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Bangkok loses international airport to flood waters
Today water reached the end of the runways at Don Mueang International Airport and announcements have been made that it will close and stop operations from 5:00pm (local) / 10:00am (GMT) 25 October 2011. Reports are arriving of passengers trapped in the terminal buildings by flood waters, and that the airfield ...
Emergency holidays declared as floodwaters creep into Bangkok
The Thai government cabinet on Tuesday decided to declare 27-28 and 31 October 2011 as official holidays in 21 flood-hit provinces, including Bangkok, so that people in flood-prone areas would be able to brace for the expected flooding of the capital's central areas. The 21 provinces are central Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, ...
Chiang Mai City Braces for Floods, 2005-repeat Possible
Thailand's northern capital Chiang Mai is bracing for a repeat of the devastating flooding that drowned the city in August 2005. Following heavy rains further north, and the flooding of the Mae Tawan Valley and it's world famous Elephant Conservation Camp, plus large areas of Chiang Dao district are reported ...
Confusion surrounds new Thai visa-overstay policy reports
Following yesterday's widely reported story of a shift to hardened policy regarding punishments for visitors overstaying their visa end-date in Thailand, several new stories have surfaced that try to rebut the original claims, and a war of credibility has broken out between the kingdom's foreign-language media services. Unfortunately too, the ...
Stay too long in Thailand and you go to jail – new rules
News leaked today indicates the Royal Thai Immigration Police are to usher in a new era of punishment for visitors who overstay their visa or other travel document permitting them to enter the kingdom. There has long been a standing fine for staying beyond the expiry date of the permission-to-enter stamp ...Bangkok Red Shirt Riots – Video Perspectives
As the most traumatic week in Thailand's recent history draws to a close, a number of videos are beginning to circulate, which show some perspectives that international press ignored during the months building up to Wednesday's crackdown and clearing of the Red Shirt encampments in the centre of the city. These ...
Aftermath – Eyewitness Photos within Bangkok Red Zone
Thailand 21 May 2010 - A friend of mine lives just metres away from the former Red Shirt main rally stage in Bangkok. Throughout the recent demonstrations, and the ensuing military operations and riots, myself and others implored him to remain indoors and leave his camera in the cupboard. Now, ...
Bangkok Riots Spread Nationwide following Bangkok Crackdown
Government troops and police moved in force, early in the morning of 19th May to disperse and clear the anti-government Red Shirt protesters from the upscale heart of Bangkok's commercial and tourist zone. By early afternoon, the Red Shirt leaders announced to their followers that the city centre fight was ...
Government Forces move to retake central Bangkok
Bangkok 19 May 2010 - Thai Army and Police, supported by Armoured Combat Vehicles (ACVs) and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), plus water cannon military vehicles, moved from several directions overnight to assault the barricades and bunkers built around the perimeter of the anti-government Red Shirt protestors' encampment covering almost four ...UK Embassy eases travel warning status for Thailand
6 May 2010 - the British Embassy have today lowered their warning related to "the whole of Thailand" citing reduction of unrest and violence outside the capital. However, they are upholding their warning to avoid Bangkok other than for the most essential of travel. The update came in an email which ...
Illuminated Boat Procession on Mekong River, Nakhon Phanom
All night, each night between 15 - 23 October 2010, a spectacular procession of illuminated boats can be seen on the Mekhong River in extreme North Eastern Thailand, at the border point with Laos. In addition to the water-borne spectacle, locals ...
Chonburi Annual Water Buffalo Racing Festival
Water buffalo are used for ploughing fields in Thailand, but at the Chon Buri Buffalo Races they are put to a very different use. Side events include a buffalo fancy dress contest, a healthy buffalo contest, and the Miss Farmer ...
Phuket Vegetarian Festival & Chinese Nine Emperor Gods
Warning: Some photos in this article may be disturbing to some readers. Thetsakan Kin Che or Tesagan Gin Je known in English as the Vegetarian Festival, is a Chinese Religious festival held annually during the 1st–9th days, 9th Chinese lunar month. Normally, ...
