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Waterproofing your camera with a condom
Our guide shared with us that one of the reasons Lao people are so poor is that they give birth to so many children. In the villages, they marry young, and there is not much to do so sex is a fairly common activity among couples. In an attempt to improve life for the villagers,…
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The slow boat to Laos
I headed to the lobby to book the famous slow boat tour down the Mekong river in Laos. The boat tour is one of two ways to get from the Thai border town of Chiang Khong to Luang Prabang in Laos. The other is the bus, but that didn’t sound nearly as pleasurable as a…
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Thai visa for 50+ year olds
It’s been a long time since I reached an age that entitled me to a special privilege. At 16, I earned the privilege to drive; at 18, I enjoyed the privilege to vote; and at 21, I was entitled to drink alcohol (an opportunity that was squandered since I didn’t start drinking until I was…
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Fish, we no have
English is not spoken ubiquitously in Thailand, so you often have to rely on the large colorful placards in front of the restaurant to indicate which dishes are served. Upon being seated, you’re often handed a plastic coated smaller version of the menu out front. After spending several minutes narrowing down your choice from a…
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Thailand: Phang Nga bay tour from Phang Nga town
I thought I was being clever heading all the way up to the top of Phang Nga bay. I knew there were boat tours offered from both Phuket and Krabi, but since they started 45 miles south of the bay, I figured they’d cost more than one starting from the top of the bay. While…
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My $100 pair of cheap sandals
While I still hold that sandals are the only footwear I’ll ever buy, I can’t say that cost savings will be the reason. I purchased my current pair of leather sandals in Mexico last year for about $15, much cheaper than it would cost me to buy a high quality pair of Western sandals. I…
