Thursday, July 03, 2008

How far has Thai retailing come in 20 years?


In just two decades, retailing in Thailand has evolved from a traditional model to the global model seen today.

The first 7-Eleven opened in 1989 in Bangkok's Patpong area, and the format proved a huge success. There are more than 4,400 locations in Thailand currently. The Japanese chain Family Mart came to Thailand in 1993. Tesco Lotus's Lotus Express also operates in this segment.


Take a trip thru the last 20 years of Thai retailing with this article.

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

True WiFi hotspots for free?

This could be some great news for Bangkokians.

The BMA will give away 500,000 free WiFi cards to the public at more than 50 travel centres and leading department stores. The sites, to be available free for a year, require access cards.


Anyone seen these cards yet? More..

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Hilarious Thai ad for celling tiles.




Another in a long line of great Thai adverts. (Thanks to: thecatat7)

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Girls on the streets of Bangkok flickr set

One of the nicest bits of Bangkok eye candy, are undoubtedly the girls on the streets. Have a look at this flickr set.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Thai Language in GTA4


The second word heard in the new all time best selling game (Grand Theft Auto IV), is the Thai word 'alaiwah' or "what the hell". It is uttered by what seems to be a Thai dominatrix whipping a guy on the boat that Niko Bellic arrives on. Cool.

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Sunday, May 11, 2008

Top 100 Blogs of Thailand


Whatismatt compiled the first decent list of the top 100 English blogs in Thailand. A nice idea, and good way to find out who's saying what, where. It's only based on people who click on the list, but the fact that it is compiled, is a great start.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Thai's giving Americans real estate advice.

Fun post by an American tourist writer discussing real estate with a Thai business man in Phuket:

"...what's really wrong with the US is that we have no honor. Actually, that's not how he puts it. He says in Thailand the financial and legal consequences of defaulting would be secondary. A defaulting borrower would suffer a serious loss of face and incur negative religious points, or karma. Some real estate investors are still "making merit"--performing redemptive religious acts--for losses following the 1997 crash."

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Songkran 2008 videos

A few Songkran 2008 videos that give you a pretty good idea of what it was like, if you were not able to make it:


Khao San Road:





Chaing Mai (?):





Pattaya:





Girls Dancing in Traffic:


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Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Get ready for food inflation

Some stats from a recent article on a growing rice shortage.
  • 33% Rise since January in price paid by Philippines for rice from Vietnam
  • 3 billion People worldwide who rely on rice as a staple food
  • 40% Rise in rice price in Thailand this year
  • 19.2% Rise in consumer prices in Vietnam last month, against March 2007
  • 8.4% Rise in food prices in the Philippines last month, compared with March 2007
  • 854 million Number of people worldwide who are “food insecure”
  • 1 billion People globally who survive on less than $1 a day, defined as “absolute poverty”

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Monday, April 07, 2008

Is this a joke: "Burma warns of terrorist acts during Water Festival"


The Nation in their wisdom posted this story:

Rangoon - Burma's junta warned of increased terrorist acts during the upcoming Water Festival and the national referendum, claiming two "terrorists" had been arrested last month, state media reports said Saturday.
Burma warning of terrorist attacks, really? The government who used deadly force to beat down monks is giving out terror advice? Really? The Junta who keeps people suppressed is not having problems with terrorism? Really?

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Friday, March 28, 2008

"Ministry of Culture Bans People Named Porn"

BANGKOK - The Ministry of Culture announced today that it would impose a new ban on people named Porn, citing the name’s corrosive effect on Thai society and the damage it causes to the kingdom’s reputation abroad.

Ha ha ha.

If NotTheNation keeps this up, they could soon join the ranks of The Onion.

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Thaiand Blog Watch - Yahoo Pipes Widget

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Thursday, March 13, 2008

Farang bum on Sukumvit

Some pics posted of the "Looking for work" farang street person. Check him out under the Asoke BTS. Guess there is a first for everything.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Copy Ferrari made inThailand

Thailand is credited with this copied P4:
The Ferrari P4 - of which only three were made, in 1967 - was made in a back street factory in Thailand and is powered by a Subaru engine. more

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Thursday, March 06, 2008

Suan Lum Night Bazar to morph into world tallest budilding?

