tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51098432024-09-04T22:19:41.094+01:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-71742619498794554432009-02-21T05:48:00.003+00:002009-02-21T05:56:08.720+00:00

This is the oracle card I drew today:Patience"Now is the time to learn, study and gather information. Enjoy being a student, because in the future, you will synthesize your knowledge into action.Although you may be aching to begin a new project, now is not the time. You are in the vital phase of gathering right now. This means that you're meditating, channeling, taking classes, interviewing

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-77279976037468965822009-02-03T01:05:00.002+00:002009-02-03T01:19:34.562+00:00

I was attacked with hugs by Fritha and Rowan when the bus arrived in Hastings. It has been so good to be with family and I find that extending beyond the two of them to everyone who calls the farm home. Right now Fritha, Rowan, Kelli and Katrina have all moved into the main house. David has been MIA since I arrived, but we hope he'll be home from Auckland soon. Almost as soon as I arrived I

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-89045296827972920702009-01-22T22:32:00.004+00:002009-01-22T23:24:40.316+00:00

It is always a welcome sight when the sun rises after nearly twenty hours on various planes in total darkness. In those long hours only the occasional brilliantly illuminated ship and then, eventually, a tiny Pacific island would send a beam of confirmation that the earth was still beneath us. The dawn began to blush past the tip of the wing. The clouds cleared except for a cluster of pink

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-13588306805912759312008-07-19T05:16:00.005+01:002008-07-26T06:13:48.693+01:00

The rest of our time in New Zealand was so lovely. We hopped around the coast, visiting lighthouses and small hidden cottages. Every kilometer brought us closer to Fritha and Rowan and suddenly we were in Napier, hearing their voices on a payphone!Fritha treated us like queens and it was nice to be with family once again. It's been quite a trip for that. Rowan was large and in charge, as

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-70753550040078844752008-04-05T18:22:00.000+00:002008-04-27T01:03:12.085+00:00

After a very long driving day out of Auckland we arrived at our hostel in Whanarua Bay. I loved this hostel when I stayed there several years ago. I made a reservation while we were still several hours away but when we arrived well after dark, the already inebriated owner was startled to see us. He didn't remember speaking to me though he had taken the reservation and copied down my name and

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-31565664183886690042008-04-02T07:45:00.004+00:002008-04-02T08:07:04.662+00:00

It didn't stop raining for the three days we were in Wellington but I was exceedingly happy to be in New Zealand. We rented a car and began to head out of the city. The clouds cleared and the sun started to illuminate the harbor. So beautiful!We ventured through the gorgeous Tongariro Crossing and on to Lake Taupo for the night. Sitting by the lake we witnessed a breathtaking sunset.Today we

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-77044218067837428052008-03-24T04:43:00.005+00:002008-04-02T08:21:42.241+00:00

I have been terrible about blogging, I know. When my journey is winding down I always kind of fall apart myself and there's no energy to describe a time so rich and full of adventure. But my post on Indonesia will come. It was remarkable.We flew into Perth and spent several weeks with Dad. It was so so so wonderful to see him, after so many years. We had a grand time. Other than a brief side

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-9676960379268796512008-01-19T22:19:00.001+00:002008-03-10T09:04:41.963+00:00

Feeling incredibly ill in KL. We have been sick for ages, the worst of it was during our last days in Laos. But it's still hard to get motivated and nearly impossible to eat. This is a huge shame as Malaysian food is meant to be fantastic. Our hostel, Anjung II, is very nice though quite basic. Luckily we booked our own room with AC so it's possible to escape when the humidity gets intense.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-17564883002714295422008-01-18T07:38:00.001+00:002008-03-10T09:04:15.055+00:00

We crossed into Laos in Huay Xai. Here we met Greg who saw the Winter Harbor address on Jessica's luggage tag and noted that his father had been stationed at the Navy base there briefly. It sparked a conversation that led to his asking us to join him in travelling to a remote village on the Mekong. The next day we started on a two day boat journey south along the Mekong. The first night we

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-15892281302995705432008-01-02T11:36:00.000+00:002008-01-02T11:57:47.461+00:00

We spent a wonderful new year's eve in the always welcoming Chiang Mai. During the course of the evening we sent off traditional flying lanterns and were nearly struck by the flames of unregulated fireworks exploding too close to the ground. I hope everyone else had a gorgeous start to the new year! Wishing peace and happiness will follow you all through 2008...

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-55990924285571230912007-12-27T08:16:00.000+00:002007-12-27T09:12:27.797+00:00

We have been lazily enjoying the holidays in northern Thailand in a town called Pai (pie). During a shopping expedition to Carrefour in Chiang Mai Jessica made sure to pick out a two foot tall plastic tree, lights and decorations so we would be properly outfitted for Christmas. We set it up in our gorgeous room in the hills above the town. Combined with the chilly nights it felt almost like we

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-26733029930946549262007-12-20T06:19:00.000+00:002007-12-20T06:22:21.058+00:00

I am in Mae Hong Son right now. It is supposed to be chilly. Warnings about needing socks and sweaters were given.It is positively sweltering.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-68669993846065055692007-12-17T13:52:00.000+00:002007-12-18T05:48:27.229+00:00

We've been doing a lot of wandering. Jessica is getting acquainted with the maze of streets quite well. Last night was the Sunday walking street market which is a never-ending carnival. There are blankets laid out along the streets with handmade clothing, bags and candles. Food vendors set up wherever there is room and turn out handfuls of waffles, fried taro cakes, fresh steamed corn, pad

