Run in Europe

Europe on a Whim

2011-12-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

So I came to Barcelona on a whim. I was on the National Mall running when I realized that if I needed to go someplace nice to work during my Christmas break.

I had no reason to go anywhere. On my laptop,
I would need to do it like right now.

So I got on the phone and called Andrews (Air Force Base). A C-9 was leaving that night with a roll call of 2210. I rushed home and started packing.

Normally I need a couple days to pack for these trips. But today, I only had a couple hours.

I made the flight. That was only because a family of four had to rush home to grab something they needed in Germany.

There were no more seats available. But if they didn't come back in time, I would be guaranteed a seat.

I never flew on Christmas Day. And I forgot how cold these planes got. I've never felt colder. My sandwich literally froze.

Spent Christmas Day in Ramstein. The thing about arriving in the winter is that there were actually rooms available.

Sometime around 3:00 AM (when it was still night back home), I found a flight to someplace warmer and exotic for only 150 Euros. What a steal, right.

Catch this: It was an Air France flight from Frankfurt to Paris. I was fortunate to have an overnight, 9-hour layover in Paris -- the only catch -- it was in Orly, an airport an hour and a half from CDG.

What a weird concept -- it was like having an overnight layover in DC but having to transfer from Reagan to Dulles on your own.

Orly was about as dead as Pompeii. The airport was closed but several of us managed to catch some ZZZs away from the cleaners and the security guards.

The next morning, caught a puddle jumper from Paris to Barcelona -- should be excited, except I was dead tired.

Checked into Kabul, smack dab in the middle of Plaza Real in the center of the old city. With a name like that, how could I resist.

Hit the sack -- didn't even care about grabbing a bite.

Bright eyed and busy tailed by 6 pm. Got showered and checked my email. Mosied down the steps to see what was cooking out in bustling La Ramblas.

On the way down I met some nice vacationers: Brazilians, Canadian and two American sisters.

"Where're you going?"

"Marsella, the oldest bar in Barcelona."

It took us a while to get there. It was located in a far-away corner where working girls roamed the streets on a mission.

"Hemingway went there. So did Picasso."

We walked in, and the walls were stained chocolate brown from years and years of cigarette smoke. The whiskey bottles that lined the walls must have been a century old. Thick clumps of cobwebs lined the ceilings and chandelier, creating an ambience of character and age.

And what was the treat? Absinthe -- an acrid tasting glass of alcohol that burns if you swallow too fast.

You place a small fork over the glass, place a cube of sugar and pour water on it, until it dissolves.

That was the trick and it made the entire drink quite pleasing, albeit still strong.

Family Reunion of a First Kind

2010-08-09T06:23:00.001-07:00

"Sometimes life brings you pleasant surprises -- it's not scripted or orchestrated, but just right. Life can be charming, like that, if you let it."

It was a family reunion -- one that has never happened at this scale before.

True, I spent nearly 10 days with Rio at the Chiswick flat. During this time, I was also able to spend some quality time with Luke and meet his father, Derek who inspired me with his abstract paintings.

I was also able to go running with Luke a couple of times (take great satisfaction in his tremendous progress) as well as Chris (we ran down to Richmond together). In fact London has been a great running city and what I personally dub "the fittest city in Europe".

It was ideal that Luke worked at Apple, since he was able to hook me up with an appointment at the Genius Bar in Westfield Shopping Center. I had an issue with iMovie, and Apple gave me a free upgrade. (Note: It's amazing that Kim, Kae, Rio, Luke and Chris all use Macs -- I've never seen so many exclusive Mac lovers in my life)

BTW, Westfield, the largest urban shopping center in Europe, is simply amazing. It's like going to a theme park -- there is definitely something for everyone with mega stores and a large 14 screen state-of-the-art theater. You will love it, even if shopping may not be your thing.

Since Kae was in Tuscany for drama training camp, I was able to stay in her room. It was the longest I've ever spent at any place away from home in quite a while (not counting the Navy).

The Apple store where Luke works at is really nice. But I heard that the largest Apple store in the world is opening up in Covent Garden. The store has a central courtyard which will host free workshops everyday -- can't wait to see it.

My trip was day-by-day. And I extended my stay, particularly, because I found out that Kim and Kae were coming back at the end of the month. That was why, going to Northern Ireland to see friends was a great option until my sister and niece returned home.

