tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83955600998911504072024-03-14T03:56:49.022+08:00Two Months Off?a jaunt through Thailand, Cambodia and IndiaMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-27194089887986898982009-05-15T21:55:00.003+08:002009-05-15T21:56:58.115+08:00Home Done OverI'm back, all the way to Springfield. I hope everyone enjoyed reading. I'm preparing a little piece on what I learned about travel photography so stay tuned for that if you might be interested.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-68787775794590687822009-05-09T11:42:00.004+08:002009-05-09T11:51:27.287+08:00Oh My Buddha!!!Girl walks up to the desk at my hotel (right by where I'm sitting).<br /><br />Girl: Is there a Catholic church around?<br />Desk Man: Cafeteria?<br />______<br /><br />Nice shot <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/finbar/403452658/">here</a> at Flickr of the Taj Mahal, the building I didn't make it to. You can see some people on the deck there for a bit of scale. The whole deck was built so that the Taj would be raised and the background would be completely sky.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-71869209158488695182009-05-08T13:49:00.008+08:002009-05-08T15:33:20.647+08:00Buncha (Bad) Photos<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVz5MrkI/AAAAAAAAAK0/unFSNH6G8v4/s1600-h/IMG_7306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333335456862744130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVz5MrkI/AAAAAAAAAK0/unFSNH6G8v4/s400/IMG_7306.JPG" border="0" /></a> Baba<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVsNEBbI/AAAAAAAAAKs/mljHsKe_MyM/s1600-h/IMG_7267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333335454798579122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVsNEBbI/AAAAAAAAAKs/mljHsKe_MyM/s400/IMG_7267.JPG" border="0" /></a> Neelkanth, from Badrinath<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVKDTiRI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8jY3nqgNpK0/s1600-h/IMG_7262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333335445630847250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVKDTiRI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8jY3nqgNpK0/s400/IMG_7262.JPG" border="0" /></a> All over these roads were cool signs like this one. Also "Speed thrills, but kills", "Better Late Than Never", "Don't Overspeed".<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVN5rDjI/AAAAAAAAAKc/_JKROCOrRgE/s1600-h/IMG_7242.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333335446664187442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQVN5rDjI/AAAAAAAAAKc/_JKROCOrRgE/s400/IMG_7242.JPG" border="0" /></a> Indian seating, Indian Bidi(cigarette)<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQUzq-2uI/AAAAAAAAAKU/XB4DCPsA3Z4/s1600-h/IMG_7237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333335439623248610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPQUzq-2uI/AAAAAAAAAKU/XB4DCPsA3Z4/s400/IMG_7237.JPG" border="0" /></a> The elusive Indian woman(background), rarely seen in public.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333329821228635186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPLNxhUlDI/AAAAAAAAAJc/BdSFsMnznWk/s400/IMG_6744.JPG" border="0" /> I shot this one maybe from a bicycle rickshaw in Haridwar, not looking through the viewfinder. I like it. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333332432551366946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNlxdLUSI/AAAAAAAAAKM/eKQ7IzYzojg/s400/IMG_7160.JPG" border="0" />Here's Promod, the guide.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNl_cQQcI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ltRwRcUTW48/s1600-h/IMG_6989.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333332436305592770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNl_cQQcI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ltRwRcUTW48/s400/IMG_6989.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNll4T0wI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/q_ZuJqdmVCE/s1600-h/IMG_6964.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333332429443945218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNll4T0wI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/q_ZuJqdmVCE/s400/IMG_6964.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNlHMtm_I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/4htLy8zYyVw/s1600-h/IMG_6949.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333332421208022002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPNlHMtm_I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/4htLy8zYyVw/s400/IMG_6949.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPLOk7A4uI/AAAAAAAAAJs/mxKlHmCdKS4/s1600-h/IMG_6918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333329835026604770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPLOk7A4uI/AAAAAAAAAJs/mxKlHmCdKS4/s400/IMG_6918.JPG" border="0" /></a> We've come to that bridge...<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPLOa1VQ8I/AAAAAAAAAJk/fFmuyXVfuLc/s1600-h/IMG_6912.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333329832318419906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPLOa1VQ8I/AAAAAAAAAJk/fFmuyXVfuLc/s400/IMG_6912.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's a shot from one of the mountain bus rides. Rocks lining the photo bottom is the edge of our road. Beyond that is certain death.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333339325931974898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPT3BTL8PI/AAAAAAAAAK8/z5bWti1gY1k/s400/IMG_7323.JPG" border="0" />Get your news. I watched this cow eat the whole page of newsprint. At first, I thought maybe there was some delicious flavor attached which the cow was trying to clean off, but from what I could tell, it was just a page of newspaper. His face seems to say "Yup, I'm eating sewspaper, what's up?"<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333339343687863666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPT4DchTXI/AAAAAAAAALU/VuVBvQiBxB4/s400/IMG_7431.JPG" border="0" />Billboard<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333339348804961202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPT4WgiA7I/AAAAAAAAALc/PE3YCal_6kk/s400/IMG_7433.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333339338458731730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPT3v9zFNI/AAAAAAAAALE/alPOolwSsP4/s400/IMG_7348.JPG" border="0" />Wow, someone actually cleaning up in India. I was genuinely surprised by this. I should've known better. See next.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333339341386462578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPT3630tXI/AAAAAAAAALM/G5RvyZzjmMA/s400/IMG_7358.JPG" border="0" />The fate of that trash pile. The Mighty Ganga. Not a great pic, I know. Sad. Lisa and Gusti, what's that bumper sticker you guys have on the Outback? Something like "Everybody is somebody's upstream". They don't really have that here. <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333343240186243106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPXa3CIKCI/AAAAAAAAALs/UwqW4IEj15c/s400/IMG_7547.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333343238226978530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPXavvAJuI/AAAAAAAAALk/ZE8WJB-CY8I/s400/IMG_7532.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333345817865134706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPZw5oqonI/AAAAAAAAAL0/eEWGIOQoW5k/s400/IMG_7573.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333345819629577474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SgPZxANV5QI/AAAAAAAAAL8/AowdI6cZHZs/s400/IMG_7586.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I don't remember the name of this mosque. It's the biggest mosque in India, built by Emperor Shah Jahan, same dude who built Taj Mahal. It was a horrible experience for me. I was harrassed one way or another at every moment. People wanting their picture taken, people wanting me to pose for a picture(these two I usually don't mind, but they contributed today), people becoming my tourguide who just wanted me to pay to go up the tower, teenagers following me around talking shit in Hindi, burning hot ground with no shoes allowed, etc. It just leaves no time to enjoy the actual place. The last time I got this angry was two years ago to the month working in the bike shop in New York. I had to find somewhere and sit down and breath deep. This was the last straw for me in India altogether, and when I lost track of time and missed my train to Agra, it took me about 10 seconds to decide to change my flight back to Bangkok and leave that night. I'm sure the Taj Mahal is absolutely beautiful. That's the way I want it to stay in my mind. If the experience was anything like that of this mosque, then I wanted no part of it. </div><div> </div><div>As for the photos, not so good. George Skovera was saying once that if you get angry or if something is bothering you, the photos suffer. Well that couldn't have been more true a lot of the time spent in India. In addition to that, I couldn't really find the good light. </div><div> </div><div>So I left and now I'm back in Bangkok. And India said, "Fine, you can leave, but not without a stomach infection." It was my fault, I ate a really filthy meal for 19 rupees. I got the right pills here for 77 Baht, and I'm partially recovered. It was nice in the airport when I met and chatted with the coolest girl in the terminal, who might be reading this. To you and the other Indian friends I made along the way, I apologize for some of the not so positive comments I've made here. I'm glad I went to India. </div><div> </div><div>Mom, </div><div>My weight has fluctuated I think. In India, despite being 90% vegetarian, I think I gained some weight back. The food is heavy and generally quite delicious. I didn't miss the meat. In Thailand, I generally eat all day, and not always the healthiest. In Cambodia, there is a lack of snack food, so I'd pretty much eat three meals a day, and it wasn't heavy. I think I dropped some of the Thailand weight there. </div><div> </div><div>My worldview...I don't know. I know more about what's out there. I know about squat toilets and cold bucket showers. I just went 2 weeks without touching a piece of toilet paper. I know I'll laugh anytime I hear someone say "there's no toilet paper" from now on. </div><div> </div><div>Dad, </div><div>I can explain cricket now. </div><div> </div><div>Check everybody later, I gotta go find another place to beat the heat, this place is dead anyway. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-16968875223766434202009-05-06T12:36:00.003+08:002009-05-06T13:13:28.046+08:00Throw Up Like You Just Don't CareBlog Riddle:<br />On last night's train ride from Dehra Dun to Delhi, I travelled facing forward halfway and backward halfway. I didn't change seats. What gives?<br /><br />Head On: Apply Directly to the Forehead<br /><br />A: I guess we did 3-point turn.<br /><br />The end of the story from last time is pretty boring. I sat in the middle seat and their son went and sat in the compartment with the driver. So Mom, Dad and two daughters had two seats. What worried me was the Barf Schedule. For some of you, this would be a great place to stop reading, or see 'ALAS' below.