Cee Jay

Cee Jay

Founder and writer of heritasian.com, a website dedicated to historical travel and heritage. My background includes a diverse range of experiences, from hospitality and sales to writing and editing. Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the past 20 years. My mixed British and Straits Chinese heritage, has shaped my understanding of culture and history, which informs my writing.

Colonial Heritage Hotels in SouthEast Asia

Elegant colonial heritage hotel veranda with arches, pillars, and tropical garden views.

Discover Southeast Asia’s colonial heritage hotels, from Singapore’s Raffles to Hanoi’s Metropole. These "living museums" blend European elegance with tropical architecture, preserving stories of literary giants, wartime resilience, and the region's complex journey toward independence.

Flower Festival Chiang Mai: The Rose of the North Awakens

Flower Festival Chiang Mai float with women in traditional Thai dress surrounded by colorful flowers.

Held every February, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival celebrates the "Rose of the North" with vibrant parades of floral floats and Lanna cultural displays. This three-day event showcases northern Thailand's unique horticulture, traditional craftsmanship, and deep-rooted regional pride.

A Guide to Central Thai Cuisine Heritage

Chef preparing central Thai cuisine heritage dish in a professional kitchen, stirring a wok with vegetables.

Central Thai cuisine is a refined balance of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy, rooted in the royal courts of Ayutthaya and Bangkok. Shaped by centuries of trade, it features iconic dishes like Tom Yum Gung and Green Curry, emphasizing communal dining and fresh, aromatic ingredients.

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok History

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok hotel with boats on the river, capturing its historical elegance.

Founded in 1876, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is Thailand’s first luxury hotel and a global icon of hospitality. Known as "La Grande Dame," it has hosted royalty and literary legends like Somerset Maugham, blending its historic Authors' Wing with world-class "Oriental Service" on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

DSLR camera for landscape photography with mountain views.