As I stated before, we are back in LA. It is supposed to be hot in Southeast Asia, but this is nuts. It has been over 105 degrees the last two days. It was almost too hot for me to get in my 10 mile run 
We are driving around in some of LA to get some more ideas for locations for the movie. For those who know him I was able to have a late lunch with Don Kress, I’m meeting Andrea Ehnert tomorrow for lunch and I hope to see Timm Sharpe sometime tuesday or Wednesday. I also hope to hook up with Brent Moon too. It’s great to see all these people. Everyone of them is having success in their chosen field. I can’t wait to see them and what they are up to.
No real pics from LA. Maybe I’ll take some tomorrow and put them on the site.
I hope all of you are doing well and I’ll see you after Thursday when I get home.
ride safe
UL
Bill
As you can see I have to be nicer to Starbucks. I’m in Steven’s apt. and I checked to see and the stuff I wrote was still in my administration section. Thanks Tucker–this site has been a blast for me and helped me feel connected to everyone back home.
To all of you who were able to write thanks so much for the comments. It was great to hear from you. For those of you who didn’t write: May a family of armadillos take up residence in your underwear draw Sorry, I know you’ve had to put up with my stupid humor throughout the journey. Just think how bad it has been for my family having to put up with it all the time.
Since you already have the post from my last day in Bangkok I think I’ll close with a few pics and head to bed. I hope I can get my body clock turned around faster than I did on the trip.
Ahh, Quai Chang Cain, you hopefully have gained much wisdom during your stay in Southeast Asia. It is now time for you to leave the monestary and go into the world to share your knowledge grasshopper.
Transportation in the downtown streets of Bangkok?
Never too many beautiful sunsets.
Trying to catch up on my sleep on the boat to somewhere in the Philipines.
motorcycle with a sidecar
yummmmmyyyy!!!
Altar inside a temple for prayer.
No I didn’t eat this bug.
Ahli, Steven, and Dr. Roy in Chinatown
Fresh meal on the streets.
I guess I’m not the only one opening up businesses to help with cash flow. I wonder if Bill helps her run them?
Hey folks it has been a blast sharing my trip with you. Let’s hope it leads to a major motion picture making millions of dollars so we can all have the party of the century. I will still be keeping up the website throughout the summer and beyond to share some of my adventures and thoughts. (You may not give a darn about my thoughts, but they are going up any way.
take care
ride safe
UL
Bill
I would have just save it and come back, but I’m not sure I know how to save and find the post again so I just logged off and now I’m back.
Here’s the deal–As you know I’ve tried about every food we have come across and I’ve been fine. So what do I do. I have a steak and fries for lunch and a piece of pizza (New York Style–mind you) and what happens. I wake up this morning with a belly ache. I think I’m just about over it. I guess in a little over two weeks my body decided that American food doesn’t sit well for me. Do you think I could get the Discovery cafeteria to serve eel, grasshoppers, and fish eyeballs. (It’s just a thought)
I’ve experienced a lot of things over here, but I had to share the foot massage and the “authentic Thai” massage. The foot massage works over your whole foot and up into your calves. My feet felt fine but, when she worked on my calves she about sent me through the roof. Steven and I had them together at the place I had my facial. It was so nice having a “girls” day at the spa
Now, the Thai massage. All I can say about this is that you feel great when it’s over, but while she is giving you the massage you would think that every part of your body is being pulled apart. I’m adding a pic here of the woman who gave me the Thai massage. She is also with the hotel clerk. Notice how small the massage woman is and realize she kicked the living (#$#%) out of me. I had no idea my back, legs, and feet could be put in the positions she put them in before applying pressure. She asked before hand if I wanted soft, medium, or hard. Thank Buddha/God I asked for medium. If I’d asked for “hard” I may not have been able to walk today.
If you have the chance I would highly recommend either one. The foot massage had me feeling like I was walking on air the rest of the day and the Thai massage stretched me better than I’ve stretched in years.
The woman with the long black hair gave me the Thai massage. As you can see she’s about 5 foot nothing and probably weighs about 100 lbs. How someone that small could stretch me like she did is beyond me. One of her techniques was to grab my foot, put her legs on my calf and pull. Lots of strength in one so small. Another was similar to a stretch that any of you who have gone to a chiropractor have done. She pushed my hips one way and then pushed my upper body the other. I thought she was going to twist me so much I was going to look like a pretzel, but I came out of it okay.
I took some more pics on the streets of Bangkok.
My fried bananas.
As you can see I’ve decided to start franchise my businesses.
