First-time in Novotel Suvarnabhumi

Arriving in Bangkok on a dark night from Chiang Mai and an early morning flight to catch the next day can be a bit taxing. Good thing we were to stay the night at Novotel Suvarnabhumi, a stone’s throw away from the airport. But it’s not just the proximity to Bangkok’s gateway that makes Novotel Suvarnabhumi …

First-time at the Chiang Mai Night Safari

Porcupines. Wild boars. Hyenas. Tigers. Lions. One by one these animal species appeared in the glass-enclosed arena as part of an informative and entertaining show on the Night Predators. This is the Chiang Mai Night Safari. Located in the Hang Dong District in Chiang Mai, the safari is 12 kilometers from the city center. They …

First-time in Asiatique the Riverfront

The Asiatique in Bangkok’s Riverfront is one of the newest places to be in the Land of Smiles. It’s a dining, shopping, and entertainment venue in one. It opens at 5:00 pm until midnight, providing a new vibe to Bangkok’s nightlife. But did you know that Asiatique was once a pier belonging to the East …

First-time at The Siam Hotel

It was a fast ride to The Siam Hotel. As we touched down on a Sunday afternoon, the Bangkok streets were free of the usual traffic scene. More so, the police escort that we had, as part of our MICE lane experience for this familiarization trip by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), made …

My art elephant

A white thing was standing at the edge of my bed as I walked into my hotel bedroom in Bangkok, Thailand for the MICE familiarization trip. The thing had many colorful designs on it. I looked closely and smiled at what I saw. Meet my art elephant, Forever Birds. Created by artist Anchalee Intorn, it …

Thai Airways and its MICE offers for business events

With three hours on air aboard Thai Airways, I wanted to grab some sleep. But the screen in front of me was too tempting to let it pass. I searched for movies but I couldn’t seem to decide which one to watch. I browsed the music, hoping it can get me to fall asleep. I …

Thailand gears to be a strong MICE destination

Bound for Bangkok, Thailand for a MICE familiarization trip, I was engrossed playing a game onboard Thai Airways, one of our trip’s sponsor when the passenger seated beside me asked if he should also fill out the form, the immigration card, that I inserted in my passport. I answered in the affirmative and told him …

First-time in Legoland Malaysia: from toy blocks to theme park

Lego is a global brand that is popular with children and adults alike. This popular toy blocks that are being put together trace its roots from Denmark and has made its way all over the world for over 80 years. Now, the Lego brick builds not just a small house but a whole theme park! …

Your Story: 2 Day Jungle Trekking in Chiang Mai

By Matthew Nunn. I went to Chiang Mai more than a year ago and I like it to be featured again by another traveler. So I’m putting this up on my blog. Thailand as a country offers many diverse and varied activities for travelers, from the mainstream well-trodden paths to off-the-beaten-track authentic travel.  Tour operators …

2011 Travel Highlights

While excitement at work kicked in pretty hard for me in 2011, it also hindered me to do a lot of exploring outside of my job description and workplace. It’s a good thing though that despite the demands of my job, I was able to do a bit of traveling last year. First off, I did …

First-time in Chiang Mai’s markets

I was in the plane this morning en route to Bangkok, Thailand. The people at the other side of my aisle were chatting, asking questions about each other. Of course, one question was on where the other was heading. The Australian lady told the Filipino guy that she and her friend were off to Chiang …

First-time in a Fam Trip

It has been months since I’ve been to a familiarization trip or a fam trip. I was chosen as one of the 12 finalists of the Medical Tourism Blog Contest organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. But I got busy with the competition that I missed posting my experience here on my site. The …

Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Resort

First-time in Rarinjinda Resort

It may look like a botique hotel from the outside but once you enter its doors, it’s as if you are brought inside a different world. Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Resort is your perfect hideaway tucked in the heart of Chiang Mai. The most interesting part is that Rarinjinda House, or Ruen RarinJinda, is a 140-year …

Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai

First-time in Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai

The golden streaks of the sun setting was our backdrop as we rode towards our accommodation in Chiang Mai — the breathtaking Dhara Dhevi. From a morning flight from Bangkok as finalists of the Medical Tourism Blog Contest, we spent the whole day going to a dentist, eating a sumptuous lunch at a château, and …

Loi Krathong

First-time for a Loi Krathong Festival

I never expected that as soon as we touched down at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport we would be witnessing the Loi Krathong, which is the festival of lights. It literally means “to float a basket”. During this day, Thais, and even foreigners, release their krathong, a decorated banana trunk with candle and incense, to the river to …