the big fat world

Near Chiang Mai, Thailand there are several hmong villages to visit. Some are the built up variety that are strictly there to cater to culture hungry tourists and others take a bit more time and diligence to reach. Below are some photos of one such hmong village near the Doi Suthep (a big giant wat on top [...]

In my continuing series of ‘Just another…’, I wanted to shed light on the little hamlet of Pai, Thailand. No longer the undiscovered secret tucked away in the Northern mountains, Pai is rapidly becoming one of the most popular places in the country for backpackers and native Thai alike. Pai, Thailand currently holds the world record (not [...]

Christmas in Bangkok is a magical time. While Thailand is not known for its Christian roots, the country proudly celebrates the christmas holiday with vigor. Thanks to western influences like cinema and music and the Thai’s pension for mass consumption and holiday partying, Thailand is starting to hold it’s own in regard to celebrating this [...]

Want a clean, hip yet cheap Bangkok hotel but at rock bottom prices known in SE Asia? Try the  Loft 77 Hotel, a cheap Bangkok boutique hotel. That’s right its boutique and it’s cheap but before I tell you how cheap, keep reading. It seems a reasonable expectation that the quality of a hotel is [...]

Thailand is a country known for Buddhism, in fact 90% of the population is Buddhist but in southern Thailand, closer to the Malaysian border, there is an emerging Muslim population. While the Thai mosque isn’t quite as stately as ones in Turkey (Istanbul’s Blue Mosque comes to mind) or other high saturation Muslim nations, Thailand [...]

Thailand is perhaps one of the most charming countries I have ever visited. Couple that with the reasonable prices of food, shelter, and transport and you easily have a place to lose yourself in for months at a time. It’s also an extremely diverse country bordering 4 countries: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Whether you [...]

Bangkok has many nicknames, Venice of the East- due to it’s large number of canals, City of Angles- it’s Thai translation, and City of Sin and Debauchery- aptly named if you only visit the Ping Pong clubs around Soi Cowboy. Besides the temples, traditions, and temptations, Bangkok is a juxtaposition of today, yesterday and tomorrow [...]

A wat is to a Buddhist as a mosque is to a Muslim as a church is to a Southern Baptist. While Bangkok does not have the largest concentration of wats in SE Asia, Ankor Wat in Cambodia takes that prize, it does have more than it’s fair share and many are huge, I mean immense, enormous, colossal, [...]

Mae Hong Son is the heart of Mae Hong Son province in Northern Thailand and part of 600km loop called Mae Hong Son loop.  In my continuing series of ‘Just another…’, I wanted to bring you the delight of this Northern town. Mae Hong Son translates into the city of 3 mists, one of rain, one of [...]

Doi Suthep, or it’s more stodgy name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep can almost be described as being dipped in gold. This temple in northern Thailand shines so bright with the precious metal, it must be visible from space like the Great wall of China. The legend of the temple states states something about a shoulder bone and a [...]