While the vast majority of Phuket’s populace is Buddhist and Muslim, the Christmas season always arrives in full glittering force to its sandy shores. Phuket malls are cranking out festive ambient tunes, hotel lobbies are lit up with sparkling faux-pine trees and young cashiers at various shops are sporting sexy Santa hats. Most Phuket resorts … read the full post

Spark! (that’s with the !) is a group of volunteer circus performers who try to add a little sparkle to the lives of disadvantaged children in refugee camps, migrant schools, hospitals and orphanages along the Thai-Burmese border. More than 200, 000 refugees are based in camps along the border, with a large proportion of them … read the full post

The only difficult thing about getting to Ko Tao from Bangkok is choosing from the myriad options available. What you choose will ultimately depend on your budget and how much time you have. When heading down to Ko Tao from Bangkok, your ferry jump off point on the mainland is Chumphon. To get there, you … read the full post

Opened just a few months ago on a sidestreet off lively Silom Road in Bangrak, Silom Art Hostel probably wins the prize for the most colourful accommodation in a city known for its bright and eclectic nature. If you prefer your hostel to be almost over-the-top funky but also comfortable and secure, the Art Hostel … read the full post

If it’s tradition you’re after for Christmas and you’ll be on Thailand’s Ko Samui, the island won’t let you down in the roast-with-gravy-and-all-the-trimmings department. Many of the resorts –and not only the high-end ones — include a compulsory gala dinner for Christmas Eve. If you’re paying for it, you may as well make the most … read the full post

Those unfamiliar with Bangkok’s nightlife may assume Bangkok has a monopoly on sleazy bars and not a whole lot else. But those who’ve spent a little more time — demonstrated some dedication, even — on discovering the city’s drinking establishments will know Bangkok has a very fine line in hipster hangouts, too. Often defined by … read the full post

Of all the scams to watch for in Phuket, the taxi rip-off deserves special mention. Anyone who has travelled through any other part of Thailand will be shocked the first time they hire a Phuket taxi or tuk tuk, which can be four or five times more expensive than trips of a similar distance in … read the full post

One of a few striking 200-plus year old churches in Bangkok, Assumption Cathedral is the centre of Catholicism in Thailand. The church is nestled in a historic area off Charoen Krung Road near the Chao Phraya River and is worth a visit whether worshipping or just sightseeing. Named after the biblical name for the death … read the full post

Khao San, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Pai and… Lampang? North Thailand’s Lampang city (capital of the province of the same name) has never been and probably never will be on anyone’s itinerary of hot Thai destinations. Well, so much the better for the trickle of more adventurous foreign visitors who do make the worthwhile detour to … read the full post

Old Saint Nick looked a bit thin last year thanks to the tropical heat (or mistaking chillies for candy canes), but he was still sighted in Bangkok riding in trains, ho-ho-ing beneath highway overpasses and soaring above the skyline in a magic flying-elephant-powered tuk tuk. Here’s where you can catch up with Santa for Christmas … read the full post