In January 2009, PersonalThailand published an informal tour of the country’s English-language blogs. The writer discussed rankings, linked to fellow bloggers and compared the subjects they covered. Looking back, the piece captures an era when individual websites and comment threads helped people make sense of daily life in Thailand long before today’s social-media feeds became so dominant.
The original list was opinionated, not a scientific ranking, and many sites mentioned then may have changed names, owners or availability. Rather than presenting a 2009 popularity table as current, it is more interesting to ask what made those early Thailand blogs useful—and how to find trustworthy voices today.
What a Thailand blog looked like in 2009
A typical blog had dated entries, a sidebar with favourite links and comment sections where regular readers debated the latest story. Some focused on travel, restaurants and weather. Others discussed transport, property, media, culture or political developments. The writers ranged from visitors recording daily experiences to academics publishing detailed analysis.
Readers often discovered websites through blogrolls: lists of links recommended by another blogger. Ranking websites attempted to turn visits and recommendations into a leaderboard, but the underlying numbers could be inconsistent. Being first on a list did not mean every article was accurate.
One enduring example: New Mandala
New Mandala is a well-documented example of the early Southeast Asian blogging movement. It was founded in June 2006 at the Australian National University by Andrew Walker and Nicholas Farrelly. The site’s own history describes its focus on Thailand and Myanmar before expanding to cover more of Southeast Asia.
Unlike a personal diary, it has developed an editorial approach to regional analysis and remains linked to the university’s College of Asia and the Pacific. That does not mean every opinion published there is the institution’s official position. The publication expressly distinguishes contributors’ views from those of its editors and host university.
For its 20th anniversary in June 2026, former editors reflected on how blogs once helped specialists reach general audiences and how public discussion moved toward social platforms. That first-hand account is a useful historical source in a way that a vanished 2009 traffic ranking cannot be.
Personal experience is valuable—but different from news
Someone writing about an apartment search in Pattaya, a long bus journey or a local festival can provide details a formal travel guide misses. Their first-person experience tells you what happened to them, on a particular day, under particular conditions. It does not establish the behaviour of every Thai person, all landlords or all transport companies.
News reporting should ideally separate verified events from commentary. A blog may combine both. Readers can enjoy the author’s personality while asking whether major factual claims have supporting documents, dates and identifiable sources.
How to judge a Thailand blog in 2026
- Check the date of each post and whether it has been updated for current rules or services.
- Look for primary sources when the article discusses visas, healthcare, finance or laws.
- Ask whether a story concerns a single person or is presented as a claim about the whole country.
- Notice affiliate links, sponsorships and other incentives that might affect recommendations.
- Cross-check important claims with official providers, government agencies or multiple independent reports.
- Distinguish a respectful disagreement with an argument from an unverified accusation about someone.
Anonymous writing is not necessarily worthless, and a large following does not guarantee truthfulness. The most valuable signal is whether a writer corrects mistakes, explains uncertainty and respects the difference between observation and evidence.
What blogs can still offer travellers and residents
Social platforms are excellent for short videos, immediate reactions and questions. Independent websites have different strengths: longer explanations, searchable archives and links that can be revisited months or years later. A carefully maintained blog can organise local transport advice, history or cultural observations in a way that gets lost in a fast-moving feed.
Older articles also have archival value. A 2009 complaint about internet speed or a local event can tell us what the writer experienced then, even if its practical instructions are obsolete. That is why an old page should preserve its original publication date when its body is revised responsibly.
Reading Thailand through more than one perspective
Thailand is not one voice. Reports from a resident of Bangkok, a person in the north, an island tourism worker and an academic may describe different realities. Seek perspectives in both Thai and English where possible, and be cautious about reducing people to stereotypes. Local language and context can change the meaning of an apparently simple story.
It also helps to check the original source of a translated claim, especially where dates, place names or administrative terms matter. A copied paragraph can circulate across blogs and social media without retaining its qualifications.
The legacy of the early Thailand blogroll
The 2009 post was partly a friendly challenge: help PersonalThailand compete with other Thailand websites. Today, a better question is how websites can earn a reader’s trust rather than merely a higher ranking. Good independent writing combines curiosity, transparent sourcing and a willingness to distinguish history from live information.
Blogging’s format has changed, but its central promise remains appealing. One informed person can describe a place with texture and detail, while readers can respond, question and learn. The best Thailand reading list is not necessarily the one with the most votes; it is the one that helps you understand more of the country.
