PUERTO AVENTURAS

Puerto Aventuras is a very safe gated community located about half way between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. There is everything there - golf course, beaches, outdoor restaurants, dophins, shops, tons of fishing and pleasure boats at the marina. You will meet mostly expats, except many of the staff are Mexican.

You can buy a nice 2 bedroom condo starting at about $149,000. Taxes are about $90 a year.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN

Sunshine every day. High - 27C Low -20C

Playa del Carmen is a very fun city. Very easy to get around with it's one way streets. This year it struck me as a little too touristy for my liking. Great deals and meals to be had as long as you get off 5th Avenue where more of the locals are.

SNAKE FARM

At the snake farm just out of Chiang Mai, they put on quite a show. They were working with pythons, king cobras, and an amazing "jumping" snake. They showed how they "milked" the snake of it's venom. And everyone got to handle the python.

DOI SUTEP

Doi Sutep is an amazing temple 17 km up the mountain of the same name from Chiang Mai city. It is 700 years old -a very popular place for Buddhists and tourists alike.

THE VILLAGE

We had a wonderful meal at Toon's house. Rice, mango, noodles, crickets. The rains have not arrived yet, so the rice cannot be planted. Her father arrived later with 2 large bags full of fish which he had caught. The picture of the 3 shows my interpreter and his wife and son. They were the kindest people. Two days later, they took my to their church in the big city of Ubon

MEETING MY "FOSTER CHILD"

The biggest thrill of my whole trip to Thailand was meeting a little girl that I have sponsored for 4 years. Her name is "Toon" and she lives in a very small village near the Laos border. I had to travel 17 hours by bus to get to the city of Ubon Ratchathani. Then an interpreter picked me up and we drove for 2 hours out into the countryside to her village.

Toon is an only child - her parents are older. Her home is very primitive - but she is an incredibly happy 11 year old. I spent all day with her, her family and some of the workers from the church. I must say it was probably one of the most emotional days in my life.

CHIANG MAI

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Chiang Mai is a delightful city 800 km north of Bangkok. The "old" city is in the center of the city - is surrounded by a wall and a moat. Many retired expats call Chiang Mai home. And I can see why - the city just feels right. It is a bustling city, vibrant - but not crazy like Bankok.