Wat PhraThat Phanom

Honored at Wat Phra That Phanom

Yesterday I received an honor which I am told is a first for a farang (the Thai word for foreigner) and even rare for a Thai citizen. But first, a little background is in order.  Wat Phra That Phanom (all three “h” are silent) is a sacred Buddhist temple complex located about an hour from […]

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piercing 1

Chinese Thai Buddhist Festival Features Major Body Piercings

Every year during the ninth Chinese lunar month, Thailand’s Chinese community celebrates the Tesagin Kin Pak vegetarian festival. The festival began in Phuket over 150 years ago; however, it is celebrated in Krabi as well by the numerous generations of Chinese who grew up in Thailand but still observe Chinese customs. During Tesagin Kin Pak, the faithful […]

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Ao Tonsai 11/2014

Requiem for a Dream

Sad Times for Tonsai Beach   Unlike the superbly performed  Ellen Burstyn film, this tragedy is a real life event.  Finding an unspoiled beach in Thailand becomes increasingly rare as the years go by.  Former unspoiled Eden’s along the Andaman Sea such as Phuket and Koh Phi Phi are now overrun and overbuilt with overpriced condos, […]

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Phare, the Cambodian Circus, Needs Your Help

A Brief Appeal   In May, we spent 11 days and nights in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat immersing ourselves in the history and culture of all things Khmer.  A true highlight of our time there was experiencing a performance of Phare, the Cambodian Circus. Phare is the world-class circus arts performing arm of Phare Ponleu […]

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Kampot

KAMPOT IS KOOL!

If Phnom Penh was my least favorite place in Cambodia (it was), then lovely Kampot was by many measurements my favorite destination.  Yes Siem Reap was amazing and fun, but Kampot is a place to which I can see myself returning many times. Kampot is seriously chill.  There are surprisingly several activities available nearby or you […]

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One Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

EXPERIENCING ONE OF THE GREAT HIGHS AND ONE OF THE MOST DEPRAVED LOWS OF HUMAN HISTORY–ALL IN A DAY!   Warning: Some photographs in this post and inclusive photo links are of a disturbing and graphic nature.  It is not my intention to disturb you; however, they are essential to the understanding of this story. […]

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