The Thai Brief #1: Four cities, four cups, one misty mountain

Factory Coffee, Phaya Thai

A small, serious brew bar a short walk from BTS Phaya Thai, which also makes it handy if you're on the Airport Rail Link. Its team has a long competition record, including a Top 2 World Espresso finish in 2022. The signature order is the "Phaya Thai", a Sicilian-style espresso drink served with lemon peel. Go for the coffee, not for a long brunch.

Sources: www.thefinestthai.com · www.localspecialtycoffee.com

Ristr8to Original, Nimman

Ristr8to opened on Nimmanhaemin Road in 2011. Its founder, Arnon Thitiprasert, won the 2017 World Latte Art Championship. You can order espresso, V60, Chemex, AeroPress or siphon, and the front is open to the street with a terrace for people-watching.

Sources: cnxbrew.com

Dou Brew Coffee & Craft, Soi Romanee

A green-fronted Sino-Portuguese shophouse on Phuket Old Town's most photographed lane. Dou Brew roasts Thai arabica on site and also sells craft chocolate made from Thai cacao. Nitro cold brew is the house specialty. Arrive at opening, before Soi Romanee fills up.

Sources: www.phuket101.net

Chujai The Roaster

A café and roastery in central Khon Kaen, set in a wooden house more than 100 years old with a shady garden. All the coffee is roasted in-house. It's a good excuse to add Isan to your trip.

Sources: blogger-thailand.com · www.trip.com

Do your TDAC before you fly, and only on the official site

Every non-Thai national entering Thailand by air, land or sea has to submit the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), and that includes children and infants. You file it within the 3 days before you arrive, and you need a new one for every entry. Use only tdac.immigration.go.th, because copycat sites charge for something that's free.

Sources: tdac.immigration.go.th · buenos-aires.thaiembassy.org

Phu Langka Forest Park, Phayao

A quiet mountain forest park in Pong district, known for sunrise "sea of mist" views, stargazing, short ridge walks and camping. It's in season roughly October to February. You'll need your own vehicle, some upper roads are steep, and the mornings are cold. Don't confuse it with the similarly named national park in Nakhon Phanom.

Sources: www.thaiholidayguide.com · www.nationthailand.com

Khao soi

Northern Thailand's signature curry noodle soup: soft egg noodles in a coconut curry broth, topped with crispy fried noodles and served with pickled mustard greens, shallots and lime on the side. It's usually traced back to the Yunnanese Muslim caravan traders who came through the north.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Mai phet (ไม่เผ็ด): not spicy

Say "mai phet" when ordering to ask for no chilli heat. Add "khrap" if you're a man or "kha" if you're a woman to be polite. Want a little heat? Try "phet nit noi" (a little spicy).

Sources: general Thai language usage

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