“Better to ride … Better to get lost down the wrong road, disoriented by winding byways and a maze of tiny lanes.” What a superb day! Yesterday I rented a 100cc motorcycle and toured the hills, highways and byways of…
The elegant Celadon restaurant at Bangkok’s Sukhothai Hotel is a pleasure just to sit and sip a wine at. But with their new chef Jimmy, diners have a delightful new menu to savor, too! Celadon Unveils New Chef New Menu…
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…
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…
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…
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…
There is a definite pace to a muaythai bout and, with a few exceptions, seems to follow a basic format. Round one is slower than the rest, with single blows thrown more often than combinations, and power held back to…
Following the introductions, a small group of men in bright-green shirts situated beside the ring begin to play the ceremonial music unique to this sport. With pii (a small wooden flute), skin drum and finger cymbals, the band plays the…
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…
Of frogs, fast cats and future instructors. During the second weekend, we sailed aboard The Frog one of a fleet of small, very fast racing catamarans called Fireflies, designed and built in Phuket. The course was lead by two local…