Watching the international media coverage on CNN and BBC, it’s apparent that the redshirt side is winning the propaganda battle. As we reported several weeks ago, protesters fall into four main camps: Thaksin and his supporters, Radical Leftists (including Maoists), the country poor, and soldiers who have crossed over into the pro-Thaksin camp, looking to achieve […]
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Possible origin of “starfish” sexual performance by some Thai women is under investigation
The term “starfish” is used by many western men in Thailand to refer to women who are completely unenthusiastic during sexual activity. This practice, in which women throw open their arms and legs, and turn their faces away from their partners while passively allowing them to finish the sexual act, provides the starfish metaphor, and the word […]
Read the rest of this entry »Military clashes with redshirts at Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi Nana intersection as bomb explodes
Early Friday morning at approximately 3 am, UDD red shirts, beginning near the BTS Nana skytrain station, began an attempt to take over Sukhumvit-Ploenchit Road, thereby extending the protest area now bounded by the BTS Chitlom station to the north. They were rebuffed by the Thai military and chased out of the area, which included […]
Read the rest of this entry »Grilled buffalo penis Thai delicacy has westerners scratching heads, animal rights groups on the warpath, and Chinese visitors asking for more
Thai animal rights groups are up in arms over the proliferation of hot spiced buffalo penis snacks on the outdoor grills located in Bangkok’s adult entertainment zones. Rot kan cart owners generally agree that Khun Mot’s grill just outside of Nana Plaza on Sukhumvit Soi 4 was the first to offer this delicacy, which is […]
Read the rest of this entry »Backstreet Bangkok: the family factories of Oven Street
Have you ever wondered where that woman who sells those delicious fried beetles and grubs bought her cart? Or who makes those beautiful mortars and pestles that we all see being used to make tasty plates of som tam(Papaya salad)? Well neither had I until I moved to Kluai Nam Thai, a neighborhood near Phra […]
Read the rest of this entry »Shoplifting scam at Bangkok’s airport nabs unsuspecting tourists
Allegations of an elaborate and expensive extortion scam operating out of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport have shaken Western visitors. England’s Sunday Times reports that in this scam, visitors are allegedly accused by airport shop owners of shoplifting, are arrested, detained, and “encouraged” to pay a hefty bribe to be released, which can amount to $13,000 USD. […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bangkok by night: a Chao Phraya dinner cruise aboard the exotic Wan Fah
Although several companies offer dinner cruises on the Chao Phraya river, none quite match up to the Wan Fah experience. The Wan Fah is a beautifully appointed teak boat, with traditional Thai decorative elements. The experience is intimate, as she seats only 120 persons. The meals are extraordinarily good, and the diner may choose between […]
Read the rest of this entry »Ban Phiphithaphan, Bangkok’s exceptional hidden retro Museum
For those willing to spend 200 baht taxi fare and travel a few kilometers west of the Pin Klao bridge, one of Bangkok’s more fascinating museums awaits. Founders Anake and Wanna Nawigamune have here compiled a lifetime’s worth of everyday objects found —until the last decade or so — in homes, barbershops, candy stores, and […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bangkok Silom standoff continues as Crime Detection Division investigates grenade death
Amidst discussions for a possible end to the Silom standoff, UDD red shirts’ barriers were raised even higher, Thai troops bivouacked at the Sala Daeng BTS skytrain station, and the Central Institute of Forensic Science’s director Dr. Porntip Rojanasunan paid a visit to the building where an M79 grenade killed a protester earlier in the […]
Read the rest of this entry »Top Ten Hazards to Avoid in Bangkok
Sure you’re a veteran traveler, but even longtime expats get nailed by ten common hazards that are particular to Bangkok. Be aware of the following, and live a long life… 1) Being “wired” takes on a whole new meaning in Bangkok, where heap big power lines, fluorescent tubes, and incandescent bulbs are commonly […]
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