Saturday, August 15, 2009
Indian Independence Day
My trip is over. I am back in Delhi from Bangalore on a long 9 hour layover. I'll grouse later. In fact, I have much to catch you up on. But for now, I'll leave you with two things: today is Indian Independence Day, and I finally completed my three tasks on this trip: bring back Manila envelopes, have a Singapore Sling in Singapore, and have a Delhi sandwich.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Underwhere?
I read a handy piece of advice a while back on a forum I frequent and I'm using it on this trip.
I donate my old clothes and had a garbage bag full of stuff in my closet. Prior to this trip I pulled out all the underwear I was going to donate, washed them, and brought them to wear on the trip. Except, instead of washing them along the way, I'm just throwing them out.
It cuts down on your laundry a bit, and creates some room in your luggage on the way home. It's a great idea, I just hope some housemaid doesn't get pregnant. You can get pregnant by wearing the same underwear, right?
I donate my old clothes and had a garbage bag full of stuff in my closet. Prior to this trip I pulled out all the underwear I was going to donate, washed them, and brought them to wear on the trip. Except, instead of washing them along the way, I'm just throwing them out.
It cuts down on your laundry a bit, and creates some room in your luggage on the way home. It's a great idea, I just hope some housemaid doesn't get pregnant. You can get pregnant by wearing the same underwear, right?
A Little Bit of Home
Which traveling, I've been "tuning" into my home town radio station over the Internet. They have a streaming player online. It's so nice to listen to the same 12 songs over and over again. It's kind of like being at home, while at the same time being the exact opposite of being at home.
Filipino Food
I just got some camera phone pix from a colleague in the Philippines to catch you up on their cuisine.
This is kare-kare. It is one of the more famous and favorite Filipino foods, consisting of beef, ox tail and tripe in a peanut sauce. It is basically barf in a bowl. I had real trouble finishing a bite. And actually, typing this is making me a bit nauseous.
This is the common sisig, made up of pork skin and fat, fried then marinated with mayonnaise. That's right, marinated in mayo. I thought it was going to be a cream sauce, but was unpleasantly surprised to find it revolting. And despite looking like tuna salad, it was hard and crunchy is most spots. Truly disgusting.
At least to this dumb American's palate.
Also, sweet dishes are very popular in the Philippines. And everywhere you go you can smell the sickly sweet aroma of chicken and other foods cooking in their various concoctions. It really put me off. It permeated everything. I started to smell it on myself before I'd jump into the shower. It was coming out of my pores!
The Philippines was great, the traditional food just didn't appeal to me. :(
This is kare-kare. It is one of the more famous and favorite Filipino foods, consisting of beef, ox tail and tripe in a peanut sauce. It is basically barf in a bowl. I had real trouble finishing a bite. And actually, typing this is making me a bit nauseous.
This is the common sisig, made up of pork skin and fat, fried then marinated with mayonnaise. That's right, marinated in mayo. I thought it was going to be a cream sauce, but was unpleasantly surprised to find it revolting. And despite looking like tuna salad, it was hard and crunchy is most spots. Truly disgusting.
At least to this dumb American's palate.
Also, sweet dishes are very popular in the Philippines. And everywhere you go you can smell the sickly sweet aroma of chicken and other foods cooking in their various concoctions. It really put me off. It permeated everything. I started to smell it on myself before I'd jump into the shower. It was coming out of my pores!
The Philippines was great, the traditional food just didn't appeal to me. :(
Sunday, August 9, 2009
I want you to die, Mr. Bond
And by "die" I mean luxuriate in an Bond-villain-style ultra posh hotel in India. This place is opulent! Take a look!
It's quite palacial! Do I have to work while I'm here?
It's quite palacial! Do I have to work while I'm here?
