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Wednesday, June 28th, 2017
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Why I Prefer Oaxaca
Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 We expats are finding what we did not find “at home.” I retired in 2002, traveled for 5 years, went back “home” for 2 months and was bored to tears. Most of my friends had moved on (or I had moved on). I was just going back and forth between the computer and the TV. I thought, I could just die here in this chair! Where are you going to go…the mall? Similarly, my son married a Thai who was used to colorful life on the streets and brought her to the states on a 3 month tourist visa to see how she would like it. She hated it and went back a month early. I understood completely. Many of the comments I hear here I also hear from expats in Thailand.
As for why I am here and not somewhere else…I lived with a Mex-American family for 4 years of high school and then worked on behalf of the migrant community for 30 years…most of whom were from Oaxaca and for the last 10 years developed and administered a violence prevention/alternative ed program for Latino high school dropouts. I loved the families we were working with from Oaxaca and mentored several of the girls from the Mixteco. I wanted to come see the culture where they all were from and what made them who they are. 10 years later I am happily still here. But it is sad that we cannot find an authentic culture at home and have to “borrow” someone else’s.
Christmas In Chiang Mai
Monday, December 26th, 2016
November and December 2016
After a month in Bangkok and a 5 day visa run to Hanoi, I've been in Chiang Mai with Doug since November 21. We are staying at the Smith Residence and I have a great view of ... [Continue reading this entry]
A “Conversation?”
Tuesday, December 20th, 2016
Amazing things you see. A SE Asian man and an older Thai woman at the next table in the breakfast room of my hotel. For 30 minutes now they both have been talking over each other with no let up. ... [Continue reading this entry]
Smith Residence Chiang Mai
Wednesday, December 14th, 2016
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Second larget Thai city. Typical. Ancient monument next to house, next to big apartment building.
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Second larget Thai city. Typical. Ancient monument next to house, next to big apartment building. Chiang Mai Mountain Men
Thursday, December 8th, 2016
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Tuesday, December 6th, 2016Down time is lovely...and necessary. Ensconsed in my Thai style guesthouse by the Ping Rver, I connected my little bluetooth speakers... listening to Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" and of course Leonard Cohen who always puts me in a reflective mood.
OMG! Thais Are Crazy To Drive You All Over Thailand!
Monday, December 5th, 2016
[caption id="attachment_4201" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Tina at her home In Chom Thong"]
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[caption id="attachment_4206" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Bottom of Waterfall"]
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Doug, my son, and I have been here ... [Continue reading this entry]
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[caption id="attachment_4206" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Bottom of Waterfall"][/caption]
Doug, my son, and I have been here ... [Continue reading this entry] Chiang Mai
Tuesday, November 29th, 2016
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On November 21, I flew from Hanoi to Chiang Mai where I am staying at the Galare Guesthouse on the Ping River where I've stayed ... [Continue reading this entry]
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On November 21, I flew from Hanoi to Chiang Mai where I am staying at the Galare Guesthouse on the Ping River where I've stayed ... [Continue reading this entry] Hua Hin
Saturday, November 12th, 2016
After Doug flew in to Bangkok on November 8, he and I took a run down to Hua Hin for a couple days and stayed at a resort on the beach a couple days later.
[caption id="attachment_4039" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Hua Hin ... [Continue reading this entry]
What I Do By Myself All Day In Bangkok
Saturday, October 29th, 2016
After the wedding in Hong Kong, I flew to Bangkok on Oct 17. Stayed in the Dvaree Bali Serviced Apartments down an alley off Sukhumvit 22 where I've stayed several times before and can hang out with the guys (expats) ... [Continue reading this entry]
Mourning The King
Thursday, October 27th, 2016
Coincidence In Bangkok!
Friday, December 25th, 2015
I love coincidences!
A couple days ago I was walking on the flyway across Ratchipidisek Rd in Bangkok when I happened to look down to the street far below. I was sure I saw one of my favorite Couchsurfers who I ... [Continue reading this entry]
November 2015 Bangkok
Saturday, December 5th, 2015
Bob Goetz and I
Hong Kong and Thailand 2015-16
Sunday, November 22nd, 2015
It's been two and a half months since I left Oaxaca on Oct 3. The time is slipping by without me even noticing it.
Flew into Las Vegas first to spend some time with Greg and a return visit to a ... [Continue reading this entry]
Doug In Chiang Mai Thailand
Friday, January 23rd, 2015
Doug said he leaned over to take a photo and she jumped up and wrapped her arms around him.
