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☆ Wealthy jet setters are flocking to these unexpected countries, travel agents say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Wealthy travelers are vacationing at a mix of traditional and emerging destinations. The Asian countries wealthy travelers are increasingly visitingLuxury travel companies are expecting more travelers to visit Thailand following the premiere of "The White Lotus" season three, shot at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Ken SeetAccording to Virtuoso, bookings for summer trips to Thailand were up 95% from 2023 to 2024. According to Virtuoso, summer bookings for the central European country were up 24%. More wealthy travelers are heading to Porto, Portugal proslgn/ShutterstockOr, for a greener, chillier getaway, head to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Persons: —, What's, Ken Seet, Belles, Peter Zelei, Melissa Krueger, Quintessentially, Kelly Grumbach, Brian Kennedy, George Rose, Lucia, Virtuoso, Jim Krane, Barthélemy, Barts, Hurricane Irma, Grumbach, Saint Barthélemy, Holger Leue, Aman Organizations: Service, globetrotters, Eiffel, Belles, Ireland, Banff National Park, St, AP Locations: Rome, Paris, Thailand, Slovenia, United Kingdom, London, France, China, Canada, New York, Europe, Japan, Khao Villas Phuket, Maui, Hawaii, Taormina, Italy, Florence, Tuscany, Portugal, Lisbon, Porto, Ireland, Scotland, Banff, Lake Louise, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Hurricane, Saint, Caribbean, Anguilla

☆ She’s obsessed with baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng. So she flew across the world to see her
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng appeared on Molly Swindall’s social media feed for the first time, it was love at first sight. Soon, the baby hippo was an internet sensation, a status cemented last week when Moo Deng became the subject of a skit on Saturday Night Live. Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty ImagesOnce Swindall committed to flying to Thailand to see Moo Deng, she knew she had to go ASAP. Others were confused, assuming Moo Deng was a music artist or a long-distance partner. It’s been very, very fun to be able to connect with all these different people over it.”Since her Moo Deng adventure, Swindall’s follower count has ballooned, with one Moo Deng TikTok garnering over 5 million views.

Persons: Deng, Molly, Swindall, She’s, Moo Deng, Moo, “, ”, I’m, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Swindell, ’ Swindall, Molly Swindall Swindall, Taylor Swift, Taylor, “ They’re, Swift, Moo Deng ” –, ” Swindall, Moo Dang, it’d, Swindall’s, she’s, it’s, It’s, Moo Deng TikTok, that’s, Molly Swindall, “ I’m, There’s Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Getty, Swindall, Washington Post, Melbourne Locations: Khao, Thailand, New, AFP, New York, London, Amsterdam, Bangkok, TikTok, Melbourne, Australia

☆ The hottest TikTok makeup trend right now is Moo Deng blush
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The internet's newest celebrity, Moo Deng, is winning hearts and sparking makeup trends. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe internet's newest sweetheart — the baby pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng from Thailand — is sparking a new makeup trend on social media. Moo Deng has become a social media sensation in its short two-and-a-half months of existence.

Persons: Moo Deng, —, Deng Organizations: Service Locations: Thailand, Khao Kheow, Bangkok

The 2-month-old female pygmy hippo has become an internet star. A bakery in Bangkok said Sunday on Facebook that it would have to limit orders for its Moo Deng look-alike cakes because demand was so high. Other videos of Moo Deng on the TikTok account also have millions of views. Pygmy hippos have been classified as an endangered species, with their numbers dwindling from poaching and just 2,000 of them believed to be alive in the wild, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. An adult pygmy hippo can live up to 50 years and reach half the height of a full-size hippo.

Persons: Moo Deng, ”, Athit Perawongmetha, Moo Deng’s, Moo Deng chomping, veggies, Narongwit Chodchoi Organizations: Thai Embassy, Facebook Locations: Thailand, Chonburi, Tokyo, Bangkok

☆ Moo Deng: Baby pygmy hippo is Thailand’s latest online sensation. But her keeper is worried about her fame
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Kocha Olarn | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Moo Deng gives her handler a good chew on the knee. One person poured water [on her] while another threw a shell onto Moo Deng when she lay on the floor,” he said. While she continues to draw admirers in person, Moo Deng has found her biggest stardom online. “This will be the time Moo Deng will be energetic as the keeper will splash the water around,” he said. Another good time would be in the afternoon when the keeper feeds her mother, as Moo Deng follows her around.