The India-opolis 500
Remember what I said about how dangerous it is to drive around Manila? Yeah, times that by 10 and that's what it's like driving around India. Basically, you're just out to see who you can kill. It was fun!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Singapore Flyer
I need to write more about my trip today, but I'll start with my mid-day activity. I had a seven hour layover in Singapore on my journey from Manila to Delhi. An American was sitting next to me on the first flight and he gave me some suggestions on what to do. Similar to the London Eye, Singapore has a gigantic ferris wheel called The Flyer. So I bought a tram ticket and made a bee line for it.
The Singapore Flyer, 165 meters (540 feet, about a 50 story building) high.
And here I am at the apex.
The Singapore Flyer, 165 meters (540 feet, about a 50 story building) high.
And here I am at the apex.
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Proof is in the Pudding
Here I am! See, I'm really here in the Philippines!
I've been taking so much video and so many pictures while I'm here, I realized I'm not in any of them. So I wanted to prove I was here. This is the sign in front of my hotel. I asked one of the security guards to snap it. When you first arrive here, they're imposing. Armed guards on every corner. But once you get used to them, they're very friendly and quite cool.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Service with a Smile
If there's anything I'm impressed by here, is how incredibly service oriented the entire city (nation?) is. I've never had to say "thank you" so much in my life. And I don't mean that as a bad thing.
Everywhere I go I see doormen opening doors for every patron, cleaning people keeping the streets and halls tidy, security guards on every street corner, multiple waitrons per table, on and on.
It's quite nice, actually.
Everywhere I go I see doormen opening doors for every patron, cleaning people keeping the streets and halls tidy, security guards on every street corner, multiple waitrons per table, on and on.
It's quite nice, actually.
Driving Me Crazy
Getting around here is quite interesting. The traffic is incredibly congested. As such, it is slow moving. And variable.
The cars all weave and bob like a school of fish swimming lazily about. They squeeze 5 cars across 3 lanes with motorcycles and scooters filling in the cracks. At corners, pedestrians and vehicles mix and stop for each other - or don't. It's amazing there aren't dozens of deaths every hour.
And car horns serve a different purpose here. I haven't heard an angry horn the entire time. The drivers here use their horns like bats use echo location. They're constantly tooting at each other in attempts to alert other drivers of their presence.
It's all, as I said, quite interesting.
The cars all weave and bob like a school of fish swimming lazily about. They squeeze 5 cars across 3 lanes with motorcycles and scooters filling in the cracks. At corners, pedestrians and vehicles mix and stop for each other - or don't. It's amazing there aren't dozens of deaths every hour.
And car horns serve a different purpose here. I haven't heard an angry horn the entire time. The drivers here use their horns like bats use echo location. They're constantly tooting at each other in attempts to alert other drivers of their presence.
It's all, as I said, quite interesting.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Time Keeps on Slipping
...into the opposite of the future. Just to catch you up on how I got over here:
Monday, August 3, 2009
Gall Bearings
I took a cab today to hit a local geocache. On the way there, the cabbie pulled into a gas station and ordered (it was full service) 200 pesos of extra. He turned to me while the attendant was pumping and kept saying "make change." He was motioning to me with some 100 note bills.
I had a notion of what he wanted, but played dumb. To the point that I clearly understood he wanted me to pay his gas. Maybe he thought I was a stupid American and would fall for it. I finally told him "I'm not gonna pay for your gas." He shut up after that and paid his own gas.
Later, I took a cab out to dinner (actually, I'm still at dinner, writing this). My new cabbie apparently didn't know where the restaurant was. Can you guess which one I went to? Yes, I'm at Hooters! Anyway, we drove around for an hour while he kept stopping and asking other cabbies and police where to go. I had even written the address down before I left the hotel and had given him the paper. No one knew where it was.
Being the map geek I am, I had already gotten a bird's eye look at about where it was. I repeatedly told him that it was on the beach. I kept pointing westward, reiterating it was "that way." By the time we finally got here, I had shared an hour of my life with this guy. He pointed to his meter and said it was 190 pesos.
That shit wasn't gonna fly. I gave him 90 and said that's it.
Dammit, I need a beer. Oh hey, my waitress just brought me one.