<br /><br />April 6, Bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap<br />Little girl sitting next to me calls up the aisle to her mother several times and she finally comes. Little girl throws up into a plastic bag her mother holds.<br /><br />April 15: Flight from Bangkok to Delhi<br />Surely the one flight that has caused me, with a stomach of steel, to come the closest to 'Reversal of Fortune', grounds for disqualification in Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest. As we began to descend, the pretty English girl next to me throws up in the 'aerial discomfort bag', or whatever they call it.<br /><br />April 20, Bus from Delhi to Haridwar<br />This was a 6-hour bus ride. With less than 3 blocks to travel, the woman directly across the aisle throws up right on the floor of the bus. I suppose it would've been worse if she had done it earlier on, but she chose the perfect moment so that Vijay and I had to experience its aroma before getting off.<br /><br />As a former bettnig man, I would've guessed that on this bumpy, windy (an horrifying) 12-hour bus ride from Jochimath to Dehra Dun(May 3), there would be another session to add to the list. About 20 minutes into the trip(5:50am), the man 2 rows up sticks his head out the window and generously deposits his last meal onto the roadway, or maybe into the 4000-foot valley. 10 minutes later, the woman across the aisle from him does the same out her window. These two don't count. I perpetually feared that the 5 year girl next to me, whose sleeping head rests either on her father's left arm or my right arm, was about to wake up feeling queasy and deposit a wet, smelly mess in m lap. I'm sure, at that point, with all the factors contributing, it wouldn't have taken much for me to muster up some retaliation, making sure to get at least a little bit on each of the 4 family members in my range.<br /><br />Let me interject an apology here for the lowbrow content.<br /><br />ALAS, everybody held it down and I soon upgraded seats. But wait, this is still India, and we're not out of the woods yet. The bus would go on to break down in Rishikesh. Fortunately, we broke down at a spot where "share-jeeps" gather groups for the beautiful ride to Dehra Dun. After half hour or a bit more of a couple guys tinkering and whole lot more guys watching, I pulled my bags off the bus and, in a rare move of extravagance (after 9 hours on a bus), purchased both seats in the front row of the jeep, for a total 60 Rs. I think the '4-seat' row behind me had 9 people in it, with a couple children perched up on our seat back. Safety not always first for the nice folks here. I enjoyed the space on the lovely ride with my left foot out the non-door.<br /><br />I arrived at the rendezvous in Dehra Dun just about on time. I was meeting Raj, another guide with the company I trekked with, whom I met in Joshimath. Like Haridwar, having a friend and local tourguide made the town uch more enjoyable.<br /><br />It was quite fun to be able to treat this guy to dinner at the relatively fancy 'Punjab Restaurant' and 'order the heck out of the menu". (-Bob Chipkin) We had:<br /><br />-Russian Salad<br />-Mixed Raita<br />-Shahi Mutton Something<br />-Paneer Makhani<br />-Vegetable Biryani<br />-Chapati<br />-Bottled Water, for me<br /><br />I ate too much. I almost couldn't chew and swallow the traditional moutth freshener of rock candy and anise seeds.<br /><br />500 Rupees paid forthis feast and a tip for the waiter. For my American readers, that's like leaving a $10 bill.<br /><br />As we stepped out of the restaurant, the power went out in the whole town. Just as we arrived home, it came back on (probably because Raj had just bought a couple candles). Lucky guys.<br /><br />May 6(Today) Evening Train to Agra<br />May 7 Taj Mahal sunrise, explore Taj and Agra Fort, Taj Mahal sunset, train back to Delhi.<br />May 9/10 Delhi to BKK<br />May 12/13 BKK to JFK<br /><br />For those of you who are worried about what you will read at work when I go home and this blog terminates, fear not. Simply send me a big bag full of money and I promised to take another trip and blog all about it, with or without vomit stories.<br /><br />Till next time, try and hold it down.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-53409203431971547082009-05-04T14:55:00.002+08:002009-05-04T15:01:13.705+08:00Swine-Like SymptomsI am showing no signs or symptoms of Swine Flu.<br /><br />I return to Wmass May 13 or 14.<br /><br />Blog Multiple Choice:<br />On yesterday's 12-hour bus ride, the back row of 5 seats was empty when I got on. Seats 19-22 from left to right with the middle seat having no number. I was assigned seat 21. Who bought the ticket for seat 22? Was it<br />A. Vishnu<br />B. An Italian fashion model<br />C. Mrs. Clause's sister<br />D. A family of five<br /><br />Players, if you answered D, then have responded correctly and should reward yourself with a cold beer, hot chai or other preferred beverage.<br /><br />Dehra Dun to Delhi tomorrow, 5am<br />Delhi to Agra the next day.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-25488027626607872902009-05-02T17:02:00.006+08:002009-05-04T14:55:26.601+08:00Thousands of Words<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwNZ2pRchI/AAAAAAAAAIk/OTtvD9Jg_nM/s1600-h/IMG_7168.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331150796716339730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwNZ2pRchI/AAAAAAAAAIk/OTtvD9Jg_nM/s400/IMG_7168.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's Pargantula from our turnaround. I wouldn't mind another crack at her with fresh legs, but I've already let it go.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331153882211111282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwQNdAjUXI/AAAAAAAAAI8/iYtAsaISnX4/s400/IMG_7208.JPG" border="0" />Hazescape<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331153870133653186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwQMwBD7sI/AAAAAAAAAIs/Py_F8k-sMoY/s400/IMG_7184.JPG" border="0" />Stubborn<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331153877795013666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwQNMjrBCI/AAAAAAAAAI0/sAxHc3LhswI/s400/IMG_7194.JPG" border="0" />Here's our team. Brendarsh driving Hira and Neelam. My pack in red on lead mule.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331164791707656066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwaIeDN34I/AAAAAAAAAJU/wwujPTajsrI/s400/IMG_7233.JPG" border="0" />These two gentlemen agreed to disagree on whether or not to smile in a photo.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331164786648205778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwaILM8ydI/AAAAAAAAAJM/vulra-amUxU/s400/IMG_7226.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331164783456877330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SfwaH_UE-xI/AAAAAAAAAJE/AFPS9-yMM9o/s400/IMG_7216.JPG" border="0" />Keep all your dogs in a row.<br /><br />I wanted to load up 5 more(the good ones), but the mule is full and the guy wants 400 rupees for another mule to Kashmir.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-62459378375469977692009-04-29T20:15:00.002+08:002009-04-29T21:18:05.509+08:00Back from the TrekI arrived back from the trek a little while ago. It was early in the trek that I abandoned the fantasy, upon return, of a comfortable room in a guesthouse with a nice, hot shower. That sort of thing isn't really available. Some days there isn't even water. I had the choice of a cold shower or a warm bucket shower. I chose the cold shower and sorry, no towel. "No problem" said the man, "you're all alone in there", and then he waggled his hips in front of me for bit too long. <br /><br />I dropped off my laundry (I'm gonna skip the details of this storefront and its proprietor) and headed for the computer. The first thing I wanted to do on the internet was email my friend Eric. I met this guy biking across the US. I told him he could take the biggest, blackest Sharpie and use it to cross my name off the list of potential participants for the Pacific Crest Trail hike. This is a trail, out West, where you have to hike something like 18 miles per day for three months to complete it without getting pinched by the weather on either side. <br /><br />Our trek was fun, but I'm glad it was not 6 days. I know what you're thinking: Max, you're a fat, lazy blob, how did you do a five day trek in the Himalayas? These are some serious mountains, not like that little acne patch you find in Southeastern British Columbia. (Just kidding, Lisa and Gusti). Well the answer is mules. What I paid for was a giude and a porter. I thought this would mean a guide and another guy to help carry the sleeping and cooking stuff and I would still carry all my gear. But not so; what porter meant was the guy who drive the two mules. But Max, did you really need two mules? I don't know, but mules don't fly solo. So I just carried my camera some water. <br /><br />It started off easy. The first two days were very easy but the third day was long and I stretched myself thin, laboring into camp. Added to this was the frustration of extensive miscommunication with my guide which caused me to be up on Kuari Pass with no jacket and no clue about where we were or where we were going. On Day 4, the plan was to reach the peak of Pargantula(sp?) at about 4700 meters. From the first few days and the look of the oft-visible peak, I decided this was going to be "easy". This was much like that time in college when I was about to play Trinity's #14 in squash and I had it in my mind that I was going to do really well. I was gonna play great, use all my best moves and get about 5 points per game. I think I got one point the whole match. <br /><br />My body was pretty much dead from the first steps up, but we made a valiant effort. We got to a spot where we sat down for some lunch. My guide, Promoth, pointed up at the peak and said "I think no". I said "I think you're right", and we both lay back on the cushy, short bushes and fell asleep. Maybe another time I can post a picture of this peak. <br /><br />For everything, jeep rides, forest pass, five days of guide, five days of mules, food for everyone, I paid about US$60/day. In the area of food, the service far exceeded my expectations. Breakfast daily was a big bowl of Ramen-like noodles but fatter with tomatoes and onions, an omelette and a bowl of hot cereal of some kind. Sometimes toast. Lunch was abit weak but it was a setup for dinner. Dinner, and this is just for me, was a bowl of Dahl, a big bowl of rice, 4 chopattis, like naan, sort of, a vegetable dish, papadums, a salad plate(cucumbers and onions), and then usually a bowl of hot cereal. Delicious tea was always served. It was all made fresh, pretty incredible. I'm not sure if I was weaker due to all veg diet, not sure. <br /><br />Today was tough. We just plowed downward many thousand feet. At one point we rested and I asked the guide if we were halfway. He replied "no, no" and I knew from his history of answering questions that this could actually mean yes, no we already passed it, or no we're not there yet. Yes and no were interchangable. So were today and tomorrow. I eventually stopped asking. About halfway(maybe) along today, my right knee said "Hey Max, I'm finished, and Lefty's not far behind." As there was no 'Helicopter' button, I had to push them on. Literally, about 10 minutes from the village of Topovan, our terminus, I grazed my hand against a harmless looking plant whose tiny little barbs bit into my skin in four places. It burned immediately and swelled up. I showed Promoth, and to make me feel better, he replied "I think no".