Apr 4, 2018 - Lessons learned

We have now been home for a few days, and it's a good time to look back and think about what we learned on this trip, and to offer some tips for overseas travel. 1. The news media doesn't tell you everything about what's really going on in other countries (does it even tell us what's going on here?) 2. Road Scholar trips have great guides, the people are interesting and there is no tipping; we highly recommend them 3. It is useful to learn a couple of phrases in the language of the country you are visiting. I would recommend knowing how to...

Mar 30, 2018 - "One night in Bangkok"

On Thursday March 29, we had an early afternoon flight from Luang Prabang, Laos to Bangkok, Thailand. The airport terminal in Laos is only 2 years old, but it looks like they didn't bother purchasing any new stuff for the inside - the chairs were old and several were broken. Fortunately, we didn't have to hang out there too long. The two hour flight was uneventful, and we even had a decent snack. Two of us thought that the main protein was fish and one thought it was chicken. None of us has gotten sick, so we will never know. At the Bangkok...

Mar 29, 2018 - Phuket, Thailand – One last Beautiful beach day

Day before we get there, we realize Thailand resort town, Phuket is the last beach town on the trip. We are scheduled for the included city/temple bus tour, but put our names on the waitlist for the Coral Island beach excursion. Come back from dinner to find tickets waiting for the beach!!! It’s a beautiful day and so is Phuket. 2 million visitors a year so beachfront is lined with bars and restaurants. Our excursion is out to Coral Island, one of the surrounding islands to a private beach resort. It’s a bus and boat kind of day. First we...

Mar 29, 2018 - Phuket Thailand

History: Often called the “Pearl of the Andaman iSea” the Thai island of Phuket offers more of than picturesque beaches and sparkling azure waterfront and emerald green hills. The island was long a major stop on trade routes between India and China. Very beautiful island with clear water, needed more time to explore all its beauty.

Mar 25, 2018 - Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle

We first want to mention that we have revised our last post about our visit to the Patara Elephant Farm. We have added a bunch of extra photos to that entry, and would like to give you some explanation about the way the facility is run. The farm was started to rescue elephants that were no longer wanted by teak logging crews and unscrupulous carnivals. The animals are treated with respect and love, and obviously have a wonderful life with mahouts that care deeply about their well being. We have just completed 2 days in Chiang Rai, and I am...

Mar 23, 2018 - Koh Samui Elephants and tropical island

We are tendering into Koh Samui, Thailand island today using the local boats. We have not had a tender port since Thursday Island in Australia. Suppose to be in the low 80s with 80 percent chance of rain. Looks pretty sunny so far but we have brought our rain ponchos. Koh Samui is a large tropical island of Thailand. It’s a relief to be in flowers and trees again after so many stops in large urban areas. Only 65,000 Thai residents in the 20 x 21 KM island with a total of 200,000 if you count all the non-Thai residents, many of which are...

Mar 22, 2018 - Elephant keeper for the day

We spent the day at the Patara Elephant Farm, a rescue sanctuary for several dozen Asian elephants. John & I had been there in 2014, and Jocelyn wanted to go this time, so off we went! We spent our time learning about evaluating their health, diet, temperament and how to take care of them. We fed them, brushed them, rode on the back of their necks, and finally washed them in the river. Just like the last time, they gave me the biggest guy in the bunch, the only male, named Boon. I don't think he remembered me. Our small group consisted of...

Mar 21, 2018 - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Lois writing: On Tuesday March 20, we took an early afternoon flight from Yangon to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. John & I were here during our trip in the fall of 2014, and we liked it so much that we wanted to return. We are staying in the same hotel as the last time, and in fact, in the same room! Our new guide, courtesy of IOT is a peppy 40+ year old woman named Roon. After she dropped us off, it was almost suppertime, so we went out walking, and had dinner at the Riverside restaurant. Then we spent another couple of hours wandering...

Mar 21, 2018 - Bangkok Temples and Tuk Tuk wild ride

Arriving at noon, Laem Chabang port is an industrial park, but… they have a cruise terminal that actually has shops in it. Yay! The immigration officers were grumpy and didn’t even look at our pictures. Just stamp, stamp, stamp and we handed our passports back to the ship’s crewman waiting on the other side. May be the immigration officers were mad they didn’t get a free breakfast on the ship. The port is 60 KM (2 hours) from Bangkok so we have elected to tour the local resort town Pattaya for the afternoon. We had originally signed up for...

Mar 21, 2018 - Bangkok Thailand

History: Historic Siam of old, Bangkok is beautifully set on the Chao Phraya river. Thai culture is rich and engaging in this bustling center, where modern skyscrapers rub elbows with century old Buddhist wats or temples. The towering Wat Arun, named for the god of the rising sun, stands dramatically on the rivers bank. At the city’s traditional floating markets merchants sell all manner of local produce, from mango and dragon fruit to sticky rice. Okay very nice and interesting city but how many Buddha’s and temples can you have and PS the...

Feb 28, 2018 - Back to Thailand

We were determined to make the most of our last morning in me and ma before heading back to “modern“ Thailand. A visit was arranged to another ethnic village. This time it was the Akha people. Unlike the day before, this was an arranged visit and the villages were prepared for meetings with tourists and a chance to sell their handicrafts. We rendezvoused in a village on the main road and went up the mountain by 4x4. The Toyota Hilux dominates SEAsia and in this case was being used to carry 14 people up a very steep and very bumpy track....

Feb 25, 2018 - Thai field notes

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The King is revered as a near diety. It is illegal to insult the royalty, a fact that makes political manipulation and oppression easy to do by the well connected. The Army has been in charge since it ousted the Prime Minister in a 2014 coup. The motto on Army headquarters is "Country, Religions, Monarchy, People." Thailand supposedly has one of the world's lowest unemployment rates at less than 1%. The data is open to question. Buddhism is mixed with ancient spiritual belief and practice. Our group...