Hello All. This will be my last posting for this year. It will be a few weeks into 2018 before I will do another update. At that time, I should have a good idea of what the plans will be for the remainder of the year, at least as far as travel goes. At this time, a trip back to Asia is in the early "thinking stage."
The one country that I have on my list from there is the Philippines, to which I have never been. The thinking was for June, but that is the beginning of the rainy season, so back to the planning.
A late winter trip over to Arizona is a possibility, but more on that later, also.
Before I departed Bangkok to return home, I and several friends were going to do a dinner at Baioke Tower, the highest building with restaurants on top, in Asia. We did not get to do this because one of the locals had not told the others that they were fearful of heights. After much discussion, we decided to go to a local steak house instead.
I go on line and read The Bangkok Post newspaper almost every evening. They are 12 hours ahead of us....exactly half way around the world. I read the other day that effective with the new year, (2061 in their calendar), all traffic tickets will be in both Thai and English. I only point this out, as an indication of how English is fast becoming more and more popular around the world. I have never had a problem in my travels, and my only contact with French was when I was in Krakow, Poland. I was touring a castle, and was stopped by a man from France who was , in broken English, looking for directions, of which I was able to help. When I told him I was from Canada, he told me, "don't waste your time learning French, it does me no good".!!!
I will close and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and, all the very best for the new year.
Sunday 24 December 2017
Wednesday 13 December 2017
A lot Of Hot Air...Ottawa, December 13, 2017
When travelling, I tend to be a chatty type, and talk to anyone who looks interesting....or bored.
In doing so, I have met some great and wonderful people, usually with interesting stories to trade.
On December 7, in the Montreal terminal while awaiting my flight to Ottawa, (I had flown in from Bangkok via London), was such an experience.
When I got to my waiting area, B22 for the flight to Ottawa, there was one person already there, a lady with her Ipad type device. I was going to get a coffee, and asked her if she would like one also. She declined, but stated that her area was next down the hall, but this area was quieter. I soon found that this lady, Danielle, was a Pharmacist, on her way to Val D'or, in northern Quebec. While her home was in Montreal, she was going north to fill in for someone who would be away for a week or two. She told me that she was a hot air balloon pilot, and had just returned from Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. She and her husband, along with three other couples, all balloonists, had rented balloons in France, had them shipped to Madagascar, and they then went there for five weeks.
Local people with pick-up trucks were hired to follow and help return the balloons when the days flights were over. In this way, they covered most of the non mountainous parts of the country, flying low level, and taking photos all the way; also mixing with the locals and the animals in some instances, particularly the Lemurs of which there are five varieties there....the home of the Lemur, and other exotic animals native to only there.
We spent the entire time awaiting our respective flights looking at the great assortment of photos that she had taken. This couple travel to different parts of the world and do hot air ballooning like the rest of us take trains or cars.Both are also pilots and fly fixed wing aircraft one of which they own.. They have taken rides in China, but mostly, they fly themselves, and have done so in places as diverse as Cambodia, and Mexico. To me, this was a grand way to complete my latest adventure by meeting someone else who has that explorers spirit. Way to go Danielle!!.
In doing so, I have met some great and wonderful people, usually with interesting stories to trade.
On December 7, in the Montreal terminal while awaiting my flight to Ottawa, (I had flown in from Bangkok via London), was such an experience.
When I got to my waiting area, B22 for the flight to Ottawa, there was one person already there, a lady with her Ipad type device. I was going to get a coffee, and asked her if she would like one also. She declined, but stated that her area was next down the hall, but this area was quieter. I soon found that this lady, Danielle, was a Pharmacist, on her way to Val D'or, in northern Quebec. While her home was in Montreal, she was going north to fill in for someone who would be away for a week or two. She told me that she was a hot air balloon pilot, and had just returned from Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. She and her husband, along with three other couples, all balloonists, had rented balloons in France, had them shipped to Madagascar, and they then went there for five weeks.
Local people with pick-up trucks were hired to follow and help return the balloons when the days flights were over. In this way, they covered most of the non mountainous parts of the country, flying low level, and taking photos all the way; also mixing with the locals and the animals in some instances, particularly the Lemurs of which there are five varieties there....the home of the Lemur, and other exotic animals native to only there.
We spent the entire time awaiting our respective flights looking at the great assortment of photos that she had taken. This couple travel to different parts of the world and do hot air ballooning like the rest of us take trains or cars.Both are also pilots and fly fixed wing aircraft one of which they own.. They have taken rides in China, but mostly, they fly themselves, and have done so in places as diverse as Cambodia, and Mexico. To me, this was a grand way to complete my latest adventure by meeting someone else who has that explorers spirit. Way to go Danielle!!.
How Do You Like Your Eggs ---- December 13, 2017
For most of my life, I thought that rotten eggs were only good for throwing at Politicians. That idea changed greatly two weeks ago, while I was in Bangkok. My Thai family friends and I were back in the big city, and I was assisting them to take some items to their home. They lived about ten minutes from my apartment, by Skytrain, the Bangkok elevated high speed rail system. When we entered their home, one could smell the Sulphur-like aroma of rotten eggs. They went to a shelf, and retrieved a flat of about two dozen eggs. (These were not in the refrigerator). One said, "Oh, good, the eggs are ready"..... I had offered to take the eggs outside to the garbage....When I asked how long the eggs were on the shelf, I was informed that they were there since early August!....but, its ok Don, we use them now. A large electric Wok of water was started and when the water boiled, the eggs were put in it for about five minutes. Once boiled, there was no smell from the eggs. One member of the family ate one egg, pronounced it to be delicious, and ok to use. They were then taken to their places of work to share with the staff, a prized delicacy.
One sees these eggs being sold on the streets, and sometimes, as happened with me, these sellers come into restaurants and offer the eggs to customers as they wait for their orders. HOWEVER, the eggs offered this way often have an added touch. The chick is inside, well cooked. Seriously, this is true. A chicken egg takes about 21 days to hatch, while duck and geese eggs take 28 days on average. Asian folks use large incubators and set hundreds of eggs to the process; about one to two days before the scheduled hatch dates, the incubators are shut off, and all the eggs are put into boiling water where they stay for 30 minutes. Yummy!!! they say. NO I HAVE NOT, AND WILL NOT TRY THEM. I have seen these in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. About a year ago, I was sitting in the Tokyo airport between flights, and started chatting with a lady from Vietnam, on her way to California. After about half hour, she offered to share her lunch with me....but as it was sight unseen, I declined to do so, with thanks. She opened her bag and came out with several eggs, of which I still declined to take one. As she cracked the egg open...I saw it was full of feathers, etc, and I suddenly decided to go for a walk. They all say that it is good for your health. I will always just be the gracious guest and let someone else enjoy the offering.
One sees these eggs being sold on the streets, and sometimes, as happened with me, these sellers come into restaurants and offer the eggs to customers as they wait for their orders. HOWEVER, the eggs offered this way often have an added touch. The chick is inside, well cooked. Seriously, this is true. A chicken egg takes about 21 days to hatch, while duck and geese eggs take 28 days on average. Asian folks use large incubators and set hundreds of eggs to the process; about one to two days before the scheduled hatch dates, the incubators are shut off, and all the eggs are put into boiling water where they stay for 30 minutes. Yummy!!! they say. NO I HAVE NOT, AND WILL NOT TRY THEM. I have seen these in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. About a year ago, I was sitting in the Tokyo airport between flights, and started chatting with a lady from Vietnam, on her way to California. After about half hour, she offered to share her lunch with me....but as it was sight unseen, I declined to do so, with thanks. She opened her bag and came out with several eggs, of which I still declined to take one. As she cracked the egg open...I saw it was full of feathers, etc, and I suddenly decided to go for a walk. They all say that it is good for your health. I will always just be the gracious guest and let someone else enjoy the offering.
Sunday 10 December 2017
The Ladyboys of Thailand , December 10, 2017
Within Thailand, there are an estimated five hundred thousand so called, "Ladyboys", who were born male, and grew up normally as boys. As they reached their teens, they had developed facial features that made them look like young ladies. Many decided to become, in one way or another, a ladyboy, and underwent operations and took medicines to help with the development of the features they wanted. Many spend their entire salaries on these changes to their bodies. There are many clinics in Bangkok that do nothing other than surgeries for these people. I am told it is unique to Thailand.
I have seen newspaper stories and photos of "Ladyboy Beauty Contests", and it is impossible to tell(from the photos), that these people are men...or were. Many of these people work in "Massage" parlors catering to gay men.
I and some of my Thai family friends were having lunch, when Rose received a text message from her second eldest son, who is seventeen, and attends school at a temple in Northern Thailand, to be a monk. He informed his mother that he had decided to become a ladyboy. While some were in shock, Rose asked me what I thought she should do. It was my view that she should advise the other three boys that they were about to get a sister. Everyone had a good laugh; Rose sent a text to her son, telling him that he could do with his life as he pleased, just do not ask for financial help, because it would not happen.
I will probably do a final page towards next weekend, that will cover several other topics.
I have seen newspaper stories and photos of "Ladyboy Beauty Contests", and it is impossible to tell(from the photos), that these people are men...or were. Many of these people work in "Massage" parlors catering to gay men.
I and some of my Thai family friends were having lunch, when Rose received a text message from her second eldest son, who is seventeen, and attends school at a temple in Northern Thailand, to be a monk. He informed his mother that he had decided to become a ladyboy. While some were in shock, Rose asked me what I thought she should do. It was my view that she should advise the other three boys that they were about to get a sister. Everyone had a good laugh; Rose sent a text to her son, telling him that he could do with his life as he pleased, just do not ask for financial help, because it would not happen.
I will probably do a final page towards next weekend, that will cover several other topics.
More Thai Information; December 10, 2017
The following information is what I understand to be the practices within Thailand of the Monk hood.
Of a population of about sixty million, Thais, 85 percent are Buddhist, the others are a wide assortment of faiths and religions. Every male must train and learn the Buddhist teachings for a minimum two years in their lifetime. In many families, mainly the poorer families, the boys are sent to the local temple during their school holidays. Over their ten to 12 years at school, they attain their credits, and do not need to work further at this study.
Monks are supposedly to be poor and have no wealth; study and teach, but own only their clothes and simple needs. They live in the temples, of which Thailand has around 38 thousand...easy walking distance for all. The monks eat one meal a day, usually just before 11 A.M., from food that is obtained by doing a daily walk in the local area where the people put food in their bowls. Some also put small amounts of money in the collection of food, most of which is in plastic bags. Women must never touch a monk, and men usually just do the wie, a hand motion with hands together, and a slight nod or bow. The Thai culture because of this life style is one of honesty and peacefulness. If someone does a crime, unless serious, the police make an appointment for the culprit to come to the station for a chat....no cuff and ride to the local police station. That may be two weeks away...everyone trusts everyone . Some people head to the temple if they get into trouble, and put on the saffron robes, and the police wait a year or two until they come back to society. If serious, they do issue arrest warrants and the head monk defrocks the person, or he disrobes voluntarily. Women cannot be monks.
However, last week, the police charged 95 senior monks with all sorts of crimes, five for being married, many others for fraud, corruption, and on it goes. They feel that there will be hundreds more before the situation is cleared up. Last year, one monk felt the heat from police...maybe tipped off, and was flown to California in his"private jet", that was "given to him". He was shipped back to Bangkok, under arrest, without the jet this spring.
Acts of disrespect are frowned upon, by Thais, and the penalties are usually high if one is caught.
Two weeks ago, two gay, married men from California were travelling to very religious and important sites in Bangkok. They were removing their shorts and taking "selfies", and posting them on a gay website they created called,"Butts Travel". They were nabbed at the airport, as they waited to fly over to Cambodia. They told the police that they could not arrest them, "they were American".
They were taken to jail, and faced up to seven years in jail and severe fines. Today, they were released, deported and banned from ever going back to Thailand. What an ass-inine thing to do!.
Of a population of about sixty million, Thais, 85 percent are Buddhist, the others are a wide assortment of faiths and religions. Every male must train and learn the Buddhist teachings for a minimum two years in their lifetime. In many families, mainly the poorer families, the boys are sent to the local temple during their school holidays. Over their ten to 12 years at school, they attain their credits, and do not need to work further at this study.
Monks are supposedly to be poor and have no wealth; study and teach, but own only their clothes and simple needs. They live in the temples, of which Thailand has around 38 thousand...easy walking distance for all. The monks eat one meal a day, usually just before 11 A.M., from food that is obtained by doing a daily walk in the local area where the people put food in their bowls. Some also put small amounts of money in the collection of food, most of which is in plastic bags. Women must never touch a monk, and men usually just do the wie, a hand motion with hands together, and a slight nod or bow. The Thai culture because of this life style is one of honesty and peacefulness. If someone does a crime, unless serious, the police make an appointment for the culprit to come to the station for a chat....no cuff and ride to the local police station. That may be two weeks away...everyone trusts everyone . Some people head to the temple if they get into trouble, and put on the saffron robes, and the police wait a year or two until they come back to society. If serious, they do issue arrest warrants and the head monk defrocks the person, or he disrobes voluntarily. Women cannot be monks.
