tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45749991800260926702024-03-14T00:54:50.559-07:00A Need to be FreeThese are the adventures that ensued when I put life in a bacpack and set off to find nothing in particular
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-5191533490293303652012-08-30T01:26:00.000-06:002013-02-22T00:31:10.561-07:00Visions of Angkor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Height of the Khmer Empire 1200 AD</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Having left Southeast Asia over seven months ago, I spend a
lot of time thinking about the differences between there and the rest of the western
world. The presence of spirituality is so prevalent there, now a primarily Buddhist
area. The countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have an ancient
understanding of the importance of religion and honoring one's history. The
Khmer, the people that spanned this area, have left their impression on modern
day culture and life in SE Asia. Their most impressive legacy, the temples of
Angkor in north eastern Cambodia, is a reminder of the ancient wisdom that
through spiritual and cultural evolution is the basis for life in this part of
the world today. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> If I close my eyes I can still see the ruins emerging from
the encasing jungle, the sunlight filtering through the trees casts light and
shadows onto ancient stone, some carved and shaped over ten centuries earlier.
The intricate carvings and labyrinths of passage ways, shrines, and galleries
spark feelings of mystery and divinity.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Panoramic photo By Cozette Hansen : View from the top of Bakong temple</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I'm lost in thought wondering what it
must have been like to walk these steps at the height of the Angkorian civilization.
The temples that remain represent only a fraction of the buildings that once
existed here. Temples, to the Khmer, were not places of mass procession or
worship, rather they were the house of the gods, a dwelling to hold the divine,
and therefore they were built as exquisitely and elaborately as possible. These
temples were at the center of cities of trade and growth. The cities themselves,
built from primarily wood, no longer exist. But, what we are left with are the
stories and histories of the rise and fall of a civilization carved into the
walls of the temples. And, conveniently, the temples represent the most
important aspect of Khmer civilization, the driving force of existence,
religion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the 500 years of civilization the Angkorian kingdom
saw the rule of twenty-six different kings, most of which built or renovated
the temples that still stand in ruins to this day. The oldest and first temples
I visited were constructed in the 9th century. The Roluos Group, as their
known, marks the beginning of Angkor's history as we know it. Although
buildings and civilization did exist before these temples, these were the first
structures built from materials that withstood the erosion of time. The Roluos
Group temples were constructed under the rules of king Jayavaramon II and
Indravaraman I, the second and third recognized kings of Angkor. These first
temples were built when Jayavaramon II established the first capitol here, east
of modern day Seim Riep, around the year 835 AD. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The carvings on these walls, and on the walls of most of the
temples, stems directly from India as trade brought the influence of Hinduism
to the area. The Indians, with their Hindu Gods, were prosperous with a
booming civilization and good economic standing. Recognizing this, soon Hinduism
was adopted as the religion of the Khmers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm amazed at the precision and intricacy in the design and
building of the architecture. The temple East Mebon, built in the middle of
the tenth century, was an island surrounded by a now dried out lake. The detail
and skill in carving something like an elephant, one of eight sentinels
guarding the corners of the temple, is baffling even with today's
technology. Could you hand carve a giant elephant, or eight?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The temple, Ta Keo, built in the 10th and 11th centuries is
a symbolic representation of the universe. This "temple mountain"
represents Mount Meru, which in the Hindu religion, stands at the center of the
universe and is surrounded by the primordial ocean. This temple, like all of
the others, was considered the residence of the gods and was respected as such.
When this temple was gifted to Yogisavara Pandita in 1010 AD he occupied only
the lower levels, considering himself unworthy to dwell on the upper terrace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Above: "Temple Mountain", Ta Keo. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Right: On the upper Terrace of Ta Keo, view of one of the shrines</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>As Angkor was coming to its peak, Suryavarman II took the
throne in 1113 AD and started the largest and most infamous construction to
date. Creating the symbol on the modern day Cambodian flag and the most renowned
temple of the Khmer empire, Angkor Wat. It was, and still is, a grand spectacle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Angkor Wat, The World's largest religious monument.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Buddhist Monk stands observing Angkor Wat.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The name Angkor Wat means just what it has become, "The city
which became a pagoda". With the temple placed in the center, a vast
capitol surrounded it to all four cardinal directions. The city itself was
fortified by a massive moat with bridges on the east and west sides. With
Angkor Wat, still the world's largest religious monument, and its surrounding
city, the Khmer were boldly marking their place. Imagine coming to trade from distant
lands and walking the causeway over the moat, through the gates, and into the
busy city. You would observe daily life and people all around you. Then,
if somehow you hadn't seen it from miles away, you would behold this massive temple, larger than any other
in the world, literally the center of life, overseeing all. What an
intimidating site this must have been, and a desirable one to scheming invaders.
This was the height of Angkor, the strong hold of southeast Asia and the Khmer
people. It would soon be overrun by revolting factions from the provinces, but
not before some other smaller scale temples were constructed. The temples of
Thommanon and Chao Say Tevoda were built in similar architectural style to that
of Angkor Wat, with intricate carvings and detail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chao Say Tevoda</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carvings at Thommanon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1177 AD the city of Angkor was captured by a group who
mounted a surprise naval attack from the Great Lake, to the south. In 1181 AD a
prince returned to Angkor and drove out the rebels for which he became King
Jayavarman VII, "The Last Great King of Angkor". Unlike his Hindu
predecessors, he was a practicing Buddhist. Many of his temples have likenesses
of The Buddha, not found in the earlier constructions. During his thirty year
reign he oversaw a larger building program than any of those before him.
Perhaps trying to out do the others, he cast off Angkor Wat and decided to
build his own, larger capitol city, Angkor Thom.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Massive city gate, the entrance to Angkor Thom from the East</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surrounded on four sides by a stone wall and moat, Angkor
Thom is considerably larger than Angkor Wat. At the center of Angkor Thom
stands one of my favorite temples, The Bayon. With its innumerable giant
smiling faces, there is speculation whether Jayavarman VII planned these faces
to be likenesses of himself or that of The Buddha. In any case, The Bayon is
one of the more complex and intricately designed temples. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enigmatic visages of The Bayon</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHrcceNMLH5vNqRJwL_iNwV1Nf2_DVWhShbilH_J0intAiMH7LzUc7_DkWZEfrFJjLMJfe8DK2ZR7-j63dtNoXMsuELde5C-8i5Qjc5tZgffRroI14XZbIy00E4PA3b14rnxMpnF8hSk/s1600/078%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHrcceNMLH5vNqRJwL_iNwV1Nf2_DVWhShbilH_J0intAiMH7LzUc7_DkWZEfrFJjLMJfe8DK2ZR7-j63dtNoXMsuELde5C-8i5Qjc5tZgffRroI14XZbIy00E4PA3b14rnxMpnF8hSk/s320/078%5B1%5D.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Apsara Dancers preforming the dance of the universe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Within the walls of Angkor Thom JayavarmanVII also
constructed numerous smaller, less significant, temples, as well as a royal
palace made from non withstanding materials. Outside of Angkor Thom he
built some remarkable, jungle reclaimed temples. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ta Prohm and Preah Khan temples
are my other favorites. Built in the Bayon style of architecture, unlike the
temple mountains that came before, you can get lost in their elaborate mazes
of connecting hallways and passages. Courtyards, open to sunlight, have fostered
the jungle allowing it to take back what was theirs. Huge vines and trees climb
and split through the stone walls, rising toward the sky. It's not hard to
imagine yourself as an Indiana Jones character while exploring a sanctuary like
this. It's no surprise that the blockbuster film "Tomb Raider" was filmed here. The complexity and sheer number of carvings in these later constructions
is some of the best I’ve seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indravarman II, who succeeded Jayavarman VII in 1220 AD, was
the last to oversee any new constructions at Angkor, although Jayavarman VIII,
who took throne after Indravarman II in 1243 AD destroyed much of the Buddhist
imagery and improved some of the withstanding Hindu structures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Banteay Kdei can be seen as one of the final constructions
of the late Angkor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9MilX84VS8Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The downfall of Angkor is debated. Vast cities are
represented only by the structures that were built out of materials that could
withstand the destruction of time. Some think that in trying to support the
construction and growth of these cities, the area's resources were consumed and
the civilization was forced to disperse. Others speculate that Angkor simply
wasn't in a prime location for trade; Phnom Phen, on the Mekong river, would have
been a better capitol. Regardless, it's a pleasure to take a walk through
Ancient Angkor and imagine what life was like in the 10th or 11th centuries.
And, how appropriate, that the backbone of Khmer civilization, the driving
force of everyday life, the presence of God, is still preserved for us to
contemplate with wonder and awe.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">References: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Freeman, M, Jacques, C 2000, <i>Ancient Angkor, </i>illustrated revised, Weatherhill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coe, DM 2003, <i>Angkor and the Khmer Civilization, </i>illustrated, Thames & Hudson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-46945686248764557882011-12-19T09:05:00.001-07:002013-01-09T22:03:16.010-07:00Walking with Elephants<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcL6aZf606pBthp_vDy5OnbRRwfYxwGWMRYR_vwLFjmY1HcQ3eAn784Ca87mTCWvvlGZ4_yOPo8pXjijhAyHA16Csyg4B_OTpY5qYZg2U3d2b7YNYAvmzZ2aUdVgr1-XCZWMV0qCpguk/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcL6aZf606pBthp_vDy5OnbRRwfYxwGWMRYR_vwLFjmY1HcQ3eAn784Ca87mTCWvvlGZ4_yOPo8pXjijhAyHA16Csyg4B_OTpY5qYZg2U3d2b7YNYAvmzZ2aUdVgr1-XCZWMV0qCpguk/s320/037.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! She's floating!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Have you ever wanted to see elephants in the wild? Not chained or caged up, but actually behaving like elephants should? Me too! Well, if it's your dream to walk with elephants, then The Elephant Valley project, based in Sen Monoron, is somewhere you might be interested in visiting.</div>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization" style="color: blue;">NGO</a> - E.L.I.E ( <b style="font-weight: normal;">Elephant Livelihood Initiative Environment) was the dream of a Brit named Jack Highwood. After working closely with elephants in Thailand and learning the techniques of a Mahout (ma hoot), an elephant keeper, he found his calling in eastern Cambodia. The elephant population in Cambodia was quickly diminishing as the elephants were worked to death either from heavy labor or from constant tourism (elephant ridding). Jack recognized this and decided to do something about it. He created his NGO and pushed to have it registered with the Cambodian government, realizing his vision in 2006. </b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;">"</b>E.L.I.E.’s primary goal is to improve the health and welfare of domestic
elephants in Mondulkiri Province. The secondary goal is to work with
the people and the problems that face them." -<a href="http://elephantvalleyproject.org/">elephantvalleyproject.org</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DQVDYNNFP1e2291557D6E8MyK4eK2NpSkqAaPILqH5WWW_wkV0DddPtDOy3TXS6N2DAT243Kf8Kgmpmb7kJnkcTRg1-vrIv3ur9mIkqXKovaK4a_XaGiN2BdoQydqp1C_QEX_IL1VMA/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DQVDYNNFP1e2291557D6E8MyK4eK2NpSkqAaPILqH5WWW_wkV0DddPtDOy3TXS6N2DAT243Kf8Kgmpmb7kJnkcTRg1-vrIv3ur9mIkqXKovaK4a_XaGiN2BdoQydqp1C_QEX_IL1VMA/s400/213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In 2007, The Elephant Valley Project was created in conjunction with E.L.I.E. As the domestic population of elephants aged and began to die, they were not being allowed to reproduce. This was creating an obviously tragic situation. Instead of traveling from village to village to look after and give medical care to the elephants, Jack and his team decided they should bring the elephants to them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3a9acaEfbD0Px46ERMPgkbjYEKbLpDKOF9vTyE7aSbByQ3H6oaAqz_eCi121fgAOxoFl_mL4fxnW3lxCl4Vhbe7hnJ0T9zhbMERlRV6_w4HdeRPEQcSdHhP8amRHZgL2h0PiYVqvDzE/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3a9acaEfbD0Px46ERMPgkbjYEKbLpDKOF9vTyE7aSbByQ3H6oaAqz_eCi121fgAOxoFl_mL4fxnW3lxCl4Vhbe7hnJ0T9zhbMERlRV6_w4HdeRPEQcSdHhP8amRHZgL2h0PiYVqvDzE/s400/181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Elephants are able to generate a large income for the impoverished
indigenous peoples, but in many cases the elephants are not receiving
proper care. E.L.I.E. has seen elephants that are dehydrated, emaciated,
over-worked, abused, and some that should clearly be retired but are
forced to continue to work because of the large income they create.
