In an impressive display of mass civil disobedience, thousands of pigeons continue to occupy Chiang Mai’s historic Thaphae Gate area demanding the right to be fed. Ignoring the many warning signs reading “Don’t feed the animals” in 3 languages (Chinese, English, and Thai), the flying rodents keep harassing helpless tourists to demand more food. The […]
Pack Sandals Not a Sweater – Move to Thailand Instead of Canada After Trump’s Victory
On election night 2016, as the states began to fall into Donald Trump’s column, it was reported that Canada’s immigration website crashed from the surge in traffic. If like many people you’re terrified to live in Trump’s USA and want to get out, let me tell you—Canada is not your only option. I know what […]
Black is the New Black
With Thailand now in the middle of an official mourning period following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej last month, tourist arrivals who haven’t been paying attention to world news may be quite surprised at what they see. Everywhere you go, people are dressed in black and white. I can’t speak for Bangkok, […]
Some DOs and DON’Ts When Visiting Thailand
Whenever traveling to a foreign country it’s a good idea to read up on the culture, to see how it differs from your own in order to not offend the locals. Just about every guidebook for Thailand will inform travelers that you shouldn’t point your feet at a Buddha statue, but you should stand up […]
Reticulated Python on the Loose in Chiang Mai
A typical Wednesday morning in Chaing Mai took an unexpected turn when I suddenly spotted a 4-meter long reticulated python. I have seen snakes in the city before, but never one so huge. This animal was a good 20 cm thick and I’m guessing about 4 meters in length. According to Wikipedia, the reticulated python […]
Joining an Esoteric Buddhist Initiation on Holy Mount Koya
One of the most unique experiences you can have in Japan is to journey to Mount Koya to take part in an esoteric Buddhist ceremony granting entrance into a sacred mandala—a visual representation of enlightened mind. The event is open to the public and held twice a year at the picturesque Garan temple complex—the home […]
A Pictorial Trip Through Penang’s Chinatown
For foreigners staying in Thailand long-term, the island of Penang in Malaysia is one of the best places to make a visa run. The Thai consulate is small, casual, and efficient. There is a great variety of food available, especially Indian food. And the old Chinatown in the heart of Georgetown is one of the […]
Thai Elephants on the Attack!
Elephants are are a national symbol of Thailand, but lately these beloved animals have been generating some negative press. In the past few weeks, there have been numerous reports of wild elephants running amok in national parks, attacking cars and shops. In recent months there were also a couple cases of domesticated elephants turning on […]
America, You’re Doing it Wrong – Why Tipping in Restaurants is Stupid
It’s pretty common for expats in Asia to bitch and complain about silly little things like road safety and breathable air, and while it might be unreasonable to expect people in every country to use turn signals and not burn down the forests, there are some things that Asian countries do get right that my […]
Get Ready for a Second Helping of the Thai Veggie Festival
If you missed out on Thailand’s annual vegetarian festival this year, don’t worry because you have another chance to catch it at the end of this month. Vegetarians in Thailand have an extra reason to celebrate this year, as 2014 is scheduled for a double dose of the yearly vegetarian food feast. If you’re in […]