The giving of alms or alms giving (offering food to monks) is a morning ritual in Theravada Buddhist countries especially Laos and Thailand. The first Buddhist monks were homeless sojourners who begged for all their food – their only possessions being an alms...
Luang Say Lodge on the Mekong River in Pakbeng, Laos After a long day on our Mekong Cruise to Luang Prabang with Luang Say Cruises, we had the opportunity to overnight in style at the Luang Say Lodge before beginning the next day’s cruise. What a pleasure! While on...
I wrote this story about Bombies in a child’s voice because adults continue to prove, over and over again, that they just don’t get it. Cluster Munitions Display at C.O.P.E. Bombies are round, about the size of an apple. But, you can’t eat them. On their sides, there...
Wat Mahathat, also known as “The Monastery of the Great Relic” was once the main temple in what was the capitol of Siam, Ayutthaya. The temple once served as the religious center of the kingdom but fell into disrepair in the 17th century and was eventually razed by...
The Buddha head wrapped in Tree Roots at Wat Mahathat has become one of the most iconic symbols of Thailand. Wat Mahathat was built in the 14th century in what was then the capitol of Siam; Ayutthaya. In 1867 the armies of Burma sacked the city and the temple was...
Bags Packed for a Month in Laos As part of my retirement adventure, I made a promise to myself that I was not going to stop traveling until I had closely experienced a fair chunk of the world. My goal roughly has been to base in different places for one year and then...
Buddha Dordenma Statue in Thimpu, Bhutan Overlooking the southern approach to Thimpu, the capitol of Bhutan, the Buddha Dordenma will, at 169 feet, be one of the world’s largest bronze Buddha statues. The colossus is built to contain over 100,000 8- inch-tall and...
Marfa Lights Viewing Area While on my little road trip adventure last year I took a small detour to visit the town of Marfa. There really isn’t much there but, for some reason, the town felt like an oasis in the bat shit crazy otherwise known as Texas. Located in the...
