About me
I never planned to become a travel blogger. Life has its own way of leading you down unexpected paths, and mine led me to Thailand.
Growing up in a small town, I always had an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond my horizons. My parents had a weathered atlas that I would flip through for hours, tracing my fingers over exotic place names and imagining what life might be like in those distant lands. Thailand was just another colorful patch on those maps then – I had no idea it would eventually become my second home and life’s passion.
My first trip to Bangkok in 2015 was supposed to be a two-week vacation – a brief escape from my corporate job and the monotony that had slowly crept into my life. I remember stepping out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, the humid air wrapping around me like a blanket, the cacophony of sounds and explosion of scents overwhelming my senses. It was chaotic and perfect.
Those two weeks changed everything. There was something about Thailand that resonated with me on a fundamental level – the warmth of the people, the complexity of the culture, the breathtaking landscapes that seemed to defy reality. When it came time to board my return flight, I felt an actual physical ache at the thought of leaving.
The Leap of Faith
Back home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had left something unfinished in Thailand. My apartment felt too quiet, too sterile compared to the vibrant energy of Bangkok’s streets. My corporate job, which had once seemed like the pinnacle of success, now felt like a cage.
Three months later, I quit. Friends thought I was having a quarter-life crisis. My parents were concerned I was throwing away a promising career. Maybe they were right, but it didn’t matter. Some decisions in life defy logical explanation – they simply feel right in your bones.
I sold most of my possessions, packed two suitcases, and bought a one-way ticket back to the Land of Smiles. I had some savings, a vague plan to teach English, and absolutely no idea what I was really doing. Looking back, that reckless courage (or foolishness, depending on who you ask) was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Finding My Voice
The transition wasn’t easy. There were nights I questioned everything, mornings I woke up drenched in sweat from the heat and anxiety. But Thailand has a way of teaching you patience, of showing you that discomfort is often the pathway to growth.
I started writing about my experiences simply as a way to process them. At first, they were just scattered notes in a journal – observations about temple architecture, conversations with taxi drivers, the peculiar joy of finding a hidden street food stall with the perfect pad thai. I would send long, rambling emails to friends back home, trying to capture the essence of what I was experiencing.
“You should start a blog,” one friend replied. “I feel like I’m right there with you when I read these.”
Siam Serenity Spots began as a humble WordPress site in 2016, mostly read by my mother and a handful of supportive friends. I had no strategy, no understanding of SEO, no concept of content marketing. I just wrote about what moved me – the majesty of Wat Arun at dawn, the controlled chaos of Chatuchak Weekend Market, the tranquility I found sitting beside monks at Doi Suthep.
To my surprise, others began to find value in my words. Comments started appearing from strangers planning their own Thai adventures. Questions landed in my inbox. The readership grew steadily, organically. What began as a personal journal was evolving into something more meaningful.
Beyond the Guidebook
As my understanding of Thailand deepened, so did my approach to writing about it. I realized that travelers didn’t just want to know what to see – they wanted to understand the context, the history, the cultural significance. They wanted stories, not just directions.
When I write about the Grand Palace, I don’t just describe its golden splendor – I explore how each monarch has left their architectural mark over 250 years, creating a physical timeline of Thailand’s evolution. When featuring Wat Pho, I delve into the ancient healing traditions of Thai massage that were codified within its walls centuries ago.
I’ve spent countless hours in conversation with local experts – temple caretakers, museum curators, village elders, and everyday Thais – seeking to understand the deeper narratives behind each destination. Some of my most treasured moments have been sitting with elderly Thais who share stories passed down through generations, patiently waiting as my translator helps bridge our linguistic divide.
This approach has sometimes meant veering off the well-trodden tourist path. While I cover beloved destinations like Phi Phi Islands and the White Temple, I take equal pleasure in highlighting lesser-known treasures like the Sticky Waterfalls of Chiang Mai or the former prison islands of Tarutao National Park.
Learning Through Challenge
My journey hasn’t been without missteps. Early on, I made embarrassing cultural blunders that make me cringe to recall. I once wore shorts to a temple, only to be gently but firmly turned away by an elderly caretaker who looked at me with such disappointment that I felt its sting for days. I’ve mispronounced Thai words in ways that accidentally transformed polite greetings into nonsense or worse.
The Thai people have been incredibly forgiving of my mistakes, responding with their characteristic “mai pen rai” (never mind) attitude that teaches the beauty of letting go. This grace has been one of my greatest teachers.
Perhaps the most profound challenge came during my exploration of ethical tourism. Witnessing the environmental damage at Maya Bay and the troubling aspects of elephant tourism fundamentally changed how I approach travel writing. I realized that with a growing platform comes responsibility – not just to inform, but to advocate for sustainable practices that preserve Thailand’s natural and cultural heritage.
