“Carry out random acts of kindness with no expectations of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
(Princess Diana)

I love how random the reaction to our webpage has become. We never know who will contact us, or from which corner of the planet. Our goal is to simply share what a magnificent planet we all live on; a little bright spot to balance off CNN and the other negative mainstream media. We continue to put a new page up every month, spurred on by this feedback. Recently a local girl we had walked on the beach in Mozambique with 3 years ago; wrote to tell us the quote I chose inspired her in a crisis she was facing in life. (see more below). Thanks so much for following us and keeping in touch. It means a lot. Your interest in our world is inspiring to us!

“I love your webpage, What a beautiful cyber-monument to the diversity and inter-connectedness of all of Life! You two will be my ears and eyes to the rest of the world.” (Gene)

Princess Umul Hatiyya Ibrahim Mahama has loved your trip The Big Fat Indian Adventure – Part 1

http://www.tripoto.com/users/view/1718

“Hello nancy n joseph,
my name is sergio …We met at the airport in Costa Rica march of 2013. I was traveling alone and sat down. I was wearing a cowboy hat. Anyway, I relocated from long island to sunny phoenix.
As I scan my junk emails, i stop to read your travel blogs. They are reassuring & confirm that life is a blessing. Don’t take things for granted & to stop and look around, absorb what life has to offer.
I know these things but sometimes we get lost in our busy body worlds of work work work OR the pity patty of woo is me … From east coast to almost west coast has been tough. 44 years old and starting all over ….. VERY HARD
Sad … yes, guilty … yes, scared … yes, excited …YES. This new life I was offered by a higher power is a blessing and I wont take it for granted. Im choking up writing this and we met briefly but your blogs inspire me to travel more n see & appreciate diversity in people and our beautiful planet. Thank you! Bless you both.”
(Good Luck Sergio – please take our notices out of your junk/spam mail! Hurts our ratings – Thanks)
Siam. The word conjures exotic visions of a mysterious country in the Indochina peninsula, a revered king, intriguing art, beautiful dancers in exquisite silk gowns and elephants lazing in the forests. Not much has changed in the countryside but the city of Bangkok has exploded into an international center of trade and technology. Gone are the canals and rickshaws, replaced by 4 lane highways and jammed streets. This city never sleeps and the same can happen to you if you don’t find a quiet corner in the midst of the cacophony. While travelling in Asia or in transit from Hawaii to Africa, India or China a preferred stop has always been Bangkok. Great flight deals, visas to anywhere, supplies galore, inexpensive decent rooms and the best Thai food to please any appetite. There are several distinct areas to stay in Bangkok and we prefer the Khao San area near the Grand Palace. Khao San has morphed from a basic backpacker/drug scene with plywood rooms, to a rowdy get drunk/act stupid then fall into a bed in a boutique hotel area. Noisy and crowded this one block long hotspot is good for a look and laugh, but give staying here a miss. Just 2 blocks away, our ‘home away from home’ for years has been the short alley of Soi Rambutri. Getting busier by the year but still quaint, especially at the quiet end, this lane supplies everything from fresh squeezed orange juice, to ice cold coconuts, to a large phad thai noodles or fresh curry for a buck, to the latest screen printed t-shirts to money changers. You want it they have it or can get it. A place to just chill out in one of the little alley side cafes and watch the parade of travelers from all over the world pass you by. Wild hair-doos, bizarre tattoos, strange clothes, bedraggled travelers crawling in from their latest adventure, transvestites on the prowl, saffron robed monks and proper dressed Thai girls off to work. A little something for everyone. This alley surrounds a 2 block square serene, exotic Thai Buddhist monastery. One is able to meditate in the temples or simply walk through to connect and recharge from the hustle and bustle outside.

