The many confusions surrounding true love
Love has many faces. All variations have already been reviewed here, so nothing new under the sun in this story. Let it at least be a reminder. A warning for the gullible. But also an encouragement for the sceptics to sometimes take the plunge and especially not to close their eyes to possible doom scenarios. True words: 'It's better to die trying than to do nothing at all' (It's better to die trying than to live without doing anything).
'The dust of the path'
In the hills of Thailand, Lars, broken by failure and regret, searches for an escape from himself. An unexpected encounter with an old monk changes his perspective. With simple, powerful life lessons, Lars learns not only to accept his past, but also to find hope in a new beginning. A story about letting go, growing and the path to inner peace.
'In the shadow of Pattaya, Nit plays a dangerous game' (part 1/4)
Nit, a Thai woman in bustling Pattaya, sees her world fall apart when Pieter, her Dutch boyfriend, suddenly stops sending her money. Her search for answers not only uncovers betrayal, but also drags her into a dark conspiracy. With menacing figures at her door and a bag full of mysterious money, Nit must fight for her survival.
'In the shadow of Pattaya, Nit plays a dangerous game' (part 2/4)
Part 2. Nit's hope for a safe existence is shattered when Pieter leaves her with a bag full of money and danger. While mysterious men pressure her and her life becomes increasingly grim, she must make choices that put everything at stake. Flight or fight? The night in Pattaya holds her breath.
'In the shadow of Pattaya, Nit plays a dangerous game' (part 3/4)
Part 3. With a backpack full of money and a knife as her only protection, Nit slips into the night, pursued by danger and her past. As she sneaks through the deserted streets, her determination grows: she will no longer run, but fight. In the shadow of Pattaya, her fight for freedom and survival begins.
Part 4 and final. Nit tries to escape Pattaya and her dangerous past, but even on the train to freedom, fate pursues her. Faced with armed men and a life-threatening choice, she takes a last, courageous leap. The question remains: can she ever truly escape, or will the life she leaves behind forever be her shadow?
Fears and phobias
Phobias have existed as long as humans have existed. Back in the days when we were still wrapped in bearskins and roaming the forests in search of nuts and roots, fears were undoubtedly useful. Behind every tree, a pack of hungry wolves could be hiding, and overconfidence or carelessness was usually punished with an untimely and above all painful death.
But nowadays you may wonder what the point of these feelings of fear is. In fact, in today's safe world they are sometimes very annoying and can really ruin your day.
'A savior or a mistress of deceit?'
Tom, a successful businessman, thinks he can find peace and solace in Bangkok. But when he meets her, with her inscrutable smile and soft words, he is drawn into a seductive illusion. Is she a savior or a mistress of deceit? As the night progresses, truth and lies threaten to blur and he becomes irretrievably lost.
'Struggle to survive in a world that barely sees her'
Khun Mali, 76 and still behind her stall at the market, can’t stop. Her weathered hands cut mangoes and papayas every day, struggling to survive in a world that barely sees her. To stop would be to disappear, because without her work she would be just a nameless memory in a bustling crowd.
Pua, Pua, Pua
Sagas and legends occur in all countries and Thailand is no exception. I found a nice story about the lar gibbon, a great ape that lives in the rainforests of Thailand.
Loy Krathong, when Thailand celebrates love at the dividing line between water and land
The Thai calendar has many highlights, most of which are definitely worth (actively) reflecting on. Well-known are of course the traditional Loy Krathong and the exuberant Songkran, in addition to numerous imported festivities: Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, New Year, Easter... For the tourist and the not-so-seasoned expat, these are all days on which the population is seen at its happiest, namely when there is a party to celebrate. And what's stopping us Westerners from just partying along? Hanging that sour mask on the coat rack for a while and smiling along as if we ourselves once saw the first light of day under the warm Thai sun.
'An unbridgeable distance between two hearts'
He comes to Bangkok to see her for the last time, but their love seems to slowly fade under the weight of unspoken dreams and missed opportunities. In a city that was once their refuge, they realize that some worlds are too far apart to unite, and that even the deepest love can end in silence and regret.
Poem of the week: The soul of Thailand's green gold
Once a week we publish a submitted poem here. Do you have inspiration? Send us your poem about Thailand. This week a poem about the rice fields of Thailand.
Dusk on the waterway
Ussiri Thammachot was born in Hua Hin in 1947. He studied mass communication at Chukalongkorn University and started writing. In 1981 he was the third Thai writer to win the SEA Write Award with the short story collection 'Khunthong, You will Return at Dawn' from which this story also originates. The story is about a diabolical and universal dilemma: choose the morally right path or give himself and his family a favor?
On the Thai coastline, where the sea touches the land in whispering waves, a magical world unfolds. Here nature breathes in ancient rhythms, interwoven with myths of sea serpents and lost monks. It is a place of transience and eternity, where the sand tells stories and the horizon remains elusive, inviting and mysterious.
Sue
In a small house on the edge of the forest, a man wakes up with sunlight through Venetian blinds and a mysterious melody in his ears. But the real story begins later, when he shares his unusual love story. Fourteen years together with Sue, a woman who is not just a woman. This is their journey, full of cultural differences, traditions and personal growth.
Faith and religion, themes that apparently always have to lead to strong reactions. But that does not have to be the case. In what follows, the situation in the Netherlands is placed next to that in Thailand in a peaceful, almost religious way. It turns out that there are not that many differences. If you conveniently ignore the time shift of more than half a century. Where does the reader find him or herself in this organically and intuitively told story? Can he or she absorb the analysis unmoved or does he or she still distil from the words a call for a personal crusade to put things in order in this Blog?
'Rose-colored glasses and hard truths'
Henk sees Thailand as his paradise on earth full of freedom and endless smiles. But his friend Rob, hardened by years of expat experience, has a different view. What follows is a heated clash of visions, in which their friendship seems to be at stake. Between beers and cynicism, the question arises: how far can rose-colored glasses really take you?
'Three days of visitation'
During my long-awaited vacation to Thailand, I hoped to enjoy some peace and relaxation. But when cousin Nong unexpectedly arrives at my mother-in-law's, my dream trip turns into a series of frustrating situations. His lazy behavior, misuse of my belongings and lack of respect severely test my patience.
'In the grip of illusions about love and desire'
John loses himself in a fleeting romance with Thai Sanya, who works as a barmaid in Pattaya. When she suddenly disappears, he flies back to Thailand determined to find her. But the reality he finds is far from the dream he was trapped in.
Dreaming of a golden truck
How the fear of Thai traffic and the dream of a brand new car come together in the clumsy attempts to shake off all the old traumas. But somewhere deep in the night, when no one is looking over the shoulder of the novice driver, things go horribly wrong. Will he be able to hide what happened from the world or will he have to live with the consequences of his reckless behavior?
'My love for a Thai woman is not an escape but a choice'
In a world full of expectations and endless pursuit of perfection, Ger is looking for something else: peace, simplicity and a partner who sees him as he is. In a conversation full of raw honesty, he explains why the love for a Thai woman is not an escape for him, but a choice for authenticity and calm in a hectic world.