by Daryle Rico | Jul 28, 2026 | Temples and Sacred Places
By now, you would think I’d have had my fill of Buddhist temples. After all, I’d already wandered through the ruins of Angkor, climbed to the lofty heights of Doi Suthep, marveled at the legends of Wat Khao Kalok, and stood beneath more golden spires than...
by Daryle Rico | Jul 20, 2026 | Thailand Beyond Hua Hin
One of the great joys of living on the opposite side of the world is discovering that things you assumed were universal are, in fact, not universal at all. Take grocery shopping. Back in America, grocery shopping generally involves a shopping cart, a parking lot, and...
by Daryle Rico | Jul 15, 2026 | Temples and Sacred Places
High atop a mountain overlooking the ancient city of Chiang Mai sits one of the most sacred and recognizable temples in all of Thailand: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Or, as most people simply call it, Doi Suthep. Founded in 1383, the temple was built to enshrine a sacred...
by Daryle Rico | Jul 9, 2026 | Southeast Asia Beyond Thailand
It was my next-to-last day in Ipoh, Malaysia, when my friend Mona asked if I wanted to go spelunking. Never one to pass up a new experience, I replied, “Of course.” A few minutes later (it pays to have a local guide), we arrived at Gua Tempurung, one of...
by Daryle Rico | Jul 6, 2026 | Southeast Asia Beyond Thailand
Hidden behind the towering limestone cliffs of Gunung Rapat, just outside Ipoh, lies one of Malaysia’s best-kept secrets: Tasik Cermin, better known as Mirror Lake. It’s the sort of place that makes you stop talking. Not because there’s nothing to...
