Thursday 26 Feb 2026

Good morning Bangkok. We're looking at 28–29°C (82–84°F) today under broken clouds, welcome to hot season, officially three days in. Air quality sits at 94 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate/yellow), so outdoor exercise is fine but maybe skip the sunrise jog if you've got dodgy lungs. Humidity's at 81%, which means you'll be peeling your shirt off by 10am. Today: a viral video that accidentally nails why we all live here, and a birthday party that really should've stuck to cake.

Foreign TikToker Alex Glabdorf has racked up millions of views with a cheeky reverse-psychology PSA: "Do not go to Thailand." The video, filmed while driving, features Glabdorf earnestly warning viewers to stay away — before revealing the country made him fall so hard in love that he can't imagine leaving. It's classic expat emotion disguised as satire, and the comments section is predictably full of "too late, I'm already here" and "this but unironically."

The video's struck a chord because it captures that specific feeling every long-term Bangkok resident knows: the simultaneous frustration and deep affection for a place that makes absolutely no sense until it's the only place that does. Glabdorf joins a long tradition of foreigners trying to explain Thailand to the internet, though most don't go viral doing it.

Bottom line: He's not wrong. Thailand gets under your skin, then into your bloodstream, then suddenly you're renewing your visa for the fifth year running and your home country feels like a distant memory. Share this with anyone who asks why you're still here — it's easier than explaining it yourself.

credit for photo: Khaosod English

Udon Thani police have busted what might be Thailand's worst-planned birthday celebration, arresting nine people and seizing 128,000 methamphetamine pills plus assets worth 2.2 million baht. The raid happened after authorities got wind of the "party" and showed up with a very different kind of surprise. Deputy Governor Phisit Chai Apaiyagul and senior police held a press conference outside provincial headquarters to announce the haul, which also included various other contraband.

This comes during an ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, with authorities increasingly targeting distribution parties and social gatherings where pills change hands. The seized assets suggest this wasn't just a party — it was a business meeting with balloons.

Bottom line: If you're going to throw a birthday party with enough pills to supply a small city, maybe don't. The baht-per-guest ratio here is truly staggering, and not in a fun way. Filing this under "ways to guarantee your friends don't show up to your next birthday."

Err, Sukhumvit Soi 20

Tiny shophouse restaurant that's been slinging proper Bangkok comfort food since before half the condos on this soi existed. The khao man gai is correct — glistening poached chicken, fat-rich rice, that punchy ginger-garlic sauce that clears your sinuses. They also do an excellent khao kha moo (braised pork leg) that arrives with the kind of gelatinous, flavour-packed skin that locals queue for. Absolutely zero English spoken, minimal seating, maximum flavour. Cash only, closes at 3pm or when they run out.

TIP: Go before 12:30pm on weekdays or accept you're queuing. The sauce is aggressively garlicky — either embrace it or don't have any afternoon meetings.

Experimental Edge at JAM (Tonight, 8 PM) Live electronic music night featuring Keith Hillebrandt, Benen, Inmintcondition, and more. If you like your Thursday nights weird and wonderful, this is it. JAM, Silom area.

Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair (Final Day, QSNCC) Last chance to browse over 1,300 exhibitors from 20+ countries at the 73rd edition of Thailand's biggest jewelry trade show. Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Free entry for trade visitors.

MotoGP Thailand 2026 (Friday to Sunday, Buriram) Three days of world-class motorcycle racing at Chang International Circuit. Worth the 4-hour drive or quick domestic flight if you are into motorsport. Tickets still available online.

Mozart Requiem at Phaya Thai Palace (Saturday, 6 PM) A concert in memoriam performed inside one of Bangkok's most beautiful historic venues. Not your typical Saturday night, but genuinely special.

Back to the 90s at Fatty's Bar and Diner (Saturday, 8 PM) Live music from Turbo Star, Matthew Fischer and Fishes, and Road Pop. If you miss the decade that gave us Oasis and Nirvana, this is your night.

Dogue Days Out at Emsphere (Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM to 8 PM) Bring your dog. Paw Yard at Emsphere hosts play equipment, chill corners, live music, pet dining from Pet Omakase, and photo ops with Bangkok's most followed pets. Free entry.

Pattaya International Kite Festival (Now through March 1) World-class character kites from 10+ countries right on Pattaya Beach. Great excuse for a day trip with the family.

Free electric boat rides on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem. 14 stops including Hua Lamphong and Banglamphoo. Runs 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Download the MuvMi app, tap Boat mode, and ride for free until the end of February. From March they start charging. Float past century-old shophouses and temple roofs while everyone else sits in traffic. You are welcome.

On 25 February 1948, communist rebels attacked a police station in Prachuap Khiri Khan, kicking off an insurgency that would simmer for decades. Today the province is better known for beach weekends and that one massive Buddha on the hill. Progress is ordering pad thai where people once traded gunfire, and honestly, we'll take it.

See you tomorrow morning. — Devon