Diabetic travel blog articles, tips and insights for safe and happy travel.
Articles of our 63-day 2017 trip to Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Qatar.
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I have
Welcome to my Myanmar Travel Blog. We visited Myanmar in early Dec 2017 as a part of our quasi-independent 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey. We first flew into Mandalay on Bangkok Airways, drove to Monywa, then Bagan, and finally flew to Yangon on Air KBZ. Preparation We chose a local travel
When planning our trip to Thailand I had read about visiting the Tiger Kingdom, and knew that there was two such locations in Thailand. I’d also read about allegations of drugging and mis-treatment. I knew that the tigers were not “wild” but had been bred in captivity. I felt unsure
This was our scheduled day of rest for Thailand. One day at the end of the Thailand portion of the trip in which we would not be escorted by guides, not on a schedule, just a day to wander and relax. Well, that was dull. Greg slept away the morning.
It appears we have left the best for last! For our last temple visit in Chiang Mai Bom took us up a funicular to the mountaintop temple called Doi Suthep. Actually the funicular was not terribly exciting, similar as it was to an elevator going up a dark shaft. We
A member of the Chiang Mai triumvirate (the top 3 temples!), Wat Prasingh brought pleasure with more than just visual arts. It offered SHOPPING! The arts at Wat Prasingh were indeed amazing. Even now, after our return, I think of the golden elephant emerging from the side of the golden
Next we visited Wat Phan Tao. For completeness, I’ve given it a page in my blog, although at the time, and now as well, it seems to me to be “just another temple.” Located just down the street from Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao is an historic teak temple which
Yesterday I asked for colorful temples, and today I received them! We still did not get blue skies, but the gold of several Chiang Mai temples gleamed brightly under the overcast skies. Our first stop was at Chedi Luang, an historic temple on which construction was started in the
From the White Temple in Chaing Rai we traveled to the Black Museum, nearby, also in Chiang Rai. Both privately funded by artists, both disturbing. The Black Museum was the brainchild of Thawan Duchanee, a national Thai artist. At least the White Temple, with its grotesque depictions of hell, led
For our second full day in Chiang Mai we headed off on a long drive through the mountains to the Chiang Rai area, near the Golden Triangle where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. The skies were overcast. I had made an effort to plan the entire Southeast Asia itinerary to
The Buatong Sticky Waterfalls is located north of Chiang Mai in the Srilanna National Park. I did learn early on that sticky did not refer to the water being sticky, but I didn’t realize until just now how “sticky” the rocks were. It had become quite hot in the afternoon,
Wat Ban Den, also known as Muang Gan Temple and as Den Sali Sri Muang Gan Temple, sits on a hilltop north of Chiang Mai. Overlooking farms and mountain valleys, this temple is a more recent addition to the suite of Thailand temples. The fantastical art is striking, and the
I hardly want to write words to describe our elephant experience in Chiang Mai. I feel the pictures show the happiness and the excitement! However, I’ll give it a try. The elephants deserve it. To anyone hesitating, wondering about the safety, and the ethics of elephant tourism, just do it
I chose to visit the Kayan Long Neck women. It is easy to feel ethical while strolling respectfully through a Buddhist temple. I admire the workmanship and ask our guide about the meaning of murals or carvings. However, today I took a risk and while I still have not resolved
Following our visit to the Jungle Market, Lucky turned the van down the road to Lamphun and Wat Phra That Hariphunchai. Due to the closure of one of the temples in Lampang for repairs we had an extra hour on our hands before lunch. When all else fails, there is
On the way from Lampang to Lamphun on Rt 11, Lucky stopped the vehicle at the Kad Tung Kwian Market, also known as the “Jungle Market.” At first it seemed like any other covered farmer’s market. But, where is the fresh corn? Where are the zucchini? Where are the pumpkins?
The day was Thanksgiving, November 23rd, and we stopped first at a temple, a more modern temple than the historic temples we visited yesterday at Sukhothai and the day before at Ayutthaya. “Modern” in this case means dating from the late 1800’s. Bom seemed very excited to be showing us
I’m on the fence as to how I feel about the Lodge. It is set in a beautiful location on the side of a small river, and offers a swimming pool, an open-air dining pavilion and separate little cottages for each couple. The private cottages made of wood and bamboo
Our drive from Suhkothai to Lampang showed us a new face of Thailand. The road became more windy, the roadsides more agricultural, the vehicles less western-appearing. The roads were still excellent, well-paved, with a yellow line down the middle. If we had decided to self-drive in Thailand (except for Bangkok),
Moving along from the traveling food buffet that was our vehicle, we arrived an hour later at Sukhothai, an important destination. We knew it was important because it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We didn’t know much beyond that. Our itinerary said we would be riding bicycles through the
Hello, my name is Wendy Kirkwood Powers and this is my travel blog with travel tips and travel stories for diabetics and non-diabetics alike. |
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I am a type 1 diabetic, and have been for fifty-three years. From Antarctica to Svalbard, Australia to Africa, I’ve visited every continent. With my husband Greg, I have been on safari to Africa, wandered among the blue boobies in the Galapagos, slogged through jungle mud in Laos, and he has even chased an ocelot in Costa Rica (with his camera!) Our travel has taken careful planning, and constant attention to what is most important. I want to give you the inspiration and travel tips to enable you also to look beyond your own personal challenges, to not hide behind those words “I could never” and to see the world. |
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Scotland Sand and Sea - an unusual view of the Islands and Highlands of Scotland in paperback and Kindle from Amazon |
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Antarctica: Voyage Beyond the End of the World Glimpses of penguins, seals, whales and ice collide with fragments of shipboard life and cold feet. in paperback and Kindle from Amazon |
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Amazon - The River Grows on You - My top three Amazon experiences? The amazing mud cliffs and boats along the huge Amazon ... in paperback from Amazon |
