In Thailand, the police are not protectors of the law, but traders of privileges. Tourists and locals are treated daily to an absurd mix of intimidation, side hustles and theatrics. What remains is a system where corruption is the fuel and justice rarely reaches its destination. Enter the world where laws are optional and banknotes regulate traffic.
Column – Welcome to Isaan, where even boredom gets bored
A week in Isaan is like an eternity in slow motion. An empty backdrop of smoke, gossip and endless repetitions. Here time fades away and boredom is elevated to an art form. I was there. Too long. And came to the conclusion that even grass here slowly dies of misery. Welcome to the no-man's land of Thailand.
Dutch people in Thailand like to compare the sun-drenched paradises here with the wet, regulated misery of the Netherlands. Everything is cheaper, freer and better. Until things go wrong and the Netherlands suddenly doesn't seem so bad after all. But hey, self-deception is a wonderful travel companion as long as the beer is cold and the noodles are cheap.
Column – Thailand the country of “Bullshit jobs”
Thailand is full of jobs that are primarily intended to keep people employed. Elevator operators who push a button, security guards who do nothing, and store clerks who avoid customers as if their lives depended on it. Efficiency is secondary, presence is sacred. An ironic look at a country where labor is sometimes more show than necessity.
Thailand is a country of extremes and that also applies to the temperature. Outside you melt away in the tropical heat, inside you freeze to your chair. Why do Thais set the air conditioning to polar storm level as standard? From status and sweating anxiety, this cold phenomenon has deeper layers than you think.
There are words that immediately get under your skin and cause an itch that is impossible to reach. Farang is just such a word. Why do Thais so casually call every foreigner farang as if it is nothing? Time to get rid of that annoying term, because I would rather order my curry without any taste than hear farang one more time.
“You live in Thailand? But… aren’t there ladyboys everywhere?” Westerners often look around with wide eyes, as if they’ve entered a parallel universe. But why does it seem like the LGBTQ+ community is so big here? Spoiler alert: it’s not because the tap water contains rainbow DNA. Thailand is simply a place where people are allowed to be visible – without hysterical discussions.
In Thailand, everyone seems to be addicted to small jars and mentholated inhalers. From taxi drivers to monks, you see people everywhere snorting obsessively as if their lives depended on it. Is it a medical miracle, a cultural ritual or just the national version of nicotine addiction? One thing is for sure: without Ya Dom, Thailand would collapse.
Column – The Speedo Safari in Thailand
They come, they sweat, they shock the local ecosystem. The old fat western man in a Speedo is a phenomenon that you can't ignore, no matter how much you want to. With the grace of a sagging emperor he struts around, convinced of his own charm, while bystanders retch internally. A tragicomedy in a tropical setting.
Column – Food, food, food. And oh yes, food!
In Thailand, food is not a side issue but the core of existence. From the first morning bite to the midnight snack, food is everywhere and everywhere. Here, don't ask how someone is doing, but whether he has eaten rice yet. An obsession? No, just a country where the love of food is the national religion.
Column – Big Brother? No, just your Thai neighbor
In Thailand, privacy is as rare as an empty rice bowl. Cameras are everywhere and the biggest fans of live footage are not the government, but your neighbors. Spying is not taboo here, but a national hobby. So don't worry about that spinning lens, just wave and hope your blooper goes viral.
Column – Cultural clash at the kitchen table
A Western man and his Thai wife try to understand each other, but cultural differences lead to comical and painful misunderstandings. From indirect communication to divergent humor, their daily interactions are a dance of misinterpretations and hidden frustrations. Read how this clash of cultures leads to a hilarious and sometimes poignant reality.
Column – 'Do you have a farang on offer for me?'
In Thailand, a farang is not just a man but an economic panacea with a Western passport. Tall, short, handsome or bald does not matter as long as his bank account is healthy. For many women, he is not a romantic partner but a financial strategy. The hunt for the jackpot is on and love has a price tag.
Column – The White Elephants of Thailand: People Watching – A Source of Entertainment
Thailand attracts a colourful parade of Westerners every year who think they ‘really get it’. From sunburnt tourists and smug expats to avocado-eating backpackers and spiritual seekers with food poisoning. They believe they are blending in, only to stumble over their own stereotypes. A satirical look at Thailand’s white elephants.
Column – The Sorrow of the Expat: The Silent Killer No One Looks At
Every day children drown in Thailand and yet the silence remains deafening. Five a day, for years. Now the number is dropping, but still hundreds of children die each year in the water that should have cooled them, not swallowed them. This is not a natural disaster, this is a failure. How many more lives must be lost before something really changes?
Column – The Dutch currant in a tropical atmosphere
The Dutch are known for their frugality, but some of their compatriots in Thailand take it to a whole new level. Scooping up free food at temples, not tipping and haggling down to the last baht has earned them an unflattering nickname: Farang Kee Nok, or “foreigner as poor as bird poop.” How far can stinginess go? Well, far. Very far.
Column – Boyztown in Pattaya, where boundaries are pushed
Forget about decency, forget about bedtimes, and most of all, forget about your conservative tendencies. Boyztown in Pattaya is a spectacle of drag shows, over-the-top cabaret, and a party that never ends. Here, shame and reality melt together in a cocktail of neon lights and pumps. Do you dare to dive into the night and never be the same again?
In Thailand, plastic surgery is not a luxury, but a national sport. Breast enlargements are as normal as eating rice, and for the price of a second-hand scooter, you can upgrade to a perfect cleavage. Whether you are an actress, influencer or ladyboy, the rule here is: those who do not cut, are left behind. Silicone is the new status, and the market is literally growing.
In Thailand, silence is not peace, but an enemy that must be fought at full power. The television is on everywhere and at all times, not to watch, but to reverberate. Whether it is news, soap operas or game shows, everything is presented in jet fighter mode. Prepare for a sonic assault that never stops.
Column – Gastronomic Russian roulette on plastic stools
Thailand is known for its delicious street food, but behind the fragrant wok fumes lies a culinary adventure with a touch of Russian roulette. From mysterious ice cubes to chicken with a suspiciously pink glow, street food is an experience that will either make your mouth water or give you a close bond with the toilet. What should you look out for? And most importantly: how do you survive?