Blogs

As I’m gearing up for a big holiday, and deciding what to pack, I am reminded of my previous packing adventures before coming to Thailand. I don’t think it can be said enough: PACK LIGHT. I did a quick search and … Read full story > > > Written by: Lani Cox. Discovered...
Read more »

Regular readers will recall that the Department of Special Investigation has recommended the dropping of lese majeste charges against red shirt leader and Puea Thai Party parliamentarian Jatuporn Promphan. Since the detestable DSI chief Tharit Pengdit made the announcement, the ultra-royalists have been critical. More recently, the Democrat Party’s Southern power broker and...
Read more »

Yes folks, there are now two BangkokJungles: one for the musos in Bangkok (.com) – and one for those just passing through ( www.bangkokjungle.net ) who want to make the most of their short stay in this truly amazing city – when you know where to look! … Read full story > >...
Read more »

Readers may be interested in a short comment at Asian Correspondent regarding four questions asked by the Labour Party’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kerry McCarthy. The questions are: What representations has he made regarding the imprisonment and death of Ampon Tangnoppakul in Thailand? What assessment has he made of access to healthcare...
Read more »

Andrew Spooner has a write-up about four Thailand-related questions put to the United Kingdom government by the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kerry McCarthy MP. The questions all deal with lese majeste and  the death of Ampon “Ar Kong” Tangnoppakul. Andrew notes that we may hear answers by 21 May 2012, although that could be delayed somewhat if the...
Read more »

Ikuko Okamoto, Economic Disparity in Rural Myanmar: Transformation under Market Liberalization. Singapore : NUS Press, 2008. Pp. xvi, 239; figs., tables, notes, bib., index.
Read more »

200 diver certifications in 2011 by award winning 6 time Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens Read full story > > > Written by: camillelemmens. Discovered by: ThaiBlogSearch.com
Read more »

If there is to be any hope of keeping average temperature increases to no more  than 2 degrees centigrade, it is clear that radical changes will be needed to  every aspect to daily life. Read the full article here . Read full story > > > Written by: John Walsh. Discovered by: ThaiBlogSearch.com...
Read more »

 Santol Apricot  look and feel, (except for the long stem). Extremely tart (sour), probably the reason why it’s also called sour apple. Probably would make an excellent wine wikipedia  Weather System to the north of us (Sakon City). System to the south of us. Been like that … Read full story > >...
Read more »

Well, well. Look who made it to day 4, huh? I gotta admit, I didn’t think you were going to be able to keep up. I bet you expect some prize for hanging out with me this long, right? Well, you got it.
Read more »

Bangkok Tree House is an original post brought to you by Thai Hotels Blog Highlights Truly unique open air “View with a room” Organic pool Possibly Thailand’s most environmentally conscious hotel In April I had the opportunity to visit a hotel that many people have been talking about for a while, Bangkok Tree...
Read more »

They have given the old “Complex”more than a facelift, it’s even more than on steroids, it’s a miraculous rebuild, especially for those of us who remember the replacement to the 1st complex more than 16 years ago. This like the one in Khon Kaen seems to… Read full story > > > Written...
Read more »

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens Read full story > > > Written by: camillelemmens. Discovered by: ThaiBlogSearch.com
Read more »

The Internet came alive this week as stories began to circulate about Manny Pacquiao saying gay men should be "put to death". The news was all over Twitter as fans and detractors of the Pacman voiced their disgust at the Filipino boxer's outrageous views. It all started with a story about Pacquiao on...
Read more »

I'm a little bit excited. Benedict Anderson, whose work formed a large part of my postgrad studies at SOAS last year, will be speaking in Bangkok at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) on June 7. " Rhetoric and Dissent: Where to next for Thailand's lèse majesté law? " will likely be...
Read more »

Beyond Mandalay’s modern city hubbub lie three of Myanmar’s ancient capitals – Amarapura, Sagaing and Inwa – which can be visited in a day and includes the must-see U Bein Bridge. Bob James goes exploring. Amarapura's U Bein Bridge at Sunset Mandalay is an established tourist stop but Myanmar’s second-largest city is, for...
Read more »

