It’s a pity the Thai bashers who frequent the forums get a wide audience. Most expats and visitors here aren’t so negative. The silent majority. A very radical Australian site is getting a poor reputation for unbalanced reporting. No one has a problem with academics holding deeply-held views. It can be healthy provided that contrasting… Read More Why is New Mandala Critical of Thais?

Thais regularly use temples when they want to socialise. Fancied a beer this evening. Passed a fair at the local temple where music was playing, so stopped to take a look. Very much like old-fashioned church fêtes and fairs. A shooting gallery, throwing darts for a goldfish. Kids laughing and enjoying the bouncy castle. They… Read More Festivities at the Temple

These observations give a different perspective from my last story, which I called, “Low Standards & Cultural Influences Result in Dangerous Driving in Thailand” There’s always something different to see when you drive in Thailand. One minute you’ll see a singing and dancing crowd escorting a novice monk to his initiation. The next moment, and… Read More Observations on Driving in Thailand

I just don’t get it. Why do motor cyclists pull out from sois onto a main road without looking? This is one of the two things I still don’t understand about Thailand. Yes, some roads have cycle lanes into which they can filter reasonably safely, but most roads do not have these. As a motorist,… Read More Low Standards & Cultural Influence Result in Dangerous Driving in Thailand