My Odyssey

On October 9th an article appeared in the New York Times addressing the new patterns of life taken by twenty somethings after college. I love when I come across an article like this and I've even blogged about a few of them. They offer me some comfort and encouragement for my actions that seem anything but ordinary to my parents generation and many of my friends.

Since college, I've hopped from job to job and bounced across the globe, seemingly without any direction. Here I am now, 26 years old and searching for a new job from my parent's couch. This used to be a position that afforded much criticism and humor from the employed, but I have been happy to learn of at least four other people I graduated high school with doing the exact same as me.

I know that I apply too much pressure on myself to find a job and be more like everyone else. With wise words like this article though, I realize that I need to savor my situation and enjoy my days of Odyssey while they last. It reminds me of a scene from Garden State when Zach Braff yells to his new friends as they leave, "Good luck exploring the infinite abyss." Who's with me?

My Summer - In Short Form

Okay, so I dropped the ball on blogging my entire trip. A brief summary:

I made it out of India unscathed, save for an intestinal infection that had me in the WC for a few days. Dubai was HOT and nothing more. Istanbul was a beautiful city, reminiscent of San Francisco, and a great time with good friends. Bordeaux is gorgeous and I enjoyed relaxing at Francois' estate, but I barely communicated with anyone all week. I tackled Paris in one day and Rome the next. The next week in Italy was spent sightseeing with my mom and sister and enjoying some delicious food and wine. I got to see Micah and Jacy my final two nights in Florence and enjoyed their company as always. Air India ensured that my trip to the States was nothing short of miserable. Chicago was a blast with Collin and baseball.

And then it was over.

My words are few about my trip, but my photos say it all. I hope you have time to view them all.

Nepal -- India

Its a crime how fast I'm blowing through this trip. I've been to some amazing places that you could spend months in, but I only have a few days. But like they say, you have to leave something to come back to. I'm leaving entire countries.

So we drove from Tibet across the Himalayas into Nepal. I stayed in Kathmandu and relaxed for a few days. The food was amazing and the people were very nice. The main landmark I visited was the Monkey Temple. Its is over 2000 years old and crawling with monkeys which now give me the creeps after a few bad encounters.

From Kathmandu I took a bus to the India border and then another to Varanasi. On crossing the border, my first impression of India was 'get me out.' I was ripped off on the bus ticket and every single person I met was rude to me. However, now that I've been around a few days I've learned that they are just intimidated by foreigners and once you start talking with them they are extremely kind.

Varanasi is known to many as the 'oldest living city' in the world. It dates back over 2500 years. It is the holiest city in Hinduism and is situated on the Ganges river which is both the holiest river in the Hindu religion and one of the world's most polluted rivers. Bathing in the Ganges can bring salvation, but also terminal infections.

My bus ride from Kathmandu was over 20 hours long and I arrived in Varanasi at 4am. Luckily I was up and the sun was just beginning to rise. I was with 3 others and we promptly hired a boat to take us out on the river. Locals were already gathering at the water's edge for a bath. It was an amazing sight and quite surreal to see them from the water. They wash themselves, swim, drink the water, and everything else imagineable. Just to the side of one of the ghats there were ten men taking their morning poo. I even saw a body float by which must have been sent off to the river as I arrived. Next door to my hotel was the burning ghat where they do cremations.

Varanasi certainly was lost in the past. Its streets were only wide enough for a cow to pass which was often the case. There was a very medieval feel to the atmosphere. Livestock roaming the city freely like a citizen, beggars everywhere and merchants carrying their goods around on rickshaws or their heads. The sounds of Varanasi are unique to the city and Hinduism. A constant noise of drums, whistles, scooter horns, cows, screaming and more. A remarkable city.

From Varanasi, I took a train down to Calcutta where I am now. As opposed to the ancient city of Varanasi, Calcutta was founded only 300 years ago by the British. It seems like nothing has changed since the British left during WWII. The cabs are ancient, buildings antique and decrepit, and the monuments are crumbling. The Indians just can't afford to maintain the city or they don't care to remember the British Imperialism.

I went to the flower market this morning and was a celebrity. I just wanted to take a few colorful photos of the flowers and hoped for a couple candids of the locals. As soon as one person got the guts to speak to me, I was the man of the hour and everyone wanted a picture. I must have had 100 people pose for me and I spoke with many of them. Others offered me flowers, tea or hand made jewelry as a gift. Deep down they are truly kind people.

I have one more day here before I fly to Dubai for a couple days. Then I'm off to Istanbul to be with some great friends for a week.

