Jim Thompson was a designer, a silk magnate, a Thailophile, and, incidentally, a spy for the West. The history of his undercover involvement in the OSS and the personal politics of his later years are both fascinating and widely misrepresented. But at the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, you will hear about none of this. … read the full post

“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” – Rita Mae Brown Learning Thai is the best way to understand Thailand — the very essence of Thai relationships is expressed in the way language is used. The influence of the central Thai … read the full post

Oh, glorious weekends. They can never come soon enough, but when they do, we can be paralysed by the choices of things to do in Bangkok; lying prone in your hotel room, watching Thai soaps with the AC on full blast, is always a tempting option. But you’re in the city of angels, damn it!  … read the full post

The two cities that are arguably the most popular for travellers in Thailand, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, clearly have a lot to offer. How do they compare, in a nutshell? (Yes, we know we’re succumbing to some cliches here, but it’s part of the fun…) The food Chiang Mai: Signature khao soi; Isaan papaya salad, … read the full post

The bowling alley that I grew up going to was dark and cheap and rank: dented lanes, wheezing ball machines, worn furniture, and the smell of warm beer and cigarettes. The alley was inhabited by my middle class neighbours: secretaries, builders, teachers blowing off steam, chain-smoking cougars on the prowl, college kids lured in by … read the full post

If you’ve spent much time on the internet over the past decade, chances are, at some stage, you will have sat though one of the “Dancing Matt” videos on Youtube. American Matt Harding put together a short video of himself and his distinctive dance in a number of countries around the world in 2003 and … read the full post

Massage is recognised as an ancient art in Thailand and is one of the traditional medicine practices recognised by the government. Thai massage is basically doing yoga while wearing pyjamas, except you don’t have to actually do anything. So win-win all the way around! Thai massage is based on a concept similar to Chinese massage, … read the full post

For many Bangkok visitors, Dusit forever remains an unexplored green blob on their city map. If you have some time after hitting the city’s must sees, this royal district adds a distinctly European vibe to Bangkok’s Asian energy. After his visit to Europe in the mid-nineteenth century, King Rama V had Dusit modernised to echo … read the full post

Last week we talked about the three classic Bangkok must-sees, so this week let’s take a wander off the beaten track. Bangkok is one of those cities were many of the most memorable offerings are just below the surface. Amazing restaurants are tucked down back alleys, the best shops are hidden in the depths of … read the full post

Missing one of the holy trinity of Bangkok sites would be like missing the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Eiffel Tower in Paris or… well you understand where I’m going. So if you have only 24 hours in Bangkok, it will be a whirlwind of a day, but here are the three … read the full post