1. Most memorable Peace Corps training experience. When they had everyone convene in a room (in Mahasarakham?) without any
previous
explanation, then had the Thai male staff wrap themselves around the
male
American PC vols to demonstrate Thai modes of physical intimacy among
males.
Very effective, and very useful for future social
encounters.
2. Most memorable Peace Corps job experience. I'll
never forget the day classes at Thailand's most advanced techno
university
were canceled in order to perform a spirit exorcism of the
building in which I
taught. It had been erected over a Muslim graveyard, so
of course the "phii
khaek" were causing all kinds of problems for teachers
and students. Buddhist
monks chanted, feasted, and tied sacred bai sii string
around the building, yet
another instructive lesson about Thai Buddhism's
spirit cult.
3. Most memorable event off the job in Thailand.
Impossible to single one out!
4. Best vacation spot or tiow in
Thailand. Khao Sok National park in Surat Thani.
5. Favorite Thai
food. Khanom jiin naam yaa
6. Funniest memory from Thailand.
They're all funny.
7. Overseas trips since Peace Corps. I've been
back to Thailand almost every year since my early termination from the
Peace
Corps for periods lasting anywhere from two weeks to five months. I've
also
traveled in every country in Southeast Asia accept the Philippines
and
Vietnam. Other places in Asia I've been to since leaving the PC include
India,
Nepal, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Most of these I've made
several
trips to. I have been spending a lot of time in Mexico lately and
have made one
trip to Ecuador. My favorite country these days is Laos (if you
liked Thailand,
you'll love Laos). In May I'll be going to Cuba for the first
time.
8. Proudest accomplishment(s) since leaving Peace Corps.
Sixteen years of writing travel guidebooks for Lonely Planet Publications on
SE
Asian countries. I'm particularly proud of the 800+ page guidebook to
Thailand
we've developed, and more recently the Laos guidebook.
9.
Best vacation outside of Thailand. Hanging out in Todos Santos, Baja
California Sur, Mexico, where I'm now building
a house. My idea of a vacation
these days is to stay home!
10. Favorite pastime now. Hiking and
camping.
11. Best thing about your current job. Self-directed
nature of the work - no boss, no hours, but plenty of hard work.
12.
Favorite web sites. I hate the Web! Though I use it in my
work.
13. Favorite book, movie, music, etc. Favorite movie of all
time: Five Easy Pieces
Book: The Heart of the Matter by Graham
Greene
Music: Coltrane
14. Other questions of your choice
Biggest regret: Having left my PC assignment before completing the
two-year
commitment. I still feel a lot of guilt about it, particularly since
the
experience resulted in a graduate degree in SE Asian studies and a
full-time
writing career. I only hope that I've to some degree paid the debt
I owe by
writing about Thailand and by promoting its culture and natural
beauty.