Runin DC

The Most Amazing Coincidence Ever

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:38:31 PDT

What are the chances. What are the chances, really. It's simply amazing that you could meet old friends and colleagues in a foreign city on a remote tour, when you least expect it.

CAPT Perdue, me, Luke and Lulu

Luke and I, at the last minute, decided to take the London for Free tour. We met at Hadrian's Arch and took at 2 1/2 tour of the city, covering a lot of ground and history: Buckingham Palace, Churchill's War Rooms, etc.

I met Lulu during the tour, a student from Sydney, and we immediately started sharing stories about our European backpacking trips. But throughout the tour, I was enamored by someone who resembled an old shipmate from Bethesda. Nah, couldn't be.

The name, I was drawing a blank, but I never forget a face.

So I told Luke that if he is this guy, this would be the most astonishing and amazing coincidence ever.

Midway during the tour, I simply walked up to him, thinking that he would think I'm crazy.

"Are you from the States?" "Yes."

"Are you in the Navy?" Affirmative.

I knew right there and then, that the person I was staring at was CAPT Phil Perdue, MC from Bethesda and the National Naval Medical Center.

I was floored, but for the rest of the tour we had a good time sharing stories from Navy Medicine and the Navy.

Not to mention that the tour guide was just fantastic: Charismatic and interesting, especially the last story at Westminster Abbey about how Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Westminster in 1605.

What a tour, What a coincidence.

Trafalgar Square Celebration

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:14:07 PDT

We are the Champions

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:54:43 PDT

Neil Proposes to Jill at the Eiffel

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:21:01 PDT

Reflections from Normandy

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:29:20 PDT

On June 6, 2009, I had the golden opportunity to meet many of the Normandy Veterans during the D-Day Ceremony at the World War II Memorial. So it was a great honor and a huge dream come true for me to actually get to finish the Normandy Beaches. I was fortunate to be able to visit all three beaches from the Allied: Omaha, Gold, Juno.

Here is an exerpt from the post

June 6th -- just another ordinary day at the Mall, so I thought as I laced up my running shoes looking forward to the familiar sound of rubber soles sliding gently over loose gravel along the worn, weathered path leading from the Nation's Capitol. Just another day on the Mall, or so I thought.

Actually, yes, the tourists from all across the land were just as plentiful and delightful to see, as you would expect for a slow, breezy June, weekend afternoon, enjoying the transformation of America's front yard to a open-field sports mecca boasting a hodge podge of football, kickball, anything-goes-ball, and then there was me -- running carelessly along, completely absorbed by my surroundings, oblivious to the sun rays breaking through scattered clouds and the great streams of brow sweat trickling slowly down a side or two.

And then I reached welcomed destinations -- World War II -- the pillars, the bronze sculpted rope, the fountains that danced like it was V-J Day all over again -- it was such a sight to admire, desire, behold.

There were a lot of people out today, to honor, to pay tribute, perhaps to pray. There was also a large gathering of veterans -- more so than normal. Then I wondered if I missed a holiday. Did society come and invite the band and not include me? At that moment, it dawned on my, like the coming of spring after a hard winter -- the 65th Anniversary of Normandy!

I would meet a lot of veterans that afternoon, some from the Atlantic theater, others from the Pacific theater -- all real-life Heroes in my book. Here's my story

Visiting France

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:07:41 PDT

I'm currently backpacking in Europe. Please check out my blog:

http://runinfrance.blogspot.com/

The Landing -- Our Greatest Generation

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:56:54 PDT

Today, I paid homage to the D-Day troops in Normandy. Americans, British, Canadians.

Today, 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.

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 fire.

It was sad to see how so many young lives were forever lost on this bloody beach.

At the American Cemetery, I could see thousands of white crosses or Stars of David are facing towards the US. This is the final resting place for 9.400 Americans along with a monument to 1,500 more listed as missing in action.

Thankfully the beaches still bear witness to the immense human sacrifice. Many of the German battery sites are maintained in good condition (since many of the young Germans had surrendered without putting up a fight).

At Pointe du Hoc, the famous site where heroic Rangers 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, losing valuable time and the element of surprise.

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. Tomorrow, I will visit Juno Beach where the Canadians had made their landing. The next night I will make an overnight trip across the British Channel to Portsmouth where many of the soldiers sailed from.

