This youtube.com video shows one of the Chiang Mai Zoo’s animal acts.

Here is a link to view a web blog for anyone planning a trip to Cambodia.  Enjoy your travels and pass http://travelersdoor.com on to your friends.

http://www.cambodiaevisa.com/category/latest-news/

These poems are written by Thomas Ames in Thailand.

 

 

A Christmas Surprise

As Christmas nears

I see the lights

in celebration,

this year in Thailand

to my surprise

Christmas carols are playing

in the mall.

 

What is the meaning

of all the trees

decorated with colored lights

bringing joy to everyone,

Christians and Buddhist

together celebrating

the birth of Jesus.

 

I look into the eyes

of these Buddhists

shopping this Christmas

as they sing along,

their hearts

full of love

for all mankind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chiang Mai End Of Days Poem

We Are Still Here

Another calamity past

we will live another day

the Mayan’s missed this one

hurray for our sakes

 

We weren’t ready to die

here in Chiang Mai we’ve shopping to do

Christmas a few days away

no need to worry when we go

 

How many years the earth will last

something we’d like to know

we could get our bags packed

and be ready

 

Who knows where

who knows when

the earth will blow

the show goes on

 

will it go on forever?

 

 

The Morning Sun

brings color to life

trees say hello

with birds singing,

the mountain stands high

above the city

as Chiang Mai comes alive

with sounds of motor bikes

making their way

and children off to school

for another day.

 

Old women sweep

in front of their homes,

making life better for everyone

as the day moves through time

we welcome another smile.

 

 

 

 

 

A regular problem in certain areas.

Moving Faster

Horns honk

looking for a way

through the traffic,

sitting waiting

for an opening,

sending exhaust fumes

into the air,

slowly choking life

as we try to move faster

on a slow road.

 

The wheels

keep on turning

Out for a ride

day after day

in this world

we live in.

 

 

Dry Reeds Calling

 

The flutes call the wind,
blow through these reeds
make sound again.
Our master has gone
many days,
we wait to play,
silence
is not our way.

 

 

 

2 AM

 

Tonight the rooster crows waking me from my dream

the answers to questions are not there,

silence fills my head.

My heart looks to my soul for meaning

I know these words come from a higher place

I listen as everyone has listened through the ages,

wanting to know, as we grow older.

 

Nothing has changed

the echo waits for the sound

to fill our being with its tone,

as we come to the edge

of the age.

 

Breathing In Darkness

 

The pale sky hangs over Chiang Mai,

sun trying to show some color
dimmed by the haze.
The air, a sea of pollution

floods my lungs with its poison

while seeking to breathe

as the dead walk with the living
through time, as the day
gives them steps.

 

This mysterious city lies under an off color cloud

confusing the minds looking for air,
while seekers of pleasure breathe
the white sunlight evades the day..

 

Night brings Chiang Mai to life again
in the shadow of the moon,

as the Ping River flows gently
the night markets bring cries

from vendors selling to live.

 

 Cement jungle 

 

As I move along this lonesome street

someone watches my steps though a window

I know I am not alone,

the eyes on me wonder where I go

I feel like a wild animal untamed and alone

not wanting to be seen in my jungle of buildings

the cement hiding my trail

wandering, wondering where this soi will take me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

When in Thailand calling back to your home country can be expensive. With a SIM card from a 7-11 store you can call for 1 baht per minute as long as your home country is on the product list. This card costs 49 baht at the 7-11 and then you pay the cashier however much money you want deposited in your account for calling. America is on the list and this is about the cheapest way to get a non Skype call made from Thailand. They sell this SIM card in a yellow package and by opting for the 3G service your calls are 1 baht per minute. There is an option for 4G’s but this costs more than 1 baht per minute to make a call. If you decide to buy the SIM card the store clerk can most likely install it in your phone for you and activate it also.

 

Alpha Flight Guru, an American company is just a click away and will save you some time and money, what more can you ask for than that?

As I travel the time spent looking for good airline ticket deals is worth the value, when I find something good enough to pass on to those of you reading my blog. When I flew from Israel to Thailand I used this service and saved about $100 US.  For my budget anything I save is worth the effort and the service referenced here on this link is a good reliable company they will save you money and at the same time possibly get you a better seat.

