Stimulate Your Senses

Whether you’re preparing for your adventure, currently enjoying it or reminiscing years later, food for the soul is always a good thing. These picks can be enjoyed while overlooking the Mekong River, lazing on a stunning beach, riding the plane or lounging on your couch at home. Here are some books, movies and CDs that we enjoy and hope you will too.
Reading
Just for Fun
Bangkok 8, by John BurdettA twisting tale of a half-Thai police officer trying to solve a murder on the streets of Bangkok.
The Big Mango, by Jake NeedhamAn American is summoned to Bangkok on a mysterious mission to find missing Vietnamese money.
Tea Money, by Jake NeedhamAnother enjoyable detective tale set in the Kingdom.
The Judgment, by Chart KorbjittiA depressing look at the affect peoples’ ideas of another can have while providing a fascinating look at life in a small Thai village.
The People/Culture/Country
Lonely Planet Thailand, by Joe CummingsThe world’s best selling travel guide – tonnes of great info and the author’s a really nice guy.
Very Thai - Everyday Popular Culture, by Philip Cornwel-Smith and John GossA very fun book that covers pretty much every quirky area of Thai culture and society - great pictures too.
Bangkok Then and Now, by Steve Van BeekA nice picture book comparing old pictures of the fast changing capital with ones of today.
Culture Shock Thailand, by Robert Cooper and Nanthapa CooperA nice, light, quick introduction to all things Thai.
Thai Ways, by Denis SegallerA long-term expat’s explanation of quirky things Thai. Quite a fun read.
Phra Farang - An English Monk in Thailand, by Phra Peter PannapadipoAs the title suggests, a British man’s transition to becoming a Thai monk.
Touch the Dragon - A Thai Journal, by Karen ConnellyA Canadian woman’s journal from her one-year living at Denchai, a northern Thai farming community when she was 17. Won the Governor General's Award in Canada.
The Story of Tongdaeng, by His Majesty King Bhumibol AdulyadejAn illustrated biography of Tongdaeng, the King of Thailand’s favorite dog.
Thailand in Figures, by Alpha Research Co. Ltd.Full of every possible stat about the Kingdom you can think of and then some.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, by Dr. SeussA timeless tale of life’s ups and downs and all the places in between. Great pictures too!
Doing Business
Working with the Thais, by Henry Holmes and Suchada Tangtongtavy with Roy TomizawaFull of great insight into why Thais do the things they do and how foreigners puzzle them equally too.
Start up and Stay up in Thailand, by Roy TomizawaA look at how to start a business here via analyzing 13 case studies.
Music
There, Thee ChaiyadejThailand’s sweetest voice combined with acoustic guitar and soft piano.
On and On, Jack JohnstonLaid back, good lyrics and suits every travel environment.
Café Del Mar - Volumes Seis and SieteTwo great chillout releases compiled by Spain’s premier beach DJ Jose Padilla. Guaranteed to make you feel out there.
Nirvana Lounge – Disc One, Claude Challe and RavinThis chillout, world-music compilation conjures up travel memories each and every time.
Buddha Bar II – Buddha’s Dinner 2, Claude ChalleMore ultra-laid back, funky rhythms. Perfect while drinking a bottle of wine.
Greatest Hits - Volume 1, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana BrassHerb is clearly the man! Put this on if you’re ever feeling bummed out and you’re sure to feel a bit silly inside and certainly happier.
King Size, Silly FoolsOne of Thailand’s best rock acts really nails it with this offering.
Let it Bleed, Rolling StonesThe Stones rule and this is one of their best efforts.
Café Arabica – The Cream of Arabient CuisineDreamy tunes with middle eastern overtones.
The Red Album, LOSOA favorite band of most Thais dish out their greatest hits.
Super 3 Cha, CarabowThere’s simply no better known rocker in Thailand. Carabow has been rocking the Kingdom for more than 20 years. These are his greatest hits.
Coffee Shop – the chillin sessions 1Seriously funked-out, laid back stuff.
Film
Man with the Golden Gun (1974)James Bond is chasing Scaramanga, this time through Bangkok and on the Andaman Sea.
Beyond Rangoon (1995)Set in 1988, Beyond Rangoon takes us to Thailand's lesser known neighbour of Burma, a region once recognized as the wealthiest and most ravishing in all of Asia but which, by this point in time, had all but gone up in the flames of political suppression.
The Killing Fields (1984)An American citizen is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody "Year Zero" ethnic cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million "undesirable" civilians. A chilling tale of modern genocide.
Bridge over the River Kwai (1957)British soldiers are forced to build a railway bridge for their WWII Japanese captors, unaware of an allied mission to blow it up.
The Beach (2000)Okay, not a great movie but it was shot at Maya Bay on the island of Ko Phi Phi. Leo!
Anna and the King (1999)The classic tale of an British woman’s ‘relationship’ with Rama IV, Thailand’s fourth king of the Chakri Dynasty.
Ong Bak (2003)Thailand’s Tony Jaa rips it and them up. This guy does all his own stunts, there’re no computer effects and he’s touted to be cinema’s next Bruce Lee. We could take him!

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