Since the creation of the E.V.P, we’ve been able to bring the elephants
used in logging, hunting, and tourism, out of villages where there are
bad working conditions, and employ the mahouts, their families, and the
elephants at the project, which allows the elephants time to rest,
recuperate, and escape human activity." -<a href="http://elephantvalleyproject.org/">elephantvalleyproject.org</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stinky butts...</td></tr>
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And that's just what E.V.P. did! When we arrived at the project we made our way down into a lush valley appropriate nicknamed "elephant heaven". Before long the gentle giants emerged from the thickets of bamboo chomping happily away, just the way an elephant should. During the day they are free to roam around, to forge and socializing with the other elephants. Although the project's current 9 elephants are not technically wild, this is the next best thing to re-introduction to the wilderness. Since the elephants have been domesticated and have no fear of people we were able to walk beside them, touch them and even help to bathe them in the river! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTP2HNsB8VCRTMslDIcigR7P8lGiJEtLbHHye-o9RETCVfede7Mv__QmSa6edOsXfKx6r0Zub7hyphenhyphen9nUTnZwLDBQLCmu8k5Y5_Qzbcyg3UWTxATIrH8La7vBLXgw0xR8o5D1Hy_jN2ovVY/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTP2HNsB8VCRTMslDIcigR7P8lGiJEtLbHHye-o9RETCVfede7Mv__QmSa6edOsXfKx6r0Zub7hyphenhyphen9nUTnZwLDBQLCmu8k5Y5_Qzbcyg3UWTxATIrH8La7vBLXgw0xR8o5D1Hy_jN2ovVY/s400/187.JPG" width="264" /></a> </div>
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E.V.P has short and long term volunteer opportunities available, a better moral option to taking an elephant ride or trek. Of course, all of the proceeds go to the continuation and growth of E.L.I.E. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing some work around the camp, pulling invasive weeds and assisting in the expanding construction of the project.</div>
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I won't say too much more about the project because you can find heaps of info already on the website and on the project facebook page. What a great way to experience the World's largest land mammal, combining Eco-tourism with the conservation and welfare of these amazingly burdened animals! Way to go Jack and the rest of the team!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-69805184238135588372011-12-14T20:25:00.003-07:002013-01-09T22:05:48.430-07:00Laos Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Laos, although still suffering from a turbulent and war-torn past, is a quiet, peaceful, country in the heart of Southeast Asia. Whether Wat-hopping in Luang Prabang, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO">UNESCO</a> World Heritage Site and the late Capitol of the Buddhist Kingdom of Lao, or taking in the easy climate and atmosphere along the Mekong in the south, It's prime space for catching up on "soul time".</div>
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Check out this short video of my travel through the country:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gqITLlyxelY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-48765451537824137002011-10-25T02:43:00.001-06:002013-01-09T22:07:25.548-07:00The Market<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcZgcl9BD3DItjyGTHFXI4sgPyrt8uI9ZRe8hfYd15jwOsICjcQ23-TaUoqxMilrpMjinuflrdo0oBcd4a2NCbthkWq5yuIoDuRgUWfo7_WwJIoOEpnjBicCz8td4JNI3VsvhXqiNlFk/s1600/IMGP7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcZgcl9BD3DItjyGTHFXI4sgPyrt8uI9ZRe8hfYd15jwOsICjcQ23-TaUoqxMilrpMjinuflrdo0oBcd4a2NCbthkWq5yuIoDuRgUWfo7_WwJIoOEpnjBicCz8td4JNI3VsvhXqiNlFk/s400/IMGP7531.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower H'mong flood the streets.</td></tr>
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In Bac Ha, east of Sapa, is a weekly Sunday market that we had heard was an event not to miss. This was an understatement. </div>
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We step off of the bus into a street filled with color. The Flower H'mong are in town and with them they have brought beauty in every direction.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LZYb68ZAD6gb6-Q2ASq8wi3kogBYN83TaxjiOI6s8h0YeNsxP6Vy4wqahMmUW6mMb8pCMCFOst_o6L5brM6WiS_JxgjI3uoeuTrWRhtetS5EMB8PJOVe9Nm6yg39CZH4kHwQ1W8j_SY/s1600/IMGP7520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LZYb68ZAD6gb6-Q2ASq8wi3kogBYN83TaxjiOI6s8h0YeNsxP6Vy4wqahMmUW6mMb8pCMCFOst_o6L5brM6WiS_JxgjI3uoeuTrWRhtetS5EMB8PJOVe9Nm6yg39CZH4kHwQ1W8j_SY/s320/IMGP7520.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw meats, waiting for buyers</td></tr>
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We stroll through the bustling market, the town's major source of commerce. All around, people are socializing, negotiating prices, and eating varieties of fresh foods.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT0z9BK2Othzg-Jz7dPYlR0Fugk6B_hPL8oYunQC0KkZvkk5MYi4YF0xFdqPJ0rwgFfGSeaQoXubO3VrnM4r083fxSv-Jn-Acyb3zsKFfi07ZiaYUUybp1NTExikB698vPtLMP6naQoo/s1600/IMGP7588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT0z9BK2Othzg-Jz7dPYlR0Fugk6B_hPL8oYunQC0KkZvkk5MYi4YF0xFdqPJ0rwgFfGSeaQoXubO3VrnM4r083fxSv-Jn-Acyb3zsKFfi07ZiaYUUybp1NTExikB698vPtLMP6naQoo/s200/IMGP7588.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep fried rice snacks</td></tr>
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The meat market catches my eye, fresh cuts of beef, pork, chicken , and other four-legged mammals, are spread over large wooden tables. The sight would be a nightmare for a health inspector in The States. There's a commotion as men crowd around a table, apparently bets are made on how many hacks it will take to cut through a piece of pork. </div>
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Goods and money change from hand to hand and everywhere we look there are people enjoying the weekly occurrence.It's more of a social event, it seems, than anything.The local tribes have all concentrated here and the combination of the colorful market goods and the striking outfits makes the scene worthy of a masterpiece. I can't take enough pictures. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k8GstC_f1jJgixnHqiacVVOpprZB3eEnGp6AlB9-eP7aDZ1JnUdDD_JYwSRcXdJ9mzpC4TjNBVUGTj4_2u6ONllYWoWiKEqJ0iJRCWwooag0hOdgg5D9_Dq6BeRERbD7uGFpCge5PMI/s1600/IMGP7681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k8GstC_f1jJgixnHqiacVVOpprZB3eEnGp6AlB9-eP7aDZ1JnUdDD_JYwSRcXdJ9mzpC4TjNBVUGTj4_2u6ONllYWoWiKEqJ0iJRCWwooag0hOdgg5D9_Dq6BeRERbD7uGFpCge5PMI/s640/IMGP7681.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the hill above town.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On the hill above the market is where animals, primarily water buffalo, are inspected by picky buyers. I feel a remorse for the large beasts of burden, as they wait to be purchased,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but they will spend their days working in the surrounding hills, and will subsequently be well fed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9U4pSl1fF50f9o3KI0GzeThO0ZdesG3N4n6etu4g52b5-emretwaAviaEGXiz7tULgjrGGfxYjYsolka6Uj8MvDCHlEDmRggNxPt6R5WC0BCwS2aYP1ACg_tmM1BG4uZ4nAJ3Xu1Js0/s1600/IMGP7580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9U4pSl1fF50f9o3KI0GzeThO0ZdesG3N4n6etu4g52b5-emretwaAviaEGXiz7tULgjrGGfxYjYsolka6Uj8MvDCHlEDmRggNxPt6R5WC0BCwS2aYP1ACg_tmM1BG4uZ4nAJ3Xu1Js0/s400/IMGP7580.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selling herbal medicines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After browsing for three hours, and reveling at the variety of goods, I imagine that anything a person could need would be found here. From fruits and vegetables, to coffee and spices, herbal medicines, to handmade clothing and jewelry, meats and live fish, tools and contraptions, everything is in surplus.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n9eWjMX1RR66tILYFGwLOJwAOT9Ea07UwQhOysTbUb10ba3lfM5dUWt5lXjHcRjalmxD4ja0H14_jYVqA06UYPwh8HWWp6nnp3qls9RFpH-_1MULVPO-Hwds3O_523_4nUNNN6ZnSeU/s1600/IMGP7555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n9eWjMX1RR66tILYFGwLOJwAOT9Ea07UwQhOysTbUb10ba3lfM5dUWt5lXjHcRjalmxD4ja0H14_jYVqA06UYPwh8HWWp6nnp3qls9RFpH-_1MULVPO-Hwds3O_523_4nUNNN6ZnSeU/s320/IMGP7555.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surplus of veggies</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZXpDMv26oA0p84M8u4Tzl8yq13XfWkVyCMcVMCZN7zZfpW3aM1KwV00i94-QPck96GxaIzwRxAoN2LqT2J5B4NMvX3EJKYWKXITdq89-Wk6W8QJbor4l5GBUje3sshk7JrXMkPVBTqc/s1600/IMGP7578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZXpDMv26oA0p84M8u4Tzl8yq13XfWkVyCMcVMCZN7zZfpW3aM1KwV00i94-QPck96GxaIzwRxAoN2LqT2J5B4NMvX3EJKYWKXITdq89-Wk6W8QJbor4l5GBUje3sshk7JrXMkPVBTqc/s320/IMGP7578.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby sleeps while Mom eats Pho.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
In the center of the excitement are 100 or so tables all owned by different families. Fresh noodle soup, the infamous Vietnamese Pho, is being served to the patrons sitting at the tables. Meat is cut<br />
right from a fresh hog leg and put into the soup, ladled from a giant pot boiling over open flame. Small limes are squeezed over the soup and small hot peppers and pepper sauce is added for an extra zing. We sit and enjoy the food and the scene simultaneously. </div>
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</div>
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As the afternoon turns to evening, the crowd disperses and people pack their goods to go home. By dark the streets have metamorphosed from a flooded, chaos of color, to a sparsely populated, average mountain town.It's hard to beleive that we are in the same town that was home to the most dazling local market Iv'e ever seen. The week will surely pass with uneventful daily routeins. It's quiet now, until next Sunday.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-45727633717391141902011-10-25T01:43:00.003-06:002013-01-09T22:08:46.134-07:00Among the H'mong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the rice-terraced mountains surrounding Sapa live a number of
indigenous tribal peoples. The H'mong, Red Dzao, and Zai tribes populate
the area and can be seen in town selling their woven handicrafts.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoBdKf3GedTzCoyLHzHI6GyQ3U0Hppf1_IfxBFNQIGlhHiP7iJZoNGFHovqkrYEM1GbqpSrAWc3rNFK07c6auSkvpr7nmRhKm74wyJrjERzW47YWeT2Zs9d6PY9p-HFnpAwOHNZh3_GU/s1600/IMGP7478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoBdKf3GedTzCoyLHzHI6GyQ3U0Hppf1_IfxBFNQIGlhHiP7iJZoNGFHovqkrYEM1GbqpSrAWc3rNFK07c6auSkvpr7nmRhKm74wyJrjERzW47YWeT2Zs9d6PY9p-HFnpAwOHNZh3_GU/s640/IMGP7478.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The terraced hills near a H'mong village</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bCRa2IuUHNvOk-OHWKzSqSe9nEYjoxmmWGc1ii5B2Wl_ykyIHmZUfXTitl9qOwzh7E81Z8LXbG3Hd_D8aw7PN-iWaXDCDORnG2atNTaF3Q4cWB9GpWaQdtX5hNjSS_AP96mwfgEIJ6Q/s1600/IMGP7538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bCRa2IuUHNvOk-OHWKzSqSe9nEYjoxmmWGc1ii5B2Wl_ykyIHmZUfXTitl9qOwzh7E81Z8LXbG3Hd_D8aw7PN-iWaXDCDORnG2atNTaF3Q4cWB9GpWaQdtX5hNjSS_AP96mwfgEIJ6Q/s320/IMGP7538.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Flower H'mong Woman</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeNFM1lC6jz1cwejitr3F1oBROgKagXSVGuahYp38JGDcrsr5tF5fJp6MmvgAvspLMM1wwCeN9XfZJUVfd2Ss5I44rr_txeoql1DWV6tw-DWzYXYKLRA4CfbbjI4X7uz3_gTJxsNMBbs/s1600/IMGP7444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeNFM1lC6jz1cwejitr3F1oBROgKagXSVGuahYp38JGDcrsr5tF5fJp6MmvgAvspLMM1wwCeN9XfZJUVfd2Ss5I44rr_txeoql1DWV6tw-DWzYXYKLRA4CfbbjI4X7uz3_gTJxsNMBbs/s320/IMGP7444.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyui works on a shirt she is making</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
All of the women are clad in brightly colored traditional clothing and are adorned with beautiful jewlery and wrapped headdresses. History is preserved in their appearance and the contrast between the traditionally dressed women and the surrounding French architecture is a unique spectacle. We meet a H'mong woman named Nyui. After talking for a short time we negotiate a price for her to guide us through the hills to stay in her village.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20KWv0lKs61V08bB8SyFSvRXEZxZ7i47IYXJcHoqxat4HTW0SY_gdmpydCPrC98vsgeZ3ywtzykXsEFCfd90j4HUfgkGnvf2KTSBJTm7o_QXFgiMm3dqBSW94Uih7Bq273E8jaQFwUCI/s1600/IMGP7471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04TsBDM4bKmYVsyWUgZMOfL0r2U5gw7zrWoASdDFMvnhIkk5rUSDtZ26jU6l00EW9HGV_WFpvKmvQlVC8lOIJLMR8Nj4P21AmP_Xhg1vbNLiJh55scnncXZCxGzGBqPuw7qbRG-5P-88/s1600/IMGP7406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04TsBDM4bKmYVsyWUgZMOfL0r2U5gw7zrWoASdDFMvnhIkk5rUSDtZ26jU6l00EW9HGV_WFpvKmvQlVC8lOIJLMR8Nj4P21AmP_Xhg1vbNLiJh55scnncXZCxGzGBqPuw7qbRG-5P-88/s400/IMGP7406.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A river crossing</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The next morning we follow our guide out of town and down the steep slopes to the river valley below Sapa.The rice has already been harvested but the terraced hills still provide breathtaking views. It's as if we've take a trip back in time. Water buffalo wade through the terraces munching away at grass and chickens, ducks, pigs, and barefoot children run around, freely, through the villages. It's slow, village life.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLNX1bBBEBUPIVScvvk2et6EuZ69QkLkumJoZ5BfkeOAssGG0uBnGHrAVCcityJKxeuPH0v5s8LXGLtvwD_VvXVps5g3qZ4EIe6lck-06ghbkqxRbJsvwZ9FpWFK3oVunFI56w-Fz1lc/s1600/IMGP7457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLNX1bBBEBUPIVScvvk2et6EuZ69QkLkumJoZ5BfkeOAssGG0uBnGHrAVCcityJKxeuPH0v5s8LXGLtvwD_VvXVps5g3qZ4EIe6lck-06ghbkqxRbJsvwZ9FpWFK3oVunFI56w-Fz1lc/s320/IMGP7457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuyi's two daughters study Vietnamese.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We cross the river and follow Nyui, climbing and zig-zagging up the opposite side of the valley until we reach her house, nestled between the terraces, with streams running past on either side. We meet her husband and her children, two girls and a boy. Nyui works on a shirt she is making, the children spend the day and evening playing and doing schoolwork. We relax, Cozette and I enjoy the view and or surroundings.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpY5chfc-IPmPPDMrP3P2U8TCHQlo4kcWQ4o_PTMYurLyE4JmygJ_gTwsBs0kRvZD8O6Yk-iOV8ccAXO7k0qQb1nZPJqEBHowIZckqfXtjo6dx8jHWQeV1I9psQzSVvpyuk9wJs372vY/s1600/IMGP7621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpY5chfc-IPmPPDMrP3P2U8TCHQlo4kcWQ4o_PTMYurLyE4JmygJ_gTwsBs0kRvZD8O6Yk-iOV8ccAXO7k0qQb1nZPJqEBHowIZckqfXtjo6dx8jHWQeV1I9psQzSVvpyuk9wJs372vY/s320/IMGP7621.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby on board.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