Lately I’ve been traveling through Thailand looking at two areas.  Bangkok and  in the northeast section of the country, Isan. Seeing these places, meeting people and enjoying the change from being in Chiang Mai everyday has been exciting.

This youtube video shows Bangkok’s Sky train and the city skyline.

Bangkok’s air quality reminded me of Chiang Mai’s. It’s a crowded place and there are just so many cars, traffic jams and coupled with the heat, I found it to be what everyone said it would be like; bumper to bumper congestion, which really consumes your time and usually throws your schedule off. It’s  hard to be on a vacation and have a schedule, but there are always things you want to see and only a certain amount of time to do it, you make plans and hope to see the sights. Read More…

Looking out the window, the wheels keep turning as the scenery changes. Sometimes resembling views that are flat like places in Amrerica and others times like Panama with the banana trees and palms, now rice paddies again. Farmers are burning their fields now making way for new growth and a plentiful harvest, without regards to the air quality, they fill the skies with smoke.. Read More…

Laos Visa Border Run

A train trip from youtube.com from Bangkok to Laos

 

There are different ways to get around the country of Thailand. Flying is the fastest sometimes depending on where you are going; considering the wait time and security checks some people prefer other modes of transportation. I’ve taken the VIP bus to the east on a border run to Laos and found the bus stops at quite a few little towns and it’s hard to sleep. Read More…

Here is a link to the Thailand Rail Schedule information site for you to see the different options and times without having to speak to anyone, which was helpful to me. http://www.railway.co.th/checktime/checktime.asp?lenguage=Eng

The company with the best buses is Nakhon Chai Air,  I don’t know why they say air in their name but they are a good ride, best VIP and 1st Class buses. http://www.nca.co.th/firstclass.php There is a catch to this bus line though, they aren’t available for the Laos visa run. Unfortunately they don’t service Udon Thani or Nong Khai. Fortunately there is actually a great VIP bus which will take you from Chiang Mai to Udon Thani. This bus is the VIP Extra bus from Terminal 2,   run by a Thai Company named Orsuksu Tour If you go into Terminal 2 through the front door and follow the left wall you will see a small booth selling tickets for the VIP Extra bus right before the 1st doorway leading to the buses.. The cost is 888 baht and is worth the search because not all VIP buses are the same and this bus is great. I traveled from Chiang Mai on it on 4/1/2013 and found it only has 3 seats on each row, very spacious and comfortable. Leg room and automatic lumbar support. This company has 2 VIP buses leaving daily, one at 6PM and then the 8:30PM  VIP Extra bus, which is better and more comfortable than any other VIP bus ticket selling in the terminal. If you get the 6PM bus it is not the VIP Extra only the 8:30 bus is. So if you are there early in the day buying your tickets and ask for the VIP bus to Udon Thani they will sell you the 6PM ticket unless you specify the 8:30 ViP Extra bus. Their phone number is 084 262 6003 but I don’t know if the speak anything but Thai. 

Here are some more travel information links:Keep in mind not all VIP buses are equal in comfort, speed and price.
VIP Buses: http://www.thaizer.com/travel-in-thailand/vip-buses-in-thailand/

Travel by bus link but contains other important links:
http://www.thailandee.com/eng/transportation/travel-by-bus-thailand.php

Bus ticket information:
http://www.thailandday.com/tickets/bustickets/Busterminal.htm

Green Bus Information:
http://bus.greencorporatethai.com/en/customer-service/bus-schedules/

If you have any questions about travel, booking or fares you can give Aoy a call at 083-761-7158 or email her at panphailin1975@hotmail.com , she speaks good English and is in Chiang Mai, she is knowledgeable about Thai travel and will assist you with a smile and the information you might need.

The White Temple takes the top spot on the things to see in Chiang Rai. I came on the VIP bus and saw the White Temple from the road as we approached the city. This city is situated along the highway and is not really centrally located like in a cluster of stores and business, but is more strung out along the road. Actually there is a downtown located near the old bus station but the city is not really built up like a normal city with a down town. Read More…