Just Took It

On a tiny median in the middle of busy Sukhumvit rd, a crazy man caught me taking a double-look (innocent, curious look) and then proceeded to walk quickly after me while shouting.  Happened very quickly.  He was wild...you know the occasional street person in Bangkok that's shirtless, caked in dirt and has almost a caveman look?  He was wide-eyed, like he was on yaba.  For a second, I thought I might have to fight him.  I quickly noticed, though, that he had no weapon.  He walked right up to me and kicked me in the ass - kid you not.  He then turned and walked away, shouting and eyes still on me.  I said nothing.  Just took it.  The alternative was to potentially be in a life and death struggle on a busy road with a man who has nothing to lose. Although embarrassed and a bit in shock, i just walked on.  It was the only time in five years in Thailand i ever felt threatened.  Granted the guy was probably just 5'6", but jacked up on yaba, he thought he was 8 ft tall.  Luckily he had no weapon.  In the end, i was proud i walked away unscathed.  Moral of story: Don't look a second time at a crazy person.

Packing Notes

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These are tips I gave to a relative who was traveling for the first time to Southeast Asia.  It was going to be the early part of the rainy season.

*Pants - Hiking pants are great: wrinkle-free, roll-up, breathable, easy to dry and wash, casual but nice enough to pass for restaurants that have a dress code.  A big mistake would be to take blue jeans of any type or thick cargo pants or thick shorts.  You could take a pair of khakis if you want to dress a bit nicer at times.  

*Shirts - Golf shirts are great (for same reason as the pants).  The collar on those shirts helps you get into rooftop bars.  T-shirts are still fine.  I would go lighter colors to not attract sun.  T-shirts with cool designs and logos you can easily buy over there.  And so cheap.  You can get them in Bangkok or in the mountains or at beach.  And then you don’t have to take any from here.  The nicer stuff, though, like your pants and collared shirts, can be bought over there, but size could be tougher to get, and can be pricey.  Last trip i didn't even carry a t-shirt, except to sleep in.  Cotton tees get so hot now, and i sweat a lot in them.  The easy-dry golf type shirts are the way i go.  So comfy.

*Shoes - a very good pair of walking shoes.  I have New Balance.  Swear by them.  I walk 20-25 miles a week in Asheville and replace my shoes every 3-4 months.  Also, i have a very comfy tan pairs of loafers that are also great for walking and look nice for restaurants and what not.  I will wear them with my hiking pants that are versatile enough to be smart casual.

*Socks - the socks runners and hikers use are great - very durable, but not very thick. You might end up handwashing them. 

*Rain jacket - very little or no insulation, easy roll-up, maybe something you can easily carry in your shoulder bag.  You can buy umbrellas over there if you want to stay drier.

*Swimwear for the beach.  Something comfy enough to perhaps even wear on scooter when you ride around.  I wouldn't worry about flip-flops.  You can buy there.  Also, your loafers will come in handy.  I can wear them with my swimsuit and t-shirt ( or golf shirt).  My collared shirts and loafers will do for me at the beach. 

*Shorts for the beach - might be smart to bring a pair or two.  Sometimes i think a single pair works, and rotate the shirts with them.

*Wallet - just one that has some slots for cards and docs, place for money.  Not too big, cause you may want to keep it in your front pockets from time to time.  Even in Asheville, I keep my wallet in front pocket.  Gotten so used to it.  Plus, when i sit, i don't have an object to sit on.  Lol

*Readers - If you use readers, i would carry a backup pair.  You can still get them over there.

*Toiletries - I try to get creative.  You can buy everything over there.  But to get through airports and first few days, i make take travel sizes from here.   Toothbrush, small toothpaste, small deodorant i will take.  We can talk about all this.   I buy foam shaving cream there.  I just try to keep it smart b/c i don't want an overstuffed bag.  I shave my head and face every few days there.  If you need clippers, i would get battery-powder. You will also find barbers there who can do whatever you desire...and inexpensive. 

*Medication - over-the-counter stuff, easy to find over there.  But i take a small amount of tums, advil, cough drops, etc...just to get me there.  7-11 and pharmacies are everywhere.

*A small bottle of cologne or one that's almost empty might be good to take.  Finish it and leave the bottle.  Dab here, dab there.  You can also buy over there.   You will be in a sweaty environment around lots of folks.  So if you have a favorite cologne, why not bring it? Lol

*Sun hats - definitely have one or two with wide brims.  You can wear a baseball cap, too, but won't keep the sun off your face and back of neck.  But baseball caps are fairly popular there.  I even see Asian girls wearing them.  More of a fashion thing.

*I don't wear a watch and wear no rings or necklaces.  More to manage.  I keep it simple.

*You'll probably end up handwashing some socks, undies and even a favorite pair of pants or a shirt.  However, we will go to laundromats and/or pay somebody to do our laundry.  Usually very cheap.  That's another reason, though, why you don't want to carry expensive brands.  Could get damaged, or even lost.  Things happen.