Eiffel Tower Saga

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:39:04 PDT

Capital Crescent Trail Beckons Me

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:46:44 PDT

There are many bike trails in bike-friendly DC. Many of them just go around in circles, never really going any place. The Capital Crescent Trail actually goes from one signature world-class city to another.

The Capital Crescent Trail is scenic, refreshing and popular with cyclists and joggers alike.

It is paved, easy to follow and there are several stretches of serenity that causes the Georgetown and Bethesda urban setting to peacefully evaporate.

And today, the weather cooled down just enough to allow half of DC get out, to enjoy the leafy trees, the leaf-lined trail and the cool mountain breeze from the spectacular Great Falls and Potomac Gorge.

So off we went the three of us, the accidental cyclists, enjoying the view, the company, the work-out, and the occasional laughter.

And when we arrived in Bethesda, we laid back, sampled some gelato, tasted some wine and truly appreciated all that life has to offer.

And where did we go for supper -- where else but the Southwest waterfront, where we dined on delicious King Crab legs, jumbo shrimp, oysters, and an aromatic wine from Chile

Mary Poppins and the Balance in Life

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:07:46 PDT

Reflecting

I remember watching Mary Poppins as a young child in the 70's in Singapore with my sister, Pearl.
The story of a magic nanny coming to work a cold banker's unhappy family resonated in my heart back then. I remember singing "Let's Go Fly a Kite"as I skipped along the Chinatown maze of streets crowded with shops and street vendors with a delicate Asian paper kite in hand.

Understanding

The amazing feature of Mary Poppins was her ability to understand. Not only did she know that the Banks were looking for a new nanny, Mary truly understood the language of the wind, the stars and best of all, what makes children tick.

Negotiating

In the movie, Mary Poppins had to negotiate whether to stay with the unruly and unrespectful Banks children or to fly with the west wind. 30 years later, when I heard that the renowned Broadway musical had come to town, I had to decide whether to enjoy the Independence Day parade or to take my Mom who was visiting to watch Mary Poppins light up the Kennedy Center theater sky.

Innovating

Yes the show was simply spectacular. The music, the dance, the singing in many challenging positions...the ballet, the dancing statues, the amazing magic bag prop.

And the most innovating aspect of Mary Poppins was not that she could fly, that she could sense the shifting of the wind or was able to magically clean up a wrecked kitchen with a spoonful of sugar. Instead the most innovating aspect of Mary was her ability to bring Banks children happily under control and to turn George into a loving husband, caring father and conscientious banker.

Navigating

Both in the movie and the play, Mary Poppins clearly demonstrated to all of us that no job was too hard, too difficult or too unpleasant to complete.

But the underlying message to me was the need to manage and maintain a steady life/work balance that includes family time, recreation, spiritual health, physical health and inner peace and happiness.

Mexico Inside Out

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:13:10 PDT

Beautiful Malaysian Dance at the Folklife

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:15:24 PDT

"Jai Ho" at the Folklife Festival

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:52:45 PDT

Fox-5 Live at the Folklife Festival

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:51:30 PDT

Running on the Mall often brings me access to great opportunities--especially this time of the year where there is a lot going on.

Had the unique pleasure to watch Fox-5 Holly Morris and videographer David Rysak participate in a hand casting demonstration with Smithsonian's Lora Collins.

Flying Dancers from Mexico

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:55:11 PDT

As part of the Opening Ceremonies, the Flying Dancers from the Teenek community from Mexico climbed a 40 foot tree trunk. Then with the rope wrapped around their waist, they lept from the top of the tree trunk and swung around it a dozen times until they reached the ground.

The Teneek people are an indigenous group from Central Mexico. The purpose of this dance is to ask the lord of corn for a season of good crops.

While the fliers swung around, the females waited for their descent. This ritual has roots in the Mayan Culture.

During the ceremony, five men climb a wooden pole (normally at least 50 feet long).

One man remains on top of the pole playing a flute, while the other four jump off and spin around with their feet tied to the pole in a motion that makes them appear to be flying.

Symbolic
The four flyers represent the four winds, the four corners of the Earth and the four seasons.
Also, the rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four flyers, symbolizing the 52 weeks of the year

Also performing was Canadian Rock/Blues superstar, Derek Miller who is an aboriginal Canadian singer-songwriter from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.

