Garret

The wife and I had a great escape from the heat and concrete views of Houston. We fled to the wonderful Minnesota state fair to see a live broadcast of our favorite radio show live. www.radioheartland.org What a great show. We had lots of food great food. Buffalo bits are my favorite. I’m not sure what they do to them but dang they are good. ... read more

I have been holding up in Chiang Mai since last I wrote. I fly back to Vietnam tomorrow. I just wanted to post a few pictures and let you see what I have been up to. There are a lot of Vespas here, I think some are made here. I Met an english teacher girl from New York, she said there is no V in Thai so they all call them Wespa's and think that is how the rest of the world says it too. Kind of cute. The best pictures are the ones that you have to let get away. I was using a payphone today and an grandmotherly type lady, quite short, could barly walk, pulls up on her motorbike, pulls off her half helmet to display her curtly gray hair and walks into ... read more

Not too much to really report. Just wanted to let you know I am alive. I am in Chiang Saen tonight. I stayed on the river in Tha Ton last night. I hired a motorbike for 5 days. I was getting very stir crazy in Chiang Mai and needed to escape. I love the time I am in the saddle twisting through the mountains, it feels like my soul is at rest and I am at peace with the world as I fly through it. It's the stoping and having to figure out what to do in the evenings solo that isn't much fun as I'm not really one for the nightlife, not really a problem in Chiang Saen as there is no nightlife to speak of. Nice people though, much less touristed and I'm not ... read more

The trip has hit a much slower pace right now. I am holding up for the Loi Krathong festival. I have a good $6 guesthouse and am happy to just do nothing for but watch the festival. They have fireworks and they have some that are WAY louder than what we have in the states. It really sounds throughout the city like a cannon going off. They aren't so carefull with them either. Little kids maybe 6 years old will light things that shoot, flame, explode, and fling sparks right in the middle of a crowd of people. It is amazing the way the people love the King here, very different than the US right now. I am not sure what to do next. I think end of the festival tonight, cooking class tomorrow, then head ... read more

Hey all, The weather has been foiling my plans for world domination a bit. First no kiting because no wind, now no dirt biking because of too much rain. It is red clay and mud here and during the rain many of the mountain trails become unpassable. Something just started to look up as I typed this though. I hired a motorbike and indepentant guide for for four days of hard dirt riding. Well, we got rain right away. We got suck on a pass in the mud and couldn't continue. I am a bit banged up and full of mud, and dripping wet. We back track 10 miles to the pavement. Head up, get gas, more crazy mud until we deadend at a terrace farm. It is 4 pm and I realize we are in ... read more

This is my third time in Thailand each time coupled with nearby countries and I must say, I keep finding it my favorite. To be fair much of this has to do with my short comings more than other countries being bad. English is more widely understood here, I like the food best, the conditions are more first world, so the badgering to buy or taxi is kept to a dull roar instead of being followed and pulled on like Saigon. I am shocked at how many whiteys there are in Chiang Mai right now. Walking the street near the old town/ tourist part, it is probably 2 whites per Thai. Still the Thais remain hospitable and friendly. I am in luck because there is a festival next week where they float candles down the river. ... read more

Before heading out of HCMC if figured I better book a ticket to Thailand 1. because I may not be able to in the little town on Mui Ne, and 2. Just so I can stop thinking about it. Sadly no discount airline really does Ho Chi Min City to Chiang Mai, so I had to go full fare on Thai air, ouch! So yesterday there was good wind, I saw all the kiteboarders out there doing jumps including a factory team while I trained on the beach to control the kite. As we were about to head to the water for that portion of training the wind died out. We were to pick up today, but there has been absolutely NO wind, tomorrow doesn't look good either, so looks like I am out of luck ... read more

HI ALL Just wanted to let you know I made it back safe and sound. The leaves are changing and its time to winterize the house and deal with renters, back to work tomorrow and to pick up my motorcycle from inpound. Man, no rest upon returning. I feel pretty rested and full of energy though and look forward to what is to come. I am torn because I could write a bunch more, but I just want to get my place feeling like home again right now, so I am going to have to run. Call me friends and lets get together and talk. Garret... read more