As Asian countries go, Thailand is not an easy one in which to be a vegetarian or vegan. Yet for nine days each year during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar (typically late September/October), a large portion of the country’s population eat exclusively vegan foods in observation of the Chinese cleansing festival known … read the full post

These days there are quite a number of guesthouses along Lampang’s riverside Thanon Thalart Gao (Old Market Street), but Riverside Guesthouse stands out with its excellent location, helpful staff and pleasant, reasonably priced rooms. It’s in a top location for two reasons. Firstly, it’s got a genuine Wang riverside location (yes, we know it’s called … read the full post

Ao Chalong is a bustling harbour on Phuket’s southeast coast and one of the island’s main launching points for dive and snorkel trips. Chalong means “celebrate” in Thai, but unlike Patong Beach, its hedonistic west-coast cousin, it’s far from being a party zone. Chalong Bay’s coastline runs from Rawai Beach to the south and over … read the full post

Are you a little bit hipster? Do you want to show off to your friends that you know somewhere to drink in Bangkok that’s off the beaten track? Can’t afford a 300 baht cocktail but fancy a bit of al fresco drinking? Then Sky Train Jazz Club is for you. Contrary to its name, Sky … read the full post

One of Thailand’s premier historical parks, UNESCO-listed Sukhothai is conveniently located between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, making it a relatively easy addition to trips with tight time-frames. Here’s how to cover all the highlights of Sukhothai Historical Park’s main central, northern and western zones — plus a little something extra — in a single day. … read the full post

No-one enjoys visiting Chiang Mai immigration office but for all expats and many tourists in Thailand’s northern capital an occasional visit is unavoidable, so here are a few tips on how to make your trip as painless as possible. Chiang Mai immigration office is one of the most pleasant (or least unpleasant?) immigration offices or … read the full post

Fantastic green spaces are found in many Southeast Asian cities. Hanoi has West Lake, Singapore boasts Bukit Timah and Chiang Mai is graced by Doi Suthep to name a few. Yet only Bangkok’s Lumpini Park rubs shoulders with London’s St James Park and New York’s Central Park among the world’s best centrally located urban parks. … read the full post

A big red head. That’s what you see poking through the top of a building when driving along Ko Samui‘s ring road in Hua Thanon, just south of Lamai. So what is it? Virach Pongchababnapa, an islander of Chinese decent, aims to build a 16-metre tall bronze statue of Guan Yu, valued at 20 million … read the full post

Personally I would say, “No way Jose!” to anyone contemplating the undeniably risky method of getting about by motorbike on Ko Tao. However it would then be fair to accuse me of a certain amount of hypocrisy as I do indeed own and drive one. Well, chances are that unlike me — I own my … read the full post

If you’ve got less than 1,000 baht to spend and are looking for a centrally located, spacious air-con room near a BTS station in Bangkok with a solid array of in-room amenities plus a swimming pool and fitness centre — well, your options are very limited. Yet King Royal Garden Inn offers all of that, … read the full post