Bears in Lake Tahoe, and Olympic Valley, California

There have been many bears close to our school. Some are large, and others are still being protected by their mother.

Sadly, they come to eat trash from our dumpster at the school.  We must be careful not to startle them,  but it is me who usually feels startled when I see one.

Here are a few pictures of the local bear family.

Mommy and her cub.

 I think mommy bear was posing to make sure that we knew she was big and strong.
After seeing her hug the tree and snort heavily, I was definitely not going any closer to her cubs.

 The bears were so beautiful, but a bit scary.

You must watch out for them up here in Northern California.

We have been living in Tahoe California for the last ten months! Here are some of our pictures and home made appetizers.

We have been working at a private international boarding school for the last ten months at the North side of Lake Tahoe.

Northern California is very beautiful, and Lake Tahoe is exquisite. I suggest you come for a summer vacation,  or winter get away.

Here is a picture of Ploy at the Olympic Rink Pavilion at the top of the Squaw Valley Ski Resort.

This winter, Ploy has learned to ski and skate.

I have been busy working, but I have also skied a lot as well.

Here is a group of students
on a school trip when I
helped to chaperon a visit
to the state capital in
Sacramento.

There I am at the bottom left. I was in charge of helping to make a Chinese tour group have the best time possible when they visited our campus for one week.

I took them ice skating, skiing, and dinning every day during the week.

There were from C-Trip, a very well known Chinese tour, travel and education program.

We had a great time!
The enjoyed their stay here at out small school.

Here is a simple baked scallop, bacon,
portabella mushroom, and avocado lunch.
I liked this one very much.

Ploy skiing at the top of Squaw Resort.

Ploy and I have made a new friend with one of the faculty campus dogs.
This is Bubba, a ten year old pug.

Yes, we have been eating many many oysters that are farmed in Washington,
and shipped down to Tahoe three times a week.
I like them fresh, with just a little bit of lemon, and a dab of sweet
Thai chili paste.

This is a statue from the top of the Capital building in Sacramento.

 Sunset in Tahoe!!!

Ploy, with a Russian, A Scott, and a Japanese student
at the top of the Tram at Squaw Valley Ski resort.

Here is picture I took of the famous game between Russia and the USA.

We beat them in the semi-finals!

As a hockey player, and fan, I am am drawn to Squaw because of our Olympic victory in Hockey in 1960.

Here I am skating at the Olympic Pavilion.  
Yes, I still have the moves.

This is a beautiful mountain top near our new home.


Thank you for looking at this post.

Ploy and I have done many new things this winter,  the best of which is meeting new friends and trying new things.

Pai Walking Street Evening Market, Pai Thailand

     This past week Ploy and I visited Pai, a 200 kilometer drive north west from Chiang Mai.

     The road is nicknamed, "The Road of a Thousand Hair Pin Curves." The corners are one after another, and the ride is spectacularly treacherous and majestic at the same time. I know that most travelers tend to get on a yellow truck and sit in the back as it winds its way up and up and around.

Enjoy our photos of the trip and the Pai foodie experience.

 I will continue to label the pictures soon.


I am very tired from the long trip and the drive.

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A Vacation in Quiet Bang Saphan Thailand, on the Beach

      This was my first trip to Ban Saphan in southern Thailand. It was very quiet, and casual.

The location was recommended by a friend, and I went in order to get away from the busy City Life of Chiang Mai.

Some 4-5 hours south of Bangkok, Ban Saphan is tucked away along the seemingly busy coast of Thailand, on the bay side.

If you are looking for long beach walks, without sight of others, then this is your place.

There are some dead fish along the way, but the beach is clean, long, the sand is white, and
the water is warm. Maybe too warm, if you like it refreshing. 
 I like my ocean water bath tub warm, and that is just how it is at Ban Saphan.

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There are some small islands very close by, and it is worth going to see them.

Bring your food, ice box and sunscreen.

These locations are next to deserted, and rooms are going for about $10 per night.

The islands, the shoals, the perfect water, and the coral, make it an especially good place to swim, sunbathe, and stroll along the quiet beaches.

Here is Ploy, posing in front of a small rocky island.

The real Kho Lipe, Thailand, 2012, in the Andaman Sea.

    The arrival to Kho Lipe is somewhat difficult, I won't lie. It's a long way from Bangkok, and everywhere else.  But once you get there, you won't want to leave.

    I have heard that Lipe is the third most popular beach island destination is the world, next to the Seychelles, and the Maldives. I believe this to be true.  
   
     Lately, with the political unrest in the Maldives,  Kho Lipe must be the second best international island beach destination in the world. 

Sea Cucumber in a tidal pool.

In my opinion, Lipe is number #1, for your budget, comfort, and quality of life.


Lipe is still natural, beautiful, and still relatively unspoiled. You better get there now, while it still boasts its original charm and tranquility.
Its Tidal pools are spectacular, clean and excellent to make close up inspections of the Marine life.

0n A boat trip my second day on Lipe, with a old friend.

I arrived as you will, late in the afternoon, tired, sweaty and hungry.    

The next day,  my first day on Lipe, I took on a boat trip to see the ocean and the island from off shore.