10 years of Thailand blog: Bloggers speak (Tino Kuis)

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 Tino Kuis who always writes interesting stories.

Questionnaire 10 years Thailandblog

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What is your name/nickname on Thailandblog?

Tino Kuis

What is your age?

75 years

What is your birthplace and country?

Delfzijl, Netherlands

In which place have you lived the longest?

In the Netherlands, 25 years in Vlaardingen, in Thailand, twelve years in Chiang Kham, Phayao and six years in Chiang Mai

What is/was your profession?

General practitioner

What were your hobbies in Belgium/Netherlands?

Reading, music

Do you live in Thailand or in Belgium/the Netherlands?

I have been living in the Netherlands for two years now

What is your bond with Thailand?

I moved in after my retirement in 1999 with my Thai wife, just somewhere in the countryside in the north. I enjoyed everything around me, the nature, the people, the language. I attended extracurricular Thai education for 5 years and got a Thai high school diploma.

Our son is a loek kreung, a bastard child, half Thai, half Dutch. He is now studying in Chiang Mai.

Do you have a Thai partner?

Only an ex

What are your hobbies?

Reading and history. Learning languages.

Do you have other hobbies since living in Thailand?

Basically the same as before but now about Thailand.

Why is Thailand special to you, why the fascination for the country?

Thailand is like a beautiful, pretty woman that you immediately fall in love with and where you slowly discover that there is a lot of bad behind it. That contrast fascinates me.

I did a lot of volunteer work. That taught me a lot about the many good sides of Thailand, but also about the nasty and sometimes very nasty situations.

How did you ever end up Thailandblog and when?

I thought in 2010 when the blog dictator wrote sympathetic stories about the red shirts.

Since when did you start writing for Thailandblog?

That was in 2012, I believe. A story about the smelly city of Bangkok and about snakes.

For what purpose did you start writing and/or answering questions?

I wanted to share more about the history of Thailand in order to better understand the present, preferably through the eyes of the Thais themselves and usually by citing literature and biographies. Often about the more dark, unknown and somewhat forgotten side of Thai society. About radical, rebellious and obstinate Thais.

I also wanted to promote learning the Thai language.

Although I am not a Buddhist, Buddhism fascinates me and I started writing about it.

I want to fight prejudice about Thailand and the Thai people. Thailand is a very diverse country and so is the population.

What do you like/special about Thailandblog?

The variation in topics and the mostly well-written and instructive responses.

What do you like less/special about Thailandblog?

That whining about 'we are guests in Thailand and shouldn't interfere'.

It's a pity that I can't put some stories on the blog because something like this is politically difficult and can be dangerous. But the blog can't do anything about that either. On the other hand, I think that some past and present events are over-hyped.

What kind of posts/stories on Thailandblog do you find most interesting?

History, language and politics. Preferably seen and discussed through the eyes of a Thai. But I also appreciate well-written experiences of Dutch people in Thailand. Preferably with humor and empathy and without grumbling and nagging. The Inquisitor is my great example in this!

Do you have contact with other bloggers (with whom and why)?

Quite a lot with Rob V., a little with Gringo and Lung Jan, usually to discuss a story to be written together. And with the blog dictator if a comment from me is deleted (usually rightly so).

What is the greatest satisfaction/appreciation for you of what you do for Thailandblog?

I notice that after stories from my side, people start thinking differently (I hope better) and more about Thailand. I try to encourage them to immerse themselves in the language and history of Thailand. I believe it works reasonably well.

What do you think of the many comments on Thailandblog? Do you read them all?

Most responses are helpful. Clearly well maintained. I read maybe half on topics that interest me.

What function do you think Thailandblog has?

Twofold. Practical information for tourists or for people who live there, and background stories for those who want to look a little further and deeper.

What are you still missing on Thailandblog?

Stories from Thais.

Do you think Thailandblog will make it to the next anniversary (15 years)?

Surely.