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Calypso Island Chronicles
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Adventures, misadventures and reflections of traveling in the tropics.
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If it’s Monday, it must be NAN; if it’s Tuesday, it must be Taiping
Shortly after midnight, I will be embarking on My Annual Odyssey to Southeast Asia. My itinerary, November 18 – December 30, includes three countries – Thailand (29 nights), Singapore (3 nights) and Malaysia (10 nights). During my grueling 42...
Travel Photo of the Week - The Great Mormon Butterfly
The Great Mormon Butterfly (Papilio memnon), a member of the Swallowtail Family (Papilionidae) is one of most spectacular and largest butterflies that I’ve encountered in Thailand. The female of the species is this week’s featured travel photo &#...
A cursory look at Online Travel Forums and Travel Communities
Let’s face it – While Travel Guide Books can be a good resource or very handy reference when you’re traveling, unfortunately most of the information is not up to date. If you want current and in depth information on specific destinations includ...
Trip Planning 101 - Make your plans as far in advance as possible
Having been in the travel business for many years, I have a pretty good acumen for trip planning as well as understanding the psyche of the traveler. The best advice I can give to a prospective traveler would be – Make sure you plan your vacati...
Passport Follies - adding extra visa pages is a real hassle
I had taken care all of my travel arrangements over 2 months ago for my upcoming odyssey to Southeast Asia, November 18-December 30, where in a 42-day period I will be visiting Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. However there was one very small loose ...
The fascinating Spirit Houses of Thailand
If you have traveled around Thailand, I’m sure you’ve come across the Spirit House (in Thai, Phra Phum), an ornate dollhouse-like structure which sits on top of a pole or pedestal. Spirit houses can be found everywhere in Thailand. In...
The Fundamentals of Touring according to the Traveler
I’ve been on many tours and sightseeing excursions (in addition to conducting my own tours) during my many years as a traveler, so I have a pretty good feeling of how a tour should be properly conducted. The most common sightseeing excursion is the...
Air Asia’s No Refund Policy
Air Asia, a regional carrier that specializes in budget air travel within Southeast Asia, has an unusual way of dealing with air ticket refunds. About a week ago, I booked a RSVNS on Air Asia and purchased a one-way ticket online from Hat Yai, Thai...
Jet Skis are ruining another popular beach resort in Thailand
I really used to like Kamala Beach, a popular resort area on Thailand’s Phuket Island. Despite the many cafes and shops along the boardwalk, as well as many lounge chair and massage concessions on the beach, it used to be a fairly mellow and qu...
My search for the most eco-friendly beach destination in Thailand
Believe it or not, my search for the the most eco-friendly beach destination in THAILAND has uncovered a place I haven’t been to yet, and that is Koh Libong! I am sure most travelers have never heard of this relatively obscure island as well. Koh...
Beach destinations in Thailand are not very eco-friendly
In the last several days, I have done some extensive research in an effort to identify the most the eco-friendly beach destination in Thailand. To be honest with you, it is a lot easier for me to rattle off a list of beach destinations/island resorts...
Why do they call Thailand the Land of Smiles?
It’s very simple – People in Thailand love to smile. I have traveled all around Thailand with my camera and I find people very receptive to have their picture taken. In fact, some ladies and kids have run after me to take their picture. I guess t...
A profile of the extraordinary owner of Phu Lang Ka
Kevan, the proprietor of Phu Lang Ka Lodge, is an extraordinary man. As the elected president of the Yao (Mien) people of Thailand, Kevan and his wife, Nong are very active in the community and play an instrumental role in the preservation of Yao cul...
THAIgers very dangerous, eat money!
I really enjoyed myself in NAN, a relatively small and obscure city in Northern Thailand that few travelers have heard of. All my touring was taken care of by Fhu Travel, the most experienced tour operator in the city. Because of the scarcity of tour...
Sneak preview of upcoming stories from Thailand & Malaysia
It’s been a rocky start for CALYPSO ISLAND CHRONICLES in 2009. While I was on my 30-day odyssey to Thailand and Malaysia not too long ago, I discovered that Calypso Island Chronicles (and our associated website) had been hijacked by some nasty malw...
What are your top 5 travel memories?
I am conducting a special promotion - between now and November 4, I am asking you to list your top 5 travel memories and briefly explain ‘why’ in the comment box. By November 6, my associate and I will have carefully reviewed all the comm...
How much electronic gear & gizmos do you take when traveling?
Today’s technologically savvy traveler carries a lot of electronic gear and gadgets when taking a trip. I guess you can definitely include ‘yours truly’ in that category, but when I compare myself to some real hardcore ‘technogeek...
Obnoxious (and toxic) Tourists that I have known
I’m sure you’ve encountered some obnoxious (and toxic) tourists during your travels. They stick out like a sore thumb with their insensitive, loud and vulgar ways and they make it more difficult for all of us. While passing the time in a small ru...
Apocalypse in Thailand?!?!?!
Not too long ago, one of Thailand’s preeminent fortune tellers/psychics predicted that a catastrophic earthquake would devastate Central Thailand sometime in October. If you live in the ‘Land of Smiles’, there are exactly 16 more days ...
The Evils of Tourism - how we kill the goose that laid the golden egg
Tourism is a dual edged sword – there is a delicate balance between development and environmental integrity. Once the line is crossed, tourism will often kill the goose that laid the golden egg. I’ve seen (and have read about) too many “s...
Starbucks is taking over Thailand
Traditionally, Thailand like most Asian countries is nation of tea drinkers. All that changed innocently enough when in July 1998, Starbucks opened up their first store in Bangkok. Since that time, the floodgates have opened as Starbucks has mushroom...
The American Traveler in Asia & the McDonald’s Index
Conde Nast Traveler is a wonderful magazine. In every monthly edition, I usually find at least a couple of articles that I enjoying reading and which are also good material for a blog. The latest edition’s focus is on ASIA; not only do they have a ...
The most distasteful beach resorts in the world
Actually the title of this post should be the most distasteful beach resorts that I have visited. Of course, my opinion is subjective and you may disagree with my choices. After all beauty is in the eye of the beholder and one man’s garbage is anot...
Exploring Jamaica’s Wild South Side
RETURN TO JAMAICA
Many people don’t believe me when I tell them that I have been to Jamaica over 30 times. It is true - all you have to do is look at my passport. What is even more astounding is that all my trips to JA took place over a 16-year interval, from 1980-1...
Speaking of Bangkok
A while ago, I had discussed Travel & Leisure’s selection of Bangkok as the World’s best city for the traveler. Looks like Bangkok just got another big push today when MSN Travel featured a slideshow of Travel & Leisure’s ...
Eulogy for the Casuarina Beach Club
I came across some very disturbing news the other day that caused me to shed a tear or two – I discovered that the Casuarina Beach Club in Barbados had ceased operations in Spring 2005 due to financial problems and the property had been sold to Alm...
Bangkok is rated #1 in Traveler’s Poll
Travel and Leisure, an American based magazine devoted to tourism, recently published their 13th annual travel poll. Voted by their readers as the top city destination in the world was Bangkok. My hometown of San Francisco was voted as 10th best. In ...
Are all cities in Thailand alike?
If you have traveled in Thailand, I’m sure you may have probably come to the conclusion that if you’ve been to one Thai city – excluding Bangkok and Chiang Mai of course - you’ve been to them all. What I mean to say is that most town and citi...
Holy Hueca - the potholes of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one my favorite places in the world. It is so green and lush and the tropical landscapes are simply marvelous. In addition, the ticos have such an even temperament and are so cordial to the tourists. What a wonderful place to be! The wo...
