The mango trees at Gecko Villa are currently yielding plump, soft yellow mangoes in overwhelming abundance. Some we have turned into mango chutney, and others into mango pickle to help preserve them, but a cold, smooth mango sorbet is another way to enjoy this perfumed fruit in the current heat. A refreshing sorbet also makes a change from the traditionally Thai - but equally delectable - mango and sticky rice.

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
Zest of one large lime
3 large, ripe mangoes (peeled and stoned)
1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
A pinch of salt
3 tbsp vodka

Dissolve the sugar in the water over heat, then add the lime zest. Allow to cool.
Put the mango, lime juice & salt into a blender and add the dissolved sugar. Liquidize. Pour into a bowl and chill.
Now stir in the vodka, before pouring into a plastic tub and placing this in the freezer. After  2-3 hours, or when the sorbet has just about set, remove the tub from the freezer, and beat vigorously with a fork - this will ensure the sorbet remains meltingly smooth and - together with the vodka - will stop the formation of ice crystals.  Then replace in the freezer for a further 5 hours.
When serving, optionally garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Note: If you scoop the flesh out of the mango skins and reserve these in the refrigerator, you can use them as serving dishes.

Book any seven nights in May or June at Green Gecko, and pay for only five nights. Your holiday includes complimentary transfers from Udon Thani airport, all meals taken at the villa, and free maid and laundry services. Simply mention Gecko Villa's blog when booking to take advantage of this special offer!

The Tourism Council of Thailand recently noted that less than one in a hundred vistors to Thailand decides to foray into the northeast of the country, suggesting that man-made attractions may act as an anchor to the development of tourism in the region.

If the northeast of Thailand, Isan, has a particular strength, it is its authenticity. Addictive, spicy food. Quilted rice paddies. Wizened, smiling faces. A genuine sense of fun. Indigenous traditions. And a truly warm welcome that stands proudly apart from any anodyne welcome or "have a nice day"  dictated by corporate operating procedures...Isan has remained unspoiled by mass tourism - and long may it remain so!

Stand out from the crowd, go local and experience something that 99% of visitors to Thailand miss out on! Drop by Gecko Villa, Green Gecko or Rice Paddy Villa and enjoy a truly different kind of holiday in Thailand.

Why run with the crowd? Choose the road less travelled!
...
 

A big "Thank You" to recent guests, Yolande and Pascal,  at our second Thailand holiday villa Green Gecko, who very kindly donated a laptop computer to a local village school...after a drive to the school in the villa's own samlor, along some rather dusty tracks.  Both the head teacher and the English teacher at the school, who were present for the donation, were delighted with the notebook, and saw the fact that the keyboard was in English rather than Thai as an extra incentive to the pupils to learn English...

Such generous donations can have a huge impact, Whilst the notebook itself will be greatly appreciated, its delivery by visitors in person only further piqued the children's interest in a connected world...

What has come to be known today as "traditional Thai massage" is often said to have been derived from the practices of the Budhha's pysician 25 centuries ago. Yet it would seem that the concept of Thai massage, like that of Thai food, has evolved through a careful  and considered blending of influences from China, Southeast Asia and India. Just as "Thai food" varies considerably from region to region within the kingdom, so too does "Thai massage".

The underlying themes however remain constant, with a focus on well-being and health built onto a backbone of satisfaction. A good Thai meal will incorporate spicy dishes and milder offerings, whilst a good Thai massage will often have its own Scoville scale of tolerance, whilst equally retaining its ability to become addictive.

During your Thai villa holiday, book an hour or two of Thai massage by the pool: the combination of a gentle breeze, the lapping of the water in the pool, and the relaxation induced by your massage is a combination not to be missed!