Report From the Field 3

Current Location: Vientiane, Laos

Like the Lonely Planet said, Vientiane is the most unlikely of capitals. Dirt streets, temples, French architecture, and the Mekong River all rolled up into one. Laos overall has a very laid back feel, it's capital is no exception. I've just arrived in Vientiane, haven't seen a lot, so I'll rewind a little bit. Here's what's happened to me for the past few days:

Mekong River:
Took a 2 day journey from Chiang Khong, Thailand to Luang Praban, Laos, via the Mekong River. Two very relaxing days down one of the greatest rivers in Asia. Fabulous. It was green all over, a good breeze from the river, and lots of relaxing times listening to music and enjoying the scenery.

Luang Prabang:
Absolutely Fabulous (and that's Fabulous with a big F!)! Wonderful little place! The old capital of Laos with a heavy French feel. Probably one of the only places in Asia where French style buildings infuzed with Laos touches dot the street, where you can get fresh, warm, French bread in a little cafe that looks like any good cafe from Paris, while looking across the street at orange robed Monks and Wats that are hundreds of years old. We rented bikes (for $1) to ride around the city, chated with monks, and wondered through the quiet night market. Our accomodations in LP was fabulous as well - they were little wooden bungalows with a nice porch, cushions, 4 post iron beds, and a marvolous azure tiled bathroom. For $2, you can have breakfast of your choice delivered to your door at a specific time every morning. The guesthouse also makes a delicious mixed fruit shake.

We also went to Kuang Si waterfalls near LP, an incredible series of pale blue waterfalls. We reached there via a 3 hour trek (where both Michelle & Kim got leeches! I was saved! :) ). The dip in those pools felt so great after 3 hours of slipping and slidding through the jungle.

I wish I could write more, but I have to meet the girls in a few minutes to do arobics on the banks of the Mekong River (overlooking Laos). We have another day in Vientiane, then planned a homestay with a Laos village family before heading over to Vietnam.

Adventure awaits!

From the Field 2

Current Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Due to popular request, here's my closest experience on going to a lady bar in Thailand. Last night, after dinner and a stroll around Chiang Mai's famous night market (with roots dating back to traders from Yunnan), the girls, Kelly, Nick, and I found a small ally with Neon lights close to our hotel. In the hunt for beer, we decided that this was the perfect place to be.

The seedy ally was full of dark, small bars, pumping different music from every bar. At the end of the ally, surrounded by more bars, is a Thai boxing stage. So while we were drinking Chang beer, we got to experience some minor league (probably) Thai boxing. That thing's rough! All the kicking, punching, pushing, and shoving the poor guys have to go through...

What was perhaps more entertaining than the Thai boxing was the drunk, middle aged white guy at the bar across from us. Surrounded by Thai bar girls (there seemed to be an endless supply of them at the bar), he was probably in cloud nine cuddling and putting his hand on their behind. His belligerent activity was so ridiculous and gross it was fascinating.

Now, off to Chiang Khong and then the Mekong River!

Report From the Field 1

I just arrived into Bangkok last night with my pretty travel mates. Had been in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the past couple of days. Unfortunately, could not find an internet cafe anywhere in that town! Below is a brief discription of the two cities so far.

Malaysia:
Kuala Lumpur -
Hot, humid, green, diverse, easy to spend a lot of money, Bahasa is hard to learn, great food - satay, dim sum, dosas. Friendly, English widely used, heavy Islamic influence, small city, big towers, crowded Chinatown, spanking new malls, lovely atmosphere, sweaty, comfortable nights, good drinks.

Thailand:
Bangkok -
HEAPS of tourists, more humid than KL, crowded, interesting food, good beer, good looking people (locals & foreigners - something KL was missing out on!), and like I said before, heaps and heaps and heaps of foreigners!

Leaving On A Jet Plane - Again!

It always seems like the closer time comes to a big adventure, the busier I get. Waiting for my Southeast Asia trip to start was no different. Since last Thursday, I was busy catching up with people for a "last" good-bye and running various kinds of other errands. My great timing also meant that all my company visits and meetings took place this week. I also never got around to doing some things I've been meaning to (mainly due to a lack of transportation) - like buying a travel journal.