<br /><br />All in all, it was pretty awesome. Please excuse my sharp tone. I'm pretty fatigued from the walking and 4 nights sleeping with nothing between me and the ground but a 1/4 inch foam thing. I tipped the guide and porter generously for their terrific service. <br /><br />If anyone was interested, I'm in Joshimath, Uttrachan. Not sure about the spelling on the state. It changed between now and when my Lonely Planet was published. We're about 40km from China. To be honest and I'm surprised there's internet here, and it's actually not so slow. I was assuming the data for this post would have to be loaded onto a mule and carried off to another town, but I guess not. <br /><br />I don't hate being in India, but it's tough. It's a lot to take all at once, and at time maybe doesn;t seem worth it. In Thailand, people smile, but in India people take you home. "Guest is God" is the rule here and it's taken very seriously. That love makes it worth it. I'm here til May 9 and I plan to put my time in and make it down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. At this rate, I'm not sure when I'll be back in the area and I think it's a must see. (The rest of Agra is apparently not so pleasant.) All I'm saying is think long and hard before planning your vacation in India, and then come, with an open-ended ticket. <br /><br />By the way, the view in the mountains was incredible. I'm guessing about that. Anything too far away was washed out in smoke and cloud. Too bad for everyone. Sorry. Hopefully we'll do some more pictures soon. Bye all.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-5003143410989087582009-04-22T13:49:00.003+08:002009-04-22T14:26:23.780+08:00Go It Alone, and You Won't Be Alone<p>Pragya gave us the name and contact info of a man called H.K. Seth. He is the boss/dispatcher of a transportation company and she told us to call him whenever we needed a ride anywhere. I asked for a car for 630 ths morning to take me to the ISBT, where the BT proably stands for bus terminal. As we got very close, the drive, Mr. Pondit, got a bit confused because, as he said, he is only used to taking people to the railway station or the airport. The travel desk at the Taj Palace doesn't recommend bus travel to its guests. </p><p>He parked the car and walked in with me as i'm sure Mr. Seth told him to. For this, I was very, very thankful. This is Delhi, India at the bus terminal. We foun my bus after a couple minutes and got on together. The bus was OKand deserved no place in any story among a group of backpackers, but you could tell it had more than a few (hundred) round trips under its belt and maybe wasn't all up to date with its interior detailing. Mr. Pondit gave me a look that queried "Is this what you expected? Are you sure you want to do this?" He clearly wanted to be off this bus as quicly as possible, but I was ready for the six and a half hour ride to Haridwar. The ticket for this trip set me back 178 rupees, or about $3.60 USD. </p><p>We boarded the bus at 7:15 and it as scheduled to leave at 8. When we got on, one other man was already seated. Mr. Pondit exchanged a few words with him, asked if I was cool, and departed. He returned minutes later with Mr. Seth on the phne to further make sure everything was fine. I sat with that one guy and we chatted as the bud filled. He was Vijay Rajput, a 26 year-old working in Mumbai on his way home to see his parents. He was fresh off the 26 hour train ride from Mumbai to Delhi. "I've never sat on a plane", he replied when I asked. In the end, the bus was fine. The AC worked the whole way and we actually left a couple minutes early when every seat was full. </p><p>A few minutes into the trip, Vijay tells me it would make him very happy, and make his parents very happy, if I came and stayed at his house. I readily agreed. He promised to show me everything and Haridwar.</p><p>We talked about his job. Vijay holds his MBA and was formerly with sales and marketing for HP/Compaq. Now he does sales and marketing for a company that makes bar code printers and scanners. His shift is 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, but he usually ha to work one to three hours after 6. </p><p>We moved on to the topic of romance. I found out that Vijay was in a serious, two year long relationship with a girl name Shvarti. It ended a year ago when her parents wouldn;t give the blessing due to the lower caste VIjay's family is a part of. It sucks. He reponded by saying "That's life", and stating that the blessing of the parents, his and hers, is the most important thing. "Love is blind", he said, "but marriage is th eye opener."</p><p> </p><p>I exerienced extreme sensory overload upon stepping off the bus. It was about 105 degrees with a dry dut storm blopwing into my face through the group of touts and drivers. The ambiet decibel level in this town is incredibly high. It seems like people have rigged their car horns to blow continuously anytime the engine is running. So far, India is really too much for me. India makes Cambodia look like Connecticut. Anyway, I was happy to be able to shut off my brain and just follo Vijay t his parents' home. This included a tuk tuk ride that maxed out with 8 passengers and a driver. We were full to the brim, heaping like a tablespoon, the tuk tuk would barey move, butthe driver still pulled over to drum up potential business. </p><p>I was welcomed into the Rajput home with minimal fuss, Vijay's parents silently suggesting their son had clearly made the right choice in inviting this guest home. The father' line of questioning starte and ended with "Are you married?" This man's lifelong dream has been to own his own car and on March 26 2009, he fulfilled that dream when he brought home a brand new Suzuki Alto. (His questioning continued a couple minuites later with, translated thr Vijay, "what's a good stereo for a 'four wheeler'?".</p><p>We cruised around in the new car, me, Vijay at the wheel, and Vijay's 'cousin-brother' Tanuj. As darkness fell, we visited a Hindu temple, then had a lovely dinner at Flavours Restaurant. Any restaurant on this street, by local law, has to be vegetarian. Vijay's family is all veg all the time. He's never eaten beef, chicken, pro, fish, no meat, no egg. </p><p>We have a bunch of things planned for tomorrow. </p><p>_________</p><p>I wrote the above two days ago and things have been great with someone to hang out with and show me around. To escape the hustle-bustle of India, I booked a 5 day trek in the Himalayas. I make the bus ride to begin that tomorrow. Now I' out of time and I won't even proofread. </p><p>Huge thanks to Kate Scudellari, my good friend who invitied me to Pragya's wedding. The wedding was certainly a once in a lifetime type of thing. (even though I sort of agreed to come to Vijay's)</p><p> </p><p>Big Congratulations to John and Ali Archeambeault on their wedding. Knowing the crowd, I'm sure it was the funnest wedding around. I still owe you guys a nice gift.</p><p>Thanks for all the comments. It might be a week till anyone hears from me, I'll try to steer clear of the landslides. Cheers </p><p> </p><p> </p>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-59889927349283551202009-04-18T14:10:00.004+08:002009-04-18T15:04:05.620+08:00What a Beautiful WeddingThe wedding was terrific. It was a great privilege to be in attendance.<br /><br />From lunch forward, the day was full of ceremonies, and FOOD. I can't believe how completely stuffed I am. I had 5 solid meals yesterday. I think the one reason I'm not either dead or in a much bigger world of pain is that everything is vegetarian. The spreads are unbelievable. I think what they did was take a dictionary of Indian food, cross off about 4 items and make everything else (plus a good selection of other ethnic foods). Yesterday we had breakfast and lunch. Full on. Then High Tea was at 4:30. If you thought there would just be tea here, then you are dead wrong, my friends. The spread at high tea was about 200 feet long with at least 35 staffers behind the tables. I'm serious, 5 meals. This is just high tea, don't forget to save room for Dinner 1 and Dinner 2. And other guests(strangers) do not hesitate to come around and ask if you've gotten anything to eat. I heard at least a dozen people, including Max Benjamin, vow to not eat for three days, but I was back at the breakfast buffet at 10am today as usual. I couldn't help but think that because the father of the bride runs a company with ~1300 employees that this was an especially large and fancy wedding, but everyone seemed to say all this was normal.<br /><br />The ceremonies were nice, and plentiful. We started with the wrapping of the headdress on the groom. Before this, most of the men, including myself, had our heads dressed as well. I don't know the name of the item, but it was about a yard wide and about seven long, intricately wrapped and knotted. Groom then goes outside for a little parade where he's up on a white horse. Then he gets in a long, fancy antique car with his family and drives off. Then we all move back inside for high tea. It really goes on and on from 3pm to midnight.<br /><br />During a bit of break I sat in a Hold Em cash game and won 500 Rp.<br /><br />I took a few photos during the day. I shot with no flash with my junky Rebel xTi. Despite a little blur sometimes and plenty of high-ISO grain, I like the way the pictures came out. I like to make the photos look how the event looked. I think that helps bring back the emotion of the day. Fortunately at this event, the videographers had very bright lights attached to their cameras and this helped out my settings a lot of the time.<br /><br />Here's a couple I liked. Don't forget to view these suckers large.