Showing 1 - 10 of 27
Overlooked no longer
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 11/03/2021
» Nam Tok Chet Sao Noi was one of the few national parks that I didn't want to revisit, mainly because it was overcrowded, dilapidated and poorly managed. Last year, however, I heard the ugly duckling of Saraburi's Muak Lek district has been transformed into a swan. So the other day when I got the chance to travel to those parts I decided to check it out.
Wave Hotel Pattaya
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 18/02/2021
» Pattaya's Beach Road is lined with tons of tourist accommodation. Unlike other upscale properties on the strip, this 18-room hotel boasts a very short distance between the guest rooms and the sea. Literally, it takes just a few minutes to walk from your bed to the beach. Soon after my latest visit to the hotel, the second wave of Covid-19 struck. Pattaya is now open to tourism once again, and so is the hotel.
Hiding in plain sight
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 24/12/2020
» I'm no fan of paintings but I understand folks who are able to enjoy a visual feast by masters such as the likes of Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci or Vincent Van Gogh. I do the same every time I find myself in a magnificent landscape. Indeed, Mother Nature is my favourite artist.
Ozo North Pattaya
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 17/12/2020
» Launched in October, this new hotel in the Onyx Hospitality Group, which also runs Amari Pattaya next door, offers modish and convenient accommodation that is also good bang for the buck. The property has 406 rooms. The Dream rooms on the west side of the 18-storey building, like the one I stayed in, come with a sea view. I recommend you pay a little more for one of these rooms rather than the Sleep rooms on the city-view side.
Fireworks to light up Pattaya
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 12/11/2020
» Pattaya Fireworks Festival is back. On Nov 27 and 28, the night sky over the bay of Pattaya will once again become the venue of Thailand's most celebrated pyrotechnic extravaganza.
Roaming in the gloaming
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 05/11/2020
» It was pouring like crazy. I was lucky to find refuge in a noodle shop before getting soaked. It had rained twice since the morning. So far, including the days when I was on Koh Phayam, I never got a chance to shoot -- or even see -- a clear blue sky.
X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 15/10/2020
» Ban Amphoe, an up-and-coming beach destination south of Pattaya and Jomtien, reminds many people of what its famous neighbours used to be like decades ago. This boutique hotel in the area is popular among Thai holidaymakers, thanks partly to its modern design and good value for money. It offers Deluxe rooms (35m²) and Corner Suites (55m²). From some of the units, despite the fact that the property is about 150m from the beach, you can get a distant view of the sea.
Banyan Tree Samui
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 01/10/2020
» Over the past several months on Koh Samui peacefulness has prevailed, so much so that for the first time in six years green sea turtles came to lay eggs on the island. The secluded beach in front of this property was where three nests were found in February. In early April, 200 hatchlings emerged from the buried nests and hastily made their way into the sea which is their true home. I visited the all-pool villa resort earlier this month but, unlike the turtles, found the place not that easy to leave.
When you're free to move about the country
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 07/05/2020
» It's going to be a while before we find out whether or not the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures, the mass scrambles for alcoholic beverages, and the exodus over the recent long weekend will reverse the trend of the pandemic control in Thailand that seems to be going well. Let's hope they won't. At the same time, let's not forget that in many parts of this small world, the Covid-19 situation is still not getting any better.
Thailand's abundance
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 09/04/2020
» April is usually the height of the hot season. The sea, both in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman, is at its best. The forest, meanwhile, may seem lifeless, yet actually there are a lot of interesting things going on in the ecosystem. Most waterfalls, for example, may not be boasting powerful cascades, but the calm, clear water reveals a fascinating array of fish and other aquatic lifeforms that thrive. And guess what: even during this dry period of the year, there are falls in some protected forests where the water continues to flow down rigorously, regardless of what month is shown on the calendar. Too bad I don't have their photographs in digital form and no time to dig through the piles of slides.