Deva Manor

European Girls Love Thailand

Young Westerners, in general, do.

Moscow - 1965

Medical Checkup

I chose this hospital in Bangkok. This is the video that motivated me to try MedPark.

Returning

China is luring overseas Chinese to "come home." There are now good jobs with good pay. Back in the late 90s, Ireland was doing the same for Americans of Irish ancestry to return. They provided incentives. Russia has this same idea, with some focus on Old Believers.

-2009 email

Old Believers in North America

Old Believers making a comeback in Russia

Kyoto On My Mind!

This was back in 2012. I was reaching out to a Japanese friend.

Thinking about it. Kade would be visiting her family in Bangkok, and I would likely be traveling by myself in Japan: maybe 1 week Tokyo, 4 days Kyoto, 2 days Nagasaki. My plan would be to stay in ryokans unless I could find someone who wants to rent out a room - a young person obviously - and perhaps would like to spend some time with me and practice English. It's been 12 years since I was in Tokyo, but I am longing to go back. Let me know if you know anyone there, and be thinking about a ryokan in Kyoto. I stayed in one before - near an onsen - and really liked it. Kyoto is a fabulous city. After finishing this e-mail to you, I plan to reach out to some other Japanese friends/contacts. My main interest in visiting is to eat lots of good food and see cultural sights, and just re-live what I experienced before.

 Look forward to hearing from you!

 Allen

Bangkok Ideas

- message to someone traveling to BKK

I have been helping an Asheville lady plan her upcoming Thailand trip. She and her husband went before on a group tour - this time going by themselves. They knocked out all the essentials that first trip, and are now looking for new half-day experiences (listed below). The other half of their day will be relaxing at their 5 star hotel, and getting massages. Bangkok can take its toll. They will be there three weeks, and another week in Singapore.

These could also be things you'd like to do in Bangkok...but make sure to also do the big things: Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, Jim Thompson House Museum, Wat Saket, Wat Arun, the Amulet Market, etc..

One day

Benjakitti Forest Park (AM) plus Ruam Sab food market (early lunch). Just make sure you go to the forest park and not just stay at the original Benjakitti park. Forest park is new, and next to it. Take a water bottle each. Sometimes they're sold near the parks, but don't count on it. You might even find a coconut seller (for the juice) selling near the park. Never more than 50 baht!!!

One day

Vanilla Sky Rooftop, plus the Japanese restaurant next door for dinner. Maybe Nana Red Light district to extend the night??

One day

Belga Rooftop (drinks and dinner) - views, drinks and food are all exceptional.

One day

Char Rooftop - based on our experience, I would limit my time there to only drinks, and I would get there right when they open. Must experience before it gets dark. After a drink or two, walk 15 minutes (or take taxi) to Krua Nai Baan, the restaurant my friend jeff recommends. Would be cool to do it, since from Char Rooftop you will be looking out at that area where the restaurant is. Once done with dinner, walk back to the BTS to go to your hotel. 

One day

Octave rooftop and Sabaijai restaurant. - I would arrive at Octave Rooftop one hour before sunset (5:50 pm), go to bar on rooftop, get drinks, stay for sunset and a bit after. I would leave at 6:30 to walk to Sabaijai. It's a 22 minute walk, so a bit over a mile.  You could also take a taxi from Octave all the way to Sabaijai. When done, walk or taxi back to the BTS to take it to the Grande Sheraton.

One day

Mahanakhon Sky Walk, and dinner back at your hotel. BTS.

One day

Siam Square late afternoon (walk around), then go inside Siam Paragon mall for an easy dinner. You could choose the food court level, or find a nice restaurant on the upper floors. Siam Square is ideal on a weekend, since popular with teens and college kids. You could flip this around and have lunch at Siam Paragon before crossing over to enjoy Siam Square. This would leave your evening free.

One day

Emquartier mall walk-around, plus dinner. After that, go to Flamenco Sky Lounge for drinks and dancing. Emquartier will have a dazzling array of food options. You could also try latin american/spanish nibbles at Flamenco.

One day

Jodd Fairs night market - arrive at MRT Rama 9 station. There's a big mall there. Behind it is Jodd Fairs. You will have dinner there. Arrive 5 pm at latest, stay till you're ready to leave. 

One day

Bamboo Bar & Veranda restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Reservation needed. Dress nicely. Mrt/bts there.

One day

Khao San Rd plus road that runs parallel to it (Soi Rambutri). Only tricky day so far. Would likely need taxi. You can eat dinner and go clubbing there. We need to talk through this.

