It's a Long Way Home ... 24 hours total

The journey homes starts tonight at 3:30 am in downtown Bangkok. I may have an exit beer around midnight to celebrate what is probably my last solo trip to Thailand. However the family and I are booked for March 2026.

I have prebooked a taxis for 3:30 am as I do not leave it to chance. That should place me at the airport shortly after 4:00 am which is the requisite 3 hours before my 7:00 am flight to Narita airport in Japan. I then get a 2 hour layover and then fly to Montreal where I will clear customs. I only have a couple of unigo t-shirts for me and a dress that I picked up for Thavorn at Zara, Zara in Bangkok puts the Ottawa Zara to shame.

I certainly am relaxed for the flight home as I have been resting up the last 5 days. I hope I do not get delayed and rescheduled as I did on the outgoing flights to BKK.

These ladies are huge 

3 Storey Food Court at emSphere

Dress I picked up for Thavorn

Was the trip worthwhile? Yes and no. It was time to discover the new me, that is 75 years old. Now that I know me it is easier to plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

TTYL

Jouney's End

Not quite over, but soon. This is my last day at the Marriott Empire in Silom. Tomorrow I check out and head back to Sukhumvit. The areas are quite different with the Empire being in the Silom business area and Sukhumvit being the major tourist area.

I have been using the past few days to slow down and think about my trip. In some sense it was to understand what has changed in me in the past 15 years since my first foray into Thailand. I am no longer the kid in the candy shop, if you can call a 60 year old a kid. Perhaps I am the wise old sage who sees Bangkok through different and perhaps tires old eyes.

Thailand has changed and that is a result of Thais use of smart phones. Social media has educated Thais where their school system had not, Thais now see their place in the world quite differently. They also see farangs quite differently. The GFE has left and and Thais understand much more how to accumulate money. Thai women still remain as beautiful as ever but now they see how to use their beauty to earn money and still stay in Thailand.

I still see men, old and young in the chase for the elusive relationship that life has not yet provided for them. John Keats 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' ends with:

When old age shall this generation waste,

                Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe

Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,

         "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all

                Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

The only poem I enjoyed in high school, leaves me with the thought that yearning is seldom fullfilled so be careful what you wish. I don't wish to discourage the folks in pursuit of whatever but do so without the rose colored glasses. Young Thai women are fishing and you are the fish and usually the caught fish end up getting fried.

I consider myself lucky to be married to a wonderful, joy filled Thai woman with an 11 year old who keeps me young. If not for them I would be sitting at Tim Hortons in the morning with old farts complaining about the government and the state of the world.

This trip reinforces my belief that to be successful in life you need be lucky and be in the right place at the right time. I have always said that I do not regret the things I have done, just the things I failed to do.

Half Way

 I am just over half way into my solo Bangkok trip and it is time to share some observations.

First off, Thais are addicted to their smart phones. On the transit system 90% of them are mindlessly scrolling through them. It is also the same walking down a street, You hav to dodge the blind scrollers although it is now down to about 50%. The internet is much cheaper in Thailand than it is in Canada. 

I am also surprided that there are quite a few EV cars and most of them are Chinese with the odd Tesla.

The entertainment districts are about the same, but there are quite a few that have closed. Tourism is down and the type of tourist has changed and I believe there is not as much bar traffic as their used to be. There seems to be no shortage of ladies working in the bars but there tends to be less stunners than in the past. It is low season so I can't figure out how the bar makes money, but I suppose they make it up in high season.

However Thailand is not as inexpensive as it used to be. However, it can still be alot of fun if you use the happy hours and plan accordingly.

I am enjoying my swims and I am now up to 30 laps which I tend to do at 7:30 am to start my day. I feel I am getting back into condition and will probably sign up for a gym membership when I get back to Canada, Walking tends to be not so much fun due to the heat and humidity, but best to walk at night.

I have been relearning the mass transit system which means I can get around more quickly.

My billiard playing has not been so good and I continue to lose but still practice when I feel the urge to get better.

I have some pics to share.

Chong Nonsi landmark ... lost without it :-)

Sliom business district

Thais are now marketing Halloween

some pool pics

TTYL

Rivers

 There is an old saying I am quite fond of. 'You can't step into the same river twice ...' More on this later.

I am about half way through my 3 week trip to Thailand. It did not start well as my 24 hour flight turned into almost 40 hours. My flight from Ottawa to Vancouver was delayed, due to a staff shortage, which meant my flight to Narita in Japan did not happen. However Air Canada rescheduled me from Vancouver to Singapore, a 16 hour flight, which I could handle, but it meant a 12 hour stopover in the Vancouver airport, Twelve hours in an airport is just a pain in the ass, no getting around it. The only good part to it was that I logged about 15K steps,

The 16 hour flight was llllooooonnnnggg, another pain in the ass, despite getting up regularly for a walk. In due course, I arrived in Singapore and waiting another 2 hours for a 2 hour flight to Bangkok and arrived at my hotel about noon, on October the 2nd, rather tham 10 pm on October the 1st. Time for a nap and then a bite to eat, and then a walk-a-round.

