Cambodian first impressions

Cambodia, so far, has been a refreshing change from Thailand. Many things are the same (the climate, the prices (more or less), and the disregard of traffic "laws"), but many things are different, both for good and bad. On the good side, things are less touristy here. I hate to say that, because it sounds so elitist, but it truly enhances my experience of the place. It is easy to find places that are like I imagine they would be if Sihanoukville wasn't a main tourist destination for Cambodia (which isn't saying much, as Cambodia isn't quite the tourist destination). Take for example this: Ryan and I were walking back from the beach, me with my juggling clubs in hand. Street kids are always pointing to the clubs with a questioning look on their face, and when I toss them up a time or two, their faces light up. Anyway, this time, I was doing just that when a rather jolly (read:drunk) looking fellow comes out of a back yard and beckons (read:drags) us into his back yard to put on a show for his friends. We oblige, naturally (for what juggler can turn down a captive, appreciative audience). Needless to say, they are extremely excited. The main guy comes out with drinks for us, which we beg off, but we do position him between us while we pass clubs around him. So fun. Things like this seem like it would happen less frequently in Thailand, or at least the touristy parts. On the downside, Cambodia, or at least the parts I have seen so far, are poor. There are beggers everywhere, and the business people are a bit more aggressive, esp. the moto drivers. It is sad to come out of a store to 10 kids with their hands outstrecthed and a desperate look on their face. We had dinner the other evening at an outdoor place, and there was a kid that sat watching us eat the whole time. We've had many a discussion on this topic. We can never come to conclusions on what to do, how to feel, etc. etc. But whatever the case, it sure is a bring down. Both the good and the bad is what makes it the experience that it is, and for that I am greatful. I'm looking forward to much more of each in the coming weeks.

Monday November 27 2006

File under: Cambodia, travel

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on Tue 28th Nov, 2006 05:57 pm UTC Saxtor said: See, Wren, this is why the average traveller "vacations" versus actual travels. They are consumed by a manufactured version of the place they visit where they are sheltered from the reality of the place. This is why your version of travelling will be infinitely more rewarding in the end. Along with seeing amazing locales, by exposing yourself to the "bads," and processing those things, you are shaping your view of the world and gathering fodder to communicate this to others. ************************ on Tue 28th Nov, 2006 11:05 pm UTC amanda_pyle said: hey wren, jule gave me your link and i've read almost the whole thing, except for the archives that you haven't archived. i must say that the pictures, anecdotes and your back and front ends have made me feel that i have also been travelling/vacationing in asia. i haven't been to many places outside of the states because most of my time and $$ has been spent on community causes, which i have yet to come to terms with. :) remember my hands smelling like tunafish at your bday party from trapping alley cats? haha! so thank you so much for your posts! and ironically enough, when i went to your birthday party with the local food theme the last thing i expected was for you to take a trip to asia! weren't you just in the mindset of celebrating anacortes? and yes, you should be ashamed of all of the money you spent to spend money on National Buy Nothing Day. i'd love a postcard 1117 16th St, Anacortes, WA 98221. ************************ on Tue 28th Nov, 2006 11:07 pm UTC amanda_pyle said: hey wren, jule gave me your link and i've read almost the whole thing, except for the archives that you haven't archived. i must say that the pictures, anecdotes and your back and front ends have made me feel that i have also been travelling/vacationing in asia. i haven't been to many places outside of the states because most of my time and $$ has been spent on community causes, which i have yet to come to terms with. :) remember my hands smelling like tunafish at your bday party from trapping alley cats? haha! so thank you so much for your posts! and ironically enough, when i went to your birthday party with the local food theme the last thing i expected was for you to take a trip to asia! weren't you just in the mindset of celebrating anacortes? and yes, you should be ashamed of all of the money you spent to spend money on National Buy Nothing Day. i'd love a postcard 1117 16th St, Anacortes, WA 98221. ************************ on Tue 28th Nov, 2006 11:12 pm UTC amanda_pyle said: ok, now i have to say a few more things. i wish i could delete the double comment and i'm not sure how it happened in the first place except i clicked on a link and then clicked on the back button in my browser to get back to your blog. your Mom has permission to make fun of me since she was gracious enough to make fur of herself for doing it. :) second, you missed Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving, but Jule and Baila showed so hooray for them. you can see their pictures on my myspace (it's linked to my user name here) and i sent a couple Baila pics to Jule which he should then forward to you since you are both so technically savvy. how refreshing. finally, i'm dying to know the books that you've read. i personally hate when i pick up a novel that turns out to be trash so i usually stick to the classics. current read: Catch 22. absolutely love it. ************************ on Wed 29th Nov, 2006 01:12 am UTC Mom said: Ahh Wren, the cruelest cut--shirtless, hatless, swimming trunks--while we have been stuck at 16 degrees F all day and taking our lives in our hands just crossing these icy streets. Have mercy! ************************