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-70972236594174304712007-12-12T22:06:00.000+00:002007-12-17T14:13:15.396+00:00

We crossed the border into Thailand through Poipet. This is the most hateful place on earth but surprisingly the crossing was hassle-free. And, defying my worst fears, there was a posh double decker AC bus waiting for us on the other side. There was even an amusing sign to occupy us while we waited to depart: Though the bus blew a tire (scary) we still managed to arrive into Bangkok by 9pm. Found

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-11264725716398094022007-12-05T12:51:00.000+00:002007-12-09T08:11:41.729+00:00

It is interesting to see how Angkor is slowly turning into Disney World. They have done a lot of "improving" since my last visit with new walkways, "this way out" signs and ropes at every turn. There are even plans to install electric cars to run a loop through the complex. The only benefit I see in such a scheme is a reduction on pollution which I'm sure is adding to the destruction of the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-44121955546560718392007-12-01T09:52:00.000+00:002007-12-01T10:13:10.826+00:00

We spent a few seriously lazy days in Kratie, eastern Cambodia, waiting for the madness of the Water Festival to be over. The only interesting thing to happen during our stay was a young tout continually mispronouncing my name. When I introduced myself he said "Nice to meet you Nesreen" and the next day he greeted me with "Hello Lettuce". A hellish bus ride later we were in Siem Reap. Every

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-2959045677577319772007-11-24T05:24:00.000+00:002007-11-24T06:36:39.911+00:00

After the embrace of beachy Sihanoukville we travelled east to Kampot (see previous entry) and hopped in the back of a truck to brave the rough, ruddy jungle road to Bokor National Park. It was a bumpy ascent through the cacophony of insects and strange tropical birds with deep, resonant song. 41km on the edge, and off the edge, of our seats. On several occasions we were nearly decapitated by low

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-52756164881575494782007-11-17T08:01:00.000+00:002007-11-24T05:24:20.706+00:00

It was hard to leave the beach. Even in the days leading up to departure when it rained furiously it was hard to think of leaving.The guesthouse in Sihanoukville arranged a shared taxi to Kampot. When the driver stopped a mile down the road to let someone else in he opened our door and said "four people in back". I laughed with relief when I saw the woman and her young daughter. The small

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-31267970794506671162007-11-08T11:03:00.000+00:002007-11-10T12:51:52.281+00:00

We flew from Hoi An (well, Danang) to Saigon on the 4th. Good old Pacific Air (or Specific Air, as we renamed it) was delayed again. I don't know why we thought it would be any different this time. The funny thing that we noticed about this airport (and I'm sure this is true of public places in general it was just illuminated here) is that in a nearly empty section of seats someone will sit

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-64863645515686193122007-11-02T01:30:00.000+00:002007-11-03T08:14:55.263+00:00

Da Lat was a bust. Heralded as the Paris of Vietnam, it was like a cheap Disney version of a generic European city. There was a distinctly European feel through the hilly and tree-shaded streets, along the stone stacked walls, the open markets, the terraced buildings but the details were not there. Aside the river is a radio tower made to look a small version of the Eiffel tower. Cheesy.We

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-20233254406996509972007-10-27T08:54:00.000+00:002007-10-27T08:55:14.686+00:00

It is nearly impossible for my body to accept that it is sitting in an internet cafe in Saigon. The humid air is heavy on my skin.We left New York smoothly, though the ticketing agent at JFK was hesitant to print our boarding passes due to our lack of itinerary or return ticket. Because of the one way ticket we were chosen for what she called "super duper security screening". Basically this meant

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-77450744838531311312007-05-12T04:51:00.000+00:002007-05-12T06:14:23.595+00:00

I can't believe we spent ten days in Hoi An. It has to be the most comfortable town in the country. On the river it is possible to be mesmerized and caressed by the cooling breeze for hours. Beware! The restaurants are some of the best in the country and most are sinfully cheap. I have lots of fantastic recipes brewing in my mind, like daydreams of our idyllic stay. My Son was average. (I'm so

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-49392725808564216412007-05-07T14:09:00.000+00:002007-05-07T15:08:52.737+00:00

You have been warned and I wash my hands of any harm or horror that befalls you for thinking you can handle it.By the time our "luxury bus" arrived in Ninh Binh it had been filled to capacity with people who boarded in Hanoi. Only 1.5 hours into their trip they all looked ready to smash out the plexi-glass windows and hurl themselves from the moving vehicle. Jessica got a seat next to a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-16585652158696058502007-05-01T11:07:00.000+00:002007-12-17T12:17:34.696+00:00

Okay. We grabbed our gear early in the morning and headed out to catch a bus to somewhere. When we checked out of our strange guesthouse they charged us $2 a night LESS than we were originally told. Very Un-Vietnam.We wandered the misty streets heading for a random street corner where we had been told (by the Vietnamese Tony Soprano the night before) the bus for Lai Chau picked up passengers.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109843.post-2427540016905627952007-04-27T08:30:00.000+00:002007-05-01T11:02:17.388+00:00

Sa Pa is truly like heaven. Our room has a tremendous view which is lucky, because when I first saw the balcony I could barely see my hand in front of my face through the thick fog. Yesterday the mist rolled back as though the mountains were taking a breath. The low clouds are inhaled and exhaled all day long. Walking down a clear road you can see the mist sneak in from side streets or descend

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0