A few months ago I was invited to a “Tham Boon Keen Baan Mai” or a type of housewarming for some friends who were expanding their business; the superb “Dash Teak House” restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In the Buddhist tradition no one is allowed to use the new...
Ever since my retirement travel adventures have brought me to Southeast Asia I have been fascinated by the Buddhist practice of Alms Giving. This scene took place early one morning on the island of Don Khong, in the 4,000 Islands areas of Southern Laos. I love the way...
Viang Veng is a beautiful and fascinating place to visit in Laos. In Viang Veng, life is slower. This was the scene about 30 meters from the guesthouse I stayed in. These traditional fishermen use bait thrown on top of the water and lot of patience to lift small fish...
Sunset aerobics classes on the promenade overlooking Mekong River are just one of the surprises we found on our adventure in Vientiane, Laos. At 4,000 kip (about 50 US cents) it was quite a bargain. The students here were a good mix of locals, expats, and travelers....
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...
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...
Arches National Park in eastern Utah, United States is known for containing over 2,000 natural sandstone arches including this one the “South Window Arch”. I had been retired less than a month in 2011 when I go out of bed, on a cold June morning in Moab, Utah to...