Persons: Deng, she’s, ” Narongwit Chodchoy, Moo Deng, Narongwit, Moo, ”, –, Aom, Napatsawan Balee, “ Haha, Jona, Tony Organizations: Bangkok CNN —, CNN, Facebook Locations: Bangkok, Thai, West Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jona

☆ They built a home in Thailand after their US property was flooded in a hurricane
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —With his retirement fast approaching, Jim Dolan, from the US, felt as though his future was more or less mapped out. “I was not ready to leave the United States at that point,” Jim Dolan explains. “I feel safer here in Thailand than I think in any of the cities that I lived in the United States. “I think she had a bigger challenge moving to the United States than I had coming here,” he says. “But overall, I think we’re much better off here than we would have been in the United States had we stayed there.”

Persons: Jim Dolan, Som Dolan, Hurricane Harvey, ” Jim Dolan, Som, Jim, hadn’t, Jim Dolan –, Worcester , Massachusetts – hadn’t, “, ”, they’d, Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Khiri Khan, pugs Morgan, Gwennie, he’s, it’s, … ”, haven’t, – Morgan, I’ll, They’ve Organizations: CNN, NASA, CNN Travel, Houston, “, United Locations: Thailand, Houston, Hurricane, Texas, Worcester , Massachusetts, Bangkok, United States, Thai, Washington , DC, Prachuap, Gulf, Sam, Roi, Denver, Austin, Spanish, East Coast

☆ A Thai-American millennial went to Bangkok to find 'real Thai food.' Now, his private supper club has a monthslong waitlist.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Parisa Pichitmarn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

That made me think: If this is 'real' Chinese food, then is there 'real' Thai food too?" Eitharong told Business Insider. His goal was to continue learning more about Thai food. Parisa PichitmarnDespite Eitharong's culturally mixed upbringing, he sticks to authentic Thai food and never fusion. A few people have claimed he's not cooking Thai food because he's American.

Persons: —, Dylan Eitharong, Eitharong, he'd, voraciously, Haawm, Hanuman Aspler, Chiang Mai, Covid, Curry, wouldn't, jee, Randy Travis, Prince, Beyoncé, juan, Dylan, I'm, grandmas, Siradej Donavanik, Vincent Vichit, Vadakan, He's, Parisa Pichitmarn Organizations: Service, Business, Michelin, BI, Food Locations: Florida, Thai, Orlando, Thailand, Bangkok, Onnut, America

☆ I moved to Thailand, started a family, and can't picture ever returning home to Scotland
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Duncan Forgan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewA friend recently said that living in Southeast Asia was akin to winning one of Willy Wonka's golden tickets. AdvertisementIt's been 14 years since the author arrived in Southeast Asia. Yet Western media obsessions — US presidential elections and divisive identity politics, to name but two — are not given the same relentless prominence here. I've not lived in Scotland since 2007, and the axis of my life — wife and son, friends, work networks, clients — is almost entirely Asia-orientated. We are heading back to Scotland this July, and I can't wait to catch up with friends and family and show my son Alex the Highlands for the first time.

Persons: —, Willy Wonka's, batty, Mr Wonka, Thailand's, It's, Duncan Forgan, kao, he's, Chiang Mai, Alexander, I'm, Alex the Organizations: Service, Business, South, Tamil Nadu, Royal, Alex the Highlands Locations: Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Chinatown, Thai, Jok, Ojo, Thailand, Vietnam, Asia, Pacific, soi, South, Western Australia, Scotland, London

☆ 4 ingredients to level up your pasta recipes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Karla Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

With “Anything’s Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People,” “I hope that people realize that there’s so much more than they can and should be putting on pasta,” Pashman said. Substitute 3 tablespoons prepackaged toasted rice powder for the 1 teaspoon oil and ¼ cup rice and skip step 1. In a large heatproof bowl, combine the shallots, ¼ cup cilantro, ¼ cup mint, scallions, chili flakes and sugar. Heat the remaining ¼ cup oil in the reserved skillet over high heat until just starting to smoke. Recipe adapted from “Anything’s Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People” by Dan Pashman.

