10 years of Thailand blog: Bloggers speak (the Inquisitor)
Thailandblog would not be Thailandblog without the bloggers who regularly write or answer questions from readers. A reason to introduce them to you again and to put them in the spotlight.
We do this on the basis of a questionnaire, which the bloggers have completed to the best of their knowledge. Today the Inquisitor who regularly shows us beautiful stories from the Isaan.
Questionnaire 10 years Thailandblog
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The Inquisitor with his lover
What is your name/nickname on Thailandblog?
The Inquisitor
What is your age?
61 years
What is your birthplace and country?
Niel (near Antwerp). Belgium
In which place have you lived the longest?
Hemiksem, Belgium (near Antwerp), for 47 years
In Thailand 9 years of Nongprue, and now almost 6 years of Nakham
What is/was your profession?
Construction blacksmith. (hahaha, expanded to an aluminum construction company)
What were your hobbies in Belgium/Netherlands?
Playing football, reading a lot.
Do you live in Thailand or in Belgium/the Netherlands?
In Thailand, almost 15 years. Now in Nakham, Sakun Nakhon
What is your bond with Thailand?
Rentier
Do you have a Thai partner?
Ja
What are your hobbies?
Gardening, odd jobs, reading a lot
Do you have other hobbies since living in Thailand?
So yes, first play football in Belgium, then set up and maintain aquariums. Now in TH so gardening, odd jobs and reading.
Why is Thailand special to you, why the fascination for the country?
Climate, low regulation, feel free to do what I want.
The tolerance of the natives towards foreigners, religion, … .
How did you ever end up on Thailandblog and when?
Gringo (Albert) sent an email. I blogged on a small website.
Since when did you start writing for Thailandblog?
No idea. In 2010 maybe?
For what purpose did you start writing and/or answering questions?
My first blogs aimed to focus on the friends and acquaintances I had met in Thailand. Hence the nickname “The Inquisitor”.
On Thailand blog it was at first something like writing off my surprise about many things, mainly caused by my move to Isaan. Now I try to give a little insight into life here, to help readers understand a bit more about “Isaaners”.
What do you like/special about Thailandblog?
Sometimes quite interesting blogs appear, I also learn from the insights of other people who comment. Although I am often surprised by that.
And Thailandblog is still free of the swearing, foul language and incredible stupidity as it is present on many Dutch Thailand-related Facebook communities. I appreciate that.
What do you like less/special about Thailandblog?
The publicity is becoming very disturbing. Too many. So many that it is difficult to read on a mobile phone.
Also the same questions that keep appearing over and over again. Immigration experiences, how to buy a house, how to get a driver's license, … .
That should be a regular section somewhere so that those who need it can go there.
What kind of posts/stories on Thailandblog do you find most interesting?
As long as it is not a repetitive subject (see just above), and is well written.
Do you have contact with other bloggers (with whom and why)?
Gringo (Albert) whom I consider my contact. He also takes out my dt mistakes. haha.
What is the greatest satisfaction/appreciation for you of what you do for Thailandblog?
The number of “likes” on my blogs.
What do you think of the many comments on Thailandblog? Do you read them all?
Uh. Varied. Sometimes I have had enough of the often negative reactions for a while.
What function do you think Thailandblog has?
Again 'uh'. You sometimes find out something but sometimes it's not right. 🙂
What are you still missing on Thailandblog?
Some more happy notes. So less negative subjects and some more beautiful, funny things.
Do you think Thailandblog will make it to the next anniversary (15 years)?
No idea. I do realize that the majority of people on Thailand blog are older and therefore conservative. But I think that the layout could be thoroughly adjusted.
Also a personal sigh: I regularly get the question “how can I read your other stories?”. Those who finally find that tiny search bar will be disappointed again: not all published blogs can be seen, and above all - not in chronological order.
They ask me to send from my own archive, I hate. 🙂
Dear Inquisitor, all your articles on Thailandblog can be found with this url: https://www.thailandblog.nl/author/de-inquisiteur/
That goes for all bloggers. You just need to change the name. So if you want to read everything from Gringo it will be: https://www.thailandblog.nl/author/gringo/
Or that of Tino Kuis: https://www.thailandblog.nl/author/tino-kuis/
You can also see that the first posting was in 2015.