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4RmnrPhI/AAAAAAAAAHM/EDCQmvvCBno/s1600-h/IMG_6202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4RmnrPhI/AAAAAAAAAHM/EDCQmvvCBno/s400/IMG_6202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325920278162390546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4sBpgVDI/AAAAAAAAAHU/KTgP7X1ZICo/s1600-h/IMG_6270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4sBpgVDI/AAAAAAAAAHU/KTgP7X1ZICo/s400/IMG_6270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325920732094420018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4saYTciI/AAAAAAAAAHc/v2JsBjY5YTY/s1600-h/IMG_6264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4saYTciI/AAAAAAAAAHc/v2JsBjY5YTY/s400/IMG_6264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325920738733158946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4s1nOOTI/AAAAAAAAAHk/T2cfAYeiEYk/s1600-h/IMG_6240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel4s1nOOTI/AAAAAAAAAHk/T2cfAYeiEYk/s400/IMG_6240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325920746043488562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel5SSCwxTI/AAAAAAAAAH8/f9tWdOxMz7k/s1600-h/IMG_6294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel5SSCwxTI/AAAAAAAAAH8/f9tWdOxMz7k/s400/IMG_6294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325921389330351410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel5SHrkiNI/AAAAAAAAAH0/wnnZelKm1CA/s1600-h/IMG_6326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel5SHrkiNI/AAAAAAAAAH0/wnnZelKm1CA/s400/IMG_6326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325921386548725970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel5Rz9NuFI/AAAAAAAAAHs/2tjWVA8fbG0/s1600-h/IMG_6384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel5Rz9NuFI/AAAAAAAAAHs/2tjWVA8fbG0/s400/IMG_6384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325921381254019154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6BnCGVqI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Si_ApI9vNIM/s1600-h/IMG_6415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6BnCGVqI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Si_ApI9vNIM/s400/IMG_6415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325922202418566818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6BQhutWI/AAAAAAAAAIU/3fl4FCpwM1w/s1600-h/IMG_6440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6BQhutWI/AAAAAAAAAIU/3fl4FCpwM1w/s400/IMG_6440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325922196377220450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6BNLAxhI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Rti8whNkV7o/s1600-h/IMG_6468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6BNLAxhI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Rti8whNkV7o/s400/IMG_6468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325922195476629010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6A0VtcGI/AAAAAAAAAIE/PSsldSqxg3Q/s1600-h/IMG_6550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sel6A0VtcGI/AAAAAAAAAIE/PSsldSqxg3Q/s400/IMG_6550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325922188810612834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Probably tomorrow I will be leaving this 5-start air conditioned world to get out into the country. I'm still pretty nervous about India, but that's ok. I'm working on my head-wobble and will continue the ongoing challenge of trying to figure out what it means. For instance, to the man sleepily supervising the infinite tasks of creating marigold strings for the wedding, 'may i take your picture?', head wobble, me thinking: uhhhhhhhhhhh? I'm gonna err on the safe side and stroll away. Later, I came back and take a picture of him while I thought he was sleeping. The shutter woke him up and he head wobbled again a little more enthusiastically, and with a bit of a smile. I read this head wobble as photos are ok and made another portrait which I liked. Not sure when the next post will be. <br /><br />Note and apology: I just changed a setting so anyone should be able to comment now. If you have no account, it will just post as anonymous. I just had to make a couple easy clicks and I should've done it a while ago.<br /><br />Namaste.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-11384432364868865182009-04-17T13:59:00.009+08:002009-04-18T14:08:01.068+08:00Welcome to IndiaMade it to India. Let's just do photos.<br /><br />We are, indeed, put up at the 5-star Taj Palace. Ma, is this something you might be interested in?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SegblGVJnuI/AAAAAAAAAFc/IDJpQZuRUHI/s1600-h/IMG_6171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SegblGVJnuI/AAAAAAAAAFc/IDJpQZuRUHI/s400/IMG_6171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325536883534044898" border="0" /></a>View from the room.<br /><br />I'm here, in India, as in this photo, with my friend Kate from New York City.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SegcEvC14QI/AAAAAAAAAFk/Q0cTW3PyKck/s1600-h/IMG_6046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SegcEvC14QI/AAAAAAAAAFk/Q0cTW3PyKck/s400/IMG_6046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325537427039052034" border="0" /></a><br />I put this outfit together for a few rupees. Not shown are the cotton/linen tights/pants. The shirt(khurta, I think) goes to around my knees. Also not shown are the horrible sandals which look cool but feel awful and have no prospects for becoming more comfortable.<br /><br />Pragya and Shirish are getting married. First shot is Pragya looking up toward Shirish during her lengthy henna session. Second shot is Shirish, who I haven't spent much time with, but he seems to be an awesome dude.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SegdeV508uI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Rk3Xd0DzJdI/s1600-h/IMG_5995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SegdeV508uI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Rk3Xd0DzJdI/s400/IMG_5995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325538966478582498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Segdefq1aMI/AAAAAAAAAF0/Es9wOVSZCyA/s1600-h/IMG_5997.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Segdefq1aMI/AAAAAAAAAF0/Es9wOVSZCyA/s400/IMG_5997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325538969100052674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is quite a wedding. No expense that I can think of has been spared. Yesterday, engagement ceremonies and dinner happened in two massive temporary structures erected just for the event on the Bhartia estate in Delhi. One of the services they hired was a photo/video team flown in from Calcutta consisting of 7 videographers, 6 photographers and an army of assistants.<br /><br />For a while, I thought I had exclusive rights to the Mendi, the henna tattoo ceremony for the bride and others. This was a special event I enjoyed very much. 6 or 7 ladies were on hand to make tattoos on all the girls (and my right bicep). Eventually, a photo and video guy from the big team showed up. The photographer was a friendly guy who was not shy about taking my camera from me, looking through my pictures and then taking pictures with it.<br /><br />I took these ones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SeggBnjrAMI/AAAAAAAAAF8/_ARaYuPCC44/s1600-h/IMG_5932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SeggBnjrAMI/AAAAAAAAAF8/_ARaYuPCC44/s400/IMG_5932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325541771536171202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SeggSGxFsSI/AAAAAAAAAGE/DL9OotdKsrE/s1600-h/IMG_5951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SeggSGxFsSI/AAAAAAAAAGE/DL9OotdKsrE/s400/IMG_5951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325542054791852322" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the white girls with their new boyfriends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SeghWqgmdrI/AAAAAAAAAGM/UU8VU-goFPk/s1600-h/IMG_5888.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SeghWqgmdrI/AAAAAAAAAGM/UU8VU-goFPk/s400/IMG_5888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325543232617477810" border="0" /></a><br />Gotta go folks. Lunch is in 3 minutes and a full day of events will follow. Today is the culmination.<br /><br />Happy Passover.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-69258577920893925102009-04-14T12:25:00.003+08:002009-04-14T12:49:42.070+08:00Tanks, Reds, Mud and WatergunsInteresting time to be in Bangkok.<br /><br />Thanks for the warning note, George. While here, it's hard to say how big in world news the political situation is in Bangkok right now. There are protests going on, but it's pretty hard to understand what they're all about and what exactly their goal is. Unfortunately, some of the protests involving the Reds have become out of hand and violent. If you're wondering if I'm staying well away from these areas, the answer is no. I'm staying on a sort of side street extension of Si Ayuthaya, a government avenure where a lot of the protest is happening. Two military tanks were stationed about 2 blocks down from here, separating us from the protest action. I heard one little whiff of something about one group being against foreigners but the only real danger is for protesters who cross some line. <br /><br />I loaded up the World page on Google News and didn't see any Bangkok in the top 10 or so stories. It makes you think how easy it is to brush off, say, 8 or 10 people getting killed in a protest in some far off region of the world. It probably happens just about everyday. <br /><br />At the same time , we're right in the middle of Sangkran, the Thai New Years Festival. The event is characterized by at least three days of waterfight all around the city. You will see people with a white mud smeared on their faces. (Read Yom Kippur here) This is the "dirt" of the year which will now be washed off. In the right parts of town, the streets are packed with people of all ages, some with waterguns, some with buckets of this mud. You walk through the crowd, getting soaked by everyone, and having this mud smeared on your face by strangers. It is quite wild, and getting stuck here in Bangkok was a bit of a blessing in disguise to be able to experience it. I'm not sure how to explain this the right way, but when you see so many thousands of Thai people with such big smiles on their faces approaching strangers and gently exchanging smears of dirt on the cheek, all with no fights or vandalism or excessive drunkeness, you know this has to be Thailand and simply would not work in the states. <br /><br />Unfortunately the nature of this event doesn't mix well with photography, at least with my gear, so you'll have to use your imagination or try google images. <br /><br />The embassy of India chose to be closed today, Tuesday, but is scheduled to open tomorrow. I was able to change my flight again, for free again to tomorrow night. Tomorrow will be the big hustle of getting to the visa office, staying dry, getting to the embassy for an interview, getting the visa and getting to the airport for a 6:30 pm flight. I now have to miss a day of the wedding as it is, so I'd love if everything could go as smoothly as possible tomorrow. <br /><br />Happy New Year.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-79893879513515434672009-04-10T14:22:00.005+08:002009-04-10T15:09:15.247+08:00Kill Three Birds With One Dollar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sd7nuNI1_7I/AAAAAAAAAFM/WUiwOkOYEXA/s1600-h/IMG_5288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sd7nuNI1_7I/AAAAAAAAAFM/WUiwOkOYEXA/s400/IMG_5288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322946590585257906" border="0" /></a><br />The photo shown above is one my favorites from the trip so far. I bought a new hat again. It was a cowboy hat with a very open stitch that a let a fair bit of sun through. I paid $4 for it. It didn't didn't leave space for me to shove my sunglasses up to my forehead when I didn't want to wear them. I realized I could rest them upsidedown around the back of the hat and they were reasonably stable. The one morning I woke up in Phnom Penh, I caught an early van that brought me to a bus that would go to Kampot. I would get off in Kep. I lost my sunglasses somewhere that morning before the van. I think I bumped my head on the rear hatch and the glasses fell off and I didn't realize.<br /><br />I was happy to finally lose those sunglasses. I had had them for 6 years and they were embarrassingly scratched up. I was hanging on to them because they fit well, I liked the way they looked and they were unmatched by any other pair in keeping the wind out of my eyes. They were Oakley Fives, and I actually had another pair for 5 years before this current pair. Oakley doesn't make them anymore. For two days down in Kep, I borrowed a pair of fake Ray Bans from the hotel guy, but when I arrived back in Phnom Penh on the middle of a hot sunny day and a woman with the same rig shown above approached, it was a sign that it was time for new sunglasses. Timing is everything. I tried on about every pair she had and settled on the glasses that were most like my old glasses. We agreed on $3. I think she started at $5. I've been satisfied so far.