fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Thriving to Dark Diving.
By: Smylie Kylie
Tags: Travel, Depression, Thailand, Covid 19, Teaching English

Hello readers, and welcome to my blog.

I don’t consider myself much of a writer, but I‘m here as a way to help with my sanity, and I hope one day, I may get an actual reader who understands the emotion in my words and feels my pain, or happiness, whatever the mood.

This is when I explain a little about who I am. I’m not going to bore you with a 3 page resume (you can see my LinkedIn for that, lol), instead, I will try to write a brief summary of myself and why I’m here right now, in a single sentence. Here goes:

I’m a twenty-something y/o sagittarius-surfer-travelling English teacher, born and raised in Durban, South Africa, striving to become the best version of myself and spread eternal love and happiness to everyone in my life.

I do understand how this can sound super cheesy, but it’s true.

In July 2019, I set off to Phuket, Thailand to become an English teacher. In my life I have been a graphic designer, web designer, Google Adwords manager, photographer, videographer and a few other things in between. But nothing has ever come close to the fulfilment that I have experienced through teaching abroad.

2020 has been tough in many ways. I came back to South Africa after 9 months of teaching in Thailand, and it was the worst decision of my life. I was the happiest I’ve been in Thailand, so full of optimism, positivity and confidence. I saw the best version of myself I’ve ever seen and the unlimited opportunities at my fingertips, just ready to be leaped on. I came back to hell on earth and immediately fell into the deepest, darkest depression of my life. Here I am, an entire year later, still stuck in SA, hoping there’s someone out there who will understand my pain, and join me on my journey to fulfilment.

Well, I think that’s enough waffling for now. As I said, I’m not much a writer.
Green Curry and Pad See Ew — Ivy Road Test Kitchen
By: Roger Zhu
Tags: Asia, Food, Kitchen, Thailand, Recipe

It’s a beautiful graduation weekend here in Charlottesville. Although many of my friends were not able to have a physical ceremony, I’m happy to see they managed to host all kinds of virtual events to celebrate:)

I made 2 Thai Dishes this weekend, and here are the recipes:

Veggie Green Curry

This is a very customizable dish, which means you can change some of the ingredients based on your personal preference!

Ingredients

2 ~3 lbs of any kind of vegetables you like (I’ve tried peppers, green beans, broccoli and they all taste great!)

1/2 to 1 bottle of green curry paste (depends on how strong you like the curry flavor)

Half onion, chopped

Thumb sized ginger, peeled and sliced (not too thin)

3 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced in halves

2 cups of coconut milk

Optional: a few Thai Basil leaves and red chili powder/flakes for garnish

How

Prepare your vegetables the way you like (I sliced the peppers and broccoli just so they are closer to the green beans in terms of size)

Stir fry the vegetables, together with onion, ginger, and garlic using some canola oil, on medium-high heat for about 3~5 minutes.

Once the veggie show brown spots, make some empty room in the pan and add the green curry paste, let the curry paste get heated for about 1 minute.

Then add the coconut milk. Once it starts boiling, turn down the heat to let it simmer for about 15 minutes.

Serve in a bowl, and garnish with some Thai basil leaves and red chili powder/flakes.

Pad See Ew (“Soy Sauce Stir Fry”)

Ingredients

1/2 lb of dried wide rice noodles (available at most Asian markets)

2 tbsp. canola oil

1 egg

1/4 lb of broccoli

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 tsp. light soy sauce

1 tsp. dark soy sauce (for color, can substitute with light soy sauce)

1 tsp. oyster sauce

A pinch of sugar and white pepper powder (available at most Asian markets)

How

Soak the dried rice noodles in water for at least 2 hours before cooking

Turn your stove to the highest heat level available! This dish requires high heat for the charred flavor.

Add canola oil and garlic, fry the garlic till it turns golden.

Add the broccoli. Stir fry for about 3 minutes.

Add the soaked rice noodles. Make sure the noodles have contact with the surface of the pan/wok so it get some slight char. Leave the noodles for about 2 minutes, then add the light/dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and white pepper powder. Stir fry everything for about 2 minutes to make sure the noodles are fully coated with the condiments. Leave the noodles there for another 2 minutes to get more char.

Make some room in the pan/wok, and crack the egg. The egg should be half-cooked in 20 seconds since the stove is still on high heat. Start stir-frying everything again for about 1 minute so the egg will be mixed with everything else.

Now it’s time to enjoy your home-cooked Thai food!
Phuket International Airport to resume with inbound flights after enforcement relaxed
By: The Asian Affairs
Tags: Travel, Tourism, Thailand, Aviation, International Flights

Thailand’s government’s covid-19 watchdog has overruled the Civil Aviation Authorities plans to reopen the Phuket International airport on Saturday.

