Geo: 22.6473, 88.3104 ... read more

Geo: 22.6473, 88.3104Namaste means Hello in Hindi!If I'm honest Kolkutta wasn't one of the places I was dreaming about seeing on this trip, but as a fluid traveler I am taking things as they go. The flight to Kolkutta was only B5000 and the flight straight to Delhi was B12000, so hello Kolkutta...I'll make my way over to Delhi somehow. The taxi drive from the airport to the hotel was culture shock indeed. I've left the sub-continent and entered the middle east, and I can see it. This is not the Asia I have been in for the past 5 months, no flowers, no smiles, no lush vegetation, no palm trees or exotic animals running around. I saw dry dusty earth, and thin exhausted people with enormous brown eyes staring at my every move. I've heard ... read more

Geo: 13.7308, 100.521Bangkok! Hey doesn't this place look familiar? Yep, this is the third time I've been here since I arrived in Thailand on April 14th. And since I'm on my third 30-day tourist visa, and they don't allow a fourth (I got a nice note from the lady at the Myanmar border telling me so) I think it'll be my last...for now.I've got no agenda in Bangkok on this visit except to get a new Indian visa, and a flight to India. That's it. Let's see what happens.I actually got a 6 month Indian visa before I left home when I was in San Francisco, and I knew then that the visa started on the day it was issued. But at the time I thought this was a 2-3 month trip, so even though it ... read more

Geo: 18.695, 98.7898Today was fantastic - definitely a highlight of Thailand! The Patara Elephant Sanctuary is about 30km SW of Chiang Mai. They are a small independently owned farm that takes in 'retired', unwanted, abused and abandoned Elephants and gives them a safe place to live. They operate mainly on donations and by us guests who come to spend the day with the Elephants.The farm in a conservation center and the elephants welfare is paramount. I say this specifically because there are so many different ways that Elephants are used in Thailand that are entirely not for the elephants benefit. There are even other elephant zoos in this area that are more like a circus atmosphere where the elephants put on a show painting with paintbrushes in their trunks and speaking for bananas. I asked around ... read more

Geo: 18.8, 98.98Chiang Mai Cooking School: Day 1: June 13th: Course 1Tom Yam Goong: Thai Hot and Sour Prawn SoupGaeng Kheo Wan Gai: Green Curry with ChickenTord Man Plaa: Thai Style Fish CakesPhad Thai: Thai Fried NoodlesNam Prik Ong: Minced Pork Northern Style SaladTab Tim Grob: Water Chestnuts with sugar syrup and coconut milkSo I love Thai food. It's so unique, the flavors are great and unlike any of the American/ Italian/ Mexican/ French and even Chinese food I'm used to eating back at home. I checked around and found this school came the most highly recommended, and I totally agree with everyones assessment. If you are in Chiang Mai and you like Thai food, this class is a fantastic way to spend a day - or a week! www.thaicookeryschool.com They have six courses and each ... read more