Recently I went to my local fruit and veggie market here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and to my surprise there was a stage set up and there was a whole big show going on. It was put on by a phone company to promote their products, but the unusual thing was that they had some “ladyboys”, transsexuals, do the show. Luckily I had a camera with me and I caught the action. There are some pretty amazing things going on in Thailand, and that was definitely one of them!
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.
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:
Let’s be honest, millions of westerners have come to Thailand for that very reason. There are lots of websites promoting such relationships, and there are many dating sites where Thai women are actively searching for western men.
There are stories about Thai parents literally selling their daughter into prostitution or arranged marriage. Although such cases do exist, and not only in Thailand, they are a tiny percentage compared to the voluntary relationships which are the norm and which are the subject of this article. It is not my intention to focus on some cases of abuse in Thailand or to launch a moral campain against prostitution or judge age differences between men and women in relationships. Read the rest of this entry
The tourist brochures will tell you that “amazing” Thailand is a tropical lush heaven, the land of smiles, filled with friendly people, inexpensive, and fun. It is actually all true. But, there is a darker side also. Nothing could be that perfect.
The north of Thailand is a beautiful region- nine months out of the year. But three months out of the year, specifically during the hot and dry season in February, March and April, the entire area is often covered by a nasty layer of pollution. It is mostly caused by agricultural burning which is a cheap and efficient method of clearing the land, but it also makes your eyes burn, prevents airplanes from landing, and sends thousands of people to the hospitals for respiratory issues. Read the rest of this entry
Many expats or longer term residents in Thailand have to leave the country every two or three months in order to obtain a new visa. Within Asia you can generally only get short term tourist visas. There are exceptions: Retirement visas let you stay in Thailand permanently, but you have to put a big chunk of money in the bank (about US $25,000.-), and you have to be older than 50. Work visas also allow you to stay in the country, but they are only good as long as you are employed by a company.
My visa is good for one year, but I have to leave the country every three months in order to get a new entry stamp in my passport. And once a year I have to travel to the US or Australia to get a new one year visa. Just recently it was again time to get a new visa, and I went to the US to get it. Read the rest of this entry
We have heard the stories: Westerners go to Thailand and find that suddenly their world is turned upside down. People react to them in ways they cannot understand, the language is not even remotely similar to European languages, the food is strange, the traffic seems chaotic, people are smiling but you have no idea what they are really thinking, relationships don’t work at all like in the west, and the religion can be contrary to western beliefs. It can be confusing indeed, and it is called culture shock. Read the rest of this entry
Recently I visited a beautiful resort about 100 km from Chiang Mai. The owner is a naturopathic doctor who developed some amazing treatments for serious health challenges. He is committed to running a holistic spa and building a sustainable project. The food is healthy and clean, a lot of it grown on the resort’s own farm. There is a steam sauna, two swimming ponds, beautiful grounds, horses, deer and other animals, and even a small golf course. Read the rest of this entry
When you live in Thailand for extended periods of time, most visa types require you to leave the country on a regular basis in order to get a new stamp in your passport. The closest border to Chiang Mai, where I live, is the Burmese border in the very north of Thailand. I have to cross this border every three months to stay current. It is an easy day trip by luxury bus or a multi-day fun excursion on a motorcycle, which is the option I chose this time. Read the rest of this entry
Chiang Mai, Thailand, Flower Festival, Parade Float
Chiang Mai, Thailand, is the undisputed festival capital of Thailand. Between November and April Chiang Mai puts on several huge festivals that draw crowds of tens of thousands, visitors from all over Thailand and from all over the world. A major festival is not just a one day event. Normally they last three days and in one case, Sonkran, even seven days. During those times Chiang Mai turns into a giant party, a traffic nightmare, and a major holiday destination for Thais. Train tickets in and out of the city are sold out weeks in advance, and it seems that half of the population of Bangkok converges upon Chiang Mai. Read the rest of this entry