The unexpected move came less than 24 hours before the Phuket airport was due to begin welcoming the first inbound flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand on Thursday gave the airport clearance to resume operating. The Phuket International airport had been closed since April 3 due to Covid-19.

However on Friday, it reversed its decision due to a recommendation by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Phuket has had no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 since Monday. But its 224 cases to date are the highest in the country outside Bangkok, which has 1,558. Airport officials have sprayed disinfectant and cleaned the Phuket airport since Thursday. Above all in preparation for planes to land and take off again. Authorities also warned all passengers to wear face masks when they use the airport. Phuket airport officials on Friday posted a Facebook message apologizing for the change of plan.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Health Minister has said that the government will remove China, South Korea, Hong Kong an Macau from its list of “dangerous disease zones” from Saturday. The two countries and two territories would be delisted as they had shown their effectiveness in containing the coronavirus. Their removal from the dangerous disease zones comes as Thailand prepares to re-open the country to tourism.

When the list was first created, the virus outbreak was peaking in China and some other locations. Above all prompting Thailand and other countries to sharply restrict incoming travel. The “dangerous disease zones” list also contained Italy and Iran, which at the time had the most Covid-19 cases outside China. People arriving from countries and territories defined as “dangerous disease zones” must produce health certificates issued within three days prior to their flight. Furthermore they must also have health insurance. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand subsequently added 10 more countries to the list on March 19th, 2020. Reflecting the severity of Covid-19 outbreaks at the time: Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the United States.

https://www.theasianaffairs.com/thailand/2020/05/16/phuket-international-airport-to-resume-with-inbound-flights-after-enforcement-relaxed/
DTAC Worldwide Trend
By: 𝐆𝐮𝐥𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚
Tags: Rewards Programs, Trends, Thailand, Gulf Kanawut, Celebrity

It has been announced by the company for there to be an official trend on February 27, 2021 beginning at 6pm.

The criteria requested for by the company is, no. 3 worldwide

The official trend house (Trend For Gulf) has called on fans globally to begin the trend at 5:45pm ICT Thai time in order to secure №1 spot in Thailand, within 15 minutes

With this in mind, fans are urged to begin preparing their text drafts from today February 26, 2021 in order to help in securing the goals set before us.

February 22, 2021 we trended no. 1 in Thailand and Vietnam with over 136K tweets. The trend lasted on top spot for 3 hrs. before dying down with a total of 179.8K tweets globally.

According to many tweets, there was a sense of extreme excitement and yearning, the need to pour out expressions and sentiment of love towards Mr. Kanawut, even a sense of overwhelming “I miss you” rode through the fandom as fans participated in the trend.

The reach of this trend boasted a 65.1 Million individuals worldwide, with 48.1% positive sentiment towards this new embarkment between Gulf Kanawut and Dtac

Data shows 83 countries participated in this trend

Will this new goal of №3 worldwide be met? We believe Gulf Kanawut fans globally can meet this goal!!

We wish all the best and looking forward to join with you for this exciting moment.
Even as a white person, I am familiar with the problems of “traveling while black”!
By: Jane Stoll
Tags: Travel, African American, Racism, America, Thailand

Even as a white person, I am familiar with the problems of “traveling while black”!

I come from a multiracial family (white, Asian, Latino, African-American) and have a biracial white/African-American niece. I heard from her mom the HORRIBLE racist ways she was treated as she grew up in the US. Then when my niece was 15 the whole family moved to Bangkok. Of course, the constant staring by the Thai (and people wanting to touch her skin or hair!) totally freaked her out, so she came back to the US for college and a job. But her racist boss made her life so hellish she was diagnosed with PTSD and went back to Thailand to recuperate at her parents’ house. She concluded that she much preferred Thailand because even though she draws unwanted attention everywhere she goes, no Thai person has ever been mean to her, refused her service, or acted in any way like the white Americans who have mistreated her since infancy.

She’s doing fine now, as long as she stays away from racist whites…

I wish to high heaven there were a place where she and anyone of African descent could be safe from abuse and never thought to be anything other than an ordinary person, treated with the same respect and dignity as anyone else! The fact that such a place apparently does not exist is an utter travesty.
Intragastric Balloon Market Size Worth $90.5 Million By 2027
By: Gaurav Shah
Tags: Switzerland, Medical Devices, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia

The global intragastric balloon market size is expected to reach USD 90.5 million by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 12.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rise in obesity and increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures are the key factors driving the market.

Intragastric balloons are one of the most widely adopted endoscopic bariatric therapy devices in the clinical settings. This can be attributed to complications associated with surgical weight loss treatments and the low eligibility criteria for surgical options, thus leading to a rise in demand for effective minimally invasive weight-loss treatment options.