Of all the business from this past week, meeting up with friends was definitely the most enjoyable. In particular, it was great to see some old faces, many of which I haven't seen for quite some time. Especially nice was seeing Andy Brock and Diane. Friendships old or new, I left both with bitter sweet feelings, for it is uncertain when and if I will see some of them again. Adam and I talked about this not too long ago, but one of the sad realities with an expat's life (or in my case, a local plus) is the fluid nature of the friendships you make. Most of the people you meet have only finite times in the country, so you can't help but feel a sense of abandonment when they leave. As well, with the departure of each friend, the challenge of the nature of the friendship also sets in. Will you really keep in touch and will space help evolve the friendship into something more meaningful? Will warm friendships dissolve into polite pleasentries? Will a friendship you sincerely cared about become just a series of collective memories, brief synapses in the tunnel of time? Alas, I suppose that is just the price that comes with the lifestyle, an unspoken clause when you signed the contract of the life you chose.

Alright, enough ranting. Here's a look of my travel route and dates for the next 2 months, in brief:

June 16th - Beijing to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
June 20th - KL to Bangkok, Thailand
June 21st - circa July 20th - Laos > Vietnam > Cambodia > back to Thailand > back to KL, Malaysia
July 26th - Kuala Lumpur to Beijing
July 31st - Beijing to Chengdu
August 1st - circa August 4/5th - Lhasa, Tibet
August 4/5th - circa August 12/13 - Lhasa to Mount Everest Base Camp, back to Lhasa
August 14/15th - back to Beijing

My internet access for the next few months will be sporadic at best, save the few days at the end of July. However, feel free to email me at my gmail account or leave messages on my blog. I'll be very happy to read them when I come back to reality. :)

I'm excited for every minute of the trip. The plan is to open up my senses - to really open them up to the sights, sounds, touch, and smell of every place I go to. Also, am looking forward to (hopefully) taking some decent photographs. In other words, the plan for the next two months is to be the best traveler that I can be.

Lastly, Delphy wrote in his blog, and I concur to the sentiment: "Great adventures lie ahead."

And so, I'm off!

City Nights

I believe my favorite time in this city is late at night, during early summer nights as these, when the curtain of sleep has calmed the rush of the daily grind, when lives are put on hold to make time for the mysteries of slumber, when all but the bravest souls (or perhaps the lonliest?) remains. At times like these, the heat and humidity created during the day evaporates to light breezes and vague memories. At times like these, when humanity and traffic rests, Beijing regains its life and reminds you of its essance. At times like these, Beijing shines and tells its stories to all who would listen, stories of triumph, love, loss, pain, balance, eternity, and hope.

You'll find in all great cities the capacity to lose yourself in the masses or regain yourself in the energy. For me, I find my shanti late at night, during early summer nights as these, when all that's on my mind is to take in as much of the cool, moist air as I can. To breathe, to breathe, to breathe...

Defining IU

Found these two definitions of IU (according to urbandiciontary.com) and they gave me the giggles. Enjoy! :)

Indiana University:

1. Noun- A school where students spend more time drinking than going to class. Regarded as the greatest party school that ever existed. Home of the Hoosiers, the most beloved sports team in the history of the world. Also home of The Little 500, the greatest party week in the country, where students stay up 7 days straight, don't go to class and collectivly drink more than most schools drink in a year. Known for their amazingly good looking females (heee! :-D ).
2. Adjective- Used to describe an amazing party where the girls are gorgeous, the alcohol flows like water and the good times roll.

1. I went to Indiana University and got shitfaced for 7 straight days,
2. This party was an Indiana University party

Indiana University:

The best school in the country because of its amazing parties and top tier business (Ranked top 10 along with MIT and UPenn), journalism and performing arts programs. Located in Bloomington Indiana, the coolest place in the world. Known as the best school in Indiana, as to Purdue Community College which is the worst. IU has the greatest, most loyal fans in the country...Hoosier fans. Also, student for student, IU students could outdrink and totally kick the crap out of any other students at ANY university in the world.

Indiana University is the #1 Dream School in the country

See, I really wasn't exaggerating about Little 500! :)

Beidaihe & Shanhaiguan

Great Wall & the Sea
Originally uploaded by sheilaz413.

For the third weekend in a roll, I was able to take another trip outside of Beijing. This weekend's destination was Beidaihe & Shanhaiguan.

Like the two previous trips, this one was also very nice. It was nice to lay on a beach not doing anything important. Climbing the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan reminded me a little bit too much of climbing Taishan last weekend. The highlight of Shanhaiguan is definately the point where the Great Wall meets the sea - the shaddy boat ride there was worth the view.

Only one more weekend before my rendevous with the pretty Kemps in South East Asia. Can't wait!