<br /><br />As a side note, I was never happy with the cowboy hat. I felt I was giving off the wrong vibe and I wanted to be rid of it. When I got to the Kep Seaside Lodge, the tuk tuk guy and the hotel guy were joking around and the hotel guy told me the tuk tuk guy liked my hat and wanted to buy it from me. I adopted their whole routine of stating a price that was clearly way too high, then being genuinely shocked at the insult of his first offer. When we reach something reasonable, I look around to make sure no one is around to witness this embarrassing deal, a deal that could get me fired by the boss. We settled on $2 so I came out with a $2 profit(I mean loss). I cut my losses and went back to wearing my old hat.<br /><br />Back to the story. I completed the transaction with sunglasses lady. I probably could've paid less, but it really takes time more than anything to get the price down. I didn't feel like it. Of the hundreds of people, many of whom are children, who solicit you, you will only buy from a small percentage. It isn't feasible to buy from everyone, no matter how much they need money for school. (If I buy nothing from a child, it does not mean I don't want them to learn.) The ones who get me are the ones who are persistent, the ones who follow me for a quarter mile and give me no choice but to buy their cheapest item at the lowest possible price.<br /><br />The man in the picture above had seen me buy sunglasses from his coworker. You would, at least I would, think that an individual who just purchased sunglasses would not be interested in another sunglass purchase immediately following. This man thought the opposite. He followed me the area where the picture was taken, the area where I was waiting for the next bus, one back to Siem Reap. The bus wasn't ready to go. I had nowhere to go so he worked on me. He showed me everything on his little body tray. Glasses, knives, wallets, oils, etc. A local guy waiting for the same bus was encouraging me to buy glasses but also encourging the vendor to give me his best price. At one point, Local Guy tried on a pair of the glasses and they looked good. The bus was about ready to go, now about 20 minutes later. We agree on $1 for that pair of glasses that I hand to Local Guy. Vendor is happy with the sale(maybe), Local Guy is thrilled with his new, free glasses and I'm happy with a nice photograph. $1.<br /><br />Here's local guy with his new frames.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sd7u-UaxhYI/AAAAAAAAAFU/9_9iJGeh7PU/s1600-h/IMG_5298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sd7u-UaxhYI/AAAAAAAAAFU/9_9iJGeh7PU/s400/IMG_5298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322954563998811522" border="0" /></a><br />_________<br /><br />Back in Bangkok, again.<br /><br />Things went bad this morning. I hatched a plan with the Thai Indian visa lady back on March 26 to come back to Bangkok last night and be ready today to drop off my passport by 10am and pick it up at 4pm and be all set for tomorrow's flight. Today, the Visa office was closed. I walked to the Embassy nearby and find it closed. Good Friday. Personally, I know nothing about Good Friday, but it would've been advantageous had the visa lady been aware. No visa, no flight tomorrow. I'm devasted about everything, India, the wedding, the lost money. I had made it into the embassy where I was told that a man was coming back from the airport would be able to help me. I returned after some delicious street food, which I was able to eat in a good mood because I tought everything would be fine, and found that man who was not able to help me.<br /><br />I set to work in a an internet shop using my very handy new Skype account. I managed to change both my flights for free. I will now have several weeks in India. Everything turned out alright and I'll see the whole wedding. I just have to figure out what to do for 3 days here(maybe air conditioned blod posts). I haven't gotten that far yet. At long last, I will see some Muy Thai boxing this evening with a couple people I met on the border bus yesterday.<br /><br />That's about it I suppose, besides the great time, warm weather and hundreds of stories. Cambodia was terrific. <br /><br />Mom, I called and you didn't pick up. I understand, it was right around your breakfast time. No big deal.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-30948443103294319102009-04-04T18:22:00.003+08:002009-04-04T18:38:40.087+08:00Hello Lady Gentleman Buy SomethingHi friends.<br /><br />greeting from Phnom Penh. i realize the blog has gone downhill, and I apologize, sort of. I've come to not really want to be on the computer. It takes away from doing things and the computers suck. Not very eloquent, but true. <br /><br />But I'm here anyway, so here's what's been going on. At first, I was a bit ambivalent about<br />Cambodia. The food is better in Thailand and the people seem friendlier there as well. It's been a week now, and now I really like Cambodia and appreciate the differences. Thailand was a fantasy vacation and this is a poor, war torn, recovering country. I've learned a lot about the genocide here under the Khmer Rouge which ended 30 years ago. The brutality of the regime was inredibly horrific. People of education, intellect, skills, and talents were targeted and not many of them were left at the end of the 4 year reign of terror. <br /><br />The thing to do is hire a moto driver and jump on the back. Yes, it's scary. Today, in my mind, I likened the traffic of a busy intersection to a busy intersection for pedestrians. You go in full speed, brake late, if you have to and work your way through. Traffic signs or signals, if there are any, don;t recieve a lot of attention. <br /><br />...You hire someone, for about $10/day at the most and you cruise around. How much they guide or you guide and how muh english they speak will vary. I found a terrific guide in Battambang and spent about 14 hours with him over two days. At the end we were friends. He understood the type of stuff I liked and was happy because it was different from most of his clients. I told him small villages and we would stop and check out people making different things. rice paper, a lily seed cake for a large funeral, bamboo sticky rice, rice wine, but they weren;t making rice wine that day because they were taking care of the 13 piglets that had been born the night before, some other stuff. The guide was Thien, and one of his unmentioned specialties was making subkects laugh laugh and smile for pictures. <br /><br />Today my guide was really just a driver. We went to the genocide museum and the killing fields so there was really no way to jazz it up. It was raw. <br /><br />Potential Itinerary:<br />tonight=Phnom Penh<br />tomorrow-Kep<br />6-Rabbit Island<br />7-Phnom Penh<br />8-Siem Reap<br />9-BKK<br />10-BKK<br />11-India<br /><br />Bye bye all.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-47969306521715699132009-04-02T09:00:00.002+08:002009-04-02T09:03:58.871+08:00See If It's Phnomenal8am Siem Reap<br /><br />Sorry for nothing lately, internet here is too slow for anything.<br /><br />Waiting for my bus to Battambang. After couple nights there, I'll head to Phnom Penh for a couple nights. Then to the East to some mountain and jungle before back to Siem Reap and Bangkok for the India flight.<br /><br />Gotta run .<br /><br />MaxMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-51259117169341447122009-03-29T19:56:00.001+08:002009-03-29T19:58:09.150+08:00All Good in CambodiaQuick check in. Siem Reap is nice, hanging out with Maria and Mille. I'll start at the Ankgor Wat temples tomorrow. See ya.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-13369326431404196822009-03-26T19:00:00.007+08:002009-03-26T20:00:47.492+08:00Same Same, But Different...maybe that's how I'll find it in Cambodia tomorrow.<br /><br />For some reason, Thai people will often say "same same" to describe two things. I think one of the reasons they like saying it twice is because it's a relatively easy(and fun) sound in English. Also, it seems to make sense. For instance, these two are the same but in different spots(who knows why?) so they are same same. I heard it a few times and realized I liked it so I began to work it in whenever appropriate and sometimes just for fun and for a little joke.<br /><br />When I reached the south, I was on some trip when I first heard "same same but different".<br /><br />We stopped breifly and had a quick chance to grab some food but the only item available was some sort fo bread bun filled with sweet black bean paste. A few of us, including one of the guides, bought some.<br /><br />Tourist: Do you get a discount because you're Thai?<br />Guide: Same same, but different.<br /><br />I fell in love with it and maybe a small part of me briefly thought it was first used right then. I soon came to realize that every foreigner, or 'farang', is in love with this expression. I saw a man in Ao Nang with a brown t-shirt with white lettering that siad SAME SAME, with the words one on top of the other. Foriegners used the expression and it always scored a little chuckle. What's nice is that it works very often. The next day I saw a girl with a teal t-shirt that said 'same same' on the front and 'but different' on the back. A couple days later, on Ko Lanta, I took a motorbike down to the national park at the southern tip of the island and on the way I passed Same Same But Different Resort. Oh well, if I haven't heard it, it's new to me!<br /><br />I really love the Thai people. They're really terrific. Calm, friendly, laid back.<br /><br /><br /><br />Blogmath #1 (to busy mom so she won't worry)<br />I'm riding the night-train from Krabi to Bangkok. If I urinate for 20 seconds on a train traveling 30 miles per hour, how long is my pee-trail on the ground? This is not a trick question, please answer in feet or miles.<br /><br /><br />_____________<br /><br />It was actually a night-bus last night, and it sucked pretty bad. About 6:15pm to 6:15am. We stopped at 1am for food. I'm not sure why. All the other travellers get off the bus and light up like it's the main event of the World Series of Cigarette Smoking. Hot Bangkok today. I don't do so well with the heat, so I'm really not sure how Cambodia will be. Maybe with a little time, I'll get used to it. Applied for my visa to India today. I went there last time but I didn't have what I needed so I had to go back today. Last time, I was headed to the embassy but a nice Thai man informed me that the visa application office for India was on the 15th floor of the Glass Haus, a 17-story building just around the corner. I go in(this is the first time) and head to the directory board. One of the security guys comes up and says, 'Indian Visa, 15th floor". The whole time, I'm wondering like a madman how he knew. I wasn't holding anything. The building was full of offices for different embassies and airline companies. On the way out, I asked him, but natuarally, he had no idea what I was saying. I suppose I will really never know. Either the old Thai guy from the street called, which seems very unlikely, or he simply guessed. He sounded very sure though. Oh well.