tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43592376001866729542023-11-16T08:01:53.445-08:00Embrace the DetoursA blog about traveling around India, Nepal and Southeast Asia.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-4198725698122638232010-07-30T12:38:00.000-07:002010-07-30T12:38:40.101-07:00Panama!Please be aware that when reading the headline to this post you should be hearing Eddie Van Halen belting out the words 'Panama ha ha ha ha ha ha ha". I don't know any more words to the song and I'm sure you don't either, but it makes for a good theme song don't you think?<br />
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Yup. I'm going to Panama. A relatively short jaunt when compared to recent adventures I've embarked on, but it should be a solid trip none-the-less. Now that I'm an eight-to-five'er, Monday to Friday, and a little bit here and there just cause I love my windowless office so much, three weeks is the max I can get in one outing while still collecting a paycheck. For those of you who don't know, I landed a fantastic job here in Calgary, Alberta with a hydrogeological consulting company and at the moment I'm posted full time downtown.<br />
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So why Panama? In short, it was too expensive to fly to Asia in August, it's winter in the southern hemisphere and Panama doesn't get hurricanes. But more than than, after doing a fair bit of research I uncovered some destinations in Panama that quickly made their way to my 'see before you die' list and now I can go cross them off.<br />
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What really bothers me is how many people, after telling them where I'm going, have asked me; 'Panama? Where's that?'. Idiots. As most of you know, if there's one thing I hate more than olives, it's stupid people. My usual reply is 'south of Costa Rica and north of Columbia' and that's generally the end of it, whether it be because they've figured it out in their heads or have no idea what I'm talking about.<br />
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But a few times, just a few, I will receive a comment like 'Oh!... Isn't that a <em>thrid world</em> country?' Insert eye rolling repy here. I can't believe people still use that term. Yes, Panama is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country#Criticism_of_the_term_.27developing_country.27">emerging and developing economy</a>, but what difference does that make? When I look at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imf-advanced-un-least-developed-2008.svg">a world map of developing and developed economies</a> I sure see alot more pink and yellow than blue, don't you?<br />
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Anyways, I just wanted to rant at how stupid people sound when they make comments like that.<br />
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I'm leaving in a few days and I'm pretty freaking stoked (that one's for you Miia!). Stay tuned for updates, photos, rants and general freakouts.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-73254688338978321302009-09-25T10:35:00.000-07:002009-09-25T12:42:13.861-07:00Let the Cowboys Ride...It's a really strange feeling coming home after a big trip like this. I remember meeting sooo many backpackers who tried to explain it to me but there's no way to really prepare yourself. I suppose if I were coming back <i>to</i> something it might be different, but I came home for one simple reason: money.<br />
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</div><div>It's been 10 days since I boarded the plane from Singapore. I don't sleep well on planes so I thought it might be a good time to read through my journal and it truly amazed me to see the way my attitude shifted about traveling. I laughed at my initial fears and anxieties of going to India, at my descriptions when I arrived; "people, people freaking EVERYWHERE." When traveling, there are always times when things can seem so bad or so frustrating but you forget about it as fast as it comes. I remember hating every moment of our bus ride from Darjeeling to Kathmandu; the 15 hour wait due to a strike at the ferry crossing, eating rice cooked in river water, sleeping on the side of the road with my backpack as my pillow, the incessant stares that you never really get use to, the constant harassment from the locals who are nothing more than curious about you and want practice their English when all you want is to be left alone. Looking back, it's these experiences that really make a trip an adventure.<br />
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</div><div>Someone real important to me gave me a card before I left with a note saying "Every place has a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware." This couldn't be more true. I remember planning and researching so much about where to go but once you get there you discover there is <i>so</i> much more to uncover than what you read in the Lonely Planet or on some website, you just have to get right in there and see for yourself. <br />
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</div><div>I keep finding my self thinking about all the people I met and wondering how they're getting on in Asia or back at home. Backpacker culture is really something else. I get asked all the time how it is traveling alone and I always say that you're never <i>really </i>alone. Leaving the tourist beat, especially in SE Asia, is rather difficult so there is always at least a few other westerners heading in the same direction as you. Countless times I would meet someone or a small group for no more than a few hours, sometimes as little as a few minutes, before deciding that we should share a room to cut costs. It's just the way everyone helps each other out; cheap food here, stay at this persons guest house, take this bus, drink these magic shakes, haha. And of course we all have our favorite places that we tell each other you must go see. <br />
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</div><div>I miss it. I miss it so much and now I'm home, or in Calgary anyway, and everyone is doing the <i>same</i> thing. This is a common theme you hear among the travelers; when you get home you'll find that although you feel like you've changed so much, everyone is still the same, life has gone on and nothing much has changed. They were right, and it's freakin depressing.<br />
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</div><div>This trip really did change my life. I am so happy my best friend convinced me to get the hell out of my office job and come to India with her. I would still be sitting in my office day after day dreaming about all the things I should be doing if it weren't for you, Jess. I think the hardest part for me now will be to remember the way I felt before leaving and to not slip back into the same routine, to continue to recognize that there is so much more out there than working 9-5 for the Man just to make enough to buy things that don't really mean shit to you or your friends in the long run.<br />
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</div><div>As I sit here today I can't help but feeling like my life is in complete disarray. I know it will work out, it always does. If I learned anything in the last nine months, it's that when things aren't going as planned all you can do is embrace the detours.<br />
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</div><div>Namaste.<br />
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</div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-23164191565015526812009-09-11T04:09:00.000-07:002009-09-25T10:30:49.937-07:00The Beach Cure<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">So I think I'm tanned enough to come home now. Although another lifetime on the beach would have suited me just fine. The last ten days on Perhentian Keci, one of several islands that make up a marine park in NE Malaysia, were amazing and so relaxed. My days consisted of laying on the beach, eating fried rice and noodles, diving and snorkeling in the afternoons, lazing in my hammock and drinking beers in the evenings with other backpackers followed by late night beach dancing sessions. Here are some photos from the last month.<br /><br />Currently waiting for my bus to Singapore, a few days of sightseeing and then home.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOF8UkE1UDzsL6YDwJeTvozNoHcAZ2XteiDDm94LUvcy_32fCF78fZGiHj6goQHoyYlwRUH6T43apC-4GsA9XKyjC4lCB1anXIq2CYUhO8vQP5M8dTvz55M-pdcEoJ4iLiHUwzewtMrA/s1600-h/IMG_0889.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOF8UkE1UDzsL6YDwJeTvozNoHcAZ2XteiDDm94LUvcy_32fCF78fZGiHj6goQHoyYlwRUH6T43apC-4GsA9XKyjC4lCB1anXIq2CYUhO8vQP5M8dTvz55M-pdcEoJ4iLiHUwzewtMrA/s400/IMG_0889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380169921687789698" border="0" /></a>The ever so cultural city of Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNk02mM9ntTevKIrJSWx8GG4YG5HGn40Yi70eqcflMa30Y103Uj_SAYbjevnrkSirYSAJFvywhwbqRmtDY4mSHZyIh6wgk7MDrR45LWEU8TJJA4-FHLsYb6ucM12r3dkmPgjCPs_NwyIQ/s1600-h/IMG_0907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNk02mM9ntTevKIrJSWx8GG4YG5HGn40Yi70eqcflMa30Y103Uj_SAYbjevnrkSirYSAJFvywhwbqRmtDY4mSHZyIh6wgk7MDrR45LWEU8TJJA4-FHLsYb6ucM12r3dkmPgjCPs_NwyIQ/s400/IMG_0907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380169930775100306" border="0" /></a>A <span style="font-style: italic;">lobi lobi </span>in Medan,<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Indonesia. Basically a motorbike with this weird little sidecar attached. Like a Tuk Tuk. Same same, but different.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN8p1cqhol8ChJqz6Ps1IhQ-6zt0fLKAxgKGJ0ON9x7lpvPEn7B3SB_QQ3Gr-sLzSvUnqCdAmxgLsK_RZ1ecrrLY9momR9YhaXu7DgDzrh0gaLOyCl9ux-5QrD2C2ez_6RQFbgnA_LvE/s1600-h/IMG_0976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN8p1cqhol8ChJqz6Ps1IhQ-6zt0fLKAxgKGJ0ON9x7lpvPEn7B3SB_QQ3Gr-sLzSvUnqCdAmxgLsK_RZ1ecrrLY9momR9YhaXu7DgDzrh0gaLOyCl9ux-5QrD2C2ez_6RQFbgnA_LvE/s400/IMG_0976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380169952558754082" border="0" /></a>Enjoying a good book. Lake Toba, Indonesia.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqq58XR_4CxzsYPdKjACPsCvRaK3DE05iJuduNKwTY5ixZO5B4JQ0XuRRxuPuqy_-QBP_eR_IuFaO6i9Zt6Rv1YLq_tsHMomHqB1DeOov0s3K8ufbPSVZKJ_BMeLifaI-j7trvrBGrt0/s1600-h/IMG_1004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqq58XR_4CxzsYPdKjACPsCvRaK3DE05iJuduNKwTY5ixZO5B4JQ0XuRRxuPuqy_-QBP_eR_IuFaO6i9Zt6Rv1YLq_tsHMomHqB1DeOov0s3K8ufbPSVZKJ_BMeLifaI-j7trvrBGrt0/s400/IMG_1004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380168821023970386" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lJxQbyaG9Oo5-1Sd1sMzyfCRVyUUU030SDH_pjvjc7Z2O6InfFqtAd_rxe0w-ZIaGwpdBIwpxFSVailwmTely55EBb1xBpgZNGFgpoo-_FbXfFnOLabH7Dix9YCU3ajEoOjjxLkonwA/s1600-h/IMG_0959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lJxQbyaG9Oo5-1Sd1sMzyfCRVyUUU030SDH_pjvjc7Z2O6InfFqtAd_rxe0w-ZIaGwpdBIwpxFSVailwmTely55EBb1xBpgZNGFgpoo-_FbXfFnOLabH7Dix9YCU3ajEoOjjxLkonwA/s400/IMG_0959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380169947330394082" border="0" /></a>Some of the dozens of kids waving at me while riding around Samosir Island, Lake Toba.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAmJZMVfHfUqtQeN6v9yRwdUW3t_1wm7vnvy_DiUl5Xq4Ub-i2d0IRL5zvARADjCb2nbF0Q7lOTNoMYNiYjRXJ7QrsTqt8uq0Pa2_DUHaLpOXutdWC4CHdulNeJFQwwvdwOS0HvBVehc/s1600-h/IMG_0931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAmJZMVfHfUqtQeN6v9yRwdUW3t_1wm7vnvy_DiUl5Xq4Ub-i2d0IRL5zvARADjCb2nbF0Q7lOTNoMYNiYjRXJ7QrsTqt8uq0Pa2_DUHaLpOXutdWC4CHdulNeJFQwwvdwOS0HvBVehc/s400/IMG_0931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380169939008634306" border="0" /></a>Traditional <span style="font-style: italic;">Batak</span> style house. Samosir Island, Lake Toba, Indonesia.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw3Ixxnyv8Up5kbEWGkd5ZKnIu_vz1NRkJk5SHhgw5tS0VFWN81qJnBp-CCLs7EEn4NMCvmKeSrYS68Vw_EcvOfDY6sDDu5hGcpuwYcN5MQhMt2rU-ltlKYeALmMzpbGFGztivgVjb98/s1600-h/IMG_1070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw3Ixxnyv8Up5kbEWGkd5ZKnIu_vz1NRkJk5SHhgw5tS0VFWN81qJnBp-CCLs7EEn4NMCvmKeSrYS68Vw_EcvOfDY6sDDu5hGcpuwYcN5MQhMt2rU-ltlKYeALmMzpbGFGztivgVjb98/s400/IMG_1070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380168839796576050" border="0" /></a>One of the few days the sun came out. Pulau Weh, Indonesia.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAK705-EbNKZG9sj9WlQwvJbmUZyYZO2W2J1ri57dENv7dee5Q7fTmhHvwREM3MGO2DbOneyWY73GCGaKYbBb2CO_uVc0gq6y7cBgDZINX3aIrn70ZQ4ebNWQRI0NdJNwcqYCMQDcmeyQ/s1600-h/IMG_1059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAK705-EbNKZG9sj9WlQwvJbmUZyYZO2W2J1ri57dENv7dee5Q7fTmhHvwREM3MGO2DbOneyWY73GCGaKYbBb2CO_uVc0gq6y7cBgDZINX3aIrn70ZQ4ebNWQRI0NdJNwcqYCMQDcmeyQ/s400/IMG_1059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380168829081589538" border="0" /></a>Garuda beach, Pulau Weh, Indonesia.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1YGr5ZB_BrIiuLwK8MNjoZ3iOTMtb3rwKx4Xmh0wFM6J8f7_5KCsm4PqQGpKSQfPXOOau0JgIKx-Q1HtXgxDrcOXXaKV0SDdwvKcR6kZ3FuARtnmc337m3CupyUrbKtFf_d-BCOSgHM/s1600-h/IMG_1102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1YGr5ZB_BrIiuLwK8MNjoZ3iOTMtb3rwKx4Xmh0wFM6J8f7_5KCsm4PqQGpKSQfPXOOau0JgIKx-Q1HtXgxDrcOXXaKV0SDdwvKcR6kZ3FuARtnmc337m3CupyUrbKtFf_d-BCOSgHM/s400/IMG_1102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380168857860955986" border="0" /></a>Long Beach, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGg_aogKIOFuH5DZ3Ug32hwBKLOqKtNpv5FrlllkZ0faIuI-NN9EiTQ6GXKmN80yV4hv1YU50-bwYpzJjg8fU4uqdS664gHySbj5HoOLXjFoomWkUY-ppdH3qk-CDzZYudHL9w7moAOQ/s1600-h/IMG_1090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGg_aogKIOFuH5DZ3Ug32hwBKLOqKtNpv5FrlllkZ0faIuI-NN9EiTQ6GXKmN80yV4hv1YU50-bwYpzJjg8fU4uqdS664gHySbj5HoOLXjFoomWkUY-ppdH3qk-CDzZYudHL9w7moAOQ/s400/IMG_1090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380168852760397218" border="0" /></a>These massive Montador lizards were roaming around everywhere. They are HUGE!<br /><br /></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-12432485392375427492009-09-01T09:16:00.000-07:002009-09-01T10:26:15.715-07:00SumatraThey say Thailand is the 'Land of Smiles' but they are <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> wrong, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sumatran's</span> are the ones permanent smile on their face.<br /><br />After some serious back and forth contemplation on whether or not I wanted to brave the chaos of traveling in one of the more remote regions of Indonesia, I finally booked a flight into Medan and hopped on the the 'chicken bus' to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Danu</span> (Lake) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Toba</span>, an enormous crater lake known to be worlds largest volcanic crater. To a geologist, this is pretty freaking sweet. Yes, I'm a nerd.<br /><br />Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Toba</span> was incredible. It's massive. In the middle of the lake there is huge island (bigger than the island of Singapore) where I spent just short of a week lounging and swimming, riding motorcycles, chatting with the locals and playing soccer with the kids. The main town, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tuk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tuk</span>, use to be a pretty big party scene back in the mid-nineties but that has long since died off, now it's a quiet place with dozens of empty lakeside resorts, the perfect place for a backpacker on a budget! It did however come across a little disheartening to see so many locals who had established <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">souvenir</span> shops along the strip and are now making almost no money. But everyone of them still had a smile on their face, and were happy to see that there are still some people out there that haven't forgotten about them. It was definitely a nice change of pace to not be constantly called into shops, the only thing I would ever hear them ask me is if I wanted 'magic mushrooms' (they're legal here).<br /><br />The weather wasn't exactly stellar though, it was suppose to be the dry season but the LP did say it was 'always a little rainy in Sumatra' and at 1000 meters elevation it got pretty chilly at night. I definitely missed having pants, a sweater and a rain jacket in my bag! But it wasn't all bad, I did get out on the bike several times to explore the island, managed to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">embarrass</span> myself with all my knowledge of the volcanic hot springs and mud pools around and bought some pretty cool <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Batak</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">souvenirs</span>.<br /><br />So after some extreme chilling, I hopped back on the chicken bus to Medan and jumped on a cheap flight up to the very northern tip of Sumatra, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Banda</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Aceh</span>, and eventually onto a small island called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Pulau</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Weh</span>. This was my first time in a region that was 100% <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Muslim</span>. Although there are many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Muslim's</span> in Malaysia, there is also a huge Chinese and Indian population as well so it was interesting to see <span style="font-style: italic;">every</span> woman wearing a head scarf and hearing the call to prayer numerous times throughout the day. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">mosque's</span> are so beautiful there. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Ohh</span> and I almost forgot... It's Ramadan right now. In Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Toba</span> the general population was Christian so this didn't affect me much, but in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Aceh</span> this meant that food is only served in the evenings due to the daily fasting that goes on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">during</span> this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">religious</span> holiday.