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Showing posts from December, 2024
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 New Year’s Morning 2025 Happy New Year from Thailand.  For the last four days I have been trying to acclimatize to my surroundings. Not much happening so not much to write about. Making friends with the ladies that wave to you and call you over while you’re strolling down the street. I have no idea what they are saying so I just smile and wave back. Chalong Bay is not the most scenic areas of Thailand. This picture is of the traffic outside my hotel on a daily basis. I don’t think I’ll moan about the Gardiner anymore after watching this for a few days. There are so many scooters here and when the traffic backs up the scooters choose to drive on the sidewalk. You might notice that in the picture.  The traffic circle up ahead is a nut house, but it all seems to work so who am I to say anything.  Today is the day I get to board the boat. I am meeting up with Capt. Shawn and one of the other crew members, Alissa, at 09:30 on the Chalong Pier. From there we get situated ...
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  Phuket: A day that started at 3:45am Dec. 26th with a limo ride to YYZ in Toronto ends here. 10:42PM Friday December 27th Phuket Thailand. In that almost 36 hr period I met some very nice people and took a golf cart ride through an airport for the first time in my life. I felt so special. Let me introduce you to my seat mates on the longest flight I have ever taken. JFK to DOHA. They are Jannath Ahmed and Raghava Kalyan.  Jannath is a former English teacher to elementary and high school kids in New York. She now fills her time volunteering teaching kids and handles marketing for a finance company called Equity Zen. Jan is heading to Bali for 6 days. That’s right 6 days. A long way to go for such a short period of time. Something she neglected to tell her mother and feels incredibly guilty about, even though she’s in her mid 30’s and living her own life. I thought I had a long flight after landing in DOHAR. Jann had another 12 hours to get to Bali. Mine was 6 to get to Phuket...
 YYZ: On a day that I thought would be quiet and unassuming Pearson airport said no way. Oh my there are a lot of people travelling first thing on Boxing Day. It’s interesting when travelling alone observing how family members can get so uptight at the beginning of what is to be a relaxing vacation. Watching those in line at Starbucks and the arguments that ensue is a study in human behaviour for sure. Other than the phenomenon of disappearing agents at check in the closer you get to check in and the baggage line breaking down all went smoothly. I love having a NEXUS card. It’s just one line you avoid when you are listed as a trusted traveller. If you don’t have one I recommend getting one. So I am checked in to JFK and will have to pick up my other two boarding passes in New York but I have been told my bag is booked all the way to Thailand. I hope so. That’s one thing I do not need, a missing bag half way around the world, considering the AirTag I have is in my carry on so my dau...

Getting Started

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   Some Background My name is Mitchell Snaden. I have 4 wonderful adult children and one amazing grandchild who are finding their way in this world. One in South America, one in Scotland and two in Ontario. A year ago I read on FB that a couple who are sailing around the world were looking for people to join them on their adventure. That is what I am about to embark on. I am a soon to be 70 years old. A younger friend described me as the youngest old person he knows. In my retirement mornings and afternoons are spent shuttling children to and from school as a bus driver for First Student. My working life was as a radio announcer/dj for radio stations in the Maritimes, Montreal, and different cities in Southern Ontario. I also dabbled and still dabble in acting. Some jobs paid, others unpaid. I play bagpipes and have been doing so for the last 22 years on a competitive basis with The Windsor Police Pipe Band, The London and District Pipe Band and also The Essex and Kent Scottis...