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Recent Posts Tagged With 'thailand'
If it’s Monday, it must be NAN; if it’s Tuesday, it must be Taiping
Shortly after midnight, I will be embarking on My Annual Odyssey to Southeast Asia. My itinerary, November 18 – December 30, includes three countries – Thailand (29 nights), Singapore (3 nights) and Malaysia (10 nights). During my grueling 42...
Travel Photo of the Week - The Great Mormon Butterfly
The Great Mormon Butterfly (Papilio memnon), a member of the Swallowtail Family (Papilionidae) is one of most spectacular and largest butterflies that I’ve encountered in Thailand. The female of the species is this week’s featured travel photo &#...
The vistas from Mae Fah Luang Arboretum are unforgettable
One of my favorite vistas in Thailand is the featured Travel Photo of the Week. Located about 5,000 feet above sea level in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai province is Mae Fah Luang Arboretum. Located in the center of the arboretum, there is a large...
Trip Planning 101 - Make your plans as far in advance as possible
Having been in the travel business for many years, I have a pretty good acumen for trip planning as well as understanding the psyche of the traveler. The best advice I can give to a prospective traveler would be – Make sure you plan your vacati...
Passport Follies - adding extra visa pages is a real hassle
I had taken care all of my travel arrangements over 2 months ago for my upcoming odyssey to Southeast Asia, November 18-December 30, where in a 42-day period I will be visiting Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. However there was one very small loose ...
Bridge Over River Kwai - featured Travel Photo of the Week
Located near the city of Kanchanaburi in Western Thailand, The Bridge over River Kwai is our featured travel photo of the week. The Japanese occupied Thailand and Burma during WW2 – the famous bridge was built by Allied Prisoners of War under...
The fascinating Spirit Houses of Thailand
If you have traveled around Thailand, I’m sure you’ve come across the Spirit House (in Thai, Phra Phum), an ornate dollhouse-like structure which sits on top of a pole or pedestal. Spirit houses can be found everywhere in Thailand. In...
The Fundamentals of Touring according to the Traveler
I’ve been on many tours and sightseeing excursions (in addition to conducting my own tours) during my many years as a traveler, so I have a pretty good feeling of how a tour should be properly conducted. The most common sightseeing excursion is the...
Travel Photo of the Week - Thai Pussy Napping (Meow Meow)
This week’s travel photo of the week is appropriately named THAI PUSSY NAPPING. Many of you who have arrived at this blog were expecting to see some naked Thai girl rather than some ordinary Thai pussycat. If so, I am very sorry to have mislead you...
Air Asia’s No Refund Policy
Air Asia, a regional carrier that specializes in budget air travel within Southeast Asia, has an unusual way of dealing with air ticket refunds. About a week ago, I booked a RSVNS on Air Asia and purchased a one-way ticket online from Hat Yai, Thai...
Travel Photo of the Week - Children from Northern Thailand
This installment of the Travel Photo of the Week feature continues with the theme of children. I’ve have stated previously that children are great subjects for photography. Unlike adults, they don’t have any hang-ups or issues about a stranger ta...
Vote for the Seven Wonders of Thailand!
I’m sure you’ve heard of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”, an annual contest that is held to determine the most beautiful landscapes on this planet. To be honest with you, this poll is more or less a popularity contest as the more glamorous a...
Travel Photo of the Week - The Buddha overlooking Nan Valley
Many Buddhist temples in Thailand are located either on a hilltop or the hillside of a mountain, and the views are often quite remarkable. Wat Phra That Khao Noi, a hilltop temple in Nan in Northern Thailand, is no exception. Located a couple of ki...
Jet Skis are ruining another popular beach resort in Thailand
I really used to like Kamala Beach, a popular resort area on Thailand’s Phuket Island. Despite the many cafes and shops along the boardwalk, as well as many lounge chair and massage concessions on the beach, it used to be a fairly mellow and qu...
My search for the most eco-friendly beach destination in Thailand
Believe it or not, my search for the the most eco-friendly beach destination in THAILAND has uncovered a place I haven’t been to yet, and that is Koh Libong! I am sure most travelers have never heard of this relatively obscure island as well. Koh...