However, last week, the police charged 95 senior monks with all sorts of crimes, five for being married, many others for fraud, corruption, and on it goes. They feel that there will be hundreds more before the situation is cleared up. Last year, one monk felt the heat from police...maybe tipped off, and was flown to California in his"private jet", that was "given to him". He was shipped back to Bangkok, under arrest, without the jet this spring.
Acts of disrespect are frowned upon, by Thais, and the penalties are usually high if one is caught.
Two weeks ago, two gay, married men from California were travelling to very religious and important sites in Bangkok. They were removing their shorts and taking "selfies", and posting them on a gay website they created called,"Butts Travel". They were nabbed at the airport, as they waited to fly over to Cambodia. They told the police that they could not arrest them, "they were American".
They were taken to jail, and faced up to seven years in jail and severe fines. Today, they were released, deported and banned from ever going back to Thailand. What an ass-inine thing to do!.
Saturday 9 December 2017
Ottawa, December 9, 2017
I arrived home at about eight in the evening on Thursday, 07 December. All flights were on time, and the entire trip was without problems except for the internet. The Thai government has been a military dictatorship style for the last four years, and they have a military unit that controls the internet..speed, etc. Google, which we all use is required to have its servers in Thailand so the brass can sensor what is said about the military and the government. Twice, while on the internet, I was asked in a drop down message, "Google Thailand would like to know your location. Release, (and) or Block." Both times, I blocked it. Since second time, was unable to get on internet, with my computer. I went to an internet cafe...so called, but not a cafe, just computers for rent. I went on and had no problems. When I tried to get my emails, Google detected another computer, and asked me to confirm it was me; they , while I on line were going to send phone message to Canada, at my cost , to give a code, so I could get online. I shut down. When I got home, there was an email from Google, giving the I.P. number of the computer I had used, and stated that, "Someone tried to get into my email".
I had the final dental work done in Bangkok. My total bill for four fillings, two being major, and the other work was 152 Canadian dollars; Quote here was over two thousand....no wonder many hundreds go to Portugal, etc for this work.
My Thai family consists of the granny of the kids, who had three sons and one daughter. Each of these also had four children, plus cousins and etc. They are very strong Buddhist in faith.
The kids that I do things with are two of the youngest of the daughter, just mentioned....they are 11 and 13. Two others 17 and 19 are in other cities. The grandfather of these kids has never been mentioned to me....until this trip. When I was at So Phisai, I stayed in a cabin, as noted in an earlier blog. This was about two kilometers from the main family home and cost me twelve dollars Canadian a day. So Phisai is about ten thousand, in my estimate. A small town. I was the only non Asian there for a week. One day, I asked the boy's mother why they were now calling me "Poppa Don". Before, it was "Uncle Don". She said that she would explain tomorrow. The next day, she picked me up and told me that "Today, I will introduce you to a monk". She had picked up some food, and we went the two kilometers to a small temple, where four monks lived, each in their own small cabin. I was introduced, and we did the hand together wie motions..never touching hands. The one monk ate the food, which must be done before 1100 A.M. We sat with him, no one speaking. After his lunch, he said a blessing to her, and we went back to town for lunch in a small cafe. There, she (Rose), said to me; "The monk you just met was my father...seven or eight years ago, he gave my mother the farm, house and everything, and became a monk....this the boys do not know".
The kids are taking English at school, so they now know, in English, family positions and relationships. Since the square for grampa was vacant, they put me there.
I will do another page tomorrow, if time allows, and will talk more about monks then.
I had the final dental work done in Bangkok. My total bill for four fillings, two being major, and the other work was 152 Canadian dollars; Quote here was over two thousand....no wonder many hundreds go to Portugal, etc for this work.
My Thai family consists of the granny of the kids, who had three sons and one daughter. Each of these also had four children, plus cousins and etc. They are very strong Buddhist in faith.
The kids that I do things with are two of the youngest of the daughter, just mentioned....they are 11 and 13. Two others 17 and 19 are in other cities. The grandfather of these kids has never been mentioned to me....until this trip. When I was at So Phisai, I stayed in a cabin, as noted in an earlier blog. This was about two kilometers from the main family home and cost me twelve dollars Canadian a day. So Phisai is about ten thousand, in my estimate. A small town. I was the only non Asian there for a week. One day, I asked the boy's mother why they were now calling me "Poppa Don". Before, it was "Uncle Don". She said that she would explain tomorrow. The next day, she picked me up and told me that "Today, I will introduce you to a monk". She had picked up some food, and we went the two kilometers to a small temple, where four monks lived, each in their own small cabin. I was introduced, and we did the hand together wie motions..never touching hands. The one monk ate the food, which must be done before 1100 A.M. We sat with him, no one speaking. After his lunch, he said a blessing to her, and we went back to town for lunch in a small cafe. There, she (Rose), said to me; "The monk you just met was my father...seven or eight years ago, he gave my mother the farm, house and everything, and became a monk....this the boys do not know".
The kids are taking English at school, so they now know, in English, family positions and relationships. Since the square for grampa was vacant, they put me there.
I will do another page tomorrow, if time allows, and will talk more about monks then.
Wednesday 29 November 2017
Report From Bangkok November 29, 2017
This will probably be my last posting from Thailand for this adventure, which ends one week from tonight. I have had endless problems with the internet here, both at apartment and at local eateries...I will explain when I am out of the country. I was just at Black Canyon Coffee, logged on to internet, and got "The Girl and The Pig", really...a high class restaurant, nearby...it does attract attention.
The family got their rice all harvested, and it was a poor crop. They usually get about 80 sacks of rice at 60 kilograms each, but this year, due to little rain, only 30 sacks, but did not harvest all because it was such poor crop in some places, they did not bother.
Tomorrow, at four in the afternoon, I will have my final dental appointment. Then, just some site seeing. On Friday, I will meet my friends, they want to take me for dinner to the Baioke Tower, they have reservations for the 77 floor restaurant. It is the tallest building in Thailand.
I heard a rumor here that a football team from Toronto won a game in Ottawa last Sunday. I must admit, I was wrong, but maybe someone will do an investigation....it should never have happened.
The temperature remains around 34 degrees, so there will be quite a change when I return home...but I did bring winter clothing, so am prepared.
My next posting will be from home in Ottawa, unless things change with the internet here.
The family got their rice all harvested, and it was a poor crop. They usually get about 80 sacks of rice at 60 kilograms each, but this year, due to little rain, only 30 sacks, but did not harvest all because it was such poor crop in some places, they did not bother.
Tomorrow, at four in the afternoon, I will have my final dental appointment. Then, just some site seeing. On Friday, I will meet my friends, they want to take me for dinner to the Baioke Tower, they have reservations for the 77 floor restaurant. It is the tallest building in Thailand.
I heard a rumor here that a football team from Toronto won a game in Ottawa last Sunday. I must admit, I was wrong, but maybe someone will do an investigation....it should never have happened.
The temperature remains around 34 degrees, so there will be quite a change when I return home...but I did bring winter clothing, so am prepared.
My next posting will be from home in Ottawa, unless things change with the internet here.
Friday 24 November 2017
Bangkok, November 24, 2017
I am now down to under 14 days for this trip to Asia. I depart just after midnight on December 7, and follow the sun as it were, arriving home just after dinner on same date. I am having some long planned dental work done in my spare time. On my first trip here just over five years ago, I met many folks from Australia that came here for major work, and were very pleased with the work and the cost. They could fly here...around eight hours, stay in a three-four star hotel, have the dental work done, and be thousands of dollars ahead of the costs back in Australia. While I just had a dental cleaning, and will have several fillings, nothing major, it will come to a total of about one hundred and seventy dollars, Canadian. Back in Ottawa, I was quoted just over two thousand for the same work. The equipment is very modern, and the staff very professional. I am totally happy with the work.
I have just finished the work on my photos, about one hundred and seventy. I had them printed, and have them all in order, in albums, so am making good use of my spare time. Since I will not be out of Bangkok again this trip, my remaining photo work will mostly be of buildings...some at night. That is my project for this evening.
I hear my team from Saskatchewan let me down last week, but I did get one of two, and am sure you will see Calgary winning the game on Sunday. As for me, I will not be watching it in any event.
My computer is still acting strange; Type style changed just now, it did the same on my last post.
I will do my story on the monks upon my return home.
I usually find something to do when I have idle time...some folks take naps, but I am usually more constructive. This summer, I discovered that after an hour or so, I could balance a pen on end. Some of my friends back home at the coffee club, we call "The Liars Club", have seen this. Now, I have discovered I can stand three in under one minute. The other day, I took the puzzle page from the Bangkok Post, three pens and went to Macdonalds with some of my friends. I told them to act as if they did not know me...it might be better. They did not know what I was up to. As I had coffee, with the pens standing in front of me on the table, I would take one, maybe the blue ink, do some words, put it back standing, and do the same again and again. Did I ever attract a crowd!!!. Fun and games.
I have just finished the work on my photos, about one hundred and seventy. I had them printed, and have them all in order, in albums, so am making good use of my spare time. Since I will not be out of Bangkok again this trip, my remaining photo work will mostly be of buildings...some at night. That is my project for this evening.
I hear my team from Saskatchewan let me down last week, but I did get one of two, and am sure you will see Calgary winning the game on Sunday. As for me, I will not be watching it in any event.
My computer is still acting strange; Type style changed just now, it did the same on my last post.
I will do my story on the monks upon my return home.
I usually find something to do when I have idle time...some folks take naps, but I am usually more constructive. This summer, I discovered that after an hour or so, I could balance a pen on end. Some of my friends back home at the coffee club, we call "The Liars Club", have seen this. Now, I have discovered I can stand three in under one minute. The other day, I took the puzzle page from the Bangkok Post, three pens and went to Macdonalds with some of my friends. I told them to act as if they did not know me...it might be better. They did not know what I was up to. As I had coffee, with the pens standing in front of me on the table, I would take one, maybe the blue ink, do some words, put it back standing, and do the same again and again. Did I ever attract a crowd!!!. Fun and games.
Wednesday 22 November 2017
Some Odds and Ends, Wednesday, November 21...Bangkok
In the story of rice, I did not mention that the legal wage per day in Thailand is three hundred Baht...that is 12 dollars Canadian. This does not apply to farm work and a few other very hard types of work. It would upset everything if one farmer started paying their help more. Four dollars for a twelve hour day is the norm here. That includes being totally covered because of the mosquitoes and other nasty biters. in the 35 degree heat....and when nature calls, you find a private space in the forest!. All the women use baby t-shirts over their heads, with the neck hole for the eyes...works well.
Regarding my post upon return from Laos.Bangkok has one airport in the Northwest corner of the city called Don Muang, it is the original airport, and handles most of the domestic and the short hauls from within this part of Asia, including China. Probably around four thousand passengers per hour. There is not enough taxis for the service demands, and, with our quick thinking, we got to the head of the lineup before the next hoard. When we departed with the driver, about 400 were waiting for a car. It was rush hour also, and I am sure many were there four hours later.
In one of my earlier posts after arriving here, I spoke of the trailer cart being towed by a small motor bike. From a farm background, I have seen the damage that can be done when the load is too much for the power source. I had two friends that were killed when their tractors flipped backward because it could not pull the attached load. Several years ago, I lost a nephew for the same reason. In all cases, family members were there, but could do nothing.
In a few days, I will write about two monks, and, just maybe, about a stunt I did at Macdonalds that attracted a bit of attention.....all while just doing a puzzle and enjoying a coffee. Usually, we use that old adage,"What happens in Rome stays in Rome", but I might make an exception.
Regarding my post upon return from Laos.Bangkok has one airport in the Northwest corner of the city called Don Muang, it is the original airport, and handles most of the domestic and the short hauls from within this part of Asia, including China. Probably around four thousand passengers per hour. There is not enough taxis for the service demands, and, with our quick thinking, we got to the head of the lineup before the next hoard. When we departed with the driver, about 400 were waiting for a car. It was rush hour also, and I am sure many were there four hours later.
In one of my earlier posts after arriving here, I spoke of the trailer cart being towed by a small motor bike. From a farm background, I have seen the damage that can be done when the load is too much for the power source. I had two friends that were killed when their tractors flipped backward because it could not pull the attached load. Several years ago, I lost a nephew for the same reason. In all cases, family members were there, but could do nothing.
In a few days, I will write about two monks, and, just maybe, about a stunt I did at Macdonalds that attracted a bit of attention.....all while just doing a puzzle and enjoying a coffee. Usually, we use that old adage,"What happens in Rome stays in Rome", but I might make an exception.