Safety concerns associated with intragastric balloons are anticipated to make the regulatory framework more stringent for pre-market and post-market scrutiny process of these devices. For instance, in 2019, Apollo Endosurgery Inc. revised the labeling of its Orbera intragastric balloon system to include contradiction clarifications, precautions related to anticholinergic and psychotropic medications, and updated U.S. adverse event tables after it received FDA safety letter.

Nonetheless, extensive research activities related to the development of innovative and novel systems and up-gradation of existing intragastric balloons to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional systems are anticipated to facilitate the intragastric balloon market growth.

Click the link below:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/intragastric-balloon-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:
POLISCI 101 by Phathaphol K.
Tags: Governance, Democracy And Rule Of Law, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Democracy

If there is one takeaway from this article, it would be the following quote, the most succinct and perhaps effective summary of the components of civic political culture from Sidney Hook, a political philosopher in the twentieth century. (My recommendation is to reread this quote later since even the author learns something new rereading it four years later or to treat this quote the same way one might try to learn v = u + at or F = mg for the first time.)

“A positive requirement of a working democracy is an intelligent distrust of its leadership, a skepticism stubborn but not blind, of all demands for the enlargement of power, and an emphasis upon the critical method in every phase of social life” (Hook, 1940: 290).

The main takeaway is the implication of the words “distrust” and “skepticism”, which is important in any democratic political culture. The key components of a democratic political culture are: 1) active citizenship, 2) informed citizenship, 3) efficacy — the notion that one’s participation can have a positive impact and that every citizen should vote, and 4) tolerance of opposition views and parties, and of minorities.

This quote, therefore, highlights the last tenet of a democratic political culture: to avoid developing an overly deferential attitude towards authority and to have the right to “openly” criticize anyone or any system. Almond and Verba (1972) similarly highlight the need for a balance between deference and skepticism and the appropriate level of competition.

Nonetheless, in Thailand, we are not encouraged to discuss politics when outside and even “forbidden” to criticize or express skepticism openly. (The context is that Thailand is the one and only constitutional monarchy to have a lèse-majesté law or Section 112 of Thai Criminal code saying that it is illegal to mention the royal family in a negative light.) Hence, many political scientists gave a low score for the quality of governance in Thailand.
19 Breathtaking and Less Popular Places To Visit In Southeast Asia
By: Gizem Tas
Tags: Asia, Travel, English, Thailand, Travel Destinations

Asia, the land of many countries, is a popular travel destination, and its popularity is growing. Places to visit in Southeast Asia are known for their unique cultures and lifestyles.

Southeast Asia is home to 11 countries and thousands of islands. All these places are different from the rest of the world, considering their cultures and natural beauties. There are countless reasons to visit Southeast Asia.

Best places to visit in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. As it is geographically away from the USA and Europe, it is not under the impact of modern culture. So what makes Southeast Asia destinations unique is this distinctive culture.

There live Muslim and Buddhist people, but there are also Christian, Hindu, and Animist communities residing in Southeast Asia. Each brings their own cuisine, way of living, and, most importantly, their perspective on daily life. A journey to Southeast Asia is actually passing through ravishing experience.

So let’s see the best natural places to visit in Southeast Asia.

1- Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane is the capital of Laos. The city is where you will find genuine Laotian culture. Located on the Mekong River, Vientiane is attracting travelers with its historical background. Don’t miss Pha That Luang while in Vientiane.
Accounting company in thailand
By: Gajendra Kumar
Tags: Accounting Company, Thailand

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On the off chance that you are wanting to secure an organization in Thailand, Better record is the ideal supplier of due steadiness administration. We additionally help get ready and document outsiders’ annual duty in Thailand. Outsider annual assessment administration is for the most part helping outsiders to plan and record their Thai personal government form. US government form administration is given by our US duty foreman by American CPA helping Americans living in Thailand plan and document their US annual assessment forms. Better record’s finance administration incorporates representative annual expense estimation, getting ready pay slips, taking care of finance installment, individual personal government forms, managing the Social Security Office and Thai Labor Law consultancy. Better record gives all answers for your working together in Thailand. You can redistribute your Personnel Department to us. With our Human Resource Outsourcing Service, we enroll Thai and remote representatives for you, deal with the outside emplyees’ work visas and work allows in Thailand and procedure their finance. Better record’s Thailand work grant administration incorporates counseling on getting business Visa and Work Permit for farangs (outsiders) working in Thailand just as the related applications planning. We help our customers comprehend the Thai Labor Law and Thailand Work Permit principles and guidelines. Better record’s Thailand organization enrollment administration incorporates organization set-up, outside business foundation and Treaty of Amity organization enlistment (working American business in Thailand under the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Thailand). We likewise give consultancy on Thailand Foreign Business Law. We administration generally in Bangkok and the regions close Bangkok.

