Manao!

In Thai, the word for lime is 'manao.' They also have a carbonated beverage, made by Schweppes, simply called "Manao." Or as it's known in the O'Hare household, "Yes-I'll-have-another-please."

Textbook ZING!

Looks like the author of our textbook is serving up ZING-bombs.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with out textbook, it looks like the author has unintentionally roasted himself during the course of the roast.

McYes Please!

My brother Isaac has a very… refined… palette. He selects only the finest ingredients and doesn't like to venture too far from the "big 3" - cheddar cheese, ground beef, and bacon. Obviously, such stringent demands can make international travel a bit of a challenge. Or at least an unpleasant prospect.

Well, never you fear. While we were in New Zealand, I noticed that McDonald's NZ was apparently catering to his exact palette:

Well done, New Zealand - thank you for helping us get one step closer to convincing Isaac to visit us!

Swimming Hole

While we were in Chiang Mai in January, we took a day trip out to the Bua Tong Waterfalls with some friends. Stacy and I had been there before, so I decided to venture out on my own to see what I could discover.

Standing in the falls

What I discovered, down a lonely trail, was a swimming hole in the middle of the jungle.

There was no one else around, so I jumped in for a nice, refreshing, jungle-paradise swim.

When I said "crystal clear," I meant crystal:

So, when are you coming to Thailand with us??

That Dog Just Ain't Gonna Hunt

We have a saying in the South - "That dog just ain't gonna hunt." It means, "I'm sorry, but that's not going to work," or "no, no, that's just really not a good idea." I'll give you an example:

Did you just use "luxurious" and "possum fiber" in the same sentence? No, New Zealand. Just, no.

I'll Tell You Who's Not...

The author of our textbook, that's who.

Beware the Slippery Ninja

Spotted on the mountain trails outside of Queenstown, New Zealand: the Slippery Ninja.

If you should happen to encounter the Slippery Ninja while in the wilds of New Zealand, do not make direct eye contact and slowly back away.

Bonus - Footage of the SN tearing up the trail:

Thailand's "normal" is awesome

In Thailand, even the discount, off-brand shampoos are exotic. Ahh, Thailand.

Optimism

Not only is our textbook teaching a new language, it's teaching a little optimism, as well.

When Cultures Collide (in the Porta-John)

As countries rise to economic affluence, more of their citizens are enabled to travel abroad, bringing two cultures into contact. Often, with a host of frustrations. 

Sixty years ago, it was the rise of American affluence and the birth of the "ugly American" - a loud, demanding, oblivious world traveler who rubbed almost everyone he (or she) came into contact with the wrong way.

Not long after that, the rise of the Soviet Union paralleling the US gave way to a wave of Russian globe trotters, who brought the same abrasiveness and lack of cultural awareness.

Over the last 30 years, travelers from the US and Russia have learned to listen, tone their own cultures down a bit, and study up on cultural cues before traveling. And we also handed the baton of "ugly traveler" off to the Chinese.

For the last 5 years or so, the growing Chinese middle class has been venturing past their borders, but often they are "first generation wealthy" who have rocketed up from village poverty to cosmopolitan riches. As they enjoy their new-found wealth, they often expect those around them to accommodate their preferences and "village mentalities," leading to a host of (often comical) misunderstandings.

Exhibit A, from Sydney, Australia (a favorite destination for Chinese travelers):

Apparently, the Aussies are not fans of the… collateral damage… caused by Chinese tourists trying to use toilets as squatties.