05/31/2007

Birthday Celebration

This year for my birthday, my best friend took me to Ocean City, MD for three days. There was a lot of sun, food, fun, and some drinking. It only took us 7 years to finally get there, but was totally worth it for me. Here are some photos. We went to medium_100_1860.JPGHiggins for all you can eat crabs. And we went putt-putt golfing with some pirates.

 As a side note, in case the person in question still reads this, I am NOT in Taiwan by any means of the imagination. I am quite firmly planted in the United States.
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04/28/2007

Florida, Part 2

Here are some pictures my friend Mary sent me from when I was visiting her in Florida. Mary is better about taking pictures. She also remembers to get pictures with me in them. And there is a picture of me holding her great grandson There is some niece knitting as well. Pictures to follow soon. medium_DSCN1746.2.jpgmedium_DSCN1768.2.jpgmedium_DSCN1764.jpgmedium_DSCN1757.jpg

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04/20/2007

Florida

Just because I am in America for the first time in four years, doesn't mean I have stopped traveling. I went to Florida for little over a week to visit my friend Mary. I have gotten lazy with the writing, so here are a few pictures. The monkey and I went to Disney and a Model A show. Also, in the community where Mary lives, there was a house with two toy stuffed vultures on their porch. The monkey had to take a picture with them. In family news, we finally found out that my sister is having a little girl. Yeah!!!!!!!! medium_100_1765.JPGmedium_100_1762.JPGmedium_100_1763.JPGmedium_100_1766.JPG

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04/01/2007

Madrid

By this point in my travels I was getting tired of the picture taking bit. I was really looking forward to getting to England as well. The first picture is of a restaurant that has the best fried squid sandwiches ever. They go perfectly with a beer.medium_100_1679.jpgmedium_100_1677.jpgmedium_100_1678.jpg

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03/21/2007

Sevilla

With this post I end my travels back to the United States. This should post after I have arrived in Kentucky to see my brother graduate from his advanced training for the Army. As soon as I have some time to give my brain a rest and get over the culture shock of being back in the U.S. I will post the rest of my pictures.

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03/17/2007

Florence and Pisa

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03/14/2007

Rome

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03/10/2007

Pompeii

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03/08/2007

Athens and the Acropolis (Photo Heavy)

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03/05/2007

Romania

The Monkey and I went to Bran and Rasnov Romania while we where there. Kind of touristy, but lots of fun. We were disappointed that we didn´t have time to go to Sighisoara and see the castle there. It is suppose to be less touristy because the town is emptying out. And I didn´t see very many gypsies in Romania. Saw more in Italy. And Joanna, sorry to tell you. no gypsy babies were thrown at me. medium_Imagen_029.jpgmedium_Imagen_030.jpgmedium_Imagen_031.jpgmedium_Imagen_033.jpgmedium_Imagen_036.jpgmedium_Imagen_037.jpgmedium_Imagen_038.jpg

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03/03/2007

Budapest

Budapest is a very beautiful city in my opinion. I would love to go back and learn more about it, the history, and the people. I found out that the building in the side of the cliff is a church. The enterance was hidden until a few years ago. But the church was used during the Soviet years as well. While I don´t buy into any particular form of organized religion, I do get goosebumps when I am able to see what people will do for a belief in a way that doesn´t harm anyone else. medium_Imagen_015.jpgmedium_Imagen_017.jpgmedium_Imagen_028.jpgmedium_Imagen_020.jpgmedium_Imagen_021.jpgmedium_Imagen_025.jpgmedium_Imagen_026.jpg

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02/28/2007

Bratislava

The monkey and I took these pictures from the top of a bastion at the Bratislava castle. One side of the river is the old historic part of town. The other side has obvious Soviet architecture influence. medium_Imagen_009.jpgmedium_Imagen_010.jpgmedium_Imagen_013.jpgmedium_Imagen_014.jpg

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02/26/2007

Vienna

The sticks were every where around Vienna. They were secured to the walls, but we never could figure out what they were used for. medium_Imagen_001.jpgmedium_Imagen_002.jpgmedium_Imagen_005.jpgAnd the monkey saying good bye to Vienna on the train.

