Kayen in Mae Hong Son

Faces of Asia
The twin from Mae Hong Son, Thailand

In my series of Faces of Asia, here some photos I made in Mae Hong Son. Begin 2000 & 2001 I came a lot in Mae Hong Son and did visit the famous Long Neck Village. The first photo was made in the village, the other 2 photos were made in real life while traveling in the area of Mae Hong Son in North Thailand.

Faces of Asia
Young Kayen girl in Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Faces of Asia
Young Kayen girl in Mae Hong Son, Thailand

🌍 Mae Hong Son, Thailand

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The Corona Crisis in Thailand

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Writing 3 July 2020 it seems that at some places in the world the Corona Crisis calms down. And looking to the covid-19 numbers in Thailand it looks OK here. But it have been a few months of Staying Home and we had to close our homestay for a few months. We are just opening this month again. And as Nan province is for 95% Thai tourisme we do not really notice that there are no foreigner tourists. And well I did loose a few jobs abroad, and there ain't going to be jobs for me this year. So yes we are effected also and the Corona Crisis did change our life a bit. Like ordering food, we now have FoodMan in Pua and we order many time our lunch. Very easy. And because many people became unemployed in Bangkok, Phuket or wherever also many young people came back to their hometown. Also in Pua you see now more young people and some started a new business here, like the FoodMan. And a few nice new western style restaurants. So it is not all bad and I hope the new business will succeed. An…
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How about the air quality in July?

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The raining season has started, most of the burning has stopped for the moment and had some rain this morning but at the moment a blue sky with some clouds and a cool breeze. Lovely weather and at the moment the US AQI is 17 here with a PM2.5 of 4.1 µg/m3. That is a huge different with 27 March 2020 when the US AQI was 108 here with a PM2.5 of 38.2 µg/m3. Hopefully we will enjoy this lovely clean air until at least end of February 2021. Then the burning will start again. And again suddenly everybody is shocked and everybody is screaming that something will be done. Keep on dreaming ... the cheap agriculture products supply the elite with a good profit. So the farmers in will keep on producing short-term agriculture like corn and cassava. And again many people living will directly and indirectly die of air pollution. The forest in the mountains will be cut down and nobody sees it until in the raining season there are mud-slides. And also then suddenly everybody is shocked and everybod…
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Staying legally in Thailand 2020

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This is about staying legally in Thailand. I love living in Thailand, it feels like my home. But although I am now living here more as 18 years, I still not have (and probably never will have) a permanent residence status or Thai passport. So that means that every year I will have to apply for a new Visa or a new Extension of Stay (EOS). Last year I did get a 1 Year Multi-Entry Non-Immigrant "O" based on marriage because I had overlooked a small thing when applying for an Extension of Stay. As this would end within 6 weeks from now I started the process for Applying for an Extension of Stay (EOS) based on marriage.
What is an "Extension of Stay"? Simply .... exactly what it says. And Extension of Stay permits you to stay longer in Thailand. Like I entered Thailand with a 1 Year Non-Immigrant "O" Visa, that permitted me to stay in Thailand until a certain date. As long as this visa is valid I can enter Thailand and get a 90 days entry-stamp. So 1 day befor…
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On the motorbike making the Bo Klua Loop in Nan province

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Reposting from 2018. Nan province is motorbike riding heaven, so as motorbike rider living in Nan province I have plenty of choice for stunning routes to ride. The "Bo Klua Loop" is a famous loop to do from Nan town, but I do it from Pua. From where I am living it is only 48 km via route 1256 to Bo Klua, passing Doi Phu Kha National Park and Viewpoint 1715. From Bo Klua I first took the scenic route along the Mea Mang River. This is small road between the rice fields in the valley of Bo Klua and connects to route 1081. I then followed route 1018 in direction of Pua, but about 15 km before Pua I took a slightly different route back home. A few km route 1170 and then short-cut that goes to Pa Klang. Pa Klang is a group of villages created by the government as resettlement for Hmong & Tai Lue from the mountains of Doi Phu Kha. A total of 120 km, perfect for an early morning ride. Following is a serie of photos I made long route 1256 and route 1081.











