A New Chapter

After five months of being on the road, I head home on Sunday.  The journey has allowed me to reflect about my life and how I want to proceed in the future.  During the travels, I went through some tough times.  Thousands of miles away from home and nothing familiar to hold onto, the feeling of lost and loneliness was part of the trip.  There were also amazing highs.  The highs were from the connections I made with people and being able to share something special with them.  During the trip, nothing was constant and every choice you made took you down a different path.

First and foremost, I want to thank all my hosts and friends from home who met with me.  Especially, Natalie who flew all the way to Egypt.  I also want to thank Jason Demant who is partly responsible for this trip.  He inspired me when he quit his job to travel the world with his girlfriend Sharon.  Finally, thanks to my family, who has fully supported my journey.  They were also faithful blog readers.

Now that the trip is nearly over, it is hard not to be a little sentimental.  The experience is priceless.  The people I have met and things I have learned were amazing.  This trip wasn’t about temples, pyramids, or churches, it was about life and how I want to live the remainder of it.

In the end, I am not going home depressed that the trip is over.  My journey continues with a new job, a new city, and more adventures with family and friends.  The bay area has a lot to offer and I plan to make the most of it.  So this is not the end, but just a new chapter in my life.

Signing off

Chris

Tokyo Madness

The last 8 days I have been exploring Tokyo.  Most of my time was spent in Ueno, Roppongi, and Shibuya districts.  I also took one day trip to Kamakura, which was a nice change from the bustling city.

My second night in Tokyo, I went to the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.  The best way to describe this is madness.  Nine hundred thousand people congested in one area to see the fireworks.  I was in the subway car with my face planted against the window and two kids crying at my side.  Luckily, I only had three stops.  The fireworks were nice, but the shear number of people made it chaotic.  Police were everywhere, moving us around like sheep dogs.  It was an experience!

On Thursday, I went to Harajuku station where fashion rules.  This strip is supposedly where Gwen Stefani gets inspired.  Walking down the main drag, you see people in a variety of crazy outfits.  For second, I though it was Halloween.  I took some pictures and especially loved the designer umbrellas!  In any case, its a good place to sit and people watch.

Tokyo is a little mad, but you can learn to love it.  The people are so friendly and willing to help you with no hidden agenda.  Everyone was interested to talk with me and could not of been kinder.

Tomorrow to the airport.

Chris

Koh Phangan: Full Moon Party

Every month there is one designated day as the Full Moon Party on the island of Koh Phangan.  It has been a tradition for a long time and now has become very popular with the foreigners.  So I decided to take part in this unique experience during the end of July.

The island of Koh Phangan is off the southern coast of Thailand.  To get there, I took an overnight bus to a pier near Surat Thani and then transferred to a boat.  I arrived there on the July 25th, to catch all the pre-parties before the big day on the 28th.

During the day, people generally relax on the beach or sleep.  The more adventurous will rent a motorbike or WaveRunner.  During the night, everything changes.  People usually go to one of two places;  Haad Rin Beach or the Coral Bungalow Pool Party.  The pre-parties that take place last all night.  The three nights I went out, I came home at 6AM, 7AM, and 8AM.  When I started to see the light of day, it was time to head home.  I went to one pool party, but always ended up on the beach by the end of the night.  They played various types of music and had fire theatrics.

The majority of people who came to the island were British, Dutch, and Australian, but you could meet people from anywhere.

During the Full Moon Party, it rained most of the night.  Although wet, people continued to dance with no care.  Thousands of people were crowded on the beach and the energy was amazing.

For visitors, be weary, because there is a number of drugs on the island.  The police have been bribed by the store owners so there is a number of ’safe shops’ to do your poison.   I don't recommend it and make sure no one drops anything in your bucket drink.

This was of course the least cultural experience because of the touristy nature, but I was able to meet tons of nice people and learn the secrets of the island.  Koh Phangan is somewhat unique in nature, which is why it draws such big crowds.  I highly recommend it, if you want to let loose for a couple of days and are sick of temples and shrines.

7 Days left  :(

Chris

Welcome to South-East Asia

Bangkok, Thailand:

I arrived in Bangkok about a week ago and have surprised by all the things I have seen.  In Thailand (like the rest of South-East Asia) everything is on discount.  My money has never gone farther than here.  A nice pad taxi for $1 or t-shirt for $4.  With my money going so far, I have added new items to my already maxed out luggage.  One of the other nice things about Thailand is the nightlife.  There is tons of bars and clubs where you live like a king without spending more than $30.

In Bangkok, what you see is not always reality.  One, when you see a ‘Thai girl’ the first thing you should ask yourself is if that’s really a girl.  Height, hand size, and facial hair are all indicators, but even with this you might be wrong.  Lady boys is the name for these men who pretend to be woman.  Second, your in a club dancing with your new friends from the hostel and a Thai girl approaches you.  She just wants to dance and offers you a sip of her drink.  What does she want? Either she is looking to make some money or she just wants to have a good time, but there is no way to know.  For example on Thursday night, I was out with two English guys and we went to club Boosy (or least that what was stamped on my hand in the morning).  A girl approached us and said, "Come over to our table. It my friends birthday."  We all hesitated and weren't willing to go anywhere.  Then she said, “I am not a hooker!”  Then after that, things were clearer we headed over to talk with them.  And to keep minds from wandering, I returned alone back to the hostel.