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02/24/2007

East vs West

I am Sevilla today and had an interesting day. This morning was spent looking at Spanish tile and art that has been influence by the Moor. It was very interesting and those math video I had to watch in class about repeating patterns made sense. If my teachers had only TAKEN me to Sevilla during school, I would have enjoyed those videos more. It would have made more since to me.
The most interesting part of my day was when I was eating lunch. I just went to a grocery store and found a park to sit in. The park I found was full of kids and their parents. Even as a teacher of kindergarten, I have moments when I recoil from kids outside of work. Today though, I just sat and watched and realized the extent that Taiwan had creep into my system. There was a boy with his father playing soccer (or football) and getting dirty. In Taiwan the child would have been chastised for getting dirt on his or hers clothes. Kids were running around playing hide and seek. Little toddlers were waddling about and parents just followed behind. There was no extended lesson in the play time. There was no perfecting the sport technique. There was no science lesson involved. And there was no foreign teacher making the kids who didn't want to get dirty to go play in the sandbox. Kids were playing on a Saturday afternoon just to play. Today was the first nice day since I have traveled or I am sure I would have seen the same thing in other countries.
In Taiwan, children in kindergarten or older would be ushered to extra classes. There are English classes, music classes, art classes, computer classes, math classes or whatever else parents feel the need to get their kids in. Or they would be at a sports lesson to perfect their game so they will win. It is all about the competition and the number you get at the end of the day. I was enjoying the fact that kids are still able to be kids and enjoy a day at the park.
Then I read this article(If the link doesn´t work, go to Yahoo.com and read the article about extending school days). Because at the end of the day, it is all about the number that a child gets, right? That is the point of education now? Just be able to take that standardized test and regurgitate that information your teacher throw at you today. Smash that creativity, it isn't important at all. It is important to understand math, reading, and science. They are all very important subjects, but you have to know how to solve a problem as well. If the number is the most important outcome of school, why are Asians, with the highest standardized test scores in school, have such a small percentage of Nobel Laureates?I say this with 3.5 years of life in Taiwan behind me, because they are not taught to think, they are taught to reproduce the right answer. A score that is too low will result in a parent hitting or beating a child. Not just a spanking, but a couple of smacks across the face. Is that the way to motivate a child to work harder? And parents in Taiwan will not believe there is any chance that their child might have a learning disability as well.
I say this as a teacher and not a parent and sure as hell not as a politician. (I welcome any politician to take over my class for a week and then tell me how the hell to teach my class and what goals my students are suppose to achieve at the end of the year)  I love my job, I love being a teacher, and I love being in my classroom. But I don't want to end up a teacher who just teaches for the test at the end of the year. If that is the direction teaching in taking, I am going to have to change careers eventually. Teacher burnout will hit and then I hope I have enough sense to get out of the classroom and into a completely different field.
day.

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02/21/2007

I didn't drown

I realized that it has been a while since I have posted anything. Part of the reason being that I haven't found a place to add pictures. I am hoping that once I get to Spain, I can do that. Here in Italy, they want your memory card so they can charge you to burn your pictures on a disc and then charge you again so you can use a computer to put them on the the net. I spend enough money as it is folks.

So quick recap of the past few weeks, made it to Athens with a little side trip. I got off the train at the Larissa train station in Larissa, Greece. I should have waited to get off at the Larissa train station in Athens, Greece. But I am glad for the little set back, there were some hot tempered guys on the train that keep trying to fight and the little old ladies on the train stopping them.  And I got to Athens the same time, evne with the little mishap. Athens was amazing, it is just like in all the books and pictures that you see. The Acropolis is in the middle of town and you can see it walking around. And the coast is only a 45 minute tram ride from the city center as well. It was too cold for swimming, but I enjoyed just being near the water.

Got the ferry to Italy with no problem. Just spent the whole night sleeping on the ferry. As soon as I got into Bari, I got the first train to Pompeii. I was told the bus was cheaper at the information office. The ladies there were extremely nice and helpful. But after dragging my bag around for about 30 minutes, I never did find the bus station. So I ended up taking the train. Pompeii, you must go. The floors, frescos, shops, and even the bakery ovens are still in tact. It looks like the town is being built, not hundreds of years old. And you can see the section of the volcano that went during the eruption.

I went to Rome for a few days and now I am in Florence. I love the piazzas here with their fountains and chucrches and sculptures. If it wasn't so cold I could just sit outside for hours in the squares. I do have pictures, waiting to be shared. If only I could find a computer. Tomorrow morning I am taking the train to the Pisa airport. I am going to store my bags there and then head into the city for some photo taking. I am flying to Seville via Ryan Air ( Yes, I know it is Ryan Air. But the whole flight is under 30 Euros and doesn't waste a whole day on the train. And yes, I know in the end I will be sorry I am flying Ryan Air.) I console myself with chocolate gelato everyday. Thank goodness Florence has hills to walk up and down.

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02/06/2007

Czech Republic and some finished train knitting

So got to Telc, Czech Republic and NOTHING was open. It is really the off season for tourist there. Wanted to see the castle in the town. Not happening at all. So I finished up my train knitting. Which was the shawl/scarf I was knitting with the yarn Jan sent me. I attempted to block in a hotel room one night. Not the best of knitting decisions, let me tell you. But it kind of worked. I am scared to use it though, because if I am not EXTREMELY careful, I put holes in it. You can see them in the pictures. I don't know why and I am trying to think of a way to fix them. So until then, it stays careful packed in the suitcase. And here are a few pictures of Ceske Budejovice with the snow. Didn't get pictures of the beer factory though. Couldn't; rules of not taking photos and all that stuff. medium_00052.jpgmedium_00053.jpgmedium_00054.jpgmedium_00055.jpg

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02/04/2007

Prague, Czech Republic

medium_00050.jpgmedium_00051.jpgPrague is a beautiful city to walk around and just look at. The "Dr. Suess House" as I call it, was just down the street from the hostel I stayed in. I enjoyed walking up and down the hills around the castle and going across the river. Also met more cool people and enjoyed hanging out with them. medium_00037.jpgmedium_00038.jpgmedium_00041.jpgmedium_00043.jpgmedium_00044.jpgmedium_00045.jpg

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02/02/2007

Former Plazsow Concentration Camp in Krakow, Poland

My biggest disappoint as of yet while traveling. I hope these are in order. First the former enterance to the camp. Then the area of the camp and last the only memorial without graffiti on it. medium_00035.jpgmedium_00034.jpgmedium_00028.jpgmedium_00029.jpgmedium_00030.jpgmedium_00031.jpgmedium_00032.jpgmedium_00033.jpg

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01/31/2007

The Salt Mines in Krakow, Poland

Part of the mine is still an active salt mine. All the rooms and statues have been craved out of salt from the mines. medium_00022.jpgmedium_00024.jpgmedium_00026.jpgmedium_00027.jpg

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01/28/2007

Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau

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01/26/2007

Krakow, Poland

I think the pictures speak for themselves this time.  The last one is a picture at dusk near the castle in the  center of Krakow. medium_00008.jpgmedium_00010.jpgmedium_00011.jpgmedium_00012.jpgmedium_00036.jpg

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01/25/2007

Gdansk, Poland and inside Malbork Castle

I think I might have picture capability. So I am going to space these post out, if the publish on feature works. So there should be a good two weeks of pictures to look at. The first three pictures are of Gdansk, Poland and the rest are of Malbork Castle. The monkey thought the bathroom exhibit was the best part. I think my monkey is a boy. When my brother finally as internet access and can check up on what I have been doing, he will enjoy the IGA picture. When he was little he use to call it the GIA. He was cute and could get away with it. medium_00002.jpgmedium_00001.jpgmedium_00003.jpgmedium_00005.jpgmedium_00007.jpgmedium_00006.jpg

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01/24/2007

Frustrated..........

