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Monkey Wow!
2007-05-03 21:04:00
Sonkhla, Thailand, February 2, 2006I have become friends with the Major of the Military base between Malaysia and Thailand in the South. He takes me for a tour of the Sonkhla Zoo. This is so different from what I'm used to in Canada. There are not glass enclosures or security walls. You can just walk right up to the animals and touch them. The Thais here have been feeding this camel bananas right over the fence. I keep thinking someone is going to get his head bitten off, but it's no problem.This elephant is leisurely scratching his butt on that post. He's like everyone else here; relaxed and just doing his thing. This zoo is well laid out and I love look of the lush vegetation and sculptures together. My favorite is the monkeys though. They are just a great photo subjects as you'll see here. The question is: What happens when you try to film a monkey through a chain link fence? Click To Play
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Erbsville Fan Club
2007-05-02 22:33:00
My sister, the infamous Melbah Toasty; minor Blog celebrity[Pioneer Woman With A Cell Phone] has been trying to convince me for a long time that it is her and not me who is Mom's favorite child. I would think that the evidence is overwhelmingly in my favor. [See The Evidence]But last year a spontaneous event occurred that I think puts this matter to rest once and for all. Watch this video. You be the judge of my greatness.Click To PlayBut it gets better.A couple of days ago, Melbah and I are at the local Home Depot getting some materials to build her a utility room. We are paying for our purchases when I suddenly hear a voice that seems so familiar to me. I look over just as the couple ahead of us are leaving. Then I turn to Melbah and we both have the same puzzled look on our faces.I say to her: "Isn't that the couple who played the accordion for me last year. She says: "I thought they looked like the people but I wasn't sure."So we follow them out and find them looking at garde...
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Nirvanah Negotiation
2007-01-26 10:23:00
Pushkar India,Jan 26th 2007 We head out through the long garden of our guesthouse and through the gates to begin our first adventure in Pushkar itself. As we walk along we meet a man who hands us each a flower and tells us we are very fortunate because it is Temple Day. He instructs us to take the flowers to the lake and drop them in for good luck. We walk with a spring in our steps with the mission in mind. He tells us we have only twenty minutes to do it.The town site has a Carnival atmosphere. There are small shops everywhere and we keep walking as every vendor implores us to come in and look at their wares. “Looking is free. Come I show you many more inside. Come. Come.” We find the lake and take off our shoes on the marble steps. As we walk down, we are suddenly separated by two men in robes.Aw is whisked away and the other man guides me to the steps leading to the lake and has me sit down across from him next to the water. He has me repeat a long Brahman prayer and he puts...
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Happy 'Baste' Day to Me
2006-06-16 15:52:00
Yesterday I knew something was afoot. I looked on my Yahoo Messenger and there I found Squiddy's Smiley Face showing 'Busy' beside it. Squiddy doesn't even know where to find that symbol. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO FIND THAT SYMBOL! Then I saw that my sister and co-conspirator, Melba The Toasted One; had the same 'Busy' Icon beside her name. I smelled trouble and I was right.This morning I woke up to a wonderful video on my computer. It was the best present I could have received and I want to share it with you.Click To PlayMy family and friends make me feel very loved and I want to say to all of you out there; Thank you, Coum Ahn, Khopt Khun Krup, and don't forget to 'baste' me and set the timer before you leave.Love (and the right baking temperature) Stevie
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My Journey So Far
2006-06-16 12:56:00
How My Whole Life Changed In 2 Minutes November, 2004Just as I was finishing my work on this Mansion, I booked a plane ticket so I could visit my relatives in Waterloo Ontario for three weeks and renovate my Mom's house. At this time I had a premonition that that I was going to die. Then one morning, just as my fiancee was leaving for work, she said to me: "Steve, I'm feeling confused about getting married and I want to think about it while you're away. I said: "Sweetie if you're not sure about getting married after three years together, I think the answer is no." She asked me what I wanted to do. I said without any hesitation: "I'm going to take a trip to Thailand." [Here's the whole story]
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Mom's Favorite Child
2006-05-12 06:55:00
The storm has been brewing for a long time. The question that keeps raising it's ugly head is: 'Who truly IS Mom's favorite Child ?' I hope this innocent video sets this matter to rest once and for all for those out there who seem to have a doubt (you know who you are...Melbah Toasty)So here is my humble offering. You be the judge.Click To PlayStill not convinced? Visit my [Erbsville Fan Club].