Mexico and the Worm

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:11:48 PDT

The Folklife Festival has taken off (both figuratively and literally) and has been quite moving. Well, The Mexico exhibit is so different from previous years. Last year Wales showcased what you typically expect to see when you visit that country (Read my 2009 post on Wales) . Same for Bhutan the year before. And even Northern Ireland (Read my 2007 post on Northern Island) the year before last. Every year, I make life-long friends from the countries that visit and are featured: From the Silk Road to the Mekong Delta.

This year, the exhibit is trying to show how diverse Mexico is and to focus on the arts, culture and trade of the indigenous groups who even have their own dialects. These people are not what most people come to see when they study or visit Mexico -- and their culture is in danger of being lost -- even more reason to showcase their talents and skills in the Nation's Capital.

And there certainly is so much to preserve (many of these languages are in jeopardy of being lost forever -- that is why it's critical for mankind and our society to take note and to appreciate what these cultures have to offer for our generation and for future generations, even if it means looking at the past.

Can't think of a better place than Washington D.C. to showcase the rich, gastronomical fantasy world of Oaxaca.

For those who appreciate the finer things in life, south of the border such as mariachi music and well, tequila, the Folklife was nice enough to import and showcase tequila and mezcal production skills as well.

Joanne Salas showed me how the people from Oaxaca made mezcal from the sweet fruit agave. While Tequila is made from only the blue agave, mezcal is made from a variety of agave. (The people from Oaxaca are one of the most indigent from Mexico). She also told me the story about the cactus worm. Since the mezcal is more pure and potent than tequila, it is important to not use as much sugar.

Sometimes, producers would add sugar and water to cheat customers. When this happened, the worm would not sink all the way to the bottom. Eventually, the consumers loved the taste of the worm -- sweet, aromatic flavor. It almost became something that tourists and locals expected to see and they loved to eat it for fun -- some people even said that it made them hallucinate. Well, in short, it became a triumph in marketing. Recently the government of Mexico has decided to ban the use of the cactus worm in mezcal and tequilla production which has angered distillers.

Since the Mexican government is now regulating the liquor industry, they have also discovered that the little worms when released into mezcal releases fat. So what -- if it worked for the distillers and the consumers, and there is no harmful effect to drink it, the government should not get in the way of sales, which is now moving in a snail's pace.

RUNIN Haiti and Poland in DC

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:33:26 PDT

"Running in DC is always an adventure -- My Coach always said, you never know what you're gonna get"

What connection does Haiti and Poland have with the National Mall. None that I'm aware of, unless, you're happen to go running like, me.

Today, I literally ran into old friends at the National Mall. Yes indeed, a year ago, I met Connie and Natasha (while running) at the annual Polish Dancing and the Laying of the Wreaths Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial. This year, I ran into them again, coincidentally, on the other side of the Mall: US Capitol Reflecting Pool. "Running in DC is always an adventure -- My Coach always said, you never know what you're gonna get."

Here is the post from last year.

So why when I was enjoying my time at the Folklife Fest, all of a sudden I decided to go running.

It was intermission at the Evening Concert at the 44th annual Folklife Festival, and I said "Why not?"

I was enjoying the Boukman Eksperyans perform a special concert for Haiti. Boukman is a Grammys-nominated group who performed an interesting mix of Haitian-Caribbean fusion for over two hours. Before long, the crowd were on their feet moving to the rhythm and sound of Haitian music.

What I found also interesting is the fact that the Smithsonian is leading an international team in preserving thousands of artwork from scores of museums and collapsed buildings in Port-au-Prince. The Smithsonian has found a large, 7,500-square-foot building which was formerly occupied by the U.N.

Inaugural DC triathlon

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:05:12 PDT

The sun rose over the Potomac River, bathing the water with soft, amber light. The National Anthem was played and the fireboat shot its water canon sending a mist of spray and foam into the murky River once sadly forgotten, but now happily revived.

The Tri was delayed 45 mins and already, it was going to be a hot and muggy day -- I could feel the heat seeping through into my Tri suit -- I would definitely feel the pain during the run.