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Sascha H. Funk
By: Sascha Funk
Tags: Life, Thailand, Bangkok, Higher Education

Now, this is a story all about how

My life got flipped-turned upside down

And I’d like to take a minute

Just sit right there

I’ll tell you how I became lecturer in Bangkok, oh yeah!

In North-East Wuerzburg born and raised

In the Volleyball gyms was where I spent most of my days

Ballin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool

And all winning some championships outside of the school

When a couple of guys (“age” and “injuries”) who were up to no good

Started really wearing down my mood

I suffered several bigger injuries and then got scared

So I said I gotta do something to get me prepared

I begged and pleaded with my parents day after day

But they didn’t want me me study at Uni so I was well on my way

To work in a Bank as a financial trainee of sorts

Until it became clear this was not what I was made for

First class of Uni, yo this isn’t bad

Learning and thinking and def no drinking out of a champagne glass.

Is this what the academics are like?

Hmmmmm this might be alright.

But wait I hear they’re prissy, bourgeois, all that

Is this the type of place that can contain this cool cat?

I don’t think so

That’s why I didn’t get there right away

But added some stops in marketing agencies on my way

Well, eventually I understood that I gotta get out

Of the agency work that made me feel miserable all around

I ain’t trying to get burned out just yet

I just got here

I sprang with the quickness like lightning, disappeared

I looked for a way out and when the time came near

The ticket in my mail said Thailand and I thought have no fear

If anything I could say that this chance was rare

But I thought ‘Nah, forget it’ — ‘Yo, let’s check my new home, oh yeah’

I touched down in the capital and got a job there

And I told friends and fam ‘Yo guys smell ya’ll later’

I looked at my kingdom

I was finally there

With my ITS colleagues to improve and to share
5 Essential Things to Pack for Cruising in Thailand
By: Unlock Holidays
Tags: Travel, Tour And Travels, Thailand, Thailand Tours, Thailand Tour Packages

While traveling on a cruise, packing the necessary items is essential. This helps make your trip more comfortable with the right things in your bag.

The packing list varies from one traveler to another, but there are certain things that are common for travelers. The thrill of going on a cruise is that everything is available for passengers on the deck of the cruise. Includes drinks, food, accommodation and entertainment for both children and adults. For newbies to Thailand cruises, you must carefully pack all items so that none of them are lost. Traveling in the clear water for two or three days or even more can be a sufficient challenge if you forget to pack some of your essential items.

Essential items to pack

1. Carry additional bags: a laundry bag, a plastic bag and a bag for various other needs should be an essential element when traveling on the cruise. It also includes Ziploc bags for food. Although you may not have too many bags, carrying some of them would help you throughout your trip.

2. Beverages: This should not include any alcoholic beverages, and you should bring food other than coke products. It has been seen that most cruise lines have a limited version of soft drinks. Therefore, if you have a favorite brand, then the one you like is better. Even the limits of drinks may also vary and, therefore, it is better to check with your cruise service provider before embarking on the trip. In this relationship, boat rental services in Thailand are the best to take advantage of.

3. First aid bag: this is one of the essential elements to carry on the cruise to avoid conditions in which you get hurt or cut yourself. Getting a band-aid may not be cheap on the cruise, therefore it is recommended to take it. It is also advisable to carry some of the essential items in the first aid kit, including dizziness remedies, antibiotic ointment, cold pills, pain relievers, cough drops and the most important medications for stomach upset.

4. Bring power banks: these are also important to carry since there is a possibility that cruise cabins do not have exits to charge their electronic devices. But you should also be careful with the rigidity of the devices you can carry on the cruise. Certain cruise services have a strict rule that a surge band cannot be transported on the cruise.
Moving to Thailand — Expats and their retirement Visa
By: Lawgate Gate
Tags: Travel, Living, Lawyers, Retirement, Thailand

One topic which is strongly prevalent at LAWGATE.IO is retirement. Not yet a very long ago even a short trip to Asia seemed to be a Herculean task. The flights were expensive, contacting and finding an accommodation non-transparent and you had no idea where to begin planning. Everything changed. Visiting Thailand or Asia in general is so convenient, that it’s obvious to retire in an Asian country.

There are various reasons to retire in Thailand: Maybe you have found a Thai girlfriend and want to get married. Or you are dating a Thai girl, which delights you and makes you happy. Or you just want to get out of your present life and experience something new.

In any case, retiring in Thailand, buy property in Thailand, get a retirement Visa, open a bank account in Thailand, expats cost of living, girlfriend problems — all these different aspects come along together. If you want to work in Thailand, more questions arise especially labor law or investments in Asia. Unfortunately, research in the internet is tiring and not reliable. Every member of an expat forum or a Thai Visa forum (such as internations.com or news.thaivisa.com) seems to know it better. But in the end, nothing of this really helps you getting any further.

