Crazy Sights at Venice Beach

One of the sidewalk performers was this guy that jumped onto a bunch of broken bottles. There were lots of places to get a doctor to give you a check up for $40 so that you could then purchase 'medical marijuana'. One guy was doing tricks with his dog, cat, and mouse, and another guy made a cool octapus with sand. It was a fun boardwalk.

Farewell Dinner and Party

Since it is our last day, we all went out to dinner, and celebrated. Nueng and his girlfriend Mod joined Nickie and I along with David, Nikki, Joshua and grandpa Paul.
Enjoy thi pictures. We're back on the train tomorrow.

Willshire United Methodist Church

Nickie and I went to church with her neice Nikki, and her husband David. It was a 2:30 PM service with mostly young people. It was good.

Touring L.A. on Sunday

The Thai resturant next door to the hotel has treated us very well. Good food, and low prices... Today we traveled up to the HOLLYWOOD sign. It was cool. We also traveled to Venice beach, what a place!

Sightseeing after Lunch

Nickie and I went for a long ride in our rented Toyota, Carolla after lunch at Pinks. We traveled along the coast on the Pacific Coast Highway,(Hwy 1) and then came back on the Mulholland Hwy. This ride took us around and through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It was some beautiful country. The pictures don't do it justice, but I hope you enjoy!!

Lunch at Pinks Hot Dog Stand=Great

In L.A. we got a chance to eat a world famous Chilli Dog at Pinks. This hotdog stand was established in this location in 1939. Many famous people have eaten here even before Nickie and I. I do have to say that the Chilli Dogs were great! We stood in line for about 45 minutes, and our Dogs were done in about 5 minutes after we ordered. The total cost was $11.55 which is one of the cheapest meals we've eaten so far. I'd do it again!

Santa Monica Beach

Nickie and I broke away and just followed our noses in the rental car, and ended up at Santa Monica Beach. We just horsed around saw the sites, and found the end of the famous Route 66!!!

Visiting the Family in L.A.

Here we are at a local resturant with Paul, Pok, Nikki (Nickies brother, Sister-in -Law, and Niece). Here are also some of the shots we took in Beverly Hills. One heck of an old tree. Some nicely maintained bushes and trees, and a market that we stopped at and bought some oranges.

Scenes between K.C. and L.A.

Here are some of the many shots that we took on the trip. Enjoy...

Amtrak Train Trip to L.A.

To get one more week away from the cold in Lincoln, we decided to take a ride to L.A. on the Southwest Chief. We had a great time. We hung out at the Pierpoint Resturant in the K.C. Union Station while waiting for the train. The place had a wall full of different kinds of liquor, and a guy on a ladder to get what ever you needed. We did spend some time on the bench waiting, and then off we went. While traveling, Nickie kicked my but 501 to 401 in Spades in the observation car. Here are some shots in our 'bedroom' on the train.

The Final Day-Monday & an AA Adventure

Since Nickie wanted to spend her last day with g-ma, I decided to go across Bangkok ALONE to check out an AA meeting. I knew I would find good friends there, and I wasn't dissapointed. I got a cab there and Nickie explained where I wanted to go to the cab driver. I had to make it home on my own. The new friends from AA helped me with the Metro, and then I was to get a cab. I knew how to say the address of home,("Lat Pla Kau, Soi Som Sip Song"). However when I got in the cab, he misunderstood my 'Thai' and thought I wanted to go to 'Lot Plow'. Needless to say, we took a little extra ride. Finally after a review with him, and a call to Nickie, I got home. What an Adventure! This whole trip has been one Great time. I'm sad to leave, glad to be coming home, and dreading the cold weather that awaits me. Next time I come to Thailand I will go to church and AA more. It has been fun to meet others that I can at least talk to.

THIS IS THE FINAL ENTRY FOR THIS JOURNEY. I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED HEARING ABOUT IT AT LEAST A LITTLE. I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED LIVING IT AND SHARING IT WITH YOU.

Church On Sunday

Nickie and I traveled across Bangkok on Sunday to go to a Christian Church that I found on the internet. It was located in this great compound that also contains the International School, and a lot of expatriot families from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It is like a western oasis in the middle of Bangkok. The church is a non-denominational community church and was very good. As you can see from the banner the message was something that Nickie and i could benifit from. It was a good day, and a great adventure. We met some very nice folks.