Penfold's South East Asian Odyssey

I'm sure many of you have visited the ancient ruins at Ayutthaya and the UNESCO world heritage sites at Sukothai. If you enjoyed the experience then I would like to let you in on a little secret. About 5 kilometres South of Chiang Mai, lies a hidden historical gem called Wiang Kum Kam. Whilst it doesn't rival Sukothai or Ayutthaya in terms of reputation or column inches in tourist guides, it is equally majestic and provides a tantilising glimpse in to Chiang Mai's past. There are over 20 sites, some of which have yet to be fully excavated and restored. Visitors can chose to view a selection of the ancient ruins either by tram or by horse and carriage, which was the option we chose. I felt sorry for the horse because riding in the carriage was my girlfriend and I, her father and 3 of our dogs!!! Wiang Kum Kam was founded in the 13th Century and briefly served as the capital of the Northern Lanna kingdom until severe flooding caused the inhabitants to move to the current site...

We all know that Mother Nature can be a fickle mistress, because a few months ago certain parts of Thailand were experiencing some of the worst droughts in decades. However, fast-forward a few weeks and the Kingdom is currently being deluged by the monsoon rains and swathes of the country from Ayutthaya to Chiang Rai are under metres of water!!! Countless buildings have been damaged, roads washed away and acres of crops destroyed. The weather forecasts will do little to ease the worries of those already mopping up!!! Having recently been in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, I saw first hand some of the problems that have been caused. However, Thai's are resilient folk and I know it will take more than a few drops of rain to dampen the spirits. Fortunately, Casa Penfold is still standing and I won't be forced to live in the street with the Soi dogs just yet!! An in-depth look report of the flooding is available by clicking on the following link..... http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?...

Apologies for the lack of posts recently, I have been in Chiang Mai with my girlfriend renovating our holiday home....I will update you all on the progress of the improvements and post some photos in due course. Having recently encountered a massive scorpion in the garden, (see below!!!), it got me thinking about all the potentially dangerous creatures that you are likely to encounter in Thailand. There are plenty of run of the mill critters like ants, wasps and bees, ands although a bite or sting can be extremely uncomfortable, they are only really dangerous if you suffer an allergic reaction. However, there are plenty of other flying, slithering and swimming critters that can pack a lethal punch. I shall give you a breakdown of some of the worst offenders………. 1) Insects One of the smallest and most common insects is responsible for more hospital admissions than all the other animals combined and that is the humble mosquito. Most people just consider them to be a nuisance, but they ca...

In a move aimed at discouraging elephant handlers from bringing their animals into Bangkok, authorities in the Thai capital have recently introduced a new law stating that foreign tourists caught feeding elephants will be fined 10,000 baht (approximately £200). That’s a pretty hefty fine for giving a poor, starving pachyderm a 25 baht bunch of bananas or a corn on the cob!!! This practice has been going decades, despite the fact that the elephant owners or mahouts are already banned from bringing their creatures into the city and are supposed to face substantial financial penalties if they are caught. However, the owners often bride local police to allow them to work in the red light districts and other tourist hot-spots and when money is changing hands, existing rules and regulations are rarely enforced. Whilst I believe that elephants shouldn’t be roaming the streets of a busy, polluted city and I commend the authorities for trying to take positive action, criminalising tourists is n...

If you have ever been to Thailand, there is a fair chance that you will have seen a wet pussy or two, particularly if you enjoy the night-spots of Nana Plaza or Walking Street in Pattaya!!! But, if you think that I’m going to tell you a raunchy story featuring naked pole-dancers, a jacuzzi and a jar of nutella, then not only are you a pervert but you’ll also be very disappointed!!! This story actually features real felines and how they are used in a traditional ceremony to encourage the monsoon rains. Many of you will know that parts of Thailand are experiencing some of the worst droughts in decades and worried villagers in the Northern town of Phichit have turned to ancient rituals and superstitions in an attempt to appease the rain gods. As we know, rural folk in Thailand can be a pretty strange bunch, probably something to do with working in the glaring sun for 12 hours a day or drinking too much rice whiskey. But, whoever it was that came up with the idea of a “cat-calling” process...

Thailand is hardly a bastion of democracy, freedom, truth and good governance....but, if things are that bad, then why do boat loads of Burmese immigrants regularly turn up on the Thai coast or flee to jungle refugee camps in the border regions? What is so dreadful, that it forces Burmese citizens to risk life and limb to reach Thailand? When most of them are well aware of the historic animosity between the two nations and knowing that they will receive a less than coridal welcome and leave themselves open to exploitation. The reason is very clear and his name is General Than Shwe, head of the Burmese military Junta. Don't be fooled by that smile, because underneath lurks a nasty, brutal and treacherous despot, who, for nearly 20 years, has run a regime synonymous with violence, murder and political oppression. I am not normally one for politcally-motivated rants or explicit demonstrations of support for particular regimes or individuals, as I think most people involved in politics...

If you are planning an extended stay in Thailand and you haven’t already organised your visa, then I have some good news for you. Thai embassies and consulates are waiving the fees for all tourist visas issued between 11th May 2010 and 31st March 2011, which in the UK is £28 per entry. I recently applied for a 3 entry tourist visa and saved myself £84 in the process. I can assure you that money will be put to very good use when I arrive in the LOS……it will buy me well over 100 bottles of beer Leo or a nice handbag for my better-half!!! I had heard mixed reviews about the quality of visa services at the main Thai Embassy in London, so I decided to try the Royal Thai Consulate in Hull instead. They accept applications by post and in person, but if you want to apply in person you must make an appointment with them first. I made an initial enquiry, via email, which was answered within 7 hours (I think this is incredibly good when compared to some other organisations!!!) and when I submitte...