Appon's Thai Life

Welcome to my Thai Life Blog

Here you can find articles on Thailand, anything interesting, unusual, or eye catching that doesn't quite fit on the recipe blog. Over the years of writing 'Appon's Thai Food' there have been lots of articles that have come and gone from the site, simply because they weren't recipes and didn't have a place in the recipe archives. This blog is their new home!
Click here if you're looking for my recipe site.

May 4, 2013

My First Geocache

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If you've been reading my travel blog, I'm covering Geocaching in Phuket, the game of hiding and seeking caches using a GPS device.

I've done the finding, now I'm going to do the hiding!

Contents

So my cache will be a small water proof container, containing a few of the common cache basics: a log book for people to record their visits, a pencil to write with, a pencil sharpener because when have you ever found a sharp pencil?!

In addition, I'm putting a piece of the stick, from the consecration ceremony of Wat Padungthamapotivad. This should bring the finder good luck.

I took a trackable coin from one of the caches I found, in Phuket Town Park. These coins need to be placed in another cache, and so it's in my cache too.

Finally some ear-rings. People like to take little cheap trinkets and place one of their own inside, earrings are perfect for that.

Continue reading "My First Geocache" »

April 20, 2013

Phuket Bike Week

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Phuket Bike Week is on, I've been busy with Songkran, and Krabi and green tea pies and missed most of it. Today though, today will be different, I'll take my own bike over to Patong and enjoy the sensible quality bikes on show!

I'm not really a bike person, but I'm sure I can review a bike show. So first up, speakers, the most important thing in the bike, I can confirm the speakers on the bike above still work! Despite someone accidentally painting over the speaker grill.

Continue reading "Phuket Bike Week" »

April 13, 2013

Weapons of Splash Destruction

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It's war! April 13th 2013 and across Thailand, fighting is breaking out! Naturally war reporter, Appon will be there on hand to report the carnage and join in on the fighting.

Nobody quite explained to me who we're fighting this time, it doesn't seem to be Burmese invaders, the enemy seems to be a roaming militia on pick-up trucks. No matter! I bring my weapon of choice, a waterproof camera and some dry ammo. I'll see off this militia if its the last dry thing I do!

Continue reading "Weapons of Splash Destruction" »

March 29, 2013

6 More To Go

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In Phangna another temple is being opened. I've covered this ceremony before, the stone balls, gilded by gold leaf, suspended with sticks. The sticks are cut with ceremonial knifes, dropping the balls into the holes surrounding the temple. For this new temple, I'm doing different ceremonies, the gilding of the balls, and the raising of the gold swan. The actual ball drop isn't till Sunday, if you're near Phangna, there's still time to attend!

Wat Maneesee Mahahtad is worth a visit on normal days, it has a huge statue of an old revered monk, and a wax works of popular old monks to see. They're eerily life like too, you feel sort of scared to get the camera close to their faces in case the turn around and complain!

Continue reading "6 More To Go" »

March 23, 2013

Phuket Boat Show, Not just for the Rich

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Phuket Royal Marina is running the Pimax boat show right now. I've done my share of boat spotting before, but only saw the outsides. The great thing about a boat show, is you can get into the boats, clamber around and see how the rich live.

More than that, you can bring false hope to salesmen who think you're prepared to spend $5 million on their latest floating motorhome. Well at least I started out with that intention, but I was surprised to see a few boats in my price range, and even one of the large yachts could be hired for a week for the similar cost of an American holiday!

Suddenly the boating life doesn't seem so out of reach.

Continue reading "Phuket Boat Show, Not just for the Rich" »

March 20, 2013

Siray Island Phuket, Decay

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I've been visiting Siray Island, a small island right off Phuket town, connected to the main island by a bridge. It's just a short drive away on my scooter, so I thought I'd spend the day here.

Mostly it's been positive, some fun monkeys, a temple with spectacular views, a bay with a pier so long, you can walk to the end and be practically out at sea.

But towards the north end of this island, its a bit more decayed and a whole lot more annoying! See the map below, on Google I spotted a beach at the end of the road.

Continue reading "Siray Island Phuket, Decay" »

Phuket is Busy 2

Phuket is Busy!

Heroines Celebrations 13-16th March

Yamu Night Fishing Competition

OTOP Phuket City

Consecrating Wat Padungthamapotivad

Chinese New Year Failed

Escape from a Hangover

ISP Tektonic

Drifting Rocks Illusion

Gilding Buddhas

Bird Song Competitions

Phuket Triangle

Permits Revoked, Paradise Lost

Cassa Khiewchanta Indoor Swimming Pool

Cassa Khiewchanta, Snakes

Cassa Khiewchanta, Cleanup

Buddha Day 3/Aug/2012

Buddha Day, Candle Procession

Olympics Silver, 58kgs Womens Weightlifting!