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Funny Money

Funny Money One of the curiosities about travel - sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is maddening - is the money. Conversion rates, deciphering the value of a bill, making sure you have enough to get you to the next country, but not too much, so you don't lose money on the transfer back, etc. etc. And then there is the actual notes; I'm just totally enamored by just about all paper money I see, not because of its value, but because of what it says about the culture. This money-aspect of travel was really punctuation while crossing the Cambodian border yesterday morning. The Cambodian currency unit is the riel, with an approximate conversion rate of 4,000 to the US dollar. The US dollar is widely accepted, though, and often prices are even quoted in it. Well, in anticipation of this, I converted the remainder of my Thai baht (except a few choice bills for my collection) into US dollars. When we got to the border, the border police refused to accept dollars for the [exorbitant] visa fee. So it was back to an ATM to get out baht. The motos that met us off the ferry to give us a ride into town (Sihanoukville) quotes prices in baht. We then tried to covert that to dollars, because we had no baht. Since we didn't have correct change in dollars, we converted the amount to riels, which we picked up at a roadside money changer. All in all, it makes for some interesting commerce. So having traveled for the past 10 weeks, I'm getting quite the stack of foriegn currency. In my wallet, currently, I have 6 different currencies: US dollar, Thai baht, Cambodian riel, Chinese yuan, Hong Kong dollar, and Macau pataca. But don't get any ideas. The sum total of all these is prolly no more than $50. Yes, I realize this is a very pertainent post, it coming on the heels of National Buy Nothing Day and all.

Sunday November 26 2006

File under: travel, Cambodia

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on Sun 26th Nov, 2006 09:49 am UTC Saxtor said: I missed the semi-tradition of geocaching on BND, and infact I did buy breakfast, but it was my last opportunity to see BJ, and it was a local restaurant (and thus not exactly furthering consumer culture), so I managed to semi-justify it. However, nothing was spent the rest of the day. BND is def one of my favorite holidays. ************************ on Tue 28th Nov, 2006 09:24 am UTC trista said: boy, am i a loser. i've never even heard of 'National Buy Nothing Day'. ************************ on Wed 29th Nov, 2006 07:32 am UTC lani said: Christen told me about your blog. Your photos are wonderful! and descriptions of the 'it' and experiencing the 'now'...yes~thank you for sharing. ************************ on Wed 06th Dec, 2006 01:04 am UTC steve studer said: Speaking of money,it was great to go to Europe and not have to change money every day.100 trinidad dollars are worth 16 us.We walk around with this huge wad of cash all the time/ ************************

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving: a time to give thanks, and a time to eat. We'll start in reverse order here, with the food. We invited some Canadians to join us for the big feast, being as Americans are few and far between over this way. It was a most enjoyable dinner. The menu included spring rolls, vietnamese "summer" rolls, red coconut curry with chicken, pineapple curry with seafood, fried veggies with chicken, lots of rice, pineapple chicken kebabs, fried rice with seafood, a coconut fruit shake, and a mixed fruit shake. There might have been some other stuff in there too. I don't exactly remember. (Oh and all for about $4 a person.) I'll miss the post-feast burritos with the stuffing and potatoes and such from home, but I can't complain. And now for the thanks: Every moment I look around me, I realize how much I have to be thankful for. But for the purposes of this blog, I will be brief. On my trip, I have had the pleasure of traveling with so many good friends from home; Andrew, Per, Myke, Shane, Trista, Andy, Jodie, and Ryan. Throughout my travels, I've met some great people, as well; Racheal, Mark, Andrea, the Dutch Girls (whose name I could never pronounce, couldn't even begin to spell, so I immediately forgot), Esther and Paul, Aussie Dave, Abi, Michelle and Brenda, Pingping, Bruce and Betsy, and Kathy. So to all that have helped make this trip so great, I offer a heartfelt thanks. I would also like to offer my utmost appreciation to you, the readers of BdW. Being able to share my adventures with you has made everything I've done that much better. Getting your comments, questions, suggestions, experiences, and encouragement has made it almost like you were all here with me. So, file this Thanksgiving under "Awesome". (Oh, I also kayaked out to a nearby island and got an elite geocache!) Anyway, I hope you and yours have a wonderful day with lots of food, friends, and family.

Thursday November 23 2006

File under: Thailand, holidays

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on Sat 25th Nov, 2006 11:22 pm UTC Trista said: HaPPY ThanKsgiVing, back at ya. ************************ on Sun 26th Nov, 2006 02:00 am UTC Saxtor said: Glad to know you were able to have a Tday feast (but sans turkey...!?). And how tasty it must have been, yum! I've seen a good portion of people over the weekend, and you have a tendency to come up in convo with some regularity. Glad things are going marvelously. Have fun in Cambodia. We're going to need another picture update here, y0! ************************

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Beach life...(is the life!)

So perhaps I spoke too soon (and perhaps a bit generalized) in my last post re:traveling vs. vacationing. Where have I been the last 4 days? The beach. How do I pass my days? Chess, juggling, swimming, and reading. What are my plans for tomorrow? Kayaking to a geocache, chess, juggling, and swimming. How many of these endeavors involve local culture or any sort of worthy pursuit? None. But that's okay. Ryan and I have lucked out on places to stay out here on Ko Chang. Our first hut was a great little one on the beach about a 20 minute walk down a dirt road. There was a huge lawn for juggling, a great beach for swimming, and hammocks all around for reading and chillin'. The downside was the surly dude that owned the place took an immediate disliking to us. And while we can't prove anything, a large number of fleas and ants did end up in our beds. Perhaps coincidence. Anyway, after a scratchy and sleepless night, we've moved down to the Lonely Planet-recommended Treehouse bungalows. Pictured to the right is my current digs, a tiny hut that will prolly have the porch over the water at high tide. Good times!

Tuesday November 21 2006

File under: Thailand, pics

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on Tue 21st Nov, 2006 04:50 pm UTC Sarah Fate said: mmm. The flea story is making me reminisce of the time we were in Indonesia scuba diving in the most beautiful place ever, but the rats would eat the crotches out of our underwear at night... ************************ on Tue 21st Nov, 2006 04:51 pm UTC sarah Fate said: i just read my comment, for clarification, we were not wearing our underwear when the rats would snack on them... :-) that sounded really bad... ************************ on Tue 21st Nov, 2006 06:04 pm UTC Mom said: I'll bet it is Satsuma season year round there. Ahh ************************ on Tue 21st Nov, 2006 10:21 pm UTC Jule said: Sarah, thanks for the clarification! Wren, that place looks awesome. Bring home some sunshine, a grass hut, warm ocean, and a palm frond or two! ************************ on Wed 22nd Nov, 2006 02:12 am UTC Amanda said: I've found you! I received a postcard from a mysterious person (who I didn't know was in China!), and thought I'd catch up with his travels. It sounds like your having a wonderful time, but I'm telling you, I bet China isn't as exotic as Canada. As a matter of fact, it seem like most of the people in China are leaving to live here. ************************ on Wed 22nd Nov, 2006 03:47 am UTC Trista said: The beach sounds nice. I wiped out with my commie cruiser on the ice yesterday. Slid the entire street width, picked up myself, my bike, all my debasketed things and rid on. Not a single person helped as I moaned and they walked by like they'd never seen a white girl wiped out before. A little soar today... goona go get an hour massage for a dollar. I love NE China. I miss Thailand. ************************ on Thu 23rd Nov, 2006 01:32 am UTC Kathleen Root said: Oh Wren, you help us all get through soggy Western Washington weather with your adventures. Swimming! Hammocks! Sunshine! ************************ on Thu 23rd Nov, 2006 01:32 am UTC Kathleen Root said: Oh Wren, you help us all get through soggy Western Washington weather with your adventures. Swimming! Hammocks! Sunshine! ************************ on Thu 23rd Nov, 2006 03:15 am UTC Andrew said: don't worry mom. Double post happens to the best of us. ************************ on Thu 23rd Nov, 2006 03:15 am UTC Andrew said: well, obviously it doesn't happen to people like me. but Jule. it definately happens to Jule. ************************ on Thu 23rd Nov, 2006 02:44 pm UTC Horge said: Not related in any way to this post, but does this from the Onion sound familiar? "Son is type of kid who wears shorts in dead of winter" Hmmm... It's an entry of their list "A recent study suggests that parents are often unaware of their children's drug use. Here are some warning signs parents should look out for". I'm frankly dissappointed. I expected better of you. :) ************************ on Fri 24th Nov, 2006 07:28 am UTC Saxtor said: Having run into Aaron Mitchell at the Brown Lantern twice, now, it has been made clear that Thailand is good for little more than just that...hence the shorts. ************************