Persons: Dan Pashman, ”, Pashman, “, Harper Collins, ” Pashman, Alla, they’re, Pepe Chili Crisp, He’s, e pepe, Gan Ma, Jing, Dan Liberti, Caesar, Skip, James Park, Chili Crisp, Dan Liberti Dan Pashman’s Larb, browning, Karla Walsh, William Morrow Organizations: CNN, ”, Saucy, Ritz Crackers, Ritz, Sporkful, HarperCollins Publishers Locations: Italy, African, America, Thai, Des Moines , Iowa

☆ Why mango sticky rice is one of Thailand’s most beloved summer dishes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Karla Cripps | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Better known to the rest of the world as mango sticky rice, it’s a deceptively simple dish. And few have perfected that balance as well as 63-year-old Varee Jeensuwan, the undeniable queen of mango sticky rice in Bangkok. In 2022, she performed at the Coachella music festival in California and ended her show by digging into a bowl of mango sticky rice. K Panich has been dishing out mango sticky rice since 1932. According to R-Haan co-owner/chef Chumpol Jangprai, there’s evidence suggesting mango sticky rice has been around since Thailand’s late Ayutthaya period (1351-1767), with references to the dish found in the centuries to follow.

Persons: Mae Varee, “, Bangkok's Mae Varee, Lauren DeCicca, Rong, ”, Nam Dok Mai, Chiang Rai, Milli, Panich, Pongpat, – it’s, Bib, Khun Nan, Mai, it’s, It’s, Haan, Chumpol Jangprai, Rama V’s Organizations: CNN, Bangkok CNN, Coachella, Haan Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Bangkok’s, Thonglor, Mae, Bangkok's, province’s Bangkhla, Damnoen Saduak, Ratchaburi province, “, nieow, Thailand’s, Suratthani, China , Hong Kong, Singapore, Thai, California

☆ Songkran 2024: Celebrating Thailand’s annual New Year festival
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —On the surface, Thailand’s annual Songkran festival appears to be just one great big water fight. Pipad Krajaejun, a history lecturer at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, says it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the water fights became such a key part of the festival. (We’ll share more on the water fights below.) Some towns limit the water fights to one day, so be sure to check ahead if you’re planning to join the battles. Soe Zeya Tun/ReutersAmong the highlights of the festival is the Maha Songkran Parade, which will happen on April 11.

Persons: Thailand CNN —, that’s, ”, Songkran, Boonserm Satraphai, Pipad, “, Soe Zeya Tun, University’s Pipad, Nam, Chalinee Thirasupa, MBK, Lauren DeCicca, John S Lander, it’s, CNN Travel’s Karla Cripps, she’s Organizations: CNN, Thailand CNN, UNESCO, Heritage, Bangkok’s Thammasat University, CNN Travel, ”, Thailand’s Tourism Authority, of, Reuters, Central Department, Thai Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, it’s, Chiang Mai, Thailand's, Khao San, Chiang, Old City, Pipad, Chiangmai, Thailand’s, Ratchadamnoen, Lanna, San

☆ Book a stay at the rumored luxury hotels from next season of HBO's 'White Lotus' before the fans flock there
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewLuxury hotels in Thailand will be hosting "The White Lotus" season three cast in February, and they're just as swanky as the last locations. That means travelers have a limited amount of time to book their luxurious hotel stays before they get the "White Lotus" treatment from fans. It boasts 83 pool villas designed after a Southern Thai village, award-winning Japanese restaurant Tree House, and Muay Thai kickboxing lessons. While season one of "White Lotus" was airing, web traffic to the Four Seasons Maui went up 425% year over year. If a luxe trip to Thailand is on your travel bucket list, you have until 2025 to book your stay at the resorts before "White Lotus" fans are rushing to plan similar vacations.