Siam Reap, Cambodia:

From Bangkok I traveled overland to Cambodia for two days.  I wanted to see Angkor Wat and the many other beautiful temples left from the Khmer dynasty.

My journey from Bangkok started with a 5.5 hour train ride with only 3 hours of sleep.  After the train, I took a tuk tuk to the border and met three other travelers.  As we went through customs, we had to pay an additional tip to get are Cambodia visa.  They call it a processing fee, but its just a scam to bring in supplemental income.  After crossing the border we shared a taxi the rest of the way.  It was quite an adventure.

I only spent one day at the temples and the other day I spent lounging around Siam Reap.  The temples were amazing and I highly recommend seeing them for yourself (check out pics).  The city had a nice market and great food.  On the lodging side, my hostel did not have any AC, which meant I was sticky for 3 days.

My journey back to Bangkok was a bus ride for $10.  Transportation is cheap! The bus ride was crammed with people and the bags were all over the aisle.  I was in the back middle seat with two guys on each side.  As the bus stopped a bag above me flew and hit my head.  It didn’t hurt, so we all just laughed.  After  crossing the border we changed to mini-vans luckily, which made the rest of the trip pleasant.

With two long days of traveling and two days in Siam Reap, I was able to get a good look at the city and the temples.  I wish I could of gave Cambodia more time, but the Full Moon Party was calling.

Now:

I have to play some ping pong as my new friends need one more person.

Chris

Rwanda

For the last week I have been in Rwanda staying with my friend Fidelis.  He and I attended Santa Clara University’s MBA program where we met.  In January, I told him about my round the world trip and he was nice enough to offer to host me in his home country of Rwanda as he planned to be there this summer.

So months later, here I am in Rwanda staying with his family.  During the week, I have met his parents and all, but one sibling.  We visited Akagera National Park, Genocide Memorial Center, King’s Palace, and an orphanage where his brother Emmy works.  I have learned a great deal about the history of Rwanda and its people.

Traveling with someone from the country was a nice change from staying in hostels.  I was absorbed into their life, which was like taking a compacted one week school course about Rwanda.  While I was here, the people were friendly and I felt very safe in the country.  All the food was natural and the meat was delicious.  Brochette was my favorite food.  Brochette can either be beef, chicken, goat, or fish, which is barbecued and put on skewer.  They flavor the meat perfectly and if you want a little heat you can add Akabanga sauce (hot chili sauce).  My favorite was the beef brochette.

During my stay, the hospitability of Fidelis’ family has been amazing.  They have fed me and each taken the time to drive Fidelis and I around Rwanda seeing different sites.  It has been a great learning experience and I have enjoyed his family.

For now, I head to Bangkok, Thailand.  I will stay in Bangkok for a few days and then head over to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat.  After Cambodia, I will find my way back to Thailand to Koh Phangan island to experience the Full Moon Party.  Then on the 30th, I take an overnight flight on Air China to Tokyo, Japan.  I stay in Japan for one week then head home roughly August 6th.  Three more very exciting countries!

Chris

Constant Change

I have been on the road 103 days and there has been some amazing and tough days.  Depending on how much of homebody you are, traveling by yourself can be more or less difficult.  For the last two days, I have been getting over a flu bug.   Laying in my cramped four bed dorm room unable to get up, I wanted to call it quits.  Being sick in a foreign country by yourself is the worst.  I wanted nothing more then to be home in my bed with one of my Boston Terriers cuddled next to me.  Although stricken with missing home, I knew once I made a full recovery I would be alright.

The other thing about traveling is that nothing is ever constant. You meet people and they typically disappear in one or two days.  Different plans and obligations keep people on a different path from me.  For this reason, its hard to have a close relationship with anyone.

The best thing about traveling is your opportunity to explore the world.  You grow as a person, as you meet new people and try new things.  I have snorkeled in the Red Sea, bathed in the Blue Lagoon, slept under the stars in Wadi Rum, attended two World Cup games, and hiked in the Drakensburg mountains.  I have met writers, photographers, entrepreneurs, journalists, surfers, and tons of students.  All these experiences help you grow.

Although my trip is open-ended and subject to change, I have a general plan for the next 1-2 months.  I plan to meet my friend Fidelis in Rwanda and travel with him to Tanzania.  After that I plan to go to Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan.  After Japan, I head home to San Francisco.  This will be sometime between August 15th and September 1st.

Tomorrow, I head to Cape Town.

Chris

South Africa: World Cup Fever

Four years ago, I was sitting on my bed watching France play Italy for the World Cup title.  At that moment, I promised myself that I would make it to the next World Cup.  When South Africa was picked as the next host country, I was even more excited.  It was the first time a African country would host this event and  I also always wanted to visit Africa.  I then spread the word to my friends, attempting to form a group to come along with me.  Initially, there was a lot of interest, but as 2010 got closer people began dropping like flies.  Girlfriends, money, and work were some of the reasons for not attending.  Lame!  I then I heard a bunch of people were going to Alaska.  Double Lame! So on June 8th I landed in Johannesburg with no friends, but two tickets to my name and a rental car.

