Well, I've been back two weeks now and it's been a busy couple of weeks. When I returned to work, there was a pile of work that had been anxiously awaiting my arrival. Well... there was that and a cubicle filled to the brim with pink and black balloons. It's been rather disturbing how quickly I've fallen back into my pre-trip quotidian habits. Part of that may have been that I was anxious to get home and find comfortable habits to return to. Something about western-style toilets, menus in English, and being able to drink tap water makes life so much easier. Sorry I haven't been able to get in touch with all of you since I returned. I've meant to but just have not been able to find the time. I'll try harder and hope to talk to you all again soon.
Looking back on the trip, I'm so glad I went. It's hard to explain to people when they ask how the trip was without saying something totally unhelpful like, "It was great!" What was great about it? It was great to strike out on my own for a month, to get away and remember that there's a whole other world out there beyond our individual bubble and our coasts. It was great to see Jeff again and experience an entirely different culture and how they deal with everyday minutiae that we all experience. But most of all, it was great to go away and come back knowing more about myself, what I'm capable of, and what I love about where I live. I'm not sure you can ever fully appreciate those things until you've stepped out of your comfort zone and disconnected yourself from them.
So... those are my final thoughts on the adventure. I think that pretty much wraps up this experiment in blogging but before I sign off, I have two final items to bring up:
1) I'm not sure how to get pictures out to everyone for viewing. I looked into Picasa but short of paying for a subscription (yeah, right!), I'm limited to 100 Mb upload per month. As I have 3 Gb of photos, that'd take awhile. Does anyone know another site that's easy to upload 3 Gb of photos so I can email a link to people outside of the Seattle area? Or should I just quit being a cheapskate and send Google (via Picasa) some money? Either way, hopefully there'll be an email headed your way with a link to view the photos I took.
2) I've already started thinking about my next trip. As I'm currently sitting on negative vacation hours at work and I'm also trying to not dip further into my savings to pay for this trip, I'm not going to be going anywhere anytime soon. But hey, it's never too early to start planning, right? So along those lines, I have three little words to say:
Trans, Siberian, Railway.
Take care everyone.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
My Current Location
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I'm going to try to keep this post updated with my current whereabouts so you all can follow along at home...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
See You All Stateside
When you all wake up and read this tomorrow... I'll probably be sleeping. But when I wake up tomorrow, I'll be heading off to the airport and the great Asian adventure will be coming to a close.
Not much to report from today. Saw a rock garden this morning (no pictures though) before leaving Kyoto and Mt. Fuji remained elusive despite the fact that I got off the train specifically to see her. Drats. Otherwise, it's a quite night in sleepy Narita and a long day tomorrow.
Looking forward to being home and seeing all of your smiling faces soon!
Not much to report from today. Saw a rock garden this morning (no pictures though) before leaving Kyoto and Mt. Fuji remained elusive despite the fact that I got off the train specifically to see her. Drats. Otherwise, it's a quite night in sleepy Narita and a long day tomorrow.
Looking forward to being home and seeing all of your smiling faces soon!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Yo, Yo, Kyoto
I've been in Kyoto the last two days having a blast. The crowds aren't nearly as pressing here as they were in Tokyo, the weather has cleared up for blue skies, and the Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines here have been great for relaxing. Yesterday was spent at Nijo Castle, Nanzen-ji Temple, and walking the Philosopher's Walk. All felt very Japanese. I made a day trip today to Nara, the supposed cradle of Buddhism. I saw the temple there (Todai-ji) as well as a couple of impressive shrines. Kasuga Shrine in Nara, home of thousands of stone lanterns, is also the home of a few hundred tame deer. Well, I'm not sure tame is the right word. Maybe just more tame than wild. They're pretty vicious if you have any food-smelling items in your pockets.
On the way back to Kyoto I stopped at Fushimi Inari Shrine which is pretty well known for its thousands of orange and black torii (which is a terrific color combination, by the way):
That's not my picture (can't download them here at the hotel after all) but you get the idea. I guess the moral of the story though is that when the Shinto-ists get their minds settled on a theme for their shrines, they really go all out about it. No half-assing it with only a few hundred lanterns or torii! Build it like you mean it!
Once I got back to Kyoto, I cruised through the Gion District and saw a few apprentice Geisha (Maiko) walking down the streets. They were drawing quite a bit of attention from the tourists but would you believe it, they were walking around taking pictures themselves, sightseeing like the rest of us schmucks!
I'm headed back to Tokyo tomorrow (well, technically Narita), hoping the clouds will stay away long enough for me to get my first gander at Mt. Fuji. Then early Thursday morning it's bon voyage. I'll probably have a final debrief or two once I get back so stay tuned!
On the way back to Kyoto I stopped at Fushimi Inari Shrine which is pretty well known for its thousands of orange and black torii (which is a terrific color combination, by the way):
That's not my picture (can't download them here at the hotel after all) but you get the idea. I guess the moral of the story though is that when the Shinto-ists get their minds settled on a theme for their shrines, they really go all out about it. No half-assing it with only a few hundred lanterns or torii! Build it like you mean it!
Once I got back to Kyoto, I cruised through the Gion District and saw a few apprentice Geisha (Maiko) walking down the streets. They were drawing quite a bit of attention from the tourists but would you believe it, they were walking around taking pictures themselves, sightseeing like the rest of us schmucks!