One day

Vertigo restaurant and Moon Bar at Banyan Tree Hotel. Would need a reservation for dinner. Request outside, rooftop. Dress nicely. If unable to get a reservation, you can still go to the Moon Bar. Again, get there before sunset for the views. Mrt (30 min) or taxi (8 min) there. 

One day

Yaowat (Chinatown) - arrive early evening by BTS/MRT. Walk around and have dinner, then find the cool bars. Consider going to Wat Traimit first. In that case, get to Wat Traimit by 4 pm. Closes at 5 pm. Walk after that. Mrt home.

One day

Hi-So Rooftop - dinner and drinks. Get reservation. Eat dinner. Mrt.

One day

Terminal 21 conveyor belt sushi, then walk to Soi Cowboy red light district, pick some clubs and go in for a peek. Only trust the beers. You can go club to club.

One day

Go to Above Eleven Rooftop, but only if you intend to go to Havana social club for dancing. You should get to Above Eleven right when they open, order a drink and some sushi, then move along to Havana.

One day

Go to Central World mall (chitlom bts stop) for dinner at the outdoor beer garden. When done, you could go back to the hotel or you could take the BTS to Nana plaza for another red light district.

Deadly Roads

Yes, there are a lot of car accidents on Thai highways and interstates. In the cities, more motorcycle accidents. But although there are a lot of motorcycles, I bet bangkok has more cars on its roads than LA. And this is with a metro, skytrain, overabundance of taxis! There are a couple of Thai holidays when it's really dangerous to be on the roads: Thai New Year and another. So then you have to deal with drinking and driving. On the plus side, people are at least buckling up now. When I was first there in 2000, it seemed people were not using seat belts, whereas we were using them starting in the late-80s. In Japan and Hong Kong, was more like the US regarding car safety.

- 2019 e-mail

Docked

I remember being in Pattaya one time when a US Navy ship docked. All the young seamen were making their way to Walking Street. Our tax dollars go into hookers' pockets! Lol One guy had on an Alabama football cap. I yelled "Roll Tide!" from across the road and he hollered it back. 😆 I later read articles that the sailors are briefed on the potential dangers involved in picking up hookers and are given condoms by Uncle Sam.

- 2022 e-mail

Tasty

Eagle's Nest

In the Spring of '95, I was at the base of the Eagle's Nest with Uncle Jim (Vann) and some other tourists. Unfortunately, we could not go up there that day because I believe they said the fog was too thick. At that age, I knew little about the Eagle's Nest and the Berghof. I enjoyed the movie Valkyrie when it came out. Powerful. Tom Cruise plays the colonel who joined other conspirators to try to assassinate Hitler. There's a fabulous scene in the movie where the colonel is taken up to the nearby Berghof to get a signature from the Fuhrer. Got me thinking about that missed chance to go up there.

Vladivostok

source

This is Russia's largest Far Eastern city, Vladivostok. It's on the Pacific coast, across from Japan and very close to North Korea and China. Lots of money is being pumped into this once-closed Soviet Naval city with hopes it can capitalize mightily on the vast economic edge Asia is projected to have in the 21st century. It's also has the distinction of being the end of the line (or beginning!) of the vaunted Trans-Siberian Railway, simply the longest railway in the world. Built by one of the czars, it was one of mankind's greatest engineering feats, akin to US trans-continental railroad.  It opened up Siberia and the east to further Russia (and later Soviet) expansion.  - 2013 message

Kade's Travels

Good Food

"Good food is the result of non-consensual sex with invading armies." - Anthony Bourdain

Romania: Romans, Mongols, Prussians, Germans, Turks, Austrians, Hungarian, Bulgaria and the Soviet Union conquered them.

Yep, interesting quote indeed. I would add that the food is also influenced by the environment. Hence the abundance of dairy - cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and more varieties of cheese than I know what to do with. And then there is the meat. Don't get me started... It's heavy food, but I love it! So much awesome bread, incredible soups. Perhaps a little on the bland side at times (what wouldn't be after Thailand?) but pretty good.

BTW, did you know that Romania makes excellent wines that are absurdly cheap? A good bottle of red? $5 max. Crazy.

Hope you and Kade are doing well. We're enjoying hanging out in the Romanian countryside. Will soon take a trip across country to Budapest in Hungary before heading to Thailand and then Korea (for work) in June/July. Life is good.

Kababs are popular, I bet.  And probably lots of potato, beet and cabbage dishes.  Some of the foods I've had in Central Asia and Russia are similar. Yes, Thai food is pretty exceptional....yet, as we know from traveling, good food can be found anywhere.

Interesting about the wines.  Nearby are Georgia and Moldova, and I'm sure their wines are priced like that.  Great if you live there and like wine!

