June 20, 2004
There And Back Again
That's right, the last leg of my trip is coming up. The day after tomorrow I will be heading back to the States. I'll be hanging out in Hippyville, Oregon for about a month before reporting back to duty at...Read this update
June 18, 2004
More Pampering
Ahhhhhh, facials..... Today I went to the spa for a second day of pampering. Yesterday I went for an aromatherapy oil massage, rather than the violent Thai massage. It was heaven. I liked it so much, I made an appointment...Read this update
June 16, 2004
Freaky Meetings
I caught the night train to Chiang Mai, as planned without a single hitch and no painful delays. Whew.... At Ayutthaya, a large group of French got on and practically took over the train, as did an Indian girl who...Read this update
March 26, 2004
Chatting with Friends in South Africa
Yesterday as I was checking my email, I saw that another fellow traveller was online so I IMed him. Erik (or eeyartee) has been trying to convince me about the merits of South Africa for ages. I haven't been convinced....Read this update
March 24, 2004
Good Haircut and Quick Healing
As I've been stuck in Bangers yet again, I am making the most out of it. I've spent my days doing chores that need to be done. I searched high and low for the correct contact lenses off Silom Road...Read this update
March 22, 2004
Split Toe and the Curse of Chinese Visas
I'm back in Bangkok, AGAIN. I left Australia on the 17th and I was much sadder to leave than I would have expected. The night before, Kylie's fam had a big old dinner with yummy curry at their house and...Read this update
January 24, 2004
Photos From the Beach
I have a few photos from when my sister Vanessa and I were lounging around on Ko Yai Noi. There aren't any of both of us IN the water, but well, someone had to take the photo. These are nothing...Read this update
January 20, 2004
Zippin around Hat Yai
I'm spending the night in Hat Yai, a city not far from the Malaysian border. Tomorrow I cross over and head to Georgetown in Penang Province. I'm excited to see a new country and new people, ya know how it...Read this update
Me Love You YAO Time
Ahhh tropical islands and the weirdos that hang out on them..... Vanessa and I travelled to an island paradise in between the two biggest beach areas on the west coast of Thailand. Little did she know she would leave Long...Read this update
January 16, 2004
Day Out of the Sun
Vanessa and I decided that today was going to be a day of shade, and not one bit too soon. As I was getting dressed this morning, I noticed an odd brownish blemish on my back, and hastily concluded I...Read this update
January 14, 2004
Bangkok Pics
Just a few pics from Bangkok. We visited Wat Po, which is a major temple in Bangkok. ALl around the complex they have these little Chinese dudes guarding everything. Each is different and they can be really humorous. I really...Read this update
Ao Nang, Krabi
Today was a busy day of doing basically nothing. We decided to go visit the Diamond Cave around the corner from our beach. On the way, we decided to detour over to another beach area to see if we could...Read this update
Ayuthaya Photos!!
So, I've finally figured out how to get these pics onto a PC. Ayuthaya 1 This was something I walked right by the last time I was there, so I had to get a picture this time. We also met...Read this update
January 13, 2004
Mayer Osmosis
Yes, it has happened. Two vampire Mayers on the beach IN BIKINIS at once, and we have tan lines. :) After a long LONG ride from Ayutthaya to Bangkok to Surat Thani to Ao Nang, we have arrived at the...Read this update
January 11, 2004
My Precious
Now that that pesky Anthony is no longer allowed to post, the blog is ALL MINE again. :) It's mine, my PRECIOUS. We loves it. It's Sunday here and Vanessa and I are in Ayuthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand,...Read this update
January 09, 2004
Anyone seen my sister???
JUST KIDDING!!! Sorry Mom, had to write it. Vanessa is here safe and sound. She rolled in last night around 12:30, right on time. We stayed up whispering in the dark for hours. We both seem to have the same...Read this update
January 08, 2004
Quiet Days in Bangers
Yes, I'm in Bangkok, AGAIN. It's been a nice quiet few days though. With Ant leaving, things got hectic to make sure he had everything I wanted to send back, and then some. Poor guy will kill me to know...Read this update
January 05, 2004
Relaxing before a line-up switch
Soon Ant leaves, to be promptly replaced by my sister, Vanessa. It should be interesting to see the difference in travel with each one of them. Ant is a generally laid back person, while Vanessa is hyper-ish. I suspect things...Read this update
The Tingle Juice of Trat
These last few days are chill days, time for me and Claudia to relax. We aren't up for long bus rides to other parts of Thailand, and there's not much else around this region that we're really gung ho about...Read this update
January 03, 2004
Back to Trat
Reluctantly, mind you, since Ko Chang was beautiful, chill, and had enough activities, chill-out time and excellent seafood to just about make me an expat. Now we are going to relax for a while. Catch up on email, check flights...Read this update
Ok, I Give Up.... I Now Like Going to the Beach
We haven't written in ages. We've been too busy enjoying our stay on the island of Ko Chang, in Trat Province, Thailand. We decided on Ko Chang randomly after I was uninterested in our original destination of Kanchanaburi. We caught...Read this update
December 27, 2003
Too much Bangkok
It's a good town, full of good things and people. But we've just come here too damn much. Yet it's been worth it. One of my best friends, Jeanette, has just come up from Brisbane, Australia for a holiday, so...Read this update
Chatuchauk Market
I made it out alive!!! Oh my. I thought Chiang Mai's Night Market was fraught with retail danger, but I nearly met my match at Chatuchauk Market here in Bangkok. Luckily, I was shopping for Christmas presents so I wasn't...Read this update
December 25, 2003
Bloody Phones
It's about 9:30pm here in Bangkok, and Claudia and I are fighting with the phone system. We were hoping to each make a few fam holiday calls, but the phones don't like us. We haven't been able to get anything...Read this update
December 18, 2003
Not enough of the North
We're in Cambodia now, but before blathering about that I wanted to get down some observations about the north of Thailand and how much I want to go back there sometime. We stayed in Chiang Mai and Nan, but didn't...Read this update
December 16, 2003
Many Days Passing Without a Post
It's been almost a week since my last post and I feel guilty. Ant's a prolific poster, I'm more of a "when stuff happens" sort of poster I guess. Stuff has been going on, but I've been a bit lazy...Read this update
December 12, 2003
Sorting out Cambodia
We're taking an extra day in Chiang Mai to sort some things out. (And to make sure that Claudia is fully recovered from her hangover.) Where do we go next? Okay, we got that: Nan (VIP, air-con bus, 211 baht/person....Read this update
December 11, 2003
Last day in Chiang Mai?