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Pulau</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Weh</span> was nice, but the rain was relentless. I went on two dives, saw a few sharks and something massive, possibly a whale shark but it was far away and hard to say for sure. The current was unbelievably strong which made the dive a little scary, especially when I saw the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">dive masters</span> were concerned about it. I also never realized how freaking cold it is in 23C water but it's damn chilly down there after about an hour. All of my dives up to this point had been well over 28 degrees but at 23 I was shivering. I can't imagine how people dive in Canada. I would have liked to do more diving but the ride to and from the sites in pouring rain just wasn't pleasant. I didn't expect to be shivering in the tropics! One stellar experience I did have though was snorkeling with dozens of sea turtles. Many of them lived right off shore so you could swim down and give them a high five. Such beautiful creatures, this really made my time there worth it.<br /><br />So after four days on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Pulau</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Weh</span> (the sun did show itself for a few hours the morning I left) I went back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Banda</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Aceh</span> and flew back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Penang</span>, Malaysia. Overall my time in Sumatra was great and although the weather limited my beach time, I would still highly recommend visiting and would definitely go back again, especially to climb some of the volcanoes and chill with the wild <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">orangutangs</span>.<br /><br />It's funny now thinking about how concerned I was before going about traveling alone there. I read that road travel was intense (it's scary as hell) and the cities were very chaotic (that's an understatement!) but I have to thank a Spanish guy I met in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Penang</span> for reminding me that I had traveled India. And it's true, nothing compares to India. Everyone I meet that has traveled the world always says India is the hardest and really is. But that's why I loved it, that's why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">everyone</span> loves it. I miss that country so much. If I could do my trip over again I would have done SE Asia first because everywhere I go I keep comparing it back to my time in India and it never measures up. Now I know why so many backpackers I met there were on their third or fourth trip around the country. India really is the traveling epic.<br /><br />I leave for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Perhentian</span> Islands on the NE coast of Malaysia tomorrow morning. Two weeks on the beach and then home.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-40017446287163306622009-08-17T22:03:00.000-07:002009-08-17T23:36:39.554-07:00Temples of AngkorThe capital of Cambodia's ancient Khmer empire, the temples of Angkor are as every bit as spectacular as you hear about. Angkor Wat, the worlds largest religious building is, to say the least, impressive. Watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat is a new highlight of my trip and certainly a memorable experience (up there with the Taj Mahal and Amritsar). Other notable temples include Ta Phrom, or the 'Tomb Raider Temple', that is being slowly digested by the jungle. And my favorite, the enigmatic temple of Bayon in the fortified ancient city of Angkor Thom. I'll let the pictures I took save me a few words.<br /><br />I'm back in Bangkok now and in the midst of deciding where to spend my last few weeks in Asia. My initial plan was to fly to Burma for a few weeks and then hit the beaches of Malaysia before going home but I'm a little culture and templed out right now so I'm leaning towards exploring the remote beaches of Sumatra in Indonesia.<br /><br />In other news, the Austrians and I made a pit stop at one of Cambodia's military bases so that we could fire a couple rounds from a machine gun. This was a pretty expensive detour but worth every penny! I purchased a full M-16 magazine and fired off 30 rounds at some targets. So freaking cool. Fastest 50 bucks I ever spent.<br /><br />It was a bit of a journey to reach Bangkok from Siem Reap, but I do enjoy returning to a big cultural city every now and then to create a little contrast. Bangkok is truly a multi-cultural city. While Khao San road is every bit as crazy as it sounds, the diversity of Chinatown and Little Arabia make for great day trips. This city has it all from cool chilled out cafes and restaurants surrounded by simple street stalls serving up some of the best food in SE Asia to shopping mega malls and soaring skyscrapers shadowing ancient Buddhist temples. In the evenings you can chill at a riverside cafe or head down to Patpong and gawk at the sex tourists before checking out a ping pong show! Bangkok has it all. I love it.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQb3Bn5yf6PCVJRBC2eNw3maFgkjiVSXoAFiF57TB6-PVlXLpsp-5NvA1Fn73PzYCgkW66Iur5nSlg3ENrd8CkmWdEzyIVVNhJvydsCs2j3gL1iqscRQWbTKkmGV6vcwnmrXwrOKvE18/s1600-h/IMG_0211.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371184178121561602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQb3Bn5yf6PCVJRBC2eNw3maFgkjiVSXoAFiF57TB6-PVlXLpsp-5NvA1Fn73PzYCgkW66Iur5nSlg3ENrd8CkmWdEzyIVVNhJvydsCs2j3gL1iqscRQWbTKkmGV6vcwnmrXwrOKvE18/s400/IMG_0211.JPG" border="0" /></a> Vang Vieng, Laos.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fr02_51B3tJGsxqb_9EbfSjPpgnxoUiwTcuMWYOD5h1AmXaKyW10DZv0dkK-iCX9o1_1gKLZenpyJ1CZxl8kObGW6ORxvRDjO2PQZeQP0jz0XfJSXpsP6L9CNZUQKvcKeuDKMS8AmNU/s1600-h/IMG_0225.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371184163853857378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fr02_51B3tJGsxqb_9EbfSjPpgnxoUiwTcuMWYOD5h1AmXaKyW10DZv0dkK-iCX9o1_1gKLZenpyJ1CZxl8kObGW6ORxvRDjO2PQZeQP0jz0XfJSXpsP6L9CNZUQKvcKeuDKMS8AmNU/s400/IMG_0225.JPG" border="0" /></a>No machines to pour the foundation. Working together one bucket at time.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVxLH1NUdUnPozLtUY6YC6AAGPdN0ra0hW20Nqfq2wmOBfGgfzOXxljewLJXE2mF4J2f73xGJu4Bvj8zS-s9DjNQ3STFHezqq1FRISZJlr1sH6nzlmZRrVNBjMIeZZbffj_R_gJ55-Qg/s1600-h/IMG_0231.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371183386808848482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVxLH1NUdUnPozLtUY6YC6AAGPdN0ra0hW20Nqfq2wmOBfGgfzOXxljewLJXE2mF4J2f73xGJu4Bvj8zS-s9DjNQ3STFHezqq1FRISZJlr1sH6nzlmZRrVNBjMIeZZbffj_R_gJ55-Qg/s400/IMG_0231.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cruising around Vientienne with the Austrians.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcbvTs7w7R1z3UQMbXqhxtjbJwb21je10F7X9ObAdQUfuYorUHxsEpCPvxvVB9wEEbtRFwt0V3-_a3QuosleL7nRAdpmzx_FKeVBkSc2KN02rAlR_QZXbKpsZKtGdBtobDpBCxdBLVek/s1600-h/IMG_0253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371183377261522674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcbvTs7w7R1z3UQMbXqhxtjbJwb21je10F7X9ObAdQUfuYorUHxsEpCPvxvVB9wEEbtRFwt0V3-_a3QuosleL7nRAdpmzx_FKeVBkSc2KN02rAlR_QZXbKpsZKtGdBtobDpBCxdBLVek/s400/IMG_0253.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJkPl3WASh800-nYd_c7qzhyphenhyphen3qd9wTONl6MNIWQEa9Esk9gNE5qkpwlPrvSgnal2XZt61fhDi3eFoAX4AhZb9udX6t0P7e7crADF10C4MVCqm20gnhxOKQR4jMl8aAZrUA8hFvjplZtU/s1600-h/IMG_0272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371183366577089586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJkPl3WASh800-nYd_c7qzhyphenhyphen3qd9wTONl6MNIWQEa9Esk9gNE5qkpwlPrvSgnal2XZt61fhDi3eFoAX4AhZb9udX6t0P7e7crADF10C4MVCqm20gnhxOKQR4jMl8aAZrUA8hFvjplZtU/s400/IMG_0272.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmWWaYV0j66b9iPgM7qZhfH8rblq3wDwjgtTVD_cBwmanZ3qG-gGCoHZxJnc8EaWq5fvuVjIg2VZTuZH_Vc8unKcGPyFTboL9PTpsnvGA76YnH55jTYstx_X_ewsKPcWmKn09aJiflXo/s1600-h/IMG_0286.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371183359543277618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmWWaYV0j66b9iPgM7qZhfH8rblq3wDwjgtTVD_cBwmanZ3qG-gGCoHZxJnc8EaWq5fvuVjIg2VZTuZH_Vc8unKcGPyFTboL9PTpsnvGA76YnH55jTYstx_X_ewsKPcWmKn09aJiflXo/s400/IMG_0286.JPG" border="0" /></a> How many people can you fit in a Sawngthaew (pickup truck with benches in the back)? In my experience: 36. This is where it broke down.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSBX4SSJyLcSu2Wt0zrXqJtEeh3J0aVs3dZHTjnwSgh3R_GfaA84gYPUQIrqTr8YohqdqWGHFoLn35GaCCXVKCdNDO-rYLwXkVdDOa5QMqSxotN_KqkIjmHqXQ7D-IbY_U3-4O6L_vE8/s1600-h/IMG_0297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371183351244964082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSBX4SSJyLcSu2Wt0zrXqJtEeh3J0aVs3dZHTjnwSgh3R_GfaA84gYPUQIrqTr8YohqdqWGHFoLn35GaCCXVKCdNDO-rYLwXkVdDOa5QMqSxotN_KqkIjmHqXQ7D-IbY_U3-4O6L_vE8/s400/IMG_0297.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cycling around Champasak, Laos.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRjUR-LNbAhtQZ-oSnljmd32mO9R-om-SxxeY061bJMaKnPh3Cicd9mvD7RrTe_4fq7YixdocVXimskMMfdgY8rwOIviEc7dtMK6sZ6JWRE9046jJozoCWMWbVd3C6HD-IhDBhe6oMSE/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371182024978754578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRjUR-LNbAhtQZ-oSnljmd32mO9R-om-SxxeY061bJMaKnPh3Cicd9mvD7RrTe_4fq7YixdocVXimskMMfdgY8rwOIviEc7dtMK6sZ6JWRE9046jJozoCWMWbVd3C6HD-IhDBhe6oMSE/s400/IMG_0344.JPG" border="0" /></a> View from the top of Wat Phu Champasak, an impressive archaeilogical site in Laos.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhOiz6LeSaGr49-tWpGdQbok3eXTnxmrcyiLTaD-v5tEhUEaDDKxf6k5TU_RQpyz_D7clS0U0-h0Q9zlt3pdxErlVF8_ZHyDFj28VTI_G92w5o-STQs5KtPA40tn8FgVogs4K83_jFn0/s1600-h/IMG_0365.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371182018470656658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhOiz6LeSaGr49-tWpGdQbok3eXTnxmrcyiLTaD-v5tEhUEaDDKxf6k5TU_RQpyz_D7clS0U0-h0Q9zlt3pdxErlVF8_ZHyDFj28VTI_G92w5o-STQs5KtPA40tn8FgVogs4K83_jFn0/s400/IMG_0365.JPG" border="0" /></a> Children working the rice fields around Champasak, Laos.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJrUThCg3DuHvUhvx83ExwwNiuOhXceP1_achFyOBtqnN_yjsZe_paMmBpIUXaEuhyphenhyphenPgHJMTajFPffJ35MKTSmIRxlZvG-P_F7cAYLcEToYbH4oimFyKcrDZEs7c1H0EZ7_C-QGueyWA/s1600-h/IMG_0399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371182004982594978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJrUThCg3DuHvUhvx83ExwwNiuOhXceP1_achFyOBtqnN_yjsZe_paMmBpIUXaEuhyphenhyphenPgHJMTajFPffJ35MKTSmIRxlZvG-P_F7cAYLcEToYbH4oimFyKcrDZEs7c1H0EZ7_C-QGueyWA/s400/IMG_0399.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sunset view from our balcony over the Mekong River on the island of Don Det in the '4000 Islands' of southern Loas.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dxotg0GAIizSSNX35azM39g79n_BIXBNh0pWlgRulRtotkMczZabHckvFfvsoaBKqQ6RE-7oTEV6epu3ee4F-E9mnW2-bHak7lBhwfoSA-ylsneJIdcDdzhkTHfpdqMfWARbaIA2ogM/s1600-h/IMG_0425.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181995624252210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dxotg0GAIizSSNX35azM39g79n_BIXBNh0pWlgRulRtotkMczZabHckvFfvsoaBKqQ6RE-7oTEV6epu3ee4F-E9mnW2-bHak7lBhwfoSA-ylsneJIdcDdzhkTHfpdqMfWARbaIA2ogM/s400/IMG_0425.JPG" border="0" /></a> Can't get enough.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjfxPNlhhWOyhmAr_RDVNGnJv93Kw4oyFUGE4IZYo-aDKtzjgOl8ZsV6Y0xEVANmBfTkDe7QWYzMsno5VFOcoFDr-whTRuJ1UCCeVl-gxDUdLruDF-16XXNAvToZXwd9EDoCLKw3AQTs/s1600-h/IMG_0433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181994378928498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjfxPNlhhWOyhmAr_RDVNGnJv93Kw4oyFUGE4IZYo-aDKtzjgOl8ZsV6Y0xEVANmBfTkDe7QWYzMsno5VFOcoFDr-whTRuJ1UCCeVl-gxDUdLruDF-16XXNAvToZXwd9EDoCLKw3AQTs/s400/IMG_0433.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cruising around the Mekong.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2GG8PcFXJNpP73yaFfog7h4Uy9rOAafMRo7gy-QKJ_D-5IA2GFt9etZ8Qv3Xp_-l8U_DNEGAfTedZxv3GRp3bQAcjz9hu3xAkfpcTkq4qs9oiai9cVQGKuUuzMQ6lE2zBnQPR1Irmrs/s1600-h/IMG_0435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181119289720562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2GG8PcFXJNpP73yaFfog7h4Uy9rOAafMRo7gy-QKJ_D-5IA2GFt9etZ8Qv3Xp_-l8U_DNEGAfTedZxv3GRp3bQAcjz9hu3xAkfpcTkq4qs9oiai9cVQGKuUuzMQ6lE2zBnQPR1Irmrs/s400/IMG_0435.JPG" border="0" /></a> Children of the family we stayed with on Don Det.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7EoHJKkrl6fd2C4og7j6untxu87YvK9TTGvx8ocTyNYGdP9QI083oJlx8X_r0FKM8x52Cox83rLa_mZSUZL5bSQh5QVZLfNLRW4oCmWqIJe5gfXndAwrdb2KZ02U1HezimuFLvJj7VQ/s1600-h/IMG_0513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181113324514258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7EoHJKkrl6fd2C4og7j6untxu87YvK9TTGvx8ocTyNYGdP9QI083oJlx8X_r0FKM8x52Cox83rLa_mZSUZL5bSQh5QVZLfNLRW4oCmWqIJe5gfXndAwrdb2KZ02U1HezimuFLvJj7VQ/s400/IMG_0513.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lounging after sunset.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8nXgL0ccoDT-OgmVP-913bbodixbJKouFS-WZ4QO4Iet99HQ37jPiTfpyuGKfw4YPVfdWKwQcwQ43OTsLKrOnkEmZhIbI0XWbiLxFa4HHR6nfuGyu4GfgrUk8Sm0bzjHo559pj1Bva4/s1600-h/IMG_0596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181102536494546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8nXgL0ccoDT-OgmVP-913bbodixbJKouFS-WZ4QO4Iet99HQ37jPiTfpyuGKfw4YPVfdWKwQcwQ43OTsLKrOnkEmZhIbI0XWbiLxFa4HHR6nfuGyu4GfgrUk8Sm0bzjHo559pj1Bva4/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" border="0" /></a> Partying in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZtJqWUYd-QOIFFMJglaf1knGSyIJBTEZHWSWhey9jgYw28GaEzkYwPS8PYdSPkJ7Ena1nNrTpCqepomwMoFSW0zsWaKXelHQKZswuA8erSl7KYWCOVc1yjjj-RKKs5Czux_I1wFOquU/s1600-h/IMG_0597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181093465947298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZtJqWUYd-QOIFFMJglaf1knGSyIJBTEZHWSWhey9jgYw28GaEzkYwPS8PYdSPkJ7Ena1nNrTpCqepomwMoFSW0zsWaKXelHQKZswuA8erSl7KYWCOVc1yjjj-RKKs5Czux_I1wFOquU/s400/IMG_0597.JPG" border="0" /></a>A view like this makes waking up with a hangover not so bad.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_kk0TGUQF4xlSYWFYCQPOP6DEvqzC8Wl-qzgWoD65G6BuBcyOtuIDIMMAHtOzGx0Wz6cR3mYlWtU1s6m8VFDcOM6R6XjMYsp7LhxJsZvW-MSFq4ssz-t_PnTRanSYruaoZT7taEpkLU/s1600-h/IMG_0615.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371181087765594546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_kk0TGUQF4xlSYWFYCQPOP6DEvqzC8Wl-qzgWoD65G6BuBcyOtuIDIMMAHtOzGx0Wz6cR3mYlWtU1s6m8VFDcOM6R6XjMYsp7LhxJsZvW-MSFq4ssz-t_PnTRanSYruaoZT7taEpkLU/s400/IMG_0615.JPG" border="0" /></a>Deep fried cockroaches anyone?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN3Ubt8uAEex2qB77UeFJ2kkg0J6Lr5TWWs1GYBY9BXy22EyoplJgPmPrBx9_wqSSwUdwRXlOaa_AXHNrdMWivdFA0zog42Y6ofMOtLLYImQ-lFHM_m5iISEzUcjd8nSj8x5GWUvoeTg/s1600-h/IMG_0622.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371179983870928034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN3Ubt8uAEex2qB77UeFJ2kkg0J6Lr5TWWs1GYBY9BXy22EyoplJgPmPrBx9_wqSSwUdwRXlOaa_AXHNrdMWivdFA0zog42Y6ofMOtLLYImQ-lFHM_m5iISEzUcjd8nSj8x5GWUvoeTg/s400/IMG_0622.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ya we're cool. Actually shooting an M-16 is freakin' <em>awesome</em>!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK2hRo-9w7OLTpoes-bmqbWkJaiEOIIVLFoI9BhmCXqbNbcmjLJVddPHV2FHlzgwzrzOmeuZRbk0h0PSwiBmiUcgIXSYi9zRBg5pDoP1riqt5k7tyLZlcInm_bgP41UdtPbx6US1PFT0/s1600-h/IMG_0624.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371179970056084546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK2hRo-9w7OLTpoes-bmqbWkJaiEOIIVLFoI9BhmCXqbNbcmjLJVddPHV2FHlzgwzrzOmeuZRbk0h0PSwiBmiUcgIXSYi9zRBg5pDoP1riqt5k7tyLZlcInm_bgP41UdtPbx6US1PFT0/s400/IMG_0624.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_iDoMAEMw5wlvRiFcR2rl1CIaMX9Xzdhop1NHOW0GRL-tLzySxZdoMmKceVZoF7wNHgXoYn-uw63Z14Niy2SyvSSayeGfBuDI8wK4RZWwRm10-OonxYhiFwgI08I4HS-1TJJaHZr-Sw/s1600-h/IMG_0760.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371179959996943234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_iDoMAEMw5wlvRiFcR2rl1CIaMX9Xzdhop1NHOW0GRL-tLzySxZdoMmKceVZoF7wNHgXoYn-uw63Z14Niy2SyvSSayeGfBuDI8wK4RZWwRm10-OonxYhiFwgI08I4HS-1TJJaHZr-Sw/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sunrise over Angkor Wat.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcW_pGVLAX5yPF2OioKErvzRb1F4wk5Xxk2et0P4T1QBQWPzKHECRGaNm-I2c7z2bAk9pNVXw1upmAkYkA-U-aZTSbfimbhK9FtSyDjm5DemCrSVJ_dMIkFzaC7jijXGjokHQW90Tr8I/s1600-h/IMG_0860.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371179953585684674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcW_pGVLAX5yPF2OioKErvzRb1F4wk5Xxk2et0P4T1QBQWPzKHECRGaNm-I2c7z2bAk9pNVXw1upmAkYkA-U-aZTSbfimbhK9FtSyDjm5DemCrSVJ_dMIkFzaC7jijXGjokHQW90Tr8I/s400/IMG_0860.JPG" border="0" /></a> Exploring ancient temples of Angkor.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdNW8UEbPjwe1jX8s6ZH8MN-YIjmvFul-Xgj6RWJwlwcEHq1EWsy0NrS1YgpmBmxLD_TeNMy4JQWMPEeJDJ0QMT6cDMt0WlFwh2Zn3sJdHY3Q9QyZYK8OyZpqEXZixJDtPj7vvMzVmjs/s1600-h/IMG_0877.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371179939056979330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdNW8UEbPjwe1jX8s6ZH8MN-YIjmvFul-Xgj6RWJwlwcEHq1EWsy0NrS1YgpmBmxLD_TeNMy4JQWMPEeJDJ0QMT6cDMt0WlFwh2Zn3sJdHY3Q9QyZYK8OyZpqEXZixJDtPj7vvMzVmjs/s400/IMG_0877.JPG" border="0" /></a> Definitely a 'wonder of the world'.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-1276434657646035612009-08-11T20:57:00.000-07:002009-08-14T00:24:24.176-07:00Hammocks, Tuk Tuks and Jelly FishLaos was stellar, Cambodia I'm still trying to get a feeling for. The 'four thousand islands' in the south of Laos was spectacular. Laying in hammocks on my riverside balcony watching sunsets and jumping in the Mekong. So sweet.<br /><br />The problem with both of these countries is the tourist cartel that seems to have formed. It <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> be incredibly cheap to travel through here and yet it's no cheaper than Thailand. The harassment for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tuk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tuk</span> here <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ín</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Phnom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Phen</span> endless. I know I'm use to it from India but it's still annoying and at least in India I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">didnt</span> get the feeling that everyone around was trying to bamboozle me (this is my new word of the month). I'm still traveling with the three Austrians I met back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Chiang</span> Mai almost four weeks ago. Yesterday was George's birthday so we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">didér</span> up with a night on the town.<br /><br />As far as big cities go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Phnom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Phen</span> is pretty cool. My first day here I visited the sombre S-21 detention center, the site where the Khmer Rouge tortured and sent to slaughter thousands of Cambodians during their short lived reign in the 70s. Three hours in a place like that can really alter your mood for the day.