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Hue's Last Buddhist
2006-04-30 04:20:00
Hue, Vietnam, March 26, 2006Our motorcycle tour takes us to a site on the river with many Tombs and walking areas. As we arrive, our guide tells us of an obscure relic that many people miss. He says it's tucked away in a back corner. You will see it if you are meant to, he says. I am captivated by the small forest at the back of this property. I find myself enjoying the aesthetics of this magical place. The flowers around one tomb seem surreal to me as I continue to explore and search for the relic, hidden away in this place. Finally I see it in a small garage with a sign in front of it and it makes the hair go up on the back of my neck. This sign tells of 'the venerable Thieh Quang Duc, who on June 11th, 1963 drove his car to downtown Saigon. He got out of his car and doused himself with fuel. Then he sat in lotus position and lit himself on fire. The North Vietnamese had declared Buddhism illegal so this humble monk decided to make the ultimate sacrifice to protest this evil ac...
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Vietnam Children Mob Me
2006-04-29 04:18:00
Hue, Viet nam , March 26 2006 Okay, this is what I'm trying to say about Vietnam. It's the people. They are so alive. Today I'm on a motor bike tour of the Ancient Capital of this Country. Our guides let us off at the site of one the the Royal Tombs. This place is a large green area with buildings and statues. I'm taking photos as usual when I see a bunch of young school children smiling at me. I point my camera at them when suddenly... they come rushing to me like I'm a Rock star. I don't know what to do so I just keep taking pictures. Now they're all around me giving me 'Peace' signs and yelling for me to take more pictures of them. Every time I take another photo I hear shrieks of delight and even more children come rushing to me. I turn my camera around so you can see what I'm experiencing at this moment. This is Vietnam. This is the magic and the power of this Land.
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Da Nang To Hue
2006-04-28 04:12:00
Hue, Vietnam, March 25 2006My faithful driver, Bonsoon drops me off at the Tour Bus station in Da Nang. I get on this bus and head to Hue (H00-eh), the ancient capital of Vietnam. I'm feeling a bit disoriented. Things are happening very fast here.The only place available for me to sit on the bus is the bench seat at the very back. I throw my pack behind me and pull in. A few minutes later the bus stops and one more passenger gets on board. He bounces down the aisle to me and asks me: 'Mind if I sit here too.' 'Sure, no problem.' And so begins a magical conversation."My name is Foo",he tells me with a grin. I introduce myself. The next thing I know we are having a deep discussion about women and the synchronicity of life. Foo tells me that he owns a Bar in Hue called 'Brown Eyes'. He also says that he just said good-bye to a woman he was dating who is just heading back to Europe where she lives. As we get talking he tells me how much it helps him to have someone to talk to bec...

Hoi An to Da Nang
2006-04-27 04:16:00
Da Nang, Vietnam, March 25 2006After my experience at 'Marble Mountain' I am feeling very mellow. Bonsoon takes me to Da Nang, which is the city very near the DMZ ; the boarder that separated North from South Vietnam. Now this is a thriving place. I noticed the old and the new here. Beautiful new buildings going up everywhere and old trucks from the Seventies right next to modern vehicles on new paved roads. I don't know what this tower is but it reflects what I'm seeing everywhere in Vietnam. This is an up and coming Country with a lot of talented people doing the building. My guide takes me for a spin around the city for half an hour while we wait for my Tour bus to arrive. Now this is a site I keep trying to capture on film for you to see. These four people are trying to balance a large white chest on the back of that motorcycle. I see amazing things loaded on the bikes for transport in heavy traffic. Earlier today I actually saw a man transporting a large piece of plate glas...

