Doug's World Wide Trip: Started July 6, 2008

Job Search

2010-02-03T22:07:00.000-08:00

Being unemployed really shifts your priorities. For example, my main goals these days are just to get up by 10, have breakfast by 11, so I can catch Maury's Paternity Tests,

"James, You . . are . . NOT . . the father!"

"I told you! I told you!"

and have pants on by the time the mailman comes around, around 12. Sure, Ive been applying for jobs and have phone interviews, but those dont really require you to get up real early or even get dressed for that matter. Showering too has become optional.

"So James, Give me two adjectives to describe yourself."

" . . . (I mute Sponge Bob) I'd say Professional and Ambitious."

Life moves at a different speed when you are unemployed. Initially, you expect it to be like a snow day from school where you can run around with your friends and just have a good time, but they (for the most part) too have jobs. So it is more like a one-man, snow day. Its more like having the measles actually then the typical 'Carpe Diem' boost you get from a snow day. You just stay at home, struggling to eat, trying not to defile yourself anymore then necessary; sitting in the absence of those around as they go out and pursue their lives or work.

I mean it has its perks. I dont think Ive missed one airing of 'Road House' on cable since I got back into the country, and I'm getting wicked at Fussball thanks to an on-going feud with my brother. But slowly yet surely, I am becoming a home body. Or a house cat really for that matter. Well maybe not my house cat, because I think my cat has a drug problem, but one none the less.

Honest, Ive come to believe she's a real party animal. She's got a real problem; she's not the fun-loving cat Ive come to know and love. I mean the signs have always been there. She's always really moody, sleeping through most of the day, throwing up for no reason, chasing hallucinated mice and balls of string around the house, and quite agitated and jumpy.

And I cant prove it but, I think she has been siphoning gas from my car to finance a feline fight club in our garage.

She's a mess. I have no idea what she does for a living, but I cant imagine she has a job anymore with her chronic absenteeism. And she cant even maintain her choirs around the house. I mean she doesnt even try and keep the squirrels on our porch at bay anymore. They took down our bird feeder last week, which has had a two prong effect on the Jeffery household:

One, there are now Super Squirrels loitering in our backyard fueled by unmolested access to copious amounts of the latest in Bird Seed Technology,
and Two, there are less birds in our backyard for Maddy to kill, partially eat, and then drag throughout the house for all to see. And no one wants that.

Poor cat. Its time for us to have an intervention. This has gone on long enough.

"Maddy, before we start this, we just wanted to say that you are among friends here and we love you. But this has gone far enough."

"(meow)?"

"Yes, Maddy you have a drug problem . . . And we think its time you got some help."

"(meow)!"

"Damn it, Maddy this is about you not me. (start sobbing) I just . . . . I just cant be around you when you get like this. No. I cant."

"(meow)."

"WHO SOLD YOU THE STUFF!"

. . . . .

Long story short; Im looking for work . . . . and a Super Squirrel Net.

Fairfax

2009-12-09T08:35:00.001-08:00

Unemployed roadtrip to Boston.

Fairfax, VA

2009-11-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

Maddie (my Cat), You Waited!!

Well, I made it home two nights ago safe and sound, as Im sure you can tell. . . . . . . . . . . So I guess that about does it for the blog. I assume my stories, since Ive returned, about losing the remote control, really arent worth posting, so Ill just keep them to myself.

Keeping the blog and writing the posts, and reading your all's comments have been some of the best parts of my trip. It has made my trip much more interesting and excited knowing that I got to share it with you all. So truly, I thank whoever took the time to read my blog, and especially anyone who took the time to write a comment or email me about it. It has been a great experience for me and I hope you all, too.

In the next up and coming days, Ill post some photos from the trip that I have been sitting on, but after that the posts will be much less frequent. Ill put about the occasional update as to what I decide to get up to I guess, but that about does it.

So, until my next trip. Adieu!

Portland II

2009-11-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

"So Doug, what was your favorite place on the trip? How was it traveling on your own? Do you have any crazy stories? Would you ever go back? How did you pay for this whole thing? How does it feel to be back? What are you going to do next? What are you going to do for work? Are you going to stay in finance? Are you going to stay in Virginia? "

Portland, Oregon was the final destination on my trip. In less then 12 hours, I will board a plane to Washington to DC with tickets I bought 9 months ago in Fremantle. Nine Months Ago. When I bought these tickets, I never actually anticipated having to get on a plane to go home. But, here we are, I am almost home.

On July 6, 2008, I left home. My only object was to go wherever I wanted. I had a backpack, 4 months worth of malaria tablets, visas to Russia, India, and Australia for a 6 -12 month trip. And now 17 months later, I will stroll back into Virginia thus ending Doug Jeffery's excellent adventure.

In total, I have spent 3 weeks in Europe, 5 months in Southeast Asia, 9 months in Australia, 6 weeks in New Zealand, 1 week in Hawaii, and 10 day between Seattle and Portland. I have been to over 15 countries, across 4 continents and have crossed ever longitude there is on a map. This trip has been great. I met tons of different people and have had loads of different experiences that have no doubt shaped who I am.

I have tangled with pimps, bus road through guerrillas, hung out with monks, done visa runs into Malayasia, and shot AKs with the best. WIthout a doubt when I am a 100 year old man, sitting on my hover rocking chair, these will be some of the better days I look back on, if I can remember them. And I count myself lucky to have had them.

I realize that this trip is something that not everyone can do, and know that a lot of things had to fall into place for this trip to have occured, most of which were outside my own control. I had to graduate from College with no debt Thanks Mom & Dad!, get a job that allowed me to save enough money to start off my trip Thanks, Freddie!, be willing to quit that job Later, Freddie!, have no romantic attachments [sad face] , and then seeing that I had no significant responsibilities and some money, been willing to walk away from everything I have ever known to take advantage of the opportunity I saw before me.

So here we are.

I mean how many people do you know who can start a sentence:

"This one time in Russia . . . . "

- or -

"Last time I was in Cambodia . . . . . "

- or -

" Well, my Australian manager at McDonalds use to say. . . . . "

Very few have had this privilege and no doubt I count myself luckily to have experienced it. But times werent all good. A lot of episodes of internal strife and self doubt existed in this trip. There was a lot of my going back and forth as to whether or not this was the right decision and whether or not it was right to give up whatever it is I had. It wasnt easy just setting out and leaving everything and everyone I knew behind.

This as well as many other issues peppered my trip. For instance, at one point, I was in Phenom Penh, Cambodia and was very sick. I didnt tell anyone about, especially my parents, because I knew it would just freak out an already freaked out bunch of people. So that morning, when I woke up shivering in a pool of my own sweat, with a fever, upset stomach, uncontrollable headache, after convulsing all night, and rode to the hospital on the back of a motorbike sure I was going to die in Cambodia from Dengue Fever, I kept it to myself.

But still I pushed on.

And while I accrued storied abroad, things kept moving at home, most of which, I wish I could have been there for. When it comes to sports, I follow only one sport; only one team: the Philadelphia Phillies. For most of my life, I have watched them flounder around in the NL East basement, almost never doing anything worth noting. And even when they got close to doing something worth talking about, they inevitably fell short. Thank you very much, Joe Carter!

But while I was gone, that all changed. The Phillies have only won two World Series in their entire franchise history. Only one of which was during my lifetime . . . . . And I missed it, because of this trip.

While I was gone, Cosmo my dog of 14 years died. Without being overly dramatic, that hit me pretty hard. I was just a month into my trip and had just got into Bangkok, my first stop, my first time in Asia. The streets were crowded, loud, and dirty; culture shock is the term that is thrown around. I had retreated off the streets to regroup and check my email, and found out that he had to be put down. Now, I know this shouldnt be that big of a deal to any grown man, but it was. Anyone, who stepped foot into the Jeffery household in Virginia was no doubt instantly won by Cosmo's oversized beagle bark and poor table manners. He was a very charismatic dog but more importantly a staple of my home. And I lost that part of home, at a moment when I wanted home the most.

Being away from home, means that I have missed some critical family moments, a Thanksgiving, a Christmas, my cousin's graduation, numerous birthdays, and even a medical emergency. When I get home I will never have seen my brother when he was 21 and he will never have seen me when I was 24. I have been in Red Square, more recently then I have been in my own bedroom. And I will have tasted authentic Pad Thai more recently then I have had my grandmother's stuffing. Dont get me wrong Australian beach Christmas's are fun, but if you ask me it isnt Christmas if you arent arguing over a pictionary timer with your family in a cold climate.

Two weeks ago, when I stepped into Hawaii that was my first steps into Obama America.

When I initially left the country, everyone was asking, "So, you are American? What do you think of Bush?"

That changed to "Oh, so who are you going to vote for?"

To: "Oh, so what do you think of Obama?"

I watched the presidential election in an American Embassy surrounded by Vietnamese, a bit surreal. And have been struggling to keep up on American news from the often diluted and jaded tid bits I can, ever since. My how things have changed (a touch of sarcasm).

No doubt after my entire trip, I am excited to go home. I didnt leave because I didnt like the US, or my family or friends. I left because I wanted to see something different and travel a bit before I knew that wasnt going to be a realistic option. So when I say I am excited to go home, being excited doesnt fully express how pumped I am to see my family and friends after so long. But at the same time I am very real about the situation. I know that while I have been away time hasnt stood still. People have not been waiting for me to return in the same spot I have left. Things have been moving forward for everyone. So I cant help but be anxious for my return and as to how, I am going to fit back into the Virginia I left.

"Doug, so was the trip worth it?"

ha, of course. I wouldnt trade a moment of it for anything. I dont second guess my decision to leave or length of time I spent away. But still I worry as to whether or not Ill be able to keep up with the conversation my friend are having when I get back? And as to whether or not I will I be able understand the gossip going on around the table at Thanksgiving? And as to whether or not I will be able to comfortably fall back into a 'typical' routine and kill the travel flight instinct that now grows within me.

"So whats next for Doug?"

[deep breath] To be honest, I have no idea. This is a big part of why I left to start with. My trip was suppose to be a time of soul searching [blah, bablah] . . . . Have I figured out what it is I want to do? No! But I think a big part of my trip was my coming to terms with that and just accepting this.

Do I know what it is I want to do next? No, not really. . . . so tomorrow, I am going to get off the plane, hug my parents, unpack my bag, move back into my parents basement, hang my giant diploma next to my old Cookie monster poster, and just continue to live the dream. The dream that any unemployed, broke person that lives with the parents can live. . . . .

What's next for Doug? I dont know. Things couldnt be more unsure. But one things is for sure. I could use a vacation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

On Thursday November 19, 2009 at 9:54 pm, Ill touch down in Washington DC. Home Again!

Portland, OR

2009-11-16T12:16:00.001-08:00

I hereby sentence you to 8 hours of day-time television. Noooooo!

Molli and Eric, my longtime friends, have been gracious enough to host me for the the last week of my trip. They have given me the run of the house while they are at work. The last few weeks have been pretty mental, and sleep has been well below par. So I have been spending most of late yesterday and the start of today guarding the couch.

The plan when I got home was to just veg out for about a week, but I think I have already had my fill. I have already watched more of 'the View' then I think any human male should watch. And that has probably been some of the more stimulating stuff on. Its still the same. Different day; same crap. J.G. Wentworth can still help me get cash now on my structured settlement and Jerry Springer can still find people cheating on their spouses with their own family.

The travel mentality of just 'Keep Moving' has made it tough to just sit and stew for a bit. Even though that is probably what I need most. So if anyone needs me Ill be on the bus into town . . . . . .

Seattle II

2009-11-13T11:32:00.001-08:00

Seattle has been good. The space needle was about a third the size I expected it to be, but still the city was good, very pretty and clean. The mountains surrounding it and the trees turning color was the icing on the cake. Id come back.

But now, Im getting ready for my firsts intra-national Greyhound Bus experience: Portland, Oregon.

Seattle

2009-11-10T23:59:00.000-08:00

I never thought I would commit an act of terrorism, but today I blew up an airport toilet.

Have you ever taken such a big crap that you felt like you had to brush your teeth afterwards. I spent the next five minutes walking around the airport with a limp waiting for my eyes to uncross. I think the impact might have erased the first two months of my trip from my memory. Why does everything in this airport smell like burnt hair?

But coming to Hawaii for a week was the best/worst idea Ive ever had. A week there was way too short. No doubt there will be a second visit. No doubt. Hawaii is great. It has the beautiful location without all the ego BS of Miami. Being nonchalant and playing it cool is the name of the game. I like to think I made a seamless transition into the setting.

It was tough to leave, but onwords and upwards.

Well, at least Ill be in Seattle . . . . . . Seattle, What the hell was I thinking?

I overheard a woman in the airport.

"Seattle? Yeah, I came down from Vancouver to go there. It was the worst storm last night. I thought my wall was going to come down."

I got on the plane in a floral shirt and shorts. And I walked out of the airport into rain and cold.

Doug want Waikiki.

Waikiki Beach III

2009-11-08T19:30:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was Sandwhich, Volleyball, Sandwhich. . . .

I have learned my lesson from my first day on the courts. My hair is just too long; it was constantly getting in my eyes while playing and leaving me very vulernable against some good talent. I wouldnt want to get caught with my pants down against some of these guys. So I broke out my headband.

Its pretty sweet actually. I am rocking a John McEnroe mushroom-top type look. That plus the unkept beard makes me quite the unique sight out on the courts.

I havent played proper ball in a while on a court or sand. So my endurance isnt what it should be, that plus the intense Hawaiian sun leaves me a sweaty mess after each game. And whenever I make a play for a shanked ball and dive in the sand, it all just sticks to my sweaty skin and beard. After one dive, the only thing distinugishing me from the homeless guys walking around collecting cans is my sweet headband.

The talent out here has been very good and Ive enjoyed the challenge. You always meet some interesting people on the court.

Day 1: A Norweigan guy who imitated Arnold Schwarzenger but cursed in Italian after any boggled hit. And a guy named Milan who was of course from Serbia.

Day 2: A freshman setter at Honolulu University who was red shirted after he broke his next after falling on the referee stand (a feat only possible if you have a serious vertical). We played a huge Samoan dude, who seemed to know everyone who approached the court. Nice guy.

Day 3: Another Honolulu University freshman and some other new recruits for their upcoming season. We played an ex pro, or at least Im told. One of the recruist, the one I played with at least, was a German named Jonas. Im 6'5", nearly two meters tall, but next to this guy I felt like a child. I honestly felt like he could pick me up and put me in his pocket. He had to be close to 7. Had to be. He made me feel like a decent setter for a change, because anything I put up always evolved into a 'gut hit.' I dont know why they kept serving him. His nickname the Berlin Wall seemed appropriate.

. . . . .

Today, I took a public bus, two and half hour to the furthers point from my hostel on the island. We drove all day through the beautiful weather. I got off the bus, laid on my towel, took off my shirt, put on some sun screen, and then it started to rain. But whatever, it doesnt matter. I am in the zone.

If ever I go missing from VA, and you are fairly certain I am still in the country, start with Hawaii.

Waikiki Beach II

2009-11-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

When I was in middle school my dream was always to become a mathmetician. I didnt really know what that involved, but I knew I was good at math and I enjoyed doing it. But when I got to university, after only a few math courses, my mind quickly turned to other things. My dream had changed. I would sit in class as my Russian professor would drone on about linear transformation and just fantasize about playing volleyball all day. Burning my books and just playing in the sand.

There was a new dream. Move to California, open a deli, give it the obvious alliterative name, and play volleyball all day. I dont particularly enjoy making sandwhiches for other people, but unbridled access to sandwhiches and volleyball just seemed like something that I could handle. Something that must happen. So that's what I have been doing in Hawaii. Making sandwhiches and playing volleyball. The only variation in my days is the order. Sandwhich, Volleyball, Sandwhich. Or Sandwhich, Sandwhich, Volleyball. And I couldnt ask for anything more. I move forward each day with a certainity that I havent had in a while. That this is what Doug should be doing.

So if you want to know what I am doing in Hawaii. Im just hanging out playing ball and living MY dream. Living MY dream for as long as I can . . . before I have to go home and Adam's Smith invisible hand crushes my spine.

. . . . .

Question: "What does the world Dinosaur mean?"

Its nice to see that even though I have been gone for a year and a half. The questions on the back of Quaker Oatmeal packets havent changed.

Answer: "It comes from two Greek worlds meaning 'Terrible Lizard."

. . . . .

The obvious alliterative title is 'Doug's Deli' Come on!

Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, USA

2009-11-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

International travel just wasnt cutting it anymore, so I decided to kick it up a notch. Time Travel. I took off from Syndey, Australia at 6 pm on November 2 and arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii after a 10 flight at 7 am November 2. Im just that hardcore!

The bonus 21 hours is proving to be more of a curse then blessing at the moment, because even with the aisle seat sleeping on a flight is always nearly impossible for me and my fellow long legged colleges. So I arrived in Hawaii drained, and Im running on almost zero sleep and now have another 10 hours to go before Im back on schedule and can go to bed at sundown.

But I must say it feels good to be back in the US after 16 months. I feel so much safer with a pocket full of Greenbacks in the pocket. I cant put my finger on the difference, but damn it feels good to be back.

But to honest, I have to say the start of my Hawaiian experience was a bit of a let down. As a kid, whenever you watched a sitcom and they had their obligatory Hawaiian episode, whenever they go off the plane onto the tarmac, they all got a lei from a beautiful girl in a coconut bra, kisses on the cheeks and a big 'Aloha,' I got a 'Customs is this way sir.' What? Thats not Hawaii! I wanna get leid!

Syndey

2009-11-01T04:00:00.001-08:00

Four days ago, we returned the caravan.

Two days ago, we flew back into Sydney from Auckland.

One day ago, we celebrated Halloween with a bunch of foreigners.

In one day, Ill be on a plane to Honolulu; back in the good ole' US of A.

In 12 days time, Ill be on a plane to Seattle.

In 15 days time, Ill be on a bus to Portland.

In 18 days time, Ill be back on a plane to home.

Home.

Auckland (passing through)

2009-10-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

It had been six; No, seven days since our last shower. Thats not including the bath I took in the hot spring creek (the sulfur in the water smelt like rotten eggs, so despite my being submerged in water, the net effect is I was still one smelly American). Our individual odors were beginning to combine into one much larger transformer-like funk. So we decided to give in and hit a caravan park for a night and shower. Hollie caved a day ago, and decided to wash her hair in our sink. Our sink which moonlights as a toilet. It made some progress (to her maybe) but still we both stunk. The decision to stay at the park was a no-brainer. The funk had to be killed.

The avoiding caravan parks and just free camping has been paying off. It has been saving us at least 30 dollars a night. The only issue is, as I said, the poor hygiene. Bathing in thermals and swimming in creeks is a step in the right direction but doesnt quite do the job. These beautiful locks of mine require a level of care which I can no longer provide them.

Its hard to truly enjoy the beauty of this country when you yourself are a walking disaster.

. . . .

Hollie is siting in the driver seat with the car running. I open the passenger door and slide back in.

"What's wrong?" Hollie asks.

"I don't know what that guys problem was; I just used the toilet and asked him for directions and he didnt say anything?"

"You know you have oatmeal in your beard."

"? . . . "

Besides the bathing, it is hard trying to find a place to take a dignified crap either. Gas stations and KFCs are just about good as it gets.

Walking into the local McD's, hair standing on end like the bride of Frankenstein, looking like you just woke up in a van (because you did), no talking to any one or buying anything because you cant afford to (cant afford McDonalds) walking straight into the bathroom. Doing your morning routine in McDonalds sink is an all-time low. Brushing your teeth while some guy is trying to force out his supersized #4 with an extra hashbrown is an even lower one.

But no matter how grubby or pathetic we get we always have enough money to by wine and are never so desperate we eat bread ends.

Im lovin' it!

. . . . . .

Mt. Doom

Tongariro Crossing

Taupo

2009-10-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

"Wha'd ya call me?"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This was taken on the side of the road that we had to take up to Milford Sound. The road was OK at the start, but eventually we had to follow a snow plow to get to the top.

Milford Sound

Lake Pukaki

Mt. Cook is in the middle, over the lateral morraine. Once, Sir Edmund Hillary's playground.

Moeraki Boulders

On the ferry back up to the North island, I walked onto the back of the boat to get some fresh air. This is what I was looking at . . .

. . . Or more close up. The air wasnt so fresh. There was a cattle car next to that one as well.

Right now, Im in Taupo using the Internet hoping that the weather will clear, so that we can do the Tongariro crossing tomorrow. If not then well have to leave here early to hit Rotorura and do some rafting.

Wellington

2009-10-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Caught the ferry back into Wellington on the North Island. Getting ready to check out the East Coast of the North Island.

Christchurch

2009-10-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

The Spanish was beginning to grow louder now as the bus climbed the final incline of the long, dirt road. The bus began to kick until it finally reached the top, revealing a very dry, remote landscape with a large ravine running through the middle.

I was alone on a bus full of teenage Spanish exchange students sitting quietly enjoying the feeling of my stomach turning, contemplating whether or not I made the right decision. This is something that I had so effortless discussed my entire trip, and never second-guessed, but today, right now, it was about to happen. . . . potentially.

"Alright, Everyone. Listen up! And Welcome! Do any of you have to use the bathroom?"

"Yes/Ci."

Laughing, already knowing the answer "Alright, when you go inside the bathrooms are on your right. Once you are finished grab a locker and make sure you dont have any loose items in your pockets. Make sure to keep a jumper though, because it is really windy and cold out there on the platform. Once you are done with that, then head over to Cindy at the front desk and she will sort you out with a harness, OK?"

I head to the bathroom. Use it; then head towards the lockers. Maybe a second use is in order? Use it again and then stuff my wallet and a handful of lint into my locker.

Cindy sorts me out with a harness.

"OK, give these a pull for me." I do. She stops me, before I cut off the circulation in my legs. "No, they dont need to be that tight."

"Are you sure?" I loosen them only slightly.

"Have you ever done this before?"

HA! "No." As if she cant tell.

I head through another door and am now outback, standing before the viewing platform. In front of me, suspended by three steal cables, is the Nevis Bungy Jump jumping platform. The Nevis Bungy Jump is the 2nd highest bungy jump in the world sitting 134 metres, 442 feet over this rocky ravine. And in my eyes, it looks twice that and I have already bought my ticket.

A small figure can be seen ambling towards the edge and then silently being thrown from the platform.

I should have used the toilet three times.

By now the rest of the bus has caught up with me. They all stand next to me trying to take it in. Everyone's face either registers fear, excitement, or nothing.

That jump you paid for 20 miles away in that comfortable booking office with the smiling travel agent just became a reality. A very sweaty reality.

Our driver comes up behind us unnoticed. Everyone is focused on the jump.

"OK, the order for the jump has been predetermined based on weight. So Matthias is first, then Felipe is second,

ha, You poor Amigos! I think that ideal spot would be to go somewhere in the middle. You know, once you know the cord isnt made of tissue paper, but still well before the cord snaps. There are about 20 of us so . . . . about 10th . . yeah, 10th would be good.

", third is Doug, . . ."

Oh, Shit! I shouldnt have eaten that pie!

"OK, so the first six head onto the cart and the rest of you will be over shortly."

We pile into the cart with the metal, see through bottom and a waist bar that barely reaches my groin, and make our way towards the platform.

"Make sure to spread out or the cart will start to swing and you will get stuck!"

The Spanish guys ignore him, begin singing and dancing in the cart.

Toilet, por favor!

As, I stare past my feet through the grated floor, you can clearly see the ground level moving further and further away, until it reaches the full 442 feet, where it meets the water. Believe me, 442 feet is a long way!