I'm headed back to Tokyo tomorrow (well, technically Narita), hoping the clouds will stay away long enough for me to get my first gander at Mt. Fuji. Then early Thursday morning it's bon voyage. I'll probably have a final debrief or two once I get back so stay tuned!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Tokyo: The Highlights
Pictures with commentary below:
The pre-game cheerleaders and rituals before the baseball game on Friday at the Tokyo Dome. The fans were loud and dedicated but also rather polite. The Hanshin fans quietly sat while Yomiuri was at bat and the Giants fans cheered their heads off. When Hanshin came up to bat, the Yomiuri fans sat down and it was the Tigers fans' turn. But despite their enthusiasm, I didn't really feel like they're any more passionate about their teams than American fans. I guess the giveaway was the total lack of correlation between their cheering and the magnitude of the play at hand. You wouldn't be able to tell if somebody just hit a popup in the first or a game winning grand slam from the sound of the fans. And you can't blame it on the beer either; the beer garden was DESERTED before the game (trust me, I looked long and hard).
The purportedly busiest intersection in the world in the Shibuya district (which I just like to say out loud: She-booyah!). I took this shot from the 2nd floor of the Starbucks in the building with the walking dinosaur from "Lost in Translation." The Shibuya district (you're saying it out loud aren't you?), is where the video arcades, neon lights, and pachinko slots are. Very fun but also VERY loud. So much so in fact that the dedicated pachinko players were wearing ear plugs. Sounds like a blast doesn't it!!
Speaking of "Lost in Translation," the Suntory whisky Bill Murray's character is in Tokyo to promote... yeah, it's a real whisky here. They also make beer (which is crap like all of the other beers here, by the way) and I just about died laughing when I saw this billboard. "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time." The locals standing next to me didn't get it...
Sumo from tonight! The wrestling started at 8:30 am this morning (!!) and went until past 5:30pm. I thought that was a little much for me so I didn't show up until 12:30 or so... and found an almost deserted stadium. The Japanese (who knew what they were doing) didn't start showing up in earnest until 3:00 or so and the place absolutely erupted when this guy in red came up (he won too). It was fun but I have to admit, I spent most of the time confused beyond belief. I'm sure the sake didn't help on that front...
Today was my last full day in Tokyo; I'm heading to Kyoto tomorrow and hoping to see Nara and Mt. Fuji along the way. And then Thursday it's more than 20 hours of air travel to get back to the Emerald City. All I have to say is that I see a burger and a good beer in my future...
P.S.
What trip to Japan would be complete without an earthquake? News Link It felt like someone was trying to wake me up by shaking my bed this morning. I was so concerned and worried about it that I rolled over and went back to sleep once the aftershocks tailed off. I didn't hear anything about it afterwards and started to doubt whether or not it really happened. But I guess when you live in Tokyo, it really is, "Wake me when it's at least a magnitude 6..."
The pre-game cheerleaders and rituals before the baseball game on Friday at the Tokyo Dome. The fans were loud and dedicated but also rather polite. The Hanshin fans quietly sat while Yomiuri was at bat and the Giants fans cheered their heads off. When Hanshin came up to bat, the Yomiuri fans sat down and it was the Tigers fans' turn. But despite their enthusiasm, I didn't really feel like they're any more passionate about their teams than American fans. I guess the giveaway was the total lack of correlation between their cheering and the magnitude of the play at hand. You wouldn't be able to tell if somebody just hit a popup in the first or a game winning grand slam from the sound of the fans. And you can't blame it on the beer either; the beer garden was DESERTED before the game (trust me, I looked long and hard).
The purportedly busiest intersection in the world in the Shibuya district (which I just like to say out loud: She-booyah!). I took this shot from the 2nd floor of the Starbucks in the building with the walking dinosaur from "Lost in Translation." The Shibuya district (you're saying it out loud aren't you?), is where the video arcades, neon lights, and pachinko slots are. Very fun but also VERY loud. So much so in fact that the dedicated pachinko players were wearing ear plugs. Sounds like a blast doesn't it!!
Speaking of "Lost in Translation," the Suntory whisky Bill Murray's character is in Tokyo to promote... yeah, it's a real whisky here. They also make beer (which is crap like all of the other beers here, by the way) and I just about died laughing when I saw this billboard. "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time." The locals standing next to me didn't get it...
Sumo from tonight! The wrestling started at 8:30 am this morning (!!) and went until past 5:30pm. I thought that was a little much for me so I didn't show up until 12:30 or so... and found an almost deserted stadium. The Japanese (who knew what they were doing) didn't start showing up in earnest until 3:00 or so and the place absolutely erupted when this guy in red came up (he won too). It was fun but I have to admit, I spent most of the time confused beyond belief. I'm sure the sake didn't help on that front...
Today was my last full day in Tokyo; I'm heading to Kyoto tomorrow and hoping to see Nara and Mt. Fuji along the way. And then Thursday it's more than 20 hours of air travel to get back to the Emerald City. All I have to say is that I see a burger and a good beer in my future...
P.S.
What trip to Japan would be complete without an earthquake? News Link It felt like someone was trying to wake me up by shaking my bed this morning. I was so concerned and worried about it that I rolled over and went back to sleep once the aftershocks tailed off. I didn't hear anything about it afterwards and started to doubt whether or not it really happened. But I guess when you live in Tokyo, it really is, "Wake me when it's at least a magnitude 6..."
Friday, September 19, 2008
I'm Feeling Japanese
I've arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun... to find rain clouds. Oh well. My trip through China was terrific and even though I was rarely ever restricted in my freedoms, I still just feel a little freer now that I'm gone. For instance, I can say whatever I want now: "Free Tibet!" "Taiwan's sovereign!" "Tian'an Men Square, 1989!" Phew, that feels better...