I came back and wrote an excellent (if I do say so myself) conclusion to my stay in Southeast Asia. Since I’m not on my computer and don’t have access to my pictures I will wait until I get to Steven’s house tonight. That’s right tonight. It is Friday morning here, we leave Friday night, and get back to LA late Friday night. (Time change-right) If I said this in the last blog sorry. Anyway I will write a better blog with a wrap up of the trip and more pics when I get to the states.
Take care of yourselves everyone.
ride safe
UL
Bill
It is hard to believe, but this is my last day until we return to LA.. It is Friday morning (8:38am) in Bangkok. I think that’s around 8:30 or 9:30 Fargo time. So here’s how it works. We leave tonight (friday night) and we get into LA Friday night. ( I don’t know the time, but it will probably be late) Don’t worry mom, if it is after 10:00 pm your time I will call you Sat. morning as soon as I wake up.
As those of you who have been following my blog I’m sure you can tell I’ve had a trip I can never describe. Of the pictures you’ve seen I probably have 2000 more (thank Buddha for the digital camera) I had to use that. Just like we say “Thank God” in the states they say Thank Buddha. I wonder if their text messages shorthand say–OMB instead of OMG?
I have a new favorite food. I had a little of it on the way to the Rhino Center, but I had some they just made on the streets of Bangkok (fried bananas) They were awesome. I think I’ll have to open up a booth at the Fargo Street Fair and make a killing. They have to be good for you because they are made of bananas right? That should make up for the fact they are deep fried. Makes sense to me.
I’m closing now, but I will come back on in a few minutes.
If the last pics of me “hairless” didn’t scare you away I guess you can handle the bugs on the street. I ate a grasshopper (crunchy) some kind of meal worm (chewy) Both okay. Then one big sucker. Not sure what it was (cruncy outside juice inside ( very gross. I couldn’t finish it) drank lots of diet coke afterwards.
Tuk tuk_ motorcycle attached to a “carriage”. Very enjoyable ride except for the downpour during part of it.
Here are some pics. Not much time on internet card so I will attach and talk more tomorrow.
I’ll add captions to all of these tomorrow I just want to get them published before my time runs out.
ride safe
UL
Bill
Sorry for being so short the last time but we had a wicked rainstorm and I wanted to get in as much as I could in a short time. I waded through ankle deep and knee deep water to get to Starbucks for yesterday’s blog. You’d better appreciate it Cambodia was our last country until Bangkok, Thailand and then it’s back to the states. When I get back I’ll try to do a recap of all that has happened in the last few weeks. I think we have taked about 10 flights and who knows how many car rides, boats, trains, tuck tucks (I’ll explain later).
I’m running low on this Starbucks card. If it runs out while I’m in the middle of this blog I will not be very happy. I’m saving every paragraph and couple of pics just in case. I hope that works Tucker so I don’t have to redo this again. It may get rather lengthy.
Here goes. In Cambodia we stayed at a small inn that was great. Interesting enough the bed cover looked like two giant towels laid side by side to cover the bed. They felt like towels too. But who knows. I saw much poverty, which saddened me immensely. We have no clue (I know I didn’t how people in other parts of the world live on a day to day basis) It was also a place of beauty and exotic culture. Motorcycles or I should say (card ran out–son of a gun) I only lost a few sentences thank goodness. Scooters are the transportation for most. They ride them with one, two, three, and four people on one made for one, maybe two people. I’ve seen little ones, maybe a year old in front of the driver, then another child behind the driver, and another behind the child. Rather different, but as I said they have a whole different perspective that we will probably never understand.
Before pics and the surprise I want to send a shout out to a few people. First, Tucker, Brianna, and Pat, I truly appreciated the kind words for Father’s Day. They were greatly appreciated. I don’t know if I received them on Father’s Day in the U.S. or Father’s Day here or some other day. It doesn’t matter. The words and thoughts are all that I saw and felt. Brianna, I see from the internet that Boston is kicking the crap out of the Lakers. I hope you and Johnny are enjoying the game. Sylvia and Susannah–grandpa has missed you so much and I can’t wait until I come home and here those beautiful words (grandpa’s home, grandpa’s home) Shelly, thank you so much for letting me share my life with them. You three have been such a treat and I can’t wait to get home to see you again. Mom, Tim, Denise–Get plenty of rest. When I come down I’ll have stories until the wee (sp) hours of the morning. To everyone else who has been reading my blog, whether you have responded or not I hope you have enjoyed it. Talk to you when I get back.
Okay, time for pics and Comments
First more pics of the amazing temples in Cambodia.
Rock walls surrounding the temples. They have been up for anywhere between 1000 and 1800 years. It depends on who I was talking to. I’ll have to do some research when I get back home and see.
