Travel Letters

Koh Chang: Jan and Joe and Chinese Tourists

Posted February 27, 2015 by Jan

Koh Chang

Thailand

February 27, 2015

Greetings from the beach!

My Bronx high school classmate and friend Joe F. is visiting from Los Angeles. We decided to fly down to the southern island of Koh Chang and spend a few days at the Koh Chang Kacha Resort and Spa. *

Before we left Bangkok, I phoned my friend Tu who works at an optical shop at White Sand Beach. On her day off, we three took a ride through the mountains to Bang Bao on the southern tip of the island. We wandered down the shop-filled pier and had a delicious seafood lunch at the Buddha View Restaurant. I chose a dish of fresh fish in a hearty ginger sauce along with a watermelon shake. **

Martapura Kalimantan, Indonesia

Posted March 6, 2015 by Jan

Indonesia: Kalimantan

Martapura
South Kalimantan
Borneo
Indonesia

March 8, 2015

Frankly, I don’t know what to expect.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. And my sense is that in the remote areas of the archipelago, Islam tends to be practiced in a more conservative manner than in the areas near Jakarta, the capital.

For example, the area of Aceh on the tip of the western island of Sumatra has a reputation for strict Islam. Sulawesi, far to the east has the same reputation. So, what will I find here in remote Kalimantan, the Indonesian area on the island of Borneo?

Shkodra: A Pizza and A Fortress

Posted May 11, 2015 by twj

Albania

Southeastern Europe

Shkodra (pop 135,612)

Republic of Albania

Republika e Shqipërisë

May 11, 2015

Buongiorno,

Pizza. Pizza. Pizza!

Isn't there anything else to eat here in Northern Albania?

Apparently not.

My driver, Mr. Edmond * and I search and search and search for some local or traditional Albanian fare along the main pedestrian promenade here in Shkodra (Shkodër). Finally we find an outdoor café and order, you guessed it, pizza. We also order a salad and a meatball dish that passes for “local” food.