But now it's time to focus my attention on the country at hand. And let me tell you, Japan has some very cool things going on. For instance, the toilet in my hotel, yeah, it's heated. You know, in case my bum gets cold during the summer. I haven't tried the bidet feature yet but it's only a matter of time and the fake flushing noise to mask any... ahem... other noises, is pure genius.
One thing I've discovered that the Japanese have not perfected yet is mass transit. I consider myself pretty well-versed in the ways of... well... subways. I've been underground all over the world and I'd say I mastered the Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing tubes just on this trip alone. But this... this is ridiculous:
"At least it's in English," was my first thought. What makes things the most confusing about this Spaghetti Diagram is that when you look at that map, you're actually looking at more than three company's mass transit lines (there are only three major company's I've used thus far though). So to get from point A to point B, it's not only likely you'll have to transfer from one company's subway line to another's, it's even possible you'll have to use Company 1, Company 2, AND Company 3 just to make the trip. And each time you transfer companies, you have to find your way out of the subway station, find the nearby station you're transferring to, buy another subway ticket, and find the next train you need to catch. Needless to say, of the 10 hours I was out and about today, I spent 15 trying to figure out how to get around...
But get around I did. I went to the fish market and had fresh sushi for lunch. Got a real good look at those rain clouds from the observation deck at Tokyo Tower. Caught a Japanese baseball game tonight (Yomiuri beat Hanshin for those of you following the Central League standings back at home). Tomorrow I'm gonna hit up the video arcades (and maybe a museum or temple or something cultural). Sunday... you better sit down for this... are you ready? I'm not sure you're ready for this... well, here it is anyway... I'm drinking sake and watching real live Sumo. It's. gonna. be. AWESOME!
But now it's time to focus my attention on the country at hand. And let me tell you, Japan has some very cool things going on. For instance, the toilet in my hotel, yeah, it's heated. You know, in case my bum gets cold during the summer. I haven't tried the bidet feature yet but it's only a matter of time and the fake flushing noise to mask any... ahem... other noises, is pure genius.
One thing I've discovered that the Japanese have not perfected yet is mass transit. I consider myself pretty well-versed in the ways of... well... subways. I've been underground all over the world and I'd say I mastered the Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing tubes just on this trip alone. But this... this is ridiculous:
"At least it's in English," was my first thought. What makes things the most confusing about this Spaghetti Diagram is that when you look at that map, you're actually looking at more than three company's mass transit lines (there are only three major company's I've used thus far though). So to get from point A to point B, it's not only likely you'll have to transfer from one company's subway line to another's, it's even possible you'll have to use Company 1, Company 2, AND Company 3 just to make the trip. And each time you transfer companies, you have to find your way out of the subway station, find the nearby station you're transferring to, buy another subway ticket, and find the next train you need to catch. Needless to say, of the 10 hours I was out and about today, I spent 15 trying to figure out how to get around...
But get around I did. I went to the fish market and had fresh sushi for lunch. Got a real good look at those rain clouds from the observation deck at Tokyo Tower. Caught a Japanese baseball game tonight (Yomiuri beat Hanshin for those of you following the Central League standings back at home). Tomorrow I'm gonna hit up the video arcades (and maybe a museum or temple or something cultural). Sunday... you better sit down for this... are you ready? I'm not sure you're ready for this... well, here it is anyway... I'm drinking sake and watching real live Sumo. It's. gonna. be. AWESOME!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Fat Lady has Sung
The 2008 Paralympics ended tonight so the summer olympic season is officially over. Beijing has been very supportive of the Paralympians (of whom I've seen quite a few since I've been here) and all of the competitions. I'm not sure how much coverage has been available back home but every game has been on tv here.
I went to the Olympic complex yesterday and have to admit, felt the Olympic spirit coursing through me. They had some track and field event going on while I was there and couldn't help noticing I had an extra hop in my step as I heard the crowds ooh and ahh. Here are some pictures. Please note: yes it really was overcast. It had rained before and after I was there so this wasn't smog... this time.
I went to the Olympic complex yesterday and have to admit, felt the Olympic spirit coursing through me. They had some track and field event going on while I was there and couldn't help noticing I had an extra hop in my step as I heard the crowds ooh and ahh. Here are some pictures. Please note: yes it really was overcast. It had rained before and after I was there so this wasn't smog... this time.
Japan starts tomorrow! Hooray!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
It's September 16th...
Do you know where your baseball team is? I promised some baseball commentary on here and with 12 to 14 games to go before October, raging thunderstorms tonight, and a steady internet connection, I've decided it's time. So here it is...
If the playoffs started today, the Angels, White Sox, Rays, and Red Sox would be representing the AL. The Twins are only 1.5 games back from the Pale Hose though with three head-to-head games coming up. The Chi Sox have a slightly easier schedule though with three games against the Yanks while the Twinkies play the Rays four times. Still, head to head games make all the difference. I'm calling a push on this one; it'll be decided in Minneapolis next week.
The other remaining question mark in the AL is the wild card. It's definitely coming from the East and it'll be between the Rays and the Red Sox but which one is decided only by mere percentage points at this point. Two more head to head games to go this week probably won't be decisive (I'm predicting a split of the last two), so we'll have to see if the Rays can keep it together under pressure as the season comes to an end. Their remaining schedule is 4 each against the Twins, at the O's, and at Detroit. The Sox on the other hand have three in Toronto and finish at home with 4 against the Tribe and 3 against the Evil Empire. With the Sox success at home and their superior Pythagorean, I'm calling it another Boston pennant this year. I'll admit a slight bias though...
