The last Thursday of November is American Thanksgiving. Through most of my life this was my favorite holiday of the year. Coming a week before my birthday and a month before Christmas, Thanksgiving always felt like the start of, well, everything. I love the entire holiday season but this day felt extra-special. When I still … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving
Month: November 2014
Postcrossing: Outgoing Cards
I just finished writing four postcards to fellow Postcrossing users. Amazingly enough, these are my first cards of 2014! My last batch – mailed on 12 December 2013 – broke records for slowness with one card to Russia taking 56 days to reach it’s destination. These are the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st postcards I’ve … Continue reading Postcrossing: Outgoing Cards
Christmas Card Appeal for 2014
I love Christmas. I live in Thailand. It’s a Buddhist country and even the Muslims outnumber Christians in my community. Every year, the build-up to New Year’s Eve seems a bit more Christmasy – lights are strung on some buildings (usually bars), decorated trees appear in the big shopping malls and restaurants in tourist areas … Continue reading Christmas Card Appeal for 2014
Philatelic Pursuits: November 2014
I always find myself working on my stamp collections more during the last part of the year than at any other time. 2014 has continued that trend. I don’t know if it’s because I look forward to seeing new Christmas stamps (one of my thematic collecting interests) or if it’s because I always feel relieved … Continue reading Philatelic Pursuits: November 2014
Berlin Wall Fall: A Virtual Memory
Reading about the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall this week found me waxing nostalgic. Without going into too many details, this historic event and others surrounding the “opening” of Eastern Europe and the dissolution of the former Soviet Union had a profound affect on my life at the time and continues … Continue reading Berlin Wall Fall: A Virtual Memory
A Good Start to November
November is shaping up to be a much better reading month than either October or September, or even August for that matter. No, I haven’t finished a single book yet but I have started several that are all gripping in their own ways. I’m averaging around 60 pages a day and am confident that I … Continue reading A Good Start to November
Residency Registration in Thailand
As I wrote last week, Phuket Immigration Office (and perhaps one or two other locations in Thailand) now requires foreigners to verify their address prior to applying for one-year visa extensions. I completed this process yesterday after some difficulty. Indeed, the easiest part was the processing at the immigration office! Documents Needed: "Registration Form for … Continue reading Residency Registration in Thailand
Loy Krathong 2014
The full moon of 6th November 2014 marks this year’s celebration of Loy Krathong, for my money Thailand’s most colorful holiday. This is when you float your troubles away on a small boat (krathong) made out of the trunk of a banana tree and decorated with banana leafs and bright flowers. Large krathongs are also … Continue reading Loy Krathong 2014
Mark Joseph Jochim 