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2005-2008

When I returned to Thailand from my last big journey, Nee was at the airport waiting for me.  We returned Udon Thani and I took up my teaching job at Rajabhat University in Udon Thani.  My friend Clem had accepted a job at Thammasat University in Bangkok so I took over his apartment and we set up housekeeping.  Nee opened a beauty shop and her son Top lived with us. 

In November of 2005 we were married in a village ceremony in Ban Yang Um (Nee's village).  And I happily settled into domesticity.  After a while, we decided to buy property in Udon and build a house.  Click here for details

In March of 2007 we went to America.  Nee was very excited.  We arrived in LA and spent a few days with my friend Avram.  We went to Disneyland and the beach in Santa Monica.  We visited the La Brea Tar Pits and went to a game show taping.  We visited my Aunt and Uncle.

Then we hit the road in a rental car.  We headed for Las Vegas and there we were married for official purposes.  This avoided the hassle of registering our marriage in Thailand which can be bureaucratically difficult.   After Vegas we saw Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon and lots of nothing.  Nee was amazed at the open spaces with so few people.

In Dallas we visited my dad and Joy.  My cousins Ruth and Aynn and my Aunt Jean flew in to visit.  I showed Nee around Dallas and we visited my oldest friends David and Carol.  Then we stopped off for a night with my cousin John in Little Rock and spent another night with my niece Alli and her husband Dave.

After a few days of luxury accommodations with my sister and John we turned west.  Driving through a spring blizzard we stopped in Limon, Colorado for the night.  The next day we visited Buffalo Bill's grave and then stayed the night in Glenwood Springs.  We enjoyed our swim in the large thermal pool and had a great dinner.

West by way of Idaho we headed for Corvallis.  I visited friends and family.  I spent one day with my son Brentley and a day with my daughter Heather.  My ex-wife Diana had graciously agreed to store my stuff and since we were building a home in Udon, I decided to ship the goods to Udon.  We stayed at Diana's house while I sorted and packed my stuff.  This would prove to be a big mistake.  Nee became very upset during our visit.  Apparently, in Thailand, it is very unusual for divorced people to be on good terms. 

After leaving Oregon we travelled south along the Pacific Coast Highway.  We took the usual souvenir photos at the Golden Gate.  And, after a few days with Avram we returned to Udon.

About two months after we returned, Nee left me.  She said she was jealous of my first wife.  I kept hoping she would return but after several months I gave up and made plans to hit the road again.  At the end of the school term in March, I sold most of my stuff, put a dab in storage, dusted off my back pack and bought my airline tickets.

Who knows what adventures await me.

1Jan-4Feb2004  The New Year started off with a bang. Fireworks and parties.  Nee and I brought the New Year in at the Complex Beer Garden (I keep looking for the simple beer garden). Just a couple of weeks later the Chinese New Year was celebrated.  Classes go on and the end of the term is in sight.

Every year the Rajabhats in Isan meet for a teacher's sports day.  This year the event was in Surin.  The Rajabhat provides buses and a hotel.  I invited Nee along.  We stopped to look at the Khmer ruins at Phi Mai and a pottery shop.  

We arrived with four minutes to spare for the opening ceremony.  Everyone changed into their official shirts and we paraded around the field.  The torch was lit and fireworks celebrated the opening.  After the ceremony we were treated to a multi-course Thai dinner and a really impressive historical pageant.  The history of Isan was presented by 300 actors with elephants, horses, battles, dancers, a light show, music and a PowerPoint presentation.  The show lasted over an hour.  

The next day I participated in the ping pong tournament.  My superb physical conditioning was tested by constant bending over to pick up mis-hit balls.  Aki, one of the Japanese teachers and I were washed out in the first round.

The Language Center put on a luncheon to say farewell to me and the other teachers who are leaving at the end of the term.  Aki, Noriko and I are leaving.  Several Thai teachers are going to Australia to continue their education.  I received a nice memento and Ajarn Samarn gave me a tie clasp.  Tim gave me a tie for my birthday.  Could this be a subtle Thai hint?  Should I wear a tie?  Well, maybe once.  

This is the final week of regular classes.  Next week I give the speaking portion of the final exam and then proctor exams for two weeks and then I'm done. 

5Feb-7Mar2004 Exams are finished.  Grades are in.  Goodbyes are said and I'm ready to head for Bangkok to catch my flight.  Nee is going with me to the airport.  She wants to say goodbye.  I'm going to miss her.  We'll communicate by the occasional very expensive phone call and through email translations courtesy of the Language Center.  

Clem is moving to a new place and he's spent the last two weeks fixing it up.  So, we're all saying goodbye to 411/30 Ploy Villa.  It was a good place to stay.  Comfortable, convenient to Rajabhat.  Clems's cooking and an easygoing atmosphere made it a great place to stay.

We took my extra stuff to Nee's house in Thak Khan Tho.  Now I'm down to 25kg of stuff including the clothes on my back.  Pretty good when you consider that I'm taking a tent and a sleeping bag.  

Nee is planning to open beauty shop in her house.  There's no beauty shop in her village and the competition is 5km away so she should do well.

I'm going to shop for a Lonely Planet for China and Japan when I get to Khao San Road in Bangkok.  I'll have a go at Burger King and then we'll find a place near the airport.  I have to check-in at 8am, two hours ahead of flight time.  

It feels strange to be "on the road again".  I've led a settled life for a year and four months.  Now I've got to gear up mentally for the challenges of budget travel.  Food, lodging, and transport take lots of work in a strange city in a strange country.  I expect that Hong Kong won't be too tricky but mainland China will give me a good work out.

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