I was just going to send that handy URL, but if an article is reposted, is the time stamp still correct?
No, if an article is reposted, the original posting date will no longer be visible.
Dear Inquisitor, I enjoy all your stories. I can see myself standing in the rice fields in my Isaan. Delicious. Although I must admit that you sometimes use the contrast very thick (poetic liberty?). As if Thailand and the Isaan in particular are a completely different world that it is difficult for the simple-minded Westerner to comprehend. Fortunately, you write those differences -I see more similarities- in favor of the Thai. This way the blog is spared from sour writings about 'that stupid Thai'. Keep it up!
Dear The Inquisitor,
Usually the stories are predictable and the biography is very surprising…
With you it is just the opposite: the biography is not really surprising, because we have already been able to read many of those things in your stories. Yet your stories continue to surprise us! To enjoy 😀
Thanks for that!
Keep it up, as long as Thailandblog exists!
Kind regards from another Fleming 555
Thanks (Khun) Peter for the link(s).
“The number of “likes” on my blogs.”
Lately it is often not possible to place a “like” on an article. At least not on my tablet.
The funny thing is that you can do that with the comments to the same article.
This is also the case with this article.
I also read your experiences with great pleasure, often very recognizable. I am a Belgian and stay in the countryside for 4 months in the winter in Surin.
In my opinion one of the best, if not the best, writer(s) on Thailandblog.
Always fun stories about ordinary everyday things.
Keep going like this; I enjoy reading those stories.
I forgot to add: together with Dick Koger one of the best.
A construction blacksmith brushing Isaan with words.
It can be 🙂
Dear Inquisitor,
I think your stories are well laid out (almost real) ' is a gift.
I am not a writer myself, but I learn a lot from the bloggers.
I hope you continue with this.
I couldn't respond to Tino yesterday, apparently the site couldn't be reached.
Ok thanks for the good entries.
Especially keep going.
Yours faithfully,
Erwin
@ To the editor :
see that many people/writers are motivated by, among other things, the number of “likes”.
I don't have Facebook and don't want to, but I do want to hand out "like".
Can a “Thumb Appreciation” be placed under the article as standard, just like under the comment?
I am convinced that more readers will appreciate this and ultimately so will the writers and we will all benefit from that 🙂
I see that quite often with people who talk about low regulation here. Do wonder what in Thailand so much more would be allowed than, say, in B or NL. Of course you can do some things here that are certainly not possible with us, but on the other hand there are also many things that are not possible here.
I'm also not allowed to smoke where I want in Thailand I'm not even allowed to smoke an e-cigarette, much less smoke a joint, I'm not allowed to do naturism, I'm not allowed to dress how I want when I go to a government building, I'm not allowed driving without a helmet or driving too fast, I am not allowed to drink and drive,
Getting a driver's license may be a bit easier if you already have an international driver's license like we do, but a Thai who has a driver's license can exchange it even more easily in Belgium. In addition, you first get a driving license here for 2 years and then have to apply for an extension every 5 years. I have had my Belgian driving license the same for more than 40 years. Lower rules ??
I am not allowed to exchange purchased goods, I am not allowed to have a political opinion, officially I am not allowed to visit a prostitute, I am not allowed to buy or own erotic material and there are also a lot of rules to stay here for a longer period of time.
There are indeed fewer rules in traffic or let's say less rules are taken into account, but I think that is a very negative advantage, just like the fact that there are few rules here regarding spatial planning, emission standards, environmental standards and plastic pollution. Or one can call that an advantage, I leave it in the middle.
Do I like living here? No, I wouldn't want to live here, just because I like to practice naturism and don't just want chaos and plastic around me.
I like to stay here a few months a year to bridge the winter, but living here alone would make me very unhappy... Europe has too much to offer that I would like to enjoy.
Dear Fred,
Look at yourself, why this story!
You are infected' with 'Thailand otherwise this story would not have been written by yourself.
You can still be saved now, but I'm afraid you'd like more to say.
Yours faithfully,
Erwin
Dear Inquisitor,
Like the vast majority of TB readers, I have great admiration for your writing.
However, I have one burning question for you: why do you always write in the third person singular? With that you distance yourself from yourself… why? What is your intention?