Jefferson

Most of what I post is dull, but sometimes funny or amazing things happen to me and so you should keep reading until you find the good stuff. :-)

The Dozenth Farewell

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020  Comments Off on The Dozenth Farewell
Jan 232020
 

It’s difficult to believe our trip is coming to an end. But after all the temples, fried fish, and clothing shops, it is time to fly back to Bangkok for our last shopping and eating adventures before returning home. We will miss the North’s cooler weather, but we can have all the cool weather we want in the Bay Area, so perhaps a little Bangkok Winter heat is just what we need? Continue reading »

Chiang Rai and Mae Fah Luang

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020, Northern Thailand  Comments Off on Chiang Rai and Mae Fah Luang
Jan 202020
 

Today we leave Nan province and cross Phayao province to Chiang Rai, which was previously part of Phayao province. This region, best known as part of the “Golden Triangle” has a troubled history with production and trafficking of opium. However, over the course of several decades communities have been rehabilitated and put on a solid economic footing due in no small part to the efforts of one woman, Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, the mother of Thailand’s beloved and recently passed King Rama IX. Through visits to Doi Tung and Mae Salong, we will experience her work, and we also will visit a Cultural Center that occupies the site of a school she founded for hill tribe women. Continue reading »

Exploring Pua

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020, Northern Thailand  Comments Off on Exploring Pua
Jan 152020
 

Today we’ll head to Pua to continue our exploration of Tai Lue temples and crafts, and enjoy a bit more time off the beaten track. There’s no highway between Bo Kluea and Pua, so we’ll wind through Doi Phu Kha National Park and take in viewpoints along the way. Get your candied ginger, we’re ready to roll. Continue reading »

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Back to the Salt Wells

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020, Northern Thailand  Comments Off on Back to the Salt Wells
Jan 122020
 

Before Nan town became important, the center of power in the province was further North n Pua, based on the production of salt. While sea salt and manufactured salts are more popular and abundant these days, salts from land-based deposits have played an important role in history. We’ll take a brief detour to learn more about this maligned but essential mineral while enjoying a mountain resort.

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Nan Province: The Next Big Thing in Thai Tourism

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020, Northern Thailand  Comments Off on Nan Province: The Next Big Thing in Thai Tourism
Jan 112020
 

With beautiful scenery, an abundance of historic temples, and lesser known ethnic groups, Nan Province has begun to draw a substantial number of Thai tourists, although many may roar through on giant tour buses just for a weekend. We’ll take our time with four nights in the city of Nan, a night in Bo Kluea, and three nights in Pua, the former center of power in the province. It appears that Chinese tourists also have discovered Nan; when will more Westerners divert from Chiang Mai and the Pai-Mae Hong Son loop? It’s only a matter of time.

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Hot Days in Phitsanulok and Phrae

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020, Northern Thailand  1 Response »
Jan 072020
 

Thailand’s current boundaries are the results of numerous wars and treaties dating back more than half a century. Today we are heading to the heartland of the first Thai kingdom, Sukhothai. Unlike Kasma’s original Northern trip, we’ll pass to the East of the famous sites along the road less traveled (at least by Westerners).

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The Dozenth Meetup

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020  1 Response »
Jan 032020
 

Incredibly, this is the twelfth trip I’ve taken in Thailand with my Thai cooking teacher Kasma Loha-Unchit, and somehow it doesn’t get old. Bangkok and the other places we visit are constantly changing, each group has its own dynamics, and through some miracle, we find new things to eat each time. Let the exploration begin! Continue reading »

Exploring Northern Frontiers (Again)

 Posted by  Northern Frontiers 2020  1 Response »
Jan 022020
 

In the Winter of 2016, I joined my Thai cooking teacher Kasma Loha-Unchit as part of the first group to experience the “Northern Frontiers” itinerary. We found beautiful temples, unusual parks, plenty of tasty regional cuisine, new shopping opportunities, and even a tea plantation. Only four years later, Kasma has scheduled her last Northern Frontiers trip, so I couldn’t resist checking in on these spots one last time. Continue reading »

Travel Daze

 Posted by  Southern Trip 2019  Comments Off on Travel Daze
Feb 232019
 

We have become deeply attached to our villa overlooking the infinity pool overlooking the sea. We do not want to leave, but our time in Phuket is up and we must move on. Most of our group will stay overnight in Bangkok, providing additional time to relax or to shop. Geneva and I fly out tonight and will have a thirteen hour layover to explore Seoul. Let’s do this. Continue reading »

An Ethical Elephant Experience

 Posted by  Southern Thailand, Southern Trip 2019  Comments Off on An Ethical Elephant Experience
Feb 212019
 

It’s our last full day in Phuket, and there is so much we won’t be able to see and do on this island. Today we will visit with elephants, shop for souvenirs, have massages by the pool, and share one last home-cooked dinner at the villa. Everything else will have to wait for “next time.” Continue reading »

Eating Like a Phuket Native

 Posted by  Southern Thailand, Southern Trip 2019  Comments Off on Eating Like a Phuket Native
Feb 202019
 

Phuket island is not just one beach, resort, massage parlor, bar and souvenir shop after another. On its Eastern coast, there is a town with century-old Sino-Portuguese buildings, thriving markets, and a renowned food culture. Today we will cross the island to Phuket Town for a food tour. Continue reading »

Welcome to Paradise

 Posted by  Southern Thailand, Southern Trip 2019  Comments Off on Welcome to Paradise
Feb 182019
 

Phuket Island is one of Thailand’s premier tourist destinations. We have booked a Villa on a hill overlooking Surin Beach, a relatively quiet town a good distance from the island’s sleazier spots. But first, we have to get there, and that presents the challenge of squeezing my essentials for four nights and gear for a snorkel trip into a single bag. Better get to it. Continue reading »

The Market, The Bazaar, and The Mall

 Posted by  Southern Trip 2019  Comments Off on The Market, The Bazaar, and The Mall
Feb 172019
 

Being Sunday, it’s a perfect day to head to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, Thailand’s largest bazaar. I only had one taker for this plan, so there will be multiple itineraries today. We’ll meet up for dinner and share stories. Continue reading »

The Ruins of Ayutthaya

 Posted by  Southern Trip 2019  Comments Off on The Ruins of Ayutthaya
Feb 162019
 

While I could take my friends on any number of day trips, a UNESCO world heritage site should not be missed. Hence, we will be heading North to Thailand’s central plain to see ruins, ruins, and more ruins. Continue reading »

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