To put it in perspective that is my cousin Steve beside, or should I say under it. It somehow has grown on, around, and over the wall.
how they built these and they are still standing is unbelievable to me.
I have no clue what I’m not supposed to do in the urinal. They also have this over the toilet, and the trash can.
okay here begins the transformation. I should warn you. This is not for the faint of heart. By the end it gets pretty frightening so you may want to stop now or you may be scared for life. If you must go on don’t say I didn’t warn you. I won’t bore you with a lot of pics of the process. Just one or two and then the final product.
Ms. Dr. Frankenstein during her creation of a new person. I kept my eyes closed almost the whole time. Remember all of this was done without the use of anesthesia.
recreating a new face is a lot of hard work. I can go in to the witness protection program after all of this “plastic surgery”.
OKAY—HERE IT COMES—CLOSE DOWN NOW. SAVE YOURSELVES. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.
The transformation created by the Asian Dr. Frankenstein!!!!!!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I just looked at myself for the first time. The receptionist at the hotel almost wouldn’t give me my room key. She thought I was someone else from the person that left. It feels very strange. I don’t think I have been clean shaven in over ten years, maybe longer. With the head shaved I know I’ve never been shaved this much.
I’m off for today. We are going to a zoo in Bangkok today. I will let you know tomorrow how all of that goes.
Take care of yourselves everyone.
ride safe
UL
Bill
It is 6:45 pm on Tuesday, I think. I can’t keep track of days here. That should be about 6:45 am your time. This will be a short blog because of unforseen circumstances (crappy weather so I can’t be online as long) I promise tomorrow to have a full blown blog for all of you to enjoy (or be bored with–whatever. As a teaser I must let you know that I have a special “treat” to share with all of you. I can’t let you in on it today, but I promise tomorrow you will be amazed and mystified how a simple one hour Asian treatment can make you look like a new person (Hmmm, what could he mean by that you say. Well, tune in tomorrow and you will see.
I’ve got a few picks from around Bangkok here today. Cambodia was fantastic. We went to two Khmer temples that were being built around the time Notre Dame was. At least that is what I was told. They were temples for the old “Khmer” people who were conquered by Thailand. I’m putting in a few pics today, but much more tomorrow. The sites were a blast to visit. By the way, the most exciting aspect of them to our local tour guide (young man about 16) was that this was where Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider. He had me take a picture of the tree in the movie.
I also was able to meet another friend of Steven’s and wash and ride (yes, I said ride) and elephant.
One of the locals
I forgot to mention that I decided to open up a little business at the airport here in Cambodia. I’ve hired two locals to take care of the day to day things and I can now visit and make it a tax write off
Tonight we go for the insects on the streets of Bangkok. Don’t worry. Pictures for all and the surprise I promised earlier.
Steven in a commercial for Happy Beer.
See you tomorrow everyone. Have a wonderful day.
ride safe
UL
Bill
I’m baaaacccckkkk. I’m sure all of you missed me. Sorry for missing a day or two. I don’t know how long I’ve been off. The days are all bluring together. I left Indonesia yesterday at 5:30am and arrived in Bangkok around 6:00 pm. After checking in and a little walk around the area with Steve I couldn’t find a wi-fi so I could add pics. Who would have thought, in Bangkok, which I think is the most progressive city I’ve been in so far (I think) I’d have a difficult time finding wi-fi. Guess where. Starbucks. That’s right I’m sitting in a Starbucks at Bangkok writing this blog.
Okay, I’ll try to fill you in on the last few days. We spent the last day of our visit to the Rhino Center ( a gentleman by the name of Marcel was awesome). Actually, they were all very kind and helpful, but Marcel stands out. He helped me to get a couple of pics of me with a machine gun (unloaded of course) acting as if I was preparing for a search for poachers. I have another name. As we were taking the pictures Marcel was laughing and pointing saying Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris,–Rambo. Because he and the guard were laughing I think I was being made fun of, but I’m not sure. They smile no matter what they say. Here are a couple of pics.
I didn’t put these pics on the other day because I didn’t want them to be misconstrued while I was in Indonesia. On the web you never know who is watching.
Steven on the fron porch. We would usually get up around 5:00am. Make some coffee and sit on the front porch as the sun came up. We would see some wildlife. One morning a group of monkeys crossed in front of us. I didn’t have my camera and they were pretty far away. There is a wild hog that comes around just like a stray cat or dog looking for food. He stays around but there is no way I would go near it
.
Two of the rhinos bred our last day there. I forgot their names but Andalas was not one of them. Most of the day was sitting around enjoying the peace and quiet. The cities have all been great, but there is something about sitting in the jungle and relaxing as you hear all the animals. We heard some apes talking back and forth. It was great. I think Steven said they were Gibbons.
