Voices of Thailand: Have Your Say...
Welcome to our Voices section, home to your views and opinions on all things Thailand related.
Our contributors range from published authors, to South East Asia journalists, to bloggers, and those with something to say looking for a platform to share it.
Here you'll find a diverse range of views on everything from modern day Bangkok living, to pet pains, to cultural quirks, to the 'proper' way of being an expat.
As always, we encourage your comments and feedback. We ask that you please be respectful of others' views, even if you do not share them.
Please note: These columns do not represent the views of WOS!
The Bangkok Summer Olympics: An Alternate Reality
What if the Summer Olympic Games this year were in Bangkok, rather than Brazil? Soon…
Riding The Wave: Around Thailand On Honda’s Hardiest Motorcycle
Listen, and understand. The Honda Wave is out there. It can’t be bargained with. It…
12 Things Thailand Does Better Than Anywhere Else In The World
It’s easy to knock Thailand and Bangkok for not being perfect, but there’s no doubt that…
Is This Racism Or Just Thai Customer Service?
DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece and not intended to begin an argument about race. So,…
In Praise Of… Bangkok Expats
Picture the scene, if you will. I’m in Nana, it’s Friday, the sun is shining…
Thailand’s Beer: What Are You Drinking?
With Bangkok’s hot and sticky climate one can be excused for enjoying an ice cold…
Siam And Beyond Through… Snapchat?
Yes, I’m writing about Snapchat. No, that doesn’t make me a 14-year old girl. What…
Teaching English In Thailand: Is The ‘No Fail’ Policy Failing Students?
Natalie Laing clutches her attendance binder and steps into her weekly English classroom. She sets up…
Dude, Where’s My Country? A Tale Of Reverse Culture Shock
Repatriation can often hold more shocks and surprises than the initial move abroad. Steve Edwards,…
In Pursuit Of The Body Beautiful In Bangkok
Let me introduce you to the pursuit of a body beautiful. After too many street-side,…
The Two Sides To Bangkok’s Motorbike Taxis
For many of us, Bangkok’s motorbike taxis are lifesavers when we need to beat the traffic…
6 Ways To Tackle Your Thai Food Neophobia
How do you travel to a foreign place, and not eat the food? There I…
The Most Overrated vs. Underrated Bangkok Experiences
Having lived in Bangkok for two and a half years, my wife and I have had…
A Guide To The Gay Scene In Sukhumvit
Think a night out going gay in Bangkok means heading to Silom? That might be…
Has Bangkok Become Too Western?
Now I appreciate the title may be a little incendiary, but do allow me to…
The Argument For Ditching Your Smartphone
How long will this lump of plastic control our lives? When will this mini-computer in…
Toiling In The Tropics: The (Unofficial) Lowdown On Jobs For Foreigners
Life in Thailand can be utter paradise for the average foreigner. Until you run out…
The Thailand Tasting Menu: Weird Crisps Edition
Wotsits, Mexican Chilli McCoy’s, Salt & Vinegar Walkers, Quavers, Pickled Onion Monster Munch, Roast Beef…
Why You Shouldn’t Fear Violence In Thailand
Back in July 2013, at the end of my soi, American Troy Lee Pilkington was…
Thai Visa Run Tales: The Road To Poipet
It’s 5.00am at Victory Monument in Bangkok. Despite the early hour the city is already…
The Argument Against Dual Pricing In Thailand
If there’s one thing in Thailand that regularly has expats up in arms, it’s dual…
What’s The Problem With Western Women In Thailand?
When I first announced my plans to move to Thailand a couple of years ago,…
How To Explore The Hidden Side Of Bangkok (And Be A Responsible Traveler)
I’ll be the first one to admit it: ’till recently, I have always been a…
Thailand’s ‘F’ Word: Offensive Or Harmless?
Some years ago, I wrote an article about perspectives on the word ‘farang’ in Thailand.…
A Farang Family Tour Of Bangkok
If you leave aside the four days I spent back in Manchester – via a…
Expats In Thailand: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Being an expat is often held up to be something of a hallowed experience. To…
Mo Chit Uncovered: A Day At Bangkok’s Busiest Bus Station…
The Northern Bus terminal, or Mo Chit, is Bangkok’s biggest and busiest station. Serving provinces…
Passion For Fashion: Bangkok Street Style
Bangkok is a city not only known for street food and skyscrapers; its diversity in…
Is A Life In Thailand Worth Less Than In The West?
Most people familiar with Thailand will agree that, in many ways, it’s a land of…
What’s Killing Americans In Thailand?
Inspired by a recent piece by Time Magazine on deaths abroad, I took a deep…
Why I Both Love And Hate Bangkok’s Food Scene
Everyone knows that Thailand’s food scene rocks, and nowhere is it more vibrant than in…
Bangkok’s MRT Map: The Satire Edition
I decided to poke some fun at this zany city with my own version of…
Broke In Bangkok 101: The 100 Baht A Day Survival Guide
And so it comes to pass one morning, after six months of robust merriment –…
The 5 Types Of Thailand Travel Snob You Should Definitely Avoid
Who doesn’t love travelling? It’s one of those passions that transcends race, culture, wealth and…
The Sukhumvit Wizards: Propping Up The Bars Of Bangkok
In my more youthful days, ducking and diving from bar to restaurant to pool hall along…
Is This How We Stop Motorbikes Riding On Bangkok’s Pavements?
I emerge from home on a Monday morning, bright-eyed and bushy tailed after the weekend.…
Drug Addicts In Thailand: Ya Ba, Ice, And Avoiding The Crackdowns
Rob loved Thailand. But even so, he had to leave Bangkok and go back home…
Inside The Magical And Mysterious World Of An Amulet Collector
A 33-year old petroleum engineer who also likes to trade stocks is not your typical…
Into Isaan: A Guide To Visiting The In-Laws In Thailand
It’s inevitable. At some stage you will be summonsed. Your presence will be requested. You…
6 Things I’ve Learned From A Year Living In Bangkok
This March marks a full year of my living in Bangkok. I love Bangkok more than…
Who Still Sends Postcards Anyway?
What’s wrong with the above picture? Well, yes, many things, I’m sure, but let’s not…
A Travel Blogger In Bangkok: The Origin Story
Six months ago, I decided to start a travel and lifestyle blog with my wife. It was…
These Are The 7 Best Street Food Haunts On Sukhumvit
The demise of legendary foodie haunt Soi 38 might have led some to predict the…
Tales From A Sukhumvit Pharmacy: Proceed At Your Peril
A man walks into a pharmacy with a headache and comes out with acute anxiety,…
How Bangkok Sucked The Sabbatical Out Of Me
My wife and I spent all of 2015 on “sabbatical”. I type “sabbatical” in quotes…
Thirak Jaa: The Complexities Of Love In Thailand
On the day after Valentine’s Day, let us ruminate on the topic of amour from a…
Soi Pedalling: My Two Weeks ‘Biking For Dad’
I thought my first day biking on the hectic streets of Bangkok would be a…
Living Among Bangkok’s Ghosts: The Legend Of Mae Nak Phra Khanong
As a child I was petrified of ghosts. There, I said it. I’d feed this…
My Love Hate Relationship With Bangkok
Dear Bangkok, I think we need to talk. I know, so cliché, right?! That sentence…
Why I Wish Bangkok Had More Female Taxi Drivers
Yesterday, I flagged down a taxi. I jumped in the back, fastened my seatbelt, and…