Marita Bester

Marita Bester is a freelance writer based in Bangkok. With a knack for uncovering the quirky, the cultural, and the profoundly human, she writes captivating stories about Thailand and Southeast Asia. From thought-provoking human-interest pieces to humorous and offbeat tales, her work brings the region’s rich history and culture to life. When she’s not at her keyboard, she pursues her other loves, like running, paddle boarding, travelling, reading and savouring a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
  • Bangkok TravelBangkok at dawn: A guide for morning people | Thaiger

    Bangkok at dawn: A guide for morning people

    Mornings in Bangkok feel like a quiet rebellion against the city’s usual chaos, no traffic, no sweat (yet), just movement and misty light. The sky trains hum almost empty. Streets lie open and unhurried, the air still cool, as if the city itself is taking a long, slow breath before the day begins. Some people simply aren’t morning people, and…

  • Thailand TravelLeaving the city behind: The best national parks near Bangkok | Thaiger

    Leaving the city behind: The best national parks near Bangkok

    Bangkok is a world away from the postcard-perfection of Thailand’s islands. It’s a city of blistering heat, fiery street food, and ancient temples tucked beneath glass towers. The traffic is endless, the energy relentless. The pace is part of its charm, but even the most devoted urbanite needs a break now and then. Fortunately, within a few hours’ drive from…

  • Bangkok TravelBangkok on her own terms: Is Thailand’s capital safe for solo female travellers? | Thaiger

    Bangkok on her own terms: Is Thailand’s capital safe for solo female travellers?

    In 2025, women are no longer waiting for friends, partners, or permission to see the world. They’re booking flights, packing light, and landing in cities that speak to their sense of independence and curiosity. For over a decade, I’ve called Thailand’s capital home. I’ve moved through it mostly on my own, through morning markets, neon-lit backstreets, packed commuter trains, and…

  • Thailand TravelWhere to travel in Thailand in August [2025] | Thaiger

    Where to travel in Thailand in August [2025]

    There’s no better way to experience Thailand than through its cuisine. In the rainy season, flavours bloom alongside the landscape, steam rises from market pots, the snap of chilli echoes through alleyways, and rain makes every bite more vivid. “I could happily eat Thai food every day for the rest of my life.” — Anthony Bourdain When you travel around…

  • Bangkok TravelBy the river’s edge: Life along Bangkok’s khlongs | Thaiger

    By the river’s edge: Life along Bangkok’s khlongs

    Beyond the busy streets, Bangkok’s waterways offer a glimpse into the city’s past. The khlongs, or canals, showcase an older, quieter side of the capital where life moves at a slower pace. From historic temples and floating markets to small artist communities, the canals of Thonburi and beyond hold stories of Bangkok’s rich heritage, offering a unique perspective on its…

  • GuidesBangkok in gold: Where to catch the sunset | Thaiger

    Bangkok in gold: Where to catch the sunset

    Bangkok buzzes, blares, steams, and sings. The traffic never quite sleeps, the air hums with heat, and the Chao Phraya moves like a long, slow pulse through the heart of it all. Sunset doesn’t arrive quietly either. It spills. It drapes the rooftops, washes the river in amber, flares behind temple spires. It softens the edges of the day, surrendering…

  • Thailand TravelWhere to travel in Thailand in July [2025] | Thaiger

    Where to travel in Thailand in July [2025]

    This month, I want to invite you to wander through art spaces, misty hills, and garden paths, where the only thing on the itinerary is to linger. Let’s take a slower route, one for the dreamers, the journal keepers, and the ones who don’t mind getting a little wet. This is a more picturesque walk and hopefully a safe passage…

  • Thailand TravelWhere to Travel in Thailand in June [2025] | Thaiger

    Where to Travel in Thailand in June [2025]

