Spirit of Thailand

Did you ever get a massage from a blind person, or from a prisoner, or from a trans-sexual, or ladyboy as they are called in Thailand? These are all fairly common scenarios here in Chiang Mai. I have tried them all and here is the story in video format.

It happened to me in a bus station in Thailand. It was one of those magical moments where a total stranger showed me truly unconditional kindness and reserved a place in my heart for the rest of my life.

*****Watch the video here*****

(video run time 3 minutes)

The easy and very affordable access to massage in Thailand is one of the bonuses for living here. Like everywhere in the world, the quality of massage varies greatly. I have received many great Thai massage sessions in Thailand, but I also had some rather bizarre experiences. This amusing story is from the lower end of the massage spectrum.

*****Watch the story on video here*****

(video run time 5 minutes)

Here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, I see lots of people getting stopped by the cops for traffic violations. But why does the same cop give you a ticket for not wearing a helmet in the morning, but in the afternoon he could’t care less?

>>>>>Watch the story on video<<<<<

(video run time 4:50)

Many people think that driving in Thailand is chaotic. But if you just shift your expectations a little, you will do just fine. I have been driving in Thailand for many years, accident free – knock on wood! Here is my experience of handling traffic. There is no need to be afraid of it, all that is needed is an attitude adjustment. Here is the story on video:

>>>>>Watch the video here<<<<<

(video play time 4:15)

Thailand is the country which I have chosen as my home, and I have had many wonderful experiences with the Thai people. Sometimes there are amusing experiences also, and here is one of them. In this case it shows the belief of many Thais that all westerners are rich. I wish they were right! Many Thai women see a relationship with a western man as a way to improve their economic standing, and in many cases, this is exactly what happens. In my story here one woman tried a little too hard.

Is living in Thailand paradise? What are the pros and cons? Who is this lifestyle for? This is a behind-the-scenes look at living in Thailand as a foreigner.

When I tell people that I live in Thailand, I often get feedback along the lines of “You are so lucky”, “I would love to be able to do that too”, “You live in paradise”, or “What an amazing lifestyle”.

Then there are the people who are not sure on which continent Thailand is and who could not find it on a map if their life depended on it.

Here is a tip. China is easy to find on a map, it is plenty big enough. If you look for the lowest or southernmost part of China, then you will see Thailand right below there along with some other small countries like Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam. This part of the world is called “southeast Asia”. Read the rest of this entry

Here in Thailand it is much easier to get a massage than in western countries. You just walk into one of countless massage shops and in most cases there is a therapist available right away. So that’s the easy part.

But how do you know who will work on you - is it just the luck of the draw? Most shops have several therapists on staff. They are automatically assigned to the customers depending on their turn in the queue. However you don’t have to accept just any therapist. You can ask for anyone who you feel comfortable with.

Here are some tips for improving your chance of getting a good Thai Massage. Read the rest of this entry

Every year there is an amazing temple pilgrimage happening in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This year, in 2010, it happened in late May. The goal is to walk up to Doi Suthep temple, which is the most venerated shrine in Chiang Mai. The challenge is that this temple is not in the city, but way up a steep mountain, 14 kilometers (9 miles) from the outskirts of the city.

Thais are not really much  into exercising in general, but on this day tens of thousands of people stream up the mountain – in the middle of the night! Daytime temperatures would almost certainly result in heat stroke for many participants, so people start walking in the evening when it is cooler.

Thais love to party and they have a real talent when it comes to organizing festivities. All the way up the long mountain road volunteers pass out thousands of free water bottles to prevent dehydration. There is free food for everyone too. Read the rest of this entry

The 15 year old daughter of a Thai friend of mine had basic English lessons in a school in Thailand for five years, and she is not able to say a single sentence in English. How is this possible? I took her under my wings and started talking with her and had her say words and sentences in English. Within a few weeks she could carry on a simple conversation in English. What happened here?

Imagine sitting in a classroom where the teacher is talking at you constantly. Culturally it is considered inappropriate to ask questions, come up with creative ideas or suggestions, and there is no active, lively exchange between teachers and students. It is a one way lecturing style of education. Read the rest of this entry