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The Amazing Adventures of Action Kim SouthEast Asia: Four Months, Limitless Possibilities |
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* Last Observation about Laos * Has Anyone Read . . . * That Feeling * Getting There * Electronic Vortex * Food * Vietnam Bound * Who's on the Road * Social Creatures * Flemish is Not a Language * Strange but True * Miscalculations * Hotel California * Vientiene * Blast from the Past * Solo vs. Not * The Facilities * Food * SF Taxi Solution
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February 28, 2005Business VentureOne of the things I have always liked about traveling in non-western countries is that whenever the bus stops people selling food and drink swarm it. I've decided that this could be good business in SF. I'll pick the busiest...Read this update Last Observation about LaosOne thing a person can't miss when in Laos is that there are tons of kids and not many people who look over 50. Of those who do look over 50, most are women. I did a google search and...Read this update Has Anyone Read . . .Has anyone read The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood? I have read the Handmaid's Tale and liked it. The Blind . .. is a thicker book which is good b/c it means I will have it for a while but...Read this update February 27, 2005That FeelingI had been very eager to leave Laos. I could tell that others thought I should just mellow out, but I just really wanted to move on. I liked Laos. The people were warm and friendly and the kids would...Read this update Getting ThereThe past four days have been filled with travel. On Thursday, I sat in a tuk tuk for 4 hours with the Dutch family and Naomi the Aussie to go to a festival that ended the day before. We went...Read this update February 25, 2005Electronic VortexAs you know I had to replace the world's greatest travel alarm clock with a watch. The watch decided to only tell me the date one day. I think it was because of the heat. It wasn't too problematic because...Read this update FoodI was feeling bad that I wasn't eating enough good stuff in Laos but upon consulting with other travelers, I have come to the conclusion that the food is just average. Looking forward to Vietnam on that note....Read this update Vietnam BoundWell, everyone told me it would never happen. The Vietnamese are inflexible and just want your money they said. They charge you to completely reissue. But I went to the embassy and got the entry date on my visa changed...Read this update Who's on the RoadI've met some interesting people during this leg of my trip and I thought I would take a moment to tell you about them....Read this update Social CreaturesThe place I stayed on the island of Don Det had a pet monkey. It was said because it had a chain around it's waist and was attached to a barbell. I saw a few in similar circumstances around the...Read this update Flemish is Not a LanguageI just learned that Flemish is actually a dialect of Dutch. I had thought it was a whole different language. I am kind of embarrassed that I did not know this after leaving in France for a year. You'd think...Read this update Strange but TrueSo being on the road does not excuse a person from maintianing one's well being and this includeds one's gums. I try to floss each day, though, like at home, I sometimes skip a day. The Belgian woman I roomed...Read this update MiscalculationsThe bus leaving from Vientienne south to Pakse was an overnight one with a drop off in Savannaket. The plan was to work slowly south and not spend inordinate amounts of time on buses. Even thought the bus schedule clearly...Read this update February 16, 2005Hotel CaliforniaArriving in the town of Vang Vieng is a bit of a shock. After a long windy journey past mountain villages, you are suddenly in the middle of a strip of road filled with tourist restaurants blaring episodes of Friends....Read this update VientieneVientiene is the capital of Laos. It's got a bad reputation for being dull and lacking in character, but I think it is a perfectly nice place. Like many cities it is hot. Really, really, really hot. So naturally, I...Read this update Blast from the PastI am using the same backpack I used when I traveled in Europe 11 years ago. Today I found my student ID and Carte de Sejour, which allowed me to stay in France for more then 6 months, in my...Read this update Solo vs. NotRick and I have been traveling together for about 10 days and I think it is safe to say that we are getting bored with each other. It is a tough call trying to decide whether or not to part...Read this update The FacilitiesSomeone just walked in on me in the bathroom. She seems to have been traumatized by the experience because she let out a high pitched yelp. I'm not sure that was really necessary. I am happy to report that toilets...Read this update FoodI've been asked what I have been eating. I don't have a very exciting answer to this. The food in Thailand was better then the food in Laos. I'm also not a very adventurous eater and I have my own...Read this update SF Taxi SolutionIt is impossible to find a taxi in San Francisco. NOt only are there not enough of them, but they leave their lights on when they are