- chat with Australian friend in 2012

Double Landlocked

Speaking Thai

Peterhof Palace

Kade and I went there by boat from the city center (near the Winter Palace), and walked from the dock up to the fountains. Very nice experience.

Catherine Palace, like Peterhof, was occupied by the invading Germans, then looted and burned by them when the Red Army advanced. The Amber Room panels completely vanished and have never been found. The Russians rebuilt both palaces to their exact likeness (decades of work), and artisans even redid the Amber Room. 

Palaces

If you visit Russia, the Winter Palace (Now the Hermitage Museum) and the Summer Palace (Peterhof, built by Peter the Great) are quite spectacular. There also are numerous other palaces turned museums that are at least half-day trips and are stunning in their own right. Finally, if you like crown jewels, royal antiques, carriages, art, etc., the czarist collection in the Kremlin museums is dazzling. 

While it's on my mind, research the Yusupov Palace and Stroganoff Palace (of that dish name) - both in St. Petersburg. The Yusupovs were the Astors or Rockefellers or Vanderbilts in Czarist Russia days. And, it was at the Yusupov Palace where Rasputin (the wild Siberian monk) was poisoned and later shot right outside. This palace is perhaps the most fascinating "home" or "palace" I have ever seen.

- 2012 message to my brother 

Best Food?

What Say You?

Bangkok's Newest Hot Spot

Chiang Mai Itinerary

These were the plans my cousin and I had. We didn't end up getting massages every day. I just created a time slot for that possibility. Honestly, I can get a massage every three or four days - that's about it.

Wednesday, June 14

*Arrive in the afternoon

*Check-in

*Massage near us

*Chiang Mai South Gate Market - opens at 5 PM

*Walk to Tha Phae Gate, then down Loi Kroh Road and back

Thursday, June 15

*Explore Warorot Market (Kad Luang), near river, sample food - 25 minute walk or 10 minute songthaew ride

*Afternoon massage near us, or rest

*At 5 or 6 PM, explore smaller night markets near Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (CMNB): Anusarn Night Market, Pavillion Night Market, Kalare Night Bazaar and Ploen Ruedee Night Market. Chill Square food court at Anusarn Night Market is a nice place for dinner. Kalare Night Market also has a great food center. From hotel, it's a 20 min walk or 10 minute ride to the night markets

Friday, June 16

*sleep in

*lunch - the best laap we can find (laap ton yang restaurant). The restaurant is a bit out of town - 18 minutes from hotel.

*rest or massage

*Kad Kongkao Walking Street market (Friday only) - starts at 5 PM, 17 minute walk from hotel, go to Wat Pan Ping first

Saturday, June 17

*San Patong Buffalo Market (Sat only, right at sunrise) - 40 min drive

*Mae Hia Fresh Market - sausage, aeb ong aw w/ sticky rice - 15 minutes from hotel

*Massage or rest

*Wua Lai Walking Street (Saturday only) - walk, eat and shop, plus tour Wat Sri Suphan (silver temple). Temple closes at 6 pm.

Sunday, June 18

*Ton Phayom Food Market (sausage, nam phrik, fried pork rinds)

*Wander around the Old City - find edibles

*Massage

*Thae Pae Sunday Walking Street - eat in courtyard of Wat Muen Lan

Monday, June 19

*Grilled mixed meats for lunch (Kum Sang Dao restaurant) - arrive at 10:30 AM

*Rest - time for edibles?

*Massage

*Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (CMNB) - opens at 6 PM

Tuesday, June 20

*Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's most famous temple, lunch nearby

*Rest or massage

*Langmor Night Market (near Chiang Mai University)

*Try a cannibas cocktail and buy edibles

Wednesday, June 21

*Sleep in

*Lunch - the best bowl of Khao Soi (Khum Hmon Somm restaurant) Should get there by 10:45.

*Old City Walking Tour (Lonely Planet) by ourselves (start at 11 or 12) - 5 hours

*Chang Puak Gate Night Market (opens at 5 PM) - dinner served by famous Cowboy Hat Lady and nearby Sukiyaki stall

*Massage 

Thursday, June 22

*Do your own thing (khao soi again?)

*Massage

*Dinner at Kiti Panit (nicer restaurant)

Friday, June 23

*Check out

*fly back to Bangkok

Other options

*Doi Ithanon National Park - highest peak in Thailand and a few waterfalls

*Elephant sanctuary

*bat cave

Some foods we will try

*Nam Ngiao

*Gai Neung

*Tandoori pork belly

Steaks & Seafood

All I can say is that I likely had my best steak experiences ever in Buenos Aires, and I def had a Top 5 seafood experience in Chile. - 2016 message

The Best Steakhouses in Buenos Aires: A Beefy Guide to Eating Steak in Argentina

La Olla

Makes A Difference

When you travel to a place for a period of time and certainly live there, it's wise to learn the local language.

