We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This is our first trip to Thailand(泰国). All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.

Bangkok is wonderful and surprising! The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.

Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life--no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always smile and say “hello”. Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.

There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favourite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.

I had always travelled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.

It was not long before the train was across the causeway and in Malaysia. Johor Bahru was just another city like the city of Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.

From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.

The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 p. m. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.

I looked forward to the return journey.

Four of the best UK foodie campsites(营地)

Dunstan Hill Campsite, near Alnwick, Northumberland

On this wild coast, foodies should visit Craster, a tiny fishing village northeast of Alnwick, in north Northumberland, England. Here the family has been smoking fish for nearly a century. Take your pick in the shop at the smokehouse on Haven Hill, then head back to the Campsite at Dunstan Hill, where facilities(设施)include hot showers, washing machines and Wi-Fi. With miles of beaches and Alnwick Castle nearby, this is a great place for camping.

Gordale Scar Campsite, North Yorkshire

At the foot of Gordale Scar is this basic site(just a couple of toilets, cold water and a shower). But its inconveniences are more than made up for by its setting. Add in the readily made beef products by Chris Wildman(buy his goods at Town End Farm Shop). Chris’s farming and products date back more than five generations.

Lochhouse Farm, near North Berwick, East Lothian

It is beside the river Evan in the South of Scotland. There are beautiful farmhouses set in 9 acres of land and a simple salad of dressed lobster(龙虾)and crab(蟹肉)is the perfect campfire meal. You can buy a lobster from Seacliffe Lobsters outside North Berwick. The boss, Jack, has been catching lobsters and crabs for more than 30 years, exporting much of his catch to Spain.

Nant-y-Big, Llyr Peninsula, Gwynedd

This site, above Porth Ceriad beach, is wonderful. Facilities include hot showers, and barbecues(烧烤)are permitted so this makes a perfect place to enjoy the local lamb. With supplies bought from the Glasfryn Parc Farm Shop near Pwllheli on the way in, we dined on lamb and watched the sun go down over the Irish Sea.