The Potomac River in June was warm, and when I jumped in, the water felt so refreshing, I felt that I could swim in it forever. Many people I talk to are aghast that I swam in the Potomac. I tell them that contrary to what you would think, the Potomac is not dirty at all. The water is fed from the mountains in West Virginia, running nearly 400 miles. It is only where the river merges with the Anacostia, is where you need to be concerned with.

The whole swim was well marked (every 100 meters) taking us under the awesome arches of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Passerbys watched and cheered above us. Two massive sculptures showing mythic man on immortal horse announced the eastern entrance. The bridge grew amazingly serene as we swam under.

Then we turned sharp and swam towards the Robert E Lee Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The views, even from the water was special and out of this world.

The swim went well, although for a good portion of the race, I was sandwiched in between two other racers, who didn't want to let me pass. I kept tugging on their feet every 10 strokes until the final leg home, when I could run free.

The swim was great, but I was sure glad to be on dry land. I caught my breath. My legs were ready to get into action.

Then there was the bike race -- which I must admit was one of the most beautiful bike courses I've seen for a triathlon. I was totally at a lost for words -- and I have lived here 9 years.

Very scenic, fast but with lots of sharp 180 degree turns. There's also a false flat at Rock Creek Park but the views are amazing and so natural -- Unlike nothing I've ever seen in this beautiful town I call home.

The two videos of the entire course are provided in this post (Part 1 is on the top and Part 2 is below)

Air Force Cycling Classic

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:02:11 PDT

Last Saturday, I had one of the most exciting and fun (car-free) bike ride in ages. Riding through Clarendon, Arlington and the Pentagon (Washington Blvd) is always fun and memorable. But riding it car-free with a thousand other avid bikers is definitely a fantastic experience -- another reason why I call Washington DC, the most fun, active, quiet place to live in America.

DC Capital Striders 8K with Back on my Feet

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:45:29 PDT

Last week, the Nation's largest running group, the DC Capital Striders held the 2nd annual 8K run in the Capital Crescent Trail. The race raised $3000 for Haiti Relief efforts.

What was really neat about this race was that there were 18 runners from Back on My Feet. BOMF gives the homeless a second chance to regain control of their lives.

Back on My Feet is not a handout; it is about partnerships and seeing ourselves in others. While running and training, the homeless and the trainers support and challenge each other to strive higher. I am motivated and inspired. They, the men from BOMF, are helping me further understand, negotiate, innovate so that I can better navigate life: RUNIN DC.

Please read the November 2009 post on BOMF coming to DC.

What I Learned Alone on a Saharan Sand Dune

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:30:56 PDT

"I was no longer stressed. Instead the sea of drifting sand gave me inner peace -- a peace so perfect, I knew only God could bestow."

I was supposed to venture out to the "White Desert" to admire the mushroom-shaped limestone formations.

I heard about the legendary white limestone cake icing that glows surreal and mysterious in the faint moonlight.

Further, I was told that I would be camping out with other backpackers from different parts of the world. This sounded like a lot fun thing to me -- camping in an unfamiliar landscape with people I don't know, but hopefully get to know before the night was over.

But there would be a sacrifice...

The long and stuffy 5-hour bus ride from Cairo to the Baharia Desert was hot, dusty and massively disconcerting.

Since I was traveling by myself to an unknown location, I had no idea who, if anybody, would meet me at my final destination, some 300 km from Cairo.

The thought did cross my mind that there would be no one, and I would be left fending for myself, in an unfamiliar land. I didn't even have enough Egyptian pound to buy me a hot dinner, let alone a place to stay.

This was definitely Going on Faith. Someone told me this was something I had to do. I wouldn't find out until the next day, the full reason why.

Five hours later, when the bus made a big stop, and everyone got out, I suddenly started to feel really lonely. The idea that I would be spending the night alone in the shifting sands of this mysterious desert became more and more real. Finally, I breathed a massive sigh of relief when the bus turned into its last stop, and thankfully my welcomed destination: Ahmed's Safari Camp.

I was immediately relieved to see Ahmed. My guide, Mahmoud, then drove me around for over an hour and showed me different spots around Baharia that were beautiful and picturesque.

View Bahariya Oasis in a larger map

Then all of a sudden, Mahmoud stops in the middle of this sand dune. I ask him what he was doing. "We stop here," he said. We camp here for the night."

