British photographer and writer Ben Davies has made it his mission to capture the hidden charm and old-world splendor of parts of Bangkok. From the winding alleys of Chinatown to grand riverside mansions you can glimpse the extraordinary history of Thailand’s yesteryear. Over 5 years, using a large format Linhof film camera he captured images like this – which he then published into his recently launched book Vanishing Bangkok. After spending two decades working on assignments all over Southeast Asia Ben was shocked by the speed with which old buildings like this were disappearing.

Koh Chang is Thailand’s third largest island after Phuket and Samui. It is located around 300 kilometres east of Bangkok in Trat Province, in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border. Koh Chang is also known also as ‘Elephant Island’ named because of its elephant shaped headland, and is part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park. Despite its increase in development and tourism in the past decade or so, it has retained its remote and rugged character. In this enticing episode we take a mountain bike tour through through the jungle, visit a herbal forest garden, go body surfing and visit a stunning rustic fishing village

On the west side of the Gulf of Thailand you'll find the modern seaside resort of Hua Hin. This is a destination that truly inspires romance and the resorts here are stunning, such as the Aleenta Hua Hin Resort & Spa. Situated on the pristine and golden sand stretch of Pak Nampran Bay in Pranburi, just south of Hua Hin, Aleenta Hua Hin Resort is a comfortable 2.5 hour drive southwest of Bangkok. This special boutique luxury resort is located within mere footsteps of the beach and offers commanding views over the Gulf of Thailand.

Bangkok’s old Customs House is a familiar site on the banks of the Chao Praya river in the city heart. For years it’s been a magnificent crumbling ruin with an uncertain future. Hotel Group U City, will spend 3 billion Thai Baht or around 1oo million US dollars to turn the landmark into almost 16,000 square meters of upscale hotel with 100 rooms, including construction of a new building. The new opening is scheduled for 2025.

Established as a marine national park in 1980, Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is an archipelago of 42 islands covering 102 km² at the shore of the Surat Thai Province in the Gulf of Thailand Most travelers experience Ang Thong on single-day guided tours from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan to Wua Talap Island and its famous Emerald Lake. These guided tours are the way to go, and most day trips include lunch, snorkeling gear, park admission fees, and hotel transfers. Some people prefer the speed boats for convenience. For example a trip from Koh Phangan to the Marine Park usually takes only 45 minutes while a large slow boat takes between 2-3 hours. Of course, a slow boat is more relaxing and it depends upon your own budget. Sometimes the journey should be part of the adventure, not just the destination

It doesn't take many kilometers off the Bangkok to Pattaya motorways to find a much less hectic green, peaceful environment east of Chonburi. The rural undulating region is perfect for bicycling. Just outside of Si Racha is a huge reservior called Ban Bang Phra, a popular cycling destination. We take several video shots of an ideal coconut lined training park & coffee stop for extreme bicycle enthusiasts! - Band Bike Shop Bang Phra - Coconut Bike Park

The smallest of the Samui, Phangan and Ko Tao trio, Ko Tao is particularly well known as a diving destination. With it's warm waters, tropical ambiance and dotted with diving operators it's an ideal place to get your diving licence. The island is consistently gaining in popularity and going more upscale, but for now this jungle-topped little island has the busy vibe of Samui mixed with the laid-back nature of Phangan. Close offshore from Ko Tao is stunning Koh Nang Yuan. A 15 minute long-tail ride to this small cluster of rock islands takes you to one of the most beautiful beaches and aquamarine water you can experience in Thailand.

The Pattaya region is surrounded by small mountains that are ideal for down-hill and enduro enthusiasts. In this episode we visit Si Racha Bang Phra, in the Khao Kheow hills. It's a very handy staging point for riders from either Bangkok (75 minutes) or Pattaya (30 minutes). The area is very peaceful and still dotted by restaurants and coffee hangouts not far by car

Stunning Ocean Emerald is one of the top superyachts regularly berthed at Ocean Marina Jomtien, just outside of Pattaya. Recently it had a total interior refit. We talk to Luc Parietti of Euro Design Furniture, who were given the responsibility of redesigning the interior and to refurbish this huge 41 meter yacht In the past, foreign vessels entering Pattaya were given a relatively short period for temporary importation. Several years ago the rules were changed and international yachts were allowed a six month stay, opening up the region’s potential from visiting yachts from overseas. Pattaya is now developing in to a hub for regional marine tourism and is expecting to welcome more than 1,000 international yachts and superyachts annually in the near future. Euro Design with it's own bespoke furniture factory is perfectly poised to assist in this regions important growth industry

It’s often said that farmers are the backbone of every country. But in many parts of the world agriculture is slow to embrace new technology often because of economic circumstance or limited opportunity. Employing 38% of the national workforce but accounting for under 10% of the country’s GDP, the agricultural sector is a vital part of Thailand's economy. But the majority of Thailand's farmers continue to use traditional practices, creating a significant opportunity for modernization and digitization. Enter AGrowth. Thailand’s first global AgTech Accelerator. The AGrowth program, by the National Innovation Agency, in partnership with the Research & Innovation for Sustainability Center, SIAM KUBOTA Corporation, and powered by Nest, supports startup businesses and entrepreneurs from around the globe, in delivering breakthrough technologies. The Agrowth programme began with 240 entrepreneurs who were invited to present their ideas for empowering the agriculture industry. From here, 10 projects were selected. 12 weeks later, the 10 selected startup companies from Australia, Hong Kong, Nigeria, India, Malaysia, the USA, and Thailand were back together to show proof of concept to a room full of mentors and investors. The pioneering deployment-ready innovation included….. New crop management systems, drone aerial crop predictions and urban farming solutions. Agrisource Data from the USA is using its own unique software to analyze crops in a way that’s truly off this planet. The team at GetzTrac from Thailand is helping farmers to make better use of their machinery. A key area is tech focused on sustainable agriculture that helps address the concerns of today’s hungry world. No doubt some of the ideas planted and grown from these initiatives will yield great results in the future of agriculture in Thailand and beyond.

