As Asian countries go, Thailand is not an easy one in which to be a vegetarian or vegan. Yet for nine days each year during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar (typically late September/October), a large portion of the country’s population eat exclusively vegan foods in observation of the Chinese cleansing festival known … 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

One of the most interesting ways to get around Bangkok, and especially useful for those staying at one of the hotels or guesthouses along the Chao Phraya River on Khao San Road, in Banglamphu, Chinatown, or Thonburi, is the Chao Phraya river boat system. Blessedly free from the traffic that wracks the rest of the … read the full post

On one side of Soi Texas (formally known as Soi Phadung Dao), a scraggly soi in the middle of Chinatown, sits the Red Shirts, and on the other, the Green Shirts. The Red Shirts are probably not the ones you are thinking of; the long-standing fracas between the Red and Green Shirts has little to … read the full post

It’s with a heavy heart that I admit I’m leaving Bangkok; life is pulling in other directions. People wonder why I love living here — it’s hot, chaotic, sometimes heart-breakingly cruel, but I’ve never been happier, or better fed. For me, being well fed apparently makes anything bearable. I respect a culture that in the … read the full post

We can’t have any pretensions at comprehensive Chiang Mai coverage without mentioning what is the city’s largest market: Worarot. Worarot refers to a entire downtown district of the city, spreading out on both sides of Chang Moi Road and covering an area roughly between Ratchawong, Tha Pae Road and the River. Worarot (or Warorot) market … read the full post

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

“Forget it, Jake — it’s Chinatown!” is a classic line from a classic movie, but a Chinatown in LA, London or Sydney is going to stand out far more than a Chinatown in Bangkok or Chiang Mai will ever do. Chiang Mai’s so-called Chinatown is the Worarot market and commercial district though apart from a … read the full post

In a city known for its night time indulgences, great late night street eats are a must. There are always a few noodle soup carts, grillers of pork sate, or the flames of a fried noodle wok clustered around popular clubs and bars — but it’s more hangover cure/dancing fuel than culinary delight. But what … read the full post

Last week we talked about the three classic Bangkok must-sees, so this week let’s take a wander off the beaten track. Bangkok is one of those cities were many of the most memorable offerings are just below the surface. Amazing restaurants are tucked down back alleys, the best shops are hidden in the depths of … read the full post