In that other league (heh), the Cubs and Dodgers are the only teams that can feel confident they're in. In the East, the Mets only have a 0.5 game lead over the Phillies who also happen to be tied with the Brewers for a wild card berth after sweeping them in a four-game set at home. The Phillies definitely have the easier remaining schedule as they avoid the Cubs all together and have 9 of 12 against sub-.500 teams. The Mets get to face the Cubs 4 times and I'm sure they're thinking about last September's collapse. But the Brewers get to face the Cubs a whopping 6 times before the season's over. They're giving them everything they've got with Sabathia, Sheets, and Parra in the first three, but I'm afraid if they don't take at least 2 out of 3 this week, they're gonna need either another Mets Meltdown or hope the Cubs are in full rest mode for a sweep to end the season. Prediction: Phillies pass the Mets who erase last year's demons and hold off the Brew Crew. Sorry, no pissing their pants for joy for the Brewski-faithful this year; it'll be 1982 and counting...
So that would give us division series of Rays in LA, White Sox/Twins in Boston, Mets in Chicago, and Dodgers in Philly. Sounds exciting. I can't wait to get back and see some October ball!
P.S. In other news, the M's are half a game behind the Nats and basically tied with the Dads for the worst record in baseball and the no. 1 pick in next year's draft. Come on, M's! Lose! Think about the future!
If the playoffs started today, the Angels, White Sox, Rays, and Red Sox would be representing the AL. The Twins are only 1.5 games back from the Pale Hose though with three head-to-head games coming up. The Chi Sox have a slightly easier schedule though with three games against the Yanks while the Twinkies play the Rays four times. Still, head to head games make all the difference. I'm calling a push on this one; it'll be decided in Minneapolis next week.
The other remaining question mark in the AL is the wild card. It's definitely coming from the East and it'll be between the Rays and the Red Sox but which one is decided only by mere percentage points at this point. Two more head to head games to go this week probably won't be decisive (I'm predicting a split of the last two), so we'll have to see if the Rays can keep it together under pressure as the season comes to an end. Their remaining schedule is 4 each against the Twins, at the O's, and at Detroit. The Sox on the other hand have three in Toronto and finish at home with 4 against the Tribe and 3 against the Evil Empire. With the Sox success at home and their superior Pythagorean, I'm calling it another Boston pennant this year. I'll admit a slight bias though...
In that other league (heh), the Cubs and Dodgers are the only teams that can feel confident they're in. In the East, the Mets only have a 0.5 game lead over the Phillies who also happen to be tied with the Brewers for a wild card berth after sweeping them in a four-game set at home. The Phillies definitely have the easier remaining schedule as they avoid the Cubs all together and have 9 of 12 against sub-.500 teams. The Mets get to face the Cubs 4 times and I'm sure they're thinking about last September's collapse. But the Brewers get to face the Cubs a whopping 6 times before the season's over. They're giving them everything they've got with Sabathia, Sheets, and Parra in the first three, but I'm afraid if they don't take at least 2 out of 3 this week, they're gonna need either another Mets Meltdown or hope the Cubs are in full rest mode for a sweep to end the season. Prediction: Phillies pass the Mets who erase last year's demons and hold off the Brew Crew. Sorry, no pissing their pants for joy for the Brewski-faithful this year; it'll be 1982 and counting...
So that would give us division series of Rays in LA, White Sox/Twins in Boston, Mets in Chicago, and Dodgers in Philly. Sounds exciting. I can't wait to get back and see some October ball!
P.S. In other news, the M's are half a game behind the Nats and basically tied with the Dads for the worst record in baseball and the no. 1 pick in next year's draft. Come on, M's! Lose! Think about the future!
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Great Wall!
So... the Chinese, they built this wall. It's pretty old and pretty long. It's also pretty great. So, let's just call it the Great Wall. Pictures below. I didn't reduce them in size as much as I have the others so they may take awhile to download.
(I think this is the same view as the picture in my header)
(I think this is the same view as the picture in my header)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Picture Download
Wouldn't you know it, after all of that complaining, the computer here is up to the challenge after all. So without further ado, here are some pictures from Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing. Enjoy!
The two tallest buildings in Shanghai. The one on the left (with the square hole) was just completed (like two weeks ago?) and is now the tallest building in China. The observation deck was closed for that building the day I was there so I had to settle for the 88th floor of the shorter building. Phooey.
A night view of the Pudong district of Shanghai, a "Special Economic Zone" that's correspondingly rich. This is the view from the Bund (see below!).
The Bund in Shanghai, site of most of Shanghai's decadence back in the "good ol' days." Nowadays it's the site of beggars, thieves, and peddlers. Oh and the river is nasty polluted too, just to add insult to injury.
A view of my pleasant walk through the woods on Purple Mountain, just outside of Nanjing.
The centerpiece of the Memorial to the Nanjing Massacre. Very abstract at times (and sometime gruesomely non-abstract), the memorial had aspects that reminded me of the Vietnam Memorial in DC.
The famous Tian'an Men Square with Mao's mug overlooking it all. You can kinda get a sense of the crowds I was battling all day.
A view of the Forbidden City from nearby Coal Hill in Jingshan Park. The lovely Beijing skyline is ever so slightly obscured by the "overcast" skies.
This is the Temple of Heaven where the Emperor, as the son of the gods, communicated a desire for a plentiful harvest each year: "Hey guys up there, how's it going? Listen, we sure would like to eat this year so how about a little help down here. That'd be great, thanks!"
The two tallest buildings in Shanghai. The one on the left (with the square hole) was just completed (like two weeks ago?) and is now the tallest building in China. The observation deck was closed for that building the day I was there so I had to settle for the 88th floor of the shorter building. Phooey.
A night view of the Pudong district of Shanghai, a "Special Economic Zone" that's correspondingly rich. This is the view from the Bund (see below!).
