Author’s note: This post is a bit more personal than my usual travel stories and advice from the road. But have no fear, they will be back soon. I have not published regularly the last couple of years. There are reasons, mostly having to do with the maturing of life and love. Three years ago, […]
Archive | Thailand
A Visit to the Royal Crematorium of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
A Photo Essay As most anyone who can read knows, Thailand has recently ended a one year period of mourning for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the universally loved and revered ‘father and heart’ of all Thai people for the last seven decades. In fact, there are few Thais alive today who personally know […]
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 […]
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 […]
Side-Tripping to Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Is Khao Sok Thailand’s Jurassic Park? I have been wanting to visit south Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park for about two years now. Since we are currently based in Krabi, Thailand which is only a two hour drive and we have the use of a nice car for the duration of our stay, I was […]
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, […]
BAN CHIANG UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
A Day Trip, Isan Thailand Most Thais, it would seem, have never heard of Ban Chiang. Nor are most foreigners to Thailand aware of it, and it is certainly not on any regular tourist circuits. However, this UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of five in the Kingdom of Thailand) is considered to be the most […]
THE REAL SONGKRAN: NA KAE, ISAN, THAILAND
When I awoke this morning I had no idea I would be writing this post. After all, it was just yesterday that I wrote about my last 10 days of family chilling in Isan, Thailand. This morning, Anna informed me that my services as a photographer would be required. I was instructed to get my […]
Life Slows Down in Isan, Thailand
Welcome to Isan, a region in the northeastern most part of the Kingdom of Thailand. Isan consists of 20 provinces and is the largest region of Thailand. It also has the lowest per capita income with agriculture being its primary industry. Muay Thai boxing originated here as well. The primary language is Isan, a […]
Diving the Similan and Surin Islands
Four Days and Fourteen Dives: A Photo Essay The Similan Islands National Marine Park is routinely included in National Geographic’s and various SCUBA magazine lists of the world’s top ten dive sites. Richelieu Rock in Mu Ko Surin National Park was recently rated the number four dive site in the world. Both groups of islands are located […]