For many short-term travellers to Bangkok, a quick jaunt across the Chao Phraya River to the splendid Wat Arun is all that’s experienced of Thonburi. Though largely away from the tourists, Thonburi is home to some of the area’s richest history and culture, and its overall laid-back, artsy and at times quirky atmosphere make it … read the full post

We did previously do a general outline of consulates in Chiang Mai but since it was dear old Liz’s jubilee recently (you can’t have missed that — it even brought tears to the eyes of some of our French mates!) and of  course with the London Olympics raring to go very soon (you’re going to … read the full post

With the monsoon now in full swing in Thailand’s Andaman Sea islands, few tourists are found and bungalows are boarded up. Yet, despite the rain, locals navigate longtail boats through the waves to put fish on their tables, endure the dampness to tap rubber trees, coerce water buffalo to plough fields, take the time to … read the full post

Picture a village inhabited by all the different types of Thai fruit. A group of exuberant young grapes and rambutans goof off as pretty lychees and strawberries giggle. A cheerful rose apple works in the garden as well-dressed pineapples gossip with ripe papayas about the carefree oranges, mangoes and coconuts mixing it up on the … read the full post

Having snacked, supped and cappuccino-ed your way along the Tha Pae side of town you’ll probably be ready to hit the much quieter southside of Chiang Mai’s old city. Well, okay, it’s true you’ve got to ignore the four lanes of traffic, but the roadside action is much less in what’s more of a low-key … read the full post

Magnolia Cafe in Ko Samui’s northern Chaweng is a European-style coffee shop with comfy chairs, couches, newspapers and subdued lighting. Other than Starbucks, there are few establishments on Samui with a real coffee-shop type atmosphere, but this place has that lounge about, read the paper, catch up on gossip with friends feel about it. Entering … read the full post

Within a city bursting with history and doused with malls, culture comes in many forms. In a Terminal 21 shopping line, in Wat Pho on the river, around the ring of a muay Thai boxing fight. This weekend, I sought out another shade of Bangkok’s cultural mishmash, along the busy streets of the financial district Silom. … read the full post

If you include all the stands slinging coffee streetside, there have to be a million coffee shops in Bangkok. Being the coffee enthusiast (read: addict) that I am, I’ve probably tried half of them. Most sell a standard mix of decent Thai coffee, overly sweet lattes, milky chah yen (Thai iced-tea), a few juices and … read the full post

In this modern age of factories and mass production, increasingly few artisans carry on the traditional ways of a craft. Like the flute makers of Baan Lao and alms bowl producers of Baan Bat, however, Jiam Sangsajja bronze studio in the tiny bronze-smith village of Baan Bu in Thonburi defies the odds by keeping its … read the full post

Chiang Mai railway station serves around a million passengers a year, making it one of the busiest stations in Thailand. The station building itself was first opened in 1922 when Thailand’s northern line was completed with help from German engineers, though the current construction dates from 1948, since the original was destroyed by Allied bombing … read the full post