TravelStream™ news feed for member rjknowltn on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/rjknowltn en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:51:20 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258906807/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258906807/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258906807/tpod.html Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:51:20 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Riverside, California, United States


Savoring the buzz of Bangkok one last time, I begin this final story by reflecting back to a few amazing memories of my 55 day journey through Thailand. I am back in the States knowing all too well, life must return to reality. Just about the time that emotion hits, I hope to have my plans finalized for my next journey. Thanks to everyone for allowing me to share my story with you as I wandering through SE Asia in search of my soul. What I got in return will never be able to be described in the words of a blog.

I finished up my last night in Bangkok with one last $3 hair wash (I must explain they wash your hair 2X, condition, then massage your head and shoulders), one last banana and Kahlua smoothie and of course, a $3 hour long Thai massage. Here is a recap of some my last thoughts and memorable impressions:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:
(G rated and X rated)

I have:

Spent 36 hours traveling by airplane...been in 5 airports....traveled 10 hours on an overnight train....slept in 8 hotel rooms...visited 4 countries..Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia....in Thailand I visited Bangkok, Kanchuburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, Patong, Phi Phi Islands and Phuket - Central, North and South....learned that 71 lbs. of luggage was way to much to shlep around ..saw entire families on the back of one motorbike...had breakfast in a backseat of a taxi cab in Malaysia,,,,studied mediation with a Monk....had lunch with the Hmong hill tribe people...had homemade spaghetti dinner with a missionary family..drank dirty martinis with an Arabic sheikh...been kissed by a Lady boy...had the best massage by an inmate at Chiang Mai womens prison...saw 3 Thai men masturbate on stage...collected 30 new international email addresses...took 625 pictures..spent the night on the floor of a Buddhist temple.....paddled through Maya Bay where "The Beach" was filmed...watched Grandpas buy love from 20 yr old Thai girls and boys...walked across the WW II bridge built by Japanese POWs....been invited to stay at homes in Australia, London and Spain...saw a surgically corrected part of a he/she male...not cooked, cleaned, answered a cell phone or driven a car in 2 months....snorkeled in the Andaman Sea...ridden a motorbike through the back roads of Pia, ....,danced all night at a Thai disco, ate enough rice to feed a Cambodian army...climbed to the mountain top of Doi Suthrep...had 20 massages...rode a elephant through the jungle...sat next to a tiger, learned to cook Thai food, give a Thai foot massage but most importantly I have learned to follow my heart, let go of whats unnecessary while life take on its own course.

Catching the travel bug at an early age through the gift of my father, I am adaptable, eager for challenges and ready to take risks in my quest to further my globe trotting experiences.



Underneath the chaos, grit and poverty, you will find the Thai people with warm, giving hearts and gentle souls. Bangkok is definitely a man's town with all the bars and available women. My favorite town was Chiang Mai with the 4 city gates situated one mile from each other with a protective crumbling wall guarding the old city within. People would often comment how courageous I was by traveling alone to a foreign country. I just took the first step. We often live within the confines our own "old city" with fear of not wanting to go outside the city walls. I would challenge you today to step outside your "old city" and eliminate whatever fear might be holding you back from taking those risks. I promise you, one small step could change your life as it has done for me.

Special Thanks

To Mr. Nick Coussoulis,for downsizing me out of a job, which forced me to think about what I
really wanted to do with my life. Sometimes the best gifts are wrapped in the ugliest of papers. This journey was only made possible through his generosity.

To everyone at the Wat Umong for teaching me how to let go of the past.

To the Friends who posted frequently on this blog or by email, your emails kept away any feelings of loneliness or longing for home. Particularly Ron, your journalism capabilities left me in awe!

To Nimmy, Ciara, Anna and the hundreds of wandering souls with whom I was incredibly
fortunate to cross paths along the way. If you ever need a place to crash in California, just let me know.

To the amazing people of Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia for their indescribable grace, friendliness, and hospitality.

To Chante, Danica & Kyle, thank you for your love, admiration and support of your mother's journey. I hope this blog as well as my other world travels have been an inspiration to follow in my footsteps. I Love You!!

And most importantly, to My Lord and Saviour for His Protection, His Provision and for My Peace!!


