Blog - Go Backpacking

Coffee and Travel Talk

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of the Couchsurfing concept and website, so I was excited when I had the chance to meet up with Monika (a new couchsurfer and local Arlingtonian) last night for coffee and travel talk. As much as I am inspired by the written word and blogs, it still can't beat exchanging stories and experiences with another person who shares the same passion in life!

Monika had e-mailed me through Couchsurfing with some questions about my backpacking trip around the world, and it just so happened that she worked for The Travel Channel, so it seemed to be a match made in travel heaven. I gave her my copy of Wanderlust and Lipstick and she surprised me with a No Reservation's pint glass (which I promptly filled with a Guinness after getting home, in honor of host Anthony Bourdain).

We continued talking long after our coffees had been consumed. She was born in India, and had plenty of advice for me regarding that country, as she use to spend her Summers there after having moved to the United States as a child. My favorite experience though, was her 6-month tour of Europe as a Coca-Cola Ambassador. I didn't find out what that entailed, as I was hung up on the fact that it meant she could travel on the company's bill! She recommended Bratislava, Slovakia, for a sense of what an Eastern European city looked like from a Communist and Capitalist perspective (the division being a river through the city).

I especially enjoyed relaying my thoughts (and those I've read from others in the travsphere) about the various Travel Channel shows which I've watched, such as 5 Takes and 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.

Even if you have no desire to host travelers, or be a guest yourself, Couchsurfing.com is a great way to meet new people who share a common passion for travel!

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PS - Monika - Thanks again for the pint glass. It's one thing I *won't* sell before leaving!

David Beckham Debuts Vs. DC United

I know I'm supposed to be in hardcore savings mode with about 3 months until departure, however, I got caught up in the media hype surrounding David Beckham's arrival in the United States last month.

When regular (vs. season/group) tickets finally went on sale, all were sold out except the corner upper deck seats (and even those were more expensive than normal).

I decided to catch the game on TV until I received an e-mail from the Barra Brava fan club I joined earlier in the year.

They still had single tickets for sale in their dedicated section (center, closest to the field).

The game turned out to be one of the best I've seen or attended in my past four years of following DC United (and soccer in general)!

I'll try to describe the scene from within Section 135 of a sold-out stadium of 46,000 fans:

Barra section stood on seats (as always)
Constant songs and chants (foul language aplenty)
Drums pound non-stop
Flags waved - big and small
Despite sundown, oppressive heat and humidity have us sweating like pigs
DC's Brazilian, Emilio, scored the one and only goal - beer flies everywhere
Green smoke bombs cloud the air
Flashbulbs flicker as Beckham began warm-ups around the 35th minute
Torrential rain begins before halftime
LA Galaxy player gets a red card (ejected) in the 66th minute (dangerous tackle)
Beckham takes the field (after taking off shirt for the ladies) in the 70th minute
Beckham bends his first MLS free-kick (LA misses equalizing opportunity)

Hot dog - $3 / Midfield-row 7 seat - $35 / Watching a soccer great debut in a new country's league - Priceless!

Killarney and The Blarney Stone

Saturday, August 22, 1998

I packed up and left early. Took the 8:45 AM train to Blarney. I made the mistake of bringing my backpack with me. I had a nice hangover too. Plus, I decided to skip the shower. Actually, I thought I'd be showering a lot less on this trip. Blarney Castle is definitely the best castle I've seen. Part of this is due to the beautiful setting in the green hills, and the little streams flowing. I climbed up the very steep cantilevered steps to the top of the keep. I had arrived before most of the tourists, so I was up there with only about ten people. I have a feeling that it is hard to get up there when it is crowded, due to the narrow stairs. Anyway, the Blarney Stone was up there, and I saw a girl kiss it. It really looked gross, but apparently people of all ages do it. Climbing down the stairs with my pack was really cutting things close. There was a lot of graffiti on the walls. It was a very small, personal castle for tourists to visit.

After the castle, I went to the Rock Close, an ancient druid ceremonial piece of land on the grounds. I was really surprised by the sights, such as the Wishing Steps, Witch's Cave, and Druid's Cave. Some of the trees were over 1,000 years old. The druid ritual sites were over 2,000 years old. Very cool, and I was practically alone in the area. The whole garden/park is cool because it really encourages exploration. I found this out when I entered Badger's Cave and the castle's Dungeon (with my flashlight). Both were cool and damp. I went to the end of the Badger's Cave, I think. The Dungeon creeped me out though, and I didn't want to go too far in by myself. When I turned out my flashlight, it was pitch black. This made me think about those crazy spelunkers.

I'm on my way to Killarney now. I think Blarney Castle has revitalized my enjoyment of Ireland. I didn't really like Cork as a city. Too big. I've found it easier to eat fast food after a few pints. Needless to say, my bowels are up in revolt about my Irish diet. Oh, I bought my official Irish wool sweater today. I got it on sale, along with tape number one of Irish pub songs. Is every goddamn train smoking in Ireland? We pulled into the first station where we arrived twenty minutes late. Another train let off a whole bunch of kids. There train had been no smoking, so they all got onto my train quite excited about the rest of their trip. The train quickly filled with smoke and noise. I was pissed for a bit, as I gagged on the billowing smoke. Then I put my Irish pub tape in my Walkman, and was happy with what I heard. Plus, I took a piss. I saw myself in the mirror, with my new sweater on, and I looked about forty years older. Sigh.

The train arrived in Killarney about 1 ¼ hours late. For the first time in the British Isles, I had to go to a second choice hostel for a room. My thoughts about staying in the Rail station hostel were changed when I saw my room with skylight, and the large showers. I walked around the town, and started my pub crawl. I went to the Laurels Singing Pub in hopes of good trad music. Instead, I found myself among tour groups of senior citizens. I felt about 25 years younger than everyone else. A guy with a stomach as big as a keg of Guinness sang, and hosted the show. I got out after an hour (I had to get my cover charges worth of entertainment). The next pub was no better. The two girls and guy (old enough to be their dad) were not smiling or even enthusiastic, as they played their trad music. They actually brought me down. I ended up that the Beer Garden which is an outdoor courtyard (w/stage) surrounded by two bars. I finally got to hear some good music. Unfortunately, they finished up at 11:30 PM, so I only caught the end of the show. As I search for some down home traditional sessions, I'd probably be better off in a rural area. I went home drunk.

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Read more of my exciting adventures Backpacking in Europe, or view my photos on Flickr.

The Last Kiss

Michael: I've been thinking about my life lately, and everything feels pretty planned out. There's no more surprises.

Last night I sat down and watched The Last Kiss, a Zach Braff movie which was released last Fall. If you enjoyed Garden State, then you'll probably enjoy The Last Kiss, though it's much heavier on the drama.

The plot revolves around 4 long time friends who face the age of 30 with varying degrees of commitment to the women in their lives.

Michael (played by Zach) - not married, girlfriend is pregnant, afraid of the future
Chris - unhappily married, with baby
Izzy - heartbroken over girlfriend who recently dumped him
Kenny - quintessential bachelor
Kim (played by Rachel Bilson of The OC) - college girl with a crush on Michael

Kim: Did you know that the institution of marriage was created when the average person lived to the age of 30

What caught my attention was the idea Izzy had to ride a motorcycle from his home town in Wisconsin to Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of Argentina. He seemed set on the idea, and wanted Kenny to join him. Kenny, having just hooked up with a wild (in bed) girl from a wedding they all attended, brushed Kenny's suggestion aside stating how happy he was with his life. It was only later, after the girl surprised Kenny with an introduction to her parents, did he realize his fling was turning into a relationship (which meant it was time to join Izzy for an adventure). They ended up buying an RV for the drive.

As much as I'd like to see myself as the Michael of the group, I neither have a girlfriend, nor pretty college girls trying to pick me up at weddings. Perhaps this makes my decision to travel into the big world all the easier. Someday I would like to see myself married....with children. That someday is not today though! And it is not next year either! I've been fully committed to this travel opportunity that lay ahead of me, and it is full steam ahead (unless I run into Rachel Bilson sometime soon).

Kim: Having a crisis are we?
Michael: Do I look like I'm having a crisis?
Kim: Everyone I know is having a crisis. I know you're not supposed to get them until midlife but I think something's happening to our metabolism
Michael: Our metabolism?
Kim: [nods] Yeah, I mean the world is moving so fast now, we are all chasing something so fast that we start freaking out long before our parents did. Feel my heart.
[puts his hand in her chest]
Kim: Feel how fast it is?
Michael: ...that's a fast heart.
Kim: "˜Cause we don't ever stop to breathe anymore...
Kim: You gotta remember to breathe or you'll die.

New and Improved Route for Oceania and Asia

After getting a little frustrated trying to figure out how to approach Tibet from Nepal during the first 6 months of my backpacking trip around the world, I've come to develop a new and improved route. I had posted my quandary on the RTW branch of the Lonely Planet forum, and received some feedback which sent me in a new direction.

Without further ado...

New Zealand (fly, Dec 07)
Australia (fly, Dec-Jan 08)
Bali, Indonesia (fly, Jan)
Singapore (fly, Feb)
Hong Kong (fly, Feb)
China (overland, Feb-March)
Tibet (overland, March)
Nepal (overland, April)
India (overland, May)
Thailand (fly, June)
Cambodia (overland, July)
Vietnam (overland, July-Aug)
South Africa (fly via Bangkok, Aug)

The fact that I continue to make major changes to my route with less than 4 months go to underlines my desire to remain flexible. If I had already paid for a 'Round the World airline ticket and locked in certain cities, I would be hamstrung to them, or paying added fees to make changes.

PS - Counting this week, I have only 3 full weeks of work left before I submit my resignation. The rest of the weeks I have at least one half or full day off, or full-day trainings to attend. I've decided to give 4 weeks notice, as I expect the news will come as a BIG surprise to my boss and coworkers. I imagine my last day will feel something like college graduation. I can't wait!

Bhutanese Red Rice - A Surprise At the Supermarket

I know the United States continues to import more and more food from abroad, however I was surprised to come across 15-ounce bags of Bhutanese Red Rice at my local Harris Teeter supermarket the other day. Given the unlikelihood I'll ever visit that very costly little Buddhist country, I picked up a bag of the rice thinking at least I can try their grains.

When I put a cup of it in some boiling water, the red coloring immediately dyed the water blood red. I'm not normally a fan of heartier rices, however Bhutan did not disappoint! I added a little butter and salt to the cooked rice, and it was enough for a tasty dinner and lunch the next day.

Lotus Foods did a nice job describing the rice on the bag too....

Bhutanese Red Rice grows at 8,000 feet in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Irrigated with 1,000-year-old glacier water in rich minerals, this premium heirloom rice is distinguished by its complex nutty flavor, and beautiful russet color.

So much of the experience of traveling to other countries is tied to their food. I'm ready to go buck wild once I hit Southeast Asia. Until then, I'll just have to keep cooking up my own Chicken Pad Thai!

What was the last food you were surprised to find at a local grocery store or market?

The Beautiful City of Kilkenny

Wednesday, August 19, 1998

I woke up this morning with a plan, check out and grab a train to Kilkenny. I hadn't looked at the train schedule, so I went at it blindly. I made the train about five minutes before it left. They didn't even stamp my Eurorail pass. This means lots of train travel (for me) in Ireland.

I ended up taking a very out of the way route to the hostel in Kilkenny, but I got a bed. I arrived during their annual Arts Festival. Though I wasn't interested in going to any of the exhibitions, there was probably an increased sense of energy among the people. The train ride was short, with beautiful scenery of farms, mountains, sheep, and cattle. So, Kilkenny is a pretty small town. It is really beautiful. The big flower pots along the street had at least ten different kinds of flowers in each of them. Very colorful. And all the storefronts were clean with new paint. I decided to leave the sights for tomorrow, and went for a beer.

