Thailand Entries Music for Airports G Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 As I sit here in the florescent, mechanized, automized hub of all things coming and going, Tyler sleeps on a cold metal bench, the tips of his toes brushing against my legs. Waiting for the check-in... Packed Up, Ready to Go G Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 Yesterday, Tyler disassembled the bikes in the lobby of our guest-house (with a cute little audience) and then joined me to clean the parts in the alleyway between Shanti Lodge and the next building ... Passport Found G Sunday, May 1st, 2011 Tyler is Skyping with his mom when we receive a knock on the door. Strange, who in the world could that be? I open it up, and our guest turns out to be one of the meek and smiley women who works he... Passport Lost G Sunday, May 1st, 2011 11:30 AM / Tyler We're checking in at the reception desk of a dermatologist's office (an appointment to have some questionable moles evaluated—healthcare is cheap in Bangkok), and I am happy in... The Neither Authoritative Nor Concise Guide to Riding Bikes in Southeast Asia G Saturday, April 30th, 2011 A few weeks ago, Tara and I had the pleasure of meeting Melanie Swanson, a cycle tourist from Washington on a one-year, 'round-the-world bicycle tour. When we met in the lobby of our guesthouse, sh... Being Social in Bangkok G Friday, April 29th, 2011 When we decided to spend two months in Bangkok finishing our journals, we imagined we'd be holed up like a pair of recluses for the duration. That has been the case for the majority of our stay, but... Cooped Up G Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 We're entering our sixth week of 80+ hour-a-week writing. These days our bed (where we do most of our work) feels more like a life-raft trapped in the middle of the ocean than a place to sleep. Our... Eccentric Writers G Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 We're starting to learn where the stereotype for the eccentric writer comes from. After typing non-stop every day for nearly a month, we have begun to develop a very idiosyncratic schedule in order ... Jim Thompson's House with Katy Love G Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 After Guy and Freddie hit the road, a dear friend, one of my brother's best pals from high school, found herself in Bangkok on an intensive training session for her job as a natural disaster first re... Writing in Bangkok G Monday, March 21st, 2011 As light filters through our windows, and roosters crow over the sound of scooters buzzing past our little dead-end road—another day of our new life has begun. We are no longer concerned about... May Kaidee's Cooking School G Thursday, March 17th, 2011 When Freddie mentioned she was hoping to register for a vegetarian/vegan Thai cooking class at the well-known (in the tourist world) May Kaidee Cooking School, it took approximately two milliseconds ... Surprise: It's Freddie and Guy! G Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 The morning we arrived in Bangkok, we spent most of the day "tending to the chaos", busily writing and editing photos in Shanti Lodge's restaurant while we waited to check into our hotel room (it wa... Bussing to Bangkok G Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 Before heading out of town this morning, we stop at Natalie's Kitchen to have one last meal with Unit and Lemon. After breakfast and snuggling session with a warm, sleepy, sweet-smelling, brown-eyed... Crossing to Cambodia: Part One G Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 We enjoy border crossings – the crowds of people, the incomprehensible mix of languages we barely understand, the resulting confusion, and even, the waiting in line. All tied up in the excited cha... Making for Cambodia G Sunday, October 31st, 2010 We're heading east, making our way towards Cambodia this afternoon. Before we take to the highway, we stop at the local market so I can satisfy my budding smoothie obsession. Today, it is a neon-gr... Four Part Harmony G Saturday, October 30th, 2010 Any time we go out to eat in Thailand, whether at a street vendor or somewhere a bit fancier, we can count on there being four containers at our table, each with their own little spoons. When we pai... Slowly Going G Friday, October 29th, 2010 Thailand is lulling us into a comfortable laziness. Our desire to see the world has somewhat been put on hold, not because we don't want to explore, but simply because life is so great right here. ... Working in Dong Khi Lek G Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 Stopped for a few days, we're enjoying the peace and quiet around the palm-lined property of our hotel. There's a temple nearby whose meditative music drifts in on the breeze, giving us a pleasant s... Rainy Ride & Comfort Again G Monday, October 25th, 2010 This morning, I inspect the door of our rented camo tent for the final time, scanning for any awful bloodthirsty creatures that might be lying in wait. Deeming the exit safe, I jump out of our musty... Chasing Waterfalls G Sunday, October 24th, 2010 Tara: It is with immense relief that we cycle away from our second dingy bungalow, heading towards the Park's exit. First, we're going to see some waterfalls, and then, we're outta here. However, w... A Little Worse for Wear G Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 Tyler: Tara's first order of business this morning is running down to the visitor's center to buy breakfast, iced coffee, and most importantly, muslin leech booties. With new protective armor, we're... Into the Jungle: Part Three PG-13 Friday, October 22nd, 2010 Arriving at an intersection, at what we hope is the top, we're unsure of which