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The Famous Yaks of Manali, India

Manali

Like the ride to Lake Rewalsar, the Manali drive was astonishing! There were endless hills filled with exotic plants.

Once we got closer to Manali, I noticed that the most prevalent plant was cannabis. Weed was growing everywhere!

It took a while to find the hotel, and when we did, the desk guy did the usual I need to see your passport before letting you go into the hotel room scheme.

For some reason (Terrorism? /Taxes?), this is standard practice in all Indian hotels.

Also, as usual, the hotel room was only half-clean despite it being relatively expensive by Indian standards.

That night we went to the touristy part across the bridge and had some international food.

Despite having a population of less than 7,000, Manali had the feel of a mid-sized international city.

The following day our driver took us up to Rohtang Pass, the second-highest motor pass in the world, which is only open from June to September.

Along the lower part of the road, we must have passed at least 50 clothing rental shops, renting out winter clothes for the extreme weather conditions on top of the pass.

The road up looked dangerous as it was only one lane and enveloped in thick fog. Our driver didn't seem to think so, going as fast as he possibly could.

On the way up, I spotted several magnificent vultures circling.

Unlike in western culture in Tibetan culture, vultures are considered a good omen.

I also saw an unfortunate cow that fell down a cliff, along with a jeep on its back that had probably also taken a tumble down a cliff.

After about an hour of driving, we reached the summit point, crowded with Indian tourists.

The summit was 3,200 meters in height. My uncle told me that it was considered the end of the world in ancient times, past the summit, was Tibet.

The view was amazing, but fog prevented a fully clear picture. At the base of the summit, there was still snow despite it not being overly cold.

Most of them from parts of India where it does not snow at all, the tourists were delighted. There was a tire sled ride, and I spotted a few yaks.

The yaks in Manali were famous since yaks are very rare outside of Tibet. I paid the keeper a couple of hundred rupees, and he let me ride the yak for about 10 minutes.

The beast stayed very calm and was a lot more humble than the horses I have ridden before.

On our way down, we stopped at a cafe located directly on the river. It was the first time I had seen a restaurant with tables situated on the river!

The water flowing was ice cold, but it didn't matter. The experience was terrific.

Near the cafe, I spotted a paraglide shop. For only 450 rupees ($10), I could paraglide down the mountain.

I wanted to do it but knew it would be a bad idea to paraglide in shorts and sandals, so sadly, I declined.

After talking to my family, I came to the consensus that I would not be traveling to Ladakh since it was a two-day bus ride with extreme weather conditions.

I heard from many travelers that the buses sometimes break down on the route, leaving travelers stranded for days. It was a hard decision not to go since I might not ever have the opportunity again.

We ended up leaving Manali the following day. I wish I stayed in Manali a little longer and had packed better gear for trekking/rafting.

The area was ripe with outdoor adventures waiting to happen. I felt like I only got a preview of what it had to offer and was hungry for more.

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This series on India was written and submitted by guest author Stefan K.

Exploring India's Lake Rewalsar Region

Many travelers in Dharamsala that I met told me that they were just staying a few days and then moving on to the north, mountainous town of Manali. After talking to several people it was clear to me that I had to visit Manali. My family including my grandpa, mother, uncle, and aunt, all wanted to make the trip as well. So I patiently waited 4 weeks for them to get ready and then we finally drove off in a rented car with driver.

Since my family was coming along I knew our trip would have a heavy Buddhist influence to it. The plan for the trip was to do one night at Lake Rewalsar and then two nights in Manali. The trip from Dharamsala to Lake Rewalsar was astonishing. We stopped at several waterfalls and Gompas (small Tibetan Buddhist temples). Our driver, like most in India, was a little bit crazy. My grandfather ended up puking a couple of times on the ride...which I found strange at first, but then I came to the realization that the guy has probably been in a car less than a dozen times and was getting old.

Lake Rewalsar

Rewalsar Lake is considered to be an important stop to Buddhist pilgrims and is considered to be an important holy site to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs. Several temples are located along the small lake which legend has it was formed by Padmasambhava, who was burned by a local Hindu king for teaching the king's daughter. Padmasambhava was responsible for spreading Buddhism into Tibet. The lake is stocked with a large amount of fish that are fed daily by visitors. I don't think I've ever seen so many fish in such a small area fighting for food! In the small town we met several natives from Ladahk, a region that is very similar to Tibet in language, culture, and geography, also on Buddhist pilgrimage.

