• OPINION

  Where's my durian?

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 19/06/2017

  » The durian season is now in full swing, but some discernible lovers of the spiky fruit, myself included, are utterly upset. In Bangkok, from roadside stalls and fresh markets to shopping malls and even social media, the King of Fruits is virtually everywhere you look. But still I don't see the once-common variety that I have been waiting for, the one I'm dying to savour.

• LIFE

  How to enjoy the majesty of Phu Soi Dao

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 11/07/2018

  » Unless you have shut yourself from all news, you must be aware that it's wise to avoid visiting certain caves or venturing off the Andaman coast during the monsoon season. However, at several destinations in Thailand, this is the period when the beauty of nature reaches its peak, thus in some ways the best time to be there. Phu Soi Dao is one such place.

• LIFE

  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.

• LIFE

  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.

• TRAVEL

  Eye-opening adventure

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 19/12/2019

  » To many Thais, me included, the mention of Sri Lanka will suddenly bring to mind Colombo, the capital, Ceylon tea, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, and some other religious sites. But what about Sri Lanka's southern coast? Hmm. Of course, there must be beaches and the sea. But what else?

• LIFE

  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.

• OPINION

  New tricks for an old dog

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 21/10/2019

  » With the constant evolution of the internet and digital technology, the world has changed furiously fast. Many aspects of life are no longer the same. At the age of 51, I know full well if I want to survive another decade I've got to learn a new skill. So I took up aikido.

• TRAVEL

  The lesser-spotted wonders of Lucknow

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 24/10/2019

  » After a three-hour flight from Bangkok, I found myself at an immigration counter of Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, aka Lucknow Airport. An expressionless officer flipped through my passport and made a gesture signifying that I follow the instructions on the fingerprint scanner and place the fingers of my left hand, minus my thumb, on it. Obediently, I complied. The machine flashed a green light. The officer shook his head.

• LIFE

  At the crossroads of history

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 26/09/2019

  » The ancient city of Ayutthaya was surrounded by rivers -- the Lop Buri on the north side, the Pa Sak on the east side and the Chao Phraya on the remaining sides. South of the city island, known in Thai as Koh Muang, the Pa Sak merges with the Chao Phraya at the point where the latter makes a southward turn, away from Koh Muang.

• LIFE

  Not what it seems

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 01/08/2019

  » As you can see on the map, Klong Yai district is a narrow strip of land that extends from the main part of Trat province. Flanked by the Gulf of Thailand on one side and the mountains of western Cambodia on the other, it doesn't look like a place where much has happened.

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