<br /><br />Went down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sihanoukville</span> for two days in the south of Cambodia. Not really the best beach town but it was nice to get back to the ocean. Went diving in less than 2 meters visibility, saw a jellyfish the size of a beach ball and lost my dive master due to the pour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">vis</span> but nothing else to report.<br /><br />Heading to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Siem</span> Reap tomorrow to check out <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Angkor</span> Wat, definitely looking forward to this!Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-10847332207094407852009-07-28T00:12:00.000-07:002009-08-05T07:49:08.882-07:00Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Northern LaosPictures! Ya, sorry it's been months, I really wish I'd uploaded some before now that my camera was stolen. Oh well, here are a few from the last 2 weeks: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and a few from the past few days in Loas.<br /><br />Things are going really well, I'm getting pretty scared about coming home but I guess it all has to end sometime... I received some rather disturbing news the other day that might keep me on the road a little longer. But I guess I'll see how I feel at the end of August.<br /><br />Northern Laos is very beautiful unfortunately, from what I have seen so far anyway, it is completely over run with tourists. I don't think Southern Loas will be like this which is next on my itinerary.<br /><br /><a href="mailto://steve.sturrock@gmail.com">Email me</a>, all of you, it's great to hear from people at home!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3HS6VRq8kT-wQa5-dx3IlFCk1qoXpswlzwTlqGlOZH66qjr8NzC8Pe3s6Zm99RMk9_jNAJaAhq3hFDZUlUF-Qjf1YDjhJ-nIu7uwMYqiUpE-4_AbTkvq2SZuvEQZwKQ-LCR73R28NF8/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3HS6VRq8kT-wQa5-dx3IlFCk1qoXpswlzwTlqGlOZH66qjr8NzC8Pe3s6Zm99RMk9_jNAJaAhq3hFDZUlUF-Qjf1YDjhJ-nIu7uwMYqiUpE-4_AbTkvq2SZuvEQZwKQ-LCR73R28NF8/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363415537881736418" border="0" /></a>Koa San Road, Bangkok<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPkzuvfC4PgSciYqsCbnGyvmAmIh9f48o8fS0UsxYMtEY9ZFCxgV1-02COmbNGL96X_lFeYWWtHxcDGyxHJWTmKJ9Wh3e_xaYsfk6dqORKSmwkCXzEs0fa6Q7ipSViQRuwThJDqkT04c/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPkzuvfC4PgSciYqsCbnGyvmAmIh9f48o8fS0UsxYMtEY9ZFCxgV1-02COmbNGL96X_lFeYWWtHxcDGyxHJWTmKJ9Wh3e_xaYsfk6dqORKSmwkCXzEs0fa6Q7ipSViQRuwThJDqkT04c/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363415530011991106" border="0" /></a>Elephant Safari, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14Ze69hRXJ1UGbgwefgc7XcW3EAxz31Ccu-oSV-bj81xXtAcrpkRn3cZP2KtcXA5RCtfhMEwuLGolVvE4QwMLpI8cHAD2hqc_h-xDRislHoomGN9DwoNFaUAdLmF5T8aiyJX4Nv2K9nI/s1600-h/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14Ze69hRXJ1UGbgwefgc7XcW3EAxz31Ccu-oSV-bj81xXtAcrpkRn3cZP2KtcXA5RCtfhMEwuLGolVvE4QwMLpI8cHAD2hqc_h-xDRislHoomGN9DwoNFaUAdLmF5T8aiyJX4Nv2K9nI/s400/IMG_0017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363415522577509906" border="0" /></a>Jungle Trekking.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYxTXRlWO7W7KfIE7RePUAxO3mUdwre35-4uwCgRjncL4SQAsXEyMv-ZbiAU-B2coen5Y0edKQzJoMNL7fvZrRwuJsogy8NuET8CjyFkJ3DLUSvEB-n3fjNvxS1X3Rpb05vGXAOQGyA/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYxTXRlWO7W7KfIE7RePUAxO3mUdwre35-4uwCgRjncL4SQAsXEyMv-ZbiAU-B2coen5Y0edKQzJoMNL7fvZrRwuJsogy8NuET8CjyFkJ3DLUSvEB-n3fjNvxS1X3Rpb05vGXAOQGyA/s400/IMG_0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363415518396930994" border="0" /></a>More jungle!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillHrtbecIUwirvg9p4CRBucGzeUuRAj53rGhPDdlFusEaFEwnW9_8x7sbgZ5Nzr0-clqAZ_QXpdnCC9g1FNaXFrFYT7tyqxITTrCsW0bJM_hrkzKpTvHFfKJeVrGcN8K3mUUW0cUfz_c/s1600-h/IMG_0023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillHrtbecIUwirvg9p4CRBucGzeUuRAj53rGhPDdlFusEaFEwnW9_8x7sbgZ5Nzr0-clqAZ_QXpdnCC9g1FNaXFrFYT7tyqxITTrCsW0bJM_hrkzKpTvHFfKJeVrGcN8K3mUUW0cUfz_c/s400/IMG_0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413544247170114" border="0" /></a>Our Canadian/Austrian Team.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nbJzEChyphenhyphenQlaDXOZjLITkUu3i9OrDzSgCkpold3LGsDlyqDfy7SE8L1H6KQI6OUlu8T7hebsdbZLADV_aMN9ErZx2iNW1TM_xJD2lId-bBOWBWPqc4q8rIKyPiRGOWfwZBRTLUPlkRYw/s1600-h/IMG_0026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nbJzEChyphenhyphenQlaDXOZjLITkUu3i9OrDzSgCkpold3LGsDlyqDfy7SE8L1H6KQI6OUlu8T7hebsdbZLADV_aMN9ErZx2iNW1TM_xJD2lId-bBOWBWPqc4q8rIKyPiRGOWfwZBRTLUPlkRYw/s400/IMG_0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413536426132994" border="0" /></a>Rice fields in Chiang Mai.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHQJS9b3Z2-3PpXj6sYpcQTcOw8Xw7lLI0Y6_V2JPNCdZuyqVDOEKOzov5MkMBLq8hm8mfyF6Hh1bD_dE8HxBbaIrU4KBKLAxA5kV4TxKJm5L1DAJ78o_rkNExFIuq7m1uV1HdT5TVOc/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHQJS9b3Z2-3PpXj6sYpcQTcOw8Xw7lLI0Y6_V2JPNCdZuyqVDOEKOzov5MkMBLq8hm8mfyF6Hh1bD_dE8HxBbaIrU4KBKLAxA5kV4TxKJm5L1DAJ78o_rkNExFIuq7m1uV1HdT5TVOc/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413532485289202" border="0" /></a>Chilling at the jungle hut.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ45o8GES3zpZYBA6ivGiNS8VcPAvWWxEZmlGxHpnNGmq1sZitF5OkNV-YnQ1tA8XzQwBaS3de4Ogibz3hRZYEAd67fRBRNOkQT_dUU9OwYaGNQGuKvqsx4rRGXYf_G2NdmFPZqmmmKw/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ45o8GES3zpZYBA6ivGiNS8VcPAvWWxEZmlGxHpnNGmq1sZitF5OkNV-YnQ1tA8XzQwBaS3de4Ogibz3hRZYEAd67fRBRNOkQT_dUU9OwYaGNQGuKvqsx4rRGXYf_G2NdmFPZqmmmKw/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413518093428642" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukx04-52tHlIHFA0eWwajKFUqqIi1B2E_fV0cD69n6PhLm56mCP5dx2GBA5o8wD0lF4MtdjjjiVCuB0kpBIwpwfc83m0_GEpgX_cnpxneOFQBwzu_rU07QsnIPwAtC_trbJmtuoNv5GQ/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukx04-52tHlIHFA0eWwajKFUqqIi1B2E_fV0cD69n6PhLm56mCP5dx2GBA5o8wD0lF4MtdjjjiVCuB0kpBIwpwfc83m0_GEpgX_cnpxneOFQBwzu_rU07QsnIPwAtC_trbJmtuoNv5GQ/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413510991904498" border="0" /></a>Harassing the cute local children.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYZZB42x7HtfpuyTappYtNnU5qw6TSZfDEj6uTgJ9ZvCLqKzavfDOJlE6OkbhpwagfRcessRCMiC8ANn9JyEJ6k9OZdQCkQ5UtspJtHuzT6oTKejHu0xC5WBCLZkOzs6gWvLSI_en-hQ/s1600-h/IMG_0066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYZZB42x7HtfpuyTappYtNnU5qw6TSZfDEj6uTgJ9ZvCLqKzavfDOJlE6OkbhpwagfRcessRCMiC8ANn9JyEJ6k9OZdQCkQ5UtspJtHuzT6oTKejHu0xC5WBCLZkOzs6gWvLSI_en-hQ/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363411218617410082" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ifdYX9axYhisftSA3inM2ePtuLE8XPaKy2_IpvR7ggAGWFLZ6dz872IfTfagQIjBK6Iu6JtuWUXqaBrdrwZrlRfu2GbkvMrbFi1YPbEHh1edhP9MK2oAZmAOtRq7T26p2jGOzLMDhag/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ifdYX9axYhisftSA3inM2ePtuLE8XPaKy2_IpvR7ggAGWFLZ6dz872IfTfagQIjBK6Iu6JtuWUXqaBrdrwZrlRfu2GbkvMrbFi1YPbEHh1edhP9MK2oAZmAOtRq7T26p2jGOzLMDhag/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363411205015344290" border="0" /></a>Drinking with our guides.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksgHgwhJHq6dxTdxmASSw9TJQRm1N5KBnO3vD8LFJoKLhzgFfrnmj7jQpaQ3ZGh0nFItaku6zfynHJWF_nzUtSoc6hAgCVdtp4mkN_xvT2IYYOp2zVYJ0cfhbi2QcfNYYvjfQHsTrZyA/s1600-h/IMG_0085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksgHgwhJHq6dxTdxmASSw9TJQRm1N5KBnO3vD8LFJoKLhzgFfrnmj7jQpaQ3ZGh0nFItaku6zfynHJWF_nzUtSoc6hAgCVdtp4mkN_xvT2IYYOp2zVYJ0cfhbi2QcfNYYvjfQHsTrZyA/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363411198689796978" border="0" /></a>Enjoying some street side pancakes.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW_M6JkPTNe1c-MjEeQxsz4jSuj196u4qifdjtMwOt2TavQUuGHs829rcH1Bt7Zy3BH2HWS9Q43Rp2Rp0xhOWEVnrM41mEy6Dyyv6jSjg6CY4JyDwmZ1iE09wdtcbmq3ApZyhJezOcFc/s1600-h/IMG_0092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW_M6JkPTNe1c-MjEeQxsz4jSuj196u4qifdjtMwOt2TavQUuGHs829rcH1Bt7Zy3BH2HWS9Q43Rp2Rp0xhOWEVnrM41mEy6Dyyv6jSjg6CY4JyDwmZ1iE09wdtcbmq3ApZyhJezOcFc/s400/IMG_0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363411188769636578" border="0" /></a>Mekong River, Laos.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwsHFzQdZfoAp5vSQkyLWYpJU-NSlods-TIYy8UUgygD2bxPb_1xkYiMxDsu3PkGewtv2uYEMhH6_CGFnDps_76H9kawyZsE_PiHgNJtnTfCbaa87RxRPtMecglaseqaFzX7WwoOG2_0/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwsHFzQdZfoAp5vSQkyLWYpJU-NSlods-TIYy8UUgygD2bxPb_1xkYiMxDsu3PkGewtv2uYEMhH6_CGFnDps_76H9kawyZsE_PiHgNJtnTfCbaa87RxRPtMecglaseqaFzX7WwoOG2_0/s400/IMG_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363411181923419138" border="0" /></a>Two days we spent on this boat floating from Northern Thailand into Laos.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR89myMwU3xcnbgz3JEKK_c7_jAP5_vrDSqcMC28_rq-KruzcgYIp30r5Er1QNzsEZoGe8YCouuApeBnnaDg139BwOq5WM4Op7kYw1vte-5IfhVcl4UOfal2z6OcBEFpwhK3_F-_fMYg/s1600-h/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR89myMwU3xcnbgz3JEKK_c7_jAP5_vrDSqcMC28_rq-KruzcgYIp30r5Er1QNzsEZoGe8YCouuApeBnnaDg139BwOq5WM4Op7kYw1vte-5IfhVcl4UOfal2z6OcBEFpwhK3_F-_fMYg/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363409159100253954" border="0" /></a>Some villagers on the banks of the Mekong River.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRSPh_aZm8tHpCpbSoR-IZ1yjQFIuN4q62i7ljrgCQe2sJVY0_QPnCo93tCUZxHTE65momtfHEd_KljX4BlpfcGFixen_ZOp7D_rHsZAZZNrxaso9JqZqTpuf8tNktcsxoUSG1WqnrGI/s1600-h/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRSPh_aZm8tHpCpbSoR-IZ1yjQFIuN4q62i7ljrgCQe2sJVY0_QPnCo93tCUZxHTE65momtfHEd_KljX4BlpfcGFixen_ZOp7D_rHsZAZZNrxaso9JqZqTpuf8tNktcsxoUSG1WqnrGI/s400/IMG_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363409149191664066" border="0" /></a>Buddhist Temple, Luang Prabang, Laos.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigqZod8eFg8j-2upQ-VuAX_DhnItWPCp79rd558t6kq16Mb8PPtjGd4bKGlQVvEy31yZN6UNUB-d6Dw_3oBRrfDiw_hyphenhyphenZ7NdCpUn94m9ztB7hBcBjs20VIwyEU7jVAs8DHUk11dJkTnE/s1600-h/IMG_0179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigqZod8eFg8j-2upQ-VuAX_DhnItWPCp79rd558t6kq16Mb8PPtjGd4bKGlQVvEy31yZN6UNUB-d6Dw_3oBRrfDiw_hyphenhyphenZ7NdCpUn94m9ztB7hBcBjs20VIwyEU7jVAs8DHUk11dJkTnE/s400/IMG_0179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363409141313666226" border="0" /></a>Luang Prabang, Laos.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOtatnw5-xcnP4wIA11GAilfZH9XVGZZnAKDw4NFzrT6aheTK7_FKYvIpJJ6vtY8MB0pji34pGSORrsEWfmsda2dxu855y0_X5DmZrtjeUfbtxwW8YPFNNXdZH7MgLOf-YQhEAOMeOEc/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOtatnw5-xcnP4wIA11GAilfZH9XVGZZnAKDw4NFzrT6aheTK7_FKYvIpJJ6vtY8MB0pji34pGSORrsEWfmsda2dxu855y0_X5DmZrtjeUfbtxwW8YPFNNXdZH7MgLOf-YQhEAOMeOEc/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363409138301914306" border="0" /></a>The Reclining Buddha, Luang Prabang.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYE-iJu3boTeH5zEjI_p8ywUzIpUs74uozsAgdA5DqMAw7h9KNft9SOQq6v7W-RBVPwQIYXD09zhc6cNzJYIWB7BvJuIUloKxkSse7Phk4aZQfEhLZVF5hUbGjfVQWtBSAu0vWKq6_WlY/s1600-h/IMG_0202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYE-iJu3boTeH5zEjI_p8ywUzIpUs74uozsAgdA5DqMAw7h9KNft9SOQq6v7W-RBVPwQIYXD09zhc6cNzJYIWB7BvJuIUloKxkSse7Phk4aZQfEhLZVF5hUbGjfVQWtBSAu0vWKq6_WlY/s400/IMG_0202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363409128434393378" border="0" /></a>Night Market in Luang Prabang.</div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-4908698169143900032009-07-13T02:55:00.000-07:002009-07-13T03:21:02.266-07:00Koh TaoSo two weeks ago when I made my visa run to Burma I thought 15 days would be more than enough time to make my way into the North and cross into Laos. But two weeks later, I found myself back at the same border crossing renewing my stay for another two weeks.<br /><br />The plan was to spend 4-5 days on Koh Tao where the diving is cheap, but the Lonely Planet didn't say anything about how freaking beautiful and amazing and relaxed and fun Koh Tao was. So I stayed for two weeks. Amazing!<br /><br />The diving was...good. Nothing compared to Koh Phi Phi or the Andaman Islands but it was alright. I finished my advanced course and have now logged over 20 dives and I'm still craving more. There's something so surreal about being underwater I just love it.<br /><br />The other great thing about Koh Tao were the beach bars. They would get pretty lively at night (nothing like Koh Phi Phi) but were still alot of fun. The island is small so most people gathered at one of two bars. There were hoards of holidaying Brits there drinking their faces off, as usual, but I always seem to find the backpackers making the experience alot more enjoyable. On July 1st, Canada Day, all the Canadians were out having a great time, I think we ended up in a group of about 20-25 of us. This really made my night.<br /><br />On the 9th, the night of the full moon, I took a party boat over to Koh Pha-Ngan to check out the infamous Full Moon Party. Man that was <span style="font-style: italic;">crazy</span>. Over ten thousand people on the beach drinking and dancing until the sun comes up and then some. And this is low season, I can't imagine what it's like in the winter when there are 30,000 people! I had a great time, met a ton of wicked people and managed to make my way back to the ferry at 6am the next morning.<br /><br />In other news, I finally lost my camera. When it comes to my camera I'm usually really really good at keeping it with me. I take it out to all the bars and never have problems. But it finally got stolen one night on Koh Tao, or maybe I lost it, it's a long story. Either way it's gone, I just wish they would have left me the memory card. Two and a half months of pictures and videos. Damn.<br /><br />I'm in Bangkok now, going camera shopping in a bit and preparing to head north to Chiang Mai. I'm looking forward to seeing some culture again. I got into an argument with this dumbass British girl telling her there was no culture on the islands and that all the Thais that live there are solely there because of us, the tourists. And it's true. It will be nice to see the real Thailand, maybe learn a few more words than Hello and Thank you.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-13162701976197980692009-06-28T03:40:00.000-07:002009-06-28T04:33:39.430-07:00The Andaman CoastOk so again no pictures, sorry. I was going to post some now but this computer keeps saying it has a virus and the last thing I need is to lose all my pictures or possibly have to buy a new camera. So Southern Thailand. Wow! It is absolutely spectacular here. The rain stopped the day Jeff arrived and the baking sun continued to shine for the entire time he was here. When Jeff left last night the rain started again and its been pouring since. Go figure.<br /><br />Krabi province is spectacular. Five days on Railey beach, a secluded peninsula accessible only by boat, was definitely too short. There are three unbelievable beaches there all within easy walking distance and enclosed by massive limestone cliffs. The scene is very low key with some chilled out bars lining the beach where you can lay back and enjoy a beer at while listening to some live music or watching some Thai kick boxing. We even caught a snake show one night. Railey is also the climbing capital of SE Asia (Jess probably would have cried or something ;) but I decided to save my excursion money for diving on Ko Phi Phi.<br /><br />Phi Phi Island is a two hour ferry from Railey famous for its dive sites and rowdy night life. The island itself if beautiful; the water is crystal clear and the sand is so white you need sunglasses to go out. It's a shame you have to share it with thousands of speedo clad holidayers drinking their faces off. But the night life <em>is</em> cool, especially when you start drinking buckets of Samsung (Thai whisky) and Red Bull, Thai style. They say the Red Bull they sell here would be illegal at home, I don't know why and I'm not really sure i want to but it definitely does things to you... But after 4 nights of watching westerners drink until they cant walk I really started to wonder how much more of it I could take. <br /><br />We didn't drink every night we were there, however. Sitting on the 'second best dive location in Thailand' there was no way I was going to miss an opportunity like that. And the diving certainly didn't disappoint! The first morning we went diving I learned the hard way what drinking Samsung and Chang (dirt cheap Thai beer) can do to you the next morning, even when you're taking it easy. But besides yakking off the boat after my first dive, it was fantastic, so much so that we did two more dives the following morning and a night dive the day after. I saw everything from large octopus to moray eels to reef sharks and one enormous leopard shark!<br /><br />Once we were tired of the Phi Phi drink till you drop scene we moved on to Phuket and found a tranquil little beach town called Kata. Another one of Asia's spectacular beaches with a good chilled out night vibe. Jeff caught a plane out of Phuket last night to head back to work in Aus, it was great seeing him for two weeks, I guess he took the sunshine with him...<br /><br />My Thai visa permit expired today, you only get 15 days in Thailand when you enter by land. I've stopped asking '<em>why</em>?' when it comes to some of the ridiculous things they do in Asia but this one is a real mind boggler. So in order for me to stay longer I had to get to the nearest border today which happened to be a crossing with Burma. What an ordeal... Six hours to the border town by bus, find Thai immigration to get an exit stamp, hire a long boat to take you across the inlet to Burma (which means stopping at numerous checkpoints), one hour later get off and go to Burma immigration, get entry and exit stamp, get back on the boat, more checkpoints, get Thailand entry stamp. Fifteen more days. What a joke. The whole process cost me about $25, and all the while i was thinking how useful and benificial to them it would be if the Thai government just let us pay instead. But, it's Asia.<br /><br />I wanted to walk around and take pictures of the town on the Burmese side but the men in army fatigues and M-16's on their shoulders reminded me of why I shouldn't buy any of the duty free items they were pushing. Not that there's anything to be worried about, but in case you've been living under a rock for the past 10 years, Burma's government isn't exactly a government you want to support. And the idea of just taking pictures and leaving doesn't sit with me very well me either. They dont need that kind of tourism. One day I'll really go to Burma, sit down and talk to those who want to talk, buy things from the locals and get off the beat and track. Maybe next trip.<br /><br />I'm off to Ko Tao tonight for a 5-6 day stay on this tiny little island in the Gulf Coast known to be the cheapest dive location in world. Diving and Pad Thai. Mmmm.