I think Bangkok will miss the place if it leaves. It's a nice place for after hours shopping and enjoying some music. It's done well, and it will be a shame to loose it.

Any tenants who refuse to leave the hugely popular night market next to Lumpini Park could face "seizure, arrest or imprisonment," said the agency in an advertisement notice printed in several Thai-language newspapers. link

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Tuesday, March 04, 2008

"The Nation" admits it 'creates' history



From the foot-in-mouth department, The Nation, admitted it's role in "creating history". I wonder how much of Thailand's history is just a creation of some editors there. Hmm..

And even more suspect. They will launch a new paper, Daily Xpress, today, but according to auditors of a not-yet-in-existence-paper, it already has:

...an audited circulation of 100,000 copies daily, will debut tomorrow morning, with distribution all over Bangkok and in Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Koh Samui.

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Sunday, March 02, 2008

"Not the Nation" is not The Onion


Not The Nation - almost as news worthy as The Onion.

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Ultimate map resource guide of Bangkok

There are a lot of great map resources for Bangkok these days. Let's have a look at some of the best map resources for checking out Bangkok.

Satellite imagery maps

Google Maps - The clear winner, although sometimes annoying because place names only in Thai.


Windows Live - Less resolution than Google on satellite imagery. Less place names.


Yahoo Maps - Same satellite data as Windows Live. Terrible road view coverage.


Some great Google Maps overlays:
  • Wikimapia.org - A wiki for places on a map. Many places (many in Thai) are described in Bangkok, and you can add your own.
  • Panoramio - Users upload photo's and place them around Bangkok. Great to if you want to see what stuff really looks like.
  • PanoramicEarth.com - Find full panoramic photos of Bangkok.
  • Bangkok Recorder - An overlay of around 100 popular tourist spots, restaurants and hotels.

Other resources

Thaiways - Thaiways publishes some good paper based maps. Some of their specialist maps include Metro & Skytrain, Sukumvit, and Rattanakosin Island.

For nightlife, check out these maps with many bars, pubs and massage:

If you really want to get into it, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority Department of City Planning has some map data, but mostly in Thai.

If you are using Google Earth, you're going to need these helpful overlays. If you are curious NASA WorldWind is a similar product (.Net required).

If you have Google Earth, check out these KMZ files:
  1. Thailand Placemarks 7.2
  2. 40 Bangkok Spots
  3. Subway and Sky Train

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Fat kids in Thailand, what a surprise.


10 years ago the multi - national chains of KFC, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut began their march across the Kingdom of Thailand in a move that most of thought was modernization and progress.

10 year later The Nation brings us this story:

Thailand ranks among countries with the world's fastest-growing number of overweight children, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The results of eating fast food need no scientific study and are clearly visible to the naked eye. Eating fast food makes you fat.

Now I have never been one to advocate hating people, but as is obvious by the growing problem, courteous suggestions won't solve this problem. It's time for us to say loud and proud:

I hate fat people

Sounds bad to say.. but think about it for a second. If you are overweight and your diet has been ruined by eating fast or junk food, you are putting money in the pockets of ugly multi-national corporations. You are not helping farmers or organic growers, instead you support destruction of rainforest's, global warming and other social ills. As harsh as it may sound, hating fat people will only lead to a growing awareness of the problem - and that can only be good.

There are some very valid reasons why hating fat people movement is good:

  1. Fat people support greedy corporations by eating their low quality food.
  2. Fat people have a bigger environmental footprint and do more damage to the earth.
  3. Fat people have a higher health care cost.
  4. Fat people cost more to transport, thus more greenhouse gas emissions.
  5. Fat people are less productive members of society.


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Friday, February 15, 2008

Ponytail Bandit Arrested in Thailand, Husband still at large