My initial observation is that many businesses have come and gone on Sukumvit and the immediate sois, I don't think many Thai startups do the correct market surveys to see what potential, or lack of potential is available. Hence the failures.

The new trend appears to be restaurents, especially craft beer types and hiso hamburgers, neither of which I am interested in, I will stick with San Miquel Light and some inexpensive Thai food.

I tend to see more Indians and farang families with kids. Also more Gen whatevers in pairs, male and female. That is during the day. At night, not much has changed, except fewer as it is the tail end of low season.

The bars are much the same, although the traffic is lighter and the girls tend to be more pum pui. The drinks are a bit more expensive but happy hour is still available. The lady drinks are more expensive by aout 50 baht. Apparently that is how they make a living these days. Better days ahead as high season starts next month. Thais grasp of English has not improved much.

This being the rainy season, I have experienced only 3, three hour storms which is not bad. I have usually forgotten to bring my umbrella so I usually duck into a beer bar and indulge in a few beers as I wait out the rain.

I try to get my 10k ssteps in but it is more tiring in 34 degrees and high humidity. I prefer my laps in the pool which are progressing quite nicely.

Back to the river ...

The meaning behind the phrase is the river has changed and so have you. I have found that so true this time around as father age catches up to me. I indulge less as the next day hangover, both mentally and physically have to be dealt with. Just means the get up and go has gone for the next day.

Also the bar routine is still much the same so there is not much novelty for an old hand as myself. Also many of my drinking partners are either dead, out of the country, or just not available. I have always said partying by yourself is boring.

Time to get creative ...

TTYL

My Bags are Packed ...

 I am ready to go, leaving on a jet plane (John Denver)

Thavorn and I just celebrated our birthdays on the 23rd and 24th of September. Thavorn wanted a new iPhone Max Pro and I decided on a 21 day solo trip to Bangkok. I have not had a solo trip to Thailand in over 10 years and I am looking forward to it. I also booked a trip for the family in March of 2026.

I arrive on October the first and will stay at Asoke and Sukhumvit for 4 nights before going to the Empire Marriott in the business district near Pat Pong for 2 weeks, I then have 2 more nights on Sukhumvit before flying back on Oct. 21st.

It has been about 2 years since the last trip to Bangkok. I am curious to see what has changed and I suspect a lot has. I have watched quite a few videos and there are many new places (bars) to explore and many have closed down. Tourism is down about 7 percent this year and there are many more Asian (Malasians, Indians, Koreans) travelers now. It is also the end of the rainy season so there should be fewer visitors at this time.

I am just about finished recovering from my hernia operation so I will try some exercising in the pool as well as exercising drinking, socializing, and playing pool. Lots of walking as well as I explore the sois in and around Asoke and Sukhumvit.

I will post my observations over the next 4 weeks.

TTYL

Thailand - when to Travel

 Canada to Thailand is about 24 hours with a short connecting flight or two.

The rainy season is approximately April through to October. This impacts airfare prices quite a bit. I have discovered the cheapest fares are the shoulder months of March and October. The prices of the flights I want to take are about $1350 return.  Forget about the summer months where July and August fares are $2350 return. 

When you have to purchase 3 tickets it means huge savings in March or October.

I am flying this October solo for my birthday present to myself.

However, I started to think about Thavorn and Jaidan who have not seen family for almost 3 years.

I thought I would explore the month of March that would require Jaidan missing 3 weeks of school becuase of march break week in the middle. I checked the air fares and the 3 of us can fly for $4,100 return.

I am thinking of booking shortly to get that rate.

Yippy kai yah

Return to Bangkok

 It has been an unsettling 3 years. The first year was the diagnosis of a tumour on my right kidney and a 9 month wait for surgery. The second year was an incisional hernia from the first surgery and a 7 month wait for surgery. The 3rd year was the first hernia fix failing and a 8 month wait for the new surgery that happened on August 28th.

I am now into a 4 week recovery that includes my 75th birthday so I decided (WTF), it was time to celebrate myself with a 3 week walk-on-the-wild side in Bangkok! I leave on September the 30th and return on October 21st and for the first time in a long time, I am travelling by myself.

As, I once stated, 'You can't step into the same river twice ...' I will try to recreate my memories from 2011 ish and explore what I came to love about Bangkok. I have really no expectations and I will simply explore the changes that have been wrought in the past 15 years in Bangkok.

I plan on documenting my trip on this blog so stayed tuned as I expect it will become more interesting coming from Thailand rather than the Great White North.

