tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59625732011-04-22T08:15:05.138+07:00Gary in Thailand (and elsewhere)Righteous...Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.comBlogger551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1118571351181940082005-06-12T17:12:00.000+07:002005-06-12T17:18:29.390+07:00Testing, Testing...After a lonnng hiatus, I'm getting ready to start blogging again. I'm just putting this up to make sure I still remember how.A lot has happened in the last 8 months. It'll take quite a while to catch up, so get ready for some good reads.As soon as I get that part about posting pictures working right again.....Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1096082562744318082004-09-25T09:49:00.000+07:002004-09-25T11:50:42.636+07:00Salvador do Bahia, Part 2
Let's see...where was I? Oh yes. At the end of my last posting about Brazil (Sept 18) I started, but didn't finish, talking about the look of the city of Salvador.
The central square, or "Largo:" of Salvador's Pelourinho entertainment district
Salvador has a very striking urban landscape that's seems to me to be made up of four very different kinds of buildings.
1) Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1095963562964888042004-09-24T01:09:00.000+07:002004-09-24T01:19:22.966+07:00Here's What I'm Missing
I'm in Brazil for two more weeks, and I promise to get more information about Salvador and Bahia up here soon. It's a blast.
But meanwhile, I'm missing the annual Elephant Polo tournament in Hua Hin.
(photo courtesy of International Living)
You can read all about it at http://www.internationalliving.com/
Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1095775742551048942004-09-21T20:58:00.000+07:002004-09-22T04:15:59.930+07:00Brazil!
I've been in the city of Salvador in the state of Bahia in Brazil's Northeast for almost two weeks now. I've been waiting for a good story, or an overall narrative, to emerge to make a posting but it doesn't seem to be happening that way. I've had lots of interesting experiences, but no one single item that seems worth a whole post. So I'm going to make one long, maybe rambling, post.
Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1093127984011821892004-08-22T05:38:00.000+07:002004-08-26T08:34:18.660+07:00Jamming with the Ancients
I spent a couple of days last week in southeastern Arizona. Here are some establishing shots to give an idea of what the landscape is like in that part of the US.
The highlight was my stay at the Tucson home of Alan Shockley, an old friend of my brother's (and mine, though I don't see him often). Of the people I know, Alan is one of those few who have stayed most true Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1093113813861482782004-08-22T01:22:00.000+07:002004-08-22T01:54:10.230+07:00Welcome Home
I'm back in the US for a little while, and engaging in one of my favorite activities here: wandering aimlessly in the scenic Southwest. However, it seems this activity may be on the verge of being criminalized.
Scene of the interrogation: The Rio Grande Motel in Williamsburg, New Mexico.
Two nights ago, after a day of sightseeting (Gila Wilderness, Cliff Dwellings and Hot Springs.Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1092458989850888622004-08-14T11:37:00.000+07:002004-08-22T06:19:05.596+07:00An Old Photo
Writing the post about playing music reminded me that I have this photo from last November, from the Loy Krathong celebration in Chiang Dao. For the original story, see "The Trouble with Guide Books" in the archive for November). It was emailed to me by a Dutch couple who were there, and is the only shot I have that shows me actually playing with the villagers.
It was a great Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1091970928529876092004-08-08T19:29:00.000+07:002004-08-22T06:19:32.373+07:00My Music Scene
Among other satisfying developments in the last few months here, I've finally found a musical scene for myself. For several weeks now, I've been sitting in with a Thai music duo, doing live gigs.
Playing live at the Khao Suay ("beautiful rice") restaurant
The pair I've been playing with, Met and Boo, play and sing Thai country songs with acoustic/electric guitars and a drum Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1091013836939948422004-07-28T18:15:00.000+07:002004-08-22T06:03:45.346+07:00Blogging with the Karen
This post may take a little while to load. It's got a lot of pictures and some multimedia features I hope you'll like.
