If you are on Highway No. 2 to the north, about 20 kilometers after Nakhon Ratchasima you will see the turn off road number 206, which leads to the town of Phimai. The main reason to drive to this town is to visit the "Phimai Historical Park", a complex with ruins of historical Khmer temples.
Thailand is struggling with a growing obesity epidemic
In Thailand, obesity is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among women and children. This trend, driven by changing dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles, threatens public health. This article explores the causes, consequences and economic impact of obesity in Thailand, and highlights the urgency of effective interventions.
Why do Thai Buddhists eat meat?
In Thailand, according to Buddhist teachings, you are not allowed to kill living things. So you would expect that many Thais are vegetarian. However, in practice this is quite disappointing. How is that possible?
The Dutch Bijenkorf department stores are owned by a Thai family
Thailand's Central Retail Corporation has emerged from a local market leader into a global retail giant, with an impressive portfolio stretching from Vietnam to the United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands. With a smart mix of digital innovation and traditional shopping experiences, it is building a future where shopping is seamless, both online and offline.
Province of Tak, worth a visit
Tak Province is a province in the north-west of Thailand and is located 426 kilometers from Bangkok. This province is steeped in the Lanna culture. Tak was a historical kingdom that originated more than 2.000 years ago, even before the Sukhothai period
Weird squiggles and pigtails: the origins of Thai script
I must confess something: I speak a fair bit of Thai and, as a resident of Isaan, I now also - necessarily - have notions of Lao and Khmer. However, I never had the energy to learn to read and write Thai. Maybe I'm too lazy and who knows - if I have a lot of free time - maybe it will one day, but so far this job has always been put off for me... It also seems so damn difficult with all those weird twists and pigtails…
Isan women, the raw reality (final)
We continue with more examples of Isan women. The sixth example is the eldest daughter of my eldest brother-in-law. She is 53 years old, married, has two lovely daughters and lives in the city of Ubon.
Isan women, the raw reality (part 2)
In part 2 we continue with the 26-year-old beauty who works in a jewelry store. As already mentioned in part 1, it concerns a farmer's daughter, but a farmer's daughter who has successfully completed a university study (ICT).
Boonsong Lekagul was born on December 15, 1907 into an ethnic Sino-Thai family in Songkhla, southern Thailand. He turned out to be a very intelligent and inquisitive boy in the local Public School and consequently went to study medicine at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. After graduating cum laude as a doctor there in 1933, he started a group practice together with a number of other young specialists, from which the first outpatient clinic in Bangkok would emerge two years later.
The fears of Thai people
Research by Suan Dusit revealed the ten biggest fears of the Thai people, ranging from environmental issues to economic uncertainties. This in-depth overview, based on a survey of 1.273 people in 2018, offers a rare glimpse into the concerns within Thai society. Each problem raised is accompanied by a proposed solution, which you can judge for yourself.
The Bo Kluea saltwater springs in Nan province
Gringo wanted to know more about the mountain village of Bo Kluea (salt springs) about 100 kilometers northeast of the capital Nan of the province of the same name. A nice story about the salt production in the village.
Why is Hua Hin so popular with Bangkokians?
Hua Hin is very popular with Bangkok residents, especially on weekends or holidays, as it provides a perfect escape from the busy city life. It's close enough for a short trip, but still feels like a whole other world. The beaches there are beautiful and it is a nice place to relax and enjoy nature. This makes it not only a popular holiday destination, but also an attractive place for Bangkokians to buy a second home or condo.
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, a great Buddhist philosopher
Buddhadasa was an influential Buddhist philosopher who made Buddhism understandable for everyday life. Temples, monks and rituals are not necessary to lead a good life and achieve nibbana (salvation), he argued.
Wat Chang Lom, an outsider in Sukhothai
Wat Chang Lom is part of the immensely large Sukhothai Historical Park, but is outside the most visited and very touristy part. I had already explored the Historical Park at least three times before discovering this temple ruin by chance on a bike ride from the resort where I was staying.
'The sporting bar is not very high in Thailand, why is that?'
It has always surprised me that a country with around 72 million inhabitants does not really excel on the world stage when it comes to sporting achievements. Especially if you compare it with Belgium and the Netherlands, relatively small countries that play an important role on the sporting world stage. Does this have to do with the fact that there is less pressure for prestige in Thailand than in the Western world? Or are there other causes?
Dara Rasami, an influential woman between two kingdoms
Dara Rasami (1873-1933) was a princess of the Chet Ton dynasty of Lan Na (Chiang Mai) kingdom. In 1886, King Chulalongkorn of the Kingdom of Siam (Bangkok area) asked for her hand in marriage. She became quite a consort among the other 152 wives of King Chulalongkorn and played an important role in the later merging of Siam and Lan Na into present-day Thailand. She was actively involved in cultural, economic and agricultural reform after her return to Chiang Mai in 1914.
Literacy and Libraries in Ancient Siam
How was the literacy of the Siamese in ancient times? What do we know about that? Not very much I'm afraid, but let me try to say something about it. And something about libraries and a bibliophile monk.
Marriage migration to Denmark, the story of Aphinya
Tino Kuis translated a penetrating and personal story by Aphinya Jatuparisakul about marriage migration. The writer lives in Copenhagen and wrote a piece in response to the film 'Heartbound' by Sine Plambech and Janus Metz, about Thai-Danish marriages and the migration of Thai women.
Sulak Sivaraksa: 'Loyalty requires contradiction'
Sulak Sivaraksa, 82 years old, is a Thai intellectual with an independent spirit who does not allow himself to be pigeonholed. Perhaps that is why he is viewed with some suspicion by all sides of the political and intellectual spectrum in Thailand.
Sangkhlaburi and the lost temples
In the west of Kanchanaburi province, the city of Sangkhlaburi is located in the Sangkhlaburi district of the same name. It lies on the border of Myanmar and is known, among other things, for the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, which lies over the Kao Laem reservoir.
Tino writes about the notorious hazing practices at Thai universities. These are known by the acronym SOTUS (Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, Spirit) or also called Ráp Nóng (welcoming young people) and are said to have started in the XNUMXs at Kasetsart University.
The Thai National Anthem
For those who want to integrate in Thailand, and there are undoubtedly many on this blog, it is necessary that they can sing the Thai national anthem at the top of their lungs.