Organized Chaos, Why you should visit a Bangkok Market In the midst of this nonstop city lies its soul. It is perhaps my favorite aspect of this bustling city. The local Talat. Organized chaos in a parking lot,…
Organized Chaos, A Bangkok Market
Category: Culture
Do They Really Eat Dog?
Are dogs really part of some Asian cuisines? Human consumption of domestic dog meat has been a back alley joke for many years. But the consumption of dog meat has been a recognized fact in many parts of the world,…
Female Fisticuffs: Women in muaythai part I
Along the dust-choked battlefields of central Thailand, men once fought murderous wars in defense of their territories. Beside them, brandishing the same long-handled swords stood kunying Mae Yamo, Thailand’s first women warriors. Although we don’t know how many or how…
Thai Massage III
Finally, there is foot reflexology or simply “Thai foot massage”. These are my personal favorites, and I have had many, many foot massages over the years. Yesterday, I went to what I consider to be the best place on the…
Thai Massage II
There are three main massage-type treatments that are now considered uniquely Thai: nuat Thai (literally: Thai massage), luk prakorb, (an herbal compress used to warm muscles before massage), and foot reflexology. Unlike the more common Swedish style massage of the…
Thai Classical Dance
Masked monkeys scratch and fidget before their king, demons march to battle, and royalty bedecked in gold and gemstones are wheeled across the stage. This is Khon: royal Siam, ancient theatre, epic tale. On a poster along the walls of…
A Night at the Fights I
Knockout! A left kick to the jaw sends one man to the canvas. The audience drew silent as the young man in blue stood in momentary awe over his downed opponent. I couldn’t help but wonder if the crowd surrounding…
Book Review: Thai Food/Arharn Thai by David Thompson
I recently came across David Thompson’s 2002 tome, Thai Food/Arharn Thai in our small local library. Not accustomed to finding such exotic content here in the high Rockies, I checked it out without even bothering to flip through a few…
Opening the Door of Your Heart: The Humor and Compassion of Ajahn Brahmavamso
“If I hold up a glass of water for ten minutes, it will feel heavy. If I hold that glass for 30 minutes, my arm will hurt. If I hold it for two hours, I am a very dumb monk,”…
What to see in Luang Prabang
It’s gilded profile stands between two great, rushing rivers in the northern reaches of Laos. With its numerous historic temples, aging French colonial facades, UNESCO Heritage status and long, noble past, the peninsular village of Luang Prabang is a popular…