Over the past week in South Africa, I have experienced World Cup fever.  It gets you as soon as you land.  The billboards, radio, television, jerseys, vuzuzelas, and swinging flags all participate in celebrating the largest sporting event in the world.  You can’t avoid it.  You drive down the street and see people selling flags.  You turn on the radio and Shakira’s new song, “This time for Africa” plays.  At night, you hear the vuzuzelas (blow horns) playing.  This vibrant energy is encompassing.

The World Cup has become more than just soccer.  Its a time of celebration and collectivism.  We throw away our differences for the time being and become one.  This positive energy spreads like a fever, touching us all.

My next game is in Durban on the 25th, where Portugal plays Brazil.  Should be fun.

Ayoba time!!

Chris

Middle East Part II: Jordan

Last Monday, I arrived in Jordan not sure what to expect.  A driver from the hostel picked me up at the airport and took me to my new home (downtown Amman) for the next three nights.  Alone again, with no map or clue, I began to feel down.  Where am I?  What am I doing in Jordan?  I felt lost and couldn't find any comfort to hold on to.  Eventually, I was in need of a meal and forced myself outside to find food.  The hostel recommended the Cairo Restaurant (ironically I just came from Cairo) and I found myself looking at a kebab plate surrounded by Jordanians.  The owner gave me a pat on the back when I left and I thought to myself maybe Jordan people are as hospitable as everyone says.

When I returned back to hostel and found myself in front of six travelers.  They were headed to 'Books@cafe', a place they read about in Lonely Planet.  One them asked me if I would like to join them.   I quickly said yes and ran upstairs to change and drop off my bag.  Things were improving.  My new friends were the Middle Eastern travelers.  They carried a free spirit and were willing to push boundaries.  Some of the countries they traveled were Israel, Syria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Iran and Egypt.  After a nice night at 'Books@cafe' I learned some new tricks on how to get through Jordan and now owned the 'The Bean Tree' book by Barbara Kingslover.

After three nights in Amman, I went to the bus station and found my new American friends Chris and Daniel already on the Jett bus headed to Petra.  When we arrived, I spent most of day with them exploring the ancient Nabataeans ruins.  The next day, I went back to climb to the top of the monastery, while Chris and Daniel left to Wadi Rum.  The whole Petra experience was quite rewarding.

The next morning (Saturday) I headed to Wadi Rum unknowing what camp I would be staying at.  Wadi Rum is a desert valley cut into massive sandstone and granite rock formations.  In Wadi Rum most tourists stay with a Bedouin camp for a night or two.  During the day your camp will take you on a trek through the desert via 4x4 vehicle. During my ride to Wadi Rum, I began talking to three people from another hostel.  After some friendly conversation, I thought it would be best to go their camp, the 'Bedouin Meditation Camp'.  At the camp we explored the desert, ate with Bedouins, played the drums, and slept under the stars.  I especially enjoyed this part of my trip.  Away from all chaos of the city and one with nature.

At the conclusion of my Jordan trip, I realized the importance of traveling in the Middle East.  By Westerners traveling in the Middle East it breaks stereotypes and generalizations.  The local people have direct contact with tourists like myself and have many opportunities to ask questions.  It helps separate people from their governments.  As a Middle East traveler you are a ground level mini-ambassadors for your country, hopefully leaving a good impression on the people you visit.

Sitting at the Cairo airport with a long layover before South Africa.

Chris

Welcome to the Middle East: Egypt

Although Egypt is part of North Africa, it is considered part of the Middle East.  Like Morocco, Islam is the official religion.  For this reason, the countries share some of the same values and traditions.

I arrived in Cairo, Egypt on May 21st and planned to stay for one week.  This part of the trip I was lucky enough to have Natalie join me in Cairo.  It was  nice to have someone from home traveling with me in Egypt.  In addition, she brought cards from each of my parents, a needed baseball cap, and sweets.

For the first four days we stayed in Cairo visiting a number of sites.  Natalie through a mutual friend connected us with Tony Leone.  Tony is a American ex-pat living in Cairo who teaches at the American University in Cairo.  On Monday, Tony showed us some important sites.  We saw the Hanging Church, Coptic Museum, Ben Erza Synagogue, Sultan Hussan & Rifaii Mosque, and Khan el-Khalili (Cairo‘s giant souk).  Independently, Natalie and I saw the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egyptian Museum, and Cairo tower.  We also went for a felucca ride on the Nile River and visited a lot of stores…

Most of my expectations were exceeded in Cairo, but I was a little disappointed with the Great Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum.  When we visited the Great Pyramids, we spent a lot of time getting hassled.  It started with the taxi and continued with are walk up to pyramid.  Note that pyramids sit right on the edge of town (300m from KFC).  When we finally arrived it was hard for us to enjoy the scenery.  The magic just wasn’t there.  If we had more energy, we would of took Tony’s advice and walked behind the pyramids deep into the desert away from all the distractions.  The Egyptian Museum has a wealth of artifacts, tombs, and sculptures.  Shockingly, none of these precious pieces are being taken care of.  You can touch almost anything and nothing is incased.  Again, I imagined a well put together museum, but it looked more like a unorganized garage.  More than half of the pieces didn’t even have descriptions.

