-
Continue reading →: I hate the Vientiane visa run.UPDATE AS OF 2019, YOU NEED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE THAI EMBASSY TO GET YOUR VISA BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. I hate the Vientiane visa run. Even though I’ve done it a few times, and even experienced an unforeseen problem, I still endured a special kind…
-
Continue reading →: 🇹🇭 Don’t call Thais short.In the US, if you call someone fat, it is considered insulting, even if it is true. It’s more polite to say “heavy” or “big”. But in Thailand, the word “fat” does not have the same weight because it’s the height that means the most.
-
Continue reading →: Downtown Chiang Rai (in pics)I remember the first time I was turned on by poetry. I was in high school Freshman or Sophomore English, and the poem was Carl Sandburg’s Chicago. Generally speaking, I was greatly turned on by the poetry we were reading, but Sandburg’s Chicago was different, gritty, and decidedly real. It…
-
Continue reading →: When I was 12…
When I was 12, I lived in a townhouse on Anania Circle in the town of Mililani, situated in the center of the island of Oahu. Our neighbor was a grumpy old man who would bang his fists against the wall whenever I practiced the piano. Soon we figured out…
-
Continue reading →: 🍛 What’s your comfort food?
The problem is my mom is an amazing cook so I have fond and savory memories of her cooking. I can think of many comforting Thai dishes she made that taste like home: Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup, Pork Knuckles in Sweet Dark Soy Sauce and a very simple Chicken Rice…
-
Continue reading →: ✍🏼 What’s on your desk? (and death to adverbs)
This idea originated from reading an excerpt from Louise Bogan’s autobiography called Journey Around My Room. I had written this post earlier in the month, but with today’s #writing101 challenge (death to adverbs), I thought I’d peruse this piece for those pesky -ly words, and see how I did. Two.…
-
Continue reading →: Expats in Thailand (a character or two)He’s a big talker. Several people have described him as talkative. He’s new to Thailand, but not to Asia, so he knows it all. A giant by Thailand standards, with an ample girth reinforced by his favorite fanny pack, waistpack, or bum bag, he likes to know everyone’s business. And…
-
Continue reading →: 12 things I’ve learned about Chiang Rai (List #2)Updated Nov 2018 Have you missed list #1? Go here. Otherwise, read on…
-
Continue reading →: Just a view: Jet Yod Road Chiang RaiSitting next to someone’s empty Leo beer bottle, I uncomfortably rest on a tree trunk stool outside a closed Rasta bar on the seediest street in Chiang Rai. When I hear my geezer neighbors talk about how much they pay for women, I know they come to this street. Old…
-
Continue reading →: 6 month ghosts (unlock the mind)I want to fish as deep as down as possible into my own subconscious in the belief that once that far down, everyone will understand because they are somewhat the same that far down. – Jack Kerouac Alright. I’ve signed up for WP’s Writing 101 course. And for our…
-
Continue reading →: Liebster Award #2Jenny from And Three To Go nominated me for my second Liebster Award. How sweet! She’s a travel/expat/mommy blogger exploring Phuket, Thailand (and many other places), with her husband and little girl. I really like Jenny’s point of view and even though I do not have children, I find her…
-
Continue reading →: What were you like in high school?
What were you like in college was such a fun and inspiring post, I thought I’d tackle the next obvious question: What were you like in high school?
-
Continue reading →: ✍🏼 Setting goals (and lessons learned)September is finally here! I’ve been waiting for this month because I will have a lot of time off. Serendipitously, I saw Jodie’s post on “What are your goals for September?” and it really got me thinking about what I need to focus on this month. It’s a big month,…
-
Continue reading →: What is inspiration?
When Kiersten from She is Fierce started exploring this idea, I became inspired to write about it. I began to think about what it is and what it means to me. What do you think? To me, being inspired is about paying attention. Looking up from your phone. Taking in…
-
Continue reading →: I quit liking things on FB and all I got was annoyed.A friend of mine posted this challenge and I thought, Yeah, I can do that, too. So, I announced on FB that I was going to stop liking things for 2 weeks and instead of liking things, I made more comments. But this didn’t last long. In fact, I think…
-
Continue reading →: Where in your life do you search or explore for new?I wrote this question in my journal some time ago. It originated from moving again. I move a lot. I don’t mean to, necessarily, it just happens. Sometimes I’m envious of those who have normal stable lives. I’d like to try on that lifestyle and be content (could I be…
-
Continue reading →: 12 things I’ve learned about Chiang Rai…Strangely enough, I have found other bloggers (that I like!) with the same name as me. I know, it seems horribly vain to start a blog post like this, but as you know, anyone with a blog is like, OMG, REALLY into themselves.
-
Continue reading →: How has your name impacted you?
