Showing 1 - 10 of 21
Ready to roam
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 18/06/2020
» For a lot of travel addicts residing in Thailand, with the fourth phase of the easing of pandemic control measures the situation is good enough to return to fun mode.
Rainy days & getaways
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 04/06/2020
» Interprovincial travel is now possible, although with restrictions in certain cases. Historical parks and national museums are open. Many beaches are starting to see visitors from different provinces dying for a break from the unprecedented lockdown. Still, it's going to be a long while before tourism reaches the pre-pandemic level.
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.
An ocean at the top of the world
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 18/07/2019
» The wooden sign at the highest point of Phu Ta Jo claims that the mountain rises 1,300m above sea level. According to my topographic map, and judging by the vegetation, the elevation was actually more like 800-900m. But that didn't really matter, I was still on top of the world.
Ancient Thailand, under threat
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 07/03/2019
» Centuries before the rise of Sukhothai, and even the Khmer Empire preceding it, the Dvaravati civilisation (6th-11th century) dominated much of what is now Thailand. Few ruins from the period remain. The largest, and one of the best preserved, is Khao Khlang Nok, the grand stupa in Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province.
Revisiting Khon Kaen with my best friend
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 24/01/2019
» Cycling wasn't in the plan when I went to Khon Kaen recently on one of my "update trips" to see how places have changed. But late that morning, after having spent an hour or so strolling under the scorching sun, I came across something refreshingly delightful: a bicycle rental shop. A godsend!
A hidden gem in Bangkok's heart
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 03/01/2019
» Notorious for murky water, Klong Saen Saeb is obviously not the most beautiful canal in Bangkok. But a visit to a short section of this historical waterway may make you see it in a very different light.
Island of unspoilt charm
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 11/10/2018
» Nothing lasts forever. But no less true is the fact that certain things do last longer than expected. The peaceful and simple lifestyle of the rural communities on Koh Sukon of Trang province is an amazing case in point.
Appreciating Kantang's past glory
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 30/08/2018
» Of the six provinces along the Kingdom's southern peninsula, only Trang can be reached via railway. The Andaman rail tracks run past Trang city and end in Kantang, which is connected to the Andaman Sea 15km or so away by the Trang River. After its establishment in 1893, Kantang acted as a major socio-economic hub in the area and was an important port for goods from the West.