On Wednesday, Natalie and I flew to Sharm El Sheikh.  Sharm El Sheikh sits on the tip of the Sinai peninsula.  We stayed at the luxurious Grand Hyatt, miles away from my usual twenty dollar hostel, but it was nice to be spoiled for a couple of days.  A major attraction to Sharm is snorkeling and diving.  The red sea has a number of amazing coral reefs.  Our hotel sat right above one of these.  For three consecutive days, Natalie and I went snorkeling and saw an array of beautiful fish.  Besides snorkeling, we went down a waterslide, laid out, and ate well.  It was quite a relaxing three days.

We returned to Cairo and were lucky enough to stay at Tony’s house for two nights.  He lived in section of Cairo called Zamalek.  It’s a island surround by the Nile River.  These last two days we explored his neighborhood and took the elevator to the top of the Cairo Tower.  From this vantage point, we could just make out the Great Pyramids, which was stunning from a distance.

Reporting from Jordan.

Chris

Relative Point of View

After my trip to Morocco I have gained a new appreciation for America’s opportunities.  Moroccans fight to survive, working very hard for little money.  They don’t have the same access to jobs and education as we do in the United States.  The average Moroccan income per capita is $1,310.  Now, that I look back, I feel kind of foolish complaining about my circumstances at home.

When I am home I am stagnant.  I live in one town and see the same people everyday. Things become ‘normal’.  What is ‘normal’ though?  ‘Normal’ is not living in the bay area.  The bay area is one of the most affluent areas in the world per capita.  We worry about our pets and how shiny our rims are.  To a Moroccan, the bay area is not normal.  When things become ‘normal’ things become blurred.  We start to live in relative point of view.  We compare ourselves to others.  “Why does Gary have two cars? And a vacation house?  Why don’t I have that.”  This kind of thinking causes heartache and disappoint.  It beats up our self-esteem and makes us constantly want more.  Because with a larger paycheck and more toys we can rise in stature and status.  But does the race ever end?  Does it ever bring true fulfillment?

For this reason, I will not let myself slip into what is ‘normal’.  These travel experiences have energized me to make the most out of every opportunity.  Whether my next job is ideal, I have to be grateful for the work.  I have to be grateful for what I have.  Remembering the people of Morocco will keep me from slipping into a blurred reality.

Chris

Morocco: A descent into the past

Right now I am sitting at the Madrid Airport waiting for my connecting flight to Cairo.  Today, I said goodbye to Valencia and Europe.  Egypt, Jordan, and South Africa are the next on the map.  Although much excitement is to come, this post focuses on my short stint in Marrakesh, Morocco.

On Sunday I flew to Marrakesh, Morocco.   I was sleepy but I awoke to the famous Dejemma El Fna square.  This square was filled with orange juice stands, snake charmers, and traditional dancers.  The first thing I learned is to never accept help from ‘guides’.  You quickly learn that this help that appears pure and innocent comes with a large bill.  During my short stay, I had two long winded arguments with my ‘help’.  I grew resentful of these people because their only goal was to extort tourists and I wasn’t having it.  So the first lesson is to never accept help unless its behind a counter.  There’s no such thing as a free lunch in Morocco.

In Morocco, Islam is the majority religion.  They pray in Mosques, which are strictly for Islamic people only.  The Islamic people pray five times a day,  at 5AM, 10AM, 2PM, 7PM, and 10PM.  During these times you can hear a calling in Arabic on loudspeakers throughout the city for several minutes.  This calling signals its time for prayer.

During the first two days in Marrakesh, I explored the city and tried not to get lost.  Everything was in Arabic, which makes using a map almost useless.  On my third day, I went to Ourika Valley (30km outside the city) and hiked up the mountain with a nice American couple.

Overall, the trip was amazing.  Morocco, less developed, transcended me back in time.  Every time I walked through the city, donkeys would pass carrying loads of food and mopeds zoomed through narrow streets.  Light bulbs with no shades hung off the walls in the street and stands were assembled and disassembled within an hour.  When I first entered Marrakesh, I looked out the window of the bus to see two camels and kids playing soccer.  They played on dirt with two rocks as goalposts.  All the taxis were old Mercedes Benz’s from the 70’s.  During the trip to Ourika Valley I looked at my taxi’s odometer and it said 497,838km.  I was shocked.  

Morocco’s mix of beautiful geography, unique culture, and great food make it a must-see.

Chris

Valencia: Settling Down

Hola!

