I've done some traveling since my last update. Where? Mostly to destinations within Thailand such as Phetchabun (northern Thailand), Khao Yai and Hua Hin; but, I've also taken a trip to the U.S. to see family & friends. However, there's really too much to cover. So, let's keep it simple... and share about my most recent trip to Ko Samet, an island in the Gulf of Thailand. Due to its proximity to Bangkok, it's a popular destination for those in Bangkok seeking nice beaches with limited time. Although it's fairly close, it's not THAT close. Through public transportation, the trip took [View Full Entry]

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This blog is still alive, but barely. When was my last update? July 31, 2008. Ok, that’s some serious neglection. But here I am! A lot has happened since my last update. The biggest news is my marriage to Saai. Saai and I got married on October 11, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. The wedding was held in a church in the Silom area of Bangkok, and the reception at a nearby restaurant. The wedding and reception both were great. I was thankful to have my family and best man, Chris, make the long trip from the U.S. I know Saai will [View Full Entry]

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A couple of months have passed since my last blog. You'd think by now I'd have put together something covering my trip in May to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (northern Thailand). But, ahh, nope! I haven't done it. The trip overall was good, but it didn't go as planned, or rather, things weren't planned well enough? What do I mean? Well, the original intent of the trip was to make a visa run across the Thai/Burmese border. However, that didn't happen. I never crossed the border. Although there is more to this story, the bottom line is that a visa [View Full Entry]

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It’s already been about a month since Saai and I visited her family in Trang, a city (& province) in southern Thailand. One month? What’s up with the slow updates??!! Ok, ok..I’ve been procrastinating. These things do take time, and I’ve been pretty busy with other things. What other things? I started my new teaching job at St. John’s (teaching 7th-12th graders), traveled to northern Thailand on a foiled visa run, and there are those wedding plans! So let’s start with Trang… Saai and I flew from Bangkok to Hat Yai on April 12. Altho [View Full Entry]

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Halong Bay is a very popular side trip for those visiting Hanoi, Vietnam. It's a 3 1/2 hour drive between the capital city and this bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Halong Bay contains almost 2,000 limestone karst islands. There are a few islands with lodging for tourists, but primarily the islands are uninhabited, largely due to their topography. There aren't many flat areas to develop, and very few natural sand beaches. The view is striking, however. For those who have been to Thailand's Phang Nga or Krabi provinces, it is very similar. Many tourists opt to see the bay aboard [View Full Entry]

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Rain or shine, we were on our way to ride through rice paddies and villages outside Hanoi! Unfortunately for us, it was rain. No matter. Getting a little muddy is a good thing, right? Umm, the key word is little. I'm back in Bangkok now, but there is a lot to cover from the rest of my trip to Vietnam... My last update was on Friday, March 28 from Hanoi, Vietnam. So that brings me to Saturday... Saturday consisted of more wandering through the streets of Hanoi. The Old Quarter isn't big, but it's a confusing maze of streets, and there [View Full Entry]

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It's day #2 in Hanoi, and I'm trying to adapt to all this honking. I got an early exposure from the driver taking me from the airport to my hotel, who was kind enough to demonstrate quite readily his fondness for the horn. He isn't alone. I assume this isn't just true in Hanoi, but other areas of Vietnam too? Wow. Why are they all honking? The streets are a bit crazy, granted. The lack of traffic lights and stop signs at most intersections in the Old Quarter of Hanoi surely don't help things, nor do the amount of motorbikes. But [View Full Entry]

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Ok, ok. Where have I been? Well, the title of this blog entry surely will give you some clue as to one place I've been. After wrapping up teaching English at Neeracha School in Bangkok for this past semester (February 29), I returned to an island I first visited in 2005. Ko Samui is a large island in the Gulf of Thailand (3rd largest island in Thailand). As to be expected, development has continued since my first (and only prior) visit three years ago. This includes the charming outdoor airport, which is in the midst of expansion. I wouldn't say that [View Full Entry]

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It may be approaching the end of January, but I'm still trying to capture Christmas on this blog. Here goes... As I mentioned in my last entry, I was heading to Denver, Colorado to visit family for the holidays. A series of flights (3) from Bangkok to Denver found me at my destination on the night of December 22, 2007. The flights were basically uneventful, and thankfully, not full. I had plenty of room to stretch out. Upon arrival in Denver, however, I quickly found myself with yet another cold. Those have been coming often recently, what with all the public [View Full Entry]

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It's Thursday, December 20, and I'm two days away from heading to America to see family & friends for Christmas. I'm looking forward to this short visit. I leave Bangkok on December 22 and arrive in Denver, Colorado later that same day. I'll be in transit for almost 24 hours, but with the time change, I don't lose a day. The time gets eaten up though on my return to Bangkok (leave Denver on Dec 31 and arrive in Bangkok on January 2). It's been over 1 month since my last update. What have I been doing? I've been busy working, [View Full Entry]

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