I got more than I bargained for during that trip -- besides seeing Mark and Lee -- friends who I met in DC three years ago, I got to do a lot of quality sightseeing, got to visit Dublin and made new friends who taught me a lot about the precious value of life and understanding.

Mark and Lee took the entire day off from work to give me a grand tour of the Antrim Coast showcasing the scenic, untouched Northern Ireland coastline -- one that is one of the most beautiful in the world -- even more spectacular than Hawaii.

Arthur Magee taught me a lot about sectarian conflict and how it is important to learn and understand each other.

This whole trip was more eye-opening than going to school, and definitely a lot more fun. No encyclopedia, no ebook reader, no youtube video could teach me life's social skills better than what I learned in London, Belfast, Dublin and even Paris and Normandy.

In Paris, I fell in love with the Eifel, the Louvre, Notre Dame. In Normandy, I reflected on the greatest of sacrifices from the Greatest Generation.

I also got to make new friends: Niki Larsen from Canada and Siven Lu Ye from Australia.

We made videos together, and although the videos were mostly fun, I learned a great deal about life making them.

Even got to meet up with CAPT Phil Perdue in the most amazing coincidence ever.

Since I only had one final day in London when I returned from Belfast, our reunion was delayed for a bit as I was in Chiswick purchasing a Dahon foldable bike. But things really worked out. Thankfully, Kae, Rio and Luke saw me when they were riding by in a bus and got off to see me at the bike store. Minutes later, Lai drove by and was a life saver. Instead of having to carry the bike all the way back to my hostel in Westfield, we simply put the bike in Lai's car. Now we were ready and yearning for dinner.

In life, nothing rarely happens the way you intended it to. It's important to be flexible, fluid and understanding. Sometimes life brings you pleasant surprises -- it's not scripted or orchestrated, but just right.. Life can be charming, like that, if you let it.

In the long run, we will appreciate the fact that we were flexible and cherish the tender times that we were able to spend together.

The dinner was delicious and wholesome. I did not know it was even possible to make spaghetti so delicious. The meal, in fact, was just as good as Rio's Japanese Curry she cooked for us the night I left for Northern Ireland. This is also the very first time I've spent time with Kim, Kae, Rio and Rintaro all at the same time, under one roof. So it's a very special moment to be thankful and remember -- one that just happened when we let life's circumstances take the lead.

I had not seen Kim and Rintaro since 2008 in Paris and Kae 2008 also in London. Rio was last summer in London. Though collectively, it seemed like a lot. It had never happened with everyone together.

We had a wonderful time, talking, laughing, just enjoying a simple and pleasant meal with friends and loved ones. Nothing special, though it meant the entire world to me.

After dinner, we all went to Notting Hill to visit Rio as she was painting her clothing store. Notting Hill is a fabulous, affluent, fashionable community with beautiful Victorian homes and attractive storefronts. It is a very artsy place, which I love.

This has been an amazing year for Kim since this is the first time that she has seen Mom, Pearl and me all within the same calendar year, since she was a child. (Mom in Japan, Pearl in Hong Kong and me in London) This is no coincidence, this is meant to be, and it was a wonderful gift.

2010 is also the year, that I lost my dear Grandma in Japan. She lived a long and productive life and is greatly missed.

Again, it's amazing how life works out. The whole trip to UK was not planned. I caught a Medevac flight from Andrews at the very last minute. And during the trip, everything was almost day-by-day: where I was going next, even where I would be sleeping.

So this whole trip was no coincidence and it ended in the very best of ways.

When you leave things to the Lord, there is time for tragedy, but there is also a time to rejoice.

A Bike in a Bag

2010-08-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

When I arrived in London and boarded its renowned Tube train, I noticed something different right away. No it wasn't the faces or the accents -- I already was expecting that.

The Difference

There were no bikes. No regular bikes at least, just foldable ones. The ones that could almost fit in a gym bag and slide underneath your seat. Come to find out only foldable bikes were allowed in the Tube, rush hour or not. I could see why the trains were compact and very crowded, even before rush hour. I finally understood the meaning of a poor, helpless sardine packed in a crushed tin box.

Interesting Features

The bike was interesting. Not only were they compact, providing for flexibility in transportation, but they were virtually thief proof. It seemed too good to be true. How come I hadn't really seen them in DC. Oh yeah, we are the land of the Big and Bountiful while London was tight and tiny. Still, I had to check one out for myself. Yeah, it folds, but how does it ride and most importantly of all, how silly do I look on it?

