Today, 8 November 2022, is Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) which is widely considered the most beautiful of the many festivals which are celebrated in Thailand. Along with Songkran (Thai New Year), it is the most important festival celebrated here and is held on the night of the 12th lunar moon of the Thai calendar. In general, the festival usually falls in the month of November and symbolizes the end of … Continue reading Loy Krathong in Thailand
With the corornation of His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn (วชิราลงกรณ) — reigning title Phrabat Somdet Phra Vajira Klao Chao Yu Hua (พระบาทสมเด็จพระวชิรเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) or King Rama X — on May 4, 2019, the Kingdom of Thailand also gained a new queen, Her Majesty Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana ( สุทิดา พัชรสุธาพิมลลักษณ). She was born Suthida Tidjai (สุทิดา ติดใจ) on June 3, 1978, in Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand. A Thai of … Continue reading Queen Suthida of Thailand
Today, many Buddhists in Thailand are participating in ceremonies for one of the most important dates on the calendar. Vesaka Bucha (วิสาขบูชา) commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Buddhahood), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada or southern tradition. It is also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day and is traditionally observed by Buddhists and some Hindus on different days in India, … Continue reading Vesaka Bucha (วิสาขบูชา) Day in Thailand
Happy Valentine’s Day once again! This morning, there were “Day of Love” activities at my school and I have a special dinner planned this evening. Thus, I have decided to keep today’s article relatively brief, and largely photographic in nature. After all, there have been ASAD entries about this particular holiday in 2017 and 2018 as well as several articles on Philatelic Pursuits here and … Continue reading Happy Valentine’s Day 2019
On January 25, 1942, the government of Thailand formally declared war on the United States of America and Great Britain. The nation had officially adopted a position of neutrality until it was invaded by the Empire of Japan in December 1941 which led to an armistice and, later, the military alliance treaty between Thailand and the Japanese. At the start of the Pacific War, the … Continue reading Thailand’s War Against Britain & the United States
Today, January 16, is a school holiday for Thailand’s National Teacher’s Day (Wan Kkru, วันครู), not to be confused with the ceremony honoring teachers each year on a Thursday in June known as Wai Khru. Observed since 1957, the date marks the enactment of the Teachers Act, Buddhist Era 2488 which was published in the Government Gazette on January 15, 1945. Most Thai schools, especially … Continue reading Wan Khru (วันครู), or Teacher’s Day in Thailand
A new year brings many things — new hopes, new dreams, new goals, new resolutions, and much more. I had hoped to start 2019 (or 2562 by the Buddhist calendar used in Thailand) with a new stamp but it wasn’t to be. Thailand loves to issue stamps on dates when the post offices throughout most of the nation are closed. That is, except for Bangkok … Continue reading Welcome to the Year of the Pig 2019 / ยินดีต้อนรับสู่ปีกุน 2562 [Updated Images 2019-01-05]
Since the beginning of November, I have been working at a school in the provincial capital of Phang Nga, about two hours north of my home on Phuket island. This was to be a temporary assignment while awaiting the arrival of the permanent teacher and I spent the past two weeks commuting back and forth each day (four-hour round-trip). As so often happens here in … Continue reading Phang Nga: Province, Town & Bay
A Stamp A Day 