Nigel Naughton

Dinner at iberry

2012-03-06T06:23:00.001-06:00

Took a walk down Soi 55 to Tops Market to get some coffee supplies and thought it would be a good time to eat for the day. I stopped at a place called iberry Food & Sweets Cafe. It's a pleasant place with good food and not so expensive. The staff is very nice and it was really nice to eat inside away from the heat.

Climbing !

2012-03-06T03:49:00.000-06:00

So this is a photo of the outside of my condo that I climbed up last night to get into my room. I want to try that again !!

Lost My Key & New Starbucks Coffee Mugs!

2012-03-05T11:48:00.000-06:00

So I had a pretty good day leading up to the point where I came back to my condo only to find that I had finally lost my key. I knew this was going to happen one day. But first things first. As you can see by the photo, Starbucks is rolling out their new, pure-white style coffee mugs. I was at an undisclosed location when I 'found' these but also walked near some other Starbucks and saw they were using the same style. Guess it is their way of telling us all they are making a lot of money!

Back to my 'I lost my key' story. What is there to say except yeah, I lost my key...the security people couldn't help me because they didn't have another spare to let me in but then I asked them if it would be okay to climb on the outside of the building to my floor and get in through the sliding door. They just looked at me and pretty much thought I was crazy. Finally! I got to climb the outside of my building! I have always wanted to do this. I got in no problem and luckily I do have a spare key.

Photo Shoot For Movie

2012-03-05T00:13:00.001-06:00

Some friends from the gym gave me some information about some movie studios looking for extra actors. I thought I would like to try this kind of new adventure. They said I have to send in a couple photos so why not right ? We'll see how it goes but I should make some more photos. This is just quick photo style. :-)

My Other Travel Thailand Blog

2012-03-04T09:31:00.001-06:00

This is my main blog because I am trying to have only one blog...it makes it easier to do just one for something like this. But there are some nice stories and photos on my other blog too. So sometimes I will remind everyone to click here to see what I did before. Thanks everyone for looking and don't forget to subscribe and follow me.

A Great Fall Day With Max!

2012-03-04T02:14:00.000-06:00

I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota in America. It is a state that borders Canada so it is far north. The summers are very nice and the fall/autumn is usually everyone's favorite time of the year. The leaves change colors, the air is not so hot and humid and it's a great time to get out and see all the nature.

This is Max Owens. I have known him since he was born and on May 23rd he will be 9 years old already. He is an amazing boy, so kind and loving and so smart. We always like to have some kind of adventures together. As you can see he likes sweets too!

I hope you enjoy these photos of Max, the fall colors of my city, Minneapolis, and Minnehaha Falls Park.

Massive Fire At FICO Building On Sukhumvit 21

2012-03-03T09:25:00.000-06:00

I was going to the gym at Exchange Tower near BTS Asoke station and right before we got there this girl next to me started screaming that there was a fire on one of the buildings on soi 21. This is the FICO building, a 13 story office complex and I guess the fire started on the 7th floor and burned a large portion of the building. Hopefully no one was hurt. These photos were taken from Terminal 21 and so many people were around observing. I didn't have my Canon 7D with me so these photos were taken with my phone.

What To Do In Bangkok?

2012-03-01T05:41:00.000-06:00

Today was really hot in Bangkok but that is expected right? Does that make it difficult to get outside to see what Bangkok has to offer? And exactly what does it offer for the tourist or for those living inside the city that just want to see something new? I have been to quite a few places so I was looking online to see what 'they' say are the top 10 things. This is pretty much an agreed list but I want you to tell me what YOU would suggest. Tell me what YOU think are the best things to do in Bangkok.

The List:

1. Grand Palace & Wat Prakeaw - I think it is worth it to see this. So much to see inside. And for something built in 1782 it offers a great starting point for your adventure but the temples after this aren't so exciting anymore compared to this.

2. Chinatown (Yaowarat) - A great place of seafood dinners and very cheap electronics

3. Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak) - Go take a look!

4. Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn)

5. Wat Pho......(see a trend here? Wat..wat..wat...WHAT?!)

6. Chao Phraya River & Waterways - Very cool and fast way to get around the city. Also a very cheap way to see a different perspective. I think it would be cool if they could take you all the way down to the Gulf of Thailand.

7. Chatuchak Weekend Market - Pretty cool place. Just get ready for massive crowds and it gets hotter the deeper you go into the market. The Chatuchak park nearby is a nice place to relax.

8. Khao San Road...Uhhhh....for me? No thanks! I don't really like hanging out with a bunch of stinky, college frat types on their first trip to Thailand, dreadlocked, beer drinking..etc...

9. Soi Cowboy...Really? why would anyone want to go here? I guess this is part of what Thailand is about whether you like it or not.

10. Jim Thompson's House...Went here for the first time last year and it is really cool. There is a lot of history here and there is still a reward if you find the missing Jim Thompson!

So what is your list? Would love to hear your thoughts...Tell me what is best about Bangkok and the surrounding area. Thanks!

I Miss Some Things...

2012-02-29T08:04:00.000-06:00

Thailand is nice and there are so many good things about it but as anyone living away from home knows there is "no place like home". I miss green grass, forests where there are no people for miles, I miss the clean air and the different seasons. I miss that one moment you can be swimming in the warm ocean waters and then a few hours later pass through the desert on your way to mountain forests and snow. There is so much to see in America and I really wish more people would be able to visit. I know it would take at least a month holiday and even then you wouldn't be able to see everything.
This is my 1963 Volkswagen Bus. I miss this. It makes me think of my family. The Volkswagen was basically the only type of car we ever owned and I feel lucky to have this. So that's about it. This photo reminds me of warm summer months back in America hanging out with my brothers.

