Sea view, but not from the condo this time
David Diamant and his friend Winai came to Pattaya to celebrate David's birthday. But it turned out differently. He became terribly ill and it was not the first time. 'Remember, here we go again!'
A Farang as a street sweeper in Sattahip
In Sattahip, the naval town south of Pattaya, a foreigner is widely praised for sweeping a section of the busy thoroughfare every day. Locals admire his diligence in clearing the street of sand and other debris so traffic is not endangered by slippage.
Moving and then drumming between rice and mountains
Everything here is done with a smile. Maybe it's Buddhism, but I like it'. Peng Øffe looks out over the mountains in the middle of the rice fields, twelve kilometers outside Chiang Mai. Here, in the north of Thailand, he has found his niche. 'Chiang Mai is the Asian counterpart of Amsterdam, but more relaxed and friendly.'
Landed on a tropical island: The noodle shop
Korn, a Thai acquaintance of Els and wife 'de Kuuk', starts a noodle shop. Unfortunately there is one small problem. She is a few thousand baht short. De Kuuk is willing to borrow it. Els comes up with a strangling contract.
Eden, the earthly paradise, I know how you get there
It's Saturday night and time for a night out. Will I go to Eden? Of course I'm going to Eden, I'm going everywhere. I have heard many stories about Eden, it must be very special. A hip party in a beautiful place, good music, with very special people who like a special trip. Well, I also like an adventure, so I won't skip this trip!
Living like a currant in Thailand
Frugal living is also a necessity for a number of foreigners, including the Dutch, who have settled in Thailand. The first thought that comes to mind is whether those people were aware of the possibilities and costs in Thailand beforehand.
Landed on a tropical island: I'm up to here!
I now really doubt whether I did the right thing… Here I am, up to my neck in the sand. It's hot, very hot and my nose is itchy. As long as it's worth it... but I don't know yet... time will tell...
Mai pen rai, until death follows…
Like every well-bred Dutchman, I once stopped in Thailand for every zebra. That has ended, because some crossing pedestrians barely survived.
Customs control at Suvarnabhumi Airport
When I was in the navy, you could buy duty-free cigarettes on board when you traveled abroad. I remember a trip with a large squadron to Lisbon, among others, and of course everyone had bought at least two cartons of cigarettes.
In the evening the many fireflies are a romantic sight
Egon Wout came to Thailand with a snake phobia, but that has passed since he saw twelve different species in his garden. Besides snakes, there are many more animals. Egon tells.
Landed on a tropical island (part 7): Beerpong
Beerpong is hot, and it's often played here in the hostels. We drive past it and look at it. The game takes place at a long narrow table. A number of plastic glasses with beer are set up in front of the players.
In the 5 years that I have lived in Thailand as a Dutchman who emigrated to Thailand, I was “screwed” in Dutch at the beginning of my stay, of course by a Thai.
BVN responds to complaint blocking New Year's Eve conference
In my story about the blockade of the New Year's Eve conference, I reported at the end that I had sent BVN and Herman Finkers an E-mail asking why thousands of Dutch people abroad could not see the show via Uitzending Gemist. BVN then sent me the following message.
The perfect organization of the Thai passport
In May this year I want to go to the Netherlands for a few weeks with daughter Lizzy (then almost 6). Lizzy has had a Dutch passport for years, but she still needs a Thai copy. You know it: out and in Thailand with a Thai pass, in and out of the Netherlands with a national copy. This is to prevent hassle at immigration (TH) and Marechaussee (NL).
A market in Thailand is a true Winkel van Sinkel, where absolutely everything is for sale. Anyone who complains about the high prices in this country should head straight to the talad. Your euro (converted into baht) is at least worth something there.
Finally the time has come, after an exciting renovation with construction workers who will come "tomorrow", new refrigerators that leak, display cases destroyed by transport, broken kitchen machines, crockery that came off the wall with shelf and all, on December 18, 2015 the coffee bar opened.
Herman Finkers also (not) seen in Thailand?
Early in the spring of 2015 it was announced that Herman Finkers would do the New Year's Eve conference this year. Well, for a Tukker from Almelo like me that was of course a wonderful prospect.