The next day we packed our bags and our driver took us to a temple above Rawalsar. I suspected that the driver was still drunk from the night before, but it didn't seem to affect his drivingtoo much. The mountain side temple was where Padmasambhava was said to have meditated. A few of the boulders outside of the temple have footprints embedded in them that are said to be from Padmasambhava. As strange as it may sound, this might be true. Multiple yoga masters have been able to embed their footprints in objects as hard as boulders, and it has been demonstrated multiple times near the temple. The temple was remarkably peaceful and consisted of a network of caves. Several Buddhist monks to this day live in solitude meditating inside the caves to seek enlightenment. I was surprised at how cute some of the female monks looked. Unfortunately the cuter ones refused to take a photo with me! After a couple of hours of walking around the hillside and eating random berries that led to a stomach ache, we headed off to Manali.

To be continued...

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This series on India was written and submitted by guest author Stefan K. See more of his photos from India.

Please share your feedback, or interest in contributing, by leaving a comment.

Casual Adventure, Best Gear Store on Earth

Arlington, VA - I was a young 21 when I first walked into Casual Adventure.

I was on the prowl for a backpack to accompany me around Europe for the summer.

Nine years later, I found myself returning once again as I prepare for my first trip around the world.

Casual Adventure is a family owned and operated retail store selling high quality camping, hiking, and backpacking equipment.

Their early years, dating back to 1955, were dedicated to selling military surplus supplies. The store is located off Washington Boulevard in the youthful Clarendon area.

The hallmark of my shopping experiences over the years has been the excellent customer service.

Sales associates are knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. Their motto " We Can Outfit You from Great Falls to Nepal" was the result of their supplying a man with Mountain Hardwear, who then went on to summit Mount Everest in 2000.

A large framed photo of him on top of the world, holding the store's logo, hangs on a wall by the jackets.

Everything I've purchased there has withstood the wear and tear of the road, from the streets of Dublin to the jungles of Belize.

Previous purchases include: Gregory Chaos backpack, North Face cargo pants, shorts and jacket, Merrell hiking boots, socks, and a host of smaller supplies.

Future purchases will include: LED headlamp and a possible Casio Pathfinder watch (altimeter, barometer, thermometer, and compass).

One item I have yet to buy is a bandanna, as they keep throwing them in free of charge.

My favorite part of the store is the wall of customer pictures.

Anyone can bring a photo and tape it to the wall to show off their spirit of adventure.

My contribution to the wall consists of a snapshot of the erupting Arenal volcano in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, circa May 2005.

In an age of ever increasing retail camping conglomerates, it's nice to know I can still walk into a local store and receive great products, service, and bandannas!

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Casual Adventure is located at 3541 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201. Phone: 703-527-0600.

Lounging in Cahuita, Costa Rica

I wrote the following journal entry on Sunday, May 15, 2005:

4:50 pm

Kendall, Canadian girl I met at the hostel in San Jose. I was in the common room, reading and watching TV.

She was seated opposite me; I couldn't help but notice her nice, tan legs as she sat with one leg over the chair arm.

She asked me what I was up to a bit later and I had responded "reading."

She wanted some company on the five-block walk to the supermarket.

I picked up some empanadas; she got veggies and noodles for a stir-fry. I watched her cook it up at the hostel.

A Dutch guy, Frederick, was staying in my hostel room so we talked a bit. I also met a Dutch guy on the rafting trip, Klaus.

I'm looking forward to some Caribbean food. Dinner y cerveza.

The mosquitoes are starting to get me here. I'm in no rush. It's nice. Not a care in the world.

In, out

Deep, slow

Calm, ease

Smile, release

Present moment, wonderful moment

May I be filled with loving kindness;

May I be well.

May I be peaceful and at ease;

May I be happy.

The sound of the waves crashing is very rhythmic.

Almost like a metronome, never-ending, dynamic, yet consistent, you can count on hearing a wave crash every few seconds.

Without fail, nature is beauty. Beauty is impermanent, as are all things, thoughts, and feelings in life.

I'm experiencing great personal and spiritual growth on this trip.

