Category Archives: Asia

BERENTI MISTAH by Peter Nolan Smith

In 1991 I bought a round-the-world ticket for $1399 from Pan Express. The owner set up a magical itinerary. “New York – LA – Hawaii – Biak – Bali – overland to Jakarta.” John recited the trip from memory, since he sold hundreds of these tickets every year. “What do you mean ‘overland to Jakarta’?” […]

Half the Hermit Kingdom

World Peace seems an unattainable goal, although North Korea’s leader ordered the remains of American soldiers to be returned to the USA. Donald trump thanked Kim Jong Un and said he was looking forward to meeting him again. According to some sources Kim Jong Un has yet to stop North Korea’s nuclear program. Obviously the […]

The Trade Route Of The Orient

From 1956 until 1973 20 Thai baht bought $1. A flight to Penang on Thai Airway cost about $130US. I checked Air Asia current ticket fare from Bangkok to Penang and discovered the price is about the same. Some things never change.

Par 4 at the Killing Fields Country Club

Eleven years ago in a move destined to have the late Cambodian despot Pol Pot spinning in his grave _ if he had one _ the former Khmer Rouge cadres in their stronghold of Pailin embraced a plan to cash in on the country’s tourism boom and build a golf course. Not that they know […]

Siam or Thailand?

Pattaya is not in Siam but Thailand. Why? Supposedly military-backed government was scared Burma might invade Siam and sent new maps to Rangoon with Thailand instead of Siam. The generals figured the Burmese would think that Siam had vanished from the face of the planet, eliminating the need for war anymore and to be truthful […]