Walking from state to state

Over the past 2 years, I've walked over the the BMW (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg) bridges. Today I decided to walk over the George Washington. I drove to Fort Lee Historic Park  and parked my car there. After spending about an hour in the visitor center, I started my walk to New York.

A walk like this is not nearly as fun without music. I chose Soundgarden's King Animal. When I think of their latest album, I think of my 1st night staying with a Thai family in Songkhla province (Southern Thailand) the night before my 34th birthday.

After crossing the bridge, I made the not so easy trip to Fort Washington Park with the intention of arriving at Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse.

It was only mid afternoon and I had seen what I came to see, BUT for the past couple years, no trip to NYC is complete without getting some french macarons. Macaron Parlour on the Upper West Side is the closest place to Washington Heights that I'm aware of, so I took the A train to 168th Street, where I transferred to the C train.  I exited at 86th street, along Central Park West. Macaron Parlour is between the 1 line and the BC line, but 86th street is not an express stop on either line.

After buying a dozen macarons, I listened to U2's War on my iPhone and took the 1 train back to 181st Street. I wanted to get something to eat and as I was getting close to the pedestrian entrance to the GWB, I spotted Bangkok Heights. Washington Heights is not known for Thai food, but besides Los Angeles, Thai people do not have their own areas, so their restaurants tend to be scattered about. I had a bowl of Thom Kha, put on the Rolling Stones Tattoo You and started what seemed to be a much longer walk across the GWB. While King Animal reminds me of Songkhla Provice in Southern Thailand and maybe NYC, Tattoo You makes me think of Cancun (March 2002), Berlin (November 2006) and Songkhla Province (February 2014). Although I like some songs more than others, I listened from start to finish this time. Half the time I might skip SLAVE, BLACK LIMOUSINE, HEAVEN and NO USE IN CRYING).

When I finally made it back to my car, I was happy to be done walking. As much as I take pride in being an urban explorer, that was a lot of walking. I still had the energy to buy a few things at Hmart before taking the long ride back to Pennsylvania. The Henry & Heidi podcast made the long, boring drive on Interstate 80 go quicker.

Ko Chang Island

I was in pretty extreme pain when this picture was taken. I'm trying to SMILE (like the Pearl Jam song) here, but I had the worse earache I can remember.

This was similar to Bali in earlier 2014. Ending the trip on an island, with nothing to do for a few days but spend time with friends. I always wanted to let the little fish have at my feet and finally did. My friend and I rode motorbikes around the island and got some great pictures. Lot of Russians here, which surprised me.

Fun with friends in Trat

Very close to Cambodia, but we never made it there. I was happy to see my friends here & we ate excellent seafood.

My 35th birthday in Chiang Mai

This was unexpected. After a day in Chiang Rai, our driver took us here before dropping us off at the hotel. They had a good variety of macaron flavors. Besides that, Chaing Mai was the only Thai city I've visited where I could wear the same clothes 2 days in a row. It was just warm. Not humid & hot. This was a welcome change after starting in Songkhla province.

My 35th birthday in Chiang Rai

My 35th birthday in Chiang Rai. There's something amazing about arriving somewhere that you've been seeing in pictures for years! Also the 2nd year is a row that I spent my birthday in Thailand. I hope to spend my 36th there as well (or maybe Indonesia).

V-day feast

I've been cooking for myself before I was old enough to drive. I've lived alone for 10 years, so I'm either eating what I cook at home or going to restaurants that cook things better than I can or that I can't cook at all (these are all at least 30 minutes from my house). I brought my gracious Thai hosts Godiva chocolates and french macarons (not the Laduree they requested) and I was greeted with all of this great Thai food, just like when I visited a few months earlier. Before my last visit, I was nervous about staying in someone else's house, but I really enjoyed it (so much that I was back a few months later). Although Sathing Phra is not a tourist area, it was nice to see the places the tourists don't go. I couldn't even find Sathing Phra in my Lonely Planet book. I'm always making my own plans, but when I go to Thailand, I'm used to being taken care of & I enjoy it.

Amazing new friends

This was toward the end of my annual birthday trip. I made some amazing friends in the center and south of Thailand. Another country I thought I would never get the chance to see.