Although not easy, particularly when one ventures out of cities heavily trafficked by Foreigners, eating both vegan and vegetarian are possible in Thailand. The following refers to traditional Thai food and culture, not Western restaurants. Often the latter will employ English speaking staff which will render your request of omitting ingredients much simpler should there be no available options on the menu. Traditionally Thai food doesn't contain dairy, this includes desserts. Dairy is usually consumed as sterilized milk, yogurt, ice cream and other forms of Western confectionery (i.e. chocolate). From my experience, your average roadside … [Read more...]
THAILAND
The Thailand traditional travel guides overlook. I spent 2.5 years living in Buriram. The last time I checked, my Lonely Planet guide had a few paragraphs that essentially said, skip it. Read travel stories and advice from others who experience The Land Of Smiles the same way.
Racism in Thailand: The Lasting Effects After Exiting the Land of Smiles
The following was inspired by a recent comment by Alan Reid on Racism in Thailand: A Day in the Life of a White Woman in Buriram. Alan describes instances of discrimination he has encountered in The Land Of Smiles then concludes with: I try to smile and be friendly to the Thais everyday, however I have this bitterness and hatred built up inside, the same as you. This struck me deeply, not only out of empathy but also due to the fact that eleven weeks after leaving Thailand, what remains and what I continue to combat is negativity within. Negativity towards other people. Negativity towards myself. The forms of this corruption were not in my heart before leaving Canadian soil in … [Read more...]
9 Survival Tips For Long Distance Travel By Bus In Thailand
Walking into a bus terminal as a Foreigner in Thailand you can assume you will leave with a purchased ticket, however, the ticket may not necessarily be the most convenient, comfortable or sane route to your destination. The following list has been tailored to increase your odds and/or help preserve your cool. 1. Red buses are the slowest. In Canada, we would refer to taking this sort of bus as taking The Milk Route, they're scenic, they're slow, and they're cheap. If you have time on your hands, meaning, any random amount of hours because chances are, they differ slightly day to day, a red bus can be fun. Often they're not aircon equipped, but the windows open and the … [Read more...]
Re-Entry Shock: Feeling Like A Foreigner In Your Native Country
The I'm-here-but-far-away fog is unsettling. It first began in southern California in unexpected ways. Kindness communicated in the form of direct eye contact and a strong smile rattled me. The combination was too bold. An afternoon barbeque filled with guests; one woman, bare shouldered, speaking, shouting, swearing, dominating, another in a bikini top and short shorts. People asking me innocent questions about my life in Thailand. I froze before I could respond. What is acceptable? What isn't? Why does it even matter? Currently, the Canadian city I spent, I believe approximately the first twenty-four years of my life in feels more alien to … [Read more...]
Isaan By Night – A Photo Series Of Muay Thai Fight Culture
Amongst the many you'll find fighting in any given muay thai promotion in Isaan, you're apt to find fighters battling to make it to the stadiums of Bangkok; fighters returning from Bangkok not quite as they were before they left; labourers, foreigners and school girls. Muay thai promotions run on most nights of the week. You'll meet part-timers and old timers alike; everyone involved in the muay thai game in Thailand, less perhaps some foreigners, is trying to make some cash; the fighters, their families, the gamblers and theirs. Sometimes those lines intersect. Most of my life in Buriram, Isaan, including my social life, revolved around muay thai and muay thai … [Read more...]
Relationships in Thailand – A Ten Part Series by Shama Kern
Located in Chiang Mai, expat Shama Kern has created an incredibly informative series on Thai relationships. From his site, Spirit of Thailand: The “Relationships in Thailand” article series is a real eye opener - you won’t be taken by surprise if you ever come here. Enter the sometimes strange world of cross-cultural relationships, even if only for the fun of reading about it. A recommended read for anyone who is planning on staying for any length of time in Thailand and walking in blind. This includes those of you who are in relationships and those of you who don't plan to date. Shama's series will give you a great primer on the fundamentals of how things work … [Read more...]
Blackmail And The Illusion Of Sex
The cold water hit my spine and slid down my back. I was in the women's change room of the community pool in Buriram, alone. It was approximately noon. I had finished my laps and was preparing to go pick up some lunch. There was a knock on my shower door. This was unusual. I asked who it was. It was one of the pubescent boys I had met in the pool. The conversation as I remember it: "I'm showering. I'll see you when I'm done." "I want to shower too." This confused me. "I'll see you when I'm done." "I want to shower with you. Can I shower with you?" The fact this individual was … [Read more...]
From Bangkok To LA To Detroit To Windsor
This was my original brain blast show up in my head and write it quick post that popped brilliant when I decided it was time to jet West: I know it's a country/city comparison, but who cares. I'm speaking in terms of where I am and where I'm going to be, population size is but a detail: Thailand - You can be close friends with someone for years before you find out they have two kids. Detroit - The guy standing behind you in line at White Castle will tell you about is ex-wife's nipple piercings. Windsor, Ontario, Canada, my final destination is a more subtle version of the latter. I'm looking forward to dipping in for awhile. Post … [Read more...]
The Drone- Sexual Predatory Behaviour In Thailand
It's difficult to convey a nameless feeling that encroaches with time, one that shadows the furthering of one's understanding of their place in a culture alien to the one they left behind. This difficulty is deeply accentuated when little is written on the subject and the subject itself is taboo to approach. For those of you who read MBSB regularly, you are keenly aware that for months now, I've been discussing my experiences as a Foreign woman in Thailand with tenacity. Today will be no different. Today's entry is a direct result of my post, Visa Runs In Thailand And Why I Now Fear Them. However, the stories presented on this day have no summary, no effort … [Read more...]
Officers – My Experiences With Thai Police As A Solo Female Traveler
Please note, for the sake of the privacy of all people involved and my own personal safety, I have omitted names and cities and will not respond to any emails inquiring about either. My dealings with the police in Thailand have been as varied and seemingly random as most other things here, which lends both to the country's beauty and its instability. The Thailand I know is not as systematic as Western countries I'm familiar with and the accountability of one's actions is often overlooked. This is dependent on, but not limited to, one's connections, social standing (which is often dictated at birth), wealth and the Thai convention of not approaching things directly. … [Read more...]
MBSB Interview: Chicky Net Creator Berthe Mandaat On Social Networking And Being A Female Expat In Thailand
Chicky Net is the only expat women's online community in Thailand. With over 2,000 members, Chicky Net is a valuable resource for women living and staying in The Land of Smiles. The site offers classifieds, interest and location specific groups, interviews, a list of women bloggers in Thailand and Chicky Net scheduled events. Networking is made easy, with a general forum and destination specific forums (i.e. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Phuket). I thought I'd touch base with Berthe of Chicky Net to learn more about Chicky Net and perhaps the experiences of expat women in Thailand. 1. Hi Berthe. What country are you from and how long have you been living in … [Read more...]
Visa Runs In Thailand And Why I Now Fear Them
The stress, frustration and rage that I felt this passing week in regards to my upcoming visa run to the Cambodian border exasperates me. I'm confused by my response to it. I judge my inability to be impartial to it. I wonder if living in Thailand has made me stronger or it has broken me. I will not leave this country the same as when I arrived. To be brief, visa runs essentially fall on the dates Thai immigration deems you must leave the country. You are allowed back into Thailand on the same day without having to obtain a new visa. For example, I was given a triple entry tourist visa after not being able to extend the business visa I was allowed for … [Read more...]
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