Tuesday 21 November 2017
Bangkok, November 21,2017
The growing of rice. This is my third time trying to get this page out to you.
Rice needs lots of water. Where there is plenty of water, farmers usually harvest three crops, a year. The area where my friends live is dry, so they get but one crop. Rice farming for about 90 percent of the farmers is very labor intensive. The season begins when rice seeds are planted in a field of water, the seeds just thrown at random into the ground. After the young plants grow about six inches, they are pulled out by hand and replanted in neat rows with the plants about eight inches apart. The new planting is actually a cluster of six to ten stalks, which grow to a height of about three feet. These rows are up to a kilometer long, depending on the field dimensions. A rice field is level, and can be easily flooded if the field is near a canal system meant for this purpose. If not, rain becomes the only moisture, so those farmers with no water system are at natures mercy. They wait for the monsoons to come...the planting timed for that wet season. One can fly over the country side and see the land flooded for miles. My friends have no rice if the monsoons come too soon, or too late. After about 90 days, the rice is ready to harvest. This is a backbreaking process. Farmers using sickles cut the clusters, one at a time about eight inches from the ground. When they have an arm full, in is stacked in neat rows to further dry for a few days. After that, the stacks are baled and taken to a plant where the rice is threshed into what you see in the store. My friends have 40 acres, which are harvested this way. It takes on average, about 30 days to harvest the 40 acres, two people working twelve hours a day.
This year, I did not go to the orphanage at Pattaya to work,but members of my "Thai Family", donate rice to the orphanage. I gave the family three thousand Baht, the equivalent of 120 Canadian dollars, which is what they pay to hire someone each year. That will hire a second person for thirty days, or until the rice is harvested. The family member doing their work is the mother of my friends, and she is 56 years old. It is the women that harvest the rice; I have yet to see a man in a rice field....anyplace in Asia.
Rice needs lots of water. Where there is plenty of water, farmers usually harvest three crops, a year. The area where my friends live is dry, so they get but one crop. Rice farming for about 90 percent of the farmers is very labor intensive. The season begins when rice seeds are planted in a field of water, the seeds just thrown at random into the ground. After the young plants grow about six inches, they are pulled out by hand and replanted in neat rows with the plants about eight inches apart. The new planting is actually a cluster of six to ten stalks, which grow to a height of about three feet. These rows are up to a kilometer long, depending on the field dimensions. A rice field is level, and can be easily flooded if the field is near a canal system meant for this purpose. If not, rain becomes the only moisture, so those farmers with no water system are at natures mercy. They wait for the monsoons to come...the planting timed for that wet season. One can fly over the country side and see the land flooded for miles. My friends have no rice if the monsoons come too soon, or too late. After about 90 days, the rice is ready to harvest. This is a backbreaking process. Farmers using sickles cut the clusters, one at a time about eight inches from the ground. When they have an arm full, in is stacked in neat rows to further dry for a few days. After that, the stacks are baled and taken to a plant where the rice is threshed into what you see in the store. My friends have 40 acres, which are harvested this way. It takes on average, about 30 days to harvest the 40 acres, two people working twelve hours a day.
This year, I did not go to the orphanage at Pattaya to work,but members of my "Thai Family", donate rice to the orphanage. I gave the family three thousand Baht, the equivalent of 120 Canadian dollars, which is what they pay to hire someone each year. That will hire a second person for thirty days, or until the rice is harvested. The family member doing their work is the mother of my friends, and she is 56 years old. It is the women that harvest the rice; I have yet to see a man in a rice field....anyplace in Asia.
Friday 17 November 2017
Bangkok, Thailand November 17, 2017
I am going to keep this page short, as I just lost a full page report...just disappeared before I hit the post button.
As noted, I am back in the big city after a 45 minute flight from Vientiane. We went to the museum called That Luang, which is the second site of importance in Laos. We took a took-took, and went there for an hour, then back to the hotel to finish packing, then off to the airport with the same driver.
Here is why travel these days is not very exciting for a lot of people. We arrived at the airport at 1145, the required three hours for check in, security and just plain waiting. The flight took 47 minutes. Passport control and Immigration another two hours...very busy airport here...both of them. The taxi from the Don Mueng airport to my apartment took another two hours, it was rush hour, which here usually means any time.
I will relax for a day or two, then complete a project I decided to do. Many friends have asked me for advice on Estate settlement from a will, and I have gave them what they wanted. In my spare time, I have most of what will be a ten page brochure ready for typing when I get home...title...The End Of The Line...an aid to those charged with estate settlements.
I will do another page mid week .
Watch Saskatchewan demolish Toronto on Sunday...then watch them get the same treatment from Calgary.
As noted, I am back in the big city after a 45 minute flight from Vientiane. We went to the museum called That Luang, which is the second site of importance in Laos. We took a took-took, and went there for an hour, then back to the hotel to finish packing, then off to the airport with the same driver.
Here is why travel these days is not very exciting for a lot of people. We arrived at the airport at 1145, the required three hours for check in, security and just plain waiting. The flight took 47 minutes. Passport control and Immigration another two hours...very busy airport here...both of them. The taxi from the Don Mueng airport to my apartment took another two hours, it was rush hour, which here usually means any time.
I will relax for a day or two, then complete a project I decided to do. Many friends have asked me for advice on Estate settlement from a will, and I have gave them what they wanted. In my spare time, I have most of what will be a ten page brochure ready for typing when I get home...title...The End Of The Line...an aid to those charged with estate settlements.
I will do another page mid week .
Watch Saskatchewan demolish Toronto on Sunday...then watch them get the same treatment from Calgary.
Wednesday 15 November 2017
Vientiane, Laos November 16, 2017
Vientiane is a small city by most standards, even more so to be a Capital city. It is great for walking, and has food outlets, markets and sites of interest in all quarters. The most visited site is the mini "Arc de Triomphe", which was started in 1962, and has not been finished due to the turbulent history of this country. We walked there on Tuesday, and spent about an hour.The structure is about ten stories high, with the observation deck on the seventh. There is no elevator, but for a small fee, one can walk up the hundred and some stairs. The temperature is 34 degrees so we passed on that offer.
behind the structure is a magnificent garden with fountains ans plants galore.
About two kilometers west of the Arc, is the Presidential Palace. We walked there, and visited museums and other places of interest, including a long walkway and night market on the side of the Mekong river.
The money here in Laos is called the Kip, pronounced "Keep", with one Canadian dollar worth 6300 Kip, one USD at 8385...one needs a backpack to carry the money....just last evening two of us dined for 93000!!!.
Today is to be one of leasure, maybe the night market after five, and a look at the setting sun over the Mekong about five thirty. Tomorrow is the flight back to Bangkok.
Yesterday while walking near the Presidential Palace, I heard someone calling, sir, sir; I looked back and saw two young ladies were trying to catch up to me...they were about 15 or 16 years old. I stopped to talk; they had been assigned by their English teacher to go out and fine some English speaking tourist for a five minute interview. They had met others but no one else wanted to be bothered. I st down in a temple grounds and we had a nice chat for about ten minutes, The one girl asked questions, the other filmed on her cell phone, for presentation to the class today. I made their day. Both were so polite, and happy that I would spend the time with them. Maybe tonight, I will be on the National News here!!!
Next page will be from my Apartment in down town Bangkok
behind the structure is a magnificent garden with fountains ans plants galore.
About two kilometers west of the Arc, is the Presidential Palace. We walked there, and visited museums and other places of interest, including a long walkway and night market on the side of the Mekong river.
The money here in Laos is called the Kip, pronounced "Keep", with one Canadian dollar worth 6300 Kip, one USD at 8385...one needs a backpack to carry the money....just last evening two of us dined for 93000!!!.
Today is to be one of leasure, maybe the night market after five, and a look at the setting sun over the Mekong about five thirty. Tomorrow is the flight back to Bangkok.
Yesterday while walking near the Presidential Palace, I heard someone calling, sir, sir; I looked back and saw two young ladies were trying to catch up to me...they were about 15 or 16 years old. I stopped to talk; they had been assigned by their English teacher to go out and fine some English speaking tourist for a five minute interview. They had met others but no one else wanted to be bothered. I st down in a temple grounds and we had a nice chat for about ten minutes, The one girl asked questions, the other filmed on her cell phone, for presentation to the class today. I made their day. Both were so polite, and happy that I would spend the time with them. Maybe tonight, I will be on the National News here!!!
Next page will be from my Apartment in down town Bangkok
Monday 13 November 2017
Vientiane, Laos, November 14, 2017
The family picked me up at 0700 Monday morning, and drove me to the local bus station; this is an open air restaurant. I knew I was in for a surprise when the staff told us the fare would be two dollars and thirty cents Canadian for the 75 kilometer trip to the border city of Nong Khai. The bus appeared right on time..a twenty year old school bus, modified for these type of trips...seats removed for luggage at the back, other seats installed for some comfort, and a door on the left side, front and back which were never shut for the entire trip. We started with 13 passengers, and as we went along, people along the road waved us down, got on at the back, and the ticket taker would go tend to them. At some places, we stopped and the ticket person delivered parcels. After three hours, we arrived at the border, and that ride was over. I had to do lots of paper work for the Lao Visa, but my friends did not require one. After lunch and the usual hour for processing, another vehicle took us to the hotel Vientiane SP in down town Vientiane. We checked in and settled, then set out to explore this city, sometimes called the Paris of Asia.
I will keep this page short. My computer is working ok, but the internet is totally unreliable. I have done this page twice to get this far. I expect to do an update before departing here for Bangkok on Friday afternoon.
I note my team , Saskatchewan defeated Ottawa on Sunday. Now, watch as they beat Toronto next weekend, and go on to play and be beaten by Calgary in the National Drunk, also sometimes called the Gray Cup!!!.
I will keep this page short. My computer is working ok, but the internet is totally unreliable. I have done this page twice to get this far. I expect to do an update before departing here for Bangkok on Friday afternoon.
I note my team , Saskatchewan defeated Ottawa on Sunday. Now, watch as they beat Toronto next weekend, and go on to play and be beaten by Calgary in the National Drunk, also sometimes called the Gray Cup!!!.
Saturday 11 November 2017
UP Date, November 12, 2017
I have some quiet time at the cabin this afternoon, so will do a short update. In the morning, we take a 0730 small bus to Nong Khai, which is a border city across the Mekong River from Vientiane, Laos.
From there, it is a short 25 kilometer taxi ride over the Friendship bridge to the Laotian capital, where we stay until Friday. Vientiane is a small city, laid out to some extent as a mini Paris. That is from the many years when France ruled there, and the other nations which we knew as youngsters as French Indo-China.
Yesterday was one of fun and games. We departed about nine in the morning with ten in an old pick up truck...the driver and I in front, five kids and three adults in the back. After an hour, we stopped at a kids water park for an hour while the kids had a swim and played in the pool and water slides. It was kids only, so they had a great time. We then drove another hour to the resort known as Kamsamboom. This is a large lake, which I understand is fed by overflows of the Mekong river which is close by. The place is about 130 kilometers east of the small city where I am now at, So Phisai. We had a traditional Thai lunch...lots of rice and very spicy food, then the kids went back into the water. Other than swimming, the only activity was banana boat rides...at about two dollars a person per ride. All ten kids had lots of fun, and the younger ones all asked me to come back again during school vacation next year....they said it was the best day of their vacation. No promises were made.
I will next report sometime after arrival in Vientiane. The temperature here continues around 33 to 34 degrees. It will be much cooler this evening, in Canada as my favorite Saskatchewan team beats the Ottawa team in the football playoffs.
From there, it is a short 25 kilometer taxi ride over the Friendship bridge to the Laotian capital, where we stay until Friday. Vientiane is a small city, laid out to some extent as a mini Paris. That is from the many years when France ruled there, and the other nations which we knew as youngsters as French Indo-China.
Yesterday was one of fun and games. We departed about nine in the morning with ten in an old pick up truck...the driver and I in front, five kids and three adults in the back. After an hour, we stopped at a kids water park for an hour while the kids had a swim and played in the pool and water slides. It was kids only, so they had a great time. We then drove another hour to the resort known as Kamsamboom. This is a large lake, which I understand is fed by overflows of the Mekong river which is close by. The place is about 130 kilometers east of the small city where I am now at, So Phisai. We had a traditional Thai lunch...lots of rice and very spicy food, then the kids went back into the water. Other than swimming, the only activity was banana boat rides...at about two dollars a person per ride. All ten kids had lots of fun, and the younger ones all asked me to come back again during school vacation next year....they said it was the best day of their vacation. No promises were made.
I will next report sometime after arrival in Vientiane. The temperature here continues around 33 to 34 degrees. It will be much cooler this evening, in Canada as my favorite Saskatchewan team beats the Ottawa team in the football playoffs.