Vini, Vidi, Vici
I went, I saw, I conquered


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258551728/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258551728/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258551728/tpod.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:35:38 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Phuket, Thailand



What I am, and why I love to travel, is a mystery. I travel for pleasure, for adventure, to learn from others, to learn about myself. I am no longer a tourist, I am a traveler. I prefer the lifestyle of a traveler.

Here in Phuket, I am a tourist. Don't get me wrong, where I am settled now has been without a doubt one of the best accommodations from my timeshare program thus far. At night I crawl into my 1,000-count Egyptian cotton sheets which was preceded by soak in the Roman jacuzzi tub with the lights dimmed, Thai jazz on the DVD and a glass of wine. The condo has 2 separate bedrooms, a living room, dining room and full furnished kitchen. I could host a Thanksgiving dinner party here for 25 people. And the view is astonishing!! One should not complain BUT this isn't Thailand. This is an American luxury resort in Thailand.

Elaine has arrived and I wanted her to experience Thailand the way I experienced Chiang Mai....walking through the neighborhood market, sitting down for 30 baht dinner on the plastic chairs with a can of Chang beer, us being the only foreigners in the outdoor eating area.....I wanted to show her where I had my laundry done for 30 baht or had my hair washed for 100 baht. I wanted to walk to Tae Pae gate and show her the moat around the old city...visit with the local people where sawsadee ka was said with a polite Wai., I missed my international friends where on any given night around the table you would find Aussies, Brits, Yanks, Thais, Swiss, Russians or Polish ..There I was a traveler.

I discovered that people have different attitudes, viewpoints, political platforms about what was right and what was wrong and were generally inclined to believe that only their way was correct. For me, I became an attentive listener and resolved to keep an open mind. While Thailand has a small population of foreigners, Malaysia was certainly more multi-cultural. I suppose this why I developed a fondness towards the city despite the short visit. On one corner you can view a Muslim man with his 3 wives dressed in black robes, another corner a Chinese woman next to her a young backpacking Australia couple, another corner a Druze man with his baggy trousers, tightly wound turban and thick black mustache. With an open mind will find much joy with these surroundings.

So with an open mind we set off on motor bikes on Monday. Cruising by the beach, then on to the highway...freedom once again. Leading the way, we rode into Tralang to have lunch, followed by a long drive out to Ao Po Bay. Stopped for a quick beer, then walked out to the marina to view the life of the rich and maybe not so famous. The day was going perfectly...right up until the time Elaine crashed her motorbike into a concrete post. Thai men rushed to her side taking her to a nearby home. The next day a visit to Phuket Hospital revealed a broken wrist and bruised back. She is a trooper and trying to make the most of her vacation but I can see the grimacing on her face that she is struggling with pain.

Today we visit Phi Phi Islands. I will write more about those impression islands later. For now, I am off to my jacuzzi tub after a long day on the Andaman Sea.






]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257664262/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257664262/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257664262/tpod.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:34:02 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Chiang Mai, Thailand

I am sure when Jamie Foxx sang this song he was not referring to Thailand. What I found in Thailand are 3 things:
Accessibility
Affordability
Unpredictability


A few days ago I was on a songthaew with Janie heading to Huay Kaew Rd to have some lunch when I broke out into a sweat and couldn't breathe. Well I ended up at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital with acute bronchitis. No worries, I am fine now after 3 days of bed rest. I must say that CM Hospital is modern, efficient and more than affordable. My hospital visit as well as 3 different medcines cost 1,365 baht ($40US) I was impressed by the level of care and services provided by the doctor and nurses. The nurses are a picture out of the 1950's dressed in their white uniforms, white high heels and nurses cap pinned to their heads..the Pin Up Thai nurse!!

Things could have been worse. A new friend Dima, a 28 year old backpacker from Russia came to visit and to show us the reddness on his leg presuming it was sunburn from falling asleep in a boat. I suggested he get treatment, it didn't appear to be sunburn but more of a rash. That night Dima was hospitalized for Dengue Fever which he caught while traveling in Cambodia. Its a serious disease, he was fortunate to be in Chiang Mai. After a 6 day stay in the hospital, Dima has put his backpack back on as he heads to India.