Undies gifted by my son Jordan 

TTYL

Back to Bangkok in October

 I decided to celebrate my birthday this year with 3 weeks in Thailand.  I am booked frrom Oct 1st to October 21st for 3 weeks. The first 10 days will be in Bangkok and after that I am undecided.

I may vist Pataya or Phuket, or perhaps both. I have never been a big fan of planning too much ahead in Thailand. 

The weather should be decent as it is the end of the rainy season and the start of the dry season so the pollution should be down as well as the humidy and to some extent, the heat. However I have always found the temperature is always around 35 degrees.

Hopefully some of my expat friends will be around, especially Arhtur who should be back from the states in the Fall.

My buddy John is back in Canada for a couple of years so he definetly will not be there.

I am also travelling without Jaidan and Thavorn this time around so it will be like stepping back 10 years in time.

I am flying Air Canada and Thai airlines going there and Air Japan and Air Canada on the way back. The air fare was $1,700 for flex so not too bad at that time of year.

So now it is time to start looking for some places to stay after the first 10 days. I will start at the Davis Hotel for the first 3 days and then the Marriot near Pat Pong for the next 7. After that it depends where the wind blows me.

Should be fun,

TTYL

The Itch

 I have the itch to get back to Thailand. I was there last in January of 2024 when I spent a month with Jaidan and Thavorn. Actually, I spent most of the month with Jaidan as Thavorn spent about 2 weeks with her Thai family.

This time around I will go by myself for a variety of reasons. Thavorn does not like the flight and would rather save the money from the fight and she also finds visisting her family costs a lot of money. Jaidan will also be in school, so that leaves me.

Why do I have the itch. I love Thailand and the excitement that can be had. I will play a lot of pool, swim a lot in the pool. and visit bars to listen to music and just enjoy the vibe of being foot loose and fancy free.

Why now? I will have just undergone three operations in 2 years and will have just turned 75. I may be running out of time. After talking it over with Thavorn, she understands that I need a break from our daily, monthly, and yearly routines.

It also does not cost me much as I have resort points to use and accommodations costs will be minimal. It appears I can find a flight for under $1,500 so food and beer will be the major cost. I am planning for an October excursion for 3 weeks with time in Bangkok, Phuket, and perhaps a couple of days in Pattaya.

Hopefully this will all play out. Stay tuned :-)

TTYL

Another Month, Another Post

 It has been a month since my last post, so what is new? My hernia repair surgery that was scheduled for June 16 was cancelled due to a patient with emergency colon cancer surgery. Apparently when you are cancelled you get rescheduled in about 2 to 3 weeks so I am guessing the first or second week in July.

Jaidan is just finishing grade 5 at St. Lukes and is looking forward to about 70 days off. As a reward for a good report card I bought him a Nintendo Switch2 for the school end. He really likes it but all his buddies told him he was so spoiled. Probably true but he is a good kid so why not spoil him. Better yet he knows he is spoiled so he paid $200 from his savings towards the purchase.

My buddy John and Fon arrive on July 2nd so it will have to be a few beers and time to get caught up on how he adjusted to almost a year in Thailand for the first time without a full time job. Also time for a few games of pool.

My friend Paul Cotton is back in Ottawa for a few days so we will get together for a lunch and get caught up on what has been going on in our lives as we have not got together for almost 10 years.

My buddy Kerry is also spending some time at their cottage on Bob's Lake which is also where Paul likes to spend time fishing as well. Maybe it is time Paul and Kerry met as they have some early tech days in Ottawa in common.

Thavorn is the joyful Thavorn that she always is. As long as she gets to spend some time shopping for clothes once a week she is happy. She is so easy to dress as she looks good in almost anything. However her walkin closest is almost full to capacity.

My two older children, Jordan and Jaime are looking forward to summer holidays as they are both teachers.

My sisters Ann and Elaine are planning their trip to England in September to visit our cousin Jill.

I am also planning to take a 3 week trip to Thailand in the fall as long as my July surgery goes well. It will be my 75th birthday present to myself. It's much cheaper for just me to go and Thavorn does not like flying. Jaidan is envious but perhaps we will go as a family in the summer of 2026 for his grade 6 graduation present before he attends Mother Teresa High School in the Fall.

After he finishes grade 8 we are currently thinking of placing Jaidan in an International School in Thailsnd so that he can improve his Thai and make important social contacts in Thailand so he can decide where he wants to work or attend University in the future.

My latest robotic car with mecanum wheels and ESP32 control and receiver for ESPnow

My first 3D print - whale comb

TTYL

Life in the Slow Lane

 Lots happening in Canada but not much new, We had a federal election but the Liberals won with a new Prime Minister, named Mark Carney. IMHO he was elected because the boogey man down south scared the chicken little electorate up north who saw Carney as the best person to deal with Trump. Time will tell but I am not optimistic. 