Dahon or Brompton

In UK, Bromptons are King. They are ubiquitous. There is even a Brompton Bike Race. They are compact and they are expensive. The Dahon, a company from Taiwan, is gaining ground in UK and market share worldwide. They are strong, light, fast and yes, more economically-conscious, if there is such a word. Also I heard that the Dahon is more reliable for longer commutes, which I was interested in. Heck, I wanted to take one on a bike ride from DC to Baltimore without acquiring any wicked bad knee or bad back pain.

Dahon, the Honda of Foldables

So I decided to take the Dahon MU P-8 out for a spin. It was lightweight, sleek, slick and looked somewhat sporty despite its clunky wheels. I was completely enamored. In fact, I was completely sold. So sold, I bought one. On the very last day I was in London.

The Bulky Transport

Carrying the bike back to DC was not an easy task. The bike (aluminum frame) weighs about 25 pounds, and the bike bag was bulky, and navigating through London's metro system and all those stairs was not easy. I quite desperate, but very lucky to find a convenience store that was willing to give me the plastic baggies that are used to wrap juice bottles. They served as great packing material.

The Fleecing Fliers

At any rate, I got it back safe and sound (despite grief from Iberia Airlines). Make sure you check the extra bag online -- that saves you a bundle. I was fortunate to register the bike as an extra bag, not as sports equipment, which would have been 75 Euros. All in all, Iberia was very nice (unlike my experience with EasyJet earlier in the week)

The Big Surprise

As soon as I opened the bag, I was happy to see my bike had made the cross-Atlantic trip. But upon assembling the bike, my glee changed to a sullen frown as I noticed that the crankset gear was bent. I tried to fix it but the chain would continuously slip off. The chain was definitely crooked when I turned the bike upside down and back pedaled. Oh no, I exclaimed. I wasn't going to let this get me down. I didn't bring this bike all the way across the ocean to spend massive amounts of money to order a new crankset.

The Best Bike Mechanic in the World

The next day, I went to see Rob and Seth at Capitol Hill Bikes who fixed it in a jiffy with a vice grip and a mallet. As always, Rob was very reliable and I was fortunate that Seth happened to be in the shop. (Seth had sold me my very first bike 2 years ago and 4 bikes ago). He also assembled my Specialized Transition for my first Half Ironman in Cancun last September.

My Anxious Bike Legs

Then I couldn't wait any longer. My legs were dying to take it out for a spin all over the town. Didn't care what people think or whether I would get stares.

And yes indeed, I rode my Dahon 10-speeder UP and DOWN all around town, from the Mall to Chinatown, to Dupont Circle to U Street to Foggy Bottom. Even Up and down hills with the greatest of ease. The shifting was smooth and I was able to cruise up hills in tandem with other bikers with a lot bigger wheels.

In fact, I had plenty of gears, all eight of them, and the derailer shifted wonderfully and quick. After all, there really is no need to have 20-something gears (unless you're racing). All you need, IMHO, is fast, slow, one that gets you up a steep hill and a few in between.

The 20 inch Schwalbe Marathon tires provided good comfort and I heard is virtually impenetrable to thorns and hopefully glass and screws (since I get a lot of that commuting home along Suitland Parkway). I was even able to ride through a few potholes and jumped a few curbs.

So the verdict? Looks like my sleekly, sexy Specialized Transition Triathlon bike may sit in the closet for a lot longer, while I take my clunky, unattractive and a lot slower Dahon to school, to meetings, to dates and everything in between. (BTW, more ugly means less attractive to thieves)

Giants Causeway Limerick

2010-08-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Giants Causeway Limerick

Here we are in Giant's Causeway
Where 40,000 columns of basalt rock stand today
The volcano erupted
The larva cooled
But before there was science
There was the Legend of Finn McCool

It is called the Giant's Causeway

It was made by Finn McCool
It's really just the start of a stepping stone tool

To get across to Scotland
To fight with Bennadonner

Through many disagreeements
They pulled each other asunder

He took the cloth much
And try and try as he may
He never his his target
But he made us our Loch Neagh
The mud landed in the water

And with all the might he can
He only then succeeded
In making the Isle of Man

So he took to playing the organ
And over here are his piples
He played the Sash, Derry's Walls and Billyboys
And started loads of fights

Cause the Scottish giant thought that this were his tunes

Little did he know that the music for Ireland bagpipes
Come from across there Near Dunloe

The Imperial War Museum, London

2010-08-06T10:36:00.001-07:00

"Cat Man Joe" in Dublin, Ireland

2010-08-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

"What's Going On", The Celt in Dublin

2010-08-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

A Tour of the Antrim Causeway

2010-07-31T23:58:00.001-07:00

Belfast -- an Old City of Conflict is now a New City of Cool

2010-07-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

"People are building bridges. The most important bridge been built is in each and every person...It's important to being part of the solution, not part of the problem."