The "Spinner" (person who prefers to be on the go) was growing tired of being the "Nester" (person who prefers to be at home) so on the fourth day of being down and out I decided the fresh air and a bit of walking around might improve my health.

Taking a songthaew to Tae Pae Gate in search of Juice4U, a health food restaurant who advertises cures for all types of ailments, but instead I find Jerusalem Falefel. The best falefel and hummus I have ever eaten. Here is when the unpredictable happens...a British gentleman sits down at the table next to me, 3 hours later we depart and plan to met for dinner on Monday. I continue on my walk to Chiang Mai gate, then to the Night Bazaar, stopping for coffee later in the evening before my longer walk back to the apartment.

I have learned so much about myself, whats important and whats not important. Floating in my sea of tranquility, my desire to date or be in a relationship has become unimportant, no longer even a thought in my mind. What has always been more important are my children, this trip has brought us all closer together in a bond only a mother can share with her children.

To continue at the coffee shop (Yes, I am at Starbucks) which is the drop off point many tourists select due to the proximity of the old city and many night markets. Travel to the east you find the night bazaar, ex pat restaurants where you find the bar girls and a myriad of massage parlors..... travel to the west on Moon Muang Rd. you find backpackers digs as well as boutique guest houses which cater to most of the short term travelers. As people get out of the songthaew, they reach for their maps. The old Robin would have been out there directing them in the right direction. The new Robin gently smiles knowing the map is all they need to find their way. Alone I sit amused at the amount of Westerners traveling in Thailand when a Dutch gentleman sitting nearby begins to chat with me. We end up chatting an hour or so when in the end he asks me out for dinner. I think to myself my first date in Thailand. I have to laugh..See the unpredictability when you aren't looking, things just happen.

We can travel a long way and do many different things, but our
deepest happiness is not born from accumulating new experiences. It is
born from letting go of what is unnecessary and knowing ourselves to be
always at home."

Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness


PS - Please pray for my sister Teresa (from my adopted family), she has been hospitalized for nearly a week and remains in a medically induced coma. Her liver and kidneys have failed. Pray for my mother Olga as well as Teresa's family as they keep a 24 hour vigil at her bed side.



]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258211413/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258211413/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258211413/tpod.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:39:21 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

I am in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and I LOVE IT!! I have to say that I feel especially fortunate during these travels, I have met people from all parts of the world from Australia to Russia. Upon my arrival at the KL (as the local affectionately refer to the city) airport, my friend Peter, whom I met while traveling in Bangkok, was waiting to pick me up and show me around the city.

It is monsoon season in KL and rainy quite heavily. With only one working computer at the hotel, the check in process was taking a bit longer. No worries, sitting in this beautiful lobby was just breathtaking with the spiral staircases, marble floors and crystal chandeliers. Besides it raining outside, maybe the rain will stop and we can begin our short city tour.

The rain continued, only getting heavier, Under an umbrella, Peter first took me, by my request to Hard Rock Cafe (Yes Chante, another shot glass from your mum's world travels). After a couple cocktails the rain did not stop. With only a day in town, it was evident that the only way I was to see any of the sights was to risk getting soaked.

Peter was a good sport about walking in the rain. He took me to Petronas Twin Towers; the tallest buildings in the world until Taipei 101 was completed in 2004, 1,483 feet to the top of their structural components (spires, but not antennas).Spires are considered integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, to which changes would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Twin Towers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world. Facts about the towers:

• The Petronas Towers were featured in the blockbuster movie Entrapment, starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
• It took 36,910 tons of steel to build the Petronas Towers. That's heavier than 3,000 elephants!
• 88 floors with a sky bridge on the 42 floor.

• It takes 90 seconds to travel from the basement parking lot to the top of each tower.
• Together, the towers have 32,000 windows. It takes window washers an entire month to wash each tower just once.
• Contains more than eight million square feet of first class world shopping ( the type of stores I cant even afford to walk by) entertainment facilities, underground parking for 4,500 cars, a petroleum museum, a symphony hall, a mosque, and a multimedia
  conference center.
  