I had a notion of what he wanted, but played dumb. To the point that I clearly understood he wanted me to pay his gas. Maybe he thought I was a stupid American and would fall for it. I finally told him "I'm not gonna pay for your gas." He shut up after that and paid his own gas.
Later, I took a cab out to dinner (actually, I'm still at dinner, writing this). My new cabbie apparently didn't know where the restaurant was. Can you guess which one I went to? Yes, I'm at Hooters! Anyway, we drove around for an hour while he kept stopping and asking other cabbies and police where to go. I had even written the address down before I left the hotel and had given him the paper. No one knew where it was.
Being the map geek I am, I had already gotten a bird's eye look at about where it was. I repeatedly told him that it was on the beach. I kept pointing westward, reiterating it was "that way." By the time we finally got here, I had shared an hour of my life with this guy. He pointed to his meter and said it was 190 pesos.
That shit wasn't gonna fly. I gave him 90 and said that's it.
Dammit, I need a beer. Oh hey, my waitress just brought me one.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Time Flies
Just to catch you up on the trip over...
Here's the behemoth plane I was on. I can't believe something this big gets off the ground. I circled the windows near where I was sitting. Pretty sweet, actually. Up in "the bubble." Except for the guy next to me who was farting the whole time! God he stunk!
Nice, comfy seats - by airplane standards. These bad boys reclined fully into a bed, but at a slight angle. So it wasn't perfect, but I cannot image spending 12 hours down in a coach seat. I thought I was going to go out of my mind by the end of the flight. If I had to sit in a crammed seat down in steerage I probably would have jumped out of the plane.
It was very weird, too, having it be daylight out the entire flight. We took off from Detroit, MI and flew up over Canada and Alaska, across the Bering Strait, and down to Nagoya, Japan. Even though everyone had the blinds closed, you could still see sunlight peeking out from under them. Very strange. And difficuly to sleep. I'm all out of whack.
These lovely ladies greeted me in the Sky Lounge for an hour or so before flying off to Manila. I wish I had more time to spend in Japan!
Here's the behemoth plane I was on. I can't believe something this big gets off the ground. I circled the windows near where I was sitting. Pretty sweet, actually. Up in "the bubble." Except for the guy next to me who was farting the whole time! God he stunk!
Nice, comfy seats - by airplane standards. These bad boys reclined fully into a bed, but at a slight angle. So it wasn't perfect, but I cannot image spending 12 hours down in a coach seat. I thought I was going to go out of my mind by the end of the flight. If I had to sit in a crammed seat down in steerage I probably would have jumped out of the plane.
It was very weird, too, having it be daylight out the entire flight. We took off from Detroit, MI and flew up over Canada and Alaska, across the Bering Strait, and down to Nagoya, Japan. Even though everyone had the blinds closed, you could still see sunlight peeking out from under them. Very strange. And difficuly to sleep. I'm all out of whack.
These lovely ladies greeted me in the Sky Lounge for an hour or so before flying off to Manila. I wish I had more time to spend in Japan!
Thrilla in Manila
Well, I made it to Manila and checked in. My cabbie took me through as many shitholes as he could, it seemed. But the hotel sure is nice. After I dropped off my gear, I went out in search of a convenince store for some beer and water (since I have a full kitchen).
Apparently, Manila after midnight is not a good place for an American. I got offers of prostitution no less than four times. I love this place!
Apparently, Manila after midnight is not a good place for an American. I got offers of prostitution no less than four times. I love this place!
Big in Japan
But not for long. Just a 2 hour layover in Nagoya. And almost half of that is spent deplaning and going through security (for some unknown reason). I mean, I just got off a plane. Do they really need to scan all my belongings again? I could have just stayed on the plane. Anyway, here I am turning Japanese!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Detroit Rock City
I'm back in my birth state for a 1.5 hour layover. It's kind of fitting I fly out of Michigan for my first intercontinental flight somehow. Maybe that's just me.
Hopefully there's a supermodel convention in Manila and they'll all be on my flight.
Hopefully there's a supermodel convention in Manila and they'll all be on my flight.