My Unseen Thailand Episode 1...More To Come!

2012-02-28T11:45:00.000-06:00

Just had to include this one again. Nok captured some of my best memories and made this for me.

Some Time In Malacca Redux

2012-02-28T09:04:00.000-06:00

I am going to try to bring some pieces of my other Travel Thailand Blog into this blog slowly but surely. Excuse me if you have already seen some of these posts but I think they need sharing again for all of those that didn't get a chance to see them before. Thanks for looking.

To Keep The Sun Out

2012-02-27T11:31:00.000-06:00

Being on the beach is great but on this day it was so hot! The only protection was to hide under the umbrellas or jump in the ocean and isn't that part of the fun when going to the beach? The water was perfect and the waves were great to add a bit of adventure. The kite boarders were really enjoying the windy day and at one point they really freaked me out. I saw a very large shape in the water about the size of a Great White Shark and my heart started beating but then the instant later I noticed it was just the shadow of one of the kites the kite boarders was using. I can only imagine what it would be like to really see a shark and be so helpless in the water.

Waiting for the Bus Back to Bangkok

2012-02-26T01:18:00.001-06:00

Another hot day and waiting outside for a bus doesn't make things any cooler. The trick is to find the nearest 7-11 and browse right under the air conditioners. They are almost always near the bus pick up points. As it turns out I am writing this from the bus now. Totally full and the A/C is pretty much not working and of course I am sitting next to some stinky backpacker. Water is for showers !!!

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Beach in Hua Hin

2012-02-25T10:27:00.000-06:00

Welcome To Hua Hin

2012-02-25T10:18:00.000-06:00

Hua Hin seems like a retirement home for old white guys. There really isn't much to do except lay on the beach, golf and go to some of the bars that are here. It isn't nearly as seedy as Pattaya at all so it isn't that bad. Most of the people that are retired seem really nice and like to have a nice conversation.

Black Mountain Viewpoint-Hua Hin

2012-02-25T10:11:00.000-06:00

This is taken from the Black Mountain viewpoint overlooking Hua Hin. It was already getting dark so the photo isn't so vivid but it's a nice place to feel the ocean breeze and a lot cooler than on the street. Last night I was driving a rented motorbike that I rented from Cha Am (about 25k away to the north) and I came across this viewpoint. At the time it was closed and while I was checking the map on my phone a pack of dogs came out of the place and one of them, a pitbull, bit may ankle. It was just a small bite so I kicked it away and tole it was a bad dog...that seemed to do the trick.

Cha-Am Thailand

2012-02-22T21:41:00.000-06:00

Took a 2.5 hour bus ride to Cha-Am just to get out of Bangkok for a couple days. I have only passed through here before but have never stayed. The beaches are pretty nice and you can find some really cheap places to stay if you don't mind a basic sleeping area. The cheapest I saw was 250 baht. I didn't check it out but did see a room for 300 baht that had no windows but usually you only stay in the room for sleeping anyway. I rented a motorbike for 300 baht for the day so I will drive around to Hua Hin and see what else there is.

Playing In The Snow

2012-02-19T23:26:00.000-06:00

I am not exactly sure where this was taken, somewhere in northern Wisconsin, but this is me with my brothers Jason and Robert. As kids we were always playing outide for hours and hours. Winter was never cold for us back then and we never wanted to come inside. Our childhood was amazing!

Badlands National Park, South Dakota USA

2012-02-17T00:35:00.000-06:00

Sometimes when you are in the upper midwest it seems that you are stuck and to get out takes quite an effort. One of the best trips you can take that is not that far but offers a completely different contrast is to head out west to the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. From there you can easily see the Black Hills and head up north just a bit to see the Badlands of North Dakota. These photos were taken awhile ago during a teacher break one October.

Lunch at Roti-Mataba

2012-02-15T07:07:00.000-06:00

Took a boat up the Chao Phraya River just to get some roti. It's been a while since I have been here, actually it has been since last April during Songran festival. Since I don't come here much I really took advantage of it and ate 6 roti with masaman chicken curry. The roti is not that big and I couldn't finish the last one but that's probably because I had 2 roti wrapped sausages as well. Today was really hot so I took a taxi back. Didn't want to get back on that crowded boat.

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My Mom & Dad

2012-02-11T05:19:00.000-06:00

I tried to write something about my mom and dad...about how great they are, how truly in love they were with each other, about how real the love was and how it showed the true meaning of love, etc. etc....I can't do it. They simply are the 2 greatest people that have ever lived in my eyes. That is all I can say. Their examples of love, patience, forgiveness and kindness would heal this world. I love you always Mom & Dad.

Sapa, Vietnam

2012-02-10T12:28:00.000-06:00

I am going to try to find some more photos of this trekking even that I did with Nok about 2 years ago. I hope to add them here soon.

Special Attention

2012-02-10T11:20:00.000-06:00

I think this photo sums up everything I experienced at the Grand Canyon on the short, 1-day trip. Next time I am going to hike down into the canyon and see what it's like from a mile deep at the bottom.

Manhattan Beach California

2012-02-10T07:38:00.000-06:00

Finally got a new haircut! Walking at Central World

2012-02-09T18:30:00.000-06:00