The Yusupov Palace

 The Yusupov Palace: One of St. Petersburg’s most splendid mansions (PHOTOS)

In the basement was where Rasputin was poisoned.  We toured this mansion.  Very impressive.

Airbnb or Hotels?

I have used Airbnb for at least six years, on trips to Highlands (NC), Headland (AL), Florence, Paris, Amsterdam, Granada, Seville, Ronda, Lisbon, Porto, Maine, Charleston, etc..  Better rates than hotels for the same quality or higher.  - note to a friend in 2022

I have recently have had more hotel experiences - in Madrid and Sydney, for example.  

Which would you choose?  And why?

A Real Taste

May be true...all of that.  And yet there may be many more negatives than you could imagine. The only way to get a real taste is to live in a place for a period of time.  Only then could your perceptions and opinions get really tested.  I know many travelers who end up living in different cultures ....women, men, young and old.  Ursula, Bjorn, Kyoko, Jessie, Mark and countless more.  I want to be able to add you!  

- 2019 e-mail to someone in response to insight they had gleaned from a trip to Berlin

One of my goals in life has been to encourage others to go live overseas for a while.  A year is a good start!  If you can't go overseas, why not to another state or another part of your country?

Travel Cred

Click here for the interview.

A friend I exchanged opinions about some of the topics discussed.  She's in gold.

Good insights, I thought. He described the Japanese train experience perfectly! 

Interesting, too, how the life of a salaryman is described.  Sounds super stressful.  Another example of how we look at things through the eyes of expats and tourists, yet everyday life could be hell.  I will say, I give you a hard time (in some cases, very justified lol) for quick trips and not doing things, BUT the fact you walked through the Shinjuku area, got on those trains, and jostled with the maddening crowds, you get major travel cred.  Everybody needs that rush.  Impressed.

Thanks for that! I am so glad that I spent that time in Japan! Really an amazing place in many ways, though not perfect, as he said.

The best part about traveling is that you can see the great stuff going on in the world and maybe incorporate it into your life, wherever you are.  Another good thing is seeing the bad parts and better appreciating what you have.

Theft Stories

Trying to think of overseas places where I had things stolen: blue jeans from a second floor clothes line in Tashkent; a camera that I foolishly put down for five minutes in Moscow; and a camcorder, Walkman and camera in a bag in a Prague metro station (again put down and walked away).

I never had anything stolen in Thailand.  And despite hearing about Lisbon, which scored lowest in the lost wallet experiment, nothing ever happened.  Also, I was worried more about the possibility of something getting stolen in Santiago, but nothing occurred.

Recently, I received a few "Is it safe?" messages from American friends who learned we were going to Mexico City.  Nothing happened.  Nothing was stolen.  However, at Atlanta's airport, on our report, my smartphone was taken.  Anyway.

Country Estates

5 Country Estates that DEFINED Russia's best writers

I would not mind also visiting Pushkin's country estate.  On our trip to Russia years ago, we toured Tolstoy's city mansion in Moscow.  Then in St. Petersburg, we toured Dostoyevsky's apartment museum and Pushkin's home.  Alexander Pushkin was the "Father of Russian literature." - note to a friend in 2020

Hinoki Land

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Hinoki Land: A Japanese Architecture Replica in Chiang Mai

Imagine how much that cost!  Looks very well built.  I wish we could do something like this on our land in South Alabama.  Sadly, would be too foreign!  One great thing about Thailand is that they experiment.  If you can't go to Japan, enjoy a piece in your own backyard. 

- e-mail to friend in 2019

Small Bangkok Park

 

It's not far from the Grand Palace and Khao San Rd.  I've thought about going down there very early one morning (6 or 7 AM), then going to a couple of historic coffee shops.  I may try it this year.

"Vegas of the East"

Not sure what new Macau is - I guess an area they are hoping to build up to a Vegas level.  When I was there in 2002, it was already known that Macau was the "Vegas of the East." However, as you know from traveling to Las Vegas itself, it's a monumental stretch to put the two in the same category.  I remember a few nice casinos with smoky lounges and floors.  But the surrounding areas were kind of like Kowloon, at least in some places.  If smart, and with all the money they have, China will make a new Macau - probably more of what you're seeing.  Lots of buildings need to be torn down.  Hope it can rival Vegas, but Las Vegas is special, as you know.  

- comments to a friend who was traveling around Macau and Hong Kong in 2018

Yarowat Advice

Some advice I gave to someone in Dec. '22 about Chinatown (Yarowat) in Bangkok:

Chinatown is worth a 4 pm - late day, and possibly another day.  4 would be when you leave your room.  I think bangkok areas are ideal for walking around and hour two before sunset, then remaining another hour or two.  The street restaurants in Chinatown won't be buzzing until 6 pm or after.  You could eat, then explore some side roads (sois) and bars.  Take MRT and BTS there and back.  Taxi drivers in Chinatown (and Khao San), especially late at night, might scam you.

Mexico City - First Full Day

 

Mexico City - 2nd Day