The variety of Thailand has a little bit for each person’s taste. The northern highlands have a colorful mixture of mountain tribes people. The coasts boast magnificent miles of white sand beaches and the islands are a magical place to sail to, then hide away for a few weeks. Good prices, friendly people, great infrastructure easily allows you to move around and to see this cultural diversity of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Siam always remained neutral or played the right side of the fence over history. During the Vietnam War it became a haven for tired and frisky service men on R & R leave. With that came an increase of prostitution and sex slavery. It is not uncommon for northern tribes people to sell a daughter into prostitution. The idea that women are in this profession because they like it or want to be is a lie and is old patriarchal thinking. This, I believe personally, has changed the way Thais look at foreigners and especially men partaking in these extracurricular activities. And there is something for everyone. Just realize the damage that is being done. Sixty year old foreigners with 20 year old Thai wives is yet another matter. To each his own, but equalize the socioeconomic levels and this would possibly all but vanish. True love will always survive.

Visions of the “King & I” dance right out of your head when looking at the current political situation. The Kingdom of Thailand, was ‘ruled’ by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (in his 80’s) but although his photo adorns every building the spoiled royal family has come under scrutiny of late. The Prince recently threw an expensive poolside birthday party for their French poodle “Foo Foo”, which made press when a video leaked out. Claiming that the King was being led around by a group of cronies the military, under General Prayauth Chan-ocha’s leadership staged a junta and tension was high in this already high strung capitol city. Weeks later all seems to have calmed down, the military is gaining support, and as the newspapers recently reported:

“Prayuth’s recent happiness campaigns across the capital, Bangkok, where locals and foreigners alike have been offered free meals and haircuts, music concerts put on by Thai soldiers and flanked by PVC-clad dancers, and the chance to both pet a pony and take a selfie next to a trussed-up soldier as an attempt to “bring back happiness to the people” after a decade of political in-fighting.” People are easily manipulated and soon forget the troubles of the past. Beside who wouldn’t want a photo with a soft, cuddly pony?

And so we arrived from our lovely 2 months visiting family and friends in Hawaii to the Kingdom of Thailand. Within minutes we were settled into our guesthouse, feeling a peculiar warmth from scowling staff at our old regular haunt. After all these years we know they are smiling on the inside – somewhere. Their rooms in the new section are clean, comfortable and convenient – that is if you don’t mind hiking up to the 4th or 5th floor. Our workout for the day! Walks in the park, rides on the river boats to the market, and sojourns through the bustling streets kept us busy. We enjoy finding unique little corners of this eclectic city, from old world markets selling live snakes to high tech malls to classy historic sites reminding us of days of old. We explored and discovered many such places with our good friend Stan, from Hawaii, who jumped ship 8 years ago and loves living in Thailand. Sure beats the high prices in Hawaii.

Always interested in healing techniques of various countries I randomly visited the Om Room. I arrived unannounced and was drawn to a notice telling of a 4 day seminar on Biotherapy. Led by a doctor from Croatia, it had been full but one spot had just opened up. I walked in the following day and greeted him with “Caco si” (“Hi there!”) having been raised with my Croatian ‘Little Grandma’. We were immediate friends. Knowing this was what I should do I started the journey into the world of Energy, Qi, Life Force. Most of us realize we are made up of energy; the world, the Universe is made of energy; yet we know very little about it. My ‘accidental’ study of Qi Gong in China with Master Jianshe introduced me to a more in depth understanding and now working with Ivan I was able to feel the energy surge in my body. He could actually use a person’s energy to bend them in whatever direction he chose without touching them. Remarkable. He is a true healer, caring, intelligent and global citizen. All his work is by donation. He has offered to continue with his work with me long distance, months later.

Ivan knew the head Chinese doctor at Rangit University and before I knew it I sat across from him. He checked my pulse, my eyes, my tongue and could tell what meridians needed clearing. Within minutes I looked like a porcupine with acupuncture needles from head to foot. Blockages in my energy meridians were cleared over the next couple of weeks and between that and Ivan’s golden touch I was feeling great. The ancient secrets revealed opened to me as a gift; as are so many things if I remain open while wandering Mother Earth.

And so it goes…………………………………..Next flying to Penang Malaysia, for a long overdue meal of the best Indian food outside of the continent of India. Until next month Keep Smiling and let’s remember to practice random acts of Kindness. Our lives and those of the people around us will be enriched. Kindness begets kindness and our world could use all the kindness it can get. Take care and Keep in Touch!