It's energizing, liberating, and truly amazing. Freedom, independence, adventure, excitement, storytelling, pleasurable.

So much to write. Words flow like raindrops down a palm leaf. Hammocks blow in the wind, waiting for their next inhabitant.

It'd have to hurt if a coconut fell on your head. The clouds are wonderful. Nice breeze. Air feels/tastes salty.

Met Mark (USA/Costa Rica) and Evan (Canada) in Cahuita. Both friendly. Bananas, mangoes, pineapple, watermelon.

It'll be nice to wake up to the crashing waves. One love, one life, let's get together and it'll be alright.

I've seen more travelers with CD players than MP3 players. $14 a night, what a deal.

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Read more about my trip to Costa Rica in 2005.

Adventure Travel's Annual Expo

Where would one go to ride an aerial zip line, have golf swings analyzed, and take a scuba diving lesson under the same roof?

Adventure travelers of all ages descended upon the Washington, DC Convention Center last weekend for the final day of the 2007 Adventures in Travel Expo.

Billed as Washington's Ultimate Travel and Adventure Show, previous stops included New York, Long Beach (CA), and Chicago.

Admission was $15; however, I received a flyer for free admittance thanks to National Geographic. Perhaps my magazine subscription paid off!

Upon walking into the cavernous convention center, I got my bearings from the balcony overlooking the basement level before descending the stairs to explore.

It was a few minutes past the opening hour of 11 am on Sunday.

Once down, I was immediately confronted with the Global Beats Stage, and West African Dancers were doing their thing to a steady drumbeat.

It instantly put me in the mood to leave the reality of the day behind, and let my imagination run wild with the opportunities, displays, and brochures bombarding me from all angles.

As I moved from booth to booth, I quickly realized the cool exhibitors had raffles to enter.

Trips to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Grenada, were just the tip of the iceberg.

Besides the exotic vacations, prizes ranged from a new Suzuki SUV to a carry-on size piece of luggage (I skipped that drawing).

Along with the near-endless drawings to enter, I slowly started to accumulate pamphlets and brochures from whitewater rafting companies to Teaching English as a Foreign Language programs.

My goal was simple, limit myself to what truly looked appealing for my upcoming RTW trip, and make it out of there without having to rely on the dreaded plastic tote bag.

I was having flashbacks to the auto shows I use to attend as a kid. I'd collect all the brochures, only to throw them out five minutes after getting them home (when they seemingly lost whatever appeal they held under the bright lights).

As I worked my way down each aisle, I passed from continent to continent.

I had forgotten how common it was to have attractive women at the booths.

Many were from the countries whose travel agencies they represented.

The Irish missed the memo though, as old, white-haired men staffed their booths.

Whether it was a young Australian woman or talkative Indian man, the international makeup added an air of authenticity to the show.

From Vermont to Nepal, New Zealand to Trinidad, the world was represented thoroughly.

After a solid two and a half hours, including a delicious, authentic Caribbean lunch of BBQ Chicken, with rice and beans, I departed a slightly wiser adventure traveler.

Now, what am I going to do with all those brochures?

Dharamsala, India - Home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

From Delhi, the most practical mode of transportation to Dharamsala is by bus.

There are two bus services (State and Deluxe) available. I opted for the deluxe bus ride.

The ride to Dharamsala takes about 10 hours and goes through small, winding mountain roads.

Before coming to India, I heard many horror stories of overtired bus drivers falling asleep while driving the long stretch to Dharamsala and of ill-maintained buses breaking down on the route and travelers getting stranded.

So I was more than a little bit concerned. I ended up getting a last-minute ticket with my uncle in the back of the bus.

The ride was the worst I ever took to this day!

Legroom was non-existent, the bus, of course, had no air conditioning, the fans were broken, and the suspension in the back needed repair.

(Side note: always book a seat in-between the axels and not in the back.)

Since the Deluxe bus price is more than double the price of the government bus, it makes me wonder what it'd be like to ride a State bus.

After arriving in Dharamsala (actually, McLeodganj, which I refer to as Dharamsala), we walked up a small hill to drop my bags at my grandfather's.

I haven't seen him since I was six, so we had some catching up to do.

Unfortunately, he doesn't speak English, and I don't speak Tibetan, so we communicated by learning each others' languages and the use of a translator from time to time.