The regions around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north of Thailand are famous for their "hill tribes", ethnic groups not directly related to the Thai who remained in their own communities in the highlands while the Thai developed the valleys and river Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1090820045279298012004-07-26T12:10:00.000+07:002004-07-26T12:45:25.063+07:00A Fresh Start
I'm trying out Blogspot's new front-end, with a view to relaunching my blog in a more multimedia format. Thanks to everyone who's kept checking even when I've been seriously off my blogging...
Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1081965528406315542004-04-15T00:58:00.000+07:002004-04-15T01:02:44.420+07:00Songkran
Anybody still reading this? If so drop me a line at garyshall@aol.com. I know it's been slow.
We're in the home stretch of the Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday here, one of two really big festivals in the Thai calendar. Officially, Songkran last 3 days (April 12-14). Unoffically it pretty much lasts week. Depends where you are, it seems. Chiang Mai is famous for a very extended SongkranGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1080544367118705542004-03-29T14:12:00.000+07:002004-04-09T00:57:03.920+07:00National Parks
After four months here (broken up by two months stateside), I'm finally getting around to checking out the parks in the area.
I've been missing a lot.
While there are several National Parks within striking distance for day trip or overnight, the easiest to reach is called Khao Sam Roi Yot, about an hour's drive South of Hua Hin. It means "Mountain of 300 Peaks", and the name is Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1080407579415795662004-03-28T00:12:00.000+07:002004-03-28T00:16:31.293+07:00Course Correction
It seems that my blog is now being monitored by some of my Thai friends. This is bad, in that I can no longer promulgate the kind of bald-faced lies I've been telling you up to now. It doesn't seem fair. I mean, if the Bush administration can do it....
In any case, my buddy made me aware of some additional information regarding drinking water in Thailand:
1) Thailand does now Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1080202352283620212004-03-25T15:12:00.000+07:002004-03-25T15:19:23.340+07:00Do/Don't Drink the Water
Here are two seemingly contradictory statements:
1) In Thailand, the tap water is not safe to drink
2) In Thailand, drinking water is very safe
How can both of these be true? It's simple. In Thailand, tap water and drinking water are quite distinct. They always have been. While the water from the taps is filtered, and is fine for showering, watering Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1080062490247298582004-03-24T00:21:00.000+07:002004-03-25T02:28:53.793+07:00Food Safety
When traveling in a foreign country, it's prudent to pay attention to risks of illness from bad water or food. In many places one can get nasty intestinal bugs or parasites, and the risks vary widely from place to place. I've found that in Thailand eating and drinking is very safe so long as attention is paid to a couple of key points.
I had a visitor from US recently (my first, Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1079784558768791822004-03-20T19:09:00.000+07:002004-03-20T19:29:24.936+07:00...and the winner is.....
I promised to keep you up on my monthly budgeting, which is running from the 19th of the month (the day I arrived back) to the 18th of the following month. I'll be a little briefer than I was last month.
The punch line is that my "operational" expenses for the month totaled $690, a bit higher than the $578 I spent in the previous period.
The big hit here was in my Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1079589803778135032004-03-18T13:03:00.000+07:002004-03-18T13:42:09.623+07:00Visa Run
My digital camera decided it was time to die on me, so there won't be any pictures for a while.
Yesterday, I got initiated into the ritual of the visa run. Almost all foreigners here are required to go out of the country periodically to keep their visas current. Most of the folks (and me, for the time being), are on tourist visas that require this every 30 days! I've met people who've Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1079357384889248692004-03-15T20:29:00.000+07:002004-03-15T20:32:59.860+07:00House for Rent
My good friends Wisut and Atya asked me to let you know that there's an attractive 4-bedroom house with a garden available for rent in my (very nice) neighborhood. Close to the beach and quiet here, it really is a choice part of the area. The rent asking is 10,000 baht/month, which works out to just over $250.
So what are you waiting for? If you're interested, send me email (Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1077969797781444352004-02-28T19:03:00.000+07:002004-02-28T19:06:11.090+07:00Saw the Funniest Thing Today...
I was doing some sightseeing, and visited a particularly nice temple just south of town. There's a tradition of the temples taking in strays, so it's normal to see a few dogs lounging around. This temple had a number of cats as well, which is less common in my experience.
