As we wrote this post, authorities asked residents in some areas on the outskirts of Bangkok to evacuate after a flood levee reportedly collapsed. TAN Network said on its Twitter feed that the emergency flood centre advised that “the collapse of Banprao floodgate in Samkok, Pathum Thani may bring 1m floodwater to Rangsit, Saimai, Klongluang, … read the full post

Dates seem to vary slightly according to the source — one of which is here– but our usually reliable man on the ground in Yunnan reports that two Chinese cargo vessels travelling on the Mekong between Jinghong, Yunnan and Chiang Saen, Thailand were hijacked at around midday on October 10. The particularly brutal hijacking took … read the full post

The next couple of days will be key in seeing whether Bangkok escapes the worst of floods that have now swelled across two-thirds of Thailand, though even if the city eludes the waters, the last three days of October will be another test, authorities say. “Don’t underestimate the floods,” Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said according … read the full post

As the tides swell twice a day towards their peak this weekend, Bangkok readies sandbags, moves valuables to higher ground, and charges flashlight batteries, all the while hoping that this isn’t going to be the one. At the moment, the river embankments are holding in most of the city — during this morning’s peak in … read the full post

The setting for this post is the tiny and rather hidden away Wat Pansao, a temple that we reckon gets almost zero foreign visitors but is actually well worth a visit if you’re wandering or cycling around town. The wat is tucked off the western moat road just below Chiang Mai Ram hospital and Central … read the full post

Bangkok is still bracing for flooding in a few days to a week as waters from elsewhere in Thailand continue to surge towards the already low-lying capital. Thirty of Thailand’s 77 provinces have been hit by floods and landslides since July, with a death toll now edging towards 300. Reuters reports that the total area … read the full post

If you are looking to go somewhere cosier than Glow’s dance floor on a Friday night, you can always head to one of Thailand’s world-famous pubs. No, I jest.  Pubs are like pizzerias or taquerias in Bangkok – keep your expectations low, your stomach empty, and you will be pleasantly, if not moderately, surprised. German … read the full post

The stars — and moon — are moving into alignment to bring Bangkok some of the worst flooding in fifty years. October 16 will see a spring tide (a tide that is higher than normal because of the position of the moon) that causes the Chao Phraya river to stop draining towards the sea, while … read the full post

It’s a nasty surprise that most travellers only find out when they arrive, but bank-owned automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Thailand charge 150 baht per foreign transaction. The fee can add up to quite a hefty burden if you were planning on withdrawing money in small amounts, daily. It might not seem like much, but … read the full post

A few days ago, my friend from the States asked me, “Does Bangkok have coconuts?” At first, I thought he was making a subtle innuendo. “That’s my deal breaker,” he explained. If there were no coconuts in his city of residence, he would consider relocation. I thought about his question for myself, and came up … read the full post