This bustling social scene known as “talaad nam” or floating market (actually, “water market” if you want a more direct translation), still exists in many locations outside of Bangkok’s modernised center. Unfortunately, a lot of them have devolved into picturesque tourist traps. Vendors are there to cater to visitors looking for an “authentic” experience, but it ends up being packed mainly with hawkers selling souvenirs or barely edible Thai food and snacks. Luckily, there are still some floating markets that are true to their heritage, catering to a mainly local population. Among them is Lat Mayom, a “water market” just across the Chao Phraya River.

Lat Mayom translates to Gooseberry Slopes, referring to the fruit trees that once flourished in the area. While the idea of slopes may bring hills and steep gradients to some minds, this region is mostly flat plains, so it doesn’t take much of an incline to qualify as a slope here (in Thai, it now just generally refers to higher ground). On the slopes, a burgeoning weekend floating market thrives surrounded by a community that has, for the most part, continued traditional practices of life along the canals.

The “floating” part of a floating market doesn’t mean that the entire market, including buyers and sellers, are on the water. Lat Mayom is no different. It means that the main access for vendors is by boat. Some will paddle or motor up to small piers to sell their wares from their boat. And the variety of wares may surprise you. Of course, there are boatloads of fresh fruits and flowers, but there are also some logistical marvels such as a noodle soup which serves piping hot noodles from a traditional boat. You may also see second-hand electronics on sale from the repair shop just downstream.

The market also takes place on land. There are over seven sections along both sides of canal, with footbridges connecting the two sides. Fresh produce and meats are on sale. There’s also an incredible food court-like set up with delicious fresh grilled prawns, roasted duck, made-to-order noodles, and so much mouth-watering dishes.

And while the market can take hours of exploration, a side trip along the canals offers insights into a vanishing culture. It’s like you’ve stepped back in time here. Quaint wooden homes and peaceful orchid and banana groves reveal satellite dishes and laughing teenagers trying to capture you in their selfies as you pass. Little old ladies selling traditional coconut ice cream treats to children at the temple may charm you just as much as the bustling boat repair shop, even with the cacophony of the angle grinder!

So, if you must visit a floating market, make sure it’s Lat Mayom—a floating market that truly provides a taste of Thailand.

Smiling Albino searches for these authentic experiences to ensure your trip reveals the true heart of Thailand to you. If you would like to discover the delights of Lat Mayom Floating Market or want to embark on a genuinely Thai journey, contact us today!

The post Explore Lat Mayom Floating Market first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Smiling Albino is all about creating extraordinary experiences, big and small. Whether it’s a hometown newspaper with your morning coffee, a helicopter shuttle to your hotel or breakfast with an expert archaeologist before exploring Angkor, we know how to make Southeast Asia pop.

When it comes to food, extraordinary experiences are an essential part of the itineraries we create. Eating an exceptional meal is one of the great joys of life, and certainly one of the great joys in traveling in the gastro-hub of Asia. We’ve done plenty of, ahem, research to find the best chefs, the most awesome vistas, and the coolest surroundings to enjoy a meal. Here are a few of our favorites.

Bangkok

The Peninsula Hotel is one of Bangkok’s best, getting a big thumbs up from every guest. But not every guest is a Smiling Albino guest. For those wanting a very special setting for a very special dinner, we can arrange a table not only at the top of the hotel – but on the helipad on the roof of the building 38 floors into the sky. With a commanding view across the river and down into the bustling neighborhoods below, it will be an experience you’ll be talking about for a long time to come.

Taking things back down to ground level – below it even – how about a meal on a restored, private rice barge? These iconic vessels once plied the Chao Phraya River and its canals, bringing grain to communities all over the Kingdom, but fell into disuse with the rise of modern transportation. Lovingly restored, these teak ships are a thing of beauty, offering the perfect setting for a private dinner cruise – and even a great overnight experience.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai province is one of our favorite areas in Thailand because of its unspoiled nature, cool climate, and amazing wildlife. And wouldn’t you know it – there’s a way to combine all three with an incredible feast. At the Anantara Golden Triangle you can take your evening meal in a luxury treehouse surrounded by pristine jungle, joined by special guests – elephants from the Anantara’s elephant camp. These rescued former beasts of burden are now cared for by one of Thailand’s most ethical and knowledgeable elephant refuge centers.

Not into treehouses or peered at by elephants while dining? No problem – we can arrange a stay in the unbelievable Pa Sak Tong private villa. Have a candlelight dinner on a terrace overlooking water buffalo evening skinny-dipping in lotus ponds, rice fields fading off into the forests, and look up to see our other favorite reason to visit Chiang Rai – the amazing sky. You don’t see stars like that in Bangkok.

Chiang Mai

The superb Howie’s Home Stay takes privacy and luxury to a new level. Want to relax, sleep, and dine without being bothered by other travelers? It’s easy here – you’re the only guest! Owners Howie and Jerri are cut from the same cloth as Smiling Albino – there is no one-size-fits-all solution to being a host; it’s all about creating an experience unique to every guest. When you’re done wandering around the incredibly landscaped gardens, sit down at the giant dining table for a home-cooked Thai meal like no other. A dinner made just for you by a five-star chef, set amid flowers and candles overlooking a private lake… yeah, this is a fine addition to our list.