Malasian Cuisine

Princess Dara Rasmi

Dara Rasmi

Click here for more images.

Dara Phirom Palace Museum, Chiang Mai

Big Adjustment

When you arrive in a place that has a twelve hour time difference, it takes two weeks before you start feeling like your normal self. If people have the time and money, I recommend they go to Thailand for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

Here are notes from the first couple of days of a trip we made.

May '22 

Slept five hours: 3 pm till 8 pm. Now up for dinner. Still adjusting to time difference. Was on metro this morning at 6:15. Walked five miles. Yesterday walked 8 miles. Muggy.

Now just woke up. 3 AM here. The most amazing deep sleep. So ate dinner at 8 pm, went back to sleep at 9 or so. Slept 6 hours. I am doing what my body desires. This morning I will meet a Milwaukee friend 15 metro stops plus 9 skytrain stops from here. I can cover it in one hour. I am meeting him at 7:30 AM at a swimming pool for coffee, breakfast and laps. He likes to be done by 9 AM. After that I will do some walking, get my second massage, then have lunch. Probably about 1 or 2 pm, I will jump on metro to return home. Kade will have been out with her mom.

Was at the swimming pool at 7:15 AM.  Got a 90 minute massage in the early afternoon.  Enjoyed a big bowl of coconut ice cream before falling asleep at 3 pm.  Slept till 8 pm.  That would be 3 AM to 8 AM back home, so body is doing the familiar.  In the morning we are going to a nearby market to check out the durian, eat breakfast and buy foods to eat later for lunch and dinner.  No other plans.  Lol 😂

Monkey Wrench

source

2019 planning

A monkey wrench was thrown into the Granada stop. Appears to be almost impossible to get tix to the Alhambra, which is maybe the premier spot in all of Spain. Too late getting tickets unless we opt for more expensive group tour. I would be perfectly satisfied seeing the Alhambra at a distance, from two sunset vantage points, then doing all the other things Granada has to offer. Then there's Ronda, a place I definitely want to see, but a bit of a logistical mess. Not as easy getting in and out there as it might look. Today I have been really studying up on this, and it has caused me to rethink order of cities. Right now, with a final decision needed, I can see this revised route:

April 28, Sunday, arrive in Malaga, then take first bus to Granada, stay four nights. If unable to tour Alhambra, consider a nice hike in Sierra Nevada. Monday is also a slow day (religious day?), and many things closed. So would mean two full days really in Granada.

May 2, Thursday, Granada to Seville by train, stay five nights.

May 7, Tuesday, take bus to Ronda, stay three nights.

May 10, Friday, return to Seville by bus from Ronda.

May 10 or 11, Seville to Southern Portugal (Algarve) by bus

Once in Portugal, explore Algarve for two full days, then take a train to Lisbon. Spent time there, in Sintra and hopefully Porto.

If we get tired of Seville, can add a day trip to Cordoba and another to Cadiz.

The Arctic

 

I sent this article to a friend in 2014.

Alaska is going to be an even sweeter deal as the Arctic ice melts and gives countries with territorial claims an opportunity to search for oil and gas reserves. Russia has the biggest piece of the pie, Canada second, we're maybe next, then Denmark. The Russkies already have planted a flag on the seabed, and they have arctic military bases and more icebreaker ships than anybody. I think they are also already shipping and receiving goods to/from Asia through the Bering Straight more months out of the year due to the melting ice. It's a faster route that way than going through the Suez canal, which I think has been the main way for decades.  - message to friend in 2020

December 2020

I sent this out in April '22.

With the faster melting of ice, it will open up the region for shorter sea trade routes and mineral exploration. - April '22

Russia Deploys All Eight Nuclear Icebreakers for First Time to Keep Arctic Export Routes Open

Chinese Girls

Harvest Season

Triangle Cushion

source

The Ultimate Guide To Using A Thai Triangle 3-Fold Pillow

Kade and I bought one of these in the Thai riverside town, Nong Khai. We ended up bringing it to Asheville, NC (USA).

