Travelfish correspondent David Luekens

Usually found exploring Bangkok's side streets or south Thailand's islands, David Luekens is an American freelance writer & photographer who finds everyday life in Asia to be extraordinary.
Website: http://bodhidharmaseyes.com

Posts by David Luekens:

• Catching minibuses at Victory Monument

  First published: 10 May 2012
  

  Technically speaking, Bangkok has only three long distance bus terminals. Yet the buzzing streets around Victory Monument are a base for fleets of minibuses, not to mention endless streams of local buses, a BTS station, and enough taxis, motorbikes and tuk tuks to make your head spin. Finding the right minibus can be tricky because … read the full post

• Bang Khla floating market

  First published: 07 May 2012
  

  What do you get when you take a picturesque river setting and add friendly locals on row boats serving a plethora of fantastic, traditional Thai food? On a recent day trip to Bang Khla floating market east of Bangkok we found the definitive answer: a lot of very happy people. Like most of Thailand’s modern … read the full post

• Phang Nga’s Manora Waterfall

  First published: 07 May 2012
  

  Where I come from, waterfalls are generally not marked with their own sign along the road unless they’re something truly impressive. In Thailand, however, every little trickling stream seems to be advertised as this or that “waterfall”, and more than once I’ve hiked several kilometres only to find something less impressive than a fountain you … read the full post

• Review: Bangkok’s Wat Saket and the Golden Mount

  First published: 04 May 2012
  

  One of Thailand’s most treasured temples, the Golden Mount of Wat Saket glistens above Bangkok’s historic Banglamphu area as imposingly today as it did more than 200 years ago. Wat Saket’s living history, peaceful atmosphere and panoramic views of Bangkok have made it one of my favourite major sites in the city, and when a … read the full post

• Bangkok’s Baan Bat temple supplies neighbourhood

  First published: 26 Apr 2012
  

  Historic sites are often the main draw for travellers, but exploring ancient neighbourhoods built around important historic landmarks can sometimes be even more fascinating than the sites themselves. While recently wandering the narrow side streets around Bangkok‘s Wat Saket, I stumbled on the gritty but intriguing temple supply neighbourhood of Baan Bat, which has been … read the full post

• Thailand’s Ko Phra Thong

  First published: 25 Apr 2012
  

  Straddling Thailand‘s west coast near the town of Khuraburi, the relatively large but little known island of Ko Phra Thong – or Golden Buddha Island — is wide, flat and desolate. It’s no wonder people gave up searching for a solid gold Buddha image that was supposedly buried here centuries ago. At first glance there … read the full post

• Khlong Suan old market

  First published: 19 Apr 2012
  

  Chatuchak and Siam Square are great places to shop in Bangkok, but if looking for an authentic, non-touristy Thai market, sometimes it’s necessary to stray off the beaten path. Khlong Suan old market is most certainly out of the way, to put it nicely, or in the middle of nowhere, to be blunt, but for … read the full post

• Bangkok’s best duck noodle soup?

  First published: 14 Apr 2012
  

  Thai people are not known for being overly serious about too many things, but when it comes to food, Thailand means business. So when some locals recently let me know about a nondescript restaurant tucked away in Sathorn‘s Larai Sap market that has possibly the best roast duck egg noodle soup (ba mee nahm ped) … read the full post

• Jungle trekking on Ko Ra

  First published: 13 Apr 2012
  

  Unknown to many, the small island of Ko Ra off Thailand‘s west coast offers a unique nature oriented experience for environmentally conscious travellers who don’t mind roughing it a bit. The one place to stay, Koh Ra Eco Lodge, began as a base for the non-profit Reef Check Thailand some years ago and continues to … read the full post

• Photo essay: Wild Ko Surin

  First published: 11 Apr 2012
  

  Many who come to Thailand are still looking for one thing and one thing only: that idyllic, isolated, unspoilt island. I’ve been to more than a few of Southeast Asia’s pristine islands, but none have quite had the sparkle of Ko Surin. While it lacks the creature comforts of more developed islands, Ko Surin, which … read the full post