Thailand: Hot Spot

POLICE CUSTODY "Look at that view," marvels Sombat Panarong. We're at his Umphang Hill Resort, tel: (66-55) 5610630, peering at the river in the late afternoon mist. "This was something worth fighting for," he says, taking a deep swig of his Scotch and ice. The police captain turned hotelier knows a thing or two about fightinghis previous career was spent battling communist guerrillas who once roved the hills fomenting revolution. His stories lend color to a stay at this cheap and cheerful resort, with its 54...