I reminded Mahmoud that I intended to visit the legendary white desert. I surely did not ride on a van for 5 hours just to sleep on a sand dune by myself.

After making a phone call, I discovered that there was never any intention of taking me to the White Desert. The hostel manager, Omar, just wanted to swindle my money and have me camp out on a sand dune instead.

At first, I was rather disappointed -- I had no desire to spend the night on a sand dune alone with my guide.

But as the night wore on, I started to think differently.

As the crescent moon rose bright and strong, it flooded the surrounding desert with a beautiful moonlight -- so graceful and tranquil, I felt at peace. It was quiet, deathly quiet -- the only noise was the weeping of the wind over the fine, desert sand.

For a moment, I felt like I was marooned on a desert isle. The experience -- completely peaceful and carthatic.

It was then that I realized that was no better place to be than in Egypt's Western Desert and live the simple camping life of the ancient Egyptians, surrounded by sand dunes.

I couldn't help but start to reflect on my life, my story and the lessons I have learned. I thought about my family, my beginnings, why I was here and what the future held for me and my loved ones.

What started out as a lie to trick me to believing that I would be camping with other people in the legendary White Desert became a golden opportunity to revitalize, reflect and renew.

I knew that this was the right place to be -- it was no accident that I would be alone on a sand dune with nothing on the agenda dune but to think and reflect.

What was truly amazing was that for some reason that night, I felt totally at peace. Despite staying in hectic Cairo, my blood was no longer boiling; I was no longer stressed. Instead the sea of drifting sand gave me inner peace -- a peace so perfect, I knew only God could bestow.

Soon, it was past midnight. I gracefully fell asleep in the sand, so comfortable, it felt like a sea of soft, white goose feathers. Suddenly I was jolted awake. A 4x4 Land Rover came roaring up the sand dunes trying to climb it, only a couple hundred feet from crushing my lifeless body. Somehow, it just couldn't muster enough steam. The jeep was not really that close to hitting me, either, but it was close enough to jolt me up as I wondered whether I was simply lucky, blessed or both. Whatever it was, it was not my moment to go. There was something else I needed to know.

One close brush with death was enough one the night, so I quickly gathered my stuff and headed down hill towards our jeep. Surprisingly, my guide, Mahmoud, was still up. Thankfully, I was so tired, I immediately went right back to sleep, as if this shocking event never happened.

The sun was already up for a couple of hours, when I awoke. I felt so refreshed and my back was not in pain despite sleeping on the sand dune. I had a simple breakfast of eggs and bread while my guide started packing up the gear. By 0900, we departed -- the sand was already feeling hot and the sun shone brightly adding to my tan.

Needless to say, the bus ride back home was once again long and hot, but I was glad to be heading to a real bed, a bathroom and a hot shower. I was also fortunate to meet some friends on the way -- one from Sapporo, Japan, one from Boston, and one from Korea -- backpackers like me who spent the night in the desert. But unlike me, they had the fortune to experience a night in the legendary White Desert.

The bus stopped at Giza, within sight of the mythical Pyramids. I was tempted to go pay another visit -- I'm sure glad I went straight to the hostel instead.

When I returned back to the hostel, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of my grandmother.

My Grandma was an amazing woman who was loved by many. She lived an incredible life and touched many hearts.

She will be dearly missed in her tight-knit Kobe, Japan community as well as by relatives in Hong Kong, UK and the US.

I will always appreciate what my Grandma has done for my family, and I will never forget that one special night in the desert when both life and death together shone brightly in the moonlight over the sparkling, drifting sand.

Blissful Crete

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:30:36 PDT

The bus ride from the capital city of Heraklion to Chania was nothing short of spectacular. After another glorious run in Greece, along the sea wall that starts at the Venetian fortress of Koules, running 2 km into the sea.

The Venetian fortress of Koules serves as a majestic landmark that dominates the entrance to the historic harbor of Heraklion.

What I thought would be another monotonous bus ride became an amazingly picturesque bus ride offering amazing views of majestic mountain tops rising from the narrow coastal plains.

The entire ride was spectacular. The amazing and secluded cliff-side settings simply took my breath away.

Virtually the entire ride, I was entranced and entralled, sitting on the edge of my seat, while peering out the window.