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Travelling vs. Vacationing

There is a subtle difference between travelling and vacationing, but it seems to come up a lot. Every traveller you meet has a different balance of taking in a new culture, geography, etc. and comforts and pleasure. For some, exemplified by those who choose all inclucive resorts in the Caribbean, the balance is towards comforts and pleasure. For others, the balanace is extremely the other way. Think of hauling a big backpack through the heat of the jungle and the chaos of local buses to see the ruins of some religious something or other. For me, the balance is usually towards the less comforts, more culture side, (although I don't dis the resort life at all (case in point)) This eye opening and sometimes back-breaking pursuit is what I call "travelling". Well, travelling can wear on you. It takes a lot to wade through the challenges that throw themselves at you in a typical traveller's day. So I decided to take a vacation from my travels. Yes, I know. Right now you are saying, "your whole trip has been a vacation". Well, I assure you that there are definitely trials and tribulations that I've been omitting in this blog. Anyhoo, the vacation: Ryan and I found ourselves in Pattaya, Thailand, a beach resort of some disrepute. (We found out the reason for the disrepute after visiting, and it is safe to say that I will never go back there again. Long story.) Anyway, what the town did have going for it is that it was geared towards vacationers. So for my vacation, I chose a movie in the cinema (James Bond in Casino Royal), a couple of rounds of minigolf, an air conditioned room, and an all you can eat breakfast buffet. Needless to say, it was great! Although I lost 300 baht on the golfing (10 baht per stroke. I'm far off my best), and prolly gained 15 pounds or so (I also upped my daily icecream limit from 1 to 3 for my vacation), it was a much needed recharge with western comforts after my time in China and before tackling Cambodia and Vietnam. So now we are back in travel mode. We are in Trat, with plans to head out to Ko Chang tomorrow. Today, we took 3 local buses totalling 6 hours, part of which was so hot the sweat just poured off, another part of which was done standing in an oversold bus. Culture at its finest, I guess.

Friday November 17 2006

File under: Thailand, pics

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on Sat 18th Nov, 2006 09:05 pm UTC Sara said: Cambodia and Vietnam? Really? ************************ on Sun 19th Nov, 2006 03:48 am UTC Wren said: We'll hit the Cambodian border next week, although the beach here is pretty nice, so it might be a bit longer than that. From there, we haven't decided on Vietnam or Laos. Laos is rising to challenge Vietnam pretty quickly from the people we've been talking to. It's so nice to not know and play it by ear. ************************ on Sun 19th Nov, 2006 08:50 am UTC bob said: thought of burma? i've heard nothing but good things from people that've gone there. ************************ on Sun 19th Nov, 2006 01:28 pm UTC Horge said: I don't know if you're up for any of it, but I once read an interesting book about a guy who travelled up the Viet Cong trails by motor bike. It could be pretty cool. Plus it would be another (former) Communist country under your belt, if that means anything. I don't know anything about Laos except I had a friend in 6th grade whose parents were from there; also the Asian neighbor in "King of the Hill" is Laotian. In any case I think the tie-breaker should be in quantitiy/quality of geocaches in-country. ************************ on Sun 19th Nov, 2006 05:56 pm UTC Kevin Iga said: I'm a friend of Chris Richards (see comments on a couple of posts down), in Hong Kong for this semester. Some Pepperdine folks and I went to Southern Vietnam and had a blast. Some of us are heading to Cambodia probably at the beginning of December. I can send you the email of Austin Outhavong, a Pepperdine alum math major who worked in Laos for a bit, and now works in Thailand. I know what you mean by vacationing vs. travelling. For me, I can vacation right here in Hong Kong, sitting around doing nothing. Or reading blogs belonging to friends of friends. :-) ************************ on Mon 20th Nov, 2006 01:25 am UTC Jule said: If you go to Vietnam, you must say hi to Pres. George for me! We are on a first name basis... ************************ on Mon 20th Nov, 2006 02:23 pm UTC trista said: Wait a minute... are you saying China doesn't provide on the "western comforts"? What are you talking about! If you didn't notice some of these bigger cities round here got some of them new fancy toilets.. ya know.. them with the porceline and the water inside and the throne and all. Sure, you gotta poor a bucket of water down it to flush, but they are called "western toilets" yOU got somethin better goin on down there in Thailand? Ya, and say "what up" to George for me too.. tell him i'm comin back to the homeland soon with all that info he wanted. ************************ on Mon 20th Nov, 2006 05:30 pm UTC Kevin Anderson said: Vietnam is a trying place. Be glad you stocked upon creature comforts before visiting that pretty place. God bless. ************************ on Tue 21st Nov, 2006 06:45 am UTC Jule said: Kevin, I remember that you went to Vietnam! now if I could only remember how you got there...wiat, it is coming back to me... ************************