As a teenager growing up in Georgia, I heard a lot of news of the centuries-old conflict in Northern Ireland. The problem is, I really didn't understand it. To me, this conflict was similar to the enduring Israel-Palestine conflict with no end in sight. Sadly, the news seemed so remote, with no direct, personal impact, and I felt so detached. I never expected to visit this country with my own eyes -- it was never on my radar scope, up until now.

So when I found out I would be visiting Mark and Lee (friends who I met at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in DC three years ago), I realized there was a lot to learn.

Belfast is known for its troubles and religious conflict. For over 25 years, the IRA was very busy here. On Bloody Friday 1972, the IRA set off 22 bombs killing 9 people and injuring about 120. The city had not experienced such a day of death and bloodshed since the German blitz of Easter Tuesday 1941. Nearly 1,000 lives were lost and 100,000 people became homeless. One main fault was that when the bombs dropped, people did not know what to do. There were no bomb shelters. They did not know whether to run, hide or stay in their beds. The IRA hoped they would be just as successful in catching the government and the people unprepared in hopes of getting Northern Ireland out of the UK.

Truly, there was only one main pursuit: The Irish Republicans wanted a united Ireland. However, there never such a state as a united Ireland. After all as a detached foreigner, I didn't truly understand what the big deal was, other than the name and the unity. Truly, Northern Ireland and Ireland enjoyed an open border where citizens could cross either side freely without having to produce a passport. So what's in a name?

Background

The conflict between the Catholics and the Protestant isn't really about religion. It stemmed from differences in social classes. The majority of the population in Ireland was Catholic. They never underwent the church reform that England did in the 1500s.

Hostility arose between Catholics and Protestant when England began to establish plantations in Ireland and act as a colonial power.

When British troops were first sent to Northern Ireland in 1969, they made the mistake by targeting the Catholics. At first, the Catholics welcomed the troops, but when the forces were unilaterally against them, the Provisional IRA emerged as the key insurgent force opposing Protestant political domination.

Meanwhile, the battle became quite international. Irish Americans supported the IRA with money and weapons.

So what transpired? Warfare and bloodshed can only do so much to effect change. Eventually the common people, even those who are avidly supportive of the cause, got literally exhausted with all this nonsense. So the IRA suffered a major public relations debacle. Public support for the cause had dwindled while Britain continued to refuse to withdraw.

In the 1970's, Peace Walls ranging in length from a few hundred yards to three miles, were built in Western Belfast to separate Catholic and Protestant communities. Today, many of these walls still exist, an interest to tourists and serve as a reminder of what was once sectarian violence.

As public support for the IRA dwindled, the leaders of the IRA decided to shift from armed conflict to political engagement.

The talks eventually led to a Northern Ireland cease fire in 1994 which paved the way for the Belfast agreement. This cessation of military operations ended over 30 years of guerrilla warfare in an attempt to achieve a united Ireland through constitutional means.

Good Friday

In 1998, the Belfast Agreement was signed becoming a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process. It committed all participants to democratic and peaceful means of resolving differences. The agreement also allowed people born in Northern Ireland to choose between British or Irish citizenship or both.

In the past, in order to travel almost anywhere in Northern Ireland, you would have to get checked and searched. Throughout Belfast, there would be traces of bombing. The Europa Hotel was damaged by the IRA, a record 33 times.

The New Belfast

But today, the Belfast you see is nothing like what it once was. Belfast is teeming with walkable sidewalks and courtyards. There are plenty of cyclists and open spaces in the city core, near Victoria Park and near the waterfront.

Victoria Square is a modern, state-of-the-art shopping complex. The Belfast you see now is open, trendy, and fashionable.

Our tour guide, Arthur Magee captured it best:

"People are building bridges. The most important bridge been built is in each and every person.

It's important to being part of the solution, not part of the problem."

The First Protestant church in Belfast on Rosemary Street, managed by Raymond O'Regan is opened to everyone. It's amazing to hear that the Protestant Church contributed large sums of money for the Catholic population.

