I was surprised to learn that 'farang belly' (farang=foreigner) is accompanied by a pounding head. I was surprised to get it so early in my trip (even though Danielle told me so!). But thinking back to the midnight meal (that my night bus food coupon earned me) ... I shouldn't be surprised at all. NB: Thanks to the Revis Barber kitchen, I recognized rice porridge as a comfort food, and comfort was needed at the 'rest stop' on the side of the road where we ate - halfway through the 12 hour ride. Moving on... in Nong Khai, I had breakfast with a couple of Peace Corps girls and heard about their projects. Then to Sarnelli House where I nursed my belly and met my new friends for two weeks (just one group of kids pictured here). That's Fr. Michael Shea who runs the joint in the middle - see his t-shirt. He mostly wears sport and beer tshirts; I'd have to say this is my favorite (Ragin Cajuns - Go Lafayette!).

Forgot to tell you that I took a cooking class. That's right, I made those spring rolls and that spicy prawn coconut soup. Got to eat them too (and the other 5 courses as well). Second photo is 'super flame' produced during a chicken and veg stir fry. Plus we started with a market tour for identifying those yummy fruits, etc.

Day 9 now... Tonight I take a night bus to Nong Khai, in the east near the Laos border... By the way, I am enjoying the heat (thank you Northern England comparison) and tolerating the mosquitos (thank you South La. upbringing). Great accomplishment thus far: mastering the squat toilets. Most scary moment: getting bitten by a leach (but guess what? you can bleed a lot but it doesn't hurt at all). Ciao.

Day 2: Walking through rice fields (I'm in red pack); Our leader making dinner again (this time in Karen village instead of in the midst of tents); Great catering included pan-fried grasshoppers.. Day 3: Morning view of part of a hill tribe village; and pad thai in banana leaf lunchbox at my first Thai beach - a waterfall where the other tourists (only 5+guide in our group) finally found us.

Okay, this was my favorite so far... 3 day 'eco-trek.' Pics say enough... Day 1: cleaning the dishes for supper; our guide Dean (as in James Dean) making dinner; our favorite bug.

After Bangkok, an overnight train took me north to Chiang Mai - Thai culture center/summer camp for adults. My first day, I wandered and looked at temples and went to a market to gawk at all of the foods I didn't understand; bought 'prickly pear' powder for the heat. Second day, I discovered the wonderous experience that is Thai massage (Lonely Planet description of "passive yoga" is not far off). Then I got a tuk-tuk to a Jesuit retreat center; spoke to a university chaplain who runs special programs for students from the hill tribes, but found no mass. That was found at the Chiang Mai Cathedral not far from my hostel. Then a visit to the night market where I saw many of the wooden croaking frogs (don't you know them?) that my brother Hal likes so much. ...nice room at the hostel, eh?

So, I am in Thailand. My first full day in Bangkok, I took the river taxi to see the Grand Palace (see pics). I expertly avoided the tuk-tuk (motorbike with attached passenger compartment; like Chinese ricksaw) drivers who told me the Palace was closed (so they could drive me to a better place - 'same same but different'). My hostel buddy is 1/2 Thai, 1/2 American; he is researching health policy there and says that Thailand adapted so readily to growing capitalism because it is a very accepting/absorbent culture but more because it's long been a consumer crazy society. Next day I spent several hours in the Bangkok train station - best place for people watching. Also, there can enjoy big screen quality Thai television - I saw what seemed this nation's version of friends and drank 'Black Canyon Coffee' - logo is an American cowboy, chain all over SouthEast Asia.