Cyril

I checked out a Russian cultural atlas from the library and I'm learning how the Russian Orthodox Church got established.  Way back in 800 or so, two missionaries from the Byzantine empire (modern day Turkey) were called to come to that Slavic part of the world in order to translate scriptures and work on perfecting an alphabet. One missionary was Cyril, which is how the cyrillic alphabet was derived. At the time, the ruler of the Slavic people (pre-Russia) believed that the Byzantines were highly educated and cultured and they had a belief system that would keep the barbaric tribes from warring. - 2009 email

Click here to learn more.

Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Moscow

First Impressions

This is from 2020.

Cheers

Lots of people overreacted. The expats in comments are funny. Bangkok is a mix of many things. Very modern in certain respects, very backwards in others. Cheers. It's why I like it, I suppose.

Urban Rail

Oldest Metros

London

Glasgow

Budapest

Paris

Boston

I was researching this last night.  Under rapid transit, the dates were different than under subway.  London was first in rapid transit (above ground) and underground. then, after London, the dates get confusing, depending on what you mean by metro (above ground, underground).  Paris has been mentioned second in several, in the underground category.  But Paris, Boston, Glasgow and Budapest are all within a year or two of one another.  i think NYC is 1904. - 2009 e-mail

UrbanRail.net

Granada Ideas

- 2019

April 28 (Sun)

Probably will arrive by 6 PM. Since it's six hours ahead in Spain, our bodies and minds will think it's noon. Although we may have jet lag, more than likely we will be pretty energized.  

Check in to our apartments, and rest a bit if we need to.

Go out and find a grocery store to stock up on food and other items we might need.

Buy plenty of drinks, breakfast/light lunch foods and snacks.

Do an evening walking tour (independently or with small group) of Granada that includes stops at tapas bars for dinner.

April 29 (Mon)

Due to time difference and jet lag, likely very tired most of the morning. I suggest we sleep in, then meet for lunch.

After lunch, here are some things to do:

Royal Chapel and Cathedral - see tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella

The Alcaiceria - market

The Albaicin - wander around the old Arab neighborhood and stop in a Moroccan tea house

Sunset at San Nicolas Church - views of the Alhambra

Another evening of tapas

April 30 (Tues)

Plan A: This is the day we try to do The Alhambra. If we're about to figure out a way to do, it likely will take up at least half our day. Might be nice to find another sunset view of the Alhambra, followed by Moroccan for dinner.

Plan B: If we are unable to tour the Alhambra, we can explore some of the same areas we enjoyed the day before, or we could consider an easy to moderate guided hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the evening, for sure another sunset viewing of the Alhambra, followed by Moroccan or tapas dining.

May 1 (Wed)

If we feel like it, we could have a coffee or tea at one of the nearby cafes. The other option is simply just to enjoy our mornings alone, considering that we have to check out at noon anyway. No matter what, we will need to have eaten by the time we check out, so that we can move along to the train or bus station for the almost three hour journey to Seville. The snacks and light lunch items we have remaining in our rooms could suffice for breakfast and lunch.

Slavs

This is an e-mail I shared in 2009. I am no expert and was basically attempting to share what I read.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Before, I mentioned that missionaries went to the Slav nations during pre-Russian times. Actually, it was at a time that was known as Kiev Rus (Russia). Kiev, Ukraine was once the capital of what we know as Russia today. and, a "replica" of the Byzatine Eastern Orthodix church was built in Kiev and it was there that the alphabet, literature and the empire started growing. in Byzantine (modern Turkey), many years later, Ottaman turks overran the city and Islam gained a foothold that exists to this day. this explains why ancient churches are still in Istanbul. as for Kiev, well, the city of Novgorad, Russia competed with it for power. at some point, the Mongols (Genghis, Khan) sacked these cites and they stopped growing. It was then that Moscow came about. It was not until Ivan the terrible that the Mongols were defeated and their centuries long reign over Russia disappeared. this was 500 years ago. oh, Jeff, the Ukranians and Russians of today are of the same ethic group, the Slavs, and, based on what I've read, have a shared history going back 1200 years.

Maybe

I got this e-mail from great-uncle in 2013.  He passed away in 2013.  He loved traveling and helping make connections.  Kamil is a person we got to know in Central Asia and Russia.

Kamil is going to visit an island near Thailand. Please send me Kade's family phone # and address....just in case if he has time there. I think that would be nice.....maybe.

Take care and good Luck.  

jwv/jim/uncle jim/doc/jimbo

Kamil, would love to help you with some Thailand travel tips and ideas. E-mail me and let me what you need. Thailand is very tourist-friendly, and over 1 million Russians went on holiday there last year. I know a lot about Bangkok, and a considerable amount about cities in the North and cities/beaches in the South. Just let me know how I can help. Good luck planning, and have a fabulous time.