He's been in Chiang Mai and border towns since November and now embarking ... [Continue reading this entry] OMG…70 Hours From BKK To PDX
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
The flight back to the States from Thailand included a transit through Tokyo, Japan. But it snowed in Tokyo and the Narita airport closed. Waited in Bangkok airport 12 hours for an alternate flight to Hanada airport. With her ... [Continue reading this entry]
Hanging In Bangkok
Wednesday, February 5th, 2014
Doug's 45th birthday is today but he is in Chiang Mai and I am wishing I were with him to celebrate his 45th. I sing Happy Birthday when he calls in the morning. "Oh quit it!" he says. :-)
As for ... [Continue reading this entry]
Back To Bangkok
Wednesday, February 5th, 2014
Well, the media had hyped the violence over the poll on Feb 2 which Yingluk introduced in an attempt to mollify people and stop the protests. These were at my On Nut skytrain headed downtown.
[Continue reading this entry]
[Continue reading this entry] Bang Rak Beach Ko Samui
Sunday, February 2nd, 2014
The taxi at the airport wanted 400 baht to take me 5 minutes up the road to Bang Rak Beach. I just laughed and set out on my own down the road. Next two taxis wanted 300 baht but finally ... [Continue reading this entry]
Ao Nang Beach Krabi
Sunday, February 2nd, 2014
A lot of memories here where Doug and Luk lived 14 feet from the water on Khlong Muang Beach in Krabi until they nearly succumbed in the 2004 tsunami. Ten years ... [Continue reading this entry] Lamai Beach Koh Samui
Thursday, January 30th, 2014
Doug flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and spent a couple days with his dad in Pattaya before going back to Samui again to say goodbye to old friends and close down his rented house.
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[Continue reading this entry] Back To Chiang Mai
Monday, January 20th, 2014
Stayed in a good location...the ThaiLanna Guesthouse just outside the Anapurn Night Market. Good to be off the Soho bar street except for a couple very loud young Russian women next door.
By this time, after an orgy of seafood and ... [Continue reading this entry]
Samui-Chiang Mai-Pai
Monday, December 30th, 2013
Doug had been on Koh Samui while I was in Bangkok having my teeth taken care of after we first arrived in Thailand in November 2013. While there, Doug had taken his boat, that he had just finished refurbishing, out ... [Continue reading this entry]
Christmas Chiang Mai 2013
Wednesday, December 25th, 2013
Christian holidays are an excuse for a party in a Buddhist country. I spend it quietly...with Doug in Chiang Mai and skype calls from Greg and Josh...bless their hearts. Greg spends it quietly too in Las Vegas...making my ... [Continue reading this entry]
Impressions…Thai Politics
Sunday, December 22nd, 2013
Meanwhile I try to track Thai politics so I know which intersection and skytrain exit to avoid. My Yellow Shirt friend feeds me information. My Thai friend who is a professor of fisheries at Kasetsart University issues warnings. I scour ... [Continue reading this entry]
Off The Tourist Grid In Bangkok
Saturday, December 21st, 2013
VX The Fifty Guesthouse in Bangkok
Sukhumvit 50, a nice quiet street, is at the OnNut Sky train exit with Tesco Lotus conveniently at the corner. 10 baht takes me down 50 ... [Continue reading this entry]
Sukhumvit 50, a nice quiet street, is at the OnNut Sky train exit with Tesco Lotus conveniently at the corner. 10 baht takes me down 50 ... [Continue reading this entry] King’s Birthday
Sunday, December 8th, 2013
All has been quiet today in honor of the King's birthday. American born, he is 86 today. And dearly loved by Thai people. But he is very ill and people are worried what will happen to Thailand when he passes. ... [Continue reading this entry]
Police Fear Violence
Sunday, November 24th, 2013
it has been raining and humid outside so am watching the Blue Sky Channel showing 4 different groups of protesters in Bangkok today. Comments on the ThaiVisa blog are ... [Continue reading this entry] Oregon Thailand Hong Kong 2013-14
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013
Need new crowns on implants I got last spring while in Bangkok. Need to see my son Josh and his lovely Significant Other, Polly, in Hong Kong. And spend some time down south in Krabi Thailand with my son Doug ... [Continue reading this entry]
Mr. CANNOT and Mrs. NOHAVE
Monday, September 30th, 2013
OMG, it's almost been a year since my last RTW! I am planning my next trip back to Thailand to get some teeth in November and to see my sons in Thailand and Hong Kong. I am beginning ... [Continue reading this entry]
New Zealand Next?