It didn't appear the rain was ever going to stop, so back to HRC for more cocktails and dinner. Sightseeing was over, Back at my hotel, I was deliberating between taking a soak in the bathtub (haven't seen a bathtub in 7 weeks) or enjoying the evening entertainment in the Mezze Bar. Anybody want to guess which idea won? A Malay couple singing 1970's love songs was a pleasant way to cap off a wet day.

My room looks out at the Twin Towers, a spectacular night time view with all 88 floors beaming into my hotel room. I was so disappointed that I booked myself such a short stay in this incredible city.


Just one last note on Chiang Mai. The last couple of days were spent saying farewell to the wonderful people I had met. Nimmy, Ciara and I went to have Mediterranean food followed by an interesting evening at the Muay Tai fights with the Ladyboys. Like I said you can never predictable a day in Thailand. As I walked home the last evening, the market was closed, I was no longer dodging motorbikes....with a tear in my eye, I realized I was really going to miss this city.




]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258010877/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258010877/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1258010877/tpod.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:45:38 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Chiang Mai, Thailand


Sadly, my journey in Chiang Mai ends in a few short days. From Chiang Mai, I fly to Malaysia for the weekend, then off to the sunny, southern beaches of Phuket, Thailand.

What will come as a surprise to most of you, including myself, is how I chose to spend my last couple of days in Chiang Mai. It was an exercise that I felt would complete my journey, now that I understand the purpose. Are you ready?? I have been at a Buddhist temple studying meditation taught by a Vietnamese, English speaking monk. It is not to convert but rather compliment my faith. It was beyond a stretch to my comfort zone as the monk showed me the way to my sleeping accommodations, a 5 x 5 cell with no bed, just tile and a rattan floor mat. Have I lost my mind, I have claustrophobia and I am expected to sleep in this cube? The next requirement - arise at 5 AM and the absolute surrender of comfort - abstinence of all eating or drinking after noon.

I was good on all the precepts requested except Nimmy and I did sneak out of the temple to have dinner. We did clear it with the monk and he purposely acted like he didn't hear us.

My purpose in attending this retreat was to develop compassion, loving kindness, mindfulness and wisdom, also to find inner peace and contentment in any situation in my life. I am aware that when I return home to the States I will be faced with the routine of every day life, financial concerns, relationship issues....aka Reality. This retreat provided the tools to become aware that the Past is in the Past, the future has not arrived, so concentrate only on the Present moment.

Positive Mind + Positive Energy = Positive Life!!

If it was only this simple. The monk taught me how to meditate beginning with walking meditation. It is supposed to be simple to clear your mind of all other thoughts and concentrate on your body with 3 easy steps. Lift <pause> Move <pause> Thread <pause> Now the other foot...Lift, Move, Thread. For 25 minutes, I went the distance of 20 meters., I repeated this action, with success I might add of keeping my mind clear of thoughts. At this pace, it would take me 33 hours to walk a mile. (Engineering friends, is this correct?) The meditation continued for hours and hours, followed by lunch, relaxation time, teaching, 2 hours of more meditation. Then you arise at 5 AM and begin the process the same way the next day.

I was a Vipassana mediation student at Wat Umong which is an International Buddhist Education Center. In the peaceful forest like setting in the Chiang Mai foothills, this wat promotes practical tools to promote human happiness, inner contentment and peace. I have found the next word to this journey...PEACE. Seek and you'll shall find.

I am honored to have found many new friends here in Chiang Mai that made this journey complete. Tonight I have been invited to have dinner at the home of Paul Collins parents, the missionaries who have lived in Thailand for 35 years. Tomorrow a dinner is planned for us to say farewell to one another, but not good-bye.

To my children - I love you all and can not wait to see you in a couple of weeks.
To my friends - Thank you for all your emails of encouragement and support.
and finally
To Elaine - I am counting the days for your arrival...one...two...three..enjoy Bangkok, see you in the Phuket Airport. Thanks for packing 3 bottles of wine, we have lots to catch up on.

PS - Thank you to those who have been praying for my family. Sadly, Teresa passed away at the age of 49 on November 11th. Please continue to pray for my family during this difficult time.

