8,471 miles and Counting

Bangkok is quite the city with a mix of old and new. On the one hand it is a metropolis with fancy clubs, Western amenities, and seriously impressive malls with high end shopping. You can order pizza from a Thai guy with a New York accent and attitude, eat at an "authentic Mexican cantina" (though I'm sure they've got nothing on Houston tacos), and get an amazing 1 hour foot massage for $3. In contrast there are street markets like you wouldn't believe, homemade "vehicles" roaming the streets, questionable sanitary standards at times, no apparent rules of the road, so many stray dogs and cats, and bare bone dwellings stitched together with whatever can be found. Some of my best spent time in Bangkok was wandering to nowhere in particular, just taking it all in. The temples are incredible and worth seeing. Intricate designs, giant Buddha statues with toes taller than me, great views, monks that will bless you, and SO much gold. But a coupl...

If this United news has you a bit down about flying, then I've got an airline for you! I had heard great things about Singapore Air, and was still pleasantly surprised. Extremely polite service, hot towels, drinks, three(!) meals and two hearty snacks on my journey. It was airplane food but still good stirfry, omelettes, shrimp, and more. After some 24 hours, I landed in Bangkok a couple hours late due to rain in Singapore, picked up a local SIM card, and took the train into the city. Cheap, clean, and easy to use subway. They actually form queues and let riders get off before getting on. Big difference from my recent NYC subway rides! On my first full day I spent hours getting lost among 8,000 stalls at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Thailand's largest. This place is amazing...they sell everything. Piles of tshirts, every kind of shoe, "authentic" Levis, Hawaiian shirts that were "Made in Hawaii USA," cowboy boots backed by a live bluegrass duo, a v...

After fueling up with one final breakfast taco and Thai visa in hand, I headed east on I-10 to savor Houston traffic one last time. I'd been looking forward to another night in Lafayette ever since staying at the Blue Moon Saloon for a Cajun music jam, and this one did not disappoint. Folks come and go with guitars, fiddles, accordions, and Creole lyrics to serve up a night of Cajun music that makes you smile. I met a Texan who makes it a point to regularly pass through there on Wednesdays. He's been to hole in the wall venues the world over and this remains his favorite. It's certainly high on my list. He once chatted with Brian May-the one from Queen-there at the Blue Moon, only to find out who he was the day after. And in the 80s he did just what I'm about to-quit it all in his 20s to go backpack Southeast Asia. He was so excited to relive his experience, we talked for hours. I then headed north to the heart of Delta blues. I've heard all about "Miss...