by Daryle Rico | Apr 8, 2026 | Ayutthaya, Culture, Favorite Tours, Thai Smiles, Thailand
One doesn’t usually associate a casual trip to the local market with thoughts of mortality. Maybe a tough decision over mango versus pineapple, sure—but not a moment where you quietly wonder if your life insurance policy is up to date. But this is Thailand, my...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 8, 2026 | Bangkok, Culture, Favorite Tours, Temples, Thailand
There are temples in Thailand… and then there is Wat Arun. Now, that’s saying something in a country with more than 44,000 temples. It’s a bit like saying, “This is my favorite beach in Thailand”—you’d better have a strong case. Wat Arun doesn’t just make the list. It...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 6, 2026 | Favorite Tours, History, Thailand
Long before he was Obi-Wan Kenobi, Alec Guinness portrayed Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai, a role that earned him an Academy Award. The film tells a compelling story set against the construction of the Thai–Burma Railway. Like many Hollywood...
by Daryle Rico | Apr 3, 2026 | Culture, Food, Hua Hin, Thai Smiles, Thailand
Picture this: you check into your Bangkok hotel. You’ve liberated the complimentary mini shampoos (as one does), admired your stunning alleyway view, and then—there it is. A small, innocent sign on the nightstand: “No Smoking. No Durian.” Naturally, you think: What on...
by Daryle Rico | Mar 26, 2026 | Hua Hin, Thailand
So, you might remember my last big adventure in Thailand. Yes, the one that involved a thrilling trip to the hardware store. Try to contain your jealousy. But hold onto your mango sticky rice, because this one really raises the bar. As part of applying for a full-time...
by Daryle Rico | Mar 24, 2026 | Hua Hin, Thailand
One of my absolute favorite things about Thailand? Shopping. And no, this isn’t because I’ve suddenly become some high-rolling, champagne-sipping baller. It’s because shopping here is an experience—and not the soul-crushing, fluorescent-lit endurance test I’m used to...
