Thursday. January 3. Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai. Before leaving Chiang Rai, we stop at Wat Rong Khun, the stunning White Temple, its facade shimmering in the sun from thousands of tiny mirrored pieces inserted into its gleaming white surface. One of the young group members, Aimee, suggests the temple looks like a wedding cake. And it does. A frothy confection that reminds me of a Disney ride--only without the ride. Just the wonder. This is a recent addition to Thailand's plethora of temples; built by an architect-artist it is a work of art in progress. White lace against the bright-blue sky--dazzling. And some of it--bodiless hands and forearms stretching toward the sky, so detailed they look like they've been molded--is moving. In the temple, across from the Buddha images, the artist has painted a montage ... read more

Tuesday. January 1. Day 8. Lampang to the Golden Triangle to Chiang Rai. We're there in no Thai’m at all. On the way to Phayao Province, we stop at a pineapple farm where we are graciously allowed entrance into a farmer's home. Rickety steps lead to a long room devoid of furniture save for a television and a very old singer sewing machine. The only separate room houses mats surrounded by mosquito netting. We continue to travel to the lakeside town of Phayoao, where several in the group indulge in eating tiny live--and still jumping--shrimp. I do not. Another day another country Then onto the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos meet. After lunch at Chian Saen, we hop in a boat and ride across the Mekong River to Donsao, Laos ... read more

Sunday. December 30. Day 6. Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Bye Bye Bangkok. 6 am. The group-members gather for a final breakfast before boarding the bus at 7:30 and heading north toward Ayuthaya Province, about 50 miles north of Bangkok. Wat did you say? Three graceful pagodas, gray with age, stand lonely sentry surrounded by the crumbling remnants of a temple built about 600 years ago. Magnificent. The Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch is one of hundreds of temples in and around the once thriving Siamese royal capital of Ayuthaya. Nok steers the group thru the maze of ruins pointing out historical details, and then thru the market, which is fast filling up with Thais seeking to visit the holy site on the last weekend of the year. This is an amazing place. Monkeying around. The chief attraction at ... read more

Day 10 - That’s all she wrote. One by one, our group disappears onto shuttles that drop them off at the airport. We’re sort of like the leaf-cutter ants. A trail leads from the hotel to the plane, each ant carrying a burden way out of proportion to its size. I say a tearful goodbye to Kirk. And then Virginia and I head to the dining room for hot chocolate and conversation. Back in my room, I packed and repacked, napped, and then it was time for me to go. This has to have been—for many reasons—one of the best vacations of my life. The question is where shall I go next? ... read more

Day 8. High humidity. Bottled water and sun block in hand, we load up the bus and head south to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s better known beaches. The drive over is an adventure in itself. Roads are narrow and pockmarked. As we drive over one-lane bridges, the wooden beds bounce and shudder. As some tour members settle on the beach, a few of us take off for a hike thru the forest. It’s a beautiful, sunny day. Not a whisper of rain. Instead, within a few feet of beginning the hike, we are soaked. Drenched in sweat. And it just gets worse. By the time we get to the top, sweat pools on my arms. We are wetter than if it had been raining. Still we trudge on through fabulous scenery. At ... read more