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-82271947720439684042009-06-15T00:24:00.000-07:002009-06-15T01:00:54.160-07:00MonsoonSo I was hoping to post some pictures of Malaysia but it's going to have to wait so instead I will just provide a quick update... Kuala Lumpur was a really cool city. Spent 4 nights in the Chinatown district shopping for knock off everything and drinking overpriced beers at night. I met a ton of really great people and my only real complaint with the city was that it was too expensive. I visited the Petronas towers and an amazing aquarium, but mostly spent my days around Chinatown.<br /><br />I left KL for an island to the north called Penang, the food there was amazing! I then spent five nights on a large island further north, close to Thailand called Langkowi. Again it was way too expensive for me but it was beautiful none the less. Most of my days were spent on the beach and swimming in the sea. The island was duty free however so beers were incredibly cheap. It is the off season right now though so almost all the beach bars were empty in the evenings and there were very few people there in general. I found some great people staying at my guesthouse and we all decided to tour the island on motor bikes and visited the main tourist spots.<br /><br />As far as culture goes Langkowi didn't have much of it, the Lonely Planet described it as an escape from SE Asia and they were right. It was hard to find local food and the western food was sub par.<br /><br />I just arrived in Thailand yesterday to a small beach town called Krabi on the far south of the Andaman coast. It's very nice but again seeing as how it's the off season there are very few people here. Went out to a bar last night and had fun playing games with other travelers trying to pick out which of the Thai's were lady boys. Yikes!<br /><br />So I guess I was spoiled on Langkowi, it was sunny and 35 degrees everyday, hardly what you would expect durring the monsoon, but here in Krabi it's been raining off and on since I arrived. Monsoon rain, not Victoria rain.<br /><br />Jeff, my buddy from UVic, arrives tomorrow. Pretty stoked to do some drinking with him! Thanks for the emails everyone.<br /><br />SteveStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-51847718521030557692009-06-02T05:32:00.001-07:002009-06-02T06:32:31.079-07:00McStomach AcheJust gonna throw down a few lines about how things are going for those of you who actually read this... Malaysia is COOL. Man it's great to be back in the developed world again. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely <em>loved</em> India, but many things were really starting to get on my nerves in the last few weeks. For instance: the honking, man I swear I was ready to throw a brick at every car who honked their horn in India. It's incessant, you cant escape it no matter where you go. Even when you're the only person on the road and a car is driving towards you as soon as they're about a meter from you they honk their horn (I can't recall hearing a single horn here in Malaysia yet). But it was more than that... in India you can't ever just do something on your own. If I wanted to sit by a lake or a river and just enjoy the view within minutes I would have several people sitting next to me asking me the same BS questions: "where you from? you want something? just look sir." And if it's not the street hawkers harassing you then it's the Indian tourists who want to take a picture of you with them in it and practice their English with you. The Indian obsession with the West is really messed up. They want to be like us so badly, completely willing to abandon their own culture and yet I haven't seen anything that tells me they've got the slightest clue where to start.<br /><br />And the garbage. Man the garbage problem is truly an epidemic. It is by far the most common conversation among travelers. India is dirty. Plain and simple. Sure there are many beautiful places you can go where they seem to have or are starting to get their act together but in general it's a really dirty place. One day I met a young Indian guy from Bombay traveling around Amritsar. We had just finished eating some corn on the cob from a street vendor and I was carrying the wasted cob in my hand for several minutes (you will never find a garbage can in India but it's really hard to just chuck these things on the side of the road even though it's often full of garbage). When he saw that I wasn't going to just toss it aside he took it from me and did it himself. I explained to him that in my country, this is highly illegal and can result in a fine if the police were to see you, and more than that, the people around you would most likely get upset because it's just not acceptable. His reply to me, and I swear this is word for word: "then my country is better because we can throw anything on the ground anywhere we want." Keep in mind this is a college student with a good paying job in one of India's most developed cities. The thing is, they just don't freaking get it. And it's more than the garbage and the honking; it's the paan chewing and the wild dogs on the street and the hawking spit that everyone (including children as young as 6 or 7) has no problem doing anywhere they go.<br /><br />Bah, I love India! It <em>is</em> beautiful, and I really do miss it. I just needed to rant. haha.<br /><br />So Malaysia...WOW. Tioman Island was beautiful. It was ranked in the top 10 most beautiful islands in the world (I have to say, I think the Andaman's were better) but it was stunning as you can imagine. I got 3 dives in there including one night dive which was stellar.<br /><br />I am in a city called Melaka right now and it feels like I'm in any other city back home. Taking the bus across the country was no problem. They drive like normal humans here; no tearing ass around every corner and nearly side swiping any slow moving vehicles off the road. They stay between the lines and obey the traffic signals. This was a pleasant change.<br /><br />As for culture, boy does Malaysia ever have alot of it. I know we like to think of Canada as a very multicultural place but walking down the street here makes our western wear look like uniforms. Most people are <em>very</em> well dressed. In one short block you will walk past Chinese people dressed in designer jeans or short shorts and then maybe pass a group of Muslim women all wearing head scarves. Turn the corner and you'll see an Indian mother adorned in a beautiful sari with her daughter walking beside her in jeans and a tank top, both women wearing bindi's.<br /><br />And the food. Hell ya! It's SOOOO good. And it sure is great to be able to eat meat again. I think they put chicken in every meal here and it's always safe to eat (I had meat maybe 3 times in my 4 months in India). Oh, and you can drink the local water too. Sweet.<br /><br />So today I had a Western day... There is a massive 6 story mall here, by far the biggest mall I've ever seen in my life filled with every brand I've ever heard of and hundreds more I haven't. I did some shopping, drank at Starbucks and ate at McDonald's. I definitely broke my $25-30/day budget but it was so nice to just feel like I was at home again. Oh, I ate at McDonald's in India, I forgot to mention that before, Jess and I decided we had to at least try it so on our last night there we checked one out. Now obviously they don't serve beef there so I grabbed a 'Chicken Maharajah Burger' which didn't taste at all like chicken and the sauce was pretty weird but the fries were normal so that was cool. But here in Malaysia it's stellar. Not quite European McDonnald's quality but better than North American. And my Starbucks was fantastic!<br /><br />OK, that's all I've got for now. I hope for those of you who read this that it's enjoyable. I am completely in love with Malaysia as you can tell. No one has called me into a single shop, everyone who has approached me when I looked lost has helped me with no ill intent to lead me to their guesthouse or ask for money for assisting me. Malaysians are incredibly friendly.<br /><br />Oh, I forgot to mention the only really really shitty thing that's happened to me here. Bed Bugs. Holy freaking crap this is not cool. Last night I slept in a dorm room and woke up scratching all over, when I looked around the 2 other people I was sharing a room with were doing the same thing. This morning I saw that I am covered head to toe in the most itchy rash I have ever had in my life. It is so unnerving it makes me sick to my stomach, literally (much much worse than those itchy sand flies, Jess, which I am still dealing with as well). It's crazy that in 4 months in India/Nepal I never slept in a bed with those creepy little suckers and man am I ever thankful for that. Now I have definitely learned my lesson: check every bed before you sleep in it.<br /><br />I think I'm going to head to Kuala Lumpur in the next day or two, definitely excited to check out this modern city, who knows, maybe I can score a job with Petronas! haha.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />SteveStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-56090161255285728612009-05-24T06:13:00.000-07:002009-05-24T07:42:16.095-07:00Nepal, Varanasi and North IndiaHere are a whack of pictures from my travels over the last month. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0A71DP8TlVuZOiFVZ47ZuU_Hr9zKq-HTMgtG_NfXBVbJAqOcRbaruqpGL0odZn33Z_aV0Lt5ZFIOkOZnHmzwaEBpDb6bHuG1XrFGl34qf5U5VGVfRlWQJtJ0YC0V3RngHQTmsuedkho/s1600-h/IMG_0419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339387628817721330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0A71DP8TlVuZOiFVZ47ZuU_Hr9zKq-HTMgtG_NfXBVbJAqOcRbaruqpGL0odZn33Z_aV0Lt5ZFIOkOZnHmzwaEBpDb6bHuG1XrFGl34qf5U5VGVfRlWQJtJ0YC0V3RngHQTmsuedkho/s400/IMG_0419.JPG" border="0" /></a> The incredibly short runway at Lukla airport, 2800 meters.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah4Q5cN_Oa-qk2GQboMJKpDfwdPWyd-1Ml4JNx0DzatYPMS3fSMKzQM_ILRohZ-0YWaHyt7YSmgzBkp6xYTZa8bT6sG08Vewy6G3LjhfMVI-xkC65MiKlNA4jBz5guB7dwteN9rTdoM0/s1600-h/IMG_0421.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339387625881291666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah4Q5cN_Oa-qk2GQboMJKpDfwdPWyd-1Ml4JNx0DzatYPMS3fSMKzQM_ILRohZ-0YWaHyt7YSmgzBkp6xYTZa8bT6sG08Vewy6G3LjhfMVI-xkC65MiKlNA4jBz5guB7dwteN9rTdoM0/s400/IMG_0421.JPG" border="0" /></a> The first and only Starbucks I've seen on this trip, on the way to Everest of all places.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevMBXASiYLh1VkSrjcR8smNuPNWwsTaXhVwy94nuj2JDps1H68Uy2of2VvAFu2orgV6jKXFd7NsihjYB4LWms_y-As_uUNjyLWAgEre8hBAhXO62ie7ILD0uqRHhgTikrZqIxkEbmG_U/s1600-h/IMG_0426.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386912140486050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevMBXASiYLh1VkSrjcR8smNuPNWwsTaXhVwy94nuj2JDps1H68Uy2of2VvAFu2orgV6jKXFd7NsihjYB4LWms_y-As_uUNjyLWAgEre8hBAhXO62ie7ILD0uqRHhgTikrZqIxkEbmG_U/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" border="0" /></a> Look closely and you can see how the Sherpa people carry all of their gear on their heads. Crazy. I met one man carrying 90Kg.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386892070734402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQBDS4MZ7V_XhgRaJxIMv_tDKAv50ZrbL81z4Y9ZgZfTmpgTfU0zjjO6pr7jwdtmXQRYSGXAcMRROWpniJH38uH95wMecAdd_SOkuIu7r4LKQqIKAX5LEJNco91u_wQtmtvgVhQptK2Q/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4PnrPVywRKk0kq7V25IRenqGfmYwUHErIfBr_Qb9AXGGYKxTrCP1yfbn80cgyLWXRIDioj1Tr-T6U1h2G8k0o85-rw_Cj_HjSXrv4IzIuQowUx89Vaz1RSNZ6MvUe05f___TMZWODVc/s1600-h/IMG_0461.JPG"></a>The stunning mountain town of Namche Bazzar, 3500 meters. There are no roads up here so everything has to be carried in.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxbou6CQUVzWfhicFzZ2wXYlhMZje4mjv8UCeyCucie6pi1grSxqfs_uXUGvZoXHFTjWnLCYSLrAcEruJNWwyqn6D8srjfmtcFJetmWMDlMnR2GSwOjdKiHJnLJFDhSwHjIkhELKijPY/s1600-h/IMG_0469.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386896222164978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxbou6CQUVzWfhicFzZ2wXYlhMZje4mjv8UCeyCucie6pi1grSxqfs_uXUGvZoXHFTjWnLCYSLrAcEruJNWwyqn6D8srjfmtcFJetmWMDlMnR2GSwOjdKiHJnLJFDhSwHjIkhELKijPY/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dawn at Namche Bazzar.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfNLez5VLe-glEwjJ7QLjUo7TwcDVcQUx-wOhQEe2k4CL20KDKS_HllpoJCnKTAiW7JqIGXkPbAOY4ycRFdCdkVdZB5z6ANtOxDr1wy0huxAKca-mhg9SjMpopeUkZhuCsvoqYv9zXnw/s1600-h/IMG_0509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386159870935026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfNLez5VLe-glEwjJ7QLjUo7TwcDVcQUx-wOhQEe2k4CL20KDKS_HllpoJCnKTAiW7JqIGXkPbAOY4ycRFdCdkVdZB5z6ANtOxDr1wy0huxAKca-mhg9SjMpopeUkZhuCsvoqYv9zXnw/s400/IMG_0509.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sam, Me, Tamara, Chris and Jess. Sam and Chris were two stellar Canadians we met on the plane to Lukla who were on their way to summit Everest. By far two of the best people I've met on my trip.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZt5-rI9lvXcXpKzysu5IpiAkztqyqBTpdOIYxm89_2Kurmsf-k3G_RaaQWWpVGrfTLNXZhKLANJGs7P6B4VEvS8CkcwzVl2gHMPYJRobdw9LkPzYWSDCYgB5fwg5yyWe8FP0Nf2UGCw/s1600-h/IMG_0512.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386154753495890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZt5-rI9lvXcXpKzysu5IpiAkztqyqBTpdOIYxm89_2Kurmsf-k3G_RaaQWWpVGrfTLNXZhKLANJGs7P6B4VEvS8CkcwzVl2gHMPYJRobdw9LkPzYWSDCYgB5fwg5yyWe8FP0Nf2UGCw/s400/IMG_0512.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyE1LugmYm8C7_bHxCvPYfnuBqAQWIVJCzlcoWDE8tbRT7zMuaxhIBDMA9Vts9cdWAZg1RzzfX5JjnTdA9ddKANhjJhuIXTAiXeIRvhxZccmlpvXdDgY-TuFrl1pE9oNytlIp1QFXaA0/s1600-h/IMG_0575.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386153362178786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyE1LugmYm8C7_bHxCvPYfnuBqAQWIVJCzlcoWDE8tbRT7zMuaxhIBDMA9Vts9cdWAZg1RzzfX5JjnTdA9ddKANhjJhuIXTAiXeIRvhxZccmlpvXdDgY-TuFrl1pE9oNytlIp1QFXaA0/s400/IMG_0575.JPG" border="0" /></a>The highest camp, Gorak Shep, elevation 5100 meters.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq50ke02qyoQdqaswz6p8KOJgH_VBQmKYd1p-9RwLKLt6nmGSvo2ECsWCmbqWXpLTsH_jLKXBvgRwCxS4ubnr3HPAAnNCBJGsVowE1tGpScbJiqgQdtGb-lJ0v3QtmlTAjwvDpnFe3TA/s1600-h/IMG_0586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386147894504898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq50ke02qyoQdqaswz6p8KOJgH_VBQmKYd1p-9RwLKLt6nmGSvo2ECsWCmbqWXpLTsH_jLKXBvgRwCxS4ubnr3HPAAnNCBJGsVowE1tGpScbJiqgQdtGb-lJ0v3QtmlTAjwvDpnFe3TA/s400/IMG_0586.JPG" border="0" /></a> Of all the days we decide to go up, we arrive on the day a bunch of Brits decide they're going to set the world record for the 'Highest Cricket Game'. British people do some really weird things.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdCj48tKuMS0gfrfCRxLNSDF_aixN0LWHvOBjP1yo6mGHpBaqonmJ5pbZFXyJ3RYH50K00fgrbBVgeuXRkvyQG-W2ENHDLUD3qBaTlVXnR_uIaSpJBy_Xr6_dbHwNr06h3wSoJ6Fhh1o/s1600-h/IMG_0588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339386140177857682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdCj48tKuMS0gfrfCRxLNSDF_aixN0LWHvOBjP1yo6mGHpBaqonmJ5pbZFXyJ3RYH50K00fgrbBVgeuXRkvyQG-W2ENHDLUD3qBaTlVXnR_uIaSpJBy_Xr6_dbHwNr06h3wSoJ6Fhh1o/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" border="0" /></a>I must say, Cricket is incredibly boring.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79u-HYn01qJs2JvG0A91dN8HfPa118qbOfmIWj2rR503bELqedUOLS7x73cKumbxBwB3W3w0ljV0ZBRMaYxeMgDr6jEojJSrdkJZuMe9dSpz89E53DGFnBzQpEeFp8Sjs55y5QFejLYQ/s1600-h/IMG_0600.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339385071160360050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79u-HYn01qJs2JvG0A91dN8HfPa118qbOfmIWj2rR503bELqedUOLS7x73cKumbxBwB3W3w0ljV0ZBRMaYxeMgDr6jEojJSrdkJZuMe9dSpz89E53DGFnBzQpEeFp8Sjs55y5QFejLYQ/s400/IMG_0600.JPG" border="0" /></a> An early (4AM) start to catch the sunrise over Everest. This is looking back down the valley we came up over the previous 8 days.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTFETnTcOMdp2UWtaNHsSi9pKpcFwKBmZOKFbyM7QyxOWOW8lXoHswpf6yZgvPClhs8GgdqBfAMlNR5VQFSaF1ArO9L9Ag5mTJo0EmLGcSpk_FY8OZ8ou8_EvVO3XYbaxY-gTl7ej_i0/s1600-h/IMG_0617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339385063425467410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTFETnTcOMdp2UWtaNHsSi9pKpcFwKBmZOKFbyM7QyxOWOW8lXoHswpf6yZgvPClhs8GgdqBfAMlNR5VQFSaF1ArO9L9Ag5mTJo0EmLGcSpk_FY8OZ8ou8_EvVO3XYbaxY-gTl7ej_i0/s400/IMG_0617.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kala Patthar, 5550 meters. So so awesome.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONVCbgN6_9FKmO3F0il2iRCMC9kM1370-Ppnwa0ZtejCtaQXEaxVw5QaZjZFqWFbEj2eRmG3znlVnn4a3nRrdJK5BqCPFbzxFhQL_D4YwG1zv7dBTqfqiaRSjBkmyn3gcZyCd-FkVNCU/s1600-h/IMG_0626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339385063001372274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONVCbgN6_9FKmO3F0il2iRCMC9kM1370-Ppnwa0ZtejCtaQXEaxVw5QaZjZFqWFbEj2eRmG3znlVnn4a3nRrdJK5BqCPFbzxFhQL_D4YwG1zv7dBTqfqiaRSjBkmyn3gcZyCd-FkVNCU/s400/IMG_0626.JPG" border="0" /></a>So we celebrated with some whisky.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduCSfVkKz1t6uRepF9RN0poKIz5c-m1qHbdDZ8il8i0GeLvIZMFdyosvELvmF49zYSKgC4Za3mVtAr_t9K6FM0iizu_fktaGbHCPuM6pSK-iCZdxnhaQQwRLsmqXXlzMMjcRsTSx6pm8/s1600-h/IMG_0635.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339385054893386770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduCSfVkKz1t6uRepF9RN0poKIz5c-m1qHbdDZ8il8i0GeLvIZMFdyosvELvmF49zYSKgC4Za3mVtAr_t9K6FM0iizu_fktaGbHCPuM6pSK-iCZdxnhaQQwRLsmqXXlzMMjcRsTSx6pm8/s400/IMG_0635.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sunrise over Everest, the peak on the left.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQvhOQYZQr2j9PbKLuaXZojW3PQ6aE81S_VkJL55dh__kMT3y_5e4ZgL6S7upjLa5wLBC634mv3SB7oKE6zgxsesoHvAS8jCDlVcTWmarzf4gszSvwJ1h77M_e2k66iBFzRBC8O_jCPw/s1600-h/IMG_0673.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339383643301534274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQvhOQYZQr2j9PbKLuaXZojW3PQ6aE81S_VkJL55dh__kMT3y_5e4ZgL6S7upjLa5wLBC634mv3SB7oKE6zgxsesoHvAS8jCDlVcTWmarzf4gszSvwJ1h77M_e2k66iBFzRBC8O_jCPw/s400/IMG_0673.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzMLPqb6qgPUfQtrjATWHDMXEMx9dSgl4wji-1TVRrrffSkFLX_MQL40UrKj9qwDUtmmOATKtSyWNcoIxXlyPr6QBEnTlNAc2-ElnSeaMy1QOHPOTr_SmtuZGwQ0aRQQsIrQURrVnT_k/s1600-h/IMG_0702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339383642293460994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzMLPqb6qgPUfQtrjATWHDMXEMx9dSgl4wji-1TVRrrffSkFLX_MQL40UrKj9qwDUtmmOATKtSyWNcoIxXlyPr6QBEnTlNAc2-ElnSeaMy1QOHPOTr_SmtuZGwQ0aRQQsIrQURrVnT_k/s400/IMG_0702.JPG" border="0" /></a> Everest and Everest Base Camp below left next to the ice flow.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWllTCbScP3SE8GJMw6nkGjGjoY-_3btWqjB1ZdIlFAk4M_7ocmC8lnAQkTgUltLJl_qSYZUR4l3KR1JJy5IZDTxh-GZauIR59GbI2LfBbcVyAMuxFnW-hw0AXi4G0Za8P3_RfMOWZN8I/s1600-h/IMG_0728.