The lush tropical mountains of southwest Thailand’s Ko Adang rise from the Andaman Sea in dramatic fashion, looming over tiny Ko Lipe like a protective elder watches over a child. While Lipe has become highly developed in recent years, Ko Adang has remained a pristine natural haven, officially protected as part of the Tarutao National … read the full post

Bangkok is for gluttons. There are practically as many food stalls as people. And with the reliable public transportation and cheap motorbikes, you can keep your heart beating at a leisurely low rate. If you need a day to get yourself back on a healthy track, here are some suggestions. 06:00: Though Bangkok may feel … read the full post

Maybe I’m a cynical old whatever but… “monk chat club” sounds a little like monk feeding time in Luang Prabang. Not that it’s the tourists’ fault: the monks seem more than happy to go along with it. Luang Prabang novices have never been so well fed and Wat Chedi Luang donation boxes are brimming. But … read the full post

Feeling bored in Bangkok? Have you dried up like a coconut husk from a lack of excitement? It’s time for a day of random travel, Bangkok style. Random travel is simply that: motion for the sake of moving. The details of a culture are definitely written in the way that daily life is lived — … read the full post

ควาย or khwai is the Thai word for water buffalo. The water buffalo plays a big part in Thai culture and daily life, and they are a common sight here on Ko Samui. See an open patch of land with grass, and you are sure to find a buffalo tethered to a coconut tree, quietly … read the full post

Sometimes we end up with a fetching photo or two of Chiang Mai that doesn’t quite make it into a post here but we still think might be appealing for readers to see… So I’ve decided to pile them all in here along with a few tasters of what’s upcoming, and a reminder that any … read the full post

As someone who grew up with a father who would dumpster dive for kitchen tiles, and a mother who would drag home tattered couches from the street curbs, I was taught early about the natural high of stumbling across a ‘find’. You know, the shopping euphoria that washes over you when you find the most … read the full post

Despite being a gateway to picturesque Thale Ban National Park, Ko Lipe, and Malaysia’s Langkawi Island, the sleepy town of Satun in Thailand’s far southwest remains quite off the mass tourism radar. The town itself is surrounded by scenic limestone cliffs and mountains, has a good local night market, and is home to a unique … read the full post

It’s not what you normally want to think about on holiday, but sometimes you just need to see the doctor. Dengue fever, infected wounds, and motorcycle muffler burns seem to be unintended souvenirs for some in the kingdom. Luckily, Bangkok is an oasis of world-class medical care. Expatriates in the region normally choose Bangkok, Hong … read the full post

We cannot guarantee any uncharted rocks or icebergs on this cruise and the Nam Ou, Sangkar River, or even River Kok it is not, so don’t expect dramatic scenery; yet a cruise on the Ping River is a very pleasant way to while away a couple of hours. At least a couple of companies now … read the full post