Thursday 9 November 2017
So Phisai Thailand, November 10, 2017
This is my second try at this page; I just spent an hour doing a long page on rice farming, and as I was doing the proof reading, the screen disappeared and came back blank. It is not in the draft file.
so I have no idea what happened.
I will do the story of rice after I return to Canada. As I have more problems with this laptop, I will keep postings shorter for now.
Today is one of relaxing. Two days in the hot jungle with extra clothes because of the mosquitoes is enough for a new- comer .Tomorrow, we will take the kids to a near by water park for the day. Sunday is not yet decided. On Monday, all kids are back to school, and we will go over to Vientiane, Laos for four nights. We fly back to Bangkok on Friday at two in the afternoon. It will be an Air Asia flight.
Last evening, we did a long walk into the country side, and enjoyed the sun setting in the west; It goes down about six every day of the year.
I will do another post, if all goes well for this computer from Vientiane, probably \Monday evening.
so I have no idea what happened.
I will do the story of rice after I return to Canada. As I have more problems with this laptop, I will keep postings shorter for now.
Today is one of relaxing. Two days in the hot jungle with extra clothes because of the mosquitoes is enough for a new- comer .Tomorrow, we will take the kids to a near by water park for the day. Sunday is not yet decided. On Monday, all kids are back to school, and we will go over to Vientiane, Laos for four nights. We fly back to Bangkok on Friday at two in the afternoon. It will be an Air Asia flight.
Last evening, we did a long walk into the country side, and enjoyed the sun setting in the west; It goes down about six every day of the year.
I will do another post, if all goes well for this computer from Vientiane, probably \Monday evening.
Wednesday 8 November 2017
Report from So Phisai Thursday, November 9, 2017
I now have another problem with my laptop, and am not sure how long I have the use of it. I have decided to donate the laptop to the boys when I leave Thailand. Now, the numbers across the top on the keyboard will not print.
On Tuesday, we went to the farm and for the first time, I saw what the term, "Farm Labor", really means. My friends have 200 acres, (called rai,), consisting of about 45 acres of rice, 200 palm oil trees, and between 7-800 rubber trees. The setting is your basic dense jungle, few roads, just trails. The adjoining land is owned by other relatives and family members, who also have rubber trees and sugar cane which is over ten feet high. My friends are not harvesting rubber this year, but uncle is. I will have many photos of this when I return home. I was first exposed to the rubber tree business when in Brazil over 20 years ago. Their industry had all but disappeared because a British sailor had illegally smuggled about 70 thousand rubber tree seeds to England in 1875.At that time, Brazil was believed to have the only such trees in the world. The smuggler, Henry Wickham, worked with others at Kew England, and they sent seeds to India, Singapore and Malaysia, all British colonies at that time. Today, Thailand is the largest rubber producer in the world. I will speak more on rubber at another time.
Today, Tuesday is a lesson on palm oil. These huge palm trees grow rapidly, and those here are about eight years old, and about three feet across at the base. Each tree produces from one to three huge clusters of fruit, each protected by huge extremely sharp needled fawns or branches about three inches wide, and four to ten feet long. Strong clothing, thick gloves and a strong back are essential.
The branches are hacked off with a razor sharp five foot long tool, to get to the fruit cluster. The cluster is hacked off the tree trunk, and carried to a cart. Each cluster weighs from five to ten kilos, and is loaded with fruit that looks almost like fresh dates, but are mostly reddish in color. The trees are about twenty five feet apart, and the fruit clusters are carried to a cart for removal from the forest.
Now, for the hairy part. Two people on a motor bike, a driver and a good friend drive the load to a buyer several kilometers away. The draw bar on this trailer, which has about 150 kilos of weight in the palms, is higher than the center of pull from the motor bike. The danger is that a touch too much speed from the bike, in a rough ground, as we have here, or going up a steep hill, the bike will tend to flip backwards...fast. When I pointed out what could happen, I was informed.....we know....one broken leg and two motor bikes show us!!!. I did not offer to hold the trailer pull rod.At the end of the day when the second load had been delivered to the buyer, they received 500 Baht, that's twenty Canadian dollars for five hundred kilos of the rough palm fruit. The refined palm oil is used for cooking oil, and many household items.
In my next posting, which I hope to do tomorrow, I will tell you more than you may want to know about rice farming...which we did yesterday. And to answer your next question, Yes, I am still having fun!.
On Tuesday, we went to the farm and for the first time, I saw what the term, "Farm Labor", really means. My friends have 200 acres, (called rai,), consisting of about 45 acres of rice, 200 palm oil trees, and between 7-800 rubber trees. The setting is your basic dense jungle, few roads, just trails. The adjoining land is owned by other relatives and family members, who also have rubber trees and sugar cane which is over ten feet high. My friends are not harvesting rubber this year, but uncle is. I will have many photos of this when I return home. I was first exposed to the rubber tree business when in Brazil over 20 years ago. Their industry had all but disappeared because a British sailor had illegally smuggled about 70 thousand rubber tree seeds to England in 1875.At that time, Brazil was believed to have the only such trees in the world. The smuggler, Henry Wickham, worked with others at Kew England, and they sent seeds to India, Singapore and Malaysia, all British colonies at that time. Today, Thailand is the largest rubber producer in the world. I will speak more on rubber at another time.
Today, Tuesday is a lesson on palm oil. These huge palm trees grow rapidly, and those here are about eight years old, and about three feet across at the base. Each tree produces from one to three huge clusters of fruit, each protected by huge extremely sharp needled fawns or branches about three inches wide, and four to ten feet long. Strong clothing, thick gloves and a strong back are essential.
The branches are hacked off with a razor sharp five foot long tool, to get to the fruit cluster. The cluster is hacked off the tree trunk, and carried to a cart. Each cluster weighs from five to ten kilos, and is loaded with fruit that looks almost like fresh dates, but are mostly reddish in color. The trees are about twenty five feet apart, and the fruit clusters are carried to a cart for removal from the forest.
Now, for the hairy part. Two people on a motor bike, a driver and a good friend drive the load to a buyer several kilometers away. The draw bar on this trailer, which has about 150 kilos of weight in the palms, is higher than the center of pull from the motor bike. The danger is that a touch too much speed from the bike, in a rough ground, as we have here, or going up a steep hill, the bike will tend to flip backwards...fast. When I pointed out what could happen, I was informed.....we know....one broken leg and two motor bikes show us!!!. I did not offer to hold the trailer pull rod.At the end of the day when the second load had been delivered to the buyer, they received 500 Baht, that's twenty Canadian dollars for five hundred kilos of the rough palm fruit. The refined palm oil is used for cooking oil, and many household items.
In my next posting, which I hope to do tomorrow, I will tell you more than you may want to know about rice farming...which we did yesterday. And to answer your next question, Yes, I am still having fun!.
Monday 6 November 2017
November 07 , 2017 Dispatch from Thailand
Here at Phon Phisai, (spelling varies due to language difference), I have a cabin at a place called The Roseview Resort. It is on a farm about two kilometers from my friend's home in the small city. I have for the second time in my life, agreed to be taxied on a motor scooter if it is not raining. The forecast is for no rain while I am here!!!.
To finish about my flights here. The A-380 aircraft is double decker, with business and first class on the top deck, rows one to thirty,with the lower all economy class, rows 31 to 80. I was in row 33.
This was flight number 1102 for me, going back to my first flight in 1954. From London, we went over Brussels, near Nuremberg, over Budapest, over the Black and Caspian Seas, Over Tbilsi, Baku, Lahore, Kolkota, Rangoon and on to Bangkok. Total time was eleven hours and fifteen minutes, total miles 7261. I have more, but that is enough for now.
In three hours, we will go to the farm and pick Palms...not sure what that is, however I am about to fine out. Tomorrow will probably work the rice fields. For someone raised on a dry wheat farm in Western Canada, this is about as far away from that as possible, yet many similarities. The roosters at about four in the morning, then the donkey, the geese and ducks, and some things I do not yet know what. I was promised an adventure, and a full exposure to the Thai farm life...they will not let me down. The kids have grown so fast, that arm wrestling is not so easy...and much more in store.
This blog site is now just over 7500; Thank you all. If computer still works, I will do another report in maybe three days....around November 10.
To finish about my flights here. The A-380 aircraft is double decker, with business and first class on the top deck, rows one to thirty,with the lower all economy class, rows 31 to 80. I was in row 33.
This was flight number 1102 for me, going back to my first flight in 1954. From London, we went over Brussels, near Nuremberg, over Budapest, over the Black and Caspian Seas, Over Tbilsi, Baku, Lahore, Kolkota, Rangoon and on to Bangkok. Total time was eleven hours and fifteen minutes, total miles 7261. I have more, but that is enough for now.
In three hours, we will go to the farm and pick Palms...not sure what that is, however I am about to fine out. Tomorrow will probably work the rice fields. For someone raised on a dry wheat farm in Western Canada, this is about as far away from that as possible, yet many similarities. The roosters at about four in the morning, then the donkey, the geese and ducks, and some things I do not yet know what. I was promised an adventure, and a full exposure to the Thai farm life...they will not let me down. The kids have grown so fast, that arm wrestling is not so easy...and much more in store.
This blog site is now just over 7500; Thank you all. If computer still works, I will do another report in maybe three days....around November 10.
Sunday 5 November 2017
Report from Asia November 6, 2017
Hello all; I arrived in Bangkok on schedule, with two very good flights.My computer has been unable to log on to a wifi, so took it in yesterday, had fixed at about 32 dollars. The Air Canada flight departed 20 minutes late, and we arrived 40 minutes early in London. From Ottawa, east over the Strait of Belle Isle about mid way between Goose Bay and Gander, then direct to London. As often happens, London was in fog, and we had to go into a holding pattern for twenty minutes. When we landed, fog so thick planes could not move on the ground, so we set for another twenty minutes until fog lifted somewhat. After three hours, it was on to Bangkok with Thai Airways in the newest and biggest aeroplane flying, the A-380.. It was a very quiet, smooth flight. My seat was well forward of the wings, and therefor ahead of the four engines....fantastic. My seat mated were a lady and gentleman from England. He was the strong silent type, and his wife, who was originally from Malaysia made up for it. She was very friendly and chatty, so my entertainment for twelve hours. I probably was as chatty, however, she fell asleep as we were in landing mode, Bangkok.
After two days to adjust to the time change, and catch up on sleep, I came with friends to a place in North East Thailand, a place called Phon Phisai. It is not far from Laos, and the home of my Thai family and friends. The trip up from Bangkok was 12 hours in a luxury bus, with seats that were similar to Lazy-boy chairs. The cost was twenty seven dollars, with lunch included. It was from seven in the evening to seven this morning.
I will be here for the week, then on the weekend, we will take the boys to a water part on the Mekong river. In the meantime, I will visit the family rice farm which is just out of the city, and where I see bananas and all sorts of fruits growing.
This is about the highlights for now.
After two days to adjust to the time change, and catch up on sleep, I came with friends to a place in North East Thailand, a place called Phon Phisai. It is not far from Laos, and the home of my Thai family and friends. The trip up from Bangkok was 12 hours in a luxury bus, with seats that were similar to Lazy-boy chairs. The cost was twenty seven dollars, with lunch included. It was from seven in the evening to seven this morning.
I will be here for the week, then on the weekend, we will take the boys to a water part on the Mekong river. In the meantime, I will visit the family rice farm which is just out of the city, and where I see bananas and all sorts of fruits growing.
This is about the highlights for now.
Sunday 22 October 2017
New Update---October 22, 2017
The airline that I love to hate, (Air Canada), because they almost always give me reason to get excited...the wrong way, and I am not one to get excited...usually, have done it again. At least, they are consistent, and have not let me down this time either.
On Friday evening, I received an email from United Airlines, the carrier of record, (because I am using accumulated United miles for this trip.) United requested that I call them at a special 1-800 number due to a major change in my travel plans. I called at 2021, which is 8;21 in the evening, finally got a real person in Manila, Philippines, who informed me that Air Canada had cancelled their flights from London to Ottawa for the winter months. I was to return home to Ottawa from London on December 07. But, don't worry, Mr Don, we have you booked on another Air Canada flight to Toronto, then on to Ottawa. I asked for the flight details, and was informed that I would be required to stay in London for just over 12 hours !!!. I was not pleased. I strongly requested something better, or, if that was not possible, a free round trip to Warsaw so I could have lunch with a friend there while waiting...as a joke. My call was then transferred to an Air Canada agent in Montreal. I must say, this lady was extremely nice and helpful, and was in an awkward situation, because she had no control over what was happening. For the next two hours and fifteen minutes, (My longest phone call ever ...by far), it was me and the lady in Montreal, she with the agent in Manila. In the end, I was offered and accepted a flight from London to Montreal, then on to Ottawa. If all unfolds as now planned, I will be home just four hours later than the original plan, instead of about ten. The Air Canada agent must have been new...she could joke, and was happy not to get the brunt of someone with a foul mouth, blaming her. As we said our good byes, I remarked that we had been together on the phone longer than some couples have stayed married. She knew a case where that was a fact.