The Bund in Shanghai, site of most of Shanghai's decadence back in the "good ol' days." Nowadays it's the site of beggars, thieves, and peddlers. Oh and the river is nasty polluted too, just to add insult to injury.
A view of my pleasant walk through the woods on Purple Mountain, just outside of Nanjing.
The centerpiece of the Memorial to the Nanjing Massacre. Very abstract at times (and sometime gruesomely non-abstract), the memorial had aspects that reminded me of the Vietnam Memorial in DC.
The famous Tian'an Men Square with Mao's mug overlooking it all. You can kinda get a sense of the crowds I was battling all day.
A view of the Forbidden City from nearby Coal Hill in Jingshan Park. The lovely Beijing skyline is ever so slightly obscured by the "overcast" skies.
This is the Temple of Heaven where the Emperor, as the son of the gods, communicated a desire for a plentiful harvest each year: "Hey guys up there, how's it going? Listen, we sure would like to eat this year so how about a little help down here. That'd be great, thanks!"
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Back in the Saddle
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I've been steadily feeling better the last two days and I'd say I've pretty much got this thing beat. It's a good thing too because there's a lot to see and a lot to eat here. How can a trip to Beijing be complete without Peking Duck?
I got out for a little while yesterday and saw the Forbidden City and Tian'an Men Square. Surprisingly, Tian'an Men reminded me a lot of the Mall in Washington DC. A big open space in the capital surrounded by government buildings, monuments, and museums. Although the plethora of Red Army soldiers patrolling the square was slightly off-putting. They've also got this big picture of this balding Chinese guy on the main gate to the square. I don't know, he must be someone important... :)
Speaking of pictures, the hostel computers here can't seem to support downloading pictures off of my camera. One computer doesn't have a USB port (Whaa...?!?) and the other was averaging infinity minutes per picture. So I may have to do a big download when I get to Japan. We'll see.
In addition I had a minor scare this morning as I took the subway all the way across the city only to realize my camera wouldn't turn on. I thought maybe something from the hostel computer had infected my camera but when I got back to hostel I discovered to my relief that it was only the battery that had died. I guess those infinity minutes per picture had drained the battery a bit...
If I ever get out of here, the plan is to see the Olympic Pavilion and the Temple of Heaven today. Tomorrow's a long day at... the Wall!
I got out for a little while yesterday and saw the Forbidden City and Tian'an Men Square. Surprisingly, Tian'an Men reminded me a lot of the Mall in Washington DC. A big open space in the capital surrounded by government buildings, monuments, and museums. Although the plethora of Red Army soldiers patrolling the square was slightly off-putting. They've also got this big picture of this balding Chinese guy on the main gate to the square. I don't know, he must be someone important... :)
Speaking of pictures, the hostel computers here can't seem to support downloading pictures off of my camera. One computer doesn't have a USB port (Whaa...?!?) and the other was averaging infinity minutes per picture. So I may have to do a big download when I get to Japan. We'll see.
In addition I had a minor scare this morning as I took the subway all the way across the city only to realize my camera wouldn't turn on. I thought maybe something from the hostel computer had infected my camera but when I got back to hostel I discovered to my relief that it was only the battery that had died. I guess those infinity minutes per picture had drained the battery a bit...
If I ever get out of here, the plan is to see the Olympic Pavilion and the Temple of Heaven today. Tomorrow's a long day at... the Wall!
Friday, September 12, 2008
It finally happened...
After more than two weeks of living on the edge, I've finally eaten something that disagreed with me. While in Nanjing, I sampled a street vendors wares for the authentic experience and the cheap prices (6 RMB, or less than a dollar for lunch!). Ever since then though, I've had the symptoms of Traveler's Diarrhea. Fever, upset stomach, diarrhea, and a headache. Doing my best to eat plain foods (I had toast for breakfast and steamed rice for dinner) and stay hydrated but nothing sucks more than being sick on vacation.
I got into Beijing this afternoon after an unpleasant airplane ride I hardly remember. Haven't gotten out much at all since I've been here but so far the people seem more friendly and I'm certainly excited to see all of the sights. Hopefully my recovery will be speedy as my hostel here offers an awesome day-long tour of a section of the Great Wall that's off the beaten path. I'd love to take a part in that.
That's all for tonight though. I'm gonna try to get some rest and I'll add more pictures/comments as they come.
I got into Beijing this afternoon after an unpleasant airplane ride I hardly remember. Haven't gotten out much at all since I've been here but so far the people seem more friendly and I'm certainly excited to see all of the sights. Hopefully my recovery will be speedy as my hostel here offers an awesome day-long tour of a section of the Great Wall that's off the beaten path. I'd love to take a part in that.
That's all for tonight though. I'm gonna try to get some rest and I'll add more pictures/comments as they come.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Break on through to the other side!
If you've been wondering about the silence on the blog the last couple of days, the cause has been a bit of a mystery for me. When I got to my hostel in Shanghai and logged on to the internet, I could easily bring up the page for the blog and I could also sign on to my blogger account. But everytime I tried to edit a post or put up a new post, the computer would always mysteriously time out. I had assumed this was a result of the Great Firewall of China and the fact that the Middle Kingdom may not want protesters spreading the word about upcoming protests through online blogs, even if I in particular had no such intentions.
But strangely, here at the business center at my hotel in Nanjing for tonight, the blog is up and running! Weird. Either the hostel computer really was timing out or I've found a hole in the Wall. Either way, here's an update from the Mainland while I have the opportunity.
