The Rise of Ordinary Heroes
The world is going through the biggest change in history. We are living in a new era with unprecedented conditions at all levels: unstable external environment, changing political and financial forces, technological advancements, global warming, etc. In this new phase of globalisation, the role of society is being reinvented and ordinary people are taking back […]
Second times the charm – Louis T. Leonowens
For good or bad, the family name Leonowens continues to be spoken in Thailand more than 150 years after Anna Leonowens and her son, Louis, first disembarked on the ship Chao Phaya in August 1862 here in Bangkok. If Louis’s mother is still reviled for her libel against the Kingdom through her two memoirs and […]
An author in lockdown
On the face of it, a global pandemic should be perfect for a writer. It requires society to keep itself at arms length, maintain a respectable social distance, visit nowhere, apart perhaps from the pharmacist or the greengrocer. It should be a boon for a writer. There is a perceived wisdom; all a writer needs […]
A legend in his own time – Jim Thompson
The most famous American expat in Thai history is “Jim” Thompson, who singlehandedly revived Thailand’s silk industry after WWII. Thompson remains a real legendary figure in Thailand, and throughout all of Asia, even to this day. He continues to inspire the imaginations of those who want to make it big here through hard work and […]
Before it was money it was a unit of weight: The Thai baht
Exactly like the British pound sterling in ancient times, the Thai baht (Thai: บาท) was originally used as a unit of weight or mass. Specifically, 1 baht was equal in value to 15 grammes of silver. The baht is still used today as a unit or measure of weight for other precious metals, like gold. […]
Kata Rocks Phuket ‘Staycation’ and Brunch
There is no better pool brunch party on offer in Phuket at the moment, why not make a weekend of it like we did and throw in a weekend staycation? Up a nondescript little lane at the end of Kata Beach is an easy to miss driveway up a hill past Mama’s Seafood and SKA […]
‘The Forestias’ by MQDC – Thailand’s largest development project – confident in economy, progresses construction and has show units open
The Forestias is the world’s first town purposefully designed for a healthier, happier living lifestyle Utilities and tunnelling work already at 95% completion and residential components being built 1,400 million Baht ‘Forest Pavilion’ with biggest investment ever made by a property developer to showcase a project concept The development has already registered 4,000 million Baht […]
Working from the beach (WFB) lifestyle… the Thailand much needed revolution
OK, OK, I so get it. You’ve been “pandemic stuck” in Thailand for an interminable length of time because of ‘the job’, in what all your friends the world over see as living the dream. You’ve enjoyed the freedom to move around the Kingdom over the past 12 months, give or take the occasional Thai […]
The happiest (and wettest) time of the year in Thailand: Songkran
The worst thing any Thai can say about anything is that it’s “boring.” Happily for everyone, except a few clueless “farang” businessmen who never get the word about what to do (or wear) during the old Thai new year’s day celebration (and are always perfect targets for merry-makers being in a suit and tie), Songkran […]
The Royal Bangkok Sports Club
The Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC) has always been the most exclusive sports club in Bangkok for well over a century. It has maintained its reputation as the ultimate domain of high society. Founded in 1901, the RBSC has seen many interesting events. These include serving as Bangkok’s first airport, having the second oldest golf […]