History! Brian, you don't need to apologise for the history lesson, that was my life, not history (to save you guessing, I'm 83!) and I remember so well what you are writing about. I remember the Burma Road and Orde Wingate and his Chindits. I did see the movie and chilling though it was, the reality must have been incalculably worse. Your Uncle Bill (Granddad's brother) was a prisoner in Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945 and he wrote a book about his experiences. I notice that the cemetery seems to be beautifully maintained, like similar ones in Europe. It would be nice to think that we learned from those experiences, but when you look at the world today, I don't think very much has changed. Thank you for another very worthwhile "read".
30 years later I would like to see Bangkok now. I imagine it has changed a lot in the thirty years since I was there. The traffic was terrible then and crossing the street was life-threatening, so that much at least hasn't changed.
Take care, keep on keeping on.
I can understand your love affair with Thai food bro. Which is why every time I came and visited you in Sydney I wanted to go out for Thai food. I can only imagine how good it must be in Thailand.....almost as good as the Thai food in Nimbin?
P.S. way to sell out in Asia by riding an elephant, did you have a huge camera around your neck and a fanny pack? Try that kind of thing in Africa and the elephant will most likely kill you.....just an educated guess since I have not tried it yet.
Hi Brian - I feel the same as Alli, your tales make my day!! The first thing I do in the morning is check to see if there is anything new! All your experiences are so interesting. You sure are having a wonderful time - and I thought we were brave when we came to Canada from England!!
Tell Yumi that Jennifer had a great time in Japan, and has posted many pictures on Face Book.
Your updates make my day. I am glad that you are loving Thailand although you couldn't pay me enough to eat a fried scorpian. I do like the idea of making friends with monkeys though...
Take care little brother, say hi to Yumi for me!
PS Your moustache was very debonaire!
Now I want to go there again!! Well Brian, I liked your Bhuket pun. I thought it was very Duane-Brian-Allison.
Of course you have to ride elephants.
And what do you have against "pale toursists? Are we not just as good as the swarthy sorts?
100 Things I have a "100 People to Kill Before THEY Die" list and you're on it. Coincidentally I have a sub-note that details preferred method: "Tossing him off the KL Tower." What's really strange is that I wrote the list 9 years ago!
P.S. Your photo of the twin towers from below is awesome!
You make me laugh out loud! Tell Yumi that I like her style :) Am looking forward to hearing about the place that has so wowed your experienced traveler's soul....
An honest taxi driver!?!! So the taxi driver didn't take you on a long, convoluted route to town and overcharge you accordingly? That is truly wonderful. Batang Cave looks very cool. I want to go there.
The metaphor My Brian My Brian: Here I put on my "university professor being interviewed in the left wing media" voice:
"Ah, yes, yes. But aren't we all, in effect, monitor lizards, in our own way, fighting monkeys for dominance of our own metaphysical garbage fires? The garbage fires... of life - so to speak?"
I enjoy your writing Bri. Have a blast!!
Dad
Burquas and motorbikes.
The Taliban and their ilk will not be happy until every female on the planet is covered from head to toe. It scares me.
Your pictures are stunning. The three little boys would be victims here of the "Oh, don't hurt yourself" mentality. They are probably having much more fun there.
Is Yumi allergic to fish.? That is disgraceful. Tsk tsk.Love, Aunt Karen
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LVOE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE OVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!
I like your blogs a lot! I also like you a lot! And Yumi! And monkeys fighting lizards for garbage fires... I like that too!
Keep writing! Love you lots, say hi to Yumi
Sobbing quietly in my office. Or maybe not so quietly. You jerk. How dare you post these pictures of paradise?
That being said...wow! It looks like you are having an amazing time! I laughed out loud when you mentioned that ever time you cross a border you feel like you have gotten away with something. I feel the same way whenever I cross a border!
Yumi is adorable!! You both are!
Keep a' posting! And I will keep a' sobbing at my desk. *Sigh*
Sweet nostalgia Hey little cuz (but only a little bit little),
It sounds like you and your lovely lady are out for some adventure!! I am so excited for you! As I was reading this entry I remembered what it was like living in Turkey and going to Istanbul where there was a McDonalds. Having a Happy Meal after 9 months of Turkish food was enough to bring tears to my eyes...so I cannot imagine what it must be like to have a blizzard after three years!!! Not that I am a DQ regular. But you know what I mean.
Well, I can't wait to hear more about your travels so hurry up the updates! Then come home to Canada and bring that crazy Japanese girl. I want to meet her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alllison has been raving about how amazing Yumi is! Plus, it will be so nice to see you after all these years.
Take care, little cuz...and keep us updated!!!
Jacquelyn
So, Singapore is boring. Well Brian, I could do with a little boredom if it involved Singapore. Right now, my main circle involves Safeway, Costco and our back yard. Sigh.. Enjoy.
Love AK
Who is this Brian McNaughton!? Holy Smokes Brian
Long time no hear. Glad you're headed Canada-way and I'm looking forward to your blogs and pictures.
Love,
Aunt Karen
Furry - Not just for fursuiters Sean - Not to mention that fewer than 10% of furries get involved in costuming.
Your own comment about 'furry' being little more than dressing up in an animal costume for pleasure is doing a good job of settings the community back a few decades too, unfortunately.
There's a lot more to the furry subculture than dressing up in an animal costume - though it's certainly one of the more 'obvious' and visible ways. But the furry fandom expresses itself through other means too - visual art, music, writing, and so forth.
At the most general level, 'furry' is simply a celebration of an appreciation of anthropomorphic animals.
Great pics Brian. I hope the insurance business is not too terribly hum-drum after such a loverly 8 days. The other day it was 15 degrees here and I was out gardening in a sleeveless top and feeling rather warm.
Your latest blog entry is very entertaining. It reminded me of a gay parade we watched in Vancouver some years ago.. It wasn't as extensive as the one you describe, and we were somewhat disconcerted to see that it was being lead by the United Church of Canada! Grandad was not impressed! I saw on TV the other day that lifeguards on Bondi Beach were yelling a tsunami warning to swimmers. I gather that it didn't materialise there, but the Solomon Islands seem to have taken a bad hit. Keep up the blogs- I look for them quite frequently.
A colorful parade too!! You do have a way with words, Brian. Your writing is sooo entertaining --I have many an out loud laugh reading it and look forward to every one. I'm glad you have such good company to travel with-cute company too. Take care, keep up the good writing and photography and enjoy.
Granny
non-member comment
History!
Brian, you don't need to apologise for the history lesson, that was my life, not history (to save you guessing, I'm 83!) and I remember so well what you are writing about. I remember the Burma Road and Orde Wingate and his Chindits. I did see the movie and chilling though it was, the reality must have been incalculably worse. Your Uncle Bill (Granddad's brother) was a prisoner in Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945 and he wrote a book about his experiences. I notice that the cemetery seems to be beautifully maintained, like similar ones in Europe. It would be nice to think that we learned from those experiences, but when you look at the world today, I don't think very much has changed. Thank you for another very worthwhile "read".