For lunch <i>and</i> dinner we eat pan cooked pork, greens of some sort (Nyui didn't know the name) , and rice. The food is cooked entirely over a fire pit dug into the floor of the dimly lit home. It's delicious. After dinner we're offered rice wine, a strong, pure, alcohol, made from the grain. We go to sleep early.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next morning after breakfast and after the children have gone to school, we set off to visit another village before walking the 10 kilometers back to Sapa. The experience has been truly priceless and Cozette and I are on a high as we say goodbye to Nyui. Our stay in the terraced H'mong village has been a humbling experience that neither Cozette or I will be able to forget. The people are living as traditionally as possible in this day and age, and to have the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a H'mong family, we both agree, has been extraordinary.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DShmrUcp6R5i7QefYKpAvmCCKQkhe7Oljmu1xmysAIJw3jYeUp9UwWoNka1twmgTdx0UJG9DUf7PJa0VWHQPimDEpCQR5w_wrY3EvCgJ_Yvo1GsySfUbu1kaWGpnbQz4uLZV4ycmGbY/s1600/IMGP7648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DShmrUcp6R5i7QefYKpAvmCCKQkhe7Oljmu1xmysAIJw3jYeUp9UwWoNka1twmgTdx0UJG9DUf7PJa0VWHQPimDEpCQR5w_wrY3EvCgJ_Yvo1GsySfUbu1kaWGpnbQz4uLZV4ycmGbY/s640/IMGP7648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower H'mong </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-50429772852102928552011-10-25T00:35:00.000-06:002013-01-09T22:10:26.148-07:00Vietnam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r5KCKXywfgk7QBbKhAucRONJROF8zVCeSAnz7UKoEhpgD7reBIaLvx7p1l1ZF3HVQBgscQcMwQw3OtKoPqVPWOyTp7sIZEIDsXst5wVljVj8t8vjwQY1rWoovSRtUi6HoBLcZaokNnw/s1600/IMGP7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r5KCKXywfgk7QBbKhAucRONJROF8zVCeSAnz7UKoEhpgD7reBIaLvx7p1l1ZF3HVQBgscQcMwQw3OtKoPqVPWOyTp7sIZEIDsXst5wVljVj8t8vjwQY1rWoovSRtUi6HoBLcZaokNnw/s400/IMGP7241.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the more innocent street peddlers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We fly into the chaos that is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. In the streets motorbikes flow like blood through the arteries of the city. The backpackers ghetto is in an area called Pham Ngu Lao. It's busy with hagglers pushing over-priced foods, massages, pot, and prostituted sexual acts, among other things.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCc8oFHRry0S70xrBz9DH4YmOh9fIvaJwAqX7jEfYeh9TSVQyLj8-J4kDimN6T1cSOR2hUS_eh3J7jZRtKOlntqGMkZ2otk8L0NmvXErDs5hVTjjvZweuASmx2mGPZwE6HsvYSOVkiVo/s1600/IMGP7252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCc8oFHRry0S70xrBz9DH4YmOh9fIvaJwAqX7jEfYeh9TSVQyLj8-J4kDimN6T1cSOR2hUS_eh3J7jZRtKOlntqGMkZ2otk8L0NmvXErDs5hVTjjvZweuASmx2mGPZwE6HsvYSOVkiVo/s320/IMGP7252.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">insense burns in a quiet pagoda in Ha Noi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We stay for a few days, long enough to meet some friends, then we flee the city by train to Ha Noi, in the north. After a 40 hour journey we step off in the more relaxed atmosphere of Ha Noi. A central lake in the Old Quarter of the city provides a scenic backdrop for the citizens to do early morning calisthenics or for evening strolls, post dinner. After exploring the narrow picturesque street, we have depleted the activities to do within the city.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJD5oWdaz5GAPCHxuN3zXBynwiu2jO7SqlIvRN52nQV7I3c1amAAeKOmB6KtWvlihyphenhyphenOtAfxw0Z5j0nXIdVGd6gRNVH4bTqa-_QRxA2Cx8bLdh86H6ihy6jH1xhnoJflZWSYcL3jLXpMQ/s1600/IMGP7352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJD5oWdaz5GAPCHxuN3zXBynwiu2jO7SqlIvRN52nQV7I3c1amAAeKOmB6KtWvlihyphenhyphenOtAfxw0Z5j0nXIdVGd6gRNVH4bTqa-_QRxA2Cx8bLdh86H6ihy6jH1xhnoJflZWSYcL3jLXpMQ/s400/IMGP7352.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views along the river.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We take a day tour to The Perfume Pagoda, an area named for it's many fragrant, blossoming trees. Along ride by bus, and a more enjoyable, beautiful ride, up river in boats paddled only by women, put us at our destination. The hills are filled with a number of pagodas built in classic oriental fashion. The most impressive, The Cave Pagoda, is fond at the very top of the mountain, two and a half kilometers up the stairs. The enormous cavern is very impressive and was home to many Buddhist monks before it was, bittersweetly, discovered by the tourism industry.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vm2JO5iHkEUTwbSdqlEX0uAlLGZ5xl__87JM0lqGdnqBUMw2PAFH3gVW5iaz__Z-OsxBfnhCWZWgQ5AvP25MtyTvK-ulNBN7nVrDHu8o2ysIx2YBaC4wUCh4vI-D4yOhj2kAZOM2QFA/s1600/IMGP7359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vm2JO5iHkEUTwbSdqlEX0uAlLGZ5xl__87JM0lqGdnqBUMw2PAFH3gVW5iaz__Z-OsxBfnhCWZWgQ5AvP25MtyTvK-ulNBN7nVrDHu8o2ysIx2YBaC4wUCh4vI-D4yOhj2kAZOM2QFA/s320/IMGP7359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the hills of the Perfume Pagoda.</td></tr>
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We return to Ha Noi and board an</div>
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overnight bus to Sapa the next day.</div>
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Sapa, within shouting distance of the Chinese boarder, is a serene mountain town, first colonized by the French. It's 1650 meters above sea level and the cool, misty air is refreshing after spending time in the heat of the low-laying coastal areas.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2zeCzwS2bCELdszPETU-PFQPdzJlMS_am2Jdqk6QCi_dF4gfkAScd03vu_cSGkJGKBp4oZM2RHpBUGgY2ojSrJQnAFzcXOaFPx-T_Vrof2ma4FmtGuFxagIwZ7VX1xH-ta9wNXSy28Y/s1600/IMGP7417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2zeCzwS2bCELdszPETU-PFQPdzJlMS_am2Jdqk6QCi_dF4gfkAScd03vu_cSGkJGKBp4oZM2RHpBUGgY2ojSrJQnAFzcXOaFPx-T_Vrof2ma4FmtGuFxagIwZ7VX1xH-ta9wNXSy28Y/s640/IMGP7417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View near Sapa, looking into the valley.</td></tr>
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The pace and pushiness of the cities is exhausting. Finally, in Sapa, we relax and slow down. Ahh, this is Vietnam...</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-69904110661632161512011-10-15T04:00:00.003-06:002013-01-09T22:11:53.716-07:00The Philippines with no Reservations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Foreword </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I enjoy traveling through developing countries, like the Philippines, much more than the high profile "first world" sort. Some may see the country as less clean or less technologically advanced but I find that there is more beauty in the people and more opportunity to have a truly memorable, altering experience in such a country. If you can look past the dirt and pollution and rather look into the eyes of the people, you will find these places to be more welcoming than even your home town.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Along with these opinions above, there are some very concrete benefits to traveling in a country like the Philippines. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqPyujIamn89dKFDceEWgAHn3tJQUHNmNEkEI-dFmPbZF3lYwY0tFZQ2MuaBDhYY5TwZ_zqAYwcoD-Qz68mJtLtflzxZqdrLxpiEKA5XsrUQvGob9UugP04zOJtvt48IBnBXgujEmk1E/s1600/IMGP7008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqPyujIamn89dKFDceEWgAHn3tJQUHNmNEkEI-dFmPbZF3lYwY0tFZQ2MuaBDhYY5TwZ_zqAYwcoD-Qz68mJtLtflzxZqdrLxpiEKA5XsrUQvGob9UugP04zOJtvt48IBnBXgujEmk1E/s320/IMGP7008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Jeepney in Tacloban City</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The public transportation here is impeccable. Buses and Jeepneys travel from town to town on a regular, frequent schedule. In towns and cities motorbikes, tricycles, multicabs, and taxis are in high supply. Even bicycle drawn cabbies are cursing the streets in small towns. Frerrys take daily trips between islands with close proximity and less frequent trips to further destinations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Accommodations run from five-star quality to very basic. A basic room has a bed, a fan, and a bathroom with a bucket to shower and flush the toilet with. Even the most luxurious hotels are cheap compared to U.S prices, which brings me to the benefits of the currency exchange. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-YWf7Wt1wKB255Sb5yBC632GLzEgsYF3pTMcS9akzF94_74AEQeXUlQWfrFzMaOAMphcqqF-EsJJ-1NtgJ2z4RrS0zM09591b_cTaX_2h-8-pqey4VI29uNPZMT0hmK22UYx55EdXWY/s1600/IMGP7144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-YWf7Wt1wKB255Sb5yBC632GLzEgsYF3pTMcS9akzF94_74AEQeXUlQWfrFzMaOAMphcqqF-EsJJ-1NtgJ2z4RrS0zM09591b_cTaX_2h-8-pqey4VI29uNPZMT0hmK22UYx55EdXWY/s320/IMGP7144.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cozette's favorite cheap breakfast - Corned beef w/ egg and rice </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Twenty dollars a day is more than plenty here to travel and have fun. This is an average daily cost when paying for long journeys, hotels, food, basic supplies, and unnecessary pleasures like snack foods, internet cafes, and nights out. When not on the move from town to town cost of transportation is greatly reduced. Fifteen dollars a day is a very realistic cost if staying in one place for multiple days. Food is simple, and therefore cheap. Expect to eat rice with every meal, including breakfast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">All of these factors make it easy to travel and see a wide variety of things and people in such a country. So, we travel on a whim. If there is something to be seen we go. It's freedom in the purest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The following is a brief recount of our two month journey through the Philippines and details of our route through the islands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Arrival</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">We arrive at 1am in the Ninoy Aquino International airport in Manila. We have been up since 6am and have been flying or waiting in airports all day. As we shuffle forward and get in line to pass through the immigration checkpoint, I suddenly catch sight of the sign on the booth reading "you must present your visa and departing ticket..." this makes me a little nervous since we have only purchased a one way ticket into the country. When we get to the booth I explain to the clerk that we do not yet have a departure ticket, we didn't know it was necessary. She motions for someone and we're quickly whisked to the side into an office where our passports are taken from our hands to be held behind a desk somewhere. If you have ever traveled internationally you know how nerve racking it would be to give up your passport to and official who precedes to examine and then leave the room with it in hand. Slowly, he returns and asks us how we plan to leave the country, if no return ticket has been purchased. He seems almost accusatory with his words. As if guilty of trying to illegally immigrate into the country, we quickly explain to him that we plan to buy another one way ticket to our next destination, we're only travelers, visiting and then moving on. I emphasis again, as convincingly as possible, that we did not know we needed a departure ticket. Another official with a badge of some sort steps into the office and the man we have just been explaining ourselves to brings him up to speed on the situation. They speak in Tagalog and I can't pick up any sort of emotion in the unfamiliar language. "How much trouble are we in?", I wonder. After they finish speaking they both turn their gazes to us. One of the men has his brow lowered, his eyes scanning back and forth between Cozette and I, the other repeatedly taps the edge of a stack of papers against the table top separating us. It's obvious they are both thinking about how to handle the situation. Some high up representative from Korean Air walks into the office. We flew into Manila on the airline and they are taking a fine for letting us enter the country without a departure ticket in the first place. He too is informed of the predicament. Cozette and I just stand waiting for questions or instructions or something. We feel pretty helpless with the situation. Two security guards lug our bags from the carousel just on the other side of the immigration booths. It's like looking across the border to freedom, it's so close. For a moment I wonder if we can just sneak through when everyone is busy. That bubble bursts as soon as I realize that that is exactly why they have taken our passports. Besides, that would land us in a lot more trouble, and in an entirely different kind of room than the one we are standing in. After 10 minutes or so of sitting and waiting in the office with nothing being done, we manage to communicate that we have a laptop, and if there is wireless internet, we can buy our tickets right now. They tell us to try it. We walk back and forth in this small area of the airport, stuck between the immigration booths and the security desk in the hall way leading back to the terminal. There are three network connections available but one is down and the other two are password protected. No one we ask knows the password, of course. An immigration officer comes from the office every five minutes or so to check on us. He knows we have no working internet connection but has no present solution. After half an hour trying the internet and asking for help from various security guards, info desk clerks, and other airport personnel, no one seems to have access to the internet. The officer returns and tells us that immigration will be closing at 3am, if we don't come up with our tickets by then we will be put on a return flight to Honolulu, where we had come from. We would be deported before we could even enter. My heart quickens a little. It's already 2am and we have made zero progress. We are trapped between checkpoints in a foreign airport, we're tired and under stress, and it seems as though immigration is hanging us out to dry, offering as little help and sympathy as possible. To make the situation even more difficult, communication is only half clear most of the time. We ask an airport employee if they can go to find an airline representative, maybe we can arrange to book an over priced ticket out of the country. The employee leaves, looking confident enough and walking in the right direction. Five or so minutes pass and we soon realize that the employee is not going to be our savior after all. We ask three people in all to help, none return. We are on our own, we realize, no one really cares. As Cozette and I start to freak out a little, searching for options and having no luck, the representative that had taken the fine for Korean Air returns. "Do you have a credit card?", he asks. We hand it over quickly, anything to get us through immigration to freedom. If he</span><span style="font-size: small;"> has a flight to book for us we will take it! We're desperate at this point. "You will be flying back to Honolulu", he says commandingly, as if the decisions is final. "We don't want to fly back to Oahu!", Cozette replies in her own authoritative tone. "It's the only option, you will have tickets for the 28th of August." he responds. "No, we're not going back", we both explain. He looks around him and then motions for us to walk with him as he turns his back on the immigration office. A few steps later, he says in a hushed tone,"Fake. The itinerary will be fake, just to get you through immigration." This seems like serious business, Cozette and I exchange glances. "A fake ticket?" I ask. "Yes, I will have someone bring them over. It's the only way." We give this some thought. "Can we do that?", I ask. "Yes, just play along, say it was the only flight available, and you will make it through." "Ok, do we need to pay you though?" "No", He says, " The airline has already taken a fine, it's late and I just want to go home."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> In five minutes someone brings us two printed itineraries for a flight to Honolulu on the 28th of August. They are completely legitimate. Someone has actually paid on a different credit card, to be canceled by the airline, I assume. Everything looks correct and our names appear next to the ticket numbers so we collect our luggage and passports form the office, explaining to the officers how we are so bummed we will be going back the way we came. We're lying through our teeth. We pass through the booths with no issue, our tickets are flawless, and we walk into the pick up area breathing sighs of relief. What a night! After an overpriced taxi ride to our hostel we finally relax into bed sometime around 3:30 am. It seems like the night has been a nightmare, but on second thought I decide it's just part of the unpredictability that comes with traveling, and that it will make a good story. Next time though, we will be more careful. We drift to sleep and don't wake until late the next morning. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route through The Philippines</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Hospitality of the Philippines</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwe-OcX2y4DTxvWmYDFkNq1Yrprdo-xRJsHxUxuCQnK-giRuR3gkk6WYsyKLQoiFH3vnvH00hFa-1KqLddoEMsjl9vJatlpQe6NCuMDyaEJ6UHffGeUBVjINtflYKWTPlNCY5SN6gZMU/s1600/IMGP6933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwe-OcX2y4DTxvWmYDFkNq1Yrprdo-xRJsHxUxuCQnK-giRuR3gkk6WYsyKLQoiFH3vnvH00hFa-1KqLddoEMsjl9vJatlpQe6NCuMDyaEJ6UHffGeUBVjINtflYKWTPlNCY5SN6gZMU/s320/IMGP6933.