This church, the oldest surviving church in Belfast, dates back to 1783. The church is beautiful with intricate wood carvings and stained glass windows that commemorate local families and former members of the parish. It is a living, breathing museum:

Dr. William Drennan preached here and is credited with the idea of uniting Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. Dr. Drennan also advocated inoculation against small pox and hand washing to prevent infection. Inside the church is a moving eulogy written in 1776 by his son Dr. William Drennan for his father. Both the words and handwriting are beautiful. Thomas Andrews designer of the Titanic also attended church here.

This church is a wonderful living, breathing museum and brings the beautiful Belfast past to the very present.

Gay Rights

I happened to be in Belfast for the Gay Pride Weekend. I could not help but notice that Belfast prides itself for being tolerant and understanding and wants to send that message loud and clear to the rest of the world.

Despite what your views are on Gay rights, it's important that Belfast is showing a major change from sectarian arguments to social acceptance and promotion of all people, regardless of race, religion or sexual preference.

Applications to Baghdad

So where are we going with this and what applications are there with today's conflicts. Similarly, when American forces came into Baghdad in 2003, they were welcomed as liberators. But the US and allies faced a full-blown and powerful Sunni insurgency who perceived the US as siding with the Shiites.

We know where we have failed. We should have sent more troops to fight the war and control the situation in the earlier stages of the war. The sectarian violence that escalated in 2006 quickly overwhelmed the Iraqi political process.

The abrupt fall of Baghdad was accompanied by widespread civil disorder and looting of public and government buildings. Over 250,000 short tons of ordnance was looted, providing the insurgency with a significant source of ammunition.

By 2004, the insurgency expanded and instead of just targeting coalition forces, started targeting Iraqi Security Forces.

After the US disbanded Iraq's armed forces, the Iraqi resistance in the Al Anbar province was the most strongest resulting in over 1,300 KIA since the invasion, many dying in Fallujah and Ramadi. As a result, the Administration finally resolved to a troop surge in 2007 of over 20,000 troops that was successful in breaking up the cycle of violence that the Iraqi government needed to move forward with political economical progress.

Thankfully the Surge and the Petraeus Doctrine was meeting the military objectives. The Iraqui forces had dealt significant blows to Al-Qaeda and disrupted Shia militias, and tribal rejection of Al-Qaeda had spread from the Anbar Province to other parts of Iraq.

The offensive against Al Qaeda in Iraq has been quite successfully over the last few years. Just like with the IRA, violent and discriminate attacks directed by AQI against civilians had severely damaged their image resulting in a huge loss of public support. In addition, many former Sunni militants began to shift over and start working with the multi-national forces. This is where the troop surge was successful in killing many high-level AQI members, thus seriously weakening the group. Today, AQI has been driven out in places including the Al Anbar province. Just like with the IRA, you cannot win overwhelming public support by inciting mass terrorism and bloodshed. Eventually the people will get tired and start rebelling against them.

As a result, the US is now drawing down and transitioning increased responsibilities to Iraqi forces. From a peak of 170,000 forces in 2007, a transitional force of 50,000 troops will remain to train and advise Iraqi security forces, protect US civilians and conduct counter-terrorism operations.

And today, the security, political and economical situation in Iraq continues to be positive. The deepening peace in Northern Ireland has taken 40 years to craft. It took a lot of strategy, negotiation and most of all patience. The war in Iraq is over seven years old now. Let's hope this long, drawn-out saga will end peacefully in a happy note just like it has for the people of Northern Ireland, and hopefully a lot sooner.

The Legend of the Giant's Causeway

2010-07-30T00:26:00.000-07:00

Derek Stockley: Profile of a Painter

2010-07-28T18:17:00.001-07:00

The Man Who Tried to Blow up Westminster Abbey

2010-07-28T10:18:00.001-07:00

Here we are in front of Westminster
Where in 1605 the lunatic Guy Fawkes planned something sinister
He wanted to blow up every Lord, Common and Minister
But the Kingsmen caught him in the act and punished him with light torture
And today the towers still stand, surrounded by timeless British culture

Trafalgar Square Celebration

2010-07-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

London Wall

2010-07-25T01:31:00.001-07:00

Old London Limericks

2010-07-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

"We are the Champions" at the Eiffel

2010-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

Neil Proposes to Jill at the Eiffel

2010-07-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Normandy: My 20 Years in the Navy was Nothing Compared to this

2010-07-18T13:53:00.003-07:00

"It was a travesty to see how so many young, boundless lives were forever lost on this bloody foreign beach. At the American Cemetery, I could see thousands of white crosses and Stars of David facing patriotically towards their homeland."