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339383629621654642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWllTCbScP3SE8GJMw6nkGjGjoY-_3btWqjB1ZdIlFAk4M_7ocmC8lnAQkTgUltLJl_qSYZUR4l3KR1JJy5IZDTxh-GZauIR59GbI2LfBbcVyAMuxFnW-hw0AXi4G0Za8P3_RfMOWZN8I/s400/IMG_0728.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU9IwkG-OPRtfbBI5vSPxbUdSdau9ZxNOCiBxX9-yRpjh0j1vr-vbxijSvlbQR8HaxMv3l70hbAfwIU6-fIkydGWftFzRzxbeoZfNinXxyHAOX6XDSk7m63nkXVyDz_m02Toq5qQDuzM/s1600-h/IMG_0829.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339383629695561026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU9IwkG-OPRtfbBI5vSPxbUdSdau9ZxNOCiBxX9-yRpjh0j1vr-vbxijSvlbQR8HaxMv3l70hbAfwIU6-fIkydGWftFzRzxbeoZfNinXxyHAOX6XDSk7m63nkXVyDz_m02Toq5qQDuzM/s400/IMG_0829.JPG" border="0" /></a> Later that afternoon we walked to Base Camp.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYoUiRy0M7nQwIl9LQGPaxS2PksucULveIWImVuLOkrK30pIy9IagX6bkJfryRQM_k2PFy3nARjmXCAfUs_22EoXk32cx6zJGj-Zvg58Fp0gJjcaKkWCyxGc4ZRofYsm1oGFCPfpxSL4/s1600-h/IMG_0837.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339383621202482818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYoUiRy0M7nQwIl9LQGPaxS2PksucULveIWImVuLOkrK30pIy9IagX6bkJfryRQM_k2PFy3nARjmXCAfUs_22EoXk32cx6zJGj-Zvg58Fp0gJjcaKkWCyxGc4ZRofYsm1oGFCPfpxSL4/s400/IMG_0837.JPG" border="0" /></a>And had some delicious apple pie!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr8G11A3Bdy3_LgRxUV8b3pKjAdMJOc5VlkxuJZljkq1mBpD3DiOExiLl1PvF-tt3klxSgvPEVQ6H8sxFxRUuLVzji9yrrXfANTvu9NKp7O5VKmeou7D7u_1_VG1-CTiO314SW4npAY0/s1600-h/IMG_0877.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339382600262353170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr8G11A3Bdy3_LgRxUV8b3pKjAdMJOc5VlkxuJZljkq1mBpD3DiOExiLl1PvF-tt3klxSgvPEVQ6H8sxFxRUuLVzji9yrrXfANTvu9NKp7O5VKmeou7D7u_1_VG1-CTiO314SW4npAY0/s400/IMG_0877.JPG" border="0" /></a> The walk back through some enormous valley's was impressive.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTzGtrKvzPAky983oMUK-1SQaSqEZboRCR0jlF4yVe1aIDTu9GdUHhBKgLDyge1OHbsMyE3eCDiPkwsj5gJIDGCq1ax7TcVNuSFP-hIWjMXzuKQBxpPhunH-_FRAfpXeeyU-8B8WmV4U/s1600-h/IMG_0902.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339382589436650098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTzGtrKvzPAky983oMUK-1SQaSqEZboRCR0jlF4yVe1aIDTu9GdUHhBKgLDyge1OHbsMyE3eCDiPkwsj5gJIDGCq1ax7TcVNuSFP-hIWjMXzuKQBxpPhunH-_FRAfpXeeyU-8B8WmV4U/s400/IMG_0902.JPG" border="0" /></a>The streets of Kathmandu.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyCr71B6gyhMmO3aHBGcKghC3rS6YXg8IPFMeMuXePPpWuULLzNDOqyBy3m5YSoCdlP3E7e_AXnwS-Qos0L26XJ52ONhzWDOLArillQ9AgJtnBeSJFpHysqs0IMtQlIPPkNEOzw8UuA0/s1600-h/IMG_0907.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339382584150906674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyCr71B6gyhMmO3aHBGcKghC3rS6YXg8IPFMeMuXePPpWuULLzNDOqyBy3m5YSoCdlP3E7e_AXnwS-Qos0L26XJ52ONhzWDOLArillQ9AgJtnBeSJFpHysqs0IMtQlIPPkNEOzw8UuA0/s400/IMG_0907.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGyLdCg4jD5LmHDfrfBVHAMNLe8pdbN22y34GNDKOmBoAGaFqtAT4PM7yeQsFLd0lEWlNLU7UfX5YP8imwSt2-1fSnPrYLKoUyy0pchPySaSByfsRk18tQrKL5PPV36BYD_fkJAhn3BM/s1600-h/IMG_0914.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339382579433266290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGyLdCg4jD5LmHDfrfBVHAMNLe8pdbN22y34GNDKOmBoAGaFqtAT4PM7yeQsFLd0lEWlNLU7UfX5YP8imwSt2-1fSnPrYLKoUyy0pchPySaSByfsRk18tQrKL5PPV36BYD_fkJAhn3BM/s400/IMG_0914.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kyaking on the lake in Pokhara, Nepal.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j6WcGmJOeiWWvuZnuwaci5AYeQsdRFfd6U0CGSrf3UdchSqG-KRS-Alq_uP2gs0oDmYIfghTrY2jny24adfzl0VvxVZF6Hn1ulrso_QA4tLaO4npKufgwL7-70iNPqTZGVk3q5tmCRE/s1600-h/IMG_0923.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339382580005347282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j6WcGmJOeiWWvuZnuwaci5AYeQsdRFfd6U0CGSrf3UdchSqG-KRS-Alq_uP2gs0oDmYIfghTrY2jny24adfzl0VvxVZF6Hn1ulrso_QA4tLaO4npKufgwL7-70iNPqTZGVk3q5tmCRE/s400/IMG_0923.JPG" border="0" /></a>A flash storm in Pokhara, I watched lightning strike less than 100 meters away. THAT was scary.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19iQOwBqTKDWMRp8yUmCoepeJePGgYO_Fv5GzslLhtKhJ4bvfimKyPT6QHSZ_hkf8KZGr4gKBfVS58XdW244NHFRnn0Gw0VT_6TqOWvx5J2ZPGSUKfyKn8mecDb9ibJDf49CvzwHKBeA/s1600-h/IMG_0938.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381892115072946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19iQOwBqTKDWMRp8yUmCoepeJePGgYO_Fv5GzslLhtKhJ4bvfimKyPT6QHSZ_hkf8KZGr4gKBfVS58XdW244NHFRnn0Gw0VT_6TqOWvx5J2ZPGSUKfyKn8mecDb9ibJDf49CvzwHKBeA/s400/IMG_0938.JPG" border="0" /></a> Bathing the Elephants at Chitwan National Park, Nepal.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2CBIUtKr415VVsDwAYDNSK_XL6ZdeLLe-TSjjrRXNYl0vLUt1HwWOC6H98TCY-u3dWt9gbTDUBPsvx3GvwrNWsezMGXMpBlkXLWMOicvYvViz6ScGUbxa4pktft4OatH4Htu3j8V_tE/s1600-h/IMG_1002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381889093605474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2CBIUtKr415VVsDwAYDNSK_XL6ZdeLLe-TSjjrRXNYl0vLUt1HwWOC6H98TCY-u3dWt9gbTDUBPsvx3GvwrNWsezMGXMpBlkXLWMOicvYvViz6ScGUbxa4pktft4OatH4Htu3j8V_tE/s400/IMG_1002.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sharing the roof of a bus on our way out of Nepal.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbjBq4qvXHrKwWeImxVFx9xF8ZnCyMqj5M-i4bPMTGSapD17Ano1zu9f4vVhFEhPwMJTHoUOmQXyyB7Xp_VZw0gAfZHlxPE_B1uersFzCQcCwWJOgzT7C80p92uZ8vx5TRS3K5IkwLLo/s1600-h/IMG_1042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381878123127570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbjBq4qvXHrKwWeImxVFx9xF8ZnCyMqj5M-i4bPMTGSapD17Ano1zu9f4vVhFEhPwMJTHoUOmQXyyB7Xp_VZw0gAfZHlxPE_B1uersFzCQcCwWJOgzT7C80p92uZ8vx5TRS3K5IkwLLo/s400/IMG_1042.JPG" border="0" /></a> Varansi, India. By far the craziest most intense place I have ever been in my life. This is the holy Ganges River, where people from all over India come to cremate their loved ones. Let me just say the water is pretty sick and there is nothing in this world that would get me to jump in there.</div><div></div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURIRJmBfsLQmVA2VSoOQbbtzPVAnquDP7dNXk0EOXBVKJoFOIDe9MrUIjrD1fOhW_FeNr0mlLFXwTj6ag3xjRePbAMVOr77mA0qaT6epkDmmKOVJ5LvjiyZ3vIrT87IORgx0E17DiM_M/s1600-h/IMG_0023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381868264030306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURIRJmBfsLQmVA2VSoOQbbtzPVAnquDP7dNXk0EOXBVKJoFOIDe9MrUIjrD1fOhW_FeNr0mlLFXwTj6ag3xjRePbAMVOr77mA0qaT6epkDmmKOVJ5LvjiyZ3vIrT87IORgx0E17DiM_M/s400/IMG_0023.JPG" border="0" /></a> But thousands of people bath and swim here everyday. It's <em>holy </em>water.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEVlnP9dVUiDFQmy4p06p1MdYXAHyLSEv7xsGS442q_XQi2NwEau0yhzLVyxgMz9WqU0H07KpYehrdbgc8QEioU3pkPQYpwO_zO3eKpVrPH3HpEKHVxiJlvXA14Z37IonVSRPTK-qCnk/s1600-h/IMG_0033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381861411189362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEVlnP9dVUiDFQmy4p06p1MdYXAHyLSEv7xsGS442q_XQi2NwEau0yhzLVyxgMz9WqU0H07KpYehrdbgc8QEioU3pkPQYpwO_zO3eKpVrPH3HpEKHVxiJlvXA14Z37IonVSRPTK-qCnk/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" /></a> But aside from watching dead bodies be carried through town and their smell that penetrates the city from being burned on the ghats, and if you can get passed the endless harassment and the dozens of cows and cow shit you have to avoid in the narrow streets that are just wide enough people (and dont forget to keep your head up for oncoming motorcycles) and if you make a point <em>not</em> to look at the dead bodies that wash up on shore after they've been sunk in the Ganges (children, pregnant women and suicide victims can't be cremated) then Varanasi is a really beautiful place.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhrfdHMQ7NBMSYxlthI_3aFhNSzDFy3OCwusfPVzer21rPL-lOhRXZqjqCSaGeCy96dKDXxo4t8N4b6N86KiXRc3BE7FjoRrHAGJ5YcvivKIhVK1K1UwR6gZjwE7MKTg5LuvgiZb4ubs/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381135579922546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhrfdHMQ7NBMSYxlthI_3aFhNSzDFy3OCwusfPVzer21rPL-lOhRXZqjqCSaGeCy96dKDXxo4t8N4b6N86KiXRc3BE7FjoRrHAGJ5YcvivKIhVK1K1UwR6gZjwE7MKTg5LuvgiZb4ubs/s400/IMG_0084.JPG" border="0" /></a> And the Puja festival performed on the ghats every evening is pretty cool.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf6wDlHJh-EMyqwPCBX8HlkHHkH15nMfeXcouv7BQUrpes2kF-2kl_wNnrOVGASPdIKXJ0Jxmm61W80TyAa5hndoDW7ns2QDa9VqTY4H34bynPjEdkWL81smIHxi7mM-DqbX-39YaOq8/s1600-h/IMG_0124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381125665335074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf6wDlHJh-EMyqwPCBX8HlkHHkH15nMfeXcouv7BQUrpes2kF-2kl_wNnrOVGASPdIKXJ0Jxmm61W80TyAa5hndoDW7ns2QDa9VqTY4H34bynPjEdkWL81smIHxi7mM-DqbX-39YaOq8/s400/IMG_0124.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ahh Rishikesh, a quiet hill station in the North, the place where the Beatles came to chill out and write the White Album. Definitely a great place to escape.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381119359748082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2qoXX8RKbO9cTvSBHIJByiujNi5nmKpXCA8oMAgTEEQXk-rQfzgeGIyKDSrSOp6Fx0ilefvt-lVkAtPTsc-Xu-VtmN94RRdDXbpTJTSRDknyQEZXrbb1o3FMrddsezjtnZ3uYmLKguU/s400/IMG_0149.JPG" border="0" />I was God awful sick from the food in Varansi so Mama Jee took care of me at her guesthose with tea and thali.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCbNZHg3Ul36-1C5tin_JY42w-0z4jvxBKXxUBMGPY-d5FnWBynec4PL-cv22RHNCnR8UELuLarJG2tVtk2LFan0Skkf8Bb4H0W-uxkIWZlLblWDf3AcjWwZ7JqN6y-3dIk18VyMrghE/s1600-h/IMG_0148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339381124304432610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCbNZHg3Ul36-1C5tin_JY42w-0z4jvxBKXxUBMGPY-d5FnWBynec4PL-cv22RHNCnR8UELuLarJG2tVtk2LFan0Skkf8Bb4H0W-uxkIWZlLblWDf3AcjWwZ7JqN6y-3dIk18VyMrghE/s400/IMG_0148.JPG" border="0" /></a> And when I felt better we when rafting on the Ganges, here at the mouth of the river the swimming was pretty stellar.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ZWDUck0txTSd19J5ebgQ0BdMpwPZHUPBn9Ysc1zxCqgy3PxjX_kCEHCoS2XOz-oyKfkZLI_P_HCIB1eMj8Y5NKWM1gaQyAFzgIwaqZhxpnfxoRFV_bOYPVFPBKu3CcRyKbA69XeIvU/s1600-h/IMG_0165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339380335310017042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ZWDUck0txTSd19J5ebgQ0BdMpwPZHUPBn9Ysc1zxCqgy3PxjX_kCEHCoS2XOz-oyKfkZLI_P_HCIB1eMj8Y5NKWM1gaQyAFzgIwaqZhxpnfxoRFV_bOYPVFPBKu3CcRyKbA69XeIvU/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Golden Temple in Amritsar. Very beautiful although the constant bombardment to have my photo taken with Indian tourist was really trying.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gXZYmfJxnkpEObzldmUvSz6eqmy3PnY3ZEQ-cXO_NjxSkwZP-2lQUsl8JJPms38pO_x-28qNjjMSjAq3t18ZPD5uSWL22vnzW0jJw-oY-kKcLIqsl2KqQtGcFo8zUJum_5OcrupBstw/s1600-h/IMG_0212.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339380333847313234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gXZYmfJxnkpEObzldmUvSz6eqmy3PnY3ZEQ-cXO_NjxSkwZP-2lQUsl8JJPms38pO_x-28qNjjMSjAq3t18ZPD5uSWL22vnzW0jJw-oY-kKcLIqsl2KqQtGcFo8zUJum_5OcrupBstw/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" border="0" /></a> The India-Pakistan border closing ceremony. This was like going to a sporting event. 'Hindustan! Hindustan!'<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMePI1wtH64V6HxlnjxqQf_MpZccjmEKQe0Gd_op64Wc32z8ilWZk3mDHD8kJ9XXKbWLdgSFWy7uY9n34fFR15PNj1h5ckgQRzkJkN7hdRIbPABhXD1sHvicA-8_0A_HVLmvEBOpmghI/s1600-h/IMG_0261.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339380325961800082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMePI1wtH64V6HxlnjxqQf_MpZccjmEKQe0Gd_op64Wc32z8ilWZk3mDHD8kJ9XXKbWLdgSFWy7uY9n34fFR15PNj1h5ckgQRzkJkN7hdRIbPABhXD1sHvicA-8_0A_HVLmvEBOpmghI/s400/IMG_0261.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Golden Palace at night.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8593VM-L0y3K1Bk64rlcXivXLFCDHi1NzDwK50Wm-gnxWsqgKL1bdPICGwA4kikvGGpC4t0s3xvXMB4WNCCsOfD_MCLJqgtVv0WhnVyZlEp1D7hhcKpYgDGrnpxalrOPynCAssIeH5g/s1600-h/IMG_0277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339380322595781602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8593VM-L0y3K1Bk64rlcXivXLFCDHi1NzDwK50Wm-gnxWsqgKL1bdPICGwA4kikvGGpC4t0s3xvXMB4WNCCsOfD_MCLJqgtVv0WhnVyZlEp1D7hhcKpYgDGrnpxalrOPynCAssIeH5g/s400/IMG_0277.JPG" border="0" /></a> My last stop in India before returning to Delhi was Dharmsala, the place where the Dali Lama keeps his Tibetan Government in exile.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Atfkj-wCK_smRM8X7aIEj7nf4vgzWjo4Tigu8vxhf89yUhf9CCS_UOoyhfGogYG_EaYOPfJ9usf-A7lhnEANkQkQU7KJhLA-t8sR0K3CBAHnbRYOVpXJrwRoenZaD3TXhE7tV6AvLUk/s1600-h/IMG_0287.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339380318179475634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Atfkj-wCK_smRM8X7aIEj7nf4vgzWjo4Tigu8vxhf89yUhf9CCS_UOoyhfGogYG_EaYOPfJ9usf-A7lhnEANkQkQU7KJhLA-t8sR0K3CBAHnbRYOVpXJrwRoenZaD3TXhE7tV6AvLUk/s400/IMG_0287.JPG" border="0" /></a> Outside the Dali Lama's temple. This place was really really beautful. A nice tranquil and spiritual place to end my journey of India.</div><div> </div><div></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I leave for Singapore this evening and will start the SE Asia leg of my trip. First stop: Tioman Island, Malaysia. Man I can't wait for the beach!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-82793207835052780142009-05-14T02:12:00.000-07:002009-05-14T03:08:47.428-07:00NepalWell, first off I'm sorry for not posting in a month, I feel like I've done so much and there is so much to tell!<br /><br />The trek to Kala Patthar and Everest Base Camp was simply amazing and by far one of the best experiences of my trip so far. We flew from Kathmandu to Lukla where the elevation is about 2800m (thats about 10,000 ft to you Dad). This airport is <span style="font-style: italic;">insane</span>. The runway is maybe 300m and it's on a very steep slope up a ridge that they use both for slowing the planes down when they land and for airspeed when they take off. A little hair raising landing here? Bah, I love that shit! From there we climbed for 8 days to reach the highest camp, Gorak Shep, elevation ~5100m. Gorak Shep is the hub for day hikes to Kala Patthar and Base Camp. The weather couldn't have been more perfect.<br /><br />Base camp, at ~5350 meters, I have to say, isn't much. The walk there was stellar, a trail is cut through an enormous moraine and you're only a few meters away from the ice flow, often walking over buried ice along the way. The camp is nothing more than a bunch of tents full of mountaineers and their guides and due to the size of the surrounding mountains, there is no view of Everest from here. Seeing the ice flow they have to cross to reach Camp 2 however, was impressive. This is the most difficult part of the accent and they will have to cross it 3-4 times. To put it simply, it was massive. We had apple pie at the German bakery they constructed made our way back.<br /><br />At 4am the morning after we arrived in Gorak Shep, we left to summit Kala Patthar (elevation 5550m/18, 200ft) and catch the sunrise over Everest. This was by far the most spectacular place I have ever been. The sky was very dark blue, the darkest I've seen, and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. Kala Patthar is completely surrounded by many of the tallest mountains in the world. Everest was certainly not the most beautiful mountain, but seeing the sun rise from behind it's peak was breathtaking. <br /><br />To put things in perspective, mount Robson in BC is just under 4000m, Everest is 8900m. At Kala Patthar, we were only a few hundred meters short of the highest mountain in Canada (Logan) and the surrounding mountains were still several thousand meters above us.<br /><br />The weather was great, it was definitely cold at night but certainly not as cold as our trek in India. The climb was somewhat difficult but I loved every minute of it and enjoyed carrying my own pack this time. I was eating three solid meals a day but I still think I lost over 10 pounds. <br /><br />Food was <span style="font-style: italic;">expensive</span>. A bottle of water, that might cost 30Rp (50 cents) climbed up to 300Rp ($5) at Gorak Shep. But I understand it, there are no roads or anything so everything has to be carried in by the Sherpa people. These guys and girls are amazing. They carry the loads on their heads, many of them over 50-60Kg. I met one man carrying 92Kg on his head. Unreal.<br /><br />The trekkers atmosphere was great. We met tons of people from all over the world from all age groups. But by far the funniest (or weirdest) thing we saw was the world record attempt at 'The Worlds Highest Cricket Match' held at Gorak Shep. This was funny. I will never understand, nor do I want to understand, how to play cricket. British people do some really strange things sometimes.<br /><br />Oh, and no altitude sickness! I think Jess and I were probably still acclimatized from our trek in India 2 weeks earlier so we felt great the whole way up. But I'd say more than 70% of the people we met had symptoms, including our travel companion.<br /><br />So, after 9 days of climbing, we descended in 3 very long and tiring days back to Kala Patthar and caught an early morning flight out to Kathmandu. We spent a few days there exploring more of the city and then moved on to Pokhara, a quiet lake town and the general starting place for the popular Annapurna Circuit, something I hope to do one day when I return. Pokhara was a nice place to relax for a few days. Jess then took off on a kayaking trip and I went to the jungle on safari in search of Tigers. Didn't see any, but I got to play with elephants in the water and managed to spot a few crocodiles and rhinoceroses.<br /><br />Nepal was amazing and I loved every day that we spent there; all 30 days of our allowed visa. I'll save my next post for describing the shear insanity and chaos that is Varanasi.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-42798539924632904302009-04-13T07:26:00.001-07:002009-04-13T09:11:54.460-07:00All this and now Everest!OK wow SOOO much to write about but so little time especially if i want to post pictures!<br /><br />Ok so... We left Calcutta on an overnight train to Darjeeling, a nice little hill/mountain town to the north. This was a really nice place and such a great change of pace from the incessent honking and street harassment in Calcutta. Unfortunately it was raining when we arrived and didnt seem like it was going to let up anytime soon. On our way to Darjeeling, we obtained permits to enter a northern region of India called Sikkim so we decided two days of the rain was enough and kept going further north to the mountains. We also managed to organize an expedition to the base of Sikkim's highest mountain Kangchenzonga, the 3rd highest mountain in the world.