Ibis Bangkok Riverside – A Review By Punam Mohandas The ibis Bangkok Riverside can indisputably be called a quaint and charming hotel. This 266-key property offers a delightful location, placed as it is along the banks of the Chao Phraya river. The hotel tenders all the modern comforts minus the fripperies associated with big, star…
Amari Watergate Bangkok – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Amari Watergate describes itself as “being in the heart of Bangkok” and ne’er was a truer word said! The hotel is located in one of the most congested areas in Pratunam on Petchburi Road and, whilst there may be some great shopping to be had,…
Koh Lanta – A Travelogue By Punam Mohandas I’ve got the Swedish Katja to thank for making it to Koh Lanta. Katja and I linked up on a trip to Cambodia; she had just finished the Thai leg of her Asian trip and couldn’t stop raving about Koh Lanta. Until then, I’d never even heard…
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, the Southeast Asia flagship for the Sofitel Luxury Hotels, quite literally lives up to its claim of “sophisticated luxury.” This French chain hotel brings alive the concept of French savoir-faire in its day-to-day operations, not the least of which is exhibited by…
Going Bananas with Bazookas in Bangkok By Punam Mohandas Well, I’ve seen a few whacky festivals in my time, but Songkran in Bangkok beats ‘em all hollow. It’s the most amazingly simple way to have FUN ever invented! Songkran, for the uninitiated, is the New Year festival in Thailand, celebrated with much splashing of water…
By Punam Mohandas It’s a 45-minute ferry ride to Koh Samui from Koh Phangan , and the journey for me is enlivened by observing my fellow passengers, many of whom are suffering massive hangovers and are noticeably green around the gills – we’ve all just attended the traditional Full Moon party the previous night 🙂 …
By Punam Mohandas I have been hankering to visit Phi Phi for years. Ever since I first saw some great shots in a brochure 😉 Ever since I learnt a James Bond movie had been shot here (wow, no kidding?!) and now of course, there’s Leonardo’s ‘The Beach’. Ever since I first went to Phuket,…
By Punam Mohandas The sensible way of getting to Koh Phangan quick is to take a flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani and onwards by a fast speed ferry. But hey – being sensible ain’t always fun, is it?! And so I take the overnight train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong railway station, and mighty excited…
By Punam Mohandas Friends made no bones about letting me know I was out of my mind to consider a visit to Alwar in Rajasthan, in the baking heat of May. Well, sure. But when you don’t live in India and are keen for some “me” time, you don’t have much choice besides, when did…
Each journey is a unique experience. No two trips are ever the same. And each journey gives birth to a story. Stories that make very interesting reads. From time to time, we will publish travelogues – personal travel experiences of individuals – covering different domestic as well as international destinations. If you would like to…
Ibis Nana Bangkok – A Review By Punam Mohandas The Ibis Nana is a neat and functional hotel located on what is undoubtedly Bangkok’s party street – soi Nana in the Sukhumvit area. A 200-key property, it offers all the modern, urban conveniences without any of the fops and frills of a five-star property, hence…
Samui Buri Beach Resort, Koh Samui – A Review By Punam Mohandas At first glance, you could be forgiven for supposing the Samui Buri to be a Thai Wat. The resort is uniquely built in splendid Royal Thai architectural style and gives off an air of quiet grandeur, nestled amid lush foliage and flanked by…