Marble Mountain Temple
2006-04-26 04:43:00
March 25 2006I only ended up at this Temp le by fluke, but it turned out to be the most powerful experience I had in Asia. My driver and guide; Bonsoon; led me up the winding steps carved into Marble mountain. We finally arrived at a junction that led to three temples carved out of the rock. Each cave Temple contained a Quan Eem statue. Pictures don't show you the atmosphere of the place. It had such a peace about it and I felt very much at home. I kept getting a sense of deja vu. It was as if there was something here I was supposed to remember. This second of the three Temple altars reminded me of my favorite piece of furniture from my childhood home in Ontario. We have a carved 'Chinese Chest' that I always felt an affinity to. This chest reminds me very much of it. She is like a silent entry to the gate of some fantastic world. It's not so much the look of her as the feeling emanating from this location. This is an alcove near the entrance of the largest Cave Temple. I don't ...
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Mystical Marble Mountain
2006-04-25 04:18:00
Da nang, Vietnam, March 25 2006 I had a VERY full day exploring Hoi An. When the day was done, my faithful guide, Bonsoon, took me to a Karaoke bar where we met some very lovely women who turned out to want more out of the evening than be had bargained for (literally) so we left. When I got to my guest house, Bonsoon told me he would come by in the morning to take me to Da Nang. I assured him I did not need a ride from him because I already had a Tour bus booked. But I was so tired that I ended up sleeping in the next morning. Bonsoon was waiting on his motor bike as if I had never told him about the Bus. So off we went for the hour long ride to Da Nang. He offered to take me to Marble Mount ain on the way. It turned out to be one of the great experiences of my Journey in Asia. Marble Mountain is a sacred site in Vietnam where marble is mined and sculpted for art enthusiasts all over the World. As we arrive at the foot of the Mountain we see shops everywhere creating and selling marb...
More About: Myst , Mystical

Hoi An 'Airstrip' Family
2006-04-23 22:10:00
Hoi An, Vietnam, March 24 2006I've now done a full tour of the 14th Century City of Hoi An and a tour of 'My Son'. I've been traveling since 10am this morning and now we're heading to my driver's home town. Bonsoon takes me through some beautiful countryside. It's amazing what you can do with a simple camera on the back of a motor bike. I see many women out in the rice paddies, and lots of water buffalo. I also keep seeing these plastic bags on sticks. I think they are used like scare-crows, to keep birds away but I'm not sure. Finally we came to this wide deteriorating tar mack surface. Bonsoon explained that this was a U.S. Military Air strip that was used during the 'American War' by the B-52 bombers, to conduct their bombing raids on North Vietnam. Now it's just a big deserted road used by the local villagers. Bonsoon took me to meet his family. Bonsoon is on the right. Next to him is his little sister, then his father, his mother, his aunt and his brother. My driver ...
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My Son Ruins
2006-04-23 04:09:00
Hoi An, Vietnam, March 24 2006I don't know what possessed me to think I should see everything in the Hoi An area in one day but I did. After a few hours looking around the City, I looked in my 'Let's Go' travel guide and decided it made sense to see 'My Son'. What was I thinking?The trip took us an hour and a half by motor bike, in the blazing sun. Bonsoon never seems to get tired and I refuse to act my age so off we go.I want to show you what it looks like as you tour this country. The architecture is very interesting and the quality of the workmanship is very high. As we head into the rural towns we see many more bicycles and fewer motor bikes. Sometimes it's astounding to me just how much stuff they haul this way. I saw lots of trucks like this one, which seem to be left over from the 'American War', although I wonder if they're even older than that. It's amazing that they are still running so well after all these years. And here you see the old and new together. The t...