The cart clinks and we are at the platform. The platform is a room maybe 15 foot by 15 foot with big windows and two doors. We came in the side door and will jumping out the front. Half of it is the blocked off jumping area and the other half is the waiting bit. There are 3 staff members already in it with four customers who've already gone.

"It's awesome man! You'll love it!" His teeth chattering.

I just sit down and try and calm myself.

"OK, Matthias come on buddy, you're up!" Already!

Everyone in the pod watches him get the leg straps tied around his ankles and sat in what looks like a dentist chair as they begin to attach the cord to his feet. Once, they are done they help him up, lead him towards the edge. Count. He jumps. Everyone rushes to the transparent tile in the middle of the platform floor.

Oh, shit that is a long way!!

Everyone laughs at what he just did, but stops short when they realize they arent far behind.

He is reeled back in upside down.

"Felipe, let's go!"

Geez, this is going quick!

I try and take some photos of the drop and the others on the platform but my hand is shaking to much, blurring each shot.

Phil rises out of the chair. And then is gone. Holy shit, this is happening!

Phil reappears in front of the platform, also upside down.

"Doug, you're next!"

(swallow) Without thinking I move forward. The waist high gate opens, and I am sat down in the dentist chair. The introductions are short. He begins giving me directions as he stands face down over my legs, already attaching the giant cord.

"Alright, So we are going to count down from three, then you are going to jump away from the platform. Once you have finished your second bounce you will pull the cord on your left leg."

OMG! Was he just saying something to me. "Which cord?"

"That one."

He shows me, again, but I am still too focused on the edge to have it register.

He helps me out of the chair and I shuffle to the plank, just two foot wide and jutting out a good two feet away from the rest of the platform.

"Further." He yells.

I take another small step.

"Further."

One more.

"Good."

Now, when I decided to do this. I knew there is no chance I would back out. In my mind, there is just no way I could see that happening. A) I thought I had the balls to do it. B) Even if I didnt, I am too stubborn and prideful, to go back and tell everyone I had to come down code 'P.' But once, I got out there on that plank and you see the huge gap in front of you. And you feel the emptiness between you and the rest of the Earth. All that confidence and certainty is gone.

"Alright, 3."

My stomach is completely upside down.

"2."

Am I really about to do this?

"1."

OMG! Did I tie my shoes tight enough?

"Go!"

I clench my bladder, jut my arms out, and scream like a girl as I jump. My heart skips a beat. Holy Shit!

Even though, I made sure to keep my eyes open the entire time, to the point of where my eyes were tearing (from the wind you jerk!), so much of the jump was a blur and still escapes me. But I do remember being terrified and amazed at the same time.

The ground rushes towards you as the cord begins to straighten.

At the bottom, I was expecting an extreme jerk, but that really wasnt the case. I think I was more relieved to know something was holding me to the platform as I neared the water.

I begin to go back up. I know I have to pull a cord on my left leg, but trying to find the right cord when you are upside down and disoriented proved to be difficult. Not knowing what would happen if I didnt pull it and assuming the worst if I pulled the wrong one I began to panic, gently pulling all cords I could reach, until I found the right one. My feet drop down and I am now right side up. I was the only person of the first three to go that were pulled back up head first, not upside down like a fish.

When I got back onto the platform the staff had to stop me from walking off with the cord still attached to my legs. Dazed and shaking, I grope my way to the back of the room, past the next joker about to go suck wind, and sat next to a Spanish girl crying, who just realized her expensive mistake. I began to collect my thoughts.

"That was AWESOME!"

Queenstown

2009-09-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Queenstown, beautiful lake side Queenstown.

The view from Wanaka.

We encountered this guy on the way into Wanaka. He was just walking down this highway on a cliff face. When we pulled up he, he said we could go pass. Hollie was driving at the time and asked how. He said, 'Just go for it!'

Me halfway up the terminal face of the Franz Joseph Glacier.

And dont give me shit; the fanny pack was mandatory.

Abel Tasman

New Zealand: 4 million people, 40 million sheep.

Wellington

2009-09-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it to the southern tip of the North Island, Wellington. The weather at the start of the trip had been pretty good. It only rained once, but once we got into the capital here, the weather turned sour. It has been rainy and cold since we pulled in. We both have been forced to rock our rain slicks to stay warm and dry.

But besides that things have been going well. Hollie ended up starting off the trip pulling us out of Auckland, while I navigated us towards Roturura. A bit of a school boy error on my part prohibited me from driving at the start. It turns out my drivers license had expired in August without my knowing, so I had to ask my folks for a bit of an international favor so that I could be put on the rental insurance. But anyway, that is all resolved and I have been let loose on the highways of New Zealand.

And damn this place is hilly. It isnt exactly the best spot to be practicing throwing a caravan into first on a hill. I never knew you could make a caravan jump. . . . But since those first frustrating days, I think I am getting the hang of it. Im not stalling as much or making the car lurch forward nearly as often, which is a good start. And Hollie no longer sighs when I offer to drive.

I am getting better. I think I have the highways down, it is the cities that are the problems: having to downshift quickly and pull out into traffic banking on your not stalling when you try and throw it into gear. But Im almost there.

. . . .

The caravan is great. We have been taking advantage of the full kitchen facilities in the back. There is little to no maintenance involved, you just need to make sure that the propane is filled for the stove, the water is filled for the sink, and the second battery is charged for the lights and refrigerator. The water and propane are easy fixes. The electricity is a bit tricky, because to get that you need to check into a caravan park overnight to recharge. And that costs money, so we are trying to free camp as much as possible without the fridge failing to save cash for sky diving.

The car company recommended we charge up every second night but we are trying to expand it to the every third or fourth without spoiling our bologne.

Free camping has been pretty easy and eventless. We have done it once in a car pull off, once on a desolate farm a local told us about, and then again last night on a residential street in Wellington. It is simple with the caravan, you just park it, pull out the bed, a bottle of wine, and noone is the wiser.

It was funny though our first night in the car pull off, our proximity to the road and our being unsure of whether or not what we were doing was safe and legal made us both a little bit jumpy. Hollie actually ended up having a nightmare about someone approaching the van and attacking us. So that night when we had to pee in the middle of the night, to avoid the cold and her imaginary assailant, we ended up just peeing the in the caravan sink. The same sink we used the next morning to clean our dishes.

. . . .

Right now, we are just roaming the city, trying to avoid the rain cold, and waiting to get on our 2:15 am ferry tonight down to the South island so we can continue the trip.

First sight of our home for the next 45 days

Hollie in front of the Waikato River

Lake Taupo

Me in my brand-new second-hand winter jacket.

This photo I took for my Dad, and I really took a page out of his book when I was taking it. I was driving and upon seeing a tank on the side of the road, I slammed on the brakes and stopped the car to get a closer look. And much as my Dad would have, without asking whos it was or whether or not I was allowed to, I just started to climb on it and fittle with any part of it that I could reach. Why? Because it was there and there was noone with a gun telling me not to.

Auckland, NZ!

2009-09-18T03:03:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, I arrived into Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. And I have been spending the last few days with Hollie, my English friend I met in Fremantle, preparing for our 6 week road trip around New Zealand.

We have made the reservation for the camper van and well pick it up tomorrow morning to begin the tour. Now, the camper van is pretty sweet. It has a sink, microwave, refrigerator, storage space, raised ceiling, and a table with seats that can become a bed in the rear. And the thing looks like it could take an anti-tank round. It is no doubt guaranteed good times. The only issue is its a stick shift.

I have driven stick only twice in the US. Once with my friend Chris who was either kind enough or foolish enough to let me drive his car. And the other time was with my grandfather who was teaching me because I was going to go rent a car with my brother in Ireland. And rumor has it the mainly drive manual transmission cars. The car we got in Ireland was automatic so I got no experience there. And it wasnt until I drove up the West coast of Australia with the two girls from Freo that I got another chance to drive stick, and even then that was brief and clunky. I got to try it again once in a 4WD Land Cruiser out on Fraser Island, but again that was also brief but much smoother. So needless to say I am no expert. So driving this Monster 5-speed Camper van down the streets of Auckland could only be classified as an adventure. I think I am going to just give in and let myself be emasculated and let my female companion drive us out of the city till I get the hang of it. But still I couldnt be more excited.

Prior to my actually arriving in New Zealand, I have heard nothing but praise about this place. Everything is cheaper, great scenery, nice people, good wine, and of course bungee jumping. Has my travel insurance expired yet? I am expecting good things over the next 6 weeks. So heres to my not being disappointed.

Let's do this!

Sydney

2009-09-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, I arrived back in Sydney from Byron Bay after a 12-hour, event less, yet still sleepless, overnight bus ride. I have just completed my trip traveling completely around Australia after my arriving here some 9 months ago. I am expecting a phone call from Kevin Rudd here any moment.

On arrival, I caught up on some sleep, got some new passport pages from the always pleasant American consulate, and I am now preparing for tomorrow's early departure to Auckland, New Zealand. The last new country on my list before I return to America!

September 16: Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand

October 31: Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia

November 2: Sydney, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii

November 10: Honolulu, Hawaii to Seattle, Washington

(after a long walk)

November 19: Portland, Oregon to Washington DC

It is upon us.

Byron Bay (con't)

2009-09-12T22:02:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the sentiment from the last post, am I going to have a country to return to?

What the hell is going on DC?

I leave for 14 months and this is what happens?

And why is Sarah Palin's name still in the press?

Byron Bay

2009-09-10T01:52:00.000-07:00

Throughout my entire trip, I have missed my family and friends. But within the last month I have just begun to crave home. What specifically? . . . . just about Everything.

.

.

I miss setting down to the dinner table with my family. My dad trying to retell jokes from David Letterman the night before, but never quite remembering the punch lines.

His always being the first to laugh in hopes that it will catch on. It always does but not for the reason he intended. My mom is always quick to shoot a discouraging look at my brother and I, but deep down you can see she is trying to prevent herself from joining us.

I miss my car. My sweet, sweet car. I miss driving around familiar streets on the right side of the road. Or driving around DC or on 66 at night, and having the road to yourself, knowing that within several hours the road will become a parking lot.

I miss looking my friends in the eyes when I talk to them.

I miss taking trips to Harrisburg for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or whoever's birthday it is at that time; the good cooking, playing with my cousins and catching up.

I miss walking up to my house and having Maddie (my cat) come bounding out of a bush covered in dirt. And stopping just within arms reach so that you can pet her.

If had to book my tickets now, I would be home within in the month instead of the 2 and half months I still have remaining. Dont get me wrong, I am enjoying myself and will continue to do so for the next several months but I think I have achieved what it is I set out to and now am ready to come back.

Byron is a beautiful, chilled-out spot and have been really enjoying it, but again I am just ready for home.

Rainbow Beach II

2009-09-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

So thats what Irish boobs feel like!

Fraser Island. Night time. Beers. Too Many Cheap Boxes of Wine. The ring of people around the camp fire has since dissipated and one third of the people have already gone to bed.

I was talking with an English girl about who knows what, when I overheard a conversation going on between an English guy and a German girl.

" . . . . Americans are just so ignorant. They hate German People and they probably hate English as well . . . ."

The English guy who was speaking clearly had been drinking but still you could see the passion in what he was saying, that this is something that he could have really believed. The German girl just sat there smiling.

I calmly tap the English guy on his knee interrupting what must have been an already long speech.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, acting liking I didnt really hear what was being said.

The English guy turns to me and addresses me, already knowing that I am 'the American' but I am not sure if he knew me by name at this point: "You know how it is, so many Americans are just so ignorant and just seem to hate the rest of the world, but I know your are cool."

Hm

My mother, my father, my brother, my family, my friends, my mailman, and my cat are all ignorant, BUT I am cool. What a relief? I know I was born to just a couple of inbred jug-blowing hill billies, but I cant help but feel mildly offended.

Now, when you are traveling in Australia the majority of other travelers you encounter are either European (Eastern and Western), Canadian, American, Korean, Japanese, or Taiwanese. And anyone with even a mild familiarity with 20th Century History knows that these are all nations that owe the US either partially or completely for that fact that they dont speak either German, Japanese, or Russian.

Now, I would never say this to any of them, because that is no way of making friends (but I think it). So to help fend off these bologne stereotypes you need to take them head on and maintain your cool.

So what were the allegations: Americans are ignorant and hate Germans and English people!

"Dude, I completely disagree with what you just said. A lot of Americans may not be able to name the leaders of either country but they do not hate you. I mean unless you are talking to an 80 year old World Ward II veteran, there is no real animosity towards Germany in the US. Germans LOVE IT when you talk about World War II. (And I know; I have since done the math and know that an 80 year old WWII veteran would have been only twelve at the time of US involvement but still the burn stands). And as for the English (interrupting myself) Where did you say you were in the US?

"Well, I was there once when I was younger," he admits timidly.

(pause)

Let his floppy terd just air dry for a minute

"Well, I dont have to tell you that calling the average American ignorant when you yourself havent even really been there, in turn makes you ignorant.

"And as for the British, if you were to go to the US, sure the average person wouldnt have any fucking idea where Wales was, but still ignorance doesnt imply hate. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I guarantee woman there would faun over you and the men there would be very interested to hear what you had to say. Which is unfortunate because you are a jackass! They would probably even look up to you in a way."

Some other Englishman who had just been observing chimes in, "Well said!"

"No, I know!" As he backpedals to save face and whatever chances he may have had with the German girl who has since left the conversation.

Now, I dont remember the exact phrasing of the entire encounter, but I do specifically remember looking him directly in the eyes through the dark night and calmly calling him ignorant to his face. And even still when I went to bed some 15 minutes later, I made sure to say good night to him. And he still gave me what I perceived to be a genuine "Cheers, mate!"

. .

Given, my past posts about drinking and getting thrown out of bars, I dont know how all of you feel about my being the quasi-representative of our country that all travelers are, but I think Im doing OK. Honestly, I am never the drunkest person in the room, but I am still much livelier then lets say an Al Gore. To be real, I am closer to a Ted Kennedy type character, except honest, chivalrous, and with a normal size head.

. .

Great Britain is made up of three countries: Scotland, England, and Wales. The United Kingdom is Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. Wales is west of and CONNECTED, CONNECTED to England in Great Britain. YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE A BOAT TO GET TO WALES FROM ENGLAND. You can, but you dont need to. You could drive your double decker there from London. You just need to find a reason to go there.

Learn it!

Rainbow Beach

2009-08-31T15:18:00.001-07:00

It was suggested to me that I should have taken a photo of the gentlemen, from my previous post, doing his deed and then had him pay me to delete the photo.

No!

Because I would have had to A) Look at the photo first to confirm my find B) Talk to him and C) Either handle money he had touched or defended myself against him and his greasy knuckles, as he tried to steal my camera.

No, Thanks. I think it ended the best way possible.

. . . . .

In Bundaberg, I was checked into the other hostel by a gentlemen named Phil. Within the 2 minutes it took him to get my details and give me my key, I could tell that Phil is a cool guy but a guy who didnt take any shit. And it wasnt until I checked out yesterday, I had a 15 minute conversation with Phil that I confirmed that.

Its funny, when you travel you meet some people and you dont get along at all and others you can click withing a couple of minutes. Phil and I clicked. I think is because we are just so similar. Except that he is Canadian, extremely muscular, a former pro mixed martial artist, has served prison time, and within the last two months has taken on 5 people in a fight and gotten away with only some bruised ribs.

OK, so we arent similar at all. But we do have a similar story. I quit Freddie Mac to go traveling. He use to be an accountant, but was sent to prison for defending himself against and nearly killing a guy who had a bat and a knife, but was released from prison for good behavior after saving two prison guards during a riot and then went traveling. . . . .

Same thing! I just skipped a step.

.
.
.

Yes, Phil is a real person and yes we are now facebook friends.

. . . . .

Something actually serious. Hey guys, I just wanted to sincerely thank anyone who has been keeping up with blog. Writing is something that has been foreign to me for most of my life. But the feedback that people keep giving me and the comments on the blog are really what gives me the confidence to write and fuels my desire to do so.

So again a sincere 'Thank you' goes out to you guys!

I am now in Rainbow Beach and will be here for 4 days and wont be on the PC till I get into Brisbane. I hope to see you then.

Bundaberg

2009-08-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

GAMP!

I am writing this next post more for therapeutic purposes then for my usual entertain. The following is pretty gross and mildly disturbing (but no less true), so I dont recommend everyone read it. Grandma please dont read this, it is gross. Any cousins I have that are under 15 and are following along, thanks for doing so, but please give this one a skip. Maddie (my cat) please do not give into your usual curious instincts but instead resume whatever it is you do for a living. Honestly, nothing really happened to me, so if you dont read this you are not missing anything.

[Grandma, I put a circle where it is save for you to start reading again.]

OK, so to get from Airlie Beach to Bundaberg, I had to take an overnight bus. The bus left Airlie Beach at 5:25 pm and was expected to get into Bundaberg at 3:30 am. All was fine, I got to the bus OK, there were no issues getting on, everyone who wanted to was able to find a seat in empty row, so they had two seats to themselves. I even ended up sitting across the row from a pretty French girl who recognized me from Cairns.

"Do you play Volleyball?"

"Why, yes I do."

"Yes, I saw you in Cairnes."

"I bet you did!" (Damn, thats what I should have said!"

As you can see, things were good.

But about an hour into the ride, I noticed a very foul smell coming from the person in front of me. It was actually very, very foul. It smelt like he was wearing his socks and then eating them or eating some kind of wet cat food. It was rank and I think made my hair one shade lighter.
Luckily, it only came in small powerful bursts. Fine. I can handle that.

About an hour or so later, I noticed him picking his nose and then balling up his little treasure. I didnt see their final destination . . . the bottom of the seat, his mouth, his eye. I dont know and I dont care as long as it wasnt me. Its fine, its gross and weird but I can handle that.

About two hours later, it got really weird. As I was watching 'Cadillac Man,' the movie they put on on the bus, I noticed him watching something. He was watching this movie on his camera, that I presume he took, of some guy dancing around. Now normally, I wouldnt have thought anything of it, it just looked like some drunken tape he took of him and his buddies, which he evidently he missed. But he kept glancing back at me while watching it. What is going on? I just pretended that I didnt notice him glancing back and just kept watching the group movie.

. .

. .

But, he kept glancing back so much, that is was obvious he was doing something that he felt was wrong. And I was able to see that the guy on the camera now had his shirt off. The 'short clips' that I saw didnt go where you are thinking it is going, but the volume of footage of this person that he had and the way in which he was watching it made it uber creepy. He had enough footage to continuously watch videos of this person through 'Cadillac Man' and then for a while there after.

I am now beginning to get concerned. It is pretty late and I am tired and I want to go to sleep but I am too scared at this point. I am afraid that this creepy dude might try to take a video of me or touch me while Im sleeping or something that I cant let happen. So I dont sleep. I keep fading in out. I just keep trying to keep tabs on what he is doing, without looking at him long enough to give him reason to look at me.

. .

. .

At about 2 am, I noticed that he had stopped watching his video and stopped glancing at me. He was now looking at the French girl across the row fom me. She had turned her reading light on at some point during the trip, and then apparently fell asleep under it. So when the lights went down on the bus she was clearly illuminated laying against the window.

His glancing at her was obvious; she was over his shoulder so you could easily see his head swivel back and forth with each glance.

Now, what he is doing in the seat in front of me during this is unclear. I dont see his hands or anything tangible that I could describe to you that led me to my conclusion, except his timid learing, but I know something is up and I am NOT fine with it.

Sleeping is no longer an option. Survival is now the goal. My only option it to now just sit and watch this guy watch this girl and only hope that I stay awake long enough to prevent anything too weird from happenenig beyond what I already suspect.

I liked this guy better when he was holding his camera.

. .

Dont Sleep!

. .

Dont Sleep!

. .

(eyes closing)

Dont Sleep!

. .

Then out of the blue, the French girl wakes up, quickly pulls her jacket over herself, and now turns away so that she is no long facing him. During this, he whips his head around and throws himself so that he is face down on his row of chairs. Now, I didnt see her see him, but both of these evidents happened at the exact same moment, and they both moved with such speed and purpose that what happened was clear.

I am initially disgusted, but eventually relieved, because as long as he stayed like this I think potential for uncountering any type of UFO has been decreased to threat level blue.

I know he must have been embarrassed because he remained on his stomach for the rest of the trip or at least till he got off (no pun intended).

. .

This was good but bad, because he got off at my stop!

As we were pulling into Bundaberg, my stop, and the driver announced we were almost there, I started to get my stuff together. He does so, too.

Are you kidding me? What have I done to deserve this? This guy could only have been a worse bus companion if he jumped into my seat and then tried to give me a high five after his solo adventure. And then pulled a parrot and a baby out of his bag.

Why me?

I say goodbye to the French girl, acting as if I knew nothing and get off the bus.

The driver hands me my bag. I asked where a certain hostel was. I didnt have anything booked at this point, but I had heard this hostel was good so I asked about it. The driver starts to give me the directions, but someone interrupts from behind me,

"It's OK, I am going there, too. You can follow me!" NO, IT CANT BE!

I turn around and I am now looking directly at the certain individual, except now there is no chair separating us. OMG Please Dont Touch Me!

I am stunned. And when did you put on sweatpants?

He takes my lack of saying anything as exceptance and marches on. I hesitate. God please dont let the French girl see me walk away with this person. But I really did need to find a place to stay and I Swedish fellow also said he needed to get there too, so I count myself temporarily safe and followed. But I made sure to leave a healthy margin between me and the geographically ambiguous masterbater.

Withing a couple of meters of leaving the station with Pee Wee Herman and the Swede, I saw a differnt hostel then the one we were heading to.

"Guys, Im just going to check this hostel. I dont want to have to carry my bags any further then I need to." Or get slimed!

"No problem, we will watch your bag." said the GAMP (a geographically ambiguous masterbating person). I look at the Swede. Do not let this person touch my bag or your person. No response.

I go up to the hostel doors. No lights on. Reception is closed. And noone is about to sneak me in. SERIOUSLY, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? I return to the guys.

"Guys its closed, but I am going to just hang out in front of this hostel till it opens in the morning."

The GAMP replies: "No dont be silly, I know someone at (the other hostel). She'll let us in and we can all crash in the TV room tonight together."

There is no way I am sleeping anywhere near this guy, let alone on an open floor. . . . even with Sweden between us. I open my mouth to politefully refuse, when this drunk German girl comes out of no where.

"Hey, where are you all headed?" She said. Easily, indentifying us as foreign newcomers, by our backpacs and the confused expression on the three of our faces. One face even looked like it had tears in its eyes.

The Swede tells her the hostel name.

"Yeah thats where Im staying too. I dont know how you are going to get into your room because reception is closed, but there are two empty beds in my room you can sneak into."

I make sure to say Thanks first to claim my stake in one of them, and pat the Swede on the back to claim his. The German girl begins to think through her offer:

"Its in an all girl dorm though. . ."

"haha, Dont worry! We dont mind!"

. . . So, I was pretty much saved from the GAMP and his sticky fingers by this drunk German girl. I was beyond relieved. This German girl made up for the two the other night and their tequila.

And that is how the story pretty much ended. I was able to secure one bed and the Sweded the other without incident. And I was able to say goodbye to the GAMP without a handshake or even so much as a second look.

In the morning, I left without reception protesting and checked into a hostel on the otherside of Bundaberg.

And since, I have been spending the last two in this tiny town wandering the streets trying not to bump into a certain individual. So far I have been successful.

But the whole irony of the situation is, the thing that brought me into this warped situation is going to be the same one to get me out of it: Another night bus!

O [Welcome back Grandma!]

And that's why I dont collect PEZ dispensers anymore!

Airlie Beach

2009-08-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

I have a drinking problem; I cant find my cup.

