Chiang Mai has loads of cafes; the local brew is excellent, the accompanying bakeries are good and nearly all come with free WiFi and pleasant seating areas. But when we came come across this interesting variation on a coffee shop theme the other day — a piano bar coffee shop — we thought it was … read the full post

A handful of youngsters kick a soccer ball along the beach. Early evening smoke rises from a grilled fish vendor’s cart. A soft orange glow blankets the sky as gentle waves lap upon the shore. Life has returned to normal in the picturesque seaside hamlet of Baan Nam Kem, but memories of the day in … read the full post

In the centre of Bangkok’s busiest shopping and business district, Sukhumvit, a plethora of kimchi awaits. Sukhumvit Plaza, one of Bangkok’s oddest architectural eyesores between Soi 10 and Soi 12, is also home to two floors of Korean restaurants, markets and specialty item stores. Informally known as Little Seoul or Korea Town (but without the … read the full post

Samui Heritage Resort is tucked away and would not easily be stumbled upon without knowing it was there. The only access is through a shopping complex, with the resort located at the end of the row of shops and businesses. A teal stucco, stone and wood entrance guarded by lion statues welcomes guests. You’ll need … read the full post

We begin our circumnavigation of Chiang Mai’s old city at the northwest corner known as Hua Lim, for no particular reason other than you have start somewhere. And we move in a clockwise direction simply because it’s considered the more auspicious by Buddhists. This is where Huay Kaew Road heads off west past Central Huay … read the full post

Thai people from different parts of the country don’t always agree on everything, but one area that without question pervades all of Thailand is a love for the spicy, salty, sour and sweet flavours of Isaan-style salads. As a bit of a disclaimer, while these salads are on the whole considered northeastern Thai (Isaan) cuisine, … read the full post

Moonhut Bungalows is a great budget option on Ko Samui’s Mae Nam beach. Arriving at Moonhut from a windy dirt road, the initial impressions may be mixed:the entrance is quaint, with a signposted archway leading to a tree-lined avenue with a beach sand floor, but a stagnant river to the left, at least when we … read the full post

In the concrete maze of Bangkok, colourful flowers brighten up the greys around every corner, but it’s not just because they look nice; flowers play a pivotal role in an ancient Thai tradition of making offerings to spirits and sacred representations as tangible expressions of kindness and generosity. Bangkok’s biggest flower market, Pak Khlong Talaat, … read the full post

As part of Thailand’s largest contiguous wildlife preserve, the ancient jungles and emerald waters of Khao Sok National Park should be far more than an after-thought while on a Thai island holiday. Khao Sok is a must for nature-loving travellers to south Thailand, but given the sparse info available online (stay tuned for fresh Travelfish.org … read the full post

This is a slight departure from our usual topics as we look at an excellent new Chiang Mai initiative in the field of natural medicines and beauty treatments. Skin cream,  herbal shampoo, moisturiser, hair restorer (oops too late for that!)… have I  finally lost the plot? I’ll admit that having (very tentatively and making sure … read the full post