I was sitting on the steps of a sanctuary putting my sandals on (shoes off in the sanctuariesGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1077158271467044072004-02-19T09:37:00.000+07:002004-02-25T11:41:35.043+07:00Monthly Budgets
A benefit of blogging is the chance to think out loud in public (and also to incite envy in my readers). My chief reason for moving to Thailand was to achieve a sustainable living budget. Now that I'm settling in a bit, I'm trying to track expenditures to see if I can stay on target.
I've now been back a full month (hard to believe), and I thought I'd share the results so far.
Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1077011661216793652004-02-17T16:54:00.000+07:002004-02-17T17:22:38.546+07:00Learning Thai
Since I got back from US, one of my projects has been to start learning some Thai language. It's turned into something of an intense program and I'm starting to make some progress (I have a long way to go, though).
What happened is that I spotted a classified ad for Thai lessons in a local magazine and called the person. He gave me his rate, 3500 baht (about $90) for 12 hours of Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1076858255016474882004-02-15T22:17:00.000+07:002004-02-25T11:52:49.560+07:00Heartbreaker
One of the attractions for me of moving to Thailand is that my valence in romantic equations is quite different here than it is in the US. I think a lot of middle-aged single men stateside would agree with me that it's often difficult for us to date in America, owing to a whole complex of attitudes and issues that I can't even begin to articulate.
It's different in Thailand, for a Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1076242531481415862004-02-08T19:15:00.000+07:002004-02-08T19:50:06.700+07:00Chicken Fest
I don't know if any of you follow the news from Asia, but a big topic here has been the Bird Flu.
It seems to be under control now, and it's not clear that it ever was much of a threat to humans (a handful of chicken farmers have gotten sick). But it caused the coutries in the region to boycott one another's poultry and in Thailand it resulted in the slaughter of about 26 million Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1075658911231516012004-02-02T01:08:00.000+07:002004-02-02T01:13:54.200+07:00New, Improved Digs
I like the approach of my landlords, Wisut and Atya. They're taking the rent money I'm paying and applying it directly to improving the property, in ways I get to enjoy.
When I moved in here last October I had a large, sunny patio on the second-story, adjoining my main bedroom. Just a little bit too sunny, I'm afraid. Facing South, the sun would beat on the porch all day, and Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1075357372008349952004-01-29T13:22:00.000+07:002004-01-29T13:25:03.543+07:00Exiled from Paradise
I got a message from my trumpet-playing buddy, Sverre, who was the subject of last Saturday's post ("The Crime of Music"). The message came from his native Denmark! He was deported by the Thai authorities for working without the proper permit.
It's not a happy occasion. Sverre is already in his mid-60s and was planning to retire in Thailand. Now it seems doubtful he can do Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1075050246008566482004-01-26T00:04:00.000+07:002004-01-26T08:12:20.123+07:00Cold Snap
We've been having daily highs in the 70s. I've even been able to get use out of my long-sleeve shirt.
Just thought you would want to know...Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1074909532529435262004-01-24T08:58:00.000+07:002004-01-24T12:51:44.356+07:00The Crime of Music
I had a shocker today when I phoned my trumpet player, Sverre. He had just gotten out of jail! He was arrested for working without the proper permit for a foreigner, and spent two days in the slammer with his banjo player. By his account (and all others I've heard), you do not want to go to the Thai pokey. According to him, he got no food or water and was forced to sit up Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1074650745373082862004-01-21T09:05:00.000+07:002004-01-21T09:24:19.810+07:00Is it safe?
I'm back in Thailand now, Land of Smiles (and High Humidity). I'm glad to be back, but it's a real shift in gears. Today is the start of Chinese New Year, which is a big deal in Bangkok Chinatown (I guess that's where all the Asians live).
I'm still digesting the experience of being back in the States. It's a different perspective, for sure. Naturally, when I was back a lot of Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1074279003006311472004-01-17T01:50:00.000+07:002004-01-17T02:30:38.403+07:00Wrapping It Up
It's been a few weeks since I posted here. There're a few reasons for this. One is that after the debacle of the RV, I felt tired and just wanted a break. Another is that from that point I've mostly been doing family and holiday things that I think are probably less interesting to most of my readers.