A book lay next to me, unread. My Ipod blaring providing the thematic background that made the rugged hills and the plethora of olive trees come alive.

I was just on my way back to Souda Bay, Crete to catch the Patriot Express back to the States. I decided to arrive a day early, so that I would hopefully be ensured a seat back in what I consider the "Navy's best kept secret in the Mediterranean".

Hania is so attractive, it's surprisingly beautiful and warm. Not just the blisfull Mediterranean climate but the people, their hospitality, the beautiful, crumbling Venetian harbor, the character of the sea town with the rhythm of the Aegian Sea, warm and frisky. My heart skips a beat everytime the balmy summer waves pound against the shore and the harbor wall.

Hania is just not your average Mediterranean seaport in adjacent to a US Naval Base. It is a location, a destination, a place to prop up your feet and to declare Crete as one of the best, under-rated vacation spots in the cultural, eclectic Greek island chains.

New Liberalism and the Greek Tragedy

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:45:58 PDT

The following is an excerpt from my blog: RUNIN Athens.blogspot.com

Is the country of Greece -- the societies that brought the ancient world to its height in art, culture and warfare -- about to fall apart?

Will this country bring an end to the European Union?

Many young people I spoke with told me that the crisis in Greece was caused by greed, overspending and severe fiscal irresponsibility.

Neo liberalism empowers private corporation and banks who lend money and become richer and more powerful. It is a label for the economic liberalism which has become increasingly popular worldwide in the last 40 years.

This type of economy de-emphasizes government intervention and instead focuses on the free-market

In the US, President Reagan and the Republican Party were the leading proponents of new liberalism. One of the main pillars of Reaganomics was to reduce government regulation of the economy.

A similar situation of a smaller scale occurred a few years ago in the US with the emergence of the sub-prime mortgage business and the government's inability to regulate business. Read the post on Runin Econonmist

Now the government will cut the public sector workers' pay by 20%, raise the retirement age, increase sales tax to 23%, increase the price of tobacco products, alcohol and gas by 10%, increase taxes on property and businesses, etc. Even if all these measures are implemented, Greece's debt could actually continue to skyrocket while their economy shrinks drastically.

Now I see why the people of Greece are really upset.

It seems in Greece, the crisis was caused by corruption and cronyism. Now the common people will have to pay for the mistakes and crime of those in the corporate world.

Greece brought us Sophocles and his tragedies. Now another huge travesty is unfolding right in front of eyes.

RUNIN the Grand Pyramids of Giza

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:09:28 PDT

Egypt boasts so many great wonders, unequaled in any other destination in the world. Cairo just doesn't boast the Pharaonic monuments. It is a cumulation of the legacies of the Greeks, Romans and early Christians and the profusion of art and architecture accumulated from centuries of successive Islamic dynasties.

There's nothing that compares to a visit to the Pyramids. The Pyramids of Giza is the oldest tourist attraction in the world and the only remaining icon of the original Seven Wonders.

Unfortunately, pictures do not do the Grand Pyramids any justice. One has to actually visit it to fully appreciate the full height and breadth of beauty and magic that it fully emanates -- the air of serenity, the amazing masterpiece of architecture rising in the shifting sands, its spectacular tomb glistering in the Egyptian sun.

Unlike a visit to the Statue of Liberty or the Lincoln Memorial, the Pyramids is not well-polished or manicured. In fact it is a little bit rough around the edges -- which makes it interesting and provides the irresistible allure that makes one feel that you are an Egpytological explorer uncovering hidden catacombs and ancient hieroglyphics.

Makes one wonder whether an undiscovered network of labyrinths and catacombs full with new and exciting artifacts still exists today.

If you explore around on the western side, you can discover old caves tucked away from the public eye. If you scurry down a cave and follow the scent of musty lavender, you can find tombs where for thousands of years, carried the mummies of ancient Pharoaohs and Queens.

Yes, the Pyramids is definitely a tourist attraction like no other. It is nearly impossible to enter the Pyramids without being accosted by an whole host of scammers begging you to be your guide or offering a camelback ride. All around the sands, there is camel dung everywhere as ubiquitous as the trinket hawkers and taxi scammers. But the Pyramids rises above these earthly digressions. The scintillating Pyramids of Giza are bold and beautiful and full of artifacts to touch and discover beyond your wildest dreams.

