It is almost impossible to eat badly in Thailand.

I mean, you could if you tried, of course … there are plenty of restaurants catering to what they think tourists want and not delivering it.

But it is so easy to eat well in Thailand … just go to any street stall with a wok and you can get something made fresh and hot just for you, and as spicy (or not) as you want it. This will cost you about $1.25.  Add another 60 cents if you want a fruit smoothie to accompany it (and you should if you order it spicy).

• An important aside: if you’re in Chiang Mai, the absolute best place to get your smoothies is from Mrs Pa, who brings her orange cart across from the South Gate market around 5:00 every night and stays until she’s sold out … ask her to make the combination she thinks best. Trust me, you’ll be back every day.

Okay, back to our discussion: Thailand is a very easy country to travel in (despite their recurring political coups) and it has the ideal mix of friendly people, interesting history and culture, beautiful art and architecture, big cities and beautiful beaches. I’ve spent about ten weeks in Thailand, on three separate trips. The most recent was a press trip hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. As always, only the editor of an outlet that publishes an article approves or edits my work.

Here are the links to my Thailand articles (plus don’t forget my general Asia articles):

• For Fodor’s, Elephant tourism is way more complex than you’d imagine: The Thailand example.
• For Forbes, New Thailand tourist visa: You can now spend 60 days in paradise.
• For Forbes, Taste for Travel: Street Foods for Travel Dreaming.
• Featured in this piece simultaneously published by MSN and Reader’s Digest:
  • • I’ve been to 60 countries but these 6 changed me forever (MSN version, a slideshow).
    • I’ve been to 60 countries but these 6 changed me forever (Reader’s Digest version, all on one page).

• Know-before-you-go articles for USA Today’s 10Best:
  • Thailand travel from its biggest city to the beaches of Phuket.
  • Partying or unwinding: Phuket delivers.

• There are a lot of so-called elephant sanctuaries in Asia. If you’re considering visiting one, read this first: ethical elephants, with a link to my Reader’s Digest article about elephants.

• Making pad ka prao, a dish I could eat every day for the rest of my life without complaint (for World Travel Buzz).

• 8 things you’ll get addicted to in Thailand (for Matador Network).

• For Royal Caribbean, about the port of Phuket: Fun in Phuket.

• Ziplining with Flight of the Gibbon.

• How to travel respectfully in a Buddhist country.

• An article about Ben Randall and The Human, Earth Project. I met Ben in Chiang Mai a few days before he left for Viet Nam to try to find a friend who was kidnapped and taken to China, sold as a “wife”. Six months later (yesterday, as I write this) he found her. Now they’re trying to see if she can go home to Viet Nam. He’s making a documentary about his search.

• Visiting the dentist in Chiang Mai, Thailand (sometimes you just need a regular check-up, as I did, but I’d go back to Thailand if I needed major dental work).

• My review of the De Lanna Boutique Hotel in Chiang Mai.

• A group in Chiang Mai (and others around the world) which helps you figure out how to make what you love into your life.

• A quick overview of Bangkok (for CheapoAir).