Our last night at the Rhino Center was rather interesting. I was woken up out of a sound sleep to a lot of yelling. I thought something was wrong (Rhino loose, Tiger in the camp, giant ants attacking) Actually it was just some of the keepers yelling at the TV during a futbal (soccer) game. They set their alarms to watch it at all hours of the day. I guess guys yelling at football happens everywhere. Sorry ladies, I guess we are all just Neandrethals (sp) at heart.
We flew on Thai Airlines again to Bangkok. I can’t stress enough how well you are treated. After a warm washcloth to wipe your face and (refresh you-as they say) we had another delicious meal. Of course I wasn’t sure of everything I was eating, but it was fantastic. The next thing that happened on the flight was that all of the women were given beautiful orchids (I guess the men don’t deserve them). I was able to take a picture of one of the stewardesses with a basket of them. They are so shy over here. At first she said just take the picture from her neck down. She felt she shouldn’t be in the picture. She allowed me to take a full pic. I’ll let you decide if she was worthy (as she put it) of being in the photo too.
They even had these orchids in each bathroom on the plane.
On our arrival to Bangkok ( only took a couple of pics before checking in. I was exhausted) I saw one of their taxis.
One of the restaurantswe went to in Bangkok had these flowers sitting on the floor in a tray of flowers. I don’t know the significance but they were beautiful.
Now I will share some pics from my early morning wanderings around our hotel. Okay, maybe not. I can’t find them. I only took a few. If I find them you will see them.
Thailand language lesson: I’ll probably screw it up. If I do I’ll have Steve tell me later and we will change it.
Ko bu ka–Thank you if you are speaking to a woman. Ko-bu-kahn–Thank you to a man.
I’m sure I messed up both of these. I’ll get them written down for me at the hotel and share them again.
I’m trying something new today or when we get back from Cambodia. I think we go there tomorrow and come back to Bangkok the next day. Steven’s friend has told him that a Thai facial is the most amazing thing to do. So either today or in a couple of days I’m having one. I will need to be totally clean shaven to have this done. Steve wants to document the transformation. With all facial hair gone you may want to skip over the pics. I’m sure I’ll start to grow the goatee back as soon as I can. Ole has never appeared without it. (What we actors sacrifice for our art
I also plan to eat a few bugs today from street vendors (I’m sure you will want to see that) They have them as big as one of my fingers and some smaller ones. It looks like they add some kind of spice topping to them. I hope so. Pics to come later.
Time to go. My time for wi-fi at Starbucks is almost over. Have a great day.
ride safe
UL
Bill aka Chuck Norris
What an amazing day. I may have been able to get behind the scenes at the zoo in Singapore, but now I’m “in the scenes”. Don’t worry mom. I only go and stand places that Steven or Marcel says is safe. I’m able to be right up with the animals, but as Steven says, you never know what may happen so make sure you do what I say. I have no trouble with that. These animals are gorgeous, but they can crush you in a second. Kind of like scuba diving, parachuting, riding a bike (All are safe in themselves, but the danger is always there and you must respect that.)
Now with that said, I’m going to put up some pics and try to give a note on each one. Enjoy–The pictures turned out great, but being here live is unimaginably exciting.
Romo getting a kiss from his “son” Andalas
Me, the vet, and Andalas. Just call me the “Rhino Whisperer”
Me, Andalas, Dr. Dedi, Sugiono (his keeper). Notice how I am staying inside of the rhino as I keep the doctor and the keeper on the outside for their “safety” :)
I had to make sure I could fit through the fence jus
t in case I needed to make a quick exit. Thank God for the weight loss. In my “Buddha Belly” days I wouldn’t have been able to make it through.
They wash the rhinos off every day and they are like little kids playing in the spray of the hose on a hot summer day.
Watching as one of the vets uses an ultrasound machine to see if a rhino is ready to breed. He had to use it in a “unique” way. Let’s just say if you saw the second Ace Ventura movie and the rhino you know what I mean.
Their version of a bathtub. It is about three feet deep. You climb in after filling it with water. You use the pitcher-scoop to pour water (not hot) over you, suds up, and then rinse off. It is very invigorating (okay, a nice way to say bbbbbrrrrrrrr!)
This is how they bring food to the rhinos. They go out into the forest and cut this, tie it into bundles, put it on the back of bikes and haul it to the rhino.
“Important sleeve” for using the ultra sound on the female rhino. I think the picture says it all.
The keepers will stay with the rhinos all day and maybe 24/7 if it is necessary. This is where and how they heat water for themselves or to maybe clean the rhinos feet.
