So, where do you go when you have seen most of the major attractions in Bangkok and you have a friend in town visiting for the first time? You seek out the odd and unusual. First we jumped on the Skytrain, got off at Chitlom, wandered for a bit until we reached the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert. We were not coming specifically to see the hotel, rather we were after the Tubtim Shrine on the grounds of the hotel. This is a fertility shrine … [Read more...]
Arriving on a little piece of Paradise, Ko Yao Noi Island
A power boat in southern Thailand greeted us as we arrived by taxi from the Phuket Airport. The blue waters beckoned and invited us along for the journey. Boats in this part of the country are great melting pots. Europeans, Americans (north and south) and plenty of folks from all parts of Asia were coming to Ko Yao Noi for a variety of reasons - to get away budget style, to park it at one of the small luxury properties, for honeymoon or ferrying … [Read more...]
A Thai New Years in our Village
As with most New Years Eve days we spend much of the day shopping for our big meal in the evening - where family and friends gather - pulling into one of the nearby village houses on motorbikes, walking or by car. First we stop at the huge Tesco Lotus that popped up near the Industrial park several years ago. Employees are stationed out front wrapping hundreds of packages from shoppers. Our budget has gone up this year - instead of 200 baht we … [Read more...]
Village Updates, Thailand
We have been infested with pigeons! They are nesting all over our roof - any crevice or corner is fair game. We've moved out a number of nests - found a number of eggs and covered any open areas on the roof with some sort of thorny plant material to discourage future nesting. Still they flock to our roof at all hours of the day and night. The scratching continues even in the early morning. Last night at 3am I was awakened dramatically by a … [Read more...]
It is cold in Thailand! Back to our Village
The coldest temperature Bangkok ever recorded was 10.5 C back in the 1950's. It has been cold here the entire month of December. With low temperatures running between 15 and 17 in Bangkok over night for the past few nights - it has not felt like a normal Thai winter. At our village in Eastern Thailand we have had to pull out the sweaters and warm blankets for the evening. Normally this time of year it cools off at night and by 10am the next … [Read more...]
Always Crazy Flying During the Holidays
Flying around the holidays is always crazy. Today was especially so! Was at the gate getting ready to board when a young gentleman runs up and announces to the agent that he does not have his passport. Fortunately he had some paper with some special government stamps and a Hong Kong ID so they let him board. While waiting in another line earlier I met a couple who said they had just lifted off, mere feet off of the runway when a light went on … [Read more...]
Where to Sleep Tonight – Trinidad
After sleeping in the car the past few nights - I was ready for a change. Night one I hid the car behind a large pile of dirt next to a small road in the middle of the rainforest. Night two, a frightful sleep was interrupted by dark shadows at my driver side window by two guys carrying scary looking weapons. Apparently my choice for my spot of rest was too close to a military base. They were nice and motioned me to move on. Night three I didn't … [Read more...]
In Search of the Elusive Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
After languidly hanging out on the beaches in and surrounding Maracas I headed across the island of Trinidad. This was no easy feat - I was told to expect treacherous roads and this was certainly a correct assessment. The first sign I reached said 18 km to a small town of Arima (my destination). After navigating this steep, wet, extremely narrow road - which was full of pot holes, some seemingly the size of small golf carts - and branches and … [Read more...]
My Role as one of Tourism Australia’s Digital corOZpondents
I am honored to have been selected as one of Tourism Australia's digital corOZpondents for 2013/2014. As part of being a corOZpondent I will be making a trip to this great continent for nearly a month (I was in Sydney and vicinity earlier this year for the New Year's fireworks). I'm on the road quite a bit each year - and every trip has its own merit - but there are few trips I have been looking forward to as much as this one. I already know it … [Read more...]
First day on the Island of Trinidad in the West Indies
It is always a challenge and at times stressful just to show up in another country without any advance planning. Such was the case with a recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago - on the island of Trinidad. I found some wifi at the airport, called around a few guesthouses, and found one quite cheap. The 30 minute taxi ride was nearly the same price as the room. Upon getting dropped off, some old guy peeked out the gated door in a bad part of town and … [Read more...]
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