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Makha Bucha Public Holiday
Today is a public holiday in Thailand to mark Makha Bucha Day. It’s an important date on the Thai Buddhist calendar and temples throughout the country will be busy today, particularly in the evening.
If you are intent on enjoying the nightlife in Thailand today it will depend on where you are
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White Temple, Chiang Rai (Wat Rong Khun)
Located just outside the city of Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun has become famous in Thailand as the White Temple. A unique design mixing contemporary and classic style makes this one of Thailand’s most unusual and visually striking man-made attractions. Even for those who might consider themselves ̵
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Monk Baskets
If you are out and about shopping in Thailand you may notice some shops selling orange baskets or buckets which contain a number of everyday items like soap, detergent and toothpaste. These buckets are bought by lay-people who then donate them to monks or to the temple. By doing this, the person mak
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Thailand’s Blind Musicians and Singers
If you stay in any big town or city in Thailand for long enough you are likely to encounter the country’s street musicians. Many of these street singers are blind and this is how they earn a living. With a microphone in hand and an amplifier hung around the neck, the blind singer is usually guided b
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Bangkok - City of Angels
Thailand’s capital city has the distinction of owning a number of different names. In addition to the internationally known name of Bangkok, there is also the local name of Krung Thep (City of Angels) which is a shortened version of the official Thai name of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. However, even thi
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Thai Green Curry (Kaeng Khiao Wan)
One of Thailand’s signature dishes, the Thai Green Curry, has also become one of the country’s most famous culinary exports. With the spread of Thai cuisine throughout the world, people who have never set foot in Thailand may well have tasted a Thai green curry. Some food lovers will say that the gr
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Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
When booking hotels and guest-houses in Chiang Mai, a number of first-time visitors automatically assume the accommodation will be in the central part of the city. Whilst that may be true in many cases, it’s also important to note that Chiang Mai is the name of a province as well as the city. The pr
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Thai Coffee
Thai coffee might not be as famous as some other international blends, but there is still some excellent coffee to be found in Thailand. Some of the best Thai coffee is grown locally in the mountain provinces of the north and sold throughout Thailand where it can be enjoyed hot with Thai style dough
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Bridge on the River Kwai
One of the main tourist attractions in Kanchanaburi is the Bridge on the River Kwai made famous by the multi-Oscar-winning film of the same name from 1957. Tourists from all over the world come here to photograph the bridge and walk across it. However, if you have time and you appreciate history, I
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The Death Railway
Constructed during World War II, the Thailand to Burma railway is also known as the Death Railway. It is said that one man died for every sleeper that was laid on the track. The line was repaired and restored after the war and still runs passenger services as far as Nam Tok to the north of . The one
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Longtail Boats (Reua Hang Yao)
One of the iconic images of a beach holiday in Thailand is the longtail boat. Known in Thai as reua hang yao, the longtail boat can be seen throughout south-east Asia. In Thailand, longtail boats can be found plying the waterways of Bangkok or cutting through the Andaman Sea. Different styles of lon
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How Safe is the Ice?
Following on from my article on Thai iced coffee, a reader asked me whether it is safe to take ice in your drinks when visiting Thailand. I remember when I first came here being advised by different expats that you should only take ice in your drinks if it is one of the round, cylinder type cubes th
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Buddha Head in Tree Roots, Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya
If you are travelling in Thailand for any length of time, there is one iconic image that you may see crop up time and again on postcards and in guide-books. The photograph of a Buddha head entwined within the roots of a tree is one of the most recognisable images from Thailand.
The location of this
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Public Holiday for Chakri Day
April 6 is a public holiday in Thailand to commemorate Chakri Day. The day marks the founding of the royal Chakri dynasty of which the present Thai monarch is the ninth king (Rama IX). Government offices are closed today and many people will pay their respects to previous kings of the Chakri dynasty
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Songkran Photos
Tomorrow marks the official start of the Songkran Festival in Thailand. It is a time of year when families come together to enjoy the extended holiday. In towns and cities throughout Thailand, people will make merit at the temple and Buddha images from local wats are paraded through the streets and
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Sanam Luang, Bangkok
Sanam Luang is the expanse of open land situated in front of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok. The name Sanam Luang translates as ‘Royal Field’ and the thirty acre plot of land has been used for royal ceremonies and cremations throughout the centuries. The most recent royal cremation wa
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Gasoline in Whisky Bottles
When travelling around Thailand you may notice small carts or stalls at the side of the road with whisky bottles. These can be seen outside some small independent shops or restaurants, but although the bottles are labelled as ‘Johnny Red‘ or ‘100 Pipers‘ the original contents
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Bangkok Metro (MRT Underground Train)
Following numerous delays, the long-awaited Bangkok metro was officially opened in July 2004. Since then, the underground train line has proved to be a welcome transport addition for Bangkok commuters. First time visitors to Bangkok may find the metro of limited value because it isn’t particularly
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Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok
The ancient Royal Ploughing Ceremony took place in Bangkok yesterday to herald the start of the traditional rice growing season. The colourful ceremony is held annually at Sanam Luang, the open expanse of land in front of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Bound up with a mixture
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Visakha Puja Day in Thailand
Today is Visakha Puja Day, the most significant of all of the Buddhist holidays in Thailand. Visakha Puja marks three key events in the life of the Lord Buddha; his birthday, the day he attained enlightenment and the day he died and passed into nirvana. All of these events took place on the full moo
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