A successful move to my new flat, has allowed me to drift away from my vagabond lifestyle for a short while.  I signed up for two weeks of Spanish lessons at a nearby school that teaches small groups.  I finished my first week and have picked up some new verb tenses and phrases.  Learning Spanish is difficult because you have to learn how to speak, listen, write, and read all at the same time.  In the afternoon, I have been trying to see a number of Valencia’s sites (but sometimes just lay around instead).  On Wednesday, I went to the Oceanographico (Aquarium), which had array of marine wildlife. The ticket I purchased their also allowed me to see a IMAX movie of my choice.  I picked the ‘Egypt: Secret of the Mummies‘ because I will be meeting Natalie there on May 22nd.   The IMAX movie described the mummification process as well as the discovery of Ramses the Great’s tomb (included twelve Kings).  On Friday, I went to the Valencia Museum of Illustration and Modernity, and took a interactive walk through the evolution of thought.  The tour took us through a number of themed rooms from the dark ages to the present.   It was somewhat of a time capsule.  This coming week I plan to spend some more time on the beach as well as see some more sites. 


My three roommates have been very warm.  There is Joan (Jo-han), James, and Pau.  Joan is from Valencia and has a French girlfriend named Clara.  He is a native Valencian, but has studied in France and Montreal.  James is English, but grew up in Switzerland.  He speaks English, Spanish, German, and French fluently.  I don’t see Pau a lot because he works and is transitioning into another flat.  He is Spanish like Joan.  I have spent some time with each of them and they have taken the time to help me out with whatever I needed.  On Monday, I am going to watch Joan and James play in their semi-final futbol club match.  It should be a good time.

Currently, I am on my way to Barcelona to see Ricky and Denise.  It will be nice to see some familiar faces.

Best Scam:  This one is particular to South Africa.  You’re driving and see someone who has just been hit by a car, except he has not been hit.  He’s just pretending to be hurt so you pull over.  Six people jump out of bush come out and take your car and belongings.  Maybe you will get punched in the face just because.

Best Deal:  So far I have scored some good deals, but  my best deal has to be my flight from Madrid to Morocco one-way.  The ticket cost me $18!  Ryanair must lose money on that so I was pretty happy.

Best Hostel:  Red Nest Hostel in Valencia.  This hostel had friendly staff and clean quarters.  It also had a terrace, and common room with couches and TV.  In addition, it had a kitchen with utensils and plenty of refrigerator space.

Best Feeling:  When I booked my Kruger National Park trip.  I will be staying at two camps, where I will be staying in my own hut.  The greatest part is when I booked the ‘Morning Walk’.  The morning walk is where you and a small group walk through the park with the two guides.  It’s just you and the animals, without the safety of a vehicle.

Best English-to-Spanish:  A young man was describing how he met his girlfriend four years ago.  He’s now a pilot and she’s a flight attendant; at the time, he was working in scheduling and saw her come in.  He was attempting to explain how he was taken aback.  “I asked my friends, ‘who is that girl?’  I was flashed”.  My friend Ricky quickly said that you might not want to use the word ‘flashed’ in this case, unless of course that’s what actually happened.  Ricky then motioned to lift his shirt up to explain what he was saying (just a tease, thankfully).

Worst hostel:  Ideal Youth Hostel.  The front entrance feels like you’re boarding the Enterprise.  It doesn’t take long to realize that there’s nothing “Ideal” about this place.  Unless you like paying for internet.  Off to the Hard Rock for dinner!

Adios

Chris

Mallorca Island, Spain: Time for the beach!

I arrived in Spain on March 13th. After staying in Madrid for three nights and I headed straight for Valencia. Before even starting this globetrotting adventure, I wanted to find some temporary housing in Spain. I choose Valencia because of its culture, beauty, and access to the beach. With a little luck, I was able to find housing for three weeks with three other students (one French, one Spanish, one English) for 250 euros. The apartment included a furnished room, with wi-fi, laundry facilities, ping-pong table, and a terrace. After securing the apartment, I had a week and half to burn. Instead of staying in Valencia I decided to hop aboard a ferry to Mallorca Island. This is one of the three Balearic Islands, the other two are Minorca and Ibiza.

I arrived in Palma (largest city in Mallorca) on a overnight ferry at seven in the morning. I had little sleep and only small map I drew for myself. This map contained the basic directions to my hostel. Going with my instincts I began to walk. I soon found a sign that said, ‘Centro’ and headed in that direction. With three hours of sleep and a forty pound bag on my back, I soon got weary of walking, but I had to press on. If things really got bad I could always catch a cab, but for now I was too cheap for that. I kept walking and walking until I took a closer look at one of the bus stops. Success! There was a map and I was heading in the right direction. For some reason, I never thought about taking the bus, but later I learned many of the bus lines stopped right in front of my hostel. After a long tiresome journey, I made it to the Hostel Ritzi and took a long nap.

I spent three nights at Hostel Ritzi with a room to myself. They called it a bunk bedroom that could fit three, but for those nights it was all mine. Day one, I visited the Cathedral and explored town. Day two, I took a day trip to the town of Soller. It lies in a valley northeast of Palma surround by huge mountain tops. To get there, I took the highly recommended hundred year old wood train, which took me through the mountains and traveled no faster than twenty miles per hour. Once I arrived in Soller, I stumbled around for a while, until I realized I needed a map. After I found the information center, I took a forty-five minute stroll to Soller Port. In search of food, I found this nice little Chinese restaurant, which was quite tasty. Soller’s scenery was quite a contrast from Palma beach atmosphere.

