Archive For The “Mai Pen Rai” Category
I had heard before a little about the man who is reputed to have been in Buriram for some forty five years. Obviously possessing a rich tapestry of both experience and knowledge of Thailand, Karl Kunz was an intriguing possible interview. He is a man you may well have seen whizzing past you on a…
I have lived in Thailand for over 5 years now and I love my life here. However, there are a few things that I will never get used to if I live to be a hundred. Having been brought up with the usual English traditions, I find it difficult to totally embrace “turning Thai “….
Whenever we meet people for the first time, consciously and subconsciously, we instantly begin to form an opinion of that person. Based on a criteria of our own choosing: How they talk, their clothes,body language, looks, colour of their skin, hair, eye contact. Also our opinion is based on how we are feeling at the time,…
Live Football on TV – What`s the worst that can happen? When a gun was put to my face I realised my Saturday night watching football on TV hadn`t quite gone to plan. This is a true story from an island in Thailand My restaurant was full with diners and customers watching football when several…
So finally Chelsea are this seasons English Premiership Champions. Congratulations! But other than Chelsea fans, who else will really be celebrating? In 10, 20 years time, who will remember this achievement? Does it really stand out? Now last season we all remember Leicester City winning the league at pre season odds of 5000-1. And we`ll…
You`re Taxi is in Reception Sir! “It`s slow lorry leading the way, as equally slow pick-up takes ages to pass, followed by sensible but frustrated farang driver keeping a safe distance, on the inside is family of 4 on a motorbike and bringing up the rear but coming at a fast pace is posh…
A while ago I wrote an article about the idyllic life in a typical, rural Esan village. Well, that`s not always the case, especially from a foreigners (farangs) point of view. So here`s a dose of reality. Let`s start with the wake up call, about 5:00 am – noisy roosters, dogs, assorted spluttering tractors and…
There`s a rhythm to life in an Isan rural village which is totally different to that say of a town or city. The first stirrings of life come before sun rise as charcoal fires are lit for cooking, dogs stretch out from their slumbers and cockerels noisily confirm morning is here. Elderly ladies gather…
3 people are stocktaking, 2 people are stacking shelves, 1 person is on a computer behind the counter and 1 person is trying to serve a big queue. And this is daytime. Nightime gets better when all the staff can focus on the funky loud music Where are you? `Yes` you`re in 7/11 land, where…
“You want eat?” “Yes I want eat.” Recognise this language? No? OK, how about this, “How old you?”. “I’m ha sip sam years old.” Ah, the language of Tinglish. Part English, with several omissions and a bit of Thai that nearly all expats, at some point, have resorted to. But why do we resort to…