The Rice Barn at the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai knows how to set a mood, and they do it wonderfully at this unique setup built specifically for two guests who want to make the most of their time. Enjoy an exquisite five-course meal illuminated by candlelight mixing with moonlight, overlooking the resort’s rice paddies and shimmering lake.

Koh Kood

Dining with leafy trees towering overhead is one thing – it’s a whole other experience when you’re actually in the trees. Dinner at the Soneva Kiri Resort’s Treepod is just what it sounds like – a private bamboo dining room 40 feet above the ground, overlooking the azure Gulf of Thailand. And get this – waiters serve your table via zipline! And you thought it took skill to balance a tray on one hand while walking.

Phuket

Stepping out of the jungle into a clearing at night could be a scary proposition – unless the clearing is lit by candlelight and furnished with a beautifully set table just for you, that is. The Sarojin Phuket sets the scene perfectly, with fine dining brought to your table just meters away from a picturesque waterfall tumbling into a crystal-clear pool. Anyone for an after dinner dip?

Siem Reap

If you like to dine in the shadow of history, a private meal at the Amansara Khmer House is hard to beat. This classic wooden home has been turned into your private dining veranda overlooking a giant baray – a man-made irrigation pool that dates back to the 10th century. Best experienced in the morning before exploring Angkor. Enjoy a traditional Khmer breakfast carefully crafted from organic ingredients grown in the surrounding gardens.

These are just some of the unique and extraordinary dining experiences we have up our sleeves. Let Smiling Albino create that extra special memory for you on your next trip to Southeast Asia, enquire today.

The post Extraordinary Dining Experiences first appeared on Smiling Albino.

For decades, luxury has had one simple definition: “The state of great comfort and extravagant living. [An] inessential, desirable item that is expensive or difficult to obtain.”

Back in the day luxury meant having things that most people couldn’t have. In the 1790s, luxury was eating cake instead of bread (as Marie Antoinette found out). In the 1890s it was a first class cabin on a steam ship to America. In the 1990s it was a satellite phone. But defining luxury is not so simple anymore.

Indeed, a recent article by Ad Age revealed that 92% of people with above average wealth agree with the phrase: “To me, small indulgences can be just as meaningful as purchasing a high-end luxury product.”

Over the past 15 years we’ve begun to see a radical redefinition of paradigms that have remained unchanged for decades, even centuries. The ways in which we create, consume, learn, spend, meet, and travel have all been turned on their head. Consumers are simply better informed, and resent being told how – and with what – their lifestyle should be defined. To a younger generation, brand name loyalty is not as strong as it once was. One’s lifestyle is personal, valuable, and defining, and made from components chosen specifically by them. The same should go for travel.

Bring travel into the realm of luxury – or adding a touch of luxury to the realm of travel – is far more complicated than taking an expensive mode of transport to an expensive place to stay. The new luxury travel is an adventure that each one of your senses takes. It’s the connectedness of a journey that no one else has done in the exact same way. It’s something intangible that you tell friends about, and something that makes you feel like you’ve experienced something no one else has.

Smiling Albino Director Daniel Fraser recently gave a talk entitled “Beyond Price“, which discussed the value in taking high-profile travellers street side and showing them that unique local experiences, well-choreographed, create the lifetime memories that all travellers – luxury or otherwise – seek.   “We’ve taken billionaires for noodles, but delivered it with context and a narrative to provide deeper meaning. Value is added by taking advantage of what is already there – such as unique forms of transit, festivals, local food – and making it a personalized, relevant experience.”

[Tweet “Things come and go, but experiences help define us and how we see the world.”]

Essentially, discovering and indulging in luxury travel is about unique experiences, not just desirable things. Things come and go, but experiences help define us and how we see the world, and how we remember it.

The post New Luxury Travel first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Time management. Efficiency. Productivity.

You might not realize it, but your holiday has begun the minute you contact Smiling Albino.

Sure, some people like to “do it themselves” and piece together a trip based on information gleaned from old Internet blog postings or out-of-date travel guide books, but the most successful people I know of are relentless in the pursuit of greater efficiency in their lives. Many of them have made careers out of making sure that their lives and organizations are run effectively and those people know when to leave a job to an expert.

We take your time very seriously, whether that is during the planning stages of your trip or once you hit the ground running in the country that you land in.

When someone plans their own trip they end up ticking off boxes on a list of things to do rather than entering a world of authentic experiences.

Smiling Albino has spent years reading local newspapers, asking local friends and wandering the streets in search of the best ways to really have an intimate cultural experience in whatever city you may find yourself in.

We take your ideas, dreams, and desires to customize a personalized experience that we are sure you will remember for a lifetime.