LAWGATE partnered up with lawyers who understand the needs of an expat. Our Thai lawyers provide you with a retirement or moving to Thailand “full service”. Having one professional handling everything makes it much simpler and saves you a lot of time and nerves. If you have a question, you have only one partner you need to ask, and he will help you comprehensive in the following.

The partners of LAWGATE can also provide you with further questions that come along often, especially when it comes having a family in Thailand, adoption and/or as well as divorce in Thailand or other Asian countries. Last but not least, they can give you reliable advice when it comes to legal risks with regard to transferring money to Thailand or buying property together with a Thai girlfriend or a Thai wife.

At LAWGATE you can list all the partner lawyers, read briefly about their special knowledge, their fees, and if you wish, get a first impression by videocall. Most of our lawyers give a free first consultation. In any other case, you pay by second and end the costs immediately by simply hanging up the phone. You can choose from small boutique lawyers to big law firms in Thailand such as Juslaws (https://juslaws.com), whatever you feel comfortable with. In other words, we help to find the best lawyer for your special needs, and you decide, how much your consultation is worth to you.

If you are unsure, which lawyer to pick, feel free to contact as, since we know our lawyers personally and are able to recommend you individually.
[Part.2] จดหมายรักจากแกะไฟฟ้า (From Blade Runner To Cyberpunk)
By: Natthagun Guin
Tags: Blade Runner, Philip K Dick, Thailand, Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk

เอกสารอ้างอิง

ฟิลิป เค ดิค. (2526) หุ่นสังหาร. กรุงเทพมหานคร: สำนักพิมพ์เพื่อนหนังสือ

Why Does Sci-Fi Love Asian Culture But Not Asian Characters?.12 ตุลาคม 2560.SlashFilm.com[ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://www.slashfilm.com/blade-runner-2049-asian-culture/

Cyberpunk Cities Fetishize Asian Culture But Have No Asians.11 ตุลาคม 2560.Vice.com[ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://bit.ly/33WqU1k

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A metaphysical detective story. 2 มีนาคม 2561. Irishtime.com [ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://bit.ly/2o7GUy1

Theme in Blade Runner. Wikipedia[ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themes_in_Blade_Runner

Blade Runner Box Office. Box Office Mojo[ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=bladerunnersequel.html

Why ‘Blade Runner 2049’ Failed at the Box Office, According to Director Denis Villeneuve. 23 พฤศจิกายน 2560.SlashFilm.com [ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://bit.ly/2qBbTDD

Punk Ideologies. Wikipedia[ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_ideologies

Punk Subculture. Wikipedia[ออนไลน์] เข้าถึงจาก https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_subculture
Getting Raw in Thailand
By: Carly Knapp
Tags: Cooking, Thailand, Veganism, Thai Food, Travel Tips

It had been 10 straight months on the road. By this time, I had taken nearly a dozen cooking classes. It was my thing. I wasn’t a chef nor did I have an aspirations to be one. I knew how to cook well enough to pleasantly feed me and my husband.

I wasn’t taking cooking classes to learn how to cook, contrary to the title. When I entered a new region, a place that was different than where I had been before, taking a cooking class was how I settled.

Being in the kitchen brought comfort and that was few and far between in my current life. I was a fat kid at heart. Desperately wanting to be thin with a love for food..bulimia was the only answer and one that I later would wish I had never selected but that story is for another day (http://carlyknapp.com/about)

Although my husband and I had been in Thailand for 2 weeks, we were now at a new location in Koh Samui, Vikasa Yoga Resort.

Our impromptu Valentine’s “gifts” to one another, we would spend 4 nights at a scuba diving resort where my husband would have access to one of his passions and 4 nights at Vikasa Yoga Resort, where I would have access to mine.

Upon booking this stay, I assumed yoga was going to be the main attraction. For most people, it was, but for me it was Boris.

Born in Germany, Boris was the head chef at Life Café, the only restaurant on the property and where we would eat all of our meals for the next 5 days.

We landed there on Monday after a ferry from Koh Tao. I was hungover and hungry, a vile combination. It was shortly after noon and although 0ur room was ready, my first stop would be the café.

I nearly drooled over the menu. The pictures alone would excite any type of eater. Everything was so colorful. Even the burgers were adorned by charcoal black and beetroot pink buns. How sexy!

The descriptions of the menu items were culinary poetry. Some of them so complex, I had no idea what the actual taste would be like but the ambiguity drew me in. It was confusing and exciting at the same time.

After at least ten minutes of flipping though the pages, I ordered a raw pizza and a Mexican bowl. Both were exquisite. I knew at first order that it was going to be a delightful few days and this was before the next surprise.
The best cheap food in Bangkok old town and where to find it
By: Valerie Roosen
Tags: Food In Bangkok, Bangkok, Cheap Food, Thailand, Thai Food

Bangkok Old City is packed with street food stalls

When you first set foot in Bangkok everything can be a bit overwhelming. It is after all a huge city that never really goes to sleep. If you’re a bit like me, the first thing on your list will be finding out where to eat. Lucky for you, I have done tons of research (read: I ate enough food to feed a small village. For a month.). I found the best cheap food in Bangkok Old City so you can go right ahead and make your stomach happy.