Last night, I was kicked out of a bar in Airlie Beach by some jackass bouncer for having too much to drink. When he first approached me I did a double take. I didnt even realize that the dude worked there. I mean since when is it a crime to be tall and clumsy. The Aussie just love drinking so much so their liability laws are much stricter here, so the bouncers are much more active then at home. I mean fair enough I was wasted, but come on. In DC, if you can lift your arm to pay for the drink, theyll give it to you. And at the end of the night, they just sweep you up and take you out to the curb.

Its funny. I know I am tall but I dont think of myself as a big person, but the handful of times I have been asked to leave an establishment for either malicious dancing or for being too good-looking the bouncers give me such respect here, I love it. Through my drunk eyes, they always seem to act like they are taming a bear.

" Woah, there big fella!"

They are always careful not to touch me or stand directly in my path. They just walk behind me as my drunk ass searches for the door. And the past two times, they had two of them approach me. One does the talking the other just looks tough. Its hilarious! As I am slowly marched to the door, I always have to fight the urge to just run and hide behind some fat chick. But I abide so that I can leave with at least some dignity (some is lower case for a reason).

But in all fairness, last night wasnt my fault. It was those German girls and their tequila. Honestly, if two German girls come up to you and say "You drink this!" Really what can you say?

" No fuck you Blonde girls and your free alcohol; now get out of my face!"

. . . . . .

For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, I was given a boomerang by Hollie in Cairns. Oh my Gosh, I was so stoked! You have no idea! I dont know my imagination just got the best of me and I pictured myself just walking around town with my Boomerang "Matilda" just solving crime: Foiling bank heists, getting cats out of trees, boomeranging terrorists and you know just making the world a better place.

Walking from town to town across Australia, slowly accumulated more and more Boomerangers until we had a huge posse. Within maybe a couple of months at max, we would have gotten UN backing and you know really gone global. I think Somalia would have been our first stop, to sort out those bloody pirates.

Mr Obama, how do you feel about Doug Jeffery's Boomeranging, "I approve!"

Eventually, I would be tragically forced into premature retirement after a stray boomerang thrown by my trusted Boomerang Shirpa, Teeka, hit me in the shoulder and took me out of commission, we remain friends but he is a shell of his former self. And I would take up Boomsmithing to you know just stay in the game, but you its just not the same anymore. These kids today, they just dont know what its all about anymore! Not like back in the old days in Cairns!

. . . . . so needless to say you can see I was excited when I got this Boomerang.

We went to a cricket pitch for our expedition, and believe me I was prepared to go mad with that thing. I stretched out, cracked my knuckles, the whole lot, I picked it up in my hand, gauged the wind by the bend in the plam trees, pulled her back . . . . . And fuck me I am shit at throwing a Boomerang.

I might as well have been throwing a floppy turd, that thing didnt even consider returning to me. I was so devastated, my never-feasible future, just crumbled before my tear filled eyes. It was the toughest four hours of my trip. Thank God Hollie was there to talk me down from the ledge.

Luckily, my second birthday gift was a harpoon gun. . . . .

Ayr

2009-08-24T19:00:00.001-07:00

I got to do the SS Yongala dive two days ago. It was great I got to see some Humpback whales breeching on the way out and then I got see some Eagles Rays, Turtles, Clown Fish, Sea Snakes, Huge Grouper, and Rock Cod out there as well. It was a great dive. Unfortunately, you cant actually go into the wreck, but you really didnt need to anyway. There was plenty of live and coral on the outside of the boat. Also, I have no photos of the wreck, I just couldnt be bothered to rent one of those underwater cameras.

Also, something I didnt realize. You know that guy that killed his wife 6 years ago in Australia while diving on their honeymoon. Well that took place on the Yongala dive site, crazy stuff!

Right now, Im just waiting for my bus to Airlie Beach where Ill check out the Whitsundays, which is suppose to be good; so Im pumped for that. Im just glad its over cast so I dont have to ride the 3 hours on the bus with swamp ass.

Cairns II

2009-08-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Well, Today is my last day in Cairns before I head down the East Coast tomorrow morning to begin the final leg of my Australian tour.

I have already booked most of the stuff Ill be doing by a travel agency ahead of time and Ill be traveling by bus for the whole trip so I dont see much potential for flat tires or hitchhiking but who knows. So I expect the actual traveling to be pretty tame, but I am more then welcoming it. I wouldnt mind some effortless travel at this point.

Traveling without a plan where everything is up in the air is a great experience and really has been the best bits of my trip, but you need some time in between to just recuperate and just veg out. Particularly, when you are already trying to be as thrifty as possible anyway, which usually involves sacrificing most of the luxuries you are use to already.

But still I am very much looking forward to this last bit of my trip in Australia. The main highlights are going to be my Yongala dive, the Whitsundays sailing, and the Fraser island 4WD.

1) The SS Yongala is a freight steamer that sunk in 1911 about 22 kms off the coast of Australia, near Townsville. It was a ship that was headed to Cairns from Melbourne but a cyclone sunk it and is now suppose to be one of the best dive sites in the world. The top of the deck is 16m down and the bottom of the wreck is about 30m down, and the wreck itself is suppose to be teaming with fish.

I myself am only open water certified which means that I can only dive to a max depth of 18m, but I am going to take some brief course once I get there and theyll let me dive the full depth and go throughout the wreck. I am mucho excited!

2) Whitsundays is suppose to be a beautiful bunch of islands off the coast to go snorkeling and sailing. The dream 'island caretaker' position offered about 6 months ago in Australia was for an island right near Whitsundays.

Im going to go on a sail boat out there for 2 days and two nights do whatever it is you do on a boat.

3) Fraser Island is a world heritage site, again an island off the coast that is suppose to full of a type of dingo unique to the island and some great beaches. Less then two weeks ago, a Dutch couple's child was attacked by one of the dingo and the dingo had to be put down. The child survived but it was still a big story.

So yeah, thats the plan. The end of the trip will plant me back in Sydney after nine and a half months of Australia, where Kevin Rudd will give me the keys to the country, because I have been owning Australia!

. . . . .

When I get back into Sydney Ill swing into the Embassy down there, pick up some more passport pages, and fly over to Auckland in New Zealand. Ill treck around there for some 6 weeks. Then Ill fly back to Sydney for a day then onto Hawaii where Ill be back on US soil for the first time in 17 months! Oh yeah! Cheney is president right?

Still in Cairns, but here are old photos.

2009-08-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

A Dingo at our campsite in Karijini.

The cost of gas on the Gibbs River Road in the middle of nowhere. Two Dollar Australian per Litre means its about Eight Australian Dollars to a Gallon, which means its about Seven Dollars American per Gallon.

We actually saw this guy in the middle of the Gibbs too. He was this guy who looked like he rolled out of the bush. He was walking next to his red van which had its front cut off so that it could be towed by these two huge camels. I guess thats the best way to save on gas.

The first flat.

The second of four, 100 metres from the first. We are stuck at this point and know it.

The Great Barrier Reef. I got to do three dives here yesterday. It was good stuff!

The Cairns Marine.

Cairns

2009-08-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever eaten cold bake beans straight out of the can?

I arrived into Cairns yesterday morning and spent the first day sleeping, because I spent the night before sleeping in an airport and the night before that sleeping in a car. But it is beautiful and look forward to the two weeks I have here, including my birthday.

Darwin

2009-08-03T17:46:00.001-07:00

The Jeep was fixed in Kununurra and I managed to get a ride to Darwin with the same guys as before and I got to see my first traffic lights since Perth.

In two days, I fly to Cairnes.

Kununurra

2009-07-30T02:53:00.000-07:00

Within 10 k of leaving Broome with my new English crew, the difference between driving with Woman and Men was more then apparent.

With the girls, the car was kept reasonably tidy; there was a designated garbage bag for trash. The windows were up, air conditioning flows. Music was playing but at a tolerable level, so reading and light conversation were possible. And the car just seems to glide to its destination at an effortless pace(save the flat).

With the guys, the car is taring down the road fluctuating between 10 and 30k over the speed limit, the tumble bar is frequently heard as the car slips off the side of the road as the driver stuffs his hand into a bag to grab the last of the potato chips. The windows are open, the music is blaring, conversation is impossible. As you reach down under the seat to try and find some more chips, you tare the old snickers wrapper off your leg that you cant remember eating. We stop only to pee or buy food.

When I was with the girls, we woke up every morning had oats for breakfast with some sort of fruit and a cup of tea. For the two of the last three nights for dinner we had a vegetable curry prepared over our cooking stove.

With the guys, breakfast is usual forgone because you slept in and lunch is whatever you can buy at a gas station, a sandwich, a sausage roll, potato chips, or a candy bar. For dinner, you have the choice of sausage tomato sauce and pasta or tuna tomato sauce and pasta. Indigestion and flatulence are inevitable!

. . . . .

After leaving Broome, our first stop was Derby the last town to get supplies to get supplies at before you take on the Gibbs River Road. The Gibbs River Road is one of the roads you can take between Broome and Darwin to get through the Kimberleys. If you were to look at a map of Western Australia and find the Northern Most highway just at the eastern edge of the state, Route 1, the Gibbs River Road is the dashed line that runs parallel just above it. They say it was a road created by truckers and miners to be able to move whatever to wherever quicker. Dont be mistaken. IT IS NOT A ROAD. It is a mechanics wet dream.

That . . . . that thing is just ridiculous. They say you need a 4 wheel drive. We had that! They say you need extra gasoline. We had 20 L on top of our existing 60 L gas tank. They say you need two spare tires. We had one. They say you need all of the usual outback supplies, lots of water, extra engine oil, sun screen . . . we left with that but our faulty roof rack decided to toss most of our supplies into the bush arbitrarily. By the end of the trip we had lost two pairs of shoes, a water bottle, 20 L of water, the engine oil, a sleeping bag mat, and even our other tent. By the end 3 of us were sleeping in our three man tent and the fourth was left to sleep across the seats in the truck.

But even with the supplies we managed to retain we still werent prepared for that damn thing. On the third day, after we were 160 ks from the last road house and just 40 ks of the next camp ground we got a flat. We took all of the crap out of our car to get to the jack, jacked up the car, changed the car (I took the lead due to me recent experience) put all of the crap back in the boot, tied down the old wheel and kept on. Not within 400 m of the first (hand to God) we got a second flat. We have no second spare. We had to flag down a Swiss couple to give one of the English guys a ride to the next campsite to get our spare changed.

The remaining three of us sat on that road for 3 and a half hours, playing soccer or napping until he returned. Five cars passed in those 3 and a half hours.

The six was a bunch of French guys blaring Johnny Cash with Tony, the English guy, with the fixed spare on his lap. We thanked the Frogs for helping us, got the jack, changed the tire and then race towards the campsite before dusk to avoid the soon to be active Kangaroo, Dingo, and roaming cattle. On the way to the campsite we have no issues but begin to hear a sharp metal on metal sound from the front wheel and once in the campsite parking lot get a third flat.

The next morning, we had created a quite ambitious itinerary of seeing some hot springs and more gorges, but it was all destroyed by the mechanics diagnosis that we had a broken wheel barring and a new one would have to flown out from Perth (where I started from) and would take probably 3 or 4 days to get there. On top of that he was only able to fix one of our tires and didnt have a spare our size, so we had no spare. We asked the mechanic whether or not he thought wed been able to get to Kununurra if we just road on it real slow. He said he wouldnt move it. We had some thinking to do.

Now with the girls, when we came to a cross roads and a decision needed to be made, the options were talked about, considered, and a consensus was formed.

With the guys, the options were talked about, considered and then we decided what most men do, when they refuse to except the reality of situation and just give in to the irrational pack mentality:

"Fuck it, lets Go!"

We drove on that piece of crap wheel, some 130 k, to get to Kununurra, at an average speed of 25 miles an hour with our blinkers blazing to get here. The tire began to wobble but we kept going. The front brakes began to give, but we kept going. The metal screeching sound got unbearable, we turned the music up. We stopped twice to discuss whether or not it is possible for a wheel to actually fall off a car, but we kept going. And I have never seen so many crazy looks as we pulled into that garage. Some laughed and others just shook their heads, but Damn it, we made it!

. . . . . .

Right now, we are waiting on those parts from Perth they say two days, and a couple of hours to install, assuming no other damage, but who knows. But I am now back in Limbo, and I have to decide whether or not to keep going with the English blokes or to catch another ride onto Darwin. But as the Aussie's say 'No Worries!'

Broome II

2009-07-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

The wedding in Broome was a good time (Raf and Simone were willing to give me a ride up the coast because they had a wedding to attend out here around the same time I was heading up here). It was my first beach wedding. I got to rock up in jeans and flip flops and watch the ceremony. The ceremony took place on Cable Beach right before the Sunset.

Before we got to the beach, the water was closed to swimmers because a 3.5 m croc was spotted in the water. I was waiting for it to make an appearance at the wedding but it never showed.

The three of us have just been camping around Broome, enjoying the sunshine and the beaches for the past few days. But now that is all changing. I put up a flyer about three days ago on a bulletin board at our campground that I was looking for a lift to Darwin and last night I got a call from one of three English guys from Kent who are headed that way. They all seem like good guys and have 4WD, which is essential in the top end, so Ive decided to join up with them. We are going to take about a week getting there and seeing whatever there is to see along the way . . . and we leave in an hour. . . . . . soooo.

Me enjoying the sun.

Broome

2009-07-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

Just got in.

On the way to Nullagine from Karijini National Park, we ended up getting a flat on these back, dirt roads about 70 k from our destination. We had a spare so it wasnt much of an issue but if we would have lost that spare we would have been out of luck. We had only past one other vehicle, a mining truck on the way in and were low on water. We had maybe 4 L between 3 people and a couple of six packs. If things would have gotten sticky, we would have had to resort to drinking beer; God forbid!

But the flat resulted in what I think was the best photo of my trip.

Proof that I did help. . . . eventually.

Karijini NP

Exmouth

2009-07-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

Two Days ago, I went swimming with a 5 and a half meter whale shark, 3 x 2 meter long Manta Rays, and spent the rest of the day watching humpback whales breech. Awesome!

Next we head out to Karijini NP.

Carnarvan

2009-07-08T03:38:00.001-07:00

First Day, First Stop : The Pinnacles. Or as I like to call it 'Cock Rock' or of course, 'the Bone Stone'

Same Day The Natural Bridge near Kalbarri. Those are the two girls I am on the road trip with, Rafeena and Simone.

A Windmill used to pump out ground water, a typical Outback sight.

Check out that red clay.

And I swear I found that car like that . . .

Right now, I am in Carnarvan, about 900 km north of Perth and still about 1500 km short of my final stop with this crew, Broome.

Things are going well, the weather is getting warmer already on day four. I am getting use to living out of a bag, and sleeping in a car/tent again. But tonight, I am sleeping in the house of a friend of Simone. It is nice to have a soft floor and some clean clothes.

Tomorrow, well start early and head out to Coral Bay, which will be the start of the extreme sun and some gun snorkeling. Im hoping to get some good beach time in then. Nothing to crazy has happened yet, but Ill keep you posted.

Pinnacles

2009-07-05T18:17:00.001-07:00

The road trip began yesterday. Fremantle has faded into the horizon. Our first stop . . . The Pinnacles.

Also, as of today I have been out of the US for a year. Think about that!

Freo XVI: Last Day of Work

2009-07-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

The Cowokers

The Cooks

The Cleaners

The Cooky

My Boss

My Last Meal

My Lunch Break

Work Sign

2009-07-01T01:53:00.001-07:00

This is a sign from work. Am I the only one who thinks this is funny?

Mad Max

2009-06-24T03:11:00.001-07:00

Matty per your comment:

. . . . so I looked into the shooting locations for Mad Max around Australia, unfortunately they are located on the East Coast. The first film was shot around Melbourne in Victoria. And the second film was shot in New South Wales, also on the east coast. If I wanted to see them, I should have gone while I was out there in January, but money was tight then. Realistically, beside the vast landscape there wouldnt be much remaining from when the film was shot in 1978. And I have been enjoying the Australian terrain plenty on my travels thus far.

But Matt, as for your and others continually poking fun at my love of Mel Gibson, Mad Max, and full-body, leather outfits, I do not appreciate it. Mad Max is a great movie, I dont care what you say. It is a well shot, post-apocolyptic film with all of the elements of a great movie. Car chases, thugs, a vengence driven protagonist and the third one even has Tina Turner. What more could you ask for? It was once the most profitable movies of all time and gave birth to a two time Oscar winner. It is a class film.

So realistically, I dont think I have a problem for liking Mad Max. Bill Thompson, an accountant from Des Moines, is the one with the problem. He has taken mid life crisis to a whole new level. His wife was able to adjust to the boots, and his turbo charged Ford Falcon, but his continually discharging his shotgun at the dinner table was a tough sell.

The leather outfit wasnt meant for everyone.

Freo XV: AFL Game & Wave Rock

2009-06-24T02:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday June 21, 2009 2:40 pm Geelong Cats v Fremantle Dockers @ Subiaco.

It was a great game, except for Freo losing. I got to see some good goals, enjoy a couple of beers, and see a couple of fights. One guy tried choking one of the Geelong players.

Wave Rock

Probably the only surfing Ill do in Australia

Small town Australia.

Freo XIV

2009-06-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

T - 15 days till Dougie hits the road again and continues his trek around Australia, thus ending my 5 month stint in Fremantle. Fremantle, home of once AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott. Fremantle, final resting place of Heath Ledger. Fremantle, location of the America's Cup in 1987, the first place the race was held outside the US after holding the cup for 136 years. And now Fremantle, place where Doug Jeffery served his first Big Mac and earned his first Aussie Dollar.

In two weeks time, I am going to catch a ride North with a group of friends I met down here, leaving Fremantle behind for good. The stop in Freo has been great; I have had the chance to meet a lot of Australians that I wouldnt have been able to on the road. And it was nice to unpack my bag and let my undies air out. But also, after rolling into Perth on nothing by fumes, it helped me raise the financing to continue the rest of the trip. So that I will be able to afford my whale shark snorkeling up North, scuba diving in Townsville, and all those body shots in Byron Bay.

I still have a few things to do in Freo before I leave. 1) Go see an AFL game. 2) Go see Wave Rock (Its a rock that looks like a Wave). And thats about it. . . . so Im ready to get rolling.

. . . . .

Tentative agenda.

July 5: Leave Fremantle
Snorkel on the Ningaloo Reef, see Coral Bay, Shark Bay,
Snorkel with Whale Sharks
July 20: Pull into Broome
Find a ride onto Darwin
August 2: Arrive into Darwin

August 9: Get into Cairnes
Do some Diving, Treking, Sailing on Whitsundays, Surfing, drive a Jeep on Fraser Island
September 15: Fly from Sydney to New Zealand
Eat a Ferg Burger and Do New Zealand
October 31: Fly back to Sydney from Auckland
Halloween in Sydney
November 2: Buy some stuffed Kangaroos before I board my flight to Honolulu
Check out Pearl Harbor and get my tan on
November 9: Fly from Honolulu to Seattle

November 12: Take the night bus down to Portland
Do the Monster Mash with Molli and Eric.
November 19: Pull into Reagan and show my parents my new tats.
Begin to slowly feel the crushing pressue that is the 'Real World'

Freo XIII

2009-06-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, I got to hit Rottsnest island again.

The view on the way over, cargo waiting to dock.

The view of the windmill on Rotto.

A couple heading back to their boat at dusk.

Check out the color of the water, Rotto.

Shark Warning

Freo XII

2009-06-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

Just on Monday, I was evicted from my house share by my landlord. I had been staying there since mid March. It was a beautiful house and I enjoyed staying there, its only downfall was my landlord.

My landlord was a forty year old man living in the house with me and a college student. He was a nice guy but a bit of a ninny and a bit too nit picky for Doug. He was very accusatory and too militant about his house rules. He would accost me about the most mundane stuff. Personally, after a long day at work, I dont want to come home and be lectured for leaving a bathroom light on. He had a very poor way of dealing with people.

After two and a half months our relationship slowly degenerated into arguing and my trying to avoid being in the same room as him. Then one day we arguing about some speck of rice he found on the floor or something; he asked for me to leave and I accepted.

My leaving has been more of a relief then a problem. I moved in with some folks I met through a common friend. I expect to be here for my last month in Fremantle. They are actually going to be giving me a ride when I head North out of here on the 5th of July. This house is just as nice as the old one, but it is filled with friendly people who love to cook and has a real good vibe to it. I look forward to the next few weeks . . . . . . but Im still ready to hit the road again.

Freo XI

2009-05-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

Another pair of great white were spotted off the coast, maybe 20 miles north of where I am, eating a whale carcass.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=77&ContentID=143672

A third was still hanging around Rotto.

I got to go sailing again this week and we also went to Rotto. The water was cold and it was a bit windy, but at least it was a shark-free visit.

Freo X

2009-05-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

When it comes to unsolicited advice, my father is king.

During my entire trip, behinds the scenes, I have been constantly receiving warnings about what to do and not do to ensure my survival. I have received links to the CDC about Dengue Fever and excerpts from papers on how to spot possible landmines in Cambodia.

When I was in Thailand, after my motor bike fall; I was told "its better to come home and see a doctor then to lose a leg."

When I was in Laos, I was told "be careful! You know what people in Laos are told to do when they hear a strange knock on their door in the middle of the night? . . . Shoot through it!"

In Borneo, it was shoddy aircrafts. In the Mekhong Delta, it was handling wild animals.

"Doug, you know you are handling wild animals in the third world!"

Not to mention, the pirates, riots, hookers, pimps, Russians, lethal avian flus and every other micro bacterial, human, or animal adversary any man could face.

I have never been more aware of my mortality then I have on this trip.

When I got to Australia, the concern moved to crocodiles and sharks. "Doug, talk with the locals about whether or not the water is safe to swim in. And dont buy any of this 'if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone crap!'"

Well I dont know how much of the other warnings he gave me had merit, but he got this one right.

There have been a string of shark sightings and close calls in Western Australia, and more specifically in Perth (I am staying in Freo, a suburb of Perth).

On May 10, in Rockingham, 20 miles south of Fremantle (Freo), a man fell into the water, after trying to stop a great white shark from attacking the motor on his boat. The shark was 15 feet long. He managed to survive.

And just last week, a surfer spotted a great white, while swimming off of Rottnest Island. Rottnest Island is probably 15 miles away and is where I went sailing for the first time.

When I was in Sydney, over Christmas, a hammer head was spotted off the Sydney coast and Bondi Beach was evacuated. And the day after Christmas, a man was 'taken' by a shark out here in Perth while swimming and is presumed dead. Its funny, out here noone is 'killed' by sharks they are just 'taken' by them.

I give my father credit. Shark attacks seem to be a very real threat out here. But there is no need to worrie it is getting too cold to get into the water out here now anyway.

I Love you, Dad. And I am still curious who you know in Laos.

. . . . .

Rockingham Great White Attack (May 10, 2009):

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25456302-1245,00.html?from=public_rss

Perth Shark Attack (December 27, 2009):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7801202.stm

Freo IX

2009-05-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Last week, I decided to test fate and sneak through the club a second time to go sailing. We went to Garden Island this time instead of Rottsnest. Garden Island is a small island with a beautiful beach on one half and a naval base on the other.

Raising the Main Sail

The crew

Garden Island

I used my McDs hat as a disguise to sneak through the club.

Perth Skyline

To get this shot of Perth I had to go on a Swan River Ferry Ride. Ordinarily the tickets cost $30 bucks but I with the guy below; he managed to sweet talk our way on for free.

Look at this guy; tell me you dont want to know him.

Big Kanga'

Freo VIII

2009-04-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

Just a general update. Things are starting to get colder here.

It gets pretty warm during the day still but it isnt as hot as it once was. The raining season is going to begin soon. As a result, most of the vacationers are heading north with the warm weather. They are taking their sun screen and fat wallets with them which means less work where Im at. Most of the backpackers have headed north with them after work, but I am content just sitting here.

