Event of the Month: Songkran, New Year in Thailand, 13 – 15 April

Buddhist new year in Thailand is a time for renewal, spiritual cleansing and super soakers… what!? Yes that's right folks, if you happen to be in Thailand between the 13-15 April, you can't fail to get involved in what has to be the world's biggest water fight! So where are the best places to enjoy the festivities? And what are some tips for staying dry? Here's a hint... there are none! Be prepared to get wet, VERY wet... Sawasdee P'Mai (Happy New Year) everyone!

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From Ancient Explorers to Hippies & the Full Moon Party: A Short History of Backpacking!

I’ve often noticed the confused looks on the faces of some locals as they watch a herd of intrepid backpackers walk past. Why the hell don’t you just sit down and take your bag off? They must be thinking. Have you not got a home to go to? Are you crazy walking around in the heat with a 60 kilo rucksack on your back? Mmmh. They may have a point. But still, something makes us do it. Something inside our foolish souls gives us the urge to wander far from our safe homes. So, how did it all begin? Who started this nomadic trend in the first place? And just how has the concept of the ‘backpacker’ changed over the years?

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Backpacker Video Diaries: Bug Eating in Bangkok!

It's a backpacker rite of passage. After a couple of beers someone in your group suggests that you go and eat some grub. Literally! In carts up and down the Khao San Road in Bangkok and elsewhere in the city, you'll see insects for sale as a tasty snack. There are crickets, silk worms, grasshoppers, beetles, cockroaches, and last but not least scorpions!

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Oodles and Oooooodles of Noodles

Big ones, fat ones, curly ones, straight ones. Noodles are a national treasure in Thailand and there are enough different types of noodle, ways of preparing them and dressing them, that you could probably eat a different kind every day for the entire year. So how do you eat yours?

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Backpacker Video Diaries: Sneak Peek

Just how much untamed adventure can you get up to in Southeast Asia in six months? Courtney, Kaberly, Danielle and Jacqui; four backpacking girls from California are determined to find out. Come with us as we follow their crazy escapades through South East Asia and beyond!

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A Very Short History of Dreadlocks

Dreadlocks are a popular fashion statement for many backpackers in South East Asia, but where does the trend come from? From dreadlocked Egyptian Mummies, to Hindu Holy Men and Rastafarians, we look back at the roots of this unique hairstyle!

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South East Asia: Same Same But Different

The minute you arrive in South East Asia, you quickly realise that it's not quite the strange, far off, foreign land your mum thinks it is. Backpacking through this part of the world, you’ll encounter such an interesting ‘fusion’ of Eastern and Western cultures that at times you may have to stop and remind yourself where you are!

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