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Miguel - the Philippine original</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We stay in Manila for a week. We meet a new friend named Edgar on <a href="http://couchsurfing.org/" style="color: blue;">couchsurfing.org</a>. He lives in Makati, Metro Manila. A few days are spent touring around the city and nights are spent out dancing, enjoying the night life in the Capitol city. It's a good time, the three of us, plus Will, another couchsurfer from Australia, sharing Ed's apartment. We came to the Philippines with no real plans, we didn't know much about the country or it's attractions. This ignorance , making the place so alluring, is what pushed us to visit the islands in the first place. We've picked the right person to stay with because Ed just happens to be a travel writer himself. Having seen almost all of the Philippines, he becomes our trip planner and concierge. Within a day or two we learn from him all of the places to go, and people to meet. He boasts a very well written blog - <a href="http://www.eazytraveler.com/" style="color: blue;">www.eazytraveler.com</a> , and he is a fantastic photographer. With Ed's recommendation we have our plans to take dive lessons in Davao and enjoy the Katayawan festival there the following weekend. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couch surfing party at Ed's place in Manila. Photo by Will Hoffman</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In Davao, we are greeted by our divemaster, Frank, a Danish man, at the airport. We go back to his house where we stay, and are made to feel at home, for three weeks in Davao. For more about our time in Davao read my previous posts, "Salamat Davao", "A Day of Diving" , and "A Filipino Family Experience".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Island Hopping</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our three weeks in Davao fly by and I'm more than ready to get out of the city. We've spent a month in the country already and have yet to leave a metropolitan area. The bus to northern Mindanao promises time spent in small towns, villages and rural parts of the country. We speed down the road in an empty, air-conditioned bus through the mountainous center of Mindanao. 8 hours later we step off in the town of Cagayan De Oro on the northern coast of the island. We decide that the air-conditioned buses are not for us. The chilly air blasts the entire time, forcing us to bundle up in jackets and blankets, and the higher price keeps the locals riding the slower, "non-aircon" buses. Riding with the people is half the fun. As we transfer to our next bus, the non-aircon heading further north to Balingoan, we get many curious stares as we push and squeeze our way to the back of the very full bus, avoiding hitting people with our large backpacks. Every bus and jeepney ride from here on out will resemble this. People ask the basics, where are we from? Are we missionaries? Are we enjoying the Philippines? The people have no shortage of kindness and are more than excepting of our awkward presence among them. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBhO582g__UKTqOmRcHaGykja-FrfYWoms5DMgYfPhojWXAg4G_K-pDdxUfk3a4szDDv4ddCNQwN-hBaSP59bWeh-791xCw_Q2MN__WtCUFo9FuU88AYu8FOzA95MPLU2iT4WCQ_pfeo/s1600/IMGP7042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBhO582g__UKTqOmRcHaGykja-FrfYWoms5DMgYfPhojWXAg4G_K-pDdxUfk3a4szDDv4ddCNQwN-hBaSP59bWeh-791xCw_Q2MN__WtCUFo9FuU88AYu8FOzA95MPLU2iT4WCQ_pfeo/s400/IMGP7042.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The "Non-aircon"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">We barrel down the snaking road at speeds that would make a car passenger uncomfortable, weaving in and out of our lane as we pass slower traffic. There are no windows on this bus, the cool night air blows freely through. As the bus comes to a slow roll to let people off, the crowd thins out and pretty soon it is only me and Cozette to the end of the line. We pull into the small port town at 10pm. It's raining and the town is empty. We will catch a ferry the next morning but since there are no hotels or lodging houses in town, our bus driver escorts us to a house by the pier where travelers awaiting the ferry can rest and wait. We tip him and head to sleep. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Camiguine from Balingoan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the island's many falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sunken Cemetary</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The island of Camiguine is an hour and a half ferry ride to the north of Balingoan. We arrive before noon and find a budget hotel for our base camp. The tiny island cannot be more than 50 miles in circumference and a coastal road hugs the sea all the way around. Because of it's size we rent a motorbike and spend the next day touring and eventually circumnavigating the unspoiled island. This island of volcanic conception is home to some refreshing waterfalls and sweeping coastal views. We spend some time snorkeling at "The sunken cemetery", which was swallowed by the sea after an earthquake in 1871. It's since become a home for corals and fish in the warm shallows surrounding the monumental cross that memorializes the site. It takes only one day to explore the island on our motorbike and the next day we almost miss the departing ferry to Bohol. Arriving at the wrong port town only fifteen minutes before the ferry is due to leave, we quickly hire two men with motorcycles to get us where we need to be. Racing through the curves along the winding road with our 40 lb packs almost dragging us off of the back of the bikes, we make it to the right port, 10 kilometers or so away, just in time. With windswept hair we set off to the island of Bohol. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Google image of Chocolate Hills</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Google : Tarsier</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bohol has two main tourist attractions. The first of which is The Chocolate Hills, a large frequency of clustered, perfectly shaped hills, that turn a chocolate color during the dry season. Science has discovered the hills to be remnants of prehistoric ocean reefs, while Filipino legend tells that they are tear drops from a giant. The second of the islands popular attractions is a critter called the Tarsier. It's the world's smallest and oldest living species of primate. We decide to skip both of these attractions. We are told by a guide that the Chocolate hills were actually deforested to create their bald, ferry tale like</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">, grassy covered slopes. This immediately takes away the wonder of the strange hills for us. The Tarsier, doomed by it's cute and cuddly appearance and it's over exposure by the Philippine department of tourism, has, for the most part, been illegally captured and caged for tourists to photograph and gawk at. We weren't about to support this industry so instead we spent a couple of days in Tagbilaran City with close proximity to Pangalao Island. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bikini Beach, Pangalo Island, </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cave Swimming pools</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A pristine and expensive dive location, Pangalao has many world class dive resorts. We take a day trip to Bikini beach, one of white sand and warm shallows, where we do more snorkeling. Pangalao also has a small cave with an underground swimming hole consisting of both fresh and salt water. As we make our way through Bohol's interior, in a northeasterly direction, we spend a night camping in Rajah Sikatuna National Park. The Park has seen better days, it's mostly abandoned with a few scattered empty buildings and only minimal necessary staff. The camp ground is a large cleared area with dense forest surroundings. In the fading light of the evening a clan of monkeys comes swinging and crashing through the canopy. We hear them calling to each other long before they can be seen and like a gang, ten or so of the primates make their way to the ground and head straight for us. They sit only a few yards from where we are in the progress of setting up our tent. They study us for awhile and then, realizing we won't be offering any food, they move elsewhere. Later, we spot a flying lemur gliding to a jack fruit tree in our clearing for an evening snack. After a night of steady rain, we accompanied the park's bird watching guide on a walk through the dense tangled rain forest. He can identify every bird by it's call and he even plays his own recordings to try coaxing the birds down into view, but the birds are high and out of sight. Instead we walk and he points out insects and lizards and tells jokes along the way. That's good enough for us. </span>We spend another uneventful night in Ubay, on the NE coast of the island and catch the ferry to Leyte.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A night in Maasin is occupied by drinks which leads to singing karaoke with the locals. Karaoke, by the way, has been a popular evening activity ever since it was introduced by the Japanese. It's hard to go a day without hearing someone's shameless rendition of a popular tune blaring from a bar or eatery. It's not always pleasant to the ears but it offers a challenge to the singer and a good time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In Padre Burgos, in the south, we find a perfectly secluded beach with clear water and great views, sometimes hard to come by in the Philippines. We camp so close to the water that the rising tide threatens to flood our tent in the night. The beach has good snorkeling with corals right off shore. It's a hangout for locals and fisherman, children wrestle in and out of the water all day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uIz3gjNO54pGvG_FYuz3xlLVCxSa-GQsV8HEMmzXT3n8R5poWMXfnNiSe2EqshyROeBGVADiZIUY2bOOjm4-0fdTZDuzf8Oa5cA-hfRfCV8bMp4Q_ae2OTqOMvm2Zt6-mer4mT8fHYI/s1600/IMGP6951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uIz3gjNO54pGvG_FYuz3xlLVCxSa-GQsV8HEMmzXT3n8R5poWMXfnNiSe2EqshyROeBGVADiZIUY2bOOjm4-0fdTZDuzf8Oa5cA-hfRfCV8bMp4Q_ae2OTqOMvm2Zt6-mer4mT8fHYI/s400/IMGP6951.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping near Padre Burgos.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We make our way up the Leyte's west coast to Ormoc. On a Saturday night the strip along the harbor is filled with people.Vendors line the street selling popcorn, peanuts, chicharrones, and lechon manok (grilled chicken). An "Ormoc Idol", singing competition, is being held in the town square. Kids of varying ages sit in small groups in the park. Restaurants all around sit guests outside who sip beer and feast, enjoying the pleasant evening, just a typical Saturday evening in the town of 200,000 or so. We join in on the fun, relaxing in a restaurant and listening to the live music. Cruising the streets, we get lots of stares, smiles, and "Good evenings!", as do we anywhere.We sleep in a budget room and head for Tacloban, the island's provincial capitol, sometime the next day. In Tacloban we find a lodging house where students attending the nearby university board. It's a large, old house owned by an elderly lady. We accidentally scare her a couple of times as we come into the large living area, and again, later when we try to pay her, she doesn't hear us approaching. The house has many rooms, a large courtyard for hanging laundry and it's close to good food. We are tired from moving from place to place so we relax and stay here for 3 days before heading on to the next island of Samar.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">ABCD surf beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">North of Tacloban is a bridge spanning the channel between Leyte and Samar. We take a bus across and down to the small town of Guiuan on the southern most tip of Samar. Samar is one of the poorest islands in the Philippines, it can be seen from the windows of the bus as we pass through villages not on our map or in the travel guide. Dwellings in rural areas are open air huts made from bamboo wood and palm leaves. The bus weaves around squares of rice spread on the road tops to dry, the only flat place suitable for the necessary, life sustaining, process. It's a reminder of how basic the laws of existence are; eat and survive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Guiuan is a small and simple town. The main source of transportation are petty cabs drawn by bicycle. During WWII Guiuan was a strategically placed naval base for the U.S to launch attacks on Japan. There were 150,000 troops stationed here. Remnants of the base are still seen today. The island of Homonhon to the south is where Ferdinand Magellan first landed in 1521, claiming the Philippines for the Spain. He was murdered soon after by Chief Lapu-Lapu near what is now Cebu City.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We venture to the nearby Calicoan island and stumble upon the one of the archipelago's best surfing spots, ABCD beach. The beach holds an annual surfing competition October 7th-9th, attracting local and international competition to this long stretch of Pacific facing coast.The surfers invite us to their hut and we spend the afternoon chatting, watching people ride the waves and generally having a good time. The location is pretty remote so we wait 30 minutes or so for someone to pass, offering us a ride. We are back in town by dark.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgjUz55-SeVXc9VPE3nKVvFixGKk1eErLBG0c2m2duQJjkQxNfYHajwiTkkJpPmY2LcMBdC16k67GBfKjWBEY7tH5tpkHrP71Ju2F9jK9cq8-5_8XbYTS2Tt68XORpM8-YCIrgLy0-88/s1600/IMGP7137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgjUz55-SeVXc9VPE3nKVvFixGKk1eErLBG0c2m2duQJjkQxNfYHajwiTkkJpPmY2LcMBdC16k67GBfKjWBEY7tH5tpkHrP71Ju2F9jK9cq8-5_8XbYTS2Tt68XORpM8-YCIrgLy0-88/s400/IMGP7137.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cozette enjoys the 4-hr ride on the roof of a Jeepney</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The next day before we leave, we go snorkeling in the harbor by our hotel. The water is murky with low visibility and as we swim Cozette has a run in with a jellyfish and she gets stung on her arm and feet.We end our snorkeling promptly and Cozette makes a new enemy.The stinging subsides in an hour or so and soon we are on the move again. We catch a jeepney heading north. there's no more room inside so we opt for a ride on the roof, The breeze is refreshing and the views of the countryside and rural villages is unmatched. We arrive in Borangon where we do nothing for a couple of days and then we go to Catbalogan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Catbalogan may be one of Samar's only real tourist destinations. On the West coast, Catbalogan is the jumping off point for many of the Philippines best caves. Joni Bonifacio has a business here guiding people to the untouched caves, waterfalls, and gorges in the islands interior. We meet with him the next morning and spend the day in Lobo cave. To read more about our caving experience see my post, "Caving in Samar".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We leave Catbalogan and after one day of travel by bus and an excruciatingly delayed and unorganized journey by ferry, we arrive in Matnog on the southern tip of Luzon. Matnog is a small town with no real hotels, so we are guided by someone so conveniently waiting for us to come off of the ferry, to a small house where we pay too much for a room. The next day is spent in Legaspi, a city at the foot of a dangerously active volcano, Mt. Mayon, who's last eruption was in 2009. My intention for coming to Legaspi was to photograph the perfectly shaped volcano, but the clouds were stubborn and we never saw the top of the cone.