Three types of information that I want to provide the reader

Orphanages, Travel Stories and Cost of Living: Three types of information that I want to provide the reader:

ORPHANAGES: Information on Thai Orphanages and disadvantaged Thai children. Opportunities for reading about and contributing to the relief of poor living conditions, poor education and in some cases, hunger for children in Thailand. Offer opportunities for others to contribute to the children's development: educationally, socially and in some cases nutritionally.

TRAVEL STORIES: Documentation of my experiences and travels throughout Thailand. I will record the pleasantries of my journeys and let you know where I've stayed, visited and eaten. In many cases, these will be 'off the beaten track' and encouraging you to get out of the major tourist attractions and experience the 'real Thai' people. Come to Thailand, you too will be AMAZED!

COST OF LIVING IN THAILAND: Record my expenses on a daily basis so that anyone considering a long term stay or move to Thailand, has a basis for knowing how much money they might need (short term) and what type of lifestyle that will provide them. When I first started coming to Thailand, one US dollar was equal to about 39 baht. During the last seven years it had fluctuated to as high as 43 baht to a dollar. Currently running at close to 31 baht to a dollar. In addition, mainly during a period of the military coup, inflation has been rampant. Nice hotels in major cities that used to cost approximately 1100 baht have now risen to over 1500 baht. While that may not seem very expensive to the 2 week tourist, it is another story to the people expecting to relocate here. The current rice and fuel pricing escalation will surely continue this inflationary spiral. (Section coming soon.)

Why?

It was December right after 9/11 and I had had a VERY busy travel schedule. I was traveling to Las Vegas every weekend when I didn't have a real trip planned. Halloween vacation was New Orleans and Thanksgiving was Southern Italy. I had a cheap ticket to Thailand for Christmas, but hadn't done any research on it, and did not know what to expect.

I had been to many places around the world, enjoyed them, but didn't go back as there was always someplace new to explore. Well after three days in Thailand, I was hooked. Like so many who visit, I had fallen in love with it. I began booking my second trip for March and have now been back about twenty-five times in the last six and a half years.

That March when the wheels of my 747 touched down at the old Don Muang Airport, I knew that my body was rejoining my heart. Oh, I couldn't stay, but the planets would begin to align and very soon I will.. You might think that with twenty-five trips to Thailand, I would know the country very well, but that is not the case. I have so much to learn yet about the people, the customs, the religion and the language. It is such a diverse country, that I think it is impossible to get bored. Each small village is very different from the rest, each soi, like a different village, amazing hill tribes, diverse scenery and even many different languages.

So why do you fall in love with a place? Well for me, it is the people. These are people where having time with their children is more important then having an expensive dining room table to eat at. People who are considerate and giving. People who live in the real NOW. People who can be happy, without having MUCH. Gentle people, soft spoken people, patient people. I decided that I wanted to identify those who are most needy and give something back. In Thailand, the orphan children can use help in so many ways.

Thailand has many different names. Some call it Siam, Land of Smiles (LOS), 'Amazing Thailand' and by many 'Paradise'. Bangkok also has many names, The Big Smoke, The Big Mango, and Krung Thep (roughly translates to 'City of Angels') which is the shortened version of the worlds longest place name, Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. Enjoy figuring that one out. Soon, I will simply call it HOME.

Please visit often.

As anyone who has developed a website knows, changes are coming. Thank you for your time.