Seven Days in Tibet

Its already been over a week since I landed in Lhasa with Francois. The flight was too easy and it didn't feel like we really traveled to the top of the world. I spent a couple days in Lhasa getting used to the altitude and the culture. The Tibetan people are so nice and glad to see Westerners. I've been invited into many homes and cafes for tea and a chat. The food is terrific. I've had yak in every meal since I got here. Yak burgers put beef to shame.

I had already booked a tour through part of the region and I spent some time recruiting others to go with me in the car to keep the cost down. Together it was Francois and I, two girls, the driver and the guide packed into a Land Cruiser. We've been on the road now for 5 days together.

We've seen some amazing scenery and met some great people. I've toured at least four Buddhist monasteries and talked with many monks. Yesterday I woke up with Mt. Everest out my window only five miles away. Simply incredible. And, the stars at night out number any other view in the world.

We've had some adventures bribing gate keepers, touring closed monasteries under construction and acting violently ill so the police will let us pass. Altogether Tibet has been a great adventure.

Now I am waiting to cross the border into Nepal. They have a shoddy system and the road doesn't open until the border closes so I lose a day here, but that's part of the Chinese experience I guess.

Next stop - Kathmandu.

Thailand

I've already been on the road for one gorgeous week in Thailand. I arrived in Bangkok and just spent the weekend hanging out with Francois around the town. He had to work and I didn't want to sit around so I shopped for airfare around the county and bought the cheapest one to Krabi which is in the very south on the coast of the Andaman sea.

Krabi is a very chill town with quite a few guesthouses for all of the travelers going between Bangkok and the outlying islands. I spent one night there hanging out with the locals and playing pool. They reminded me very much of Carribean culture.

The next day I took the ferry to Phi Phi island. Neither my words or pictures can describe how stunningly beautiful the islands were. The water was the prettiest blue-green color and the warmest sea I've ever swam in. Giant rocks jutted out of the ocean and towered 300 feet above the beaches below.

One day I went with a couple from Barcelona on a tour of the island Phi Phi Ley which is where the movie 'The Beach' was filmed. If you were to paint a picture of the perfect beach, it would look exactly like Phi Phi Ley. Amazing.

I also experienced the best snorkeling you can imagine. The boat captain threw a few pieces of bread into the water and instantly there were fish everywhere. Under water you can't avoid being completely surround by schools of different fish. They swam so close that their fins were hitting my mask.

Like I said, neither words nor pictures can describe the beauty of Phi Phi. Now, I'm going back to Hong Kong for two days then off to experience a different type of beauty in the Tibetan Himalayas.

Hong Kong Fading

Things are finally winding down here in Hong Kong. I only have five more days of school with my class and that makes me kind of sad. They're asking me what I'm doing after summer holiday and are confused when I tell them I'm staying in the USA. Otherwise, I'm so excited and ready to leave. I have an amazing summer all planned out full of exotic places and great friends.

I'm ironing out some final details now and getting the visas all ready. I'm pretty nervous about Tibet because some crazy Americans did a 'Free Tibet' protest at Everest Base Camp in May and its much harder to get a travel permit now. I'm not even sure they'll let me on the plane to Lhasa, but I'll give it a shot.

I'm also anxious about my future back in the States. My only plan now is to land in Houston and start all over. I get excited thinking about the opportunities that await, but I'm also worried about a job and money. I won't have either.

I leave for Bangkok in two weeks to meet Francois. Here is the finalized itinerary: Thailand - Tibet - Nepal - India - Dubai - Turkey - France - Italy - Chicago

Giddy up!

Asia Montage

Back in March, I bought a new camera in anticipation of my travels this year. In the past, my camera was a constant frustration due to is underperformance. The pictures never came out right, so this time I got serious and bought a real camera.

Now, I can call myself and 'amateur photographer'. I've taken about 1,500 photos with it so far. Here are a few of my favorites that no one else has seemed to notice yet.

Blue Days

We are experiencing what some people consider a natural phenomenon in Hong Kong right now. After a full week of rain, the pollution has been washed from the sky. The clouds have now parted and the sky is...Blue! For the second straight day the air has been clear and we can see clouds and a beautiful blue sky. I haven't seen this much sky since I moved here and that's a terrible shame. Hopefully the great weather will stay until this weekend so I can join the masses on the beach. Until then, I have to enjoy the view over the harbor from school.

Get out the Atlas

All I can think about lately is my itenerary for this summer. I cannot wait to strap on the pack and cross the globe. Most everything is planned out and I've started booking tickets. I can't wait to see my friends scattered across the continents and experience new cultures. Two months of teaching left and then its two months of trekking.

Quotes

I have a student, Wong Man Shing, who has neither an English name nor any grasp of my language. He has been in my class all year never spoken to me. Wong Man Shing is a definitive 'space cadet' and I have urged his mother to move him to a Chinese class since he speaks no English.

