The best time to visit a place weather-wise is usually a time that everybody wants to visit, so choosing a time that’s just right — that is, with decent weather but some extra elbow room — can be tricky. Here’s the lowdown on the best time to visit Ko Samui taking both weather and crowds … 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

Brazenly spraying small children with water guns and getting attacked by old people with garden hoses is all fun and games, but what’s really going on here? It’s time to head to the wat for some answers. At the wat, you are going to find tons of people making merit. Making merit is the concept … read the full post

Songkran is the welcoming of the new year, which is celebrated in the last period during which farming is dormant before the rains come. Traditional songkran celebrations focus on the renewal of the earth and the home. Wats, homes and Buddhist statues are cleaned. Often, the statues are removed from their wats and paraded around … read the full post

Every  year from April 13-15 the entire country of Thailand (and neighbouring Laos) breaks out into a no holds barred waterfight. As a foreigner or outsider Songkran can appear to be nothing more than a nationwide party, but there is real history behind the soaking wet mayhem.  What has become buckets of water thrown from … read the full post