Dharamsala itself is not much of a city.

While the Dalai Lama's temple palace along with the temple in the "little Tibet" town square is nice, I wouldn't consider it marvelous.

Lower Dharamsala does, however, have the Norbuling Learning Institute, which is a remarkable temple that teaches young Tibetans cultural art skills.

It being the summer, and due to the fame of the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala is dirty and crowded with tourists, mostly hippies and ex-Israeli soldiers, who do one year India tours.

The highlight of Dharamsala is the mountainous terrain. With my uncle, I went on a 3-day journey to nearby Triund.

This is a hike that can be done by anyone in decent physical condition.

It is recommended to bring normal camping supplies; however, the journey can be made without, as long as you bring a little bit of money.

Along the hike up, there are many cafes, and at the summit, you can buy food along with lending out a sleeping bag.

There is also a fresh mountain stream where you can fill up on water.

Luckily we managed to get a prime piece of real estate.

We found a cave big enough for five people and which overlooked the summit and the surrounding area.

On day 2, I decided to wander further up the mountain to the snow line.

At this point, you are around 3,200m (two miles) altitude, so even though the path is simple to navigate, you will tire out easily.

From the snowline (which also has a cafe), you can wander further up to where snow lays year-round.

I didn't go too far up because I didn't bring my supplies with me and was hiking alone.

On the third night, my uncle and I, along with an Israeli and Swiss guy I met, decided to go back down into town.

The path to and from the summit is very easy to navigate with a full moon.

My hike to Triund ended up being one of my favorite trips in India.

It was really nice sleeping in a cave, under a full moon, making a fire, and roasting what little food we had over it.

The Swiss guy had a guitar, the Israeli guy some cards and my uncle some hash.

I managed to score some homemade alcohol from a Shepard, and we had a great couple of nights.

Those are memories I'll probably never forget.

Other things to do in Dharamsala include visiting the Shiva Cafe.

The Cafe is located in Bhagsu and sits right next to a beautiful waterfall.

This is a popular tourist point, and you can kill a few hours just walking around and relaxing next to the waterfall.

You can also visit the Karmapa's palace in lower Dharamsala.

Karmapa will likely be the face of Tibetan Buddhism once the Dalai Lama passes away.

It is possible to request an audience, and befriending a lama drastically increases your chances of being able to meet the Karmapa or the Dalai Lama.

After about a week and a half, Dharamsala felt a little too small for a city boy like me.

I met many tourists who have stayed several weeks in the town to either relax/unwind or do some volunteer work.

If you are planning on doing volunteer work, it is recommended that you look well in advance.

I would like to say thank you to Psomola for cooking, cleaning, and caring for me, my Popola for everything he did, Pala for showing me around, KP for taking me in, the two tourists I stayed in the cave with for being cool people, Norbu for coordinating everything, and all the local Tibetans who fed me, played basketball, hung out during the night, translated, and more.

Inside India - Packing List and Travel Tips

So you have decided to travel to the exotic land of India.

Unfortunately, this is no small task, and it is recommended that you plan a trip like this out more thoroughly than other destinations.

Packing List

First, check out the backpacker's comprehensive packing list. This list is the best I have found for any backpacker, regardless of the location.

The following list is an addition of things that will help you travel through India:

Lonely Planet Guide Book: Since India is such a large, diverse country with a chaotic tourist industry, it is highly recommended that you bring this guide with you if your whole trip is not planned out. The Lonely Planet India book is better than others that I have seen.

Toilet Paper: Most places in India only have squatter toilets without toilet paper. Considering diarrhea is high among travelers to India, this is highly recommended to be brought along at all times unless you don't mind using water and a bucket.

Pepto Bismol: Speaking of diarrhea, this is or some form of other stomach medicine is a must.

Chain & Lock: If you plan on taking extended train trips in anything lower than 2^nd class compartments, this is a must-have item to make sure your luggage does not wander off.

Mosquito Repellent: Mosquitoes are overly abundant during warmer times and can be really annoying.

A Buddy: Most hotel rooms in India are doubles and charge you the same rate alone or with some else. A large part of traveling through India is done by taxi, which also costs the same amount regardless of who comes with. If budget is a constraint, it is recommended to travel with someone.

