Travels with Mandolin: Thailand and Malaysia

[GTG]

I recently got back from a wonderful 2 months of backpacking around Thailand and Malaysia. Forest hikes, beaches, wildlife, great food, culture - it was a spectacular feast for the senses. I stubbornly brought along my Michael Kelly LFS, strapped to the side of my backpack in a Boulder Alpine gig bag. I was well aware that it might not survive the bumps and abuses of the trip, but in the end I had no issues whatsoever. I guess thick tops have their uses? I didn't exactly jam with the locals, but it was wonderful to have so many opportunities to relax and play, accompanied by the sounds of the tropical forest or sea breezes....
Just a few photos:

First day - exploring Bangkok's chinatown:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/perkins666/Bangkok-Chinatown.jpg

On the train north to Chiang Mai. That's the mando gig bag in the foreground, strapped to my backpack.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/perkins666/Onthetrain.jpg

Finally some time to relax - picking on a hostel deck, Mae Hong Son province.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/perkins666/MandoatCaveLodge.jpg

In addition to visiting some fabulous beaches, I did some spectacular scuba diving; giving the 'ok' signal by a big sea turtle - Sipadan island, Borneo
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/perkins666/DSC01668.jpg

All good things must come to an end. The trip back was long and tiring. I did manage to find a secluded spot in the Frankfurt airport where I picked undisturbed for a good 2 hours.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/perkins666/HPIM1026.jpg

Great times, and I didn't even slack on my finger exercises!

[Rob Fowler]

Looks like a great trip, Dan! Thailand and Malaysia are on my "Must Visit" list of world destinations. The food, the birding, and the relatively inexpensiveness traveling in both countries makes me salivate every time I think about it.

[Jim MacDaniel]

Thanks for the pics Dan. That looks and sounds like a wonderful trip.

Your post and pics also bring back memories, except that I was in the Navy when I was in that part of the world, so were I to start a thread on my adventures, it would be more appropriately entitled "Travels with Beer..." (Come to think of it, I could decribe my more recent travels abroad as such as well -- although I can remember many more parts of my more recent holidays ;) )