Showing 1 - 10 of 10
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.
A place where time stands still
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 16/07/2020
» Despite what the science says, time seems to pass at different speeds. In areas like Si Yan, Samsen and Bang Krabue -- which are all part of Dusit district in Bangkok -- it's as if time hasn't passed into the 20th century.
Safety first for holiday getaways
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 24/06/2020
» After months of business suspension due to Covid-19, several hotels and resorts have resumed operation, and many more are soon to follow suit. Various promotions with special benefits are being offered to draw guests, and income, back to the properties. Still, despite immense travel cravings, a great many people may still feel uncomfortable to sleep at someplace other than home, and thus reluctant to take advantage of the opportunity.
Chiva-Som
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 19/03/2020
» The multiple-award-winning international health resort was named Best Destination Spa for the Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards 2020. As with my previous visit two years ago, soon after check-in I attended the compulsory consultation session in which I was told to choose a goal for my stay. The consultant then scheduled the treatments and activities I needed to achieve it. My simple goal was relaxation. The day I left the resort, it was a mission delightfully accomplished.
Back to the basics
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 02/01/2020
» On the breezy top of the limestone cliff on the east side of Doi Pha Phueng, 1,600m above sea level, I zipped up my jacket and let the sights and sounds of the natural surroundings soak in. Before me was a sea of forest-clad mountains, bathed in the warm rays of the morning Sun. The air was filled with blissful silence, with faint songs from invisible birds occasionally seeping in from the canopy below.
A royal visit, and ruins restored
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 05/12/2019
» HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej spent much of his 70-year reign travelling the length and breadth of the Kingdom, mainly to learn about the plights of his people and find out how to help them in a sustainable way. At numerous towns and villages, his royal visits are remembered as a major event in local history. Si Satchanalai in Sukhothai province is no exception.
Buddhist Lent celebrations
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 27/06/2019
» The three-month Buddhist Lent will soon begin, and the occasion will be celebrated in ways that differ from one place to another.
Outing extraordinaire
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 25/04/2019
» Less than 40km from the capital and packed with an assortment of attractions, Nakhon Pathom's districts of Nakhon Chai Si and Phutthamonthon (the latter neighbouring Bangkok's Thawi Watthana district) are a great destination for a day trip.
Learn to start your own spa
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 17/04/2019
» If you dream of owning or operating a spa, here's a piece of good news. The award-winning Chiva-Som International Academy of the internationally renowned Chiva-Som International Health Resorts is opening Thai and English courses on spa management and development for interested members of the public.
Visiting the border-patrol police base of Huai Khok Mu
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 26/04/2018
» In Suan Phung, Ratchaburi's westernmost district, there are two border-patrol police bases that are well-known destinations among off-road enthusiasts, one at Khao Krachom and the other at Huai Khok Mu. The first was featured in this column almost four years ago. Today, I'm telling you about the latter.