    If you’re thinking of avoiding Thailand during the rainy season, think again. June marks the beginning of the green season, a time when the crowds thin out, the landscapes come alive, and the Kingdom feels refreshingly unfiltered. “Without rain, there is no life.” – Jerry Yung Imagine early mornings in the mountains wrapped in mist, temple courtyards glistening after a…

  • Thai LifeThailand’s emotional pull that keeps travellers coming back | Thaiger

    Thailand’s emotional pull that keeps travellers coming back

    In his memoir A Moveable Feast, the American author Ernest Hemingway wrote about his struggles and journeys in Paris. “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you… For Paris is a moveable feast.” His description of enjoying oysters by the…

  • Thailand TravelWhere are the tourists going to in Thailand? | Thaiger

    Where are the tourists going to in Thailand?

    Thailand has long been the go-to destination for those in need of—let’s say—a break from adult life. Over the years, I’ve heard countless stories from friends who jetted to Bangkok after a messy breakup or came to reset their lives in some way. It was low-cost, low-commitment, and full of soft landings. I knew people who camped on beaches, crashed…

  • Thailand TravelThe free spirited edge of Koh Phangan | Thaiger

    The free spirited edge of Koh Phangan

    Koh Phangan is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Known for its famous full moon parties, Koh Phangan also attracts digital nomads, spiritual seekers, and free spirit travellers looking for more than just a tan. In this YouTube video, in the section from timestamp 17:00 to 21:20, Flora and Note arrive at the entrance…

  • Travel GuidesBegpackers, buskers, and the ethics of modern travel | Thaiger

    Begpackers, buskers, and the ethics of modern travel

    In times past, the image of a wanderer abroad was synonymous with romantic adventure. From the 19th-century Grand Tour to the beat poets hitchhiking across Europe and Asia, travel was seen as a rite of passage for the young and curious. Wilfred Thesiger, who travelled through the Arabian deserts in the 1940s, captured the classic Western fascination with distant and…

  • Thai LifeBangkok through time: A city in flux and its spirit of resilience | Thaiger

    Bangkok through time: A city in flux and its spirit of resilience

    The recent earthquake, brief but unnerving, reminded residents that nothing, not even concrete or glass, is entirely fixed. And yet, in true Bangkok fashion, life carried on. Commuters returned to the skytrain. Street vendors lit their woks. The Chao Phraya kept flowing. In this fleeting moment of disruption, the city’s rhythm barely faltered, its quiet resilience taking centre stage. It…

  • Hua Hin TravelWhat makes Hua Hin special? | Thaiger

    What makes Hua Hin special?

    Hua Hin quietly charms just about everyone who visits. It’s not just the soft beaches, the seafood, or the slower pace of life. There’s something else, something harder to define but easy to feel. This coastal town was once the chosen getaway of Thai royalty. Today, it’s become a favourite for families, retirees, digital nomads, and weekenders from Bangkok. The…

  • Koh Samui TravelHow Southeast Asia can capitalise on The White Lotus Effect | Thaiger

    How Southeast Asia can capitalise on The White Lotus Effect

    Since The White Lotus checked into Thailand, so has the rest of the world, or at least, they’re trying to. With sweeping drone shots of Koh Samui’s turquoise waters, and a cast of rich, unhappy people sweating their way through wellness retreats, infinity pools and luxury suites, Thailand has never looked more glamorous. To understand the real impact behind the…

  • Things To DoSongkran essentials: What you need for an awesome water festival | Thaiger

    Songkran essentials: What you need for an awesome water festival

    Every April, Thailand erupts into the world’s biggest, wildest and wettest water fight. But Songkran, the Thai New Year, is more than just a massive street splash fest; it’s a celebration of renewal, tradition and togetherness. Recently recognized as a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage, Songkran has deep roots in Thai culture. Traditionally, it was about honouring elders, visiting temples, and…