The Pumphouse seemed like a college bar (with better beer). Though it was only 3 PM, it was quite crowded (all young people). I didn't really like it, too loud, or maybe because I didn't have anyone to talk to. Poster of Kurt Cobain on the wall. I left, crossed the street to my hostel, and took a nap. I rose to find some entertainment. I went to a bar that was having a trad session in an hour. I sat there thinking about how this quiet place is going to hold a bunch of fun soon. Left at 9:30 PM when after only one musician arrived, and the music looked far off. Went to a big bar called Matt the Millers. There, the Bottle Brothers began playing once I entered. They opened with Tom Petty, and hit several Eagles and about ten Simon and Garfunkel tunes. I requested the Byrds, but they didn't know them, then Bob Dylan. I didn't stick around to hear if they played my request. Took a short walk to the Pumphouse. The guy there recognized me from earlier (Carlsberg), and thought I had left without paying. It turns out that I had actually paid one of the other bartenders.

Thursday, August 20, 1998

I slept late because the room I was in was filled with older guys who all seemed tired. Went to Kilkenny Castle with a hangover. It was quite nice. I bought a ticket for an open air theater performance that night of "Much Ado About Nothing." I took the castle tour. It was really nice. Unlike Dover, the castle had been refurbished with original materials, art and furniture. Mailed postcards. Adidas athletic wear is very popular over here in Ireland, and England too. And not just the shirts, but the pants too (the whole outfit). I went on the Smithwick's Brewery tour, which turned out to be just a film strip and tasting (1 pint). But it was free. Next, I went to Smartmac's, which was an Irish owned fast food chain. I had gone last night and been satisfied with the meal. This time I felt sick afterwards. Took a nap before the show. It started to rain.

It ended up raining for the first half hour of the performance. The bleachers were filled with mostly adults. I knew I had read the play, but I had forgotten the plot. I ended up following it quite easily. Laughed a lot. The production and stage direction (lighting, music) was great. Much more fun than I expected. After the show, I went to sleep.

I planned to leave for Cork tomorrow. The trains are weird though, they only have a limited line service, so I don't know if I'll make it. Either way, I figure everything will be fine. I called home for the third time today. Spoke to mom. Heard a short update about President Clinton's problems yesterday on the train. He really has made some dumb choices (if this Monica Lewinsky allegation is true, most of them probably are too). It is a shame too, because he seems like a smart guy (2 terms of presidency at such a young age). Also makes me think that Bush, Reagan, and Nixon probably didn't face such private problems. Lots of Cadbury chocolate up in the United Kingdom.

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Read more of my exciting adventures Backpacking in Europe, or view my photos on Flickr.

The Challenges of Entering Tibet From Nepal

A few weeks ago, I was merrily collecting entry and visa requirements for the first few countries I intend to visit on my trip around the world. All was going well until I reached Nepal.

Monastery in Tibet (photo: hbieser, Pixabay). — Monastery in Tibet (photo: hbieser)

Getting into Nepal will be simple, as Americans can get a 60-day visa upon arrival. However, it didn't take long for me to find out that accessing Tibet from the Nepalese side (versus the Chinese side) as an independent traveler may be extremely difficult.

Visiting Tibet is very important to me. A few years ago, after reading the Dalai Lama's autobiography, I started to feel a great sense of sympathy and compassion for the Tibetan people and their culture.

It upsets me to hear, read, and learn about the human rights abuses that are occurring, the need for Tibetans to flee their land over the dangerous Himalaya (into India), and the increasing influence China continues to exert in the region.

The fact that a Tibetan's mention of the Dalai Lama by name can have them thrown in jail is appalling.

During my research, I came across a wealth of information about traveling in Tibet from an Australian. Tony Williams of Victoria, Australia, has built quite a resource for independent travel to Tibet.

Front and center is a recent warning in big red lettering:

Following some disturbances in April 2007, in May 2007 the "rules" for travel to Lhasa and the T.A.R. effectively changed, particularly as they affect independent travel. The situation is volatile and uncertain.

Essentially, "rules" that have been overlooked and effectively in abeyance for years have been enforced again, so that travelers on fully organized tours are the only ones officially allowed to enter the T.A.R.

T.A.R. stands for the Tibetan Autonomous Region. As I began reading through the information Tony had collected, it became clear that I was quickly moving out of my comfort zone and into the reality of a Communist country's paranoia.

A Chinese visa is required for entry into Tibet. The fact that the first rule he lists when applying for a visa is not to mention your travel plans to Tibet (as you will be denied) seems to illustrate the challenges I'll face.

It also seems apparent that a separate Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) is required. When entering Tibet from Nepal, life can be simplified if you are part of a tour group (which takes care of a group visa and TTB permit on your behalf).

I am not opposed to joining a Tibet tour group if it will allow me to travel relatively hassle-free from Nepal to Tibet. However, Tony's information indicates that trouble and fees can ensue for travelers who want to continue to China (vs returning to Nepal) after the tour.

The Tibet forum on The Lonely Planet message board will probably be my best source of up-to-date information. Just yesterday, a traveler posted my concern about changing from a group to an individual visa once in Tibet.

The advice was not to get an individual visa for China from home, as it would be canceled at the Tibetan border (because you'll have a group visa, too). In addition, the responses indicated that converting your visa is not an easy task.

Before I spin myself and my readers in any more circles, I want to reaffirm that I will figure this all out and visit Nepal and Tibet in less than nine months. I hope you'll join me for this wild ride!

5 Tips For Telling Your Parents About a RTW Trip

If you've hatched the idea to take an extended period of time off after school, or quit your job to travel the world, though are nervous to tell your parents or loved ones, than this is the post for you.

1. Pick a Public Place - Your parents will be much more likely to respond in a dignified manner if you're sharing the news in a public setting. I let the news slip out at a delicious dinner with my parents at L'Auberge Chez Francois, a popular French restaurant in Great Falls, VA.

2. Share Your Plans During a Celebration - You are excited about your news. You may have been living with the dream for several years already, however your parents may not have a clue. By choosing a celebratory time, such as during a holiday get-together, you are automatically countering a certain degree of anxiety which will naturally arise. After all, your news may be against the backdrop of love, laughter, wine drinking, and presents. The aforementioned dinner with my parents at Chez Francois was to celebrate my 27th birthday.

3. Test the News on a Supportive Relative or Friend - Unless your parents are life long hippies, they'll likely find the idea of their son or daughter leaving the perceived safety of the homeland for the dangers of the world a bit scary. During my new age Aunt's visit to VA, I mentioned my travel plans over a Greek dinner. Her immediate reaction was positive and supportive. Hearing her encouragement gave me the added confidence to share the plans with my parents.

4. Emphasize the Positive - Parents fundamentally want what is best for their children, and more specifically, for them to be happy (at least that is the ideal). Chances are that if you're passionate about the idea of a backpacking trip around the world, this tip won't require extra effort. Ensure you have a few counterpoints to the typical concerns of cost, safety, and difficulty finding work upon return home.

5. Do It Sooner Rather Than Later - The sooner you share your plans with your parents, the more time they will have to absorb it all before you leave. While not a parent myself, I'm sure they would appreciate the time to let it sink in. Involve them in the planning, and you may find they quickly become your most ardent, proud supporters! This will come in handy when you line up their home as your de-facto residence upon return.

Good luck!

Capital One - My 'Round the World Credit Card

After scouring the BootsnAll Around the World and Vagabonding Travel message board for the ideal credit card, and finding recent affirmation of Capital One on Leave America, I decided to bite the bullet and apply for my first new, personal credit card in about 7 years.

The key motivating factor in picking Capital One was the zero percent fee on foreign currency transactions.

Most cards have at least a 1% fee which covers the cost of Visa money exchange fees, however, Capital One supposedly absorbs it (perhaps as a competitive advantage, which appears to be working!).

I believe the last personal credit card I tried to get was at a Best Buy, so I could put a car mp3 player on it (which I so desired at the time).

I remember being turned down instantaneously at the counter in the store. You know your credit is weak when a retailer turns you down.

Since then, and my decision to position myself to take 1-2 years off to backpack, I've greatly improved my credit score.

When I applied online for my Capital One Visa, my application was approved in seconds, I qualified for the one I wanted (No Hassle Miles Rewards), and received my highest credit limit to date ($20,000).

I had a moment of joy, which was soon replaced with the fear of going back into debt.

I am going to request they reduce my limit by 50%.

Card Benefits:

$0 Fraud Liability for any unauthorized use if your card is lost or stolen
No fees on purchases made outside of the United States
24-Hour Travel & Emergency Assistance
$100,000 Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident Insurance
Additional protection on your purchases with Visa^®'s extended warranty program
Emergency card replacement or cash advance if your card is lost or stolen

As I plan to open an E*Trade money market account (for my ATM access), the credit card will be strictly limited to the occasional airline ticket, and emergency back-up support.

I will pay it off monthly to help mitigate the variable 13.95% APR.

What's in your wallet?

In Dublin's Fair City

Monday, August 17, 1998

I got a bed in the first hostel I went to. I'm really beginning to doubt "Let's Go" when it comes to accommodation warnings during the summer.

I dropped my stuff off and went for a walk around the town.

The city is quite small for a capital; the average building is only four or five stories tall. St. Stephen's Green was really beautiful.

The weather this morning is quite cold. In fact, without my long pants and jacket, I'd be really cold.

I ate breakfast in a Johnny Rocket's diner (which I was surprised to come across).

For lunch/dinner, I went to the Porter House (my first pub in Ireland) and got a cheeseburger and two house pints for $15.

Moderation is hardly a choice for me while drinking English and Irish beers.

They are very filling, and I can't seem to drink them very quickly. This made me reflect on the cheap American beers.

They are so watery; it is no wonder people binge drink. I really drink Dublin and Ireland.

At night, I went to a few pubs, including Fitsimmons, where I stayed for the Trad(itional) Irish music and Set Dancing.

I knew what I would get with the band, but the three female dancers surprised me.

The bottom of their shoes have metal plates (like tap dancing), and it creates a thunderous sound when they stamp down on the small wooden stage.

They took turns doing solos and then would come back into unison. Meanwhile, I was only able to drink one more pint.

By 11:30 PM, I was halfway done with my pint of Breo (White Beer by Guinness) when the music stopped. I felt really guilty leaving the beer.

Like London, Dublin feels quite safe. The cops don't carry guns here either.

About five minutes after I got into bed, a girl came up (to my loft) and said she had just been assigned my bed.

After she went down to inform the guy that I was there, the guy came into my room and turned the lights on, and said I hadn't been put in the computer. I really don't know what he wanted from me.

Also, I did the rest of my laundry today. My sneakers smell so bad now that when I wear clean socks for just a bit, they stink by association.

Tuesday, August 18, 1998

This morning I headed out toward the Guinness Hopstore. The self-guided tour cost $4.50 (w/student discount).

It was a little less flashy than the Heineken tour, and you only got one pint of beer at the end (instead of all you could drink in a time period). They also seemed to have a lot of gift shop business.

After that, I headed toward Trinity College. The inner courtyard felt like an oasis/refuge from the noise and traffic of the city.

I made the stupid mistake of buying tickets to the "Dublin Experience" film and the Book of Kells.

The movie was really corny, and I didn't learn too much. The Book of Kells was thought to be one of the most beautiful manuscripts (and at least 1,000 years old).

Anyway, it seemed ok, but the pages on display didn't seem any more impressive than other manuscripts I've seen. So I went back to the hostel for a rest.

I headed out to get a head start on the night's drinking. I've started to collect coasters from all the bars. Back to Temple Bar (a cultural/hip district in Dublin).

I bought a ticket for the musical pub crawl. It was led by a guy (Anthony) who sang, played the guitar, and the bodhran, and a girl (Nell) who sang (one song) and played the fiddle.

She was cute too. Pierced belly and tongue, with a tattoo on her upper left arm, and short black hair.

She chain-smoked like crazy. There were a lot of people on the crawl. We went to three bars and sang some songs.

I managed to get quite drunk. Drunk enough to buy their CD for ten pounds ($15). For that price, I got it signed!

Afterward, I hung around and talked (and listened) to them for a bit. I asked for recommendations on where to go.

