10 Day Silent Meditation Course

THAILAND:

Just finished a ten day silent meditation course and now able to put into words some of my thoughts. A quick summary: it is 12 days at a facility where you are to learn, intensively, the technique to Vipassana Meditation(one of the oldest surviving methods of meditation). The organization is completely non-profit and non sectarian, each facility is placed outside of a city and usually in a beautiful landscape; whether that be Yosemite National Park or in the Jungle as ours was. Before arriving, rules are emailed along with the 4am-930pm daily timetable that one is to follow. No meals after 12 noon and no talking for 10 days sounds daunting, but they are all for the greater good of the course and, after hundreds of years of similar such courses, the organizers have it down to a science. The purpose of the course was to teach this method of meditation, Vipassana, which teaches one to see things as they are, no matter how painful or pleasurable. Eyes closed, cross legged, do not move for an hour. Don't wipe the sweat running down your back or scratch that terrible itch on your nose. Needless to say, it is a tremendous challenge.




Now, one would think it would be boring or one would feel trapped spending 10 days in a facility without being able to leave and having a strict timeline each day, it was the exact opposite. Upon arrival, many rules are posted and signed off on by the students, yet none of them were enforced or re-iterated by any staff. Still, of the 100+ students, there was no rule breaking or disrespect given to any of these precepts. Besides the facts of the experience(great food, monsoon storms, no input-tv, reading,ect- or output-talking, writing, ect), it was an amazing experience. The experiences, both emotional and physical, of these ten days would take countless years to experience if not brought out through this method. It truly allowed us to experience the wisdom of change and the dhamma(nature) on an experiential level instead of an intellectual level(i.e. reading). The unbearable pain and struggle of sitting still brought tremendous compassion and patience. It was eye opening and allowed the ego to surface to be confronted and scrapped away.



The technique allows for no thought, yet clarity, conviction and focus shine through the struggles. No moving for one hour at a time, 13 hours per day. The pain and the challenge force one into a position of perseverance or weakness, there was no in-between. The ability to see these characteristics arise is the point at which one decides how, or if, he will react. It is this reaction, and the reactions to our daily ups and downs, that brings us sadness and/or happiness, and once one goes through this intense process, he will truly learn on an experiential level, the effects that our minds and our responses has on our life.


So much good can happen, yet one can be miserable and so much bad can happen and one can be content. It takes us to stop pointing the finger and to face our life as our own and our emotions as our own. We are so quick to blame situations and others, yet our emotions and our life is 100% up to the way we receive it. My biggest gain from this process was the clear picture of myself and my weaknesses which truly helped to eradicate a lot of my ego and my biases and pursuits of particular experiences. We learned to remain equanimous and even-tempered about anything that arose. Of course, this is a lifelong pursuit, but even these intense 10 days allowed us a very good glimpse into life this way.



It may be difficult to understand the changes one can go through in such a short time, especially from the outside. The tremendous community of students, who walked silently for 10 days, were all smiles by the end. Many had tremendous breakthroughs that put so much into focus. My other gain was my desire for the present. As we are in meditation, we are only there...completely disregarding memories of the past or hopes for the future, only there with your breath. Taking this technique into daily life, we are much more mindful of our present and I was desperate to stay in that present as I came out---steering away from reading or watching tv or even writing this-- even if the now is not wonderful, it is all we have. However cliche this is, experiencing it on such an intense level really puts the cute "stay present" mantra into reality.



If anyone is interested in such an experience, I would be happy to help




Let us all continue to grow and learn.

China, Turkey, Europe, Thailand

Just taking a few moments to write a short update on our journey. As I write, we are sipping tea and relaxing in our hostel in Kunming, Yunnan China. This Southwest area of China is thousands of miles away from where we landed, and lightyears away from "home". (By the time I finish this email, it is a few weeks later and we are in Thailand)



After visa stresses and many difficulties, our trip started off amazingly in Istanbul Turkey. Arriving before sunrise is always interesting, and sometimes dreadful. Yet, the magic of the Islamic metropolitan was the caffeine we needed to remind us we were not on a trip, we were alive and very much there. The city was once a trading post between Europe and Asia, as it is the only city in the world that straddles two continents. Fresh pomegranite and orange juice, kebab and fish that was practically still on the hook made for a treat every few feet and "just cook" nuts were as good as one could imagine. After taking the ferry from the airport to the city, the sun started to rise and the day of prayer began. The soundtrack to a visit in any muslim country would surely sound the same. The Magic of the five-times-per-day prayer must jolt the first-time tourist into confusion. The call to prayer was shouted and magnified from minarets atop the hundreds of mosques throughout the city. The call is a 2-3 minute request by a mosque-elder that sounds as peaceful as it is loud.



Boualai and I spent about 3 days in the city prior to my mother's arrival, then another 2 once she arrived. Then we headed straight out of town for an old Greek Island called Bozcaada. 3 ferry boats and 2 buses, and over 24 hours later, we arrived and we were amazed. The island seemed untouched by tourists yet set up perfectly to accommodate three Americans pretending not to be tourists. The island changed hands many times between the Greeks and the Turks, and the landscape and ambiance proved this. Our boat docked alongside dozens of 1-2 person fishing boats and the road quickly led into town were we met a young man who knew about 5 English words...not one of them was "hotel". Regardless, we were lead to his Grandmother who converted her place into a guesthouse. The $10/night room with terrace views of the ocean made us want to cancel our future plans to stay here forever. Olives and olive oils were all over and amazing baklava made the island even sweeter. The greatest part of traveling, for me, is doing, not seeing....and this island had no major sites or traps for tourists to fall into. It was simply beautiful and the Turkish people were forever friendly and welcoming. We stole wi-fi and we hired a car to chase the sunset; we drank tea with an olive businessman and ate fish caught that hour....the town sucked us in and made us love again.



From Bozcaada we headed for Ephesus to see the ruins of the ancient city. The city, now protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, was a major site in the Bible and much of the New Testament is said to have been written here. The rocks are graves for libraries, homes, cinemas, theatres, and toilets. After looking at a lot of stones, we tried not to get ripped off by taxi "no-meter" on the way to Virgin Mary's Home. Apparently she spent the remaining years of her life in this town atop a hill overlooking the city. As we arrived, the nightly Latin mass was in session. Her modest home has been a pilgrimage site for millions of people over the 2000 years, Christians and Muslims alike. We learned that Muslims cherish her and speak more of her in the Quran than the Christians do in the Bible...even with a book in the Quran called Mary.



From Ephsesus we headed to Pumakkale. We spent the night in a very nice family's guesthouse...mom went straight to sleep as she was exhausted, and Boualai and I went to grab a bite to eat by their pool. As we sat down, we were greeted with a very warm smile and the Turkish fellow, the son of the family, pointed to the menu near the kitchen. He told us how the food was organic and that the olive oil on the table was made in his garden behind the guesthouse and the pomegranate vinegar there as well. He then brought us some olives from his garden and cooked Boualai's fish on a camp-style burner. Food is such a joy of traveling. The diferent cultures and styles of food, and of eating it, vary so greatly between region and even individual. In China the hundreds of respected teas can overwhelm the uninterested; yet in Turkey the Chai is black, or black...and in the same hourglass cups all throughout the huge country. The tea is usually 25 cents to 1 dollar, and the only variation is whether you want sugar in it or not. Tea stands dot the highways and the streets, it is impossible to have any trouble finding tea or...Turkish Coffee. I broke my year without Coffee to try this rare treat. The muddy blend is carefully made in presented in a Ottoman-era style espresso glass. The coffee packs a punch, but is delicious once the tastebuds acquire the oddness.



In Pummakkale, we hiked along the limestone hot springs. The hike looks a lot like a snow covered mountain, yet the temperature is about 90 degrees and the water is warm...it's a trick to the eye, even when you are inches away. We played in the falling water and took pictures that will probably confuse us later...we hiked to the hilltop where Saint Philip was crucified upsidedown and sweated on a trail to an 2000 year old ampitheatre. The area was beautiful and amazing to see, and the town was very relaxing to walk around. The water from the hills contains sulfur and other minerals that turns anything it touches white. This water is routed from the hills throughout the town and into pools and pomegranate fields. The white canals can be seen and heard all throughout the tiny neighborhoods.



On our second day in this town, Phil and Stef were arriving back in Istanbul so we took the overnight 12 hour busride back North. Night buses are usually great, but one screaming child kept the bus awake all night, literally all night. I have never hated a child before this. We arrived in Istanbul about 3 hours late and met them for one day all together, all 5 of us. We ate, walked the bridge, drank tea, and shopped for spices in the Spice Bazaar. After 24 hours, Mom flew back to the states and us four took a bus straight back to Pummakkale because Phil and Stef wanted to visit it. Trying to save 3 dollars, we took a no-name bus company and ended up on a journey that surely added 3-4 hours to our trip and confused each of us. Getting back to Pumakkale, Boualai and I stayed in and swam all day while Phil and Stef did the hike we did the day before. The town was just as nice the second time...and it was nice not having to pay another entrance fee :) We headed from there straight to Fethiye on the Southern tip of Turkey. Amazed and curious of the Gulet Blue boat cruises, we arrived and started asking questions. We only had 10 days left and the cruise was 4 days; we still had much more of Turkey to see. We walked the pier passing all the offers and landed on a beautiful wooden boat that was tucked into the corner of the tourist area. We were invited onboard and told the captain our ideas and time restrictions. He told us that he could cook vegetarian food, and would have a shipmate to make us beds so we could sleep on the boat deck...he quoted us a price and sat back. We were a bit overwhelmed at first, then realized, unlike the other cruiselines that have 30-200 tourists onboard at once, this cruise would be chartered for only us 4. We agreed and were off on our journey the next day.



The trip was as beautiful as it was peaceful. Our captain made incredible food and made sure we were well taken care of the whole time. We docked in a very quiet bay and were able to swim for the afternoon until nightfall came. Miss Icantswim Boualai was diving 20 feet off the boat into the crystal clear water. We were thrown fins to feed and watch the fish around the cove. We took some great photos and had a really nice night. After dinner our captain showed us how to make Turkish coffee and left us to chill. After the shipmate caught about 10 fish, all of which made us cringe a bit, Boualai and I were even more convinced on our vegan diet and the once fish-loving girl truly became a lover of fishes. We fell asleep outside under the stars and headed out of town soon after. This short cruise was a bit pricey and initially hard to justify, but once we were finished, we could easily consider another few days. After exploring the area and wondering around a deserted town, we made our way to Cappadocia. The comfortable travel in Turkey made the 15 hour journeys very simple.



Cappadocia is a city out of fairy tales...even the most creative of artists could never have designed what nature made magical in this area. We arrived around 2am in Goreme and were unwillingly escorted around town by a pack of dogs. We found a Turkish guy wondering the dark town and tried to communicate that we needed to find a hotel...luckily he directed us to a perfect place that let us stay the night for free. As we walked away he asked us, "Would you like to go Hot Air Balloon RIde?" Google Cappadocia and you will see exactly what he is talking about. Sadly, after a long bus ride and arriving in a mysterious town, being in a balloon basket is the last thing we thought of. We woke the next morning and made our way around town...eating and loitering. A great thing about the East is that eating out at restaurnts is such a nice experience. A bill is never presented to you, not once. In the hundreds of meals we have had now since being away, there has not been one time where we were given a bill before asking for it. In China, waiters refuse tips and gratuity is not a common concept...you eat, then you relax---when you are ready to leave, you simply ask for the bill. No turnover times, no pressure.



On one occasion, Boualai and I were sitting on the rooftop around midnight at our hotel when a young guy came up and turned the lights on...then quickly apologized and headed out. We got to talking to him and found it was his birthday and he was about 22, when we thought we were kind by guessing 28. Turkish folks age very quickly...we later stayed at the home of a Turkish guy and guessed his mother was about 50-60, when she was only 38. It must be the smoking, which is about as common as breathing in many of these countries. The next morning we were to catch a private bus to take us around the 300 mile route that showcases much of Cappadocia's sites. We were woken by the birthday boy, hours prior to our scheduled time...he said "I decided to go with you guys, just to join." After much confusion and running around, we finally figured out that he was going to tag along with us for the 8 hour day because our driver couldnt speak English. Once the tour began, we learned that birthday boy knew almost everything there was to know about Turkey, Cappadocia, and even every mountain and damnnear every pebble. He was training to be a tour guide, which is a very common degree and career path here. The journey took us walking through some beautiful landscape and gave us some awesome photo opportunities. The odd looking mounds are referred to as Fairy Chimneys by the locals, and rightfully so. These mounds reach up from the ground, sometimes hundreds of feet. For thousands of years, people have been hallowing out the mounds to make homes, studios, hotels, galleries, and especially churches. Thousands of these pre-midevil churches dot the tourist maps, each one so different from the last. Hotels are built in caves and churches built underground to escape pagans...the town is a mystery and a wonder. Halfway through our tour we pulled up to one of the more impressive sites: the underground city. The city, still intact today, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tunneling hundreds of feet underground, nearly 70 FLOORS underground at times, this city was made by man to avoid persecution from the Romans and beyond. The roof is carved low and the hallways are narrow; the churches are disguised as cross-shaped rooms; all to avoid the rugged armor of the Roman soldiers. Once we bought our tickets and started to venture underground, our birthday boy asked if any of us have asmtha. I held my breath and was warned of the narrow hallways and claustrophobic city. I thought I would be fine, but about 5 minutes into it I felt like I was going to faint and could already picture the crowd having to drag me back up to level ground. Being warned that your asmtha may act up, makes your asmtha act up! I could not get out of there fast enough. When I reached the top, aka normal ground, I was so glad to see clouds and not be able to touch any ceilings. I was certainly not the only one who felt this way; dozens of us pathetic above-ground-dwellers scurried for the light like cockroaches. Pushing and panicking, Boualai and I made our way up, alongside the other Turkish folks, none of which wear deodarant.



After our day of touring, we went back home and relaxed for a while...then Boualai and Steff opened a bottle of 3 dollar wine and watched the National Dance Competition which was coincidently being held in the square that we were staying in Goreme. We saw about 40 dance groups from all over this huge country perform in traditional style with amazing uniform costumes, competing to be the best group in Turkey. Judges drank tea, tourists drank alcohol, and several dancers drank water from exhaustion...the dancing was intense!



Our stay in Cappadocia was magical and beautiful; a place that even the finest camera lens can not capture. We had only 2 days left in Turkey together and had to head West. Phil and Stef had a few extra days, but we had to catch our flight from Istanbul to Beijing.



We grabbed an afternoon bus to the Capital City of Turkey: Ankara. Arriving at the city was a let down, but most things are after seeing a place like Cappadocia. The concrete jungle was covered with buildings and ugly tourists looking for atleast one thing to take a picture of. Surprisingly, throughout our whole time in Turkey, we saw very very few Westerners...mostly Turkish and Eastern tourists. Regardless, the ugly tourists were as bored as we were and the bus station lacked the amenities for anyone wanting to feel like they were in the 21st Century. B and I tried to mail something while Phil and Stef went trying to find us a room. While at the bus station post office, I nearly threw up from the moist body odor that jammed into the post office with about 15 Turkish guys all mailing things less important than our Turkish scarves and tea sets. I couldn't do it. We ended up waiting around for Phil and Stef and decided to just eat and get stared at for a while. After trying to save a few dollars, and "live a little and just see what happens" (said Stef), Stef led us to a train stop where we would meet a guy from Couchsurfers.com. This website allows travelers, and hosts, to meet and crash on eachothers couches. The service is completely free and the hosts are strictly forbidden from charging any guests...instead, hospitality and curiosity fund the website's users and it has been safe and functional for about 10 years now. Contrary to the site's name, hardly are the travellers presented with couches, sometimes they are given rooms or perhaps even the whole apartment to themselves. In our case, we were each given a room, Turkish style: boys in one room, girls in another. I ended up sharing a bunk with Phil---which brought back memories of teasing and getting spit on my forehead. While waiting for our host at the trainstop, Boualai laid on the ground and Phil tossed pigeon feed all over her; made for a great photo but was also funny that none of the hundreds of people in the parksquare cared...as if everyone laid down and had pigeon feed thrown on them. Just then, we got a warm greeting from a young guy and his friend, who later vanished once our host realized we were alright. Ihsan was our host in Ankara....Stef grabbed a phone from a passerby at the park and arranged the meeting for us, which she had prepared the day before, just in case. Ihsan is a very kind and interesting Turkish guy, 21 years old and speaks great English. As we took the bus towards his home, we found out we were going to be staying with his parents, at their house instead of his. The journey began.



We had no idea what to expect, but were reminded by Stef's "lets see what happens" comment earlier. Ihsan seemed like the normal Turkish guy, maybe just curious to meet some white people and see what we do all day. Instead, Ihsan was an awesome dude who was way cooler than we could have asked for. He had spent much of his last year or two planning and executing his dream of riding a motorcycle around Europe and South America. His last 8 thousand mile ride took him all throughout western Europe...he slept along the roadside or on strangers' couches. He turned his back on the Muslim faith and was a free thinker. When we met his father, Zeymus, later, he told us he thought he was crazy. The dude was alive, and living. When we got to his house we were warmly invited in by his very sweet mother. She was everything a mother could be. She shook each of our hands and smiled at each of us. No English was spoken for much of our meeting with her or his father, who came home later that night. We were seated in the living room, which looked like it was furnished and built a few minutes before we arrived. When I later asked what her hobbies were, she said "cleaning"...it was no wonder. She served us a tray of vanilla wafers and Fanta and sat to smile with us...we thanked her and settled into our rooms then made our way out onto the town. Ihsan, two minutes into meeting him, told us he hated Ankara...not the greatest start. So eventually, we disliked it too. Regardless, our experience there was wonderful. When we returned to the houes later that night, his father was there. The most lively, happy, kind, sweet, funny, cool guy we have all met in a long time. He knew maybe 5 words of English, but performed throughout the night like an actor at an audition. After our amazing, and vegan, dinner, we sat for a few hours to talk. Earlier in the day, Ihsan told us about his views and how even his closest friends gave him a hard time for not going to mosque and turning away form Allah. He also explained how his parents were confused and dissappointed at his decision and viewpoints. Yet, as we sat around, his family glowed with pride and love for their son and the father bragged of his son and even of his wife. He showcased tableclothes that she made by hand and held up pictures of his son, who he motioned was more handsome when he was shaved. We truly loved the family and learned it was their first time ever opening their home to a "couch surfer", let alone 4 of them. After tea, Zeymus, when I asked him of his hobbies, folded his hands and put them under his head, motioning sleep. Zerymus has been on the kidney donor list for twelve years and spends much of his free time, 15 hours a week, in dialysis at the local hospital. It touched us all to hear of his struggle and the misfortune that none of his family was a match for the donation.



Boualai and I left Ankara and headed for Istanbul to catch our flight to China. The bus ride was a few hours. At one point we stopped for a quick bathroom and snack break...well apparently we took too long of a break. We returned to our bus, which still was not ready yet, and waited around for a short while longer. We were apprached by a Turkish man and asked if we were going to Istanbul. One of the arts of traveling is learning how to properly avoid people...so we did, until he insisted. He told us that our bus left 10 minutes ago after they could not find us...sounded a bit like a common scam, but he was being honest. Eventually we made it back to Istanbul and caught our flight to China. Turkey was amazing for each of us. I enjoyed it most because of the people I was with and what they added to the trip. Phil is such a great traveler and we are always sure to have an adventure with him. Boualai is open eyed and curious and as positive as ever. And Stefanie is hilarious and very sweet.



China



We took seperate flights to China and she arrived first. I was concerned, of course, that she may not be able to enter this country either, so when I got off the plane and saw her at the other end of the customs department we were both very relieved. Apparently, her passport control agent had never seen her passport-type, so Boualai had to talk the agent into letting her into the country, "I work with doctors and I have a big house", that seemed to be convincing enough. We arrived late at night and wandered around looking for a hotel. On one of the trains we were on we overheard some people speaking English and quickly ran to them to ask them where is a good area to stay. One of them ended up being from Sacramento and told us we could follow them to their hotel. We followed them for a short while and ended up breaking apart after realizing they had no idea how to get around or even get back to their own hotel. We ended up finding the hotel before they did and rented a real nice room for about 10 dollars. We scowered our area for a place that was still serving food...our first meal in China. We found a restaurant not far away that served us a tofu salad and some stir fried noodles. This was the beginning of our journey into the foods of China.



The food was amazing...every meal we ate was delicious it seemed. If one travels for 4 months, that means they are eating out, every single meal, for four months. No home cooking, no quick bite to eat from the pantry. So you must rely heavily on the quality of your nearby restaurants. We stayed in Beijing for about 5 days. We spent the first 4 days just walking around and tea tasting and trying to find every vegetarian restaurnt in town. We ate like royalty, some of the best foods either of us have had. Apparently the Chinese food served in the West, which I really despise, is Cantonese, and is only from a certain region of China. To say that we do not like Chinese food in America is similiar to a Chinese person saying they do not like American food because they do not like hot dogs. We had an application on our phone that was a menu with all the common dishes, sides, sauces, drinks, for a Chinese menu..it was basically flash cards of dishes with the english and chinese characters. It also had a section, in chinese, that said "no msg, no meat, no egg.." so on. This ended up being our guide throughout our month in China..if not for this, it would have been nearly impossible to eat with a clear mind in this country. The food choices were vast here, very! Ranging from the best Italian food to gourmet dog...you name it, you can get it.



I will keep this summary simple. China was amazing. The culture was as rich as one could imagine and the people were crazy. We spent the first week in the Eastern part of the country, hoping around these major cities and breathing smog and impatience. In Beijing, our favorite part was the tea. We went to hundreds, literally, of tea shops and tried just as much tea. Beijing does not produce any of its own tea, but is an importer of the tea of the rest of the country. Each region specializes in a tea, whether it be green or black or white, then their own kind of that kind of tea. Beijing has a mall/center called Maliandao. It is about the size of a 3 story shopping mall(bigger than Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento or Prudential Center in Boston), that is all tea. Every shop is tea. Some specialize in green and some specialize in tea sets; regardless, the thousands of shops lined up in this mall are nothing but tea, and for cheap. Want to try some? Sit down and point...try 3 teas, no problem. Needless to say, we were in heaven.



We held off on the tourist site of Forbidden City and the Great Wall until the last day or two and we were glad we did. Although the sites are historical and the story is beautiful and romantic, the sites are a mess of venders and sweaty tourists. We would probably have shot ourselves if we didnt go to the Great Wall, so we reluctantly took the trip and spent an hour or so walking the wall. The Forbidden City was about the same for us. Although it is wonderful to see parts of history, sometimes it is better to hear about them..kind of like meeting your idol then coming to find out he is a lunatic. Despite this, the pictures of both came out amazing and we are glad we saw what we did. The best of Beijing, besides the tea, was a park overlooking the Forbidden City. We ended up getting a hostel/dorm in Beijing, $5 each for a very nice place. On the first night of our hostel we did not see the other guests, there were four beds and we had two. Later that night we were eating some vegetarian food on the street lined with very non-vegetarian food(caterpillers, live scorpions, pigs tongue's, heart of lambs, starfish, ect). We ended up at some tofu stall and a girl jumped in front of us to buy some, I didnt like the smell of it so I offered her 1 yuan( about 15 cents) to taste it...and we said goodbye. (It was gross). Anyway, of the millions of tourists in the city and the thousands of people we saw that day, that girl, miles away from our hostel, ended up being our roommate. She was terrible! We would stay out late, sometimes until 2-3 am just drinking tea in order to avoid her. She would say "Ill stay up and wait for you guys." Please don't.



So we stayed up really late one night avoiding her and ended up not sleeping. This worked out perfect and led to our favorite thing we saw in Beijing. The park in Beijing is busy during the day and afternoon, but getting there at 5am it is as pure as it must have been hundreds of years ago. The park was huge, and beautiful. In the morning, the older Chinese men bring their song birds and leave them in the cages and line them next to the other song birds brought by others...this is how they keep them from depression. Crowds of 20-30 were doing tai chi, some were doing qigong, some were stretching, all of them in perfect sync. We passed by hundreds of people doing these stretches that are only recently being exposed to the west. At the time, we did not know of Qigong, but coincidently, now we are in Chiang Mai, Thailand taking this ancient martial art ourselves. We saw dozens of groups with music doing ballroom dancing. Woman and men as old as 100 doing stretches, the waltz, excercise. People would clear their lunges by screaming, so the park had echoing screams, done in harmony with others. Getting to the top hill of the park, which was created from the dirt dug out from the moat around the Forbidden City, we could overlook the city. Smog kept us from seeing more than about 1 mile or so, but it was still beautiful. It was probably 6am by now and people were all doing their morning stretches. We were most impressed by the elderly people in this park and in all of China. The country has such a deep and rich history, and it is all evident in the customs of their elderly. The beauty of both China and Turkey is their strong sense of community. The parks, cafes, and benches are always full of people of all ages, communicating with one another in a way that we are slowly losing. Being that Facebook is banned in this area, the pure face-to-face interactions are everywhere...every person seems to be sitting with someone else, holding a cup of tea or sharing an assortment of dishes. We were told that anything less than 8 people at a table is basically the same as eating alone...we were so inspired by the older folks who still interacted with their community and with their friends. I grew up with an amazing set of grandparents and I would not be the same without them, so it is wonderful to see that other cultures embrance the wisdom and love of their elderly.



From Beijing we went to see the Shaolin Temple. Where Kung Fu originated. This is a monastery from a loooooooooong time ago. Here there are students from 6-20+ all doing Kung Fu. We walked around the campus/temple and saw every student in their Kung Fu uniform, all of them doing Kung Fu. We walked in on a training session where 1000+ children did Kung Fu jumps, kicks, punches, rolls, everything. We saw children practicing their boxing. Perfect silence and quiet power graced the trees and the halls. This ended up being one of Boualai's favorite places and I was really glad we went. It was like nothing else...no place in the west would allow this; a school of martial arts, where kids do not learn the common subjects, just learn about their passion [martial arts] all day. They live at the temple and work on their Kung Fu for much of their childhood life; it was a bit humiliating to be amongst 8 year olds who could beat us both up. It must be a privelage to go to this monastery where even the 70-80 year old monks are still doing jump kicks.



I am getting tired of writing, and you of reading, so I will speed it up. We got sick of the smog and the craziness of the East, so we took a long trip towards the west, to Yunnan. We spent our final 20 days here, drinking tea and learning everything we could about tea. We went to the area where Puer tea originates, and the only area of the world where it is made--Puer tea is a black tea that is pressed together and aged. Puer County, Xishuabanna, was a region the size of a small state. There are 6 mountains, each fomous for a Puer tea. The world of tea is very simliar to that of Wine. One would be quicker to drink a wine from France then from Montana, and certain regions of France produce better(or are more known) for a certain genre of wine. Tea is the same. Arriving in some of these small towns, some of only 500-1000 people, we were ignored but still stared at. These mountain towns were tea mecas, everyone in the town was in the tea business in one way or the other. Truck loads of tea took over the dirt roads, woman carrying sacs of fresh tea leaves graced the trails. The big tourist cities of the East were familiar with our English tongue, but the west treated us more kind but had NO idea what we were saying. Traveling in a land like this makes one feel very different. Your language is useless, you do not understand a word being said, and you can not read the words around you. Just stepping off a plane or train, we become illiterate, mute, 3 year olds.



Here in Yunnan we drank a lot of tea, a LOT! We spent all of our money buying tea, for about 90% of what it would be in the States. We met a young man, Yuabin, who took us around his factory and plantation that he was inheriting and carrying on. In the west we may have someone who is a car collector or a sports fan or whatever; Yuabin was a tea enthusiast. We ended up picking, processing, and packaging our own tea. He took care of us for the last part of our trip. He knew no English, NONE. Not even hello. We, the same age, communicated for days over GOOGLE translate and english-chinese-english translation applications on our phones. He made our trip amazing and was another clue that the PEOPLE one surrounds ourself with is far better than the things we do sometimes. Western China was a different world from the East; the many immigrants and cultures molded together to showcase a variety of foods, cultures, languages, and people. We want to go back and are trying to fit it into our schedule for September.



We are now in Chiang Mai and rented a room for a few weeks prior to our 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat in Central Thailand. We will be living, eating, sleeping in this monastery for about two weeks. No books, no pens/paper, no contact with outside world and no talking or eye contact with the others....just you, and your thoughts. We are excited and have no idea what to expect...we have met a few folks who have done this and said amazing things. It is a non-religious organization that conducts these meditation retreats, completely free throughout the world. Apparently, each day has a different message for about one hour, the rest of the 16 hr days is just you, and a cushion to sit on.



All is great on our end, we are alive and feeling our days the best we can. Three months in now, we have learned a tremendous amount about ourselves and our world. I hope everyone on that end is doing great and feel free to send any response this way. I love you and wish you a happy August.

The road was paved and the airplanes were on schedule, yet we still gravitate towards the trains.

The road was paved and the airplanes were on schedule, yet we still gravitate towards the trains.

The mornings always seem a bit earlier when traveling and there is never a good enough breakfast to really get you going and once you really do get going you better not stop or that loss of momentum may be the death of your trip.

I had just come back from a 6 country trip where I visited Burma, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia and was now sitting in the airport in Malaysia trying to express to the counter agent that I wanted to get out of the country and just go wherever has the cheapest flight. For these agents, who struggle on low wages and have to deal with arrogant travelers, they cant quite grasp how some scraggly white fellow would want to just fly anywhere. "don't you have a place you need to go, or work you need to do?" I could see them thinking, the usual odd looks we get while traveling. There are many thoughts they have towards us foreigners, but I would suppose the two major ones are "There is a white guy, he must be rich" and "Why is he taking a picture of that, it is very normal." The cultural gap between the lands is far wider than the oceans that separate us but the spread of technology and rise of curiosity allows us with a smoother road to travel amongst our fellow people in these places that were once only ideas we could read in books.
I stood at the counter with a fellow traveler who was also decked out in clothes bought in the night markets and a backpack that probably cost more than these workers made in a month. He helped me to explain my quest to the young man behind the counter, "He wants cheapest flight to anywhere, maybe special sale?" We dumb down our timeless language in order to help them understand, yet it is not the language that is the barrier, it is the mere idea. It is not difficult to spot the seasoned traveler; he will always speak the English that is understood by the travelers and individuals of the world. It is true humor to see a well-spoken American speak as if he just learned English, even to another English speaker. We adapt this language to converse with the taxi driver, the pretty girl, the guy giving us directions, or the tour guide who answers our questions with a smile then put out his hand as you hand him a generous tip. Our broken English is as ridiculous as the English we use to communicate with foreigners in our own land; we don't try to better explain ourselves, instead we just repeat the question even louder and get irritated when they don't understand. "Oh yes sir, not a problem. The cheapest fare we are currently providing will take you to either Bangkok or to Hong Kong. We also have specials going to Europe, but I suppose you are trying to stay in the Asian countries." His English comes out so perfect, like a fine gentleman holding a leather travel case in one hand and a cigar in the other…perhaps that is the description of the British man who teaches so many of these people our language. The counter agent's voice is so controlled and perfect while his demeanor shows agitation and impatience. It is common to get this respect that is often followed by agitation. I can only imagine how much they all must truly hate us foreigners, with our scraggly beards and shiny teeth. Our country promises so much, but our rugged travelers stand with foreigners and envy the carefree way of life and true sense of freedom; sometimes expecting others are interesting simply because they speak a different language or have a different religion.
I end up picking a flight to Bangkok, leaving in two hours. I step away, even though I feel the compulsion to tip the man, and head towards the gates. There is just enough time to grab a last meal from this country before I board the airplane for the 90 minute flight. There are a few other westerners around, we catch each other's eyes but hesitate before nodding. Here, we are all the same. Whoever has the most pictures wins. But when we go back home, we are the craziest dude in the group…the guy who has "been everywhere" and is always the butt of the "where is he now" joke. We share camera chargers in the airport terminal, or breakfast at a hostel…always ending with more knowledge of somewhere we have not been, and now wish to more than ever. One may brag while the other listens, or the both may discuss how an aspect of the culture or people are just so frustrating. "Ya, I cant believe they would think following you around and nagging you to buy something would actually work." We bring our culture with us everywhere, forgetting the gap and the hungry nights of so many. Meanwhile, we sit in the terminals of billion dollar airports with other western travelers and compete to see who has done more or knows the most interesting history facts of this land. Somehow we know more of these lands then its' own people; we have seen more and done far more in this one trip than most of the locals have done in a lifetime. Now, in this terminal, we are all hungry to go live it all again. Each country we step into, each town we stumble upon, is as if we are born again..that very moment. No knowledge of life, language, meaning. We travel until we forget about our own, then travel even longer until we create a new culture that exists within us.
I catch the flight and sit in the aisle seat next to a well dressed man from Singapore who speaks perfect English. He asks me about my travels for a few minutes, then begins to tell me about the problems with his country and rambles off political issues and names that mean very little to me. I pretend like I am asleep for the rest of the flight. When we land in Bangkok I make my way downstairs to catch a taxi back to the condo I have been renting here…my home base for the time. It quickly feels like home, yet the road feels even more like home after just a few weeks. I ask myself what I would really do if I do head back to the condo, or why I even came back in the first place. Chiang Mai, just 500 miles north, seems to call my name. The distant jungle is a great place to unwind, read, and explore. I see the flight schedule listed, only $29 for a flight leaving in just a few hours. I have never flown there before but I have taken the bus and the train a few times. The bus is perfect, 7 dollars and comfortable reclining chairs, the ride is barely 8 hours. The bus is far more comfortable and practical than the train, which takes nearly 13 hours and is about as uncomfortable as a wagon pulled by horses must have been. I remember the old proverb, "the journey is the real destination." Who would I meet on this train, where would they take me? I wont sit next to a well educated man from Singapore, nor will I sit next to a Thai girl on the bus…the girl who works in Bangkok for many years and decides to finally go back North to her hometown to see her mother who is getting sick. The train, filled with every character and every genre of traveler, will take me to Chiang Mai. The bumps and screeches of the wheels will be the music of the night; the constant stops and men selling hot tea will replace my book. I head outside to make my way to the train station, with my backpack slung over my shoulder and my Nikon camera around my neck….shining like a beacon to the hungry taxi drivers and scammers. I hop in a yellow taxi cab, the first one I see. The driver asks me "Where to sir?" without turning around. We speed off and weave smoothly into the ongoing traffic. We drive towards the train station, with the air conditioner running cold and the music blasting in a language I don't understand.

Fight. For your Right.

Freedom sounds a lot different to each of us. To some it may be the leisure to travel without worry, to others it may be the ability to pull oneself out of their own chair, and to some it is as easy as being able to make a phone call. Freedom is far from free for many of us who have fought for it. I say us with sincerity and with concern. Not only our soldiers and militants are fighting for our freedom, but our every day folks are raising their fists to the opposition.

Crime.

Given the proper opportunities and abilities, we are all set in line to make the very most of our lives and live with great comforts and joys. Now, we may slip up at times and make bad decisions, but with justice and law we are able to pay our fines and move on...or are we? Each of has has been fortunate enough to have slipped through the cracks a time or two. Whether it was speeding on the way to work, or hitting a car without writing the owner a note...many of us have labeled ourselves as "law-abiding citizens" instead of just "lucky!"

Contained.

Our reformed prisoners are left with records that will not allow them a decent "second chance" and our high school buddy who sold marijuana is now bunking with a serial rapist and learning more about crime and pain then he would have if he was just slapped on the wrist. What are we proving by stomping out these guys and leaving them to rot...eventually only turning back to crime to live a halfway decent life. "Crime doesn't pay," yet our governors, lawyers, police officers, sheriffs, D.A.'s, Parole Officers and so on are all living just fine...crime seems to be one of the biggest businesses in America with the "victims" profiting far more than the "criminals" are 'paying'. Of course, some crime(rape, murder, violence) has no explanation and rarely deserves a second chance at a free life; however, crimes of graffiti, theft, drug use, all deserve another chance AND assistance in rehabilitation. Prisons should only house violent men and women.

Freedom.

As long as people exist, bad decisions will be forever-present. Paint a picture of any city in any time era and you will see a structure for holding our criminals. Lets be more open minded and give these PEOPLE a fighting chance to reform, to move on, and to be kindly welcomed back into our society...just as we were so freely given a very fair chance at the beginning of our lives. Gandhi was quoted, "Freedom is not worth having if we are not free to make mistakes." Give our loved brothers and sisters a fair fight and a chance at the pursuit of life, liberty, and....freedom. For freedom can be more than just a mindset, it can be a dream.

800 Things I like

stocking the fridge, having someone cook for you, people who aren't french, people who think they are funny, not knowing cursive letters, the position of your head when u bite a taco, viewing everyday surroundings with a tourists' eye, briefcases, the correlation between sunglasses and "being cool", fruit salad, accidently saying 'you too' when someone wishes you a happy birthday, wool socks, dinner with laughter, people who try to take pictures of themselves as if they are having fun, not looking back, the people who never realize "you had to be there" jokes never work, thinking about what it would be like to teleport, the shrug of the shoulder when things don't get done, the winged hairstyle after wearing a hat when your hair was wet, ''do not disturb'' signs, fake smiles, dentists who want you to carry on a conversation with their hands in your mouth, looking back on the past with as much pleasure as you get as looking forward to the future, refunds, how different music has different affects, jazz, making people guess when you know they don't know the answer, letters from close friends in far places, al green, the awkward silence in an elevator with someone, a perfectly timed conversation just long enough for the elevator ride, the corner of the bed that is so hard to reach when putting on new sheets, when friends stop by, having way too much of something, Neiman-marcus, not noticing the freezer hum until it shuts off, perfect balance on the subway without using straps, newly pressed pants, not getting lost in a new town, numbers, switching to whole wheat bread, telling yourself "i will keep it clean from now on" after cleaning your room or house or car when really you know it will be messed up again in a few weeks, marinating, people who say "no problem" when it was actually a problem, horoscopes, having too much time, baths, kids imagination, giving thanks, power-steering, jeans you can sleep in, watching old couples and their lack of conversation, heated-blankets, roommates who want to always talk and don't get the hint that you don't want to talk, lights that dim, orange, hiding notes for a loved one, hula, sweat suits, bottom of the grand canyon, fanny-packs, the person at the theatre who tears tickets, scheming, stretching and making noise, comebacks to 'shut up", khaki walking shorts, running shoes, the little things that make your day go right(very few red lights, good food), go-getters, learning, the Snapple pop, Styrofoam, letting someone know they have a horrible tattoo, hondas starting, light keychains, toast, pulp, drinks that are cold without ice, free refills, walking around a swimming pool, cheese graters, cruise control, hand sanitizer, making people guess, "never mind", the first few bites of a pancake, the quick wave when someone lets you drive ahead of them, metal, fabricated stories people tell, old people who are angry, knowing how many kilometers per hour you are driving, 747 planes, being a night person, fake smiles, bowling noises, rear-view mirrors, "wrinkle-free" not really being wrinkle free, tool trucks, yellow lights, rewinding tapes, coming up with ideas, desire to pull emergency brake while driving, generosity, the word "moonshine", "last" button on tv remote, noticing bugs on someone else, adding, getting new brakes, the desire to own a motorcycle, cleaning off your desk, treating yourself to a massage, complimenting a total stranger, babies' lack of reflexes, fruit salad, people-watching, money counter, powder-fresh, jump starts, throwing up, finding old pictures, money in the laundry, love-making, water beds, trap doors, chair-lift, swim meets, forgiving someone, pikes peak, pound cake, bathroom books, welcome mats, circular driveways,when people think they are funning by saying "kodak moment", blowing the wrapper off of a straw, koala bears, sod(the grass you roll out), v formations of geese, old report cards, clothes hangers, home movies, sending a letter, lunch money, rent-a-car, shoes, people who understand there is a lot to me, when i tell someone my birthday is april fools and they tell a horrible joke that i have already heard(i.e. "o you must be a joke"), the silence after they tell that joke, eating good, not smoking, tic tac toe, old wives' tales, magic shoes, score keepers, eating dough, bread makers, cashing in your chips, double beds, waking up with 5+ text messages, long lasting batteries, waking up then going back to bed, pretending to listen, people who think they are original by dressing like every other person who thinks they are original, wind, public transportation, the really small fee of overdue library books,overeating during holidays, libraries, poetry, writing something that you fall in love with than forgetting to save it and deleting it than having to re-think of those feelings/words/rhymes again to re-write something better, saying "what" even though you heard what they said, liking the people you work with, handshaking, baby powder, rear-window defoggers, jalapenos, coin drawers, cargo pants, black pants, huge bags, buy one get one free, vintage, old phones, down-shifting, quincy market in boston, impatiently popping the toast up and down while waiting for it to cook, filibusters, senior year, tires, breaking windows, diving, limes in water, misting indoor plants, eating what you like, having talkative friends, house guests, inventing a new dance, writing, the gift of life, over-tipping, etiquette observation, someone calling and inviting you to lunch, phone calls from friends just to say hello, 'selling like hot cakes", temptations, rhetorical questions, cardigan sweaters, mopping, clearing your head, mischievousness, pistachios, the thought process that goes into answering "paper or plastic", one-room schoolhouses, the boxed area on a US map where the 49th and 50th states are located, screen doors, kleenex, patters, hat hangers, dozing off, people who give examples, cheese, what is inside a mountain: more dirt?, creating exotic life stories for people who walk by, white cotton t-shirts, same-day dry cleaning, opening packages, mail, knock-knock jokes, eating in the kitchen, ravioli, frisbees, jenga, getting out stains, consecutive numbers, driving alone, filling out "how was the service' cards, being serious with someone who is usually a jokester, turning your pillow over to find the cold side, plant signs on sticks to tell what kind of plant it is, saying "sure", the blatant lies that mothers tell to scare their children away from doing things, indentations that appear in the carpet once furniture has been moved, the chip that breaks off in the dip, fake-throwing a ball with a dog and watching how confused they get, strangers that you see more than once, eliminating morning mouth, serving breakfast or lunch to someone you know, staying in the tub for longer than it takes to get clean, chap stick, body wash, "how we met" stories, the word '"things", watching an animal sleep, fully-charged cell phone, being considered funny, over-exaggerating, carrying an unsafe amount of items just so you don't have to make a second trip-no matter how short the trip, pretending, suddenly remembering a dream you had the night before because of something that happens during the day, scrambled eggs with cheese, door hinges, people who try to be sly and check out their reflection in windows, people who quote several movie lines, plastic red cups, yelling bingo, pastels, seeing-eye dogs, surge protectors, intercom systems, saying "follow that car", catching a type-o, cold hands, magic tricks, adding a comma to an uppercase O to make it a Q, mini fridges, "better safe than sorry", buying classic shoes, reaching out to people, matching, bleach pens, 12:34, secret doors, standing up straight, bran muffins, playing Yahtzee, unexpected phone calls, being glad you're together, life choices, home movies, christmas lights, planes with propellers, gentlemen standing when a woman sits, taco dinners, leaving the mall parking space during christmas or busy season and thinking about selling your space to someone else, mechanical pencils, 75 degrees, shaving, inventions, the fridge egg holder, food thats crispy on the outside and soft or chewy on the inside, lighted swimming pool, little boxes of cereal, not having to be the one to talk just to keep a conversation going, when the fourth wheel on a shopping cart doesn't want to work, women who go to work-out in dangly ear-rings and makeup, being on time, not helping people move, saving gas, good music, jazz, how every picture of you is when you were younger, piers, funny license plates, bullet form, poetry, horrible names, hats, green, orange, purple, boarded up windows, 24 hour places, staying faithful, placing a penny on a train track and waiting for the train, carry on bags, perfect timing, karma, people who don't think before they speak, new abbreviations created since the internet(L.O.L.), buses, feeling like you are helping the cops when you give information after seeing an accident, remembering a dream, wanting something, bread boxes, not liking old english font, telling people that their tattoos are not cool, growing out of something, sunsets that take longer than normal to set, reading lights, memory foam pillows, not drinking the milk after eating cereal, picking at someone's brain, answering a question with another question, wearing glasses so no one can see your eyes, showering after a long day, waking up feeling refreshed, praying, wondering, living like a homeless person sometime, helping people, u.s.p.s., a sibling around your age, procrastinating, not caring about granite countertops, trying to understand why people use big words then ask "do you know what that means?" instead of just using an easier word, crossing your arms while walking, downloading pictures, staring at someone, billiards, learning about someone, girls that don't have red hair, not knowing what pinnacle is, cuddling with a warm body when you are cold, staying on the computer looking at ridiculous websites all night, the sun that comes through your front windshield and wont let you see, remembering having to hold hands to cross the street, a child's innocence, people, human nature, telling someone that their shoe is untied and feeling like you just saved them from some great harm, spraying too much cologne and not knowing, names that end in a vowel and the last name starts with a consonant so it sounds like one word, not answering someone when they ask you how you're doing and seeing if they notice, learning, meeting new people, knowing stores that target certain niche markets will not succeed(i.e. grandfather clock repair store), walking close to a stranger to make them feel uncomfortable, spelling a difficult word right on the computer so you don't have to see the little red line appear under the word, writing a list of things that make you happy, cheering up someone else, the instinct that makes you roll down the window when it smells like cow waste outside, our flag, wondering how long it takes for an 18 wheeler to get washed, eating right before going to bed, soft cushions, wondering if cows know they are about to be killed for meat, difficult goodbyes, boarding a plane first, the hopes of success, never wanting to get out of bed to go pee, going to sleep earlier than you usually do, falling in love, meeting someone, never finishing a crossword puzzle, red, really good smelling foods, showering twice a day, traveling alone, telling stories, not seeing someone for a while and noticing a change, being bugged by someone, telling someone they dropped something, eating outside, drive-in movies, shirts that don't try to be funny, people who wear shirts that try to be funny instead of just being a funny person, not swinging your arms when you walk and feeling really weird, old folks who pull their pants over their belly button, girls that walk with their chest pushed out, not remembering your favorite movie when someone asks you, calling to say goodnight, buffalos, messenger bags, massages, telling someone they are not funny, creating a story for someone who walks by, royal blue, calling people out, thinking about what you would name your child, roller backpacks, the difference between butter and margarin, being flabbergasted, snooze button, jazz music, saving something(on the computer) often so you don't lose it, throwing grapes up in the air and catching them in your mouth, vegas strip, a child learning their alphabet, men who still wear flat tops, being sincere, getting in a debate, public speech, being nervous, waiting too long for the person behind you when holding the door open, food courts, vietnamese food, staying healthy, driving safely, big luggage bags, snow cones, things that give you goose bumps, predicting something correctly, gambling, the noise trucks make when they back up, teaching someone how to do something, knowing how you make someone feel, wanting to be like the kid from home alone when you were younger, being mad when a light burns out, pointing at people and then they notice you pointing, saying things that don't make sense, being able to crush people with your fingers when one eye is closed, making sandwiches, noticing someone telling the same joke twice, people who reminise too often, wondering when cars will be replaced with flying cars, inside jokes, yawning, singing "and many more" at the end of the birthday song and noticing you are the only one singing it, quick answers, getting mail that isn't bills, stretching out to reach the parking lot ticket dispenser, ladies who don't swear, roll-on deodorant, hash brown pancakes, getting to work on time, air force one, teaching friends how to flirt, winning, squirrels bushy tails, kaleidoscope, late check-out time at hotel, new england, asking someone why they thought their last joke was funny even though it was not, finishing things you never wanted to start.

What our soldiers fight for #1: Dance Clubs.

I button up my shirt and check my teeth in the mirror one last time. Head into the kitchen and high five my two friends waiting for me with cups in hand; we raise the drinks to our mouths and one screams, "wait, let me put on the music." The latest Top 40 song is conveniently already cued up, so he turns it on with 'max volume.'

This, my friends, is the beginning of another night out on the town. But its not just any night, its tonight, and 'tonight's gunna be a good night..."

We confidently make our way to the club and get in line behind a school full of guys with popped collars and blazers and girls with heels and little black dresses. The music is pounding inside and gets us amped and even more energy is running through our veins now. We finish off the spiked cranberry juice we carried in a bottle, all so we can enter the club "ready". So ready. As the alcohol starts to set in, the knees and hips loosen up and the hands start to clap a little bit. Something in the back of my head says "this is not you", but the rest of my body is ready. The half hour wait is of no concern, cuz we enjoy the preview of the upcoming potential dance partners, maybe even talk to one or two before the suave approach comes later in the night. The wait is almost over, the door is getting closer to and the forever-cool bouncers are making way for the beautiful group of girls that squeeze past the line with a simple kiss on the cheek and a four-finger wave from the friend as they lead their way into the club. But in that group, looking close enough, you notice one of the girls looks a bit uncomfortable and, as you will see her later dancing with her friends who both have dance partners or again texting by herself by the bathroom, she just doesnt look like she belongs here. In fact, a lot of the groups of guys with their pointy-toed shoes and over-gelled hair and perfectly groomed 'ungroomed' look dont seem as though they belong here either....the more you look around, who does belong here...is this what life is all about?

These two hours in this room with loud music, intoxicated kids, and overdressed college students make so much sense by drink number five, but as the liquid confidence wears off and the drunk egos are moving and talking more now than before, the meaning of a 'good night' seems to be unimaginably superficial.

Hate is a strong word, so I refuse to use it freely and without real purpose, conviction, or sincerity. With that being said, I hate clubs. I hate everything about clubs. Being a young guy who certainly enjoys having a good time, being around beautiful people, and listening to good music, I have tried to like clubbing; I have even gone through weeks of time where I convinced myself that I actually like clubbing. But as I clear-minded and soberly write this, I can finally make these statements with the upmost sincerity. I have been to bars and discos in dozens of countries, with everyone from celebrities to Christian missionaries, in cities with great vibes and cities with no vibe, I have tried...boy have I tried. There are many reasons I so viciously despise these places; allow me a paragraph to explain just a few.

Seattle is a wonderful city with so much to do and a picturesque landscape; however, I do not like the people so I could never imagine myself living there. On the same note, there are some cities that are very average yet have amazing people. Needless to say, a lot of experiences we involve ourselves in, whether it be traveling, dating, or dancing, generally can be either a great pastime or a complete bore depending on the people you come across. I can confidently say that clubs have a conglomerate of the worst people. From the attention craving girls(who push guys away once they get that attention), to the socially challenged 'dudes' who threaten other guys with violence and win over girls by pushing free drinks in their face. The awkward conversations and attempts at being normal only force us to become less normal in search of that right mentality that is appropriately adjusted to be the perfect person to party with. Going into these places knowing it is full of creepy dudes and girls who dress like prostitutes may be appealing to some, usually those who love to sit around and recite memories of previous times they got drunk..but its fair to think differently of those people too. Every person inside the club bothers me, so much so that I find it amusing at how terrible these people are...or how terrible they become once they set foot in the club. From the overpaid cleavage-clad bartenders to the steroid-packed meat head Im-important-nowhere-else-in-the-world-except-at-this-door bouncers, I cringe simply thinking about these people. I know, I know, if it bothers me so much "just dont go Nick." But this pastime is such a part of our culture, and age group, that Id find it very difficult to completely avoid ending up in one of these places.

Those who are socially incapable of making friends and being physically with one of the opposite, or same, sex live for the club; the intoxication floods out the fear of rejection and the vagueness at the beataroundthebush attempts for a sexual encounter make the venti-sized liquids tax you for $9. Clubs will always serve a purpose and a demand...I suppose no blog entry or one-man boycott could make much of a difference. Next time, I will just find a quiet corner to enjoy a good conversation and a front row seat to the dry humping in red carpet outfits...'with a little bit of lime.'

One Year Later

"I should like to spend the whole of my in life traveling abroad, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend afterwards at home." — William Hazlitt



Michael Keaton did a movie in the 90's called Multiplicity, and there is seldom a day that goes by that I don't think of that damn movie and the idea behind it. Brief summary: a man who never has enough time for the things he wants to do is offered the opportunity to have himself duplicated. Sounds perfect ay? Some of us find ourselves wanting to do so much yet we don't have enough time in the day or love to give all the different things we are interested in. This is exactly why choosing a significant other to spend the rest of your life with is called 'settling down'; because we decide to relax and settle on just one person instead of chasing all the other love interests we may have in our life. Choices are a pain to make, arent they?

Well this is what is on my mind today; not the chasing love interests part, but the fact that sometimes in order to get the most out of something it is best to put all of our focus into that task; directing 100% of our focus and energy on that one idea. Far too often I am asked, "Well what are you going to do next," but thats the anxiety of life, its always about whats next...why not just about whats going on right now? I am so focused and dedicated to what I am doing at most moments that I rarely consider what's next. It may or not be a good thing, I guess its just the way I 'tick'; enjoying the moments as they come and disregarding them as they pass.

This year has taken me all over; literally and metaphorically. From skipping rocks in Italy to snorkeling in Malaysia; from meeting new people to ignoring old friends...haha, life has been good and I decided to take a year off to get some stuff out of my system before I try to settle down and start something of a 'normal life'; much rather sit down in some business office knowing I had a fulfilling year than sit there and crave the open road and underpriced massages. I had an opportunity to give myself a good time and take a break, so I took it. In this land of opportunity we can not regret the things we do...only the things we did not. I made sacrifices and put a lot of things on hold to pursue a new happiness, but I am forever thankful for the chance and where my traveling took me and my mind.

--First I learned how to travel, then I traveled to learn.--

Whats next?

This is what freedom sounds like:
No need to trump the past or overwhelm myself with thinking of the future...I am alive, healthy, and ready to make the most out of the life I choose for myself...and maybe invest some money in that whole cloning thing.


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain