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April 29, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Like many other expatriates here in Bangkok, I decided to leave Thailand during the Songkran holiday festival. Songkran marks the beginning of the rainy season here. The tradition is to go to temple and sprinkle a bit of water on the head of the Buddha.

Nowadays kids celebrate by loading up their water pistols and firing on anyone in range. Adults load a barrel of water in a pick-up truck and careen around town showering pedestrians and hapless motorbike drivers.

So where to go?

I looked at a map of Asia and asked myself where I haven't been. I decided on Hong Kong and Macao, only a three-hour plane ride. I booked April 10 - 16. Read more »

Location

Macau 澳門
SAR
April 16, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,

I know what you are wondering. And the answer is "Não!" 

I resisted the temptation to enter one of those grotesque monuments to avarice and addiction.

Don’t get me wrong. I'm no prude. I adore a hand of Blackjack. I savor the action of Craps. But with limited time, and a retiree’s budget, I just said "No!".

"No" to leaving my dough on the table or inside a machine.

I did hire an obscenely-priced taxi driver to see a few of the notable sights of this former Portuguese Colony (1513 – 1999). Read more »

Location