Thailand's tallest tree and wonderful bamboo
Driving from Mae Sot towards Tak we suddenly see a reference to the Taksin Maharat National Park where the tallest tree in Thailand is located.
Naklua, an Eldorado for fish lovers
If you're tired of Pattaya's bar life or want to try a different restaurant, head to nearby Naklua. Especially if you are a fish lover, you will get your money's worth here.
Thai 'art'
I keep looking with amazement at the sloppiness with which the Thai people work in the construction industry. Carpentry not fitting and the finishing of tiles, grouting and painting sloppy. They are real 'junk butts'
A simple curry dish
I still remember my first trip to Thailand thirty years ago as if it were yesterday. With the night train from Bangkok to Chiangmai where you arrived in the early morning. The computer age was still in its infancy and concepts such as email were still unknown, not to mention hotel booking sites.
'Be in the soup'
There are many sayings in our language that contain the word soup. We, the Dutch and Belgians, dream of soup. A delicious bouillabaisse or a winter pea soup with sausage will make your mouth water.
William Heinecke, the Thai dream
An American who made a dream come true in Thailand, gave up his American citizenship and took on Thai nationality. A fairytale; actually too good to be true.
Bats
Many times in my travels through Asia I have seen these strange, mostly tree-hanging bats, but the memory of Khao Kaeo remains indelible in my memory. My knowledge about bats is nil until I very recently got into a conversation with Frans Hijnen, secretary of Stichting Stadsnatuur Eindhoven, ornithologist and idol of bats about which he really knows everything. Go share his story.
Eggs for your money
Nowhere in the world have I ever seen more eggs than in Thailand. Trucks full, shops full and the market packed full. Not those stuffy packages with 6 or a maximum of 10 eggs. No, you buy eggs in Thailand per tray.
Keep smiling; even on the toilet
When we receive guests at home, many people naturally have to look up the well-known small room. Smiling broadly and with a big smile on our face, we usually see the toilet visitor in question again a little later.
Perhaps many have often seen the stalls with these insects in Thailand, but were still very hesitant to taste it. Still worth shaking off the shudder because these insects can solve the world's food problem.
Valentine's Day in scents and colors
If you have a Thai lover, you cannot avoid showing your affection for her today, February 14. A beautiful gift that makes her heart beat faster or just a flower?
The Thai pharmaceutical industry
Have you ever been to a country where there are more pharmacies and pharmacy stores than in Thailand? Even in the smallest hamlet you can find a kind of Winkel van Sinkel that sells an assortment of medicines in addition to daily necessities.
Sweet memories
The approaching cold Christmas season continues to wander through my mind at the moment and think back to beautiful past years.
Mae Sam Laep, a pure pearl
More than twenty years ago I visited Mae Sam Laep, a small town about 50 kilometers from Mae Sariang. This small border town is located on the Salween River, which forms the border between Thailand and Burma over a distance of 120 kilometers. In twenty years, things have changed.
The Sunflowers of Mae Hong Son
As Chiang Mai is called 'The Rose of the North', you could call Mae Hong Son 'The Sunflower of the Far North'.
Thai language
In an earlier story I wrote about my first flight to Thailand exactly 25 years ago. Reading the comments, it was good to know that apparently I'm not the only one who harbors nostalgic feelings. The ribbon upon receipt is less important, but I would be very disappointed if I were not received with trumpets and of course with the necessary respect. We'll see. But after the first flights now something completely different.
Claim about a canceled flight with a lot of outrage and annoyance
On January 7, I left from Amsterdam to Bangkok with a KLM return ticket, booked at Vliegwinkel.nl, to return home on April 3. My girlfriend believes that three months is too long for her and left on February 23rd. Together we would fly home from Bangkok on April 3 after our trip through Vietnam. No doubt we are not the only ones for whom Covid has caused the necessary problems.