In my last post, I mentioned the large number of aircraft in which I have traveled. I decided to check my two logbooks, (one is full), and came up with these numbers; 69 fixed wing aircraft, 8 rotor wing, (helicopters, and 1 baloon...over the Arizona desert in Sedona.
My next update, I hope will be from Bangkok. I just had to get this on record.
On Friday evening, I received an email from United Airlines, the carrier of record, (because I am using accumulated United miles for this trip.) United requested that I call them at a special 1-800 number due to a major change in my travel plans. I called at 2021, which is 8;21 in the evening, finally got a real person in Manila, Philippines, who informed me that Air Canada had cancelled their flights from London to Ottawa for the winter months. I was to return home to Ottawa from London on December 07. But, don't worry, Mr Don, we have you booked on another Air Canada flight to Toronto, then on to Ottawa. I asked for the flight details, and was informed that I would be required to stay in London for just over 12 hours !!!. I was not pleased. I strongly requested something better, or, if that was not possible, a free round trip to Warsaw so I could have lunch with a friend there while waiting...as a joke. My call was then transferred to an Air Canada agent in Montreal. I must say, this lady was extremely nice and helpful, and was in an awkward situation, because she had no control over what was happening. For the next two hours and fifteen minutes, (My longest phone call ever ...by far), it was me and the lady in Montreal, she with the agent in Manila. In the end, I was offered and accepted a flight from London to Montreal, then on to Ottawa. If all unfolds as now planned, I will be home just four hours later than the original plan, instead of about ten. The Air Canada agent must have been new...she could joke, and was happy not to get the brunt of someone with a foul mouth, blaming her. As we said our good byes, I remarked that we had been together on the phone longer than some couples have stayed married. She knew a case where that was a fact.
In my last post, I mentioned the large number of aircraft in which I have traveled. I decided to check my two logbooks, (one is full), and came up with these numbers; 69 fixed wing aircraft, 8 rotor wing, (helicopters, and 1 baloon...over the Arizona desert in Sedona.
My next update, I hope will be from Bangkok. I just had to get this on record.
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Asian Update October 18, 2017
I will be on my way to London, and then to Bangkok two weeks from tonight. I will be out of here about Ten -Thirty in the evening, November 01, and in London about seven hours later.
After a stopover of two and a half hours, I will be onward to Bangkok, in one of the biggest, latest, and newest aircraft flying today. This flight of eleven and a half hours will be in a Thai Airways Jumbo A-380, double-decker, four engine aircraft. If one is interested, just have a google to "Thai Airways A-380 seating plan." While I have flown in about 64...at last count, different aircraft, this will be my first time in the A-380. I get to do the same trip on my return to Ottawa on December 07, although the flight being westward, will be an hour and a half longer from Bangkok to London. The reason for this, for those who have not flown, is the fact that at jet altitude, the winds are always west to east.
With the help of Thai friends on site, I have rented a furnished one bedroom apartment in the Silom district of Bangkok for six weeks. This is at a cost of about seven hundred dollars. I will be in Thailand for about 34 days, and they rent for a month, or two week intervals. It is much cheaper to go the extra week. The cost is about twelve hundred cheaper than hotels for that time in Bangkok, where costs are higher than elsewhere. The unit is completely furnished to Canadian standards...for tourists. If interested, have a google to ,"Golden Living, Silom, Bangkok". I will be going into northern Thailand near the Laotian city of Vientiane, with my Thai friends, and we may spend a few days in that city.
The majority of my time will be in Bangkok and area.
My Thai friends are making plans for me, and want to show me their rice farms, and related points of interest. I suspect that I will get a lesson or two on how to harvest rice. A trip to a waterpark with the kids will also be on the agenda.
That is about it for now. will plan to do an arrival post from the Golden Living address about 03 November.
Sunday 24 September 2017
The November Adventure is Booked/ September 24, 2017
It had been my intention to return to Thailand in November, for a holiday, free from the usual work at the Orphanage. Because of the heated words and unbalanced minds of the North Korean leader, and his chief antagonist, mr Trump (small mr intended), I wanted to avoid the six to ten hours that one would normally be in the immediate danger zone, in an aircraft,if it came to actions, rather than nasty words. The falling debris from an August missile test missed one flight by ten minutes. The flight had just passed the zone of impact by about 60 miles. While it is, in my view, unlikely to happen, I do not wish to take the chance at this time.
In July, I received an email from United Airlines, informing me of the large pool of points on my file, and asking me to use or lose them by May 2018. I have been able to accomplish both objectives.
I am departing Ottawa on November 01, at 10;25 P.M., (2225), and flying with Air Canada to London. This is a trip of about six and a half hours. After about two and a half hours in London, I will take a Thai Airways flight direct to Bangkok. This will take about eleven and a half hours. It will be the first time I have traveled to Asia with only one stop, from Ottawa. It will also take about ten hours off the travel time. I will arrive in Bangkok at 0615 on the morning of November 03.
The return flight will be the same route and carriers, departing Bangkok on December 07, however, because we are then going into head winds all the way home, (usually prevailing westerlies), we will be almost two hours longer going into London, and over an hour longer to Ottawa. I depart Bangkok just after midnight, 0015, and arrive Ottawa at 3;15, (1515), on the afternoon of the same day. That makes for one very long day!.
United, Air Canada, and Thai Airlines are all part of a consortium of about 31 carriers known as "Star Alliance". These carriers all work together to make travel quite "Seamless", and use accumulated points interchangeably. That is why I am travelling on a free ticket, with these two airlines,with no United involvement, with airport taxes the only out of pocket expense.
Later in October, probably around the 20th, I will do an update as to what I will be doing, including some work on my Thai family' farm, and doing water park things in the Mekong river nearby, with the kids.....all of us.
In July, I received an email from United Airlines, informing me of the large pool of points on my file, and asking me to use or lose them by May 2018. I have been able to accomplish both objectives.
I am departing Ottawa on November 01, at 10;25 P.M., (2225), and flying with Air Canada to London. This is a trip of about six and a half hours. After about two and a half hours in London, I will take a Thai Airways flight direct to Bangkok. This will take about eleven and a half hours. It will be the first time I have traveled to Asia with only one stop, from Ottawa. It will also take about ten hours off the travel time. I will arrive in Bangkok at 0615 on the morning of November 03.
The return flight will be the same route and carriers, departing Bangkok on December 07, however, because we are then going into head winds all the way home, (usually prevailing westerlies), we will be almost two hours longer going into London, and over an hour longer to Ottawa. I depart Bangkok just after midnight, 0015, and arrive Ottawa at 3;15, (1515), on the afternoon of the same day. That makes for one very long day!.
United, Air Canada, and Thai Airlines are all part of a consortium of about 31 carriers known as "Star Alliance". These carriers all work together to make travel quite "Seamless", and use accumulated points interchangeably. That is why I am travelling on a free ticket, with these two airlines,with no United involvement, with airport taxes the only out of pocket expense.
Later in October, probably around the 20th, I will do an update as to what I will be doing, including some work on my Thai family' farm, and doing water park things in the Mekong river nearby, with the kids.....all of us.
Saturday 2 September 2017
Ottawa, September 2, 2017
In my (un)biased opinion, the only good thing that I can say about Toronto is the fact that it is 500 kilometers from where I live. More about that later.
We spent a great afternoon at the Heritage Park in South West Calgary, and took the old trai ride and finished the visit with the paddle wheel boat on the Glenmore reservoir. The weather was ideal for the activities. The following morning, we drove to Edmonton, with a three hour stop in Red Deer for shopping. We spent Tuesday evening with former work associates from Yellowknife. A very nice touch to a most enjoyable two week vacation. When I returned the car to Enterprise on Wednesday morning, we found that we had completed 3134 kilometers in the two weeks. Amazing. We found prices within the parks to be outrageous, but since the federal government was gaining the tax money, there was no attempt to control prices, even though it was in and on Federal property. Would you pay over one hundred dollars for a canoe rental at Lake Louise..for one hour?. Hotels that offered rooms at eighty dollars a night last summer were up to three hundred this year, and the streets were lined with cars bearing plates from south of the border. At the Icefields, sandwiches were nine dollars each.
We stayed outside the parks and drove in each day.
Thursday morning, we took the shuttle to the airport at Edmonton, and checked in for our flight to Toronto. All went as scheduled until we got to Toronto. Our Westjet aircraft had to wait ten minutes at the assigned gate for someone to marshall the aircraft up to the bridge. We then waited just over an hour for the luggage to get on the belt. After we did get our luggage, we waited another hour for the shuttle bus to get to us...it was 15 minutes away when we got our luggage. The scene outside terminal three was nothing short of chaos. taxis, limos, and shuttle buses, along with private cars were all fighting for space and passengers. People were leaving their vehicles to go look for passengers, and during our more than one hour there, not once did an airport authority or security person come near the assigned pickup location. Absolute madness. We took the shuttle back to the terminal one location the next morning at noon. It was more civil at the departure gate. My friend went to check in for the Air Canada flight home to Warsaw, I took the train downtown to Union Station. Union station has been under modifications and renewals for nearly three years, and is a mess, no better than when renovations started. Luggage carts are not allowed in Union Station, so one must carry all luggage by hand. VIA did depart and arrive on time for my trip to Ottawa. In typical VIA thinking, they are now integrating new cars into the system...each new car is half facing forward seats, and half facing backwards...a good reason not to use them unless one must....there is still the bus. No wonder, Toronto has loosing Baseball, soccer, basketball and hockey teams....peoples interests are never taken into consideration.
I will be back by the end of September with plans for my next trip to Asia...probably via Europe due to the situation with North Korea. I do not want to spend six hours flying within the missile landing zones of their rockets....which are never advertised in advance as required by law.
We spent a great afternoon at the Heritage Park in South West Calgary, and took the old trai ride and finished the visit with the paddle wheel boat on the Glenmore reservoir. The weather was ideal for the activities. The following morning, we drove to Edmonton, with a three hour stop in Red Deer for shopping. We spent Tuesday evening with former work associates from Yellowknife. A very nice touch to a most enjoyable two week vacation. When I returned the car to Enterprise on Wednesday morning, we found that we had completed 3134 kilometers in the two weeks. Amazing. We found prices within the parks to be outrageous, but since the federal government was gaining the tax money, there was no attempt to control prices, even though it was in and on Federal property. Would you pay over one hundred dollars for a canoe rental at Lake Louise..for one hour?. Hotels that offered rooms at eighty dollars a night last summer were up to three hundred this year, and the streets were lined with cars bearing plates from south of the border. At the Icefields, sandwiches were nine dollars each.
We stayed outside the parks and drove in each day.
Thursday morning, we took the shuttle to the airport at Edmonton, and checked in for our flight to Toronto. All went as scheduled until we got to Toronto. Our Westjet aircraft had to wait ten minutes at the assigned gate for someone to marshall the aircraft up to the bridge. We then waited just over an hour for the luggage to get on the belt. After we did get our luggage, we waited another hour for the shuttle bus to get to us...it was 15 minutes away when we got our luggage. The scene outside terminal three was nothing short of chaos. taxis, limos, and shuttle buses, along with private cars were all fighting for space and passengers. People were leaving their vehicles to go look for passengers, and during our more than one hour there, not once did an airport authority or security person come near the assigned pickup location. Absolute madness. We took the shuttle back to the terminal one location the next morning at noon. It was more civil at the departure gate. My friend went to check in for the Air Canada flight home to Warsaw, I took the train downtown to Union Station. Union station has been under modifications and renewals for nearly three years, and is a mess, no better than when renovations started. Luggage carts are not allowed in Union Station, so one must carry all luggage by hand. VIA did depart and arrive on time for my trip to Ottawa. In typical VIA thinking, they are now integrating new cars into the system...each new car is half facing forward seats, and half facing backwards...a good reason not to use them unless one must....there is still the bus. No wonder, Toronto has loosing Baseball, soccer, basketball and hockey teams....peoples interests are never taken into consideration.
I will be back by the end of September with plans for my next trip to Asia...probably via Europe due to the situation with North Korea. I do not want to spend six hours flying within the missile landing zones of their rockets....which are never advertised in advance as required by law.
Tuesday 15 August 2017
Update August 15, 2017
I have not recently updated this site because there were, and still are many uncertainties regarding my western Canada trip. The forest fire situation that has been going on in British Columbia all summer is still a major problem, and has caused us to make major changes to the travel plan.
I will depart Ottawa on a VIA train at 0600 Thursday, August 17, and am scheduled to arrive in Toronto at 10.00. I will then take a fast shuttle train that Toronto put in place last year. It runs from Toronto Union Station to the airport. This saves being ripped off by the taxi companies. The one way fare on the train is nine dollars. My Polish friend is scheduled to arrive at 1240, but since it is on an AirCanada flight, it could be anytime within twelve hours of that. (No bias here).