Today he walks up to me and says, "I'm gonna go piss." and walks out the door.

I stand corrected. He does speak English.

Afternoon Delight

China

I haven't written in awhile and its mainly because I was preparing for the past two weeks. It has been non-stop fun since the end of March and I am wiped out now.

The last weekend of March is the biggest weekend in Hong Kong for expats. The annual HK Rugby Sevens tournament. It doesn't matter how much you know about rugby, everyone has a blast this weekend. I was lucky enough to get some tickets back in December; they sell out in hours. I was even luckier to sell my Friday ticket for almost the amount I paid for all three days! Everyone dresses up in ridiculous costumes and sits in the stadium for about eight hours of rugby each day. It sounds long, but I never once checked the time because we were having so much fun.

As the championship was ending Sunday night, four friends of mine were landing in Hong Kong for our two week journey through China. We spent a few days in Hong Kong letting them get acclimated. Along with the six Americans, many of my friends in Hong Kong came along with us. At one time our group was 13 people.

Six of us took a train to Beijing and had an absolute blast. The rest of the group flew and we met at our hotel in Beijing. The city is so unique and hard to describe. It is a city of about 16 million people, but every place I went was as quiet and relaxed as the country side. The buildings are all painted a dull grey with black roofs, certainly an effort of the Communist cultural revolution to dull the life of the city, but I thought the color brought the city to life and gave it a warm feel.


On Easter Sunday, eleven of us piled into a mini-bus and drove three hours out to the Great Wall of China. No picture or story can describe to you the feeling of being out there. The terrain is gorgeous, the Wall massive and the hike is treacherous. Our section of the wall was a mere 500 years old compared with 2000 in other sections. We hiked 10 kilometers for four hours and never saw a soul. The pictures I took will never do this wonder justice. Truly amazing.

The final day I spent touring the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Summer Palace. The architecture is truly unique and beautiful. The size of the palaces is overwhelming. But, one can only stare at buildings for so long so we basically sat on the lake at the Summer Palace and enjoyed some beers.

After leaving Beijing, the group had been whitled down to the six Americans. Let the fun begin. Shanghai was night and day different from Beijing. Much more cosmopolitan and one of the fastest growing cities in the world. We stayed in the French Concession and marvelled at how it reminded us of the West Village. We had some great food and saw some sites like the Bund and Pudong. One night was spent with some bottles of wine atop the tallest hotel in the world, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, on the 87th floor.

The trip across the country opened all of our eyes at how amazing this secretive society is. China is emerging with great momentum and changing by the day. I appreciate their culture at a new level now eventhough I've been in Hong Kong for seven months. I saw some amazing things and have some more great memories to share with some of my best friends.

I'm Regrettin' It

My belly is large and bloated. My stomach churns and I’m gassy. Sharp cramps shoot through my gut causing my face to cringe. You see, I have eaten at McDonald’s today…twice.

Now that you are nauseous, allow me to explain. I have had enough of my school’s Chinese food. Everyday the menu is the same, but the food only gets worse. A large plate of plain pasta, steamed broccoli, and a piece of meat that looks like fish, but tastes like chicken. Affectionately, I refer to this as fishkin.

Too much fishkin causes one to act drastically. Arriving at school this Monday morning, by stomach growled at me and my head asked for more caffeine. There is only one place to get food other than the school cafeteria and that is McDonald’s around the corner. Living in the States I never visited McDonald’s, save for an emergency. However, because of school cuisine, everyday in Hong Kong is an emergency.

As is ashamedly becoming custom, I sauntered in to the fast-food giant and ordered some breakfast. Everything went smoothly and I felt super after that steaming Styrofoam cup of instant brew.

Hours pass and now its lunch time. I stepped into the cafeteria and was immediately disgusted. My body refused to accept another helping of steamed broccoli and mystery meat. I elected to starve.

Andrew shared my feelings and mimicked a hamburger across the office. Moments later, I found myself back in line at the world’s leader in gluttony. I won’t gross you out with meal details, but let’s just say that I’ve consumed enough grease today to lube an engine.

So here I sit in agony with a double helping of McD’s in my stomach. Wise, I am not; noticeably fattening, indeed.

Hong Kongers

I have realized from living in Hong Kong that the local people here are some of the rudest people I've ever experienced. People in Hong Kong have no concept of other people and are concerned only with themselves.

Walking down the sidewalk, someone will walk right into you as if you were invisible and they never saw you. I sometimes try to get off of the subway and twenty people will shove their way into the train before I can even get off.