Transportation Tips

Short stretches are traveled by train, bus, or taxi while longer stretches should be traveled by plane and train.

Plane tickets are often priced about the same if not lower than train tickets.

Everything in India should be booked at least two weeks in advance, so be sure to plan ahead!

Time of Year

If you are planning on going to India during the summer, you are limiting yourself to the Buddhist northern part since most of India is unbearably hot.

However, some passes in the Himalayas open up that are not accessible during the winter.

Going any other time of the year, you have the option to explore most of the Indian subcontinent.

However, it's a good idea to make advance bookings, as tourism demand is higher then the supply can keep up with.

Next: Experiencing Dharamsala - also known as Little Lhasa, the Indian home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan refugees.

The Secret of My Success

Yesterday, the Salvation Army was the benefactor of my full size, barely used ironing board, and an oversized Prince tennis racket.

Since last summer, I've been slowly assessing my material belongings and deciding which are worth paying to store while I'm away, and which I'm better off donating, selling, or throwing away.

It's been an interesting and valuable experience.

Early on, I began with my clothing. I would run through my two closets looking for clothes I no longer wear.

Each week I would find something further to donate.

So why did it take several months to reach a point where I was satisfied with the amount of clothes remaining?

I'd suggest it is human nature to grasp and hold onto things, feelings, and egos, regardless of the value they currently serve us.

My awareness of these concepts was turned on around the same time, I decided to take my trip, through my decision to place a higher value on experience versus materialism.

I realized I had a pretty good lot in life, and I was reaching a point of diminishing returns in my quest to spend and consume.

Ironically, I made this decision during the four months following a layoff from my first post-college job (Careerbuilder.com).

So week after week, I realized I would survive without this shirt or those sneakers.

I brought my dumbbell set to my apartment's gym so others could benefit from the extra weight plates. I gave away books and DVDs too.

I sold my Sony VCR on Craig's List for $15. The more I gave away, the easier it became to give more.

I continued to give money to the International Campaign for Tibet, my local Buddhist center, and my alma mater, Colgate University.

I genuinely believe the more you give, the more success you will reap.

Giving is just as much to satisfy the giver's ego as it is to benefit the recipients, regardless of the dollar amounts involved.

And that is OK. Giving of your time, money, or possessions lifts the spirits.

You exude greater confidence and positive energies, and somehow people will find a way to give back to you as a result.

Regardless of your financial situation, whether you're saving every cent for a big trip or working your way out of debt, find a way to give, and you'll be a better person for it!

The Amazing Race and Peking Duck

I had two firsts last night - watching the Amazing Race and eating Peking duck.

It's ironic that I've seen a ton of reality shows, yet I have always passed up the one about international travel where the contestants carry all their stuff all on their backs.

The only reason I decided to start watching this all-star season is that I got to know Rob and Amber, a popular married couple who have been on Survivor, through another show they shot last year.

Ok, I admit that I mostly watch for Amber because she's hot! Rob makes a good sidekick.

At any rate, they came in first on the leg last shown last night from Miami to Ecuador.

I can appreciate their competitiveness and think I'm in for the full race.

The Peking duck was enjoyed at Peking Gourmet Inn, a Chinese restaurant frequented by Presidents Bush Sr, Bush Jr, the Clintons, and tons of other politicians and foreign leaders.

You can tell because there are a few hundred framed and signed photos on the wall, taken with the restaurant owners.

It's located in northern Virginia, about five miles from me. I went out with my parents for the Chinese New Year.

The place was packed, and as we were leaving around 7 pm, about 20+ people were weaving along the tight hall and lobby all the way out the front door.

I had a chef's special, the garlic sprouts with chicken and rice.

The Peking duck was my parent's dinner, of which I partook of course.

I also used the occasion to let my parents know I wanted to move in with them this November, during the few weeks after my apartment lease is up, and before I leave for New Zealand.

My Backpack Tells A Story

I bought my red Gregory Chaos backpack at family-owned Casual Adventure in Arlington, Virginia.

It was the Spring of 1998, and I was preparing for my first independent travel experience, backpacking around Europe after college with a group of my best friends.

Until then, my experience sans duffel bag or luggage was limited to a few random hiking and overnight camping trips as a kid. Based on my research (i.e., Reading Rough Guide's First Time Europe), I knew smaller was better.

