The Secret’s in the Sparklers …

Gemologist Guruji Shrii Arnav Superstitions … bunkum! … attending a religious service … no thanks! … mysticism … nahh, not really.   Before coming to live in Thailand I was not at all superstitious, religious, or particularly spiritual, although I had been brought up by my parents to be polite, have manners, and be respectful towards […]

What is it good for …?

By Robin Westley Martin For over two years world news was dominated by disclosures about Covid, and other Covid related issues – from its outbreak in December 2019, in Wuhan, China, to its transition into a pandemic that spread around the planet.  But that all changed on 24 February 2022, this year, when Russia invaded […]

Two artists… different strokes for different folks

Art and one’s appreciation of it must be one of the most subjective things around… I can remember when I was first introduced to painting. My father – who had been to art school, had finished a portrait of my mother, which was stunning.  I, as a five-year old said, “Who is that beautiful lady?” […]

Hospitality industry… where your workplace is your home

The Covid-19 epidemic has affected everyone on the planet. It continues to do so and will impact the way we live our lives for a long time to come. Some people are fortunate in that they were able to WFH (work from home) although the quality of the work they were able to provide suffered […]

Food for thought – Covid-19

Social distancing, vaccination inoculations, face masks, hand cleansing, testing for the virus. All these actions have become routine, an all-to-familiar part of our daily lives due to the global spread of the Covid-19 Corona virus. These measures have success to a greater or lesser extent, but the variants that keep springing up seem to keep […]

Should I Stay or Should I go …

Book review ‘Leaving Thailand’ by Steve Rosse When we were thirty three years old, both Steve Rosse and myself were planning a visit to Thailand, to stay there for an extended period of time. We both had close relatives who were sick and we were worried about leaving them. Both of our relatives urged us […]

Taking the Tigers by the Tail

Stu Lloyd is well-known in Thailand and Southeast Asia for his books on the region, and his ability to see the funny side of things in just about everything he comes across. His latest book ‘Tales From the Tiger’s Den’ is something of a departure from his usual style, as he takes time out to […]

Bangstock… rocking for charity!

On December 12th a live music event takes place to carry the torch after the 2020 Ploenchit Fair was sidelined.  Saturday, 12 December from noon to midnight Shenanigans Pub on Suriwong Road, at the corner of Patpong Road, will play host to Bangstock, a charity event being organised by a group of local residents to […]

Ploenchit Fair: A history-making hiatus

Stardate: November 1957, Bangkok >>> Stardate: November 2020, Bangkok … No need to turn on your calculator, I’ll do it for you. Sixty-three years have passed since the first Ploenchit Fair was held in the grounds of the British Embassy, in the days of old-time rock n’ roll, in the heart of Bangkok expat area. […]

English café! Where? Bangkok. When? Now!

These were the thought processes early in the New Year of 2020, of my daughter Sara, my partner Noi, and myself. I had recently returned from a trip back to the UK with Sara, and we had visited the quaint and historical city of Bath. We explored this spot extensively (very popular with Thai and […]