After cooking, the drinking. After gobbling up our culinary experiments at cooking school, a few of us decided to meet up for a drink later. Claudia and I headed over to the Irish Pub. That's the name, not just the...Read this update
Always travel with Nancy
When in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, it doesn't really matter what guidebook you have, just as long as you also pick up a Nancy Chandler Map. It's not uncommon for me and Claudia to leave the LP in the room,...Read this update
Coffee Shops in Chiang Mai
Thailand has some damn good coffee — you just have to know where to look. Also make sure you order the right thing; a lot of Thais, and too many farangs, get Nescafe. There's no need to do that; the...Read this update
December 10, 2003
Happy Birthday, Bon Appetit
For the past 2 days, I've been slicing, frying and eating... and eating... and eating some more. This has been the only time that Claudia's wanted to get something to eat, and I haven't. For my birthday (Christmas Eve) Claudia...Read this update
Wat is going on??
Ant's been off cooking the last few days at the Baan Thai Thai Cooking School. As you can see here, he's been up to his armpits in fresh goodies and causing a stir. So, that left me to my own...Read this update
December 08, 2003
Twitching in Chiang Mai
Where is Steph when I need her??? We arrived in Chiang Mai about 30 seconds behind schedule, which by any standard is pretty good. I had a good feeling about the place from the start. Ant and I had heard...Read this update
Finding the Holy Grail
Holy Cow, the Holy Grail: Holy Cow! At last. All yesterday Claudia and I were drooling over the shops in downtown Chiang Mai. Handicrafts, silk, clothes, lamps, you name it. First rule of our next trip to Thailand: Bring more...Read this update
Mike Odell, Where Are You?
Place: Khao San Road, Bangkok I don't know where you are or what you're up to Mike, but on the KSR the other day, I started thinking about you. I don't know why; suddenly it was like I was expecting...Read this update
December 06, 2003
Saddlesore in Sukhothai
Ciao! (as I ride along pretending I'm on a Vespa) After arriving at the No. 4 Guesthouse in Sukhothai (which rocks) the manager mentioned that the best way to get around town was by motorbike. It's basically a hair dryer...Read this update
Bugger Rough Guides
If you bought a Rough Guide for your trip, return it. If you can't return it... burn it. Ah, guidebooks. Lonely Planet pioneered the guidebook industry, especially for budget/backpacker travel, and they're the biggest name. As such, they take a...Read this update
December 03, 2003
Sukhothai Sillyness
Today was a great day as well as the one that almost broke my back. Ant and I left Mel's place early this morning around 7 or 7:30 AM figuring we should get to Sukhothai early. We read through our...Read this update
December 02, 2003
Getting lost like Jim Thompson
Claudia and I did our own thing today: she headed to the US Embassy to get more pages in her passport (and then shop), and I went to check out Jim Thompson's house and make attempt #3 on the Grand...Read this update
Thwarted Grand Palace Invasion
We're leaving Bangkok tomorrow, though I'd rather invade the palace first. It's been a cool past few days, but today has been a horrid funk for me. Last night I was trying to sort out where else Claudia and I...Read this update
November 30, 2003
3 days in Thailand
The biggest adjustment to Thailand has been accepting how different the country and culture is, compared to India. It's clean. Not spotless, but spotless is overrated. Trash doesn't line every street; pollution (no more black boogies) is nonexistent compared to...Read this update
Weekend in Bangers
The last few days have been very reassuring. On Saturday Ant, Colin (otherwise known as GreyCat on Bootsnall), and I wandered around. We first stopped off at the Temple of the Golden Buddha, which houses a 5.5 ton solid gold...Read this update
November 28, 2003
Arrived in Thailand
I have arrived, FINALLY. I am a happy camper these days. After a tiring last few days in India, the people at Air India must have known because for some unknown reason, they upgraded me to first class!!! Duh, I...Read this update
November 27, 2003
Thanksgiving in Thailand
Will that be red or green turkey curry? Welcome to Bangkok. Sawasdee! (That's Thai for "hiya.") Getting into Thailand was incredibly easy. The passport line moved quickly; the official didn't even ask for my outward ticket. Customs hardly nodded at...Read this update