Istanbul: Cruise on the Bosphorus

Filiz, Bill, Norm, Monique Part I Reunion in Istanbul We happened to get the warmest, sunniest March day for our cruise of the Bosphorus Strait. It was still a sweater and jacket day, but the bright sun was most welcome for this Kazakh tourist, fresh out of winter. In March 2015, Lory and I … Continue reading Istanbul: Cruise on the Bosphorus →

Richard Bunbury and the Rainbow Nation

I had the privilege of living in Nelson Mandela's Rainbow Nation for four years - 2004-2008. Lory and I loved our life there living in the "Crime Capital of the World" - Johannesburg. Yes bad things happened to people as a result of violent crime, but we always felt safe living the philosophy of … Continue reading Richard Bunbury and the Rainbow Nation →

Mangrove Way – Koh Lanta

Adventure on Koh LantaAs residents of the best island in the world, we are often asked, "What is there to do on Koh Lanta?" Now I admit that it takes very little to entertain Lory and I on our island. We are the quintessential beach people. We like to walk our dogs on the … Continue reading Mangrove Way – Koh Lanta →

Man’s Best Friend

For Chandini and Muishkin From Pakistan to Kazakhstan 2002 - 2015 The new additions - Chai Lai and Choo Chai We recently adopted two rescue dogs from the streets of Bangkok. Our life with Chai Lai and Choo Chai has just begun. We adopted these puppies on August 21, 2017 - two years after our … Continue reading Man’s Best Friend →

The Crumb Rubber Factory Tour

Pekanbaru, Sumatra 2010 Pekanbaru, Sumatra is not really a tourism destination. We lived on the Chevron Camp of Rumbai for six years. We tried to develop a few day trips here and there in order to entertain friends and family who were willing to visit us. As you cross the Siak River bridge from Pekanbaru … Continue reading The Crumb Rubber Factory Tour →

The Legend of Danny Jones

Northern Lights, Saskatchewan The Canadian Tundra 1975 Danny Jones was the son of a miner in Northern Lights, Saskatchewan. This small fly-in mining community was off the grid before the phrase “off the grid” had meaning. The main recreation of the residents of Northern Lights, besides hangin’ out in the pool hall or the beer parlor, … Continue reading The Legend of Danny Jones →

My Night in Jail

Munich / Muenchen, Germany 1967 Prologue One night in jail is not a big deal. Hardly even memorable. However, my night in jail was a time of great self-awareness and reflection on the nature of man. Every man believes that given the right circumstances, he has the potential to be a hero; that he will deliberately … Continue reading My Night in Jail →

Lory and the Monitor Lizard

Rawi Warin Resort Koh Lanta Yai, Krabi July 2007 My wife Lory is not a squeamish kind of woman. She was raised on a farm in the river hills of the North Saskatchewan - running barefoot, riding horses, milking cows and raising calves to sell for slaughter. She also raised cats that were half pet, … Continue reading Lory and the Monitor Lizard →

Black Water Rafting

Waitomo, New Zealand October 9, 2001 We stood on the brink of a cliff that dropped thirty-five meters down a narrow shaft to the entrance of a cave. Our guide Sarah, was giving us beginner abseiling instructions. Between my healthy fear of heights and Sarah’s strong Kiwi accent, I found it difficult to follow her … Continue reading Black Water Rafting →

Culture Shock Pakistan

2000 - 2004 CE Islamabad, Pakistan In July 2000 Pakistan became our fourth overseas home, after three years in Kuala Lumpur. We have loved each and every one of our seven overseas homes. Friends and relatives were surprised to learn we were moving to Islamabad to work with Rob Ambrogi, Director of the International … Continue reading Culture Shock Pakistan →