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Travel Tips : Dual pricing in Thailand

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Probably thanks to Richard Barrow in Thailand there was an article in the Bangkok Post about the infamous dual pricing system that is used at many places in Thailand. There even is a facebook dedicated to 2pricethailand. Dual what?? Well very simple, at some / many places non-Thai people pay a higher price as Thai people. Almost all National Parks use a dual pricing system, although some do not. Now you could argue that non-Thai do not pay tax in Thailand so it would be normal if they pay a little bit more. But also many private business use a dual pricing system. So it has actually nothing to do with paying tax. And sometimes the price difference is not a little bit but just 15 or 20 times the price Thai people pay. The all dual pricing system in Thailand is a bit more complicated as you think. Personally I refused to go to places that practice dual pricing but there are many ways to view the dual pricing system.
If you do not read Thai then you might not be aware of the dual pricing…
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Visiting The Signature at NaN in Nan town

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The Signature at NaN is located between the rice fields at the village Ban Nam Tuan, just 1 km from Nan town. And it is not only a luxury accommodation but also a Coffee Shop serving hot & cold drinks + cakes & snacks.

Information of The Signature at NaNBan Nam Tuan, east side of Nan River.Facebook : The Signature at NaNRoom rate : 1.000 - 3.000 Thai baht incl. breakfastRestaurant : Serving only cakes & snacksSwimming pool : NoPrivate parking : YesNumber of rooms : 6 standard (32 sqm) and 2 deluxe (50 sqm)TIPCheck available accommodation atBOOKING or AGODA


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An early morning at Non Na Pua Homestay in Pua

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After a comfortable night sleep you wake-up at Non Na Pua, open your window and over loop the rice fields & mountains of Doi Phu Kha. Due to Covid19 Non Na Pua Homestay closed begin February 2020 and will open its doors again at 1 July 2020. Come and enjoy the green season in Pua, North Thailand. Non Na Pua offers special promotion for returning customers, booking directly or for booking more as 2 days. You can find Non Na Pua between the villages Ban Hia and Ban Ket, just 4 km away from Pua in Nan province, North Thailand. To book directly with Non Na Pua send a message via Facebook Messenger or Line Messenger. Or send an email to Booking @ Non Na Pua.




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The corona effects on the tourism sector in Thailand

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Warning : Following writing is based on my personal experience while living in Thailand and what I personal think about it. Due to the Corona Crisis worldwide International Traveling is at an almost standstill. Since a few months all borders of Thailand are closed, although now (end July 2020) some foreigners are allowed to enter Thailand. This of course has a huge effect on the tourism sector in Thailand. But mind you there are a few other sectors / groups of people in Thailand that are hugely effected by it.
Schools need foreigner teachers but if a foreigner wants to go work for a school he will need to get an other visa. And that can only be given at an embassy outside Thailand.Factories & construction depend on cheap labour from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. But they all left Thailand and now can not come back.Tourists stranded in Thailand because they could not return to their home country.Thai people (with family) abroad that can not return to Thailand. But let's get back …
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Travel Tips : Checking your entry-stamp

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Without going into personal details I though it would be a good idea to make sure you know about your duty as a traveller into Thailand. When entering Thailand the immigration will give you an entry-stamp ** with a certain date. This date depends on you visa & nationality. This date gives you the permission to stay in Thailand until that date. But ALWAYS check if this date is correct, because it is your passport and YOU are responsible for a correct entry-stamp. If you think the entry stamp is not correct then STOP and GO BACK to immigration.

Example you do not have a visa and have France nationality. The immigration should give you a visa-free entry-stamp of 30 days. But the immigration officer can make a mistake and gives you 60 days.  Happy!! No! Because YOU could get in trouble for that.

How? When you leave Thailand after 55 days and the immigration officer puts your name in the system it will say you are on overstay of 25 days. At 500 Thai baht per day! YOU should know that …
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Transport on the Thai highways

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Reposting from 2016. Typically This Is Thailand (TIT). Transport on the Thai highways is always full of eye-catching events. And sometimes more as just the eye. And this looks funny but actually it is endangering the road safety & lives of all people on the road. For more of This Is Thailand moments click HERE.
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