Jan's Big Birthday

Posted October 9, 2025 by Jan
Thailand: Bangkok
B"H
Jomtien Beach
Thailand
Thursday
October 9, 2025
 
Hello,
 
I was blessed with three separate birthday events this year.
 
On Thursday, September 18, my actual birthday, I decided to attend the morning prayer service at my synagogue.  I hadn't been in shul for two years. My friend Shmuel Avraham helped me straighten my tallis.  Rabbi Kantor was pleased to see me.  He assisted me with the tefillin and in the siddur, directed me to the Schema, the proper prayer.  On Thursday the Torah is read and since I am a Levi, I was called up for an Aliyah.  Of course!   I can still read and chant the Hebrew prayers.
 
The remainder of the day was quite normal. My Bangkok friends were either out of town or unable to meet me.  I did a little shopping, prepared meals, and read a bit.  
 
On Saturday, September 27, my friends Bijan and Lita organized a wonderful late afternoon-early evening birthday party at their condominium building at Jomtien Beach.  The 26th floor meeting room has an extended balcony that overlooks the Gulf of Siam.

Jan's Special Birthday

Posted September 18, 2025 by Jan
Thailand: Bangkok

 

B"H

Bangkok

Thailand

September 18, 2025

Hello,

Today is my Birthday.  I am Eighty-five.

I am well.  I have family and friends who care about me.       

I am active.  I am happy.

Since I have been an expatriate and a traveler for more than twenty-five years, I have celebrated my birthday in several locations.

For example, in 2011 in Russia, I was visiting the small city of Vladimir.   I sang Happy Birthday to myself as I wandered around town.

In 2014 in Lithuania, in the small city of Palanga, I met Rima, a rehabilitation physician and her husband Mindaugas.   Since Rima was on duty the evening of my birthday, we three had a small party in her hospital office.

Over the years I have had several large gatherings in restaurants here in Bangkok and at Jomtien Beach, my get-out-of town pad.  Thai friends and expat friends from Afghanistan, America, Australia, Canada, England, France. Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, South Africa and South Korea have celebrated my birthday with me.

 At one party my Thai friend Nai came with her very young daughter.  Little Samantha stood on her chair, bent over the cake and helped me blow out the candles.  Samantha is now a high school senior!

This year I’ll have a party with my friends at Jomtien Beach.

You might ask, “So far, Jan, where was your favorite birthday party during your expatriate and travel years?”

That’s easy to answer:  Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China.

Click on the photo above for photos from Bangkok.

Scroll down for the videos from China.

Finally, My Friends, Thank You for your encouragement and friendship for all these years.  With your support, and continued good fortune, I’ll keep on goin’.

Be well,

Papa Jan

PS Click here for the full story from Dunhuang and the stunning Dunhuang Yardang National Geo Park.

 

Cheers and Memories

Posted July 20, 2025 by Jan
Thailand: Islands and Beaches

 

Prelude

At thirty-eight, I ran the first of my six completed Marathons in September, 1978 in New York City. The race traverses all five boroughs of the City.  The race begins at Fort Wadsworth Park in Staten Island and immediately crosses the Verrazano Narrows Bridge across New York Bay to Brooklyn.  Through Bay Ridge and downtown Brooklyn and across the Pulaski Bridge to Queens.  Then across the 59th Street-Queensborough Bridge to Manhattan, north to the Willis Avenue Bridge to the South Bronx, and then the Madison Avenue Bridge back to Manhattan, through Harlem and Central Park and finally to Tavern on the Green Restaurant near Columbus Circle.  (A friend of mine quipped, “I wouldn’t even want to drive that route!”)  The race covers the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers!

Here's a cute story I like to tell about that race: “I ran the race with the famous marathoner Bill Rogers!  He is the eventual winner at 2’ 10”….  But when he crossed the finish line in Manhattan, I was still slogging along in Brooklyn!”

.............................................................................

Jomtien Beach

Thailand

Early Sunday Morning

July 20, 2025

Windy and Overcast

Hello,

And speaking about runners slogging (or just walking) along:

 By the time I realize what is happening in my neighborhood this morning, the Pattaya Marathon had been in progress for three hours. The elite runners and well-trained long-distance runners have already crossed the finish line.  Since my location on the route is at 32 kilometers. or about 20 miles, I am watching “the back of the pack.”

Folks Along the Way

Posted June 19, 2025 by Jan
Iran

Bangkok

Thailand

June 19, 2025

Hello,

In May 2022, my friends Roberta and Sergio and I traveled to Iran.  I think I can speak for them and say that it was a favorite journey.

I decided today to look back at my trip and collect photos of some of the folks I met along the way.

Today is also a special day.  My former wife, the late Alice Dawn would have been celebrating her Eighty-fifth Birthday.  Alice was a devoted teacher of French and a dedicated activist for peace in the 1960's and 70's. I am certain she would have been supportive of my project today.

Please click on the photo above for the photo gallery.

You can find my Iran travel letters, photographs and videos on this website.

All the best,

Jan

Trees

Posted May 12, 2025 by Jan
Namibia

 

Bangkok

Thailand

May 12, 2025

Hello,

To prepare for my trip to southern Africa last year, I read several comments posted by previous travelers. Most are positive regarding the accommodations and the staff at the safari lodges.   Everyone is delighted to view the wildlife and the scenery.

But to this day I remember one comment from an unhappy traveler on a game drive: “We drove through the bush for three and a half hours and all we saw were trees!”

Bad luck. (It’s not like you can pick up the phone and ask the giraffes to wander over for a visit.)

I had lots of good luck with wildlife.   

But you know?  I also loved the trees!   Common or exotic.  Alive or dead.  I love the trees.  

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