Thailand Archives - Glitterati Blog

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Shopping in Pahurat, Bangkok

By Glitterati • On October 19, 2017 • In Blog, Thailand

Pahurat, also known as Little India, is the neighbourhood just west of Yaowarat (Chinatown). Originally an enclave of the Vietnamese, and other South-East Asian cultures, Indians moved in shortly after the construction of the road that gave the area its name. About a century ago, the Sikh community settled a textile trading centre there, which is still very active and also trades in traditional clothing, including Thai. With my ~~girlfriend~~ wife an accomplished traditional Thai dancer, the latter was our main motivation to head out there. Pictures of a colourful day in Little India, if you continue reading. Here are the direction s, if you want to do some unusual shopping or have authentic Indian food in Bangkok.

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The majestic success of William Heinecke in Thailand

By Glitterati • On October 2, 2017 • In Blog, Thailand

This post started off as a follow-up to The Story of EST Cola. Thought to have come across another story of a Thai company standing up to a multinational conglomerate, I started to research The Pizza Company. Its founder did refuse to fold to Pizza Hut and he is Thai. But in another way he isn’t. This is what happens when business acumen, opportunity and sheer luck align. The tale of an empire that helped shape modern-day Thailand.

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Mystical Thailand: Sak Yant tattoos decoded

By Glitterati • On September 17, 2017 • In Blog, Mystical Thailand

Yantra tattoos are extremely popular, even beyond Thailand’s borders. While Western tattoos typically have sentimental value, Thai tattoos have deeper meaning. Their distinctive style and magical powers date back millennia. Here is the result of my research into the history and practice of Sak Yant.

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How to fly to Thailand on a budget

By Glitterati • On August 31, 2017 • In Blog, Thailand, Travel

At least twice a year I fly from Brussels to Bangkok and back. My wife usually makes the same round-trip in the opposite direction every 12 months. With intercontinental flights not exactly cheap, we try to maximize our budget. Let me teach you the tricks we have picked up over time. Some are obvious, others a lot less so. Most European frequent flyers will probably benefit from reading this post. As an example, my latest air fare was just EUR 314.

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Koh Tao: history and conspiracy theories

By Glitterati • On July 30, 2017 • In Blog, Thailand

With a string of foreigners dying in suspicious circumstances and an ominous nickname like Death Island, Koh Tao has been in the public eye for a while. Time to have a look into the history of the island, summarize the different conspiracy theories and come to a logical conclusion.

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How to get married to a Thai national in Belgium – Part 2: the marriage visa

By Glitterati • On July 2, 2017 • In Blog, Siam in-between, Thailand

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.

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My favorite Thai blogs

By Glitterati • On June 22, 2017 • In Thailand

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?

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Thailand’s ingenious new approach to branding

By Glitterati • On June 21, 2017 • In Blog, Fashion, Thailand

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.

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Mystical Thailand: the ghostly legend of Mae Nak

By Glitterati • On June 5, 2017 • In Mystical Thailand

Increasingly modern as Thailand may become, it will always remain a mystical country. Buddhist beliefs are intermingled with legends about magic, ghosts and local folklore. In this series of posts I will try to open the door to these stories. The legend of Mae Nak Phra Khanong may be the most famous Bangkok ghost story. In this urban metropolis, people still fear ghosts. No wonder, as many sites of these ghost stories can still be visited today. Just like a key location in this legend.

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Online Thai newspapers in English

By Glitterati • On June 3, 2017 • In In the news, Thailand

To truly start understanding Thai society, keeping up with the news is essential. Expats and foreigners in general often regard Thai newspapers as inaccessible. The language barrier does not have to be a problem, though. Thailand has several English-language newspapers. In fact, Thailand’s oldest newspaper has always been exclusively available in English. Additionally, an increasing number of publications and periodicals have an English-language edition. Here is an overview of my favorite online news outlets. They feature news, analysis, opinion and op-ed pieces. Do post a comment if you spot another one.

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