Now a Thai Chef

I was talked into taking a Thai cooking class...  but ended up really enjoying it and now highly recommend it to anyone who travels to Thailand!  I recommend the organic farm cooking school in Chiang Mai in particular.  Anyone at home brave enough to let me show you my new Thai cooking skills?

Thailand: Tourists, Tourists, Tourists

If you are looking for fellow travelers head to Thailand.  In no other country have I seen so many other tourists, backpackers more specifically.  But this is for good reason, Thailand has almost everything a traveler would want: unique culture and history,  low jungles and high hills, adventure activities,  crystal clear water and white beaches, 24/7 partying,  finger-licking good food, and cheap prices.  The scene is not for everyone, but nevertheless it is there and can be comforting and fun after a long time on the road alone.

China Times

Pictures and videos are now uploaded.  (Terracotta Army, Forbidden City, Great Wall, etc.)

Communication While in China

I apologize for the slow down in communication since I have been in China.  Many websites and web services are blocked by the government here.  For example, I had no access to Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, YouTube, etc.  (When you type in the address of these sites the browser simply returns with an error message).  Yes, there are ways of getting around the government blocks but I did not put any effort towards it considering the brevity of my visit. I arrive in Bangkok, Thailand this afternoon and look forward to resuming posting and sharing my pictures.

Narrow Escapes

It looks as if I have just barely escaped another major world event and again have lady luck alone to thank.  The 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan struck exactly 6 days after my departure from the country.  This beats out last month's 2 1/2-week miss of the civil unrest in Egypt and the Middle East.  Let us pray for all those negatively affected by these events and for my continued good fortune in staying ahead of them.