Meditating at the Phang Tru temple in the Kanchanaburi district on the evening of Monday the 2nd of February, 2026 proved auspicious. It was one of four Buddhist Lunar Holy Days that month, this one on a waxing moon. My homestay co-host offered to walk with me to the local temple for the evening meditation. Inside, there were two monks and a group of women who I learned were staying at the temple for a time, studying. They offered me food and drink, talked and laughed. One of the monks...

Every February for many years, my dad and Uncle Dave made the long journey half way around the globe from the east coast of the USA to Thailand to visit with their brother, Richard. Daddy-O, Uncle Dave, and Uncle Richard are all deceased now, along with their three sisters. The first to go was Aunt Ginny. She was in her thirties when she suddenly left her earthly body, husband, and three children. My sister and I tried to reach Aunt Ginny (and our deceased dog) through our own version of a...

I had to leave Crete; it was time. The 90-day Visa limit would be over soon. Originally, I had planned to travel to Tanzania. My host’s parents were ill in India, though, and she needed to be there for them (not hosting me :). Then, Niko, who was in Athens, said he’d be traveling to Bali mid-January. “I’ll travel to Bali with you,” I had joyfully said. Then Niko decided to stay with his family in Athens. I went onto TrustedHousesitters.com and found a ten-day cat-sitting job in Antalya,...