<br /><br /><p>Breaking the rules</p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317457682405136610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctnlsvuGOI/AAAAAAAAAEU/sm6pAR9787c/s400/IMG_3648.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317459018638637682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctozemnOnI/AAAAAAAAAEk/NNby4vfYRfg/s400/IMG_3783.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317459011914017394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctozFjVqnI/AAAAAAAAAEc/LhYvrnreNg8/s400/IMG_3656.JPG" border="0" />Wave (above)<br /><br />Little bar/restaurant area at Lantas Lodge. It began to get stormy and windy. I was sitting at the left table with the two little girls from the pictures. Puy, the young lady in charge, came out, pointed to the sky and said 'coconut'. We moved, and less than 2 minutes later, the crap shown fell to the Earth, including those 2 large coconuts. I was sitting in that seat to the right. Some older ladies were at the other table, and they moved after us.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317461740779373954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctrR7XihYI/AAAAAAAAAE0/ixlib75EvXM/s400/IMG_3831.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317461731368101378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctrRYTt5gI/AAAAAAAAAEs/dGcSuc03wJ4/s400/IMG_3803.JPG" border="0" />Rainy Beach Futbol<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317461747079250866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctrSS1jA7I/AAAAAAAAAE8/H6iM7WGvgqc/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" border="0" />Today in BKK<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317461754263304786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SctrStmW-lI/AAAAAAAAAFE/BfHIp6oIH2w/s400/IMG_3882.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>Long trip starting at 7 tomorrow morning to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Nosdroviev! (sp?)</p>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-41222229751971019782009-03-23T14:56:00.005+08:002009-03-23T15:37:53.960+08:00Q & AHere's the answers to a few questions that I've received: <div><br /><div><em>Am I used to the money?</em></div><div>Yes, it was quite easy. 35 baht to a US dollar. For you ma, 100 baht is about $3. Unlike Canada, bills come as low as 20 baht. Coins are 1,5, and 10 with a very rare 2 baht. 1,5, and 10 are easily distinguished. </div><br /><div>Apparently in Cambodia, US dollars are used. For change smaller than a buck, you got Cambodian Riel. But you get a bad deal when you go back and spend those. I'll work it out. </div><br /><div><em>Am I used to cars driving on the other side of the street?</em><br /></div><div>Sure, it's fine for driving or being a passenger, but where it continues to be quite confusing is in crossing the street. Several times, while trying to figure who is coming from where, I've missed my chance. As well, to have a motorbike buzzing down the edge of the wrong side of the street is not unheard of. So generally if looks clear, I go for it, keeping my head on a high speed swivel. This was all hardest in Bangkok.</div><br /><div><em>Did I really get zapped?</em></div><div>Yes. I don't know why this happens to me a lot in other countries. It happened in the shower in Costa Rica. You just sorta want to keep your hand away from the computer box as much as possible. </div><br /><div><em>Any bites or injuries?</em><br /></div><div>Two nights ago, I was sitting on the bungalow parch talking with a friend, and a beetle the size of a twinkie came out of the sky, hit me in the back and landed on the floor injured. That was a little nervy. I slipped on a hill of bamboo on the jungle trek and gashed my palm about an inch long through the upper vertical line. Cut my leg, too. Both healed fine. There are a lot of mosquitos, but they are almost completely unseen. Nothing, nothing, nothing, then you have a bug bite and no mozzie was ever detected. I just don't itch them and they go away. I'll start on Malaria pills for Cambodia in a couple days. Last night, I sleepily induced a really nasty cramp in my calf that stayed for way too long. </div><br /><div><em>Was I kidnapped by pirates?</em></div><div>No I was not, but I have now, on this trip, hung out with or met people from 20 different countries. I don't have the list but here's what I remember. USA, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, Spain, England, Germany, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Czech, Estonia, Belgium, Italy, Australia. </div><br /><div><em>How far is India?</em></div><div>My flights between Bangkok and India are 4-5 hours. April 11-19(I think) in a 5-star hotel in New Delhi for Pragya's wedding. </div><br /><div><em>Did I get new flip=flops?</em></div><div>Yes, I got a pair that have been very servicable for 30 Baht, like 87 cents. Somewhat cheaper than the $45 pair of Rainbow brand flip flops I like to wear at home. </div><br /><div>_____________________</div><br /><div>Still relaxed on Ko Lanta. I got a motorbike for yesterday and today and it's been very nice. I had a brilliant fresh caught tuna last night. </div><br /><div>Great photo shoot last night with a cool Rasta guy I met. There's a big culture of Thai Rastas. Shot my friend Quang, shown here. I wanted to recreate a noteworthy photo of Bob Marley and he obliged. We did a couple other ideas as well. He works at Chocolate Bar, which is the place to go on Ko Lanta.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316283679179930034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Scc71t65-bI/AAAAAAAAAEM/zOJgKwJFrBc/s400/IMG_3728.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Couple more nights here and then some heavy travel to reach Siem Reap in Cambodia.</div></div>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-64175845942757961972009-03-22T10:59:00.002+08:002009-03-22T11:02:53.234+08:00Chilled Out on Ko LantaQuick post here from Ko Lanta.<br /><br />Besides that it seems like mosquitoes here are actually attracted to DEET and all the creepy crawlies and flying things are 3 times as big as they should be, this place is terrific. I had heard it was a good place to relax but I didn't understand fully til I got here. One of the first people I met said he had all these plans to travel around but he stayed here instead for 4 weeks "doing nothing". Hotel on the beach. The water is impossibly warm. I forgot to mention that the other day. Water around 85 deg F at least. <br /><br />Later all. <br /><br />Stay tuned for Q&A next time.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-54617639194464771242009-03-19T19:17:00.008+08:002009-03-19T20:37:36.599+08:00You've Been ZAPPED!!The free taxi from my hotel in Ao Nang, Thailand brought me to an internet place as I requested. Only one of the USB ports in front worked but I needed two. (One for the hard drive and one for the little card reader) With a dirty little smirk, he suggests that I try one in the back of the box and I already know what is about to happen. I rest my left hand on top of the box and an electric jolt goes through my hand and up to my wrist. Expletive that dude. I switch machines and the next next one tells me it's going to take 46 minutes to copy a volume of files that should take 6 minutes. I pack up my gear to take off to try another shop. He approaches me with a calculator and types in 15. I'm shocked and right away he says "OK, 10". I declined to pay and left, mostly pissed about getting shocked. It happened a couple times in Bangkok as well.<br /><br />...And I was riding high from moments before when I was told by a gentleman staffer at the hotel that my pants were "beautiful". (Some navy Gap chinos I've had for a while)<br /><br />Hey Cath, welcome to the weblog, thanks for the comments. I was hoping you might be following along because I had a note specifically for you. Here in Thailand, the appropriate way to drink beer is in a cup with ice. So if you liked Chang or Singha(Chang is better and cheaper and has more alcohol), you would fit right in and the Thai folks would love you. If you can do spicy as well, you will highly sought after.<br /><br />So I'm Ao Nang, a tourist hole with a stark lack of street food quality, variety and volume. The real restaurants are far too expensive. As well, there are no Thai markets at all. The town of Krabi is fairly nearby, but I haven't spent any time there because I've been pretty busy out on a couple group trips. Yesterday we did a bit of kayaking where the highlight was going through a cave under a limestone mountian. I had never seen anything like it and it was quite breathtaking. The stalagmites, stalactites and other formations were amazing. As the only unattached dude there, I had the priveledge of paddling in the boat with the guide, and he switched between giving me the inside story on stuff, like all his girlfriends (2 Australians, 2 Finns, 2 Swedes, 1 Canadian(the list went on and on but I didn't have the means to write them down)) and sweetly singing Thai love songs(guess). He sang well, and as the guide we were in front and I was in front of the boat. So I paddled with nothing but the mangrove tree lined canal ahead of me and a sound sweeter than any radio around coming from behind. He also mentioned the challenge of learning the names of all species he would encounter on these trips and then finding the English names, to satisfy the guests. He also mentioned how he was distressed because next month, 3 of his girlfriends were visiting Thailand at the same time.<br /><br />Today I did a tour of some islands nearby around the coast. We're pretty close to the island from James Bond; The Man with the Golden Gun and they play that up pretty big here. Nice stuff. The highlight was another cave. This time we climbed through from one side to the other, via a series of ropes and ladders, largely in the total dark. It was really cool, but maybe not for everyone.<br /><br />Every day is great. Let's look into a couple pictures.<br /><br />This woman was chewing on something that made her whole mouth tried. I failed to get her to smile for the capture. I failed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI2a2wiWhI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Zyp0SZmrLCw/s1600-h/IMG_3258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI2a2wiWhI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Zyp0SZmrLCw/s400/IMG_3258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314870345254197778" border="0" /></a>I found myself in one of the grease districts in Bangkok. This sort of pile was certainly not unique.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI3qb0DGWI/AAAAAAAAADE/AgTxyU41m7o/s1600-h/IMG_3273.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI3qb0DGWI/AAAAAAAAADE/AgTxyU41m7o/s400/IMG_3273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314871712410704226" border="0" /></a><br />I devoured this beautiful catch yesterday. The fish, sticky rice and botle of water came to a total of 60 baht. Not bad for a tourist town. I met a couple nice Brazilian guys who had been in Australia for like 7 months where the fish was too expensive to get. So the night before this meal, we shared a much bigger fish. Without them, I may have never tried the grilled/fried street cart fish. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI4abjhNZI/AAAAAAAAADM/s5PqPsgnVp4/s1600-h/IMG_3313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI4abjhNZI/AAAAAAAAADM/s5PqPsgnVp4/s400/IMG_3313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314872536975095186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI6IcGSV7I/AAAAAAAAADU/4PH2mvkW2AE/s1600-h/IMG_3336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI6IcGSV7I/AAAAAAAAADU/4PH2mvkW2AE/s400/IMG_3336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314874426906531762" border="0" /></a>Typical Day in Thailand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI6I_scYjI/AAAAAAAAADc/XDr0m9sZsx4/s1600-h/IMG_3342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI6I_scYjI/AAAAAAAAADc/XDr0m9sZsx4/s400/IMG_3342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314874436461814322" border="0" /></a>Chicken Island<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI6JHnV5AI/AAAAAAAAADk/a2n8iIxa_Og/s1600-h/IMG_3409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI6JHnV5AI/AAAAAAAAADk/a2n8iIxa_Og/s400/IMG_3409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314874438587900930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI7Zdlr1FI/AAAAAAAAADs/jdsTwNinKJo/s1600-h/IMG_3429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI7Zdlr1FI/AAAAAAAAADs/jdsTwNinKJo/s400/IMG_3429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314875818876064850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI7Z1SJSvI/AAAAAAAAAD0/aadCxuayNJI/s1600-h/IMG_3449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI7Z1SJSvI/AAAAAAAAAD0/aadCxuayNJI/s400/IMG_3449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314875825236560626" border="0" /></a>I hung out with this awesome Spanish couple a bunch today. Donthalo and Chris. How to light this type of shot: find a cave, and use what pours in from the midday equatorial(?) Thai sun. Nice.<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI7Z1XJeGI/AAAAAAAAAD8/6riKwfmRY20/s1600-h/IMG_3455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/ScI7Z1XJeGI/AAAAAAAAAD8/6riKwfmRY20/s400/IMG_3455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314875825257543778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's pouring here. It does every afternoon or evening. I'm kind of stuck here but I'd really love some spicy food.<br /><br />Sad news. My night-train from Bangkok to Surat Thani struck and killed a man. The attendant made some motion I didn't understand then gestured for me to look out the door. I saw the body a short way up the next car and looked away quickly. Whatever motion he made he did with sickening nonchalance that suggested this happened all the time. I was hoping through the night that the victim had only lost a leg, because that's what the attendant's action suggested, but I found out in the morning that he was dead. Sorry for the bad news. <br /><br />In a couple days I go to Ko Lanta, a nice island. It was devastated by the tsunami and I've heard their internet is weak. I'll be back sometime. Keep up the good work. The rain's abated, I'm gonna go seek out a fish. <br /><br />Happy trails.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-47950705964810949372009-03-16T16:52:00.009+08:002009-03-16T18:07:47.893+08:00Evening at the Food MarketChiang Mai, Thailand<br />Saturday Night<br /><br />The old section of Chiang Mai is surrounded by a square moat. The moat is flanked on either side by an avenue with the outer road running clockwise and the inner road going the opposite way. There are plenty of places to go in or out. The night food market is situated along a stretch of the inner street on the southern moat lining both sides of the street. Careful, you must walk in the street to check out the stands but the way is still very much open to traffic. We went on a Saturday but I think this market rolls out every night.<br /><br />Appetizer<br />-Chicken on a Stick, 5B<br />-Beef on a Stick, 5B<br /><br />The process here is a common one for street food in Thailand. The vendor has a small grill, with charcoal, about 5 inches long and deep and 2 feet wide. On your side is a tray of partially-but-mostly cooked meats-on-sticks. You pick your skewer(s) of choice (here, picking up a skewer, examining it, and returning it to the tray is absolutely fair play), and place them on the grill. When ready, you receive the meat sticks, like everything, in a small plastic bag.<br /><br />-Chicken on a Stick, 5B<br />Because it was so delicious. The beef was a bit strange.<br /><br />Main Dish<br />-Noodle Soup with Pork, 25B<br />Quite standard, rice noodles, some pieces of pork and, of course, the mystery pork balls that I'm not yet used to. I ate 1 of 2. The fish balls are strange also.<br />-Bottled Water, 10B<br />This is a single, sealed bottle of water already on the table before you sit down. Take it or leave it, a bit sneaky because it works. The very trusting Thai people know you'll come back up to pay.<br /><br />Dessert, Part I<br />-Hot Ovaltine, 12B<br />Quite delicious. Served very hot in rubber band-sealed small, plastic bag with straw punched through.<br />-Some Kind of Chinese Flour, 1B (sample)<br />That is a direct quote from the menu. A greasy sort of doughy thing with nothing inside.<br />-Sweetmeat, 1B (sample)<br />This item was neither sweet nor meat (discuss among yourselves) but was exactly the same as 'some kind of chinese flour', a small, weightless, fried, air-filled puff/poof, but in a different shape.<br /><br />Asking, in English, what something is usually lead to one of the following events: they will tell you in Thai, leaving you just as kowledgable as were you were the moment prior; they will tell you simply what type of meat is involved with the item; or (I love this one) the seller will summon another to aid in the transaction. This is an English speaking(maybe) person who often tell you simply what type of meat is involved with the item.<br /><br />I don't fault anyone for not being able to give their products a detailed description in a foreign language, I just ask anyway, because even knowing what meat was used gets you well on your way to a good decision. When in doubt, if it looks good, I usually get it, especially if it's fairly small. If it's no good, which has certainly happened, I'm only out a few Baht, but all the richer in experience (and stomach aches). Stay tuned another day for some of the things I've tried.<br /><br />Dessert, Part II<br />-Egg Honey Cups?, 5B (2 pc.)<br />This one is a little tricky. It is a birght yellow substance that was a flat disk the size of a thin mint but crimped into sort of a flower and held in a little cup just bigger then a single serving half & half. It is sort of a very sweet gel. That's about the best I can do. I had had them the day before and I knew I liked it.<br /><br />At this point, I'm somewhere between very full and hating myself. At my count, I have spent 69 Thai Baht. The going exhange rate is just over 35 Baht for a US dollar. So if you visit the Chiang Mai food market, you can eat (like an American) all night for less than $2.<br /><br />Dok Chee(Cheers)<br /><br />___________________<br /><br />I'm back in BKK this morning after a nice night-train ride. In three hours I board another train headed for Krabi in the south of Thailand. I did some good street/alley walking today and now I'm hiding out in a heavily air-conned internet room with great chairs, Thai music from someone's machine, and the loud cracking of video game gunfire from another. 15 Baht for an hour of interweb here.<br /><br />I know I've been light on photographs lately so maybe I can do something about it now.<br /><br />Awesome animals, always huge and a;ways kinda sad.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iVTZq3ZI/AAAAAAAAAB0/MMIB1wPmGVM/s1600-h/IMG_3103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iVTZq3ZI/AAAAAAAAAB0/MMIB1wPmGVM/s400/IMG_3103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313722359724301714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Waterfall just a couple steps from where we slept for Trek night 2. I know there's not much for scale, it's pretty big, like 25 feet top to bottom. It was an nice massage. It was paradise minus a few degrees.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iVwSuKvI/AAAAAAAAAB8/_7bSNiaaXqE/s1600-h/waterfall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iVwSuKvI/AAAAAAAAAB8/_7bSNiaaXqE/s400/waterfall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313722367479786226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iV6Z-_OI/AAAAAAAAACE/_wG33mgyJcg/s1600-h/shoes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iV6Z-_OI/AAAAAAAAACE/_wG33mgyJcg/s400/shoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313722370194603234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Shot in the Garden at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iWCqb8rI/AAAAAAAAACM/94je1RJ018U/s1600-h/IMG_3148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iWCqb8rI/AAAAAAAAACM/94je1RJ018U/s400/IMG_3148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313722372411093682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iWcGnC4I/AAAAAAAAACU/H5hxHxHFqZc/s1600-h/IMG_3154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4iWcGnC4I/AAAAAAAAACU/H5hxHxHFqZc/s400/IMG_3154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313722379240147842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Train Station, Chiang Mai<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4ki46wTVI/AAAAAAAAACk/kzW-grHDGvc/s1600-h/IMG_3229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4ki46wTVI/AAAAAAAAACk/kzW-grHDGvc/s400/IMG_3229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313724792156736850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fresh Ink, right on the train station platform<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4kjZNmuuI/AAAAAAAAACs/4CAHpxo4x14/s1600-h/IMG_3235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4kjZNmuuI/AAAAAAAAACs/4CAHpxo4x14/s400/IMG_3235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313724800825735906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4kin2O6KI/AAAAAAAAACc/Vw6ozFN9TL4/s1600-h/IMG_3194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4kin2O6KI/AAAAAAAAACc/Vw6ozFN9TL4/s400/IMG_3194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313724787574368418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4kjirbltI/AAAAAAAAAC0/nTsq2W8J55w/s1600-h/IMG_3296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/Sb4kjirbltI/AAAAAAAAAC0/nTsq2W8J55w/s400/IMG_3296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313724803366754002" border="0" /></a>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-53885380481583945492009-03-15T13:59:00.002+08:002009-03-15T14:12:30.247+08:00On The Move AgainHeading off to the train station for the long ride back to Bangkok. I'll get another train from there and go toward the south of Thailand for further adventure, many including the ocean. The best way would be to grab a quick flight, but I'm doing it the economy way and I'll rest up and do some reading. <br /><br />Yesterday and today I rode around with a good friend on a rented motorbike. We cruised north from Chiang Mai, had an awesome walk in the 20-acre garden/pond at the Four Seasons, then checked out the temple in some small town and had some good street food. The motorbike was a ton of fun to drive and ride. It's too bad I'm not writing more stories, but living the stories is really much better than sitting at the computer. I'll see what I can do though. <br /><br />Before I took off on my bike trip cross country, I bought a little jar of Tiger Balm from an Asian store in New York City. The salesman told me: "This is for EVERYTHING!" This morning I shaved with one of the disposable razors I found in my parents' bathroom. It only has one blade, which is unreasonable. I'm used to taking one stroke and having the razor take three. Anyway, after the shave I was in need of some sort of aftershave, which I did not have. I used a small dose of Tiger Balm and, as promised, it worked. It also worked on my eyeballs a moment later when I put my contact lenses in. <br /><br />See you in a couple days.