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Year of the Dragon
The Chinese Lunar New Year arrives on Monday January 23 and will be celebrated with some gusto in various parts of Thailand. There have been strong historical links between Thailand and China and today an estimated 14% of Thailand’s 65 million population are of Chinese descent.
This year it is the Y
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Ko Lipe View
Pictures don’t always tell the whole story. I took this photo yesterday from the viewpoint on Ko Adang island in the Tarutao National Marine Park in southern Thailand. It took me 40 minutes to climb to the highest of the three viewpoints, but when I got there (sweaty and a little out of breath
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Chinese Lunar New Year in Phuket Town
Phuket has long-established links with the Chinese community dating back to the time when the island was known for tin mining rather than tourism. I took the photos below earlier this evening along Talang Road, an historic and charming district of Phuket Town. This area has been a focal point for th
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Hotel Review: Lub Sbuy Guest House, Phuket Town
Earlier this week I stayed at the Lub Sbuy Guest House in Phuket Town. I only stayed for one night, but was impressed with the accommodation which is more akin to a boutique hotel.
Lub Sbuy (which is pronounced more like ‘lap sabai’) is the Thai phrase for ‘sleep well’.
Rooms
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Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints . . .
I took this photo last week on the beautiful little island of Ko Adang and it reminded me of the famous travel quote:
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints . . .
The island is located within the Tarutao National Marine Park in southern Thailand, a short hop away from Ko Lipe.
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Phuket Airport Bus
If you are flying in or out of Phuket, the government-run airport bus can be a convenient transport option, especially if you are staying in Phuket Town. The route does not include the most popular beach resorts so it won’t be an ideal option for everybody, but it is still a useful service.
The Phu
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Hello Kitty in Thailand
I don’t pretend to understand the whole Hello Kitty phenomenon. I’m not exactly the target market, but in Asia and Thailand it can be surprising where the little cat mascot crops up. You’d expect to see it perhaps on young children’s school bags or notebooks, but maybe not on an adult’s t-shirt or m
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Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Although there are plenty of stray dogs in Thailand, there are also some privileged pooches enjoying a pampered lifestyle. The two dogs in the photo below were curled up asleep on a stall at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Walking Street Market.
There is a fondness for the ‘narak’ (cute or ch
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Bringing Prescribed Drugs into Thailand
I’ve had a number of emails from people who are concerned about bringing prescribed drugs into Thailand. Thai customs officers are aware that travellers may need to bring prescribed drugs into the country and in most case it isn’t a problem. The following answers to some common questions shoul
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Valentine's Day Elephants
Love elephants, love Thailand. It’s a winning combination outside this shopping mall in Chiang Mai.
Valentine’s Day is an event that seems to be growing in popularity in Thailand particularly with Thai teenagers and students. Whether you are in Thailand or not today, check out this arti
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Ayutthaya Photo: Monks & Buddha
I love this photo of two Thai monks in quiet contemplation at the site of the famous stone Buddha head at Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya. This serene image was captured on camera by my sister a few years ago during her annual holiday to Thailand.
More details and photos here »
Photo © Thaizer
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Hotel Review: Harmony Bed & Bakery, Ko Lipe
This small hotel only opened at the end of 2011 but has already earned good reviews across the web. On the basis of those reviews I decided to stay here for 3 nights on a trip to Ko Lipe last month.
Rooms
Harmony Bed and Bakery is a compact low-rise hotel with just 28 rooms. I stayed in one of the s
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Boat from Langkawi to Ko Lipe
Catching the boat from Malaysia into Thailand can be a convenient option for travellers with the Malaysian island of Langkawi only an hour’s speedboat trip away from the charming little Thai island of Ko Lipe. I did this trip last month (January 2012) and it certainly was a quick and easy way to arr
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The Mini Monks of Doi Suthep
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai is one of the holiest sites in the north of Thailand, but that doesn’t mean it is a stuffy or staid place to visit. In fact, it’s one of the most enchanting temples in the whole of Thailand with a great deal of love and care going into the upkeep of
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Thailand Tourist Visa on Arrival
Thailand applies different visa rules depending on your nationality. This means, for example, that the same visa rules which apply to tourists from India or Russia will not apply to passport holders from the United Kingdom or the United States entering Thailand. It is quite a common mistake for visi
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Ko Lipe Taxi Service
There are no cars on Ko Lipe which is part of the compact little island’s charm. Many tourists see the lack of roads and traffic as a distinct advantage and walking is the preferred way of getting around the island for the majority of visitors to Ko Lipe. However, if you have heavy luggage to
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Photos from Makha Bucha Day
I took these photos at a Thai temple in the Chiang Mai countryside on Makha Bucha Day earlier this week. This is an important Buddhist holiday and an opportunity for Thai people to make merit by visiting the local wat (temple) and making donations which go towards the upkeep of the temple.
Monks pr
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Long Queues at Bangkok Airport Immigration
In the last few months there has been an increase in the number of complaints from tourists about the queues and delays endured whilst going through immigration procedures at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. To a certain extent it can be pot-luck how long it takes to go through immigration at Bangkok
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Hotel Review: The Great Residence, Bangkok Airport
Staying at a hotel close to Bangkok airport can be a convenient option for travellers transiting via the Thai capital. I’ve previously stayed a number of times at the Queens Garden Resort, but over the weekend I opted for a one night stay at The Great Residence to see for myself how this particular
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Hotel Review: Bella Villa Hotel & Serviced Apartments, Pattaya
I stayed at the Bella Villa Hotel on Third Road, Pattaya during a three-day visit to the seaside resort last last month. This hotel is part of a chain and this particular location on Third Road (not far from North Pattaya bus station) is the oldest of the Bella Villa properties. There is also a Bell
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