My first week in Chiang Mai, Thailand

I’ve been in Chiang Mai for a week now (I was in Taipei the previous week). I’m having a great time, even though I’ve managed to not see one thing that tourists are supposed to see. I haven’t been to the Saturday Market or the Sunday Market. Nor have I been to the Night Bazaar …

Packing for a 6 month trip

Deciding what to bring on any trip is not easy, but packing correctly for a six month trip is very challenging. You have to balance what you will need with what you want to carry around with you. Being bogged down by a lot of crap that you will never use makes it difficult to …

Before I go – Passports & Visas

I suppose it goes without saying, you need a passport to travel. Nearly every country will deny you entry without a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past your date of entry. You should actually make sure it is valid for at least a year to avoid any issues. Mine was fine, …

Jakarta Indonesia

Jakarta is a complete assault on the senses. The traffic is intensely bad, the rivers and canals are terribly polluted, there is a layer of filth covering everything, and it’s truly amazing! There is a constant bustle of activity everywhere that never stops. On one street you see beautiful, modern houses and across from it …

Dragons and a good caning

With the house finally sold, I need a vacation! For the next three weeks, I am heading to Indonesia and Singapore with a couple of friends and my 15-year-old niece. Yup, my niece is going with us. She is very excited about the trip. This will be her first big trip and first international trip. …

Dream destinations

We all have dream destinations. I have been to a few of mine already, but there are far more on my list that I haven’t yet visited. I am a big fan of nature and historic structures. And, of course, the unique and interesting is hard to beat. While I would love to visit Antarctica, …