The last two days in Shanghai have been a lesson in supreme patience. My guide book has let me down a number of times and led me to parts of town that I had no interest in visiting. Several parts of town are just overly commercialized spots rife with street vendors to sell you "copy watch, copy handbag," the occasional pimp offering sexy girls, and Lord knows how many pickpockets. The French Concession area is nice and seeing the tallest building in China was cool but all in all, Shanghai has lost its luster in my eye and I wouldn't recommend it to any of you.
That being said, the one benefit of visiting a spot overrun by tourists is that English is pretty common in the city. Outide the city: not so much. I spent today in Nanjing and was so glad to get away from the panhandlers, etc. in the city and see some green. I started the day walking through a park area near the Ming Dynasty city walls with some lovely areas to sit right next to the water. Next, I had a nice hike on Purple Mountain where Sun Yat Sen's mausoleum is located and enjoyed the day peacefully walking through the woods; it was exactly what I needed after the last two days.
Getting back off the mountain proved to be a pain however as hardly anyone here speaks English. After getting ever so slightly lost (read: really, really lost), I managed to find an unlicensed taxi who gave me a great deal for a very long ride back to the hotel. Dinner was a struggle too though as the waitress and I were left to point and mime what Ian might be thinking he'd like to eat. I ended up with noodles and beef and some sort of cream soup so I'd say we were pretty succesful. Let's just hope I feel the same way tomorrow.
I'm seeing a few more sights here in the morning before heading back to Shanghai tomorrow afternoon. On Friday I'll be off to Beijing. Hopefully the English will be more prevalent there what with the Olympics just ending and all. At the very least, I'm certainly looking forward to seeing some sights with substance in the capital. If I find another opportunity to keep you all updated or upload some pictures, I'll do the best I can. Take care in the land of the free until then.
But strangely, here at the business center at my hotel in Nanjing for tonight, the blog is up and running! Weird. Either the hostel computer really was timing out or I've found a hole in the Wall. Either way, here's an update from the Mainland while I have the opportunity.
The last two days in Shanghai have been a lesson in supreme patience. My guide book has let me down a number of times and led me to parts of town that I had no interest in visiting. Several parts of town are just overly commercialized spots rife with street vendors to sell you "copy watch, copy handbag," the occasional pimp offering sexy girls, and Lord knows how many pickpockets. The French Concession area is nice and seeing the tallest building in China was cool but all in all, Shanghai has lost its luster in my eye and I wouldn't recommend it to any of you.
That being said, the one benefit of visiting a spot overrun by tourists is that English is pretty common in the city. Outide the city: not so much. I spent today in Nanjing and was so glad to get away from the panhandlers, etc. in the city and see some green. I started the day walking through a park area near the Ming Dynasty city walls with some lovely areas to sit right next to the water. Next, I had a nice hike on Purple Mountain where Sun Yat Sen's mausoleum is located and enjoyed the day peacefully walking through the woods; it was exactly what I needed after the last two days.
Getting back off the mountain proved to be a pain however as hardly anyone here speaks English. After getting ever so slightly lost (read: really, really lost), I managed to find an unlicensed taxi who gave me a great deal for a very long ride back to the hotel. Dinner was a struggle too though as the waitress and I were left to point and mime what Ian might be thinking he'd like to eat. I ended up with noodles and beef and some sort of cream soup so I'd say we were pretty succesful. Let's just hope I feel the same way tomorrow.
I'm seeing a few more sights here in the morning before heading back to Shanghai tomorrow afternoon. On Friday I'll be off to Beijing. Hopefully the English will be more prevalent there what with the Olympics just ending and all. At the very least, I'm certainly looking forward to seeing some sights with substance in the capital. If I find another opportunity to keep you all updated or upload some pictures, I'll do the best I can. Take care in the land of the free until then.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Pictures!!
This is Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong, the most popular and the most reverent I've visited thus far.
This is the Tram ride up to the Peak (ie Victoria Peak). The ride was STEEP!
Here's the view from the Peak to the East of Hong Kong...
... this is Central Hong Kong...
... and here're where the big bucks are made: the shipyards to the West.
Lastly, the view to the south part of the island. I made sure to cut out the huge trash incenerator they have out there...
This is the Maritime Museum in Stanley, the small town to the south of Hong Kong where I enjoyed a pleasent evening on the beach..
This is the Ruinas de Sao Paulo in Macau. What you can't see (besides all of the casinos) is how sweltering hot I was at the time.
Stay tuned for more from the Mainland!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Outside the City
The last two days I've spent most of my time outside of Hong Kong proper. I went to the top of Victoria Peak yesterday for some amazing views of the City. Some of the mansions on top of the hill were incredible but I'm not sure it'd be worth it since they felt the need to surround the perimeter of their houses in razor wire...
I spent the rest of yesterday in a small village on the south of Hong Kong island called Stanley. It was very nice, very European, and a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the City. I laid on the beach for awhile, listening to the surf, and enjoyed a frosty beer from the local English pub.
Today consisted of a full day in Macau, another former European colony about an hour ferry ride west of Hong Kong. Macau is best known for its legalized gambling and casinos but the old town Portuguese feel was what I appreciated the most. I had to endure some thunderstorms in the morning and the ensuing heat and humidity afterwards but it was a nice day trip and a reminder of what traveling outside the friendly confines of a former British colony will be like (all of the signs were in either Cantonese or Portuguese. Fortunately I can at least make out the Portuguese words. Cantonese just looks like gibberish). I'll post pictures from the last few days once I get access to a computer that I can download them to...
Tomorrow's my last full day in Hong Kong before I'm off to Shanghai and my official entry into Mainland China. If you don't hear from me for a couple of weeks, assume I've been blocked by the Chinese censors. If you don't hear from me in a month on the other hand, then you can start worrying about possible Chinese jail time...
