Category: Travel
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America’s Last Nerve
How I survived Covid-19 Not by flying back to the US, per the urging of the US Embassy in Bangkok. Not by following a myriad of strange “Covid-19 cures”, such as: Priests in the Philippines spritzing holy water and alcohol on people. Buddhist monks in Myanmar advising people to eat limes with three palm seeds.…
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The True Vow
This stand set up in front of 7-11 says: “Screening point Cold Temperature” Then the paper below instructs: “Gel alcohol Wash your hands” Literally, that’s the advice from 7-11: To inquire within yourself whether you have a cold or temperature, and whether you do or not, Come on in! Just wash your hands with gel first. They…
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Choking in Chiang Mai, Covid-19, Pig’s Head and Liquor
Time to bring out the big guns With infections of Covid-19 rising on a daily basis, the Thai government strongly advised people to stay at home. Like many other countries, non-essential businesses have closed. People are panicking—buying toilet paper and praying—or… Offering an entire pig’s head and a bottle of liquor at the local spirit…
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Pick Your Poison
Q: Do you want Covid-19 (Corona Virus), or the worst air pollution in the world? A: Uh, yes please Ahh, burning season in Chiang Mai again. Aside from stinging eyes, chronic sore throat, and choking down toxic air, there’s the global pandemic going on—Covid-19. So how has life been impacted? Washing Eggs I buy my…
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Going Incognito
Trying to go incognito. The day after New Year’s, I entered a neighborhood pharmacy. Since I live in a Thai neighborhood far away from the tourist sector, the chances that the staff spoke English were low-to-zero. Therefore, I had already programmed my phone to translate my issue into Thai. Although I am studying Thai, I’m…
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Monsoon and Mary Christmas
Photo essay Monsoon going out with a bang—literally pounding the roof of the car for three hours. Dinosaur donuts hit the spot on a rainy afternoon. Kayaking on the Ping River. Welcome Cold Season! Doggie duly outfitted in a fleece vest. Pretty café. I sit all afternoon in a library filled with books of art,…
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Warm Heart, Charred Lungs
“I can’t breathe. I can’t stop coughing. I have to get out of here asap.” That was 7:00pm. I had phoned Evelind while wearing my pajamas and facemask. The next day, Evelind and Michael drove me to Chiang Mai. I had to leave Warm Heart. My cough for the past month suddenly got worse. Months…
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Signs of Love
The Crêpe Station Brigade Somtum Lady cradled the jumbo plastic bowl at her station. Due to a slow somtum business day, Crêpe lady had bestowed her with whisking duties, which is why Somtum lady grasped the large bowl of crêpe batter at her station. Her whisking motion is exactly the same as her making somtum…
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Buddha of the Food Court
They actually changed the music—muzak—at the food court. Lately they’ve been looping a country-sounding Thai-crooner. Change her lyrics to English and she could stand in for fill-in-the-blank-female-country-singer. Sorry—that is obviously not my forté. The female Thai teachers of one of the Thai language schools continue to squish tables together. I notice a different white male…
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Where I Live Chiang Mai: Photo essay
Waffle and Muffin like chicken I live in an apartment whose owners have two dogs: Waffle and Muffin. Both males; Waffle is seven years old, and Muffin is one year old. Hence, he is the hyper one, and sprints to the front door whenever I come in, while Waffle sniffs in his elder-status aloofness. They…