thai culture | Thailand Travel Guide

Unfortunately Thai Baht does not really grow on trees

Cost of Living in Thailand

Thailand’s currency has appreciated dramatically in comparison to those of richer countries over the past few years, and its economy has also grown strongly, with the result that the cost of living in Thailand is [Read more…]

Did someone simply forget that they owned this boat?

Rubbish in Thailand

Thailand is a great place, however, its full of rubbish and I am not talking about the low quality fake products you can buy in markets here, or indeed even the unpleasant, unwanted, unregistered, and [Read more…]

Making Merit by killing goldfish

Life and culture in Thailand never ceases to amaze. When you think you have seen it all in Thailand, something new comes along and surprises you all over again. Rather like this handsome gentleman I [Read more…]

Yaowaratkrungthep Gold Shop in Koh Samui

Gold (not diamonds) is a Thai girl’s best friend

Thai people absolutely adore gold. It is an important part of their culture both symbolically and financially. They wear it, they use it religiously (Thai temples are covered in the stuff), give it as gifts [Read more…]

How to Register the birth of your Thai baby

Before I explain step by step how to get a Thai birth certificate, and how to complete other associated tasks, I would like to suggest some classic German literature as background reading to prepare you [Read more…]

Our Thai baby is very very ugly

We have recently brought our new baby home from the hospital. The first thing my wife did was stock up on food and drink in large quantities. Things we do not normally have in our [Read more…]

Yu Fai: Lie near the fire after child birth

Yu Fai, which literally means ‘lie near fire’, is a traditional practice for Thai women after child birth. The practice is rooted in superstition but it also a real therapeutic medical benefit for a new [Read more…]

A tale of two drafts: Conscription in Thailand

It’s April in Thailand, and that means two big events in the Thai calendar: the Songkran festival marking the New Year in the Thai calendar, and the draft for compulsory military service. Thailand is one [Read more…]

What makes a successful ex-pat in Thailand? Part 1 – The ability to integrate

There are lots of different reasons people come to live in Thailand. For some it is for work, but for most people they come for the lifestyle and work only because they need the money [Read more…]

What is a Thai train trip without the alcohol?

You are not allowed to sell or consume alcohol on trains in Thailand. This rule change came in July 2014 and the authorities mean business. You can’t buy a beer in the restaurant car any [Read more…]