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Google image of Mt. Mayon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A ten hour bus ride put us back in Manila at 4:30 am on a Friday morning. We finished our tour where we began. We spend the next couple of days at Ed's place preparing for the next leg of our travel, and we have one more night on the town to celebrate with our new friends.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Afterthoughts</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Philippines is a destination worthy of my return and of anyone's exploration. I only had the time to explore a fraction of this Nation, there's much left unseen. It's home to hospitable, friendly people. Everywhere you go, from villagers living the most basic of lives, to busy Manila residents, you are sure to be welcomed with a smile. The Philippines is a place of beauty; sprawling, reflective rice fields lay at the base of palm covered volcanoes, and uncounted numbers of beaches offer inviting aqua-colored waters, provoking long days of sun induced laziness. Reputation often warns people to avoid this SE Asian Archipelago, but if you believe seeing is believing, you will be taken back by the abundant experiences you will have, and humbled by the way of life that the islands are home to. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-23239597714063546102011-10-09T09:10:00.001-06:002013-01-09T22:13:25.601-07:00Caving in Samar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the entrance to Lobo Cave, contemplating the impending doom that must lay inside.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyh0DsFx9wJ1tMbQiRHhRYpSnkro1PcaPtg64QyaPYZI3H-zi67mtb57z0wqpQllvtdzFKaMwyGJwWXh0cSypXfOCUdydmcGeXZQrC0mzeFi9qJGJFVwic6wMWFDk65zpj_Kx67vserc/s1600/bat+flying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyh0DsFx9wJ1tMbQiRHhRYpSnkro1PcaPtg64QyaPYZI3H-zi67mtb57z0wqpQllvtdzFKaMwyGJwWXh0cSypXfOCUdydmcGeXZQrC0mzeFi9qJGJFVwic6wMWFDk65zpj_Kx67vserc/s320/bat+flying.JPG" width="240" /></a>Samar is home to the Philippines best caves. Although, because of popular Filipino superstitions and folklore, many of them still lay unexplored, locals fearing what unknown may be found inside. In Catbalogan on the west coast is a man named Joni Bonifacio who has been exploring the islands most remote and "mysterious" caves for most of his life. We meet with him at his shop, <a href="http://trexplore.blogspot.com/2007/08/trexplore-adventures-samar-island.html">Trexplore</a>, and we learn about one of the caves in the area named Lobo cave. The cave had only recently been explored in 2005, by Joni himself. Every few years Italian spelunkologists (cave scientist) visit Samar island to explore and map newly found caves. Joni is the man they come to, guiding them to the caves , Lobo being a more recent one, and assisting them in the mapping of the cave system.Visiting one of these "virgin" caves sounds entirely too tempting to resist so we make plans to meet the next morning to set off for Lobo cave.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cozette searching for a route up the waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several sections completely flooded.</td></tr>
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We meet Joni at the shop where breakfast is waiting. After a short Jeepney ride and an hour long hike through a small village and past hillsides filled with pineapple, we arrive at the toothy entrance to the cave. We suit up in special brightly colored caving suits, donned our helmets and headlamps and enter. The cave is considered a "virgin cave" because it is still 100% natural. No mining, guano harvesting or tourism development has been done. It's my first time in such an untouched sanctuary. There are places we have to rock climb through small holes in the cave celing and floor, no ladders here or foot paths like the caves found back in the states. It isn't long before he makes us put on life vests and we we're wading, and then swimming, through narrow passages filled with water.We pause for lunch by an underground waterfall and enjoy a home cooked meal prepared by his wife. After lunch there is more water and mud to crawl through. Parts of the cave wall and formations are covered in white sparkling calcite that glisten like diamonds in the rarely shown light. We spend some quality time with the resident cave dwellers; bats, blind crabs, and cave spiders. Eventually, after exploring the extent of the subterranean labyrinth, Joni leads us out of a secondary exit. We swim down a long tunnel, so perfectly shaped that it could be a set in an Indiana Jones film. Ducking under some stalactites, we finally see the blinding light pouring in from the cave's exit. We rise to the outer world and the warm, welcoming sunlight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blind cave spider, harmless, but ugly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ride in the canoe down river back to the road.</td></tr>
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After changing and walking another short distance, we all get into a canoe and we are down river at the road shortly. The entire day Joni did an excellent job of photographing our experience and at the end of the day he gave us a CD with all of the pictures he took. We spent a total of 6 hours in the cave and as we say goodbye, Joni assures us that if we ever come back to Samar that there are many more caves to explore and adventure to be had.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">All Photos by Joni Bonofacio. Learn more about his company, Trexplore</span> - <a href="http://trexplore.blogspot.com/2007/08/trexplore-adventures-samar-island.html">Click Here</a> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-35588329738560897942011-09-21T23:14:00.000-06:002013-01-09T22:14:24.270-07:00A Filipino Family Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family outing to Eden Park</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We were one big happy family. Over the 3 weeks that it took to complete our diving courses we were invited to stay in our Divemaster's home. It was a very full and busy house, ten of us under one roof; Divemaster Frank, Mari Lou, Cozette and I, and the six children, Jakie, Jayare, Javina, Kei, Mako, and Lahia.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lovely Mari Lou</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />We didn't expect to stay more than a week, but Mari Lou, our most gracious hostess, had other plans for us. She took the liberty of being our personal guide and planned everyday with things to do and places to visit. When we were not diving, she made sure we were comfortable, stuffed full of delicious food, and had an itinerary as to not miss any of the sights around Davao. When Frank got ill it put a hold on our schedule for a few days, then Cozette and I took turns being sick.This all threw kinks into our dive plans and prolonged our stay, but we were assured that we were welcome, everyone was having a good time.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere over the rainbow...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rare Mako fish!</td></tr>
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The ten of us went to the beach or to a park on the weekends for "Family day". At night us "adults" would go out to restaurants, for a massage, or to the disco. All locations were preselected by Mari Lou. Frank and Mari Lou were very stubborn about letting us share the cost of our outings. We had to be very sneaky to slip our money into a restaurant bill or to pay for a taxi fare. Frequently we were told by a waiter that the bill was pre paid before we had ordered. Sneaky, sneaky, Mari Lou!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span>When we had finally finished our diving and it was time to leave, it was hard to say good bye to our new Filipino family. One of the children asked, "Will you stay? Or come back soon? Maybe in November?". Afraid not... So a piece of our hearts remains in Davao City in southern Mindanao. Some day we may reunite, but our time together will be remembered forever.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com3Lumba - Bayabao, Philippines7.7109916554332294 124.453125-23.09152634456677 84.0234375 38.513509655433225 164.8828125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-75340579904460398382011-09-21T21:57:00.000-06:002013-01-09T22:17:30.760-07:00A Day of Diving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After surfacing. In the back ground: The Ann-Lise 3 and the Davao Dive Crew.</td></tr>
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<blockquote>
We finished our Advanced SCUBA dive training off of the coast of Samal island in southern Mindanao. The water was clam and the sun shined as we floated lazily across the channel on the Ann-Lise 3. Three dives were planned to wrap up our advanced certification.<span style="font-size: small;">The first dive of the day was a "deep dive", a dive exceeding 25m, 82ft.</span> We plunged into the blue, quickly having more water above us than ever before. It was an uneventful dive, if there can be any such thing. We observed fish and swam about. Colors all fade. Red is washed out before 20ft followed by orange, yellow and green. Below 70ft everything, corals, and fish are all shades of blue and purple. Decompression sickness or "the bends" is a factor to account for when diving at these depths. It occurs because the nitrogen that is mixed with the oxygen in your air tank gets forced into the cells of your skin tissue over the duration of the dive. At 30m the pressure is 4x greater than on the surface. What this means is that if you stay down too long, or ascend too quickly, not allowing enough time for the nitrogen to leave your cells and be exhaled, it expands to 4x it's volume. <b>This Hurts</b>! One can imagine having intense internal pain under your skin from these expanding bubbles. Don't worry it didn't happen to us. Using a simple table to factor depth and time we can plan dives to avoid this painful experience. We ascended casually to the boat and ate lunch.</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 25m, 82ft below the surface.</td></tr>
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The second dive was a search and recovery dive. This dive is used for finding lost items, a pair of keys, for example, that have been dropped over board. Using a compass we navigated a couple different search patterns. One was an expanding spiral and the other an alternating "U" search pattern. It was damn difficult too, with the current constantly pushing us sideways off of our line of direction. It takes a lot of practice to be anything more than awful at navigating underwater. We had to first review navigation above water before we had any chance at being successful below. We also practiced swimming at mid level in the water. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">With no line of reference, too far from the bottom and too far from the surface, it's very easy to become disorientated</span>.</span> There's nothing to judge your speed or direction, only limitless blue. If it weren't for the bubbles you wouldn't know up from down. With air running low, back up to the boat we went.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cozette with her new snorkel and goggles.</td></tr>
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Our final dive as students was a night dive! The sun fell into the water and we began to follow its example. We prepared our dive torches, attached extra lights to our gear and suited up. nervously we descended into the black water. Down, down, down, only blackness until the bottom. The Corals open up more at night, some fanning out into the surrounding water. Despite the depth, colors appeared vividly bright in the light of our torches, punctuated by the contrast of the dark water. Most fish were hidden away in their cracks and crevices to escape nocturnal predators like octopus. Some fish were active though, kinds you can only see at night, the "second act", as our divemaster put it. The darkness added a certain mysteriousness and an eerie, alien-like feeling to the sea floor.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I felt like I was exploring the surface of a distant planet, expecting to see some unrecognizable creature come floating towards me out of the darkness</span>.</span> A twinge of claustrophobia is felt from the encasing blackness in all directions, similar to what I have felt only inside of a cave. We covered our lights and enjoyed the show, millions of bio-luminescent plankton flashed sparks of green in the water around us, The lightning bugs of the sea. Just as the current began to get very strong, we found the boat's anchor line and ascended one final time as dive students. Aboard and exhausted from the long day, we drank hot coffee and cruised back to the port and home. Food, shower, sleep and dreams of future diving.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Check out our dive school on Facebook!</span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/davaoscubadive" style="color: blue;">Davao Scuba Dive</a></b></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0Banisilan-Wao Rd, Banisilan, Philippines7.7109916554332294 124.8046875-7.37707784456677 104.5898435 22.799061155433229 145.0195315tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-79384864865758796962011-08-26T02:02:00.001-06:002011-10-01T08:44:05.257-06:00Salamat Davao<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had some very cool pictures that would have accompanied this blog post but I forgot my flash drive in a public internet cafe and now they are gone... You live and you learn I suppose. I'll write anyway... <br />
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The city of Davao is on the island of Mindanao, the southernmost "main" island of the Philippine archipelago. Davao is the second largest city in the world in terms of land area. There are many things to do around the city. To the south stands Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines at 2954 meters or 9692 feet. To the east, an ocean playground, and all around, friendly people and good food.<br />
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The small island of Samal, a short ferry ride across the channel, is home to the World's largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette fruit bats. The smell is worth the experience. Millions of tiny winged rodents chatter as they hang throughout the day in the caverns, five or six skylight openings allow a view of the bats. Every inch of the cave wall is occupied by a little snout nosed bat and mothers may hold a little one under their wings. The bottom of the cave, as expected, has been filled up with excriment from it's nocternal residents. When the breeze blows the right way a warm, thick, can I say sweet?, aroma finds it's way to your nose. On the way out of the viewing area we spotted the "princess bat", the colony's only albino member, a small white spot in a sea of brown.<br />
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We have taken advantage of the cheap rates and have enrolled in the PADI Open Water Scuba course. For only 13,500 Pisos ($321 US) and four full days of diving and studying, you can have a life-time dive certification. The ecology and environments under the surface reveal themselves as both thrilling and meditative. The Philippines lays right in the middle of the "Coral Triangle". This is the area most densely populated with corals, and therefor, extremely biologically diverse. In the past year, 50 new species of sea slug, a sea star who only feeds on decaying drift wood, and a deep water shark who swells to fend off predators, have been discovered in the Philippine archipelago. When we dive, the reefs come in to view displaying multicolored corals, giant sponges of varying shapes, fish of bright colors and amusing shapes, and alien like crustaceans. Underwater photography interests me as a possible future pursuit. The ocean floor is a totally different world from the one we walk and it's such a privileged to have the means to visit it, if only for the duration of the air on my back.<br />
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In Davao, a culinary hot spot, one can visit any number of markets where fresh fish, chicken, beef, pork, vegetables, fruits ect. can be bought. Rows of open air stalls fill a huge warehouse like space. Fish and meat is laid out over ice that has been shaved and broken off of large, delivered blocks. The quickly melting ice, the smell of fish, and the pairing of the words "open air" and "meat", may be enough to scare away a lot of people wary of health risks. I was cautious at first too, but was quickly assured by our native Davao host and guide, Mary Lou, that the meat is the freshest cut and the fish, the freshest catch you can find. "They will not have a chance to go bad before we prepare them." We bought fresh squid, green oysters, live crabs, the largest shrimp I've ever seen, and a whole chicken. Outside we hopped on the back of three motorcycle taxis, bags in hand and weaved our way through traffic. When we got home Mary Lou fixed the feast and we enjoyed every last bit. Cheap, fresh and delicious.<br />
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The Kadayawan Festival is a large festival held every year in Davao in August. It started when local tribes came together to celebrate the bounty of the years harvest. Now it's just a big week long celebration with parts of the past interwoven. The Festivities climax with a huge parade and a tribal dance competition. Colorful costumes inspired by bright flowers are worn and floats are adorned with plants and flowers. People eat, drink and dance all night, (as they seem to do anytime of the year) and schools and businesses are closed. This festival is only held in Davao. Every other province has it's own festival, some celebrating harvest, fishing seasons, or saints. It doesn't take much to get people to celebrate in the Philippines, and why should it? Life is a celebration!<br />
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I will miss the fun here in Davao and will take the memories with we to the next great place. Salamat, "Thank you"- in Filipino, Davao! Your people, atmosphere, food and way of living make it hard to leave. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-3068988421002069122011-08-17T00:36:00.002-06:002013-01-09T22:16:48.308-07:00Good MorningThe Philippines!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makati City, Manila, The Philippines</td></tr>
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Waking up in the City of Manila is like being in the New York of the Philippines. With 16 million people it is a bustling capitol and economic center during the day and reveals itself as a non-stop sprawling party scene when the sun goes down. The locals are fun, hospitable and they all seem to have rhythm!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide variety of fresh street food</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeepneys, a major source of public transportation, were converted from US jeeps left over from WW11</td></tr>
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The streets are full of a variety of Asian foods from Thai to local fresh fish and soups. You can find just about anything to satisfy a hungry traveler. If your feeling gutsy try a local Filipino delicacy, Balut - a fertilized, half developed, boiled duck egg!<br />
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If that's too much for your eyes or gut to handle just stop for a bite at Jolibee, the Philippine's most popular fast-food restaurant. Although the Manila area is the most costly area of the country your money can still go a long way. A filling meal anywhere should not cost you more than 300 Piso ($7USD) per person. And the Philippines is home to "The World's Cheapest Beer", San Miguel. If the all nighters of dancing and eating don't completely wear you out, hop on a Jeepney or catch a cab to explore the rich history of the city. Visit Intramuros, the the Spanish walled city built during the Spanish Colonial Period in the 16th century.Walk through Rizal park or find any number of useful and novelty items at the market in Old Manila. When it's time to get out of the city hop a cheap flight to one of the southern provinces and be on the beach before you know it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a Guard dressed in Spanish Colonial era uniform</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-38116085154563738672011-08-12T03:55:00.001-06:002013-01-09T22:19:10.094-07:00Aloha and Mahalo Maui<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After we finished house sitting for Kelly and Allan Cozette and I set out on a mission to see the remaining eastern shore of the island we had not gotten to yet. From the house in Haiku we hitched up to the 10,000 ft summit of Haleakala, House of the Sun, "the world's largest dormant volcano". The road to the top from sea level to summit is only 37 miles, ending above the clouds. From there we spent three days packing across the crater floor and descending down the Kaupo Gap on the eastern side of the National Park.</div>
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<tr><td closure_uid_5yhu9d="276" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc0OxzdK4uqxaFA6SQNgFphsSsK_NZ6MeCJf0DD5q8LQWiw1n_j7SMQnYtz66F4UBVCl_-vwAp-I1Ia6XXEXsbX6F_oowD1yZK7fApvMWCWO07WamE8ldm6GfpbF4jqbBGBczcjZigJE/s1600/haleakala-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc0OxzdK4uqxaFA6SQNgFphsSsK_NZ6MeCJf0DD5q8LQWiw1n_j7SMQnYtz66F4UBVCl_-vwAp-I1Ia6XXEXsbX6F_oowD1yZK7fApvMWCWO07WamE8ldm6GfpbF4jqbBGBczcjZigJE/s640/haleakala-map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_5yhu9d="343" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Line Shows Our Route.</td></tr>
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Once we reached the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.6608333333,-156.1&spn=0.01,0.01&q=20.6608333333,-156.1%20%28Kipahulu%2C%20Hawaii%29&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Kipahulu, Hawaii">Kipahulu</a> area on the eastern coast we camped for a couple of nights before continuing through Hana and back around, Northwest, to complete our circuit. The trip took a total of 6 days and was a great end to our stay on the island. We managed to circumnavigate the entire island while we were there for our month and two weeks, seeing everything there is to see on a backpackers budget. From our calculations we spent roughly $500 each while on the island, including concert tickets and a couple of nights eating out. Not bad considering Maui will probably be the most expensive leg of our trip.<br />
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Here are the pictures from our last bout of backpacking around up and over Haleakala and around the Eastern coast. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl6QMLQFuXSlZaX5gnCinUjcOGZGklEPrzHleBrVfNvVUtZpYZR4GcUtgEix_diSjliKNG3DDLJqHsKTCVVLa6IHWyE2xjRwLvOqoZJlezlilg1vxSpxov8wj3gwulu7Wt3z9k7_Q7Cg/s1600/IMGP5228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl6QMLQFuXSlZaX5gnCinUjcOGZGklEPrzHleBrVfNvVUtZpYZR4GcUtgEix_diSjliKNG3DDLJqHsKTCVVLa6IHWyE2xjRwLvOqoZJlezlilg1vxSpxov8wj3gwulu7Wt3z9k7_Q7Cg/s640/IMGP5228.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Ahinahina, "Silversword" is found in the Haleakala crater and nowhere else in the world. It's leaves are covered in small silver colored hairs to reflect sunlight and retain moisture. It is a member of the Asteraceae or sunflower family.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHIkfbPVMF7Gi2j9OyIhtPd8baHjSn5uWnMsPQwYw1xCgLenns_Y3AUQFcxtqOULGXghUePIK7Y3LCOrnxlnpnax8hjJXvyZItSUnHjFyyCK0AZMCa8uSzn0wAVFQ_iGrjzAOcxK87tI/s1600/IMGP5241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHIkfbPVMF7Gi2j9OyIhtPd8baHjSn5uWnMsPQwYw1xCgLenns_Y3AUQFcxtqOULGXghUePIK7Y3LCOrnxlnpnax8hjJXvyZItSUnHjFyyCK0AZMCa8uSzn0wAVFQ_iGrjzAOcxK87tI/s640/IMGP5241.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Areas of the crater floor are devoid of life. No plants, insects or animals are found here. It is uncomfortably silent. It's rarely windy and on calm days scientific instruments used to measure sound have read zero decibels.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In such a lunar scape we thought it appropriate to take gravity defying pictures. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW7mZN8GNlRpMuADn5HV-XPe0Aomorl_zdvcrIFiiCf4BNGvfacXpCqzK_6KSYaaoc7vDgPEaQg5FOFuF9pdDWpio8SuWHZQUVrWXt39Hmx2RHnbVvDIHqsGEc2GwIlHgCwRcf3lZDuI/s1600/IMGP5250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW7mZN8GNlRpMuADn5HV-XPe0Aomorl_zdvcrIFiiCf4BNGvfacXpCqzK_6KSYaaoc7vDgPEaQg5FOFuF9pdDWpio8SuWHZQUVrWXt39Hmx2RHnbVvDIHqsGEc2GwIlHgCwRcf3lZDuI/s640/IMGP5250.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9tJXVMuzuaoNSK9pJFkzj3EUgcGQNET5f_nncw6l7g4VMRfTTa2veB0TVIxc88NTnVpMd5jDpfdN9NUy4s0CmqKOGvDkIA0qMp6f5Ao0QUD_eE_-WXU5ROvZYdwZAsnjAyijqCiGsbI/s1600/IMGP5249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9tJXVMuzuaoNSK9pJFkzj3EUgcGQNET5f_nncw6l7g4VMRfTTa2veB0TVIxc88NTnVpMd5jDpfdN9NUy4s0CmqKOGvDkIA0qMp6f5Ao0QUD_eE_-WXU5ROvZYdwZAsnjAyijqCiGsbI/s640/IMGP5249.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlR1Aay0HNhAGKbt1d2VWH5gmy_FpA4v251_y8dYljHvTVE0iEO2t7RdA2GIXX4XYXVK2u517cjtKBpUgqK4AYi4-6yaVpRbM0SmIjDpiD_8EumVRnxlDkvIiHdDkB5oGHPNY3wtxJ88/s1600/IMGP5267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlR1Aay0HNhAGKbt1d2VWH5gmy_FpA4v251_y8dYljHvTVE0iEO2t7RdA2GIXX4XYXVK2u517cjtKBpUgqK4AYi4-6yaVpRbM0SmIjDpiD_8EumVRnxlDkvIiHdDkB5oGHPNY3wtxJ88/s640/IMGP5267.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenZyVE_vyItyXnqPNvZjq37YeWfhNumT4e0B90G0r4Z1NFUBonWSImS-DiAmBsdBX4cXsMQ5XbsJBZ42-vgJk5AA5OdQBA_ypDd8vSXegR2CRN6mOHA8hzFzJrawc7BshtXX8lxp8-wk/s1600/IMGP5275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenZyVE_vyItyXnqPNvZjq37YeWfhNumT4e0B90G0r4Z1NFUBonWSImS-DiAmBsdBX4cXsMQ5XbsJBZ42-vgJk5AA5OdQBA_ypDd8vSXegR2CRN6mOHA8hzFzJrawc7BshtXX8lxp8-wk/s640/IMGP5275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the Paliku camp. On the other side of the ridge is a restricted tropical rainforest preserve.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4VBLJL6h-q-WskUnHmJbYNUwb0FSIwDTXVa2tKfrGN8AO-zxgyX1aPLTXXlOb_R0P6rhQ33PMryLbJ31HJAWllo97vnoPprAEp7vQafd6XICbkH1geBThtQPnaOANMAWSOtu9n0M8SM/s1600/IMGP5283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4VBLJL6h-q-WskUnHmJbYNUwb0FSIwDTXVa2tKfrGN8AO-zxgyX1aPLTXXlOb_R0P6rhQ33PMryLbJ31HJAWllo97vnoPprAEp7vQafd6XICbkH1geBThtQPnaOANMAWSOtu9n0M8SM/s640/IMGP5283.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtGUmruODUUyA4_KYHYeUNEjyYjizICfaRyrOe9QSpB2xeZKXl_SsWYBLhGq4sN9RLy3rNdH8APtqotaydMZsQrHxkT4zFZxMux8nt0Tvu40M4pAVt3flzVQ99mMCg12EuDE1h1ltdck/s1600/IMGP5293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtGUmruODUUyA4_KYHYeUNEjyYjizICfaRyrOe9QSpB2xeZKXl_SsWYBLhGq4sN9RLy3rNdH8APtqotaydMZsQrHxkT4zFZxMux8nt0Tvu40M4pAVt3flzVQ99mMCg12EuDE1h1ltdck/s640/IMGP5293.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views of the ocean coming down the 7000ft decent of the Kaupo Gap.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Xwjs-Z429Yu49N05n8IdDpst_QBI-69W5OwpmzQue5Z1erpv331lrmZJuMfmINvKU9zTMuSUIJ04K9Zj1PHqcalC29D6NBPxTUvHk8-5XWTMiKQ8XROdQdS2GN9Sj5bjEnpAxH1pWA/s1600/IMGP5297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Xwjs-Z429Yu49N05n8IdDpst_QBI-69W5OwpmzQue5Z1erpv331lrmZJuMfmINvKU9zTMuSUIJ04K9Zj1PHqcalC29D6NBPxTUvHk8-5XWTMiKQ8XROdQdS2GN9Sj5bjEnpAxH1pWA/s640/IMGP5297.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0bUNsOFxvgMANzcCLrbwGFcNV8WupuFWzw-9i1OdKr36wEDbds9kLtaHk0tkEpi-Ul5JTITaGOtc7aX3U-wcReUGKJohtUzO4r2gi5gSQAGxEXWnqmG6qSNbIlDXb9wM-L-oUbXfnLA/s1600/IMGP5299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0bUNsOFxvgMANzcCLrbwGFcNV8WupuFWzw-9i1OdKr36wEDbds9kLtaHk0tkEpi-Ul5JTITaGOtc7aX3U-wcReUGKJohtUzO4r2gi5gSQAGxEXWnqmG6qSNbIlDXb9wM-L-oUbXfnLA/s640/IMGP5299.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steep 8.6 miles to the coast was hard on our knees and feet, but worth the view.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48H15KVDC2ildoOuqGX2VDBvAEcN7l24lrPLG_TLRvKAIJd7OMHq-ATFuOfLMf5wuAvOXI0BOTfJdrKOeYLbQof-nbszw1lw5QjaHUsae8VhVnaiSPtCWEcpCG0DVcr2UAqqFO4pLllc/s1600/IMGP5309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48H15KVDC2ildoOuqGX2VDBvAEcN7l24lrPLG_TLRvKAIJd7OMHq-ATFuOfLMf5wuAvOXI0BOTfJdrKOeYLbQof-nbszw1lw5QjaHUsae8VhVnaiSPtCWEcpCG0DVcr2UAqqFO4pLllc/s640/IMGP5309.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we made it to the coast we camped for two days and played in the pools before continuing through Hana and completing our circuit. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrBxC4xWgFUSW1k0O5jWCL1mZMKj34QaB6QPq0LYzuQwX0_GBWStej0696g0x6rLJsW8-NGPB_1CU8v5k9h3fP6TSGAZX3dSmEUINhyphenhyphenyIpIh_Rwt9hNWAjhUqb5WyZdBoZw4VbLBgdIc/s1600/IMGP5388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrBxC4xWgFUSW1k0O5jWCL1mZMKj34QaB6QPq0LYzuQwX0_GBWStej0696g0x6rLJsW8-NGPB_1CU8v5k9h3fP6TSGAZX3dSmEUINhyphenhyphenyIpIh_Rwt9hNWAjhUqb5WyZdBoZw4VbLBgdIc/s640/IMGP5388.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Seven Sacred Pools" are formed in a gulch as the rain water flows down the mountain out of the rain forest valley.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjq2UuNZCvWf8Qm0nPMFy-qOYsDoBtiQCUqAkY3tKMXpfLcpttiYHQmZJ9RHcPX5kfytpkZun3Ii3krm-Vde4EZCPnxQ6NqBoCtuPy8U7Kh3GSS04o1ZSBcTcNPMSxBZ7NvVMk8pY__k/s1600/IMGP5422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjq2UuNZCvWf8Qm0nPMFy-qOYsDoBtiQCUqAkY3tKMXpfLcpttiYHQmZJ9RHcPX5kfytpkZun3Ii3krm-Vde4EZCPnxQ6NqBoCtuPy8U7Kh3GSS04o1ZSBcTcNPMSxBZ7NvVMk8pY__k/s640/IMGP5422.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pools are right where the steam meets the ocean. The top pool at the largest waterfall has been carved out to a depth of 40ft!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnK0YV-S7h5_iqdWvqGtcEfPjD3f773JIN3ltGR6gxlwNyHd9LASroRPFm5CLKVaxTAaJ6orOAN6x8PX-e9OJ0Rg4bn90o73a0yJVktJz4dAmyCp0eLjQkn4yWdB3L3Kr8Megs_ja21o/s1600/IMGP5497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnK0YV-S7h5_iqdWvqGtcEfPjD3f773JIN3ltGR6gxlwNyHd9LASroRPFm5CLKVaxTAaJ6orOAN6x8PX-e9OJ0Rg4bn90o73a0yJVktJz4dAmyCp0eLjQkn4yWdB3L3Kr8Megs_ja21o/s640/IMGP5497.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful red sand beach with clear blue water and a perfect wave break made for good swimming. In Hana.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeZydzZ8DD99oSkUB9cz2z6goaKXonTnQ2L2n4TfwDF9UvHcg1IvaYWdrQ5ZSwSVbjB_tyN0vyFE54DcazCYM5QK_HehE5UBCXKM6mK5bqEZzAeOYmX8BTcfd5K9Q8Ed8N8Wspg08gC4/s1600/IMGP5433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeZydzZ8DD99oSkUB9cz2z6goaKXonTnQ2L2n4TfwDF9UvHcg1IvaYWdrQ5ZSwSVbjB_tyN0vyFE54DcazCYM5QK_HehE5UBCXKM6mK5bqEZzAeOYmX8BTcfd5K9Q8Ed8N8Wspg08gC4/s640/IMGP5433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOojkH2J9Xu9EoNIIVqURCwO7bcbmVr0ESq3iYmbmuFKeruV6CuDuCUcc6rb9xWu5WbJbd0_7yqWbmQzhjY2elWCjSifE_AftADZMrfllhIbJtBJjeo7zkHEGUiaSx6KkmI2L7qUTzsz0/s1600/IMGP5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOojkH2J9Xu9EoNIIVqURCwO7bcbmVr0ESq3iYmbmuFKeruV6CuDuCUcc6rb9xWu5WbJbd0_7yqWbmQzhjY2elWCjSifE_AftADZMrfllhIbJtBJjeo7zkHEGUiaSx6KkmI2L7qUTzsz0/s640/IMGP5523.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You enter the cave by swimming a little ways under water. The cave extends 800 ft back or so.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-13106620859250590052011-07-17T20:03:00.000-06:002011-10-01T08:44:58.711-06:00Maui Pictures 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By request I am uploading some of the pictures I have taken. Most of these pictures are from camping around the island in different places. <br />