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Vietnam War Museum
2006-04-17 04:20:00
Saigon, Viet nam , March 20, 2006We just finished our tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels. As we were leaving, we saw a huge crocodile on display. I have no idea why this reptile would be here, but that was just the kind of day it was. If you look at the 'Cu-chi Tunnels' post, you will find the same guy in the background of another photo with exactly the same expression on his face. I find myself feeling the way he looks. This is just such an intense day.We left the Tunnels and our bus took us to the Vietnam War Muse um .The Museum includes a large lot filled with U.S. Military vehicles and Armaments. This is Paul. He's from California. I walked through the Museum with him. It was an amazing experience to look though the displays with an American. We saw photos of Napalmed bodies and bombed out villages. We read the pleadings from the Countries of the World, begging the U.S. to withdraw from Vietnam. As Paul and I walked along from room to room, reading and looking at the pictures on the wall...

Incredible Cu Chi Tunnels
2006-04-16 04:44:00
Saigon, Vietnam, March 20, 2006 The Cu Chi Tunnel s (pronounced 'Gucci') are a series of tunnels that were dug by the Vietnamese people over twenty-eight years, from 1946 to 1975. They were built as a secret base so that the Vietcong could fight the French, and later to fight the American Army. The tunnels run for seventy-five miles and were all dug by hand. The tunnels made the Vietcong virtually unbeatable in war. This is our guide; Chaquie. We call him Jackie Chan, after the Martial Arts Movie Star. I think he looks like the actor and has his same sense of humor. He was an interpreter for the South Vietnamese army up until 1975 when the U.S. surrendered. He is passionate about his history. He's not bitter. He just wants us to understand what the War was about. He said that at 11:30 on April 30th, 1975, just before Vietnam was declared one country again, there were many people he knew, who put guns to their heads. This was a Civil War. It was neighbor fighting neighbor. In the e...
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Bus To Kuala Lumpur
2006-03-06 10:46:00
Ted, Bee and I take the bus from Melaka to Kuala Lump ur so that they can do some paperwork for Bee to immigrate to Canada.I don't know what I ate or drank last night, but I am sick as a dog today. I finally get sick on the bus and have to lie down in our hotel room for several hours while my body gets back in balance. Finally, after a good rest, I am able to explore this city with my friends.I love the architecture of KL. I find the quality of construction to be the finest I have ever seen anywhere in the world. I was blown away by the level of imagination in the construction everywhere; but especially here in KL.The center of KL used to be the site of a horse-racing facility which was removed. This made it possible for City planners to design a huge complex of buildings and parks that all work together.The inside of the KLCC shopping complex uses a great deal of stainless steel and glass to give it a modern look and the circular shapes give it a soft appeal.As we were shopping, we...

Cambodia Visa
2006-01-19 08:09:00
Cambodia Border, April 18, 2006 So here I am heading to Cambodia to renew my Visa for Thailand. I took a luxury bus to the boarder. I thought it would be a boring trip but when I sat down in my seat I found that the man beside me was a friend I met last year at the Bridge on the River Kwai.This is Henry from Holland. He has been travelling around the World for several years. He gave me great tips on travelling in Vietnam. I promised to email him when I get there.This is the Cambodia Boarder at Poi Pet. It reminds me of a refugee path as I see the people heading along on this rough dirt path.One of the most amazing sights I saw, was this group of men hauling an enormous rice cart across the border.The border crossing itself, is a modern building. The officers here all wear military uniforms but unlike the border crossing at Pnom Penn, they do not have machine guns.The whole trip took 15 hours from Khao San Road to Cambodia and back again. This is how our whole group felt by the end o...
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Sproing!
2006-01-06 01:57:00
It's Christmas morning. Scott is sitting on the couch getting ready to open a big gift. I turn on my camera and start filming. He pulls himself up to get a more comfortable position. But when he sits back down...Sproing! A spring breaks inside the couch and a five inch razor sharp spike comes shooting up right into his butt. Click To Play This is the kind of event you carry a camera for. I can't believe I got this movie. See the story in my blog: Timeline JourneyThis is the exact moment of realization. Scott has just put his full weight on the spring. Christmas just doesn't get any more fun than this...

