Tag Archives: thailand

THE POLITESSE OF PALM BEACH COPS by Peter Nolan Smith

April 15, 2025 – 1:16 pm

Back in the summer of 2008 I was taking care of a Palm Beach mansion. It was deep off-season and hurricane season was coming on fast. One evening I went over to my friend’s house close to the center on town. After dinner Lisa killed me at scrabble. She scored 33 points for xi, which […]

By Peter | Posted in 2000s, animals, Florida, semi-fiction | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Mad Dogs And Farangs in the Sun

April 13, 2025 – 9:22 am

Last week I met Jamie Parker on Soi Chaiyapoon. I hadn’t seen him in ages. He looked ten years younger and said, “Botox. Only cost 5000 baht.” No wrinkles around his eyes and those furrows in his forehead had been smoothed out like 5-star hotel sheets. I was a little jealous. “So now you’re ready […]

By Peter | Posted in 2000s, farangs, friends, Pattaya, semi-fiction, weather | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Songkran Sanuk – 2000

April 13, 2025 – 3:31 am

The Songkran celebration ushers in the Thai New Year as well as the coming of the rains to endy the hot season. The 2000 festival has been focused on Wan Parg-bpee April 14, when homage was to be paid to ancestors, elders and other persons deserving respect, because of age or position. Traditionally younger people […]

By Peter | Posted in holiday, Pattaya, Thailand, Traditions | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Allergy to Silence 2004

April 13, 2025 – 2:16 am

2004 Pattaya It’s the start of the Songkran festival and the temple across the our house on Moo 9 in Pattaya has set up loudspeakers to harangue the city dwellers into not drinking too much during the holidays. Debicel level 110. 24 hours a day. Thankfully I can’t understand a word they are saying and […]

By Peter | Posted in Health | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Lightning Strike More Than Once 2008

April 13, 2025 – 1:45 am

Songkran signals the approach of the rainy season. The collision of wet warm fronts with hot dry fronts stimulate epic lightning storms. My girlfriend always insisted on shutting off every electrical device in the house other than the fans. Thais shiver in fear of a lightning strike with good reason. Everyone knew someone who had […]

By Peter | Posted in superstitions, Thailand, weather | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)