BootsnAll Travel Network



Back to Reality?

July 23rd, 2008

Well, this is it.  Far from the end, but currently the end of Asia for me… at least this time around.  I’m sitting in the Taipei, Taiwan airport right now awaiting my transfer flight back to America.  By the end of the day I will be in Los Angeles, and doing my best to deal with the culture shock of returning home.16 months have past since I sold my house and set off on my grand world adventure.  It has been quite a ride, with more twists, turns and unexpected excitement and revelation than I could have ever expected.  There are no regrets to be found, and if anything my dread of the end is the most prevelant.  Alas, now my goal is to settle back into a quasi-American lifestyle and find enough income to get back on the road again.    It is hard to begin processing all the stimuli I have encountered, but I’m sure I will gain more clarity and words of explanation as time goes on.  I’m also sure that the massive game of catch up, copying about 100 pages of hand-written journal and uploading the last 5 months of photos will give me quite a refresher.  So, luckily for all of you readers who have been unfortunately neglected, there will be some new content flowing onto this site in the next few months.

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With my deepest regrets…

March 31st, 2008

The road has been long and difficult.  For nearly 4 months here in India, I have been fighting to keep both my flickr photos and this blog alive.  Alas, I am now over a month behind.  I leave India for Thailand and the rest of SE Asia in 2 days, and I hear the internet connectivity is even worse over there.  I have a few months left to enjoy the beaches and islands.  It is obvious that sitting in an internet cafe, waiting for photos to upload at a snails pace is not the best use of my time.  So, I am making this post to inform of the postponement of any real substance on this blog.  I will keep a few things updated (like the current location in the title) or anything of remote urgency.  Sometime later this year, when I have my own computer and the luxury of time, I will get back to work and share the amazing experiences of the last month and final leg of my journey through Asia.Check back in a few months and I will make it all worth while.   Thank you for your patience!

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Camel Tattoo?

February 20th, 2008

As the afternoon reaches its mid point I call the fort quits and head off to the intriguingly named Camel Tattoo Presentation.  Last night, when the chef at my hotel described it as camel dancing, my curiosity was peaked.  He jokingly said that they would be jumping around from all of the pain.  I imagined a sort of branding, but still completely missed his joke and play on words until I saw the event in person.   Read the rest of this entry »

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Exploring the Fort City

February 20th, 2008

 

For my second morning in Jaisalmer, I give the dusty festival a rest and take the time to investigate the huge fort dominating the city. On top of a minor hill in the center of the town, golden sand-stone walls reach a modest height. A cluttered collection of beautiful Haveli buildings peak out over their edges, tempting with promises of a grand world of history waiting within.    Read the rest of this entry »

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Runaway Facial Hair

February 19th, 2008

With an early rise and start I leave my hotel and walk past the entrance gate to the fort. It beckons and tries to lure me inside, but I press onwards through the golden city. Ubiquitous yellow-gold sandstone bricks compose most of the intricately carved buildings. The typical medieval streets are complete with errant cows, erratic traffic and everything else Indian. But I find little time on this walk to soak up the atmosphere. The excessive tourist hassle does little to detract from the charm of this fascinating place, but I maintain my brisk pace through the army of touts and finally arrive at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival. Read the rest of this entry »

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A Moustache Contest in Jaisalmer?

February 18th, 2008

A Moustache Contest?

As the first words of the Jaisalmer Desert Festival fell upon my ears, the interest had already been thoroughly implanted. Along with a series of other bizarre events and a good share of camels, this event is too atypical to pass up! With the information that the gathering begins tomorrow, I don’t hesitate to pack my bags and board an overcrowded bus leaving in the early evening. Read the rest of this entry »

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Motorcycle Mishaps

February 17th, 2008

After a late lunch I find my mechanical mount and start back towards civilization. I leave the limits of the camel fair and into a brewing sandstorm. Long distance visibility is down a bit, and the stinging sand against my skin isn’t pleasant, but I can still make out the road safely. It is on this road from Naguar to Jodhpur I run into my first of motorcycle problems, where only a few minutes into the desert I run out of gasoline!    Read the rest of this entry »

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Naguar Camel Fair

February 17th, 2008

It only took two days in Jodphur before I found my self on a motorcycle again. The opportunity to simulate one of my youth-grown dreams gunning a bike down a desert straightaway was too hard too pass up. Conveniently, the nearby village of Naguar is hosting a camel fair. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Blue City

February 16th, 2008

The city of Jodhpur; a sprawling Indian urban center parked in the center of desert packed Rajastan. A towering 15th century fort perched atop an extraordinarily steep rock hill looms over an array of twisting medieval city streets. Hailing from an era of Brahmin priest caste settlement, most of the buildings are painted varied shades of blue. A few sparse pastel red and lemon hues thrown into the assortment of block-like structures help bring the whole scene together similar to a bizarre geometric painting.

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Zen and the art of bowel maintenance

February 15th, 2008

Hey kids: Have you ever tried a shaking public squat toilet on an overcrowded train. It’s like an extreme sport! It makes all other comodes feel dull and boring! And hey parents… it’s actually more sanitary too! Read the rest of this entry »

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