Anasuya (my foodie wife) and Austin (my foodie pal) and I have wondered many times: Since Thailand is home to so many buffalo, when will cheese-loving foreign and Thai consumers be able to purchase buffalo mozzarella ? Turns out, as a 2008 DPA story says , various Thai companies have been producing local...
Read more »

Anasuya (my foodie wife) and Austin (my foodie pal) and I have wondered many times: Since Thailand is home to so many buffalo, when will cheese-loving foreign and Thai consumers be able to purchase buffalo mozzarella ? Turns out, as a 2008 DPA story says , various Thai companies have been producing local...
Read more »

Human Rights Watch Safeguards Needed Before Allowing Investment, Financial Services (Washington, DC, May 15, 2012) – The US government should not ease sanctions on business activities in Burma until adequate safeguards are in place to prevent new investment from fueling human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. A US presidential order imposing...
Read more »

In recent weeks I have drawn New Mandala reader attention to a series of interviews ( here and here ) with a number of prominent Columbia University and Australian National University academics. These interviews were recorded in New York in March 2012. The final episode in the series is now available here ....
Read more »

Since the coup of 19 September 2006 analysis of Thai politics has gone through phases. Army politics, Thaksin politics, Yellow politics, Red politics, lèse majesté politics, border politics, protest politics, electoral politics, flood politics: you all know the drill. If you crawl through the  back catalogue  of New Mandala you get some appreciation...
Read more »

We read this at the Bangkok Post (time stamped 3:26 PM): The government is using tax money to help the Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirts open red-shirt villages in the South, a move which could further divide the people, Democrat Party MP for Songkhla Sirichoke Sopha said on Tuesday. Mr Sirichoke said...
Read more »

Editorial Second installment is upon us….  It’s been a pretty good few weeks at the Mango.  A group of guys from the US Military descended upon us.  We have a good relationship with all Forces who are always welcome.   Guys, thanks for stopping by and we look forward to seeing you again. It’s...
Read more »

Editorial Second installment is upon us….  It’s been a pretty good few weeks at the Mango.  A group of guys from the US Military descended upon us.  We have a good relationship with all Forces who are always welcome.   Guys, thanks for stopping by and we look forward to seeing you again. It’s...
Read more »

At The Nation, Avudh Panananda has an opinion piece with the headline “Oddities abound in Amphon’s trial and jailing.” One of the oddities, as a reader pointed out to PPT, is that The Nation cannot bring itself to speak the truth. The article begins well enough: “The death of Amphon Tangnoppakul serves to...
Read more »

The Economist ran a story a story Sat. about Amporn Tangnoppakul, or “Uncle SMS,” whose recent death I mentioned last week . The short piece, headlined “An inconvenient death: A sad story of bad law, absurd sentences and political expediency,” says Amporn’s death… …has provoked renewed concern over the increasingly harsh application of...
Read more »

I have noticed that they are removing all the electrical cables in Phuket Town and I assumed that it was because the cables are such an eyesore. I did not think that they may also be a fire hazard… Read full story > > > Written by: Tim in Phuket. Discovered by: ThaiBlogSearch.com...
Read more »

A little while ago we posted a statement by lese majeste exile Ji Ungpakorn following the death in custody of lese majeste convict Ampol Tangnopakul . Ji has a new commentary at Green Left Weekly . Even though the account is pretty close to the earlier post, we post it in full, with...
Read more »

Wat That Noi (???????????) is a temple found in the south of Thailand in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. It was the residence of Portan Kai (1876-1970), said to be one of the most famous guru monks of his generation. The temple includes a wax-reproduction of him as well as… Read full story >...
Read more »

Veteran director Nonzee Nimibutr is an ever-present fixture at most film-industry functions in Thailand and around the region. Fellow “Thai new wave” filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang commented as much when Nonzee handed him his Best Director trophy for … Read full story > > > Written by: Wise Kwai. Discovered by: ThaiBlogSearch.com
Read more »