The weather in Ottawa remains cool for this time of years but Thavorn and I decided to visit the Tulip Festival  yet again and we took many pictures. However, if you wish to see them you need to look up her Facebook page undet Thavorn Dale.

However it appears we stole the land the tulips are planted on from the indigenous folks who passed through it from time to time, hundreds if not thousands of years ago. Before that, it belonged to the dinosaurs but there are no descendents to make claims.

I am still enaroured with my Kia Forte GT that is now 5 years old and I plan on keeping it another 5 years or when we depart Canada, which ever occurs first. The jury is still out when we will start to spend more time in Thailand. It all depends on how PM Carney handles the economy and when Thavorn starts to feel home sick, which she has not to date.

I continue to coach basketall (U19 Boys) and this is my 47th year. This comimg Saturday I will coach againt my friend Alex who is in his 37th year of coaching. He has said this is his last year and I am starting to think the same. I reactivated my incisional hernia while coaching this year and go under the knife again on June 16th. Such is life when you start aging and pretend you are still capable of doing the same stuff you did 30 years ago.

Not much else going on so TTYL

Wow - so long since my last post

You can probably tell that life in Canada is pretty boring. However, March Madness is due and basketball is getting exciting once again as teams start playing defense.

I spent 5 hours with my sister in emergency as she came down with a stomach bug of some kind. She spent an additional 5 hours there before I arrived. Ontario's health system needs to be revamped. For example there should be a user charge of $25 in emergency to keep the losers out.

For example there was the well dressed druggy there to get his morphine injections and he joked about it with me. Not only does he tie up the nurses and doctors but also the security staff. He got a needle and an IV later for his morphine fix.

I can only think there are 2 reasons for the health care issue. The first is a shortage of doctors, especially family doctors and there is not the will to increase the number of doctors. Even the worst doctor will have no problems getting patients so the medical profession likes the shortage. The second reason is the province like the shortage, because the fewer the doctors, the less the billing. It is all about money!

On another health care issue, my hernia has come back and I probably caused it with coaching U19 boys basketball, I should not be demonstrating at 74 years of age. The good news is I called my surgeon and I am booked for mid June and will get a small mesh nserted this time around.

Jaidan continues to do well at school and Thavorn tolerates Canada much better than me. 

Trump has shown to be a moron and Musk is just as bad. We are in for interesting times in Canada and our dollar continues to suffer due to Canada's poor politacal leadership.

Not much else to say :-)

Never visit Thailand with your spouse :-)

Still lots of snow in March

I contunue with my RC hobby for sanity

TTYL

Reflections on 2024 and Looking Ahead

 2024 has come and gone. We started it off in Thailand during the month of January. It was a great trip, with Jaidan and I spending the majority of it in Bangkok and Thavorn spending half in Bangkok and half visiting her family in Phang Nga (hope I spelled it correctly).

We flew back through Abu Dhabi and spent a night there as our flight was delayed. Arriving back in Canada, Jaidan resumed school and Thavorn went back to work. Life became very routine! And I became very bored!

John and Fon were in Thailand and were scheduled to fly back to Canada at the end of June to live with us for the 2 summer months. However, I pulled the plug on Thavorn's job as it basically became worthless for her to work. I am sure that it came as a surprise to Fon as she was to work with Thavorn during the summer. I was also fed up with driving 2 hours a day over the past 2 years. I have not regretted my decision as I now have Thavorn home all day with me :-)

In February I developed an incisional hernia and went on a waiting list for surgery which happened in October so I became 100% healthy once again. Jaidan also entered grade 5 in school much to his chagrin.

My business has been going well which enables Thavorn to save as much as she would have if she had worked. We went from filling up the gas tank every 4 days to filling up once a month. We became carbon tax winners rather than losers.

We bought and learned how to ride an eScooter this year. This included Jaidan who has yet to learn how to ride a bicycle.

In June my basketball team won a gold medal albeit in div 5 at the provincials. In Septemver I signed up to coach U19 boys for the third time since arriving back in Canada. They keep me young :-)

I spent too much money at Christmas, as always, but Christmas is for kids (and Thai women) and as a wise man once told me, 'Work more, earn more'.

Looking ahead to 2025, we hope to bank about $20K and perhaps get ready to move back to Thailand in the summer of 2026. We would enrol Jaidan in an International School for grade 7. However as the best laid plans for mice and men, things could change.

We will have a new government in 2025 and I am hoping things will be better in Canada. They certaintly can not be worse than the past 9 years of liberal, woke government. When I arrived back in Canada in 2024 after living overseas for 10 years my initial thought was, 'What the fuck happened to Canada!'.

Happy New Year to All

TTYL