THE FIRST TRIP

How did you get started? You, a suburban housewife with two children? You just jumped into international travel journalism? people asked. 

I told them that my mom’s death gave me a small inheritance. I asked my husband to travel, and he advised me to go alone. The kids were away in college. 

Where should I go? On the world’s map, China had Burma tucked into its side, and Thailand was nearby. I was totally clueless about distances. Luckily, I joined a group to China’s Silk Road (China had just opened to tourism) then another group to Burma, and a month alone, zigzagging south through Thailand. All wonderful and detailed in my book to be released by John Koehler Books on 9/9/2026. Patriciawoeber.com The photo: I stand with the tallest Buddha in Sukhothai, Thailand.