So after a few days in small, out of season towns, I have finally found an internet cafe. But I can't hook my camera up to the computers. No extra USB ports for me to use. Supposedly there is another one in the town and I will go look there after sending some emails off today. If not, tomorrow I am on the train to Vienna and I am sure there is an internet cafe there that I can use. I really want to get pictures up before I forget everything I want to say about them and the order I want to post them in. I write everything down in my journal and keep track of the pictures, but after teaching, the little ones have sucked the last of my memory out. Was in Telc, Czech Republic for a few days. But it is so small that everything, even the castle was closed for the season. It did feel good to have a day to do not much at all. Right now I am in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. Is is larger than Telc and home of the orginial Budweiser/Budvar beer. Went on the tour today and got to drink beer, good times. 

Prague turned out to be really good. I meet up with some British guys and had fun drinking beer and talking movies with them. Hopefully in Vienna I will be able to meet up with some people I met in Krakow. They missed their train to Budapest the other night, so they won't be getting into Vienna until a few days later than expected. Hope to get a day or so with them. Then it is off to parts unknown again.

Really, am working on the pictures thing. Should have it sorted out in a few days.

In family news, my sister is due on June 17th, 14 days after my brother's birthday. And my brother graduated from basic and is now is scout school. I am very proud of him and my dad sent pictures as well.  Here is a picture of my brother and my dad. medium_618532-R1-15-8A.JPG

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01/18/2007

Krakow

I made it to Prague in the Czech Republic early this morning. The train ride from Krakow was uneventful and I didn't get gassed or anything like that even though the Lonely Planet book said I would. First day in Prague and I found Tesco (yeah for good chocolate) and Marks & Spencer's (yeah for new socks with no holes in them) I haven't looked at the computers here at this hostel closely yet, so I don't know if I will be able to post pictures from here or not. If I can't, I will find an internet cafe from where I can.
 
To start off with, Krakow is very different feel from Warsaw and Gdansk. To me, Warsaw was just another big city that gave me something to contrast Krakow too. Gdansk was beautiful and a little more laid back. But I was still too crazy from Warsaw to really enjoy it. On the train from Gdansk to Krakow, I shared cabin with a girl who was born in Poland, but moved to Canada when she was 10. She was in Krakow going to medical school. After we got to Krakow, she and her husband walked me to my hostel and made sure there was someone in the office before heading to their home.

I took a tour to Auschwitz because I wasn't sure about getting a bus there and was feeling a little lazy. The tour was really good. I learned so much about it. For example, there were actually three Auschwitz concentration camps. The first one was very small, the second one Auschwitz-Birkenau (which was actually a death camp), and the third one was Auschwitz-Monowitz along with 40 sub-camps. The biggest gas chambers and crematoriums were at the Birkenau camp. Those were blown up a few days before the liberation by the Soviet Army. At Auschwitz I, many of the bunkers have been turned into museums and display a small fraction of the good that the Nazis stole. There is a room full of hair, a fraction of what was found after the liberation. The Nazis sent the hair back to Germany were it was used to make cloth to line uniforms or used to make hairnets. There were room of shoes, eye glasses, combs and brushes, clothes, and so much more. Everything of use or value was sent back to Germany to be stored in banks or used by the German people.

Auschwitz-Birkenau was considered the worse. Bunkers were built using the design for horse stables. Each stable was designed to house 52 horses, but no less than 800 people lived in each bunker (that is a minimum of 8 people to a bed). The bathrooms were in one big bunker and lets just say the Nazis used everything possible and had plans of making methane gas. The Nazis did everything possible to degrade anyone there. Most inmates that where documents only lived 6 months or so, according to what I learned.

In the city of Krakow. Oskar  Schindler's factory still stands. Right now it is being restored and will be turned into a museum. I was able to get in and see a little of it. The actual factories are empty or junked up right now. Oskar Schindler's original desk and chair are being restored to be displayed. His office is a lot smaller than I expected.

