Notes from a Nomad

Remarkable People, Memorable Events and Fascinating Destinations from Around the World.


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21 – The King never smiles – and nor does Peter! Thailand today and the unkindest cut of all – Dec 5 2013

I recently bought a home in Thailand where I hope to spend many future winters and last week was the King of Thailand’s 86th birthday. Despite making multiple visits to Thailand in the last 9 years  this was the first time I had been here on his birthday and able to watch the extraordinary scenes of affection as the Continue reading


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16 – The House that Gio built – an Italian in the Orient – April 21 2013

IMG_6227If one of the subjects of this website is remarkable people it is fair to say that Juergen Lusuardi (Gio) qualifies and it is equally true that anyone who meets Gio will not quickly forget him – and especially when they discover how many others benefit from his energy and efforts. Continue reading


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13 – The Dating Game – Bantayan Island – January 15 2013

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The New Year has found me in the southern Philippines where I have been telling everyone the women are fast, or should I just say friendly and the internet is slow.

I am renting a house in Thailand  Continue reading


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11 – A family outing – Thailand Oct 22 2012

For the second time this year I find myself typing away with a fan behind me in the village of Baen Non Waeng in Northeast Thailand. The fan is 5ft tall, a beautiful bronze complexion, and twists smoothly back and forth imparting relief and pleasure at every moment. Unfortunately this relief is provided by courtesy of Continue reading


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8 – Elvira – Dolly with the trolley (Looking for a husband on the Trans-Siberian Railroad) – Siberia Russia Sept 21 2012

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I am penning these words sitting in the somewhat dated but cosy restaurant car as we speed  across the partly forested Siberian Plain between Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk on the Trans-Siberian railway. And perhaps I should address one misnomer at the very beginning Continue reading


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4 – Matchmaking in Baan Nong Weng – Thailand April 27 2012

IMG_6688You would be hard pushed to find Baan Nong Weng on the map – I first came here 6 years ago and have been back most years since, staying in one of the many thousands of almost indistinguishable villages in Isaan, the dry dusty north eastern region of Thailand that borders on to Cambodia and Laos. Continue reading


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2 – Defending Pattaya – Thailand April 12 2012

I am coming to the end of a two week stay in Pattaya of all places and I have seen this unique city from a very different perspective.  That is surprising in that my previous visits had afforded some contrasting experiences given that they included coming as a solo male traveller, a short stay in Thailand with my Continue reading