Chiang Mai has recently seen several new restaurants open up which are offering the best fine dining in the city, joining the ranks of the already well established.

Prior to arriving in Thailand, I had nightmares about getting lost. Upon leaving the airport I was, perhaps naïvely, shocked to see the masses of English language signs and advertisements. The adverts that immediately drew my attention were ones for skin whitening products — all, to my eyes, with overtones of Western beauty standards.

The north of Thailand has a rich history of artisanal traditions that have developed over hundreds of years. Today these traditions using local materials and indigenous craftsmanship are utilising modern technology and knowledge of world trends to bridge the gap between old and new. Now with our fancy new UNESCO Creative City recognition, things are only going to get better.

Take yourself out of town and check into a nice hotel this January, escaping reality if for just a moment. If you don’t have much time, why not hang up a hammock and do the same but in your garden.

A new year is upon us. Time for the annual vows of self-improvement. Unfortunately the majority of us do not have statistics on our side and will fail in our resolutions over the coming months. Mostly because we tend to set unrealistic goals such as promising to attempt some form of exercise, take up a new hobby, save money, make a new friend and generally become a better person.

I sit down and ask Dr. Ariya Svetamra of the Women’s Studies Centre, Chiang Mai University this, and many other questions about Thai women’s relationship with Buddhism. The average Buddhist is asked to follow a mere five precepts (rules which govern thoughts and behaviour), a challenge most human beings would fail miserably to meet during the course of one life, let alone multiple lifetimes.

If you are into witches and potions or just nature and beauty, each of these coffee shops combine something special that offers you just a little bit more than a simple cuppa.

Sometimes we are so inured to the limitations imposed on our gender that we accept the status quo, however unfair, absurd or even cruel.

The causes of the pain are numerous, they can be caused by the degeneration of body parts, neuro problems or psychological problems. That’s why the treatment for pain can be extremely challenging.

About to enter its third year, Jai Thep art and music festival will be stretching to three full days and expanding to feature bands from across the world, amazing art instillations, fascinating workshops for adults and children, and a genuine festival vibe inspired by some of the world’s greatest festivals.

The Ping River was the raison d’etre for Chiang Mai, and for over seven hundred years, its lifeblood. So we thought we would scour the river’s banks this month, sharing some of our favourite unique finds with you all.

Virtual reality involves the use of a host of computer technologies to generate a simulated, three-dimensional environment or ‘world’ that can be explored and interacted with by a person.

Now Hillkoff is branching out and expanding its horizons, turning their focus to food as well as coffee.