Most of the setting for Schindler's List was at the Plazsow concentration camp which was in the city of Krakow. It took me two days to find the site. It is not well marked and what is left is in deplorable condition. It is basically an empty field that is used by teenagers so they won't get caught by their parents. I found empty beer bottles, used condoms, plastic bags, and general house hold trash everywhere. The locals use the site to walk their dogs, so there are dog dropping every where as well. There were three monuments in the site to commemorate what happened there. Two of them have graffiti on them. The small cemetery there as well with the headstones knocked over and broken. I found one small sign with a map about the site, but it was in Polish, so I could only guess at a few things. I believe the former commandants house still stands. Also, I believe the house used for the external villa scenes in the movie was there. But there is graffiti on the outside as well as living room furniture and trash around it. I found Plazsow to be more depressing than Auschwitz because of the condition it was in.

Krakow was not completely depressing. There are many beautiful buildings in Krakow and the city itself is very relaxed and everyone was very nice. I finally found good bread to eat and tasted pierogies that I actually like.

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01/11/2007

One month already

Today marks one month ago that I started traveling. Can't believe I am in Poland and in less than a week will be in the Czeck Republic. It has been a whirl wind adventure for me. I know it has been a while since I posted more than pictures with captions, so here are some highlights of the past week or so.

Took a 33 hour train ride from St. Petersburg to Warsaw. It was really good. The first night, there were these 3 guys from Belarus and one guy from the Ukraine there. They had vodka, lemons, bread, soda, pickles, and everything needed for a good trip. I learned the proper way to drink vodka and learned a little about Russian culture that I won't have any other way.

Yesterday I left Warsaw for Gdansk in the north of Poland. I thought, that for a change of pace, I would take the bus. It was only suppose the be a 5 hour trip, less than an hour more than the train. I should have known when we left an hour late because of "Driver" problems that this would not be smooth. Half an hour after leaving Warsaw, the bus gets pulled over by the police. So there is another 20 minutes wasted. It is after 9pm by the time we get up north. I asked the lady at the bus station in Warsaw to tell the driver I needed to get off in Gdansk. I should have taken the responsibility myself and can't blame here. But I ended up getting off at the last town on the route, 1/2 hour away from where I needed to me. Thankfully, a guy on the bus, helped with me the public train system. I got to Gdansk, got mixed up going out the right exit, but finally I got to the hostel and was only 2 hours later than what I booked. One of the few benefits of traveling in the really off tourist season is that you don't have worry about your bed being given away. 

Gdansk is very beautiful and I can't believe that it has been rebuilt in the last 65 years. It doesn't look like it at all. Actually, I can't believe that all of Poland I have send has been rebuilt in the last 65 years partially, if not completely. And in Warsaw, I went to the Warsaw Uprising Museum and learned about the resistence of the Polish people in Warsaw against the Nazis and the rebuilding of Warsaw. 

In marking one month since I started traveling, here are somethings I have learned.

1. In Russia, just because it is a post office and is marked as a post office and looks like a post office inside doesn't mean they will have stamps. This is normal I have been told.

2. Drinking Russian vodka requires two things. A rootbeer type chaser or eating a slice of lemon. The lemon helps keep you from getting drunk so fast. After the vodka and chaser, it is tradition to eat a slice of bread with salami on it.

3.  Polski Express bus routes and drivers are unreliable and undependable. Who would have thought that the Lonely Planet guide would have been right for once.

4. Never underestimate the kindness of Polish people. It more than makes up for the bus stuff.

5. If you are going to Moscow, Karma Bar is one place not to be missed

6. What makes or breaks a hostel (in my opinion) are the other people staying there. The hostels I have stayed in outside of Moscow have been nicer, but so far nothing has been the company of the guys in Moscow since I have started traveling. 

7. My baby sister is preggers, about 4 months along from what I have been told.

8. My brother graduates from Army basic training today as well. 

9. After 3.5 years in South East Asia, my attitude on rain as changed. While in a foreign country, spewing out a sentence containing words that you wouldn't repeat in front of your parents and ending with the word rain does not make for a good impression. Especially after the locals have been very kind to you.

10. Traveling is the ultimate test in patience and adaptation for me. Some days I figure it out, some days it takes me awhile. But I am working on it. 

