Smiling Albino

Naypyidaw: Capital City Built from the Ground Up

Myanmar is a land that’s been essentially cut off from the world for the better part of five decades. Over the past few years, much has been written about its first official steps into the 21st century as the military slowly (sloooowly) loosens control on media, politics, and travel. #467608255 / gettyimages.com Time to Move […]

What are surprises for? Albino Smiles, June 2014

What are surprises for? The unexpected is a part of life, and sometimes, when it is sudden and provokes an emotional response, we call it surprise. We’ve all experienced surprise and know that it can be neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant. Smiling Albino of course likes to focus on the best kinds of surprises, and operating […]

Culture vs Adventure: The Difference Between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai

Culture vs Adventure: The Difference Between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai The one thing that makes northern Thailand such a great destination for such a wide variety of travelers is that it offers a perfect mix of ancient culture and awesome outdoor adventure. There are lots of amazing destinations in this region to check out, […]

Planet Asia Podcast: What makes a great boutique hotel?

Hotels are an integral part of a trip. Finding one that suits your budget and style can really make or break a holiday. In a day and age when the word ’boutique’ has been over and misused, what really makes a boutique hotel great? On this episode of Planet Asia Podcast we chat with David […]

Planet Asia Podcast: Southeast Asian Elephants

Southeast Asian elephants have suffered severe territorial encroachment over the last few decades and their numbers are declining quickly. On this epidsode of Planet Asia Podcast we speak with John Roberts, the Director of Elephants at the Anantara Golden Triangle about their plight and future in the region. John’s a fascinating guy who’s worked with […]