My story
Born and raised in Bangkok. Exploring Thailand intentionally since 2018. Vegan for 2 years.
I was born and raised in Bangkok as a second-generation Thai. English was the main language at home growing up,
and I’m fully fluent in both Thai and English. My upbringing was international — expat bubbles, mixed cultures,
friends from everywhere. I felt comfortable in that world, but I didn’t truly know Thailand beyond it.
That began to change after a few solo trips abroad starting around 2018. Traveling alone reshaped how I
experienced places. When I came back, I started exploring Thailand the same way I would a foreign country —
slowly, curiously, and without assumptions.
A turning point in Chiang Mai
A trip to Chiang Mai became the turning point. Spending time in the mountains, discovering hidden hot springs,
forests, and quiet villages did something no screen ever had.
When I returned to Bangkok, I sold my PS4. Real places, real people, real conversations suddenly mattered more.
That same trip also turned me vegan. I’d always been curious about veganism and had a long-standing interest
in nutrition, and Chiang Mai gave me the opportunity to try it properly. The sheer availability of genuinely
good vegan food and culture made the transition feel natural. When I returned home, I kept it going — and it
has remained part of my life ever since.
Exploring beyond the obvious
From there, exploration expanded well beyond the city. I began spending more time in coastal areas, beach
towns, and lesser-known nature spots — places like Khao Tao, a beach neighborhood with a large
freshwater lake and long-standing local communities built around it. For years it stayed quiet; more recently,
development has started to arrive.
I get immense satisfaction from recommending beaches, mountain towns, and nature-based places people had
never considered, then hearing them come back and say it was one of the most meaningful parts of their trip —
something they would never have discovered through standard Google searches or mainstream travel guides.
That feedback gives me immense joy and is what keeps this project grounded.
Why Off Path Thailand exists
With a background in web design and a natural pull toward tech, Off Path Thailand grew organically. It became
a way to combine exploration, storytelling, and practical guidance — and a chance to give locals recognition,
support family-run businesses, and direct attention toward places that are often overlooked.
A portion of the project’s profits is intended to go back into the communities featured here, including
support for local education initiatives and village-level efforts.
How I travel
- Quiet places over crowded highlights
- Weekdays over weekends
- Local routines over tourist checklists
- Nature and neighborhoods over nightlife
- Slow travel over rushing itineraries
Start here
- Vegan travel in Thailand
- Off-the-beaten-path Bangkok neighborhoods
- Cultural travel style
- Adventure travel style
Contact
If you have a question about a specific place, or a collaboration that fits the site’s values,
you can contact me here.
— Thaewan
Off Path Thailand