Which means I am once again looking for a second job. McDonalds called me about trying to transfer to another store, but I told them to shove off. With only 3 shifts behind me, I kneo enough to know McDonalds isnt for me. Ill chalk it up to artistic differences. The management at the last store I worked out was mostly homosexual, nothing wrong with that. But I swear to god if I had to hear Aqua's "Dr.Jones" one more time I would have shoved someone into the month old frie oil. No man should have to work under those conditions.

Or maybe it was the idea that I had to kowtow to a manager 5 years younger who was always reminding you of things that no person needed reminding of.

"Doug, you gave this woman a large coffee when she requested a standard"
"OK, my bad."
"Its not a problem; I fixed it. But just so you know Standard means Medium; not Large."

But more importantly, it was that they never figured out my name and then always treated me like I was the one miss pronouncing my own name.

"Hello?"
"Hi, This is Doug. Im calling about the interview."
"Oh, right Jeffery James."
"Actually its Doug."
"OK, Jeff see you on Tuesday."

The Sailing Club is still my main source of income at the moment. Ive been working about 25-30 hours a week but Im trying to get closer to the 50 mark.

Yesterday and today, I did another resume sweep. Im looking for a barista job maybe or just something different and a bit edgier. I signed up with a temporary agency. And they were saying that they may get some grape pruning work soon. That would be pretty cool, so maybe thatll pan out.

But we shall see. Its just a waiting game at this point.

Sunset at the Sailing Club. The change in seasons has been making some amazing sunsets recently.

Freo VII

2009-04-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

Well it happened! Working at a sailing club finally paid off. My buddy and I were invited onto a boat the other weekend by one of the members. I was invited out once before but couldnt go. I had to work so I jumped at the second chance to go out.

The owner, pictured above and below, is a pretty cool guy. He's in his early forties and lives on his boat fulltime. He use to work as a city planner but as he says 'cant be stuffed' anymore to work, so he sails.

He invited myself and my friend to go out on a Sunday, sleep on his boat, and then return the next day in time for me to slip into the club for work. This was more of a challenge then you wouldve expected. Employees are forbidden to go out on the boats with the members. But I figured what the hell the worst that could happen is I lose my job and then go out on the boat anyway. The chance to sail was somthing I couldnt pass up.

I had bought a bottle of port when I went on a wine tour around here and what better place to drink Port then in the bottom of a boat. It was a big success. The trip was great and I am talking with him about doing it again soon.

Boat: Tran Quility (about 26', two masts)

The Professor and Giligan

Me being helpful.

My favorite shot. Love the hat.

Our Destination. Notice the Crystal Blue Water of Rottnest.

A Different Day: A Bike Trip. A cool rusted out Power Station that we found right next to the beach.

Me tagging. Not really.

St. Patty's Day

Return

2009-04-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

I just bought my ticket home. I will be back in DC on the 19th of November.

That leaves me working here in Freo for 3 more months to save money for the rest of the trip.

After that, Ill then have 10 more weeks in Australia. In that time, I hope to complete the rest of my loop around Australia (from Perth to Broome to Darwin to Cairnes and then back to Sydney).

From there, I will hop on a plane to Auckland and have 6 weeks tooling around New Zealand.

By then it will be mid November, and on the 2nd, I start my trip home with a week in Honolulu, 3 days in Seattle, and a week in Portland putting my back on my couch on the 19th.

Its funny. I feel like my trip is ending so quickly but at the same time I am still trying to wrap my head around not seeing my family and friends for another 8 months.

My work visa in Australia is good through December of 09', but I couldnt bring myself to miss another Thanksgiving or Christmas. I dont know; some things you just shouldnt miss and cant ever replicate.

Fremantle VI

2009-03-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

My eyebrows smell like French Fries.

This week was my first shift at McDonalds. Prior to that I had 2 hours of online training and another 2 hour in store training. Both are probably as exciting as you would expect. We just went over the most mundane things like why we dont mix mix chemicals, is the deep fryer really hot, and how to use a mop. A big part of the orientation was actually on how to deal with a robbery and how to spot a counterfeit bill. That was actually pretty interesting.

Robberies at fast food joints is actually much more common then you expect. I was told that the store I was at was robbed a few months ago by a guy who asked for all of the money in the store and said he would blow up the store if they called the police. He then ran away and then showed up the next day with all the money and said he just wanted to see what they would do. Crazy stuff!

I was in orientation with 4 other people. All, except for one 15 year old Kiwi, were travelers. One Frog, 2 Pommies, and the Kiwi. Im the only Yank.

But a lot of you were poo pooing my decision to work at McDonalds but guess how many people applied for those 5 positions?

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
292

287 people were rejected. You think things are bad when you WORK at McDonalds. Imagine what things are like when you are REJECTED from McDonalds.

But as a whole it hasnt been that bad. My first day was actually kind of overwhelming to be honest just because they have such a huge menu now. And you have to be able to find all of this stuff on the cash register (Im a cashier) and then fill these orders in a pretty quick time, while the there are 20 other people in line glaring at you. But by my third day I was so money.

The mornings arent so bad, because it is just usually old people getting coffee who want to talk with you about the sea gulls outside. But at lunch it gets much worse. People are always in a hurry, the store begins to fill up and the food preparers get bogged down. So there is not much you can do. And a lot of people just treat you like garbage. They walk in expecting bad service, mumble orders to you, and then get upset when you dont hear them. But what can you do?

The McDonalds faces the ocean. There is a beach that leads right up to the Place place in the store. And the water is about 10 m from the stores edge. When I am taking orders I can look over peoples shoulder and see the ocean. Its great. Every morning there is a homeless aboriginal man that takes a shower in the beach shower next to his shopping cart full of stuff.

But it doesnt matter anymore, because I was just told that they are closing the store on the 5th of April. My McDs career will end after only three shifts. They said they may be able to transfer me to another store. But well see if that actually happens.

Until then Ill just keep my eyes open.

Fremantle (Con't)

2009-03-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

Guess who just got a mailing address . . .

Two days ago, I just moved out of the hostel and into a house. It is a single level, 3 bedroom place that I am sharing with three other people. It is in a great location and moves me even closer to my work and the beach. And best of all it isnt a hostel.

Now dont get me wrong, I had some good times in that hostel the four weeks I was staying there, but like all good things it must come to an end. It was great having all of those people around, but some things it was hard to deal with. Like for example, having to wear sandals in the shower because you arent sure what the urine content is of the stagnant water you are standing in, or the falling asleep to slurping sounds in the bunk across from you, or trying to figure out whether your constant itching is from bed bugs or scabees.

But still I will miss the place. Everyday when I would come home from work there would always be free food around. The Swedish girl working at the Indian place always had free curry. The Canadian girl at the bakery always had Pastries to give away. And the English girl from the Pizza place always had an extra slice. Every Monday, we played soccer in the park. And every week we would have a barbeque. Those things I will miss.

Plus you never knew what was going to happen when you were in there. One night, I woke up and found one of my roommates meditating in his boxers in the middle of the floor. You could wake up at 9 am and still see people going from the night before. You can come back to your room and walk in on a diggery do solo or two Finnish people in the middle of a drunkin grope. You just never knew what was going to happen. Like yesterday, as I was eating my morning bowl of rice crispies, I watched the hostel cleaning lady deal pot at the end of the end table, a hostel owned by a policemen. Only in a hostel.

There is a lot I will miss, so my gaining a house is a bit bitter sweet. But the best benefit of all is its half the price as the hostel.

I am still very much money conscious at this stage. My plan at this point is to save as much money over the next 3 months in Freo so I can finish out the rest of my trip and get home by Thanksgiving, which looks like it will happen.

The sailing club has given me more hours, I am working about 35 a week now, but they are usually at night. Its funny how my having my days free and Im trying to save money has turned me into an old man. I just wander around town all day with no place to go. I just hang out in the library pretending to be reading but just secretly stare at everyone else. And complain to whoever will listen about how the free bus around town is always late.

My appearance has taken a hit too lately. The right sole on my flip flop is falling off, but I am too cheap to buy new ones and too lazy to fix it. I am also too cheap to get a hair cut or buy a belt. So I just rome the streets during the day, kicking my right foot in the air so as not to trip on my broken flipflop and trying to hold my pants up with the one hand and keep my hair out of my eyes with the other.

But unfortunately, even with the additional hours from the Sailing Club, I am still falling short of my target funds to finish out my trip. So I had to get a second job.

Now, I am working nights at my other job so I needed a position that I can work during the day and that was willing to take people working for only three months. So with my Freddie experience I decided to turn to a company with the most valuable real estate porfolio in the world, a company with some name recognition, a company trusted and loved by millions across the world, a little known American Hamburger restaurant called . . . . . . . McDonalds.

Now, I know what you are thinking, and believe me the irony isnt lost on me either. A young guy gives up a good job at home, pays thousands of dollars in flights and visas to go travel across the world to try something different and ends up working at one of the largest American companies in the world. I know! Believe me I know! But I am confident with a bit of creativity and the right 'can do' attitude I will be able to make this the most memorable of my many Aussie experiences.

Fremantle Pictures and More

2009-03-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

Downtown Fremantle, the town where I am living and working.

South Beach, the local beach I go to.

Cottesloe Beach, a beautiful beach about 15 minutes by train and a good spot for volleyball.

Inside the Fremantle Sailing Club, my waiter gig.

People staying in the same place as me. This is us going on a wine tour.

The three chaps I went on the road trip with.

Warnings on the Nullabor.

Freemantle

2009-02-16T22:52:00.000-08:00

My trip has hit a bit of a speed bump these days. Even though I am getting better hours at work, I am still second guessing my whole setup.

I have only been here for 12 days but still it feels like an eternity. All of my jumping around on my trip has spoiled me and give me a very short attention span. Even though I know I need the money and Freemantle is a beautiful place, I am starting to get bored just hanging around here.

Everyday, I get up and wander how fast I can pack my bag and get the hell out of here. I dont know, my trip is just lacking the adventure at the moment that I set out to get. I dont think I left home just to go be a waiter somewhere, or at least I hope not.

Its just isnt the same as it was in Asia. There isnt as much as excitement as there once was. There are no crazy bus trips like in Cambodia, no threat of guerrillas like in Loas, no run-ins with custom officials like in Singapore, no AK-47s like in Vietnam, no soliciting hookers like in Thailand, no old woman throwing up next to me like in Indonesia, no deportations like in Russia, no huge lizards like in Borneo, no menacing pimps like in Greece.

I dont know what to say anymore. Australia has been great but it all seems so tame by comparison. Everything is so clean and well planned. The food is edible and the people nice. Everyone can speak English and no one stares at me anymore. Police are always a shout a way and the only thing you need to worry about is your money.

I dont know.

I think Ill just have to bite the bullet for the moment and just make the best of it I can and save my pennies for tomorrow. . . . . .

The plan at the moment is to work here for as long as I can stand and make some money, find a ride and head north. I basically want to drive around the entire continent and get back to Sydney. I think it will take me three weeks once I leave to get to Cairns from Perth and then Ill take another 6 weeks to go down the East coast. Then Ill head to New Zealand for a month or two and then head home. Yeppers.

I was looking at flights and I think I can get from Sydney to Honolulu to Seattle to Portland to Washington DC for . . . . . . $750 American. I thought that was impressive. There is no reason for me to stop in Seattle or Hawaii other then I want to. But I have some friends in Portland I want to see. At the moment, I want to be home by Thanksgiving 09'. To get home by then I will have to begin my flight home by early November.

I really want to try and work Mexico and Cuba into my return trek some how. Just to slip some more excitement back into my trip before it ends. I desperately want to get into Cuba while its still illegal before it becomes just another Disney world. Im pretty confident I can make it happen.

Fremantle II

2009-02-11T19:19:00.001-08:00

The waiter gig is going well; Ive only spilt water on one person thus far. The only problem is they arent giving me enough hours. Ive worked one Student Ball and one Greek Orthodox Wedding thus far. I think I am going to have to get a second job. I just applied for one at Coles, a local grocery store, but no news on that one yet.

In the meantime, Ive been living out of a hostel and enjoying the sunshine.

Fremantle (Just outside Perth)

2009-02-05T21:35:00.001-08:00

There are two ways to get into the Fremantle Sailing Club: with a membership in your pocket or with a tray in your hand. The former costs a couple grand a month and the latter comes with a free shirt and tie. I chose the latter.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Doug Jeffery is the newest waiter at the Fremantle Sailing Club.

A guy I met in Malaysia and traveled with for a week has been working out here for the last three months at the Sailing Club. He vouched for me and got me a job, site unseen. I dont know what I am doing exactly but I think it is some kind of waiter work. Ill find out soon, my first shift is tomorrow.

Brenden, the Canadian I met in Malaysia, told his boss that I had two years waitering experience. I have none, but I am going to roll with it. My first year of college, I worked at a Pizzeria (Tony's) for 2 months, but that is about it. I worked the till behind a counter, called out names over the PA, and burnt pizza slices and myself in the oven all day. But I am confident that my 4 years of high school, 4 years of higher education, and 2 years working at a Fortune 500 company should give me a good starting point.

Ive been spending the beginning of today getting a bank account, a pair of nice shoes, slacks, socks, and belt at Target. I am the epitome of class. I was actually just thinking about not even wearing shoes because my feet are so black from beating the pavement these last few days in sandals. I handed out maybe 6 different resumes and visited 8 different work agencies. Things were looking bleak.

I met a German guy in a hostel who had been in Perth for a week and was heading back to Melbourne defeated. The only thing he had to show for it was a bad case of bed bugs. He had met three girls who had passed out 150 resumes (or so he said) over three weeks and they got nothing also.

No jobs about and every young person you see around is trying to get work too. I was applying for any kind of potential work just to get a job. I even applied for a couple construction jobs.

My grandfather owned a construction company up until maybe 7 years ago and he was a brick layer before that. And to this day, in his 80s, he still maintains his properties and equipment. My father and his brother use to help him on the sites sometimes too. But the thought of having to work a 12 hour shift in this sun . . . . . . I dont know . . . . . . . I dont think I would have had it in me.

Needless to say the waiter job saved me.

Perth (Western Australia)

2009-02-03T18:53:00.000-08:00

Im Alive! I just called my Dad and he was going to start going through my Credit Card statements to see that I am still alive. It took a bit but rest assured Im alive.

Our Ford Station wagon rolled into Perth midday yesterday barely holding it together, ending our very physically and financially exhausting three-week road trip. I dont think I ever want to set eyes on that car again.

About 5 days ago, the car broke down in the middle of Bush about 400 k outside of Perth. I was driving and noticed some smoke coming out of the back of the car, so we pulled over to give the car a break and make sure everything was OK. The temperature gauge said it was OK and the car didnt feel too hot so we kept going. Then we got maybe 5k and it started to smoke again, and this time when I went to pull over the car disengaged from drive and wouldnt start up again. The car was dead.

We were off to the side of the road so we were in no immediate danger and the car was a rental so we werent too upset about having killed this car (which was dead to begin with considering it had 387 k on it). But we didnt have any phone reception so we had to flag down a couple of people to get into town. The first bunch of people we flagged down had a full car so we just asked them to phone ahead for us, but the second person to stop had an empty car so two of us were able to get a ride into town and get help.

The car and the other girl waiting with me in the car were taken to this small town called Southern Cross. It had maybe 500 people in it. One main street and thats about it. We just hung around a hotel there for two days and night until it was fixed and mingled with some of the local people.

We would pop into the garage occasionally to check on the car. Every time we came in, the mechanic had a beer or cigarette in his hand and after 4 o'clock it was always both. He was a nice guy. He ended up having to put in a whole new transmission from his junk pile. He walked us through it over a couple of beers. But in the end it all worked out and we were able to complete the 8,400 kilometer journey.

Three days ago we were driving along and one of the girls was driving. She got stopped by a cop on the highway who was going the other direction on the same road and got pulled over while doing 141 k/hour in a 110 k/hour zone. We were issued a whopping $700 ticket. They said if she had been going 10 k faster the car would have been confiscated and she would have been thrown in jail. I look forward to paying that.

It is hot here. It is maybe in the upper 90s. On the road trip the hottest we experienced was 49 degrees Celsius in Coober Pedy (the middle of the Outback). That is 120 degrees American. And the car, Sweat Box as it was called, has no Air Conditioner. We had to put the windows down while driving. But that really only felt like a Hair Dryer being blown in your face.

Besides that we got to go on a wine tour in Margaret River, celebrate Australia Day in Port Lincoln, camp in the Nullarbor, and drive till I didnt want to drive no more.

I missed the Super Bowl the other day. I woke up early and strolled into a local sports bar but they didnt get the right channel, so I ended up watching some rugby instead.

. . . . .

Right now, I am job focused I am not going to move until I get some work. I need the money so that is my number one objective. I am meeting a lot of people who are trying to do the same and havent had much luck, so that is a bit daunting, but the college kids here are going to back to school this week so that should open up some positions. Im sure Ill be fine, but just in case wish me luck.

Alice Springs (The middle of Australia)

2009-01-20T02:03:00.000-08:00

The road trip is going well. We just got into Alice Springs which is the middle of the continent. We are a bit ahead of schedule which is good. We have to have the car into Perth by the 30th.

Last night, we saw Ayers Rock and then stayed in a campground about 150 km up the road from it. Before we went to sleep a couple of Dingo were out rummaging through the campsite stealing food. After we went to bed I woke up about two hours later, because one of them licked my foot. I looked around and the tent door was zipped and it was just me and the English guy Im traveling with sleeping next to me. I remain suspicious!

Ive seen a lot of Kangaroo and a lot of nothing! The best word to describe it hear is vast. We are continously conscious of how much gas we have and how far it is to the next gas stations.

Things are dry and very hot but there is still a suprising amount of plants around. Theyve received a lot of rain about a month ago so things are abit greener then I expected.

Kangaroo are definitely the most common road kill and I think are probably the most dangerous thing out on the road. Hitting one would be cause for concern. Kangaroo are the equivalent to deer at home. There are a lot of road signs warning you about them on the road. Some people hunt and eat them, I had Kangaroo Curry the other night, and it is common to see them in rural areas. They are about 3 feet tall or more, but to be honest I think their boxing abilities have been over exaggerated. I wouldnt hesitate to take on one.

I think well head back on the road tomorrow or the next day and head back South to Coober Pedy, an old mining town in the middle of no where. It is so hot there the houses are all underground.

Melbourne

2009-01-10T04:31:00.000-08:00

The decision has been made. I am going on a road trip. I heading out with a girl I met in Malaysia and subsequently saw again in Sydney, one of her friends, and a guy I met in my hostel in Sydney.

We are going to rent a car and drive from Melbourne to Adelaide to Alice Springs back towards Adelaide and then over to Perth.

To get a better idea of where we are headed, if Australia was a clock we are going to start at Melbourne, about 4 or 5 o clock, head west to Adelaide at 6 o clock head north just up past the middle of the clock head back south towards Adelaide at 6 o clock and then head west down to Perth at 8 o clock. According to google maps, it is 5,871 km and will take 2 days and 21 hours.

Just to put into American terms (again according to Google maps), from Miami to Chicago to Portland,OR is 5,628 km and will take 2 days and 4 hours.

And in terms of Europe, from Athens, Greece to Copenhagen, Denmark to Lisbon, Portugal is 5,733 k and will take 2 days and 11 hours.

So it is a comparable distance as the above examples but is being done on worse roads so will take about half a day longer.

We will be basically be driving across most of Australia.

We wanted to drive straight from Alice Springs (the middle of Australia) across the desert to Perth, but it is a big endeavor. You need two 4 x 4s, walkee talkees, expanded gas tanks, large water reservoirs, and permits to cross the Aboriginal reservations. We have none of the above, so we are going to retreat towards the coast once we finish in the interior. The total trip will take less about 2 weeks. And once it is complete I will look for work in Perth. I will not go any further once I reach Perth without having worked for 3 months at least.

I am excited and looking forward to the trip. It should be exciting and allow me to see alot of country. We just need to look out for those Kangaroos. We were told not to travel at night for fear of hitting of them.

Canberra (The Capital)

2009-01-07T02:59:00.000-08:00

I survived New Years!

I have some great pics too but this computer isnt compatible or something. I just got the new Olympus Camera while in Sydney because my other camera was gonna cost too much to fix. It is water proof and shock proof so it can only be stolen or lost, and I trust myself enough not to steal from me so that only leaves it getting lost.

Sydney was great. I spent Christmas on Coogee Beach and New Years off Rushcutters Bay.

Coogee Beach involved a cheap grill bought at a local supermarket, some beer, about 12 people from my hostel, and everyone else from all of the their hostels. It was a great party but in my opinion not really a great Christmas. Ive never had to put on sunscreen for Christmas and I dont want to have to ever again. It is funny all of the Aussie Christmas decorations and displays involve snow even though there is zero chance of that happening.

It was fun though a lot of people were out and everyone still wore their Santa hats. People were playing cricket on the beach and just having fun. I think it was a safe assumptions that all of the people on the beach were tourists. Because I think if you were Australian youd probably have been at home with your family.

On Christmas, in Perth (the major city on the West Coast) a man was killed by a Great White Shark while swimming and another Great White was spotted on one of Sydney's beaches by some kayakers. Two days before I left Sydney, and I left Sydney two days ago, 2 Hammerheads were spotted off the Sydney coast as well. Crazy Place.

. . .

New Years was a good time too. Again more people and booze, but this time it was a picnic and not a barbecue. We camped out at about 1 pm at Rushcutter's Bay on the Harbor to get a good view of the Harbor Bridge and were there until 1 am (12 hours of family fun). The best place to watch the fireworks from is the Botanical Gardens next to the Bridge or the Opera House itself. Getting into the Gardens involved a four hour wait and getting there around 9 am. And the Opera house involved about 4 hundred dollars. And you couldnt get alcohol into either so Rushcutter's proved the best choice.

The bay is lined by houses behind it. And one of the houses setup a DJ booth just before the fireworks so there was an impromptu rave in the middle of the street we were near. I like to think I showed Australia a thing or two. At one point, this mid 20s guys started doing this ridiculous dance routine and the crowd went crazy. Then out of the shadows came this 9 year old chunky kid who did the exact routine except he was stumpy and should have been asleep everyone went mad. It was a good new years, but it snuck up on me a bit. I had to make my resolutions once the new year already began.

The New Year and its fireworks are the main attractions here, so much so that almost every tourist in Australia tries to be there for them and every backpacker in the Southeast hemisphere tries to be in Australia for it. So Sydney is crowded. I couldnt even get a room the last 2 nights I was there and I had to crash on the hotel room floor of an American GI I met in town.

Being crowded is good for Sydney bad for trying to get a job. I gave up my search for work there and decided to leave. I figured if I was going to wait around for work I might as well do it in a new city.

Most people arrive in Sydney and then zig North along the North Coast to see the Byron Bay, Surfer's Paradise and Great Barrier Reef so I decided to zag South to Canberra and Melbourne in hopes of finding work. I hear that there is a big labor shortage in Western Australia. So I decided to hit the capital of Canberra along the way even though I was warned that there is nothing here to do, because there isnt, but I am glad I did. It has been a nice place to recover from King's Cross.

I forgot to mention Americas Sweetheart was in town for the New Years, Paris Hilton. It was all over the news. She hosted a party at a hotel that was maybe 100 m from my hostel front door. And just to put the rumors to rest, I am sure she didnt come just to see me . . . . . I am sure she did some shopping too.

. . . .