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Haiku Challenge

Back on the beach Sand between my toes Crashing waves to frolic in It's good to be back Okay folks, there's my haiku. I don't think it will win any awards or move anyone to tears, but writing in such a structured way can be fun from time to time. Now have your go at it. Any comments to this post should be posted in haiku format (5/7/5). Have fun!

Wednesday November 15 2006

File under: poetry, travel

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on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 04:58 pm UTC Trista said: Well now, nice haiku. I just want to ask you this, Can you limerick? ************************ on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 08:04 pm UTC Saxtor said: Wren is on a beach. I'm behind an LCD. At least it's fall here. ************************ on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 09:31 pm UTC sweet julie said: working all nite sucks one diurnal creature, me whale season soon! ************************ on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 09:49 pm UTC Saxtor said: If you need line breaks Put this after your stanzas < br >, no spaces. ************************ on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 11:20 pm UTC nathan said: u r back so soon? anacortes or thailand? what will you do now? ************************ on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 11:22 pm UTC nathan said: btw, saxtor not sure bout u'r last stanza can u clarify? ************************ on Thu 16th Nov, 2006 04:40 am UTC Mom said: Here's some news from home. A storm knocked out the power. Candlelight haiku. ************************ on Thu 16th Nov, 2006 07:57 am UTC Horge said: Where are you now, Wren? Japan's famous for their haikus, But don't know their beaches. ************************ on Thu 16th Nov, 2006 01:04 pm UTC Wren said: I'm back in Thailand. What a funny thing to say This "back in Thailand" ************************ on Thu 16th Nov, 2006 01:09 pm UTC bob said: dude, wren, you appear to be pinching a fat loaf in your favicon ************************ on Thu 16th Nov, 2006 09:07 pm UTC jenelle said: i miss copious vitamin d synthesis mail me some, would you? ************************ on Thu 16th Nov, 2006 10:25 pm UTC Saxtor said: Consumer Alert: Counterfeit vitamin D direct from Thailand. ************************ on Fri 17th Nov, 2006 03:04 am UTC Andrew said: Comments? Comments? What? I will write no poetry, For your laziness! ************************ on Sat 18th Nov, 2006 04:59 am UTC trista said: big weekend for me shaved my legs, finished reading my legs feel naked. ************************ on Tue 11th Jan, 2011 09:09 am PST Aurora said: soaring my wings to the land of voodoo dreams travel tales to tell ************************

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What I do for geocaching

What would you do with 3 hours in Macau, a city that is unique in its combination of European and Asian cultures? Maybe take a cultural tour of the city, or at least get a cab to drive you to the major sites? Well, I got off the ferry and went straight for the only geocache...by foot. You laugh, but I think I might have a serious problem. In Hong Hong, I tried for 4 caches but only found 2. But I suppose, in its(/my) defense, it is a good way to see some of the off-the-beaten-path sights. And it is a way to make Saxtor jealous. Luckily, after some huffing and puffing to get up the hill (with my heavy backpack), I found the cache quickly so I had enough time to stroll through a few of the narrow streets and see a few of the gorgeous building facades. I didn't, however, get a chance to check out any of the casinos. But for a traveller on a budget, maybe casinos aren't the best idea. Anyway, my time in both Macau and Hong Kong were way way too short, but there might be a revisit in the near future. Stay tuned for details.