My retirement from the Navy wouldn't be complete without paying homage to the D-Day troops in Normandy. Americans, British, Canadians -- it didn't matter which flag they were flying -- they stood up for unity against Nazi aggression and many fell to their gravesites on these beaches.

Over Sixty-five years later, the hilly seaside bears few scars from the dark and gray day of June 6, 1944. But on that longest day, things had turned to hell in a hurry.

I could not imagine these young soldiers jumping out of their LCAs, crossing the slippery beach and climbing the cliff face via ropes and grappling hooks in the face of nasty fire.

It was extremely unnerving. The soldiers could hear the heavy thump of shells bombarding the exterior of the coffin-like LCAs as they were approaching the shore. They knew death was knocking. But they kept approaching. They kept their mind affixed on the Star Spangled Banner and Her Majesty the Queen.

Some shells hit dead on, the LCAs exploding into tiny pieces like a box of eggs dropped from a high-rise tower. Many soldiers perished from gunshot, blast or drowning before even hitting the shore. They would never set foot on the foreign beach they aspired to reach, the sea crimson red, their faces, white with shock and trepidation.

In this picture of the approach, you could easily discern the fear in this young soldier's face.

It was a travesty to see how so many young, boundless lives were forever lost on the blood-soaked beaches. At the American Cemetery, I could see thousands of white crosses and Stars of David facing patriotically towards their homeland, saluting with only a smile. This is the final resting place for 9,400 Americans along with a monument to 1,500 more listed as missing in action. How sad that we never found their bodies -- brave Americans who never got to come home, but just washed away in the sea.

Thankfully the beaches still bear witness to the immense human sacrifice. Many of the German battery sites are maintained in excellent condition (since many of the young Germans had surrendered without putting up a fight). As a result, today we are offered a rare glimpse into a living, life-less museum that clearly depicts the power and plight of the mighty German defensive. Luckily, many of the "slave' troops from Eastern Europe and Asia would surrender at the first opportunity. Many of the troops in Normandy were comprised of an international army made up of troops from throughout the Soviet empire and even Chinese and Koreans. Can you imagine the looks in the eyes of our GIs when they first faced their enemies.

But still many Germans fought viciously and effectively. The Germans had four huge casements with a 205 mm cannon. These guns were effective in dueling with American battleships. For eight days, the German soldiers stayed inside the casements with virtually nothing to eat and drink but stale bread and bad water. They had no place to use the bathroom -- yet they stayed. Many did not surrender until they ran out of ammunition.

Pointe du Hoc

If I could choose only one place to visit, I would decide to come here. Why? Because this particular skirmish was even more incredible than Omaha. Prior to the invasion, the Allied forces were deeply concerned about the five giant 155 MM coastal artillery guns that were stationed here, poised to bear fire at any forces approaching Omaha Beach to the west and Juno Beach to the East. It was one of the most important objectives in the early part of the invasion, and it was also one of the most dangerous.

155 MM gun

But why didn't the Allied Forces send the Navy or Air Force to take out the guns? Because they were believed to be buried in bunkers and out of sight of bombers.

At Pointe du Hoc, the famous site where heroic Rangers led by Colonel Rudder assaulted the German battery site on the precipitous cliff, there are dozens of very deep craters caused by mortar from the Allied bombs and shells that had missed their targets. It was here where a navigation error caused the Rangers to miss their mark (by 40 minutes), losing valuable time and the critical element of surprise.

And the biggest surprise when the Rangers finally arrived and climbed the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc -- there were no big guns in the encasements -- they had all been moved inland for safety.

Because of the navigation error, the Leadership believed that the Ranger mission had failed. Thus no reinforcements were sent for nearly two days. During this time, the Rangers were under counter attack and had no food or water. They dug in and it was not until around noon of June 8 that relief forces arrived and forced the Germans to withdraw.

All these men were heroes and despite the guns been gone, they gave their all for the cause. The 2nd Ranger Battalion suffered 135 losses out of the 225 men that landed (70% casualties)

This tragic feat of heroism proves once again how accurate intelligence, attention to detail and constant communications can save the day. Still, reinforcements took way too long to come which even makes the feat of Colonel Rudder and the Rangers even more incredible. They overcame insurmountable odds to accomplish their mission (even if it was one that was not necessary) and with their backs literally to the cliffs, defeated five bloody German counterattacks.