Nell mentioned Clare and Kilkenny. About one place, she talked about swimming pools that formed on the shore during low tide.

There were all different types: naked guys, kids, tourists, etc. I left shortly thereafter, at which point I forgot everything she had said so enthusiastically.

I decided to leave for Kilkenny in the morning.

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Read more of my exciting adventures Backpacking in Europe, or view my photos on Flickr.

Meet the Needles

I picked up my second Hepatitis B shot ($80) and an adult Polio booster ($50) during a lunch break this week. A $15 office fee was tacked on to the cost of the shots, which brought the total to $145. Luckily, my insurance will cover the Hep series, and office visit. Unfortunately though, I'm running into an issue with getting a reimbursement in a timely fashion. As it turns out, I might have to ask my mom to help me account for my reimbursements one I've left (yes, I'm worried it'll take several months for the issue to get resolved).

If I could do it again, I would've anticipated a longer reimbursement time frame, and started getting the shots earlier in the year. All the immunizations I'm getting are good for several years, so it would've been fine to get them sooner rather than later.

Next month, I intend to get my Yellow Fever ($98) shot, followed by the third and final Hep-B shot in October (at least 4 months after the first shot). I will then be fully immunized against *some* of what's out there.

I've also decided on a Malaria drug, however I am going to save that topic for another day!

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Additional Resources: SmarTravel Profiles on 220 countries. USA Center for Disease Control - Traveler's Health section. Immunization Action Coalition - Vaccination Information for Healthcare Professionals.

The Costa Rica Connection

Two nights ago I met up with my friend Stefan for some deep dish pizza and travel stories. We had only hung out once prior, in Santa Elena, Costa Rica about two years ago. Santa Elena is the little town outside the popular Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. No, the guy in the photo above is not Stefan. I just decided to snap that photo of some random backpackers because it was so typical of our lives on the road - acoustic guitar, beer, hammock, and a pollo (chicken) joint across the street from the hostel.

So it was a little over two years ago that we hung out in the cloud forest, toured a cheese factory after an unsuccessful attempt to find a giant waterfall, and dined at that pollo place. Since then, we managed to e-mail each other the occasional update on our respective lives. Earlier this year, he sent me some of his experiences from India, which I promptly posted. And after his internship in Germany wrapped up, he bought a car in Philly, and swung through the Washington, DC area on his way back home to Phoenix, AZ.

Unfortunately, this experience was the exception, not the rule. Despite the best of intentions, I've found it rare that I'm able to connect with the guys and gals with whom I share some really great experiences abroad.

For example, in Montezuma, Costa Rica, I stood atop a 30-foot waterfall, asking that a guy snap a photo of me as I jumped off. He took the pic, and I wrote my e-mail address on a piece of paper the size of my pinkie. Needless to say, I never saw that photo. In Belize last year, I spent several days with a group of friends from Richmond, VA (90 miles from me). We swam, drank, snorkeled, ate, and fished together. It was a blast. I gave one of the guys my contact info, and never heard from them again. Earlier on that trip, I hung out with a couple of guys from the British army during their R&R. Before their sad departure back home, Darren gave me his e-mail address. When I got home, I tried e-mailing him, only to have the messages bounce back.

Does anyone else find this happens to them?

______________

PS - Stefan initially planned to camp during his cross-country drive to Phoenix, however he has found the CouchSurfing options so numerous, that he's taking that approach instead. In Alexandria, VA, he was staying with a doctor and his family (in the nice part of town). When I met up with him, he was using a mountain bike they had lent him for the day!

Creating the Ultimate MP3 Playlist

If I've been a little quiet lately, it's the fact that I continue to be consumed with the sheer amount of work involved in updating my music library, categorizing everything, and then selecting the 8 gigs worth of songs to put on my new Creative Zen V Plus MP3 Player. I feel like my right arm is about to fall off. I'm more than halfway there though, with 907 hand-selected songs already chosen to be part of the soundtrack to my trip of a lifetime!

Among the lucky artists set to accompany me....

AFI
Allen Ginsberg (reading "Howl")
Ben Harper
Bob Dylan
Bob Marley
CKY
Dinosaur Jr
Frank Sinatra
Green Day
Guns 'n Roses
Iron Maiden
Jay-Z
New Found Glory
Orbital
Paul Oakenfold
Sublime
The Pogues
Ween
....and many, many more

For those in the market for a new MP3 player, I am extremely satisfied with the Zen Plus. I felt a little blind buying it, as they don't really let you get your hands on them in the retail stores. It's super light weight, easy to operate, and fun to use.

The screen is a seemingly small 1.5 inches, however video plays pretty well on it. To (ahem) test it out, I transferred my TV interview. The odd part is that while the file was 30 megs, the compression increased the file size by almost 3x (to about 80 megs). Perhaps someone can help explain that to me? Otherwise, the FM tuner works well, it has line in recording (to get tracks direct from CD's), photo storage, on the fly playlists, and the ability to store data files (documents).

The only downside I can see is that it recharges based on a USB connection. Luckily, I have my eye on a power converter which includes a USB interface. Still, I could easily use up the whole 15-hour battery life on my first flight to New Zealand.

The Long Journey To Dublin, Ireland

Sunday, August 16, 1998

This morning I faced a day without theater. I dropped my bags at the bus station, and went up to Piccadilly. Once there, I went to the Pepsi Trocadero. Though I had stopped in a few nights ago, it was less crowded now. I went to see "Everest" in the IMAX Theater for $10. It wasn't worth it. There were some cool scenes, one or two moments of rumble and bass, but overall, it was a disappointment. I also played "Top Skater" and the "Lost World" in the arcade (for a $1.50 per game). The whole complex is a giant marketing tool for Pepsi, with about fifteen vending machines and the Spice Girls Next Generation X commercial song playing every five minutes. It is another cool and beautiful day in London. It should be even cooler in Ireland. I don't really think there are any touristy things I want to do for the rest of the trip. For that reason, I'm content with just drinking. I figured out that I went $150 over budget for my six days in England. However, that does include $80 in round trip train/bus/ferry tickets.

Whoops! It seems I made an expensive mistake by not doing my travel homework. It seems Eurorail pass holders get to use a day for the ferry ride to Ireland, plus use of the trains (in Ireland). Oh well, live and learn (I say this while drinking dome really good beer). I've had so many different types of beer and cider that I can't even bother to keep track. There have been the good and bad of each type of drink. I think it is cool that the cops don't carry guns. GUNS SUCK! It is definitely part of America's downfall/ignorance. I can't imagine how much safer life would be if they were not as common. So much less death?!

I've really been enjoying watching the people and life of London (especially from a pub window). I also think that it is funny that I'm leaving London without any pictures (by choice, no less). I'm definitely disappointed that I didn't meet any English girls; they appear to be quite cute. I've got some postcards to mail. It has been awhile but oh well. I've been thinking about myself more than others lately. Puff Daddy, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet are going to Dave, Courtland, and Eric respectively. Oh, I forgot to mention that I saw some skaters outside the Royal National Theater. What seemed so cool was the fact that nobody had kicked them off the property. I'm really pretty tired right now, and I think I'll be able to get some good sleep on the trip to Dublin. Before I leave London, I'm going to go to an Internet cafe. I'd like to check my email, but more especially, I'd like to find out more about the festival in Belgium. Have I mentioned how much I like London yet? Like I expected, England (the Clash, Beatles, Sex Pistols) is pretty cool! And the weird thing is I have yet to receive a warm, non-carbonated beer. Maybe I'm just in the touristy area or just not ordering authentic English beer. Another nice thing about London (and Europe in general) is not getting carded for a drink. Actually, it is really pleasant. I'm starting to miss skateboarding and driving (my car).

After hitting the Internet, I decided that the concert wasn't worth the trouble since it wasn't in a major city. Instead, I'll spend the extra time in Ireland! I was kind of disappointed to find that nobody had emailed me. As I rode out of London on the bus, I realized how big the city was, and how little I had seen. I did decide that Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus were the rocking part of town. This bus has turbo charged, overhead air vents. Really, when I thought of "ferry," I pictured basic seating on an old iron boat (or at least something like the vaporettos). Right now, I'm aboard a luxury Irish Ferry sipping a pint of Kilkenny on the Sky view deck, looking forward to watching the sun rise over the Irish Sea in a few hours. I also can't believe Dave (or Sam) would choose to leave such awesome opportunities behind? It is slightly chilly though. I feel like I'm on the Titanic. This is the biggest and nicest boat I've ever been on (which is hard for me to believe). I'm definitely going to take a luxury cruise somewhere, someday. I wish I could meet a cute Irish girl on this journey.

Ok, I'm seasick. I thought you wouldn't be able to feel the boat moving, but you can! When I walk, I sway. Needless to say, I won't be drinking any more beer. I'm already regretting the one I had bought earlier, while we were at dock. Let me say, when I first got up, I could barely tell whether it was my drunkenness or the boat swaying. I guess I should be happy it isn't worse? Well, I'm trying to calm down by eating and drinking some water. Unlike 50-75% of the people on board, I doubt I can sleep. I just saw some woman barf into the garbage after paying for her meal. After trying to down some food in the restaurant, I took a nap for about an hour on the bench at my table. When I woke up, the sun had risen, and people were clamoring around, eating breakfast. The swaying had practically stopped, and I realized how much bumpier it had been before.

_____________________

Read more of my exciting adventures Backpacking in Europe, or view my photos on Flickr.

Ripping CD's For a Creative Zen V Plus 8GB Portable Media Player

In addition to getting my car fixed and looking up Visa info this past weekend, I also started to go OCD on ripping all of my CD's to mp3's.

Talk about a thankless task! No wonder I had put it off for years.

Actually, the most recent version of Windows Media Player (8, I think) is making quick work of the process.

It's just that I have so many CD's.

Now that I'm working on it though, I know I have to get through them all, otherwise, it'll take me three more years to motivate myself again.

On Sunday, after spending hours and hours going through music I once listened to religiously, though it has collected dust more recently, I finally decided on an mp3 player for my trip around the world.

And the winner is the Creative Zen V Plus 8GB Portable Media Player.

Pros

extremely small, non-flashy, and discrete
made of scratch-resistant, lightweight plastic
8 glorious gigs of memory
low cost - only $144 shipped (through Buy.com w/$10 Google discount)
FM tuner
built-in battery (15hrs per charge) means less money spent on disposable batteries which is good for my wallet and the environment

Cons

Creative players are no longer featuring FM recording (due to issues with recording industry)
users have indicated the joystick control in the center can break off, and that player freezes often
small 1.5-inch screen may cause me to go blind and/or lose my mind while navigating stored music
built-in battery means I could find myself without tunes unexpectedly (I'm sure I'd survive)
there's more I'll soon find out, because neither Circuit City, nor Best Buy, had a working version (those players must get manhandled in the stores, and they're too cheap to keep the display ones in working order; quite a shame for customers)

As I continue to slide CD's in and out of my computer drive, I'm beginning to wonder how I'll decide what music to bring.

I'd guesstimate that I have about 24 gigs in total.

I know there are people out there with far more.

And I'd have more too had I not sold so many of my CD's when I was a young lad trying to scrounge up extra cash from time to time.

Visas for New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and Thailand

Over the weekend, I found myself getting into the nitty-gritty travel details tied to entrance requirements for the first few countries on my itinerary.

Since the only information I had researched previously on this topic came from the first edition of Rough Guide's First-Time Around the World, I quickly found entrance requirements and fees had changed in most places.

New Zealand

New Zealand doesn't require a Visa for Americans, however from their government website, they appear strict about having proof of onward travel (such as a paid airline ticket, not just proof of funds like a bank statement).

As a result, my first plane ticket will be from Washington, DC to Australia, via New Zealand.

Australia

When I hit up Australia's Visa and Immigration site, I quickly found that you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority online, which is like an electronic Visa.

There is no charge for the ETA/Visa, however, it does require a $20 processing fee.

