Welcome to NamNoi.de

The Thailand Portal with travelogues, pictures, tips and information.

Some time ago I lived in Bangkok as a exchange student. I was visiting son in a Thai family, then went into a typical Thai school and plunged fully into the culture of Thailand.
On this website I publish my experiences and impressions of my school year in exchange of words and pictures.

My goal is to you an insight into the Thai culture, school, family, language of communication ... to. Let live performances - from the beginning to the end of this adventure in Thailand!

Elephants in Thailand

"Chang" means elephant in Thai and Thais love elephants, they promised happiness, both in nature and in icons. Phueak Chang called the white elephant, which are highly sacred for Thais. A symbol of royal power is the white elephant, a white elephant until 1917 the flag of Thailand (then still adorned Siam). But most of all Thais and tourists to visit villages of elephants in the jungle, "labor" or rearing - this ensures its survival. have shown in contrast to extra-decorated elephants stations, where tourists go to a show and then to an elephant ride, visitors can admire these animals in the elephant camp in their original work. heaviest load service in rough terrain, they do with strength, skill , stamina and intelligence. This is now allowed only in elephant villages, as working animals, elephants in Thailand are no longer allowed. In the past Thai kings rode on elephants in their battles, and only by elephants as beasts of the gigantic monuments of those times were achieved, Unfortunately, today there are many shabby mahouts (elephant driver), which elephants illegally dragged through the streets of the teeming metropolis of Bangkok, '. mahouts Bahts tourists give them bananas and photos. The only way they can pay for the upkeep of the animals yet, but apparently overlooked, unfortunately, that the asphalt jungle, and the smog for many bruised (baby) elephant quickly leads to death. Fortunately, a growing trend the survival and maintenance of save elephants in tourist camps and to protect wild elephants continue to. By the way: - In Thailand ...

Money Tree

Here in Thailand we see miraculous tree on which grows and flourishes money! So at least it has seemed. At any Buddhist festival - temple festival, priestly ordination, temple dedication, etc. are sacrificed by believers notes, a kind of bell-type bag. The green and red bills are elaborately draped on the tree branches, the more full of it, the more interesting of his looks! this tree in the photo I have met on a fair - a monk folded bill-Delicate fruit to the branches - the money tree was alms bag for the renovation of a temple. When I asked what it would take the tree, they told me that the tree represents the fig tree under which Buddha found enlightenment. Read More →

"Keep Thailand Clean"

Not only is the "village in the plum" (literally translated as "Bangkok") has big problems with its sewage system, air pollution and the continuous lowering of groundwater levels, even on islands such as Koh Samui, which is mentioned only since the early 70s in guidebooks, pile up the problems. On the way to the new airport on the island, I passed a large pond, filled with construction and household waste that was dumped into it without hesitation. In addition, as in many other parts of the island, stands a sign that read "Keep Clean Samui - Koh Samui Keep clean! One has even 2000 Baht (= 40 euros payable) punishment, one should be caught. They are 1 -- 2 months wages of a laborer, but it apparently has little deterrent effect. As stated in the posting "Environmental Protection - vicious circle mentioned above, Thailand has been used quite successfully against the illegal exploitation of precious woods, but this is and was only a small step towards a clean environment. Until the 90s led industrial and household wastewater without any purge in the Chao Phraya River, which flows through Bangkok. The establishment of a central sewage system is only beginning. From seven sewage treatment plants planned in Bangkok is just a very complete, with 2 more currently being worked hard. That should also hurry, because after all, the Chao Phraya River is the main watercourse of the city with 300 up to 400 meters wide, ten feet deep, in the dry season, the Chao Phraya River pushes up to 600 cubic meters of water per second! A tourist in transit has ...

Thai markets

I love Thai markets! There, the tastiest (and also getting used to tourists) and will be more food available. Much easier and faster than in restaurants, huge selection and prepared before your eyes - these are the markets held almost weekly, daily in Bangkok. More rows, I prefer these images: Worms, maggots, grasshoppers and fried crabs are available in almost every market in this way. They are, like almost all the dishes to take away, still warm, wrapped in plastic bags. Different types of noodles such as Chinese long rice noodles or egg noodles - delicious! meatballs on Spies! You can leave them in bags with hot sauce over it, fry it or eat it very unconventional by wooden sticks. Where to eat in your hand - dried squid. Dozens of quail eggs that are freshly prepared in front of the visitors. Unfortunately, I can not possibly be the whole spectrum The culinary delights offered in such markets, describe and illustrate in photographs. Every visitor should have visited Thailand in addition to one or two temples and such a market. Contrary to the allegations, I can confirm with a clear conscience that you can eat everything on Thai markets. If you have concerns, if what you eat is fresh, so there are hundreds of other foods that are fresh before your eyes ...

Restaurant visits

In a restaurant my mother has already brought the frequently something that they got on the road and bought bagged. They are mostly sweet dishes, which they have just laughed at. Will be required for this dish, all laid out and eaten in the restaurant. I can see no evil eye on this behavior. It is perfectly normal! Is also perfectly normal that you can pack up the remains after the meal. It is extremely ordered a lot - mostly horizontal menu. The table is always overflowing with a variety of dishes. Everyone takes what he tried just turns you on here and there - until he is satisfied. After dinner, everything is individually packed by the kitchen staff in the familiar plastic bags and placed in a large bag and given. Home to eat all the remains - the housekeeper and its people or we will - then the next morning what is left, it will be eaten for breakfast. degenerating So nothing, nothing is thrown in the trash, it is normal custom and no one is embarrassed to take some to the restaurant or can pack up the remains. But it is anyone embarrassed to eat the remains! Read More →

To cook or go eat?

In Thailand it is common that one buys food stalls. These are available in every nook and yes there are places or 'flying Kitchens' on by honking and making similar attention. Everywhere some people are 'flying Kitchens' - whether in schools, offices, bus stops .... The food is ratzfatz packaged in plastic bags and sealed with skillfully handles by rubber ring. Thus one often comes with 10-12 different food bags from 3-4 Fahrküchen home (if more than one person), rice is always done in the house and warm it, there are ingenious steam rice cooker. The food-buying is also suitable for Thai people. Cheaper, more varied and easier to obtain even when everything fresh and cook it. Stockholding in the sense does not exist - everything! is completely fresh, if in the usual family groups still an active grandmother and housekeeper, is usually already cooked at home or even if the mothers are at home. In Thailand it is common that mothers are employed. Restaurant visits by contrast, are not on the agenda. There is something special to go into a restaurant. Also can afford not or very rarely the lower strata of society. Read More →