Lucky for you, I have done tons of research (read: I ate enough food to feed a small village. For a month.).

Why should I go for the food in Bangkok Old City?

Soi Samsen 4: the cosiest alley in Bangkok’s backpacker area

First and for all: excellent street food in Bangkok is not hard to find. It is literally EVERYWHERE. It’s the surroundings though that made me prefer eating in the Old City.

The Old city stretches all the way to the Royal Palace, but I’m gonna focus on the area around Khao San Road. Everything is within walking distance and I personally like this part of the city best. It’s a different world when you compare it to areas like Si Lom ore Siam. There are no sky scrapers here, you can still witness the authentic Thai lifestyle. And the best part: the food is amazing and super cheap!

Top 5 best cheap food in Bangkok Old City

Alright, let’s get down to business. Below you can find my 5 favorite places to eat. However, this is by no means a ranking. Every single one of them is great and I couldn’t pick just one winner as they are so different.

1. Most delicious pad thai in town

Find this cart in Soi Rambuttri, best pad thai ever!

Where can you find it?

Soi Rambuttri in front of Ibis hotel

The cart is stationed in Soi Rambuttri, usually in front of the Ibis hotel or near Mc Donald’s.

Why should you go there?

You cannot go to Thailand and not eat pad thai. I believe there are laws against leaving the country without ingesting at least one portion, so let this count as a warning. You can eat pad thai at almost every Thai restaurant in Bangkok, and they are all a little bit different. In my humble opinion, the best pad thai is enjoyed on a cardboard plate while sitting on the curb, watching people go by.
Not So Far From Burma
By: Lisa Severson
Tags: Burma, Thailand, Minnesota, Mississippi River, Riverboat

On a whim, I purchased a half-priced riverboat ride for the husband and I. Being on a boat is one of my very favorite summertime activities. It turned out to be a perfect way to draw us into a much-needed adventure.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, we spontaneously put the list away, headed to Harriet Island and boarded the Betsey Northrup. Over the next few hours, we learned some local history, took in the sunshine and met a lovely woman who graciously shared her story that has stuck with me ever since.

While her family members were busily taking photos on deck, this new friend teared up while gazing out at the Mississippi. She said it reminded her of “home” where Burma (Myanmar) was on one side of the river and Thailand on the other.

As we exchanged stories, I learned that soldiers had burned down her village, driving her and her family into the jungle. She and her husband spent the next 20 years in a refugee camp with their growing family.

Her audible sigh of relief expressed an understatement as she declared gratitude for the peace that has come to them since moving to the United States.

It was a short interchange, but deeply meaningful—I think for both of us. She touched my hand as she asked for a photo with me. We waved as we parted, knowing this was one of those exchanges to remember. I knew I would. Gratitude filled me for living in this imperfect, but beautiful country. I soaked in the shared gratitude that this dear woman and her family are now in a much better place in life.

It’s back to balancing lists, daily tasks and life, but that experience on the boat reminds me that there is freedom even in my daily routine. And I’m even more determined to set aside those lists at times so as to not miss key moments and people that might cross my path while on an adventure.

A rendition of this story was first published on a blog.

Lisa Severson is a writer, editor and storyteller who loves to help others create meaningful messages that make a difference. This is just one of her many writing samples. Contact Lisa to learn more about working together.
Tripping Through Thailand with Topher
By: Steve Groenink
Tags: Thailand

So, here I am. Home from my recent trip to Thailand and finally feeling like the jet-lag and 12 hr. time difference challenges are behind me. I promised myself-and Topher, that I would put together a quick reflection of the trip while the experiences and memories are still fresh. Enjoy!

First, Topher’s 12/27 Medium post did a great job of chronicling the two weeks he and I spent together throughout Thailand. Check it out. We covered a lot of territory, culture and relationship introspection in a relatively short time and Topher was a great tour guide. I honestly can’t imagine pulling off how much we were able to do without his prior Thailand experience. Now, do I think he could have been a little more patient when I attempted to communicate with the Thai people through hand gestures and by talking super-slow(in english)? I’d argue “yes”, but then I also have a reputation to uphold, at least with my kids. Just being thousands of miles away does not mean I’d be any less annoying. That said, I like to believe there was, and is, no language barrier when it comes to expressing kindness and love, to and from the beautiful Thai people.