I have my weapon. Now it is time to go hunt for that tiger. Yeah right. Actually, this knife is what they use to cut brush to get feed for the rhinos. But it makes a better story to say I’m hunting tigers with just a knife.
I know what you all are thinking. Finally they’ve locked Lucas up where he belongs. Wrong rhino breath. This is a portable rhino cage they can put the rhino in to quickly remove him if there is a problem like a fire. As I’ve said over and over on this trip. All of these people are constantly trying to do what is best for the animals under their care.
Okay, now it is time to visit some elephants. What I saw here was nothing short of amazing. I know I’m using that word a lot, but I lost my thesaurus and I’m too tired to think of new words. If you don’t like amazing put in another word which means “phantasmagorical”. Notice how I have positioned myself to pull the two gentlemen to safety in case something goes wrong
Adorable baby elephant they found abandoned in the forest. It is being bottle fed at this time. Do you think he would fit in my carry on or put him in my “trunk”. C’mon that was funny. A little elephant humor to get you through the day.
Notice the small child on the elephant. They start teaching them young to work with elephants. They walked right over to the water as the elephant drank and moved around. The child showed no fear (If it had been me I would have needed a change of clothes) and seemed at home on the elephant.
The elephants drink in a different place than where they are given baths.
Two huge tuskers. I’m not talking about the two guys in the middle. Standing between two huge elephants with those large tusks was so powerful. These animals are so powerful in themselves, yet they need and deserve the help they are given by these wonderful people. All of these elephants have been taken from the wild because they would have been killed by the farmers because of the destruction the elephants can cause. This refuge takes great care to protect the elephants at all times. I keep saying the same thing over and over, but it can’t be stressed enough how much these people truly care about the animals they are responsible for.
I’m not sure about the elephants, but every rhino has two keepers so if one is gone the other is always around. The keepers work with and take care of the rhino from about 7-4 every day, but it is not uncommon for them to stay out in the forest 24/7 with the rhino if that is necessary.
This is a wild pig, TeJi, that hangs around the buildings. He is fed regularly and seems friendly enough, but you would never treat him like a dog or cat and try to pet him. I won’t even go close to it. He is a cutie though.
I also was able to see them try to put two rhinos together for breeding yesterday. Andalas and Ratu were brought together to see if breeding would take place. Sometimes they will ignore each other, sometimes a fight occurs, and sometimes breeding will take place.
Andalas and Ratu didn’t get along to well at first. There was an attack, but Ratu ran off and a little later we saw them come together in the forest and stay close to each other without fighting. This was seen as very encouraging behavior. They may put them together again today and see if things get even better.
I’m sure there will be more pics tomorrow from today. We will take it easier today since we saw so much yesterday. Today is our last day in Indonesia. Tomorrow we take a car and two plane flights to Bangkok.
Talk to you later everyone.
ride safe
UL
Bill
Next Page »
Rock walls surrounding the temples. They have been up for anywhere between 1000 and 1800 years. It depends on who I was talking to. I’ll have to do some research when I get back home and see.
To put it in perspective that is my cousin Steve beside, or should I say under it. It somehow has grown on, around, and over the wall.
how they built these and they are still standing is unbelievable to me.
I have no clue what I’m not supposed to do in the urinal. They also have this over the toilet, and the trash can.
okay here begins the transformation. I should warn you. This is not for the faint of heart. By the end it gets pretty frightening so you may want to stop now or you may be scared for life. If you must go on don’t say I didn’t warn you. I won’t bore you with a lot of pics of the process. Just one or two and then the final product.
Ms. Dr. Frankenstein during her creation of a new person. I kept my eyes closed almost the whole time. Remember all of this was done without the use of anesthesia.
recreating a new face is a lot of hard work. I can go in to the witness protection program after all of this “plastic surgery”.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I just looked at myself for the first time. The receptionist at the hotel almost wouldn’t give me my room key. She thought I was someone else from the person that left. It feels very strange. I don’t think I have been clean shaven in over ten years, maybe longer. With the head shaved I know I’ve never been shaved this much.
Steven in a commercial for Happy Beer.
St
Two of the rhinos bred our last day there. I forgot their names but Andalas was not one of them. Most of the day was sitting around enjoying the peace and quiet. The cities have all been great, but there is something about sitting in the jungle and relaxing as you hear all the animals. We heard some apes talking back and forth. It was great. I think Steven said they were Gibbons.
They even had these orchids in each bathroom on the plane.
One of the restaurantswe went to in Bangkok had these flowers sitting on the floor in a tray of flowers. I don’t know the significance but they were beautiful.
