Standing On Top Of The World In Chiang Rai

As you know Chiangrai is the most northern province  in Thailand.  It shares a border with two countries, the Lao PDR and Myanmar. Self driving is ideal for travel in this city because it has beautiful scenery and gracious people. Today we will talk about a most beautiful and attractive place . Not many foreign tourists visit this place because it’s quite long a distance…

Thai Ghosts

After killing a girl in a hit-and-run while driving back from a party, Jane and her photographer boyfriend Tun begin to see mysterious white shadows in their photos. Later on in “Shutter” (2004), it reveals that the spirit is Tun’s ex, Natre. Natre’s shadows in the photos led Jane to a set of films hidden behind a bookcase, where she discoverd what Natre was trying…

Should I Tip In Thailand

First of all, tipping is not customary in Thailand. There is absolutely no mandatory requirement to tip anyone who gives you service in Thailand. If you notice you will rarely see any Thai service staff waiting for a tip. However, small gratuities for great service are very much appreciated as service staff in Thailand are often not paid very well. At cheaper restaurants, it is…

The Myth of Mae Phosop (The Rice Goddess)

Worshipping goddesses like Mae Phosop (โพสพ), the rice goddess, has been a part of Thai culture and tradition since prehistoric times. Even though the role of female deities became subservient since the introduction of male-dominated faiths such as Hinduism, Brahmanism and the official religion Buddhism, the power of the matriarchal spirit has always played an important role in Thailand. She is also known as Mae…

A Thai Art Form – Woodcarving

  Woodcarving can be regarded as a characteristic decorative Thai art form. It reflects the fertility and vitality of nature in technique and subject matter. Wood has been primarily used for furniture and religious objects, and thus not so much for creating Buddha statues. Hence, woodcarvers have sought their inspiration primarily in nature and mythology since they have been free of restrictive iconography. Thai Woodcarving Carved wooden facade at…

Do Foreigners Have The Right To Say No To a Drug Test by Thai Police?

Thailand is very safe for tourists but from time to time a number of tourists are bothered by the police unintentionally. As appearing in many news articles lately, Bangkok police accelerate random visitor urine tests, searches, interrogations on western tourists and expats. There has been a rapidly increasing policy of harassing western visitors and residents in Bangkok, such individuals are now regularly being stopped by…

Expats Guide For Living In Chiang Rai

The pros and cons Chiang Rai is slap bang in the middle of Laos and Myanmar, which gives you the perfect opportunity to visit these countries for a weekend retreat. This however means that there is no coast and therefore no beach in Chiang Rai. There is a river area where locals like to visit but the water is best to be avoided. Over the…

Love Them, Don’t Ride Them

6-7 minutes When the plane finally landed, we exited into the steamy, humid air. My droopy eyes could tell this experience would be something totally new. My sister and I had travelled from our small hometown in Colorado, where the air is too thick to breathe and the mountains rise high around each crack of the town. After thirty hours in airports and planes, we…

Marrying a Thai Bar Girl Is a Bad Idea

As unfathomable as most might think it is, western men marrying Thai bar girls or prostitutes in Thailand isn’t an uncommon occurrence. In fact, for a sizeable percentage of western men in Thailand, whether on vacation or living here, the only Thai girls they date are bar girls from the local sex industry. Some western men even marry Thai bar girls only to discover there…

Eat Like Chiang Rai Locals

Steamed Cattle’s Fetus With Galangal Chilli Paste Aborted cattle’s fetus in local market (picture credited to จาปาตี) This menu is not advisable for everyone to eat!  Be sure that the meat is well cooked. In Northern Thailand there is one menu that some would say “is to die for”. This is aborted cattle fetus as a main ingredient, this delicious food’s name in Thai is…