occupied. You get your hopes and foolishly try to flag one down only...Read this update LeftoversSo far almost everywhere I have gone has had public excercise right around when the sun goes down. Dozens of people gather to do free aerobics. It is neat to see. Last thought about Thailand- I noticed that there were...Read this update February 14, 2005HorsepowerIn the town of Vang Vien, I saw a number of vehicles that looked like a horse and buggy only the horse was a riding lawn mower. I thought that was pretty funny....Read this update The Long and Windy RoadThe road from Luang Prabang to Vang Vien was quite possibly the longest and windiest road I have ever been on. It was a 6 hour workout just to sit up straight without falling into your neighbors lap. It's a...Read this update February 11, 2005OrganizationThe newest entries have been entered so that you can read them in chronological order from top to bottom. Comments. I love getting comments. As a matter of fact, I wish more people would make them. If you do, please...Read this update Bad AdviceIn addition to being told to by clothing here, I was told that I wouldn't need a jacket and didn't need a sleep sack. These are two things I wish I had brought. The sleep sack because you just never...Read this update The Slow BoatI was going to make this an elaborate story, but I have tried and failed to write it a number of times. So instead I will just give the highlights in a list like form....Read this update Luang PrabangThe town of Luang Prabang (LP) is a World Heritage Site. The French Colonial architechture is pepperred with many beautiful Wats. The Wats in LP are very well cared for and are a bit less shiny and glittery then in...Read this update An Unlikely Place to Find MyselfThe room was about 6'x6'. Upon entering there was a bed above which was a poster of Bruce Lee and a Thai movie star. On the windowsill straight ahead was a gerry-rigged transistor radio. To the left of the window...Read this update A Long NightI don't know if it was something I ate or taking my malaria meds improperly, but I spent a night feeling very ill....Read this update The Road Less TraveledOur bus to the XX caves (forgot to look up the name- at the in eastern Laos at the border with Vietnam) where high ranking officials hid in elaborate furnished caves during the IndoChina war was an evening one so...Read this update February 08, 2005Greetings from LaosCurrently in Luang Prabang and heading north. Have a story to tell but haven't had the writing inspiration. Traveling with an Alaskan named Rick. He reminds me of my friend Ali which is of course a good thing! More later....Read this update February 02, 2005Street FairChaing Mai has a night market that is frequented by tourists and after you've been back enough times, you realize that stuff is cheap because most of it is cheap. The real market comes on Sunday night. It spans blocks...Read this update The Solo Journey BeginsTina and I parted ways yesterday. I was sad to see her go but I am also excited about my upcoming adventure. It is nice to have someone to travel with. The companionship, cost savings, safety and resourcefulness that comes...Read this update Monk ChatAfter visiting a fair number of Wats (Buddhist temples), I got to wondering what the prayer rituals and symbols were. Lucky for me, Lonely Planet lists a Buddhist University in Chiang Mai where they have "Monk Chats". I had thought...Read this update Trials and TribulationsThis post is about all of the minor things that haven't gone as I would've liked....Read this update ShopaholicOne of the nice things about traveling with someone is that you do things you wouldn't necessarily do because the other person would enjoy it. Shopping falls under this category. Tina and I visted the Thai Silk Village, The Gems...Read this update Cooking SchoolTina and I took a Thai cooking class. The class began with our teacher informing me that I had my apron on inside out. I have a tendency to do this. Whenever I show up with my shirt on inside...Read this update Leave Only FootprintsTina and I went trekking near Pai which is near the Myanmar border. Three days that included interacting with a Hill tribe, riding on an elephant and going down a river on a bamboo raft....Read this update The MallI'm at the mall. Yes, that is correct. I am on the Internet at the mall. I could also be playing video games or singing in one of 18 Karoke booths. I saw a monk buying DVDs earlier. Didn't think...Read this update TeethI've noticed that there are a lot of dentists in Chiang Mai. I hadn't noticed that elsewhere. Upon reflection, I realized that the Thais do have nice teeth. I suppose when you're called "The Land of Smiles", attention to oral...Read this update No Lady JoinerThailand is known for its sex industry. It is quite common to see a "No prostitutes or drugs" sign on your room door. Or the more delicate, "Your Thai friends are not allowed in the rooms." In the case of...Read this update RomanceSo Chris who I met several years ago at my friend's wedding wants to know if there have been any "hook ups" on my trip. Well Chris, the answer to your question is "yes". I joined the mile high club...Read this update |
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