All by Michael Cullen
If you like getting off the beaten track and exploring hidden corners of cities that have an interesting history, then you’ll enjoy visiting the Talad Noi district of Bangkok. This riverside neighbourhood is an ancient area of unique gritty streets, and multicultural heritage, and is distinctly different from other parts of Thailand’s capital.
One of Bangkok’s oldest urban canals has undergone a massive rehabilitation to transform it into a trendy walking street and night market. Khlong Ong Ang is near many of the Thai capital’s major sights. It is rich with entertainment, street art, history and tasty street food. Stalls selling local crafts and other items are interspersed with the food stalls along the walkways making the canal banks a pleasant place for an evening stroll.
Slow travel is a term used to describe travelling at a pace that enables you to connect to local communities and culture. It’s about spending more time in places and discovering the soul of those places through their history, food, language and people, rather than chasing bucket list ticks. It’s likely to be the way in which many older travellers explore the region in the months to come.
Spirit houses can be seen in different forms all over Southeast Asia and in many other parts of the continent too. They are often draped in colourful garlands of flowers and have offerings of food and drinks for the spirits. We take a closer look at the spirit houses in Thailand and find out why they are there.
Thailand is likely to be one of the first countries in Asia to re-open its borders to international tourists in the second half of the year. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best of Thailand’s festivals from October 2020 to February 2021 to help you plan an itinerary that provides an opportunity to participate in at least one of these colourful events.
Extract: Many older travellers enjoy getting off the beaten track having visited all the usual tourist haunts during their younger days. And they like to do it in a socially responsible way, especially if there are opportunities to connect with communities in the developing countries of Asia. There are a number of community-based tourism operators in Thailand that offer visitors the ability to do that. We take a look at how they work.
Isan in northeastern Thailand is a fascinating region for older travellers as it has many well-preserved Khmer ruins to see, as well as festivals and cuisine that reflect a mix of Thai and Lao cultures. Five national parks offer opportunities for hiking and bird-watching for those looking for back-to-nature experiences. And as Isan is one of Thailand’s least visited regions, it’s not yet overrun with tourists.
The Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand offers some unique opportunities for older travellers to experience authentic nature adventures without a lot of arduous trekking. Easy hikes, long-tail boat tours and bamboo river rafting are comfortable ways to experience this region which contains ancient rainforests, picturesque waterfalls and mountain streams, majestic limestone cliffs, hidden caves, and the spectacular Cheow Lan Lake.
Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world. There are times that the presence of tourists may feel overwhelming, and you may want to escape for a day or two and enjoy the feel of ‘small town’ Thailand. The riverside town of Mae Khlong is one such place, and it’s only 80 km from Bangkok, so is ideal for either a day trip or an overnight stay.
Many older travellers to the tropical countries of Asia like to keep fit whilst they are on holiday. One way to do this is through running or jogging. However, if you normally run only in temperate climates, there are some precautions that you need to take in the tropics. This guide contains some practical advice from a Thailand-based ultra runner on how to maintain your fitness regime in a tropical climate, and also some important tips on personal safety.
Phuket is one of Thailand’s most popular holiday destinations year-round. During the rainy season, there will be some wet days, but these need not spoil your visit. There’s lots to do and see on Phuket Island whatever the weather. Here are our recommendations for things to do in Phuket on those rainy days.
Thailand has many Buddhist festivals throughout the year, but some of the most interesting for visitors to the country to experience are the colourful candle festivals held at the start of the annual rains retreat. The parades are held on both city streets and waterways and feature the transportation of candles to the temples ranging from individual offerings in floral displays up to massive wax carvings on motorised floats that take up to a year to make.
Bangkok is one of those cities to which travellers return many times. If you’ve done the Grand Palace, the Temple of Dawn and the floating markets on previous trips, and shopped until you dropped at MBK and CentralWorld, then it’s time to slow down the pace and savour the many other attractions that Bangkok has to offer. Here are eight places and experiences you should include on your next visit to the Thai capital.
Thailand is one of the 10 most visited countries in the world, and the third in Asia after China and Turkey. Whilst it’s a magnet for younger tourists seeking sun, sand, bars and nightlife, it also has a lot to offer older travellers with its cultural sites and festivals, regional cuisines, tropical island hideaways and cool mountain regions that are accessible all year round. And for those into shopping, Bangkok has many world-class malls.
