Author Archives: TJ

Dealing with bureaucracy in Bangkok

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Flying from Chiang Rai to Bangkok

Flying from Chiang Rai to Bangkok

Friday, 9 December 2016 to Thursday, 15 December 2016
We got up leisurely at 06:30 Friday morning and by 09:00 we were fully packed and loaded into the taxi – the start of our trip to Bangkok – and were dropped off at the airport 20 minutes later. By 10:30 we were ready to leave but the plane was not, it was only at 11:00 that we got underway. By 12:00 we picked up our luggage from the carousel at the Don Muang airport and headed out into the arrivals hall where we were greeted with calls of “Taxi taxi!!”

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During our final days in Chiang Rai I found the cure for insomnia…

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The singha of Singha Park

The singha of Singha Park

Friday, 2 December 2016 to Thursday, 8 December 2016
I found a cure for insomnia, not that I was looking for one – but I found it nevertheless – and here is the magic formula. Download an audio book, any audio book, onto one of your devices, plug your ear-bud headphones into that device, plug its buds into your ears and get ready for sleep. Don’t worry about the title; it won’t matter as you will fall asleep before the book matter starts to matter… Continue reading →

There was a WOOF… but there was no dog in sight

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Golden Triangle seen from the hill

Golden Triangle seen from the hill

Friday, 25 November 2016 to Thursday, 1 December 2016
It is now getting close to Christmas and my need for Quality Street chocolates – which is not available in Thailand – is once again prevalent. Before I could give it much thought, as if reading my future mind, I received an email from Lood asking for an address where he could send my Quality Street fix to. As they say, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Not wanting to screw around with wrong addresses I decided to ask Thea Continue reading →

I always knew I had a screw loose… but today I lost it!

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Choui Fong Tea Farm

Choui Fong Tea Farm

Friday, 18 November 2016 to Thursday, 24 November 2016
We had run out of bread and other breakfast stuff so Adri walked down to the market to get such but she also returned with some chewy doughy deep fried batter balls sprinkled with sugar which contains a less sweet centre of something. It’s the first time we’ve had these batter balls but will surely have them again, simply delicious! Continue reading →

It was bound to happen… that long expected nervous breakdown

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Chiang Rai - The Black House Art Museum

Chiang Rai – The Black House Art Museum

Friday, 11 November 2016 to Thursday, 17 November 2016
After the news of a Trump presidency I put myself on voluntary exile from the news world for 24 hours, it lasted for 44, it was bliss. This morning I took my first tentative clicks in the news world out there and the very first click I took was Continue reading →

Zipping up my boots… going back to my roots, yeah!

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Wat Rong Khun - White temple

Wat Rong Khun – White temple

Friday, 4 November 2016 to Thursday, 10 November 2016
It was Friday evening and already dark outside when the hunger pangs drove us to the streets, and more importantly to the street market and its freshly fashioned foods. Adri had been eyeballing the grilled fish for a number of weeks now but each time we were there another dish jumped the queue and onto her plate. It is difficult to decide on a dish when there is so much to choose from, but tonight she was not going to be distracted, she was focused. Continue reading →

Earthquake in Chiang Rai… What earthquake?

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Lavaladee Restaurant

Lavaladee Restaurant

Friday, 28 October 2016 to Thursday, 3 November 2016
We had a busy but relaxing Friday and before we knew it, it was evening and time for supper. I have not had a pizza in yonks so we agreed to put the pizza voucher we received on Wednesday at the movies to edible use. We arrived at The Pizza Company, hungry as horses, ready to have our hay or anything else that was on offer. Continue reading →

The relaxed atmosphere in Chiang Rai made us extend our stay by a few weeks

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Sunset on the Kok River

Sunset on the Kok River

Friday, 21 October 2016 to Thursday, 27 October 2016
We gave the yoga instructor some grief this morning, Adri wanted a 45 minute session, I was happy with a 30 minute one, sending the teacher into a tailspin, she had no idea how to handle this conflict of interest. Fortunately she was confined to my Ipad so I naturally won this particular battle… this particular one only… Continue reading →

Thailand, a country and its people in mourning for its King Bhumibol

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King Bhumibol

King Bhumibol

Friday, 14 October 2016 to Thursday, 20 October 2016
We woke up Friday morning with Thailand in mourning. I think the shock of King Bhumibol’s passing yesterday afternoon has only now set in. King Bhumibol was a most revered leader that led his country for 70 years. The Thai people are understandably extremely sad as he was a father figure to all; he was the only King most people have ever known, so it is really as if a family member, and much more, had passed away. Continue reading →

During our last week in Pai we experienced Paris in Pai, or was it Pairis?

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Lod Cave

Lod Cave

Friday, 7 October 2016 to Thursday, 13 October 2016
Supper Friday night was had at The Blue Ox restaurant where they have the Oktoberfest celebrations and where we had a great meal a week ago. Tonight though there was no German folk music, no beer on tap, seemed like the Oktoberfest was all fested out. There was though a three piece local Pai band that was playing farang music. The one guy was on guitar and lead vocals, one was on bass and backing vocals and an oldish hermit type of a chap on percussion, and he was not vocal at all. Continue reading →