The train leaves from Khon Kaen at 9.30 which is quite civilised. We got a bus out there and they didn't try to rip us off for a change. Got some breakfast at the market near the train station (Bangkok Noi was better). Into the trip, and Harry started vomiting, by the time we got there he was really sick. We went to the place recommended in Lonely planet and they were booked out. They recommended another, we took it, but it was really average again. The plan was spend then day and night in Nong Khai, then cross the river [View Full Entry]

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Aaaaaaargh! Can I swear? Please? No? Well alright, but I very, very much want to right now. Have been sitting here trying to catch up with this blog (how on earth did I get so far behind?) and the blasted computer has just gone and erased my one remaining memory card. I'll say it again - Aaaargh! Now I have no photo's at all from the last 3 months, not a single blimmin one! Of course, there's a lesson in there somewhere but am darned if I'm in the mood to learn it right now. Hindsight is not a wonderful thing, [View Full Entry]

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This blog won’t arouse too much interest this time around and I apologize for that. Quite honestly it is even difficult for me to write because it’s so boring. But here goes……… Two and a half weeks ago I went into Bangkok for arthroscopic surgery on my left shoulder. For those who know me well, remember I had my right shoulder repaired three years ago. I’m thankful for several things, the first that I only have two shoulders! The second that I was at the number one rated hospital in Southeast Asia and one of the 10 best in the world [View Full Entry]

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Moved from far North West of Thailand to Nong Khai on the East. Arrived in the dark and woke up the next morning and the first thing I saw was the Mekong! Nong Khai is a very relaxed little town and staying at the wonderful Cycled to the very bizzare Sala Kae Kou sculpture garden, huge sculptures of Bhuddist, Hindu and Christian figures. Very amazing. Met one of the old men involved in its construction who now reads palms. He told me I had a very good wife! Where? Then I got chatting with a really cool monk at one of [View Full Entry]

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In the rainy season the Mekong rises probably 50 feet or more above its current height. To compensate for that vast difference, there are long cement stairways that go from the riverbank to wherever the mighty river finds itself. We arrived in Thakhek Laos and our trusty guide and driver helped us lug our suitcases down the long stairway before saying our good-byes and we boarded the local ferryboat for the trip across the river and back into Thailand. We were the only falangs, but everyone smiled and said Sawasdee (if they were Thai) or Sabaidee (if they were Lao). Our [View Full Entry]

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School midterm break started the first week of October and what better time to get away and explore my neighborhood. Of course I consider all the countries surrounding Thailand to be part of that area. The history of Thailand cannot be understood unless one goes back centuries and learns a little about the power and influence of the Khmers. We started our journey into southern Laos by bus from Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. The city of Pakse, Laos, borders the Mekong delta on its west and the Boloven Plateau to the east. The river is not at its best here but the [View Full Entry]

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Since I last wrote I have had some interesting waxes in Bangkok, unsuccessfully attempted to visit foreign inmates at the 'Bangkok Hilton' twice, seen some naked ladies writhing around in foam at 'Soi Cowboy', attempted meditation at a silent 10 day retreat, and stayed for a week in a monastery in North-East Thailand which was a positive experience until the last day when I discovered that my laptop (along with my phone and money) had 'gone missing' (Aghh Gahhh!). Therefore, due to the vanished laptop (which had unpublished blog entries on) it may take a while till my next proper blog [View Full Entry]

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Day 11 - Nong Khai Today was a recovery day so there is not much to report on......We did not do much apart from making our way to Bangkok. We travelled 4 hours in the back of a ute (it was covered with a canopy and had dodgy bench seats) from Vang Vieng to Vientiane. From Vientiane we caught the bus to Nong Khai (Thai border). There was a monk in front of us in the immigration line. He held the line up for about 15 minutes until they asked him to step aside. They took him away to somewhere inside. [View Full Entry]

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Eight months…it’s been eight whole months since I left home to do the “hardest job I would ever love.” Maybe in retrospect I will be able to say those six words but right now I’m trying not to think of it as a job. (I faintly remember ‘retiring’). There is a paradox being here as a Peace Corps volunteer…on the one hand we are treated as employees of the US government, with all their restrictions, requirements, paperwork, bureaucracy and health insurance (the best thing going for us!). Then when it seems to suit them, we are volunteers&hellip [View Full Entry]

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Nong Khai is a great little town along the Mekong River. It was voted 7th best city to live (or retire in) in the World. The main attraction is the Mekong River, which was where I stayed along. At Mut Mee Guesthouse. A lovely place where I met 3 Germans who I traveled with for a bit after leaving. I arrived really early in morning via my overnight (party looking) bus from Bangkok and wondered into the quiet town. Other than the river there is a Buddha Park which consists of statues created by a guy who says he fell down [View Full Entry]

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