As I stood there dressed in Hmong celebratory regalia holding a shot of homemade rice whiskey about to lead a dance among highland villagers, I pondered our serendipitous turn-of-events. I signed up for a trek in the mountains of Laos to see waterfalls and nature […]
All posts tagged: Thai New Year
Thai New Year in Isaan Year Two: The Triumphant Return
“JIM! HEY, JIM!” Someone called from the darkness under a stilt house. I assumed the person was calling for me, since no one in Thailand can say my name correctly, and since I’d just met a bunch of new people the day before at a […]
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 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, […]
Planet Bell 