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Thai lifestyle curiosities explained In this blogpost in the Beyond the Bamboo Curtain series—our regular lens on Thai life, the curiosities of Thai lifestyle are explored under 6 main headings. Reflections on the main features of Thai society, drawn from my own experiences and observations of the culture I’ve lived in for several decades. thai…
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They said Alex is a nice chap—an American gay man who lives in a rented house with his young male Thai partner, Ae. Alex’s story begins here. What follows is a carousel of characters—each navigating Thai life in their own way, with humour, hesitation, or quiet resolve. Alex inherited some money from his mum when…
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Part 9 of 14 in the Behind the Bamboo Curtain series of where Derek “escapes ” to Thailand. Observing and Integrating Some expats rush in. Others wait, observe, and learn. In this section, we meet those who’ve taken a slower path—cautious, curious, and quietly adapting to life in Thailand. Although I feel happily married in…
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Behind the Bamboo Curtain – Part 8 : You Are In My Country Now From honeymoon haze to household budgets, Derek’s escape to Thailand takes a turn. He’s no longer a visitor. He’s a resident—having to report to Immigration every 90 days, remembering to re-apply to stay in the kingdom every year, and dealing with…
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In case you missed it, this is an earlier part of Derek’s story. In his own words and style. There are twists, turns, and confusions. You may notice that the narrative sometimes oddly flips from topic to topic. These are not editorial errors. That’s exactly how Derek spoke. It says much about his ego, lack…
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Part 7 of 14 in the Behind the Bamboo Curtain series on Derek’s Escape to Thailand. With the exception of breakfast, we seldom had a meal at home, as Toy preferred to go out for meals. Before she met me, it would have been at a roadside stall .This is where most Thais eat and the staple…
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Part 3: A Thai Thief I had crammed a lot into my first five days in Thailand. I had been puzzled and perhaps confused by some of the differences I noticed between Thai and Western ways. Although the people seemed happy and relaxed, maybe there was something being concealed behind the smile that was on…
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Different nationalities have different senses of humour. I recall being in a UK pub one overcast winter’s day. A few of us were sitting around the bar when the barman commented, “Looks like rain, doesn’t it?”The fellow next to me raised his glass and sipped his beer. “Yes—tastes like it too.” We all laughed, including…
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Last night’s Thai get-together was one of those laid-back, food-filled evenings. Everyone brought something—mostly northern dishes, homemade and proudly shared. The karaoke machine sat quietly at first, but after a few drinks, it found its groove. So did we. I rolled out of bed late this morning, still humming a luk thung tune I couldn’t…