Fried Grasshoppers and Festivities

tasty treats at the night bizarre
Monks at Starbucks...We thought it was funny.
Nicole and I showing hometown patriotism (West Coast...Baby). She's also from Sac town.

Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Indians.

Around Chiang Mai (once called Lanna meaning million rice fields.)

Songtaew or red truck is my main mode of transportation. They take you just about anywhere around town and only cost around 15 baht (30 cents)


A parade float during the Loy Krathong festival.
Corner wall of the moated area in Chiang Mai. The thing floating is an oversized Krathong to mark the celebrations of the festival.

Loy Krathong Festival

Trying my hardest to make a decent looking krathong. It's made from the base of a banana tree trunk, banana leaves, and flowers (mostly marigolds and orchids) and topped with incense and flowers. They light these and send them off on the river to honor friends and family and for good luck. The 3 nights of the festival were so amazing. Tens of thousands of people, fireworks, comb loys (floating lanterns) in all directions. It was an absolute blast.




this one's mine.








the sky was filled with the comb loys.

I have arrived in Chiang Mai and I'm impressed with how clean and beautiful it is. The old town is surrounded by a moat that's 1 mile square. Millions of fish in the moat provide plenty of sport fishing for the Thais...they put them in there for this reason. The Ping River runs through Chiang Mai, about 2 miles east of the old town. Whatever you do...don't go swimming (gross). I'm working at a private Thai school in a small town called Saraphi and teach around 700 kids/week. That equals 700 names that I cannot pronounce. It's really challenging not speaking the language well......or not at all (who am I kidding). I arrived at the beginning of the Loy Krathong festival, one of Chiang Mai's biggest and craziest...I can detest. I have tons of pictures of that..all in good time.

Random shots around Thailand

On the beach in Ao Nang with our Italian friends. Voile!!!
Chinese Temple during Vegetarian Festival. More incense burning in this temple than all the tea in China. My grammar bud: Denise..I love you!!!
Beautiful images of Thailand.

After a day of snorkelling, sand, and fun.

Tiffany and I taking cover during a flash thunderstorm. We are long lost sisters from California reunited in Thailand. (You're adorable!!)

Two small, very beautiful islands connected by a strip of land in the Andamen Sea called "Miracle Beach". The name speaks for itself.

If you're not careful they'll eat you.

Throw a cracker and watch the fish swarm

Chinese temple

Malaysia

This is a building in Penang, Malaysia.

The next few shots are from Maryanne's camera. She has a great eye for photography. Enjoy

I love Thailand

Buckets of some jello-stuff. Shadow of drying squid (thanks to Maryanne: photography extraordinare), and beautiful street in Ko Samui (once again, thanks Maryanne)

Sorry, Maryanne I couldn't resist.

My motorbike and I before setting out on the road of treachery. This is my first and last time on a motorbike...I hope.

Marco, our fellow bungalowian.

More Shots

Me and my new buddy, the longtail driver
Boat on the way to Ko Phi Phi


Yummy snacks

Random shots of Thailand

Cheers to new friends

Gary, our TEFL teacher: he likes walking on the
beach, drinking tea, and pointing.









This is Denise and James and myself in the classroom. We immediately clicked and Gary had a difficult time getting a word in. Plus these two can talk the hind leg off a mule.

Bob and Trevor: Howling to the full moon

This was the party after last day of school. We were joined by a couple of our students, the massage girls Sue and Lassi, and Dueng my Thai instructor (sitting next to Denise). This restaurant has some of the best Thai food in Ao Nang.

Thai Military: Staging a coup

Hello, just wanted to let y'all know that I'm okay down here in Krabi. Bangkok is the only city within Thailand that has military presence. I think this will all blow over in a couple days. Thailand is a very peaceful place (except the south these days) and the loyalty to the King will prevent any hostile military takeovers.
I started my TEFL course and today was my first day teaching Thai learners. All I can say is "Whoa", not what I expected. It was much more difficult but as everything in life: a great learning experience.
Hope all is well around the world.