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Just Because I like Palm Trees...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH_N8D_SjDsuu2jh5Ktc3RfgJu0n_sFX3SvjM_ehxw8YNOhMgcRG7Vz6IVFX6s5QE3yl2etAkI0SM6It1S3DlDF8e-vUbYJQJDfZSqX23U8yalc__ElKHQ71kfl5bC7gZACbiJ020bec/s1600/IMGP4919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH_N8D_SjDsuu2jh5Ktc3RfgJu0n_sFX3SvjM_ehxw8YNOhMgcRG7Vz6IVFX6s5QE3yl2etAkI0SM6It1S3DlDF8e-vUbYJQJDfZSqX23U8yalc__ElKHQ71kfl5bC7gZACbiJ020bec/s640/IMGP4919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cozette and me at Iao Valley</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy-CXkbSFFu9UtAtH003IqK-TX1EP_DWcph_bftqhEGX58vJft2P1wJ7qaUVcCJZiiXTxXF9T-ySWy6QB9fEtni8hz_On-wwRfHrj3fiaaGimJoubJsf7M97D8BMeZQQINglqg4oMv18/s1600/IMGP4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy-CXkbSFFu9UtAtH003IqK-TX1EP_DWcph_bftqhEGX58vJft2P1wJ7qaUVcCJZiiXTxXF9T-ySWy6QB9fEtni8hz_On-wwRfHrj3fiaaGimJoubJsf7M97D8BMeZQQINglqg4oMv18/s640/IMGP4786.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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Camping near Lahina</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNTuOISPnMpfO-fhD7QzDD1l36XVxoEFU26ZGD_7IfFQHgxR_VhAah6AujcwIrQVCHzBVXMULrDkJYEuGp4wZ9ucrgBMRAI0JKVJdMLMrr-4FyoUDF2TBD8PWgVWzL3QdoZW1nueZ0b8/s1600/IMGP4957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNTuOISPnMpfO-fhD7QzDD1l36XVxoEFU26ZGD_7IfFQHgxR_VhAah6AujcwIrQVCHzBVXMULrDkJYEuGp4wZ9ucrgBMRAI0JKVJdMLMrr-4FyoUDF2TBD8PWgVWzL3QdoZW1nueZ0b8/s640/IMGP4957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Good Morning Cozette!</div>
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Sunset in Lahina on the 4th of July</div>
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Some nice spots we found walking around the West side of the Island. </div>
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Second most windy place Iv'e ever camped... good for pictures, not for sleeping. the tent was laid down on top of us all night!</div>
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Camping and playing at the beaches south of Makena.</div>
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So there you have it! Some of the better pictures from our first 3 weeks in Maui. I hope it is enough for everyone to live vicariously through us. We are House sitting now in Haiku, I'll have a post about that soon. Missing friends and family hope to talk on the phone soon. We bought tickets for our next destination today... The Philippines!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-45861722317327536942011-07-05T18:48:00.002-06:002011-10-01T08:45:10.048-06:00The 4th of July<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. We're beginning to learn this. When we hitched into Lahaina yesterday for the fireworks display we had no idea where we would be sleeping after the festivities ended, but we both agreed that we would be able to make our way back down the road, south about 6 miles, to the beach where we could camp... somehow. as the afternoon was winding down and the waves of people started to flow in we laid down our packs in the park facing the ocean. Just as we did this, two giggling girls came out of the water and sat down next to us. Hana and Aurora, two excited, freshly graduated high school students, quickly became our buddies as we chatted and laughed at intoxicated people trying to dance. We met "Mom", Gayle, an amazing lady finishing up her PhD. studying the sleeping patterns of women during pregnancy, and we got to chat with Courtney, a woman who holds an impressive 7 Olympic Gold Medals, and at one time the women's world record in the 100 yard dash. Together the six of us laughed and enjoyed the evening of fireworks, music and shave ice. At the end of the night we had new friends and a starry convertible ride to our camping spot. That's how you go with the flow. We had an amazing time, all because of a simple "Howzit". Have a great time ladies. You will accomplish everything you are working toward, I know it.<br />
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And here are some picture of the dazzling fireworks display in the Lahaina Harbor.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-39116406829088521042011-07-02T17:08:00.001-06:002011-10-01T08:45:22.899-06:00You know you're in Hawaii when...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You know you're in Hawaii when...</div>
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Cozette and I have been on the island of Maui for 6 days now. We're still getting adjusted to being on the move all of the time, but we are loving the weather, the beaches, and the fact that we don't really have any long term plans. It's almost uncomfortable to not have a job to go to every day, but that will change I'm sure.<br />
The First two days on the island we stayed a the North Shore Hostle in Wailuku to get settled and get the low down on what were the best places to visit. Cozette and I loved the friendly staff and the hostel vibe. It's nice to stay with people interested in the same things you are. North shore gets five of five stars in our book.<br />
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From there we hiked up into Iao Valley for a couple days of camping. Down by the river...<br />
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and up in the clouds...<br />
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Now we are near Haiku, on the far north side of the island where we will be house sitting for a few weeks. This is the little house we get to stay in on a beautiful peice of property.<br />
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From here we will try and get onto some farms to do some work share. Untill then, the beach is right down the road and the weather is always perfect! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-8003828561593721092011-04-17T14:00:00.002-06:002011-10-01T08:51:45.706-06:00The One Heart, One Mind Project<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have started something very exciting. It's an idea that I started to develop when I was traveling in India last Summer. When I got home and started planning for my next trip I knew that I wanted to do something to share the experience with others. I want people to see what I see, experience every place I visit, and meet every person for themselves. But, since not every one is able to travel the world, I decided that the next best thing would be to try to bring the experience to them. The name of the project is the One Heart, One Mind. It's an effort to photograph and write about the extreme diversity of this planet, To let others see the lives that exist outside of their perspective, and to communicate an understanding of human compassion in moving toward a more sustainable existence.<br />
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"Sustainability", a planet that we will be able to inhabit indefinitely, is not such an issue of figuring out how to reduce green house gasses or how to re-populate vital habitats or restore rain forests. It's more of a need to create a planet where we can all get along.<br />
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I see a planet where we can not only except, but also appreciate <i>everyone's</i> religion, race, culture, lifestyle, age, sex and personality. It's only then can we start to live a sustainable existence. It's only then, when we can have compassion for EVERYONE, can we work together and create a better world. <br />
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With this view of human sustainability I have created the project.<br />
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Read more about it on my website, built to host this and future projects -<a href="http://www.findyourfreedom.net/">http://www.findyourfreedom.net/</a><br />
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At this website donations can be made to the One Heart, One Mind Project and a raffle has been put together placed on this site as well. I have saved $5k on my own and I am determined to raise the remaining moneys for this project. Check out the site and be sure to read frequently to see how the project is progressing.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-18365597079524287272011-02-05T13:49:00.002-07:002011-10-01T08:52:28.034-06:00A New Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's Time!! On June 30th I'll be on a plane to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=21.3113888889,-157.796388889&spn=3.0,3.0&q=21.3113888889,-157.796388889%20%28Hawaii%29&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a>. It's part of a Project that I will be writing all about in my next post. We already bought the tickets. When we feel it's time to move on , we're going West from there! It's very exciting and we have been looking forward to this trip for quite a while now, and we have a perfect opportunity through a few different organizations to travel on a very low budget. I want to share them with you.<br />
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The first is called W.W.O.O.F. - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.<br />
This is a great way to live in a place for a good amount of time and really get an awesome amount of free time.<br />
The gig is that you contribute 4 hrs of work a day for 5 days a week. The rest of the time is yours.<br />
In return for your work you get a place to stay and meals to eat.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wwoof.org/">http://www.wwoof.org/</a><br />
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The second great web site is Find a Crew. This is a web site where you can search working positions on a range of different boats from small, 3 or 4 crew sail boats to large yacht sized boats. Jobs range from helping actually sail a boat, to being a kitchen worker or server on a private yacht. Whats the Pay out? you get to travel anywhere the boat is going! Free passage! There are ships and captains looking for crews all over the world.<br />
How many people have always wanted to sail, but never had an opportunity or money? <br />
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<a href="http://www.findacrew.net/">http://www.findacrew.net/</a> <br />
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The next site is called Mind My House.<br />
This site allows people who need house sitters to add a posting that can be browsed on the web site.<br />
Most of the houses posted on here are requesting a house sitter for 6 Months or more! What a great way to experience Life in a different place! You water plants, do small up keep duties, and feed animals if there are any. Sweet! Houses posted all over North America, Europe, and New Zealand and Australia.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mindmyhouse.com/">http://www.mindmyhouse.com/</a><br />
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This is one of my faves! The infamous Couch Surfers. This web site is dedicated to travelers! Simply go on to the website to get an email or phone number of a person inviting travelers to sleep "on their couch". You can read reviews of all of the hosts, so it is usually a safe bet. Many travelers I have met have had very memorable experiences just from getting to interact with so many people, making great friendships.<br />
It's a community of people who love to travel, hosts and "surfers" alike. What could be more fun?<br />
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<a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/index.html">http://www.couchsurfing.org/index.html</a><br />
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This is just a short list, and what Cozette and I will probably rely on most of the time, but If you ever do get stuck and need a place to stay, Hostels are very in expensive. In Thailand for example the average hostel is around $16 a night. Here is a great place to find hostels Anywhere.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hostels.com/">http://www.hostels.com/</a><br />
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So, That's how we plan to travel on a budget for an extended period of time. Anyone can do it! <br />
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Finally, I just want to say this-<br />
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The World Needs to shine with a whole lot of Self Expression and Passion right Now.<br />
Quit making excuses about why you don't go for your dreams! Whether you want to travel the world, or you want to help feed the world, Its about what your priorities are. If you really want something, enough to commit all of your time and energy to it, you will get it. It's not the Money, its not the relationships, its not the job holding you back.The only thing keeping you from living out you're own adventurous, 100% fulfilled, all-out, life of your dreams, It's you. You're in charge. GO!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-27702666702545177662010-08-15T01:16:00.001-06:002011-10-01T08:45:49.599-06:00A Little peice of India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A lot of people have been asking to see all of the pictures from my trip so I'm posting the link to my Facebook profile where all of the pictures are. There are 4 albums with 200 pictures each so be sure to take your time and enjoy a little piece of India.<br />
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Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=561063247<br />
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Being back from India for a while now I have really had an opportunity to think everything over. India, if you didn’t know, is considered the "birthplace of humanity". There is valid argument that Africa is in the running for the title as well, but none the less a very ancient civilization. Life in India dates back to 3300 BC. It's a place that's spiritually rich. Even someone as critical towards organized religion as myself can feel something there, and many do leave India with a higher sense of spirituality. Spirituality does not necessarily mean that you are religious, or believe in a god or creator or any of that. It means just what is says, to believe in your spirit. What I got from India was a higher sense of spirituality, in the context of valuing my existence and realizing how many events had to synchronize for me to come into this existence. I gained a higher sense of gratitude for life and the world I live in and an understanding that I define the life I live and no one else, I decide what I am and am not. This, for me, is my understanding of spirituality. In India, they say when you reach enlightenment you gain a level of consciousness, or understanding of all things, an omniscience of sorts. To put it in exact quotes, "you realize God". You realize it in everything, even in yourself. I am not a spiritual guru by any means but I can now really begin to understand this concept.<br />
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So how does this relate to India? How does all of this come out of traveling to India for 3 weeks? All I can say is that India is a very powerful and spiritual place. Go there and see for yourself.<br />
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Until then, watch this movie. It’s called “Enlighten Up”. (If you have Netflix, you can watch it instantly.) It’s a perfect portrayal of India, and goes into some deeper explanation of what Enlightenment is. Cheers!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-64689568694489140132010-08-13T20:18:00.001-06:002011-10-01T08:52:50.032-06:00Along the Rio<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I took a walk with my brother down by the river today. It always amazes me how serene the river is, even in the middle of Albuquerque. The weather was particularly clear too, and the sky was brilliantly blue. A perfect day on the Rio Grande.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiBglOsZCdMhdJNthfjQCLv2MKVjV5uDQShXe8X4ttBgDxG1yIruJrjhDPgxEBHuXUMekAdXpm6GpXEKg-DRlgWU50U2NpXLa6W8WMQne1wBUReALAgL7J0SMcUk5gA4VhNfmwhsBY38/s1600/IMGP2031_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiBglOsZCdMhdJNthfjQCLv2MKVjV5uDQShXe8X4ttBgDxG1yIruJrjhDPgxEBHuXUMekAdXpm6GpXEKg-DRlgWU50U2NpXLa6W8WMQne1wBUReALAgL7J0SMcUk5gA4VhNfmwhsBY38/s640/IMGP2031_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZudJweUzJcNx0PiWKlW12JBGfATKn7xPyJRDSQ3m08O7gfv1A1TsU0gp6C1MkSdLsNhPuUlx3rj2wc57JQ3eCBDsai31yg9dYywiq-tCU5u_Tzn8fNW2JH8MpcaS_vhbyQFhHEK4z27U/s1600/IMGP1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZudJweUzJcNx0PiWKlW12JBGfATKn7xPyJRDSQ3m08O7gfv1A1TsU0gp6C1MkSdLsNhPuUlx3rj2wc57JQ3eCBDsai31yg9dYywiq-tCU5u_Tzn8fNW2JH8MpcaS_vhbyQFhHEK4z27U/s640/IMGP1980.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-14152026753456086492010-07-28T21:03:00.003-06:002011-10-01T08:46:03.100-06:00Images From Another World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here they are: the best, my favorite rather, pictures from India!</div>
