Home/ Posts Tagged "Culture Shock"

The “Truth” About Thai Smiles

June 20, 2018 / by / in Thailand, Travel / No comments

So, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time in Thailand, often staying months at a time. And like many Westerners in Thailand, I often rely on the various online expat forums for information. The various Facebook groups—and even the old-school Thai Visa Forum—can be very useful resources. From help navigating Thai bureaucracy to finding a good hair stylist, such groups can be a life saver.

But they can also be a shocking object lesson in the bias, entitlement, and unchecked privilege of some folks in the various Western ex-pat communities of South East Asia.

A sunset selfie on the beach in Valencia, Spain. May 2017

My Digital Nomad Anniversary: Change for the Better

July 20, 2017 / by / in Travel, Work / No comments

Five years ago today, I boarded a flight to Reykjavik with far too much stuff and a computer. From there, I went to London and then on to Thailand, Macau, Singapore, China, Cambodia, India, Dubai, Spain, France, and Italy. Later my travels would take me back to Asia and Europe, onwards to South America and Central America, and of course, to many destinations in the United States and Canada—sometimes with my computer, sometimes without.

The Incredible Pleasure of Going Back

January 1, 2014 / by / in Southeast Asia, Thailand / 1 comment

Or, Why I Moved to Thailand

So, I’ve gone back to Thailand. I’m going to be a beach bum. I’m 10 years late on that score (and admittedly, I will be supported by a steady freelance income). But for the next two fiscal quarters, my social life will consist of hanging out at a beach bar with mostly twenty-something English teachers, ex-pats, and their Thai friends. And I’ll probably get a decent tan.

Terrifying Taxi Rides

September 13, 2013 / by / in Asia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, India, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Travel, Travel + Escape / No comments

There’s a lot of talk about safety and the solo traveller out there—but few people consider the fact that just getting on the road is one of the most dangerous things you’ll ever do when you travel, whether you’re a man or a woman, on your own or in a group. And sometimes the safest thing to do on any road is to go with the flow—even if the flow makes your head spin!

Top 10 Things I Miss About India

February 6, 2013 / by / in Asia, India, Top Picks, Travel / No comments

It’s been one week since I left India. While travelling in India was difficult, my last few weeks were great, with pleasant stays in Darjeeling and Udaipur, and the wonderful Jaipur Literature Festival. As my time ran out I started to lament my departure. I even started scheming about coming back next year. And so, while most of my draft blog posts have to wait until I’m finished my Spanish course, I thought I would share the “just look, no buy” version of my India experience: