Showing 1 - 10 of 31
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.
Mercury falling, spirits rising
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 10/12/2020
» The Colours of Doi Tung Festival is one of Chiang Rai province's best-known annual events. Every weekend and public holiday in December and January, a fair featuring the sale of food and goods by hilltribe people and other ethnic groups living in Doi Tung and nearby mountains is held near the Mae Fah Luang Garden, a famous attraction that is part of Mae Fah Luang Foundation's Doi Tung Development Project. The idea is to draw more visitors to Doi Tung and enable the villagers to benefit from the high season.
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.
Silver getaways
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 03/09/2020
» Nobody is too old to learn and travelling is a great way to do so. With this in mind, 16 villages across the nation together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and several other agencies have recently launched the "Our Lovely Countryside: Silver Age 5.0" campaign aimed at offering senior travellers chances to enjoy new experiences in rural areas.
Not quite a staycation
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 27/08/2020
» Dying to get back to nature but national parks are so far away? Longing for an outdoor experience but you don't think you have enough time?
Far from the madding crowds
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 13/08/2020
» While the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting border closure has brought about considerable economic impact, not everything is bad news. At the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is part of the Grand Palace, the long-lost ambience of tranquillity has returned.
Connecting cultures
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 23/07/2020
» Have you ever pointed a camera at somebody and seen yourself through the viewfinder? One such moment happened to me over a decade ago while I was visiting a floating village on Siem Reap River, south of its namesake Cambodian city.
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.
Skipping ahead
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 23/04/2020
» Earlier this month when I launched this bi-weekly Travel Diary series, I had a gut feeling that this coronavirus pandemic could drag on a lot longer than many people had thought. Maybe it could even take a whole year. However, feedback revealed that readers were more optimistic and believe it won’t be that long. Some even suggested that it would benefit them more if — instead of featuring destinations suitable for the season that matches the current time of year, but may not be useful if the travel ban is still in place — I should just skip a couple of months ahead.