Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Mae Hong Son Loop: Where Gluteus Maximus and Zen Find Common Ground Ever wondered what it feels like to have your spine rearranged while simultaneously experiencing spiritual enlightenment? Welcome to the Mae Hong Son Loop, northern Thailand's answer to the question nobody asked: "Can someone get hemorrhoids and inner peace at the same time?" Picture this: 1,864 curves (yes, someone actually counted) snaking through approximately 600 kilometers of mountains so beautiful they'll make travelers weep, though that might just be eyes watering from the combination of dust, exhaust fumes, and sheer terror as riders navigate hairpin turns with local truck drivers apparently late for their own funerals. Many tourists tackle this legendary 3-5 day motorcycle route because their therapists suggested they "face their fears." Most therapists probably meant public speaking, not clinging to Honda Clicks while praying to deities previously not believed in, but there th...

What Travel Guides Don’t Tell You About Visiting Thailand in Your 40s Ah, Thailand, the Land of Smiles, where backpackers fresh out of college survive on 30-cent noodles and questionable bucket drinks while you, a dignified adult in your 40s, suddenly realize your knees aren’t what they used to be.   Travel guides make it all sound so magical: pristine beaches, ancient temples, and street food that won’t send you sprinting to the nearest Western-style toilet. But what they don’t tell you is that Thailand in your 40s is less The Beach (Leo DiCaprio edition) and more The Hangover (extended director’s cut with more ibuprofen).   1. Your Backpacking Days Are Over (And So Is Your Dignity) Remember when you could sleep on a 12-hour overnight bus with no AC, sandwiched between a snoring German tourist and a chicken? Yeah, those days are gone. Now, you need at least a three-star hotel with a mattress that doesn’t feel like a yoga mat. And forget about dorm rooms unless you...