Start your next holiday right this minute – contact us now at info@smilingalbino.com.

Daniel Fraser,
Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

[Tweet “We take your ideas, dreams, and desires to customize a personalized experience to remember!”]

Adventure Highlights:

From our Blog: Benefits of Travel with Kids (Plus Tips for Making it Easier) Read more. . .

Travel shows our kids that the world is bigger than they are, and that people are different… and very much the same. Taking our children traveling is an investment into their future, and into the type of person they will become.

Here are two of travel’s major benefits and a couple of tips for making travel with kids easier on you. Read More. . .

[Tweet “Here are two of travel’s major benefits and a couple of tips for making travel with kids easier on you. Read More. . .”]

What’s Going On:

Planes, trains, and Pagodas

Dan’s currently in Myanmar finalizing the finishing touches for our newest tour edition “Asia’s Golden Land”. First adventure will happen this November! See full itinerary here.

Contact Smiling Albino for inquiries and questions!

PURE Life Experiences 2014

We will be back at PURE LIfe Experiences 2014, November 10-13 in Marrekech. We look forward to seeing you there at the global marketplace of high-end experiential travel!

Coming Soon!

We are in the process of a rebrand to the Smiling Albino identity. To be released in July! Expect the same caring, detailed attention from Smiling Albino with a new and improved company website!

Good for a laugh!

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: “Like” and “follow” us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia.

Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts.

NEW on Google+ and Pinterest: Now even easier to connect and stay up to date with us!

Contact: Get a hold of us any time.

The post Don’t waste your valuable time! – Albino Smiles, July 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Travel is good for kids. But do you know why?

Travel teaches our children things they couldn’t learn any other way. Things like confidence, competence, and cultural diversity.

Travel shows our kids that the world is bigger than they are, and that people are different… and very much the same. Taking our children traveling is an investment into their future, and into the type of person they will become.

Here are a two of travel’s major benefits and a couple of tips for making travel with kids easier on you.

Travel Enhances Brain Growth

Studies show that the greater number of experiences you introduce a child to (or an adult, for that matter), the greater — and faster — their brain develops.

Mothers have known this instinctively, which is why they shake rattles, talk to their babies, and have them touch different textures.

“Everything a child sees, hears, thinks, and touches transfers into an electrical activity. Each time the brain is stimulated, the experience rewires the brain.” 

Parents will take their children to the petting zoo, the park, aquariums and museum, with the intent of expanding their minds by introducing them to new experiences.

Travel takes that concept one step further, because it helps to increase the amount, and diversity, of new experiences in your child’s life, literally increasing neural pathways and enlarging your child’s brain.

So instead of petting zoos, it’s safaris, crocodile preserves, and elephant rides; we can still visit the the aquarium, but there’s also beaches and snorkeling; Latin or Asian music; Hindu temples; boat rides and plane trips.

[Tweet “The greater number of experiences you introduce a child to (or an adult), the greater and faster their brain develops.”]

Travel Builds Confidence

We’ve all seen our child’s confidence grow when they master a new skill. It starts when they can dress themselves, read a book on their own, or swim across the pool.

Traveling together offers additional opportunities for them to move beyond their comfort zone and learn new things. Whether it’s converting into the local currency, or saying ‘hi’ to a friend in a different language.

Even something as simple as learning a language has huge implications for your child’s development.

Jessie Wise, in her book The Well-Trained Mind, states that,

“The study of language shows a young child that his world, his language, his vocabulary and his way of expression are only one way of living and thinking in a big, tumultuous, complicated world.”

Exposing children to new languages contributes to an expanded global perspective, sharpens their cognitive skills, and increases understanding of their native language. Plus they’ll develop a greater appreciation of cultures, and most importantly, the ability to make friends of other nationalities.

So travel is good for your kids, but how can you make it easier on you?

[Tweet “Traveling offers opportunities for kids to move beyond their comfort zone and learn new things. “]

Tip 1: Travel Longer

This may seem counterintuitive, but traveling longer with your children (taking mini sabbaticals) will make the entire experience more enjoyable (and less stressful) for the entire family.

Spending two months during the summer in one location gives you the chance to really ‘settle in’ and fully experience the local ‘feel’, without the pressure of ‘seeing it all’ during your two week vacation, which ultimately leads to burnout.

You can do this by setting up a home base, by renting a house or condo, and then take weekend and day trips from there. Imagine all the additional adventures you could be enjoying with your kids when you have time to stop and smell the roses.

Tip 2: Get Help

Don’t expect to do or know everything yourself. Get help from those who have been there or know the area. Research online, use guidebooks, find Facebook groups and ask them the best places and things to do. Take your spouse, or an aunt or uncle for extra hands and eyes. Hire tour companies to handle the details of your day or week trips.

The most important thing is to not get overwhelmed by it and create unpleasantries instead of lifelong memories. Know that when you travel you’re doing good things for your kids.

Written by: Rachel Denning
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The post Benefits of Travel for Kids: Plus Tips for Making it Easier first appeared on Smiling Albino.