Etobicoke Catnap
2005-08-17 03:39:00
I wrote about the Air France Fire that took place the day I was trying to fly to Calgary, where e I am now, but I wanted to show you the wonderful day I spent relaxing with some new friends and some very new Old Friends.My sister, Melba Toasty, and my Mom, drove me and my hundred and forty pounds of baggage to Etobicoke, which is close to Pearson Airport. Vivyan and Dorian met us. I first contacted Vivyan in 2000 and we have been Internet twins ever since. Vivyan is an avid gardener and she dug up some plants for Mel and Squiddy to take back with them to Waterloo.Later on, Donna came over to join us for dinner. Donna has had a more exciting life than most of us would want. Just after she divorced her husband, he was shot by terrorists in South America. We hit it off like old friends, right from the start and had a wonderful talk.Vivyan and Donna connected this way too and they have been great friends to each other through their recent struggles.Dorian is a very unassuming man who br...
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The Package Has Landed
2005-08-12 05:46:00
Thanks to my dear friends, Vivyan and Dorian in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, I now have my tools with me in Calgary.Yesterday I showed this picture of me lugging my bags to the Airport and I commented that the picture made me look as if I was 4 months pregnant. My dear friend, Jookie, in Thailand, wrote in the suble Asian style: "Today I have read your blog...... Very funny your picture... look similar 6 month. Not 4 month.......... tooo beeeeeeeek."So I had a picture taken tonight to set the record straight. So now what do you have to say for yourself Jookie jing jing???Ted and I have teamed up to do Home renovations together for a few months here in Calgary.This is Geeta. She hired us to rebuilt her basement after she had some flooding from the recent Calgary rain. She is pleasure to work for. She makes us tea every morning as we discuss our plan of attack for the day. Geeta is also a fan of the Movie: 'What the Bleep Do We Know', and we have had some very interesting discussions...
More About: Pack , Package , The Pack

The Mystic Man And The Animals
2005-06-26 17:51:00
Vancouver, BC, June 26, 2007Judy is one of my dearest friends. I would do anything for her, and when we get together, magic things seem to happen. This was definitely one of those days.We went for a walk around the Sea wall of Stanley Park. Chris loved Nature and this was a place he enjoyed very much. Judy didn't want to come here alone because of how she associated it with her son's last days, so we went together.The beauty along this Ocean side path is staggering. As we walked along, Judy talked about Chris. She told me about his profound love of Nature. She said he always had a fascination with birds and all kinds of animals. He could sit anywhere and animals would just flock to him. One day, a bee landed on Chris's hand and he gently reached down and petted it.As she said this, we passed a native man resting on a park bench, lying on his back, with his head on a small knapsack. His face looked scruffy but he was wearing an elegant calf-skin leather jacket and he had a bamboo ...
More About: Animals , The A , Myst

Timeline Video Clips
2005-06-17 05:41:00
These are the Video Clips from my Travel Blog. Enjoy! Click To PlayFinally the answer to the age old question: 'Who is Mom's Favorite Child?'Click To PlaySome wonderful school girls I met on the beach in Songkhla, Thailand.Click To PlayThe story is on my travel Blog: Nirvanah NegotiationClick To PlayWhat happens when you try to film a monkey through a chain link fence?See the story in my story from Thailand Monkey WowClick To PlayRead the story [Erbsville Fan Club]Click To PlayI say to her: "Isn't that the couple who played the accordian for me last year?" [Read the story here]Click To PlaySexy Songkran GirlsClick To PlayHow to say 'Happy Songkran!'Click To Play
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My Video Showcase
2005-06-17 00:16:00
Click to see a showcase of the videos in my Travel Blog.
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Test Links
2005-06-16 17:05:00
This is just a way to test my movie links... Click To Play Melbah gets out the camera and here's what happened. See the story on my Travel Blog:Timeline Journey 
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My Heart Is With You
2005-06-11 22:07:00
Waterloo, Ontario June 11 2005 My very dear friend, Judy, found out from police yesterday, that her son is dead. Chris died on Wednesday. He was thirty. He had been struggling with drug addiction and was missing since May 26th. Judy moved from Calgary Alberta to Vancouver BC to be close to her two sons, and to do whatever she could for Chris. She spent her savings, and countless hours, getting him into rehab programs and counseling.I have never been a parent so I can't say I really know how horrible it must be for her right now. I do know that she did everything she could for him in these last four years of his life.I just want you to know Judy, that my heart is with you.