Persons: —, Ken Seet, Koh, Anantara didn't, Hopper Organizations: Service, Business, HBO, Bloomberg, Koh, Tree, Ken Seet Staff, Maui Locations: Thailand, Khao Villas Phuket, Anantara, Phuket, Southern Thai, Thai, Sicily, Domenico Palace

☆ The top 9 'must-have' travel experiences of 2024, according to luxury advisors
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Jonathan Delise | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

If that sounds like a tall order for a summer getaway, the luxury travel company Virtuoso asked 20,000 of its travel advisors to share their top experiences for 2024. Dark sky tourism focuses on rural locations without light pollution, such as Greece's Olympus Mountain National Park. Departing in August, Virtuoso recommends travelers first take in the Olympic Games before departing the city in style. Passion travelsHobbies may be associated with the home, but Virtuoso recommends taking your passions on the road. Virtuoso recommends exploring Peruvian cuisine at the Mistura Food Festival, or checking out the street food of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Persons: Nicolas Economou, Manoj Shah, Belles, Bhutan's, Young, Peter Adams, Chiang Mai, Koh, Wiphop, Sakura, James Cole, Hillary, Cousteau, Shackleton, pricey, Yasin Akgul, bookworms, Wolfgang Kaehler, Brian Curtice, Levente Bodo, ERNESTO BENAVIDES Organizations: Nurphoto, DarkSky, Stone, InterContinental, UNESCO, Istock, Expedition, Getty, CNBC Travel, Orient, Afp, Departing, Olympic Games, Chelsea Flower, Lightrocket, Festival Locations: stargazing, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Northern Mexico, Blanco , Texas, Albanya, Spain, Africa, Bhutan, Thailand, Pana, Yai, Bangkok, Japan Japan, United States, North America, Japan, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Fuji's, Antarctica, Paris, Istanbul, Turkey, Asia, Europe, Venice, Turkish, Strahov, Riau, Isla, Ljubljana, Slovenia

☆ I traveled to over 7 countries in 2023. Here are 4 of the most affordable cities I visited.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dominique Mills | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I traveled to over seven countries in 2023, and some places stood out for being budget-friendly. Porto, Portugal, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, offered affordable accommodations and fun activities. Here are the four most affordable places I visited in 2023. Chiang Mai, Thailand, was culture-rich and inexpensiveChiang Mai, Thailand, was inexpensive but beautiful. Dominique MillsNestled in the lush greenery of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities to visit.

Persons: Chiang, —, Dominique Mills, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Dominique Mills I've Organizations: Service, UNESCO, US Department of State Locations: Porto, Portugal, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Hanoi, Vietnam, Douro, Northern Thailand, Bangkok, Old City, Soi, Prabang, Laos, Luang Prabang, Asia, Vientiane, Indochina

☆ What Thailand's new coalition government means for the cannabis market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In June 2022, the Southeast Asian nation became the first in Asia to decriminalize the cannabis plant, allowing it to be grown and consumed freely. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai party and one of Srettha's coalition partners, was a key figure responsible for legalizing recreational cannabis. Currently, many outlets claim to be medical cannabis platforms but they often prioritize profits rather than patient health, a number of clinics told CNBC. "This could foster a more positive perception of the cannabis industry among the public, and for the industry to sustain in the long run," Jintana said. "The prospect of exporting cannabis products to legal foreign markets aligns with Thailand's medical hub policy propelling both medicinal cannabis and other traditional herbs to the forefront," said Jintana.

Persons: Dimas Ardian, that's, Srettha Thavisin, Soratat, Srettha, hasn't, Soratat Pongsangiam, Sornkanok, Anutin Charnvirakul, Anutin, Jintana Manorompatrasal, Jintana, May's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Greenhead, Reuters, Greenhead Clinic, Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, Deputy, CNBC, Sawasdee Clinic Locations: San, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia, Phuket, U.S

☆ Why Thailand's having second thoughts about decriminalizing cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Little more than a year after cannabis decriminalization, following an election that saw a more conservative coalition government come into power, there are signs Thailand’s laws on cannabis could be rewritten once again. Most cannabis dispensaries like his he says, have been responsible and diligent from the start in checking buyers’ IDs and educating customers about cannabis rules. “Thousands of cafes, stores, and other cannabis businesses have sprouted and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent by tourists in a short amount of time,” Zaytsev said. The debate comes just as the quality of domestically produced cannabis in the country was improving, she added. “The quality of Thai cannabis has gotten better and better.

