Miami, Florida August 19, 2002 Wherever I travel, an unexpected emotional moment may arise - an encounter with someone or something that can move me to tears of happiness. West of Bangkok, in Nakhon Pathom, I was wandering around a very large market place. Everyone stares since I am the only farang (foreigner) around.
B"H
Bangkok
Thailand
September 18, 2025
Hello,
Today is my Birthday. I am Eighty-five.
I am well. I have family and friends who care about me.
I am active. I am happy.
Since I have been an expatriate and a traveler for more than twenty-five years, I have celebrated my birthday in several locations.
For example, in 2011 in Russia, I was visiting the small city of Vladimir. I sang Happy Birthday to myself as I wandered around town.
In 2014 in Lithuania, in the small city of Palanga, I met Rima, a rehabilitation physician and her husband Mindaugas. Since Rima was on duty the evening of my birthday, we three had a small party in her hospital office.
Over the years I have had several large gatherings in restaurants here in Bangkok and at Jomtien Beach, my get-out-of town pad. Thai friends and expat friends from Afghanistan, America, Australia, Canada, England, France. Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, South Africa and South Korea have celebrated my birthday with me.
At one party my Thai friend Nai came with her very young daughter. Little Samantha stood on her chair, bent over the cake and helped me blow out the candles. Samantha is now a high school senior!
This year I’ll have a party with my friends at Jomtien Beach.
You might ask, “So far, Jan, where was your favorite birthday party during your expatriate and travel years?”
That’s easy to answer: Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China.
Click on the photo above for photos from Bangkok.
Scroll down for the videos from China.
Finally, My Friends, Thank You for your encouragement and friendship for all these years. With your support, and continued good fortune, I’ll keep on goin’.
Be well,
Papa Jan
PS Click here for the full story from Dunhuang and the stunning Dunhuang Yardang National Geo Park.
Prelude
At thirty-eight, I ran the first of my six completed Marathons in September, 1978 in New York City. The race traverses all five boroughs of the City. The race begins at Fort Wadsworth Park in Staten Island and immediately crosses the Verrazano Narrows Bridge across New York Bay to Brooklyn. Through Bay Ridge and downtown Brooklyn and across the Pulaski Bridge to Queens. Then across the 59th Street-Queensborough Bridge to Manhattan, north to the Willis Avenue Bridge to the South Bronx, and then the Madison Avenue Bridge back to Manhattan, through Harlem and Central Park and finally to Tavern on the Green Restaurant near Columbus Circle. (A friend of mine quipped, “I wouldn’t even want to drive that route!”) The race covers the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers!
Here's a cute story I like to tell about that race: “I ran the race with the famous marathoner Bill Rogers! He is the eventual winner at 2’ 10”…. But when he crossed the finish line in Manhattan, I was still slogging along in Brooklyn!”
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Jomtien Beach
Thailand
Early Sunday Morning
July 20, 2025
Windy and Overcast
Hello,
And speaking about runners slogging (or just walking) along:
By the time I realize what is happening in my neighborhood this morning, the Pattaya Marathon had been in progress for three hours. The elite runners and well-trained long-distance runners have already crossed the finish line. Since my location on the route is at 32 kilometers. or about 20 miles, I am watching “the back of the pack.”
Bangkok
Thailand
June 19, 2025
Hello,
In May 2022, my friends Roberta and Sergio and I traveled to Iran. I think I can speak for them and say that it was a favorite journey.
I decided today to look back at my trip and collect photos of some of the folks I met along the way.
Today is also a special day. My former wife, the late Alice Dawn would have been celebrating her Eighty-fifth Birthday. Alice was a devoted teacher of French and a dedicated activist for peace in the 1960's and 70's. I am certain she would have been supportive of my project today.
Please click on the photo above for the photo gallery.
You can find my Iran travel letters, photographs and videos on this website.
All the best,
Jan
“Can I Go Home Now?”
Dali
Yunnan Province
China
May 30, 2014
Dear Fellow Travelers,
Traveling in China can be so frustrating! I think I’ll go home.
After a four and a half hour bus ride from Kunming to Dali New Town, and after a taxi driver refused to take me to my hotel near the Old City, and after a thirty minute bone-shaking, jaw-jarring, teeth-shattering ride in the Chinese answer to the Thai Tuk Tuk,
and after waiting more than half an hour for someone from the hotel to pick me up because the Tuk Tuk driver dropped me off at the wrong gate of the city, and after taking a taxi from the South Gate of the Old City to the West Gate,
and after checking in at the Jade Emu Guest House that looked like a good hotel on the Internet but was just a notch above a youth hostel, and after all of the above being transacted with a variety of people with whom Icannot communicate,
I ask you, “Can I go home now?”
