Physics in practice
A children's program about how lenses work reminds me of a physical phenomenon I saw in northern Thailand about twenty years ago. And with that I thought of another phenomenon from the same time also in Northern Thailand
A story from Thailand, Macadamia journey
Unexpectedly I decide that I really need a few days of vacation. I have to get out and this seems like the right time to go to the Doi Tung to see the macadamia plantations there. I described this note earlier based on internet knowledge.
Bangkok at night
When a Dutch friend came to visit me, I met him in his hotel in Bangkok. He had been there for a few days and told me that he had discovered a nice restaurant on the waterfront. We decide to eat there.
Two statues for Buddha
Dick Koger is a spectator at the dedication of a new house by monks and comes to the conclusion that Buddhist customs are not much different from other faiths.
The restoration of a swimming pool in Pattaya (1994)
About a hundred meters from the busy nightlife of Pattaya is the Windy Inn, a friendly bar without pushy women. It has a small swimming pool on the sea side. Now, in low season, this pool is being restored.
Column: One, two, three, four, five
A difference between a Thai and a Dutchman is the way they count with their fingers. Facts and tidbits, which are completely unimportant, are often nice to know.
Collecting
Collecting is in people's blood. Whether it's stamps, cigar bands, old coins or KLM houses, once you've been grabbed, there's no holding back. Everything I collected in the Netherlands was left behind. In Thailand I started a new life of collecting, albeit less fanatically. Although, books are a constant factor in my interest.
Hotel reservation in Pattaya
On this site I read a piece about the fact that you can always negotiate the price of your hotel room in Thailand. That reminds me of when I came here on vacation.
Translate by phone
My children (this may not be the correct representation of the facts, more certain is that I am owned by those children) greet me every morning in English with “good morning Dick”. This morning, however, was different.
Dick Koger travels to Cambodia
Forty years ago, along the lines of the well-known expression “first see Naples, then die”, I had two goals in mind. Only my goals did not include Naples. I saw this place early on. It concerned the pyramids in Egypt and the Angkor Wat.
SSO, an annual outing (with photo)
We must again prove that we are alive, this time to continue enjoying our pensions. So we drive to Laem Chabang. There is the Social Security Office with which the Netherlands has entered into an alliance, to make sure that we do not cheat things by continuing to receive the pension after our death.
Dining club, then and now
In the evening I eat in a Thai restaurant in Pattaya. It is called Pergola and is located in the first street on the left, behind the Hanuman. A long time ago I lived right next to this little restaurant.
Hotel Nautical Inn – Pattaya
My eye falls on a signboard just to the north. On it is an anchor and the name of a hotel: Nautical Inn. A light comes on. More than forty years ago I slept in this hotel or at least in this place and in a hotel with this name.
Proof of life
Because I recently celebrated my birthday, I had to prove again that I fully live up to my rights to state pension. Fortunately, a good friend also celebrated his birthday a few days later, so we went together to the SSO office in Laem Chabang.
No night in Bangkok and a new passport
Sometimes it is difficult to make a decision. Going to Bangkok for a book presentation at the embassy or not. And, if I were to go, stay overnight or not.
Bus stop in Pattaya
I sit down on a bench at a bus stop. My eye falls on the sign indicating the stop and I see that buses 19, 124, 125, 127, 128, 149, 516, 517 and 536 pass here. This makes me think. There are no buses in Pattaya at all.
Street scene in Pattaya
It's blowing great. I'm on my bike and another bike is coming towards me. On the front a Thai boy, on the back a monk.