Allen

Peak Season

My former student has a Thai/white daughter, cute as a button. She is in Thailand. She may try durian.  - friend, November e-mail

Not the season for it, but they'll have some.  

Oysters also have seasons. Fall - early winter oysters in Maine are considered much better. Spring and summer, they are smaller. Still good, but not the peak. I would still enjoy them.

Lobsters also have peak seasons. You learn this when you travel to places like Maine: the differences between soft shell and hard shell lobsters. Soft shell lobsters have sweeter, more tender meat and are often better for lobster rolls. It's like eating veal vs an older steer. Young ones taste better. 😋

Malaysia has a definite peak period for durian. June - August possibly. But you can find them other months....just the quality and taste are far less predictable.  

Durian grows better during the hottest months, and with lots of rain. The more miserable the weather, the more they thrive.

Being Aware

The Black Sea fleet lease arrangement with Ukraine will end in 2020.  A new Navy base is being built here in Southern Russia.  - message to a friend in 2013

Russia Plans

- July 2007 message to an Uzbek friend living in Moscow

We are indeed going to be in Russia - for one month. Flying out of North Carolina and heading to Moscow, Volgograd, Moscow again, Novograd and St. Petersburg. My dad will also be in St. Petersburg briefly in August.

I agree with you that Vietnam is a fabulous place. Kade and I enjoyed it. Next time you're in SE Asia, be sure to visit Thailand. 

- His response

Hi Allen,

I live in Moscow city and I often travel to our production cite outside of Moscow about 100 km.

Well, you have quite busy schedule in Russia. I guess it's booked through some agency? As I see, you sure will get a sound impression of lifestyle in Russia and its history. Many of objects in your itinerary are not visited even by myself.

Some of it I can show you myself (free of charge). For example, on July 28th you plan to visit Tsaritsino estate and later Kolomenskoye estate. Well, it's near by part of Moscow where I live. So I can take you by my car to look around, have a picnic etc..

By the way, I couldn't find in your itinerary a day when you plan to visit my home and enjoy some Uzbek hospitality!!!

What else I can offer? I have a small country side house away from Moscow. It's located near small city of Chekhov. There I have real Russian bath called "banya", forest, river, lake, BBQ and open fire rice pilov show with tasting of it's outcomes :))) My father also would like to meet you.

Some other thoughts on your visit to Russia:

- Beware that Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world by now. So be ready for huge price tags. In St.Pet, prices are about the same but in Volgograd and N. Novgorod are generally lower.

- Be ready for huge traffic jams in Moscow. For example, it takes 1.5 hour for me to travel to my city office and 1 hour out to our production (100 km away from Moscow). 

- Boat trip along Moscow river you going to have on July 28th right? I recommend it.

Cremation Day

May 7, 2019

See Kade? That's durian with sticky rice and coconut cream in one of the images. They also eat mango in the same way...as desserts. Kade said they had two viewings of the body for family - once when she arrived for the water pouring ceremony, and the second just before cremation. A monk also cracked open a coconut and poured it over her dad's corpse. Truly. In Asheville, it would be a craft beer. In John's case, squid ink. Kade will bring some ashes back to Asheville.  - May 9, 2019 e-mail

Kade has sent some very nice photos of the services for her dad, and I was able to view the coffin, temple set-up (like sister's two years ago) via video call, plus talk with Kade, her mom and brother. Kade is very sad, of course, but knows they were very close, and that they loved each other, which is what matters. The father was the youngest of eight children, and the last one to die. He was 73, and died the evening before Kade's departure. Kade only learned of this when she arrived. Since his death ended a generation line, his funeral was a little grander than most. It started with a water pouring ceremony, then five consecutive evenings of chantings by monks. On May 7, he will be cremated. The stoppage between the chanting and cremation was caused by the coronation of the new Thai king, a three-day celebration that will pretty much shut down all other activities. It's the first time in 70 years a royal coronation has taken place in Thailand.  - May 5, 2019 e-mail

Shifting

You have changed a lot - before you were very religious. Of course, the capital of Russian Muslims is Kazan and there are a lot of mosques in this city. There is one in Grozny (Chechnya), the largest in Russia. My family traditionally adheres to Muslim traditions, but not very religious. My father and many in the family were communists, and they are generally atheists. We adhere to the traditions in weddings in funerals in general, but not so much in day to day life. - Uzbek friend

My change was pretty gradual, and it took traveling and lots of questioning, and eventually being willing to shift my views a bit. - me

2015

Scratching the Surface

Peterhof Palace

Catherine Palace

The Hermitage was amazing. So was the Peterhof (summer palace) and the Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was poisoned. We also ate beef stroganoff in the restaurant at the Stroganoff Palace. St Petersburg, as you know, has countless palaces. Although we were there 9 full days, we barely scratched the surface. I wish we had toured the Catherine Palace and whichever one has the Amber Room.

Here are things we did: took trams and metro, toured the Dostoyevsky apt, visited Pushkin's apt, took a bus tour of the city, walked around the Peter and Paul fortress, saw tombs of Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, the Romanovs, joined a canal tour, ate some really good food, spent a day at Peterhof, explored the Hermitage, walked up and down Nevsky Prospect, etc..   

We were pretty tired after three weeks in Moscow, a pretty amazing city itself. Moscow is not as easy to figure out as St. Pete. Was more challenging.  

- e-mail to friend in 2020

Great Options

We had a great time in Chile and Argentina.  I can see visiting Peru one day.  

My Uber driver yesterday was from Uruguay.  He had lived in New York and different places - now Asheville.  He's nearing retirement, and is trying to talk his wife into moving to Buenos Aires, which is far cheaper than here, and cheaper than Uruguay.  But since it borders Uruguay, he felt it would be a great chance to live out his years closer to his extended family.  Oh, and he asked about Thailand.  He said that would be a great option, too.  He had heard that it attracted retirees.

He also said Argentinians with money buy beach condos in Uruguay, since the beaches there are considered to be more beautiful.

- 2022 message to friend 

Victory Park

source

Kade and I, in 2007, when we were touring a WW2 memorial museum in Moscow, walked by an auditorium filled with older men.  I got curious, and as they were adjourning the meeting, I saw name badges.  They were American names with states where they were from, underneath.  As it turns out, they were veterans of WW2 and were there with their Soviet/Russian counterparts.  We were allies during the war, of course.  This gathering was a chance to exchange stories and celebrate their victory over the AXIS powers. I actually talked with a nice gentleman from Maine.

Bangkok - Things To Do

In 2022, I helped out an Asheville friend who was going to Bangkok.  She had been on a short trip before.

1. Rooftop Bars

If you do all these, you will get the best overall views of the city. Be sure to add Mahanakhon (rooftop and skywalk) to complete this.

Char, Belga, Octave or Tichuca, Vanilla Sky These are all on Sukvumvit Rd and close to the BTS. 

HI-SO, Vertigo & Moon Bar - these would give you a vantage point of the river, plus a view back towards your hotel.

2. Benjakitti Forest Park

Considering its location, I would combine it with a stop for lunch at Terminal 21 mall or at the food market, Ruam Sab.

3. Dancing

Bangkok is well-known for its club scene, plus like in any major international city, you can find music of all types. You will need to do your own research.

Havana Social - If you do Havana Social, you can first stop off at the rooftop bar Above Eleven, which is very close. They serve Japanese/Peruvian cuisine. Remind me to tell you about my experience.

Flamenco

4. Malls

These five are along Sukhumvit Rd and are likely ones you might visit. Besides air-conditioning, these malls are great places to go to look around. They are also great places for food courts and nice restaurants. If you are tired, malls can be an easy way to grab a coffee, meal and rest. These malls also have supermarkets that rival (and surpass ours). So if you are looking for items for your room, you can do some light shopping.

Emquartier - vertical garden, waterfall, rooftop garden

Emporium

Central Embassy

Siam Paragon

Terminal 21

Iconsiam - the newest, most luxurious one along the river, and one you will see from atop Mahanakhon bldg. You could reach iconsiam by BTS, but it's a little tricky. I would not make this mall top priority.

5. Two excellent night markets

I would do both of these - two separate nights. Arrive at 5 pm or so and walk around. Snack, eat and wait for crowds to arrive by 7 pm. These will amaze you. Reachable by BTS. If you only choose one, go with Jodd Fairs.

Jodd Fairs & One Ratchada

6. Mahanakhon Skywalk

I would arrive at the skyscraper BTS station stop a full two hours before sunset. Buy tickets and get on up to the top so that you can for sure be up on the rooftop one hour before sunset. You can get drinks up there. As soon as the sun sets, I would go back to my hotel via BTS and order room service food, or already have foods and snacks waiting there for you, for dinner. And before getting to Mahanakhon, I would make sure to have already had a nice lunch and some afternoon snacks so that you are not hungry when you arrive. More on this later.

7. Oriental Hotel

Get pre-dinner drinks at Bamboo Bar (arrive as soon as they open) and dinner on riverside patio (make reservation for dinner). I think the restaurant is called Verandah. You could always return to Bamboo Bar after dinner to get another drink and enjoy piano music.

