I recently visited Vietnam, the latter and a lot more all hit home. In early April, I found myself on a bus riding along a highway somewhere between Hanoi and Halong Bay. Suddenly the vehicle stopped and we were told we would be spending 45 minutes at what was described to us as the Hong Ngoc Humanity Centre.

พวกเราจะไม่รอดกันแน่ๆ ถ้าไม่จับมือกันระดมแก้ปัญหา จะรอให้ใครมาช่วย ถ้าเราไม่ช่วยตัวเอง?

Northern Thailand is home to a uniquely rich and diverse history, rooted in the lifestyles of various village communities. With Chiang Mai at the centre of this diversity comes the question of how to best preserve such cultural traditions.

What is to be done about this pollution? While the horror-days of March and April are behind us, pollution continues to be a massive concern. Especially as we know that it will come back again next year…and the year after…and again after that.

If you were to mention to Martin Papworth that he is being considered as the focus of any sort of media attention the first thing he would say is I don’t deserve the attention. It’s a team effort.

It has taken many years, but finally, there is becoming widespread awareness of the great health hazards of Northern Thailand’s annual air pollution crisis. With thousands hospitalised for various pollution-caused and -related illnesses each year, we are slowly becoming aware, as a society, of the potential for long term damage to our health.

In celebration of 14th Aniversary, Le Crystal Restaurant will be serving a special set menu with champaign pairing for 2,500 baht per person. Limited seats available.

Upon arrival at the expansive grounds of Fah Lanna Spa, one immediately exhales. The ubiquitous spa aromas gently tickle the nose and lead you inwards, but there is something wonderful about having a large space where art, culture, crafts, design and nature intermix so seamlessly.

Thailand might seem to be a just a country where you can do cheap shopping sprees and enjoy cheap food. However, there is a lot more to do in the country! Here is your guide so you can stay away from the typical activities and look forward to a more engaging experience both in and out of the tourist-filled attractions of Thailand.

We headed to Chiang Dao to activists who are doing everything they can to relieve air pollution issue for their community

If you love these steaming, aromatic, bite sized baskets of deliciousness – and who doesn’t – then here is a list of some of the best, most interesting or best valued dim sums to be had in town.

Knowing that this is a play by university students, I expected to see the same kind of thing I had before. But the first step into Lanyim Theatre soon proved time that I had underestimated this group.

We had a poignant article on our website last month, ‘What Does it Mean to be Thai’, submitted by Jaem Prueangwat, a young gay Bangkokian struggling to find his identity as a Thai man. Much of what he said resonated with me, and from the comments of readers, with many others.

It’s late Saturday morning at the Nong Ho race track in Chiang Mai and the scorching summer sun beams down with its usual intensity and oppressiveness on the spectators about to enter the grandstand.

The local schools are often equally unhelpful. Corrupt school directors in Thailand are usually moved, rather than fired, and many end up in hill tribe schools where the hill tribe members do not have a loud enough voice to protest.

Museums are, at their core, historical oases. They present us with our past. Yet, people often feel removed from the past they’re viewing. The glass cases can give one the impression of a zoo, in which the materials on display are to be stared at, rather than interacted with. One may walk through an exhibit passively, with the information simply washing over the onlooker.

Sometimes we write these hotel reviews and actually get jealous that we have our own houses to go back to each night, as we don’t get a chance to experience all the awesome sleeping options there are in our city.

While there are concerns over Thailand’s bourgeoning ageing population, with the topic popping up now and then in the media, the issue hasn’t been discussed as seriously as it is in countries such as Japan or China, until recently.

As fun as the city can be, we all need occasional respite. And if a trip to Bora Bora isn’t in the cards, we seek to retreat where we can. Here are a few places we discovered this month.

ChangChill is offering a new kind of elephant tourism, one that we expect will be in high demand and one we hope will soon become a model many others will follow.

A 15 course set menu inspired by the sea features farm-raised sweet prawn from Surat Thani, served with a salty sea blite pesto made with chakra vegetables, Kaffir lime, and the aroma of bergamot skin and bergamot juice, and more.

The slow and gently Lanna service is abundant and the relaxed pace of the city makes it a perfect place to leave time at the doorstep and escape into a world of luxurious massages, beautiful aromas and the odd crack of the neck.

A book lover’s haven, a quiet place for reflection – Payap University Library’s Archives are an unexpected delight

Smiles, tears, and first steps towards novice monkhood during Poi Sang Long in Mae Hong Son.

Whether it be football, cricket or Thai boxing, anyone in the know about sports in general will automatically tell you without hesitation that the future of any chosen sport lies with the children who participate.

Shangri-La Chiang Mai’s Executive Chef, Paolo Pelosi, has drawn inspiration from the sights, sounds, scents and tastes of an Italian spring to bring us a superb culinary event.

Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai continues to take us on a culinary journey unlike any other we have experienced in the northern city.

Tucked away in one of the many pockets of Chiang Mai’s Chinatown, between a mystery concrete box and a store selling kids’ bikes and pork buns, is a nondescript, seemingly ordinary shop called Kasem Store.

What being Thai means exactly is perhaps forever evolving I came to believe, maybe not really existing. Failing to come up with anything, I will now stick to telling you my story. My truth.

Amongst the variety of dishes on the menu, Daddy’s Antique’s pasta illustrates the overall character of this European restaurant; being both sophisticated and comforting.

First impressions count and as we were driven through the beautiful grounds of the Dheva Spa and Wellness Centre, we were expecting to be impressed. We were however blown away by the beauty of the spa buildings and the complete serenity we felt when we entered the spa reception. We felt completely removed from the bustle of daily Chiang Mai life.

With over 700 sois in the municipal area alone, this is a labyrinth well worth diving into, because there is a wealth of hidden gems to be found…if you can (or cheat and use GPS, we won’t tell).

Sometimes businesses offer more than one service or product. Sometimes these matches are incongruous, others inspired. Here are a few you can checkout and decide for yourselves.

While we love Chiang Mai for its casual cheap and cheerful vibe, who doesn’t enjoy a good treat now and then? It could be a luxe spa experience, some Michelin standard bites or an uber cool new bar!

Sometimes it’s not just the product which draws us into a shop, but the actual design and display of the shop itself, which attracts us. Here are a few we really enjoyed this month.