Thailand Blogs – June 09 Review
In England the sixth month of the year is known as Flaming June and last month the English weather did live up to that title on a few occasions. It was more flaming June for me when the second day of the month arrived and I flew from Bangkok back to England and work. Thailand enjoyed a rather quiet month on the news front with the biggest news story being the death of actor David Carridine under mysterious circumstances in a Bangkok hotel. I remember David for his excellent characterization of Grasshopper in the Kung Fu series and his sudden death was very sad news.
This month’s review has I hope some good news for you in the form of a few posts that you may have missed during the past month and one or two blogs that have escaped your past attention. All the photographs in this June 09 review are from Wonderful Wi’s village in Udon Thani Province.
Is there a better place to start this month’s review than My Thai Friend, it’s the blog that I always start my day with and one of Mike’s June posts took a look at Thai nicknames. Have you ever wondered how someone gets named Porn or Plah (fish), Thai Names has all the answers and a link that offers even more insight into the confusing Thai name game.
Peter Garwood is a name that is big on the Thai blog scene and Peter returned to Thailand last month and his Chiang Mai based script FrogBlog Thaidings will be the big winner from his mixed bag repertoire of blogging tricks. Thailand’s tourism industry has taken a massive knock in the past year and Thailand’s tarnished image abroad: Thai tourism in decline gives many of the answers and the reasons why.
Brit in Bangkok enjoys a day trip with work colleagues in Amphawa Floating Market and Wat Phra Kaew Trip. The smiles in the photographs prove what an enjoyable day was had by each and everyone of the work buddies and the post includes an absolutely stunning picture of the floating market. Plenty of foreigners arrive on Thailand’s soil with dreams of big business success and return home with their tails firmly between their legs and their dreams in tatters. Expat udon thani offers a few reasons why in common expat mistakes – udon thani – thailand.
Saraburi is the hometown of Jonny Foreigner and Get to know Saraburi, Thailand goes a long way to proving that outside of the tourist hotspots, Thailand’s towns and cities have a lot of good attractions and nightlife that is relatively unknown to most foreign visitors. Life in rural Thailand had a special day last month, MeMock and his family moved into their new town house and it was also a very special day for another reason A second birthday for Marisah part 1 has some sweet photos of Marisah and sister Ariya enjoying the birthday girl’s special present.
Talen has opened his heart and mind and started to tell his and girlfriend Pookie’s story in a series of posts. My Thai Girl and I Part 1 starts with their first ever meeting in Pattaya and the series looks at the bonding of their partnership and the cultural differences that arise when the hearts of two very different nations become one. An excellent read from Thailand, Land of Smiles.
We move from the language of love to learning the Thai language and Women Learning Thai…and some men too. Learning a language doesn’t have to be all about studious bookwork, sometimes there are fun ways of learning too. Everyone loves a crossword and Catherine’s post Webster’s Thai to English Crossword Puzzles is a novel way to learn new Thai words and make giant strides into learning the complex Thai writing system.
If you have ever thought about taking a boat ride down the famous River Kwai then Retired in Thailand and Loving It gives you a free ride in River Travels And Sightseeing. There are 14 glorious photographs accompanying the post and avid readers of Malcolm and Ciejay’s delightful blog will know that means quality pictures.
Thai TV commercials really are first class when it comes to humour and The Thai Pirate has captured a wonderfully funny one in Warning – Don’t watch if you like Jing Joks. I won’t spoil the story line but this is a must view post if you are in need of a good smile.
It’s busy times indeed for Bulgarian Slivatree – An Expatriates Eye in Bulgaria as we delve into the delights of the World Blogroll. Martin is a Brit living in Bulgaria and he has no hunger to return home. Martin’s hard work on his produce farm is now harvesting much deserved reward and Very Busy But Bulgarian Food Still Rules goes through the vegetable plot and finishes with a fish and shopska salad meal.
It’s not like Adullamite to moan is it, well not everyday. Enjoy a shot of his wit and charm in Now I am Not One to Complain, But… enjoy Adullamite doing what he does best. Bodhi Bum returns to blogging with a post about a trip to the rather arid looking land of Oman. Fujairah, East Coast, UAE & Musandam, Oman covers the road to Musandam. After missing the boat for his scuba diving trip Bodhi Bum heads up into the mountains and deeper into Oman.
Are all Hollywood stars flash and arrogant Johhny Depp: not such ‘a Public Enemy’ proves otherwise. A Malaysian Abroad records Johnny Depp’s visit to a Chicago Steakhouse.
The final two posts from my world blog scene take us to Europe and two Brits living in rural France. Jon writes with his usual whimsical charm in his story Est-Ce Que Le Big Mac En Train De Conquerir La Belle France ? The Vendee Blog has been cynically proven to produce some of the best laughter lined posts on the blog scene, left click and enjoy another marvellous entry from the man who teaches English in the panoramic countryside of France. Animal lover Frances and France and the Unknown have a mouse in the house, How The Mighty had fallen… is the tale of Mighty the mouse who is found abandoned outside, but will he survive through the night.
Guest spot for this month goes back to Thailand and a well written blog named Behind the Noodle Curtain. Needing to escape the intensity of Bangkok if only for a short while Rick explores Isaan country and Images: bars and other features in Surin, Thailand, Part 1, takes a look around a town deep in the heart of one of the poorest regions of Thailand.
That’s it from the June 09 Blog Review written from a very bright and sunny England. Enjoy.
Sober Days In Thailand – Nong Nooch
Question Time
Thailand At Work – Pattaya Bar Girl
Thailand Blogs – May 09 Review





Imagine you are surrounded by natives and down to your last cigarette. You hear the desperate sound of
If you love the spices and herbs that make Thai food such a delight then for many people village food will not be a problem although don’t expect too many of the gourmet meals that the city’s restaurants offer. Tom Yum soup will be about as sophisticated as it gets so expect a diet of minced beef
If you’re lucky then the house will be brick built and full of the best mod cons the world can offer, that is however very unlikely. The house will probably be the wood stilt, corrugated roof style and occupied by the girl’s parents and younger brothers and sisters. A cooling fan will be the best heat repellent on offer and the afternoon temperatures can make the house stifling hot and unbearable so spend your time downstairs under the house.
Coming into contact with a cobra is not liable to happen to you but be aware that it could. Snakes will avoid you at all times but unless you are an expert in such matters back away at all times. No matter its colour or size, treat every snake as a potentially poisonous one. Insects and mosquitoes are in an abundance in rural area’s so be prepared to find them in your drinks and on your food. Dogs can look mangy and fearsome but are generally weary of the human form but again treat each one as a potential threat until they prove otherwise. Expect to see lizards, frogs, bees and insects of varying size.
A left turn takes us into Soi Buffalo and over the crossroad, the picture on the left is one that to me typifies the daily life of a Thai villager, someone going about their business in no hurry and seemingly without a care in the world. Look at the crossroad photo and you could place any given year on it, perhaps only the wooden carts tyres represent time and the wheels of progress that is very slowly being made in rural Thailand.
Our house is the last in the village