Blessings......
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257218556/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257218556/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257218556/tpod.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:35:17 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai has been celebrating Loy Krathong festival for the last 3 days. It is a huge festival similar to Madri Gras in Rio de Janiero, New Years Eve in New York City or when the Lakers won the NBA Finals. K, I just had to throw in the Lakers because I know the season has started without me. You get the idea though, the party goes non stop with 1,000s of hot air balloons lighting up the sky and an equal amount of krathong floats being sent down the Ping River. Firecrackers are sold on every corner, along with food, beer, flower floats and the balloon. It is truly an energetic celebrations for both the Thai people and the many foreigners that arrive to celebrate the festival.

Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai calendar, which this year is November 1-3.

"Loi" means "to float". "Krathong" is a raft made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions use specially made bread 'flowers' and decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river.


This is exactly how the sky looked the last 3 nights during the festival. These are professional pictures, not my own. My camera could not capture the incredible brilliance of these balloons lighting up the night time sky.





The act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all ones grudges, anger and defilement's, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. Self reflecting, this festival arrived apropos to celebrate what Thailand has done for my spirit. My new book: Thailand - 60 days to a New Woman, is due to be published next fall....just kidding. As the Buddhists would say, I have received Enlightenment. Life has changed....all for the positive!!! Relaxed, Rejuvenated and Reflective.....an Island of Calm.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257350508/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257350508/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1257350508/tpod.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:47:20 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Chiang Mai, Thailand



Has anyone noticed my story titles as being titles to songs? I am sure a few of you will go back to read the titles and mostly certainly one of those songs will remain stuck in your head all day!!

This quick blog is to share the little bit about what I have learned about the monks.

In Chiang Mai city there are 309 temples. I think that beats Manhattan and the number of Starbuck coffee shops.

Chiang Mai Province has 1550 temples.

You are a novice monk until you turn the age of 20. Those are the young boys you see wearing the yellow sashes. There is no maximum age limit to entering the monk hood.

A monk can be married before he becomes a monk but not after he is monk tified. However he must live alone in the monastery.

Monks are required to beg for alms each day. Early each morning, you will see the monks with their silver bowls as they go door to door seeking food for the temple. Because the Thai people are huge believers of karma, generous donations are provided.

The monks do not eat after 12 noon. Therefore the morning offering are first eaten by the monks, whatever remains is freely given to the welfare of the cities population. What remains after this is fed to the animals.

You can disrobe at any time. Meaning you can leave the temple and no longer practice, not take off your clothes...kinda like the Jack in the box commercial.

Often compared to the 10 Commandments, the Buddhist believers are recommended to follow the 5 Precepts. A monk is required to follow 227 precepts.

A woman can not hand anything to a monk. She was give it to a man who will then hand it to the monk. This is to avoid temptation of lust. No monk eying around......


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1252516888/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1252516888/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1252516888/tpod.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:32:09 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Riverside, California, United States

It had only been 15 minutes since I last checked the time on my computer screen. Time was moving so slowly these days. Today is only Wednesday, two days closer to Friday. For months now, since the early death of my father in September, 2005, my spirit had been filled with anxiety, unfocused and distracted to that which mattered. Something about my prosaic lifestyle needed a change. Patience to wait on God's perfect timing was all I could pray.

That prayer was answered August 5, 2009 with a generous severance check in one hand and a plane ticket to Texas in the other hand. Inspired by the book, "Eat, Pray and Love", a single female travels to Italy (Eat), India (Pray) and Indonesia (Love). I have dubbed this the “T” tour with the verb appropriately revealed after the completion of each journey. The “T” tour is not about T(ee) for golfing or T(ea) finding serene tea houses around the globe but simply “T” its Time to Travel.

My journey begins in Texas. A 3 week visit with my daughter, son in law and the most precious boy in the entire world, Nathaniel Lee, my 2 yr. old grandson. Troubled by the loss of my job, my son being sworn into the Air Force, loss of an large investment, the break-up of a relationship….all within days of each other but all manageable….my spirit needed a shot of fortitude and strength….this change of scenery plus the joy of spending time with my family arrived apropos. What we were not prepared for was the agonizing news we found out the very next day regarding my daughter’s 20 week old unborn baby. Severe abnormalities complicated his life causing little chance of survival after birth. A painful decision had to be made. Why God had chosen this week to challenge me with such seemingly insurmountable obstacles will be forever unknown. All I could do was to trust Him with all my heart and soul that He would bring peace, comfort and strength to my family.

