-
The Thai Monitor Monkey
We were driving along a highway on the southern Thai peninsula when we were passed by a pick up truck full of coconuts and a monkey hanging from the side. It was such a spectacular site, I had to speed up so we could get a picture of the preposterous pairing. As we gained on…
-
Getting around Thailand
I recommend traveling Thailand by train or by plane. Buses may be faster than the train, but your personal movement is more restricted, and you have to deal with traffic when entering and leaving cities. There is a train line that runs all the way from Chiang Mai through Bangkok and down to Malaysia before…
-
What’s it like to visit the southern Thai Islands and Peninsula?
Phuket, Pataya, and Hua Hin All of the above are party towns dominated by overage men looking for barely legal women to keep them company. Phuket, in particular, felt like a Las Vegas run by Russian mobsters, and I left after one night. Pataya is not much different, and Hua Hin is a smaller scale…
-
What to do in Bangkok
Bangkok is a delightfully bi-polar city. There are fully automated air conditioned sky trains to whisk you from the airport into town or past the giant modern shopping centers, and just around the corner from the centers you’ll find corrugated tin shacks built over sewage channels. It’s not for everyone, but I love that these…
-
Ayutthaya, Thailand, the former capital of Siam
Thailand’s former capital is an easy day trip from Bangkok. It’s a great way to get away from the teeming traffic of Bangkok. The relaxing 1.5 hour train trip sets the tone for the sleepy town. I actually spent a couple days here. When I arrived, they were having a huge festival, but this is…
-
Things to do in and around Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is the cultural center of Thailand offering great sites and food. There are plenty of cooking classes to instruct you on creating your own Thai delicacies. My class started with a visit to the market, then we got busy making four dishes that we each chose from a list of options. If you’ve…
-
Pai, Thailand; Recommended with reservations
The first time I came to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, everyone spoke of Pai. “You have to go to Pai” was the mantra uttered by every hippie guy and girl in oversized flowing elephant print pants. They said it in a dreamy way that implied nirvana or at the very least a narcotic experience.…
-
Thai visa for 50+ year olds
It’s been a long time since I reached an age that entitled me to a special privilege. At 16, I earned the privilege to drive; at 18, I enjoyed the privilege to vote; and at 21, I was entitled to drink alcohol (an opportunity that was squandered since I didn’t start drinking until I was…
-
Fish, we no have
English is not spoken ubiquitously in Thailand, so you often have to rely on the large colorful placards in front of the restaurant to indicate which dishes are served. Upon being seated, you’re often handed a plastic coated smaller version of the menu out front. After spending several minutes narrowing down your choice from a…
Category: Thailand
Browse by category:
