Non-Fiction

The two cities? My homestead of Dalat, Vietnam & Chiang Mai, Thailand. Remarkably similar topography, each the flower capital of their respective countries, each the fruit orchard, each the vegetable centre.

My friend Dario and I went up to the airport yesterday to look for Russian planes. Rumors have been circulating on Phuket for a year about Russian planes passing through Phuket on their way from India to Bangkok.

Another two beers.Another barely concealed look of contempt from a waiter expecting a Twenty Baht tip as he slouched away empty handed.It was midnight at The Bamboo Bar-Pattaya.

It's amazing how much can change in the blink of an eye. One moment life is going on the way it has, day after day, year after year, and then suddenly a random event turns life upside down...sometimes with tragic results. Last week I found myself not only a witness to such an event, but a participant as well.

The moment I spotted her on the crowded dance floor of that Hong Kong disco, I knew I had found what I was looking for and I knew it was time to order a Gin and Tonic.

Every city in the world has bars like Hades. Ask any cab driver, rickshaw puller or canoe paddler and they’ll take you. These bars are usually down by the water, or near the airport, bus station or train station. These bars are where the writers hang out.

The day finally arrived when everything was finished. It was time to have a celebration of our own. Our friends insisted that we absolutely had to have a major blow out. We had dozens of people who we needed to acknowledge for all the kindness that had shown us since our arrival in Lampang.

Everyone who spends time traveling builds up a bank of war stories with which to bore their friends back home but during a holiday in Thailand I found myself part of a simply incredible series of events.

Ivan has had a local troop of dancers come put on a Khon performance at his place for years, whenever he can get a group of tourists to sign up for the Khan Toke dinner.

Our home might last for a long time, but I almost didn’t last another 24 hours. There are some things you never forget. One of them is what a heart attack feels like. When I awoke in the middle night with chest pains, unable to breathe, I knew all too well what was going on.

Last time I visited the Kingdom I nearly choked with her breast fluid surging down my throat.

Benjamin Franklin said "Fish and houseguests stink after three days." The Thai Tourism Authority says that the average tourist spends just three days on Phuket. You figure out if there's a connection.

“tuktukyouwantmassagesir? HandsomemanIgowithyouhandsomeboy? WelcomemassageIlikeyouwhereyougo? Wantladysir? Whereyougotuktukyouwanttaxi? Motorbikesir?” I do my best to ignore the droning background commentary that accompanies a stroll down Nana in the early AM and press on towards Noy who, despite my being heroically late, should be waiting for me in a bar at the end of the soi.

We decided to take a break and drive down to visit Som’s family in Buriram. This simple visit triggered a cascade of events that would dramatically alter our situation.

The next day Jack ruefully observed that Malee had adroitly avoided the intercourse half of the offer while taking full advantage of the food. She never even put her bag down when they entered the spacious, comfortable room; heading straight for the bathroom and locking the door behind her.