Since my friend has by then been on the go for almost 20 hours, we are staying near the airport, and fly to Edmonton at nine the next morning on Westjet. At Edmonton, we have a car rental, and, after some shopping at West Edmonton Mall, (My friends number one priority...ladies like shopping), will head to the Dawson Creek,/ Ft. St John area of B.C. I have three brothers and two sisters that have lived there all their lives. Some have not been more than 100 kilometers from there. (Remember that TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies). Oh yes, they do not have computers.
The original plan was to spend a few days visiting family and friends, then drive down and spend three days in each of Jasper and Banff National Parks. Because of severe air quality numbers, with no change in sight, we have cancelled Banff hotel reservations, which were actually in Golden, B.C. with Jasper looking to also be dropped. Since we were to be with my niece in her motor home at Jasper, there were no hotel reservations to consider. Today was the "Cancel or Pay ", date for the Banff/Golden reservations.
The bottom line is simple. We will decide what to do after arriving in the Peace River area, and having a good look at all those cows, sheep and the smoke situation.
I will go to a McDonalds or a Tim Hortons and do an update while in the Dawson Creek area.
We return to Toronto on August 30, at eight in the evening, and each return home the following day.
Upon my return here, I have my annual medical, eye exams, etc then will plan my next trip to Thailand and spend some time with my Thai family.
Question; What would you do with time on your hands, and 83 thousand air miles to spend?. I have agreed to help my Thai friends with their harvest....three days in a rice paddy, harvesting the way they do...by hand!. Stay Tuned.
I will depart Ottawa on a VIA train at 0600 Thursday, August 17, and am scheduled to arrive in Toronto at 10.00. I will then take a fast shuttle train that Toronto put in place last year. It runs from Toronto Union Station to the airport. This saves being ripped off by the taxi companies. The one way fare on the train is nine dollars. My Polish friend is scheduled to arrive at 1240, but since it is on an AirCanada flight, it could be anytime within twelve hours of that. (No bias here).
Since my friend has by then been on the go for almost 20 hours, we are staying near the airport, and fly to Edmonton at nine the next morning on Westjet. At Edmonton, we have a car rental, and, after some shopping at West Edmonton Mall, (My friends number one priority...ladies like shopping), will head to the Dawson Creek,/ Ft. St John area of B.C. I have three brothers and two sisters that have lived there all their lives. Some have not been more than 100 kilometers from there. (Remember that TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies). Oh yes, they do not have computers.
The original plan was to spend a few days visiting family and friends, then drive down and spend three days in each of Jasper and Banff National Parks. Because of severe air quality numbers, with no change in sight, we have cancelled Banff hotel reservations, which were actually in Golden, B.C. with Jasper looking to also be dropped. Since we were to be with my niece in her motor home at Jasper, there were no hotel reservations to consider. Today was the "Cancel or Pay ", date for the Banff/Golden reservations.
The bottom line is simple. We will decide what to do after arriving in the Peace River area, and having a good look at all those cows, sheep and the smoke situation.
I will go to a McDonalds or a Tim Hortons and do an update while in the Dawson Creek area.
We return to Toronto on August 30, at eight in the evening, and each return home the following day.
Upon my return here, I have my annual medical, eye exams, etc then will plan my next trip to Thailand and spend some time with my Thai family.
Question; What would you do with time on your hands, and 83 thousand air miles to spend?. I have agreed to help my Thai friends with their harvest....three days in a rice paddy, harvesting the way they do...by hand!. Stay Tuned.
Sunday 11 June 2017
Update, June 11, 2017
This update is later than I had expected, but here we go. My next trip will be within Canada ; A visit to the Western provinces, which I briefly spoke about in my last blog. I can report that it will be somewhat more interesting than indications were in May.
I have a Polish lawyer friend who lives in Warsaw, that will join me for the western travels, so she can see the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This lady was my tour guide when I was in Warsaw five years ago, on my way around the world. She came to Canada in September 2014, and I was able to show her the sights from Niagara Falls to Quebec City. We keep in contact rather frequently, and are in the finishing phase of setting the details for a travel that will go from August 17 to 31 inclusive.
My friend, Agata will arrive in Toronto August 17 at one in the afternoon, on an Air Canada flight from Warsaw. (I had absolutely nothing to do with the Air Canada booking). She could not get a good flight to Edmonton, Alberta from her home city. I will take a Via train from Ottawa to Toronto on the same date, departing here at six in the morning and arriving at Ten.....in the morning if Via is anywhere near on time. I will report that detail in the fall. There is a rather new ( two year, about),fast train from Toronto's Union Station to the airport. This protects travelers from being ripped off by the taxi industry. At first, it was going to be a government rip of, of twenty eight dollars a ride, but not many average people would use it, so the government ordered their minions to reduce the fare to nine dollars, and now it is doing good....not bad for a 20 minute ride. It will be the first time I have used this service.
We will fly to Edmonton on 18th, and use a rental car to drive to the Ft St John and Dawson Creek area of Northern British Columbia. After about three days there, we will go south into the mountains and tour there until the 30th day of August. on that day, we return to Edmonton, return the car and fly back to Toronto. We both return home on August 31.
I joined the so called, Mile High Club during my recent return from Asia when I surpassed the 2000
hours in an airplane magic number. That is over 83 days, at 24 hours each.
I do not expect to do any update until probably early August. The number of contacts to this site is just over 7500. Thank you all for your interest. I hope to have an expert on Windows 10 help me to post photos from this upcoming adventure. Talk to you in August.
I have a Polish lawyer friend who lives in Warsaw, that will join me for the western travels, so she can see the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This lady was my tour guide when I was in Warsaw five years ago, on my way around the world. She came to Canada in September 2014, and I was able to show her the sights from Niagara Falls to Quebec City. We keep in contact rather frequently, and are in the finishing phase of setting the details for a travel that will go from August 17 to 31 inclusive.
My friend, Agata will arrive in Toronto August 17 at one in the afternoon, on an Air Canada flight from Warsaw. (I had absolutely nothing to do with the Air Canada booking). She could not get a good flight to Edmonton, Alberta from her home city. I will take a Via train from Ottawa to Toronto on the same date, departing here at six in the morning and arriving at Ten.....in the morning if Via is anywhere near on time. I will report that detail in the fall. There is a rather new ( two year, about),fast train from Toronto's Union Station to the airport. This protects travelers from being ripped off by the taxi industry. At first, it was going to be a government rip of, of twenty eight dollars a ride, but not many average people would use it, so the government ordered their minions to reduce the fare to nine dollars, and now it is doing good....not bad for a 20 minute ride. It will be the first time I have used this service.
We will fly to Edmonton on 18th, and use a rental car to drive to the Ft St John and Dawson Creek area of Northern British Columbia. After about three days there, we will go south into the mountains and tour there until the 30th day of August. on that day, we return to Edmonton, return the car and fly back to Toronto. We both return home on August 31.
I joined the so called, Mile High Club during my recent return from Asia when I surpassed the 2000
hours in an airplane magic number. That is over 83 days, at 24 hours each.
I do not expect to do any update until probably early August. The number of contacts to this site is just over 7500. Thank you all for your interest. I hope to have an expert on Windows 10 help me to post photos from this upcoming adventure. Talk to you in August.
Monday 22 May 2017
Ottawa, May 22, 2017
This is the end of a long weekend here in Canada. It is the date we celebrate the reigning monarchs' birthday, regardless of when it really is. The Queens' actual birth date is April 21, same day as mine, and in my view should be celebrated then. Most Canadians have no idea why they have this holiday.
I see from the statistics for this site that it has been viewed just over 7,200 times. It has been up and running for five years. I thank all from the many countries who continue to follow my experiences in foreign lands. As I have stated before, I log all my flights, and have done so since the third flight I ever made. As a result of my last trip, I now have 2008 hours of flying time. That is the equivalent of 83 days of continuous flying, plus 16 hours. I still enjoy travelling by air as much as always. These hours were accumulated in 67 different types of aircraft....and one balloon.
My next travels will be to Alberta and B.C., probably in August to visit family. Not much excitement there. I have three brothers who have never left the farms, so I will get updated on how all the animals are doing, and in particular, that old sheep that was sick when I was out there two years ago...gee, I can hardly wait.
I just today completed the task of placing all my recent photos in an album. I decided to make prints from all the photos, and then after doing some reductions for similar and duplicates, make one album. I ended up with around 275 keepers. I took 400 to a developer in Bangkok and had copies made at a cent each. They are 17 cents each here in Walmart. The problem is, there was an accident, and all were erased from the disk in Thailand.
A neat feature with the Cathay Pacific aircraft that I traveled in is the fact they are equipped with a camera in the front of the aircraft, just behind the front nose wheel. I keep my monitor to the flight path, and switch back and forth from that to the nose view. I know some folks could care less, and prefer to watch rerun movies, or cartoons, but I like to know where we are and all such information...like outside temperature at minus 85. By the way, if anyone would like a nose view of us over lake Ontario, wheels down on approach to Toronto airport, I have them, autographed at just 25 dollars each....limit two to a customer.
Three places that I attended while in Thailand , and which have great photos on the internet are; Wat Doi Suthep, and Wat Phatat Doi Kam , Royal Gardens Rajapruek, all at Chiang Mai. Included in the gardens which cover many acres is an area with over 1000 varieties of orchids.
The place is so big that it is easy to stay there all day.
The Wats are Buddhist temples, with fantastic artwork from hundreds of years ago. The first is gold leaf everywhere, and the second is white...unusual. Both are on mountains. Chiang Mai is a former capital city, so has many features not found elsewhere in the country. One of these is a canal, which 1200 years ago was a moat around the city. It is about 2 kilometers square and is a wonderful area for walking with many fountains and special features.
Thailand is still in a somber mood, as their beloved king passed away last October. They have a three day cremation service planned for the end of October this year. Millions are being spent on all the special feature facilities that will be used . As a result, many places are restricted for tourists, and I did not go there.
By the way, I am kidding about the photos for sale. I do have two, but only a Leafs fan would want one.
I will have an update of a western trip, and what that might entail by the end of May.
I see from the statistics for this site that it has been viewed just over 7,200 times. It has been up and running for five years. I thank all from the many countries who continue to follow my experiences in foreign lands. As I have stated before, I log all my flights, and have done so since the third flight I ever made. As a result of my last trip, I now have 2008 hours of flying time. That is the equivalent of 83 days of continuous flying, plus 16 hours. I still enjoy travelling by air as much as always. These hours were accumulated in 67 different types of aircraft....and one balloon.
My next travels will be to Alberta and B.C., probably in August to visit family. Not much excitement there. I have three brothers who have never left the farms, so I will get updated on how all the animals are doing, and in particular, that old sheep that was sick when I was out there two years ago...gee, I can hardly wait.
I just today completed the task of placing all my recent photos in an album. I decided to make prints from all the photos, and then after doing some reductions for similar and duplicates, make one album. I ended up with around 275 keepers. I took 400 to a developer in Bangkok and had copies made at a cent each. They are 17 cents each here in Walmart. The problem is, there was an accident, and all were erased from the disk in Thailand.
A neat feature with the Cathay Pacific aircraft that I traveled in is the fact they are equipped with a camera in the front of the aircraft, just behind the front nose wheel. I keep my monitor to the flight path, and switch back and forth from that to the nose view. I know some folks could care less, and prefer to watch rerun movies, or cartoons, but I like to know where we are and all such information...like outside temperature at minus 85. By the way, if anyone would like a nose view of us over lake Ontario, wheels down on approach to Toronto airport, I have them, autographed at just 25 dollars each....limit two to a customer.
Three places that I attended while in Thailand , and which have great photos on the internet are; Wat Doi Suthep, and Wat Phatat Doi Kam , Royal Gardens Rajapruek, all at Chiang Mai. Included in the gardens which cover many acres is an area with over 1000 varieties of orchids.
The place is so big that it is easy to stay there all day.
The Wats are Buddhist temples, with fantastic artwork from hundreds of years ago. The first is gold leaf everywhere, and the second is white...unusual. Both are on mountains. Chiang Mai is a former capital city, so has many features not found elsewhere in the country. One of these is a canal, which 1200 years ago was a moat around the city. It is about 2 kilometers square and is a wonderful area for walking with many fountains and special features.
Thailand is still in a somber mood, as their beloved king passed away last October. They have a three day cremation service planned for the end of October this year. Millions are being spent on all the special feature facilities that will be used . As a result, many places are restricted for tourists, and I did not go there.
By the way, I am kidding about the photos for sale. I do have two, but only a Leafs fan would want one.
I will have an update of a western trip, and what that might entail by the end of May.