Underway
Finally! I'm at the airport! This is now happening. At this point, I just want to get it over, honestly. It was real tough leaving the house this morning, saying goodbye.
And I have quickly discovered it's a bitch to haul all this gear around! Check out what I have to lug.
EDIT: You can't really tell from the pic how big this stuff is. The backpack on the right is the size of one of those roll-on luggage pieces you place in overhead bins on an airplane. Everything else is too big to bring aboard and has to be checked.
And I have quickly discovered it's a bitch to haul all this gear around! Check out what I have to lug.
EDIT: You can't really tell from the pic how big this stuff is. The backpack on the right is the size of one of those roll-on luggage pieces you place in overhead bins on an airplane. Everything else is too big to bring aboard and has to be checked.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wedding Crashers
I had a ton of fun with lots of old friends as we celebrated the wedding of Mike and Jennifer. I'll have more pix later, but alas this was one of the only ones I took with my camera.
Here I am on the left, with Tim and Warren.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Upside of Anger
I should be somewhere over the middle of America right now, in a big, comfy business class seat, drinking wine and having real food instead of pretzels and cookies.
But the bright side is that I can now attend a friend's wedding in Naples, FL.
But the bright side is that I can now attend a friend's wedding in Naples, FL.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Change of Plans
I received word this morning that my trip is now delayed one week.
I am pissed beyond belief, as that screws up some personal events in mid-August. I won't write any more right now, lest many colorful words find their way to my keyboard.
I am pissed beyond belief, as that screws up some personal events in mid-August. I won't write any more right now, lest many colorful words find their way to my keyboard.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Itinerary
After some conference calls yesterday, I was finally given the final go ahead to book everything, which I did last night.
7/25 - fly from Orlando to Detroit, 1½ hour layover, then on to Manila. There is a stop somewhere (Hong Kong, I think), but I don't get off the plane. Must be a refueling stop or letting others off or something. I finally arrive in Manila at 10:30pm on 7/26 (due to the international date line).
I'll adjust to the new time zone and jet lag for two days, then begin shooting on site for three days starting on Wednesday (7/29).
8/1 - on Saturday, I fly from Manila to Delhi, with a 6 hour layover in Singapore. I'll probably get a locker in the airport and try to hit a geocache or two nearby. I arrive in Delhi at 9:25pm. The next day, on Sunday, I'll try and go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. When you're that close to a monument such as that, you do your best to try and see it while you're there.
I shoot on site in Gurgaon Monday - Wednesday. I head home late Thursday evening.
8/6 - fly from Delhi to Newark (land at 4:35am) for a short layover, then back into Orlando on 8/7 at 9:10am.
After that, I think I'll sleep for a few days.
7/25 - fly from Orlando to Detroit, 1½ hour layover, then on to Manila. There is a stop somewhere (Hong Kong, I think), but I don't get off the plane. Must be a refueling stop or letting others off or something. I finally arrive in Manila at 10:30pm on 7/26 (due to the international date line).
I'll adjust to the new time zone and jet lag for two days, then begin shooting on site for three days starting on Wednesday (7/29).
8/1 - on Saturday, I fly from Manila to Delhi, with a 6 hour layover in Singapore. I'll probably get a locker in the airport and try to hit a geocache or two nearby. I arrive in Delhi at 9:25pm. The next day, on Sunday, I'll try and go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. When you're that close to a monument such as that, you do your best to try and see it while you're there.
I shoot on site in Gurgaon Monday - Wednesday. I head home late Thursday evening.
8/6 - fly from Delhi to Newark (land at 4:35am) for a short layover, then back into Orlando on 8/7 at 9:10am.
After that, I think I'll sleep for a few days.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Light Reading
Translation books purchased today! I only got Japanese and "Tagalog" (Filipino language) books. I don't think I'll need a Hindu book, as English is much more prevalent in India than the other places.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
And so it begins!
Hello, world, and welcome to my blog. I’ve started this as a sort of travelogue for my upcoming trip (literally) around the world. More to come as this story develops….
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