Jim Thompson’s House, Bangkok
A trip to Jim Thompson’s House had long been on my ‘to do’ list, but it was only on my last visit to Bangkok that I finally got …
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Songkran: Thai New Year Water Festival
The annual Songkran New Year Water Festival which welcomes in the traditional Thai New Year is one of those events that has to be experienced in …
What to Pack
The best advice I can give is to travel as light as possible. The climate is basically hot and humid so it is best to wear loose or relaxed fitting …
Bangkok Skytrain
The Skytrain is the elevated electric train that makes getting around Bangkok so much easier as you breeze past the traffic jams on the roads below. …
Inoculations: What jabs do I need to travel to Thailand?
There are no compulsory inoculation requirements* for visitors to Thailand coming from the West. While not compulsory, I would recommend vaccinations …
Arriving at Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi)
Limousines Almost inevitably, passengers clear immigration and enter the arrivals hall to be greeted by a barrage of smartly dressed men and women …
Food – A National Obsession
When I first visited Thailand, I thought that Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) was the national sport. I was wrong. The national sport is eating! Once …
Thailand Weather
Broadly speaking, Thailand has three seasons; hot, rainy and cool. But even during the rainy and cool seasons the temperatures usually remain above 25 …
Medical – Pharmacies & Hospitals
If you’re feeling ill, visit the nearest pharmacist (often distinguished by a green cross above the shop-front). Most will speak good English …
Jai Yen – Don’t Lose Your Temper
Thais have a philosophy of keeping their cool and not losing their temper; jai yen (cool heart). To raise your voice and lose your temper is not good …
Body Language in Thailand
Despite Thailand’s apparently laid-back and relaxed attitude, it can be surprisingly easy for unaware visitors to cause offence. Manners are …
Land of Smiles
Thailand is famously known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, and for good reason. But a Thai smile does not automatically mean that the person is …
Songthaews
In many towns and cities (apart from Bangkok), the songthaew is the main form of public transport. Songthaews (literal meaning = two rows) are …
Tuk-tuks
Tuk-tuks get their name from the sound of their noisy two-stroke engines. These open-sided three-wheel vehicles operate as private taxis and normally …
Buddhism and Merit-Making
Thailand is pre-dominantly Buddhist (over 90% of the population are Buddhists). I am far from being an expert on Buddhism, but living in Thailand it …
Getting to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is 750km (470 miles) north of Bangkok. The quickest and most comfortable way of getting there is by air with a journey time of just over an …
Accommodation in Thailand
Thailand offers a host of accommodation options from beach huts right through to 6-star hotels. Naturally, the requirements of a backpacker will be …