Showing 71 - 80 of 234
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.
Forget social media and try twitter
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 10/04/2020
» By now, you are probably either getting used to social distancing or feeling bored to death by the lockdown. If you're in the first group, kudos to you. But suppose you're among the latter bunch for whom binge-watching and all those silly social media challenges no longer, or never, work, there is still another thing you may wish to try: listening to bird songs.
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.
Samet Ville Resort
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 02/04/2020
» Three weeks before the lockdown, having cancelled a trip to Japan, I decided to use my leave days at Ao Wai instead. This beach on Koh Samet of Rayong Province is one of my all-time favourites. Over the past 25 years, I've visited Ao Wai numerous times. Unlike most beaches on the island, this peaceful haven has only one resort. Somehow, I've never written about it until now.
A time for solitude
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 26/03/2020
» Starting on Thursday, Thailand is under a state of emergency. Hopefully, this will help the country cope with the Covid-19 pandemic more effectively. At the time of writing, a full lockdown is not yet announced. But in line with the emergency decree, it's likely that social distancing will no longer be urged but enforced. Only with people staying calmly at home will it be possible to keep the highly contagious virus under control. China has shown that such stringent measures worked. If everybody complies, it should bring a good result here, too.
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.
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.
A lesser-known side of Chinatown
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 12/03/2020
» Song Wat road is merely 1.2-km long, but it still might take you a few hours to walk from one end to the other, especially if you are a history lover or a shutterbug.
Home Ayutthaya
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 05/03/2020
» During a work trip to Ayutthaya, I looked for decent accommodation with a river view that was not only affordable but also worthy of recommendation. This place, 2.5km from the western boundary of Ko Muang (the city island where the historical park is located) fit the bill. It has only five rooms. I was lucky there was one available for me that day.
Phetchaburi party
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 05/03/2020
» The celebration of the 19th-century Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace, one of Phetchaburi's most important historical sites, is taking place again from tomorrow until March 15.