Some of you have written asking how I celebrate Thanksgiving in Thailand. In previous years, just like everyone else, eating turkey. This year, rather than eat turkey, I decided to go camping with a buddy whose family went to the States for the holiday. So, it was Granola bars with chocolate gravy.

Henry and I spent a couple of days camping in Khao Yai National Park looking at deer, pig-tail masques, elephant poo, hornbills and chasing the largest porcupine imaginable in the middle of the night.

I was already in my sleeping bag asleep when I heard a noise outside the tent. When I saw it was a porcupine and the size of it, I grabbed my camera and without shoes, took chase around the nearby pond. Running after it, I looked more like a tourist trying to walk on hot coals then just curious. I thought porcupines were the size of a beaver or opossum, but this was more like the size of a humpbacked basset hound.

As I got closer the porcupine raised its quills, I tried to recall in my sleepiness whether or not the quills are poisonous and launchable. On that thought, I realized it was time to return to my tent to bandage my feet. Launchable quills!?! I must have watched too many cartoons.

Two weeks ago, I was on a more interesting trip when I went to Yunnan, China. If you visit no other place in Asia, this is the place to go to experience the most Asian variety, picturesque, good food and happy people.

I climbed Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (15,091ft and 5 inches), visited Dali, Shangri-La and Li Jiang.

Li Jiang’s old town is a World Heritage site and closed to vehicular traffic. It is relatively undiscovered so there are not many tourists. So go soon.

It is populated with a half a dozen different ethnic groups wearing their native clothes. I got a lecture last week from a very PC correct friend who told me why I can’t refer to them as costumes. The world is getting too complicated, that is why I went to Khao Yai, no smart-alecky animals.

Lijiang’s old town has many small canals lined with cafes and open restaurants full of people singing to each other across the canals, a lot of fun. Originally, the singing was part of mating process, but is mostly just for fun these days. This is where James Hilton was inspired to write Lost Horizons. Shangri-La, which is more authentic then Lhasa for Tibetan culture, as the Chinese have taken over and Sinotized Lhasa.

I have posted three slideshows from this trip on my website: Lijiang Old Town, Wenchange Palace and Shangri-La Portola.

© Copyright Michael Morrissey, All Rights Reserved.

Article by Michael Morrissey is considered one of the new generation of adventure and travel photographers. Based in Bangkok, Thailand with a passion for travel, Michael got hooked on photography while driving a bus from Istanbul to Katmandu in the 70’s; an obsession briefly interrupted with a twenty year career in business. You can view his photography at: www.mjmorrissey.com

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