Most of us shouldn’t have to travel over 8,000 miles to put certain things into perspective, but in my case, as soon as we landed in Thailand I admitted to myself that this was going to be an eye opening, emotionally charged time. And the trip did not disappoint on either front. So worth the 25–30 hr.(each way) trip. And since Topher covered the logistics of the trip so well, I thought I’d share just a few of my own highlights, as well as lessons learned and/or confirmed while overseas.

Some favorites

Places
Serbian coach sacked after Thai thrashing in Asian Cup
By: Thaiger News
Tags: Milovan Rajevac, Asian Cup, India, Thailand

The Football Association of Thailand has unceremoniously dumped the national coach Milovan Rajevac, just seven hours after Thailand was thrashed by India 1–4 in the Asian Cup group A game in Abu Dhabi.

Thailand were far from impressive against the more powerful Indian team who beat the Kingdom’s side for the first time in 32 years.

Thai Football Association reacted by announcing the ‘suspension of contract’ (code for ‘sacked’) with Serbian Rajevac on its official facebook at the dawn of Monday and appointed Sirisak Yodyathai as acting coach with immediate effect.

“Although the players and the coaching team already performed their best duties in the game with India, I’m confident it was not the playing format that Thai FA and the team supporters desired,” Thai FA president Somyot Poompanmoung says in the statement.

Rajevac was selected as the Thai national coach in April 2017 to replace Kiatsisak Senamuang. Last month he failed to lead Thailand to defend the AFF Cup title, losing to Malaysia in the semi-finals on away goal rules.

SOURCE: The Nation
Guide for Thailand Elite Program
By: Empire Global
Tags: Thailand, Immigration

One of the most prominent Holiday and Beach destinations in Asia, Thailand attracts a lot of high profile migrants owing to its climate, low cost of living and the quality of life. Thailand boasts of air connectivity to most countries around the world through the Bangkok International Airport.

To fulfill the growing demand for residency permits, Thailand provides for a Permanent Residency scheme which is limited to 100 applicants per year. This helps to screen out the most suitable applicants and ensure efficient and fast processing of applications.

The criteria for a Permanent Residency are:

You must have had a Thai non-immigrant visa for at least three years prior to the submission of your application. Holders of multiple NON-Immigrant visas can not apply. You must have 3 consecutive yearly extensions in order to qualify.

You must be a holder of a non-immigrant visa at the time of submitting your application.

You must meet one of these categories to apply for PR status in Thailand:

Investment category (minimum 3–10 Mil. Thai Baht investment in Thailand)

Working / Business category

Support a family or Humanity Reasons category: In this category, you must have a relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already possesses a residence permit as a husband or wife; father or mother; or a guardian of a Thai child less than 20 years of age.

Expert / academic category

Other categories as determined by Thai Immigration

The Permanent Residency visa does not expire and a holder of a permanent residency visa for more than 10 years can apply for Thai citizenship by naturalization. We at Empire can guide you through the entire process of application and obtaining the permit with minimum hassles.

The Thailand Elite Program has been designed to provide you access to the best leisure opportunities available in Thailand including excellent Golf Courses, serene Spas, world-class Hotels and of course excellent weather and beaches for which Thailand is renowned world over. So, whether you are in Thailand for Residence, Business or Leisure, you will only experience the best of it.

The program is offered through the following packages which have been designed keeping in mind the varied needs of customers.

Individual Membership / 20 Years / THB 2 Million/ Membership (Excl.VAT) / Permitted Once / 20% of the Prevailing Rate / THB 20,000 (Excluding VAT)

Thailand Elite Property Co-Project Membership / 20 Years / Subject to property / Permitted Once / 20% of the Prevailing Rate

Family Membership / Subject to Validity of Core Member / THB 1 Million/ Membership (incl. VAT) / Permitted Once / 20% of the Prevailing Rate / THB 20,000 (Incl. VAT)

Thailand Easy Access Membership / 5 Years / THB 500,000 (Incl. VAT) / Upgrade Fee: THB 1.5 Million / Membership (Excl. VAT)
Names Of Colors In Thai
By: Ling Learn Languages
Tags: Travel, Learning, Language Learning, Thailand, Thai

Colors in Thailand have an interesting connection with the culture. Sure, for some countries, the color of the flag is synonymous with the country itself. For Thailand, it goes even deeper than that. For that reason, I think it could be an interesting insight into the country to look into this further to help understand the language and mindset of the people a little bit better. Also, I just think it is good to be able to name colors in any language you learn.

In this article, we will look at the name of colors in Thai and some of the deeper connotations they have in the culture.

Colors Names

As you make notice, the word ‘sii’ (สี) is usually placed before a color name. It actually means color and is used as a classifier of sorts that is placed before the name.

If you want to say light or dark when talking about a color, you would say ‘orn’ (อ่อน) for light and ‘khem’(เข้ม) for dark. You place these after the color name, so dark blue for example would be ‘sii nam-ngurn khem’ (สีน้ำเงินเข้ม).