If I limited the size of my pack, I had built-in protection against carrying too heavy a load. I went with a 2,700 cubic inch size because it felt snug next to the curvature of my back.

Plus, it seemed to have a strap for every conceivable adjustment, thus keeping me busy for years.

The litmus test was whether I could walk into a china shop without destroying the joint.

Chaos was the pack that gave me the most confidence. It was small enough that I've taken it as carry-on luggage on my three big trips to-date (1998, 2005, 2006).

It cost $180 and represents my most significant travel experiences - past, present, and future.

On my first day in Paris, my friends and I were clueless and spent countless hours walking with our packs on our backs. Parisians looked at us with contempt.

Over 49 more days, it accompanied me to Amsterdam, Prague, Venice, Florence, Lake Como, Rome, Nice, Dover, London, all around Ireland, and back home again.

Three years later, my brother graduated from college and inspired by my trip (I like to think); he planned a European adventure as well.

As the older brother, I lent him my pack. It was tried and true for him as well, experiencing a journey woven into its fabric, which I will never know.

While I do not have pictures of my brother's trip, I do know he wrote an excellent account of what it's like to go running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain!

While on hiatus from international travel, my pack served me well on weekend trips from New York City to San Francisco.

When I put it on, I carry with me my past experiences of adventure, desire, loneliness, camaraderie, hardship, and wanderlust.

It bears the imprint of airport, train, bus, hovercraft, ferry, and hostel floors across the world.

My pack fit snug on my back as I walked out of the San Jose International Airport in Costa Rica, my first Central American adventure, in 2005.

On my final night of the trip, I met a Swiss guy who brought his skateboard on a long journey through South and Central America.

I envied him for his willingness to lug it around, though I wouldn't have trusted my skills at age 28, not to get me injured on the road.

My pack was happy to join me on the boats of Belize that shuttle people to the Cays in 2006, soaking in the saltwater mist along the way.

And ten years after I purchased it, my red Gregory Chaos backpack is lying ready under my bed, awaiting its most magnificent journey yet, a solo circumnavigation of our planet Earth.

You'd Better Belize It

The following journal entry was written on my third day in Belize, Saturday, May 13, 2006:

4:44 pm

I pedaled another 15 minutes and reached Captain Morgan's resort. I had a beer and water at the bar. Scoped the scene.

A lot of young and old American couples. Looked nice enough but was missing character, reality!

It's a designed fantasy - contrived. I suppose it'd be nice for a honeymoon experience, but not something I'll be doing anytime soon.

I made good time back, on purpose due to the blazing heat. It cost $5 for three hours. It was a 6-mile roundtrip ride.

Picture this - riding down a sandy path, under the blazing noon sun, Caribbean just a stone's throw away, listening to Bob Marley - One Love, Three Little Birds, and Jammin'.

Amazing, I told myself. After I lost the bike, got ice cream, I walked past Cannibals, and was surprised to see Darren and Kenny, with Carmela, and the other dudes.

They took a later boat - 3:30 pm. I got some pictures.

Darren asked me for something uniquely American, so I gave him my Washington, DC pen, the $3 one!

Kenny gave me an English VIP card for a bar. An hour later, they sadly went off and I have to admit, I was a bit sad to see them go. Good fun.

I turned and started talking to a pretty Canadian girl - Jamie. Turns out she's nearing the end of a three month Central American trip with her boyfriend.

We'll both be in Caye Caulker as well. Carmela said it's much quieter over there - perfect. Probably like Cahuita vs. Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica.

I'm going to take the 9:30 am boat I think. $10 one way. A Rastafarian, The Lyrical King, tried to sell me a CD.

He'll be playing at Cannibals from 7:30-11 pm so I'll be checking him out after a nice dinner at the Jamaican jerk place. Going to take it easy on the beer tonight.

I read a little more of my Buddhist book, "Awakening the Buddhist Heart" by Lama Surya Das.

No rush. It's a lot to absorb and I'm in no hurry. I'm glad I brought my linen shirt. It's perfect - well ventilated.

**Round the World 2008**

The waves breaking over the reef seem so close - they're really a few miles away.

Remember this feeling - use it to stay motivated for a bigger trip.