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01/10/2007

Art

Art comes in different forms. Here are some of mine (and the monkeys) favorites from St. Petersburg.medium_Obraz_258.jpgmedium_Obraz_260.jpgmedium_Obraz_264.jpgmedium_Obraz_275.jpg medium_Obraz_274.jpgmedium_Obraz_278.jpgmedium_Obraz_280.jpg

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01/07/2007

St. Petersburg-The Hermitage

St. Petersburg was a beatiful city to visit. I think though that I should have my traveling right revoked though. I get lost, easily. There are witnesses to this. But I got lost inside a building, ON THE SECOND FLOOR. I was trying to get of the Italian Renaissance and up to the 3rd floor of French Impressionist and the 20th century art. But I kept going in circles and the stair case was hidden and it just wasn't pretty at all. But you can't be too upset in a building like this. medium_Obraz_248.jpgmedium_Obraz_252.jpgmedium_Obraz_253.jpgmedium_Obraz_257.jpgmedium_Obraz_266.jpg 

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01/03/2007

Moscow in Pictures

Enjoy. medium_100_1358.jpgmedium_100_1357.jpgmedium_100_1362.jpgmedium_100_1366.jpgmedium_100_1368.jpgIn order; St. Basil's and a close up, The Kremlin, Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, a cathedral in the Kremlin, Peter the medium_100_1350.jpgmedium_100_1363.jpgGreat Statue, and the four coolest guys a girl could hang out with in Moscow. And if you are ever in Moscow, go to Karma Bar. You will be sorry if you don't. Trust me.

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01/02/2007

Vietnam, finally some pictures

This picture thing is intersting. Here are my pictures from Vietnam. A first two are from Ho Chi Minh City but most are from Marble Mountain in Da Nang, including the picture of the motor bike driver I hired. The last two pictures are from the Cham Museum in Da Nang. Check out the monkey hanging with a monkey. It was the only non-depressing place in the whole country for me. medium_100_1295.jpgmedium_100_1298.jpgmedium_100_1304.jpgmedium_100_1310.jpg

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01/01/2007

The Train Trip

Since I am too lazy to type and have to pay for access to a computer that I can hook my camera up to, here are pictures of Lake Baikal, Siberia, and the guys from the train. The monkey is back Dad. medium_100_1329.jpgmedium_100_1330.jpgmedium_100_1340.jpgmedium_100_1344.jpgmedium_100_1346.jpgmedium_100_1345.jpgmedium_100_1347.jpg

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12/26/2006

Trains, travel, and Moscow

Yes, I am now in Moscow and I made it safe and sound. My brain hurts right now, but I will get to that later.

The train from Beijing to Moscow was in a word, AMAZING!!! The part from Beijing to Ulanbaater in Mongolia, I shared the carriage with a bunch of Mongolians. It wasn't to bad. There was this very sweet and talkative girl who was going home to Mongolia with her Dad, The scenery was pretty nice as well. Mongolia was barren, but beautiful at the same time. One thing that does stick out is watching people on motor bikes, wearing long down coats, through the snowy desert in Mongolia.  At Ulanbaater, there was a change over in passengers. The carriage I was on, all but two people got off. Then a bunch of guys from Russia and the Ukraine got on. They were very nice to me the whole way into Moscow. I wondered how they could go out and smoke in sleeve less t-shirts and they laughed when I went out bundled up in my coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. But they always checked to make sure I was back on the train after stops at different stations, they always asked where I was when I went to talk to people in other carriages, and generally checked-in on me. It was very sweet.

Siberia has some of the most beautiful views in the world. I thought I would get cabin fever after a day or two. But I was able to just watch the landscapes go by for hours. It was like looking at the setting from the newest version of The Chronicles of Narnia outside your window. The white trees covered in snow. There was the occasional village in the beginning as well. Wood houses that looked like they are out of a history book. And cows with fur coats. Lake Baikal was large, it took at about 45 minutes to get around it. The water was crystal clear, you could see the rocks in the water from the train. I have pictures, but haven't found a computer that will let me upload them yet.

Yesterday, was Christmas for part of the world. Last night, i meet up with some people I met on the train and we joined up with people from their hostel. Went out for a traditional Christmas pasta dinner and then for drinks. I came back and went to sleep though. Daylight here in Moscow is taking a little getting use to. At 8 this morning, the sun still wasn't all the way up and the sun sets before 5pm. It is taking my internal clock a little getting use to.