While in Sydney, I also got took a power boat around the harbor, saw the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra at the Opera House, saw the Australian movie next to the Opera house, touched a Kangaroo, touched a Wallaby, touched a Koala, and got called 'Mate' about 100 times. If I had stayed any longer I would have become Paul Hogan.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

2008-12-21T01:25:00.000-08:00

IVE MADE IT! Damn the Nay sayers. I have survived Southeast Asia/Europe and I am now in Australia! I have been in Sydney for the past 3 days. And I am freezing my ass off.

It was a bit of a challenge getting here from Indonesia. The Bali airport was a little different from what I am use to. You have to go through a full on security check before you check in or check your bag. Now, I wasnt expecting this so I had stuff in my bag that you wouldnt necessarily carry into an airport terminal.

'Can you open your bag sir?'
'Yeah, no problem'
'Do you have any metal in your bag sir?'
'Um . . . I might.'
'What is this sir?'
'Its a camping knife (with a 6 inch blade)'
'OK, And what is this sir?'
'Um . . . that is a telescoping steel patton.'
'OK, And what is this sir?'
'Those are used bullet shells (from an AK-47 but I didnt mention that)'
'You cant take these on sir.'
'Why not, they are empty?'
'Are you military personnel, sir?'
'No.'
'Then you cant take it on.'

Come on, the 6 inch Alaskan blade I had was OK, the 12" steel telescoping button was OK, but the empty AK-47 shells were a problem. I had taken those things on 6 flights since I got them, one of which was into Indonesia, but leaving with them was a problem. To be honest, I thought they might give me a full cavity search because of those damn things. But anyway, they took them, the best souvenir I had.

When I arrived at the airport in Sydney they stamped the last empty page on my passport. They said they dont care but some countries will, so I had better get an emergency passport. The only available pages are the ones for Amendments and Official Government Use in the back. My Indonesian Visa had to go onto one of them just because they ran out of room on the other pages, but I think that was lucky and no other government would allow me to use them.

. . . . .

Asian Doug is dead. I killed him with a pair of small scissors and 2 disposable razors. It took me 45 minutes to shave off that beard and I mangled my face in the process, but it feels good to be clean shaving again. I am still getting use to seeing my lower jaw again. And I have this weird kind of eye nose tan thing going on right now, but I think I made the right decision. Sydney is very cosmopolitan.

The first thing I did when I got into town was take a hot shower and the second was buy some cheap Western food. I got some bread, bananas, cookies, I already had some peanut butter, and a Value Pack of Backed Beans. A value pack of Baked Beans! Oh man I am going to go to town on those things. The poor bastard in the bunk below me better hold onto his eye brows, because he is in for one hell of a ride.

Sydney has been great, I am staying in a hostel in King's Cross. Ill be here through Christmas and New Years. Its a nice area. A lot of nice pubs and places to go out. Ive been hitting the pavement a lot lately trying to get some work but I think I am going to have to wait for the Christmas help to leave first. But I am confident Ill get some work.

So far Ive seen the Sydney tower, the Opera house, the Governor's house of New South Wales, the Harbor Bridge and just wandered around a lot. It seems like more then it is. I have been just hanging out a lot. The option to do nothing has been too tempting to pass up as of late.

. . . . .

My camera is still messed up. I got sand in the lens when I was on a dive boat in Borneo. So below is the only picture of me from Indonesia. I got a Malaysian couple to take it and send it to me. It is me in front of Mt. Bromo.

Check it out! Teen wolf never looked this good.

Bali & the Gilis, Indonesia

2008-12-16T01:44:00.000-08:00

Ive been in the Gilis for two days. Its been beautiful here. Its an island maybe a mile long and a half a mile wide just off the coast of Lombok. Lombok is east of Bali. The island has maybe 600 people on it. There are no cars or motorbikes; everything is transported by horse and buggy and it took me 2 ferries, 2 buses and 10 hours to get here from Bali, but they have better broadband access then at home.

Bali was great too. I stayed in Kuta there. That is the tourist area where they had the two bombings, one 3 years ago and the other 5 years ago. When I arrived there, after being on another hideously long bus ride with a local throwing up next to me (notice a pattern), it was quite the scene.

Bali seems to be the Cancun for Australia. It seemed like the place was teaming with High School age kids getting extremely drunk. When I pulled in I saw 5, drunk, half-naked Aussies dancing through the streets leading an invisible parade to who the hell knows where. There were several large clubs lining the streets blaring music. One had an armed guard with an automatic weapon standing out front and in the distance you could see the large Bombing memorial with all the victims' names on it.

But despite all that I still really enjoyed it and I think Bali would be a place definitely worth returning to. I felt safe, things were cheap, and there was a lot to do. It would be a good place just to chill out and fall into the background.

. . . .

I board a plane for Sydney at 12:25 am on December 19. I arrive at 9 am. Getting excited! I plan on being in Sydney for at least 15 days and Australia for close to 6 months. It will be nice to finally unpack my backpack. The longest Ive been in any one place up until now has been Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand and that was for 9 days, 4 months ago.

. . . .

These are old photos I got someone to send me from their camera in Borneo. They were taken during some adventure caving I did in the Mulu Caves. I thought they turned out pretty well considering.

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2008-12-09T00:05:00.000-08:00

Indonesia has been great thus far. I am really enjoying it here

Im in Yogyakarta at the moment, hiding in an Internet cafe from the day's constant rain.

I just arrived here last night on a train from Jakarta. The train took 9 hours from Jakarta, West Java, to get half away across the island to Yogyakarta. Java is a big island. Overall, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, just behind the US, with a population of 255 Million People. Half of them live on Java. 15 Million people live in Jakarta alone. On the train, it felt like we were going through the city 'suburbs', more like slums, for close to an hour. The central part of Jakarta didnt feel overcrowded though like I imagine Hong Kong or Shanghai would feel.

On my only full day in Jakarta, I was just walking around on my own and I had four different people come up to me and ask where I was from and just walk with me. The first guy came up to me just outside of the Freedom Square in the middle of town. He turned out to be a tour solicitor in the end, but was still a really nice informative man. And when I turned him down he just said thank you and walked away. In Thailand, he would have begun to curse me before my back was turned.

The other two men I just met while walking around near the Harbor. I walked past the guy and we made eye contact so I said hi and he said hi back. And as I kept walking past him, it started to rain and he waved me over to an awning to keep dry. It let up after a minute or two and we walked together for an hour or so around the pier. He walked to my left with his arms folded behind his back and his chin in the air. It was a good experience. He thought it unusual that I wasnt married and that I didnt have any kids. The conversation eventually turned to Religion because there was a festival going on that night. He asked if I was Christian and I said yes. He said he was a Muslim and quickly followed it up with 'No Problem'. The Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia have been the nicest people thus far.

The fourth guy was a motorbike driver. He worked for the tourist office there and when he saw me walking by he came out and gave me a taxi ride back to my hotel. I told him I was heading to Jakarta next and he came with me to the train station to help me buy the ticket. Great People.

The man that I was talking/walking with called the holiday, I believe, 'Sacrifice Day.' If that is the official name I dont know, but the night before I left there were goats all around town tied up outside Mosques for the nightly prayers.

The next day on the train, you could see the local people slaughtering the cows and goats from the window of the train. You could see a cow on the ground with blood on its mouth and neck and a man standing over it. There were goats strung up from house roofs and the local children gathering around to watch their fathers go to work. At some points, it looked like a whole town was gathering over an animal.

. . . .

Last night, after I got back to my hotel from walking around a bit, I lie down on my bed and put my arm under my pillow to begin to sleep when I found an empty bottle of Durex 'Pleasure-Enhancing Lubricant.' Disgusted, I immediately through the bottle across the room. I just sat for a second wandering what to do. My imagination began to take a hold of me but I maintained composure. It was late, I was tired and the sheets smelt OK so I just shut up and went to bed. I couldnt be bothered. I mean what probably happened is, the maid picked up the bottle from ANOTHER room and it fell out of her shirt pocket when she was putting down the clean sheets in THIS room, right? Thats the only reasonable explanation . . . . . . ha, I doubt this place has a maid or even a washing machine to wash its sheets. Whatever.

. . . .

Tomorrow I am getting on a bus for the Volcano in East Java, Bromo. Ill spend one night there and then head further east across the island, onto a ferry and Ill arrive in Denpasar, Bali by 6 pm. Im eager to get to the beach.

Jakarta, Indonesia

2008-12-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

I just arrived. Im a little sketched out.

Samporna, Malaysia (Borneo Still)

2008-12-02T05:01:00.000-08:00

I went diving today at what is suppose to be some of the best diving in the world. I went to Mabul island off the coast of Samporna, and tomorrow Ill go diving again at Sipadan. To go to Sipadan you need a permit because the government only lets 120 people go each day. You also need to book your dive at least 2 weeks in advance to get a place. I just showed. But I managed to get a spot. It could have been the Jeffery charm or could have been that some German guy got marooned at the Bangkok airport because of the Thai protests, but who is to say. Either way, Im pretty excited

Today after we went out, I borrowed some pictures from a fellow American diver who rented an underwater digital camera.

These are those pictures . . . . .

Doug love fish.

I look like a drowned rat.

That sea turtle was probably as big as I was. The dive master thinks it was a couple hundred years old.

Our final dive of the day was done below an old Brunei Oil Derrick that was drug to that area to be used as a dive resort. So, if you wanted to, you could go diving from an oil rig. Its very James Bond.

. . . .

Before I arrived here I was hanging out in the Jungle on a wild life trek. I spent three days and two nights in the jungle. It was pretty exciting. I got to see some Monitor Lizards (the 5 foot lizard that I saw earlier in Miri in the water. They are the same genes as Komoto Dragons), Crocodile, tons of breakfast-stealing monkeys, Tarantula, Snakes, and loads of bugs. We also saw a wild orangutan in a tree. He wasnt doing much and was hard to see but still we saw him. On the final night in the jungle the guy sleeping next to me had to leave camp early and go by boat to the hospital. He had a fever and just felt very hot. If there is one place to get sick I dont think that was it. I wander how he is, he didnt look too good. I feel fine by the way.

. . . .

I dive tomorrow, then hang here for one more day. Then Ill head back to Kota Kinabula where Ill chill out for another day. Then Ill fly to Jakarta, Indonesia on the 6th.

Also, am I the only person who realizes there are pirates off the coast of Somalia? Everyday I check the news and the headlines are always about Somalian pirates. Every picture they show of the pirates, they are just two guys in a raft and only one has an automatic rifles. You are in a 100 foot tall cruise liner. Just dont Stop!

Miri, Malaysia (Borneo)

2008-11-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

Two Days ago, I arrived in Miri from Johor Bahru, Malaysia. I left Singapore that morning and headed back through their customs into Malaysia to fly out of Johor Bahru. It is the cheaper flight.

Singapore was a good time though. It was a nice break. I arrived at the hostel in town there and found the English girl and Canadian guy I had been traveling with in the Cameron Highlands and Taman Negara Phang. It was nice to meet up with some people I knew after the long bus ride and problem with customs. They left after my first day there but they are headed to Australia too. We made plans to meet up there in Sydney for Christmas and New Year's.

Singapore was worth the price. I got to do everything I set out to: go to the Singapore zoo, see the Singapore National Museum, Clarke Quay, the Christmas decorations on Orchard Rd, check out the Battle Box (the bunker where the British surrendered to the Japanese) and of course drink Singapore Slings in the Raffles Hotel, their birth place. The Singapore zoo was exciting, the zoo was well put together and the animals there all seem to be unusually close to the visitors. You could touch a lot of the more mellow animals if you wanted. No one was around at one point and I touched a huge tortoise. SUCCAS!

But a week before I got there a Malay janitor jumped into the White Tiger cage apparently to commit suicide. The tourists thought it was just a show until the tigers took him down. I stopped by their cages and those Tigers are huge, without a doubt the biggest cat at the zoo. I dont know what a good way to go out is but that definitely is not it.

Singapore is a very Western city. It is very clean and very easy to get around. The metro there is immaculate. It is much more commercial then the rest of Southeast Asia. I dont know how many malls are too many malls but Singapore is close to it. I almost felt some reverse culture shock going back into such a place.

. . . . .

Borneo has been exciting. The city of Miri has a population of about 400 k, according to my cab driver, so it is pretty bigger then expected. The city has nearly everything a city should have, big hotels, taxis, malls, Starbucks, but at the same time getting around can be difficult.

Today, I went to the Lambir Hills National Park. I walked to the bus station and asked how I get there. I had to take a bus to a second station and then take another bus to the entrance. Easy Enough. 'OK, how do I get back?'
'Umm, You hitchhike.'

So I did, the park isnt suppose to have any wildlife. I guess that is by Borneo standards. I showed up at the park with my swimsuit in my bag ready to swim because it is suppose to be a safe place to swim. I actually met a local on the way in and he had just come from swimming. He said it was good swimming and wished me luck. After I paid my entrance fee, I walked maybe 15 feet to the bridge that crossed a small creek to get in the park. That is when I saw a 3 and a half foot lizard just floating in the creek with its head sticking out of the water. I initially thought it was a crocodile but its head was too short. Then I thought it was a Komodo Dragon because it looked like one. But having just been at the Singapore zoo I knew they dont live in Malaysia. But none the less, it was a big lizard and I wasnt even in the park yet. It was just letting the current carry it, but as it heard me step on the bridge it dove deeper and swam out of sight.

I went swimming anyway, there were locals there and I felt safe doing it. I ended up hiking probably 2 km after that. I would have gone further but it started to rain pretty hard and the sky was getting dark. The rain forest canopy helped slow the rain but as the rain collected on the leaves it just made the drops fatter. And water continued to fall on me even after it stopped raining as I navigated my way out by pulling on all the trees.

I got out fine and flagged down a bus to get back.

Tomorrow, I will wake up at 5 am to check out some local caves, the Niah Caves.

On the 24th, I will head to Gunung Mulu, that is suppose to be the best Park on Borneo and is only accessible by plane. So Ill be on a 30 flight to Mulu from Miri where I will remain for 4 days. I tried to book these flights online but apparently they only take Malaysian Credit Cards so I get to show up at the airport and slap down some cash for my flight. Im pretty excited to see what kind of contraption Ill be flying in. But seeing the park does have a sacrifice. It means I will be spending my Thanksgiving in the middle of the Borneo Brush, eating whatever it is I can scrap together, surrounded by locals who only see my presence as an intrusion. Which if you think about it makes my Malaysian Thanksgiving more authentic then your American Thanksgiving. . . . . . . . . . But if anyone wants to trade places, I would gladly do it. I am going to miss my Grandmother's stuffing.

Singapore, Singapore

2008-11-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

I just arrived in Singapore from Langkawi.

I went from Georgetown, Penang to Langkawi. And from Langkawi, I took a 14 hour bus ride to Singapore crossing the entire Malaya Peninsula from North to South. The bus ride actually wasnt that bad. There were frequent stops along the way to pop a squat or grab some grub. Each rest stop has all you need. Toilets, Buttered Corn, Fresh Fruit, and His and Hers Prayer Rooms. All in all not the worst bus trip Ive had.

Georgetown was OK. I ended up seeing Fort Cornwalis, the place of the British's initial settlement in Malaya. It was pretty small not really worth the stop and an International Spice Garden there. The garden was actually really nice. As soon as I left I saw about 10 large monkeys walked across the telephone lines towards the garden. They were using the tail to hold on to the wire above them while they walked on the one below. They looked like hairy bumper cars.

I went to Langkawi to hit the beach. The beach was nice but the weather was nearly unbearable. I ended up sitting in the sun all day for the two days I was there and got pretty sunburned in the process. It makes carrying my backpack that much worse. But the opportunity to play some volleyball made it too hard to leave the sand. I think I almost had heat stroke after the second day. I was really tired, felt sick and I had a bad headache. I was fine after some water and Mango juice but I had to take a nap afterwards just to recompose myself.

When I first got on the island from the Penang ferry, you have to take a taxi to get to the hotels. I asked these Norwegian girls if they wanted to share a taxi to save the fair and I ended up hanging out with them the two nights I was there. Two of the five had just spent a month in Hawaii and they seemed pretty pleased with their American experience. It was pretty funny one of them was obsessed with the idea of New York City at Christmas time. She loved hearing about American Christmas and talking about where she went when she was there. It kind of made me jealous that I wouldnt be home for it myself.

It was actually really lucky I met these girls, because they helped me out in Singapore. Like I said I took a 14 bus ride from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. It started at 5 pm and I arrived at 7 am. I got maybe 7 hours sleep over four different periods. So when we arrived at the Malaysian customs I was pretty out of it. Everyone gets off the bus goes through the departure customs, hands over their departure cards, gets their passports stamped, and gets back on the bus. No Problems! Now, Singapore Entry Customs. This time we have to carry all of our luggage off the bus to go through customs. Now as I said I was pretty out of it and not really thinking and when I got into the Customs Terminal I took two pictures, with my bright flash on, of the 'No Chewing Gum' Sign. Dumb Move. I put my camera away and turn around and a security guard reprimanded me for taking pictures in their customs area and said I could be arrested for that. I apologized and he eventually walked. I get to the custom counter and handed my passport over to the customs official and once again they have a problem with matching my beardless passport picture with the now studly, bearded Doug Jeffery. He eventually agrees that I am me, but then asks if I tested my camera in the terminal. I think he saw me do it so I just confessed to doing it. He seemed to get pretty flustered and then called his supervisor to deal me. I apologized to him and told him that I would just delete the picture if he wanted. He said it wouldnt make any difference. He then proceeds to give me a 30-day visa and then void it once his supervisor arrives. The supervisor then escorts me into their side security office and ask me if I took a picture. I told them I took two and showed them to them. They asked why I took them. I said it was just a novelty thing. He then asked me if I had any gum on me; I said no. He eventually said OK, quizzed me on my personal information and my itinerary and let me go.

They whole thing made me take probably 30 minutes longer then everyone else on my bus. So when I went back out to get on my bus I couldnt find them. I think they just wrote me off and went on without me. So once again I had entered a new country without getting their currency ahead of time and was nearly marooned barely within the border. But luckily, the nice Norwegian girls I had met in Langkawi had just been to Singapore and had given me S$7 that they didnt need. So I was able to hop on a packed rush hour city bus into town. In was a bit touch and go there for a while but it worked out in the end.

. . . . .

Ill be here for 3 days before I head out to Borneo.

Also, I just got word that my Australia Holiday visa was approved. I now can work in Australia for up to 12 months. I guess my Chest X-Ray was clear.

Malaysia

2008-11-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

I've been out for 4 months and 8 days.

Right now, Im in Georgetown, Malaysia. Georgetown is on the island of Penang off the North Western Part of Malaysia close to the Thai border. It is a nice island and Ive been here for 2 days. Tomorrow, Ill catch the ferry and head off to Langkawi for another two days there. Then after that Ill catch the bus or train down to Singapore where Ill hang out for three days then Im off to Borneo to see some Orangutans. Im excited.

There are suppose to some of the best parks in the world on Borneo and Im getting ready to see them. Before I arrived in Georgetown I was in Taman Negara which is in the center of Malaya Peninsula. It a rain forest that is 130 million years, the oldest rain forest on the planet. I was there with three people I met in the Cameron Highlands, two English and one Canuck. We got to do a 45m-high Canopy walk and some short trekking. We didnt see anything to exciting but I did get to see some nice birds and some huge ants. I dont think Im sly enough to sneak up on any wild tigers, which were suppose to be out there. But I did some trekking on my own after we parted ways. I was out for maybe 3 hours max and when I cam back from the hike I took off my shoes and my socks were drenched in blood. I could actually ring out the blood in my socks there was so much. A couple of leeches must have snuck into my socks because there was a lot of blood. The cuts were not big at all but I think the leeches emit a chemical that thins your blood around the wound so that it just pours out of you. Anyway, the local store didnt have any band aids so I ended up duct taping toilet paper to my feet to stop the bleeding. It worked! MacGyver would have been proud.

Cameron Highlands were nice too. It is a very slowing moving mountainous region where they grow a lot of tea. Very beautiful. I got to go to a tea factory and see how tea is made. The tour was maybe 6 minutes long. You sort it, dry it, and package it! Bam, you have tea. But still it worth seeing the tea plants. And while in the Highlands, I got to hold a couple of big Scorpions. I wish I could upload the picture they were 4-5 inches long.

My first stop in town was Kuala Lumpur. That is where I arrived on my flight from Hanoi. Getting out of that airport was an experience. I pulled into the airport with a pocket full of Dong (Vietnamese Dong that is). No US Dollars. No Malay Ringgit. Just Dong. I tried to get the Currency Exchange guys to exchange it but they refused to take it. So I headed for the ATMs and to get some Ringgit but all of the ATMs were all down in the airport. So I tried to barter to with the Bus Services so I could get into the main part of KL but they wanted no part of my Dong either. So afraid of being trapped in the airport, I tried everything in my power to get some Malaysian Ringgit. I even tried to buy some of it off some other travelers, but I think they thought I was just begging. Ridiculous! I couldnt give this Dong away! . . . . But eventually, after searching for a good place to sleep in the airport, the ATMs turned back and I got some Ringgit. But for a while there I seriously considering making a pillow out of TP.

Besides that sticky situation, I was able to get into town and enjoy it. I really liked KL actually. It can be dirty in places but overall it reminded me very much of an American city. It was well developed, had a good subway, and a lot of skyscrapers. In all of the other SE Asian cities I was in except for Bangkok and Saigon there really arent any large buildings. So when you are walking down the street there are no large points of reference as you walk the city which can make the cities seem much more claustrophobic.

I got to go to the top of the KL Tower which is the third largest tower and I also walk across the Petronas towers Sky Bridge. Both were fun and had great views. The Petronas Towers were largest Buildings in the World until Taipei 101 was built in 2004 but they still remain the largest twin towers. Definitely worth a visit.

I also got to see the National Mosque while in town there. That was pretty neat and my first Mosque. Noone was praying in it while I was there but it was still a worthwhile trip. I was wearing shorts and a T-Shirt which apparently were too short for them because I had to wear a big purple robe to get it (Its not like I was wearing hot pants and a belly shirt). I didnt have to put the hood up, but all of the woman did.

Malaysia is my first Muslim country. It is not uncommon to see woman where veils or having their whole face covered. Today, I was in the Penang Spices Garden and I walking around and there was a Muslim couple out on there own. The woman had taken her veil off so her husband could photograph her face. But as I walked by she immediately held it back up to her face and followed me with it as I passed. Very mysterious! But if her face is such a secret, I wander who is going to develop that film?

I dont know how these woman walk around in these things. I am wearing a third the amount of cloth as they are and I look like I just got off a water slide all the time and they are dry as a bone. Ill give them props.

But I havent had any problems with the whole Islam thing. I have never hid that fact that I was American and I havent felt any hostility or hidden spite towards me as a result. Everyone here is extra friendly. People dont hesitate to ask where Im from or where Im going and I dont hesitate to tell them. Even if they dont speak English theyll jump right into a conversation with you. Today, an Indonesian guy asked me if I was from Pakistan. Ha! I guess it was the beard but still I dont know what he was thinking. All in all, Malaysia is a great place. This morning, I woke up and had my free breakfast while watching Aljazeera. I didnt realize till the icon came up. It seemed like normal news to me; it could have been BBC for all I knew.

. . . . .

Yesterday, I got a Chest X-Ray done at the Penang Adventist Hospital. To get an Aussie Holiday Visa, if you have been in SE Asia for more then 3 months, then you are required to have a Chest X-Ray. I thought about just skipping that fact on my application but the consequences would have been devastating for my trip if I was caught, so I just did it. The X-Ray cost my 85 Ringgit, just over $24. It was funny to watch the doctor who was maybe 5'4" set me up for the X-Ray. Apparently, Im slightly larger then his average clientele so he had me practically wrap my chest around his backdrop for the X-Ray.

I should know in a few days whether or not I got the Aussie Visa.

