One of our clear budget accommodation favourites in Chiang Mai is the aptly named, to give it its full title, Chiang Mai Blue House. Being a pleasant shade of blue, full of lush plants and attractive wooden and bamboo furniture, it’s also one of the most photogenic. Blue House consists of a three-storey, L-shaped building … read the full post

It’s not been the end that most would hope for — a clean whooshing sound as all of the flood water washed out to sea and left Bangkok licking its wounds and restocking its 7-Elevens. The floods are *not* over — not for millions in the northern suburbs, not for millions who live across the … read the full post

Southwest Thailand’s Ko Muk is a two-sided island. In other words, civilisation, beach and accommodation are found only on relatively small stretches on the east and west coasts, with a narrow concrete road connecting them. The best beaches on both sides are each dominated by a single resort, Sivalai on Ao Kahm to the east … read the full post

Besides the obvious choice of endless perfect beaches to visit on Ko Samui, the island offers a slew of daytime activities for families. Here’s a selection. Mini golf Although there is a mini golf course in Choeng Mon, the cost is quite pricey at about 400B per person. We discovered a bargain just around the … read the full post

The correct name for this historic, attractive and unusual Chiang Mai temple is Wat Potharam Mahavihara, though locals generally use the name Wat Jet (or Chet) Yot, meaning the Temple of Seven Spires for its famous centre piece, a seven-spired chedi, or stupa. According to the Thai Fine Arts Department, the wat was originally constructed … read the full post

Given the floods surrounding and leaking across Bangkok it’s fair to say that the Thai capital is not a particularly fun place to be for a holiday, at least for a little while. A few lost crocodiles are swishing around in the water, and it doesn’t smell so nice, either. For the truly blissful vacation … read the full post

Chiang Mai’s National Museum, located on the ‘super-highway’ close to Wat Jet Yot, (see map), isn’t  a huge museum but is nicely laid out, well lit and large enough to provide an easily followed and succinct outline of the northern city’s history from prehistoric times until the 20th century. In fact it’s a jolly good … read the full post

Ever notice how avid world travellers — and especially sailors — seem to see the world a little differently than most? They don’t lock up their home and go on vacation, they part with their possessions and set forth on a journey. They don’t see the world as a big, scary, insurmountable planet but a … read the full post

I’m lucky. I’ve been able to report on the Thai floods as an unaffected observer. My house isn’t inundated, and the smell of sewage doesn’t fill my neighborhood. Ask me in a few days and I might no longer be able to say those things, but I’ll still be glad that our neighborhood lasted as … read the full post

Mon Cham is a restaurant and “camping resort” situated in the Nong Hoi Royal Project in a remote corner of Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district.  Numerous Royal Project agricultural sites are scattered across Northern Thailand, (such as Mae Fah Luang) and are generally devoted to  assisting villagers, in particular hill-tribe people, to diversify their farm … read the full post