Persons: “, ” Iemvijan, –, Nitikrist Attakrist, ” Attakrist, Chiang Mai, Srettha Thavisin, ” Thavisin, Iemvijan, Cannabis, ”, Wisawa Mcintyre, Anutin Charnvirakul, Athit Perawongmetha, hasn’t, Ley Singdam, Ley, ” Ley, Kitty Chopaka, Chopaka, Michael Zaytsev, LIM, ” Zaytsev, Gloria Lai, ” Lai, ” “, Thavisin, Manan Vatsyayana Organizations: CNN, Thai, Bloomberg, Thailand’s Public, Thai Health, Staff, Reuters Observers, ” Farmers, Thais, International Drug Policy Consortium, Bhumjaithai Party, Getty Locations: Thai, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, San, Thonglor, Phuket, ‘, ”, Athit, New York, Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, AFP

☆ How Thai food became so popular in the US — and how today’s chefs are going beyond pad thai
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —When Anajak Thai opened in 1981, most people who walked into the Los Angeles restaurant weren’t familiar with Thai cuisine. Thai food became so popular among Americans that the Thai government took notice. Thai food in the US reaches new heightsToday, the Thai restaurant scene in the US is perhaps the most exciting that it’s ever been. And Thai American chefs like Pichetrungsi are continuing to defy stereotypes and misconceptions of what constitutes Thai food. He wants to show diners just how innovative Thai cuisine can be, but he’s hesitant to take familiar comforts like pad thai off the menu altogether.

Persons: Justin Pichetrungsi, Pichetrungsi’s, Rick Pichetrungsi, Anajak, ” Pichetrungsi, Pichetrungsi, he’s, It’s, Mark Padoongpatt, Padoongpatt, Marie Wilson, ” Padoongpatt, Justin, “, ”, Saipin Chutima, Bill, Isabella Vosmikova, Andy Ricker, Chiang, Leah Nash, Chiang Mai, Hong Thaimee, Rather, ” Thaimee, Leela Punyaratabandhu, Punyaratabandhu, mok, We’ve, James Beard, it's, Mariah Tauger Organizations: CNN, Sherman Oaks, Disney, University of Nevada, Thai, Food, Lotus, White, Washington Post, Pichetrungsi, Los Angeles Times Locations: Los Angeles, L.A, Thailand, Asia, Las Vegas, Thai America, United States, Angeles, Central Thailand, Thai, Siam, Northern Thailand, White American, Portland , Oregon, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, America, New, Chicago, Heart, Malaysian, California

☆ Best rice dishes: 20 delicious specialties from around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

And while famous rice dishes such as sushi, fried rice and paella are among the most prominent in the global spotlight, there are so many more rice recipes out there to put on your radar – and seek out on your travels. Wali wa kukaanga, KenyaWali wa kukaanga is Kenya’s answer to fried rice, and translates to just that in Swahili. So it’s no surprise that the Polynesian island country’s most popular rice dish, alaisa fa’apopo, has ties to the coconut, too. Thai fried rice (Khao Pad), ThailandThai fried rice uses the layering of flavors that's characteristic of the country's cuisine. ArenaCreative/Adobe StockWhen it comes to fried rice, the Chinese version tends to steal the spotlight.

"China was initially in discussions to be part of the project," the official said, declining to be named as the information was deemed sensitive. China has since banned the sale and consumption for food of wildlife animals. China's public security organs have handled more than 70,000 criminal cases involving wild animals from 2020-2022, confiscating 1.37 million wild animals in the process, state news agency Xinhua has reported. SLOW STARTThe SAFE project surveys only began in October last year, when the project's assessors visited Khao Kheow zoo and a cafe in Thailand. The wet markets targeted are markets where wild animals are sold alongside fresh meat and vegetables.

☆ These high school sweethearts have visited 112 countries. Here's how they pay for it on a budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Audrey Wan | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Hudson and Emily Crider have visited 112 countries, but their journey together began long before that. Hudson and Emily Crider in high school. Hudson and Emily Crider on a safari in Kenya, Africa. Hudson and Emily Crider camping during their self-drive safari in the Serengeti in Tanzania. Hudson and Emily Crider

☆ This 41-year-old left the U.S. for Bangkok and lives a 'luxurious lifestyle' on $8,000 a month
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-06 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"The quality of life in Thailand compared to the United States, is much better for 90% of things and more stress-free," he says. When he first moved to Panama, Schoberg brought the web design and development firm he established in the U.S. — and his list of clients — with him. "I knew right away that Bangkok was going to be my Panama City 2.0." "Bangkok has an amazing culinary scene, you have pretty much every type of food in the world here," Schoberg says. "You've got the street-level city, which is your food vendors, people running to work, taxis and motorbikes," he says.

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