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-79121107021957318302009-03-14T10:45:00.003+08:002009-03-14T11:25:32.222+08:00Steam Room, with Free Train Ride<div>Chiang Mai is in the northwest of Thailand, not too far from the Burmese border. It is described as "a cool mountain town", and that's true. A lot of tourists will come to Chiang Mai when ready to take a break from Bangkok. It's still hot here, but a much needed reprieve on the unreasonable swelter of Bangkok. (I heard Cambodia, specifically the Siem Reap area, is 'well hotter' than Bangkok, so you all can look forward to several straight posts on how how it is.) It is cloudy all the time here in Chiang Mai because of fires in the surrounding mountains. I think most of the fires are set intentionally for a number of different reasons. <br /><br />I had a ticket for the 7:30pm train ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai last Monday night. The train was scheduled to arrive at 9:30am the next morning but we got in 2 hours late. I was assigned to a bed in Car 5. Seats were converted into beds a couple hours en route, at the appointed bed time. Car 5 wasn't really working when I boarded. The lights were off and the fans were still. Moments after setting my bags down, I began to literally pour sweat. I had been wearing my long trousers that day because entering the Grand Palace with shorts on was prohibited. They were soon to be soaked through. I met a couple nice young people, an American girl traveling solo and a nice couple from England/Germany(him/her). I shared around the two big, cold bottles of Chang Beer(the one with the elephants)I had carried aboard and this worked nice against the heat. This was the first beer I tried in Thailand and it was well timed. I liked it just fine, but in truth you could've given me a three year old can of Keystone Light from a bad batch and as long as it was cold it still would've been the best beer I've ever tasted. I soon felt about to pass out from heat exhaustion and I slumped against the seat. Around this point the fans kicked on, and saved me. Luckily, more beer was on offer from a nice Thai woman on the train, and we had plenty. <br /><br />The sleep was almost nonexistent for me, but most of the others seemed to do OK. I had an upper berth, which was fine, but a couple factors prevented any good sleep. The light just next by bed spilled generously through and over the top of my curtain and lighting the white, curved ceiling much too bright. I know what you're thinking because I thought the same thing. No, you can't cover your eyes with something. I'm not sure if mentioned, but it's pretty hot here. I tried to lay part of t-shirt over my eyes, but it's just too sweaty. In addition, the track was very bumpy. No big deal.<br /><br />I must eat. I'll publish this and another continue in a few minutes if I decide to do the mass-upload to smugmug right now. <br /><br />Cheers<br /></div>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-81375446252391542182009-03-13T19:43:00.002+08:002009-03-13T19:50:22.002+08:00Back from the TrekHi Everyone,<br />Just got back from the 3-day, 2-night jungle trek somewhere about an hour from Chiang Mai. I won't write much now but there should be something decent from me tomorrow while I hang out while the photos are backing up. I told my mom she should begin to worry if she hasn't heard from me in 8 days, but it's been 3 or 4 so I wanted to check in a little bit. <br /><br />Much more tomorrow, but the trek was an absolute blast. There were about 14 of us with 2 of the coolest guides around. Among the group were representatives from the Czech Republc, Ireland, Wales, England, Italy. I was the only American. <br /><br />Thanks for the notes. Some of you are having trouble signing in or commenting and I'm not sure how to help. Maybe keep trying. <br /><br />"See you when you see me" -Mr. TarzanMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-22180649836957092702009-03-09T18:55:00.002+08:002009-03-09T19:08:01.346+08:00It's very hot here. I guess there are 3 seasons: hot, very hot and rainy. I dunno where we are right now, but it will get hotter every day until it becomes rainy. I meant for today to be a rest day but I found myself out walking like crazy again in the hot sun. <br /><br />Hey Perati,<br />I went to the Grand Palace today and I'm glad I did. It was spectacular. I'm too fried by the sun at this point to conjure the appropriate vocabulary, but I'll just say that leaving Bangkok without going would've been a giant mistake. Is there anything else like it in Asia? I'm guessing there is, and I'd like to go there, too. Then I walked from there to the river taxi(which I love) and I had the palace I had just seen on my right and another palace on my left. What is that palace? Is that the Grand Palace or more of the Grand Palace or something else? Anyway, thanks for the nudge and for the other suggestions. I'm gonna check them out when I get back to Bangkok.<br /><br />Update: I will be flying over to India in the middle of April. I have had the priveledge of being invited to a wedding which will include 3 days of events and ceremonies. I'll be there about 8 days. I do plan to change the subtitle of the blog, but not right now. It will probably end up saying Laos as well. <br /><br />I'm getting ready for a night-train ride up to Chiang Mai for 5 days. The middle three days will be a jungle trek with 8 of us and 2 guides. It should be somewhat of a reprieve from the heat. <br /><br />Tons of blogworthy things happen and when I sit at the screen I forget them all. Note to self: make more notes to self. <br /><br />No pic today even though I probably got a couple good ones. Write me some notes, let me know what's going at home with yourselves or with the news.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8395560099891150407.post-3448365820190235412009-03-08T14:29:00.009+08:002009-03-08T15:14:00.914+08:00Just Set it to Perfect<div><div><div>Bangkok is hot. If you walk around all day, as I do, you're sweaty the whole time. Sometimes the heat balloon is pierced by the strong 'air-con' needle of 7-Eleven, known here only as 'Seven', where the bottled water is cheapest. The feeling is bittersweet, of course, because in seconds you're back in the heat. It's not unbearable, just hot.<br /></div><div>I told you that so I could tell you this: the shower at the end of the night is absolutely euphoric. The shower comes on in one temperature: perfect. It is that temperature in the swimming pool that is a touch chilly on a very hot day but you're used to it after 15 seconds and then it works to cool your body over the next half hour, which is roughly how long I stayed in last night. (I have no cell phone or watch)(I had to do a bit of laundry in there)<br /></div><div>Yesterday was cool. The Weekend Market which I think I mentioned yesterday was terrific. We only scratched the cellophane over the surface of what was there. You could simply walk every aisle without stopping from 8am to 6pm and you still wouldn't wakl past everything. I got in some nice photography at the market. The young lady in this photo is a lot happier than she lets on, and after she couldn't thank me enough for photographing her. I think the shirt has something to do with a popular rock band from the USA; read carefully, maybe she got the singular version misprint only available in Thailand. This country is so sweet. Smiling is the source. Every smile is returned.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310708931385294194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SbNtosC2_XI/AAAAAAAAABs/XC_QnEWnh1Q/s400/veggie.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>After the market we strolled over to very serene park where I encountered this scene. None of these photos are getting any of the touchups I like to sometimes provide. The lesson here is to shoot in the golden hour before sunset. I think you can click the images for a bigger version, not sure. Soon after this we stopped for a snack from a cart. I had 4 chicken wings. Dan had the same plus some undrinkable mystery juice. There are a very reasonable number of stray dogs here and they're all very calm, some appear braindead. As we finished up, one sidled up but kept good distance. Dan tossed it a chicken wing bone which it proceeded to chew(barely) and swallow in about 12 seconds. Is this a normal dog thing to do? I felt bad but Dan gave 2 dogs 3 bones each and there was nothing left over on the ground. It hurt to watch.<br /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310706677622432786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SbNrlgH65BI/AAAAAAAAABU/SN62XNfFZtc/s400/eve.jpg" border="0" />I dragged Dan's hungover ass out to the market, to which we arrived by the excellent Skytrain. Here he is with our new blind buddy, Doc. Definetely enlarge this one.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310707297007908962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SbNsJjg7OGI/AAAAAAAAABc/1yG_H4i5SRY/s400/doc.jpg" border="0" />I'm saving the best pictures for when I come back, sorry. It doesn't feel right to put them up here. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hey Schaler, how come you don't have this lens yet?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310707959334707554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yi8cBycPYEw/SbNswG38IWI/AAAAAAAAABk/Dqpvhrk4Hpk/s400/lens.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Today I took the water taxi down to somewhere and walked around. I found a dingy indoor market and made friends with a family who was cutting up ginger. I tried some ginger which was handed to me then gave the kids a couple of the pictures I had made of myself. This worked better than I had hoped. The mom took one of the pics and tucked it away into her wallet. I took a bunch of pictures, they said some stuff I didn't understand, I said some stuff they didn't understand, and I was off. </div><div> </div><div>Alright, I could sit here in the air-con for a while, but that would be dumb. I'm jonesin' for some curry and some street meat and I won't have to go very far for it. I would've made this post about 30 minutes ago, but I got on a ferry instead of the actual water taxi and I had to wait a while. No big deal, I've wasted 20 minutes in plenty of worse places. </div><div> </div><div>Mom: I'll look for some shoes for you in a couple months.</div><div> </div><div>If you've been on the fence about coming to Thailand, do it. </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899534218847347028noreply@blogger.com1