Courtyard By Marriott Portland N Harbour

Patrick and Janet collaborated to give us a gift certificate to The Doubletree Inn downtown Portland. We were hoping to go to the coast, but that wasnt in the cards. With snowfall and winter conditions, we made it to the hotel after a great dinner at On The Border. This hotel provides warm cookies when you check in, which I think is a wonderful amenity. EJ went downstairs and came ...

A slight modification on the first noble truth.

As I prepare for my journey, an important shout out to this virtual world that the perfectionist in me will be letting go. On the path to my true Self I will be letting go of (hopefully) the noise pollution ...

... unattached for the most part to any real drama, and enjoyed the simpler things in life that mostly children had to offer.

So, anyway.  As much as I tried to convince myself or her that there was more between us, it slowly ended as soon as it had begun.  The sad part, we're talking and we're not talking, and she is merely a memory.  Every conversation we have had may as well be unreal or unimportant, and we haven't talked face to face since April/May ...

... namens todd auf die bühne getorkelt und begann seine elektrische gitarre und damit uns zu quälen. Das war alles and**e als musik und dumm**weise hat dies** freak doch tatsächlich noch die lautstärke-regelung entdeckt, was dem disast** nicht wirklich ein ende setzte. Die organisatorin dieses anlasses war einfach viel zu nett und drehte ihm den strom **st nach knapp 10 minuten ab, ansonsten würde ** v**mutlich jetzt noch krach produzi**en. Nach ihm kamen zwei sup**kuule junge ...

... lines.

Ken meanwhile, was well on his way. Although Ken can be loud and obnoxious when completely sober, it's usually amplified when drinking. We decided we would talk loudly about "cannibus IPA" which was a completely fictitious variety of ale we made up to get people's attention. Our hope was to be asked about it. We had our answers prepared. No we did not get it from an official stand, but rather, a man walking around with his ...

... the Auckland Harbour Bridge should adopt this model. We then walked around onto the floating pedestrian walkway that links Steel bridge with the next bridge down.

Our final spot of sight-seeing was to head into the massive and lush Washington Park that houses the International Rose Test Gardens. It was a beautiful garden and such a gorgeous setting that we were pleased we visited it.

N.

... heat rushes at us as we step down the ramp (or should I use the awkward industry phrase "deplaning"?). It's 86F in Portland. An effortless half hour later, during which I convert the temperature for Emma and bore her with an imperial versus metric diatribe, we're hopping off (detraining?) the light rail system and walking through the clean streets to the Ace Hotel. The big bike rack out front is full; cultured 20 somethings with laptops populate the lobby. The Ace Hotel is an old ...

... Day trip to Kanchanaburi. Visit Bridge Over The River Kwai, cemetery of allied prisoners of war, JEATH War Museum, Tiger Temple in the dimension of Tiger Island Project and then hug a Tiger. 09.12.2008.1 - TUESDAY - BANGKOK ...

... s got beautiful islands, a great old town section, and also a high standard of living and well-educated, multilingual population. At some point (when I'm sufficiently recovered from jet lag), I'll post another entry with some more answers to questions I get, and my general travel advice for a trip like this one. Until then, thanks for following along, and to all my fellow travelers, may all your journeys be safe ones.

... then drive over to Washington & follow the river back on that side. The scenery was stunning, with lots of waterfalls .



One of the most beautiful was Multnomah Falls. It rises to a height of 189m & is the country's second tallest waterfall. Even with being in Winter & the leaves still off the trees this area was ...