Thursday 18 May 2017
Ottawa, Ontario, May 18, 2017
I arrived home at 02;00 on Tuesday, after 30 hours of travel. The flights were late both out of Hongkong, and Toronto. Hongkong is often fogged in, so all flights are given times to start engines, before taxiing out. In our case, we sat in the plane for almost an hour, due heavy inbound traffic. After that, the flight to Toronto, almost direct, south of Japan, Vancouver, Winnipeg, etc was 14 and one half hours. We were given dinner about two hours after departure, then, with all window blinds shut, were in the dark until they let us open blinds two hours out of Toronto, about seven P.M. on Tuesday. I am not complaining because Cathay Pacific Airlines offered a good service, but, I found it very hard to get excited about a breakfast, or dinner, whatever you wanted to call it, of either 24 hour old scrambled eggs and partly (in my view), cooked bacon, or, Mud Carp Congee at seven in the evening!.
I had a grand time in Thailand, as I always do. The only problem I had was the lack of good internet service. The military took over three years ago, walk in to the Prime Ministers office, told her to go home, and, with 721 officers and thousands of men, took charge. (That could not happen in Canada, as the army would never be able to find our prime minister, or anyone else in charge.) A personal view here). The rainy season was arriving as I departed Bangkok, but we only had two days with afternoon showers while I was there.
Now regarding the internet. The Army took over Google Thailand, and controls the speed of the internet, so much so that they can slow it down so one just gives up waiting to get on. I understand they know which are foreign computers by the Internet Protocol address, and many times, I got the notation,"Google Thailand wants to know your location". There were two boxes...Release, and Refuse. If I had refused, I would not get on...at any time. They have, as of this week, taken over Facebook, also because they do not want Thai or anyone else there to say bad things about the government...army. Generals do not like that!!!.
To me, it is sad to see all the fast food chains that are moving into Thailand, and selling products made from wheat. Many streets have bakeries selling bread, cakes and such, even donut shops. The fact is these places are replacing local family outlets which once sold native foods like rice dishes. I noticed that local people do not patronize the fast foods, probably because of the North American pricing. They just cannot afford to shop there.
I will do another page before the weekend is over. This gets my sarcasm out of the way.
I had a grand time in Thailand, as I always do. The only problem I had was the lack of good internet service. The military took over three years ago, walk in to the Prime Ministers office, told her to go home, and, with 721 officers and thousands of men, took charge. (That could not happen in Canada, as the army would never be able to find our prime minister, or anyone else in charge.) A personal view here). The rainy season was arriving as I departed Bangkok, but we only had two days with afternoon showers while I was there.
Now regarding the internet. The Army took over Google Thailand, and controls the speed of the internet, so much so that they can slow it down so one just gives up waiting to get on. I understand they know which are foreign computers by the Internet Protocol address, and many times, I got the notation,"Google Thailand wants to know your location". There were two boxes...Release, and Refuse. If I had refused, I would not get on...at any time. They have, as of this week, taken over Facebook, also because they do not want Thai or anyone else there to say bad things about the government...army. Generals do not like that!!!.
To me, it is sad to see all the fast food chains that are moving into Thailand, and selling products made from wheat. Many streets have bakeries selling bread, cakes and such, even donut shops. The fact is these places are replacing local family outlets which once sold native foods like rice dishes. I noticed that local people do not patronize the fast foods, probably because of the North American pricing. They just cannot afford to shop there.
I will do another page before the weekend is over. This gets my sarcasm out of the way.
Sunday 14 May 2017
Good Bye From Bangkok May 14, 2016
I will keep this page relatively short, due major internet problems here, and the control on internet by powers that be. I will be departing hotel 0900 in the morning, and on flight at 1210. It will be midnight tomorrow night when I get home.
Dinner 83 floors up was excellent, and only cost about 32 dollars a person. Buffet style, everyone pays the same. A unique feature, is that they give you back five dollars equivalent each if you eat all the food you take....a great idea. I took photos, and they are just ok. The viewing platform is outside, around the building, and rotating one turn every five minutes...the platform is corrugated material, so not firm....that and one shaking from fear of the heights....just so so. I am kidding about the fear of course. Only time that high without an aeroplane for support, although, on second thought, The World Trade Center was 102 floors.
The rainy season is upon us now, some showers each day. I am out of here before the heavy rains come.
So I will do an update with lots of information before next weekend....from Ottawa.
Dinner 83 floors up was excellent, and only cost about 32 dollars a person. Buffet style, everyone pays the same. A unique feature, is that they give you back five dollars equivalent each if you eat all the food you take....a great idea. I took photos, and they are just ok. The viewing platform is outside, around the building, and rotating one turn every five minutes...the platform is corrugated material, so not firm....that and one shaking from fear of the heights....just so so. I am kidding about the fear of course. Only time that high without an aeroplane for support, although, on second thought, The World Trade Center was 102 floors.
The rainy season is upon us now, some showers each day. I am out of here before the heavy rains come.
So I will do an update with lots of information before next weekend....from Ottawa.
Monday 1 May 2017
Bangkok, May 1, 2017 DO NOT KNOCK NOK AIR !
I have traveled with many different carriers in my career and travels, but nothing quite like my flight yesterday with Nok Air. As I have spent most of my life around airports and airplanes, I have many different experiences that I can recall. I will not go there today.
Nok Air is a small and growing Thailand based carrier operating into nearby countries, as well as here in Thailand. They try to be unique, and they are. For example, my flight was on a Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, which in all parts of the world is operated in a central aisle configuration with three seats on each side of the aisle. Same with Nok, but, to look like the big jumbo jets, the first row is number 31. The last row is 61, for a total of 180 seats. The usual A, B, and C configuration is on the left side.Over on the other side of the aisle, the seats are H,J, and K. Water and six miniature cookies were served, coffee and other drinks were available at a fee.
I am now relaxing and enjoying this great city for the next two weeks. I stayed local to my residence today, but will hop on the skytrain service ,( elevated high speed transit. and see some of the city starting tomorrow.
I will do an update in a week or thereabouts.
Nok Air is a small and growing Thailand based carrier operating into nearby countries, as well as here in Thailand. They try to be unique, and they are. For example, my flight was on a Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, which in all parts of the world is operated in a central aisle configuration with three seats on each side of the aisle. Same with Nok, but, to look like the big jumbo jets, the first row is number 31. The last row is 61, for a total of 180 seats. The usual A, B, and C configuration is on the left side.Over on the other side of the aisle, the seats are H,J, and K. Water and six miniature cookies were served, coffee and other drinks were available at a fee.
I am now relaxing and enjoying this great city for the next two weeks. I stayed local to my residence today, but will hop on the skytrain service ,( elevated high speed transit. and see some of the city starting tomorrow.
I will do an update in a week or thereabouts.
Saturday 29 April 2017
Departure from Chiang Mai, April 29, 2017
My work here is finished, and I return to Bangkok tomorrow afternoon. The students go back by bus, their holiday is over, school begins may 1.
We did a lot and saw many historic sites while here. We took in two world famous Buddha temples,
Wat Doi Suthep, and Wat Kam, which is white, and over 1200 years old. Most images are gold coloured.
One morning was spent an Royal Gardens Rajapruek, which are over 500 acres of plants from all over Asia. My favorite area is the orchard garden which has thousands of different types of orchids.
My holiday is just half over, so I fly out tomorrow, on a flight called Nok Air, and the kids go back by bus. There are many smaller airlines here, and Nokair is a subsidiary of Thai International. The flight back to Bangkok is about 80 dollars.
While in Bangkok, I will be staying in a private home with friends that I have been working with. They do not have wi-fi at home, so each day after they go to work, I will go visit Mcdonalds.
I will do some site seeing, and relaxing. On May 15, I get to do that "day twice lived", and depart here at noon and travelling via Hong Kong, for a two hour stop, then to Toronto. I should get into Ottawa about midnight same day.
I hope to do an update from Bangkok, but am having computer problems, so may not get to do so.
My computer keeps jumping into the middle of what I have written, and it just erased the first paragraph of this page.
We did a lot and saw many historic sites while here. We took in two world famous Buddha temples,
Wat Doi Suthep, and Wat Kam, which is white, and over 1200 years old. Most images are gold coloured.
One morning was spent an Royal Gardens Rajapruek, which are over 500 acres of plants from all over Asia. My favorite area is the orchard garden which has thousands of different types of orchids.
My holiday is just half over, so I fly out tomorrow, on a flight called Nok Air, and the kids go back by bus. There are many smaller airlines here, and Nokair is a subsidiary of Thai International. The flight back to Bangkok is about 80 dollars.
While in Bangkok, I will be staying in a private home with friends that I have been working with. They do not have wi-fi at home, so each day after they go to work, I will go visit Mcdonalds.
I will do some site seeing, and relaxing. On May 15, I get to do that "day twice lived", and depart here at noon and travelling via Hong Kong, for a two hour stop, then to Toronto. I should get into Ottawa about midnight same day.
I hope to do an update from Bangkok, but am having computer problems, so may not get to do so.
My computer keeps jumping into the middle of what I have written, and it just erased the first paragraph of this page.
Monday 24 April 2017
Report from Chiang Mai, April 24, 2017
I came to Chiang Mai on Thursday, April 20, for a 12 hour trip. The Thai railroad system has an absolute fantastic On Time Departure record. We departed at exactly 0830, moved exactly two rail car lengths from the starting point, and sat for 15 minutes. We then moved another distance, about the same, and waited until 09;00. When later talking to the staff, they said that they had an enviable departure record. We did arrive in Chiang Mai on time. We were served drinks several times, snacks twice and lunch at noon...all included in the ticket price of 24 Canadian dollars, (641THB).
The weather here is in the mid to high 30s, with today being 37 degrees, and next two days at 38. There is no snow in site.
Yesterday, we went to the top of Mount Doi Suthep, which is a favorite Thai Buddhist site. at the top of a mountain 300 steps above the car drop off point. There is an escalator for those who choose to use it.
This is one of my favorite places in the world, Chiang Mai, with lots of historic sites, gardens and walking to do. The canal is a good morning walking site, so I go out at 0500, do an hour along the canal, thirty minutes out, then return. The hotel begins serving breakfast at 06;00, so after a shower, etc, its time to eat. Breakfast is included with the hotel room at a rate of about 40.00 dollars per night.
We stay indoors at mid day, and go out again in the late afternoon. Because we are only about nine degrees north of the equator, (540 nautical miles), the days are about the same all year, sun up around six, and setting about the same in the evening.
Royal Garden Park, and a 17 meter tall white Buddha are on the list for things to do while here.
Students decided to skip the zoo. Too many hills.
I declined to drive here, due to crazy drivers, and the fact it is done opposite to North America. I was accused of being the only person in the world with a drivers licence restricted to Right Side Driving only!!!. That was what I pleaded, but it did not sink in.
We return to Bangkok on April 30. I will probably report again before departing here.
The weather here is in the mid to high 30s, with today being 37 degrees, and next two days at 38. There is no snow in site.
Yesterday, we went to the top of Mount Doi Suthep, which is a favorite Thai Buddhist site. at the top of a mountain 300 steps above the car drop off point. There is an escalator for those who choose to use it.
This is one of my favorite places in the world, Chiang Mai, with lots of historic sites, gardens and walking to do. The canal is a good morning walking site, so I go out at 0500, do an hour along the canal, thirty minutes out, then return. The hotel begins serving breakfast at 06;00, so after a shower, etc, its time to eat. Breakfast is included with the hotel room at a rate of about 40.00 dollars per night.
We stay indoors at mid day, and go out again in the late afternoon. Because we are only about nine degrees north of the equator, (540 nautical miles), the days are about the same all year, sun up around six, and setting about the same in the evening.
Royal Garden Park, and a 17 meter tall white Buddha are on the list for things to do while here.
Students decided to skip the zoo. Too many hills.
I declined to drive here, due to crazy drivers, and the fact it is done opposite to North America. I was accused of being the only person in the world with a drivers licence restricted to Right Side Driving only!!!. That was what I pleaded, but it did not sink in.
We return to Bangkok on April 30. I will probably report again before departing here.
Tuesday 18 April 2017
Update, Bangkok April 18, 2017
I am now adapted to the time change and the weather and meal times. I have also been able to get up to date with my sleep. The temperature change is one that must be taken easily; coming from the cool climate of an Ottawa spring to this 34 degree daytime temperature must be done slowly. I only go out for a few hours at a time.
I was really impressed with the seamless travel offered by Westjet airlines of Canada, and Cathay Pacific, which is based in Hong Kong, and is about the oldest airline based in Asia. When I checked in with the Westjet counter in Ottawa, using only my passport, I was given the three boarding passes needed to get to here. They took the luggage and told me I would see it next in Bangkok. Thai is what happened. The Westjet flight even carried a Cathay Pacific flight number, which is called, "Code Share". The only problem was in Toronto where the distance from the Westjet gate to the Cathay Pacific counter was about three kilometers, and that is Westjet figures. They do have a mobile shuttle, operating for those who cannot walk that far. All along the way, there are signs that say, "Lets rethink Terminal Three". I agree they should rethink it all!!. Because International connections are to be a minimum of three hours, and Westjet did not have a later flight that could meet that time allowance, my flight departed at 8;00 P.M. for the 0150 Cathay departure. On that day, Westjet had a flight at 11;00 P.M., but not a legal connection.
