Story Archives

Thailand Travel Stories

Phi-Phi Island, Thailand: A Paradise Tinged with Sadness
- Story by Jason Gaskell, Msc.
- 10th Online Issue

December 26th 2004 – a now infamous date that many people will remember as a day when one of biggest natural disasters in modern history hit South-East Asia. A tsunami caused by an Indian Ocean earthquake surged around the region killing an estimated 225,000 people in eleven countries. More than $7 billion in humanitarian aid was sent out to help rebuild the area, and almost four years on, the reconstruction is not yet complete. I went to Phi-Phi Island, Thailand, and witnessed some of damage still remaining; and some of the scars that had not yet healed over—

Read more of this article...

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Mystical Elephant Encounters - Story by Sharon Spence Lieb
- 9th Online Issue

In my fantasy, I am Keeper of the Royal Elephants for his Majesty, The King of Thailand.

"Bring me a female White Elephant," my King commands. "Sacred and rare, they're not easily found. I hear they are charmed by purple orchids."

"Your Majesty," I stammer, "In all my years as your Royal Elephant Keeper, I have never captured a White Elephant. Wherever shall I look?"

"The Mae Sa Valley," he smiles. "She will be bathing in a shady river. Delight her with purple orchids, then deliver her to me in secret. A most special surprise for the Queen's birthday!

Read more of this article...

 

Kanchanaburi, Thailand: Elephants and Friends - Story by Lauren Hayhurst
- 9th Online Issue

I had not expected getting on an elephant to be so difficult. My two friends had mounted and were riding off professionally into the distance.  “Perhaps you should just walk and help bathe her in the river.”  I looked at Phot and sighed with determination. I then turned to Boonmi, slung my left leg over her back and heaved. She rose to standing and ruffled her shoulders, arranging me in the crook of her neck. I tucked my knees behind her ears and leaned my hands on her broad head; Boonmi flapped her ears in agreement. As the thin, rough skin of her lobes stroked against my bare calves, a wave of respect and understanding washed over me. I had fallen in love.

Read more of this article...

 

Surin Island, Thailand: The Sea Gypsies of Surin Island: The Wake of the Tsunami Brings Both Help and Harm to Thailand’s Mogen People - Travel Story by Antonio Graceffo
- 7th Online Issue

One of the smallest ethnic minorities in Asia, The Sea Gypsies were virtually unknown by the outside world until the 2004 Tsunami ravaged South East Asia. One of the most amazing stories reported by the international press was that not one of the Sea Gypsies died. Having lived in close communion with the sea for centuries, the Sea gypsies knew well in advance when the Tsunami would hit and they all took refuge in the mountains.

Read more of this article...

Ubon, Thailand: Monks in Taxis - Story by Warren Lieberman
- 3rd Online Issue

My assignment as a microwave radio repairman at Camp Warin Thailand in 1965 had two great perks; work in air-conditioned trailers and scheduled time off.

Time off gave me an opportunity to experience the local scene and explore the countryside. I worked closely with an American civilian, Ryan Laughlin, who worked at Camp Warin. He had everything I didn’t - money, girls, houses in town and motorcycles, all beautiful concepts to a twenty-year old without any.

Read more of this article...

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Thailand's First Reptile School for Snake Charmers- Story by Ivan T. Brecelic
- 2nd Online Issue

The midday show is about to begin at this hole-in-the-wall snake farm in Chiang Mai, a resort town in Northern Thailand. The big draw card today is one of the Kingdom’s top snake handlers, Manut Oemme, 45, a.k.a. Snake Man, and his apprentice, Jay Defario, 30, a New Yorker who will soon be a certified snake-handler.

Mae Rim Snake Farm is also the first venue of its kind in the Kingdom to offer snake-handling courses. It’s situated 15-kilometers outside of Chiang Mai, in the lush rolling hills of Mae Rim that’s home to a plethora of animal shows, from monkeys, elephants, dogs, to snakes.

Read more of this article...

Bangkok, Thailand: River of Reflections - Story by Sim Jui Liang
- 2nd Online Issue

Hanging on the toilet wall of the surprisingly tame Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant at Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, is a framed photograph of the Chao Phraya River. Like a bale of light blue silk, it flows through historic Bangkok, slicing it into Thonburi and Rattanakosin, with the famous Wat Arun on one side and the Grand Palace on the other.

The mighty river was a misleading picture of stillness and tranquillity. As I returned to my travelling companion Alvin and our table of devoured green curry and mountain chicken with wild honey, my mind was made up.

Read more of this article...

Ubon, Thailand: The Gun - Story by Warren Lieberman
- 2nd Online Issue

I squeezed into the rear of the ¾-ton truck for the fifteen-minute trip to Ubon. Sergeant Joshua Tremont and a driver sat up front. Dan Ortiz, Pete Guilbert and two others, whose names and faces now elude me, rode with me in the rear. It was only 4pm and I already downed three beers at the Cobra Club. A quick start for the night ahead.

Tremont was in charge, but he could be just as wild as the rest of us. This was our first trip to town from the boonies in over a month. Only about six miles from Ubon, Camp Warin seemed like the middle of nowhere.

Read more of this article...

Mae Sot, Thailand: Mae Sot Fight Club - Story by Ivan T. Brecelic
- Premier Online Issue

In a pivotal scene in Fight Club, Tyler puts it to Jack. "How much can you really know about yourself if you've never been in a fight?"

Ritdech Sitwanoi, 15, is about to find out. He's tough as nails. And though bare-knuckle kick boxing doesn't pay much, he's keen to get in the ring in a few days and test his mettle. The purse is 500 baht for a Thai winner, 400 for a Burmese and 100 each for a draw: he is obviously not doing it for the money.

Read more of this article...

Bangkok, Thailand: Cornflakes and Pythons - Story by Ian Douglas
- Premier Online Issue

For once it was not my alarm clock that woke me. Instead the high-pitched shrieks of my wife yanked me from dreamland.

"Come quick, very big snake in the garden!" She screeched in her thick Thai accent. I stumbled sleepily downstairs, cussing to myself.

"How long is it going to be? Two foot? Three foot?" I pondered mockingly. In the kitchen both my wife and the maid were screaming like banshees. Pushing them aside in a brave, manly fashion I peered through the window. Outside on our veranda, lay an equally sleepy twelve-foot python. I began screaming in harmony with the womenfolk.

Read more of this article...

Submit your story from Thailand

We are always looking for new stories to feature in every online issue of Oriental Tales. If you have a story you wish to submit, please read our submission guidelines before emailing us your article.