Tomorrow morning I am off to the Belarus embassy for my transit visa. If that doesn't take all day, I plan to go to the Kremlin and Red Square. I saw the top of St. Basil's Cathedral today as it sparkled in the sun. Today has been a trying day for me. Even with a map, I got lost quite a bit. I am figuring out the Metro system though. Hoping for better luck tomorrow in finding my way around. It would help if I had some sort of a sense of direction so I know where I am going.

Lastly, thanks for the comments. I really do enjoy reading them and know that people are checking in on me and my progress.  

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12/19/2006

Vietnam, the brief version

Tonight I am in Beijing and tomorrow morning is the train to Moscow. I can't believe I have already made it to this point in my travels. I am very excited and a little nervous all at the same time. It have been able to talk to several different people in the past week and they have all had something interesting to say about Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City was a sad place to visit for me. All of the major museums were about the Vietnam War and I feel that all the information was very one-sided. But I am very glad I went.

 Then it was off to Da Nang for me. I took the overnight train there and it was so nice. The train was older, but the three other people in the same compartment as me were very nice. Two were from Florida, but were born and had lived part of thier lives in Vietnam. I learned a lot about farming families in Vietnam, how poor they are, and the hardships the families go through just to put food on the table. When I got on the train, it was just city scape for miles. I woke up to rice paddies and corn crops. At 6am, there were people out working in the fields. Every once in a  while, there would be a farm with older machines. Most had cows or what looked like water buffalo. A few were so poor that they couldn't afford the cows, and so people pulled the plows. Marble Mountain was beautiful. There are many caves in the mountain and the monks use to offer safety to those who wanted it. In the whole country, Marble Mountain is the one place that I didn't feel an ever present sense of depression. The temples, statues, and pagodas were very beautiful. I was surprised at the number of temples and Catholic churches there were in Vietnam. And many churches had mass on Sunday mornings.

I was in Hanoi over night and didn't get to see much. I can say, that on the way back to the airport, there are farm right next to the airport. There are special lanes on the freeway for bicycles and horse (or more likely-cow) drawn carriages. Quite interesting how old and new exsist together.

One thing I have learned from all of this, don't fly Vietnam Air if you can help it.

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12/13/2006

Ho Chi Minh City days 1 and 2

The past two days in short form. Uneventful plane ride followed by 2 (YES TWO) hours to get through immigration. Got the bus to the hostel and checked in. Spent most of yesterday sleeping and recovering from the past semester. Today, found a tourist market bough fruit. Went to the Revolutionary Musuem. Interesting. Ho Chi Minh city is big, crowded, and insanely busy and still Asia. It reminds me of Taipei but the buildings are nicer looking and more colorful. It is suppose to be the dry season here, but I still go every where with my umbrella. 

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12/11/2006

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."Arnold Bennett

I am a mess of emtions right now. Trying to cram 4 months of needed stuff and make sure it is under 35kgs is difficult. It means only 1 pair of shoes, limited wardrobe options, and other considerations. I hope I have everything taken care of in a few hours. By this afternoon I am going to be a mess and wil only be able to get the last of the clothes washed and dried before leaving. But keep checking back. I won't have regular internet access, but the goal is to post once a week. By the time this one is up, I should be in Ho Chi Minh City taking a little time to relax. 

The important check list:

New memory card for camera? Check- 2GB should be enough

Packed and mailed 3.5 years of life? Done-damn the post office people in Hsindien

Plenty of warm clothes for Russia and Poland? Check-been knitting sweaters, hats. socks like a crazy woman

Warm sleeping bag? Check

Passport, plane tickets, train tickets, and travel visa? Check, check, check, and check

23:00 Posted in Travel | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this

