Dave and I picked up a ton of fireworks in preparation for the celebrations (15 bucks for what would cost a couple hundred back home), and David, Anny and Bella joined us in the courtyard of my apartment to set them all off.

What did I learn last night? Dave’s jacket is fire retardant. Those 12 big ones set off car alarms. And it sucks when they don’t go up high enough and come back down to head height and then explode. Accidentally placing a multiball shooter upside down is a great way to start fires. Screaming and frantically jumping up and down on said fires is a great way to put them out.

That said, it was a really fun time. Even with the bitter cold, smiles and laughter were constant throughout. And we’ll do it all again next week!

And yes, I’ve noticed it’s been a year since I wrote anything. I’ve led an extraordinarily boring 12 months. Things’ll change shortly, I promise. 35 more days!

Unfortunately, there’s a catch – You need to be in the US to use it. But don’t worry, I’ve figured out how to get around that little hitch.

If you’re American, and you haven’t left the country yet.

1. Sign up for a Google Voice account and use your phone number as the “To Call” phone.

2. Sign up for a free VPN (Virtual Private Network) service, such as ProXPN.

3. Then while you’re traveling, connect to the internet through your VPN (which give you a US IP address – in turn making websites think you’re in the US), log into your Google Voice account and call away!

If you’re not American, or have already left the country.

1. Sign up for that free ProXPN account. Every traveller should have one anyway, especially if you’re in a country that tends to block a lot of websites. Passwords and banking are secure, and it’s a great peace of mind.

2. Next you’ll need a “To Call” phone number to connect to your soon-to-be-created Google Voice account. WITH YOUR VPN TURNED OFF (Skype, Paypal and eBay will all lock your account if you log into their site with a VPN) Hop over to www.skype.com/welcomeback (Just going to www.skype.com may redirect you to an international partner, depending where you are currently located) and sign up for a Skype-In number. This is an American phone number that your friends and family can call, which will then be forwarded to your computer (isn’t technology grand?). It costs $20 for 3 months or $60 for a year.

3. Turn on your VPN, and sign up for a Google Voice account, using your new Skype-In number as the “To Call” phone number.

4. Now you’re all set. Wherever you are and whenever you want, just turn on your VPN, fire up Google Voice and call away!

And there you have it. Everything you need to keep in contact with loved ones for free, regardless of where you are in the world. If you’ve got any questions or comments, or tips, feel free to leave them below.

He gets to enjoy 4 Days and 3 Nights Accommodations In Exciting Las Vegas, Nevada.

A little about Chris..

“I’m 27 years old, single (may change in Vegas?), work like a dog for the man @ Memory Express as Purchasing Manager. My most memorable trip was an all inclusive “work conference” at the Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman. Can’t wait to go back there!”

Remember Chris, what happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but I still want pictures!

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and remember – to be added to next month’s contest, just sign up to my monthly newsletter!

You’re welcome.

So wow, 2011 is here! I rang it in with Sam, Dave, Matt, Rebecca and Sylvain. We started the night at a Korean BBQ we’ve been to a few times. Unfortunately the night’s buffet selection consisted of various innards, worms (though they we mixed with chilis, so some credit is due), and other not so appetizing delectables.

But at least they had french fries. Ugh..

After a couple of rounds we headed to a KTV (Karaoke)  to slaughter some songs. It was a pretty swanky place, 5 floors and each party gets their own room. Our room was adorned with “Boxing” paraphernalia, include a punching bag and pictures of Ali on the walls.

A good time was had by all, and I had the honor of leading up to midnight with a moving and tearjerking version of “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight”. As quickly as the hour came, it went and we dove back into the cold night air and made our way to McDonalds to satiate our midnight munchies.

And now the New Year is here, and it’s time to dust of the gym card, get a hair cut and bury my nose in these damn Chinese manuals. I’ve officially signed a contract to stay here another year, so I should really get my ass in gear and properly learn the language.

On a more creative note, I thought it would be fitting to bring The Misadventurer into the New Year by participating in the 1000-1000 Challenge , a project being run by Todd Wassel, over at Todd’s Wanderings.

The challenge is aimed at the travel blog community, encouraging growth in readership to 1000 views a day and $1000 USD per month in revenue (from my website, not by performing fellatio in dark alleyways for peanuts – that’s sooo 2010).

I’m about to hit the 5 year mark since I left the “Real World” behind me, and though this site has served it’s purpose to keep friends and family entertained and informed as to my whereabouts, it’s begging to become something more. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, there is going to be a definite shift in the presentation and content of The Misadventurer, becoming not only an online travel diary, but also an outlet to share all the useful(useless?) things I’ve learned about travel, life and the world over the past half decade.

So whether you’re a longtime lurker, or new to my site – I encourage you to share, retweet, or otherwise spread the love of The Misadventurer.

I want to be an Internet STD (Socially Transmitted Domain)!

You know, kind of like Chlamydia.

2. Click “Get Directions”

3. Enter Japan as your starting point.

4. Enter China as your destination.

5. Scroll down to line 42.

6. Smile.

In 长春站—an underground market called “The Train Station Market”—this chef makes noodles by rolling the dough and then shredding it by hand. It’s a simple and mesmerizing way to make food.

And nobody notices. The Chinese walk past without so much as a glance; they’ve seen it before… probably at home.

But I notice. Not wanting to interrupt him, I snap this quick image, watch for a little while longer, and then melt back into the crowd.

- David Cross

Check out some footage below.

The old woman in the hospital afterwards

It’s strange that in the land of the censored, cocks would run free. Some cocks are big while most cocks are smaller.
Some even let their cocks hang out while kids are around. This is one of the cocks that is commonly seen at a kinder school I teach in.

- David Cross

Included in the tour is access to the also recently opened upper 3rd tier, which gives an unprecedented view of  the entire forum. Check out Tickitaly for pricing and availability.

PS, Good luck purchasing prior to the new year, since everybody and their mothers, plus their mother’s high school friends, plus their high school friends’ secret crushes, plus their secret crushes’ mailman will be wanting to see this.