LB convert

“Pub Street” Gallery

In my first book, The Long Road From Pub Street, I tell the story of my trip across Cambodia, from Siem Reap, to Phnom Penh.

If you haven’t read The Long Road From Pub Street, you can purchase it HERE on Amazon!

<img src="https://lbconvert.travel.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a0195-img.png draught beer.

The floating village on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia.

Sunrise at Angkor

Angkor Wat was the greatest city of the ancient Khmer Empire.

THIS article or THIS ebook for more information), I thought that this picture of the elephants, tuk-tuk, monks, and ruins of Angkor Thom really captured the spirit of visiting Angkor Historical Park.

monks at Angkor Wat

Sihanoukville

On the road, we stopped for baguettes, and… well, you know the story!

Typhoon Chaba made the sea too dangerous to go out to the island

Koh Rong

Our bungalow! Home, sweet home while we were on Koh Rong! We were really and truly roughing it, but it was definitely an unforgettable experience.

bed in the bungalow

The bathroom was open to the elements! Luckily there was nobody around except monkeys. It was really just like camping.

arriving at Koh Rong

After the typhoon passed, the sky was blue, the sand was dazzling white, and the sea was clear as glass.

a boat floating off of Koh Rong

independence monument

For our last evening, we went out on a sunset cruise along the Mekhong River. The skyline of Phnom Penh isn’t so built up yet. It was a perfect way to end our trip to Cambodia.

You can also watch a short video we shot during our trip to Cambodia HERE.

If you haven’t read The Long Road From Pub Street , you can download it from Amazon by following this link!

My second book, a Burma travelogue, Across The Golden Land, is also available now on Amazon!

BOOK: Visiting a Thai Temple

top temples in Bangkok, learn a little about what to expect and what to do in a Thai temple.

Although it’s not defined in the Thai constitution as the official religion, with 95% of the Thai population following the path of Buddhism, it might as well be.

Going to a temple, even one of the major tourist sites, can be daunting and intimidating at first. This guide will help you to understand a bit more about this aspect of Thai culture so that you will feel more comfortable on your visit.

This guide includes sections on do’s and don’ts in a Thai temple, a brief overview of Thai Buddhist holidays, and a section about “making merit” – accumulating good karma at a temple by participating in certain religious acts.

Available now for $0.99 on Amazon.com!

Happy Songkran 2017

Happy Thai New Year!

Songkran is a festival on April 13, 14, and 15 in Thailand. There is a religious aspect to the festival – you wash Buddha statues and bless elders by washing their hands with holy water.

But the most fun part of the modern celebration is the massive three-day water fight!

Happy Songkran!

Have fun and stay safe!

Comic # 24 – Compromise

REVIEW – Peace Oriental Teahouse – Bangkok

Hours

Don’t arrive too early! The tea house is open from noon until 8:30 pm.

Atmosphere

The interior is very modern and clean- like walking into a Japanese tea-themed Apple store!

There is plenty of seating in the second level, and lots of electrical outlets to charge your devices. It’s a nice and very quiet place to work and enjoy some tea.

Food and Drink

Many different types of tea available. The very knowledgeable staff will be able to give a good recommendation based on your tastes.

The specialty is Japanese matcha tea, but there are many other types available as well.

We were recommended a special smoky green tea. Very nice! The server showed us how to make it ourselves in little batches, and left us the tea leaves and plenty of hot water. The tea makes several batches, so you can stay for a long time and enjoy the same pot of tea over and over.

Visit Peace Oriental Teahouse for this very special charcoal ice cream!

Amphawa Floating Market TRAVEL GUIDE (Samut Songkram)

Learn more in the e-book “Daytrips to Escape Bangkok” available NOW for $0.99 on Amazon!

Take a day trip to Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram

a vendor in the market, early morning

Amphawa is a village near Samut Songkhram, southwest of Bangkok. It was the birthplace of King Rama III, and today boasts a very popular and trendy floating market with tons of food, sightseeing tours, and shopping along the canals.

Getting to Amphawa

Sure, you could take a bus from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal and be at Samut Songkhram just over an hour later, but where’s the adventure in that!?

It’s much more atmospheric and exciting to make a day of it and go by train, though it can be difficult and a bit confusing, so not many foreigners travel by rail to Amphawa.

Depart from Bangkok’s Wongwian Yai Train Station at Wongwian Yai BTS (10 baht, 1.5 hours) to Samut Sakhon, where you will cross the river by ferry and board the next train all the way to Mae Khlong Station in Samut Songkhram (10 baht).

tracks at the Umbrella Market

From the market, take any of the blue songtaew (8 baht) which are clearly market as going to Amphawa. Ten or so minutes later, you will arrive at the floating market!

Hop aboard any of the 50-baht canal tours on a long canal boat! Most 2-hour tours will take you along the canal to five or seven famous temples, giving you a glimpse at a traditional way of life as you pass homes and shops along the riverside.

At night, board a romantic hour-long tour out into the dark parts of the canals to watch for fireflies twinkling in the dark trees!

If you arrive at the right time, you can even see how the palm sugar is made from the harvested palm syrup!

If you’ve got a day to spend, and want to take a relaxing visit to a beautiful place where you can explore a bit of a traditional way of life, Ampahwa Floating Market is highly recommended!

REVIEW Nikko Cafe – Bangkok

Nikko Cafe is located down Ekkamai Soi 12. You can get there by taking the BTS to Ekkamai. It’s possible to walk in about 20 minutes, but it is a long way, so it’s recommended to take a taxi to Soi 12.

Parking is available.

The cafe is very easy to find.

Atmosphere

The Japanese-minimalist design is very cool! We especially like the modern stairs going up to the second floor.

