Thailand
A Day in Lopburi: Ruins-Hopping in Thailand’s Monkey Town
Lopburi, one of Thailand’s oldest cities, is also one of its most unique. It’s been continually inhabited for thousands of years by cultures like the Dvaravati and the Khmer. A king of Ayutthaya even took a liking to the town, moving his residence there and renovating the monuments. What makes Lopburi so different is that
Ayutthaya: Touring the Ruins of an Ancient Island Capital
The city of Ayutthaya, at one time, was among the most populated cities in the world. It was also one of the most luxurious and cosmopolitan, with traders and diplomats from around Europe and Asia setting up base there. But one day, that all came to a disastrous end at the hands of the powerful
A Weekend in Thonburi: The Temples & Canals of a Former Capital
After the destruction of Ayutthaya and before the founding of Bangkok, the city of Thonburi functioned for a short time as the Siamese capital. Today, Thonburi is merely a suburb of its younger brother. After getting absorbed by Bangkok’s relentless urban sprawl, ‘Thonburi’ now vaguely refers to the general area west of the Chao Phraya
Chasing the Emerald Buddha: Part Three
Part Three of this chronicle takes us from Laos back again to Thailand. Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew, the current home of the Emerald Buddha, is the most visited temple in the entire country. But not many visitors realize that it’s not the first temple the venerated statue sat in upon its return to Siam. The
Street Art: Bangkok
Bangkok is slowly emerging as a mecca for street art in Asia. Like in many other parts of the region, the art form has long been looked down upon and misunderstood by locals. But as the quality of the art work continues to improve, in addition to semi-regular events helping promote public art, Bangkok residents
Peeling Back Layers of Time at Phu Phra Bat Historical Park
As I began my walk along the rocky trail, I couldn’t hear anything but the sounds of the birds. It had been a long journey to get here, requiring both a shared and private taxi through small-town Udon Thani province. Arriving at the Phu Phra Bat Historical Park, I was surprised to encounter such a