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!

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!
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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!

We look forward to continuing to welcome guests seeking unique and eclectic experiences when travelling on holiday  to Thailand.

The observer of house geckos will gradually notice that, when geckos fall off a ceiling or slippery wall, they somehow always manage to land on their feet. When an odd "plop" sound is heard at Gecko Villa, this usually indicates that a gecko has just fallen to its feet - where it will quickly scurry away.

Super-fast video cameras were used by scientisits at the University of California, Berkeley to monitor these falls, in order to offer clues to explain the gecko's cat-like ability to land the right way up. They discovered that a falling gecko will use its tail to flick itself feet-down within 100 milliseconds of falling - and that it then maintains this position until it has landed. The research has even led to the development of robots that mimic the gecko's self-righting mechanism - the humble gecko, turning gravity on its head, continues to teach us valuable tricks!

Book any seven consecutive nights for a stay in January 012 at either our  rural Thai vacation rental Gecko Villa or our traditional Thai pool villa Green Gecko, and enjoy the last two nights of your villa holiday at no cost. You pay for five nights at your chosen property, get to stay a full week, and will enjoy free transfers, with  zingy Thai food included throughout your holiday.

All bookings will  also include a complimentary boat tour on the pink lotus lake, which is at its most spectacular at this time.

Book a last minute January getaway now via the villas' websites and simply mention our January 2012 Thai Villa Offer.

Deploying the correct type of basil in Thai cooking often confuses those learning to cook Thai food. Specific dishes call for specific varieties to ensure authentic flavours and fragrance, so the following brief summar of choosing the right basil may be of interest - and will help in picking the right herb from the gardens at Gecko Villa.

Of the three types of basil used in Thai cooking, two are the most prevalent. The first is Thai holy basil (Bai Krapow, or Ocimum Tenuiflorum), the most widely used form of basil in Thailand. This has somewhat hairy leaves and is essential in preparing spicy stir fried meats with basil (pat krapow) or Drunkard's Noodles (pat ki mao.)

The second is the purple-stemmed Thai sweet basil (Bai Horapha, or Ocimum Basilicum), used in making the famous Thai green and red curries,and the basil that is most redolent of the herb in Italy or Europe.

The third type is the narrow-leaved Thai Lemon Basil (Bai Maenglak or Ocimum Citriodorum), a fundamental herb in preparing Khanom Cheen noodles and certain Thai curries and Isan dishes.

Two dishes that may be prepared to highlight the differences between Thai holy basil and Thai sweet basil are Pat Krapao Neua and Neu Joom respectively. This first, spicy chopped beef stir-fried with holy basil, garlic and fresh chillies, is a well-loved dish at lunchtime, whilst the second is an Isan beef hotpot with slices of meat cooked in a broth infused with sweet basil and pickled garlic.

Just like our Thai holiday villas Green Gecko and Gecko Villa, large Tokay Geckos are often seen in pairs, particularly during the mating season. The male in particular is a territorial creature. The video above was filmed in Thailand (although not at our property - where the much smaller house gecko is more prevalent) and shows a Tokay Gecko that has fallen prey to a snake, and the reaction of its mate. The latter observes from a distance, closes in, considers its options, and then executes its plan.

Watch the entire video to see who emerges victorious!