Belief in ghosts, phantoms, specters and other supernatural phenomena is more vibrant than ever in Thailand. The concern to keep 'those across the street' happy or at least satisfied leaves traces throughout society. Ghosts are serious business in Thailand, so I'd like to take a quick look at some of the most notable inhabitants of Thailand's very diverse and very colorful ghost kingdom.

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I like the architecture from the Khmer period, say everything that was put down in Thailand between the 9th and 14th centuries. And luckily for me, especially where I live in Isaan, quite a bit of it has been preserved.

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Who are they, the Thais? Or the Tai? Where did they come from, and where did they go? When and why? Difficult questions that can only partially be answered. I'm making an effort to do so.

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Also known as 'Pha Khao Ma' or 'Pha Sin', the Thai sarong is a distinctive piece of textile that is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Thailand. For generations, this versatile garment has played an essential role in the daily life of the Thai people, both for practical use and for ceremonial occasions.

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Recent research from the Mastercard Economics Institute shows that tourism spending in Thailand has increased by 40% compared to 2014. The report, called “Travel Industry Trends 2023”, provides an in-depth look at global travel trends, which are impacted by economic changes , consumer preferences and the opening of China.

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Duties of Directors in a Thai Limited Company

By Eric Kuijpers
Posted in Background
Tags: ,
June 15, 2023

What is a Limited Company? This is a company with a capital divided into shares, just like a BV in the Netherlands. Then you have duties as a director, and even directors' liability if you make a mess of it or commit fraud. This liability is both civil and criminal.

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The City Pillar of Bangkok

By Lung Jan
Posted in Background, Bangkok, History, Cities
Tags:
June 15, 2023

A Lak Muang or city pillar can be found in most major cities in Thailand. These pillars are believed to house the Chao Pho Lak Muang or the guardian spirit of the city, but in fact these pillars indicate the spiritual center of a city.

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From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 37. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Ber Bla Too (บ้านเบ๊อะบละตู) live in an area that has been promoted to a 'national park'. This step makes traditional crop rotation in the fields impossible.

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Volcanoes in Thailand

By Lung Jan
Posted in Background, Flora and fauna, History
Tags: ,
June 10, 2023

For those who are somewhat familiar with the geology of Thailand, I am not telling you anything new when I say that a substantial part of the country is volcanic in origin. After all, Thailand is located on the periphery of the so-called 'Ring of Fire'. This Ring of Fire consists of approximately 850-1.000 volcanoes that have been active for the past 11.700 years. This number is estimated to account for about 2/3 of the world's total fire-breathing formations.

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From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 36. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Tha Ta Fang (บ้านท่าตาฝั่ง) oppose the construction of a dam because they live from fishing and farming along the Salween River. 

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Since many untruths have been written in reactions, now let's get the real story about EuroTV and IPTV. 

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For years I, like so many others, have thought that Eastern cultures (including Thai) were cultures of shame and that we Westerners belonged to a culture of guilt. I know better now.

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The infamous road between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, blessed with hundreds of hairpin bends, is the only reminder of a long-forgotten piece of Thai war history. Barely hours after the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Thailand on December 8, 1941, the Thai government – ​​despite fierce fighting back in places – decided to lay down its arms.

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This concerns the draft law containing the main issues and provisions on AI for Thailand.

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The slums in the City of Angels

By Tino Kuis
Posted in Background, Bangkok, Cities
Tags: , ,
May 28, 2023

Thailand has a lot to offer both in terms of nature and culture. But there are also many slums behind the temples with golden Buddha statues and next to the shopping paradises. Neighborhoods that are sometimes portrayed as a tourist attraction. What struck me most was the much greater diversity in terms of income and occupations among the inhabitants than I had assumed. Only a small proportion are unemployed and drug-addicted paupers.

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After Siam had opened itself up to economic development with the British in 1855 by concluding the Bowring Treaty and far-reaching contacts with the West, it was not long before the Dutch also took an interest in Siam again.

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Yesterday there were many reactions to the article about IPTV in which the FIOD and the Public Prosecution Service in the Netherlands have jointly rounded up an illegal internet TV provider. That is why today we are diving a little deeper into the subject of IPTV. What is it and what are the pros and cons.

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From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Part 35. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Huai Makok (บ้านห้วยมะกอก) are opposed to plans for a fluorite mine in neighboring Mae La Noi district.

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In the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, we find a group of passionate artists who share their love for sketching: the Bangkok Sketchers. For a decade, this group has been committed to the simple joy of sketching, a medium that transforms the mundane into the extraordinary.

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During his stay as Dutch consul in Siam, Willem Hendrik Senn van Basel continued to be amazed about the country and especially the people. However, born and raised in the Dutch East Indies, he must have been used to something…

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Move Forward's views

By Robert V.
Posted in Background, Politics, Elections 2023
Tags: ,
May 18, 2023

The progressive Move Forward Party (hereinafter: MFP), known in Thai as พรรคก้าวไกล(phák kâaw clay), emerged as the big winner. What are the positions of this new party? Rob V. read the party program and quoted a number of points that stood out to him.

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Here I show six cartoons with explanations that bitingly criticized the royal-noble elite in Bangkok a hundred years ago.

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