Confusion surrounds new Thai visa-overstay policy reports
Following yesterday's widely reported story of a shift to hardened policy regarding punishments for visitors overstaying their visa end-date in Thailand, several new stories have surfaced that try to rebut the original claims, and a war of credibility has broken ...
Stay too long in Thailand and you go to jail – new rules
News leaked today indicates the Royal Thai Immigration Police are to usher in a new era of punishment for visitors who overstay their visa or other travel document permitting them to enter the kingdom. There has long been a standing fine ...
Back to My Future – Duty Free Dilemma
A little out of sequence for this series, and because it was introduced yesterday, today I'm returning to the question of duty-free products. If you’ve gone for a budget airfare, odds are that you will have at least one change of ...
Chiang Mai City Braces for Floods, 2005-repeat Possible
Thailand's northern capital Chiang Mai is bracing for a repeat of the devastating flooding that drowned the city in August 2005. Following heavy rains further north, and the flooding of the Mae Tawan Valley and it's world famous Elephant Conservation ...
How do you handle an electricity power cut?
Amazing Thailand is probably one of the most apt descriptions for the country from a westerner's viewpoint. Even after over a decade of living here full time, it still finds ways to amaze me daily. A standing joke at Gaz Grange ...British expatriate murdered in his Chiang Mai home
News reached me over the weekend (24th/25th January) of a British expatriate found brutally murdered in his home in a gated community (with 24 hour security) late last week. Unfortunately, the news arrived whilst we were in the midst of the ...British Embassy updates travel warning for 2011 Thailand floods
The British Embassy in Bangkok have updated their website homepage with a revised travel advisory for Thailand in the wake of the latest flooding news for the capital Bangkok. Still current at: 27 October 2011 Updated: 26 October 2011 This advice has ...
Bangkok loses international airport to flood waters
Today water reached the end of the runways at Don Mueang International Airport and announcements have been made that it will close and stop operations from 5:00pm (local) / 10:00am (GMT) 25 October 2011. Reports are arriving of passengers trapped in ...UK Embassy Bangkok Travel Warning Update 29 May 2010
Issued 29 May 2010, 19:15 by British Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand Our travel advice has been comprehensively updated following the lifting of the Government curfew on 29 May. We no longer advise against non-essential travel to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. We advise British ...Pink Dawn
For the last half century or so, I've considered myself a night owl. Never mentally reaching peak awareness before sunset, and repeatedly failing to sleep before sunrise. At certain times in my life this has been advantageous. Of late though, I've ...Observing Frogs
Rainy season in Thailand is marked, amongst other methods, by an increased attendance of frogs and toads in the garden at night. This is a particularly noticeable phenomenon, far more so than any equivalent back in the UK, because it ...Expat Work-permit Fees Rise, Application Rules To Change
Effective 21 December 2009, the application fee for a work-permit in Thailand rose by 600%. There are two fees to be paid for a work-permit in Thailand, an application fee, and a successor issuance fee. The former is controlled and set ...Spring must be here – time for a hair cut
I posted a few months back about someone flicking the winter switch, and how the weather flipped over night. The same thing happened last night. Yesterday was a cool and comfortable 26-28 degrees Celcius, and there was a decided nip in ...Christmas is coming
Published in City Life Magazine, Chiang Mai - December 2002 Christmas is Coming CHIANG MAI, Thailand - 10 November 2002 Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat, It’s time to stop the salads, And give up on khao phat. And of course, it’s time to ...I Remember it Well …. The Strengths of the Animals
Published in CityLife Magazine, Chiang Mai, Thailand June 2002 I Remember it Well .... The Strengths of the Animals It's strange the conversations that one gets into when sitting in an expatriate watering hole. CHIANG MAI, Thailand - 7 May 2002 - Not so ...
R.I.P. Grandmother Wattanatham, Keeper of Traditions
It was with great sadness that I learned today that "Granny Wattanatham" passed away last night in hospital, here in Nakhon Ratchasima. More correctly titled and named Pa Jaroon (Great Aunt or Elder Aunt Jaroon), she will always be affectionately remembered ...
R.I.P. My Best Thai Friend
I am deeply saddened this week to learn of the passing of my best and closest Thai friend after a long battle with leukaemia. Jan had been battling Leukaemia for around a year now, and was in remission and doing well, ...