……commentary from the road
(Photo above; Silver Sand 2019)... Raising three teenage boys in Bangkok has several challenges for a parent, not the least is just getting everyone together in the same location for more than a few hours. Fortunately, my wife Katia through force of personality, organized a week every year post-Christmas for the family “vacation.” Family vacations were easy... Continue Reading →
Sebastian Florida may be a small unknown town on the State’s east coast but it’s home to Florida’s premiere public shooting range. The multi-million-dollar facility is hidden away in a wilderness reserve out by I-95 and you’re only going to find it if looking for it. Took two of my boys for a morning of Trap... Continue Reading →
The boys flew home to Bangkok from their respective universities to spend Christmas 2017 with the family. Frank was a sophomore at Florida State, and we knew he wasn’t happy there. But what to do other than hope for the best? I could sense something was up when Frank sat me down and said, “Dad, I’m leaving school... Continue Reading →
I was in DC for another meeting and decided to fly down to Florida to see the folks and kids and check on the house for a couple of weeks. Bangkok is a long way from Florida (on several measures), and that fact is starting to take its toll after 11 years. It’s even further when you’re... Continue Reading →
The Beast Prachuap Khan KhiriTime 4:27 min: 62.16 miles:13.19 avg: from Hua HimFirst flat, lucky I was in town and found a bike shop, Guy had2 tubes my size and bought them both.Temp 31, impossible to ride much after 1pm due to the heat. Thank God I bought sunscreen...... Road (Route 4 South) shoulder is... Continue Reading →
Christmas 2009 and time for a vacation. With two of the most iconic landmarks in the world so close, why not go to China? Better yet, it's winter up there; the kids have never really seen snow, and some cold weather sounds good. It was indeed cold, and the boys found out what “wind chill”... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Crocodile Show Thailand).... I just arrived in Bangkok; the family is still in Kenya as the kids finish school and I have the day off. I saw an advertisement for a “Crocodile Show” about 50 miles outside the city, so I fired up my new 125cc Yamaha Fino and decided to make a road trip. I’m from Florida and... Continue Reading →
Do the French really deserve the seemingly constant abuse they receive from the American media, particularly since the start of the Iraq crisis? I certainly got sucked into bashing the French, and as an American who works abroad, believe me, I experience plenty of reciprocal resentment from French nationals who loathe the United States.... Continue Reading →
How often do you get to venture into the western expanse of the Central African Republic and spend time with Pygmies? Well, I’m very lucky and actually get paid to make trips like this. Recently I was in the region adjoining the Cameroon border known for its indigenous Pygmy tribes. So what do I know... Continue Reading →
Opinions Meet these brave Americans in Syria A member of the U.S. forces stands guard during a meeting in the town of Tabqa, Syria. (Delil Souleiman/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) Opinion by David Ignatius Columnist July 3, 2017 TABQA, Syria For this Independence Day, at a moment when the tone of our political life would probably... Continue Reading →
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