Cultural

Sunset and gunfire during Songkran in Surat Thani.

One of my private students is a policeman....a Colonel in the Marine Police. His name is Boonchu Juntasa, and he is a professional Pirate Catcher.

The Phimai historical park protects one of the most important Khmer temples of Thailand. It is located in the town of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The temple marks one end of the Ancient Khmer Highway from Angkor. Phimai must have been an important city in the Khmer empire. Most buildings are from the late 11th to the late 12th century, built in the Baphuon, Bayon and Angkor Wat style. ... Read more and see the pics.

I've asked two different women, Poo and Poe, to marry me! They both said "Yes" and I am going to marry both of them. They both live in the same apartment building but on different floors so mechanically it is doable. It's just a matter of timing and scheduling.

The English, French, Dutch and Portuguese merchants fell in awe of this city, claiming it to be one of the most splendid cities they had seen.

Sala Kaeo Ku is full of strange statues built according to the beliefs of a defunct Buddhist sect. It is 3 kilometres from town on the way to Phon Phisai. Luang Pu Luea, an old man who believes all religions should be integrated together, set up the park in 1978 by allegedly using unskilled craftsman to carry out fine details on the statues. Sala Kaeo Ku features a large garden of statues depicting Buddhist and Hindu gods, goddesses, saints, devils, and demons, as well as some secular sculptures. ... Read more and see the pics.

An account of a prison visit to the infamous Bangkok Hilton, Bang Kwang Prison.

Thasawang Silk Village lies ten kilometers outside of the city of Surin. Silk Produced in this village has unique Cambodian-influenced patterns. The silk threads used here are highly delicate, soft, lustrous, and of the highest quality. The silk threads are dyed with colors from natural ingredients. For instance, red color comes from lac, and yellow color from turmeric. These threads are woven tightly and elaborately to yield diverse patterns. Surin?s most acclaimed silk is 'Pha hole', which differs from other matmi, or tied-and-dyed silk. With regards to the selection of silk threads, the tie-and-dye technique, and the weaving style. ... Read more.

I got the runaround but the wife got served..

On behalf of Keera-Pat International School (KPIS), Bangkok, I would like to invite all booklovers to “Author's Day,” an event which will take place on March 26, 2010 from 13:00 to 14:30.

Your ‘Songs for the Dead’ was a great rendition of village life, Cent. I had had a similar experience in Ban Uppernowheresville (my wife's village) 135km to the east of Nong Khai. This was a while back, about 2 years ago, but parts of it stick with me.

My 'pai-yat' wife picked up the habit of dumpster-diving after she learned it from a neighboring Thai lady, 15 years her senior, who did this too - obviously validating the practice. The origin of far too many small stuffed animals, smurfs, and plastic numbs, (sp?) is the apartment trash dumpster in the parking lot, but what the hey, they're free.

Due to an auspicious occasion my wife had promised the spirits of our land a new house. Of course she had not told me that, but a few days later she said “I promised to build new spirit houses, is that ok?” She knows I am not a real fan of spending money on things that are in my opinion useless. But we live here together so I thought, “Why not?” What harm could be done?

Hello my name is Jariya, my home country is Thailand...

Prasat Khao Phra Vihan is a splendid Khmer ruin just across the border in Cambodia. Perched on a 600-metre hill, the complex was built by a succession of Khmer kings from the 10th to12th centuries and predates its larger brother Angkor Wat. Constructed in Papuan and early Angkor styles, Khao Phra Vihan originally served as a Hindu temple. Even though the temple lies in Cambodia, the only road to reach it is in Thailand. ... Read more and see the pics.