The last three nights I stayed at Hostal Tierramar in s’Arenal. It’s a twenty-five minute bus ride south of Palma and laid 30 meters from the beach. The area reminded me of a bad part of Miami beach without the humidity. A little run down, but the place was a great location for bars, food, and enjoying the sun. The last couple of days I have gotten into a routine of hitting the beach, eating, and watching a movie. I have been reading a lot as well.

Tomorrow, I head back to Valencia to stay in the Red Nest hostel for a few more nights then head to my new apartment on Friday. Two things to know about Mallorca is that it has a huge yachting culture and great fresh squeezed orange juice.

Adios

Chris

Traveling So Far

This is my third solo backpacking trip. When I was eighteen (eight years ago), I traveled through western Europe with just a book. I would land in a city and go from hostel to hostel till I found some availability. My Lonely Planet ‘Go Europe’ book was my holy grail. After graduating from UCSB, I went on another solo trip through eastern Europe with a stop in Ireland. This trip I still had a book, but I relied heavily on the internet cafes for information. I would book hostels online at the internet cafes to secure my housing before I arrived in the next city . This has been the evolution of traveling. The internet, like with everything else, has changed the way we travel.

So what about this trip? Today, more than 2/3 of people have netbooks and rely heavily on wi-fi connections provided from the hostel. It's now standard for hostels to have wi-fi, at least in Europe.  This has allowed everyone to be more connected than ever before while traveling. I can go on facebook, use Skype as my personal cell phone (2 cents per minute to call US), chat on gmail, and watch the latest TV episode. I try to watch ‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains’ every week after it come out. When I watch, it gives me a warm feeling inside. For those forty minutes, I feel at home. Other travelers succumb to their loneliness by purchasing food from McDonalds. It sounds pretty bad, but people love those golden arches. For me, I like  a good wi-fi connection and Starbucks mocha frap.

Travel Tips: Over the course of my travels I accumulated some basic travel tips that might help to serve you in your next backpacking adventure.

1. Ask questions: People are a critical source of information. In the hostel, force yourself to be outgoing and talk to fellow travelers. Ask them the must-sees of each city Where have you been? Where should I go? For example, I met a Swede in Valencia who said he traveled through Egypt. After a number of questions, I was able to acquire a wealth of information for my stop in Cairo.

2. You’re a stupid tourist, get over it: It’s okay to stand out. In the beginning, I found myself trying fit in. I didn’t want to pull out my map or ask for help. Being vulnerable was not an option. So I played it cool, but you can’t play it cool. It’s like your first day at high school, as smooth as you are, your still a freshman. Everyone can see it. So far, I dropped coins in the ‘machine’ to pay for my bus ride, which was actually not for coins, but for cigarette butts. The bus driver just laughed. I have had problems opening doors and have gotten lost multiple times because I think I don’t need a map, I go by feel. I try to speak Spanish and they just get confused, but its all part of the adventure. Once your realize your vulnerable (stupid tourist) and need others to get you through this trip, the trip will become a lot easier.

3. Patience and low expectations: Things work differently in each country. Transportation is slow and expect problems on your trip. So far I really haven’t had too many problems, but I did lose my camera and phone charger. I almost didn’t make it to Iceland, but that’s another story. Everything is replaceable and things never go as planned. For example, half the people in my hostel cannot return home because of the volcanic ash. They are missing school and work and have bills to pay. How will you respond to these bumps in the road? Remember, 100 hundred years ago we were traveling by horse and carriage.

4. Do more travel less: After traveling for a while, I believe, and I think others would agree, that staying in each place longer allows you to better understand the city. You cannot make a fair assessment of a place in 1 or 2 days. In that time frame you would cover only a fraction of what the city has to offer. So I suggest focusing your time on a few places rather than hitting every major city in Europe for 1-2 days. If you focus on a few places you will spend less money, spend less time on the train, and truly understand the culture. In simple terms, quality over quantity.

Ciao

Chris

Spanish Arrival

I arrived in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday night after a 3 hour flight from Copenhagen. The hostel I reserved for two nights, called Equity Metropol, sat next to a metro stop and was within walking distance of any important landmark. It was also very clean.

On Wednesday night I met a young man from the states named Jeremy. Jeremy was a couple of years older than me and had recently been laid off. He was using his severance to travel and was planning to eventually return to Denver, Colorado. For the last month, he had been hiking on a trail that took him from southern coast of France to Madrid. After some quick introductions, Jeremy, two others and I went out for dinner and then watched the Barcelona vs. Deportivo match (club soccer). For dinner we spilt a jug of sangria, then tried calimucho, which was 50% red wine and 50% coke. I don’t recommend it. Around twelve we came back to the hostel and met seven Australians. They quickly asked us to join their card game and said, 'We love Yankees'. This group was playing King’s cup and drinking to get wasted. We drank two pints and quickly exited the game and headed to bed. Australians are notorious for binge drinking, I wasn’t surprised at all.