This led to some difficult conversations with readers who expected the traditional “elephant riding” experience, but these discussions have been some of the most rewarding. Helping travelers understand why the Elephant Nature Park’s no-riding policy represents a positive evolution in tourism gives me hope that we can collectively shift toward more responsible travel.
The Pandemic Pivot
When COVID-19 shut down international travel in 2020, I faced an existential crisis. My blog traffic plummeted overnight. My income from affiliates and sponsored content disappeared. More devastatingly, I watched as Thailand’s tourism-dependent communities struggled in the sudden absence of visitors.
Rather than abandoning the blog, I pivoted. I delved deeper into the historical and cultural aspects of Thai destinations that travelers could explore virtually. I interviewed local business owners about their struggles and resilience. I created detailed guides for future travel planning.
These challenging years reinforced what I had already begun to understand – that Siam Serenity Spots wasn’t just about helping tourists check items off their bucket lists. It was about fostering genuine connection to Thailand’s culture, supporting local communities, and promoting a more thoughtful approach to exploration.
A Day in My Life
People often romanticize the life of a travel blogger, imagining endless vacations and picture-perfect moments. The reality is both more mundane and more fulfilling than that fantasy.
A typical day starts early – I’ve adopted the Thai habit of rising with the sun. Morning is for exploration, when temperatures are cooler and ancient sites like Sukhothai Historical Park are bathed in golden light. I’ll spend hours wandering, observing, taking notes and photographs, often getting deliberately lost down side streets or rural paths.
Afternoons might find me in a local café, typing furiously to capture the morning’s experiences while they’re still fresh. I’ve become a regular at coffee shops across Thailand, where owners now greet me by name and know my usual order. Some of my best local insights have come from casual conversations with these café owners.
Research consumes much of my time – reading historical texts about the Emerald Buddha’s 26-century journey, interviewing park rangers about the ecosystems of Doi Inthanon, or learning about the mineral composition that makes the Sticky Waterfalls climbable. This depth of understanding is what transforms a simple travel post into something more valuable.
Evenings might involve attending local festivals, sampling street food for an upcoming culinary guide, or simply editing photos and planning the next day’s adventures. It’s not glamorous, but it’s deeply satisfying.
The Philosophy Behind Siam Serenity Spots
Over time, a clear philosophy has emerged in my approach to Thai travel writing. I believe in:
Respect before exploration. Understanding cultural norms and historical context transforms sightseeing into meaningful cultural exchange.
Depth over breadth. Rather than racing through destinations to check them off a list, I advocate for slower travel that allows for genuine connection to places and people.
Environmental and cultural sustainability. Whether highlighting the rehabilitation efforts at Maya Bay or explaining why certain temple behaviors are inappropriate, I try to promote tourism that preserves rather than depletes Thailand’s treasures.
Authentic connection. Some of Thailand’s magic is found in grand palaces and pristine beaches, but equal wonder exists in everyday moments – a conversation with a monk at Tiger Cave Temple, joining locals for sunrise tai chi in Lumpini Park, or learning to cook from a grandmother in a northern village.
Honesty in all things. I show both the beauty and challenges of Thai destinations. The crowded reality of Patong Beach deserves the same honesty as the serene perfection of Cheow Lan Lake.
Looking Forward
Seven years after starting this journey, I’m still discovering new facets of Thailand. Each province reveals its own character, each island its unique ecology, each temple its particular spiritual ambiance.
My current projects include a deeper exploration of Thailand’s ethnic diversity, particularly the distinct cultures of the northern hill tribes and the seafaring traditions of the Moken “sea gypsies.” I’m also working on a series about culinary traditions across Thailand’s regions, connecting food to geography, history, and cultural identity.
As international travel resumes its full vigor, I’m committed to promoting a more mindful approach to experiencing Thailand. The pandemic pause gave many destinations a chance to reconsider their approach to tourism – from the boat capacity limits at the Phi Phi Islands to new sustainability initiatives at the Similan Islands.
My greatest hope is that Siam Serenity Spots serves as more than just a practical guide. I want it to be a bridge – connecting curious travelers to the authentic heart of Thailand, encouraging exploration that honors rather than exploits, and perhaps inspiring others to find their own unexpected paths.
Thailand has given me more than I could have imagined when I first arrived – a sense of purpose, a deeper understanding of a culture not my own, friendships that transcend language barriers, and countless moments of both serenity and adventure. Through Siam Serenity Spots, I hope to give something meaningful back.
Whether you’re planning your first Thai adventure or returning for your twentieth visit, I’m honored to be part of your journey through this remarkable kingdom. As the Thais say, “เดินทางปลอดภัย” (safe travels) – wherever your path may lead.