After Singapore and Borneo, Im going to fly into Jakarta, Indonesia where Ill head East across Java for 2 weeks and get ready for flight out of Bali to Sydney. Everyday, I get more excited for Australia. To be honest with you SE Asia has been great but Australia was always the end goal. And eating rice all day is starting to wear thin. In Nha Trang, Vietnam I weighed myself and I have lost just over 20 lbs. Im down to 183 last I checked. That is almost what I weighed when I graduated from High School. I just want a big meal, a clean bed, and a chance to go the gym regularly and I think Australia can give that to me. I eat 4 meals a day with dessert after each but I cant gain the weight back. No reason for concern, but Im eager just to get back in my fighting form.

Vietnam

2008-11-04T01:58:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a while, but things are going well on my end. In Vietnam, I have been to visit a bunch of different cities via an open bus ticket. I got to visit Saigon, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, and Hanoi.

Saigon was nice a huge city with lots of motor bikes. I got to see some tunnels there and check out some of the French Pastries and ride in a cyclo.

Mui Ne is a smaller beach town just north of Saigon. It was fairly boring with not much to do. Their claim to fame is their Yellow and Red sand dunes. They were nice and presented a good opportunity to do some Sand Surfing on pieces of sheet metal you rent from the local kids. The one down fall of Mui Ne is it claimed my camera. I was at the last sand dune when I pulled out my camera to take a picture and the lens wouldnt come out. So that was a bummer. I was pretty upset. But luckily I was able to get it fixed in Nha Trang.

Nha Trang was a good time. It is a much larger beach town. There I met up with two American girls studying in Hong Kong. We went on a island tour off the coast. It was fun although it rained for most of it. But it still was a good time. To wait for the rain to pass at out point, the captain tethered our boat to another one and they had a band play on board. It was a fun little dance party. The one boat was all Westerners and the other were locals; it made for an interesting mix.

Hoi An was very beautiful. There was a lot of flooding in the area because of all the rain, but still it was worth a stop. Most of the buildings were made of old yellow cement and had these old wooden French shutters on them.

I ate lunch at a restaurant there and the patron tried to marry me off to her daughter. She told me to come back that night and she would give me Vietnamese lessons. I left town.

Hue was a bigger city. The main attraction there was an old citadel in town. It was nice but nothing spectacular.

I got to go on a tour of the former DMZ. Most of it was overgrown with vegetation and is now farm land so you arent really looking at anything very distinctive. I did get to see some old helicopters, jets, weapons and things which were worth a visit but overall it was kind of lackluster. The exhibits in their museums are so poorly put together. They are all unattended and if you want to could just pickup these old M16s and RPGs they have laying around.

But North Vietnam has been the best part. Hanoi has been OK but it has been my launching point to head to Sappa and Halang Bay. Sappa was beautiful I went on a 2 day trek there. I signed up for this tour and it turned out I was the only one on it. So I went on this hike with a guide who was a 22 year old Vietnamese girl who didnt even speak English and didnt really know the mountain well. I had to ask other people to translate for me to try and figure out where it was she was taking me. I wasnt sure Id make it back. But I did get to do a homestay with a Vietnamese family in the valley of Sappa.

At one point, we came to a part in the valley below Sappa where they were building a Hydro Electric Damn. We were walking past a bulldozer that was moving dirt into a dump truck to be taken wherever. As we were walking past the bulldozer, the operator put the bucket on the hill we were standing on and motioned for me to get in it. I hesitated but eventually got it. It was pretty cool he spun me around 360 degrees in the bucket about 15 feet off the ground. At home if I would have gotten in the bucket the operator would have yelled at me to get out. In Vietnam, they asked me to get in.

On the way back from Sappa, I met a German guy and girl and an English girl on the sleeper train and I ended up spending Halloween with them. We met up with three more of there friends and all 7 of us went out as Zombies that night. It was pretty good. We just got a bunch of bandages from the local pharmacy and some makeup and made it work. No one celebrates Halloween here so it was entertaining to watch the locals reactions. Simultaneously the streets were flooded in Hanoi as a result of some of the worst rain in 20 years, so keeping all of the bandaging dry became quite a choir.

I just got back from Halang Bay. I was on a three day trip out there. I spent one night on a boat and another one on an island. We had a group of about 15 of us. We got to do rock climbing during the day and kayaking as well. Good food. Good people. Good times.

Recently, my camera cable crapped out on me so I cant upload my pictures, my camera is been going through a lot lately, but I thought these photos were good substitutes.

Me trekking through Sappa.
A clean-shaven version of me hanging out with Matthew Broderick.

Me chilling out at my bungalow.

Me on the beach in Nha Trang.

Me and the gang.

Tomorrow at 7pm I head out for Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia.

Cambodia Pictures

2008-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

The border between Laos and Cambodia. To cross it you had to walk about 200 m between the border officials stations for both countries. Right after the picture was taken, I turned around and went to the bathroom almost right where I was standing. Bathrooms were scarse.

I was in Cambodia for 15 days. I started in Phnom Penh, then hit the temples at Siem Reap and then the beaches at Sihanoukville.

A view of Phnom Penh.

To answer your question . . . . . about 40 mph.

You thought your commute sucked. Check out the van in the back.

Phnom Penh sunset.

Things you cant bring into a club in Phnom Penh. The sign was not reassuring. But I did have to get patted down before I went into the 'Heart of Darkness' club.

I saw this on my way to Siem Reap. The bucket on the left are the live tarantulas and the one on the right are the fried ones.

I have a couple hundred photos of the temples from the three days I was there. And none will do them justice. They were just huge and impressive. Awesome is the only word that does them justice. Angkor Wat below.

Ta Prohm. Tomb Raider was filmed at this one. It was funny; I was standing next to a Korean tour group getting an explanation. And all I heard was (Korean) (Korean) ANGELINA JOLIE (Korean) (Korean) And then a bunch of 'Ooohs.'

Angkor Tohm

Angkor Wat.

Ragna and our driver for the three days at the temples. One night he took us to an all Khmer club. It was pretty interesting. The beer was served with ice.

The beaches on the Southern Coast: Sihanoukville.

Vietnam

Right now Im in Saigon. Ive really been enjoying my time here. There are 4 million motor bikes in the city. To cross the street you have to just walk into the road and let them go around you. Its a bit of a leap of faith.

Ive been enjoying the Cafes, Bakeries and Pastries the French left behind.

Tomorrow morning Ill head North.

Me in the Mekhong Delta.

A riddle.

What is bigger then a coconut, smaller then a motor bike and costs less then $14 to shoot 10 rounds from in Vietnam? . . . . . . . . An AK-47.

I had the chance to shoot one in Cambodia and throw a Grenade as well but the time was never right. The one range in Phnom Penh was right next to the Killing Fields and the one in Siem Reap was right next to the Land Mine museum. Looking at photos of Genocide from the Khmer Rouge and watching films about UXO, a majority of which were American, hurting thousands of civilians never really put me in the mood. But after going to the War Remnants Museum and the Gu Chi Tunnels and listening to all the Vietnamese Propaganda about the war I had found the right moment.

Laos Photos

2008-10-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Anddddd . . . . we're back! Now that Im in Saigon I can publish pictures again. So here they are. I must warn you, some are disturbing!

Behold Sir Sweats-A-lot in all his glory. That is me and Thom, my Canadian friend in Luang Prabang after we rode 20 km by bike to some waterfalls. Foolishly we started at noon without enough water. This is the result.

You know you like the headband. You are not alone. The locals loved to stare at it. I assume it was the head bang and had nothing to do with the 6'5" 200lbs jackass riding a bike a third his size.

I was in Laos for 13 days. I went to Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Champasak and Don Det.

This picture was taken from the slow boat from Thailand as we were stopping in Laos to pick up more passengers. People were carrying on ducks, fish, and all kinds of stufff you wantẻd to sit next to. I thought it was a good first impression of Laos.

Me eating dinner in Luang Prabang. This was before my Tiger Beer shirt was absorbed by the Mekhong.

A view of a bridge in Vang Vieng. It was a beatiful place. Notice the UXO, Unexploded Ordnance, next to the entrance. 99% chance they are American.

When I was in Laos I was traveling with a really good group of people. We had a lot of good times. It made it hard to decide if I really liked Laos for Laos or the people I was there with. An English couple, Stephen and Kim, great people and Thom again.

Dad?

Its nice to see the Sickle and Hammer hasnt gone completely out of style. I have been to East Berlin and Russia but Laos was my first presently Socialist country. Seeing the Soviet Flag in public was pretty common.

Below is how Thom, Ragna, a Belgian girl we met in Luang Prabang, and I got to the Thousands Islands in Southern Laos. It was two canoes with boards running horizontally across them. And it was full of school children.

And then there was Cambodia. . . .

Leaving Cambodia

2008-10-14T00:35:00.000-07:00

Ill leave the southern coast of Cambodia tomorrow at 7:45 in the morning and get into Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam by 5 pm, or so they say. So in fact Ill get in by 10 or 11 pm.

Internet here is slow.

Angkor Temples

2008-10-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

For the past two and a half days, I have been exploring the Angkor Temples. They are very big and very impressive. There really is no good way to describe them; it would be best just to show pictures, but I think that will have to wait. Unfortunately, the pictures wont upload here. We had to hire a tuk-tuk driver to take us around the complex because the temples are huge and spread over various areas of the forest. The temples are worth seeing but the 600 year old trees growing on top of them make the experience something unique.

I have one more day of the temples here in Siem Reap then after that Ill stick around for one more day at the Floating Market. After that Ill head onto Sihanoukville before I head for Saigon, Vietnam.

Yesterday, I booked my ticket into Australia. I leave from Bali, Indonesia for Sydney, Australia on the 19th of December. It will get me there just in time for Christmas and New Year's. I heard both would be best to experience in Sydney. I am pretty eager to get there. Money is starting to get tight. I have about $3500 left for the next 3 months. I have more money in case I need it, so if I go over budget I am not in any real danger but my trip will be. I am really counting on getting a working visa in Australia before I get there. Ill begin my application for that soon.

My plans right now prior to getting into Australia, which I know have flipped back and forth a lot, are to go north through Vietnam and then fly to Kaula Lumpar, Malaysia and check that out. Then Ill head south into Singapore and from there hop on a plane or boat whichever is the cheapest to Borneo where Ill hang out with some orangutans. Then Ill slip on further down to Java and get my surf on for a bit before I head down under. That seems to be the best plan as of right now and I dont see much that will make me deviate from it.

The past few days have been pretty exhausting; Phnom Penh particularly. In my first taxi ride from my hotel I saw 3 monkeys playing on a telephone wire and guy just pull down his pants in the middle of a busy traffic circle and go to the bathroom. I also saw my first automatich weapon on the street. I saw a bunch of cops carrying them on several different occasions. It is a very busy, dirty but interesting place. Five days there was ample. So in Siem Reap I splurged for a nice room. It has a hot shower, fan, clean beds, and a TV. My first TV since Ive left Bangkok the first time.

Yesterday or the day before, I woke up and was able to catch game 3 of the Phillies/Brewers playoffs. The 9th inning was pretty exciting. It went from good to great to awful so quickly. Phillies' baseball right there.

But I can honestly say, Im not surprised that the Phillies' first National League Championship in 15 years, let alone a post season win, is coinciding with the US Financial Markets Crumpling. It makes total sense to me.

Besides that things are going well. . . . . . My beard is coming in kind of lopsided but no worries. The front part is coming in well. So it looks fine in pictures, but I look like a lunatic from my profile. It helps keeps the soliciting tuk-tuk drivers at bay. I think Ill just need a haircut soon.

Laos & Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2008-09-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

Cam-BOOOO-de-A!

It wasnt till I was leaving Laos that I realized how much different it was from Thailand. In Thailand, when you are booking a room the two main considerations are: Fan or A/C, Cold or Hot Shower. Myself the thrifty traveler usually always opts for the Deluxe Fan/Cold Shower combo. Because if you are going to use a cold shower in the morning you need to sweat through the night to get ready for it. But in Laos when booking a room you need to make sure the place you are booking has electricity. And if so for how long? That hot shower doesnt matter if the power goes out at 9pm and doesnt come back on till 10 am. Nor is the shower worth taking if it is spraying muddy, Mekhong water.

In Thailand, every place you go there is at least a 7/11 and one Drugstore. In the big cities you can find McDonald's, KFCs, Starbucks and everything else a growing boy needs. But in Laos that wasnt the case. Even in the capital, Vientiane, the only brand you really encounter on a regular basis was Beer Laos, which was pretty good I might add. A majority of the businesses you encounter are store fronts that double as people's homes at night.

This slow erosion of things I have come to take for granted hit me pretty hard recently in Southern Laos. Little did I know that after leaving Vientiane to head for Chumpasak, that there was only one other ATM in southern Laos. I actually had to leave Laos early to go to Phnom Penh because I didnt have enough money to stay. I tried to get a cash advance on my credit card on Chumpasak. But of course, the telephone line was down at the local branch of the Lao Developmental Bank. This really isnt surprising considering that we had to take a wooden ferry full of school children to get to the island. And the ferry was top notch; it was a bunch of boards running horizontal across the top of two canoes. Realizing I wasnt going to be able to get any money in Chumpasak, I had to either turn around and return to Pakse or head further south into Laos. We decided to push on with only the $100, I had by then, because I heard rumors from other travelers that there was another ATM off the coast of one of the islands. Normally, $100 would be fine for 4 days but I would have to cross into Cambodia to hit an ATM and the Cambodian Visa is $21, plus the entry/exits stamps are $2 more, and the bus ride into Phnom Penh was $31, so really I only had $45 for food, shelter, and transport for the last few days.

I wasnt sure whether the bank they were talking about gave cash advances or had an ATM. But they said you had to fill out a bunch of paper work in either case. Of course, I get in the vicinity of the alleged bank late Friday, when it is closed for the weekend and didnt have the funds to wait around till Monday. So I continued to push on with what I had. But I ended up OK. It only took a 12-hour bus ride spent surviving on peanuts, Lays, stale Mocha Oreos and bottle water. I pulled into Phom Penh with (I swear to you) $1 in pocket and 1000 riel ($.25). I have since then hit an ATM and have been living it up since. But it was touch and go there for a while. Thom had to head back early as well because he was worried he wouldnt have enough money to make it back to Bangkok for his flight. He turned back for the ATM in Pakse which wasnt working, so I ended up making the right decision by pushing on into Cambodia. After all of this, tt doesnt surprise me that the ATM I was at allowed you to withdraw up to $2,000 at one time considering the lack of ATMs in the surrounding areas.

Laos was great. I was ready to leave by the end because things were so rough, undeveloped but Im glad I went. Traveling from place to place there is just so difficult. I have never been, nor probably will ever be, to the surface of the Moon but Laos roads are probably the closest thing to it on this planet.

The cast of characters I was traveling with in Laos were Thom, the Canadian, plus several other people we met on the slow boat into Laos. Great people. The three main people were an English couple and a Belgian girl. The English couple, Stephen and Kim, were great people and I really enjoyed meeting them. They were great fun to hang out with because they were just very laid back people. You could tell that they were just very comfortable with each other. The both of them were 25 and 26 and were just ending their around-the-world journey. They two were out for a year. They started out in Canada, then hit the Western US, then went to Mexico and on it Cuba. From there they went to Australia, NZ, and then to SE Asia. The pictures they showed me of Cuba looked amazing. They were saying that when you get there they dont stamp your passport so noone knows you were there. Instead they stamp a random piece of paper that you are told to throw away before you leave the country. Appartently, they were saying it is a pretty serious thing. That if an American is caught with that piece of paper he or she could face a large fine or get serious jail time. I immediately wanted to go to Cuba.

As for Thom, he too was great fun. It was nice to hang out with someone who is on the same wavelength as me for a while. Im glad I bumped into him in Pai. Thom is a very well educated Canadian with a good sense of humor. He is now living in the US and is getting ready to start practicing law in San Fransico. He was traveling to celebrate his taking the Bar exam.

This trip really has changed my idea of Canadians. My encounters with Canadians really has been limited to ski trips in Mount Orford. And even then I dont know that Quebec is a good sample of all of Canada. But I have met several good Canadians on my trip. Im not going to lie, my stance towards Canadians prior to this trip was one of indifference. Honestly, they were kind of like Fig Nuttins to me. If you put one in my hand, Yeah Ill eat it. But other then that, Im not going to take the time to get up and open a box to get one. But that has since changed. Im seriously considering hitting up Vancouver and maybe some other parts of Canada too on my way home.

. . . . .

In Vientiane, I had my first American Embassy exprience, or really first Embassy experience period. It was pretty impressive but kind of a let down too. I was expecting to pull up to a huge building surrounded by Marines and walk into the building and be greeted by Americans so happy to see a fellow American so far from home. But no dice! The building was huge and fort like. There were no Marines. But there were a bunch of security guards. They all looked Laos though. I headed into the Embassy and left my Belgian and Canadian friends outside, not sure whether or not what I was about to see was for 'American eyes Only.' When I walked into the Embassy I had to check my camera and have my bag and myself go through a metal detector. Again no Americans. I then walked through a general open-air with about 10 people in it waiting for what I assume was American visas. I then proceeded into another smaller room for American citizen services. The room was maybe 12' by 12' and had two gas station like bullet proof windows that you communicated with the officials through. The room had 5 other people in it. They all were Laos expect for one who I think was Laos-American. Not once did I have to show my passport.

While I was waiting to be seen I just was looking around the room noticing all the information they had hanging on the wall. One of the flyers warned in bold letters that under Laos law it is unlawful for foreigners to have sex with Lao people unless they are married or it is a $500 fine. I turned a bit further and there were was the Dream Team staring back at me from across the room: George, Dick and Connie. Did W ever really have hair that dark? When I got to the front of the line, I ended up speaking with one of the officers who gave me the weakest hello Ive ever heard and didnt really even bat an eyelash at my presence. I was so dissappointed; I expected a little bit of surprise or a mild homecoming of sorts. Some small samples of Apple Pie at least. This guy let me down. He was nice but a bit of a nerd whose motivation for joining the State Department looked like it had been crushed long ago. He refused to make eye contact with me the whole time but still was helpful.

I just need to determine where I will be in 4 weeks so Virgina can send me my absentee ballot. I think Ill have it sent to a Marriott in Hanoi then Ill fax it back for the election. To be honest I think I only have a 50% chance of my vote being counted this election. There are too many moving parts I dont want to take the time to understand.

Also, I verified. Americans can only go to Cuba if they have a Special Educational or Business Visa issued by the US OR . . . . . .

My trip to Laos started in the North with Luang Prabang, then went south to Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Chumpasak and then to the Four Thousand islands down further. From there I headed into Cambodia. I was in Laos for about 11 days which I think was enough. The people I met and hung around with were really what made it such a great place. But most of them are gone at this point. The English couple has left, Thom has headed home too, so it is just me and the Belgian girl Ragna and Christoff, another Belgian guy we met in Chumpasak. The plan right now is to hang out in Phnom Penh for a couple of days and then head to Akgor Wat after that. Ill then come back on my own, pick up my passport with a fresh Vietnamese Visa, and head to the Cambodian islands down south before hitting up Vietnam. Im getting pumped.

Vang Vieng, Laos

2008-09-23T00:45:00.000-07:00

Oh man, Im tired. Sleeping on the Jungle floor really takes it out of you.

This post is going to be brief. Im, as the English say, nackered. Dont even know where to start. Took the slow boat into Laos, took two days. That was fun. It was really a drunken party on a small boat full of Ducks and giant Catfish. I dont want to disturb anyone but the Irish like to drink and drink they can. I saw a Catfish loaded onto the boat that was maybe 3 foot long, no joke. It had to weigh close to 40 lbs. They kept the fish tied to a stick in the river while they loaded everything else on. It was so big it could be tied to something! I was joking, probably in poor taste, that that Catfish was the Secretary of Defense of Laos and that he going down the Mehkong to his vacation house to sip whiskey with his Mistress. He just had to get away from it all for a bit. That thing was so big though; it had a face.

Hung around in Laung Prabang for a while. Then headed to Vang Vieng which is where I am now. The bus on the way here was a disaster. I dont even want to get into so Ill do it briefly. We were lied to about the duration of the trip, It was full of people, someone stole our seats, I had to sit next to a local who was spitting out the window the whole time and across from some guy with open sores, the roads are so bumpy the locals get sick on their own buses, the bus broke down after 8 hours within 20 minutes of my destination, the babies all begin to cry as the nearby Thunderstorm moves in, the power goes out on the bus, another bus stops after an hour, I get separated from my friend, the bus takes me 5 hours past where I wanted to go and I had to take another bus back the next day resulting in18 hours of bus when I was told in was 5 hours. This account doesnt do justice to having to sit with your long dancers legs jammed into the seat in front of you while the guy next to you debates whether or not to throw up. Nuts! Did I mention afterwards I met a guy who had a guard on his bus with a AK47. Apparently, there are still guerillas along the road we broke down on. Im sure they wont both an innocent American though . . . . . LAOS!

I went tubing yesterday. Again craziness; cant go into all of it. But truly an experience I will never forget.

Sorry no pics. Laos Internet Connections dont live up to its reputation.

Im still traveling with the Canadian guy I met in Pai. We have picked up a couple others along the way. Things are going well.

. . . . .

Also, India isnt going to happen. Im going to have to eat the cost of my Visa. I decided if I want to be in Sydeny for Christmas and New Years that doesnt leave me enough time to get there and do the place justice. And I couldnt get a cheap ticket there. I think Ill hit the Phillipines, Indonesia and Malaysia for real instead. But this time in Malaysia, I wont have Herb to protect me.

Chang Mai II, Thailand: Doi Suthep Meditation Retreat

2008-09-15T03:08:00.001-07:00

Well, I survived. It wasnt easy but I made it. The retreat was much more intense then I initially figured, but still a good time.

The temple, Doi Suthep, is just outside the city. It takes maybe 20 minutes total to get there. The temple itself is located on the top of mountain and the road up to it is long and windy. When you reach the top of the road there are two ways to the top of the temple: the staircase which is about 300 steps or an elevator. Even with the huge bag on my back, I went for the stairs. It was all really for effect just to show that I am willing to do whatever it takes to get through this mediation retreat and take it seriously. Its funny, on the way up a Thai woman coming down the stairs gave me a thumbs up. Things are going well.

So I get to the top, check in, and a Thai guy from the International Buddhist Center, very official, takes me to where Ill be staying. We walk past the tourist filled temple and go down a stairwell off the back of the building. We head into a long well-lit stone corridor with doors off each side. Already things got weird. What I walked into immediately reminded me of the movie 'Moonraker', or an futuristic 70s film where young couples are being launched into space to start a new Utopian society. The corridor was filled with several young men and woman all wearing the same White outfit. Each person was very calm and was just walking down the hall without a care in the world except for the task at hand. No one communicated anything to the other except for the faint bit of sexual tension that seemed to hang in the air. It was really eerie. As I walked by, I made eye contact with a girl. She looked at me for a second, didnt change her expression, and then looked away. I was expecting to see a shirtless Charleston Heston come out of nowhere with his gun drawn and run through the hallway any minute. No Dice.

We get to my door on one side and below is the room waiting for me inside. Stark to say the least. The rooms were clean, tile floor and the walls are all white washed. Definitely no distractions in this room.

After I drop my things off in my cell. He shows me the garden. Looking at the picture below. You can only think you walked into an asylum; people sitting in all white in a garden, lost in their own world, barely moving with no general purpose in mind.

There were 15 people total when I was there, 8 men and 7 woman initially. Everyone is coming and going at staggered times. Some people are there only for 3 days others for a month. Most people seemed European, English mainly. I think there were two other Americans and 1 Thai woman in the group but with the others it was hard to tell.

While at the retreat there is no alcohol, smoking, talking, or eating after noon. The no smoking you could see was taking its toll on some of the Europeans there. You could smell the tobacco on some of them so you know they were sneaking out for breaks. I later found out that some of them had been sneaking food for dinner too. Cheeky Monkeys! I, on the other hand, stood true.

It was tough. I would start getting hungry around three then it would subside and then pick up again about 7 o'clock at night. One morning I almost threw up because it had been about 20 hours since my last meal. I managed to get through breakfast but it was a close call. You really just lack the energy to move; I really didnt even want to eat by the end because I was just so tired.

I had trouble sleeping too. You can see from the picture that it wasnt exactly the Ritz. The tile was extremely hard and the mat they gave me was thin. I had to double the blankets over and put them under my bed. It didnt help much. I dont think I got more then six hours sleep any one night. And even then it wasnt without waking up several times during then night.

The two meals we did have was a funny sight. You arent allowed to socialize or talk while eating; you are just suppose to focus on your food. So for meals there would be 15 folding tables and chairs all setup in a line and everyone would sit at their individual tables alone and eat. The chair were all on the same side of the table so you couldnt make eye contact with anyone while eating. You just sat there, shoveled the foot into your mouth, and listened to other people doing the same. I couldnt tell if it was the food or if I was just hungry but I thought the food was really good.

The days were setup so you would have some practice then some instruction then some more practice and so on. The first part of the day was some communal meditation instruction. It was taught by a monk and it was almost like a Buddhist sermon interwoven with Meditation techniques. Then after that you would practice on your own for a bit and then would have an individual session with the monk. He would check up on you and add whatever techniques he needed to before you went off and practiced some more.

I had never done any kind of Meditation before. I thought it would just be people sitting around thinking about the world or whatever trying to achieve Enlightenment. That was the exact opposite. First off, the Lotus position caused me nothing but pain and frustration. That is the stereotypical meditation position, legs crossed, one foot on the other leg, back straight, and hands in the lap. You have to hold that position for about 15 to 20 minutes each time. Sitting like that cuts off the circulation to your legs, caused my legs to begin to shake, my knees ache, and my back tense up. It is by no means an easy, relaxing position. I really am proud of the fact that I was able to sit like that for 20 minutes by the end of the 5 days. It wasnt comfortable but I could. Part of the instruction we received was on how to overcome the pain of sitting in these positions for long periods.

And the just sitting around contemplating the world was a No go. You are suppose to clear you mind of everything and just focus on your body while meditating. Sitting with your body in a pretzel and clearing your mind isnt very easy. The goal is to be conscious of all your thoughts and movements to clear your mind to prevent 'Monkey Brain' as our teacher said. That is where random thoughts are just coming in and out of your head without your control.

Honestly, some of the things had some merit. I dont know how much meditation Ill do at home but I think overall the course was beneficial. It was interesting to see what the Thai Buddhist consider to be ' the Mind.' The mind to Westerners is your Brain and you point at your head when someone asks where your mind is. But to the Thai the Mind refers to something separate from your body and you point to your heart when you refer to it.

One part I was disappointed about on the retreat was how bored I got. I thought I would be able to get through it no problem but I ended up just sitting around a lot and napping. The lack of stimuli was kind of hard to take. And not being able to talk with people wasnt helping. Glad to be out and heading on.

If you took the 30 day course, which would be suicide if you ask me, the last three days you arent allowed to sleep. You just stay up for 72 hours meditating. No Thanks.

The Last Full Moon was two days ago. Ive been in Thailand for two Full Moons. The first was on my birthday and I spent it surrounding by people trying to drink their faces off at one of the craziest parties in the Eastern Hemisphere. And the second I spent at a temple in Chang Mai voluntarily starving myself and meditating.

The temple at night.

I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who once said 'You know what the difference between you and me is? I make this look good!"

The meditation hall where you are suppose to practice. At one point, I was in there and a cat jumped into the window from the roof. The monks let animals roam everywhere. You could be sitting in a hall and a stray dog would just wander through and noone would think twice about it. The same goes for Lizards and Spiders which can be a bit much.

. . . .

In about an hour, I am going to be heading into Laos. It is a 3 day journey. Two days are by boat. I should arrive the 18th midday. I chose the slow boat because the fast boat while cheaper is suppose to be extremely dangerous. Rumor has it on the fast boat you sit in a fetal position for 6 hours as the speed boat zooms down a narrow river at speeds probably 3 times what you should be going. There are suppose to be a couple deaths every year from it so Im taking a pass. Right now I heading into Laos with a Canadian guy I met a couple of days ago; should be good times. Im eager to get out of Thailand. While I treasure every moment Ive had here, I feel like Im stagnating a bit. Its time to get back out on the road and Laos is the destination.

Chang Mai & Pai

2008-09-08T19:32:00.001-07:00

Two months and three days, I have been gone. It feels like time has flown by, but at the same time being in the US seems almost like a distant memory.

After leaving Kanchanaburi, I had to return back to Bangkok for a couple of hours before I could catch my train to Chang Mai. Again I didnt see much in the way of police or protesters. Everything and everyone seemed calm and indifferent to what was going on. Obviously, it is a big city so I didnt expect to have to crawl through picket lines but I would have expected to have seen something. The only difference I saw was that there may have been slightly less tourists then before.

I got to see Wat Arun and take a boat down the river in the city before I left. These were the last of the Bangkok sites I wanted to see. I thought the picture looked like something out of Ghostbusters with the sky spinning in the background. I was waiting for Gosser to show up or at least see Rick Moranis with a Proton pack, but it was a no go.

The overnight train to Chang Mai was a sweat-fest. That was one hot train, I dont know how I managed to sleep.

Chang Mai is in the Northwest part of Thailand and is the second or third largest city in the country. The West part of the country is suppose to be heavily effected by the rainy season which Thailand is in the middle of now, but I didnt see much of that. The city would be extremely hot for most of the day and then would have maybe an hour long heavy down pour. Then the heat would resume.

The city was nice. I got to stay in the old part of town. The old part of town is in the middle of an old walled in fort that is surrounded by a moat on all sides.

The city is suppose to have almost as many temples, Wats, in it as Bangkok but is much smaller. And Bangkok has a lot of Temples. The best temple I saw was the big one on top of the hill, Doi Suthep. To get to it we had to ride in the back of pickup truck probably 20 minutes up the side of a mountain. And then when we arrived we had to walk up probably another 300 steps. The picture below was taken at the top of the temple. The people in the picture are one part the people I went with and one part random people who joined our picture. Can you tell which is which?

Fight Night Chang Mai: I went with two of the girls in the picture above. We decided to grab a drink before we went in. I went with the big bottle with the Thai label. That bad boy turned out to be 18% alcohol. Fight Night has begun.

The fight was pretty good but there was just a lot of it. It started at 7:30 and there were 13 total fights with 5 rounds each. It was a LOT of Boxing. The night starts with the Thai National Anthem and then the first couple of fights are all young kids. You probably cant tell in the picture below but the kids in the ring are probably 13 years old. And the guys standing in front of the ring are all betting on the fight. It really looked like a miniature stock exchange. People were standing on stools and yelling and holding their fingers in the air.

We ended up leaving after the 10th fight at 12:30 am. We had had enough. The only knockout we saw was of a 15 year old kid. He was taken out on a stretcher and didnt look like he was getting up.

. . . . .

Trekking Chang Mai: The next morning I left for a two day, one night trek in the forest. The trek involved us being taken to see a couple of waterfalls, a 9 km hike, one night in a real village, an elephant ride, bamboo ride, and white water rafting.

The trek was a good time. They trucked us around to the different waterfalls and eventually to the spot where the hike began. By the time we had to start hiking it had begun to rain pretty heavily. The uphill incline we had to go up was covered in water rushing down hill. You had to just give in and let your shoes get soaked. It was actually pretty intense. At one point, the guide had to stop and cut bamboo walking sticks for everyone to use.

The worst part was there were several parts where you had to cross through ankle deep water. And the water was always filled with leeches. The leeches werent big and fat like you are use to seeing; they were about an inch or two long and really skinny. Whenever you tried to pull them off your leg they would stick to your fingers. You had to use a leaf to get them off you completely. One guy got one stuck on his butt. After walking for a bit, one girl noticed that I had a red stain on the back of my bathing suit. She thought it was blood. So to make sure that it wasnt a giant leech I had one of girls who was a nurse take a look at it. It didnt seem to take much convincing. I asked her if she saw anything; she replied 'I just see a lot of hair.' . . And dont you forget it. Hey thats just how it works, some guys get chest hair, other guys have to shampoo their ass every morning.

Jungle Doug

Termite wake up call.

Hold on Short Round!

The village where we slept.

The crew eating our morning breakfast at the village. You know those eggs are fresh.

Apparently the trekking trips cause a lot of people to get sick. Before I even left on the trip I met a girl who told me she spent the last 5 days in a hospital in Chang Mai after getting sick on the trip. She is not sure what caused it, but just felt very ill. She said the hospital was nice and clean but the nurses didnt speak English. After a day of observation they came to hear and said the problem was with here appendix and she was going to have it taken out. The girl said she started crying and yelling 'Its not my Appendix, its not my Appendix!' After seeing the English-speaking doctor she got to agree have them run another kind of test, I forget which one. And after the additional test, it turns out it they agreed it wasnt her appendix. They released her a couple days later and now is fine.

A couple of people did end up getting sick on the trip, which was actually good news for me because I got double portions at every meal. But at one of the breaks this girl just started sobbing because she felt so bad. She was nearly hysterical. She was debating whether or not to stay in the village we were in but it wouldnt have helped because she had to keep going forward to get out. She ended up continuing on but was just a mess for the rest of the trip.

Up to a week ago I hadnt been sick at all the entire trip. It wasnt until I went to a Thai-Mexican restaurant that I ended up getting extremely sick. Its funny, I traveled to the opposite end of the world, eat Thai food for a month, and get sick on Mexican food.

I am never voluntarily riding on an elephant again. For the elephant riding portion of the trip, the pictures I was shown had everyone sitting in on a basket-seat on an the elephants backs. But there was an odd number of people so someone had to ride directly on the elephant's neck. . . . Me. Those things are one bumpy ride. You just have to let your butt go numb as there giant shoulder blades grind into your butt cheeks. I have determined there is no good way to ride an elephant.

My Dutch Company made the ride a little more tolerable though.

Our Bamboo Raft. This is a picture of a picture so its a bit grainy but Im the third from the left. The white water rafting was cut short because the rain had made parts of it too dangerous. Im not too worried though I think Ill get some good rafting in New Zealand.

. . . . .

Before I left Chang Mai, I signed up to do a 5 day Meditation Retreat with some Monks on Doi Suthep. That is the temple where I had my picture taken earlier. There was a bit of a language barrier with the monk I was speaking with because I only wanted to do a couple of days for fun but some how it morphed into 5.

Here is the schedule for each day.

5:00 am Wake-Up Time
5:30 am Morning Practice
6:30 am Breakfast
8:00 am Dhamma Talk
11:00 am Lunch
3:00 pm Reporting with your teacher
6:00 pm Evening Chant
10:00 pm Sleep

Do you notice anything missing? . . . . . . . Dinner! There is no dinner. I am going to have to sneak some food in with me because I dont think this will fly for 5 days.

I had to buy two completely white outfits for the retreat and an umbrella. I think this thing is going to be much more intense then I initially anticipated, but it still should be interesting.

. . . . .

Pai is a very, very dangerous place.

Everywhere you go in Thailand you see Westerners who got lost along the way. You see young guys who are living on the islands as SCUBA instructors and old men who look like they have been there since the 60s. The most common character you see is the 'Sex-pat', expatriated Westerners who come here and live here for the sex trade. These are the guys who you see at the bars with their 'Thai daughters.' They are everywhere and they freak me out a bit. But the reason I think Pai is so dangerous is because of all the places I have been so far I could see myself getting stuck here.

Pai is a quite beautiful town right off a river. It is surrounded by mountains and is full of laid-back young people all just hanging out. I split my room with a guy I met from CA. I paid 50 Baht total for one night. That is just under $1.5 for a night. Tempting . . . . .

Maya Bay, Phuket, & Kanchanaburi

2008-09-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

Im' OK! Right now I am sitting in an Internet cafe in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi is maybe 2 hours outside of Bangkok and I have yet to have a problem. Honestly, I didnt realize that anything was even going on until 3 days ago when I was trying to leaving Ko Phi Phi to get to Phuket. When I got on the ferry to head off the island the ticket collector made sure I wasnt going to the airport because the three in the southern part of the country had been closed by protesters. And I think the protests in Bangkok had been going on for maybe 3-4 days by that point. I honestly, believe that 99% of the Western people on that island had no idea what was going on outside of it, because noone was talking about it. In hindsight, I vaguely remember seeing some Thai people gathered round TVs watching someone yelling in Thai but I didnt make much of it at the time.

In all honestly though, I do feel perfectly safe. All of the Thai people seem very calm as well as the Westerners around. This morning I arrived into the Bangkok bus station, which is just outside of town, for maybe 10 minutes and there werent any signs of trouble there. The only way I have bee affected by this whole thing is when it came to buying my bus ticket. The Railroad and airport foreclosure just made me pay up for my bus ticket from Phuket to Bangkok. It's funny; just to show how polite the Thai are, when I bought my bus ticket the guy apologized for their being no trains to Bangkok and any inconvenience the unrest may have caused. I thought it was cute, he should have apologized for the bad weather while he was at it.

Tomorrow, I plan to head into Bangkok city for half a day to catch a couple more sights then catch a night train if possible to Chang Mai, if not then a bus the next morning. Ill have a much better idea of the situation then but Im not expecting much. There have been a couple people killed and I heard there was a couple of bomb explosion two mornings ago, but besides that I think things have been fairly tame, if that is possible to say. Things do seem to be stuck in a stalemate though. The PAD isnt going to leave the Government House and is trying to rally all the unions they can to shut down government and police centers. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister refuses to step down, which is the PAD's objective. Simultaneously, the military refuses to turn on the people or back the PM's call for military intervention. So it should be interesting to see who gives in first.

. . . . .

Ko Phi Phi

As for Maya Bay, the trip was definitely worth it. There were five stops on the trip, Monkey Beach, Cliff Diving, Shark Snorkeling, Snorkeling II, and Camping at Maya Beach. The trip started off right with a couple of Germans being terrorized by Monkeys at Monkey Beach. The Monkeys apparently just charged these two German guys forcing them to leave behind there Camera bags. The monkeys just surrounded there bags and stole a couple of batteries from them before our Thai guide charged at them with a huge stick to retrieve the guys stuff.

Next, was the Cliff Diving. Unfortunately I am going to disappoint here. I didnt get to jump from 20m. The highest I went was 12m, 40 ft. If you look at the picture below the 12m jump is right next to the tree. It about 3 meters above the person you see in the middle there. On my second jump, not sure why, I grabbed a tree limb on my way down which made me land kind of weird. Long story short, I ended up 'tweaking' my neck and it messed with my form for the other jumps. And before you get to go on the 20 m jump the Thai guide has to approve your jumping form and I didnt make the cut. Anyway, to compensate, in my mind at least, when we got to the Shark snorkeling site, I was the first in the water.

This is the view of Maya Bay, as seen in the Movie ' The Beach.' It really was a beautiful place. The beach itself is a National Park. Only those who go on the tour I went on get to camp overnight there, so it was cool to be alone on the island with about 25 other people. We were all forced to sleep in a large open air tent because it rained most of the night. It didnt matter much though because most people stayed up drinking anyway and just passed out where they stood. But I did get to go swimming in the Bay at night and the see little neon water bugs light up as you moved around just like in the film.

Being hungover on a boat really tests your sea legs. The guy on the right doesnt have them. I think he was one of four people total to lose their cookies on that ride off the island.

Sunset on Phuket.

. . . .

Are you ready for this?

Tiger Temple: 2 go in; 1 comes out!

Today, I got to hit the Tiger Temple and the Bridge over the River Kwai. The Tiger Temple is an animal sanctuary run by monks. It started with the Monks taking care of one sickly tiger that wandered through their complex then just grew to the 18 they currently have. All of the Tiger are chained to the ground by their necks but arent drugged so they still have the potential to turn around and grab you if they really wanted. But the Tigers are suppose to have been around people from their birth so are pretty use to obnoxious tourists by now.

The baby Tiger below was the softest animal fur I've ever touched.

Bridge over the River Kwai below. Earlier, I got to see the JEATH museum dedicated to remembering the horrible conditions and torture the POWs underwent while building it. Pretty Gruesome Stuff!.

Malaysian Visa Run and Beyond

2008-08-28T08:05:00.001-07:00

It was a success! I now am back in Thailand with a new 30-day Visa. The 26th was the day of my visa run. I woke up at 2:30 after less then four hours of sleep and headed out towards the pick up point. As I headed out most of the streets were empty except for pockets where the night of the 25th was still going strong. It was all groups of Western men hanging out at the bars anbd clubs with their Thai counterparts. As I walked toward my meeting point every Thai woman I walked past solicits me for 'company' and every man for a Taxi. Breakfast that morning was at a 24/7 McDonald's. I had two hamburgers because breakfast wasnt being served yet. I choked it down and went to wait for Herb.

I was fairly nervous at first because Herb was late and I just got there at 3:20 our meeting time. I prayed I had the right corner in Lamai, because his description for the corner was based on a McDonalds, Family Mart, and Bar. All three are all over the island. About 10 minutes or so later Herb races up looking manic. He said something about there being a foot of water on the other side of the island then throws my crap in the bed of the truck and takes off. As we pull away he guns it through a narrow street down the middle of road eventually hitting close to 120-130 km/hr. I think that is close to 70 or 80 mph, but still the streets were not meant to go 55 on let alone that fast. At first it was hard to tell if Herbert was just a maniac or a stickler for his schedule.

For an hour we raced completely around the island picking people up at various nondescript corners till the cab is full. I am the first one to be kicked out of the cab and into the bed once it is too full because I signed up late and got the last spot for the trip. I am handed a rain jacket and Herb promises he'll slow down when I get in the back. Honestly, riding in the back of that truck around the island was one of the best part of my trips. A lot of the island wasnt lit by this point and the sky was cloudless so you could make out the stars very easily. I identified Orion's belt easily, the only constellation I know. Honestly, riding in open-air vehicles at high speeds along windy roads is by far my favorite part of the developing world.

Once we have all been collected, we are taken to the pier and sent off towards Don Sak, the mainland of Thailand. We got to see the sunset on the boat. We have already finished the border paper work before we got on the boat so Herb can meet his tight, tight timeline. From a ferry to a minivan. The minivan had AC at least and comfortable seats, making it tolerable. There were 9 of us plus Herb and our Thai chauffeur. No one talks on the ride down except for Herb who has too much energy considering the time of day.

We stop for one break before we reach the border. It was to get gas. We had 5 minutes. I hit the can, convenience store and a pineapple stand. Apparently, I took 6 minutes because Herb wasnt happy. When we get back on the bus he yells at everyone while mainly looking at me. He made it very clear to all of the new people that if we take to long on any of these breaks then we will miss the final ferry going back to the island at 4 pm.

We get the border at 10:45 am. When we get there it just two border stations with a road between the two. There a bunch of Thai stores leading up to the Thai station, shacks selling food. We take our passport and paper work and just go to the Thai border guard, get stamped as leaving. Walk down the road to the Malaysian station give them our papers get marked as entering turn walk back the other side get marked departing and then head back to Thailand. All of the guards on both sides seemed completely indifferent to the entire process. One of the guys in the car with me showed me his passport and it was filled with stamps from just doing this monthly. This is just a way of life for foreigners residing out here. No big thing! Personally, I thought the whole thing was pretty exciting. It is the first and hopefully last time I have to make a break for the border to keep the govt off my back. It really felt like a prisoner exchange to me. The border was empty except for the single person walking from one station to the next across an open space between the two guarded stations.

Even though my Malaysian stay was about 3 minutes long at most, it did look like a beautiful place to go. Hopefully I get to go back.

One more break as we head back and then we get back to Don Sak at 3 pm as promised. Herb is the man, eccentric but good.

. . . . .

After getting to Don Sak, I have worked my way across to Ko Phi Phi where I slept last night and will tonight and the next night before heading to Bangkok through Phuket. I have big plans for tomorrow. I signed up for a package deal where I get to snorkel with sharks, go cliff diving off a 20 m cliff, 66 feet tall (hell yeah Im doing it), and then go and sleep on Mai Bay, the bay where the movie ' the Beach' was filmed. Im getting pumped.

Malaysian Visa Run and Beyond - Pics

2008-08-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

The extent of my Malaysian adventures ended just on the other side of that building.

What NOT to do in Malaysia.

The border station on the Thai border.

Ko Phi Phi, Yeah you know me!

Koh Somui

2008-08-25T05:00:00.001-07:00

A bar I ate at in Koh Tao. I thought it was a nice picture so I included it.

The past few days I have been just hanging around on the beach in Koh Somui and just reading books and lazying about in preparation for my departure from Thailand as my Visa expires on the 27th. Hanging around on the beach is nice and can be very rewarding, because you get to laze around and let your mind wander. It allows you think about what really is important in life. And it gives you a chance to answer all of the important questions in life that elude you at home. Such as: 'Is it OK to stop bathing on a daily basis if you go into the ocean everyday?' Or 'Is it more hygienic to wear a bathing suit everyday instead of flipping that same pair of dirty underwear inside out?' Or 'Will a beard help disguise a six-foot-five white guy in Malaysia?' And the all important 'Pubic hair, how long is too long?'

But honestly I feel like the beaches around here have been spoiling me a bit and have made me lazy. I have been just hanging around the beach on my butt for the past few weeks in a majority English-speaking resort-like area while spending too much money. It is time for me to get back out there and see some new places. I think my Visa expiring may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

On that note, there has been a change in plans, I recently made friends with a Italian girl on my taxi ride from the port on the island to where I am staying. I told her my story and where I was trying to go. And she showed me this crazy thing called a map and explained to me the error of my ways. It really doesnt make sense for me to go further South at this point then go back North and then back South into Australia. So this is what I am doing. I am going to try and extend my visa in Thailand for 30 days and then do the West and Northern part of the country then go in Laos South in Cambodia and then North through Vietnam. Then I will hit Singapore and the rest on my way back South.

That being said I need an extension on my Visa. Easier said then done. I tried to go to the Immigration office and get a simple extension. Apparently, the Visa type I got will only allow me a 7 day extension. So what does that mean? It means Visa run. Conveniently across from the Immigration office is Austrian Herbert's Visa Run Shop. No Joke. He specializes in taking people from Koh Somui across the border into Malaysia for about 20 minutes and then getting them back to Koh Somui in the same day just for the visa. So tonight I will go to meet this guy in his pickup truch with 8 other people at 3:20 am and then I will somehow get to Malaysia and be back here by 5:30 pm. I really have no idea how he plans on getting us there. It could be by Submarine or a series of Catapults. All I know is it costs the same price as the visa extension, go figure, and can be done in about 15 hours. So wish me luck!

SCUBA Pics

2008-08-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

The main pier of the island at dusk.

My SCUBA group getting briefed prior to our final dive at the East side of the island. The instructor is on the right and that is Dan and Delanie in the middle.

And that is one Grade-A American Beef Cake.

Koh Tao, Thailand

2008-08-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Well, today was pretty eventful. I completed my SCUBA course and now I am Open Water Certified. That means I am deemed competent by PADI to dive up to 18m on my own in open water.

Today on my last day we did two dives early in the morning. The deepest was about 20m even though our instructor can only technically take us to 18m. We got to see some pretty cool stuff some Stingray, an Octopus, an Eel, a couple of blowfish, some Christmas tree worms, a Box fish, and some other interesting aquatic specimens and coral. We also got to see a wreck on our second dive. That was less deep probably about 15m, but was just as exciting. The wreck was an old catameran and a motorbike someone drove into the water. The catermeran was pretty exciting Im not gonna lie. All the fish in the area were drawn to it so there were a bunch of small schools of fish just hanging around and were acting like they were guarding it. I got to get in the old Captains chair and act like I was driving it.

The SCUBA was fun and I am glad I did it, but I dont think Ill be taking the next level of diving classes, the Advanced Open Water Training Course, any time soon. I mean I enjoyed being in the water and seeing all the different things you cant see from the surface. And it definitely instilling in me a sense of peace while I was down in the water but still it was lacking something. The name of the game really is moving slowing and observing to conserve as much air as possible so you can stay down there the longest possible amount of time. And while I enjoyed being down there, I really just wanted to zip around and move quickly. The whole time you had to move slowly and just follow the instructor which kind of left something to be desired. I think I am a snorkel man where I can set my own pace and just dive down to the things I see that are cool. OR even a cliff diver, I think jumping from large rocks is more exciting then SCUBA diving. But still I am grateful I took the class and if the course only made me a better snorkeler then so be it.

If the opportunity presents itself for some world class diving in say Australia on the Great Barrier Reef then I may portake, which is why I am glad I got certified cheaply. But until then I think my SCUBA experiences will be on hold. Personally, I thought the best part of the dives were just riding on the boat and diving in the water. I dont get sea sick easily and have a pretty tough stomach. I find the bobbing of the boat exciting and I enjoy scuffling around the deck and watching the water go by. At some point on my trip, I am definitely going to pursue an extended stay on a boat/ship if possible. Fortunately, the ferry from Italy did not completely kill my Nautical aspirations.

I also looked at another course they have here called APNEA. Not the sleeping disorder. Its a course where they teach you how to dive unassisted down to 20 m or even 40 m in the advanced course. It seemed like a lot of fun. I would have signed up but the course starts the 25th and my visa ends the 27th. And while I think the repercussions of violating my visa would be minimal, I dont want to risk pissing off the Thai, because they are going to be my home base while Im in SE Asia.

The course starts off with them teaching you how to hold your breath for an extended period of time. They guarantee you will be able to hold your breath for at least 3 minutes by the end of the course. Think about how cool it would be to whip that out at a pool or in the ocean.

"Hold Crap, Where's Doug? He's been gone for at least 2 minutes and 59 second!"

"BAM! Im right here. No Big Deal. Its just something I picked up in Thailand."

Personally, I think that would be pretty cool.

. . . . .

But now Im off to bed. I think the fish I had for dinner. The one served with the tail and the head and eyeballs didnt agree with me. Tomorrow I leave for Ko Samoi where I will relax for 4 days and then head out of the country, south.

Ko Toa, Thailand.

2008-08-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

Ive jumped to another island on the East Coast of Thailand, Ko Toa. This will be the last new island I hit before I head into Malaysia in 6 days. I going to go back to Ko Samoi probably for a day or so then go towards the main land again.

Before I left Ko Pha-Ngan and headed here I did find the Volleyball Playing Lady Boy on the beach. He was 10 feet tall and could clear the net in a single prance. No, Its funny, I dont know why but I just assumed he would have been in Drag when I went there. But he wasnt. He was in Boy Form, except for the spandex and matching lime green sweat bands he was wearing. He was, I dont know, 5'5" and could jump very high considering we were on sand. He was very flamboyant and loved to trash talk, but still was no match for some good ole' American know-how. I rocked him every time I played him except for one game. Definitely one of the best guys out there but still was by no means a Doug Jeffery.

After doing that, I hung out with the Two Aussie cops I met one last time and then said good bye to my home for the past 9 days and headed on.

Ko Toa, has been interesting. I bought the tickets here at a discount by trading in some books I read and then headed over with no accommodations planned. I just got on the boat, which they fill till they cant fill it anymore, and just came over. It seems like everyone went to Ko Pha-Ngan for the Full Moon Party and then everyone afterwards headed to Ko Toa which is half the size. So on the way over there was a rumor going around that you couldnt get a room here unless you were part of SCUBA Diving class, which is very big here. So . . . . . Doug is getting certified for his PADI Open Water Diving License. It wasnt that expensive about $270 which includes food, accommodations, and all the equipment you need for 4 days of diving, so I think I got a pretty good deal. And I think I can make up the money I'm spending in the rest of SE Asia later. My instructor is a pretty comical English guy who has been in Thailand for 3 and a half years and has done over 2,600 dives. I started with the video and book and all the rest yesterday. Today we started in the classroom again and then went out and did some exercises in a shallow area. We practiced how to clear your goggles, buddy breathe, indicate you're out of air and a whole bunch of other stuff. Then we headed down and did a 12 meter dive. It really has been awesome, Im extremely excited for tomorrow's dive too. The only draw backs have been the 18 inch lizard living in my bathroom and the fish love to eat the scabs on my leg from Motorbike accident. It's funny I have two other people in my class and guess where they use to live . . . . . in Courthouse in Arlington, Virginia. I have met maybe 10 Americans since Ive left the States and I have met two different groups of people from Arlington.

I didnt post any pictures because its hard to have a camera with all the water on the boat, but the guy I met from VA actually is a Photo editor for a San Francisco Newspaper and he is taking a ton of pictures which he has promised to email me. So they will be out there soon.

Also, i just discovered where the spell check is on the site, so hopefully that should get better.

Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand

2008-08-17T05:11:00.001-07:00

Booyyaa! Doug is 7 + 9 is 16, times 2 is 32, minus 8 is 24! Not many people know this but in another life I was the 1995 Pennwood Middle School Challenge 24 Champion. Steve Smith eat your heart out. I dont know how to say this, but . . . . . Im kinda big deal. After making it through regionals, I later went on to states at the Ben Franklin Institute where they started to give problems that didnt have solutions. The people who ran the thing were sick people. I mean we were just kids. But I digress.

The Full Moon Party was awesome. It's funny right as I was coming to post this I bumped in one of the Canadians guys I left with. We left at 10:30 pm on the 16th for the party and this guy came back at 6 pm the next day. He was out partying for nearly 24 hours. haha. . . All he said to me was the after party was strong . . . I am going to go crash in my hammock. He is now nocturnal.

The party takes place on a beach maybe 500 m across that has its back to a bunch of bars and hotels. And everyone goes there just to get ridiculous. Everyone is wearing crazy hats and glasses and paints there body in neon paint. It was really a huge rave with 30,000 people. I left with about a group of 8 French Canadians and French people. They were a good group. Europeans love trance music. I dont know why but they do. I can handle my own when it comes to hip hop but I have no idea how to dance to trance music. Everyone to me looks like they are Zombies pawing at the air or just extremely stoned. They probably were for all I know. I danced with them for a bit but you can really only flail your arms around and bob your head for so long without vomitting. I hung out with them for a bit and then saw two Aussies who are police back home. The one guy had been there before. There was a huge sign maybe 3 or 4 stories tall in the middle of the beach with "Full Moon Party" burning on scaffolding. The one guy Nick wanted to climb the thing once it burned out and try to shake the thing over. I had no plans so we did. Im still covered in Black stuff from it. To get to the thing though you had to wade through the water for maybe 20 feet. Bad idea. Every guy there pees in the water as the night goes on.

After hanging out with the Aussies, I just wandered around for a bit and bumped into some Dannish people I had played volleyball with earlier. We hung out for a while and had some buckets. What's a bucket you ask. It's a bucket filled with liquor and coke and costs $6. Those things can sneak up on ya. We ended up hanging out for a while. At one point I ended up going to the bathroom and never could find them when I returned. I ended up roaming around for a while and then stumbled home at about 6am. This is the abridged version of course and there are some holes Im stilling trying to fill in but all in all it was a good time.

I ended up playing volleyball for maybe 4 and a half hours on my birthday. It was perfect. When I got to the beach noone was playing but there were some people just lying next to the court. So I found a ball and took a nap with my head on the ball in the middle of the court. It was my way of challenging the whole beach and forcing whoever wanted to play to play with me. It worked out well. I met a bunch of people. A Korean guy invited me to play with him and some other good people in a couple of days. He told me, and I swear this is true, the best person that plays on the beach is a Lady Boy. No Joke. He may have been lying but he said she/he can jump his/her own height. haha I dont think I am going to leave the island till I have played this Lady Boy.

. . . . .

A couple of days ago, I took my motorbike to the East part of the island just to see it for a night. On the up and down the steep hills I ended up falling off my bike. . . . . twice. One for each leg. The roads were all paved leading up to the point where I fell then it became dirt. I scratched up my leg pretty well. Im fine but it definitely hurt. I had to use the ocean to clean it out. And then because I only had my day pack with me, Listerine was the only thing I had to clean out the wound. Salt and Alcohol dont mix well with cuts. I ended up having to pay someone to take my bike back in a truck because it kept staling whenever I would try to climb the huge hill the next day to leave.

I returned the bike as soon as I got back and havent been on one since, nor will I again anytime soon. I consider myself lucky though because you pass people almost every ten minutes when you go into town who are all bandaged up from the very same thing. As I was being trucked out of the beach, we saw a girl fall in nearly the same spot. The guy driving me said he has to take people to the hospital almost every week because they fall at this one bend in the road. Thailand is a crazy place.

Good times. I fjust started Jack Keroauc's On the Road again and I think Ill stay on this island till I finish it.

Later, I have a volleyball playing she-male to find.

Pictures of Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Samoi

2008-08-17T04:56:00.000-07:00

Above is my Bungalow in Ko Samoi.

This is the quality of the road I fell on, except where I fell I was going down a hill that was at about a 45 degree angle.

This is where I spent the night after my fall. It was a nice beach where you could jump off the rocks in the background. It was very quiet. It was weird but nearly everyone there was German.

The view from my place on the Eastern part of the island. The picture above this one shows what the place looks like from the beach. It was actually really nice considering I only paid 350 Baht, $14.

Ko Samui & Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand

2008-08-11T03:48:00.000-07:00

About 4 or 5 days ago, Laurence and I arrived back to Bangkok from our Elephant journey. Its funny how just seeing anything familiar or similar to where you were before, even Bangkok, seems almost like a homecoming.

Laurence and I spent about a half day there together befor he had to head home. It will definitely be interesting without him. Laurence had been on several trips of his own and was really a great guide. He was the architect behind the start of the trip and no doubt will be missed. Im sad to see him go but we covered a lot of ground have some good stories to go with it.
The first month went fast but Im looking forward to the chance to see how the trip goes on my own. Thus far it has been going well. I took a train from Bangkok to Sunat Thai in the southern part of Thailand. The train got in at about 2:30 in the morning. I just read my book, Catch-22, at the train station till the sunset to avoid having to pay for a hotel room.

The bus and ferry I took to Ko Somui was full of Backpackers my age, I dont think Ill have problems meeting anyone. I booked my room in Ko Somui from a solicitor at the ferry waiting area. The place was a bungaloo on the beach in Lamai for 250 Baht, about $7.5 a night. The beach is gorgeous. I wish I had my camera on me to post some of the pictures. It really was stunning. The huts you stay in are all A-frame huts with a matress, fan, and mosquito net. The fan is key. The toilet and shower are outside separate from the room. The place is perfect.

I ended up meeting a good guy there named Stuart, he goes by Stu. He is a 30-year old English men who has been living in New Zealand for the past two years. He is currently on his way back to England to wait for his residency to go through there.

I spent most of my time in Ko Somui there exploring the island. We ended up renting a few Motorbikes which has been a blast. Those things can go fast. They cost about 150-180 Baht a day and are awesome. I have no motorcycle, dirt bike, etic. experience so starting out was a bit rough but once I got a hang of it there is no better way to see the scenary. When you rent the bike, you fill out a form, give them your passport and they give you the bike. That simple. My training consisted of the guy walking outside when I asked for help because I couldnt start it. Everyone there has one: The Thai, the Tourists, Everyone. And they all wear flip flops on them as they zip around.

Traffic on the islands is light but fast moving. And the roads are crap but doable but on average no worse then the Pennsylvani Turnpike. People pass you constantly. The passing is kind of startling when the car comes up from behind you, but it is even more so when the car is passing another car going the other direction and is coming at you head on into your lane. If there is one thing DC and the Beltway has prepared me for it's just ridiculous traffic. Not neccessarily fast moving traffic but ridiculous traffic none the less.

Filling the bikes up is the best part. You can go to a gas station which there are a hand full of, or you can go to the gas stands. The stands are either wooden racks full of glass bottles of a Liter of gas or they are a metal barrel of gas with a meter you crack on top to get the gas out. To measure out the gas the attendant watches the line of the gas go down the beaker like tube at the top and stops it when it looks like a liter went in. Super Hightech. A liter is about 40-55 Baht, about $1 or $2, and two will last you all day.

Right now I am in Ko Pha-Ngan. I got here yesterday. I just paid for my hotel room in full for the next week. It cost me 1500 Baht, $45. I plan on staying in my current place and just exploring the island for the next few days by bike and then partying the last few during the Full Moon Party. Im pretty excited for both.

Side note: I think Thailand is the westerner Tattoo Capital of the World. So man people have full sleaves and just massive leg and shoulder tattoos. I think leaving Thailand without one would be an accomplishment. It's funny because, I have yet to think to myself, 'Wow, that tatto looks great in that Bikini.'
. . . . .

My future plans are to stay here till my Visa expires on the 27th then head south by land to Malaysia and Singapore. Ill probably be in both two weeks total and will come back into Thailand and will check out the Eastern gulf coast here for the next two weeks. After September is over Ill head into Vietnam, Cambodia, and Loas by land again for October. And then Ill spend the first part of November in India and the second half in China. I dont know where Ill go from there maybe Taiwan, or Indonesia but I still plan on being in Australia by the start of December where I hope to replenish my funds to keep my trip going.

Lampang, Thailand: Thailand Elephant Conservation Center

2008-08-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day at the Thai Elephant Conservatory. I spent the last three days there in their Mahout Training Class. The Conservatory is a government sponsored Center that holds donated Elephants, treats sick Elephants for free, and puts on Shows and Classes for curious tourists such as myself. Laurence and I took the three day class there and it was a blast. Each person gets their own elephant for the entire time. You are accompanied by a real Mahout, who is a essential the guardian of each Elephant. You get to bath the elephants, feed them, ride them in the shows, and then take them through the forest at night.

The class was fun but they definitely dont coddle you when it comes to the course. They throw you right in the mix. When we got there they lead the elephant to you, which is a pretty intimdating experience to have a 10-foot, 4,000 kg elephant walk directly at you. Then before you really even learn its name they tell you top get on it. Before you even have a chance to look it over and touch it, you are climbing on top of it. The way you get on an elephant is kick its leg above its knee so it raises its leg, and then grab its ear and extra skin behind its front leg and pulling yourself over it. I thought I was gonna rip its ear off the first time I tried it. It all got easier as the trip went on and you realize you cant hurt an elephant. As proof, the way the Mahouts would discipline the elephants was by using a stick with what looked like a metal pick on the end. It's really the only way to get an elephants attention.

The elephants while very powerful proved to be very gentle. I really didnt feel unsafe or in danger at any point along the way.

On the first day, after we had maybe 30 minutes of instruction on the first day, they had us riding the elephants in each show. I thought that was pretty funny, how we got to pretend like we were controlling them even though they were all on cruise control. They went completely on memory.

Above and below that is me with Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo means Mo-Jo which was very appropriate for him. He was the biggest Elephant they had and did pretty much whatever he wanted. He was the Alpha Male and was the lead of the show, so he was a natural fit for me : ). He got to Lead the show by carrying the flag, ring the opening bell and do the Log Walking trick as seen below. All of them were a big hit. He had several 'girlfriend' elephants as my Mahout said and had to always be first in line.

I really was impressed with how flexible and nimble they seemed. The elephants could walk down a narrow path and go down extremely steep slopes with no problems. Riding an elephant was a good time but is definitely not the most luxurious way to travel. I have never ridden a horse or anything else so my experience was limited. But I challenge anyone to try and ride an elephant for a several hours and not have to pop a couple of Ibuprofen. I eventually got use to it but I couldnt imagine traveling any kind of long distance on one of them.

A tired Laurence below.

Us bathing the elephants below. We bathed them about 4 times a day so the elephants never smelled. But the water we did it in was about 10% Elephant Crap by the end of every day. We showered every break we had.

Why I dont own an elephant.

Pictures

2008-08-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

A Snake and I just before I shove off for the Market.

The Floating Market

Crocodile Show: Thai Slip N' Slide

Two of the school girls from the National Museum.

These are the Military Kids I met.

Bangkok, Thailand & Surrounding Areas III

2008-08-02T06:56:00.001-07:00

No avoiding it, I am one smelly American. All day, every day whether the sun is out or not, it is hot here. I am always sweating. No matter how much deodorant I wear or water I drink I get hot, sweat, and then stink. Everytime I go to my room, I try and take a shower just because it is always so hot. When I initially got my room and found out that they didnt have hot water I was pretty disappointed, but I have come to realize you dont need it.

The past few days I have been mostly just seeing the sights. Two days, ago I went on my Floating Market day tour. Yesterday, I go to see some cool temples and do some suit shopping. Today, I got to see some more temples and see the Grand Palace. All have been interesting.

The first day, I got to see the Floating Market. They sell everything you never knew you needed. But it was still pretty neat to see some of the boats they had. All of the boats are made of wood, but that doesnt stop some of the woman from putting huge stone cooking pots in the middle and grilling food on them. Its pretty impressive. Later on, I got to see a Monkey show, Crocodile Show and Elephant show. The Monkey show was pretty hokey. If I had twelve monkeys, a miniture motorcycle, and a set of bleechers in my backyard I am pretty sure I could put on the same show. But the Elephant show was really impressive they had about ten elephants play soccer at one point and had a mockey battle where they stormed a fortress. It was pretty cool. The crocodile was pretty interesting too. The show was basically two guys in a concrete pen with 5 crocs in it. The concrete was pretty wet and the guys involved fell unitentionally at least 5 times which added an extra bit of suspense to it. They did the whole putting their head in the crocs mouth thing which is impressive. Because if watching Max-X has taught me anything, its that anything and everything can go wrong in animal shows in the developing world.

That day was all good fun except I had to wake up at 7 am to start the tour but lunch wasnt till 1pm. So there was a period of about 6 hours where I didnt have anything to eat. This would be a problem even if I was in the US, let alone in Thailand where the portions are already too small to begin with (I've already had to add 2 extra meals to my day just to maintain my weight). Anyway, by the time lunch came I was starved. We are taken to a buffet near the elephant show. These poor people didnt see me coming. I went to town on this thing. Double everything. The more meat the better. But this combination of gorging myself and not having had a BM for the first 3 days in Thailand created the perfect storm . . . . . I have no idea what it was or why it was in such a hurry but something comes out of me about the size of a young child's torso. It was awful. Thank goodness they had toilet paper at this place. But I mad one critical mistake I forget to put my toilet paper in the waste basket instead of the toilet. You arent suppose to put the paper in the toilet or else it will clog the toilet. I had no idea how this thing was going to end up. So I just pull the plunger on the toilet like Im pulling the pin on a hand grenade and get the hell out of there.
. . . . .

Everyone in Thailand is very friendly. Yesterday, on the street a random Thai man introduced himself to me and ended up talking with me for about 20 minutes. He lets me know about a cool temple that not a lot of tourists go to, the Temple with the Black Buddha, and a good place to get a suit, Nakhon Sawan Factory. When I got to the temple I met another random Thai man who had learned to speak English by watching American Movies. He was pretty interesting. It was Buddhist Day and he briefly showed me how/where to pray in the temple there. When you enter the temple you have to remove your shoes and are suppose to sit on the ground. The way you are suppose to sit is as if you were kneeling and then feel to one side so your feet are behind you. This is because you aren't suppose to point your feet at the Buddha. Feet are considered the dirtiest part of your body. He was an interesting guy, we shared about where he had been and where I was headed, then we went on our way.

. . . . .

Today, I just do more tourist stuff. I went to the National Museum first. When I went in there must have been a field trip of some kind going on because there were kids in uniform everywhere. As I walk through the museum I can hear the kids coming up behind me and laughing. I see a lot of flashes going off, too. When I turn around the kids that are pointing their cameras at me pretend to be looking at something else. It was pretty funny. Two girls eventually came up to me and asked if they could take a picture with me. I ended up giving an interview to another group for a school projects. Basically, whats my name? Where Im from? Why Im in Thailand? And do I like it here? I ended up doing something similar with a bunch of sixteen year old military school kids. It was fun experience. Later on, I ended up going to the Grand Palace Later too which was very impressive. It is a huge compound in the middle of the city. I also got to see the Golden Mountain too. All in all it was a pretty productive day.

Tonight, I meet up with Laurence again and we will head North tomorrow morning. We are going to be headed to Lampang for a two day Elephant Riding Expedition. Im pretty pumped about it.

Bangkok, Thailand II

2008-07-30T03:25:00.000-07:00

Me at the finale of my awesome Tuk Tuk ride. Thats my stunt double in the background.

View of the city from my hotel roof.

Today I woke up late. I saw Laurence off he's going to Phuket for a couple of days but hell be back. We are going to go on some Elephant adventure and some Tiger later on in the week so I am going to just chill here because I am going to Southern Thailand later on for longer. It didnt make sense for me to pay the $100 to go down there for a few days then come back and then go back down. I am slowing down my neck-breaking pace that my trip started on. Though it did help me manage to dodge the full impact of the Euro pretty well. I have a 30-day Visa here and plan to stay here for the entire month. Ill be in Bangkok and northern Thailand for maybe 10 days then Ill head down to Phuket and neighboring beaches for the other three weeks.

My hotel room here, save the fan, has been fairly Spartan. One bed and toilet. But I guess that is fine when you are paying $11 a night to stay on the main drag. The bathroom is BYOT, bring your own toilet paper. And the shower head for the shower sits directly over the toilet so you can crap and bathe without moving your feet.

My tuk tuk ride was pretty interesting. It was one part tour and one part scam. The ride itself cost 5 bhat, 15 cents, but that is the scam just to get you on the cart. Once on you start on seeing sights then you head to suit shops and travel agencies to try and fulfill this weird kickback thing these drivers have going on. All in all it was worth it; it was pretty exciting. I got to seem some temples and ride around in Bangkok for two hours.

I ended up buying a day trip for tomorrow to the Floating Market, Rose Garden, Crocodile Show, and I think there are is a cock fight involved too. I couldn't understand what the guy was saying but I believe that was it.

Overall, everyone has been very friendly and nice, but the city is still overwhelming. I think I'll enjoy the country much more when I get out of the city.

Also, I just found out that this month's Full Moon Party in Southern Thailand just happens to be on August 16th . . . . . . . . just the most important date except for maybe Ground's Hog Day. . .. . . . . . . My Birthday!!!!! I dont know how the planet's managed to line up for this one but needless to say should be interesting.

Bangkok, Thailand

2008-07-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I arrived in Thailand and no doubt it has been an experience. Despite my initial departure, Thailand has made me miss home the most. It is definitely a departure from what I am use to. The streets are crowded, dirty, and polluted and traffic is non stop. It's funny I am staying on the main drag and nearly everyone is a white tourist yet I still feel I stick out like a sour thumb. This first day has definitely been a learning experience and I welcome it. So far I have spent about $12 on a hotel $19 on a good dinner and two large drinks and about $11 on two single-hour massage sessions to help avoid thinking about what I am missing at home. The dollar definitely and finally goes along way here and I welcome it. It is funny how far I seem from home yet everything is in English and is completely catered towards tourist. The more each place seems to mimic home the more I seem to miss it.