The best example of Hong Kong rudeness happened to me in Starbucks recently. I had been at a table for over an hour reading my book. I left to go meet someone outside on the street. In order to save my place, I left my full cup of coffee, my book and a magazine on my table. When I returned five minutes later, there was a woman sitting in my seat. I looked down at her, but she wouldn't acknowledge me. I noticed my coffee was missing and asked her where it was. She motioned to the garbage. Baffled, I just reached for my things and noticed that she had dumped her empty sugar packets and wet stir sticks onto my magazine. I lifted my magazine and let her trash fall right in front of her, but she didn't even look up. Then, I rabbit punched her and she fell directly into her steaming latte. (Not really, but I wanted to so bad.)

Anyway, for the most part local Hong Kong people are intolerable. This is one of the main reasons I'm going somewhere more friendly next year, like New York!

Quotes

"Hey! That elephant just spilled my beer."

-Andrew, after an elephant spilled his beer. You only get to say that once.

Thailand

I'm back from my week long holiday in Thailand. I spent most of my time in Bangkok, but also saw Pataya and Koh Larn.

Bangkok is a great city with beautiful people and deliciously spicy food. I still feel it. I recommend that city for any traveler.

I had loads of fun and met some great people. I would rather tell you about it all in person rather than write in a blog. Please check out my pictures sometime and see for yourself.

Sai Kung

I went hiking yesterday with the Yip sisters. I couldn't remember the last time I had been out of a city setting, so the fresh air was welcomed. After a 90 minute trip out into the New Territories, we found what we thought was our trail and set off. I am just now realizing that we were on a completely different part of the trail than we thought.

Our hike was expected to be along a nice beach for a few hours, but instead we climed up and down four mountians over 11km and ascended up 400m to a peak. There were stairs along the steep parts, but they almost made it worse on my ageing knees.


Our trail ended in a great fishing village, Sai Kung. Its quite touristy, but for a reason. Along the docks there are plenty of restaurants that put their fresh catches into large tanks. When you're ready to eat, you walk over and point out what your craving. Then, the chef prepares your 'catch' however you like. The three of us easily put away a 6lb. fish, two crabs and a pound of shrimp.

All in all, the views were terrific and the setting serene. Our dinner was fantastic too. It felt great to get out of the city and hopefully I'll find some time to do some more treks.

Sick Games

I left work early on Thursday with a fever and I've been in bed for 48 hours since. I'm feeling much better now, but I'm fresh out of '24' episodes. My sinuses are also clearing and everything is coming up. I've taken a few steps to cure the boredom. I'm on my bed, window open to the cool breeze and 21 floors below is; not sure and don't want to check because...Whenever I cough something up, I spit it out the window and wonder where that gooey glob landed. Then, I write about it on the internet.

Gross? Not until you've tried it.

Mr. Jack Hammer

I remember walking down the streets of New York multiple times and feel the sidewalk begin to shake, or at my desk 21 floors up and hear the building rumble and think to myself, “It would not sadden me if I never hear the pneumatic sound of a jackhammer ever again.”

Alas, not fifty yards from my desk in Hong Kong, two 40 story apartment buildings are being constructed. Outside the school, the air is constantly filled with sound waves of whining cement trucks, swirling cranes, and of course the abhorrent jackhammer.

I am sitting in the garden on the roof of my school, trying to escape the chaos of the classroom, but even my iPod cannot rescue me from the machine gun battle that rages in the construction zone across the way. Neither can the book I’m reading which is ironically describing a scientist’s efforts to control the sound of the universe and turn all of its annoyances off. Until this fiction becomes a reality though, I won’t be able to concentrate enough to even finish the chapter.

Whoever invented this beastly tool should be imprisoned for disturbing global peace. I think his sentence should be lying on a bed with a jackhammer constantly drilling next to his head, 24/7. I doubt he would survive a week before he lost his mind and was crippled with internal tremors for the rest of his quaking days.

The rattling of the jack hammer outside or the Chinese chatter in the classroom; which one should I choose?

Attack of the Chinese Students!!!

I decided today, amid the chaos of my classroom, that a good illustration for my job would be a four-hour Chinese horror film. Imagine the constant rambling in Chinese with errant screams. Kids running around, bloody noses, people bumping into each other and falling onto their faces. Objects flying through the air, mass confusion, everyone lost in their own world and the only interaction with each other results in a fight of some sort.

Then, there is me in the middle, trying in what ever way possible to pacify the situation; urging everyone to keep calm. But no one understands a word I’m saying or even bothers to try to listen. Instead, they glance at me when I shout their name and the carry on shouting as they run across the set of this Asian horror flick. On any given day you would think that Godzilla had crawled out of Victoria harbour and was standing outside the school.