We did it. After incredible amounts of red tape, 26 documents and a whole lot of patience, Khwantippa and I were married on July 15th. As the ultimate Siam In-between column, let me tell you her and our story. An illustration of how radically different backgrounds can still imply a happy ending, and how stereotypes don’t apply.
When we registered our wedding at city hall in part 1, we experienced the first challenges in marrying a foreign national in Belgium. Step 2, applying for a marriage visa, only emphasized that complex nature. This second post continues listing our experiences and contains information that isn’t documented anywhere else. Anyone planning to get married to a Thai national in Belgium will save a lot of time and effort, by carefully reading this post.
Recently, I’ve rekindled my romance with photography by going back to my first (14-year old) camera. Never had more fun snapping pictures, than with that particular device. The challenge I’ve set myself is to go back to basics and snap pictures manually, without the need for editing afterwards. This view was the subject of tonight’s experiments. Settings: 4s of exposure, F4.5, ISO 200. A long way to go, but I intend to enjoy every minute. Feedback and hints welcome.
My post listing Thai newspapers in English triggered so much positive feedback that I decided to compile a follow up. This time I listed my favorite Thai-related magazines, blogs, vlogs and podcasts. Not the common guides to street food, temples and nightlife but valuable content by real people that know their subject matter. This list is not final in any way and will be added to over time. What are your favorite blogs?
Fascinated by retail in Thailand, I started paying attention to the differences compared to its Western counterpart. One distinction is related to branding in casual wear and denim. Where Western advertising highlights when a brand was conceived, the Thai counterpart emphasizes where it originates from. This historical infatuation with foreign products has led to an ingenious new approach to branding. Counterfeit products and licencing are out. Inventing foreign brands is in.
With culinary tradition a significant part of Belgian culture and many business deals being struck at the dinner table, people frequently ask me about restaurants in my hometown of Vilvoorde (Belgium). Related questions keep popping up in social media groups about our city. To answer once and for all, I’ve decided to start compiling a list. Take-away joints and pitta/chip shops aren’t included. The list basically includes any place where you can sit down, have a nice meal and meet a professional contact. Any new restaurant I spot, will be added. Please suggest any missing business in the comment section below. The links are ordered ad random.
One of my favorite albums of all time is The best of Blue Note, a compilation of Jazz tracks released on Blue Note imprint. Blue Note Records is a legendary label that released some of the most famous tracks by the biggest names in Jazz. The label is named after the notes that aren’t part of the traditional range but are common in this genre. I have owned this album for over 15 years and still frequently listen to it. Perfect for quiet Saturday nights, accompanied by home cooking and a glass of red wine. To have it available anytime anywhere, I decided to turn it into a playlist. Might as well share, right? Full track listing and embedded player available if you continue reading. Available here and here on compact disc.
Back in 2005, Glitterati.be was a popular nightlife-and-fashion webzine yours truly was extremely proud of. Times have changed, life has moved on, but the original Glitterati website still has a special place in my heart. Its most popular post was titled Culture Club: history of a nightlife phenomenon. Now and then people still ask me if they can get a copy. For old times’ sake, I’ve decided to translate and update the article. Please enjoy the complete story of the legendary Culture Club nightclub in Ghent.
In recent years, social media has sparked new interest into a magical substance called Lek Lai, or fluid metal. A cult following has developed around the protective properties and efforts to find this mysterious substance with a mind of its own.
Great set by Nakadia, recorded live at Altern8 festival in Hong Kong (March 11th, 2017). Her enthusiasm is enticing. No wonder Sven Väth signed her to Cocoon. Choc dee khrab, Nong Nakadia.