One cannot be but deeply moved by the sacrifices of thousands of soldiers who gave it all for the liberation of Europe. And it was not just the Americans that risked their lives. It was our beloved Allies.

Juno

Tomorrow, I will pay homage to Juno Beach where the Canadians had made their courageous landing. Juno happened to be the second most heavily defended of the five landing sites chose. The seawall was twice the height of Omaha and the sea was heavily mined. The next night I will make an overnight trip across the British Channel to Portsmouth where many of the soldiers sailed from.

Vanessa, our tour guide giving us an outstanding tour at a German artillery bunker at Longues-sur Mer

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

German surprise was complete and their forces disorganized. First they were sure the Allies would attack further north on the Pas-de-Calais. Thus they had placed the bulk of the panzer forces there. These forces were not available for counter-attack on D-Day.

Counterattack

There was still an opportunity for the Germans to fight back. Rommel had the forces. But his panzer forces were not readily available. Also the Commander-in-Chief West was powerless to commit the strategic reserve with the authority of Hitler himself. And Hitler slept till noon.

My Swim and Final Reflections

As I went for a swim in the bitter cold English Channel, I had to simply ponder whether if I was a young soldier during Normandy, would I risk my life in the same way for my country. I thought long and hard. And the simple answer was yes, but would I be brave enough to carry it out the same way these men did. That is an enduring question that bears no easy answers.

I came ashore, dried off and methodically wiped away my tears. I had visited Haiti in March where I shed tears of compassion. Here in these rugged shores, I shed tears of gratitude.

Tomorrow, I cross the English Channel to Portsmouth. I've played this scene in my head a million times. As much as I love my country, I also love the joy of living. I would have gone to Normandy, without a doubt. But would I have the guts to get off that boat and carry it out?

The Louvre

2010-07-18T13:52:00.001-07:00

Putting on the Ritz

2010-07-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Notre Dame

2010-07-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jardin de Tuileries of Paris

2010-07-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Kindle, Goodbye Borders

2010-07-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

"Books no longer, get lost on the shelf. They can be accessed even in the remote parts of the world, even that clunky textbook. With the Kindle, once you buy a book, it's forever yours."

Reminiscing

I used to love Borders and Barnes and Nobles. I would spend countless hours, flipping away at shelves, relaxing in the comfy chairs, eating away at books and sipping Seattle's Best.

Those were the days. Long, and lazy with nothing in store but a good book and an open mind. Now those long, lazy days are long gone....

Planning for my European Backpacking Trip

When I was planning my trip to Europe, I knew I would spend countless hours waiting for a plane, for a train or riding on one. Since I was backpacking, I had to travel light. I was convinced then that I needed to purchase a Kindle. And since Amazon had just reduced the price on the Kindle 2 by 20%, I was off running to Target to make that storied purchase.

It didn't take me long to get acclimated. Within a couple of days, I had made my obligatory purchase of War and Peace, all 1500 pages of it which was downloaded in less than a minute. Surely, I would not be able to carry a hardcopy book of this novel aboard a plane without been charged for additional luggage. And on a Kindle, I can carry 2500 books, which Amazon hopes you will purchase.

Free Ebooks

Not so fast. Buying a Kindle doesn't necessarily mean charging up your credit card.

The very next thing I did was visit Planet Ebooks to get free version of classic literature. This is easily done using my Amazon email.

English Literature

So the Kindle opens new doors to the world of Classic English literature. Welcome to A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, one of my all time favorite books about the intellectual and religious awakenings of Stephen Dedalus.

And yes, sometimes English literature can be more complex than American. And when I am stumped, I can easily download a Cliff's Notes version without having to rush to the store.

Learn French or Read the Huffington Post.

The third thing I did was sign up for a free 14-day subscription to a number of blogs that I felt would interest me or help me throughout my trip. For example, FrenchPod101.com could come in handy if I decided to visit Paris.

In truth, I did not really know where I would be going. Just happy to catch a Medevac flight to Ramstein and from there, played it all by ear.

When You Need Info in a Jiffy

But when I finally decided in the last minute to catch a train from Frankfurt to Paris, I needed information right away about places to see and hostels in the area, so I downloaded Lonely Planet France via the Whispernet which worked very reliably and quickly.