Monday, February 18th, 2013
Met a really nice bright young Swiss guy in the breakfast room while at the Sarisanee who has been living in New Zealand. He talked up NZ and of course now I want to go there! He, a self-described punker ... [Continue reading this entry]
Bangkok And Thonburi
Monday, February 18th, 2013
After traveling through central Thailand with Supaporn, I returned to Bangkok to get started on my dental plan at the Bangkok International Dental Clinic. My mainstay, the Queen Lotus Guesthouse just off Sukhumvit 20 welcomed me anew. I left my ... [Continue reading this entry]
Family Reunion on Koh Samui
Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
[caption id="attachment_2165" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The Big Deals...Josh, Greg, Doug"]
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[caption id="attachment_2177" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Me And Greg"]
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It had been Christmas 15 years ago, Josh remembered, when ... [Continue reading this entry]
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[caption id="attachment_2177" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Me And Greg"]
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It had been Christmas 15 years ago, Josh remembered, when ... [Continue reading this entry] Solo In Bangkok
Friday, December 14th, 2012
From rice fields to the Royal Bangkok Sport Club! Took a short cut yesterday, saved money on a taxi, and hiked a trail across the golf course of the club. On through a construction area where a guy let ... [Continue reading this entry]
Doug Brings Electricity To Samui
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
Doug, my son, flew into Bangkok yesterday from Oregon to fly out again two days later to spend his annual several months with his wife, Luk, on the island of Koh Samui. We had a bit of a scare ... [Continue reading this entry]
On A Rice Farm Korat Thailand
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
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Following our trail from Bangkok to Tak in the west of north central Thailand to Sukhothai and then east to Lop Buri and further east to Saraburi, Supaporn and I ended up at her home about 50km outside of Korat ... [Continue reading this entry]
Saraburi Thailand
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
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Buddhist legend holds that during his lifetime the Buddha left footprints in all lands where his teachings would be acknowledged. In Thailand, the most important of these "natural" footprints imbedded in rock is at Phra Phutthabat in Central Thailand ... [Continue reading this entry]
Monkeys In Lop Buri Thailand
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
Lopburi is famous for the hundreds of crab-eating macaques that overrun the Old Town, especially in the area around Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kaan Shrine, and there's even a monkey temple/amusement park where you ... [Continue reading this entry]
Sukhothai Historical Park
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
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We stayed in the Ban Thai Guesthouse in New Sukhothai on an old road full of backpacker guesthouses bordering the Yoh River that runs through "new town." Unfortunately during the floods of 2011 the city was inundated with water and ... [Continue reading this entry]
Loy Krathong in Tak Thailand
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
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Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.
Loi means 'to float', while krathong refers to a usually lotus-shaped container ... [Continue reading this entry]
Thanksgiving in Bangkok
Friday, November 30th, 2012
[caption id="attachment_1850" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cincinnati Bob, Oregon Bob and me"]
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The American owner of the Bourbon Street Bar and Grill, just off the Ekamai skytrain exit, really served up quite a TG ... [Continue reading this entry]
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The American owner of the Bourbon Street Bar and Grill, just off the Ekamai skytrain exit, really served up quite a TG ... [Continue reading this entry] Around The World Again 2012-13
Thursday, November 8th, 2012
Well, Facebook has cut into my blogging time. But since I am living in Mexico I love to keep up with my couchsurfers and friends I have made traveling besides friends left behind in the U.S. People say they prefer ... [Continue reading this entry]
Want Beautiful Thai Girl?
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
To all foreign men who visit Thailand in search of a beautiful Thai girl who will "love you long time."
The video is good but the comments are best.
Back Home in Oaxaca
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
Whew! What a ride! A week in Vegas, a month in Salem Oregon, a week in Hong Kong, 5 months in Thailand (4 in Bangkok and a month on Koh Samui) a week in Hong Kong again, 2 weeks in ... [Continue reading this entry]
Big Cleanup Day In Bangkok
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010About 10,000 Bangkok residents, including teenagers and foreigners have joined hands to help the (BMA) clean Ratchaprasong Intersection and surrounding areas in the ‘Big Cleaning Day’ activity. Said that they must help clean Bangkok together because it is their home. ... [Continue reading this entry]
Recap on Thailand
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
The current situation in Thailand is not necessarily due directly just to the political history, but indirectly because of all the long-standing alliances and divisions between parties, the military and the privy council members who are all trying to position ... [Continue reading this entry]
Political Options For Thailand?
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Simon Montlake has an article in the Christian Science Monitor speculating on the political future now that the rally is over. It doesn't bode well for Thailand because neither the the Yellows (PAD Party) or the Reds (Thaksin) ... [Continue reading this entry]
Bangkok Calming
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Well, the most you could say about this recent conflict in Thailand is that even if the rancor remains for decades, there is a whole generation that is now politicized. The Reds from up-country have undergone a process known here ... [Continue reading this entry]
Zoe