One thing I just love about living in a city is the density of interesting things I encounter just by chance. I guess any city is like this, but a city that’s new to me obviously feels like it has more new stuff. And Bangkok is especially so. I think that’s because there are so many things… Continue reading Lumpini Park
The Worst Way to Kill Coyotes: A Few Words About Terrorism
I’ve got my share of weaknesses, but one thing I’m really good at is spotting patterns. I think it’s a skill I learned in college, though maybe I had it all along and just refined it there. A lot of engineering – whether it’s aerospace or software – is looking at a problem from several… Continue reading The Worst Way to Kill Coyotes: A Few Words About Terrorism
how the city changes, and why I’d like to study it more
In Bangkok, I had a chance to do something I couldn’t do in any other city we visited in our Eastern Hemisphere travels – see how the city changed over time. When we settled back into the Pas Cher Hotel de Bangkok on January 19, it was my fourth stay there over the course of… Continue reading how the city changes, and why I’d like to study it more
bye, bye, Sukhumvit
When we returned to Bangkok from our jaunt to Phuket, we decided to stay in a different part of the city. We chose a hotel in the Sukhumvit area, a new hotel called Aspira D’Andora Sukhumvit 16. It’s only been in operation a few months, and the reviews were good. Also, the price was lower than comparable… Continue reading bye, bye, Sukhumvit
thoughts about my hanky
(this post has no relation to Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo) When I was packing all the stuff I thought would be necessary for a six-month journey around Oceania and parts of Asia, I was on the fence about whether or not to pack a handkerchief. But I thought to myself about how little space… Continue reading thoughts about my hanky
the red tides of Phuket
Well, that last article I wrote said it was the 2nd half of our trip to Phuket, but I didn’t cover one of the topics I wanted to write about. And that is the Russians. Where the Russians Are One of the first things I noticed about Patong Beach, the part of Phuket where we… Continue reading the red tides of Phuket
Phuket, part 2
First, catch up on the first half of our trip to Phuket, Thailand here. The second “half” of the trip was just two days, and then we flew out on the third day. Birding Before Bond Tuesday January 12, we signed up for a private guided tour to James Bond Island and other stops in… Continue reading Phuket, part 2
Phuket, part 1
OK, first of all, Phuket is an island belonging to Thailand, and it’s pronounced “poo-KET”. Most English-speakers think of “ph” as being an “f” sound, but in Thai written using English characters it’s not. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. But “ph” is like “p”. So as you read this post, the little… Continue reading Phuket, part 1
Bangkok exploration and shopping
This time around we stayed in Bangkok 10 nights total. We arrived from India on December 29 and then left by plane for Phuket on January 8. That seems like a long time, but it feels like it flew by. I already wrote about going to see the new Star Wars movie, visiting my favorite… Continue reading Bangkok exploration and shopping
culture shock, but not what you think
After spending a full month in India, coming to Thailand has been a culture shock. This is actually my third time in Bangkok. It feels really, really weird to say that, but it’s true. Six months ago, I’d never set foot in Asia and now I’ve been to Bangkok three times. Admittedly all three of… Continue reading culture shock, but not what you think