Author: Brian O’Keefe
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Thailand Ko Phangan island
Known for its annual Full Moon Party, probably the biggest beach party in the world. But it’s Heaven on Earth all year round. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Ko Samui, but luxury hotels include a speedboat ride over…directly to the property. No dock..so you get out in waist high water as your bags are…
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BOK Travel Tips: Moloka’i
BOKTRAVEL TIP: #2 MOLOKA’I Moloka’i secrets! The home of the most famous leprosy colony in history. The island, tucked between Oahu and Maui, has 260 square miles and basically only one really developed town. It is rarely visited, has one hotel and not one stoplight at all. When you’re in West Maui look out at the gorgeous…
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Travel Tips: Waikiki
Kamaina Beach Hotel and the Waikiki Circle https://bokblog.org/350-2/
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Goodbye, Uncle Paul: No Grilled Cheese , That O’Leary Courage and a Special Christmas Reunion
“I didn’t order a grilled cheese sandwich…” Hospital food. They brought grilled cheese AGAIN. And my Uncle Paul wasn’t having any of it. “Its not what I ordered…They did this last night as well.” In fact it was the third time in two days. It was time for him to get something to eat. …
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Bonnie Tiegel: One Big Beautiful Heart of a Human Being
My afternoon wild goose chase had lots of stress. Two grocery stores and one 7 Eleven down in my search. And they were out. Damn It. No-one had a regular iconic bottle of Heinz ketchup. Nope…Sugar Free… Low Sodium or the Fancy Balsamic Recipe wouldn’t do. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. But…
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An Open Letter To A Heroin Addict Who Saved My Life
Dear ….YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE… Please don’t die! Even though I haven’t known you for very long I care about you. Being your roommate in rehab for 28 days was enlightening to say the least. Even though heroin wasn’t my thing, it effected the majority of our rehab brothers and sisters. Almost three years…
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Thank You Aunt Alice
“We came to tell you how much we love you Aunt Alice,” I kind of nervously announced. For some reason I uttered such a grand statement..And for some reason I didn’t cry…I don’t know why. I thought I would and I didn’t. She seemed stunned at first and profoundly sad, even crying, about why I…
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An Awakening on Sandbar Island: My Social Media Blackout, Post-Addiction Progress, and Keeping the Circle Open…
My heart stopped. I almost couldn’t breathe. The unthinkable had happened. I knew this day would come. And what timing: there I was alone on a desert island in the Gulf of Thailand..such a desert island its name means Island of Sandbars. (Ko Phangan its called.) I clicked again to make sure my phone was…
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The Lost Life Tweets from Sandbar Island
THE LOST LIFE TWEETS FROM SANDBAR ISLAND—Almost a week off social media I compiled random thoughts, reflections and concerns….an impulse compendium. Only in Thailand could you be in a 500 a night hotel villa and lunch at the resort is eleven dollars! Off campus it’s six bucks!! Upside down pineapple ..(or coconut) economy ! Nutella…
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Billy O at 75: The Charming Golden Boys of Silver Beach, The Original Teflon Bill, and The Great Lesson of Forgiveness
‘NEVER!!! “, bellowed the woman holding court in my sister Katie’s living room. “Never in a million years did he get caught!” Relating some important family history, she continued, “And poor Mickey…he always got caught!! But Billy…he could do no wrong!”, she wailed, hinting at a smidge of jealousy, perhaps. It was my Aunt Patty…
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