The excitement of seeing wild sharks, a pet monkey, bicycling the coast to Bob Marley and Ben Harper.

Remember the Brits - their good humor and high tolerance.

Remember Andrea and her good-hearted parents who invited me on a 3-day catamaran trip.

Remember the breeze, view, loneliness, friendliness, sense of wonder, awe, beauty, desire.

Remember to appreciate your surroundings regardless of where you are living, traveling, or lay resting.

Remember to take one step at a time, slow down, enjoy the ride.

Remember to stay positive - you can do it, I can do it, single girls are out and about, along with the guys.

Peace, love, and happiness. I'm going to write-out my MP3 playlist. I've heard two people who've had their iPods stolen.

Ricky - 9-year old spider monkey. I love it when the sun goes down, and those cool breezes kick up.

I'm not breaking new ground, by most of what I do on these trips, but the people, bonds, conversations are unique and beautiful (epiphany).

Read more about my trip to Belize in 2006.

Inspirational Quotes from Fight Club

You're not your job.

You're not how much money you have in the bank.

You're not the car you drive.

You're not the contents of your wallet.

You're not your fucking khakis.

You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.

-- Tyler Durden in Fight Club

Just like Turbo Tax told me, I received my tax refund via direct deposit yesterday.

It was a big day for my trip savings, one of many over the next few months.

I feel a little more secure with each month that passes.

Secure that I have the funds and will to travel abroad long term, even if something unexpected were to happen at work.

June will be my five year anniversary with the company. Quite amazing that it's been so long. They've had the best of me in my late 20's.

After a few small updates to the website, I finally got myself to the Pentagon City Mall to buy a new belt.

I'm about six months late, and five pounds lighter, and was getting tired of putting the purchase off while my pants fell off my ass at work.

I got a nice Banana Republic black belt, without the holes. This way I can afford to lose or gain a few pounds without having to reinvest in new belts!

The second cash register wasn't working I guess, because while it wasn't busy, I had to wait about 5-7 minutes in line.

Afterward, I went to Harris Teeter next door for some groceries. There were lines there too, so I was impatient and went to the self-checkout aisle and did it myself.

The first machine wasn't working right, so I went to a second. Then there were cars taking their time to exit the garage. It was all enough to annoy me.

My parents got back from a trip to Florida last weekend and brought me a bottle of key lime juice, and a small recipe book for lime-related desserts and drinks, so I figured I'd try my hand at key lime pie tonight.

Last night, I had a few screwdrivers with the Russian vodka my parents brought back a few years ago and watched Jackass 2.

I have to admit, I laughed out loud more for the second movie than the first.

As I begin to get used to my new Canon PowerShot SD700IS digital camera, and Flickr, I'll be posting more pictures.

A lot more. I just paid to upgrade to the Flickr Pro account with unlimited storage. $25 a year seems like a great deal.

Warning: If you are reading this then this warning is for you.

Every word you read of this useless fine print is another second off your life.

Don't you have other things to do?

Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments?

Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all that claim it?

Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think everything you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told to want?

Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation.

Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive.

If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned. -- Tyler

An Inconvenient Truth

I started to recycle again today. I had stopped upon moving into my current studio apartment four years ago this month.

The kitchen barely had room for a medium garbage can, let alone another bin for recycling plastic and glass.

I told myself it'd attract bugs too. I told myself I'm just one person, not making much of an impact on the world with my waste, or lack thereof.

Then I watched An Inconvenient Truth last night, after hearing about it for months.

I subscribed to global warming years ago, however, the movie was so well done, the reality so humbling, that I was spurred to get over myself and do something immediately to treat the environment a little better - the whole think globally, act locally idea.

The reality of melting glaciers is yet another reason I want to set out on my global journey as soon as possible.

My first country will be New Zealand, and I fully intend to hike on Fox Glacier, or heck maybe splurge on an ice climbing lesson in combination with the hike.

I'm super psyched about it. And it will be just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the amazing environments I'll experience.

I know I will return from these travels a greater steward of planet Earth than when I left.

In other news, I've yet to return the license plates from my first Jetta which I totaled two years ago. Why has it taken so long?

Probably because the DMV is ridiculous. I tried to get up early this morning and get to the closest one before it got crowded, but 10 am was not early enough.

