The San Pya Fish Market in Yangon is the sort of place you smell before you arrive. The pungent aroma of fish immediately smacks you in the face and the piscine perfume saturates your clothes and stays with you long after leaving. In fact, when […]
Author: Jeff Bell
16 Photos of Thai New Year in Black and White
If you have taken the time to read the other three posts I made about our Thai New Year trip to rural Isaan, then you know that all the people from the village spent four days drinking in a manner usually associated with celebrations after […]
Thai New Year in Isaan Part 3: A Big Ass Parade In A Tiny Town
The grand finale of our Songkran experience started like the other days – we were promised afternoon sanook and told to wear nice clothes, but offered no further instructions (that we understood). (Note: this is part three of a 3-part series. You can catch up […]
Thai New Year in Isaan Part 2: Sanook, a Road Trip and a Massive Water Fight
One of the downsides of not having full command of the language is that we never quite understood the plan of the day. When we awoke on day two, Pat said we’d have sanook (Thai for fun) that afternoon, but didn’t elaborate. So we hung […]
Thai New Year in Isaan Part 1: Culture Shock, Concerts, and Booze-Pushers
There is a place near our house in Bangkok that is a hybrid street food stall and restaurant. All the cooking is done on the street but there is an indoor area that has the trappings of a Thai restaurant – simple tables and chairs, […]
Six Surprising Benefits of Photography
I have a miracle product that can make you fit, creative, and smart. This product will help you make friends and get more attention from your spouse or help you find a lover. I imagine you’d pay good money for such a product. However, this […]
Bangkok Photographers Bang Plad Photo Walk
If you are like most people, your neighborhood doesn’t attract a lot of tourists or paparazzi. So, imagine for a second if you were outside doing your normal activities and 70 photographers, many armed with giant cameras and long lenses, flowed through your neighborhood and […]
Serendipity in Sammakorn, or Chillin’ with Eco-Monks
Although Bangkok is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, the neighborhood of Sammakorn where I live is a bit boring. It lacks the golden wats, buzzing tuk tuks, and exotic character of the rest of the city. I am okay with this […]
Sri Lanka Travel Tips
The first tip I have for visiting Sri Lanka is simple – go to Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka has ancient temples, soaring mountains, thundering waterfalls, safari parks, sandy beaches, and a stunning colonial city. It is a hassle-free destination with friendly people and delicious, healthy […]
Snapshots from the Malik Ghat Flower Market
“There is nothing like an Asian street market to remind me why I’m a vegetarian,” my wife once said as we walked through a local market full of pig heads, assorted organs, squirming fish, and skinned chickens. The pungent smell of animal flesh filled our […]
So, I Moved to Thailand Full Time
For the last three years, I’ve lived and worked summers in the wilderness of Alaska and spent winters in the bustling city of Bangkok. As you might imagine, it has been awesome. But, having my life on two continents became too much. So, after 14 […]
Why You (Probably) Hate Bangkok
Bangkok is a polarizing city; visitors either love it or hate it. For many, the Thai capital is a necessary evil on the way to beaches, temples, or hill country treks, and is not a reason to visit Southeast Asia. I didn’t like Bangkok the first time […]
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