Thailand
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Behind the Bamboo Curtain: The Quiet Art of Thai Neighbourliness Being neighbourly—particularly towards foreigners—is different from what we have in the West. It’s not about overt friendliness or shared fences. It’s about quiet coexistence, subtle reciprocity, and knowing when not to intrude. You won’t always know when you’ve been accepted. There’s no formal induction. But…
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Being neighbourly—particularly towards foreigners—is different from what we have in the West. It’s not about overt friendliness or shared fences. It’s about quiet coexistence, subtle reciprocity, and knowing when not to intrude. You won’t always know when you’ve been accepted. There’s no formal induction. But one day, the security guard will nod at you with…
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🧭 Navigating the Bureaucratic System Without Losing Face—or Your SanityAnother episode in the Behind the Bamboo series Thailand’s bureaucracy is a curious beast. It smiles at you, nods politely, and then hands you a form that requires three photocopies, two passport photos, and a stamp from someone who may or may not be in the…
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Behind the Bamboo Curtain In Thai culture, the concept of Face—known locally as naa (หน้า)—is deeply embedded in everyday interactions. It refers to a person’s social standing, dignity, and the respect they command within their community. Losing Face can be emotionally painful and socially damaging, especially in a society that values harmony and indirectness. When…
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I sometimes joke that, if I had the power, I’d make the concept of “losing Face” illegal worldwide. It may sound flippant, but there’s a serious undertone. In many situations, it’s less stressful to accept a loss of Face and walk away than to stay and try to resolve a disagreement — especially when the…
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A Thai biker ran into my car and damaged both my car and that of another motorist. I’m an expat. The other motorist was Thai. This is not a photo of the actual incident, but it does show what typically happens after a collision. The police arrive and take notes. Bystanders just stand around watching.…
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What to do when your Thai bank passbook goes missing — and how to navigate the system as a foreigner If you’re a foreign resident in Thailand and your bank book is lost or stolen, the official procedure sounds straightforward: File a police report (Technically, there is no charge but you may be asked to…
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The vision for my website has always been to provide my readers and followers with what THEY want. This is why I always ask for constructive feedback on my posts. I want to tailor what I write to my audience, my readership. Although many of my posts and books are on Thai cultural anthropology, I…
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Today, there are local elections in all 76 provinces (chiangwat) in Thailand. Each province is split into amphurs (the UK equivalent would, broadly, be a county. Each amphur has several tambons, comparable to a UK municipal district, town or city. And each tambon has several moobahns, villages or parishes. Normally, elections are held on a…
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The link depends on whether you want to use epub or pdf on your phone, tablet, or computer. You can find free apps on the internet to open these formats. PDF is the most versatile, while epub is better with pictures. Epub: A Thailand Diary: Escape to Thailand: Meekness in Thai Culture: Thailand Take Two:…