The next day I went to hostel receptionist and asked to extend my stay for two nights. Because they were booked both Friday and Saturday night, I was only able to extend my stay for Thursday. Instead of looking for another hostel I decided to take off Friday morning to Valencia. I choose the regional train, which takes twice as long, but was half the cost. It’s not like I am in any rush or anything.

As I write this I am on train my train to Valencia. I should arrive at six o’clock and then I am off to find the Red Nest Hostel. 

Chao

Chris

Lund, Sweden and some old friends

Why visit Lund, Sweden of all places?

The main reason I stopped in Lund was to visit three close friends. Each of them (Brett, Michael, Stefan) are completing a one-year masters program at Lund University, tuition free I might add. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to meet new people and understand the Swedish culture better.

I arrived in Lund on March 26th and spent the first night enjoying the company of good friends. The next day eight of us departed to Stockholm for a cruise to Helsinki and back. The room only cost fourteen dollars per person for two nights. This incredibly cheap deal forced us to be smart about packing food & alcohol ahead of time. Otherwise, most of our funds would be going to the cruise line’s inflated food and drink prices. The cruise allowed me to meet some new friends and have a day to walk around Helsinki. It also gave us some good stories.

The next two weeks I spent rotating from different friend’s houses. Brett & Stefan both live in the dorms and Michael lives in town called Haljarp, about a twenty minute train ride north of Lund. With Brett and Stefan, I spent a lot of time going to the nations. A nation is a unique school organization. The nations are run completely by students and provide meals and nightlife. Any Lund student is welcome to the nations and non-Lund students can receive a one week guest pass. Other than nations, I played pickup basketball, improved my cooking skills, and started watching the ‘The Pacific’ and ‘Flash Forward‘ TV series. With Michael, I took a train ride to spend two days at his farmhouse. Michael and his girlfriend Kathryn live with six other artists & musicians in Haljarp. The large house is surrounded by nature. To the left of the house is small pond, in the back lives a family of deer hidden between the chestnut and apple trees, to the right is an old barn that has been untouched for years. The owners estimate the house was built in the early nineteenth century. About a mile from the house is the ocean where on a clear day you can see Copenhagen. The first day Mike, his housemate Ben, and I took a stroll to the water to work on our golf. Take a look at the pictures to see our adventure. Overall, my friends were great hosts as they collectively housed me for two and half weeks.

After my stay I learned a lot about Sweden and their people. In general, Swedes are more reserved, patient, and relaxed then Americans. They don’t possess the workaholic drive that Americans do because there is less incentive. The government heavily taxes everything, which makes the country’s products and services expensive. The heavy taxes, especially on business owners, has created a larger middle class and less disparity between the rich and poor. Although Sweden is much more expensive than the United States, the additional tax revenue does provide Swedes with free healthcare and education, along with a number of other benefits. Physically, Swedes have typical Scandinavians characteristics. This includes light hair, blue eyes, tall, and fit.

Right now I am on my way to Madrid, Spain.

Chris

Iceland: Welcome to the cold!

Travels and Accommodation

I left New York last Monday and headed to Reykjavik, Iceland. I landed their in the morning and after paying a nominal fee I was dropped off in front of the Reykjavik Backpacker Hostel. I then paid $24 dollars for my first night’s stay and laid down for a nap. The rest of the day I explored the city and asked other travelers about the must-see’s in Iceland.

What did I learn about Iceland?

Iceland is cold. Greenland is even colder. The early Viking explorers wanted to trick settlers by calling the less desirable land Greenland, despite its frigidly colder weather. Another interesting fact is that Iceland has virtually zero energy costs. They power all their electricity through the active geo-thermal activity under the ground.

Note: You might have read in the newspapers that on March 21 (1 day before I arrived) a volcano erupted in Iceland. The eruption was far from the capital, but it required the evacuation of five hundred people.

The people of Iceland are very friendly and warm. They almost seem to enjoy being good hosts. For example, when my plane landed in Reykjavik there were a number of travelers with connecting flights. When I began to exit the aircraft, I noticed half the passengers were still sitting in their seats allowing others to pass. For all the times I have flown, I have never seen this kind of patience before. Being isolated on essentially an island the size of Kentucky has affected their pace of life and view on time.

What did I do?

1.) I went in the Blue Lagoon, which is basically a geo-thermal spa you can relax in. The temperature has hotter and colder pockets, but averages around 100 degrees.
2.) I explored the town of Reykjavik, walking until my legs gave out.
3.) Took a day to see the Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir area.
4.) Went horseback riding for 2 hours.

I missed seeing the Northern Lights, which in astronomy they call the polar auroras. The northern lights are natural light displays in the sky caused by emissions of photons in the Earth's upper atmosphere. In other words it makes the sky look cool. You can only see it in the northern or southern latitudes on clear night.

