jamesinldn

Tiny shophouse serves tom yum that destroys most tourists. If you've tested your spice tolerance elsewhere and honestly can handle 'pet maak maak', theyll bring liquid fire

Tom yum goong ฿180 proper bowl huge prawns heat builds slowly then hits like truck seen grown men cry they bring extra rice and milk no judging

Bts thonglor walk 5 minutes south sukhumvit soi 55 11 am-9 pm closed sundays trust me worth the trip

Skip touristy Marché des Enfants Rouges — Bit of a circus now.

Marché Saint-Germain (Tues/Fri/Sat): Brilliant cheese at Rue Mabillon, proper bread from Laurent Duchêne. Fromager lets you taste first.

Marché Monge (Wed/Fri/Sun): Smaller but top quality produce near Panthéon. Perfect for Luxembourg Gardens picnics.

Marché Bastille (Thurs/Sun): Massive along Boulevard Richard-Lenoir, proper local crowd. More French than English spoken which is always good.

Bring shopping bag — They charge for plastic at all Paris markets. Don't touch produce unless invited. Vendors know their stuff, let them pick your tomatoes for tonight vs tomorrow.

Airport exchange booths give 30-40% worse rates than market. Ziraat bank ATMs right in arrivals terminal give proper rates, no commission on withdrawals up to 5000 lira daily limit

If bringing cash to exchange wait till istiklal area taksim. Exchange shops there much better rates than sultanahmet tourist zone. I track every lira and the difference is massive

The massive white Buddha statue sitting proper on Nakkerd Hills is brilliant for panoramic views, but you can't just rock up without planning. This 45-metre marble beauty requires a bit of legwork to reach, and the temple has strict rules that'll see you turned away if you don't follow them.

Getting there without breaking the bank: Take bus 402 from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 (near Central Festival) to Chalong Temple for just 40 baht. From Chalong, hop on a blue songthaew (shared pickup truck) for the winding 6km climb up Nakkerd Hills — 100 baht per person, but they wait until full so bring patience. Skip the motorbike rental unless you're experienced with steep grades and hairpin turns, mate. The climb is brutal in tropical heat.

Temple visiting essentials: Gates open 7:30am sharp — Arrive early for cooler weather and crystal-clear views before the haze sets in. Dress code is enforced strictly: shoulders and knees covered or they'll refuse entry to the main platform. They sell sarongs on-site for 150 baht if you're caught out. Remove shoes before entering any building, never point feet toward Buddha statues, and keep voices low inside temple areas.

Insider timing tip: Those white marble tiles become absolutely scorching by midday — Like walking on a frying pan. Early morning visits mean comfortable walking, better air quality for photography, and you'll dodge the tour bus crowds that descend after 10am. The views stretch across Chalong Bay to the Andaman Sea, absolutely worth the effort when done right.

Everyone walks Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn but you're doing it backwards. Start at Brooklyn side (High St-Brooklyn Bridge on A/C) and walk toward Manhattan.

Views get better as you go, plus you end up downtown Manhattan where the photo spots are. Bridge less crowded on Brooklyn side. Go early morning or golden hour — Avoid harsh midday light.

Pro tip: small park under bridge on Brooklyn side has incredible skyline views with way fewer people than the bridge itself.