One of Thailand’s greatest dichotomies is how centuries-old traditions seem to live alongside high tech trends. Thais are tied to their smartphones, clamor to buy new cars and seem to use an unnecessary amount of plastic bags and bottles. Yet at the same time, a large portion of the goods I buy and use are […]

There’s something about water that’s recharging for the soul. Even more so when it’s the bright, crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea. After weeks of searing heat, smoky skies and Songkran splashing, escaping to Koh Lanta on the west coast of Thailand for five days was a welcome change. In this funny time between the […]

I’ve been back in Thailand for more than two months now (I swear time goes more quickly in Chiang Mai…). I never meant for this site to become a ‘living in Thailand blog’ but then again, I never expected to be staying here so long with. The questions and my answers/experiences below are a follow […]

As a foreigner, when you hear or read about Songkran, you often hear about the crazy “largest water fight in the world”. It can get really crazy. For three days to celebrate the Thai New Year (which is based on the lunar calendar and actually celebrated throughout much of Southeast Asia) businesses close, workers get […]

It’s no secret that I love Thailand. I simply love it and that’s that. As with any place though, after being here for a while, I do start to become settled in the familiar or desensitized to things that used to surprise me. You know how you never actually go to an activity or attraction […]

It’s that time of year again…Songkran is almost here and that means high temperatures and lots and lots of water. I wrote this post last year, but the information and recommendations still hold true. (I’ve also added in some more tips as well as a section featuring posts from other bloggers who know Songkran well.) […]

Even after more than three and a half years based in Thailand, I still learn, discover or see something new every single day. Every time I come back to the country, people will ask me why – haven’t I seen enough? The short answer is, because I love it, and, no. There are still entire […]

Bangkok won’t charm you…at least not right away. It’s massive, intimidating, busy, hot, humid and really kind of ugly. Chances are you may get ripped off by a tuk tuk or taxi driver and you’ll definitely get stuck in traffic at some point. But, give it a little time, and you’ll start to notice how the […]

This past weekend marked my three year anniversary of leaving Seattle and moving to Southeast Asia. Though at the time I didn’t really think of it as ‘moving’, more like I was leaving for an extended trip, I’ve now used Chiang Mai as a home base for longer than anywhere else I’ve lived after high […]

With hundreds of islands to choose from, it quickly becomes overwhelming trying to decide what the best Thai island to go to is. Heck, after three years living in the country and becoming more familiar with all the different options, it’s still difficult for me to choose and organize a trip. (And then I just give […]