The ETA lets you stay for up to three months, within a 12 month period of the date it is granted. It looked so easy, I just took care of it in a matter of minutes.

Basically, if you are a passport-holder from an approved country (like the USA), you fill out the online form with your passport info, give them a credit card, and they (in my case) instantly approve you and keep your data on record for future access by travel agencies and/or immigration/customs agents.

Indonesia (Bali)

Knocking of Indonesia was as easy as scrolling through the dedicated BootsnAll Bali forum.

As it turns out, Americans can get a 30-day Visa on arrival (VOA). I saw conflicting information regarding cost, however, I believe $25 is about right.

Thailand

Being that I was on a roll, I headed over to the Asia forum on BootsnAll and quickly found that Americans can get a free Visa on arrival, good for up to 30 days.

A Tourist Visa can be acquired for $25; good for up to 60 days.

Feeling good, I started to delve into the requirements of Nepal, Tibet (which I treat as an independent country, though China claims it as her own), and China.

I quickly found how complicated and convoluted the information becomes once you start dealing with a politically delicate area like Tibet.

I will save what I found, and the implications, for a future post.

My VW and The Wheel Bearings of Doom

A few weeks ago, I noticed a humming noise from my car. I had forgotten about it until my friend Jason heard it on our way to see the Transformers movie last Sunday.

Being good with cars, and VW's in particular, he suggested it could be my wheel bearings, which can cost a few hundred bucks to fix (oh, and that's per bearing, of which you have four).

I scheduled a 7 AM Saturday appointment at my local dealership the next day. As it turned out, my rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced, which cost $905.

Coughing up that much money on a car I plan to sell in four months was unpleasant. And it came on the heels of $600 in unexpected dental costs a few days earlier. While the repairs occurred, I took a free shuttle to the local metro and went home.

I worked out that if I limit myself to one vacation day per month in the future, I can resign with three weeks of vacation (versus my initial goal of two). This should allow me to make up most of my unforeseen expenses this past week.

For the record, I stand by my decision to buy a used car in April 2005; however, as you can see below, car ownership is costly:

$200 - winter 2005 - broken plastic along windshield lets water drain down on driver side; carpet must be removed to clean out the ice that formed.
$550 - Oct 2006 - replaced full (fancy performance) set of tires due to dry rot and cracking after only 10,000 to 12,000 miles.
$150 - March 2007 - replaced one cracked rim (discovered when tires were replaced).
$275 - July 2007 - replaced windshield due to rogue rock on a highway.
$905 - July 2007 - replaced rear wheel bearings.
$2,080 in total repairs over 17,000 miles/two years and three months.

I also decided it was prudent to skip the DC United game I was going to see last night. I watched it on TV instead. Since the only available seats for the next MLS home game (Aug 9, w/ David Beckham) were costly and crappy, I decided to skip it. Hopefully, I can get back to a live game by Aug 22.

Strangely, I'm still not ready to cancel HBO! I must be going for the world record in "most viewings of You, Me and Dupree."

London: The Theater, Pubs, and Clubs

Thursday, August 13, 1998

I was supposed to get my laundry back today, but it got misplaced or for some reason it couldn't be found. This was a little frustrating. But, I went off anyway. I decided that while in London, I would do nothing but hang out and entertain myself. This was to be accomplished by sitting around Leicester Square and reading the "Naked Lunch." The book starts out well enough, but I'm quickly getting lost. There seems to be no order or direction to the plot.

I bought a (restricted view) ticket for "Chicago" at $15 for tonight. I finally got the nerve to go into a pub on my own. I picked the Porcupine since it looked relaxed. I was going to get dinner too, but the restaurant was still locked after 6 PM (when it said it would be open). I got a few pints and headed off to the show. My seat was at the far left of the (dress) second balcony. It wasn't that bad, actually, I just had to lean over the edge a bit. The show was kind of short, and I didn't like as many songs as I had thought (I saw a version put on at my college). Afterwards, I milled around Leicester before biting another bullet, and went into a Disco-tec.

The Equinox looked like the biggest tourist trap in London. It was situated in the center of the square. But the cover was cheap with a student ID, so I went in. The bouncers just seemed to be there for crowd control, and looks. I bought two beers at $4.50 each. I paid this for a small ass (33cl?) bottle of Molson and Foster's Ice. It was enough to boost me onto the floor, though. The bass was loud, and the dance floor large, and the green lasers were in crazy effect. I danced for about 1 ½ hours. The music was all over the place from Wyclef and Will Smith to weird stuff I didn't know. I'm not really up on my house/jungle/drum n bass lingo. There were some kids who created circles to strut their stuff. One guy did some breakin'. Though he was better than I'll ever be, he seemed to be showing off (is that the point?).

The way to approach a dancing girl seems to be the blind side, rear end approach. This is a hit and miss kind of thing. Either way, it takes more guts that I have in my abdomen (at the moment). However, by the end of the night, I was dancing around a really hot (and happy) blonde. I didn't give her much eye contact so I really didn't know if she was paying attention to me at all. Oh well, at least she was more open than a lot of the other girls. A lot of the kids there seemed to be Middle Eastern and Asian. I walked home (about 45 minutes) at 3 AM. I definitely feel safe here.

Friday, August 14, 1998

This morning I received my long lost laundry. I also found out that the $500 cash limit on my MasterCard is not about a one time withdrawal, but it's cumulative. Therefore, I transferred $1,000 from my savings to checking account, so I could access cash at the ATMs. My budget is officially blown since I crossed over to Britain. Between travel costs and the entertainment I'm taking in (and the expensive hostel I'm staying in), I'm overblown. In order to reduce the damage, I'm going to skip Scotland. That will cut out two train tickets, and give me more time in Ireland.

Today I found out that "Phantom of the Opera" is sold out for tonight and both tomorrow's shows. I went to a couple of pubs (which in turn made it easier to go to Burger King for the second day in a row), and then returned to wait in the standby line. A guy came out and said the only seats available are normally $55. I left after considering the two hour plus wait and the expense. I went and got a ticket for "Grease." The seat was upper circle (top level). It wasn't bad for $19. I could see all the stage well, and I could easily identify all the characters, and I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing a show that I don't know the plot of. I also got a ticket for tomorrow's showing of "Les Miserables." Again, it is a restricted view seat, but for only $16.

After, "Grease" I wandered around and thought about going to a club. Actually, I tried to get into the Limelight, but the bouncers stopped me due to my trainers (sneakers). After that, I thought about how I could stay out and dance and drink all night if I could just find one person to talk to. I seemed to meet so many more people in Italy, where there was none of this crazy stuff to do. Sigh.

One of the weird things about the way the English speak is their repetitiveness. For example, if you are getting off the Underground: "please watch your step, mind your step, mind the gap" etc.! And instead of "Exit" it is "Way Out." Everything seems to be supplemented with an extra thank you, caution, or apology. Sometimes, it seems very drawn out.

Apparently the hostel I stayed in, the Albert, was in a ritzy section of town (Queen's Gate). Right next door was a restaurant (bistro) that attracted wealthy customers, like tonight, the owner of a black Lamborghini Diablo.

Read more of my exciting adventures Backpacking in Europe, or view my photos on Flickr.

The Inspiring Lyrics of Metallica's Road Anthem

I listened to Metallica A LOT in my teens, and the following catchy lyrics still echo in my mind from time to time:

Rover wanderer
Nomad vagabond
Call me what you will

I just looked up the lyrics, and realized how suitable the song is to all travelers on the road (not just rock stars). I'm definitely putting this song on my mp3 player before departure!

Wherever I May Roam

(...And the road becomes my bride)
...And the road becomes my bride
I have stripped of all but pride
So in her I do confide
And she keeps me satisfied
Gives me all I need

...And with dust in throat I crave
Only knowledge will I save
To the game you stay a slave
Rover wanderer
Nomad vagabond
Call me what you will

But I'll take my time anywhere
Free to speak my mind anywhere
And I'll redefine anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is homeYeah!!

...And the earth becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown
Under wanderering stars I've grown
By myself but not alone
I ask no one

...And my ties are severed clean
The less I have the more I gain
Off the beaten path I reign
Rover wanderer
Nomad vagabond
Call me what you will... yeah you will

But I'll take my time anywhere
Free to speak my mind anywhere
And I'll never mind anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home.. yeah! yeah!!

Carved upon my stone
My body lie, but still I roam yeah yeah!!

A Hovercraft, The Cliffs of Dover, and "Rent"

Tuesday, August 11, 1998

I woke up and showered. I'm relegated to my long sleeve shirt until I do laundry (at a hostel in London, hopefully). I'm on the TGV to Calais, and should be there in less than two hours. I'm looking forward to the hovercraft ride. I'll just put on my headphones and rock out to the breeze, and sight of the white Cliffs of Dover. I hope I can stay at the hostel there (Dover) for a night. Otherwise, I'll have to bum rush London! Though the rest of my trip might be more expensive, everyone will speak English, so I won't have to worry about weak attempts at foreign communication. I plan on buying one souvenir, and that will be in Ireland.

When I got to the shuttle pick-up for the Hover port, no one was there, everyone was apparently taking the ferries (slower and cheaper). I like the fact that the departure information calls the trip a "flight." From the noise, I can tell I just missed the docking/entrance of the hovercraft. I heard the loud noise, but it took me a minute to realize it might be cool to watch this thing come out of the sea and onto land. I boarded, and we were off. My hopes of seeing the white cliffs were blurred by the salty (grimy) sea water that soiled the windows. Anyway, take off was cool, with the inflation and all. The trip was really smooth, and we were cruising at 50 miles per hour. 35 minutes later, we had docked in Dover. Right away, I saw the castle and cliffs.

I got to the hostel and dropped my things off. I went to Dover castle for the afternoon. The weather was nice and cool, the views were great. There was even a beach, which made me think of Eric (he always wanted to go to the beach). The tour of the underground (WWII) caves and hospitals was a bit campy, with lots of laser tripped audio clips, but everyone seemed to realize this and enjoy it. So far, the English seem to be very friendly. And, they bear more resemblance to Americans (or the other way around) than any other European country I've been to. This must be due to their diet of meat and mayonnaise. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Dover has made me really excited for the end third of my trip. Oh yeah, I finished "On the Road" and it had kind of a sad ending.

Wednesday, August 12, 1998

I hopped on a 9 AM train to London since my dorm mates had managed to wake me up early. The trip was kind of short. As we entered London, some kids threw two rocks at the train. One of them flew through an open window, and the other hit a window, shattering it. Nobody was hurt, and everybody seemed to take it in stride. Before we got off the train, one lady released her frustration orally for a bit. I got on the Underground quickly, and was off to my reserved hostel room. The entrance was just like the description in "Let's Go," yet I'm kind of pissed off that I haven't been staying in hostels where you can buy beer and/or there is a more sociable common room. Anyway, I took a shit in the bathroom, and the toilet was clogged/broken. Then I left.

I went to Leicester Square, where I bought a half priced ticket for Buddy (Holly) at $22. Then, I noticed there was a matinee showing of "Rent" today. I dashed over to the theater and got a ticket right before it started ($12). When the characters began to come on, I immediately began to like the show. The music was loud; it was raw, long, and great. Plus, it was sad, and the end offered hope! I like Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. This city is great! It reminds me of New York City, except there are no skyscrapers. Plus, the cops don't even carry guns, so it is safe to assume the criminals don't have them either. I feel quite safe here. Maybe it is because no matter how lost I get, I still speak the language. I bought two books, "Naked Lunch" by Burroughs and a collection of Edgar Allen Poe's stories.

My seat for "Buddy" was up on the dress circle (first balcony), about five to ten rows back. The view was good, but it made me appreciate my position for "Rent" even more (stall - ground floor, 8-10 rows back, and 5 right from the center aisle). Both theaters were small. I was especially amazed at the choreography developed for the "Rent" set. "Buddy" used mostly moving platforms. It was like watching the movie and having a live cover band do the songs. Well, it was entertaining.