  • LifestyleLife with a dog in Bangkok: Adventures with Beans | Thaiger

    Life with a dog in Bangkok: Adventures with Beans

    I recently met with dog owners Shannon and Stuart with their cocker spaniel, Beans, at a cafe in Bangkok. While we talked, Beans lay politely under the table, his floppy ears resting on his paws, completely at ease in the lively atmosphere. I had been scrolling through Instagram a week earlier when I first came across Beans. His goofy haircut,…

  • LifestyleHave you eaten rice today? A love language shrouded in simplicity | Thaiger

    Have you eaten rice today? A love language shrouded in simplicity

    In many parts of Asia, especially Thailand, rice is life. It’s the steaming bowl that soothes after a long day, the humble plate shared among friends and family. It’s the ever-present comfort food that feels like a warm hug. As one of the world’s largest rice exporters, Thailand’s relationship with rice goes far beyond economics. Here, rice doesn’t just fill…

  • EntertainmentThe White Lotus Season 3 is deliciously unhinged | Thaiger

    The White Lotus Season 3 is deliciously unhinged

    Finally, The White Lotus Season 3 has graced our screens, and let me tell you, it’s wild, mysterious, and darkly hilarious as I hoped it would be. Suppose the first two showed us the cracks in the glossy facade of the ultra-wealthy. In that case, this season is about smashing that facade entirely, wrapping it in layers of Thai spirituality,…

  • Thailand TravelPlaces around Hua Hin that you should visit [2025] | Thaiger

    Places around Hua Hin that you should visit [2025]

    Hua Hin, with its powdery beaches and breezy, laid-back vibe, has always been a beloved escape from Bangkok’s frenetic pace. But venture just a little further south and you’ll discover a trio of enchanting beach communities that seem to have been plucked straight from the pages of Country Life magazine. Life slows down on this quieter, more untouched stretch of…

  • Travel GuidesFinding the perfect souvenir in Thailand is closer than you think | Thaiger

    Finding the perfect souvenir in Thailand is closer than you think

    What’s the best thing to bring home from Thailand? For me, it’s always been about finding keepsakes that characterise the soul of the place. One of my favourite souvenirs is a small glass elephant I found at a market in Chiang Mai and people say that elephants are symbols of good luck – so why not have one around? Now,…

  • Environment NewsIs it too late for Thailand’s dugongs? | Thaiger

    Is it too late for Thailand’s dugongs?

    Long ago, dugongs were hunted across Southeast Asia for their meat, tusks, and bones. In some regions, their body parts were thought to hold magical powers. Dugong tears, in particular, were said to bring good fortune or even love. But in Thailand, these gentle sea cows often inspired more reverence than harm. Along the Andaman coast, dugongs became symbols of love,…

  • EntertainmentGetting the best out of Koh Samui’s White Lotus frenzy | Thaiger

    Getting the best out of Koh Samui’s White Lotus frenzy

    The island of Koh Samui shimmers like a jewel in the Gulf of Thailand. Its powdery white sand beaches, fringed with swaying coconut palms, have long been a cherished secret for those seeking laid-back luxury. But, as with all secrets, this one couldn’t stay hidden forever. Recently, the island’s gentle ocean breeze has carried more than just the scent of…

  • LifestyleFlying too high – The risk and responsibility of modern influencers | Thaiger

    Flying too high – The risk and responsibility of modern influencers

    Long ago, on the Greek island of Crete, a brilliant inventor named Daedalus crafted wings of feathers and wax to escape captivity alongside his son, Icarus. The wings were a marvel of human ingenuity, a gift of freedom. Before they took flight, Daedalus gave Icarus a warning. “Fly too low, and the sea will drag you down. Fly too high,…

  • Thai LifeTsunami survivor’s story: A journey from chaos to hope | Thaiger

    Tsunami survivor’s story: A journey from chaos to hope

    The Indian Ocean tsunami touched countless lives, claiming more than 230,000 people across 14 countries. In Thailand alone, over 8,000 perished. What would you do in such a situation? How would you react if you found yourself in the “warzone” of your life, with only seconds to act? These are the questions the tsunami compels us to confront. The answers…