I spent the rest of yesterday in a small village on the south of Hong Kong island called Stanley. It was very nice, very European, and a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the City. I laid on the beach for awhile, listening to the surf, and enjoyed a frosty beer from the local English pub.
Today consisted of a full day in Macau, another former European colony about an hour ferry ride west of Hong Kong. Macau is best known for its legalized gambling and casinos but the old town Portuguese feel was what I appreciated the most. I had to endure some thunderstorms in the morning and the ensuing heat and humidity afterwards but it was a nice day trip and a reminder of what traveling outside the friendly confines of a former British colony will be like (all of the signs were in either Cantonese or Portuguese. Fortunately I can at least make out the Portuguese words. Cantonese just looks like gibberish). I'll post pictures from the last few days once I get access to a computer that I can download them to...
Tomorrow's my last full day in Hong Kong before I'm off to Shanghai and my official entry into Mainland China. If you don't hear from me for a couple of weeks, assume I've been blocked by the Chinese censors. If you don't hear from me in a month on the other hand, then you can start worrying about possible Chinese jail time...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
It´s Hong Kong Time
So I´ve been on Hong Kong for a day and a half now and here are my initial thoughts wow! This place feels like a giant mall right next to the projects. It´s amazing seeing the uberwealthy mingling across the street from abject poverty. That being said, the sights have been impressive. Something about soaring skyscrapers against the backdrop of an incredible landscape (Victoria Harbour and Victoria Peak) just strikes my fancy I guess. I was visiting museums today (free on Wednesdays!) and checking out the temple scene. Pictures to come once I can download them...
It´s been raining the last two days so I haven´t been able to get up to the Peak yet but there´s still time. Hopefully tomorrow will include enjoying the heat on a warm sunny beach (it´s been SUPER hot and muggy here) and Friday will be a trip to Macau for the entire day.
Oh! And the first batch of postcards will be going out soon. Let´s see how long it takes for them to get to you all...
It´s been raining the last two days so I haven´t been able to get up to the Peak yet but there´s still time. Hopefully tomorrow will include enjoying the heat on a warm sunny beach (it´s been SUPER hot and muggy here) and Friday will be a trip to Macau for the entire day.
Oh! And the first batch of postcards will be going out soon. Let´s see how long it takes for them to get to you all...
Monday, September 1, 2008
In which Ian flirts with disaster...
We've returned from the coast unscathed, unharmed, and very pleased with our journey. Friday we headed to Daxi to do some surfing with the locals. Jeff's a ton better than the last time I surfed with him (3 years ago? Maybe 4?). Turns out I still suck. Nevertheless, we had a great time and enjoyed getting out of the big town for some small town costal feel...
Next was Taroko National Park, a gorge that competes with anything I've seen at Yosemite, Glacier, or Rocky Mountain National Parks. To get around the Park, Jeff and I decided to rent a car. Unfortunately, you need a Taiwanese driver's license to rent a car. Our International Driver's Permit wasn't going to cut it... for the car... but we could still rent mopeds! Now I know most of you don't know Jeff but here are two sure signs that what you're about to do is most definetly dangerous: 1) Jeff is nervous about doing it, and 2) the Taiwanese rental salesman is nervous about your prospects over the weekend. We had both occur as we scooted away...
Turns out the scooters were a great way to see the park, get out for pictures, and cross the path of a couple of wild monkeys. Sure there were sheer cliffs on either side, sure the car drivers aren't very concerned about your safety, and sure the road construction here leaves an OSHA worker in a cold sweat, but hey, that's the price you pay to get great pictures.
Today was my last full day in Taiwan. Tomorrow I head out to Hong Kong so stay tuned for more. Good night and good luck.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
My Bag Has Arrived!
O Joy! I can't express how relieved I am. Jeff had asked me what I needed so badly from my bag and the truth was not much, but the fact that I no longer have to face the prospect of a month traveling through Asia with one pair of clothes makes me relieved beyond belief.
Yesterday was another whirlwind day. We got to the top of Taipei 101, world's tallest building, and climbed the main peak in Yangmingshan National Park for another view of the city. Afterwards we headed back into town to a night market and my first taste of the local cuisine. We had, in no particular order:
- Onion sprouts wrapped in grilled ham
- Noodle soup with oysters and pig's stomach
- Puffed rice in congealed pig's blood
- A real spring roll (which is not fried but looks like a tiny burrito)
- Pork ribs in broth
- Oysters and vegetables in a flour mixture with an "interesting" sauce that we're not sure what it was exactly
So far there haven't been any nasty side effects, but stay tuned for more. Jeff and I are heading to the east coast today for some Taiwanese surfing and a trip to Taroko Gorge, home of Taiwan's most beautiful sights. Internet connection may be spotty so if you don't hear back from me in a couple days... wait a couple more!
Yesterday was another whirlwind day. We got to the top of Taipei 101, world's tallest building, and climbed the main peak in Yangmingshan National Park for another view of the city. Afterwards we headed back into town to a night market and my first taste of the local cuisine. We had, in no particular order:
- Onion sprouts wrapped in grilled ham
- Noodle soup with oysters and pig's stomach
- Puffed rice in congealed pig's blood
- A real spring roll (which is not fried but looks like a tiny burrito)
- Pork ribs in broth
- Oysters and vegetables in a flour mixture with an "interesting" sauce that we're not sure what it was exactly
So far there haven't been any nasty side effects, but stay tuned for more. Jeff and I are heading to the east coast today for some Taiwanese surfing and a trip to Taroko Gorge, home of Taiwan's most beautiful sights. Internet connection may be spotty so if you don't hear back from me in a couple days... wait a couple more!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I made it!