<br /><br />Yuksom was a 5 hour jeep ride away through some pretty awful hillside terrain. We did however manage to fill the jeep with 12 people including the driver which made for an even more enjoyable ride! :S<br /><br />We spent the night in Yuksom and met with our 'crew' that was to take us up there. For two people to reach the Gochela, the base of Kangchemzonga, and return over a total of 8 days we required 1 guide, 1 cook, 1 helper guy, 1 Yak Man and 3 Yaks. Gochela is approximately 4900 meters. This whole experience was unreal and I want to go into more detail but I dont have the time so I will try and let the pictures speak for themselves. What I will say is that this was probably the best I have eaten on my entire trip and it was extremely challenging but absolutely worth ever minute (although I was seriously questioning my motivation freezing my ass off sleeping at 4000 meters).<br /><br />After our trek, we were pretty burnt out and our faces were fried from the snow and sun so we decided...for some reason...to walk to a little lake town called Kachepouri. This took about 3 hours carryng all of our gear (~30-35 pounds) on our backs but again totally worth it. We settled into a little homestay at the top of this hill run by an 82 year old man who has 11 children the youngest being his 4 year old daughter. Pretty awesome guy, he cooked for the Dalai Lama in Tibet for 30 years so the food we ate, as you can imagine, was stellar.<br /><br />NEXT...we jumped on a 7 hour jeep ride back to the closet border town to Nepal and crossed the border at about 9 o'clock pm, everything was closed of course, so although we could walk across the border we had no visa's to enter Nepal but had already stamped out of India...this meant getting random people to help us wake up the immigration officials! We overpaid for our visas.<br />Next morning, wake up, buy bus tickets to Kathmandu, 17 hours the tell us. Our bus leaves at 2pm. Now Nepal is notorious for it's bus accidents but we didn't have too many options so we decided driving overnight was what we should do. Didn't matter. Five hours into our bus ride (well we were probably stopped waiting for people to fill the bus for at least 2 of those) we reached a ferry crossing on some random backroad that was closed due to a 'strike'. It's 7pm and people on the bus are telling us it won't open again until about 6am. Pretty sweet. There were about 15 buses in front of us and it takes about 15 minutes to get one bus across the river.... see pictures. So of course Nepali's want to capitalize on these 'strikes' and our meal options were very limited so we ate some rice and dal that im sure was made with river water. I didn't get sick but I can't say the same for my travel companion...<br /><br />I slept on the riverbank, and on the bus, both were god awful places to try and sleep. The next morning we got across the river by 10am...not bad. Then it was another whole day of riding the most uncomfortable bus in the entire world. We finally arrived in Kathmandu the following morning around 6am. So a 17 hour bus ride took 40. The icing on the cake was getting ripped off by some asshole taxi driver on the way to the hotel district. So not the best first impression of Nepal for me, but the people we met when were were waiting for the ferry were amazing and patient and now that we are here I am definitely stoked about this place.<br /><br />Kathmandu is crazy. I love it here. There are people everywhere, and its smoggy as hell (many people on the streets wear face masks and I really don't blame them) but there is no harassment to look in shops and the Nepali's are just not as obsessed with westerners as Indians are. A shopping spree in this city would be SO awesome. There is brand name outdoor gear (fake and real) in everyshop and it's all SO cheap compared to home!<br /><br />Tomorrow we leave for Lukla, the start of a 15-18 day trek in the Everest region. It should take about 8-9 days to reach base camp (~5500 meters), I'm really looking forward to the challenge. We will have to cross alot more valley's than we did to reach Gochela and this time I don't have a Yak to carry my pack...<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the pictures everyone, some of them date back as far as the beginning of March and you will have to scroll from the bottom up if you want to see them in order.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQxqxSLP8s_C-mEs75JaU5uoodNd1kdHj0pv7ZtnKwxGczoHVNUo-p9Rq67N9uv3aSW7g1N6smTj3zdO3xtdKZYtCkcU1trMAKa9aq3vd88mfOOSw6cMAXeL3vVfELdqQryFqJRTSNOA/s1600-h/IMG_0415.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324201462717864450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQxqxSLP8s_C-mEs75JaU5uoodNd1kdHj0pv7ZtnKwxGczoHVNUo-p9Rq67N9uv3aSW7g1N6smTj3zdO3xtdKZYtCkcU1trMAKa9aq3vd88mfOOSw6cMAXeL3vVfELdqQryFqJRTSNOA/s400/IMG_0415.JPG" border="0" /></a> Drinking Everest beer in Kathmandu after a day of planning and preparing for our asscent.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmvcS2Vf2KKNjiLWHALhRt2xUEsSD0W94tt9syUov3Sk67o2XY2ndHsMvAK5ZiVgUGWluo2vgPRPuVqeQJavPW-SLbR3JA-a536g37HcoKgIZ8MMAFmYPYDZJ2POXGn36eF2ACIgu-2A/s1600-h/IMG_0398.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324200381918155858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmvcS2Vf2KKNjiLWHALhRt2xUEsSD0W94tt9syUov3Sk67o2XY2ndHsMvAK5ZiVgUGWluo2vgPRPuVqeQJavPW-SLbR3JA-a536g37HcoKgIZ8MMAFmYPYDZJ2POXGn36eF2ACIgu-2A/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" border="0" /></a>A relatively quiet street in Thamal, Kathmandu.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2xmhx05giPPOo0QAGOajYkBgN7elcM6PZt5SmUajRRIYu8-omLaaQ1fvhrHH8eM_LcNtxm-rq1LCzR0v-5fqbSzIRkzaBix0Y0pZehdRpfV_65QXu59BhyphenhyphenRqMFN7gVUxrpESEXqIxA8/s1600-h/IMG_0390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324200378008935346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2xmhx05giPPOo0QAGOajYkBgN7elcM6PZt5SmUajRRIYu8-omLaaQ1fvhrHH8eM_LcNtxm-rq1LCzR0v-5fqbSzIRkzaBix0Y0pZehdRpfV_65QXu59BhyphenhyphenRqMFN7gVUxrpESEXqIxA8/s400/IMG_0390.JPG" border="0" /></a> "You make dollars in your country, why wouldn't you just fly?" Some Nepali to me and Jess when we were waiting for the ferry crossing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQyDbOcBNs5qMkOa6_6ag7aQ0ox77kwaB1XI8Fo5tstMi4208yVSdN9cvAgHo-FWXeusKARW_gC6l5JwXu0d7QC69W92NZu8vEv2DagKlCpAKq0Kx_6l2cva046b3KdFdaqZVBKPpSYc/s1600-h/IMG_0385.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324200370613841106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQyDbOcBNs5qMkOa6_6ag7aQ0ox77kwaB1XI8Fo5tstMi4208yVSdN9cvAgHo-FWXeusKARW_gC6l5JwXu0d7QC69W92NZu8vEv2DagKlCpAKq0Kx_6l2cva046b3KdFdaqZVBKPpSYc/s400/IMG_0385.JPG" border="0" /></a> A double rainbow at Paule's place on the hill above Kachapouri Lake.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXaDr75VVzSsJStb20DzFFEVj7r_EJCCdNXwvEElUfv52Z_2rfRfhYhc8HPB3yznB6QDx31YIb3VMfV3zkySAAfBq-g3-RchQL5m_5uMBoDeze4rPozAJbv_U2802LZ7SHltqVJKGo5Y/s1600-h/IMG_0341.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324200371306098498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXaDr75VVzSsJStb20DzFFEVj7r_EJCCdNXwvEElUfv52Z_2rfRfhYhc8HPB3yznB6QDx31YIb3VMfV3zkySAAfBq-g3-RchQL5m_5uMBoDeze4rPozAJbv_U2802LZ7SHltqVJKGo5Y/s400/IMG_0341.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gochela, our final destination after 6 long days of trekking. Elevation 4900 meters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtsenCgWOriyrI3R4Wn4tPl94IRnXh9fRJSaz0zBdllkEUorrG00bP3YW3yNxYZPrOEe3IsRuaghMQLg8zMxz7E_xwcN0-3IzI6w052T_BYHmefENiD6FidfSvz86bZ3v7MeWqZtSw5k/s1600-h/IMG_0334.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324200369363042546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtsenCgWOriyrI3R4Wn4tPl94IRnXh9fRJSaz0zBdllkEUorrG00bP3YW3yNxYZPrOEe3IsRuaghMQLg8zMxz7E_xwcN0-3IzI6w052T_BYHmefENiD6FidfSvz86bZ3v7MeWqZtSw5k/s400/IMG_0334.JPG" border="0" /></a> Prayer flags at Gochela. Although it looks lower, Kangchenzonga is the peak on the right, the 3rd highest mountain in the world.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu3ub9v-q4joM5dqKK23fztQVFEKXpUqrzIB_Mm2BcC4R303MqP2A4wyAhupTktzxT_aJ8e33GYOOacTisCc1jwyYUnYDdTynRnBuKKoe_4AcphWNehBeDsywyja75LxnRkrXPbprCrk/s1600-h/IMG_0300.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324199519954642306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu3ub9v-q4joM5dqKK23fztQVFEKXpUqrzIB_Mm2BcC4R303MqP2A4wyAhupTktzxT_aJ8e33GYOOacTisCc1jwyYUnYDdTynRnBuKKoe_4AcphWNehBeDsywyja75LxnRkrXPbprCrk/s400/IMG_0300.JPG" border="0" /></a> There was alot of snow and we both forgot to wear suncreen...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY_OlFSLdpI-81aArTHI52CJpS5I_fGBXJn4ON-2YtoYUGyaN9KUGkYstZHMR1XSLN4AwkDn2HH1vMJ-4V2NwqI7PnESU_UtaMUoLBX1PwPaa1UdOPrwPu5MVTHEpi14lhEo34EB7VJg/s1600-h/IMG_0295.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324199517488256706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY_OlFSLdpI-81aArTHI52CJpS5I_fGBXJn4ON-2YtoYUGyaN9KUGkYstZHMR1XSLN4AwkDn2HH1vMJ-4V2NwqI7PnESU_UtaMUoLBX1PwPaa1UdOPrwPu5MVTHEpi14lhEo34EB7VJg/s400/IMG_0295.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of the many outstanding meals we ate on the trek. They actually cooked us pizza up there...PIZZA!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Zz3CSLndOgYjxA5nGotpNeSpStJnc92PkSo2rDhKx5r8txblBFzyY9Bu-FvxTecaex75L_hZbZHgYrLSE6K3DrTQ9GwzH8PEqShg_5KIscXX2F5DirKTdrm16czrRfZWrqM5rHMxrsQ/s1600-h/IMG_0292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324199512125452130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Zz3CSLndOgYjxA5nGotpNeSpStJnc92PkSo2rDhKx5r8txblBFzyY9Bu-FvxTecaex75L_hZbZHgYrLSE6K3DrTQ9GwzH8PEqShg_5KIscXX2F5DirKTdrm16czrRfZWrqM5rHMxrsQ/s400/IMG_0292.JPG" border="0" /></a> A lookout about an hour away from Dzongri.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8rNNNyj8H3MgiE9jfR9iFXbxCymk1F7Nz790WMkYlcVPJJ1XQ9xFBLkdFzHXtR6NzfSDKaMlUymYXpM6sioD3SfH9_OtxkNrqAceNZkr1BZo7ZjaCJzCG9KQ0RBSRE_MkdryVxU3USA/s1600-h/IMG_0270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324199510113067058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8rNNNyj8H3MgiE9jfR9iFXbxCymk1F7Nz790WMkYlcVPJJ1XQ9xFBLkdFzHXtR6NzfSDKaMlUymYXpM6sioD3SfH9_OtxkNrqAceNZkr1BZo7ZjaCJzCG9KQ0RBSRE_MkdryVxU3USA/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" border="0" /></a> Totally worth getting up at 4am for.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifF5ux03X1NPbqYyyY5xL8Nc5gi27ZSdz7V6ne32-w__9Q-lNQWqJ4_PJXTOq_knwoJsc4KHVqMiDJ8aAFshgsFsc0DfeZE1wHmia2PolBgVt_kwdpW3p33mp8NBPyDQTU9Ytc_pLHV8/s1600-h/IMG_0257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324199508452319618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifF5ux03X1NPbqYyyY5xL8Nc5gi27ZSdz7V6ne32-w__9Q-lNQWqJ4_PJXTOq_knwoJsc4KHVqMiDJ8aAFshgsFsc0DfeZE1wHmia2PolBgVt_kwdpW3p33mp8NBPyDQTU9Ytc_pLHV8/s400/IMG_0257.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dzongri. Elevation 4200 meters. So so so beautiful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsJXwYW8d3mk128GfEPH_BrqqcVE4ogLubUcEPBgHUxPvM3WMwvY_xtG1Lb7324sVS0L2s1bmnidtXuE5Yj0KYZm5vUqDjPNi-Wg1aOKIhg_PnaVMAWPZTyZPCcQnQnUlzkv4k_OiPa8/s1600-h/IMG_0222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198777501199042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsJXwYW8d3mk128GfEPH_BrqqcVE4ogLubUcEPBgHUxPvM3WMwvY_xtG1Lb7324sVS0L2s1bmnidtXuE5Yj0KYZm5vUqDjPNi-Wg1aOKIhg_PnaVMAWPZTyZPCcQnQnUlzkv4k_OiPa8/s400/IMG_0222.JPG" border="0" /></a> Then we encountered snow...<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXfnMZE0h9S4iMx7aF2kEofGc-0oJO5wMgAnWDtRuqAq2PeyX5nq0mkBLpjHzT5fimXS1cbrcaVBtTidaHkcbI2eery0y8bLkmGdVmPM_JksZ-jOUHxxTKMybTXNb82COXZ8BncHwuKg/s1600-h/IMG_0186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198775248532130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXfnMZE0h9S4iMx7aF2kEofGc-0oJO5wMgAnWDtRuqAq2PeyX5nq0mkBLpjHzT5fimXS1cbrcaVBtTidaHkcbI2eery0y8bLkmGdVmPM_JksZ-jOUHxxTKMybTXNb82COXZ8BncHwuKg/s400/IMG_0186.JPG" border="0" /></a> And then we spent the night in a mountain village called, Tsokha, the only village on the trek. Elevation 2900 meters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-Q_XmkgA4AwFlKyiA_kCM6aK1QGxbBGcC4WyJCRZIqukXseXSMcDv6iAuGXFGlWTIE9hGMjhajhmTYHnRkDnJYH6DfiUWV0u9aKkASEiKJn-zz6RmpAybWsqaJpbJ6tugywQ1HkfmVM/s1600-h/IMG_0163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198771529387778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-Q_XmkgA4AwFlKyiA_kCM6aK1QGxbBGcC4WyJCRZIqukXseXSMcDv6iAuGXFGlWTIE9hGMjhajhmTYHnRkDnJYH6DfiUWV0u9aKkASEiKJn-zz6RmpAybWsqaJpbJ6tugywQ1HkfmVM/s400/IMG_0163.JPG" border="0" /></a> But the sun came out the next morning.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLbPwxKrdWVAPtaoenTFDfLSP_4MVR5K6rzTNzwE2wOook-Aqdycb5osLf2Gj4mRvOg76si6UgISMl8pPm0c4hg1aad1MNcIAi90IOYpYewGDWsjewG452LKa4lxhHOxq2U4INJwE4uQ/s1600-h/IMG_0155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198219858657602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLbPwxKrdWVAPtaoenTFDfLSP_4MVR5K6rzTNzwE2wOook-Aqdycb5osLf2Gj4mRvOg76si6UgISMl8pPm0c4hg1aad1MNcIAi90IOYpYewGDWsjewG452LKa4lxhHOxq2U4INJwE4uQ/s400/IMG_0155.JPG" border="0" /></a> So we froze that night. The first of many cold nights.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2C__CTHYcb5xAhy2ebm_ln2lZ-zvVoBiPTFZ8ZhpofrH9ul2tQXfPvpaWaKQ_4_PZqlq3zd0IbSfnAJNblwnvBCnz5k4QbG_XWyjZtIgO5tEh7EwIOnypja4z5DowuuPhT536ovkCIbM/s1600-h/IMG_0143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198213865684690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2C__CTHYcb5xAhy2ebm_ln2lZ-zvVoBiPTFZ8ZhpofrH9ul2tQXfPvpaWaKQ_4_PZqlq3zd0IbSfnAJNblwnvBCnz5k4QbG_XWyjZtIgO5tEh7EwIOnypja4z5DowuuPhT536ovkCIbM/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was a rainy start to the trek.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9WhZaPezGHYEYOIc1r6i3qsDCbokia-mdGsINLYUn6plcKfxcs4blzD9X0CUtoROMHkbZQv3xycRiUSeHp5BtgRhgAqWW0B9nCS-x7HYlnnG741BE3GBCkdXN4iziLKYIWCYfftVgvM/s1600-h/IMG_0106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198210469776402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9WhZaPezGHYEYOIc1r6i3qsDCbokia-mdGsINLYUn6plcKfxcs4blzD9X0CUtoROMHkbZQv3xycRiUSeHp5BtgRhgAqWW0B9nCS-x7HYlnnG741BE3GBCkdXN4iziLKYIWCYfftVgvM/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sometimes, even in the streets of Calcutta, a herd of goats may come by...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YfUTl5adtrTX3AUpbQYNQJadiu2qFRWQteMaynZKKsT7mTceNEKokRrn1bfLKgUjnGdetJiOvb-3hfJNg9XzilvqOAFbcvli9beeXpVEoYq5gTWvYHO73kYf-hsW0WpO6nWvDR2aULo/s1600-h/IMG_0099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198205793565778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YfUTl5adtrTX3AUpbQYNQJadiu2qFRWQteMaynZKKsT7mTceNEKokRrn1bfLKgUjnGdetJiOvb-3hfJNg9XzilvqOAFbcvli9beeXpVEoYq5gTWvYHO73kYf-hsW0WpO6nWvDR2aULo/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" border="0" /></a> Rickshaw pullers and their passengers in Calcutta.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYt3Gkf0ZoRl3mSfOA6aZFSQ4BcTNjN8JjVPHiaC0Nchraunh6_51-Oa3diuRbgcsGHMOEwifwiqnjZ9JvQUKO_pagqfBFhaoyEE4c2zrNTkDh6xphiGM2djCrInU-rLnER4ia2lu5BE/s1600-h/IMG_0095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324198199935071378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYt3Gkf0ZoRl3mSfOA6aZFSQ4BcTNjN8JjVPHiaC0Nchraunh6_51-Oa3diuRbgcsGHMOEwifwiqnjZ9JvQUKO_pagqfBFhaoyEE4c2zrNTkDh6xphiGM2djCrInU-rLnER4ia2lu5BE/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jess and I enjoying some chai and beedies in Calcutta.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3_aEJeW2jG7ReX7UItFexcgdR17v0pN4DbIPXMqc1t1wD4ePEqpZlK2ThzDFWo0-3n_Sr6TXmW37Efzz-z6ZOb0s6QIeLO4OPNn0jKWJ2i5v9DNZs8UdBNOdWabzqk1pRgHrX7XqXUU/s1600-h/IMG_0048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324197616361648946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3_aEJeW2jG7ReX7UItFexcgdR17v0pN4DbIPXMqc1t1wD4ePEqpZlK2ThzDFWo0-3n_Sr6TXmW37Efzz-z6ZOb0s6QIeLO4OPNn0jKWJ2i5v9DNZs8UdBNOdWabzqk1pRgHrX7XqXUU/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of the unreal sunsets on Beach #7, Havelock Island, Andman Islands, one of my favorite places in India. </div><div></div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324197609512017810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbNgV-MwQGK8MywAavTM-K2qsq8pyDhXXfHbvTOCmoA4PDbs54CbHgVzpdVdbetTGxLnIzx29lC9wm1pYLMM2WdKncyqGhzj-TQPddycMugdWdUluwKNneY4-z_Rqa3edjbLVVP7rOFw/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" border="0" />The lagoon at Beach #7, Havelock Island. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324197604328927202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT7bPWAMOhsIaNV6qG7-eSn_mWwBCjtaowiGf0XKkWt5AMGHoJMiQQBFSQlh5OxYNrgWsdkXbeML3Dd0NkUxNnyN7cQwit_eIp_YhOftZjlHodytI6-3GQrdinXmMiZqD2hRP9BiVUHo/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" />Beach #5, Havelock Island, the beach where we stayed. You could walk for 500 meters and the water wouldnt get over your knees.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324206351114874482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZmGuDpChV02MvZEOuQOMAQSpWyd2iyfKUuSBgoQazQWNbgFbE6bwtvzty_C7S5uJg8RdtNw3qErFmfKKHExoB4mAw-8u3A9WlssSLGvVbkXB2EVsRndl-2Us_jWe0fM29srzpiki6Ms/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" />The aftermath of getting 'painted' at the festival of Holi, a celebration that takes place all over India (don't ask me what it's all about I just know you throw paint at EVERYONE).</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM1wWWExoBo2o_34MElaR0dLJLLGcdg1apdH8a4MZC1Dhz65ywyynip40GvVi8WARlbMhTigfMVKZ3VcNaJStdgO-S-pb2b3KnONVMiOXMByXsArR0EpYVwObNdCZ8I3DfBbEAGHa1ec/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324197602011434498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM1wWWExoBo2o_34MElaR0dLJLLGcdg1apdH8a4MZC1Dhz65ywyynip40GvVi8WARlbMhTigfMVKZ3VcNaJStdgO-S-pb2b3KnONVMiOXMByXsArR0EpYVwObNdCZ8I3DfBbEAGHa1ec/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" /></a> Some night traffic in Chennai.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-40092021148524661702009-03-22T00:42:00.000-07:002009-03-22T02:40:03.921-07:00Calcutta<div align="left">If I had just arrived in Calcutta and it was my first day in India I would seriously be freaking out right now. But I know India. I love it here. We see so much about places like this at home, on western TV, and think that they must be so impoverished and filthy and a real dreadful place to live. Poverty <em>is</em> staring me in the face. And it <em>is</em> filthy. But there is also real beauty here you just have to know where to look for it, or maybe you just have to want to see it.