I hung out in Piccadilly Circus afterwards. There, I saw some guy abusing this girl - grabbing her, slapping her , running after her. Though everyone was watching (hundreds of people), the guy didn't seem to notice. He looked kind of respectable in a suit. Eventually, they crossed the road to the punk/youth side. She was yelling by now, and once dragged her fingernails down his face (in an attempt to scratch his eyes I assume). A bunch of fire tossing/eating mohawk'ed street performers held the guy up, and allowed the girl time to escape. It was kind of sad. That guy was a dick.

I Will Miss The Little Things

Every day it's a-gettin' closer, Goin' faster than a roller coaster -- Buddy Holly

While Buddy sang those lyrics about love, I hum them as the countdown to my departure continues.

Perhaps it's the 5-day weekend I just enjoyed, which resulted in a 2-day work week, that has me skipping down the bunny trail.

It feels great to wake up each day and recognize I'm that much closer to leaving. Everything seems to be going according to plan (knock on wood).

At the same time, I'm increasingly conscious of the little things I'll miss, and I'm trying to enjoy them a little more as a result:

Asking for advice from my parents
Cooking the occasional fancy dinner (such as Smoked Duck Breasts w/Orange Ancho Chile Sauce)
My heavenly bed, sheets, and pillows (I know all too well what awaits me in the hostels)
Driving my turbo VW
Watching the gradual changing of the seasons
Being around when my parents sell their house and leave Virginia (next year)
Hanging out with my friends
Taking 3 hours to write a single blog post
New season of Lost
Knowing the location of everything at my regular grocery store
Cheering for my home team, DC United (now leading the Eastern Division of MLS!)

Check Out My First TV Interview!

During the Summer of 2006, I was developing my rough 'round the world itinerary and budget using Microsoft Excel.

I posted my spreadsheet on the BootsnAll message boards to get some feedback.

Soon after, I was contacted by Jessie, one of the website moderators. She indicated Wendy Rieger of the NBC News affiliate in Washington, DC was interested in speaking with me about a story she was putting together.

I contacted her after some initial reservations about blowing my cover at work, and a few weeks later, she met me at my apartment with a cameraman to do the interview.

The recorded Q&A lasted about 10 minutes, however true to her word, she only used about 15-30 seconds of it!

The interview aired in early October 2006, and a few of my current and former coworkers saw it (and not-so-subtly) and asked me about it in the office.

I acknowledged it, though didn't put a time frame around when I planned to leave.

I am appropriately labeled as "Future Traveler" in the video. Enjoy!

Drafting My Will, Financial Power of Attorney, and More

The first time I recall my parents mentioning their Will was before a trip to Alaska to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

My Dad had written up a list of instructions for what to do if their plane were to go down. I remember trying to play it off and not think about the possibility. Luckily, the trip went like clockwork, though they've reminded me of the list ever since.

Last Will and Testament (photo: Melinda Gimpel)

I am now in uncharted territory, having very little debt and a lot of savings. As a result, and in the event narco-terrorists or a gonzo sting ray knocks me off, I decided it would be prudent to draft a Will before leaving the country.

In addition, I wanted to give my Mom Financial Power of Attorney so she could act on my behalf (such as being able to deposit money into my accounts, cash checks, help me with my taxes, etc.).

Rounding out the legal trifecta would be an Advance Medical Directive in case I end up in a vegetative state someday.

Initially, I expected to have to hire a lawyer to help me draft all of these legal documents. However, my Dad suggested I could find standard legal documents online.

A few Google searches led me to discover Quicken Willmaker Plus, which would allow me to create all the documents independently for less than $50. I bought the software and spent this past Sunday afternoon filling out the questionnaires for each document.

The software leads me through each step in easy-to-understand yet detailed language. Since I do not have a printer, I downloaded some freeware to "print" the documents into PDF files.

It took a little extra time, as I had to play with the margins to ensure the page breaks were in the right place (as the documents can be rendered null and void if things don't line up correctly).

I'd estimate it took a few hours. I have a small family, and being single, without children or real estate, I could skip many questions.

My parents are reviewing the documents, as I named them my agents and executors. If they sign off, I need to round up witnesses and a notary to make it all official.

Surprisingly, I hit this drab task head-on while I've managed to put off updating my resume for five years! Go figure.

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo

When author Beth Whitman generously offered to send me a copy of her new book, Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, it took me a few days to respond.

After all, a guide geared toward women with "lipstick" in the title is the last book I would naturally pull from the shelves of my local Barnes and Noble.

Being the crazy risk-taker that I am, I ultimately accepted, and it arrived in the mail a week later.

An overwhelming sense of curiosity leads me to open the book the same day I received it (a rarity for me).

I quickly realized all of my (too embarrassing to mention) stereotypes about a guide for women travelers were unfounded.

Beth weaves lessons learned from her own extensive travel experience with anecdotes from other women travelers of all ages.

The result is a very inspiring read, regardless of one's gender.

Chapters cover everything from the reasons a person should travel solo (with the first reason being my personal favorite, "freedom") to handling the reverse culture shock of coming home after a trip (hint: find a friend willing to listen to your travel tales).

Beth's writing style, combined with the layout of the text, allow for even a slow reader like myself to make quick work of the 250 pages.

Published in March 2007, the guide is full of more than 150 websites covering almost all possible travel topics.

Web referrals range from the well known, such as Flickr (photo storage), to the moderately known Globalfreeloaders (social network for travelers), to the downright strange, Onderwear (disposable underwear).

Judging from the amount of ink I spent on the pages of Wanderlust and Lipstick, I can confidently say there are valuable tips for seasoned travelers, as well as newbies. Among my favorites, are the following:

Write down the name, address, and phone number of your accommodation in case you get lost, or a taxi driver cannot understand you.
Eat your big meal at lunch, when you're more comfortable eating alone (also cheaper, and allows more time in the day to burn calories).
Use a messenger bag instead of a regular backpack during the day to appear less attractive to thieves.
Take travel warnings with a grain of salt. Bali was listed by the US as unsafe after the 2002 bombings, yet the US government encouraged to travel to New York City after 9/11.

If you are looking for a great inspirational read with practical tips, I recommend picking up a copy of Wanderlust and Lipstick before your next trip.

_______

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo by Beth Whitman is available through Amazon.com for $12.21. Beth also publishes a companion web site, Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Q2 Savings Update For My Trip Around the World

Yesterday was the last day of the second financial quarter of 2007.

More importantly, it was another benchmark date in evaluating my progress toward saving for my upcoming world travels!

According to my savings plan, I was $1,112 short of where I wanted to be as of December 31, 2006.

Six months later, I am excited to be ahead by $1,790.

While I fell far short of my goal for money in the ING Direct high-interest savings account, it was the direct result of a change in strategy.

Early in 2007, I decided to siphon more of my paycheck into purchasing my employer's stock (at a 15% discount).

I've been putting 12% of my post-tax, biweekly pay into that plan, which keeps it safe from my impetuous spending habits.

As a result, I saw a $2,902 net gain, despite assuming the cost of an unforeseen dental implant.

It would've been more, had my employer's stock price not dropped $5/share in the past month.

As a result of some investor confidence issues, the share price has become more volatile, and I do not see that changing in the latter half of the year.

I am trying to decide whether I should cash out my shares now, and be happy with the concrete 15% return (and accept the higher capital gains tax), or let it ride (and potentially pay less in taxes, and earn a higher return, though risk a lower one all the same).

I am leaning toward cashing out so I can put the money in my ING account and start earning interest, which would negate my expected tax liability.

I would also worry a lot less in the coming months.

The Louvre, Chartres, and a Royal With Cheese

Sunday, August 9, 1998

I woke up this morning with a need to get myself out of Paris. Unfortunately, my best option was the budget travel offices which were conveniently closed on Sundays. This means I'll have to stay another night. Then, I'm hoping to take the train to Calais, France and the ferry to Dover, England. Those white Cliffs of Dover better be great! Right before I woke up this morning, I dreamed I was pissing. I woke up to find I had relieved myself in bed. I had wet my underwear, sleep sack, and even the mattress a little. Thank God I wasn't wearing my shorts, they smell bad enough as it is.

I went to the Louvre today. I felt like a real insider when I entered through the metro entrance. It was only about a ten minute air-conditioned wait. Once inside, I was overwhelmed with the size of the museum. I decided to only see the paintings. By the end, there were only fifteen to twenty paintings that I thought were worth the trip. They were by Delacroix, Gericault, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer, and a few others. The "Mona Lisa" was encased in a bullet proof glass case. I decided to move in for a closer look, and was appalled at the people. They were just taking pictures, and videos, without even spending a second to look at the painting. I can't even imagine how poorly the pictures would come out anyway (with the reflection of the glass and flashes). Ironically, right outside that room were four more da Vinci's being paid practically no attention (and there are only 17 in the world). Overall, I enjoyed the Uffizzi and the Museo d'Orsay more.

Sam and Dave should be flying home right now. Apparently all the Parisians are on vacation right now. The beggars here all seem to be women in robes with babies. It seems awful for the children. They are being used so badly. I went to Notre Dame around 3 PM, but services were still going on so I couldn't really walk around, plus it was really crowded. The whole front facade was under scaffolding too. I climbed the stairs of the Eiffel Tower only to find out the elevator to the summit was having technical difficulties. I watched the Parisian sunset from the second level. Now I'm down on the grass (park), writing. I kind of wish I had met someone for a picnic. The view of the Tower is picture perfect right now. I wish I didn't have to stay another night. Oh well, I'm going to leave Tuesday, no matter what.

Monday, August 10, 1998

Today I made it downstairs for breakfast at about 9 AM. I was really only interested in the hot chocolate, but they had some type of cornbread that was really good too. After drinking two cups of hot chocolate, I started to feel the weird after effect. I'll probably just have one tomorrow. So I set out to try and find a budget travel office to buy a hovercraft ticket from. I spent 1 ½ hours walking all over. Then, I went to a pay phone and bought the ticket over the phone (which I could have done from the hostel). So I'm definitely learning my lessons the hard way.

Now I'm on a train to Chartres. Only a few windows are open, and I'm not near them. It is bloody hot! And, I'm really starting to stink between the heat and my dirty clothes. Chartres Cathedral was so dark and cool, it felt air-conditioned. The only source of light was the numerous stained glass windows. I took the tour with Malcolm Miller (scholar, author). I probably could have tagged around without paying, but I'm too honest. Today is supposed to be the hottest day in the past hundred years for this region of France, 106 degrees Fahrenheit. I know its hot (but I can't tell if it is to that degree). I got my hovercraft ticket, but the pressure is on to find out when a train leaves for Calais (the departure point).

I got the ticket to Calais quite easily, then I was feeling happy. I went to the McDonald's across the street and got my McRoyal with cheese. I felt like a jolly American again. I also felt like I was in a "Pulp Fiction" dialog. Either way, I didn't feel witty. I went down to the bathroom, and realized (at the urinal) that I was standing in a pool of piss. I moved my business to the toilet, and got out of there. Back to the hostel. My new roommates were all American girls except for one French guy. The Texan girl mentioned her boyfriend before I even realized I liked her. Well, I enjoyed talking to her. Four beers later, I was asleep.

Gadget Talk - $20 MP3 Player and Kingston TravelLite SD Reader

On March 11, 2007, I asked the gadget gurus of the BootsnAll message boards for some feedback on how much "cool" gear is too much for long term travel.

One of the suggestions I got back was the $20 Empress MP3 player.

Basically, you store your MP3's on an SD flash memory card, and the player reads the music off of it. T

he appeal is the low investment, and lack of attention it would draw from would-be thieves.

The downside is you wouldn't be able to organize music in folders or have some of the advanced functionality other players offer.

I'm leaning toward a slightly fancier, 4 gig player, however, it's nice to know you have options.

Another suggestion was to get a card reader which basically allows you to forego the USB cable which comes with your digital camera.

I just bought a Kingston TravelLite SD/MMC Reader (with 2 gb SD card) from Amazon.com for $24.99 (plus shipping).