3 flights and 24 hours later I've arrived in Taipei! Unfortunately, my luggage did not...
Here's the story. When I arrived at the Seattle airport, I made sure to check my bag all the way through to Taipei. My flight from Seattle to San Francisco was delayed an hour though because of thunderstorms in the area. Once we got clearance to go, we got delayed another hour because of a mechanical failure of a hydraulic pump. Then we got delayed another hour because the mechanics put the wrong pump in. 3 and a half hours after my original departure time, we finally took off from Seattle.
Fortunately, I had a four and a half hour layover in San Francisco but with me needing to transfer from a domestic flight to an international flight (and change airlines in the process), I had to rego through security and was literally running through the terminal as my name was being called over the intercoms. I made my flight and the rest of the flights were on-time and comfortable but I've got a feeling that since I barely caught my flight in SF, my bag probably didn't have the same luck and is sitting in San Francisco...
Taipei's been fine so far and the Hong Kong airport had some impressive views. I haven't gotten to see much since I just got here but I'll tell you one thing: it's is HOT and HUMID here! More to come as things develop...
Here's the story. When I arrived at the Seattle airport, I made sure to check my bag all the way through to Taipei. My flight from Seattle to San Francisco was delayed an hour though because of thunderstorms in the area. Once we got clearance to go, we got delayed another hour because of a mechanical failure of a hydraulic pump. Then we got delayed another hour because the mechanics put the wrong pump in. 3 and a half hours after my original departure time, we finally took off from Seattle.
Fortunately, I had a four and a half hour layover in San Francisco but with me needing to transfer from a domestic flight to an international flight (and change airlines in the process), I had to rego through security and was literally running through the terminal as my name was being called over the intercoms. I made my flight and the rest of the flights were on-time and comfortable but I've got a feeling that since I barely caught my flight in SF, my bag probably didn't have the same luck and is sitting in San Francisco...
Taipei's been fine so far and the Hong Kong airport had some impressive views. I haven't gotten to see much since I just got here but I'll tell you one thing: it's is HOT and HUMID here! More to come as things develop...
Monday, August 25, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Blogs will beget blogs
It's my last full weekend before I take off (I'm not counting next weekend since I'll be in Burlington) so I've been finishing some last-minute errands. I've got my bathroom/medicine items all packed, booked the last of my hostels, and spent the evening walking around Fremont, getting used to the new camera. So I catch myself wondering at times things like, "How many toothbrushes do I need to bring? Is one enough? I couldn't possibly need more than two; right? In what scenario would I think, 'Damn! I wish I had brought three toothbrushes with me?'"
To get my mind off of such mundane details and to celebrate the final countdown, I thought I'd share some links to other blogs with topics vaguely related to Asia. Some are more crude than others, so consider yourself warned.
Stuff White People Like: #19, #42, and #58.
Fire Joe Morgan: Chinese Restaurants, Chinese Journalism, and... beach volleyball?!?
Oh yeah, and the Olympics are still going on... I think.
To get my mind off of such mundane details and to celebrate the final countdown, I thought I'd share some links to other blogs with topics vaguely related to Asia. Some are more crude than others, so consider yourself warned.
Stuff White People Like: #19, #42, and #58.
Fire Joe Morgan: Chinese Restaurants, Chinese Journalism, and... beach volleyball?!?
Oh yeah, and the Olympics are still going on... I think.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Beijing 2008
Wait... the Olympics... are this year? And they're in... China?
Really? How come I haven't heard anything about this?
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/index.shtml
And has anyone else noticed the "overcast" sky in every single picture of the bird's nest stadium (below)? Is this just bad photographic timing? Because that couldn't possibly be smog; that'd be ridiculous...
Really? How come I haven't heard anything about this?
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/index.shtml
And has anyone else noticed the "overcast" sky in every single picture of the bird's nest stadium (below)? Is this just bad photographic timing? Because that couldn't possibly be smog; that'd be ridiculous...
Monday, August 4, 2008
Welcome to blogging...
So this is my first foray into the world of blogging and it's a little disorienting. Kinda like talking to a wall. But I have to admit, I like the new moniker: I am now a blogger. I blog from time to time. There is a blog out there that describes me... This going to take some getting use to.
I'm hoping this will be a helpful way for me to chronicle my trip, keep friends and family abreast of my going-ons, and allow for some real-time communication and feedback during my trip. I'll probably spend time talking about baseball too, knowing me. Feel free to comment away; if I can figure out how to read and reply, I will!
T-minus 21 days until I cross the ocean. I'm still pretty excited but have moments when I wonder if I've thought this all the way through yet. "Hmm, I think so?" I finished "Lost on Planet China" last night and overall the message seemed uplifting. China's here and it's not going away, so take notice. Some of the urban details (pollution, overcrowding, cutting in line, etc.) sounded less than appealing though. And the culinary experiences: could you eat live squid??
I'm hoping this will be a helpful way for me to chronicle my trip, keep friends and family abreast of my going-ons, and allow for some real-time communication and feedback during my trip. I'll probably spend time talking about baseball too, knowing me. Feel free to comment away; if I can figure out how to read and reply, I will!
T-minus 21 days until I cross the ocean. I'm still pretty excited but have moments when I wonder if I've thought this all the way through yet. "Hmm, I think so?" I finished "Lost on Planet China" last night and overall the message seemed uplifting. China's here and it's not going away, so take notice. Some of the urban details (pollution, overcrowding, cutting in line, etc.) sounded less than appealing though. And the culinary experiences: could you eat live squid??
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