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Each of the major cities I've visited in India; Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and now Calcutta, have a unique character to them and I feel comfortable in each for different reasons. Here in Calcutta, the street food is what drew me in immediately. There are street vendors cooking up food on every corner and they all smell so great. Yesterday I had a fresh made grilled sandwich and some mango juice and this morning we had an egg sandwich and some chai. Amazing.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I completed 8 dives on Havelock in the Andaman's. Diving is freaking crazy. I love it! I saw everything from stingrays to baby Nemo fish. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip so far.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Anyways, since I keep getting shit about not posting pictures here are a bunch from the last month or so... I will provide a better update soon. Thanks to all of you who have been emailing me. It's so great to hear from people at home. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgZC3qUkcWaAvbfkzDldd9ch7yBVMedHKuShmIzb_MhbyOSpIsaFSw1pzVIhFC6YjtJiM2j7srGuUSiTY4i3AH4M-7rOA723GG0q__lq7HZZYlDmdweUBZBy95B8FJUHRa8M1ozFt8RE/s1600-h/IMG_1065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315940085723465666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgZC3qUkcWaAvbfkzDldd9ch7yBVMedHKuShmIzb_MhbyOSpIsaFSw1pzVIhFC6YjtJiM2j7srGuUSiTY4i3AH4M-7rOA723GG0q__lq7HZZYlDmdweUBZBy95B8FJUHRa8M1ozFt8RE/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" border="0" /></a> Catching up with friends in Kodaicannal. Miss you guys. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315940072821243042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCV_Z32sGG77VFywSTUccO8F2Lcuj9Npfd1eNldchvyG8gpx0aAtUN6TOCx6cxVehyphenhyphenaDWb8k4tlCtnzTC_S2ZrPoeR5p7wzL2SMyg99eTFHOr4L98FAUOttn3odNvKkkvXEZoU55kbPU/s320/IMG_1055.JPG" border="0" />The Indians love to be in pictures with us so we thought it was high time we got into some pictures with them!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_fUk3ezIg_YyNrWbVxmDTMesxgmVh8SuG19k4LmvoeVRf8aK_2YHESS1cMxOiD-xKrq8UcOrZud81xTIx9u8nHmcvyNe34SknMjVZWs8oTO7ADdF5gXU1z8hYj4vf9Bra0vx6kqtDnY/s1600-h/IMG_1032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315940068946847346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_fUk3ezIg_YyNrWbVxmDTMesxgmVh8SuG19k4LmvoeVRf8aK_2YHESS1cMxOiD-xKrq8UcOrZud81xTIx9u8nHmcvyNe34SknMjVZWs8oTO7ADdF5gXU1z8hYj4vf9Bra0vx6kqtDnY/s320/IMG_1032.JPG" border="0" /></a> Pilgrams paying their respects. Kanyakummari, Tamil Nadu.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqSQIXdPXVR1G54dbTclZUBThPNEj6rlZ8JwnTrvtITW_EQfxvqgJBoMffyMQ2kq33KQnJyLQwog5e9ksk4RJrVSX4kLhrDnHs9Lznf8bzJkrTmczze0Un_b3qok6brLOiGS5SPrHSvo/s1600-h/IMG_0988.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315940057065880722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqSQIXdPXVR1G54dbTclZUBThPNEj6rlZ8JwnTrvtITW_EQfxvqgJBoMffyMQ2kq33KQnJyLQwog5e9ksk4RJrVSX4kLhrDnHs9Lznf8bzJkrTmczze0Un_b3qok6brLOiGS5SPrHSvo/s320/IMG_0988.JPG" border="0" /></a> Not all Indians are Hindu's. Sometimes it takes places like this to remind you of that. This is a magnificent church I visited, also in Kanyakummari.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimijS5KrcT02sLT9T9Cc9NJMTsnmgRrzeRZA-OnQCNaWtvHQHFG2i4ESIkPDiN3-2ksaZJ9dIDTyNGKbj11qgoIL_0_9AU85o8fkHDnDzL8DHIDDO_pZpYVCfaYH2Q3ovnnvyebiTHq3A/s1600-h/IMG_0974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315935971229863970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimijS5KrcT02sLT9T9Cc9NJMTsnmgRrzeRZA-OnQCNaWtvHQHFG2i4ESIkPDiN3-2ksaZJ9dIDTyNGKbj11qgoIL_0_9AU85o8fkHDnDzL8DHIDDO_pZpYVCfaYH2Q3ovnnvyebiTHq3A/s320/IMG_0974.JPG" border="0" /></a> The most southern tip of India. Kanyakummari, Tamil Nadu. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hrtc-15LdR3SfM56NXsYHxZTyaBxtW1eK2a_qLXfnOF9lbV6m9BlAsDUxoR83scAPZ0kk9HE0y7o6KAR9LshOrBDY45FbFN2PyRJwrJDePOexb8Q_kx3NdW3SfG1EfctILIEjEk9QFQ/s1600-h/IMG_0960.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315935961468745938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hrtc-15LdR3SfM56NXsYHxZTyaBxtW1eK2a_qLXfnOF9lbV6m9BlAsDUxoR83scAPZ0kk9HE0y7o6KAR9LshOrBDY45FbFN2PyRJwrJDePOexb8Q_kx3NdW3SfG1EfctILIEjEk9QFQ/s320/IMG_0960.JPG" border="0" /></a> View of the beach from our cliff resort in Varkala, Kerala. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s8V5tbnrEruMhdfwtGk2WXNj2_OTjEV_IcILZyFp4MycnTuR7hTXlrU_VpWC2mM2y9xmmzaRfxYnu-KqrZ9YjMRz9CzHUxL1qGai5VgBFnHgE6mvkcja7E5UnPLUwJEmxn0QujORzOo/s1600-h/IMG_0916.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315935951689472642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s8V5tbnrEruMhdfwtGk2WXNj2_OTjEV_IcILZyFp4MycnTuR7hTXlrU_VpWC2mM2y9xmmzaRfxYnu-KqrZ9YjMRz9CzHUxL1qGai5VgBFnHgE6mvkcja7E5UnPLUwJEmxn0QujORzOo/s320/IMG_0916.JPG" border="0" /></a> A relaxing canoe ride through the Keralan backwaters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrJT_PjXNcTrasCEZ6O3MuuE6hfohMCcU_q0BSULN4jAxYC0adoWluhS6jHR-0LeM-TUJnQ0g0dXaHzWLNuYc9I27YP53YoLu1GahFf2SeISMeCUmEQC5LejXNMfUUxf8bNKFpXBi64c/s1600-h/IMG_0909.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315935942506735890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrJT_PjXNcTrasCEZ6O3MuuE6hfohMCcU_q0BSULN4jAxYC0adoWluhS6jHR-0LeM-TUJnQ0g0dXaHzWLNuYc9I27YP53YoLu1GahFf2SeISMeCUmEQC5LejXNMfUUxf8bNKFpXBi64c/s320/IMG_0909.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me and Jess on a backwater tour outside Alleppey, Kerala.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_PpsowyUTEDRrKChOBVs5vSmGzLaaNjMuukVuzGqgPDrOEYPZn5eqH7ItMgQQekOPxbFlh57LL7_V9r4u18nn9VlS0Tbk5Yh53mkmT91WPZXszD3BF2jNlRaIzKdSH_s0q8yZumm1Gk/s1600-h/IMG_0847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315935940256725474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_PpsowyUTEDRrKChOBVs5vSmGzLaaNjMuukVuzGqgPDrOEYPZn5eqH7ItMgQQekOPxbFlh57LL7_V9r4u18nn9VlS0Tbk5Yh53mkmT91WPZXszD3BF2jNlRaIzKdSH_s0q8yZumm1Gk/s320/IMG_0847.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sometimes...this is India. Our bathroom at Paradise Beach, Karnataka. </div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkg2hSArCdQbA6do2YkMpnitiUU9JEQv7L-NG2ziUS9PQBZVExETM6Xqd3Igu7p9652tsYhGxI2FeAgQmetTv_oLMKa0aLnH8hkDbU-h_7wq1rTkKRjWrEVqCrZIL_OSBbfop_9lAyI4/s1600-h/IMG_0812.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930429408729202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkg2hSArCdQbA6do2YkMpnitiUU9JEQv7L-NG2ziUS9PQBZVExETM6Xqd3Igu7p9652tsYhGxI2FeAgQmetTv_oLMKa0aLnH8hkDbU-h_7wq1rTkKRjWrEVqCrZIL_OSBbfop_9lAyI4/s320/IMG_0812.JPG" border="0" /></a>Palolem Beach, Goa. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxbkVcBTbwnDhVXwoJaj2ECESluOTt5UFuCWWZtHO6YW62UXiArJ4WV34mCAdeoGUeO76wo0nISX39hgmtY5mxh-HUWZxEUf9rsnzAkDz7WFzF4KyxDMpiw-hAs4tOQzoVi3faX3JSQE/s1600-h/IMG_0815.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930435735980066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxbkVcBTbwnDhVXwoJaj2ECESluOTt5UFuCWWZtHO6YW62UXiArJ4WV34mCAdeoGUeO76wo0nISX39hgmtY5mxh-HUWZxEUf9rsnzAkDz7WFzF4KyxDMpiw-hAs4tOQzoVi3faX3JSQE/s320/IMG_0815.JPG" border="0" /></a>Just one of the stellar sunsets in Palolem, Goa.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930425297399122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4zfxU1LhqEVUcLWoiGSx04rZM1VuZTlZ2xOVcmMTN06TqeaiES1j66AwezPrtgfdbWXhBS6GMD86Erwl1BJrPnrZgkAZ7wdUf_kCUvwfKiC-k8rDHy8XrmX48miM-FgYybv275X_Srk/s320/IMG_0783.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>A small church we found when exploring around Anjuna, Goa.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930438445098514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsPiajJeqdq35ImZpPctVkgykofdgdQWm08xNSWccp5Km5c8vmaiQv-Mkjm9xqraX0DNxkMpZ9kK8mWCzmNCcK9pyBb-5SnnvBktsle798SZEBrFZ8u_TtxyDGB17OTRs-nw_lID2qQQ/s320/IMG_0802.JPG" border="0" /> Our beach accommodation in Anjuna, Goa. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLQh_4VEkNe2heR_brmWb6jKM4N58T83KVYBsu8O5-45Z4JkgjqrFWl1BClzjUcrDzUra73xEVWXT9QIr3b7WttpLLlNdvZ6x5JJyuGG0Fx7DCw8x5tfk6nqoASPtxkkjQ-hZrGQeGvA/s1600-h/IMG_0766.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315930419116707458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLQh_4VEkNe2heR_brmWb6jKM4N58T83KVYBsu8O5-45Z4JkgjqrFWl1BClzjUcrDzUra73xEVWXT9QIr3b7WttpLLlNdvZ6x5JJyuGG0Fx7DCw8x5tfk6nqoASPtxkkjQ-hZrGQeGvA/s320/IMG_0766.JPG" border="0" /></a> Fishing boats anchored off the coast in Anjuna, Goa. </div></div></div><br /></div></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-80287212710179886922009-03-09T07:39:00.000-07:002009-03-09T08:32:36.554-07:00Extending ParadiseThe Andaman Islands. Wow. If you dont know where they are look it up on a map. These little islands, in the middle of the Bay of Bengal, belong to India but they are actually much closer to Myanmar and Thailand. We are staying on a small island called Havelock. This is my paradise on earth. We both love it so much that after only 4 days we had to come back to the main island to change our flights and extend our visas (we'd initally only booked for 1 week). <br /><br />I dont think the words I know will do this place justice in describing it. The water is pristine. You can see clearly down almost 10 meters. We went snorkeling the other day and I've never seen so many colorful schools of fish and brilliant corals in my life. I had heard that there was world class diving here but not being a diver I didnt really understand how great that is. I'm taking my PADI course this week... 6 dives. I can't wait.<br /><br />And it's not just the water and the beaches that are amazing. It's not touristy like Goa. There are many westerners of course, but it doesnt feel like Goa. I haven't once been called into someones shop to buy something nor have I been approached on the beach to 'just loooook'. I think these might be the only beaches left in India where you can actually sit alone and not see someone else or be harrassed to buy necklaces or have your body covered in henna tatoos.<br /><br />Havelock is pretty small, there is no internet or ATM and its a 2.5-4 hour ferry ride away depending on what ferry you luck out with. The accomodation is basic, but stellar. Everyone is very friendly and the only real nusance is the Isreali crowd, if you know what I mean. We of course found some other Canadians on the island and have shared a few bottles of Rum while exchanging travel stories. One of them, Rick, is a founder of an orphanage in Cambodia and is going to set me up with a place to stay if I'm interested in working there for a while. This is what I love about traveling. <br /><br />Yesterday was an Isreali holiday, and I'm not lying here, we were told by several different groups that the objective of the day was to 'drink until you can't remember'. Apparently it's in the bible or something. So I did what I was told. haha. Good thing Jess was there to turn the lights out and put me in my mosquito net otherwise I may have woken up attacked by hornets, I guess they like to come out around 3-4 am and are drawn to light. <br /><br />But other than last night partying is pretty rare in that sense. It's a real laid back vibe and even as far as parties go, this was small and reminded me how few people are actually on the island.<br /><br />One thing I've learned is that they will be opening an international airport here next year. The thought of this really breaks my heart. Right now you have to enter India and then make your way to the Andaman's so it keeps them relatively under developed. Once they start flying here from Bangkok or Singapore our cozy little beach huts will no doubt be leveled to make room for 5 star hotels. What is even more sad is that the locals are excited about this because they see it as an opportunity to make more money.<br /><br />So I recommend to everyone, if you come to India you must come here. This is my favorite place, not for cuture of course, but for just relaxing and enjoying the unrreal and untouched beauty of the islands.<br /><br />OK, one last thing I have to mention is about my short time in Chennai. After a 12 hour overnight bus from Kodaicannal we found a basic room and headed into the city. I wanted to get a haircut and I really needed a shave so I thought I might knock them both off at the Indian barber. We were in a local, non-tourist area of the city and when you're a white person walking into a barber shop there it's just assumed you want, and can afford, the works! So what I expected to take 20 minutes took 2 hours. I had my head massaged, my hair cut using only sissors, no electrical tools here, head massaged again, face massaged, washed, shaved with a straight razor, and washed again. There was also a short break for chai, of course. Then he proceeded to put a facial mask on me, washed my face again, applied a new mask, washed, massaged my head and face, then we breaked for chai again. Then I got the finishing touches around the edges with a straigh razor, had my head and back massaged and handed the guy 200 Rupees ($5). All in all a pretty fun experience. Maybe not so much for Jess, she wasnt planning on spending 2 hours in the barber shop drinking chai and watching cricket with the Indians :)<br /><br />Happy Birthday Dad!Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-54140820167624460232009-03-01T03:40:00.000-08:002009-03-01T04:09:41.397-08:00Tamil NaduWe've managed to escape the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sweltering</span> heat, for the time being anyway. We are in a small mountain town called <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kodaicannal</span>, situated 2000m <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">asl</span> in the Western Ghats of the most southern Indian state, Tamil <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nadu</span>. It's a breezy 25 degrees here with almost no humidity, a far cry <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">from</span> the +40 degrees <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">celsius</span> we were experiencing in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kerala</span>.<br /><br />After leaving <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Alleppey</span>, we cruised down the backwaters for about 8 hours to southern <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kerala</span> to meet up with two of my friends from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">EWB</span>, Nicole and Carly. We spent 3 days in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Varkala</span> which was like being back in Goa, although I think it was actually more touristy. But it was nice, all of the beach restaurants and accommodations were situated on a very high cliff overlooking the ocean and a beautiful beach below. This place again made me lose my India feel a little bit but it was so great to catch up with my friends from university and the town was the perfect place for that! <br /><br />The four of us then decided to head south, to the most southern tip of India, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kanyakumari</span>. This place was spectacular, there were so many beautiful Christian churches and the shore was lined with hundreds of colourful fishing boats. This is where both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet the Indian ocean. As much as we enjoyed this place however, it was just too hot and we decided to head for the nearby mountains. <br /><br />This place is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">truly</span> amazing. The people are very friendly and the food is fantastic. Yesterday the four of us rented a boat and peddled around the local lake. Today we set out into the forest with a guide to explore the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">rockfaced</span> cliffs. <br /><br />I think we will be heading to Chennai tomorrow and attempt to catch a flight to the Andaman Islands as soon as possible. I hope the Islands will give me a chance to get my ass back into shape for the trekking that's ahead of us in Northern India and Nepal. I've definitely been smoking to much of the local tobacco and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">havent</span> been doing much physical activity next to swimming and carrying my pack from hotel to hotel. Maybe I will run on the beach everyday or something.<br /><br />I tried to put pictures up today but somethings not working. Hopefully in the next day or two.<br /><br />All the best to everyone at home.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-72524096217197731892009-02-21T09:03:00.000-08:002009-02-23T23:24:20.093-08:00Kerala<p>Ok, so I'm back in India. Real India. The India that I was introduced to when I got off the plane in Delhi 5 weeks ago. Goa wasn't really India, not the India that I had fallen in love with in Rajasthan anyway. It was beautiful, gorgeous actually, but it felt more like I was on a beach in Mexico. </p><p>We are in Kerala now. I love it. The 'Venice of the East' they call it. A few kilometers from the coastline the maze of backwaters can take you almost anywhere in the state. Today we hired a canoe and were taken on a 4 hour tour. It was simply incredible. Today was a great day.</p><p>I love it here. The people, the culture, the sights and the sounds. The Indians sure do love their music. They play it as loud as they can as often as they want. What I use to find annoying I'm starting to find soothing. We have had the opportunity to see some live music and each time I find myself mesmorized by the intricacy of the instruments and the lyrics.<br /><br />I think they are more friendly in the South. Or maybe I'm just getting the hang of things? Either way I don't want to leave. Life it seems, is just so much more simple here. No meetings, no deadlines, no stress.</p><p>I've been thinking alot about my reasons for coming on this trip. When I was in Calgary I thought it was my curiosity, a need for change, an opportunity to escape. But here in India I find myself thinking about my future, considering fate and defining opportunity. In the five weeks I've been traveling and learning, I've thought more about what I want out of life than I have since beginning university.</p><p>I think India does that to you. It makes you recognize who you are and where you're going. I love it here.