Monday November 13 2006

File under: Macau, travel

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on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 07:52 pm PST Chris said: You have a problem. I would suggest a twelve step program, but you'd probably find one where each step is given as long/lat coords. ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 07:52 pm PST Chris said: You have a problem. I would suggest a twelve step program, but you'd probably find one where each step is given as long/lat coords. ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 07:54 pm PST Chris said: OK, first, I didn't double post, I don't know what the problem is and I suggest you have a serious talk with whatever deadbeat programmer does your website. Second, 1007 BB St Apt C, Universal City, TX 78148. Jonah's been dying to hear from ya. ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 09:50 pm PST Mom said: You look so "Forest Gumpy-lonely" sitting on that bench all by yourself. I suspect you are writing "Life is like a geocache..." ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 11:02 pm PST Saxtor said: I'd be appalled if you didn't use this travel as an opportunity to do some caching! No jealousy here....I'd prefer to call it bitter envy. ************************ on Tue 14th Nov, 2006 08:39 am UTC trista said: Are we goona cache in Russia or what? ************************ on Mon 10th Jan, 2011 11:57 am PST Horge said: I didn't know exactly where to put this one as I didn't see any Taiwan tag down on the bottom right (weren't you there once?), though you do have 2 Mexicos (?)... I just thought this place my sister sent me to read about might be up your alley if you ever get back to Taipei, as it somehow combines up with your Squatemala experience ;-) ************************ on Mon 10th Jan, 2011 11:58 am PST Horge said: Forgot to provide the link: http://funfever.blogspot.com/2007/11/taiwans-modern-toilet-restaurant.html ************************

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A conversation with Hong Kong

HK: Welcome to Hong Kong. me: You speak English! I'm so glad to be here. That bus ride was a bear. Those beds were not made for 6' Westerners. It really makes you appreciate train travel. HK: Technically, you're not there yet. You first must fill out this form and go stand in that line. me: No problem. HK: And then this form and that line...and then that line over there. me: What's the deal with the customs. Aren't you still part of China? HK: Yes and no. It's complicated. me: Hmmm.... HK: Oh, and you need different money. My dollar is far superior to the RMB. me: (yeah, but .01%) HK: What was that? me: Nothing. So how much should I get out of the ATM? I'm only here for 2 days. This ought to be more than enough. HK: Ha! me: We're not all here to shop for Gucci, you know. HK: Have it your way. Where are you staying? me: I was hoping you could help me out with that. Any particular district you recommend? HK: You mean you don't have a guide book?!? Well, all my districts are nice. me: Alrighty then. Thanks for the help. I'll just roam around in the heat with my big bag until I find something. HK: Well, enjoy your stay. (And maybe you should stop by to see one of my many tailors, grubby)