Yes, even I could not resist the obligatory pose with a camel.

When I got there, the taxi driver was aggressive and misled me by dropping me off a hundred yards away in the midst of souvenir hawkers and camel ride sellers.

I finally pushed my way through the mess of scammers insisting that I wanted to see the Pyramids by myself, on my own and with my own eyes. Read more about the scammers and hawkers

But eventually, the hawkers got the best of me, and I allowed this kid to take some interesting shots of me. He even led me to this cave in which I explored with zeal and amazement.

Seeing the Pyramids, un-rushed with your own eyes, trying to understand how, why, and the reason they were built is the best way to fully appreciate its true grandeur.

Amazing Stones from Far Away

The Egyptian builders used very rare stones that were found almost 500 miles away in the Nubian Desert. Some of these granite blocks weighed 50 to 80 tons each. They had to enlist a work force of over 100 men pulling on ropes to move the stones a few inches at at a time. Then once they arrived in the Nile, they loaded the stones on the boat and floated it down the River.

Today, many people flock to the Great Pyramids to experience something spiritual. They go there to receive emotional healing -- they go there to receive wisdom. Many come back feeling energetic, inspired. How can one not visit the sacred grounds of Egypt and not be inspired.

The Great Pyramids have always been enshrouded in mystery. Many famous individuals throughout history such as Alexander the Great, Napoleon and Sir Isaac Newton were mystified by the Pyramids. Just looking at the Pyramids leave one in awe. Were they built for architecture, mathematics or astrology? Do they provide any hidden information, or are they just a tomb to bury their admired ones.

Dying an Early Death in Cairo

chito.peppler@gmail.com (RuninDC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:46:27 PDT

Yes, there is danger lurking in Cairo. Just last year, an open-air hotel cafe packed with tourists in the Khan al-Khalili market experienced another deadly bomb blast, the second time in less than four years. One needs to keep your head on a swivel here, but just about anywhere when traveling in foreign lands.

But there is another danger, just as pervasive and perhaps more insidious.

They say that living in Cairo and breathing the foul, smoke-laden air is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes per day.

I say it's worse -- it's like smoking hashish without a sieve.

I've heard many times before and now I'm fully convinced that Cairo is one of the most polluted cities in the world, if not THE most polluted.

The cars are centuries old, many of them held together by chicken wire and duct tape, squeaking by with horns that scream all night long, only to be interrupted by the call of prayer, five times a day.

The drivers are even more edgy -- they don't stay in their lane, they don't stop for pedestrians and they completely ignore the sea of traffic cops that are attempting to keep things in order.

Everytime I got in a cab, it was an adventure to say the least.

Every time I ventured onto the crosswalk, I felt I was putting my life on the line. In fact, near death experiences are a daily part of a pedestrian's life in Cairo.

If emissions from the tail pipe doesn't get you, you just might get run over from the front end.

What's almost as bad as air pollution is the onslaught of honks, beeps and clangs throughout the busy Cairo streets -- drivers and bicyclists feel that they need to announce their presence with an unofficial siren.

Living downtown, where noise levels reach an average of 90 decibels is like spending a day inside a factory, according to a 2007 study by the Egyptian National Research Center. In fact, the noise level in some places are well over the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

What many people may not realize, is that noise can have the same debilitating effects that chronic stress does. Noise can cause "an accumulation of stress hormones, inflammation and changes in body chemistry that can lead to problems such as impaired blood circulation and heart attacks."

The noise is deafening, especially if you have to sleep through it. And Cairo doesn't go to sleep until 4 AM, and by 6 AM, the thick cloud of smoke and dust has finally cleared allowing one to saunter out in the predawn darkness with some hope of running tranquility.

God knows, I needed some exercise after an unhealthy week of noise, stress and elevated blood pressure.

So it was with great pleasure that I had the golden opportunity to run with the Cairo Hash House Harriers during one of their weekly jaunts to the desert.

See the video on YouTube: Cairo Hash House Harriers "The Climb"

Yes, you meet people, you have fun, you do wild and crazy things, and perhaps most significantly, you get a chance to run out wild in the mountains and desert and see and breathe the real Egypt, like it was in the time of mythology and Hieroglyphics.