In 2011 I traveled to Thailand in search of a link between Buddhism, morality and the Thai martial art, Muay Thai. Along the way I discovered Ajarn Lek, a practitioner, teacher and master of Muay Chaiya, an ancient variation of Muay Thai. He was kind enough to invite me over to discover more. (The following interview ...
Afternoon Tea at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
I floated into what felt like a room made of clouds – light, ethereal, and not quite there. Between the sweeping white staircase in the centre of the courtyard, the white rattan furniture, and the palest cream marble floor, it was not hard to believe that you had momentarily left this world. Bamboo trees shoot up ...
Dancing Under the Mongkhon: How Thailand’s National Sport Can Teach us a Distinctive Moral Code.
The LSE Asia Research Centre (ARC) – Thailand Government Scholarship scheme is a partnership between the Royal Thai Embassy in London and the Asia Research Centre, LSE. The Scholarship aims to promote better understanding of, and knowledge regarding, Thailand. I received the above scholarship and visited Thailand from August-October 2011. My personal take on my trip to ...
Mekong River Catfish on a Bed of Pandan Leaves
I got very carried away in the fresh vegetable section of Chinatown and this was the result: Ingredients: Jasmine rice White fish (I used Mekong River Catfish) Galangal 2 red chillies Kaffir lime leaves Coconut cream Thai holy basil Garlic Pandan leaves Lemongrass Fish sauce Palm sugar Coconut water Preheat the oven to 200 C (fan), place a pan of water and salt on the hob to boil and add ...
Queen Sirikit’s Birthday Weekend – The End
I woke up to the shrill bleating of my phone and picked it up half asleep. Someone (I had no idea who) asked if I was still free to meet up later that day. He was definitely American so I assumed it was one of the teachers I had met in K, so mumbled an ...
Queen Sirikit’s Birthday Weekend – Saturday
A week and a half or more has passed since the Queen’s birthday weekend, and some of you may have read about my very recent trip to the Oriental Hotel… however I need to rewind the time and fill in the gaps I left, for not only did I visit some truly beautiful places that ...
Queen Sirikit’s Birthday Weekend – Friday
As most of you can imagine, all my wonderful plans failed epicly. Horst arrived late and the minute we got in a taxi I realised I had forgotten my book full of the details and bus times. I had to try and remember the name of the bus station, and the taxi driver somehow found it ...
Queen Sirikit’s Birthday Weekend – Thursday
I am lying in bed, sick. It’s pretty much the same illness my baby sister had when she came back from Ibiza – inflamed white tonsils, fever etc. She had taken her suitcase to Pacha (a nightclub) and then at 7am after dancing all night, went straight to the airport. So we can understand how her ...
Golden Ghost
I’m not sure I entirely understand the following text, could be due to the English translation or perhaps I’m not thinking about it enough. However, this is part of an art installation at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre where I whiled away a few hours today. I was very impressed by all the work ...
The Day Before
I’m down to the last day now. Tomorrow my flight leaves at 15.30 when I embark on my epic 2 day journey to Thailand with a 24 hour stopover in Dubai. I have spent my in between time in Madrid very much in denial of my imminent departure. My house is a little paradise which I ...