Travel Photo of the Week - Doi Chiang Dao
This edition of TRAVEL PHOTO OF THE WEEK features a digitally rendered watercolor of Doi Chiang Dao in Northern Thailand. Rising dramatically above the rural countryside and the town of Chiang Dao to a height of 2186 meters (7174 feet), Doi Chiang Da...
Beach destinations in Thailand are not very eco-friendly
In the last several days, I have done some extensive research in an effort to identify the most the eco-friendly beach destination in Thailand. To be honest with you, it is a lot easier for me to rattle off a list of beach destinations/island resorts...
Travel Photo of the Week - Roadside Wine Shops in Thailand
This installment of Travel Photo of the Week captures a unique countryside scene in Thailand. On my first trip to Northern Province of Chiang Rai in 2003, I had my driver take me to the town of Mae Sai at the Thailand/Myanmar border. About 10KM from ...
Travel Photo of the Week - Ring the Bell
On my first visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2003, I explored the magnificent Doi Suthep Temple, one of the most revered temples in Thailand. Located just outside the city, Doi Suthep Temple is situated on the top of Mount Suthep. Overlooking the smo...
A Profile of four new Hotels in Northern Thailand
Many new hotels have recently opened their doors in Northern Thailand during the last year or so. These new hotels range from Banilah, a budget boutique hotel in Chiang Mai to the deluxe Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai Province, a resort model...
Discover Nirvana at a Meditation Retreat in Northern Thailand
I have a friend by the name of Lek in Northern Thailand who hosts a meditation retreat on her large sprawling estate in Chiang Dao, a small rural community located about 75 minutes north of Chiang Mai, a major tourist hub. With the majestic Doi Chia...
Introducing Thailand’s New Cover Girl
Going through my voluminous collection of photographs of Thailand, I have discovered “The Land of Smile’s” New Cover Girl. I can imagine her face gracing the front cover of my forthcoming brochure – Welcome to Thailand. What is t...
Looking for the Best Guesthouses in Bangkok?
When traveling outside of Bangkok, I often stay at a local guesthouse rather than a conventional hotel. Besides saving some monies, staying in a guesthouse allows me to sample the local flavor and it is a more conducive environment for meeting fellow...
Mae Pundin - an eceletic homestay and art gallery in Chiang Mai
Mae Pun Din, Po Tum San (Mae Pundin for short) has to be one of the most unique places to stay in Chiang Mai. In English, it means ‘Mom enjoys clay works while Dad prefers working in the garden’. Located just off the highway in Chiang Mai’s M...
THAILAND UNDISCOVERED - Nan Province and Phu Lang Ka
THAILAND UNDISCOVERED refers to the small, sleepy towns and villages (and out of the way places) in Thailand’s rural countryside. Far away from the craziness of Bangkok and the popular tourist meccas of Chiang Mai and Phuket, it is a side of Th...
Why do they call Thailand the Land of Smiles?
It’s very simple – People in Thailand love to smile. I have traveled all around Thailand with my camera and I find people very receptive to have their picture taken. In fact, some ladies and kids have run after me to take their picture. I guess t...
A Unique Memorial Tribute to the late Princess Galyani
While I was a guest at Phu Lang Ka Lodge in Northern Thailand this past November, I was invited by the owner of the lodge (Kevan) to attend a special memorial tribute by the Yao and Hmong hilltribes to the belated Princess Galyani, the King of Thaila...
A profile of the extraordinary owner of Phu Lang Ka
Kevan, the proprietor of Phu Lang Ka Lodge, is an extraordinary man. As the elected president of the Yao (Mien) people of Thailand, Kevan and his wife, Nong are very active in the community and play an instrumental role in the preservation of Yao cul...
How I learned about the legacy of Pan Hu and the Yao People
Traveling to Phu Lang Ka in Northern Thailand was quite an experience for me. Not only was the view and ambiance absolutely wonderful, but I had an opportunity to learn a little bit about the history and culture about the YAO people, one of the prin...
A little piece of Italy in the Thai countryside
Everybody in Bangkok has been raving about PRIMO POSTO, the new Italian restaurant-café located in the Thai countryside, so this past weekend my friend and I decided to check out what all the buzz was about. Located near Khao Yai National Park about...