Any idiot can drive a scooter

Rainy Day Fun: Soda Science

Rainy Day Fun: Wafer Biscuit Jenga

Vegetable Carving

Mall Wars Casualty : Siam Night Bazaar

Not Buddhism

Gang Hed on the Farm

Eat like a Thai: Phra Pradaeng

Superstar Monk, P.M.Sompong Talaphutto

Asiatique Night Market Bangkok

Mega Bangna Megarific

Hot today, time for the seaside

SpokeDark vs ZeFrank's Back

BIG+BIH Show Bangkok

Songkran in Chonburi, Sand and Crabs

Songkran in Bangsaen Chonburi, Seafood and Sunset

Songkran - Choose Your Weapons

Authentic Mang-Da Nam Prik, Bangkok

Liew Khiewchanta, Dead at 21

Bitec Thai Food Fair, January 2012

Chinese New Year, Bangkok

Chinese New Year

Home Made Acne Cream

Children's Day (2nd Sat in January)

Ekamai Bus Station Shortchanger

Sunken Markets

Ikea vs SB Design Square, Bangkok November 2011

Thai Red Cross Flood Relief

Lucky 235612, How the Thai Lottery Works

Flood Land, Phra-Khanong, Bangkok 30/10/2011

Terminal 21, Asok, Bangkok

Cassa Khiewchanta Street Cleaning Notice

Flooded Don Muang by Chihiro Train

How to Disinfect Fruit & Salad Vegetables

BIG+BIH Crystal After Shave

How to Clean Dirty Water

Flood Check 23/10/2011

BIG+BIH Wall Coverings

BIG+BIH I'm Not a Paper Cup

BIG+BIH Gift & Housewair Fair, Bitec, Bangkok 2011

Photos of the Floods

Flood Preparations 21st October 2011

Lightning Storm

Neck Warmer

A tale of two piers, Bangkok

Pork Chocolate Strawberry Crepe

Bituoy Flower

Chinese Buddha Temple, Samrong, Bangkok

Bangkok Island and the Flood Gates

Old Style Thai Candy

Womens Tonic

Handicraft Kit - OTOP

Dried Bananas with Honey Glaze, OTOP, Tak

Noni Juice & Galingale Health Drink -OTOP Nongkhai

OTOP - One Tambon, One Product

Bangkok is Sinking

Coiled String Bowls and Pots

When Localization Goes Wrong

Luang Por Waen Sujinno Model

Cardboard Model Books

Google Thailand, กูเกิลไทยแลนด์

Wok as a hand basin

Carved Coconut Duck

Familiar Photo??

Lacquerware Salad Bowls Jatujak

Dog Bottom Paper Dispensers

Walk through a Slum

Cable Noodles

Shy Plants

Cooking with Dog (It IS what you think)

Witches Pie Factory

Baiyoke Sky Tower, Bangkok

Sa La Pow - Cooking With Dog

Give up your seats for monks

I dare you

Say it with Chocolate

Jatujak Cock Fighting

Bullet Hole Decal

Food in Jatujak Market Bangkok

Jin-Joks Everywhere

Jatujak Little Find

Melonpan - Cooking with Dog

Bubble Blowing Penguin

Mystery Object Quiz

Mugging in Nakhorn Phanom

Seafood Filled Omellette Balls

Crazy Clocks Bangna Central City

Alien Statue Jatujak

Chopstick Shopstick

Huggy Bears

Clever boy plays the khene

Ghost Vendor

Handbag-ography

Custard + Cake + Cute = Corn Cob

Roasting Chestnuts, Bangkok

Lighting Thailand

Traditional Thai Nougat

Chinatown Ingredients

Fresh Chips/Crisps + Street Show, 20 Baht

Vibrant

English Taught To Thai Children

Thai Cut-less-lery

Black Thai Toothpaste

Another Jatujak Novelty

Bento Box Egg Moulds

Jatujak Market, Wooden Elephant

Iced Sweet Thai Tea

Big vs Little

Chinatown Fish Stomachs

Feeding Fish in Bangkok

Chinese Paper Funeral Possessions

Fortune Teller

Rainy Season Thailand

China Town Food

Jatujak Market Coffee Machines

Buddha by Day

A side order of democracy

70's Retro Chic Bangkok

Traditional Thai Condiments (Noodles)

Cooling Spray at MBK

Jatujak Horses

Clever Boy Plays Xylophone

Button Shoes at Jatujak

Viles Sold on the Street

Wan Assanhabucha, July 15th 2554

Dish Washing Soap Kit

Imperial World - Dynamo

Ice Crushing - Old Style

Centipede15" Scary, Ouiuuuwwww

School Supply Shop Bangkok

And the winner is.....Thailand

Red Light Jumping

Superstar Monks : Pra Mahasompong

String Wishes

Beansprouts Growing

Khiewchanta Wallpapers

My Father