But now I'm about to return to Thailand (I leave day after tomorrow) and it seemsGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1072021413347885742003-12-21T22:43:00.000+07:002004-01-16T08:18:13.326+07:00Gary Reefs Up
I had a whole string of entries in mind for the last week's traveling, but the short form is this: After a remarkable visit to my mother's home town in Northern Texas, I started having a lot of trouble with my vehicle. After a week of struggling with it (and a cool visit to New Orleans), the engine gave up the ghost.
Luckily for me, this happened when I was in the Florida PanhandleGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1071706803968912032003-12-18T07:20:00.000+07:002003-12-18T08:23:08.080+07:00Catching Up
It's been really hard for me to keep up my postings while traveling, so now I'm catching up with 3 postings at once. There are pictures to go with them, but they'll be a little out of order. I hope to get them ordered and add captions within a day or two.
High Plains Gothic (Dec. 11-12)
Much of the Texas 'Panhandle' (the far north part of the state that sticks up between Oklahoma andGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1070986064471644442003-12-09T23:07:00.000+07:002003-12-09T23:40:45.160+07:00Holiday Season in Arizona
I'm painfully aware that I haven't had a "real" posting (that is, an account of what I'm doing) in nearly two weeks. I can't really blame it on lack of opportunity. I've spent days parked at the brother's and my sister's houses, plugged into a high-speed link. Rather, I think it's a matter of returning to old habits and patterns since getting back to the states. My Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1070743101031413042003-12-07T03:38:00.000+07:002003-12-07T03:48:58.956+07:00Article on Hua Hin
The Bangkok Post, one of two English-language dailies in Thailand, has a nice article about Hua Hin in its Sunday edition.
Click here to read the article.
The article definitely highlights the upscale aspects of the place. Personally, I don't spend too much time at the Hilton, Marriott, or Sofitel. (But if you come visit, we'll go there for sure.)
There's an interesting Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1070647483902763062003-12-06T01:04:00.000+07:002003-12-06T01:14:17.510+07:00Frm the Mail Bag
I'm starting to get mail from readers (now I know there *are* readers!). Here's a couple of items to share.
From Bill Orner (www.orner-stepp.com), in Mountain View, California:
"Hey Gary,
Your last posting caused Blog to put the following banner ads on top:
The Wonder Cleaner
Natural & Non-Toxic cleaner and stain remover. Amazing results! Tub & Tile Cleaner
Use Bubble Up Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1069961358497937112003-11-28T02:29:00.000+07:002003-11-28T02:32:21.940+07:00A Matter of Some Delicacy
After years as a "user", I finally was able to kick a nasty habit when I relocated to Thailand. But now, being back in the States for just a few days, I'm back on the stuff on a regular basis.
I'm talking about toilet paper.
Thais don't use it, using water instead. In the usual facility that the visitor encounters (pictured here), there’s an ordinary western-style Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1069905001018281672003-11-27T10:50:00.000+07:002003-12-09T22:26:45.120+07:00Where in the World?
Ah, I love the contrasts. Less than a week ago I left my digs in steamy tropical Asia and boarded a bus to Bangkok. Tonight I’m sitting in my luxurious (if somewhat aged) motorhome in the chilly high desert of California, with nearly all of my worldly belongings aboard. When they lower me in my grave (or whatever), they won’t be able to say I just did what everyone else was Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1069201294433021702003-11-19T07:21:00.000+07:002003-11-19T07:22:41.420+07:00Back to the States
Today I'm departing Hua Hin, headed back to the US for a while. I'll be spending the holiday season and the first three weeks of the year traveling from the SF Bay area to Atlanta, Georgia in a 23-ft, 1977-vintage motorhome that I bought just before I left, visiting family and friends across the country.
