Sometimes we end up with a fetching photo or two of Chiang Mai that doesn’t quite make it into a post here but we still think might be appealing for readers to see… So I’ve decided to pile them all in here along with a few tasters of what’s upcoming, and a reminder that any … read the full post

As someone who grew up with a father who would dumpster dive for kitchen tiles, and a mother who would drag home tattered couches from the street curbs, I was taught early about the natural high of stumbling across a ‘find’. You know, the shopping euphoria that washes over you when you find the most … read the full post

Despite being a gateway to picturesque Thale Ban National Park, Ko Lipe, and Malaysia’s Langkawi Island, the sleepy town of Satun in Thailand’s far southwest remains quite off the mass tourism radar. The town itself is surrounded by scenic limestone cliffs and mountains, has a good local night market, and is home to a unique … read the full post

It’s not what you normally want to think about on holiday, but sometimes you just need to see the doctor. Dengue fever, infected wounds, and motorcycle muffler burns seem to be unintended souvenirs for some in the kingdom. Luckily, Bangkok is an oasis of world-class medical care. Expatriates in the region normally choose Bangkok, Hong … read the full post

We cannot guarantee any uncharted rocks or icebergs on this cruise and the Nam Ou, Sangkar River, or even River Kok it is not, so don’t expect dramatic scenery; yet a cruise on the Ping River is a very pleasant way to while away a couple of hours. At least a couple of companies now … read the full post

Jim Thompson was a designer, a silk magnate, a Thailophile, and, incidentally, a spy for the West. The history of his undercover involvement in the OSS and the personal politics of his later years are both fascinating and widely misrepresented. But at the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, you will hear about none of this. … read the full post

Wat Pan Tao is not one of Chiang Mai’s most famous wats but this small temple with its attractive teak viharn is well worth a peek, and since it’s conveniently located right next door to the prestigious Wat Chedi Luang it wouldn’t be going far out of your way to drop by. Wat Pan Tao … read the full post

“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” – Rita Mae Brown Learning Thai is the best way to understand Thailand — the very essence of Thai relationships is expressed in the way language is used. The influence of the central Thai … read the full post

This photo is actually from a few years ago during Chinese New Year celebrations along Yaowarat Road in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown. The scene was an absolute heaving melee of people, all wearing red and having fun to a background of throbbing drums and clanging cymbals. The woman below was enjoying a final pause … read the full post

Most residents of Ko Samui have a love-hate relationship with Samui airport, located in Bang Rak, in the island’s northeast. The airport has to be one of the most beautiful in the world: cute, tropical and welcoming. Tastefully built and furnished in true island style without being tacky, the airport is for the most part … read the full post