Chiang Mai’s new museum district — as we’re calling it — offers not only the new Lanna Heritage Centre and the Chiang Mai Historical Centre but also the freshly upgraded Arts and Culture Museum. The museum is located in the splendid setting of the old provincial hall on Phrapokklao Road right behind the Three Kings Monument … read the full post

Lucky Restaurant, a no-fuss, no-frills establishment along Ko Samui’s Nathon seafront with views across to the ferries, is one of the area’s most popular restaurants, serving excellent and affordable Thai and Western food. The menu, which is also written on blackboards around the restaurant, shows off the kitchen’s versatility. From Thai food priced (and spiced … read the full post

Beyond basics like khop khun (thank you) and horng nahm yuu thee nai (where is the bathroom?), the Thai language draws on a pool of deeply emotional/spiritual words and ideas, many of which are difficult to translate. In the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting a handful of phrases that are useful, but will also allow … read the full post

Found on Phuket Road near the Old Town streets of Phuket Town, Casa Blanca Boutique Hotel offers a good base for exploring the area’s restored Sino-Portuguese buildings and sampling some of Phuket’s tastiest and best-value local food. Its rather grand lobby with a chandelier is a cool and tranquil retreat from the motorbike-clogged street out … read the full post

We’ve passed Home Cuisine Islamic Restaurant near Haroon Mosque on Charoen Krung Soi 36 several times, and as nearby Muslim Restaurant has long been a favourite of ours, we thought we’d see how Home Cuisine compares. While far from elegant, the restaurant aims for a classier ambiance than what you’ll find at no-frills Muslim Restaurant. … read the full post

Seethrough Bar and Restaurant on Ko Pha Ngan’s Haad Yao is a funky spot that nearly always has pumping tunes; it’s a great place to get in the mood to party, or just to chill out and internalise the beat. The staff are friendly and hilarious, always cracking jokes and sometimes even sitting down at … read the full post

Banyan House is one of the few bed and breakfast establishments on Ko Samui, where most accommodation is in the form of resorts, bungalows or apartments. The giant coffee cup outside invites you to stop, and what you first notice is a blue windowed conservatory that forms the restaurant. Tables are set in the lush … read the full post

We’ve enjoyed plenty of great vegetarian food in Bangkok, but one spot that slipped under our radar was Arawy Restaurant near Democracy Monument and a 10-minute walk from the epicentre of Bangkok’s backpacker scene, Khao San Road. If you’re in the mood for cheap, authentic and delicious Thai vegan food (ahaan jay) in a no … read the full post

Culturally eclectic Chanthaburi in eastern Thailand has long been home to large Chinese, Khmer and Vietnamese communities and was also influenced by the Shan from Burma as well as the French, who ruled the area from 1893 to 1905. This mixed heritage is evident in both the food and architecture that line the city’s narrow … read the full post

A quirky little coffee lounge-cum-interiors shop opened its doors in January 2013 in Ko Samui’s Choeng Mon. What you first notice driving past is a flash of vibrant purple, and then on closer look, some tables scattered along the pavement. Don’t take the bend too fast, or you’ll miss it – and Aroma Boutique is … read the full post