One of the reasons I wanted to live outside the Sates was to get a Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1069126619313318462003-11-18T10:36:00.000+07:002003-11-18T10:58:14.703+07:00The Caves at Chiang Dao
Click here for the pictures
My days at Chiang Dao were as quiet as my nights were lively. I had another "snooze day" after our party in Chiang Dao town. In the evening, myself and four of the other guests walked from the guest resort to the grounds of the Chiang Dao Caves, where there was...another party! This one was smaller and more downhome than the one in town. The Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1069027293686929652003-11-17T07:01:00.000+07:002003-11-18T10:38:07.373+07:00So I told you I'd tell you about the Sacred Caves next. So I lied...
Thai Massage
One of the very best things about being in Thailand is having access to first-rate massage at absurdly low prices. A 2-hour massage from a highly skilled practitioner costs $5-$8. At these rates, I can indulge. And I do.
Click here for the pictures
Massage venues seem to be located everywhere. There are a number Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1068850577900836292003-11-15T05:56:00.000+07:002003-11-15T06:41:39.046+07:00Loy Krathong, Day 2
I'm not getting these up here as quickly as I would like, but I've been prepping for a gig. My friend Sverre and I played last night for the expansion of a restaurant called "The Jailhouse". (The name was that of a popular pub that the owner had before). The restaurant has been open for a while, but Curt, the owner, has been remodeling a large 2nd-floor space. It's really Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1068547506915872772003-11-11T17:45:00.000+07:002003-11-11T18:28:06.333+07:00The Trouble with Guide Books
I just came back from a week at a beautiful "mini-resort" in Chiang Dao, North Thailand. Actually, half the week was spent en route, but that was intentional. I want to get used to traveling overland in Thailand. It's cheap and can be quite comfortable, but does require some patience. Getting there being half the fun, I'll have a separate posting about this later. ButGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1068178969886990662003-11-07T11:22:00.000+07:002003-11-07T11:23:51.333+07:00Chiang Dao Nest
I'm up North now, at a lovely place on the slopes of Doi Chiang Dao, the third highest peak in Thailand. I won't be able to do a full posting until I get back next week, but meanwhile, here's a link for the place I'm staying. You can trust that I some amazing stories to tell. This place is great.
Link for Chiang Dao Nest
Just as a preview, I joined the local village marching Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067872171471881612003-11-03T22:09:00.000+07:002003-11-04T07:30:01.330+07:00Tomy the Bone
I'm worried about my friend. He won't come out of his room.
I ended up in Hua Hin in part because I knew someone here. While surfing sites about overseas living, I came across an article by someone who's name I didn't recognise, but whose biography sounded familiar. I sent him a mail and, sure enough, he and I had had business dealings about 15 years previous.
I came to Thailand Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067751671697373322003-11-02T12:41:00.000+07:002003-11-02T14:55:20.513+07:00Live at the Sweet Room
I played my first show in Thailand last night at the Sweet Room (a coffee shop, not a hostess bar) in Satukarn Square in the middle of Hua Hin.
Before I ever left for Hua Hin, I had traded emails with a Danish trumpet player named "Sverre" (sver-RUH) who had run a classified ad in the Hua Hin Observer. Sverre turned out to be a sixty-something pensioner who spends half theGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067655377439607832003-11-01T09:56:00.000+07:002003-11-02T12:55:29.620+07:00Halloween in Thailand
They don't have Halloween in Thailand. What are you thinking?
Geckoes
One of the small (literally) pleasures of living in Thailand is sharing your home with a bunch of lizards. Geckoes are the quntessential house reptile here, and they are generally welcome, as they help to control insects. For bugs, geckoes are the equivalent of Bengal tigers.
Also, they're just sort of Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067535035876952602003-10-31T00:30:00.000+07:002003-10-31T00:33:18.810+07:00The Blog ate my homework!
It had to happen. I had labored over a big post, staying up late, when Blogger suddenly dumped it. Gave me one of those stupid messages that offers to save your work but doesn't. Too tired to reconstruct it now, and I have to get ready to play a gig. Yes, GaryInThailand Live! Don't worry, you'll hear all about it.
