Thanks to Bobzio.com for voting Gecko Villa as the "Best Value Vacation Rental" in Thailand! As we aim to offer a different kind of holiday in Thailand, we see their choice as a vote of confidence, as they state that whilst it took cost into account, it also considered the amenities, available activity bundles and level of fun factor.

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!