For some reason, I thought a 2 gig flash memory card would be three times more expensive. Just goes to show how little attention I've been paying to tech stuff lately.

The reader and memory arrived in the mail today. It's definetly light, as the name implies.

Now I know why it was so inexpensive ($10 by itself), it's just a piece of cheap plastic that connects the memory to a USB plug.

I'm fairly certain I could chuck it across the room and not be too concerned with it breaking.

Picking a Trek: Annapurna Circuit v. Everest Base Camp

If I recall correctly, the last time I hiked for more than a few hours in a day was when I was 13. I had signed up for a two-day (one-night), 15-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail through the sleep-away camp in New Jersey, where I had spent a handful of Summers.

Mount Everest (photo: lutz6078 from Pixabay). — Mount Everest (photo: lutz6078 from Pixabay)

Fast forward 15 years, and I'm researching three-week treks through the Himalayas. I'm asking a lot of questions. Trekking companies in Nepal are a dime a dozen. Luckily, I learned about Karnali Excursions during the Adventure Expo I attended earlier this year.

I'm going to step out on a limb and suggest if a trekking company from Nepal can represent itself at a table for a weekend in Washington, DC, they must be doing something right (from a money/success standpoint, not necessarily that there are qualifications to be a part of the event).

After reading the informative Trekking in Nepal book and reviewing the treks on Karnali's website, I began to correspond with them via e-mail.

I obtained trek prices in Nepal's two most popular regions: the Annapurna Circuit ($1,349) and Everest Base Camp ($1,699).

Both cover 25-26 days in total, entailing 20 days of "moderate to strenuous" trekking with a guide and porter. The prices include transport to and from Kathmandu airport, accommodations, meals, and a tour of local sites when I first arrive.

The Annapurna Circuit is Nepal's most popular trek. As a result, it would have more accouterments (and by that, I'm talking filtered water at teahouses to save you some effort, not even porcelain toilets), be a little safer, and be more populated with other trekkers.

The Mt. Everest region is the second most popular area for trekking. It is more rugged, challenging, and less populated. Both would get me up to about 15,000 feet in elevation.

Given my desire to stick to a budget and lack of trekking and high-altitude experience, I intend to book a trek around the Annapurna Circuit. Still, the idea of seeing Mt. Everest in person (albeit from very far away) sits idly in the back of my mind, taunting me. *Snap out of it, Dave*

So the Karnali guys have helped put many of my concerns about fitness (or lack thereof) and altitude sickness to relative rest. For example, when I asked whether they carried a Gamow Bag, the response was that it was only for higher-altitude treks like those in Tibet. However, they would pack one at my request.

I e-mailed one of their references, Mary, who had spent several years in Nepal with Habitat for Humanity. During her time there, she arranged dozens of treks through Karnali and gave a resoundingly positive endorsement.

I still intend to check around with other companies to see what is out there. However, Karnali has set the bar high so far.

A Return To Venice

Sunday, August 2, 1998

I woke up this morning with the realization that me and my New Zealand girl would part.

I'm on a five-hour train to Venice filled with reserve seats; therefore, I'm on a small chair in the aisle for the first time.

I'm slightly worried about getting a room at a hostel in Venice.

I think I spied a pickpocket attempt as I was waiting for the train to leave, though I can't be sure.

The guy knew I saw him and retreated, whether or not he was a robber. When I got to Venice, I made the amateur mistake of not calling ahead to the hostel.

Instead, I took my backpack and went on a two-hour journey around Venice, only to find out that the Ostello Venezia was full. This turned out to be a good thing.

It had a nice view, but it was on an island, and I'd need to be back by 9:30 PM (the last Vaporetto).

So I went to my second choice, a hotel two minutes from the train station.

There, I immediately met Beth (Canadian). We both took 25,000 lire dorm beds in the attic.

I met two Kiwis (New Zealanders), Nigel and Dawn. We ended up going out to dinner together.

They liked their Bailey's Irish Cream. I was happy when we all agreed on a second carafe of wine.

That night, we all got drunk, including one guy from Japan to whom Steph (an Australian guy) kept giving wine and beer.

I decided to stay a second night since I had met so many people.

Monday, August 3, 1998

I slept in this morning. Since I passed out, I didn't notice whether or not it was hot and stuffy in the room.

Beth, Steph, and I went to San Marco. The church (mosaic) was much brighter (more lit up with sunshine) than when I had gone before.

This gave me a greater appreciation for the artwork covering the walls, ceiling, and floor.

Then we went to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, where we found an amazing collection of Modern art, including Picasso, Pollack, Ernst, Brancusi, and many others.

My favorite was a painting by Picasso, "The Beach" or something like that.

And since Sam told me Heather (of my graduating class, '98) was working there, I asked around for her.

Before we left, I spotted her. I had a more extended conversation with her at that time than at all of Colgate University.

Anyway, she seemed happy to see me. I asked her a lot of questions about her job.

I'll probably apply, but if they only accept ten percent of applicants, I'm not going to expect the job. It would be cool.

Heather also mentioned another girl from my class that was going to be working there in the Fall.

Maybe the Colgate connection will balance my lack of foreign languages and bad grades.

I'm at Lido again. Though the sun was behind clouds earlier, it has broken through and is beaming down onto me.

I realized this morning that my sunburn (from Rome) is kind of bad, so I need to be careful since I'm going to the French Riviera and Spain next.

After that, I'll be beach/heat-free again. Mint slushies suck. Limone! We had dinner along the main street of Lido. I had pasta that wasn't fully cooked.

That night we all bought wine and got drunk again. There were several new people in our hotel attic when we got back.

One of them was a California teacher (age 26) who talked and talked. But she was kind of good-looking.

There was also an 18-year-old guy from Queens, NY, and a guy from upstate NY.

When we went to get more wine, we were up-sold on two bottles, and I paid the difference (in part because I was drunk). They were awful! I ended up disliking both.

That night, as we all slipped in the door at curfew, the old lady said she was closing the dorm tomorrow because we were all too loud and troublesome.

The following day, I woke up to find that it had been merely a threat, and several people had already booked for that night.

Tuesday, August 4, 1998

Today, I plan to hang out at San Marco and visit San Giorgio Maggiore and San Statue.

I went to the supermarket and bought shampoo and soap since I left my Campsuds in Rome.

It is another cloudy day here, and the temperature is much cooler than when I was here last (a week ago).

I'm sad to be leaving Italy, but my experience with budget traveling gives me great hope for a return in the next few years.

Everyone seems to harp about Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera.

I decided not to go for that reason. I am hoping to hit Marseilles, Bordeaux, and Burgundy (wine country) in France.

Well, maybe not. I just finished talking with a Dutch student who didn't endorse those areas very much.

We had a pleasant twenty-minute conversation in the park next to San Marco.

I was sitting under a trellis work of shade-providing vines. They broke up the sunlight quite beautifully.

I can't remember if I wrote this before, but I dumped my Thrasher and long sleeve WRCU shirts. I feel like taking a nap but am slightly worried about my stuff.

I'm sitting in the shade of the Campo Della Salute on the Grand Canal now.

I keep thinking about Venice's 75,000 person population compared to the 75 million visitors it gets each year.

That means everyone working lives here, and everyone walking around is a tourist. I'm having lots of fun roasting Dave, Eric, and Sam for leaving early.

Everyone I tell gasps in disbelief. I'm having so much fun and am already looking to travel more.

I finally got to see San Giorgio Maggiore up close. It took a while for me to figure out that I needed to transfer Vaporetto.

Though I prefer the facade's beauty to the interior, it was still worth the trip over to the island. I got a great view of San Marco and the islands from the belfry.

I just took the worst shit in a McDonald's bathroom near San Marco.

The other toilets must have been broken because there was a five to six-person line of guys and girls when I got out.

And I was sweating since the bathroom was so stuffy, and the light was a big fluorescent black light. I even had to touch my ass down on the bare bowl because I got tired of standing (there was no seat).

Right now, I'm praying that the night train to Nice goes well. I called home and talked to my Mom for about ten minutes.

From across the Atlantic, she sounded a lot like her mom (my grandmother).

Do I Want To Attend The 2008 Olympics in China?

It is hard for me to ignore the fact that I will likely be on the Asian continent around the time of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China (August 8-24, 2008). I haven't really given the idea of attending any of the events much thought. It would be awesome to catch a few soccer (football) matches, however I imagine it would be costly and crowded in and around Beijing.

While it might not match the atmosphere of a live event, I'm sure travelers from around the world would get together to watch events in bars or restaurants so they can cheer for their home country.

Has anyone out there attended a Summer Olympics before, or have an opinion on the topic?

Immunizations, Vaccines, and Shots (Oh My!)

I was sitting in the waiting room of SmarTravel International Health Services yesterday during my lunch break when a bit of trepidation came over me.

The prospect of needles jabbing my arm didn't bother me so much as the feeling that I'm 5 months from leaving my life in the United States behind for the great unknown.

While I spend hours daydreaming for every few minutes I feel anxious, the concern always seems to weigh heavier.

So I filled out the necessary paperwork, as I've done the past two years when getting ready for pre-travel inoculations, and attached my laundry list of countries before handing everything back to the receptionist.

She was a little taken aback, though quite positive about my travel plans.

I then waited patiently for about a half-hour, despite the lack of patients, as I assumed they were querying and printing off the recommendations for each country.

Eventually, one of the nurses called me back, and she was also a bit tickled by the opportunity to tackle such an uncommon case as mine.

She began to go through the list of potential maladies, counting up the number of countries per illness to get a feel for which immunizations would be worth recommending.

A nice benefit of having had a recent trip to Costa Rica was the shots I had already received (covered by my health insurance).

2005 -

Hepatitis A (x2) @ $80 per dose - good for 20 years
Oral Typhoid @ $80 - good for 5 years
Tetanus/Diphtheria @ $50 - good for 10 years

Ultimately, to fill in the blanks on my yellow International Certificate of Vaccination card, she suggested the following:

2007 -

Yellow Fever @ $98 - good for 10 years (required in some countries on my list, specifically Tanzania, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Panama)
Japanese Encephalitis (x3) @ $148 per dose - good for 2-3 years
Hepatitis B (x3) @ $80 per dose - good for 20 years
Meningitis @ $125 - good for 3 years
Influenza (Flu) @ $0 if offered as usual through my employer - good for 1 year

After looking at the price sheet, and taking the advice of one of my readers to spread the shots out over time, I kept to my plan of starting the course of Hepatitis B shots (only) during the visit.

Researching the wide array of debilitating and deadly diseases in the world is a rather drab affair. Ultimately, deciding which shots to get is about managing risk.

SmarTravel offers an interactive map which highlights parts of the world affected by many of the diseases I've mentioned in this post.

As a result, I'm planning to skip the Japanese Encephalitis given it's limited to eastern Asia, and Meningitis which is prevalent in an even smaller section of central Africa.

At this point, I'm going to do a little more reading on the BootsnAll message boards and CDC, though I'm fairly comfortable with my decision.

In addition to Hep-B, I'm going to get the Yellow Fever, Influenza, and (adult) Polio shots in a few months.

Once I've been stuck like a pincushion, I should only have to worry about tackling Malaria.

I've ruled out Malarone as it's taken daily. I've had no side effects with the weekly Chloroquine, however much of Asia, Africa, and South America is resistant to it.

As a result, I'm left with Mefloquine (Lariam), which carries some nasty potential side effects, such as "nausea, dizziness, insomnia, strange dreams, nightmares, depression, and anxiety."

The Malaria debates are frequent on travel message boards, and I've read many travelers' comments about skipping malaria pills in favor of managing the mosquito risks.

The one question I did ask at the travel clinic nurse was whether there are potential side effects to taking malaria medications long term (say weekly for 2 years).

The response from the clinic director was "no" and that many international volunteers, such as those in the Peace Corps, take them regularly for their full commitments abroad.

___________________

Top 10 Travel Tips (circa 1999)

I first shared my Top 10 Travel Tips on the World Wide Web in 1999 after having spent the prior Summer in Europe.