Some Samples are Nuggets of (Free) Info

What was also great were the many samples that you I ordered for free. Many of the samples (especially tourist guide books) were chock-full of information and came in very handy throughout my travels.

Highlighting without a Marker

Although I didn't highlight much, I particularly liked the new feature that allows me to see where other people have highlighted. I liked this featured (which can be turned off), since it gives me info about what parts other people found interesting. Many times, I would have completely missed it. In a way, reading an ebook is kind of like reading a blog, since we are able to get almost instantaneous input from other readers. It's a way of collaborating -- I'm sure in the future, there will be a way to read other people's notes.

Can it Talk?

Sometimes, I would get tired of reading. Especially on those long train rides (Frankfurt to Paris) or the long ferry rides (Caen to Portsmouth). But my mind was still intellectually primed and I still had time to kill. So I would simply turn on the text to speech function and slide into the lazy mode. The automated reading was not very easy to listen to (Oddly, I prefer the male over the female), but it was definitely better than missing out on the information completely. Actually, I would prefer to listen to my Ipod, but it may not be as mentally stimulating.

Works Well in Europe

I had no problems at all. I downloaded many books and sample while waiting for the train or even riding on a train. With my mind, you never know where it may drift to. If I saw someone reading a good book or overhear someone talking about a particular topic, I immediately wanted to search it. That's the way my mind works, but life is more exciting that way.

Wiki and Google Worked Like a Charm

Absolutely. I made sure to bring it whenever I took a guided tour or when I was just walking or running around. Since I didn't have Iphone connectivity, I relied on my Kindle to give background Wiki information about a particular monument or historical building.

But wait, isn't the Ipad better?

Absolutely if you want to surf the internet, but the Ipad weighs over twice as much and is much more clunky. I wouldn't necessarily carry my Ipad when taking tours. Also the Kindle is more weather resistant for those on again, off again British rains. The battery lasts forever and it is very easy on the eyes. You just got stare at an LCD screen forever without your eyes drying up. Plus the Amazon has virtually every book you can imagine which BTW can be read on your IPad (Amazon has an application that allows you to read your book across various devices), once you purchased it. Books no longer, get lost on the shelf. They can be accessed even in the remote parts of the world, even that clunky textbook. With the Kindle, once you buy a book, it's forever yours. And the best advantage of all, the Kindle is way, way cheaper.

And Now the Best Feature of All..

Ok, so I have gotten there yet. What I found, you may find surprising. Since I am generally a slow reader -- I like to chew on words -- it makes my thinking more rich. And sometimes my mild attention deficit disorder kicks in and I simply have to set my Kindle down on my lap.

When this happens, I love to read a specific book by searching for keywords. By typing in a specific keyword (the more specific the better), I get to browse through the entire book in a jiffy. I can then scroll down and review a particular page that interests me.

I know this sounds obvious, but for some reason, reading by keywords gives me immediate context since it helps me connect the dots. I know it's cheating, but life is about innovation, and if it helps me get through the book faster, there's more time to browse other books.

Take it Aboard Metro

So now that I'm home, what are my plans with the Kindle? Like my Android and Ipod, I promise to keep it close to me at all times. It's light enough to stow away in your backpack and easy on the eyes, even in dim lighting. You never know when you will be waiting for that metro train and want to read something intellectual besides "The Express" or "The Examiner" or on Thursdays, "The City Paper". Besides, if there's standing room only, I end up reading other people's copies of the headlines, anyway.

And for that Borders -- yes I still love them. If I had time, I could stow away in one for days.

But for my Kindle, I simply have a love affair.

Operation Welcome Home

2010-07-15T02:20:00.000-07:00

Relationship

I flew in with approximately 200 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for up to one year.

A flight that I barely made (Space-A), and one that I didn't expect to make turned out to be the highlight of my trip.

Understanding

It was an honor flying with my brothers and sisters back home. And it was a great honor being in the receiving line of the best, most heart-felt welcoming I've ever witnessed in my 20 years of service.

What a wonderful way to come home after the whirlwind tour of Europe and a fantastic way to end my Navy career.

I start school on Sunday and go on terminal leave until the end of October.

Thank you sincerely to everyone especially Operation Welcome Home for giving our Heroes the welcome that they truly deserve.

Bastille Day 2010, Paris

2010-07-15T02:13:00.001-07:00