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Thailand
Based in Thailand since 2011, I'm a writer, writing coach, photographer and keen Thailand watcher, especially in the areas of tourism and environmental issues. With eight years of experience as the lead Thailand staff writer for Travelfish.org, I am currently seeking freelance commissions in travel, news and commercial writing while working on my weekly newsletter, Thai Island Times.
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Despite delivering an intensely flavorful cuisine to go with serene Mekong valley scenery and a strong list of natural and historical attractions, Thailand's northeast Isaan region drew only a small fraction of the numbers of foreign tourists who flocked to other Thai destinations before the pandemic.
Covering 109 islands in Thailand clustered into six zones, this is the definitive guide for the traveller looking to find the right Thai island for them
More than a century ago, boat-loving people turned a tropical archipelago into their home and lived off the sea and jungle. After a while, outsiders pushed them aside in a burst of state-sanctioned conservation and profit-driven tourism, two things that are more related than you might think.
I've been thinking back on that week in mid March, when everything changed. Over the course of a week, the news of borders being shut down to contain the spread of Covid-19 hit like thunder off the Andaman Sea. It was stressful.
After years of discussion, it's finally happening. Bullet trains are coming to Thailand. But with one project under construction, another approved and others being considered, many in the country are debating whether high-speed rail (HSR) will be the right fit.
Right around dusk, the longtail ferry shoved off as the azure blue and indigo of the sky reflected on the Andaman Sea's teal surface. It was one of the most calming scenes I'd ever been a part of - and we hadn't even reached the island yet.
Battles, coups, elections and revolutions are what typically come to mind when I think of pivotal moments in national histories. Would you believe that one key event in the history of Siam/Thailand was a full solar eclipse observed at a beach in what is now Prachuap Khiri Khan province?
Every morning, before dawn, members of the Worapong family rise to make the dumplings. The scent of ground pork sizzling with white taro and undisclosed spices fills their shophouse kitchen and steams into the alley out front, signalling to neighbours that a new day has begun.
Picture yourself hand gliding high above coastal Thailand. What would you see? Or, as you sail on the country's azure-blue and aquamarine waters, what would stand out about the islands that you'd come across? Every island has an identity of its own.
An old man in a leather cowboy hat and baggy red pants pulled up above his waste greeted us as we arrived at Ko Chik (also spelt Jik or Jeek) in December 2020. "Welcome foreigner," he said. " Ko Chang has many foreigners, but never any here!"
David Luekens September 18, 2019 Modern Asia's first medical cannabis clinic blends into a concrete hospital complex in Prachinburi, a languid town 100 km east of Bangkok. Dotted with fish farms and shaded by tamarind trees, the muddy Bang Pakong River flows by out front. Somewhere out back, cannabis is growing.
A family beach holiday in Thailand is ideal for decompressing at the end of your trip. Some families return to the same beach often, having fallen for a particular slice of paradise among Thailand's hundreds of islands and beaches. Don't overcomplicate things when choosing one or two of them.
With tourist arrivals expected to reach 40 million this year in (CNN) - Thailand, the country's most popular islands are buckling under the pressure of mass tourism. Yet the kingdom has hundreds of quieter islands, some lined by beaches with a wow factor to match any of the popularity contest winners.
Stop by practically any Buddhist temple in Thailand and you'll notice people burning incense, dropping cash into donation boxes, being blessed by monks and offering food for the community. Yet one activity that travellers are often surprised not to see, is meditation.
Wild Asia Feature on Khao Yai, one of Thailand's best-known national parks.
Stellar beaches extend to jungle and reefs. Terrific food bursts from heritage architecture. Waterfalls cascade down dramatic mountain slopes. If you think of Eastern Thailand as nothing but a way to kill a few days out of Bangkok, read on to find out how much more there is to this region than sleazy Pattaya and the touristy parts of Ko Samet and Ko Chang.
Khao Sok National Park encapsulates much of what makes Southern Thailand's landscape so special: ancient jungle filled with wildlife, water that appears to glow bright emerald and vertical limestone cliffs towering above it all. Convenient for a stop between the Gulf and Andaman coasts, Khao Sok is one of the kingdom's premier natural wonders.
Finding a strong cup of southern Thai Robusta coffee was our first priority after stepping off the train in Trang, an easily overlooked province abutting the Andaman Sea. Most travellers choose nearby Krabi or Phuket when visiting this region of Thailand, unaware that Trang delivers similarly staggering natural beauty.
This detailed vacation planner maps out a four week trip through the historic sites and national parks of northeast Thailand
Independent travel guide to Railay Beach, includes up to date information on guesthouses and hotels, attractions and advice on travel, timetables and more.
What would you like to know about Thailand's visas and border crossings? Thailand has a multitude of visa options and requirements -- many of which change with alarming frequency. You can go to the horse's mouth at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the full (though not always up-to-date) spiel.
Few travellers check out the more modest but equally intriguing slice of Bangkok on the west side of the river in the oldest part of town.
Bastion of curry, kopi and cake, Trang is one of Southern Thailand's most pleasant provincial capitals. In addition to the fantastic food scene, natural attractions in the surrounding province provide something to do between sips of the local Robusta brew. Most come for the islands, but food and culture enthusiasts would be wise to hang around town.
A look at Drum Publications, a Kanchanaburi-based charity working hard to keep Karen culture alive.
Bangkok reveals itself in the details: the intricacy of flower garlands sold along footpaths; overpowering scents from a flaming wok; an old man peering out from his medicine shop. The only way to fully appreciate it is on foot, but walking in Bangkok can be dangerous if you're not prepared.
Set in a beautifully restored 150-year-old house in the Chanthaboon old town, Baan Luang Rajamaitri stands as an inn, a museum and an award-winning example of community-driven historical preservation. ... An original review of Baan Luang Rajamaitri Historic Inn, Chanthaburi by Travelfish.org.
An opinionated restaurant, entertainment and eating out travel guide for Mae Sot, Thailand.
Independent travel guide to Ayutthaya, includes up to date information on guesthouses and hotels, attractions and advice on travel, timetables and more.
A day at Hellfire Pass Memorial and Museum, commemorating those lost during the Thai-Burma Railway construction of World War II.
A look at Thailand's only monestary with English as its main language and the Thai monk who inspired it.
Rural Thai food and canal-side life Tiny Samut Songkhram province churns out salt and seafood from the Gulf along with a breathtaking array of fruits and veggies that thrive beside the inland canals. We invite you to explore these ingredients at an incredible market before learning to prepare several locally ...