8. Temples

Wat Traimit in Chinatown - home of the world's largest solid gold Buddha

Wat Bowonniwet Vihara - near Khao San rd, where at least two kings were monks

Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen - biggest outdoor Buddha in Bangkok

9. Restaurant experiences

Ruam Sab (Asoke Montri Rd) for weekday lunch. I would get there by 10:45 to be ready to order at a food stall by 11 AM. Office workers will pour in by noon. Worth the food and the spectacle.

Food courts - Terminal 21 mall has a great one. I would arrive early to beat the crowd. All malls will have food courts. Great-tasting. Tremendous variety.

Japanese - I would try the great ones that the Japanese expat community enjoy. I can help you come up with possibilities that work best with other things you're doing. You will see lots of chains that are popular with Thais. Still good, but just not the best. There's a great Japanese restaurant near Vanilla Sky Rooftop. I would recommend going to rooftop first, and staying till sunset. When done, exit and walk next door to the Japanese restaurant.

Even though you have been to the Jim Thompson House Museum, I would consider having lunch there on the garden patio. 

For a really good restaurant that is easy to reach off of Sukhumvit Rd, I recommend Sabai Jai. You can exit BTS Ekimai, then walk Soi Ekimai until you reach it. They serve Northeastern thai cuisine, specializing in grilled meats and papaya salads. However, they have everything you'd want in a Thai restaurant. Very popular with locals and expats. The idea is to order 4, 5 or 6 or more plates to share with somebody. I recommend grilled chicken, grilled pork, sticky rice, larb and somtam (maybe regular and fruit). Always good to carry wet ones to clean hands.

10. Khao San Rd and Soi Rambutri

Consider going. I may have to talk with you about this one.

11. Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza for go-go bars. Skip Patpong, since you saw last time. Plus i read that it is being torn down.

12. Massage

Your hotel will likely have a spa with massage. Not going to be the "extras" kind, but will be very good if you're desiring a relaxing vacay. 

Outside the hotel, pretty much anywhere along Sukhumvit, there will be a wide range of massage places, where you can get similar to your hotel massages and other less expensive kinds, plus those with "extras." But even those that offer "extras" doesn't mean you have to get them. These ladies will give amazing massages, with extras or not. I know the massage side of life there, and can give more detailed insight in-person.

13. Klong (canal) boat tour

You could easily do one of these by yourselves, and you would be treated to an interesting part of life in Bangkok. A good tour and boat captain can take you by some amazing temples and markets along the klongs. Keep in mind, this is different than the floating market tour, which i personally would skip. Too touristy and artificial. I can explain more in-person.

Avoid + things you did last time

Lumpini Park

Patpong

Grand Palace

Reclining Buddha

Asiatique

Wat Arun

Temple of Golden Mount

Cinema Paradiso

I was in Tokyo when I first saw this movie.  I had never even heard of it.  Anyway, a cousin and I watched it together.  I tell you: That movie further motivated me to keep on keeping on.

Planting a Seed

I once told a young lady, "No matter what, with English as your native language, so long as you complete your college studies, you can virtually go anywhere overseas and teach English for a year and break even. So don't let money stop you." Then she had that I-doubt-that-could-ever-happen-to-me-look. I just said, "Well, I am from a small Alabama town, and if I can do it, you can." I told her how I had met people overseas who had super thick Southern accents and even were rednecks and hicks, but they found a way. They were learning about themselves, and they had jobs teaching English. Incidentally, this girl had no obvious accent or anything...just had the pressures and doubts that life can cast on you without your consent. Who knows where it will lead? During my travels or early days before I ever really traveled, there were encounters with others that planted a seed. You have to start somewhere.

Trip 2 Hanoi

Here, I was talking with a family friend about former US presidents and trips to Warm Springs, GA (USA) and Hanoi, Vietnam.

LBJ also had a depressive streak, and would sink into long periods of self-loathing and doubt. Apparently his last years in Texas were very melancholic. FDR, on the other hand, was with his lovely mistress in Warm Springs when his days ended. I enjoyed Warm Springs, btw. interestingly enough, while on a trip to Hanoi with my wife in 2006, I saw Ho Chi Minh's home retreat. Although Asian decor, it reminded me in some ways of FDR's Warm Spring house and grounds. I went through Headland public schools and Samford, yet never even knew Ho Chi Minh was a name, much less a human being. Had no idea. Funny how history gets suppressed.  - 2020 e-mail

Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House

Quite an Adventure

1959

Notice name of hotel in London, the stop in Oxford, the train journey from Moscow to Kiev. It was quite an adventure for my grandfather, Major Espy, who would have been 52 at the time.