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

Once an important satellite city of the ancient Sukhothai kingdom in north-central Thailand, the ruins of Si Satchanalai lie some 60 kilometres up the Yom River from modern “new” Sukhothai, and a day trip to Si Satch (as it’s known to locals) offers a more low-key atmosphere for exploring the ruins in your own way. … read the full post

As its name suggests, Boudoir in Ko Samui’s Mae Nam oozes sex appeal and romance, with opulent decor in rich colours, mood lighting and comfortable seating that encourages guests to linger over another bottle of wine. Huge portions of rustic French country dishes are served up at reasonable prices, making this small French restaurant one … read the full post

Phuket Aquarium is a modest, government-run attraction but it’s not a bad place to spend an afternoon on the cheap. The aquarium sits on the waterfront in Cape Panwa on Phuket’s east coast, about 10 kilometres from Phuket Town. Those who have ever been to a big-city aquarium like Siam Ocean World in Bangkok or … read the full post

Set in a leafy locale out in Thonburi‘s western reaches, Khlong Lat Mayom boasts a colourful atmosphere and some outstanding food in a market that’s popular among locals but little known to tourists. Like the markets at Bang Nam Phueng and Bang Khla, just to name a couple, Khlong Lat Mayom sprang up only in … read the full post