Thailand is perhaps one of the best bike bike destinations in the world. Many parts of the country are thinly populated and bikers can ride its fabulous roads with very negligible traffic. Whilst the north east doesn't have as many curvy mountainous regions as the stunning north, its peaceful rural landscapes are well worth exploring. In this story we take a glimpse of how a bunch of expats enjoy a lunch stop-off on their ride through Sakon Nakhon. www.vilamasranch.com .

Enjoying an evening at one of Pattaya best and most beautiful resorts! The Destination Thailand team wishes a Happy New Year to all it's friends and 12,000 subscribers. It was a great year of growth. We were lucky enough to enjoy our New Year countdown at the Intercontinental Resort in Pattaya. Here is a quick recap of our evening!

Thailand is home to some of the world’s best dentists and the destination of choice for people from around the world looking for dental implant solutions. The reasons are many: Internationally trained skillful dentists. No waiting lists. Value for money. And a wonderful place for recovery. Bangkok’s renowned Chulalongkorn University is now home to South East Asia’s first Implant Real-time Imaging System. Here at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery in the Faculty of Dentistry, the IRIS-100 machine from Taiwan features the utilization of optical tracking systems to instantly visualize the implant. The critical data gathered from the IRIS-100 assists the dentist in virtual navigation before surgery and real-time guidance during the actual implant surgery. In simple terms, think of Google maps or a car navigation system. The machine is set up to visualize the destination and then helps to guide the pre-planned placement of implants by avoiding dangerous areas. With the aid of this real-time imaging system, users can see the position of the drill and also data such as bone quality, nerve and sinus location. This means a dentist can create the perfect implant and ensure a perfect fit for every patient. Under the guidance of Professor Atiphan, Chulalongkorn, University’s finest dental academy graduates have already begun offering vastly improved dental implant surgery to a wide range of patients. Not only is the technology remarkably accurate, it’s also incredibly safe. Thanks to this advanced technology the likelihood of successful implant surgery is now higher than ever The procedure undertaken at Chulalongkorn University’s Dental Faculty is available to both local and international patients at affordable rates

An ancient Virgin Mary relic touched by Jesus and believed responsible for countless miracles arrives in Asia for the first time ever. The Orthodox Church in Thailand will shortly celebrate its 20th year in Thailand. What better way to honor the occasion then with the first ever visit of the Holy Ark of the Cincture to this nation and then onwards through South East Asia. Every religion has its holy relics. Many are attributed to both small and great miracles. For the Orthodox Christian Church the 2,000 year old cincture or belt of Mary, the Mother of Jesus is one such precious artifact. The belt is kept in a box. Tradition says the belt or girdle was made by the Virgin Mary herself, out of camelhair and touched by Jesus Christ.

When Swiss expat Thomas Luescher and his Thai wife Kate Vilamas decided to develop their new farm in Sakon Nakhon from scratch, they had many challenges to contend with. The largest decision was regarding electricity. Rather than choosing to go on to the Government power grid they decided to go totally solo on Solar! Their farm has become a credible example of solo sustainability www.vilamasranch.com www.aero-engineering.net

Sakon Nakhon is famous for its local traditional indigo dye wisdom handed down through the generations. Weaving cotton clothes and dyeing indigo is a common activity in the province. Woven Thai indigo textiles are made by a traditional all-natural process of cold-dyeing white cotton threads with a deep blue dye from the true indigo plant, then using these threads to weave into various patterns and designs. The true indigo color is always predominant, with other colored threads incorporated. Everything in this process is done by hand and requires a very high level of skill and attention to detail; everything used in the process is also completely natural and eco-friendly – no machinery or chemicals are used. www.vilamasranch.com

Siam Bike Tours visit Vilamas Ranch 35 kilometers out of Sakon Nakhon. Vilamas Ranch is a family venture operated by Swiss expat 'Thomas' and his Thai wife 'Kate'. Their self-sufficient farm is an ideal rest-stop for bicycle and bike tours travelling through the province. It offers a charming rural experience for travellers looking for the real Thailand www.vilamasranch.com www.siambiketours.com

Sunplay launch their luxury development in Bangsaray. The glamorous Gatsby themed party were joined by the members of Thailand’s Mercedes Benz Club. Sunplay Bangsaray is a collection of luxurious apartments and pool villas, set amidst beautiful tropical gardens, sunset sea views, and a private clubhouse offering a full range of sports and luxury concierge services. Located on Thailand’s east coast, Sunplay Bangsaray is 2 hours by motorway from the capital, Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi Airport which is Thailand’s main international airport is only 90 minutes away, while the fast expanding U-Tapao international airport can be reached in 30 minutes. A by-pass motorway and planned high-speed rail link will reduce journey times even further.

For many expats, living off the grid on a productive farm in northern Thailand is dream scenario. In this episode we meet Thomas Luescher and his close-knit Thai family who together are determined to make a success of their Vilamas Ranch and its offshoot business ventures. www.vilamasranch.com

We visit the newly opened Bangkok workshop, within Galerie Adler, for Armelle Cohen’s “Phoenix” brand. It’s here that she is reshaping leather pieces that have been discarded by famous luxury brand name fashion houses into one-off handbag designs. Affordable fashion that reduces waste and sets every woman apart. Address: Galerie Adler Charoen Krung Road, Soi 45 BANGKOK. Visit: roserose.fr