Funny things

When I went horseback riding it was great until we had to trot. I don’t know if the saddle wasn’t on right or what, but I couldn’t handle the bouncing. I was literally bouncing six inches in the air and coming down hard on my butt. I resorted to standing every time we had to trot being too embarrassed to complain. Curious what galloping felt like I slowed my horse down until there was enough room and gave him two kicks until we began galloping. The gallop has a distinct sound so everyone turned around. Success! The next day I was sore, but enjoyed the horse and scenery.

When I arrived in Iceland I thought I was the next great American explorer. I walked in the hostel and talked to the first guy and asked him where he was from, he said, “Seattle”. Then a girl, “New York”. Then I heard, “Seattle” about 7 more times. Why the hell are all these people from Seattle? I guess Icelandair was offering a special from Seattle to Reykjavik roundtrip for $750. The deal was people couldn't resist.  Even more interesting the flight is only 7 hours and direct. I guess it goes over Canada so the distance isn’t as bad as you think.

Overall, Iceland is coldest place I ever been to, but makes it up with good people, beautiful scenery, and plenty of attractions. I am glad I made the stop.

Chris

East Coast: New York & Philadelphia

I spent my first week in New York and Philadelphia wondering what the hell I got myself into. I was somewhat lost in my new life. I was now living as a vagabond, but my close friend and cousin helped make the adjustment as easy as possible.

New York: I arrived to Charles' apartment on Monday night and found myself on his girlfriend's couch. Brittany (Charles' girlfriend) lives on the corner of 12th and 3rd in Manhattan. It borders between Union Square and East Village, which was a perfect launching point for our adventure. Let me note that since I am on tight budget, Paris Hilton clubs and fine dining were not on the agenda. What we did accomplish was walking through Central Park,visiting the Metropolitan, watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade, strolling through South Seaport, and touching the bull of Wall Street (this poor bull gets molested everyday). I met a lot of Charles' and Brittany's friends and even had time to check out the new movie "The Crazies". I give it a alright, rotten tomatoes gives it a 72%. Overall, New York was a great time where I learned more about the city. In regards to Manhattan, I learned it's a fast-paced city where you work hard and play hard. Charles and I just played hard.

Philadelphia: I arrived in Philadelphia during the middle of the week to
visit my cousin and cousin-in law. They lived in Philly the past few years and have gotten to know the city pretty well. Meghan (my cousin) works for the city and Judd (cousin in law) works for a non-profit.
While in Philadelphia, I had two firsts. One, I tried Ethiopian food for my first time. It was quite tasty, but it took a second to get used to eating without utensils. Second, I went to my first drag show. The drag show starred Martha Graham Cracker, who is a 31 year old, 6"3 hairy male. Martha would not be considered an illusionist because of her mere size and hairy body. With all distractions put aside, Martha has a great voice, which made the performance enjoyable and fun. Aside from my firsts, the city of Philadelphia has a lot of US history (Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin, Independence Hall) and character, but the city has been on the decline. People started leaving Philadelphi in 1950 when factories began shutting down and there were no jobs. This has caused many pockets of Philadelphia to become desolated. Much of this land has no real value now so the city started take over many of these pockets. Overall, Philadelphia is a city with character and history, but struggling to find its former self.

Overall, the past week has been great. Everyday I am getting more comfortable with my new way of life. I want thank again Megan, Judd, Charles, and Brittany for your great hospitality. Check out the pics I have uploaded (link is on right hand side).

Currently in Iceland! Freezing, but loving it!

Chris

San Jose del Cabo: Pina Colada

For the past week I have been vacationing with my Mom and her husband in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico. Their second-home is in a condominium complex, Casa Del Mar Phase II, which is about 9 miles north of the more well-known Cabo San Lucas on the Baja Peninsula. To give you a little background: my mom, Cathy, and her husband, Jim, are both retired teachers and live here from November to April and spend the rest of the year in their home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not bad living!

The complex community is made up mostly of retired folks who prefer to spend the winter months basking poolside in the Mexico sun. My sister and I, both in our mid-twenties, were definitely the sole representation of our age group. This didn't bother me though because I was here to clear my head rather than stay up late and have tequila poured down my throat at Squid Row. Instead, most nights I crashed early and chugged chocolate Nesquik.

I do have one definite weakness when I am down here in Cabo: the pina colada. A girly drink, yes, but irresistable nonetheless. Full of sugar and cream, it's more like a dessert than a cocktail. My mom has been keeping track and I managed to suck down five within the eight days of my stay. Take at look at my face.

With most new experiences, new ideas or revelations come about. My mom volunteers at an ESL (English as second language) program in San Jose del Cabo called Liga Mac, and I was invited to help teach the high school students she works with. I got to spend two hours helping my mom teach the six teenagers that were in the classroom that day. I liked connecting with the students and helping them progress with their English skills. Learning the language is especially crucial for them because they are living in a tourist city and will probably use it in their future careers. The experience has inspired me to look into finding a short term English teaching position in Europe before I head to the World Cup. We will see.

A yellow fever shot, TB test, my goodbye party and I depart to New York on Monday!!

Adios Mexico!

CW