Dan & Mayra with street vendor, Khaosan Road, Bangkok

Thaiboxers in Chiang Mai.  The kid in red survived that kick where it counts.

Thaiboxing spectators.

Wayne & Uli (& me) on a 64km bike ride outside Chiang Mai.  Uli had her own mountainbike with her, and had already been cycling extensively in the Golden Triangle, and along the Mekong River, on the Laotian border.

Southeast Asia's main form of personal transportation is the affordable 100cc motorbike. I've seen entire families riding these machines. This scooter on mild steroids, never to be as cool as a Vespa, can be rented everywhere in Thailand for about $6/day.

Before Thailand's recent modernization, the primary type of heavy equipment in the hill country was the elephant.  Now these great creatures are out of a job unless the tourism industry can take over the high cost of their upkeep.  There are increasing cases of elephants found neglected and starving, and a few elephant rescue centers have been established.  So if you go to Thailand, support your local elephants.