The food is delicious! Very cool fusion food ideas.

We really like the funky modern tea desserts. We tried the “Matcha Cube” and “Milk Tea Cube” desserts.

The Japanese-Thai fusion Nikko Fried Rice is highly recommended!

Overall, an excellent place to spend a few hours working, relaxing, or hanging out with friends over some good food and drinks.

Several styles of Japanese tea are available.

Top 5 Temples to Visit in Bangkok

Learn more in the e-book “Visiting a Thai Temple” available NOW for only $0.99 on Amazon!

For a taste of the spiritual in the sprawling chaos that is Bangkok, most visitors to Thailand plan to visit at least a few Buddhist temples. The Thai capital has literally thousands of temples, from large royal-grade wats to small neighborhood shrines. Here’s a list of the top five temples to visit when you are in Bangkok, Thailand.

5. Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha – The Grand Palace

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, at Bangkok’s Grand Palace, only rank in at number five. It’s a beautiful and impressive complex, but Wat Phra Kaew is always hot and crowded, and with a 500 baht admission fee for foreigners, it can be expensive if you are traveling to Thailand on a budget.

I don’t want to say that Thailand’s most important holy site is overrated, but while housed at an undeniably beautiful temple, the legendary Emerald Buddha itself can be a little disappointing if you are expecting a large impressive statue. In fact, it’s only about two feet tall.

The Emerald Buddha is the holiest relic in Thai Buddhism, and may only be approached by the King. The statue has three different golden “outfits” corresponding to the Thai seasons (hot, dry, and monsoon), and are changed thrice annually in a special ceremony.

Get away from the crowds and explore the outer areas of the temple. Especially notice the beautiful fresco murals on the outer walls, depicting scenes from Hindu-Buddhist mythology.

Learn More: Visiting the Holiest Site in Thailand

4. Wat Pho – Temple of the Reclining Buddha

Just across the river from Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaew sits Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, and one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks.

Named for the Hindu god Vishnu, personification of the sun, Wat Arun lies on the western side of the rifer. Despite its name, it’s actually best viewed at sunset, when the sky behind it is lit up firy orange and red.

The main Khmer-style spire is inlaid with tiles made of broken porcelain pottery. Visitors can climb the steep steps to the upper level for nice views across the river.

2. Wat Benchamabophit – The Marble Temple

Marble Temple.

Built of Italian marble and incorporating beautiful stained-glass windows, the Marble Temple was constructed according to the specifications of the Thai king in 1911.

With its steep eaves, pillars, and lion statues, the Marble Temple is the image of the quintessential Thai temple, and one of the most beautiful in Bangkok. It’s much less crowded and more peaceful than Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Wat Phra Kaew.

Learn More: The Marble Temple

1. Wat Saket – The Golden Mount

Golden Mount at Wat Saket. The most stunning historic temples in Bangkok’s Old Town, the Golden Mount is unlike any other temple in the city.

The main stupa is at the top of a hill overlooking the city. Wind your way up the cool jungle path to the top of the temple, ringing prayer bells along the way.

The top of the temple has one of the best 360 views of Bangkok. Bells jingle and prayer flags crack in the breeze as worshipers circle the main golden stupa offering prayers.

There is also a coffee shop about halfway up. Grab an ice-cold Thai tea and enjoy the relaxing and beautiful atmosphere of one of Bangkok’s best temples.

BOOK The Long Road From Pub Street: A Cambodia Travelogue

Hey everyone!

I wrote an e-book!

Wherever I travel, I always carry around a small, battered, leather-bound notebook, in which I record all of my thoughts, experiences, and feelings about my adventures.

After returning from an amazing nine-day long adventure across the whole of Cambodia, I had a nagging feeling that I should start to share my thoughts. I couldn’t shake the feeling, and began to feel inspired to transcribe and clean up my stories a little bit; to share my travels with anyone who was interested.

If you are interested in travel to Cambodia, or if you enjoy travel essays, you can read all about our recent adventure in my new book, The Long Road From Pub Street: A Cambodia Travelogue! Learn from our mistakes, and come along on a journey to the “Kingdom of Wonder”.

download today from Amazon.com!

In his debut travelogue, Michael Desrosiers tells the story of a journey overland across the Kingdom of Cambodia, a small, rural, and often-overlooked corner of Southeast Asia.

The journey is unforgettable, but not always pleasant. Along the way he and his incredibly patient girlfriend contend with wild monkeys, a raging Typhoon, baguettes, jellyfish, and the horrible “twerking bug”.

Part old-school travelogue, part portrait of a foreigner’s view of a country, “The Long Road From Pub Street” is at times lighthearted and at other times introspective. Desrosiers never takes himself too seriously as a writer or a traveler, but seeks to discover the country around him with an open mind.

Discover the mysteries, magic, tragedy, and beauty of the “Kingdom of Wonder”.

CLICK HERE: You can download The Long Road From Pub Street TODAY for $2.99 on Amazon.com!

Comic #23 – Chiang Mai

Comic #23 – Chiang Mai – 24 March 2017

Yep. This happened.

We were in Chiang Mai visiting the excellent Elephant Nature Park on a one-day visit. I was trying hard to keep my new clothes clean (not so easy when you’re hanging out with elephants who love bathing in mud!) but near the end of the day at bath time, I got a little too close to the elephant’s pool and fell in.

Oh well!

When visiting Thailand, make sure you only give money to support an ethical elephant organization, and not one that mistreats or abuses the elephants. The Elephant Nature Park is one such organization that helps rescue and rehabilitate abused elephants.

Learn more about Elephant welfare and what you can do to help protect these amazing animals HERE.