Located 170km south from Bangkok, Cha-Am is a seaside resort popular among Thais. Often considered by many as the twin-sister of Hua Hin, which is just about 25km south, Cha-Am is preferred by locals for its laidback atmosphere and relatively inexpensive (compared to Hua Hin) way of life.  The main attraction is the 5km-long beach, which is often packed on weekends and long holidays, where a wide range of accommodations and restaurants are also available. Why go: Cha-Am has far lesser facilities to offer foreign tourist than Hua Hin and while foreigners have been fast “discovering” its charms, it still considered predominantly a...

For a long time, this Thai province nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges 924km from Bangkok, has been isolated from the outside world and there derives its mystique.  Sometimes dubbed the “Shangri-La” of Thailand, Mae Hong Son is virtually covered with mist all year-round, making it a wonderful retreat from the tropical heat of the rest of the country. But its name actually came from the fact that this misty province’s terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants. Historically, former governors of Chiang Mai used Mae Hong Son to organize roundups of wild elephants, which were then trained before they...

I have to admit upfront: I thought Segways were a joke. I mean you see them on TV or in movies, and the characters who ride them are almost always on the butt end of the joke, right? The only cool thing I’ve seen done on a Segway is a serious/slightly ironic match of Segway polo played by Steve Woz and some of his friends. So it was with a fair bit of apprehension that I went recently to check out a Segway tour of Bang Krachao in Sumut Prakan. What if my friends saw me riding one? I’ll skip ahead and spoil the results; it was one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had in Bangkok to date. The tour starts early, well early if...

Chiang Mai at a Glance: (be sure to read last week’s full story on Chiang Mai) Chiang Mai is the name for both the province its capital, the largest, most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is located 700km north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. Chiang Mai’s historic importance derived from its strategic location on the Ping River and major trade routes. It has long been a major center for shopping Thai arts and crafts, in fact a major shopping magnet.  The many beautiful temples and chedis that still stand today...

Ask seven out of 10 Thailand visitors what their favorite destination in the kingdom is and they will tell you without batting an eyelash: Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai has always been one of my favorite places in Thailand too.  This province, part of the Lanna Kingdom that King Mengrai founded in the 13th century, has a gracious laidback character that makes even the most jaded traveler fall in love with it.  I love its pleasant weather; its green, natural surroundings; and its cultural breadth and artistic sensibility. I love the adventure opportunities it presents, and I love its generally warm and friendly beautiful people. In the many years...

The first visitors to Koh Chang were backpackers who arrived via local fishing boats in the mid-1970s.  But this island — next only to Phuket in size as the largest in Thailand — is a relative newcomer in the mainstream tourism game. It was only in 2000 when Koh Chang became a major tourist destination and rapid tourism development dramatically transformed the quiet island into a haven for those looking for a perfect holiday of peace and tranquility. Fortunately, despite increasing visitor numbers and concerns for overdevelopment, this 429sqkm-island — also called “Elephant Island” because of its shape – has...

Krabi. The very name conjures images of wonder, like a mystical frontier where adventure awaits in every corner, and where dreams can happen even to those who are not expecting them. Just ask those who have been lucky to have seen and enjoyed this destination some 800km southeast of Bangkok, and they would agree that the real Krabi is not really far off from that description. The province is often described as among Thailand’s most beautiful. Indeed some of Asia’s prettiest seascapes are found here and with a postcard beauty that is easy to capture even when you are least trying.  For this is a place, as one enchanted colleague once...

Carbon-dating of stone tools, colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains in the province’s many cliffs and caves have proven that Krabi has been home to homo-sapiens since 24,000-35,000 B.C.  Tham Chao Le and Tham Phi Hua To, both in Ao Luek district, contain prehistoric rock-paintings depicting humans, animals as well as geometrical shapes. In 1986,  archaeologists found 40,000 year-old human artifacts – stone tools, pottery as well as bones in Lang Rong Rien cave. It is one of the oldest traces of human habitation in  Southeast Asia.  The limestone hills contain many caves, most with beautiful stalactites and...