The Meanings Of Colors In Thai Culture

As I spoke about before, there is some significance for the colors in the culture. Each day is assigned one or more lucky and unlucky colors. The reasoning behind this system is due to the Thai names for the days of the week. Each name corresponds to a planet or star in the solar system, which in turn correspond with certain gods who are said to protect that day. These gods have an associated color which is used as the lucky color for that day.

While this is an ancient custom, some people still follow this system. Of course it is not strictly followed everyday. It is more often relegated for special occasions, holidays, or certain superstitious dates and religious events. You will probably find that people do follow the ‘unlucky color’ schedule to an extent. It is better to be safe than sorry after all.

Then there are people’s birth colors. These are considered the most lucky of all for the individual and so people may tend to choose to wear their color when they want luck to be on their side. Yellow is heavily associated with the royal family for this reason.

Otherwise, it is questionable how many people actually still believe in this. It might be worth learning even if just to impress people with your knowledge of the ancient tradition.

The Deep Meaning Of Thai Colors

So there you go, the somewhat complicated back story of the significance of colors in Thailand. I hope that knowing this now motivates you to learn the colors in Thai and possibly even consider following the system. I know I have started doing so, even if subconsciously. Next time you are walking around in the country, take a look around at the colors people are wearing to see how many people actually follow this system. It could make for a great way to practice the new vocabulary too.

The Ling Thai app is another great way to practice your Thai skills. Try out the tests and strengthen your knowledge in the Thai language.
Six underage Acehnese fishermen repatriated to Indonesia from Thailand
By: The Asian Affairs
Tags: Aceh, Indonesia, Fishermen, Thailand

Six fishermen from Aceh, Indonesia from 57 people who were arrested by the Thai Government in the Andaman Waters on March 10 and January 21, 2020, have been returned to Indonesia because they are minors.

The Government of Aceh through the Aceh Government Liaison Agency (BPPA), picked up the six children, when they arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Thursday, July 16, 2020, using Garuda Airlines with flight number GA 867 ETA, at around 17:45 WIB.

“Arriving at the airport they were all directed to fill out health alert cards, and rapid tests which were assisted by the relevant security authorities at the airport. After that they were allowed to go home,” said BPPA chief Almuniza Kamal as reported by Antara in Banda Aceh, Friday, July 17.

He explained that the pick-up was carried out by the BPPA team after coordinating with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A total of 57 crew members of the KM Tuah Sulthan motor vessel and KM Perkasa Mahera and Vothus motor vessel in the Andaman waters were arrested by the Government of Thailand, due to violations of territorial boundaries.

Almuniza said that after undergoing judicial proceedings, the six minors were considered to still have a long future, had never violated Thai law, and obtained a good judgment from a daycare center.

Therefore the Thai Immigration carried out repatriation transfers from Phang Nga to Bangkok for an independent quarantine for 14 days that was completed on July 9, 2020.

The six minors are Ab (15) Ik (15), and Ma (15) all three are from ABK KM. Mighty Mahesa. While from ABK KM Tuah Sultan Baru, MI (17), Ha (16), and Mu (17).

Almuniza said, while in Jakarta the six children will be under temporary care of the BPPA and stay overnight at the Aceh Province Shelter house in Jakarta. Then they will be returned to Aceh on Saturday, July 18.

Meanwhile, 51 other crew members from Aceh are still undergoing legal processes to date in Thailand.
Bank of Thailand Moves to a New Stage of Testing State Cryptocurrency
By: Marko Vidrih
Tags: Cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency News, Thailand, Finance, Banking

Bank of Thailand Moves to a New Stage of Testing State Cryptocurrency

Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand, Vachira Arromdee, said that the bank has moved to a new phase of testing the state digital currency.

According to Arromdi, earlier the Central Bank of Thailand (BoT) began to test digital currency with large financial institutions, and in September plans to test it together with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). At this stage, the Central Bank of Thailand is testing stablecoin with small firms.

BoT expects that its digital currency will be able to be used not only by government agencies or large financial companies, but also by ordinary people. However, before the large-scale launch of the national cryptocurrency, it is necessary to conduct its comprehensive analysis and weigh the pros and cons.

Arromdi still doubts the advisability of using digital baht and suggests that this could adversely affect the activities of commercial banks, as intermediaries will no longer be necessary for financial transactions.

Digital currency, on the other hand, will reduce transaction costs. At the same time, Arromdi cited the example of the digital yuan from the People’s Bank of China (NBK), which is being tested in various industries, and this did not affect the country’s financial system.

In June 2020, BoT officially launched a pilot project to develop a new payment system for settlements between financial institutions using state-owned cryptocurrencies, and last year the Central Bank began testing the blockchain for international transfers with the oil company PTTEP.

Author: Marko Vidrih

Featured image credit: Unsplash