It didn't help that I made 10 wrong turns to get there! I ran into my coworker Susan as I was leaving the apartment gym - she was apartment hunting.

I'm going to make a pistachio semifreddo tonight - basically, it's ice cream. And tomorrow, off to my friend Phil's for the Superbowl.

I hope Peyton Manning wins it with the Colts. But mostly, I just use it as an opportunity to socialize, and eat, drink and be merry.

Lastly, I hit 100 visitors on my new blog today. It's an exciting milestone!

The Anthem

It's a new day
But it all feels old
It's a good life,
That's what I'm told
But everything, it all just feels the same

Good Charlotte's opening lyrics to The Anthem ring in my head from time to time. Very catchy stuff, if not a bit hackneyed.

Then again, tons of punk bands have their own "anthem" songs. It rings true though, and I could and still can identify.

I was exposed to punk rock in my early teens, after moving to New Jersey when I was 10.

My friend Jeff, in particular, exposed me to the good stuff - The Dead Kennedys, Slayer, and NWA.

I found others on my own, such as Suicidal Tendencies and Sex Pistols. It definitely helped shape my attitudes about conforming vs rebelling.

I was interviewed by Wendy Reiger of the Washington, DC NBC news affiliate last Fall for a story she was doing on people who leave their career and travel long term.

It was my 15 seconds of fame. Ok, maybe 30 seconds.

The angle was that backpacking is often thought of as something that is done when you're young, in your early or mid-'20s, before getting immersed in a career, family, house, etc.

Well, I've got my career, however, I'm far from a serious relationship, and probably wouldn't seek one out given I've set this travel goal for myself and want it too much to be diverted now.

I bought this painting in one of the many art galleries in San Jose, Costa Rica in May 2005.

"Go to college,
A university
Get a real job"
That's what they say to me
But I could never live the way they want
I'm gonna get by
And just do my time
Out of step while
They all get in line
I'm just a Minor Threat so pay no mind

The Life Acquatic

Friday, payday, good day! I just finished watching the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Great movie, a little trippy.

In particular, I really dug the Portuguese adaptations of David Bowie songs.

Bill Murray has made some great movies - among my favorite being Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, and Rushmore.

I picked up a bottle of South African Merlot at the store on the way home. I think it's the first African wine I've had.

Golden Raan - it has a gold on black graphic of Africa on the label. I'm not sure I'd buy it again as it doesn't quite float my boat.

Jacob's Creek from Australia is one of my favorites. I could even see myself checking out their vineyard if it weren't too far off the beaten track.

January is almost over, like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives.

If things go according to plan, I could be on my way in nine months -crazy!

The biggest adventure of my life. Like skydiving, I might need a slight push out the door.

Not only am I writing 20 performance reviews (due in five days), I learned today I also need to self-evaluate myself (due in three days).

Of course, I'll write a stellar review for myself (my boss actually gave me that advice about a year ago), though it'll be a little weird.

There's no way around it, I'll need to put in a few hours at the office this weekend.

Three Little Birds

It's been a week since I started this blog, and I'm increasingly keen on the idea.

I've been keeping written journals for the past five years or so, and have put my three travel journals online at GoBackpacking.com.

I continue to customize this site, and I'm sure I'll find new ways to tweak the look, feel and functionality until I leave.

Today's updates include site stats and breadcrumb navigation.

The US Men's National soccer team beat Denmark today, 3-1, in the first international match since the first-round defeat in the 2006 World Cup.

I keep remembering that I'll likely be in the vicinity of China for the 2008 Olympics. Soccer would be tops on my list of events, especially if I could score tickets to a US match.

I'll get to posting a pic of myself, however, for now, I snapped this birdie outside my apartment window this afternoon.

It reminded me of Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, which is my go-to stress-relieving song.

Bob Marley's Legend has been in my car's CD changer for the past two years straight.

I'll begin posting more about myself as well, given we've got a lot of time to shoot the breeze before the adventure begins!

New Day Rising

Eureka! Installing this blog software by WordPress on my own website was a snap. I had already done the message boards a few months ago, so I'm sure that experience helped. Still, with this up and running so quickly and easily, I'm now psyched to host my Round the World travel blog on home turf! The biggest benefit will be a somewhat unlimited sense of photo storage. Life is good.

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