I arrive back in California trusting that my daughter will continue with her healing process as time is her friend. For this trip, the word that comes to mind is HOPE – hope for protection, hope for healing, hope for family and hope for love.

Now I eagerly prepare for the 2nd part of my journey through Thailand. I am traveling with no expectations, with a carefree Que Sera Sera attitude. If only I could bump into that sexy Anthony Bourdain of the Travel Channel…..After a 19 hour flight, I will arrive in Bangkok for a short 5 days stay in this traditional but cosmopolitan city. My friend Brian who is currently living in Malaysia will be meeting me in Bangkok. It will be great to have a travel companion for the first part of my trip, particularly a man who is willing to help get me off the beaten path of tourists.

October 6th I leave by train to Chaing Mai where my living arrangements have been secured at the Loft Residence for 2 months. I will remain here until December. I know without a doubt God has a plan for my life and His divine plan will begin to unfold during this trip. With great enthusiasm; my zeal and passion for life, I am eager to see what adventures await.

Grab your cup of coffee each morning and join me through cyber travel, write often, come visit if you have the time and know that I love each and every one of you dearly.

FREEDOM IS ALL MINE!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1256984528/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1256984528/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1256984528/tpod.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:51:26 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Don Sao Island, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

We landed on Don Sao Island in the country of Laos to be greeted by the children of the village selling handicrafts but mostly with their hands out seeking coins. No different than any other poor country. Parents pimp out their children for 20 bahts in exchange for pictures or sympathy due to their substandard living conditions. It is difficult to not walk by the children without reaching into my purse emptying out all my spare change.

I am at the confluence of the Mekong River where the Thailand, Burma and Laos border meet, infamously known as the Golden Triangle. Common to the opium trading business.

In an effort to squash the opium activity, the Thai government has offered crop related substitution programs to encourage the hill tribes to grow tea, corn, coffee and fruit trees. The countries of Laos and Burma has not offered similar programs so the drug activity remains a viable business. The new drug the government is trying to eliminate the trafficking is Yaa Baa, translation Crazy Medicine. Most of the business is completed up in the mountainous regions of Laos and Burma, far away from the tourist area. I saw no evidence of any such activity.

It was an interesting day cruising on the mighty Mekong River, one of the largest rivers in Asia. Plenty of construction activity as the countries of Burma and Laos allow gambling. You can see many casinos under construction and of course, the giant Buddha being built first to bring prosperity to the regions.

My favorite was the introduction of Laos whiskey. Several different varieties to sample which included cobras, scorpions, armadillos and a milder concoction of ginger. A shot was tempting but seeings I am fighting an respiratory infection, I decided to pass.

I visited the doctor yesterday where I was prescribed OTTC (over the Thailand counter) antibiotics. The combination of the air con/heat/pollution/non stop action has worn me down. Its good to be resting and catching up on my writings and emails.

Happy Halloween to everyone!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1256984464/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1256984464/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rjknowltn/3/1256984464/tpod.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:09:32 -0500 Time to Thai one on!

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Chiang Rai, Thailand

Today I am traveling to the northern town of Chiang Rai and to the neighboring countries of Laos and Burma (Myanmar).

Our first stop was to the Wat Rong Khun.aka The White Wat (temple). Lonely Plant also describes this wat as the romantically glittering palace or the frosted birthday cake on fire. It reminded me of something I saw as a child in Santa Village while in the Big Bear mountains. I could imagine Santa sitting in a his big chair and the elves scurrying about fulfilling the holiday wishes of the visiting children.

Most of the wats in Thailand are nearly centuries old, this wat however only began construction in 1997 and remains a work in progress today. It is quite contemporary, not only in its architectural style but in various sculptures and murals that are represented through the temple.

I attached the picture of the reaching arms which the artist suggests symbolizes desire...he also includes pictures of the Twin Towers with demon like creatures and contemporary art suggesting rebirth. Worth the visit to see something more unusual than the traditional Lanna style wats.

You notice from my pictures that I have a white sarong on. I had wore shorts that day and was required to cover my legs prior to entering the temples. Modesty is of up most importance in the temples.....

On to Laos........
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