I flew the similar route about a year ago with the other Canadian Carrier, (Air Canada), and had to recheck in at each transfer place because they did not allow other carriers to book boarding passes on Air Canada flights. No wonder I avoid them when at all possible.
My work here begins on Thursday, so will do an update from Chiang Mai next week.
I was really impressed with the seamless travel offered by Westjet airlines of Canada, and Cathay Pacific, which is based in Hong Kong, and is about the oldest airline based in Asia. When I checked in with the Westjet counter in Ottawa, using only my passport, I was given the three boarding passes needed to get to here. They took the luggage and told me I would see it next in Bangkok. Thai is what happened. The Westjet flight even carried a Cathay Pacific flight number, which is called, "Code Share". The only problem was in Toronto where the distance from the Westjet gate to the Cathay Pacific counter was about three kilometers, and that is Westjet figures. They do have a mobile shuttle, operating for those who cannot walk that far. All along the way, there are signs that say, "Lets rethink Terminal Three". I agree they should rethink it all!!. Because International connections are to be a minimum of three hours, and Westjet did not have a later flight that could meet that time allowance, my flight departed at 8;00 P.M. for the 0150 Cathay departure. On that day, Westjet had a flight at 11;00 P.M., but not a legal connection.
I flew the similar route about a year ago with the other Canadian Carrier, (Air Canada), and had to recheck in at each transfer place because they did not allow other carriers to book boarding passes on Air Canada flights. No wonder I avoid them when at all possible.
My work here begins on Thursday, so will do an update from Chiang Mai next week.
Saturday 15 April 2017
Mr Don Has Arrived In Bangkok
I had an excellent trip here, all flights were on time, and I saw a lot of new land. My flight from Toronto to Hongkong would usually go up over Yukon and Alaska. This time, we went up over Labrador, Greenland, Spitzbergen Island, across a lot of the Russian Arctic, and down the middle of Central Russia, over Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar, over a lot of China and into Hong Kong this took 15 hours flat.,then it was on to Bangkok for a two hour flight.
My hotel gave me a two level upgrade to an executive suite....a tough call, but someone had to occupy it. I will enjoy it for five days. It is raining this evening, but at 32 degrees, and I did not see any snow after passing Siberia!. When I got to the hotel, I stretched out for a few minutes to contemplate the afternoon.....no problem, I woke up three hours later, and most of it was gone.
Will do an update in a few days.
My hotel gave me a two level upgrade to an executive suite....a tough call, but someone had to occupy it. I will enjoy it for five days. It is raining this evening, but at 32 degrees, and I did not see any snow after passing Siberia!. When I got to the hotel, I stretched out for a few minutes to contemplate the afternoon.....no problem, I woke up three hours later, and most of it was gone.
Will do an update in a few days.
Wednesday 12 April 2017
Update April 12, 2017
Hello all;
All arrangements are now in place for my next adventure which will start in about 24 hours from now. For the first time in my travels, I will be travelling via Hong Kong. I must state, however that my time in that city will be limited to six hours at the airport; three hours going and three hours on the return. For the first time also, I will be taking a night flight. We will depart Toronto at 02;00 in the morning and arrive in Honk Kong at 05;00 their time after a 14 hour flight...all in the dark ahead of the sun. I use the term "we", meaning the flight, as I am travelling alone, but with two hundred others!. I have window seats all the way, 66A from Toronto on Cathay Pacific flight 829,and 55A from Hong Kong to Bangkok on same airline, flight 705.
So, I will depart Ottawa at eight in the evening on 13 April and after a one hour flight, arrive in Toronto. At 0150, we depart for Hong Kong. I will do an update as soon as possible after my arrival, but, perhaps some rest, and for sure a Thai Massage will be in order, or should I say "on order". I have had people try to walk over me in my lifetime, but that is not the same as a Thai lady walking all over you in her bare feet!.
As well as work in Bangkok, I will be visiting Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, and other things yet to be determined.
On the night of May 13, friends from Bangkok will be taking me to dinner at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Bangkok. It is a restaurant located at the 88 floor of the Baiyoke Tower.
If interested, you can Google this place and see what it looks like. It is one of the highest buildings in Thailand.
All arrangements are now in place for my next adventure which will start in about 24 hours from now. For the first time in my travels, I will be travelling via Hong Kong. I must state, however that my time in that city will be limited to six hours at the airport; three hours going and three hours on the return. For the first time also, I will be taking a night flight. We will depart Toronto at 02;00 in the morning and arrive in Honk Kong at 05;00 their time after a 14 hour flight...all in the dark ahead of the sun. I use the term "we", meaning the flight, as I am travelling alone, but with two hundred others!. I have window seats all the way, 66A from Toronto on Cathay Pacific flight 829,and 55A from Hong Kong to Bangkok on same airline, flight 705.
So, I will depart Ottawa at eight in the evening on 13 April and after a one hour flight, arrive in Toronto. At 0150, we depart for Hong Kong. I will do an update as soon as possible after my arrival, but, perhaps some rest, and for sure a Thai Massage will be in order, or should I say "on order". I have had people try to walk over me in my lifetime, but that is not the same as a Thai lady walking all over you in her bare feet!.
As well as work in Bangkok, I will be visiting Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, and other things yet to be determined.
On the night of May 13, friends from Bangkok will be taking me to dinner at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Bangkok. It is a restaurant located at the 88 floor of the Baiyoke Tower.
If interested, you can Google this place and see what it looks like. It is one of the highest buildings in Thailand.
Sunday 12 February 2017
Update February 12, 2017
Today, I went to this site and was surprised to find that all of my postings prior to 2014 have been removed. I have received several notifications in the last year that the Blogger program had been updated. I have assumed that it was updates to the computer program. It appears that it also means that older postings have been removed. Perhaps, it indicates that the older postings were not being read, and thus were deleted. Those postings contained photos and stories from the original in 2012 and all photos etc from my trip around the world in 2012.
As of today, there have been 6,803 contacts to this site, including my postings.
There will be an update prior to my going west to Asia again in mid April.
In addition to the normal works that I will be doing there, I will be visiting two of my favorite sites in Thailand. I will spend ten days in Chiang Mai, one of the ancient capitals of old Siam, and, if time permits, the small city of Kanchanaburi. This is the site of the famous Bridge On The River Kwai. The movie of that name depicts the horrors of the railroad from Thailand to Burma being built by war prisoners, and locals.
While the bridge and river are real, and most of the bridge was destroyed by bombs, the movie was filmed a thousand or more miles away in what was then Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. This site is about two hundred kilometers north west of Bangkok, with daily tours to the city by bus and train.
Because of the terrible history of the railway construction with forced labor and thousands of deaths as a result, Thailand closed most of the line from Kanchanaburi to the Burmese border in 1947. Burma is now called Myanmar although most people still call it by the formed name.
Thailand and Myanmar two years ago decided to reopen the full line for trade and tourism, and that has now happened. The locals call the border crossing point, "Two Gorges Gap".
As of today, there have been 6,803 contacts to this site, including my postings.
There will be an update prior to my going west to Asia again in mid April.
In addition to the normal works that I will be doing there, I will be visiting two of my favorite sites in Thailand. I will spend ten days in Chiang Mai, one of the ancient capitals of old Siam, and, if time permits, the small city of Kanchanaburi. This is the site of the famous Bridge On The River Kwai. The movie of that name depicts the horrors of the railroad from Thailand to Burma being built by war prisoners, and locals.
While the bridge and river are real, and most of the bridge was destroyed by bombs, the movie was filmed a thousand or more miles away in what was then Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. This site is about two hundred kilometers north west of Bangkok, with daily tours to the city by bus and train.
Because of the terrible history of the railway construction with forced labor and thousands of deaths as a result, Thailand closed most of the line from Kanchanaburi to the Burmese border in 1947. Burma is now called Myanmar although most people still call it by the formed name.
Thailand and Myanmar two years ago decided to reopen the full line for trade and tourism, and that has now happened. The locals call the border crossing point, "Two Gorges Gap".
Sunday 22 January 2017
Update, January 22, 2017
I hope that everyone had a safe holiday season. For many, the celebrations are far from over. Next Saturday, January 28 is the Chinese New Year; the year of the Rooster. The Vietnamese call this Tet, and for those communities, it is one of the most important holidays of the year. Last week, the Vietnamese community here in Ottawa did their community celebrations on the 17th, ending with a big lunch. They always celebrate as a group before the actual day, and with family on the actual weekend. The Chinese celebrate with family on the actual date, and with their local community afterwards. The Chinese community will have their get together on Friday, February 3. I worked with the Vietnamese last week, and will be doing the same work for the Chinese on their big day. My assistance is mainly driving those who have limited means of transport, including some that are restricted to wheel chairs. As a result of all this, I get to help celebrate New Year three times.
By the way, in Thailand where the official year is based on the Buddha, this is the year 2560.
All official documents bear this date.....often with 2017 also appearing.
Speaking of Thailand, I will be returning to do some work there on 13 of April. This time, I am trying something a bit different. Instead of going via Chicago and Tokyo, departing here early in the morning, like about 0600, and getting there 30 hours later, at midnight, I will do a night flight.
I will depart Ottawa at eight in the evening on 13 April, and fly down to Toronto with Westjet,
and then depart at ten to two in the morning of 14th, with Cathay Pacific (CX) airlines and go to Hong Kong. I will be arriving in Hong Kong at 0500 on the 15th, after a 14 hour flight. There will be a three hour stopover, then on to Bangkok for another three hour flight also with Cathay Pacific. I will arrive Bangkok at ten in the morning, Bangkok time on 15th of April. That is the plan. It should be a much less tiring flight being all at night time.
I did look at the possibility of going via Europe, such as London, with a day or two stopover, but that would have cost over 1300 dollars more....for the airfare alone.
The fact of the matter is that I can go all the way to Bangkok and back for 1145 dollars, and it cost over 1400 dollars to fly into Northern Canada !. I will probably do an update late March, and well before departure.
By the way, in Thailand where the official year is based on the Buddha, this is the year 2560.
All official documents bear this date.....often with 2017 also appearing.
Speaking of Thailand, I will be returning to do some work there on 13 of April. This time, I am trying something a bit different. Instead of going via Chicago and Tokyo, departing here early in the morning, like about 0600, and getting there 30 hours later, at midnight, I will do a night flight.
I will depart Ottawa at eight in the evening on 13 April, and fly down to Toronto with Westjet,
and then depart at ten to two in the morning of 14th, with Cathay Pacific (CX) airlines and go to Hong Kong. I will be arriving in Hong Kong at 0500 on the 15th, after a 14 hour flight. There will be a three hour stopover, then on to Bangkok for another three hour flight also with Cathay Pacific. I will arrive Bangkok at ten in the morning, Bangkok time on 15th of April. That is the plan. It should be a much less tiring flight being all at night time.
I did look at the possibility of going via Europe, such as London, with a day or two stopover, but that would have cost over 1300 dollars more....for the airfare alone.
The fact of the matter is that I can go all the way to Bangkok and back for 1145 dollars, and it cost over 1400 dollars to fly into Northern Canada !. I will probably do an update late March, and well before departure.
Tuesday 3 January 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Hello all. It has been longer than I expected since I last wrote to this site. We are now into the new year, and I hope you all had a good holiday season. Here we are January three and rain all day in Ottawa. Tomorrow, it will be a day of snow, and then very cold temperatures in another two days.
I have not made any plans for another adventure just yet, but do have a general idea of what I want to do. Of course, it will be another trip into Thailand, but no idea of how to go there, but it will most likely be in April, during another school break. There is another request for me to teach English for some kids who are looking for that type of training while on school break.
I am considering the possibility of going east through Europe next time, with a few days break, to make the trip less travel weary. There are obstacles, carrier strikes, and security issues to look at. It would be nice to do a stop over in Istanbul, but that is out of the question for security reasons.
I will be back in about two weeks with some firm plans.
I hope everyone has a great, safe, happy new year and all the best for you and your families in 2017
I have not made any plans for another adventure just yet, but do have a general idea of what I want to do. Of course, it will be another trip into Thailand, but no idea of how to go there, but it will most likely be in April, during another school break. There is another request for me to teach English for some kids who are looking for that type of training while on school break.
I am considering the possibility of going east through Europe next time, with a few days break, to make the trip less travel weary. There are obstacles, carrier strikes, and security issues to look at. It would be nice to do a stop over in Istanbul, but that is out of the question for security reasons.
I will be back in about two weeks with some firm plans.
I hope everyone has a great, safe, happy new year and all the best for you and your families in 2017
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