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Nature Spirits
2005-06-08 02:22:00
There is a magical quality to my Mom's home that attracts some wonderful creatures.This is the view out my basement window. I do my writing in the morning and this is what I see. The hummingbird is a very special symbol to me. The other day while I was sitting at my laptop, there was a sparkling light that kept hitting my eyes. I suddenly realized that the wind from the open window was twirling the hummingbird and creating this effect.Then when I looked out the window I saw this morning dove sitting in the bird bath. As it happens, the wrought iron bird is also a morning dove.So that got me motivated to explore some more. As I walked up onto the deck I saw a large rabbit heading underneath. when I got to the other side, this little guy was sitting by the new pond we just put in.I showed this picture in my last post; the sun just rising that morning. You can see the pond here but if you look closer you can see that same bunny.And these are the fish we got the other day. They all han...
More About: Nature , Spirits , Spirit , Natur

Khao San Road; There And Back Again
2005-05-02 18:44:00
Bangkok, Thailand, May 2, 2005So here I am, back where I started from; Khao San Road .But before experiencing the madness of this place, I climbed to the top of a building to experience a sunset.Then I did some final shopping before my return.This is the courtyard of a very nice Hotel I have been staying in the last couple of nights. I decided to treat myself to a slightly better place but I kept having bad karma here. Yesterday the air conditioning quit. So I had it recharged. Then when I got back at the end of the night, it had quit again, so after 5 phone calls and no action, I finally had them move me to another room. But the air con only barely worked there. Then this morning the lights wouldn't turn on. That wouldn't have mattered except my room has no windows. So I chalked it up to Feng Shui and moved across the street the the Khao San Palace Hotel, which is very nice but only had a twin room available.So if anyone wants to fly in for the last two nights and join me, here's...
More About: Back , Again , Here , There

'Slow Boat' To Luang Prabang
2005-04-28 17:47:00
Laos, April 22, 2005After staying the night in Pakbeng, our 'Slow Boat ' trip down the Mekong River, continues.I had coffee with some of my friends from the boat here in front of my Guest House. I think I paid three dollars for my room by way.This very sweet Lao girl made me my lunch. One difference between Laos and Thailand is the bread. Laos learned to make bread from the French, who used to Occupy Laos before the War in Vietnam. Also, the Lao coffee is very unusual. Coffee is very very strong and they pour ten mm of evaporated milk in the bottom of the glass (they usually use glass not mugs) for sweetness and cream.We had a great view of the Mekong River from where we stayed up on the cliffs.One of the highlights for me was to see some elephants loading a barge. See Melissa, I knew it was only a matter of times before I would show you elephants. And yes Alex, this is still elephants. Alex and Jude are my friends from England who are teaching in China right now. You can see them ...
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Ko Phi-Phi: 'The Beach': April 8
2005-04-19 01:45:00
I went to a restaurant here on Ko Phi-Phi to watch a movie staring Leonardo Di Caprio; called 'The Beach ' I didn't know until I sat down, that this movie was filmed here in the Ko Phi-Phi Islands on 'Maya Bay'. So here's my movie review.I found it to be a stupid movie filmed on a beautiful place. It takes place in all the places I have been in the last couple of months. What bothered me is that the Thai people were represented as mean and aggressive; especially in Khao San Road. I found the people all through Thailand to be very sweet. And why was he sitting, all alone, bored in his hotel room when he was in such a wondrous place as Bangkok? There is so much going on, and at very least he could have gone outside and had a massage or sampled the local cuisine.This scene was actually filmed in Krabi but one of my guides told me there is no such statue there. He said they created the backdrop for the scene.But what really got to me was that the movie depicts a group of Americans ...
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