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October 14 Memorial, Bangkok
I would guess that not many foreign visitors are aware of this understated memorial in Bangkok. And that’s sad. Not because it is a must-see attraction or a stunningly beautiful piece of architecture because it is neither of those things. It is sad because the memorial commemorates a period of
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Thai-Style Salads
There are a number of variations of salad in Thailand with ingredients and preparation varying greatly depending on the individual chef, restaurant or hawker stall. A Thai salad is often given the name yam or yum, but there are regional variations and the salad isn’t necessarily restricted to
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Getting a Thai Massage at Wat Pho, Bangkok
Bangkok’s Wat Pho has a long association with traditional Thai medicine which includes Thai massage. The original temple here was founded in the seventh century with the name Wat Phodoram, but before that the location was used as a centre for traditional medicine. It wasn’t until 1801 un
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Flying with Bangkok Airways
‘Asia’s boutique airline’ – that’s the tag line used by Bangkok Airways. Boutique can often translate to expensive, but I’ve found that isn’t always the case with Bangkok Airways. For instance, when I was comparing prices for a recent flight from Bangkok to
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Thailand Land of Smiles
It may be a marketing slogan used by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, but there are plenty of visitors who will agree that Thailand really is the ‘Land of Smiles’. That doesn’t mean that everybody walks around with inane grins on their faces all day long, but there are certainly
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How to Beat the Bangkok Traffic Jams
Bangkok has a reputation for traffic jams and it’s something you should factor in to your travel plans if you need to get across the city to connect with flights, trains or buses.
When is the worst time for traffic congestion?
Always allow plenty of time for travel in Bangkok, but especially i
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Meditating Monks at Wat Pan Tao, Chiang Mai
I took this set of photos last night at Wat Pan Tao in Chiang Mai. It’s an important time for Buddhists in Thailand with yesterday being Asahna Bucha Day and today being the start of the Buddhist rains retreat known as Phansa. The three-month long Phansa period is sometimes called Buddhist Len
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Queen's Birthday and Mother's Day
August 12 is an annual public holiday in Thailand in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s birthday. Just as His Majesty the King is fondly regarded as the ‘Father of the Nation’, HM Queen Sirikit is said to be the ‘Mother of the Nation’ which is why her birthday on Aug
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Mae Nang Kwak - The Little Lady Who is Good for Business
If you look closely enough at most shops, food-stalls and businesses in Thailand you are likely to see a small figurine of a lady sat in the polite Thai style of ‘pub-peap’ with legs tucked behind her. But this is no ordinary lady or ornament; this is Mae Nang Kwak. Normally located near
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Luscious Longans (Lam Yai)
In season from July to October, longans (known in Thai as lam yai) are a popular fruit in Thailand, particularly the north of the country with Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces both renowned for their lam yai crops. So much so, that Lamphun has become synonymous with the fruit and hosts the annual La
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Chiang Mai International Lantern Festival
Another day, another festival. Even when you live in Thailand it can be difficult to keep up with all the various local events going on in different provinces. This year, Chiang Mai has launched the International Lantern Festival which began on August 21 and goes through until August 29. Not to be c
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Thailand's Unofficial National Dish: Mama Noodles
Most Thailand guide books will tell you that the national dish is phat thai, kaeng kiao wan or tom yam kung. And whilst that may be true, if you ask just about any Thai person they will tell you there is another candidate that makes a good case for being Thailand’s number one food. Take a bow,
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Thailand in a Glass: Tom Yum Vodka Cocktail
Regardless of how long I’ve spent living in Thailand or travelling around the country, I’ve found that this country always has the capacity to throw up hidden gems in the unlikeliest of places. Next week I will be publishing a full review of the new restaurant and bar, Mixology Chiang Ma
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Review: Mixology Bar & Restaurant, Chiang Mai
A new addition to Chiang Mai’s dining scene, Mixology Burger and Bar opened last month (August 2013) providing a modern twist on some classic northern Thai dishes. I’ve eaten here a few times now and been bowled over by the quality of the food. Mixology’s slogan is ‘taste got
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Rambutan: The Hairy Red Fruit
It might look peculiar, but the hairy red exterior of the rambutan hides a succulent, sweet fruit which is rich in vitamin C. Known in Thai as ngaw, the taste of the rambutan is sometimes compared to grapes with the flesh of the fruit translucent white or pink in colour depending on the variety. In
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A Special Message from the Fish at Wat Pho
Wat Pho is rightly renowned for the beautiful Reclining Buddha. The immense, gleaming Buddha is one of the most memorable images of Bangkok and Thailand. But there is a much smaller image close by that most visitors probably don’t even see, but in its own small way reminds me why Thailand is s
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Sabai Sabai
If you look in a Thai-English dictionary the translation for the word ‘sabai‘ will probably say ‘comfortable’, but that doesn’t really explain how important this word is in the Thai language or the Thai approach to life. Traditionally speaking, Thais like things to be s
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Photos from Bangkok Car Free Day
There was a carnival atmosphere in parts of the Thai capital on Sunday as thousands of people rode their bicycles through the streets for the Bangkok Car Free Day. Many wore either red, white or blue and rode in formation to form a mobile representation of the Thai flag. It was an impressive site as
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The Garuda: Thailand's National Emblem
If you’ve visited Thailand you’ve probably touched the national emblem of the country, the garuda, although you might have done so without realizing it. With its roots in Buddhist and Hindu mythology, the garuda (‘khrut’ in Thai) is half-man and half-bird and can be seen on T
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Hotel Review: Jansome House, Chiang Rai
With rooms around the 400-500 Baht mark, Jasmine House is very much a budget option for visitors to Chiang Rai. But with a convenient central location and clean, albeit basic rooms, it’s a hotel which provides very good value for money. Breakfast is also included in the price which is a nice t
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