carrefour store doesn't become a Big C…
If the message in today's Bangkok Post is correct that all Carrefour branches will be converted to Big C next year, that makes me sad. I am an almost daily guest in these shops with a very light French touch. Big C is a megastore for the lower end of the market. A kind of Aldi, but a bit bigger and better sorted. Tesco Lotus is slightly higher, although it is also a matter of that …
Phuket: airport bottlenecks
Phuket airport is at the limits of its capacity. It is the second busiest airport in Thailand after Bangkok. In the past financial year, passenger handling at 'Phuket International Airport' increased by leaps and bounds. A growth of 24,9% compared to last year was achieved. In numbers, this means that the airport has processed 6,79 million passengers. The volume of flight movements to Phuket also increased by 28,16% to 46.132. For the coming years…
Casino buys Carrefour in Thailand for 868 million
French retailer Carrefour sells its Thai activities to its competitor Casino for 868 million euros. This fits in with a sales program of Carrefour, which wants to concentrate on the markets where it has or aims to be a market leader. In this context, the activities in Malaysia and Singapore are also still up for sale. Casino, which is taking over through its local subsidiary Big C, is the number two in Thailand after The Central Group. …
Wi-Fi Service
Extremely annoying are the insane prices that some hotels dare to ask for the use of WiFi. You might think that such a service should be part of the service of the hotel in question. Fortunately, there are also restaurants and hotels that feel better about this service and make it available to the customer free of charge. As an example I mention a cozy terrace in Jomtien. If you drive up the Beachroad from Pattaya…
Air Berlin drops stitches
Air Berlin is without a doubt an excellent airline. After the takeover of the largest German 'holiday flyer' LTU, AB also transports over long distances, and with the precision of a Swiss watch, as editor Hans Bos experienced on his latest flight from Bangkok to Düsseldorf. sand in the wheels. Nobody has to resist the price: just over 600 euros for a return BKK-DUS. plus…
30 days Thailand, no visa needed, but still…
Anyone who travels with a certain regularity knows that you do not need a visa for Thailand if you do not stay in the country for more than thirty days.
A accent in Wat Keak
The Lonely Planet travel guide mentioned it. The best time to travel Thailand is between November and February. The sun was burning mercilessly bright when I got off the train in Nong Khai in March. A town on the Mekong River that separates the poor northeast, the Isan, from Laos. Even before I left I had been informed about the bizarre sculpture garden on a temple site a few kilometers outside the border town. The name: …
Thai and traffic rules a bad combination
Thailand does not have a good reputation when it comes to road safety. Rules, and certainly traffic rules, are mainly there for others, a Thai argues. This video shows that it remains difficult to make Thailand's roads safer. Thai drivers in Pattaya refuse to stop at the traffic lights that were recently installed to allow pedestrians to cross safely. Pattaya City even spent $4,5 million (USD) on this failed project. Orphan …
Widespread prostitution Thailand not a Western invention
Dao is thirty years old and comes from Udon Thani, in the Northeast of Thailand, which is called Isan. Every evening she puts on a tight dress, combs her black hair until it shines, makes up her face and puts on red high-heeled shoes.