At 1685 meters, the mountain of Doi Suthep overlooks Chiang Mai to the east, providing wonderful views, nature trails, and the spectacular Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The wat is worth a visit for its beauty even when views are marred due to weather or smoke from slash-and-burn farming. The crowning feature of the wat is […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Thailand' Category
WoWasis Book review: Timothy Hallinan’s ‘The Fourth Watcher’
Following up on his excellent novel A Nail Through the Heart, Timothy Hallinan’s The Fourth Watcher (2008, ISBN 978-0-06-125726-1) is a continuation of the ongoing saga of travel writer Poke Rafferty and his family, ex- bar girl Rose, and adopted daughter Miaow. Hallinan is rapidly becoming a fixture in the Bangkok Fiction genre, whose prosaic […]
Read the rest of this entry »Eating bugs in Thailand: Supplementing your daily caloric intake the upcountry way
Westerners visiting Thailand for the first time may quickly encounter a dramatic indicator that they’re no longer in the western world: the streetside bug cart. Loaded with trays filled with a number of delicious insect delights, these carts serve primarily Thai people who’ve emigrated to Bangkok from outlying provinces such as Isaan and the northern […]
Read the rest of this entry »Exotic Fruits of Thailand: What’s this thing called, and how do I eat it?
Westerners from even the more abundant agricultural nations will quickly become transfixed by the breadth of palate to be sampled in the fruits commonly found in Thailand. Fruits here are categorized as either seasonal (e.g. durian, lychee, longan, mango, mangosteen) or year-round (banana, jackfruit, papaya, pineapple). Here is your guide to the most common, encountered […]
Read the rest of this entry »Men’s rooms TV ads: more noise pollution in Bangkok?
Bangkok, already one of the world’s noisiest cities, might be in the process of getting louder. U.S.-educated entrepreneur Palin Lojanagosin intends to start putting ads in washrooms on television monitors. These will not only be placed above sinks, but above the toilet stalls themselves. All of us have come to grips with the notion that […]
Read the rest of this entry »Buying property: Own your own piece of Thailand? It can be done, but with caveats
(Note: Also read WoWasis post about construction scams in Thailand) Many Westerners who fall in love with Thailand have expressed a desire to own property there. Although the process is probably more complicated than in your own country, it is doable, as thousands can attest. Here are some of the basics, and remember to consult […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bang Fai rocket festival in Yasothon, Thailand
Like us here at WoWasis, if your idea of fun is a weekend of Isaan parades, music, drinking, and rocket launching, the Bun Bungfai Rocket Festival, held each year in Yasothon, is for you. Generally held on one of the first two weekends in May, the festival features dozens of teams launching thousands of home-crafted […]
Read the rest of this entry »Jumbo Queen beauty contest in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
If the size of a beauty contest can be measured by the accumulated weight of all contestants, Thailand’s Jumbo Queen Contest is undoubtedly the world’s largest. Occurring each year on Thailand’s May 1 labor Day holiday, the contest matches the talent, beauty, and charm of some of the largest women in Thailand. To be eligible […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bachelor in Bangkok: Khun Lee’s 5 rules for surviving the Bangkok bar scene
Guys like me enjoy the company of Entertainment Providers quite often and enjoy it immensely with very few negative experiences. However, so many men find themselves losing their hearts, their money, and sometimes even their minds! So given this theme I will list below Khun Lee’s 5 Rules for handling oneself inside this arena. I […]
Read the rest of this entry »Ko PhiPhi Island, Thailand
This island group actually consists of two islands, the larger Ko Phi Phi Don, and Ko Phi Phi Leh. Phi Phi Don is heavily touristed, with lots of bars, and a relatively well-used boat dock. Diving in the area is good in the dive season, running between January and March, with visibility generally 15-30 meters, […]
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