Typically, the purpose of a rooftop bar is to experience the cool breeze of the heady heights of the 66th (or another ridiculously high) floor and enjoy incredible cityscapes. Bangkok’s Nest, the rooftop lounge at Le Fenix Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11, doesn’t really offer much fresh breeze, nor views. Okay, so there is definitely … read the full post

So you have run the gauntlet of choosing a dive centre on Ko Tao. You have decided whether you want to take the SSI or PADI course. What should you expect while you are studying how to dive? Firstly, you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. If you have any of the conditions … read the full post

Over the past couple of weeks I stayed at eight hotels and guesthouses on Phuket in Thailand — at Nai Yang and Surin beaches in the north and Phuket Town to the south. For seven of the eight, I booked at least one night through Agoda with an average night costing 838 baht net. Did … read the full post

Thailand’s Isaan region has been occupied since at least 6,000 years ago, when hunter gatherer tribes first migrated over the Phetchabun ranges from central Thailand, archeological work at such sites as Ban Non Wat in the Mun Valley in Khorat, Nok Nok Tha in Khon Kaen and Udon’s Ban Chiang has shown. Fertile valleys such … read the full post

In Chinatown’s maze of alleyways, overloaded vespas and tuk tuks vie for space with street food vendors, shoppers from around the world and old school human-powered pushcarts. Shopping here is a grittier and more crowded experience than, for example, Terminal 21, Asiatique or even Chatuchak, but there’s nothing like getting lost in Chinatown‘s colourful markets … read the full post

The Big Buddha of Phuket is a gleaming white 45-metre-tall statue that sits atop the highest peak of the Nakkerd Hills in Ao Chalong. Visible from many places across the south of the island, the Big Buddha’s become one of the most popular attractions on Phuket since construction started on it in the early 2000s. … read the full post

Le Beach Club, located along the 4169 Ring Road, just before Bang Po enters Nathon, has added a fresh breath to an area of Samui that was looking a little neglected. Several little beach bars have recently popped up along this road, so it’s worth heading this way, particularly at sunset hour. We weren’t quite … read the full post

Right up there with ornate temples and spicy food, Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) is one of the first things that comes to mind when most think of Thailand. Catching a fight in the world’s Muay Thai capital — Bangkok — is considered a must-do for many visitors, and a good number of them head to … read the full post

Covering some 160,000 square kilometres, the northeastern region of Thailand, I-san*, accounts for nearly a third of the kingdom’s surface area and includes 20 provinces with a total population of approximately 22 million. Geographically and still to a large extent culturally, I-san possesses a unique identity distinct from that of Central, Northern and Southern Thailand. … read the full post

We have all done it. Far in the back of a cupboard lies a box of corny oh-my-word-what-was-I-thinking souvenirs from past holidays. Some things feel so right in the heat of the moment and we end up buying useless junk that is not a true reminder of our adventures away. Here’s a suggested list to … read the full post