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The bucolic charm of Khao Yai
Khao Yai, part of the Nakorn Ratchasima province, is a nature lover’s paradise. The climate here is much cooler, despite Khao Yai’s being so near the sweltering capital, and as such it’s a popular weekend destination for city dwellers. Yes, the dense jungles in Mae Hong Son up north or the rocky cliffs of Krabi in the south may offer more excitement, but what Khao Yai offers is family-friendly convenience among other advantages. Khao Yai is home to Thailand’s second largest national park. There are beautiful hiking trails for all levels of ability. There are plenty of easy hikes (walking trails, really) to nearby waterfalls that the entire family can enjoy. For the experienced trailblazers there are also more advanced trails that can take days to traverse.
The park’s waterfalls are a main destination. Heo Suwat waterfall was made famous in the 2000 film The Beach, starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Khao Yai National Park is home to a range of wildlife including Asiatic black bears, Asian elephants, Indochinese tigers and great hornbills. Elephants and macaques are commonly sighted, even on brief drives through the mountains. Parts of the national park are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The area has recently undergone a lot of development, with many Bangkokians flocking to the cooler countryside to build their ‘winter’ vacation homes. Only a two-hour drive north of Bangkok, the location is ideal. Indeed Khao Yai is fast becoming the Hamptons or Cotswolds of Bangkok, without the beach or genuinely temperate climate of course. In addition to country homes, luxury hotels, factory outlet malls and golf courses are appearing in the area, which may bring more visitors and part-time residents but also encroaches on national park lands and wildlife. Perhaps you should visit now before development makes spotting wildlife more and more difficult.
[For restaurant, bar, hotel recommendations and more in this area of town, check out the complete article on catandnat.com].
Part 1.5 of Jackasses Abroad: Unnecessary Flattery… or whatever
And just to add a bit more perspective to “Jackasses Abroad: Cheating Sociopaths“, here is an email I received only a week before he “came clean” about being an unfaithful dick.
Unnecessary, much?
This was in response to an email I sent in which I let him know that I would be moving away from Asia (thank god) – and would therefore no longer be hooking up – and that he’s free to visit anytime (which obviously no longer holds true).
“Would have been nice to see how things progressed”? The guy just really can’t stop lying. This is obviously a guy that likes to have the upper hand with women… or in anything really. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an unethical employee and – well, we already know he’s an unethical person in general, so that’s not far off.
Just glad I’m not his girlfriend. Or his family member. Or his friend.
For some more fun reading, here’s an article on psychopaths from the Huffington Post: “Psychopaths may be great at making themselves look hot, says science”
Jackasses Abroad: Cheating Sociopaths
When it comes to cheating douchebags, chances are The Other Woman had no idea either.
Once a cheater, always a cheater. A mantra that has never been proven wrong, as far as I can tell. Catch that piece of shit cheating and he’s gone in a heartbeat. Right?
At least that’s what I always thought I believed. Turns out, it’s not so much “in a heartbeat” as opposed to “a-month-of-all-consuming-hatred-followed-by-a-brief-two-week-period-of-insanity-where-you-‘forgive’-him-but-really-find-that-he-disgusts-you.” And then you officially end it. Yup, that sounds about right.
But that was almost a year ago and I’m over it. (Hope the bastard got hit by a bus.)
What I’m writing about today is how it feels to be the one cheated with. Now wait a second. I’m not a whore, and I’m not without morals. I’m a girl who wanted no strings attached, which meant men without girlfriends. It doesn’t matter how serious or not-serious my relationships are, I can not knowingly do anything with anyone who has a girlfriend (having been through that myself). It’s just such a shame that men in Asia are dicks with huge egos (not egos with huge dicks, mind you). I’m not about to become some home-wrecker with no respect for other women and other people’s relationships. Also, do you really want some psycho bitch hunting you down and throwing acid in your face? (This would not be entirely unexpected here in Asia). The point is, I did not know.
Not only did this jackass cheat on his girlfriend. He did so repeatedly and without remorse (if there was any, it was very little). I can almost understand forgiving a cheater, as I briefly believed I had at one point too. But to forgive someone who not only cheats on you once, but multiple times, spending quite a bit of $$$ to do it (traveling between neighboring countries in Southeast Asia is not as cheap as you might think), and keeping up appearances with The Other Woman? That’s unforgivable in any woman’s book. You would think the thought of your boyfriend sticking his dick in multiple women and coming home to you would disgust you… but hey, if you’re into that kinda thing…. *gag*
Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong Neighborhood Guide
Among Bangkok’s glitziest districts, perhaps none shines brighter than Ratchaprasong.
Ratchaprasong is one of Bangkok’s most popular upscale neighbourhoods for accommodation, entertainment and, no doubt, shopping. Indeed three of the city’s mega-malls are located within walking distance of one other: Siam Paragon, CentralWorld and MBK. There’s also Amarin Plaza and Central Chidlom department store nearby. All five are accessible by the elevated walkway connecting Chidlom, Siam and National Stadium BTS stations. In Ratchaprasong you’ll also find many of Bangkok’s five-star hotels including Four Seasons, Hyatt Erawan, St. Regis and Siam Kempinski. And being so close to Langsuan and Wireless roads, it’s likewise near one of the city’s most sought-after residential areas.
Despite its cosmopolitan air, Ratchaprasong is known to many outside Thailand as the flashpoint of the ‘Red Shirt’ demonstration and riot in 2010. However, Bangkok — and the Ratchaprasong neighbourhood in particular — really came together after the incident and made a massive effort to bring people back and restore business to the area. For example, after shops frequented by university students in Siam Square had been burnt down, temporary stalls were set up and business resumed. A common sight throughout the district became shirts and other merchandise bearing the message ‘We Love Ratchaprasong’. That love was genuine, and those who work and live in Ratchaprasong have ensured a return to normal.
[For restaurant, bar, hotel recommendations and more in this area of town, check out the complete article on catandnat.com].