</p><p>It's different here from Rajasthan though. The language is different, the clothing is different, and people are different. The colors that the women wear are spectacular. Pastels of blue, pink, green and yellow. Many of the men wear a lungi, a single piece of cloth wrapped around the legs and waste in such a way that it can be worn long as a sarong or short like a skirt. Several men and women have approached us just to say hello and ask how we are enjoying our day or our trip. The stares of course are still common, but they are never malicious and I hardly recognize it anymore. Tomorrow we are catching a leisure boat ride to the next major city to the south. Eight hours in the Keralan backwaters, I'm excited</p><p></p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-54194881571090211022009-02-16T02:47:00.000-08:002009-02-16T03:33:41.875-08:00GokarnaJess and I have made it a little further south to a small town called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gokarna</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Karnataka</span> state. It's a pilgrimage site filled with many temples, pilgrims and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">alot</span> of backpackers. When we arrived we went straight to a secluded villa called Paradise Beach which is really a matter of opinion to what you might call 'paradise'. We had to hike in to reach the site. The coastline is beautiful here but this place was so tucked away that the only type of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">accommodation</span> were small 8x8 huts with 4 walls and a roof made of bamboo constructed over a flat piece of ground. We were provided with a pretty dirty and thin sleeping pad to put our heads on. I guess it's not much different than sleeping outdoors, which we did on the camel trek each night, I think I was just tired from traveling and having to retire to this little shack for the night <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wasnt</span> very appealing. The place was also filled entirely with stereotypical hippies, dreadlocks and the <em>cool</em> dirty look. Just not my scene I guess.<br /><br />Goa on the other hand was amazing. The sandy beaches were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">prestine</span> and the water was stellar. We rented a scooter when we were in the north for 3 days and bombed around to various small towns and beaches while staying in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Anjuna</span>. I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">im</span> really getting the hang of this Indian driving thing...honk all the time and do whatever you want. It's fun.<br /><br />South Goa was just as wonderful, we were able to get a shack right on the beach for about $8/night and we met tons of people, mostly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">europeans</span>, who were vacationing and backpacking as well. Oh, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Goan</span> food is great. Eating food is something I look forward to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">everday</span> so I'm totally gaining weight here!<br /><br />Before Goa we were in Udaipur, the city famous for it's 'Lake Palace', the same fortress used in the James Bond film Octopussy. Dave would have probably cried or something ;) Then we flew to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Mumbai</span> for a couple days. Go see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Slumdog</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Millionaire</span>. This is a great movie and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">alot</span> of what you see we saw with our own eyes. What an experience to get to see that movie in the city where it was filmed. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mumbai</span> is a really nice city, I wish I had more time to explore it.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Gokarna</span> is a nice place though, and I'm happy to be staying here in town although I have been rather sick lately which has been slowing me down <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">alot</span>. In G<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">oa</span> it was a stomach problem that made everything hurt when I ate. Just as things were getting better I came down with a fever last night (thanks for packing that thermometer, Mom!) which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">didnt</span> allow me to get much sleep, nor did I get much the night before in our bamboo hut with random cats trying to nestle up with me in the middle of the night and ants the size of cockroaches <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">cruising</span> around. And resting during the day? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">forgetaboutit</span>. Without an AC room it's over 30 degrees inside and 100% humidity. I think I might try one of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Aurveydic</span> (healing) treatments that seem to be rather popular. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">havent</span> been able to sleep much lately so maybe a good 'cleanse' of my mind and nervous system is exactly what I need?<br /><br />I'm excited to head south tomorrow night. A 15 hour train ride will take us to the state of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Kerala</span> famous for its inland backwaters. I will try and get some pictures of Goa and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Gokarna</span> up soon!Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-31915723047711808532009-02-10T04:26:00.000-08:002009-02-10T05:10:09.869-08:00Goa<div align="left">Well I'm in Goa. It's hot, and super humid. The ocean is warmer than any swimming pool I've ever been in. Things are going well and I thought that since I have the time I would post some pictures instead of writing a blog. Email me anytime! </div><div align="left"><br /><br /> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaz8HzxoMiiUQYnsC4bZ4EyvMOXulW8bmm3AFvdwzb1dwJXqJOKAPYFby6h5KUyqYZ1X-xrWAif1kzbPrdCUQxCa8BrMsXKn_gD0nedTl9ZruLjqUq_IAAmz2_Px8oZD5voNs__AFW3M/s1600-h/IMG_0755.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301151877652562978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaz8HzxoMiiUQYnsC4bZ4EyvMOXulW8bmm3AFvdwzb1dwJXqJOKAPYFby6h5KUyqYZ1X-xrWAif1kzbPrdCUQxCa8BrMsXKn_gD0nedTl9ZruLjqUq_IAAmz2_Px8oZD5voNs__AFW3M/s320/IMG_0755.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sunset in Mumbai (Bombay).</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXp0wCKUU9IGcq7qHdFf9yKVAbUZ7T1vsbCYUdkHtvAi0sTOjGCJHVfh8dpUB03xnAJ3oZAlEalm-Tmkd_uebj6LotnJRZk59hgCEQXfcHuBSh_UeujFDFSsDiqZ0RxeKzQzANKULKyk/s1600-h/IMG_0634.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301151872780123730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXp0wCKUU9IGcq7qHdFf9yKVAbUZ7T1vsbCYUdkHtvAi0sTOjGCJHVfh8dpUB03xnAJ3oZAlEalm-Tmkd_uebj6LotnJRZk59hgCEQXfcHuBSh_UeujFDFSsDiqZ0RxeKzQzANKULKyk/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jess getting 'cleansed' at the sacred ghats of Pushkar. </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEui-ur2XVZPxpLUAPoK3Yi-Z4KoqVVwW69zXDI_l5o1wfiR18Qt9qWnpqOHbFkcGSq_yMKsZ-913DYfDUj8HPnLSA8gLsZ5YlbW-FwUU8D3rsTby2c4wAad8UKN7yOirIy5aEzQAT8c/s1600-h/IMG_0477.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301151866906142002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEui-ur2XVZPxpLUAPoK3Yi-Z4KoqVVwW69zXDI_l5o1wfiR18Qt9qWnpqOHbFkcGSq_yMKsZ-913DYfDUj8HPnLSA8gLsZ5YlbW-FwUU8D3rsTby2c4wAad8UKN7yOirIy5aEzQAT8c/s320/IMG_0477.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me on the desert dunes of Rajasthan. </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5bdzkYWMB22tT3xfNvmjjSYU7gOPVES-dipKIGxR2suyTL87BCFNHuifhCCAdCj6JYxbKHsvAfwc4irlaxf60sN-i9QWCcDS39VzV9RhJcrchse1SkIEO5s27vuzrRM97WpJ_vUGDW0/s1600-h/IMG_0430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301151861676716610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5bdzkYWMB22tT3xfNvmjjSYU7gOPVES-dipKIGxR2suyTL87BCFNHuifhCCAdCj6JYxbKHsvAfwc4irlaxf60sN-i9QWCcDS39VzV9RhJcrchse1SkIEO5s27vuzrRM97WpJ_vUGDW0/s320/IMG_0430.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jess creeping on some little village kid on the camel trek. </p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS42_5CIv359u7Dt-7Hg8s5hOfOH0GVUCP0Zqv51J3WYZksXJObBmTRpNGDYO7iFNgsh4gwCkp2F3MO2Phbowhx0SzrtfGw8CYsycOi0hRu728GZzGGMMSqxbbeDv2XKDNpPGnkhcQnAU/s1600-h/IMG_0413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301151859284380098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS42_5CIv359u7Dt-7Hg8s5hOfOH0GVUCP0Zqv51J3WYZksXJObBmTRpNGDYO7iFNgsh4gwCkp2F3MO2Phbowhx0SzrtfGw8CYsycOi0hRu728GZzGGMMSqxbbeDv2XKDNpPGnkhcQnAU/s320/IMG_0413.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our camels. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJInmFA6mJSlImka6fPJsVCce4kIkpSLRjcQ5Rx9I36ZQcak0GY7oeYD990XjKyjqOGqvXyABBB7vdl4q1cYWOKkL3_TH4UtYj2T7J7uqaw6Eu3YPKI__NFm-1OW8qoDRVRFpXyWDkbU/s1600-h/IMG_0340.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301149705406915170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJInmFA6mJSlImka6fPJsVCce4kIkpSLRjcQ5Rx9I36ZQcak0GY7oeYD990XjKyjqOGqvXyABBB7vdl4q1cYWOKkL3_TH4UtYj2T7J7uqaw6Eu3YPKI__NFm-1OW8qoDRVRFpXyWDkbU/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" border="0" /></a> Market in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxJWFyqrjhAigT8tsxvJjUeco5_meFZh550R77etwyl0U5jP0kMKK23LY4pvVzrtzwBB3CAioGUHOukqpLq86POLrRGDbs2NKBTfzT26MpziFhE2PAPjtfQYftTak50ixqVuc-y2i99k/s1600-h/IMG_0288.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301149704898018898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxJWFyqrjhAigT8tsxvJjUeco5_meFZh550R77etwyl0U5jP0kMKK23LY4pvVzrtzwBB3CAioGUHOukqpLq86POLrRGDbs2NKBTfzT26MpziFhE2PAPjtfQYftTak50ixqVuc-y2i99k/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sunset over Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosfhhRxRlESdvOZp3d1Bq1r_RgM42DI-jLh2EJLqgssw6f-1iSXdMueFrfRcfVmqRn-NhbeVNsE2S3GhFmZo2gejZnWBk3j3O0-Ngnhs7qkg8dOybDxR_47GXg0eGAi7nV1o7pYvg8p4/s1600-h/IMG_0282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301149697780683730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosfhhRxRlESdvOZp3d1Bq1r_RgM42DI-jLh2EJLqgssw6f-1iSXdMueFrfRcfVmqRn-NhbeVNsE2S3GhFmZo2gejZnWBk3j3O0-Ngnhs7qkg8dOybDxR_47GXg0eGAi7nV1o7pYvg8p4/s320/IMG_0282.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our rickshaw tour guide for the day, Soni, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301146882559582850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVpnzoh2y-SuvQBZefEq4YHxUDh16X59Y5v7H_IB5hy7lp4a9yADu6oPNwubHkEWd-sEnimD4oVLBbxWru09A_kMBboRoJO7Mskq-2la0fn1KMC1CkLloUU9-UEpUAqMB22KWaIDCtH4/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Me at the lake palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Taken by my horizontally challeged travel mate. </p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf81PSk106P8noLqiHS2kczPSGIVeVD2EMFdB1WaxsaTuMaNj3JVXw-7B6ol3jkyPZWejnOseSNaE0B31c0Y7eg4HBSAWYE3oBE4Rit9wcSIqCsF0koVkp7iGv08XcJs2wVOVAjwtm9Uk/s1600-h/IMG_0193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301149695324743250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf81PSk106P8noLqiHS2kczPSGIVeVD2EMFdB1WaxsaTuMaNj3JVXw-7B6ol3jkyPZWejnOseSNaE0B31c0Y7eg4HBSAWYE3oBE4Rit9wcSIqCsF0koVkp7iGv08XcJs2wVOVAjwtm9Uk/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" border="0" /></a> A smoggy traffic artery in Jaipur, Rajasthan. </div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOklJ3iZpN8FuFP_xGcHfjWLaQN7XebyKQMQTC1zoQn8M_qWr0L4YmDTxC2Lb1Nml0VOKN3HM3uKHLX4sAJWZDkMBz5jsH0qFwEYNy66UUziw__SKDByyVN3Lj_dHqYAj-rw3n1vWapY/s1600-h/IMG_0112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301149693724469938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOklJ3iZpN8FuFP_xGcHfjWLaQN7XebyKQMQTC1zoQn8M_qWr0L4YmDTxC2Lb1Nml0VOKN3HM3uKHLX4sAJWZDkMBz5jsH0qFwEYNy66UUziw__SKDByyVN3Lj_dHqYAj-rw3n1vWapY/s320/IMG_0112.JPG" border="0" /></a> Street chaos in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Absolute Chaos. </div><div align="center"></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><div><div><div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0bSVA9K-9oIEPkXz_irD5XlbV2dGtjY8CkiwSo8R5UUNMfws5qsKTV_q4Mo6T1uUC9VBUPIII8RdFH6d0dYyHhVNjIXJWbgiBKiT2xcgc7vYbflJ28WN-LuVXJO4FxaspbhGAUhc7IM/s1600-h/IMG_0131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301146866906711474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0bSVA9K-9oIEPkXz_irD5XlbV2dGtjY8CkiwSo8R5UUNMfws5qsKTV_q4Mo6T1uUC9VBUPIII8RdFH6d0dYyHhVNjIXJWbgiBKiT2xcgc7vYbflJ28WN-LuVXJO4FxaspbhGAUhc7IM/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sunrise on the stunning Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jQFuBcdlylYNAq7yKnDax2EE7E04JqAzdRtH746NLCtRLtC7S1Hu148dkQ7pvmOZxE2_G12QJHBwYEA8XqEnjzJx91MNt8529J0e0sG5ms9kGpMpmYRwMcQp-rPCQCmz5P39sspTlAw/s1600-h/IMG_0072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301146867554520978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jQFuBcdlylYNAq7yKnDax2EE7E04JqAzdRtH746NLCtRLtC7S1Hu148dkQ7pvmOZxE2_G12QJHBwYEA8XqEnjzJx91MNt8529J0e0sG5ms9kGpMpmYRwMcQp-rPCQCmz5P39sspTlAw/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me at the Agra Fort with the Taj Mahal in background. Agra, Uttar Pradesh.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-7811091014296143012009-02-01T23:48:00.000-08:002010-08-18T15:12:07.329-07:00RajasthanWell it looks like it's going to be a little be longer before I get some pictures up. I have never connected my camera to a computer before and for some reason it doesnt read it. I'm going to have to find a chip reader somewhere now as none of the internet cafe's seem to have them.<br />
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So Rajasthan...AMAZING. Jaipur - Jaisalmer - Pushkar and now onto Udaipur to finish off the province. Things are going really well, I'm getting pretty use to the way things work here, upside down and backwards is the best way to describe it.<br />
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I have a bus to catch to make my train in an hour. I will post more in a few days.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-68870335210202348462009-01-27T05:16:00.000-08:002010-07-21T14:32:56.308-07:00Incredible IndiaFirst off, sorry to those of you that I told I would post on here often and then go a week without writing anything new. I am in Jaisalmer now, a small desert town in western India not too far from the Pakistan border. It is beautiful here. I just finished a 3 day trek through the Thar desert on the back of a Camel. This was interesting.<br />
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After leaving Delhi we went to Agra to check out the Taj Mahal. Absolutely stunning. The city of Agra however, not so much. The harassment was almost unbearable. Walking down any street in that city is impossible without people coming up to you trying to sell you something, drive you somewhere or be your 'guide' around some of the sites.<br />
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At times it seemed some people were more interested in photographing Jess than the Taj. From asking her to be in pictures with them or their family to straight up walking up to her and video taping her. We even had incidents of parents forcing their children to shake her hand. So strange.<br />
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Jaipur followed Agra. A much nicer city but still more of the same. Stares. Constant stares from every direction. Although I'm starting to get use to it. We took an Indian bus from Agra, 6 hours on that thing was a real experience!<br />
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All in all things are good. The locals are really interesting people it's hard to describe some of the things I have learned from them. Unfortunately I'm becoming jaded merely a week in as more often than not what they have said in the guide book is true: "anyone actively trying to befriend you should be considered a tout." Now when I hear someone speak to me I rarely acknowledge them. I hope with time this will change...we probably need to get off the tourist circuit.<br />
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That being said, I have met some amazing people and have learned so much without even scratching the surface. The Indians are wonderful and this country and her people are more beautiful than I could have imagined.<br />
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I will post pictures soon.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-87226759226389517032009-01-19T04:03:00.000-08:002009-01-19T04:22:54.388-08:00Delhi28 hours of flying, everything went smoothly. I have been staying at my Uncle's place in Delhi for the past two nights. Jess and I arrived early in the morning, 6am, so our first day was consumed mostly with sleep but did involve a brief trip into a New Delhi market. <br /><br />Yesterday we had an opportunity to see more of Delhi, we visted what is known as the Red Fort, a remanat of the Mughual rule in Delhi. More than anything though, venturing into the city gave me my first real exposure to India. The best way I can some it up...PEOPLE. <br /><br />There are people everywhere. Delhi has over 20 million people and with people comes pollution. The sky is hazy. I can smell see and taste the air. <br /><br />Driving is chaotic. There are no rules. Traffic lights and lines on the road are merely suggestions. You drive where your car can fit. You honk to let others around you know you're taking those few inches of room. And yet in what seems like an absolute mess, it seems to work.<br /><br />Our driver Babu is great. He lives here with my uncle where his primary responsibility is to drive him around. This may sound odd but this is a very good job in India and honestly, you couldnt pay me to drive on those roads (he is not allowed to drive in India as per company policy).<br /><br />Also living with my uncle is Povarti. She does the cooking and cleaning and pretty much runs the house. She is amazing. She has made a few Indian meals for Jess and I...SO GOOD! Again, you may think having a maid is strange/wrong/sign of the rich vs poor but you would be wrong. This is very common place among Indians and it is also a very good job not to mention the fact that it supports the economy.<br /><br />All in all, I must say that the culture shock hasn't hit me too much yet. The house we are staying in is WAY nicer than my apartment in Calgary. We have our own rooms with hot showers and cable TV. Our meals are cooked and we are driven around the city. <br /><br />Tomorrow we leave for Agra to see the Taj Mahal. This will be the start of our 10 week journey around India and I'm sure my perceptions will change immensely in the next few days.<br /><br />Oh and I see the Cardinals are playing the Steelers. My two favorite teams. So awesome.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359237600186672954.post-73563632637165298752009-01-07T14:23:00.001-08:002011-01-10T23:19:23.340-08:009 days and countingIndia Visa...check.<br />
Vaccinations...check.<br />
Prescriptions...check.<br />
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Freak myself out about disease and well being...ongoing.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104730134484431600noreply@blogger.com1