Bangkok, Thailand

March 21, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Before departing Miami on my very first trip to Thailand, December, 2001, all my buddies who had already been here unanimously "insisted" I "head directly" to Pattaya, a popular beach resort close to Bangkok.

My guidebook was considerably less enthusiastic, but my friend Jeff, who had been living here for six months, also "insisted." So a little reluctantly and dutifully, I made the two hour bus ride with Jeff as my "orientation counselor."

Let me say this about Pattaya with a certain sensitivity:

Remember the business card from the movie "LA Confidential"? ...

"Whatever you desire."

I spent two fun days there. Jeff and I did what we did. As I stretched out on the beach, I even had an attractive dragon "tattooed" on my left forearm while I sipped a cold Singha. Tattoos also for my friends Nam and Ann.

I wanted to see Thailand, so I left Jeff and friends behind. I flew to Chaing Mai to resume being a tourist. I figured I'd never go back tp Pattaya.

Never say, "Never."

Hua Hin Thailand

November 12, 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

Just a brief note to tell you that I have arrived safely in Bangkok. The flights were all on time and quite comfortable. So far I have done . . . well . . . nothing . . . or almost nothing. I got reacquainted with some friends and with my old neighborhood and the local merchants and food vendors.

Just down the Soi (small street off the large boulevard), I found another food vendor with a whole variety of chicken and fish concoctions, one more delicious than another.

Now I am at my favorite beach resort, at my favorite hotel, where the staff was happy to see me again, and here I am also doing next to nothing. Really, I haven't visited one temple or one museum. I haven't taken one picture. For the moment I am just relaxing.

FORGET PHUKET...WELL, NOT YET….

Phuket

Thailand

June 7, 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

I am standing on the upper deck of the 27 meter motor craft “Kong Tong” – Golden Mountain – as the young deck hands weigh anchor from the bottom of Phang Nga Bay.

Chanthaburi

Thailand 

18 December 2010 

Please click on the image for photos of Koh Chang

Dear Family and Friends, 

My trip to the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand last week raised two questions: 

1.  On the island of Koh Chang:  “Where is Barry?” 

2.  In the city of Chanthaburi:  “Why are there rabbits everywhere?” 

Bangkok

Tuesday

Hello, 

I am back home in Bangkok, hoping for the best. #  

My trip to Hua Hin with my friend Noy was quite restful and even productive. 

In addition to beach time, we made a short bus trip north to Phetchaburi where we visited the Wat Mahathat Worawihan and the Khao Wang Palace.

Bangkok

Thailand

1 March 2013

Dear Friends,

Miriam  and Zev, my newly married friends, came to Thailand for their honeymoon.  Before returning to their home in Tzfat, Israel we spent a couple of days together here in Bangkok.  Most of their holiday was in the south of Thailand on the islands and on the beach.   Who can blame them?