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Author Archives: john
Healing hands – Khun Sa-ard Sarayan…
Leaving UK for Dubai the day after she had her wrist cast removed denied Olwen much needed physio for her wrist and, more important to her mobility, her right leg/ankle and fractured heal. Having recommended his medicinal massage service for guests over the years and seen the wonders he can work after a few [...]
Posted in Sa-ard, medicinal massage 1 Comment
Muay Thai: Thailand’s national sport, and a good night out in Samui…
The history of Muay Thai – literally Thai Boxing – was lost when the Burmese army sacked and razed Ayuddhaya to the ground in 1767. The little we do know about Muay Thai’s origin comes from the writings of the Burmese, Cambodian, early European visitors and some of the chronicles of the Lanna Kingdom – [...]
Posted in Chaweng stadium, Muay Thai Leave a comment
WTF is that stink?: Durian – smelliest fruit on the planet…
Son, Dominic’s description of his durian eating experience, as “Like eating custard in a sewer”, lacked the allure necessary for me to want to sample it for myself at that time. But many Thais (and foreigners) describe it in reverential terms as the ‘King of Fruits’ and eating it, a beautiful, not-to-be-missed experience, although not [...]
Posted in durian 3 Comments
Traditional Massage – no happy endings with the real gig…
I will never forget the face of a young guy, a guest at Baan Bophut, who earlier in the day had asked me sotto voce where he might find a good Thai massage close to the hotel. Later, he told me, sheepishly, the recognition that a Thai massage was something very different to the salacious [...]
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Thai language…basics
You’re unlikely to learn Thai before visiting Thailand, but a simple understanding of how the language works, and by learning a few easy phrases, will pay real dividends in enriching your travel experience.
When speaking in Thai, it’s good practice to end your sentence with a word that (doesn’t translate easily or neatly) conveys politeness, much [...]
Posted in Thai alphabet, basic phrases, language Leave a comment
Social Etiquette – do’s and don’ts and some useful tips…
This is going to be a long one. I really should have posted something like this right at the start of the blog, to make it somewhat more useful for visitors to Thailand.
The Thai people are well known for their tolerance, hospitality and cheerfulness. They will ignore the small blunders of social etiquette [...]
Posted in do's and don'ts, social etiquette, tipping, tips Leave a comment
Loy Krathong: Thailand’s Festival of Light
Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai Lunar Calendar. In the Western calendar this usually falls in November. This year it, it’s next week.
Loy – means to float, and krathong – is a leaf cup or bowl. The traditional float is made from a fibrous disk, [...]
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Samui’s low tides…
I read on a Samui Internet forum recently, about a group of holidaymakers who were trying to wring refunds out of their travel agent because the beach, a key attraction in their choice of hotel in North Chaweng, didn’t exist for the duration of their stay. The tide had receded some 300m behind a rocky [...]
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Songkran – What’s that all about?