Sunday November 12 2006

File under: China, travel

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on Sun 12th Nov, 2006 05:08 am UTC Saxtor said: Hmmmm, this kind of reminds me of a conversation I had with London... ************************ on Sun 12th Nov, 2006 03:39 pm UTC trista said: sounds like you and Hong Kong are getting along just great! Glad to see you are making friends. I bought a ticket to America the other day... well, to Canada at least. Customs shouldn't be that difficult. Let me know if you wanna join me... flying the 21st. December, obviously. ************************ on Sun 12th Nov, 2006 06:06 pm UTC Jule said: Watch out for the tailors out there, you may end up wearing the emporers new clothes! Although you would of course look very good in them. Dad agrees and sends his love. I am in Seattle right now. You are missing quite a rainy week, with the flooding and the mudslides and the state of emergency. not the mention the election, which was another type of landslide! ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 10:54 pm UTC Kevin Anderson said: Enjoy the hustle and buslte. I'd stay in Tsim Tsat Tsui, its on the Kowloon peninsula, and it is a district. If you are persistant you can find an inexensive room in a guest house. If you get the hankering you can take a jet boat over to Macau, it is way slower paced and has a great history. It was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years. They have fine wines, good cheese and an economy based mostly on gambling and prostitution. Be wary of the ladies of the night, but check out some fine old world style casinos where they don't let you in without a collared shirt and closed toed shoes (Casino Lisboa). It really is worth it, Macau was like a European oasis in my Asian adventures. And remember to eat some dim sum, especially the chicken feet. Tasty. ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 05:04 pm PST Andrew said: tell Hong Kong i say "whattup?". we are old drinking buddies from college. ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 05:33 pm PST Daniel said: This is my hometown, you better not to say anything bad about it. I missed HK and I planned on visiting some time next year (2007) ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 11:32 pm PST Saxtor said: Andrew, you're confusing Hong Kong with William Hung... ************************ on Tue 14th Nov, 2006 01:11 pm PST bob said: i spent 4 days in hong kong, which seemed like about 3 days too many. nice views, but otherwise it's overpriced shopping and chinese food like you find in america (ie not that great). what'd you think wren? ************************ on Wed 15th Nov, 2006 02:50 pm UTC Wren said: Bob, I really liked Hong Kong, from the very little I saw of it. I liked the structure of it with a clean subway, English signs around, and availablity of everything. It was a pleasant change from the rest of China. I'm not saying that the rest of China is bad in anyway, but Hong Kong is definitely different in what was a good way for me at the time. It is a town I would like to spend another couple days in to see what else it has to offer besides 2 geocaches. ************************ on Fri 17th Nov, 2006 11:36 am UTC Kevin Iga said: Hi, I got to your site through a friend Chris Richard's site--don't know if it's because you know each other. Anyway, I loved this piece! I'm in HK now, as a visiting scholar, and watching over students from Pepperdine University. I'm putting together a guide for students coming to HK next year, and I wanted to include this entry. Can I? Please? Pretty please? ************************ on Fri 17th Nov, 2006 12:01 pm UTC Kevin Iga said: Oops--I asked you a question and didn't give a way to respond. You can send me an email at kiga (at) pepperdine.edu. I just wandered over your page and found you're a math guy. Cool! Me too. ************************

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Democracy Works!

No, I don't mean the mid-term elections back there in the U.S. (whose hubbub I'm so glad I've mostly missed out on). I mean the BdW poll and its results. Thanks to some great investigative work by you, dear readers, I've just had 3 great days to wind down my time in China. I've spent my time in Yangshuo which is just outside of Guilin. It is the "independent travelers" area, while Guilin caters more to the package tourist. The touristy atmosphere has been a pleasant change from the big city hustle and bustle I've experienced so far. Menus in English, other travelers, and activities out the wazoo are all assets Yangshuo's got going for it. First and foremost, upon arrival, I immediately climbed Green Lotus Peak to get the area's only geocache. In the evening, I enjoyed more steamed dumplings at the hectic night market. (I had to pass on the dog, frog, eel meat this time around.) On the second day, I rented a bicycle and toured the local countryside. Riding through rice fields on a path 2 feet wide where there is no one around but the water buffalo and farmers stooped to hand reap the harvest will forever stay in my memory. I couldn't have asked for a better counterpart to the cities I've mostly seen so far. After a bamboo ferry ride across the river, the bike trip finished with a trip to Moon Hill. The Li River is one of the things that can't be missed, so I didn't. Yesterday I took a trip that puttered up and down the river where we pretty much just gazed out at the scenery. Quite pleasant (oh, ignore that dude in the front with goofy looking birds on his shoulders and just bask in the scenery).

Friday November 10 2006

File under: China, travel

Toggle Comments (7)

