Showing 1 - 10 of 21
Cool runnings at Doi Inthanon
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 27/10/2020
» This weekend, the mountainous terrains of Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, will see an army of the country's toughest trail runners participate in the first edition of Thailand by UTMB.
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.
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.
One thing the virus can't touch
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 19/03/2020
» Because of the coronavirus, a lot of long-planned social functions and activities have to be postponed or cancelled. Even the Songkran Festival is no exception. Still, there is an event that would never, ever be affected by any pandemic: the sunset.
Bikers' playground
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 04/03/2020
» With several long, gnarly downhill trails and friendly local riders, Chiang Mai has long been one of the most popular destinations for gravity mountain bikers. Now it is offering even more.
Come and see
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 30/01/2020
» 'But why? There's nothing to see there. Are you looking for a filming location?" asked the old lady at the roadside food stall when she knew that after the lunch my friends and I were going to Talat Klong Sip Song Hok Wa, a nearby waterside community so named because it is located at the point where Hok Wa and Sip Song canals cross.
No longer places to just pass by
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 29/08/2019
» Mae Sot city in Tak province is widely known as one of the Kingdom's largest hubs of border trade. However, for holiday-makers, it's often overlooked. I, for one, have made brief stops in Mae Sot several times, on my way to Umphang to its south, to Mae Sariang and Mae Hong Son to its north, and even to Mawlamyine, the capital of Myanmar's Mon State to the west.
Calling all mountain bikers
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 14/08/2019
» One of the most-awaited mountain bike competitions, the International Chiang Mai Enduro (ICE) 2019 is set to take place from Nov 30 until Dec 1. Registration is now open.