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Be sure to click each image for the full view.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbxJApNj_VfvOuuXcbvXpNw8UMFzIALM6yQx_oWLbZHwHqsM-2yZlqLr21Npg8hIJAO4OEbX4nAMTJ4DLWoTgXMrn4gd2nF890IntUEdD6sknyHcEZxw3QE09OXum09doGlEe4NPEBwI/s1600/IMGP1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbxJApNj_VfvOuuXcbvXpNw8UMFzIALM6yQx_oWLbZHwHqsM-2yZlqLr21Npg8hIJAO4OEbX4nAMTJ4DLWoTgXMrn4gd2nF890IntUEdD6sknyHcEZxw3QE09OXum09doGlEe4NPEBwI/s640/IMGP1144.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-22456994617813570512010-07-25T09:44:00.003-06:002011-10-01T08:52:59.231-06:00What if Anyone Read This?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Why would anyone want to give up their technology? That's not progression, its regression right? Well, perhaps the falling out of Human connection and compassion that technology brings us, perhaps that is regression. Maybe if people put down their cell phones and ipods and talked to each other they would find they genuinely cared for one another. What if you could look a stranger in the eye and smile, and get a smile in return? What if everyone gave help and expected nothing in return, wouldn't everyone be better off? What if we spent more time being together than messaging on Facebook, or spending money on trash? Wouldn't we have stronger social and personal relationships? Wouldn't we feel more loved? What if we stopped searching for happiness in the junk we buy and instead find it in each other and in the outside world? What if we stopped relying so much on our pollution emitting vehicles and more on our bodies to get us around, and we stopped having obesity and heart disease kill millions? What if we ate whole, organically grown foods, the way food is supposed to be, and we finally realized that the foods we eat contribute to and cause caner and illness?<br />
<br />
<br />
What if we were happier?<br />
<br />
Wouldn't the World be a better place?<br />
<br />
What if?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-42210037325053017582010-07-25T09:36:00.004-06:002011-10-01T08:46:33.358-06:00Rich at heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To say exactly what I learned from India would be impossible. Experience can not be told or taught. Its not something small, or even concrete, but it lives with me. I can feel it. <br />
<br />
There are some things in my conscious that I can talk about however<br />
<br />
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In India there are basically two kinds of people, the are those plagued by Westernization who are fortunate enough to have money to live what we tend to think of as a "good" life. Then there are those with little or nothing. perhaps a shop, or a taxi to their name, making enough money in one day to feed their families for that sole day. The ones with nothing live on the street, literally sleeping on a sheet on the side walk with nothing. Return to the photo I posted of the two men bathing on the street in one of my earlier posts, this is the only shower they have and it's enough.</div>
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There are children there with no families who also live on the street. Together, with stray dogs, in the trash, where ever there is a place for them to be, and they are tough kids, but they seem happy more often than not. One boy we met while were were in Kolkatta didn't know English but sat with us at a Chai stand persistently asking for money, which by the way, happens every time you go into public. This Boy, with no shirt or shoes, and grungy shoulder length hair, sat with us, and because we could not give money, we bought him some tea and biscuits. It was just about this time that an older gentleman came along and tried to shoo him away, yelling something angrily in Hindi. The man turned to us and said "He is Nothing." Melodie, one of the others on the trip, snapped back, "HE IS EVERYTHING!" The man left. So, we sat and drank Chai, and Melodie teared up,and I felt lost by the whole helplessness of the situation, and the Boy drank his tea, and he ate his biscuits, and he sat with us. And then he left and we never saw him again.</div>
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The boy had been branded on his left fore arm with the Letter "R". He would keep pointing to it while he was asking for money.</div>
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Everyone we asked said that this means he is owned by someone, He is pimped out by someone who makes him go into the streets and bring back a day's money. This put a new perspective on money for me.</div>
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The people plagued by Western Influence live a much different life. we rode on a second train form Kolkatta to New Dehli, we were in a first class sleeper, that was much cleaner and less crowded, that only the upper class could afford. These people were radically different than anyone I had come into contact with in India up to that point. They all had Ipods and fancy clothes and laptop computers and noisy cell phones... and they were the most unfriendly Indian people I had ever met. Unlike the people we met in the streets, these people didn't look you in the eye, they didn't smile when you smiled at them, they didn't have conversations with us or with each other for that matter. It was as if their technology and money had completely made them self absorbed and careless to the world. </div>
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I would rather ride on the 3rd class, filthy, hot train, with a hole in the bathroom floor, that we rode the first time, where people were living outside of their head phones, any day of the week. </div>
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Lots more thoughts to come when time gives them to me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0oohfuGV9DWnST31eaaSKsnuDKahPxsVExk3WVzJSYdJNhd3Sg5Ceve00BfUArx-m0-MpG_j6IGYVj9_6G97EsHfUj4FeWo8IawT1HSHrZa56ZMrMZraqcYEQF6KgC3GsEfLnxT_rRc/s1600/IMGP1137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0oohfuGV9DWnST31eaaSKsnuDKahPxsVExk3WVzJSYdJNhd3Sg5Ceve00BfUArx-m0-MpG_j6IGYVj9_6G97EsHfUj4FeWo8IawT1HSHrZa56ZMrMZraqcYEQF6KgC3GsEfLnxT_rRc/s640/IMGP1137.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-42653821651903840782010-07-22T01:38:00.002-06:002011-10-01T08:46:46.023-06:00Homeward Bound<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm getting on a plane return home tonight. At this point I'm having trouble getting all of my thoughts in order and figuring out just how to process everything I have experienced over the past 3 weeks. Once I have some decompression time and silence, I'm sure the words will come. So, until then wish me safe travels and soon I will be home.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18346319389557271662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4574999180026092670.post-48599541828801754042010-07-16T01:10:00.016-06:002011-10-01T08:46:58.789-06:00The Truth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGOJPWkynKcl5-QRaTcUjAjdbfHAJhh0V_O_kVuay-YNFoOSuR6RVG81JXgt6RjfLrK2cK5qLYr6FUKMpqUJNl6pXxqtHa-w3XqdqdFzFJUqyk6SoAt3viHGYqQdDpgJihwAbD3_kECY/s1600/IMGP1109.JPG">The Bay of Bengal, near Auroville on the South East Coast of India.</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGOJPWkynKcl5-QRaTcUjAjdbfHAJhh0V_O_kVuay-YNFoOSuR6RVG81JXgt6RjfLrK2cK5qLYr6FUKMpqUJNl6pXxqtHa-w3XqdqdFzFJUqyk6SoAt3viHGYqQdDpgJihwAbD3_kECY/s1600/IMGP1109.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494398900145099074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGOJPWkynKcl5-QRaTcUjAjdbfHAJhh0V_O_kVuay-YNFoOSuR6RVG81JXgt6RjfLrK2cK5qLYr6FUKMpqUJNl6pXxqtHa-w3XqdqdFzFJUqyk6SoAt3viHGYqQdDpgJihwAbD3_kECY/s400/IMGP1109.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0BEkCT_eS1YmbbUt45EfncPPmCpA91H9A1T0BVaoZ_7Xc9x8Y0LIYOhN1nPem8BzNIjvsy3XdcuW1zYZKbTXEbspMHgIIINn9S0X4H3gzpz8zAH-XprPEyMI8phzM_ysN5UtsSkTHIA/s1600/IMGP1110.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494401007272904242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0BEkCT_eS1YmbbUt45EfncPPmCpA91H9A1T0BVaoZ_7Xc9x8Y0LIYOhN1nPem8BzNIjvsy3XdcuW1zYZKbTXEbspMHgIIINn9S0X4H3gzpz8zAH-XprPEyMI8phzM_ysN5UtsSkTHIA/s400/IMGP1110.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The song goes: "I saw the rains down in Africa"....<br />
This is my Version: "I rode the trains all through India"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD72iCkge2ifhJGvyVYzS2XRuD8U1SH4wB6kzbXxRS2eRF2h_R1w05Fg61gpBWZ8yKZnSuLx0YBC1_tSwNww9IeFmGfHobrWL13RA2xyzLG9_5fMCCo9jhmFXbAsHr4V6968GMbYvVnM/s1600/IMGP1121.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494403124152250674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD72iCkge2ifhJGvyVYzS2XRuD8U1SH4wB6kzbXxRS2eRF2h_R1w05Fg61gpBWZ8yKZnSuLx0YBC1_tSwNww9IeFmGfHobrWL13RA2xyzLG9_5fMCCo9jhmFXbAsHr4V6968GMbYvVnM/s400/IMGP1121.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
We were on the train for 30 hrs too long!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sg9eVuogWoRv5iXKtDyAyxouIhOUqNjaImzd_lLhCe5WTIZkkucpc_X-2Y8VoJnIxIEEVWnVPnj28N7Ra8YH2FLiMO6UtJEPPCiZrIQoQJoReQ4WtbFk6Me66MZEeMDZS2e4v3iygC4/s1600/IMGP1115.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494402351223851570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sg9eVuogWoRv5iXKtDyAyxouIhOUqNjaImzd_lLhCe5WTIZkkucpc_X-2Y8VoJnIxIEEVWnVPnj28N7Ra8YH2FLiMO6UtJEPPCiZrIQoQJoReQ4WtbFk6Me66MZEeMDZS2e4v3iygC4/s400/IMGP1115.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sg9eVuogWoRv5iXKtDyAyxouIhOUqNjaImzd_lLhCe5WTIZkkucpc_X-2Y8VoJnIxIEEVWnVPnj28N7Ra8YH2FLiMO6UtJEPPCiZrIQoQJoReQ4WtbFk6Me66MZEeMDZS2e4v3iygC4/s1600/IMGP1115.JPG" style="color: black;">To Speak a little on the Trains, There are no Air Conditioners, No Provided food, the bathroom is usually a hole leading to the tracks, people sleep on the floor because there are not enough seats/ beds, and "beggars" and disabled people are allowed on to hustle passengers for money as a system of social justice. And Its an experience I would have never passed up...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF4xNBW9mfyF7cArtSyQ0hQfguSRWXu8AhPD0OLg8uPc4z26cDgThAc_H1Ojpnflp_-SqC7V-C4V8soV98cC7pPbjdc49U56MDTPDILgv5h9y2NYVMlh0OlslGR16w_Et2r2T-Ort6DE/s1600/IMGP1133.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494404294891586338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF4xNBW9mfyF7cArtSyQ0hQfguSRWXu8AhPD0OLg8uPc4z26cDgThAc_H1Ojpnflp_-SqC7V-C4V8soV98cC7pPbjdc49U56MDTPDILgv5h9y2NYVMlh0OlslGR16w_Et2r2T-Ort6DE/s400/IMGP1133.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF4xNBW9mfyF7cArtSyQ0hQfguSRWXu8AhPD0OLg8uPc4z26cDgThAc_H1Ojpnflp_-SqC7V-C4V8soV98cC7pPbjdc49U56MDTPDILgv5h9y2NYVMlh0OlslGR16w_Et2r2T-Ort6DE/s1600/IMGP1133.JPG">Kolkata: considered the Cultural Capital of India.</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-w7_tpk70mtYvvYTibXKib2t8BOzDzOEfMpv-EO7SVlwzXQLEYV8PGJHSuqX_JDd9y3lI964LusP0Gje8noH9VCMQaqPeCRr63WgSgaXDbI22Cuk5j-uAuds0LQFwj5dpIjNA_IEcGk/s1600/IMGP1164.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494406455599770770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-w7_tpk70mtYvvYTibXKib2t8BOzDzOEfMpv-EO7SVlwzXQLEYV8PGJHSuqX_JDd9y3lI964LusP0Gje8noH9VCMQaqPeCRr63WgSgaXDbI22Cuk5j-uAuds0LQFwj5dpIjNA_IEcGk/s400/IMGP1164.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-w7_tpk70mtYvvYTibXKib2t8BOzDzOEfMpv-EO7SVlwzXQLEYV8PGJHSuqX_JDd9y3lI964LusP0Gje8noH9VCMQaqPeCRr63WgSgaXDbI22Cuk5j-uAuds0LQFwj5dpIjNA_IEcGk/s1600/IMGP1164.JPG">Life can be rough</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBy4V1ZOAL1uvZgCEIp5WBBVOOm1qxAW0sN42GcIw4FnxzJNZQDtx957yfFwxCgcnvOIE4jtKfFz1SwCqEMuZTnuAVs9E_IKBKfQnHT9xMsaxKjwid89Vtx5l2aFrX5J8tbs5yJeOuGM/s1600/IMGP1170.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494407869729314434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBy4V1ZOAL1uvZgCEIp5WBBVOOm1qxAW0sN42GcIw4FnxzJNZQDtx957yfFwxCgcnvOIE4jtKfFz1SwCqEMuZTnuAVs9E_IKBKfQnHT9xMsaxKjwid89Vtx5l2aFrX5J8tbs5yJeOuGM/s400/IMGP1170.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu643-jtWW5R9gB9SCDuhFuS42t6cSrjQfPEmxIqK9NBSvQM8MEukjxSbMdr388AhFLV55_hyP4wfUmFWLTk6hvV8onIyjffVmd5Ho0a0Ln-8tAVVj_knIuF6ojXJcxH8NRmykwYH-gU/s1600/IMGP1194.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494408972662566354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu643-jtWW5R9gB9SCDuhFuS42t6cSrjQfPEmxIqK9NBSvQM8MEukjxSbMdr388AhFLV55_hyP4wfUmFWLTk6hvV8onIyjffVmd5Ho0a0Ln-8tAVVj_knIuF6ojXJcxH8NRmykwYH-gU/s400/IMGP1194.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVl-gvaKLl_t3nqGrheNZLNLE1_fOy5OhYmrLHRbm9RiiGhlHtPyodf1mggX5uKwtDNnubnxqx68B0eACHrRts1HuvnXqEibQuiBpu9qQiSiC_wK_8KTqLoWZeRiMjsnkVt0qXWZeqyE/s1600/IMGP1198.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494409778809703826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVl-gvaKLl_t3nqGrheNZLNLE1_fOy5OhYmrLHRbm9RiiGhlHtPyodf1mggX5uKwtDNnubnxqx68B0eACHrRts1HuvnXqEibQuiBpu9qQiSiC_wK_8KTqLoWZeRiMjsnkVt0qXWZeqyE/s400/IMGP1198.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVl-gvaKLl_t3nqGrheNZLNLE1_fOy5OhYmrLHRbm9RiiGhlHtPyodf1mggX5uKwtDNnubnxqx68B0eACHrRts1HuvnXqEibQuiBpu9qQiSiC_wK_8KTqLoWZeRiMjsnkVt0qXWZeqyE/s1600/IMGP1198.JPG">Near Mother Teresa's House of the Dead</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYlw6KrE-7nj6KAY-gyC2CEyVfcrXzi2KeRHxfJJo8DwKL-1NWltMDgav87IlvmJs7USJaU8620lGNqc9n91sP9i-ONoNXngwTdIvlj3Wj_gwGhB_X0lHAFuNbFmRkSb3WCGh4ixi2Os/s1600/IMGP1258.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494410904866461842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYlw6KrE-7nj6KAY-gyC2CEyVfcrXzi2KeRHxfJJo8DwKL-1NWltMDgav87IlvmJs7USJaU8620lGNqc9n91sP9i-ONoNXngwTdIvlj3Wj_gwGhB_X0lHAFuNbFmRkSb3WCGh4ixi2Os/s400/IMGP1258.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYlw6KrE-7nj6KAY-gyC2CEyVfcrXzi2KeRHxfJJo8DwKL-1NWltMDgav87IlvmJs7USJaU8620lGNqc9n91sP9i-ONoNXngwTdIvlj3Wj_gwGhB_X0lHAFuNbFmRkSb3WCGh4ixi2Os/s1600/IMGP1258.JPG">And Yet, there is still Beauty everywhere you look. I urge you to look around yourself and find beauty in even the ugliest of places.</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrCWBDYM4TOCtO6-hPsouVfuK-8QK6sWDWF9yRkAFaQRDfvfFjyQ9DX3gtZWm_ugBSBFwxAhYPunF3UG76wPfMqluRYQ6A7YxyVmTQdeN5vD5tSQvSbPcZY7doHMPIG2u8i70hVz8_aQ/s1600/IMGP1279.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494412408100412690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrCWBDYM4TOCtO6-hPsouVfuK-8QK6sWDWF9yRkAFaQRDfvfFjyQ9DX3gtZWm_ugBSBFwxAhYPunF3UG76wPfMqluRYQ6A7YxyVmTQdeN5vD5tSQvSbPcZY7doHMPIG2u8i70hVz8_aQ/s400/IMGP1279.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiEMuR95nbgc1iPU9uaZjv1bakXXNrsXwLHN_VodlbLb1VipEDH6fSC8FQPRSXmgaaTZzrJqrAGC70AkCjf6TTpcyizYHB5ILlRYvDohxrUTG77cW44Z_xEiblbDCBtqQRmNfbu7rYxU/s1600/IMGP1285.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494414003511576578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiEMuR95nbgc1iPU9uaZjv1bakXXNrsXwLHN_VodlbLb1VipEDH6fSC8FQPRSXmgaaTZzrJqrAGC70AkCjf6TTpcyizYHB5ILlRYvDohxrUTG77cW44Z_xEiblbDCBtqQRmNfbu7rYxU/s400/IMGP1285.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiEMuR95nbgc1iPU9uaZjv1bakXXNrsXwLHN_VodlbLb1VipEDH6fSC8FQPRSXmgaaTZzrJqrAGC70AkCjf6TTpcyizYHB5ILlRYvDohxrUTG77cW44Z_xEiblbDCBtqQRmNfbu7rYxU/s1600/IMGP1285.JPG">And Understand that Life, In Itself, is Beautiful...</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioC_FgYkja5frOxz9zsC2Fiin-P0hXZuWjAX3jU5kAJqU5wVqPdiWWzT-2F9hDZO7pAuFMNd5XK22xvy9esgurxSsOiLU6wPTOUCBBCw6MxrmW7-mw-6yKxT3UUDjV_ICChHwXgYZd8sA/s1600/IMGP1267.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494415027431162210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioC_FgYkja5frOxz9zsC2Fiin-P0hXZuWjAX3jU5kAJqU5wVqPdiWWzT-2F9hDZO7pAuFMNd5XK22xvy9esgurxSsOiLU6wPTOUCBBCw6MxrmW7-mw-6yKxT3UUDjV_ICChHwXgYZd8sA/s400/IMGP1267.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
I'm getting on another train this evening for New Delhi. Possible visit to the Taj Mahal in the next few days. I'll post again as soon as the opportunity arises.<br />
<br />
Take some time to enjoy life for everything it is.<br />
Nameste, Wade</div>
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