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.

You may be surprised to learn that Chiang Mai is well on its way to submitting its final dossier to UNESCO in our bid to become Thailand’s first living heritage city. It has involved an extraordinary amount of work by people from many sectors. And while UNESCO suggests an indicative timeframe of ten years for the preparation of nominations, and we have been at it for just over three years since we were placed on the tentative list in 2015, those leading the charge say that they may be ready to submit in as little as a year’s time.

In Thailand, up to 80 percent of the urban population suffers from this syndrome, with those in their late teens or early twenties especially at risk.

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.

His enthusiasm and passion have earned him funding from the USAID…as well as getting him in some trouble with the military which almost saw him put in jail. As it is now his last year as a college student, he is focusing on turning this student group into a future career.

With the modest success of 2008’s event, organisers and supporters of the 2009 event were aiming for something far more ambitious. Thailand was ready for a big and beautiful shout-out by the gay community, they thought. A total of 22 different organisations in various fields of LGBT activism had come together to organise this parade. As the day drew near, rainbow flags were being made, guest speakers lined up, fancy costumes designed and all accoutrements of celebration were being prepared.

Road rage is rife in this country where emotions tend to be kept bubbling politely under the surface. It’s odd, but drivers are like road-trolls, we behave in ways we would normally find appalling.

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.

When we first heard of a dramatic comedy theatre play on breast cancer, it was difficult to comprehend how will the three go together? Comedy, theatre and poignant theme of breast cancer! Glad we went for the preview show of this play because it did justice to comedy, theatre and breast cancer issue in a very compelling way.

Shangri-La Chiang Mai continues to elevate the culinary bar. Following last year’s successful series of dinners featuring visiting Michelin-starred guest chefs, this month the hotel welcomes to Chiang Mai a two-starred Michelin chef, which we believe is the first time for our fair city.

It has been 3 years since we last reported on the Chiang Mai Pickleball Club and a lot has happened in that time. The club has changed location, tripled the number of courts and grown an enthusiastic membership of both farang and Thai players.

MINI-INPUT is the largest conference on public television worldwide taking place annually. In 2019, the Goethe-Institut together with Thai PBS, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Thai Media Fund are hosting the conference in Bangkok for the first time in Southeast Asia this coming May.

In Buddhism, the Buddha mentions three important principles that cover all of his teachings, which are at the heart of what people should follow in order to live happily and peacefully. The three core teaching are simply: To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to purify the mind.

Pizza is delicious, and even the most dedicated Thai food fans will have moments where nothing will cure their appetite like a freshly baked pizza topped with cheese, meat, mushrooms and a thick rich tomato sauce.

The haze season is nearly here. In fact, the smog has already devoured Bangkok and Chiang Mai is only a few weeks — dare we hope months — away from this annual catastrophe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled air pollution a global public health emergency.

It’s still winter-ish! So why not slip into a hot spring, soak away your woes and emerge all fresh and perky!

There are endless debates online about the best pizzas in Chiang Mai and frankly we think it’s a matter of taste and preference. Here are three more to add to the growing list.

You know you have got it right when you find yourself opening a new branch. Here are some of our favourite venue… in new destinations.

Every month we sacrifice our waist-lines to explore new restaurants and eateries, selflessly gorging ourselves on your behalf…you’re welcome!

Kuan Khama is an ancient community located around the north western area of the old city between Hua Lin Corner and Chang Phuak Gate. There aren’t too many reasons to visit this area, unless you are heading to Fah Lanna Spa for a massage, hanging out in any of a number of great cafes or stopping to take selfies with some cool graffiti hidden down the labyrinth of sois.

I am as guilty as most of you: in my lifetime I have likely created an actual (hopefully small) mountain’s worth of unrecycled waste. Blame it on ignorance, convenience or wilful self-indulgence, at the end of the day, I have contributed greatly to the woes of our environment. And so have you.

If you find yourself in need of some quiet time and a good soothing massage while shopping at the hectic Night Bazaar, then head on over to the welcoming Varee Spa, on the 4th floor of Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai.

It is very difficult to go against the master template, so Thais have always got their novelty from bringing in things from the outside. Being very receptive to imports, Thais have fun with it. God forbid you have fun with traditions!’

Most of us have had to pick our jaws off the floor because of technology at some point in our lives – the first time we held a remote control, received an email, put on a VR headset…the list goes on.

An investigation following the fate of two U.S. Army Air Force airmen reported missing in action during World War II.

If you were fortunate enough to have gone to Jai Thep Festival last year, then surely you must have already bought your tickets for this year’s event. If you haven’t been yet, read on and then get booking, because this three day festival is one of the highlights of Chiang Mai’s annual calendar.

As the moon shone bright on our winter’s night, we enjoyed the first feast by Chef Marco, who will be serving special lunches and dinners from now until 27th January.

Over the course of the year Michelin-starred chefs were invited to be guest chefs in Shangri-La’s kitchens, where they were challenged with using local produce and collaborating with the hotel’s kitchen crew, to create spectacular pop-up feasts for our city’s diners.

After escaping the 40 degree heat into the stone-walled haven of cool air, I immediately understood why Thai monks wanted to build a temple underground, 700 years previously.

Over 15 million visitors come through Chiang Mai every year, and I felt like the only one who wasn’t in love with the city.

So if you, or your child, dream of studying in the United States, but your current connection to US colleges doesn’t extend further than that gained from Hollywood movies, the idea of leaving home to dive feet first into such a new world can be daunting.