Koh Sichang T-shirts

Over the long weekend, I took a trip to the island of Koh Sichang. I'd really recommend it too, as there was plenty to see and do. Chinese temples, old palaces, beaches, viewpoints and great food were all there. It's also the closest island to Bangkok and you can get there in a few hours by stopping off in Sri Racha first.

While I was there, I took some photos of some of the more humorous t-shirts that they sold on the island. For your entertainment and education, here's the English explanation about three of the best that I saw.

Bangkok Job Poster

While walking around Victory Monument in Bangkok, I noticed this poster stuck to a pillar. I thought I'd share it here since it's a good chance to learn a few different job types found in Thailand. For those actually looking for work, I'd recommend looking online instead. Those employers will be slightly more modernised!

Music Lesson, No 1: รักต้องเปิด (แน่นอก)

In the past week or so, a new song, รักต้องเปิด (แน่นอก) or Rak Dtawng Bpeert (Naaen Ok), has exploded across Thailand, forming an army of satisfied fans while angering some more conservative Thais. In this lesson, I thought I'd go over the lyrics to the song so you know what all the fuss is about. Before we go into more detail, watch the video and see how much you can pick up.

Street Signs, Part 3

This is a sign from one of the MRT (subway) stations in Bangkok. While written in Thai, this offers important information for English speakers as well. Let's go through each of the Thai words and sentences to see what it says.

Controversial Thai TV Ad: Skin Whitening Drink

Let's do something a bit different for today's Thai lesson. A few days ago, a television advertisement for a skin whitening drink, L-Gluta Berry Plus, by the company, Verena, caused some controversy in Thailand as it was deemed racist (specifically towards Africans and African-Americans). I thought I'd go through the script so you could understand what's going on in the clip.

First, here's the ad so you can watch it. See how much you can pick up in the first listen.

To Be in the Thai Language

Like in English, the verb 'to be' in Thai is more complicated than others, following its own unique set of rules. Thus, it's important for new learners to memorise the different forms so that you can then use this word in the proper manner. Luckily, there are only three situations you need to remember so that you can speak as naturally as possible.

Street Signs, Part 2

Thanks to Bangkok holding gubernatorial elections a few months ago, plenty of signs can be seen on the streets, placed there by the main political parties. Here are two of them so that you can practise your reading again.

Top Ten Nicknames in Thailand

Today I thought I'd combine a reading lesson with something a bit more informative. The above image contains a list of the top ten nicknames in Thailand. Those with Thai friends should be able to tell whether their parents had some good imaginations or not after reading this!

Thailand's Missing Vowels

One of the most common complaints by those learning to read the Thai language is that there are so many missing vowels. While most are written down, some are completely omitted, leaving the reader to guess what they are. Fortunately, there are two simple rules that you can use to help you remember what the missing vowel sound is.

Street Signs, Part 1

Welcome to another reading lesson! This time, we've got a sign that uses two different fonts. This will be a good chance for you to test your skills and see how well you can recognise the various characters written in two separate styles. Before looking below, read the sign above and see what you can understand.