I remember in the sixth grade when this new kid came to class. He was one of the few black kids at our school, and on his first day he answered Mrs. K’s questions as best as he could. “Your name is Filet Mingon?” “Yes.” She said it louder and…
-
![[the Writing Process tour]](https://lanivcox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/the-writing-process.jpg?w=900)
Continue reading →: [the Writing Process tour]It’s like the magical mystery tour, but different. The writing process tour involves answering questions about your writing style and practice, and then choosing three other bloggers to participate. Marielle from This Flooded Sky invited me because: a) she has good taste, b) she’s cool like that, and c) she…
-
Continue reading →: Am I a feminist?https://soundcloud.com/lifetheuniverseandlani/am-i-a-feminist (And are there free cookies and punch involved?) Feminism is such a LOADED word jammed-packed with wholesome cynicism, abuse, and misunderstanding. But the good girls at The Lady Errant and She is Fierce have started a link-up on feminism, so before I knew it, I was contemplating, “Am I…
-
Continue reading →: Rai Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural ParkThe day had already involved rescuing this little guy from our refrigerator, and getting bit on the lip by a bee on the way to Rai Mae Fah Luang (or Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park), so why not add getting locked in the park?
-
Continue reading →: What were you like in college?What were you like in college? Usually high school gets all the attention, but what about those years when you were out of the house and “out on your own”? When all you really had to worry about was beer and noodle money?
-
Continue reading →: I’ve been discontinued.So, I signed this petition (I’ve been signing petitions lately.). This one is by 18 Million Rising because American Girl® doll cancelled their only Asian American doll. 18MR basically wants American Girl® to create another doll that looks like us.
-
Continue reading →: 🇹🇭 ESL teaching resources and observations about teaching in ThailandI can’t believe I’ve been teaching in Thailand for almost 4 years now. And I’m rather pleased that I have had the experience of teaching in three different cities here: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I’m not sure if I can count Bangkok since that is where I got…
-
Continue reading →: A study of cloudsI’m in love with the sky here. Reminds me of the American West. The crisp blue, the expansiveness and just the ability to see it after living in the city with tall buildings. When we first moved to Chiang Rai, it was blistering hot, and it didn’t help that we…
-
Continue reading →: Chiang Rai: First ImpressionsI underestimated how much my life would change. Part of this had to do with not knowing how my life would change. Nevertheless, I tried to guess. Originally, I thought my biggest adjustment would be down-shifting from busy Chiang Mai to quiet Chiang Rai, and while that is true, there…
-
Continue reading →: 🇹🇭 How has Thailand changed you?My friend M and I were looking at new places to live when she whispered how she didn’t like the bars on windows. Many Thai homes have bars on the windows for security reasons.
-
Continue reading →: My favorite WordPress.com featureUpdate: as of today, 19th of November, 2014, Random Post is no longer an option. My favorite WordPress feature is the Random Post option. It’s the equivalent of flipping through a book and landing your finger on a page to find a quote you like or today’s meaning of life.
-
Continue reading →: Ode to Summer Colorsdripping wet red sparkling orange yellow pollen for the bees
-
Continue reading →: In defense of beautyDoes beauty need to be defended? Yeah, well, if those spectacular concrete jungles are any indication of the direction we are heading, then yes, I believe beauty does need to be defended. I like to joke that in another life, I would have been a city planner because I think…
-
Continue reading →: 🍛 Food Addiction: Chiang Rai editionThere’s actually a site called Pictures of Asians Taking Pictures of Food and surprisingly I am not on there – yet. Most of my friends humor me when I take out my draconian Lumix, as I’m not cool enough to have one of those cameras with the big lens or…
-
Continue reading →: What is Chiang Rai Beach?Where to Songkran in Chiang Rai: // Chiang Rai Beach (aka Pattaya noi) // Sunday Walking Street (Sankhongnoi Rd) // Flag and Lamp Park (on Thanalai Rd)
-
Continue reading →: 🇹🇭 At The Finish Line: Asian American In Thailand, Part 16Originally posted on A Holistic Journey: 1) How do you define yourself racially or ethnically and why is it important to you? Please tell us about the racial makeup of your family if you were adopted or come from a colorful family. I consider myself Asian American, or as I…
-
Continue reading →: Nangnon Coffee in Chiang RaiThailand has become a coffee culture, and there is certainly no shortage of coffee shops here, but Nangnon Coffee is special. What I like about it is it’s run and owned by a sweet and lovely Akha hill tribe woman, and the coffee is locally grown and roasted. Her nickname…
Hello,
I’m Lani
Welcome to Life, the Universe, and Lani. I’ve been blogging about my experiences living abroad since 2009.
At this point, this site serves as an archive as I’m mostly active at No Girl is an Island 👉https://lanivcox.substack.com/ 🏝️where I have been both newslettering and continuing to craft personal essays on finding freedom in the fringes.
Thanks for stopping by, have a look around, and hope to see you over at No Girl is an Island.
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
You must be logged in to post a comment.