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on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 02:43 am UTC sweet julie said: are those actual fishing cormorants?!?!?! wow! i am envious! love the scenery- what are those 'hills' made out of? so unique! love to see your smiling, peacefull, beautiful wrenny face! ************************ on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 04:42 am UTC bbree said: I second that! The envy part. The scenery is surreal. Hey Wren -- I know I've been silent til now, but have been following your travels pretty regularly. thanks for the vicarious adventure. ************************ on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 06:26 am UTC Trista said: So, by now maybe you've realized the back of the 20 spot is your current neighborhood. I've been spendin' those orange backs thinkin' of you. ************************ on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 06:30 am UTC trista said: p.s. Is there a "swimming with the shags" tour available there on the Li River? ************************ on Sat 11th Nov, 2006 07:42 pm UTC Mom said: Whoa, you shaved! Or is this some fancy time lapse photography that shows you as the man you were when you left for this trip? Did the Princess Cruise ship require a clean shave? ************************ on Sun 12th Nov, 2006 02:32 am UTC Saxtor said: They weren't convinced he was actually a princess unless he shaved... ************************ on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 05:42 pm PST Daniel said: I haven't been to this part of the country, there is an old saying goes like this "Guilin's scenery tops the world, Yangshuo is even better than Guilin". So, you know how much the local in Yangshuo proud of their scenic world. I have never been there before, but all these picturesque setting and Li River were told when I was a child. ************************

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Numbers (a.k.a. BdW's Index)

I had some down time at the train station the other day, so I thought it might be fun to run some of the numbers of my trip so far. Now I know most of you are muttering "nerd" under your breath. To that, I reply, "Yep!" So enjoy it if you will. Or not. Nights away from home: 56 Nights spent on some form of moving transportation: 9 2 on a place, 6 on a train, and 1 on a boat (I'm only counting 1 night on the cruise because we were docked the majority of 2 nights Hours spent on a train: 87 most of which have occurred in China Postcards sent: 24 (if you haven't gotten one, e-mail me your address, then wait 6-8 weeks for delivery) Countries visited: 3 Countries legally visited: 2 Russia, of course, is non the wiser to our visit Maximum paid for a hotel/hostel: $22.50 (in Chongqing, China) Minimum paid for a hotel/hostel: $2.00 (in Chaing Mai, Thailand) Average cost for a hotel/hostel: $5.30 Median cost for a hotel/hostel: $4.00 Books read: 10 Geocaches found: 8 but one was a virtual cache which almost doesn't count

Wednesday November 8 2006

File under: travel, China

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on Wed 08th Nov, 2006 03:51 pm UTC Jule said: Traveling the world: priceless ************************ on Wed 08th Nov, 2006 11:02 pm UTC Saxtor said: Nerds love stats! I don't see a tea stat, there. ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 01:14 am UTC Andrew said: how many Andrew's have you hugged? ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 02:46 am UTC trista said: WOW, that's amazing, Wren! I totally muttered "nerd" under my breath at that very moment! ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 04:51 am UTC Jimmie said: Sam has been telling us at work about you and Shane and your adventures, and it's a bit like story time!! Then he mentioned your blog and now I'm hooked!! You guys are lucky!! Me and Casey wen't to Cabo with like forty other people for a wedding this passing Summer and now were kinda looking at Thailand, thanks to your awesome pics and not to mention the cheap hotel rates!! Keep up the updates Wren, we all love em!! Take care and have a safe trip wherever you end up!! ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 06:32 am UTC Mom said: Has it been only 56 days away from the Outback? It seems like ages ago that you left. What's your name again? ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 08:42 am UTC George said: "Russia is non the wiser"? Um. But you do realize that this "Mom" person that keeps posting comments is a secret KGB agent from the Kremlin, right? You can be Mother Russia's tracking your white butt and every potsticker you gorge on. Also, do you have my address here in Bosnia? I think I sent it to you. I'd like a card if you havent already sent one my way. Thanks dude. ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 05:06 pm UTC Chris said: You left out the stat of how many times you've been pointed/laughed at by locals. The cruise alone has to bring the count up to the triple digits. ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 05:38 pm UTC Elizabeth Moore said: 9/11/06 arrived home from Beijing Tuesday to find your postcard. We'd been in Shanghai, cruised the river, ChongQing, on to Beijing, then SEA-TAC,Bellingham. We'll be in HongKong 20 Nov. for 6 days. Can you join us for Thanksgiving dinner Thursday23 Nov? ************************ on Thu 09th Nov, 2006 08:15 pm UTC Cyndi said: This is my virgin voyage to the Blog du Wren. Wow, we miss you here. I understand that the pictoral game has helped you on your voyage. :) When are you coming home?? juniper@fidalgo.net ************************ on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 02:20 am UTC Sonya said: Wren, Erik would die for a postcard, he collects them. If you have time here is his address (and mine)...Erik Nelson, 14516 Brookshire Drive, Urbandale, IA 50323, USA? Peace! ************************

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