Some of the advice I had read beforehand (thanks Rough Guides First-Time Europe), and the rest was based on my experience (in some cases having not done what I'm suggesting below).

Nine years later, I still aim to remember these concepts while traveling (please take the exact wording with a grain of youthful salt)...

1. Positive Attitude - No matter what happens on your trip, it is your story to tell. Don't let bad incidents ruin your whole experience. Don't let others bring you down. You worked hard to get to this point, and you deserve to enjoy it.

2. Patience - You will not make every train, bus, ferry, and airplane. Instead of getting angry, take the time to explore your surroundings, get a cup of European coffee. You will have to wait, but at least you are waiting in some exotic country!

3. Pack Light - Make sure your pack can fit on the plane as carry-on luggage. If it is too big, take things out. Never take clothing to Europe that you wouldn't be willing to throw out along the way (ex: bring old clothes).

4. Talk to People - Start talking to strangers on the plane trip, and don't stop till you are home again. You will be very lonely if you do not allow yourself the chance to meet new people. You especially need to do this if you are traveling with a friend.

5. Keep a Journal - You will learn a lot about yourself on this journey. Document what you see and who you meet. Make writing in it a habit from the first day, and don't be lazy. You will appreciate your efforts in ten or twenty years.

6. Take Pictures - Bring home the proof that you went cliff diving. No matter what kind of photographer you are, pictures you take mean a lot more than postcards and books. And take more pictures of people rather than objects. Or combine them.

7. Be Flexible - No matter how long you are gone, and what you see, there will always be new places to go. Allow room in your schedule to follow up on travel leads gained on the road.

8. Be Independent - If you think you are unable to go to Europe alone, GO! If you are traveling with a friend, do things by yourself too. Time apart will reduce stress in the relationship and open you up to the people around you.

9. Be Confident - Always maintain confidence in your ability to get from one place to another, whether across the continent or the city. Even if you don't know what you are doing, confidence can cover this up. You will appear strong and driven. Note, this is a great way to deter thieves.

10. Be Yourself - You will meet a lot of people on your trip. Be yourself, and allow them to enjoy the company of a great guy/girl.

Do you have a travel philosophy not listed here? If so, please share for the benefit of all!

The Vatican, And The Angel Sleeping Next To Me

View from Atop St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

The following journal entry was written on Saturday, August 1, 1998:

Today, I woke up early to get to the Vatican before any lines formed. Well, there ended up being no wait at the church or the museums. The walk across Rome to the Vatican City only took about 50 minutes. The piazza and colonnade seemed much smaller than I had thought after seeing so many pictures. The longer I walked around it, though, the bigger it seemed. The church didn't seem too impressive from the outside, maybe because the entire front facade was under scaffolding.

Once inside, however, the magnitude of the art and architecture became obvious. The floor designs in marble, the size of the statues and the Baldaccino, and ceiling mosaics were indescribable. I couldn't even take a picture for it would be impossible to capture the experience. The rays of light that came through the glass were very spiritual. Michelangelo's "Pieta" was beautiful, so delicate (behind the bulletproof glass). I paid the money to see the Treasury. I also went to the cupola. The view did not compare to that of the Duomo's in Florence.

I'm sitting along the colonnade right now. Just a few minutes ago, a damn pigeon shit on me. Luckily, there was a toilette ten meters away. The Vatican Museums were most impressive. The walls and ceilings in the Geography room were cool. Raphael's room had scaffolding on one side, covering ⅓ of the "School of Athens." That was disappointing.

The Sistine Chapel was quite crowded. Once again, I didn't think pictures could capture the beauty and color of the newly restored paintings. Plenty of people were taking flash pictures despite the constant warnings not to. I found this renegade attitude careless (then again, I might be coming off as a hypocrite or elitist). Do they know the flashes contribute to the deterioration of frescoes?

I will probably stay in Rome for a second full day, especially since my roomies are friendly and cute. Too bad I chickened out and did not ask to go to the Vatican with the two girls that I knew had the exact same plans as I did (I just had to be anal about getting there early). I'm starting to get concerned about my illness. I've been seeing blood in my mucous, which has remained a dark yellow. I haven't gone to a doctor because I don't seem to have a fever or other threatening symptoms. Rome is tiring and I'll probably stay in again tonight.

I went to the supermarket, where I bought two comfortable pairs of Italian boxers and a 1.5-liter water bottle for about twenty-five cents. Obviously, that is the best deal around. I also went to the Castile de'Saint Angelo. I've got quite a sunburn on my face. I plan to sleep in tomorrow and then go see a few sights. Then, on to Venice Monday morning or maybe Verona. I messed up on paying for my bed tonight and was lucky to retain my bed for the night. This was the first week I was on budget ($50 per day). I think from now on, I'll be under budget.

I've decided to leave Rome after only two nights. My New Zealand girl is going, and I saw most of what I came to visit, plus the city is too big. Back to Venice for two or three nights, then Nice, Barcelona, Ireland, England, Paris, and hopefully Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

I loved the way (Ms. New Zealand, since I never learned her name) she said "Kerouac," Her kiwi-flavored accent must have won me over. She had an incredible lightness about her. I couldn't spend another night in Rome without the promise of her smile.

It turned out that I had dinner with about fifteen new arrivals in the pension. We went to San Paulo Restaurante where someone who had arrived earlier cut a deal: no 15% service charge, 1 pasta dish or pizza (no fish), and one beer, wine, or soda plus bread. As I sat there for two hours listening to two conversations at once, I thought about how much nicer the picnic at the Trevi Fountain would have been that night (with the Aussie and Kiwi). Damnit, that girl was great.

The dinner group went to an Irish pub a few blocks away around 12:30 AM. There, I spent $5 on a pint of Guinness that wasn't poured right (the bartenders didn't let the beer settle). I found this quite ironic (and not as tasty), considering all the Guinness propaganda hanging on the walls.

Before we had all broken up for dinner, we (my angel, the girl from New Zealand, and her sightseeing buddy, a blonde Australian girl) exchanged our feelings/amazement at St. Peter's size and grandeur. There was such excitement in the words during those few minutes. Sharing experiences such as that with someone feels like such a release and special too.

I met a lot of character types that night: the goofy Americans, the vegetarian who didn't eat her dinner cause there was meat in her meal, the frat-like French Canadian dude with all the stories, and the Argentinean girl who barely spoke English. I'm never going to forget my girl from New Zealand, though. I should have gone to Greece with her the next day.

________________

Read more of Backpacking in Europe, or see the pictures on Flickr.

Rome Is Too Big To Have Been Built In One Day

The following journal entry was written on Friday, July 31, 1998:

I met a whole bunch of friendly people last night from all over the world: Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and Norway. The 18-year-old Scottish guy was traveling with his skateboard, so I asked him what that was like. One of the Norwegian girls was a nurse. One of the Canadians was an airplane technician/engineer.

There was a beautiful girl from Canada reading Kafka's "The Basic," and I couldn't take my eyes off her. I ended up getting a little too drunk by midnight. Instead of staying up and talking some more, I had to lie down and pass out. But you definitely meet more people traveling alone, and so far the freedom has been enjoyable.

I still have to work out some things like finding and sitting with people who speak English on the trains. This means I should be waiting a little before I get on the trains. I talked with a girl from New Hampshire who was traveling alone. She seemed to endorse hitchhiking and sleeping out (train station, beach, park). She recommended seeing "Rent" in London. I just hope "Jesus Christ Superstar" is playing. After meeting so many people at the Ostello, I was kind of disappointed that I had to leave.

I started reading "On the Road" during the train ride to Rome. I love Kerouac's language, and the subject matter is a fine accompaniment to my trip. I've been thinking about how odd it was to travel with four other people. It definitely cannot compare to being alone. Even two people that get along are a completely different experience.

On the road, alone, forces a person to write, read, survive, think, observe, and meet people. Without conversation, a person can get very lonely (like the girl from Mexico City had said about a friend of hers, two nights ago). I don't even bother with names during casual conversation.

I'm getting annoyed with my cold; my ears get clogged in every train tunnel. I arrived in Rome on time, to the minute. I am definitely amazed at the promptness of the European trains. I went straight to my number one pension choice and got a bed for 30,000 lire. I'll probably stay there the whole time I'm in Rome. It's a big city, and I'll be happy to get to quiet Venice in a few days.

I'm at the Coliseum now. It must have been cool to watch man fight beast thousands of years ago. I can't even imagine how beautiful all the white marble that covered everything must have been. My first impression of the inside is how small it looked. Still an amazing engineering feat.

After the Coliseum, I wandered past the Roman Forum and ended up in the Campidoglio, which I recognized from one of my art classes. I also went into one of the two museums. The trapezoidal piazza was great to see from a balcony standpoint.

From there, I wandered around the Pantheon. The inside was filled with complex marble designs, which reminded me of the Medici chapel. I also saw Raphael's tomb there. The dome, with its nine-meter circular skylight at the acme, was an amazing visual effect. The coffers were designed to do just that. I snapped a picture of a white bird encircling the inside of the dome.

On the way back to the hostel, I got lost. By then, I was tired and hot. Next time, I'm going to avoid the scenic (don't know where I am) route. I ate two triangular ham and cheese sandwiches. The white bread appeared to have had the crust (edges) pulled off.

Tomorrow I'm going to hit the Vatican, and then I'll probably leave Sunday morning for Venice. The traffic patterns and rules here are scary. There are very few traffic lights. Mostly, you have to cross the street at the painted crosswalks. To avoid destruction at some of the big crossings, I began to wait and cross with other people. But the mopeds are still crazy, numerous, and annoying.

My toothache came back today. I hope it is nothing serious. Also, I think the lack of underwear is starting to cause itchy/irritation around my upper thigh area. The only bad part about pensions and hotels is the lack of a common room. This makes meeting other people a little more difficult. Plus, there is no alcohol allowed.

Birdseye View of Campidoglio in Rome, Italy

My room ended up being filled by nightfall. I continued to read "On the Road" while everyone returned to the room. Above me was a beautiful brunette from NYC. To my right was a beautiful blonde from New Zealand, and there was a girl from Australia.

The other four beds were filled by two couples. One didn't speak English, and the other seemed to have a strained and boring relationship. The boring couple went to bed kind of early (10 PM). I slept by the window, periodically turning to see the crescent moon over Rome.

________________

Read more of Backpacking in Europe, or see the pictures on Flickr.

Reflecting Upon My Couchsurfing Experiences

I first heard about CouchSurfing.com on the BootsnAll message boards last Summer.

Unfortunately, it was around the same time the website crashed. For a short time, it seemed I would not have the opportunity to participate.

And then, user demand helped resurrect and relaunch the network.

The Phoenix Story documents the series of events that lead to the project's 2.0 version being launched after all of the previously accumulated user data (profiles) had been lost.

So with the network back up and running, I filled out my profile in December 2006, intent on exploring the concept as both guest and host before my upcoming trip around the world.

I waited and waited some more. The Washington, DC message boards advertise a happy hour a month; however, I've yet to make it to one.

My first "friend" and positive reference came from Stefan, whom I met in Costa Rica in 2005.

A few weeks later, a guy from Texas with tons of positive references e-mailed me needing a place to stay during a conference he was planning to attend.

He said he wouldn't be around much, though it fell through when he found a host in a more convenient location.

Still, he left me a positive reference for my e-mail efforts and offered to host.

Then in March, Sonia e-mailed me out of the blue.

She lived a few miles from me and suggested we get together for a cup of coffee, as she was planning a trip around the world too.

I met her and her boyfriend for coffee soon after, and we exchanged plans, advice, and travel tales.

It felt great to talk to someone at the same stage of the game as me. We then left each other positive references, and have stayed in touch.

A young guy on an impromptu road trip e-mailed me next; however, he wanted to stop by the same week I had my dental implant drilled into my jaw, so I declined him politely.

It didn't quite feel right, and while he indicated having stayed with many people on his trip around the eastern US, I didn't see a lot of positive references on his profile.

So by the time Andre contacted me in May, I had fostered some good comments to help vouch for how swell a guy I am.

For those interested in hosting, with a low tolerance for risk, I would suggest an approach similar to what I've taken (by happenstance).

Once you start to hear others talk about their surfing experiences, you begin to feel a little more comfortable with the idea.

I thought Andre's visit went well. We both demonstrated the etiquette (and safety) advice, which is part common sense, and part available via the Tips section on the web site.

My Tips for a Positive Hosting Experience

Look for positive references on his/her profile before agreeing to host

Feel the surfer's personality out through the profile and e-mails. Does this person seem independent, or do I suspect he/she will be stuck to me like glue? Do not feel obligated to host a person just because he/she contacted you.

Communicate the rules of your home in advance. Smoke-free? Shoes off? Liquor cabinet off-limits? While unlikely, the potential guest may pass if he/she feels they can't abide by them, which is better than having them arrive at your doorstep ready to party.

Do not feel obligated to give someone a key to your home. Guests are lucky to have you offering a free place to stay, and will certainly understand if you are a little nervous about leaving them unattended. It wouldn't hurt to mention accessibility in advance, as it may be a deal-breaker for some people.

Follow the Golden Rule - treat others as you would like to be treated. While I've only hosted one person, I feel as though the effort I put into making his experience fun and comfortable was returned to me through his frequent appreciation.

My Tips for a Positive Surfing Experience (or what I expect from those who stay with me, and myself when the time comes)

Communicate travel plans in detail, and don't assume your host can pick you up (at the least, ask politely, and accept "no" without debate)

Air on the side of independence. Your host has a life, so take your cues from him/her as to how much time you'll be able to spend together. I hung out with Andre quite a bit because we were getting along, and I enjoyed showing him around and seeing him experience silly things like American coffee, air conditioning, an ice cream sundae, and a soccer match.

Say "thank you" and smile a lot. It will help put your host at ease.

Arrive with an offering for your host (Andre brought beer). Showing respect for your host will open new doors of kindness. You may get back far more than you find yourself giving.

Leave a minimal footprint in your host's home. Keep your belongings in a small part of the area where you'll be sleeping, and keep your toiletries under control.

Do not eat food unless you're invited to chow down (with or without your host around). When in doubt, ask first.

Respect your host's rules. If your host doesn't communicate the rules, ask!

I picked up much of the etiquette from the CouchSurfing tips section, however much of this is just common sense!

Hosting My First Couchsurfer

Andre, a structural engineer by trade, and a German by birth, was the first couchsurfer I had the opportunity to host. He contacted me about 6 weeks ago as he was planning to fly down from Boston (where he's a Research Associate) to attend a friend's wedding in Leesburg, VA.

After reading his introdoctury e-mail, I checked out his CS profile which was full of positive references. I responded back that I was free to host him, and we exchanged a few additional e-mails to work out the details around arrival time and directions to my apartment.

Thursday Arrival

I had mentioned to Andre in advance that I would be attending a happy hour with coworkers the night he planned to arrive, and he suggested there was no need for me to leave it early just to meet him. As it turned out, I was ready to leave by the time he was on his way to Arlington from Dulles Airport (via bus and metro). I was back at my apartment when there was a knock upon the door. I opened it up and saw an imposing figure with a big smile.

Once inside the apartment, he unzipped his day pack to reveal a 6-pack of Heineken for the host. It seems great minds think alike as I had previously picked up a 6-pack of Warsteiner, a German beer, to ensure my guest had a little reminder of home. I opened a couple of beers and we got to know each other better. I was a little self-conscious about the fact that I only had a space on the floor available, however when I offered up my down comforter and a few pillows, Andre seemed completely content, and we got some zzzz's.

Friday Night Lights

I was working a 1-10pm shift for a coworker on Friday, so in the morning, we walked a few blocks to my favorite coffeehouse, Murky Coffee. Andre had specifically indicated he wanted a ceramic cup (as we established paper "to go" cups are decidedly non-European), so he was a little miffed when his American coffee came in a giant paper cup. We gobbled down some pastries, and I pointed him east toward The Mall in Washington, DC, which he walked to as the morning sun began to beat down (it got into the upper 90's by afternoon).

Later that night, I arrived back at the apartment to find Andre enjoying the air conditioning after he experienced the full force of a hot, humid Washington summer day. I had given him a key to my apartment so he could have a little more freedom. I think he was a little surprised by the offer at first, however I shared my attitude toward believing the best in people, and practical approach toward fostering a non-materialistic lifestyle.

We met up with my friend Jason, and walked a few blocks to Clarendon, a small town with a popular nightlife near my apartment. As it was late, we were limited in our restaurant choices, and settled on Hard Times (chili) which allowed us to sit outside and watch the drunk people walk to and from the bars. After a few beers, some food, and laughs, we called it a night.

Saturday

I drove my guest to a local Macy's so he could pick up a new tie for his friend's wedding. Clothes shopping was not his forte, however we accomplished the mission, and then grabbed coffee and a bite to eat at Panera Bread, before I drove him to the bus stop so he could head west to Leesburg for the night.

Soccer Sunday

Since Andre's flight didn't depart until 9pm'ish, I had invited him to a DC United (vs. NYC Red Bulls) soccer match at 1pm. I picked him up at the bus stop and we sped through the cit, arriving at RFK's parking lot in time to get some free grub from the Barra Brava (fan club) tailgate.

And then it was on to the game, where I sat in the Barra Brava section for the first time. We didn't watch the game together, as Andre needed a little distance from the beating drums and chanting hordes. DC United kicked butt, winning 4-2, and we headed back to the car. Given we had some time to kill, I suggested we check out Georgetown. We stopped in Bistro Francais where we ordered some light food, and more coffee. Then it was off for some lounging in the grass by the waterfront (of the Potomac River), before I dropped Andre off at the bus stop for the last time.

I will reflect more on my experience, and share some tips for guests and hosts in my next post.

Saying GoodBye to My Friends in Florence

The following journal excerpt is from July 29, 1998:

This morning we woke up early to avoid any lines at the Duomo. We ended up getting there around 10:30 AM, and waiting in line anyway. Eric, Sam, and Dave had to wait at the train station to reserve a spot on the train to Barcelona which ended up being full or too expensive anyway. So they're going to Nice at midnight. Meanwhile, I booked two nights at the Ostello Archi Rossi for 70,000 lire. The inside of the Duomo is not as spectacular as the outside. Dave and I went into the crypt, but it wasn't that interesting. We also climbed up 463 steps to Brunelleschi's cupola. The climb wasn't nearly as dark and tedious as the one in Prague. The view was beautiful, as was the architecture of the cupola itself. The view was definitely worth the cost. I don't know why Sam and Eric weren't willing to pay the 10,000 lire ($4).

I bought an erasable pen today. Hopefully, I'll be able to extend each Eurorail day by two to three times. Since I decided to skip Greece, I should be in good Eurorail shape. After Florence, it is on to Rome for three nights, then Venice for two to three nights. That will put me in Italy for two weeks. I think it will be a lot easier for me to do things by myself. And, once I get into a comfortable groove, the trip will go much smoother. The downfall, however will be a lack of company, and increased security concerns. I am planning/hoping to meet more people though. And if I can do that at hostels, I might pick up someone to travel with and/or go out with at night. Either way, I'm looking forward to sitting outside in the afternoons, watching/listening to the city around me. That is what I'm doing right now at the Duomo.

We split up for a couple of hours, and I went back to the Ostello Archi Rossi for an hour. There I met an Italian student who I talked to for awhile (later I find out that he had probably been high during our conversation which explains his craziness). The language barrier was there, but he knew English well, and I nodded a lot. It was cool that he mentioned Pennywise, NOFX, Bad Religion and Fugazi when I said I liked punk music. He reminded me (physically) of a friend of mine from college. I also went to the Palazzo Vecchio. It was a bit expensive for what I saw. Once again, there were a few giant rooms with amazing ceiling paintings and gilded frames. There was a sculpture by Donatello in bronze, "Judith and Holofernes." There was also a cute sculpture of a "Putti with Dolphin." I've grown to love the putti (angels). Therefore, I've begun photographing the ones I like.

We got back together and ate a bad dinner at a self serve place. Then I returned to the hostel where I met two more of my roomies, and started a load of laundry. My aim is to resurrect my stinky socks. I said good bye to Sam, Eric, and Dave. I'll survive, and have fun, but I'll miss them (double-edged sword). I am looking forward to the freedom.

________________

Read more of Backpacking in Europe, or see the pictures on Flickr.

I Got My Casio Pathfinder Watch, Now Need Advice

So I received my new Casio Pathfinder watch 3 days after I ordered it - awesome turnaround time from the vendor (via Amazon.com)!

It feels great on my wrist and it's noticeably thinner than the previous model I had tried on.

Plus, it doesn't feel too heavy.

I went with the black version, as I sort of liked the look of it more than the alternative green version, however, my model has a silver band that wraps around the watch face that is quite shiny.

This was something I wanted to avoid, as I'll be traveling to poor, third world countries next year and I do not want to attract thieves or unwanted attention (I may well attract that just by being a white American tourist, I realize).

So, my question is do I return the watch in exchange for the non-shiny green version?

Or do I stop worrying and be happy with my new toy?

PS - I know turning the watch face over to the underside of my wrist is one way to make it less visible, and I recognize the most prudent thing to do in some areas (certain African countries for example), may be to remove it altogether.

Passport Renewal Completed

Two months after mailing my passport renewal application to the State Department, I received my brand spanking new passport in the mail last Saturday.

If you're a terrorist or intent on forging your way into the US, stop reading now!

I was surprised to find little had changed with the design. My photo was apparently scanned, then printed on the page (vs. laminating it down), and plastered with a watermark so you can barely see my baby blue eyes. Countless border agents worldwide are going to lose out as a result!

I get a new passport number with the renewal. I remember a Brit in Guatemala last year pointed out to me, as I took out my passport to sign into a hostel, not knowing one's passport number by heart brands a novice backpacker! What-ever. You should see the retarded number of username/password combinations I have to recall each day at work - let alone personal bank accounts and web site stuff. It's ridiculous.

I noticed there were no microchips implanted in it, unless it is so thin I don't know it's there. And it still seemed a few pages too short. I hope to fill the sucker up in 2008!

Apparently, I was a tad lucky, as there are people waiting a lot longer than me due to the recent changes in passport policies affecting Americans going to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

I Just Bought a Casio Pathfinder Watch

Question: What does a guy do when he's planning a backpacking trip around the world, and he finds himself ahead of schedule in savings with 6 months to go?

Answer: He buys a Casio Pathfinder watch for $199 from Amazon.com. Why would he need such a watch? Just consider the following scenario, and you'll wonder no more!

Our intrepid hero is scaling Lhotse in Nepal, the world's fourth highest peak at 27,940 feet (8,516 meters). He periodically checks the Pathfinder's altimeter to ensure he is not ascending too quickly, thus decreasing his chances of contracting a potentially deadly case of altitude sickness. As he locks into memory his new highest height of 21,500 feet, he notices a drop in barometric pressure via the barometer, and corresponding drop in temperature via the thermometer.

As the winds pick up, and clouds envelope the mountain, our hero bivouac's (encamps) high up the mountain. In his dimly lit tent, he checks the time, thankful his watch has an auto backlight which turns on when he tilts the watch so he doesn't have to take off his warm mittens. A solar powered battery ensures watch functionality in case it remains overcast and stormy for the next 5 months.

Days pass, and concerns grow about avalanche risk higher up the mountain. The expedition is canceled, and our hero begins to navigate down the mountain using his Pathfinder's digital compass, as the well-worn climbing route has been covered by three feet of fresh snow. Thanks to multi-band 5 atomic timekeeping, he can be sure to rendezvous with his yaks at precisely the right time to carry his gear back to Kathmandu.

As for his Casio Pathfinder PAW1300-1V watch, it's a cool 28% thinner and lighter than previous models, so even after a 20,000 foot climb, it's no sweat off his back to wear it home.

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