The sharper edge to traveling in Asia

Archive for the 'By Country' Category

US drug enforcement funds going to Bangkok girly bars?

Thousands of beer bottle coolers (known in Bangkok as “beer condoms”), in all probability funded by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),  have been distributed and remain in hundreds of Bangkok go-go bars, beer bars, and hotel bars in the aftermath of Operation Hot Spot. This law enforcement inititaive was launched as a joint […]

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New Bangkok Airport Train gets you downtown in 15 minutes

WoWasis tested the new Airport Rail Link train shortly after its inaugural run, and as advertised it took us from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the centrally located Makkasan station in 15 minutes. It cost 40 bhat for the trip (soon to be raised to 150 baht), and the train raced along the course at up to […]

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Electric shaver in Bangkok: Where do I find pre-shave lotion?

Here at WoWasis, we found out the hard way that hardly anyone in Bangkok uses electric shavers. On our last flight, our pre-shave lotion broke open in the luggage and all was lost, so we had to buy pre-shave lotion for our Norelco electric shaver after arrival in Bangkok. And we found that nobody sells […]

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WoWasis book review: Thai-English Travel Dictionaries, What’s the best?

English-Thai/Thai-English dictionaries are essential for any frequent traveler to Thailand, and the best not only translate in both directions, but also have a third phonetic section that allows English users to take Thai spoken words and determine what’s being said. Two of the best are the ones by Mike Simpson and Benjawan Becker. They each […]

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The Isaan Way of Death: Buddhism in upcounty Thailand

Nit from Udon Thani’s grandmother died this week, and the family is planning for the elaborate death ceremony that accompanies most Isaan deaths in upcountry Thailand. She tells us a little about the ritual, a fascinating one for anyone interested in Buddhism and death in Thailand.  “They always cremate the body,” she says. They can […]

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Bachelor in Bangkok: Khun Lee on the joys of Thailand

One thing I always have loved about living in Thailand is the sense of national pride.  Thais love their country and most would never consider living any place else.  I certainly agree that this is the best place on earth to live.  I chose to retire here and I have enough money to live in […]

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The Good Manner: How does a Westerner relate to a Thai death?

The Good Manner: Advice on Thailand from WoWasis’ Pa Farang This week’s dilemma: How does a Westerner relate to a Thai death? Dear Pa Farang,  Last month, a buddy’s girlfriend’s aunt passed away, and his girlfriend asked him for money, allegedly for the funeral. He paid, and went to the temple, where yes, there was […]

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Bachelor in Bangkok: Khun Lee on how (not) to behave at a party in Bangkok

Had a strange thing happen this week that reminded me just how stupid we can be when we drink too much and end up thinking with our little heads.  I was invited to a very expensive and trendy Thai disco in the Ekamai section of Bangkok by a girlfriend who is a nurse at a […]

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The Good Manner: He likes big milk [large breasts] too much!

The Good Manner: Advice on Thailand from WoWasis’ Pa Farang This week’s dilemma: He likes big milk [large breasts] too much!  Dear Pa Farang,  I write for my sister, not for me.  She is Thai lady, 26 years old, very smart, very pretty, with good heart.  For two years, she have farang boyfriend.  In beginning, […]

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WoWasis pioneers the use of travel-site GPS coordinates

Like most non-Western nations, the countries of Southeast Asia have loads of street addresses that don’t mean much to non-residents. It’s common for numbering schemes to stop as a street name changes, then start up again a few blocks away. Often, addresses on one side of the street have nothing in relation to those on […]

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