by Amber | Jul 16, 2018 | Food, Southeast Asia, Thailand
When we first started traveling to Bangkok I always felt intimidated by the Bangkok street food. Then, two things happened: First, we took a Taste of Thailand Food Tour. Second, we lived in Bangkok for about 18 months. In this Bangkok food blog post, I will share how Taste of Thailand Food Tours truly offers a top-notch Bangkok culinary tour. But, I will also tell you about how this particular Bangkok food tour gave me more confidence to understand what a taste of Bangkok, Thailand, is all about – even when we lived there! What is a Taste of Thailand Food Tour From the moment we started our Thailand culinary tour in Bangkok I knew we were in for something different. First, we had two tour guides, a local Thai and an “expat” who lived in Bangkok almost all of her life. We explored the Bangrak neighborhood. At the time of the tour, we had never really explored this portion of Bangkok. It’s so far away from the more touristy areas of Bangkok most known to travelers – Sukhumvit and Khao San Road. It’s a neighborhood that still is not on the top of the list of places to visit in Bangkok. Little did we know that over the 18 months we lived in Bangkok, this neighborhood became almost like our backyard. Even while living in Bangkok, I wrote about Bangkok food, but always thought there were Thai food blogs that understood the local cuisine better than I did. But, our Taste of Thailand Food Tour did a great job of educating us on Bangkok street food, and to... 
by Amber | Jan 1, 2018 | Luxury, Southeast Asia, Thailand
During one of our first trips to Bangkok, Eric found a fabulous Bangkok spa close to our apartment rental. What we didn’t know at the time was that Dahra Spa offered not only one of the best Thai body massages, but also the best couple massage Bangkok, Thailand, could offer. We booked our next visit to Thailand in order to be close to Dahra. And, when we moved to Bangkok, we choose a building only a few blocks aways. I was thrilled to be within walking distance of what I now consider my absolute favorite spa in Bangkok. Check out Dahra Spa Bangkok Reviews – Updated for 2018 Dahra Spa is a little oasis in the bustling city. It is unbelievably serene and well appointed. And not that much more expensive than the cheap-o Bangkok massage places, with lines of chairs for foot massages in the window, and bored Thai massage girls playing on their phones waiting for customers. Yes, Bangkok massage prices can be super cheap. But, sometimes it’s better to splurge just a little bit for a really good Bangkok massage. Dahra is heavenly in comparison to the cheaper Thailand massage places. We’ve done a few Thai massages at Dhara, and a foot massage in a quiet little room that allowed us to take a nap while getting a foot massage. It was like multitasking. For relaxation. Powered by GetYourGuide. Become a partner. How to Book a Thai Couples Massage in Bangkok We wanted to splurge on a full spa day in Bangkok, and knew Dahra was the way to go. They offer amazing deals if you book on the Dahra website. And,... 
by Amber H. | Mar 30, 2017 | Luxury, Southeast Asia, Thailand
We spend a lot of time getting massages. It is one of the prime benefits of living in Southeast Asia, and one of the things we miss when we are eating our way around Europe. We’ve enjoyed half-day couples spa treatments at our favorite Bangkok spa. But, more than anything, we are popping into Dahra in Bangkok, Thailand, for a foot massage, or often a Thai massage. We rarely, though, go for a Thai yoga massage. What Is a Thai Massage The massages that most people are used to experiencing in the Western world include oil and long, strong strokes. That is certainly not a Thai massage. Thai massage is more, well, interactive. When I receive a Thai massage, first they offer me an outfit to change into. Eric often leaves his own t-shirt on as the massage shirts are usually way too small. We lay down on cushions on the floor, and the Thai massage begins. There is a lot of squeezing and kneading, along with a lot of interactive stretching and pulling. It is not uncommon to feel like a pretzel. The Thai massage therapist ends up straddling, or sometimes even standing, on top of the guest. A well-trained Thai massage therapist will ask whether the guest wants their massage soft, medium, or hard. I used to always ask for hard. Perhaps I thought that if I asked for anything less than a hard massage I would not be getting my money’s worth. After several really good Thai massages at Dahra Spa in Bangkok, though, I realized it was time to start requesting medium. Either way, at the end of... 
