Not a scratch on my moped in Pattaya
In all the years that I have been on holiday in Thailand, I have traveled a lot of kilometers with a rental car. Crossed the north and east of the country frequently and have never suffered a scratch or dent. And that means a lot in this country.
Thai (un)truths
If you go to a country for the first time, preparation is not only a must, but also a not unpleasant activity to learn a little more about the country and population in question.
Getting rich in Thailand is not an art!
Starting a bar, standing on the market, starting up a restaurant, translation work, ICT, or ….. fantasize a little further. All things with which you can hardly earn anything let alone amass a fortune. In addition, you must involve a Thai partner in order to comply with the legal requirements.
There's a smell to it
Many in Thailand must have let out a big sigh followed by the words: "Shit no paper." No matter how you looked around you, the familiar role was missing. What was there was a barrel filled with water containing a small floating plastic container.
The best country to live in
Some articles on this blog make you think. If I have to believe it all, many who have chosen Thailand as their permanent residence have won the grand prize of the lottery. Wonderful climate, no hassle, mild tax climate, low prices, culture and last but not least a young sweet Asian woman by your side.
Zefke Mols
Although Zefke Mols passed away many years ago, I often think of him when I am in Thailand. To be honest, I never knew him, but a song by the Limburg troubadour Jo Erens, who unfortunately died much too early, keeps Zefke alive in my mind.
The Thai cigarette
The state-owned Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) will publish red figures for the first time in its 79th year of existence, according to the Bangkok Post. If the company proves unable to reduce costs, the loss will amount to around one and a half billion baht. And that is all due to the increase in excise duty that was introduced last September and favors importers of foreign cigarettes, says the director of TTM.
A friend is the best medicine
My girlfriend is, in my opinion, an awfully precise type and I myself get the title 'sloddervos' from her quite regularly. In my experience I am not that at all, but I just work a lot faster and can make decisions quickly.
Stories with a smile
The owner of a coffee shop - in the literal sense of the word - wanted to offer his customers a special service. He therefore made a nice video clip and there is nothing wrong with that, you would think. However, the police ruled otherwise. What was going on? The clip showed two models dressed in their underwear with a bright apron as befits a waitress.
Kampong Plouk near Siem Reap
If you want to see one of the oldest and imaginative thousand-year-old temple complexes, then the trip goes to Siem Reap in Cambodia. You have to let your imagination run wild at the Angkor Wat complex and let it sink in how people were able to build something so unique in those days.
From Bangkok to Cambodia
There are many roads that lead to Rome and Cambodia, neighboring Thailand, is no exception. From Bangkok, among others, you can go from Mo Chit or from the Ekamai bus station to the border town of Aranyaprathet. But this is also possible from, for example, Pattaya or Chachoengsao, not to mention simple and fast by air.
About cows, calves and dogs
Black and white and red-and-white cows and calves as we know them in the Netherlands are very sporadically encountered in Thailand. Traveling through the country you will often see someone strolling around with a number of buffalo's in tow, looking for scarce food for his herd.
Economics, do you understand?
The economy is running like a charm again, but wages and pensions are not going up by a dime and the cost of living continues to rise. Many people don't understand it. In my younger years I once learned the law of economics: 'get the greatest possible result with the least possible effort.' To be honest, as a not too diligent student at the time, that appealed to me.
Past, present and future
The story 'Nostalgia in the Isaan' by De Inquisitor will have revived memories of a gray past for many. A lot has changed over the years and not only in Thailand. I had to think back to my very first foreign trip that I was allowed to make as a 17-year-old because I had passed my final exams well. The trip went by coach to the Swiss town of Weggis on Lake Lucerne.
Bangkok direct or a stopover?
I think most people opt for a direct flight to Bangkok, but this time too I opted for a stopover. It remains very personal, but after sitting on an airplane seat for six hours, I've had enough.
Souvenirs from Thailand
Many holidaymakers bring home the strangest souvenirs as a reminder of the country they visited. They often disappear after a short time because the buyer quickly gets tired of them. It has been several years since a reader asked the 'Thailand experts' on this blog which souvenirs she should buy in Thailand. And of course the lady in question was not abandoned by the 'experts' and many suggestions immediately followed.
The street children of Bangkok
In every major city, anywhere in the world, you encounter poverty, beggars, prostitution, hovels and crime. So also in a metropolis like Bangkok. In fact, nothing new under the sun. The average tourist will hardly experience it or perhaps process it somewhat with a shake of his head. After all, we are on vacation, so no worries.