30 minutes to boarding

So here it is, I have 30 minutes until I leave for the airport. And I am happy, but scared as well. My mind is racing with the what ifs and buts that could happen. Yesterday I was a little sad. There are people here that I am going to miss seeing. But now the scared, I want to throw up, feelings have set in. This happens everytime I travel and I know that in a day or two I will be just fine. I just have to get my mind and body into travel mode and then everything should just flow. My flight is at 7:45 am and currency exchange opens at 6:30 am. So I will be able to get my local currency exchanged into US dollars before heading to Vietnam. As organized as I like to think I am, I never do get my currency exchange ahead of time. I really should. That is bugging me right now as well as getting the bus from the airport to the hostel I am staying at once I get to Ho Chi Minh City. The insanity of it all, sometimes I really do question why I am allowed to travel. If a test were given on travelbility of potential tourist, I would fail miserably. Thankfully my roommate Seal going with me to the airport this morning. So instead of going straight to my gate, I can talk to her for a while. Hopefully that will keep me from crying too much. On top of the fear, I feel so unorganized at the minute. Questions of what I packed, did I pack the right things, do I really need 23kgs of stuff for the next 4 months, did I print off everything I need keep coming up. For me, when I travel, this is completely normal. So in short version here is my travel plan. In 30 minutes, head to the airport to fly to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. In four days take the train to Da Nang Vietnam. On the 18th fly from Da Nang to Hanoi and hang around there for about 12 hours. Then get my flight to Beijing. On Decemeber 20th, I will be boarding the train to Moscow and arriving on Christmas Day. After 5 days in Moscow, I will taking the train to St. Petersburg. Five days there and then I am off to Warsaw Poland. After that, I have nothing planned. By then, I will be fully set in travel mode and be able to get things planned and organized pretty quickly. I do promise to try my best and post about once a week, but I guarantee nothing right now.   

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10/26/2006

Cambodia, the final pics....

medium_100_1243.jpgTa Prohm is the last temple I visited at Angkor. This is the temple used in filming the first Lara Croft film. It is a beautiful temple, the temple and the trees where built together, like a precursor to a Andrew Lloyd Wright home. medium_100_1239.jpgmedium_100_1241.jpgmedium_100_1245.jpgmedium_100_1244.jpg

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10/13/2006

Angkor Throm

The second temple I went to was Angkor Throm. It was the last capital of the Angkor empire in Cambodia and quite a bit of the palace's garden is still in tact. The monkey, as always, was quite a photo hog. But I am more than willing to allow it. First up is the South Gate entrance into Angkor Throm. medium_100_1220.2.jpgmedium_100_1222.jpgmedium_100_1224.jpgmedium_100_1223.jpgmedium_100_1227.jpgmedium_100_1228.jpg

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10/11/2006

Cambodia

Getting to Cambodia was very uneventful, the way any good flight should be. Got to Siem Reap and my hostel just fine. The hostel was nice. That evening I went to the night market and just walked around. Everything was in US Dollars and the exchange rate depended on the vendor. So needless to say, I didn't buy much. Then the next day, I hired a tuk-tuk driver and headed to the ruins. To start off with, Angkor Wat, amazing to say the least. The monkey and I had lots of fun taking pictures. All I have to say is amazing. medium_100_1208.jpgmedium_100_1218.jpgmedium_100_1213.jpgmedium_100_1210.jpgmedium_100_1216.jpgThe next to the last picture is the stairs that the monkey and I climbed medium_100_1211.jpgto bring you the last shot.

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10/09/2006

Quick note...

Short and sweet here. In the Singapore airport using free internet. Love the Singapore airport. Do not love the town of Siem Reap or Silk Airways or Cambodian immirgartioins. Don't love the currency exchange at the Singapore airport either. One of those crazy moments of life that just have to go with the flow. Have 7 hours until my connection to Taipei, lets see what kind of trouble I can get into. :-)

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07/14/2006

Do's and Don'ts

Some basic do's and dont's for when you go to Thailand

My plane should be getting ready to depart from Koh Samui on the way to Bangkok so I can make my connection and get back to Taipei by tonight. But thought I would share some bits of information I have learned while in Thailand.

 Do eat as many different kinds of curry as you can find. There is green curry, red curry, Chiang Mai curry, and so many more. All are very good

Do eat papaya salad as well. It is spicy, but well worth it. I have found a new food to enjoy. And I learned to make it in cooking school. Yeah for cooking schoo