Paul Luvera Journal

We arrived in Bangkok yesterday afternoon. We are staying at the famous Oriental Hotel. This five star hotel was founded over one hundred years ago although the original structure no longer exists. Royalty, dignitaries and distinguished people have followed the legendary Chao Phrya River through the heart of Bangkok to the doors of this hotel. It was only in recent years the main entrance of the hotel was moved from the river to the land side. The river is chocolate…

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There was a temporary break in the rain last evening and we actually sat outside in the courtyard by the pool having a drink and listening to the women play Thai music. No stars visible, of course. In fact, we have seen neither the sun nor the stars since arriving in Phuket. The waves make a loud crashing sound as they land on the small sandy beach below the court yard and the music is pleasant. It is consistently warm…

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On this Blog you get all the news including news about the suspicious death of 29 year old Rizwanur Rahman in Calcutta. It’s a story of love ending in tragedy. The International Tribune reports that the police have reported his death as a suicide, but many believe it was an arranged murder with police involvement. Police are accused of aiding his wife’s family, very rich Hindus, who had opposed his marriage to their daughter Priyanka Todi. Rahman had been born…

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You know what it looks like when you tip a full pail full of water and let it pour out? Well, that’s what yesterday was like. Starting at about 10:00 am a total torrential monsoon downpour began under a solid Gray cloud like a fog bank and it never stopped or let up until evening. Water stacking up in rising puddles on the pavement, filling the swimming pool to over flowing and totally relentless. I got a lot of work…

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I am sitting in a room Amanpuri Resort at Phuket looking out at totally Grey skies and a torrential downpour of rain. We arrived here yesterday afternoon, following a two hour flight from Hong Kong and a forty minute ride from the airport. When we arrived at the new Hong Kong international airport I thought there had been a bomb scare. There were no people in sight at the terminal we got off at. Inside there were very few people….

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Greetings from Hong Kong where the sun is shinning and it is about 80 degrees today. We flew from San Francisco on Tuesday about noon and arrived at our hotel here Wednesday night about 7:30. The lost time was due to a 15 hour long non stop flight and a time change. As I write this is Thursday about 2:45, but it is still Wednesday in Seattle about 11:45 pm at night. So, there is a substantial time difference. The…

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