Meanwhile, here's a link to a page about Phutta Monthon,Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067430683548571472003-10-29T19:31:00.000+07:002003-10-29T19:31:24.770+07:00Finally, Bangkok
Wisut and I arrived in Bangkok in the late afternoon, pulling into a charming leafy middle-class neighborhood at the western edge of the city, a part of town I had never been in. There I met Wisut's wife, Yai.
His other wife.
Well, actually, one of his other wives.
I knew that Wisut had been married three times, but I sort of assumed that one relationship was finished before Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067338502415192562003-10-28T17:55:00.000+07:002003-10-29T19:32:27.833+07:00On the Road Again
One of the joys of bopping around with Wisut and Attaya is not knowing just what we're doing at any given time. That was the case on Friday morning, when I piled into Wisut's crew-cab pickup for a daytrip to Bangkok, and ended up confronting jiveass Swedes instead. But it's good to be flexible. I'm slowly learning to ask "What are doing now, Wisut?" I don't think he means to Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067250411344335552003-10-27T17:26:00.000+07:002003-10-27T17:31:01.030+07:00Troubleshooter
Wisut wanted to go to Bangkok on Friday, saying we would leave at 9 am. But before we ever left, I earned my stripes as a functioning member of my adopted household, by helping to resolve a sticky issue with a former tenant.
The party in question was a 60ish Swede (Hua Hin is particularly popular with Scandinavians), with a bald head and a huge blond handelbar mustache, who goes Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1067146120790680432003-10-26T12:28:00.000+07:002003-10-27T17:28:02.360+07:00Back Again
I missed a couple of days as I had a somewhat unexpected trip to Bangkok with Wisut. It was interesting and fun, and gave me material for a few days postings. That's Thailand. Live a day, write about it for a week.
But first, the News...
The news is water. Quite a bit of it. Hua Hin and other areas of Pruchuap Kirikhan province have been under as much as 50 cm (that's 20 inches) of Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1066918774270037212003-10-23T21:19:00.000+07:002003-10-23T21:20:14.750+07:00Film at 11
Blogspot still isn't letting me upgrade my account to post photos, but I've put some of the pictures up at Ofoto.com. You can use the link, or go to http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=spy3t2r.8sow5ian&x=0&y=8mz88r to view them. It's free.
Click here for Gary In Thailand photos
If anyone is interested in ordering prints of any of these, let me know (garyshall@aol.com). I have Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1066810075612781542003-10-22T15:07:00.000+07:002003-10-23T18:15:10.610+07:00The APEC Summit
Thailand is not the smallest country in the world (pop. 54 million by last count), nor the poorest by a shot. But it is definitely not among the "big powers", and the Thais are very aware of that fact. Their strategy in the world has been to be friends with as many of the big players a possible.
This approach has served them well historically. Thailand is the only country in Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1066735923247447352003-10-21T18:32:00.000+07:002003-10-21T18:32:03.063+07:00The Floating Market
I had planned to post pictures today, but the micro-drive card for my digital camera is having fits and my host, Blogspot, is "administrating" itself and won't let me upgrade my account. So you'll have to make do with prose. But prose is spoken by all the best people...
Many thanks to everyone who sent me messages from my email blast. It's a great way to catch up, in some Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1066650936745020972003-10-20T18:55:00.000+07:002003-10-21T18:34:38.546+07:00The Crib
My living situation here is slightly unusual. The typical residence for a foreigner on a budget is a furnished 2-br house near the center of town. There are quite a few of these available, with rents from 6000 to 9000 baht/month. The baht is around 40 to the dollar, so this translates to $150 to $225. Awesomely low by California standards, and darn good for anywhere in the States I thinkGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5962573.post-1066575061800640412003-10-19T21:51:00.000+07:002003-10-19T22:01:17.500+07:00The World from Hua Hin, Thailand
I'm starting up this web log for the benefit (or consternation) of my family and friends who want to keep up on my adventures. Anyone else is welcome too!
I'm a 52-year old American, currently in process of relocating myself to Thailand. It's my intention to live here 9-10 months out of the year, and spend the balance traveling in US and other parts. Phase 1 of Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04093870027775182253noreply@blogger.com0