Thailand

Despite keeping geckos at his Thailand home to control insects, the author returned from a trip to Tokyo to discover a large trail of termites crossing his kitchen wall, prompting him to hire a pest control company to treat the infestation.

A golfer recounts an undefeated September 2009 that included matches at Bandon Dunes’ unreleased Old Macdonald course, a memorable nine-hole birdie-filled round with his father at Edgefield’s Pub Course, a victory at Thai Country Club, and an unexpected eleven-skin win at Green Valley Country Club in Bangkok.

During Thailand’s rainy season, indulging in coconut and sticky rice desserts makes for a perfect indoor activity, including coconut crepes, banana leaf-wrapped sticky rice with coconut custard, and a coconut pie from Chiang Rai’s Phu Chaisai resort that stands out for its pure, simple coconut flavor.

The author concludes his Sam Khok diet experiment in Thailand, having tried local delicacies like fried insects and rats but unable to find the elusive fried baby frogs, ending with a fusion meal of summer rolls with pork, tofu, and fresh herbs.

A visit to the renowned Moom Aroi seafood restaurant in Siracha, Thailand, featured a standout dish of plaa krapong (sea bass) with mango chili topping, enjoyed alongside the Gulf of Thailand after a round of golf at Laem Chaebang Golf Club.

A golfer recounts two victories in July — a match play win at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu on July 1st, and a dominant round at Bangkok Golf Club on July 31st that included hitting all greens in regulation on the front nine, reaching the par-5 17th in two shots, and surviving an encounter with a deer.

A durian enthusiast shares their seasonal experience with the spiky tropical fruit, covering safety precautions for handling it, and the preparation of khao niaw durian—a Thai dessert of sticky rice with durian in coconut milk.

Rambutan, a spiny red tropical fruit abundant in Thailand, is explored here through firsthand experience—including how to safely peel away its skin and spines to reach the sweet flesh inside, earning it the playful nickname “the hedgehog of fruits.”

The author humorously describes their self-proclaimed expertise in climbing tropical fruit trees and harvesting fruits like rambutan, mangosteen, and durian during a visit to a fruit orchard near Trang, Thailand, framing the activity as an adventurous, physically demanding workout that combines healthy eating with tree-climbing exercise.

Pairing the Sam Khok diet with regular exercise — such as swimming in Thailand’s warm waters or riding a miniature bicycle — allows followers to eat hearty Thai foods like stewed pig leg over rice without worrying about their waistline.