way to go. Just then, a man in a truck pulls up to see if we are lost. We ask him about accommodation, and he tells u... Into the Jungle: Part Two G Friday, October 22nd, 2010 Tyler: At the entrance of Khao Yai Park, we fork over a whopping 400 baht ($13 US) each. Normally, there is fee for bicycles too, but the guards waive it for us with a wink, a friendly smile, and a ... Into the Jungle: Part One G Friday, October 22nd, 2010 Tara: Under the ugly flickering fluorescent lights of our dingy National Park barracks, I gingerly take a seat on the questionably clean bedsheets, and survey our home for the night. These overprice... Relaxing at our Bungalow G Thursday, October 21st, 2010 We spent a quiet day in Nakhon Nayok checking out the markets, drinking iced coffees, and eating tasty street food. We're really enjoying the relaxed pace of life here in Thailand. It is almost too... To the Bungalow G Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 Without the constant mental mantra of find water, find food, find a free-camp running through my mind, I find I am more relaxed. Here in Thailand, there is abundance. Food is plentiful, in the form... Leaving Bualuang G Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 After a dry night, the main thoroughfares in and around Lopburi are fairly passable – much of the flood water is now well on its way to Bangkok. Many of the secondary roads in the area are still p... Lopburi's Monkeys G Monday, October 18th, 2010 During a lull in the rain this morning (it has been pouring non-stop since we got here), we rode to the center of Lopburi to see what the town is most famous for: wild monkeys living a life of luxur... Apple Pie for Ad G Sunday, October 17th, 2010 Dad, it's like those things in the freezer!" Boss exclaims, after watching us prepare a homemade apple pie. "Nah man," Ad replies, "this is the real deal!" It has been years since Ad was able t... Flooding in Lopburi G Sunday, October 17th, 2010 Thailand is currently in the midst of the worst flooding the country has seen in decades. Ever since we arrived, the rain in Lopburi has been unrelenting. Thankfully, both our hotel and Bualuang ar... Bualuang Restaurant Kitchen G Saturday, October 16th, 2010 In a bright, airy room, with windows overlooking the garden, the family gathers for lunch. Normally, everyone eats separately, but today is special; it's Sansanee's father's birthday. While her Dad... Thai Food Feast G Friday, October 15th, 2010 Being waited on hand-and-foot gracefully is not our strongest suit. Invariably, it involves numerous rounds of awkward back and forth – us reflexively insisting on doing everything for ourselves, ... My Thai Uncle G Thursday, October 14th, 2010 So, I have this Thai uncle. His name is Ad. Uncle Brian, Uncle Ad, Uncle Steve & Dad Over the years, I've asked numerous times how some guy from Thailand became a part of my grandparents' funny J... A Day in Ayutthaya G Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 What a luxury it is, to sleep in a wide, clean bed, and to wake up tangled in a pair of warm, floppy arms. This is what I think as I extricate myself from Tyler's embrace, now padding to the window,... Sprinting to Ayutthaya G Tuesday, October 12th, 2010 Our first real cycling day in Southeast Asia begins with a farewell breakfast from our favorite local vendor. Every time we returned from sightseeing this past week, he waved us in like we were a fi... Lunch Break G Monday, October 11th, 2010 Sometimes, when we're working, we forget about eating. After several hours of writing and editing, I'm usually the first to notice my stomach making strange sensations. Tyler, though, hardly notice... Muay Thai: Boxing in Bangkok PG Sunday, October 10th, 2010 I arrive on foot alone, covered in sweat, an hour into the event. Approaching the arena, a woman quotes a series of cringe-inducing ticket prices for the various levels of access, most probably rese... Bangkok Canals: Long-Tail Boat Tour G Saturday, October 9th, 2010 Tyler: At our friend Neisha's suggestion, we've booked a trip on the rivers and canals around Bangkok. Normally, our guide leads twenty or more people on this tour, but for reasons unknown, we are ... Night Riding G Friday, October 8th, 2010 Leaving the tranquil Wat Pho, we return to cycling in Bangkok's bustling city traffic. As we make our way towards the hippy/backpacker ghetto of Khaosan Road, I get a little disoriented. We've been... Wat Pho G Friday, October 8th, 2010 Swinging a leg over my bike, I am instantly awash in a joyous feeling that permeates our rides in Bangkok. Biking in this city is fun! This morning, under the benevolent gaze of Thailand's dweeby-l... Errands in Bangkok G Thursday, October 7th, 2010 Tyler: One, two, three upshift, four, five, six, upshift, seven, eight, nine pedal strokes and I am passing cars already. My unladen touring bicycle is a featherlight rocket, powered by calves deliv... Riding to Bangkok G Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 We're cycling again, feeling carefree and happy as we pedal out of our airport hotel, heading to a more centrally located hostel in downtown Bangkok. We're in a new place that smells of flowers and ... A Welcome Change G Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 Together, we rip into our bicycle boxes like they're giant Christmas presents, throwing scraps of cardboard and tape and plastic wrap in a big pile in the corner of the room. Tyler spends the mornin... Flying to Bangkok G Monday, October 4th, 2010 We're groggy and tired, bouncing around in a taxi that feels like it could be a louage. Our driver hums along to the radio, while every joint in the body of his rickety van creaks and squeaks and co...