Thailand

Country Information:

The capital of Thailand is Bangkok. There are approximately 70 million people living here. The official language of Thailand is Thai and English is the language of the elite. The majority of Thai people practice Buddhism.

Jim’s Perspectives:

My father and I visited Thailand in 1995. We flew into Bangkok, and afterwards went to Chiang Mai, then Chiang Rai, and then to Phuket.

We marveled at the Grand Palace. Located in Bangkok, it was the former home to the king, his court, and the entirety of Thai government for 150 years. Got to play with elephants in Chiang Rai, and enjoyed the spectacular beaches in Phuket.

Visited Bangkok again in 2018 when visiting my college friend Dave Burris, and catching up over dinner.

Finland

Helsinki, Finland: Jim and Susan in 1992, sitting at the statue & flowers in front of the White Cathedral Country Information: Finland gained independence in 1917. The capital is Helsinki. About 5.5 million people live here and the official language is Finnish...

Palau

I loved my time in Palau in 2017. This country is a gem and if you can make it here you’ll see why. No glitz, no glamor, just pure beauty combined with 5-star luxury service. You see, they don’t teach their people to be nice on this island, they just are nice. While I...

India

At the Taj Mahal with Kenan, 2013 Country Information: More than 1.4 billion people live in India, making it ones of the most populated countries in the world. The capital is New Delhi. The official languages are Hindi and English, though there are over 22...