https://www.scmp.com/rss/510116/feed Philipp Meier is a Phuket-based travel writer specialising in round-ups and features that centre on Thailand. A big fan of independent travel, he's passionate about Thai culture and wandering off Thailand's well-trodden tourist trail. His work has appeared in titles worldwide, including National Geographic Traveller India, Culture Trip, and inflight magazines such as Sawasdee and Tengri. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Every autumn Taoists flock to Phuket in Thailand to take part in arguably the country’s most unusual religious event: the annual Vegetarian Festival. The festival’s simple name belies the depths of the proceedings that unfold over its nine-day run. During the festival, devotees and tourists gather at temples and join processions, praying and following a strict white dress code that symbolises purity. People abstain from sex, alcohol and meat to live in harmony with the universe in line with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3293730/phukets-vegetarian-festival-where-extreme-body-piercings-bring-blessings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3293730/phukets-vegetarian-festival-where-extreme-body-piercings-bring-blessings?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 03:15:39 +0000 Philipp Meier Philipp Meier Speakeasies, Singapore’s hottest bar trend of late, can be found tucked away behind peepholes, curtains and unmarked doorways in the unlikeliest of places. While the hidden nature of secret drinking dens is appealing in itself, as are the vibes of watering holes that mimic the illicit bars of America’s 1920s Prohibition era, the allure of speakeasy-style establishments in the Lion City goes beyond that. These cocktail bars are making a splash on the drinking scene with a potent mix of nostalgia... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3259122/6-singapores-best-hidden-speakeasy-bars-will-take-you-back-time-and-how-find-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3259122/6-singapores-best-hidden-speakeasy-bars-will-take-you-back-time-and-how-find-them?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:15:13 +0000 Sixty-three-year-old Oi takes one last puff of his self-rolled areca palm leaf cigarette. Bare-chested and barefoot, he walks across scorching, white-sugar sand and leans against his 41-year-old son Kiang’s long-tail boat. Small waves are lapping as he chews with reddened teeth on betel nut gum, squinting in the bright sunlight. Darkly tanned, his muscular physique tells the story of his life as a fisherman. These Urak Lawoi – one of Thailand’s three main Chao Lay (“people of the sea”), or sea... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3146615/reggae-bars-white-sand-beaches-diving-make-koh-lipe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3146615/reggae-bars-white-sand-beaches-diving-make-koh-lipe?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Aug 2021 05:15:11 +0000 It is pitch black and rustling sounds in the jungle are coming closer. Our candles have gone out and if it weren’t for the light from the dying campfire, I wouldn’t be able to see my hands in front of my face. Khai, the seasoned guide I’ve entrusted with my life, is snoring peacefully in his double-layered nylon hammock, untroubled by the heavy rain that has been battering down on our tarpaulin covers. “The campfire will repel wild animals,” he said, before falling asleep, but staring now at the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3138579/thailand-jungle-adventure-no-other-wildlife-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3138579/thailand-jungle-adventure-no-other-wildlife-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jun 2021 05:15:16 +0000