by Amber H. | Mar 23, 2017 | Accommodations, Luxury, Southeast Asia, Thailand
About a year ago, I was excited to settle down into our new life living in Bangkok. We had our little apartment, a group of friends, and a city full to explore. After almost 18 months, though, I needed a break from the big city. Big time. I needed rest, relaxation, quiet, and a little romance on Mai Khao Beach, Thailand. Where is Mai Khao Beach I love Bangkok. I really do. I like that I can travel to anywhere in the world from Bangkok airport. I love that in one day I can eat cheap Pad Thai on the street, and great Mexican that night. I love that we can shop at enormous shopping malls, and Eric can get his hair cut for about $5. But, towards the end of our stay in Bangkok, I craved quiet. I realized, suddenly, how loud the city is. The traffic, the tuk tuks. The traffic. I felt like I could not even hear myself think. So, we hopped a Nok Air flight to Phuket, and within 10 minutes from the airport, we were on the beach. Mai Khao Beach is located on the north west side of Phuket. It’s miles long, wide and clean. And, is home to a turtle hatchery. In the mornings, it’s possible to walk for almost an hour in either direction, while listening to, well, not much. Unlike other areas of Phuket, Mai Khao Beach is quiet. And, yes, romantic. Most important, I could hear myself think. Mai Khao Beach Romance We were greeted at the Renaissance Phuket by a pleasant surprise: An upgrade to a private... 
by Amber H. | Feb 27, 2017 | Food, Southeast Asia, Thailand
Mexican is comfort food for us. The lack of decent Mexican around the world is one of the hardest things for us about being a long-term traveler. The existence of a fabulous Tex Mex place in Bali, Taco Casa, is one of the things that saved us while living in Ubud. Living in Bangkok has been a dream come true for us Mexican lovers. What’s been amazing is that we’ve been able to track down some pretty decent Mexican in Bangkok, Thailand. Because the Mexican food Bangkok offers is actually surprisingly decent. And, although the best food in Bangkok is always traditional Thai, sometimes the answer to the question of “what to eat in Bangkok” is Mexican! Particularly for expats living in Bangkok, or long-term travelers stopping through. Mexican in Bangkok – The Taco Truck La Monita Taqueria was one of the first places we ate Mexican in Bangkok. After all, how could we not be intrigued by an indoor taco truck in one of the nicest malls in Bangkok? La Monita Bangkok’s Ploen Chit location was their original Taqueria, and their location at EmQuartier is a heck of a lot fancier. But, their taco truck in the basement of Siam Paragon hits the mark every visit. With reasonable food prices, our go-to dishes include the burritos and baja gordita, each of which comes with your choice of meats, including chorizo and carnitas. The crunch star is unique, with a quesadilla wrapped inside a crunchy taco shell. And, they have the second-best queso in Bangkok. I’d skip the monkey wings. Over at their Ploen Chit location, there’s a bit more seating,... 
by Amber H. | Feb 23, 2017 | Luxury, Southeast Asia, Thailand
What do a luxury wellness resort and Anthony Bourdain splayed out on a marble slab being pounded by a Uzbekistani man have in common? Not much other than it explains my (unfounded) expectations from a Thai hammam spa treatment in Phuket, Thailand. What is a Hammam Spa Treatment My knowledge of traditional hammam treatments is pretty slim. I’ve seen some of the very traditional treatments on travel TV shows, like that scene with Anthony Bourdain that is etched in my brain. Bourdain was, well, near tortured, on a hot, wet slab, in Uzbekistan. His therapist twisted him into pretzel, while his friend watched. When traveling in Istanbul several years ago, I passed on exploring the hammam scene because I was a little intimidated by the notion. A hammam is a Turkish bath. It is inspired by the traditional Roman baths. Whereas Roman baths focused on the use of steam, Turkish baths focus on the use of water. And, a hammam spa gets wet. Very wet. The only hammam I’ve experienced was one at a luxury hotel in Dubai. At the Palace Downtown Dubai a few years ago, I was placed on a warm stone table, and was hosed and scrubbed until I was ready to pass out. I was alone in the hammam, just me an the therapist. It was a unique experience, and I have always wanted to try it again. It was pleasant, and wet, and relaxing. Once I heard there was a Thai hammam spa at Amatara Phuket, I was indeed intrigued. What is a Luxury Thai Hammam Spa The Thai hammam spa at Amatara took things... 
